Chapter 558: Alliance Under Siege: The Night of Fire and Steel

Yue Haiying replied, his voice brimming with excitement, “Received. Well done!”

As everyone celebrated their leader Xia Qing taking down three high-level evolved invaders, Kuang Qingwei’s urgent message burst through the alliance channel. “Two workers in Territory Six set a fire above the underground warehouse and opened the door. Those two were definitely bribed by invaders!”

Kuang Qingwei, the wheeling-dealing trader, was still sitting on a stash of unswapped supplies. If invaders could connect with people from Territory Six, odds were they came from Territory Two.

Looks like the silent refugees in Territory Two had picked Territory Six as their next target for a heist.

Shi Du reported in as well. “Invaders spotted in Territory Ten, sneaking in from the west wall. Only three of them—I can handle it.”

Yue Haiying ordered, “Ding Hao, stay put and take out any invaders from Territory Two trying to break into alliance lands. Yin Jie, head over to Territory Six for backup. Li Kai, take out the ones who started the fire.”

A retired sniper from Territory Fifteen, Li Kai, who had lost a leg, responded with chilling calm. “Target down. Can’t put out the fire.”

Yue Haiying replied, “Got it. Li Kai, keep sniping. Yin Jie, move faster. Kuang Qingwei, Zhu Li—keep an eye on those around you.”

The ground trembled harder with every second and more predatory birds swooped over the territories. The laser cannons and sniper teams let loose at full force. In Territories One, Six, Eight, Twelve, Fifteen, Twenty-One and Twenty-Five, gunfire flashed ceaselessly as the entire northern section was swallowed by chaos.

But Section Three was strangely quiet. Xia Qing gripped her sniper rifle, watching as the two Azure Dragon Squad mercenaries she hired—Ding Hao and Yin Jie—traded blows with invaders in the narrow passage.

Both fighters were strong, but victory wouldn’t come quickly. Xia Qing dialed Hu Zifeng, “Captain Hu, I’m going to support other territories. Hold the fort in Section Three.”

Hu Zifeng knew he couldn’t stop her. He blurted, “I’m coming with you!”

Xia Qing refused. “You all focus on birds and defense. If you leave, it’s more dangerous than me going alone.”

Section Three could still get hit at any moment.

All Hu Zifeng could do was agree. “Take care of yourself.”

Both the lords’ and inspection team channels were filled with calls for help. Amid the gunfire and beastly roars, Tan Junjie’s steady, serious voice somehow soothed their nerves. “Reinforcement squads for the beast tide have arrived. Southern defenses are holding. Fifth Squad, everyone back. Sixth Squad, unit one—return to your territory and help your lord clear invaders.”

“Roger that.”

“Copy that.”

Suddenly, Zhu Li’s desperate voice cut in over the channel. “Brother Yue, Old Kuang was cut on the back by a worker here. The wound’s deep—even the coagulant won’t stop the bleeding. Third Brother, can I send Old Kuang to Section Seven?”

Zhang San replied, “Yes, get him here fast.”

Yue Haiying issued a new order: “Ding Hao, get Kuang Qingwei to Section Seven.”

Ding Hao, the speed-evolved fighter from the Azure Dragon Squad, was panting as he responded. “Yin Jie and I are under attack. We can’t break away to assist.”

“Boom—”

Just as Ding Hao finished, a landmine planted in Section Five exploded. Qi Fu announced, “Section Five’s under attack by invaders, but we don’t need backup for now.”

Yue Haiying barely had time to answer before Zhu Li started pleading from Territory Six again. “Someone’s trying to break down the door! Brother Yue, we need support in Territory Six!”

Yue Haiying called urgently, “Li Kai!”

After a few seconds with no answer, everyone knew Li Kai was out of commission.

Shi Du, the strength-evolved fighter, requested to deploy. “Brother Yue, Territory Ten is secure for now. Let me assist in Territory Six.”

Yue Haiying denied Shi Du’s request and radioed Xia Qing. “There’s a melee outside. Shi Du, stay put and stay hidden. Zhu Li, hang in there. Xia Qing?”

“Already on my way to Territory Six.” Xia Qing, sprinting, pressed down her walkie-talkie. “Ding Hao, Yin Jie, I’ll be there in half a minute. You two head straight to Territory Six to rescue them. Leave the invaders to me.”

“Copy!”

“Understood.”

Watching the clock, Ding Hao and Yin Jie burst out with a fierce counterattack, breaking away from the four invaders and sprinting ahead.

But what about their rear flank?

No worries—their backs were covered by a sniper!

“Pfft.”

“Pfft!”

“Thud, thud.”

Hearing invaders go down behind them, Ding Hao and Yin Jie relaxed and charged straight for Territory Six, slamming open the door. “Territory Six, report your location!”

Zhu Li’s voice trembled. “We’re in a hidden cave under the northern buffer forest—someone’s battering the door.”

“Roger that.”

Xia Qing set down her sniper rifle and hit her walkie-talkie. “Four invaders down—those who engaged Ding Hao and Yin Jie. Heading to Territory Six right now.”

“Noted,” Yue Haiying replied. “Watch out for invaders inside Territory Six.”

“Will do,” Xia Qing answered, sprinting past Section Five as the sound of grenades erupted. Then Qi Fu’s voice came over the channel, “Three invaders in Section Five have been blown up.”

When Xia Qing stormed into Territory Six, she saw more than a dozen invader bodies strewn about. Flames still raged above the underground warehouse.

As she rushed over, she spotted Kuang Qingwei and Zhu Li hauled out of the cave by Ding Hao and Yin Jie, both of them soaked in blood. Her heart skipped a beat. “Qing! Sister-in-law!”

Kuang Qingwei was unconscious. Zhu Li glanced up at the sight of Xia Qing, tears streaming down her face. “Qing… Sister Qing, I… I killed two people…”

“You did great.” Xia Qing stayed calm. “Come with me. We’ll cut across—no leaving the territory.”

Leading the way, Xia Qing radioed Section Seven, reported their entry, then kicked down a section of thorn wall separating the territories. She handed Kuang Qingwei and Zhu Li off to the waiting Yan Long. “Sister Yan, I’ll leave them to you.”

Yan Long took both wounded, reminding Xia Qing, “Be careful out there.”

“Got it.”

Xia Qing immediately rushed back to Territory Six, found Li Kai lying in a pool of blood with a knife wound in his back. Realizing he was still barely alive, she rushed him straight to emergency care in Section Seven.

After the crisis in Territory Six eased up, Xia Qing was about to ask where else needed help when a heavenly voice echoed in her ear:

“Lord Luo Pei of Territory One has eliminated all invaders and applies to join the Inspection Team. Captain Tan, please assign a mission.”

Tan Junjie replied, still serious and calm as ever. “Luo Pei, Evolved Wolves and Evolved Leopards will arrive at the south border’s Evolved Forest in fifteen minutes. Make haste and reinforce.”

“I’ll be there in five.”

Hearing that the Evolved Wolves and Evolved Leopards behind the beast tide were coming, Xia Qing immediately pressed her walkie-talkie. “Xia Qing requesting to reinforce the southern barrier.”

Tan Junjie responded, “Xia Qing, stay safe.”