Chapter 128

Chapter 128

The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole Behind

"She figured it out?" Yu Yuning said incredulously. "How is that possible?"

"Why wouldn’t she?" Li Zhang snapped coldly. "Don’t underestimate Lin Nannan. She’s no worse than us. You think she’d miss something like that?"

Yu Yuning wanted to argue back, but the situation forced her to face reality.

"Now what?" she snapped.

"We keep looking!" Li Zhang wasn’t about to let this chance slip. "She spotted us—she’d head for the hills. If we push further in, we’ll definitely find traces."

Yu Yuning nodded.

No other options. Backing out now meant no second shot at Lin Nannan.

If Lin Nannan didn’t die, they couldn’t deal with Lu Hang.

Weapons in hand, they shared a look, warily scanning their surroundings before silently choosing a direction based on their usual coordination.

Unaware they were being tailed, they left behind clear tracks, making it easy for A Da and A Jian, who encountered them halfway up the mountain.

Lu Hang had warned them—Lin Nannan was the priority. After all, he could leave home and go to crowded places where their enemies wouldn’t dare act recklessly.

A Da and A Jian closed in fast and quiet. Years of teamwork meant no words were needed—just a glance was enough to coordinate actions, a stark contrast to Li Zhang and Yu Yuning’s disarray.

Their quarry, who they’d assumed were cornered like fish in a barrel, had slipped away. This infuriated Yu Yuning, clouding her judgment and pissing Li Zhang off. Their simmering frustration soon erupted into an argument, making it even easier for A Da and A Jian to pinpoint their location...

Lin Nannan, having messed with them awhile, occasionally left faint traces—just enough to give them hope before dashing it, stringing them along until they lost it and started firing their guns in frustration...

Well, once they started shooting, A Da and A Jian assumed they were attacking Lin Nannan and returned fire. Pinned down from both sides, Li Zhang and Yu Yuning were stunned. By the time they realized what was happening, they knew they’d been followed.

"Goddammit!" Li Zhang snarled, his glare could’ve melted steel. "One more word and I’ll put you down."

If she hadn’t been yapping, he might have noticed their pursuers earlier.

Seeing the murderous intent in Li Zhang’s eyes, even Yu Yuning, who usually loved to argue, shrank back in fear.

She knew he wasn’t bluffing.

"What do we do now?" she asked anxiously.

What she had thought would be the simplest mission had turned into a nightmare. Dealing with a paralyzed man was hard enough, but then Lin Nannan showed up, and now there were armed pursuers? This was supposed to be the easiest job—instead, it was the most difficult.

She seriously wondered if she’d survive this.

Li Zhang’s glare could’ve melted steel before he jerked his head: *Split up.* Their only shot at getting out.

Otherwise, they’d both die here.

Yu Yuning hesitated, but that deadly stare forced her reluctant nod.

They split up—her plan was to let him play decoy while she ghosted out.

Because Li Zhang's aura was so intense, she'd succeeded in her goal—A Jian and A Da indeed went after him.

But she forgot there was still Lin Nannan in the mountains, messing with her.

Lin Nannan had no intention of letting them go. To capture them, she’d gone to great lengths, working tirelessly for a long time...

When Lin Nannan appeared, Yu Yuning immediately thought of her mission. Believing that capturing Lin Nannan would not only earn her great merit but also save Li Zhang, she raised her gun and shouted, "Freeze!"

Lin Nannan simply smiled at her, saying nothing, and fired without hesitation.

Yu Yuning was stunned, completely caught off guard. Before she could react, she was already shot.

"You... how’d you get a gun?" The situation was nothing like what Yu Yuning had expected. After taking a bullet and getting injured, she couldn’t even lift her gun hand.

Clutching her shoulder, she demanded, tense and wary, "How is this possible?"

Lin Nannan grinned, stepping closer, amused by the fear on her face. "I built it myself. Pretty cool, right? Looks like junk, but it outshoots yours!"

"No way!" Yu Yuning snapped.

Lin Nannan picked up the gun Yu Yuning had dropped and asked leisurely, "Why not?"

Honest truth, and still no one believed her.

"We’ve got you figured out. You’ve never even touched a gun—how could you know all this?" Feeling deceived, Yu Yuning suddenly realized something. "Was it Zhang Shengguo?"

"If that helps you sleep at night, sure." Lin Nannan toyed with the gun, looking disdainful, then raised her own weapon. "Move it. I’m not carrying you down."

The unspoken threat drained the color from Yu Yuning’s face. Reluctantly, she muttered, "You’re no clueless farm girl, that’s for sure."

"Did your intel paint me as some country bumpkin?" Lin Nannan asked curiously.

Yu Yuning fell silent.

The Lin Nannan in their files was eerie, unpredictable—nothing like the rumors.

As they stood in a stalemate, gunfire crackled in the distance, making Yu Yuning tense.

"Place your bets," Lin Nannan taunted.

"You’re vile!" Yu Yuning spat.

Lin Nannan chuckled. "Oh, so you get to skulk around spying on us, but we can’t hit back?"

"We clocked you the second you moved in. Your boss won’t rest till Lu Hang’s dead, right?"

Seeing that everything had been anticipated, Yu Yuning’s face twisted in frustration.

"Move. You’ll see how this plays out soon enough." Lin Nannan urged.

Knowing Lin Nannan wouldn’t hesitate to harm her and realizing she was outmatched, Yu Yuning gave in.

She played along the whole way—until they reached the mountain path and encountered a bloodied, barely-standing Li Zhang. Yu Yuning was relieved she had made the right choice.

Being captured in the end was better than suffering more injuries. She hated pain.

"Help him up. No tricks, or I’ll finish you right here," Lin Nannan ordered.

Looking at the barely-standing Li Zhang, Yu Yuning didn’t know whether to be glad her injuries were minor or regret not being hurt more...

The three of them—two injured—made their way down, only to run into the village chief and Lu Ming halfway down.

They’d charged up the mountain at the sound of gunshots.