Years turn into wind

Chapter 180 Lantern Trap

The night was as dark as ink. A few dark red lanterns swayed gently by the pond, like eyes in the darkness, conveying secret messages. The area around the Marshal's residence seemed exceptionally quiet, yet within this tranquility there was a strange sense of unease.

Cheng Yuwei stood on the terrace of the Marshal's residence, her gaze fixed on the pond in the distance, her heartbeat accelerating. After Ling Xiaotian left, she couldn't help but pick up the chemical reagents and the enemy's secret letter again and study them repeatedly, trying to find more clues, but now she was running out of time.

"Lanterns...ponds...what is the deep meaning of these signals?" she muttered to herself, and an idea suddenly came to her mind.

"The terrain near the pond is complex, and I'm afraid it has already been used as cover by the enemy. If the plan is to besiege the commander's residence, could the pond be a key point for their ambush?"

Thinking of this, she quickly grabbed her small bag, filled it with several bottles of refined chemicals, and ran hurriedly to the command room.

Enemy attack first appeared

Ling Xiaotian was currently planning the operation with his lieutenants. His brow furrowed, his eyes sharp as knives. "Increase security east and west of the city. The enemy may disperse after infiltrating, but the real offensive will surely begin at the pond. Send three teams to ambush them and don't give them any chance to breathe."

The adjutant took the order and left. The entire command room was operating in a tense and orderly manner. Cheng Yuwei pushed the door open and entered, attracting everyone's attention.

When Ling Xiaotian saw her, his eyes darkened and his tone was slightly displeased: "Weiwei, why are you here? Didn't I tell you to stay in a safe place?"

Cheng Yuwei ignored his rebuke and stepped forward to explain her plan: "I guess the enemy will probably use the terrain of the pond to ambush, or even have explosive devices. I can go and investigate, and my knowledge of chemistry may come in handy!"

Ling Xiaotian's face paled slightly. He knew Cheng Yuwei had a point, but he couldn't let her take the risk herself. He was about to refuse when Cheng Yuwei spoke up, "I won't go on the reconnaissance, but I can follow your action team. At least let me stay by your side so you can be assured."

Ling Xiaotian stared at her stubborn eyes and finally compromised: "Okay, but you have to listen to my instructions and don't act recklessly."

Confrontation by the pond

A team of elite soldiers quickly set out, with Ling Xiaotian and Cheng Yuwei personally in charge. The air near the pond was exceptionally damp, and the wind carried a pungent smell of earth. Lanterns still floated in the distance, as if luring them closer.

"Everyone be careful and stay hidden." Ling Xiaotian gave a low order, and the soldiers quickly dispersed and hid in the grass around the pond.

Cheng Yuwei held the small bottle tightly in her hand, followed Ling Xiaotian, and glanced around vigilantly.

Just then, a slight noise was heard, accompanied by the slight shaking of the grass.

"The enemy is coming!" Ling Xiaotian waved his hand quickly, signaling the soldiers to prepare for battle.

Sure enough, dozens of men in black emerged from the bushes, weapons in hand, silently advancing towards the commander's residence. However, just as they entered the ambush, they heard Ling Xiaotian's cold shout, "Fire!"

Gunshots rang out suddenly, and the men in black fell into panic.

Cheng Yuwei nervously hid behind Ling Xiaotian, her ears filled with the deafening sound of gunfire. However, her gaze was fixed on the center of the pond, where there seemed to be some untouched mechanism.

"Ling Xiaotian, there's something over there!" Cheng Yuwei reminded loudly.

Ling Xiaotian followed her gaze and saw a large black cloth lying on the surface of the water in the middle of the pond, vaguely covered with some kind of device. He immediately ordered the sniper to fire in that direction, trying to penetrate the black cloth.

Crisis breaks out

However, just as the sniper pulled the trigger, a loud noise was heard from the pond. The mechanism under the black cloth was activated, and a thick cloud of smoke suddenly spewed out, obscuring the vision and emitting a pungent smell.

"This is chemical poison gas!" Cheng Yuwei's face suddenly changed. She quickly took out a few wet cloths from her bag and handed them to Ling Xiaotian: "Cover your mouth and nose quickly! This is the most basic protection!"

Ling Xiaotian didn't dare to delay and immediately covered his face with a wet cloth while ordering the soldiers to retreat: "Everyone, get out of the poisonous fog! Quick!"

Cheng Yuwei didn't retreat. Instead, she quickly took out the antidote she had prepared and scattered it in the direction of the smoke. The chemical quickly diffused in the air, reacting with the poison gas to produce harmless white smoke.

"Are you crazy? Instead of running away at this time, you rush forward!" Ling Xiaotian pulled Cheng Yuwei back, his tone full of anger and worry.

Cheng Yuwei panted, her eyes determined: "I know what I am doing. The antidote has taken effect, and their poison gas tactics have failed."

Ling Xiaotian looked at her, a complex emotion flickering across his eyes. He was annoyed by her disregard for her own safety, but he couldn't help but be impressed by her intelligence and bravery.

The clarion call for counterattack

The enemy's previously relied upon poison gas tactics were thwarted, and they fell into even greater chaos. Ling Xiaotian seized the opportunity and ordered a full-scale counterattack. The soldiers' morale was greatly boosted, and they repelled the men in black one by one.

When the last enemy fell, Ling Xiaotian breathed a sigh of relief and turned to look at Cheng Yuwei: "Do you know how dangerous it was just now? If the poison gas was more powerful..."

Cheng Yuwei gave a tired smile: "But we won, didn't we?"

Ling Xiaotian sighed helplessly and gently held her in his arms: "Don't take such risks again in the future."

Cheng Yuwei leaned in his arms and felt the long-lost sense of security.

"Ling Xiaotian, I promise you, but only if you protect yourself."

Under the moonlight, the two figures snuggled together, reflecting a brief moment of peace. However, they both knew that this storm was only the beginning, and the real crisis was yet to come.