Xue Yang Chen noticed a well-built woman cornered by an adversary. A bullet grazed past her ear, damaging her helmet, while another aimed for her face. He shouted a warning, only to see a man swiftly exit his combat position, roll with the woman on the ground, and evade the fatal shot.

Observing this, Shao Qi ordered, "All personnel below the rank of senior martial artist, withdraw and guard the perimeter. Ensure no intruders escape! Also, try to preserve their equipment; it's valuable."

Xue Yang Chen, although not hearing Shao Qi's exact words, saw many retreat from the battlefield and deduced the given command.

Without pondering if the woman might be his sister-in-law, he quickly led his thousand-strong contingent, who had escorted the satellite, into the fray. With the inclusion of this formidable force, the battle tide quickly turned.

Qin Xun's team captured and detained the enemies in a basement, stripping them of protective gear and helmets. They photographed and fingerprinted each one. Listening to their furious English expletives, Qin Xun smirked, replying, "Prisoners should know their place. Do you think you'll leave here alive?"

"What would it take to release us? We promise to leave your nation immediately."

"You're late! But, if you cooperate, perhaps our nation might show leniency and spare your lives." Qin Xun looked at them with a surprisingly gentle gaze. In these times, every life is precious. Even the prisoners from all over the country have been put to good use, especially these men, who are strong and adept at any task.

Outside, the skies were ablaze with warfare. Qin Xun left a few behind to interrogate this group while he and others headed out to assist.

Seeing the transport convoy had arrived, he rushed over with his men. The situation was now under control. More than half of the foreigners, clad in white armor from head to toe, had perished. A few were held at gunpoint by the roadside, clearly intended for capture and questioning.

During the chaos, a foreigner took Xuan Zhe hostage. Having overexerted his internal energy, Xuan Zhe was resting in the corner of some ruins. Shao Qi ordered some men to retreat. He was about to follow suit when he sensed hidden enemies outside the ruins. Weighing the odds of a successful ambush, he knew the chances were slim, so he stayed hidden. Only when the coast was clear did he emerge.

Unexpectedly, the enemy hadn't gone far and dragged an injured comrade with him. Upon confrontation, it took mere moments for Shao Qi to overpower him.

Xuan Zhe was engulfed with shame, wishing he could die on the spot. His helmet had been removed, and he felt the cold muzzle of a gun at the back of his head. In his prime, he might have had a fighting chance. But now, even lifting his arm was a challenge. He could only watch as his advantaged comrades retreated slowly.

"Leave me!" He shouted, tears involuntarily streaming down his face. He loathed himself at that moment. If he caused the team's downfall, he wouldn't be able to live with himself.

"Shut up. It's not your place to speak," Shao Qi barked at him. Taking a step forward, he asked in Mandarin, "What are your terms for release? Anything unreasonable is off the table."

The opponent, wearing a language translator, understood Shao Qi and approached, replying in broken Chinese, "We have one demand: let us go."

Shao Qi, observing the foreign reinforcements gathering behind him, responded with a cold smirk, "You have only one hostage. Thus, you can only exchange him for one of your men to leave alive."

"Impossible!" The man, in agitation, fired a shot near Shao Qi's foot. "Release all of us, or I'll shoot."

Shao Qi glanced calmly at Xuan Zhe and addressed the man, "Do you truly think that's feasible? He's just a disposable child. You, on the other hand, have a group with valuable equipment. Trading one for many of you is a fair deal. War is brutal, and we're all prepared to sacrifice for our country."

Recognizing his situation, Xuan Zhe nodded and started, "Yes, Captain Shao, don't mind me, I—"

Cutting him off, Shao Qi continued, "You have one minute to decide. I can offer one hostage in exchange for three of your men to leave alive. Discuss amongst yourselves who those three will be."

Zhou You silently retreated, circling around to approach the enemy from behind. He stayed concealed, calming his entire being, even reducing his breathing to an almost undetectable level.

As he harnessed his inner energy, he realized he could hold his breath for an extended period. These enemies were alert, and any misstep could provoke them. They couldn't risk not saving Xuan Zhe, not even for the sake of his grandfather's reputation.

"Time's up. What have you decided? If you agree, pick your three now. You can leave with the hostage. Once you're in your vehicle, you can release him. We have other pressing matters today and won't chase you."

An internal dispute arose among the foreigners. Though they spoke a different language, it was clear they were debating the tough decision. Should they agree and if so, who lives and who dies? If they decline, perhaps none would survive.

From a national interest standpoint, they needed someone to return alive with all the valuable information and observations gathered during their time in China.

"Fine. We agree. We'll take the hostage with us. You can follow in another vehicle, and we'll release the hostage ten kilometers out."

They quickly selected three individuals, who, flanking the man holding Xuan Zhe, made their way to a vehicle under the envious and wary eyes of their comrades.

Just as they were about to board, a tornado appeared in the distance. Given its trajectory, they didn't suspect the Chinese soldiers, and it seemed too erratic to be man-made.