Conquest of Taboo and Debauchery

Chapter 183: 183: Getting ready to kill

In the morning, Ye Fei woke up to find Liu Junyi had already left the room. He marveled at how effortlessly she seemed to recover, even after such a long night. His own body had become stronger than the average person's, but she always seemed to keep pace with him, rising early despite everything.

What Ye Fei didn't know was that when Liu Junyi got up that morning, she felt completely drained. But as the commander-in-chief, she couldn't let herself be seen faltering. Forcing herself to gather her strength, she got up and resolved that she wouldn't allow things to get so out of hand again. Still, a hint of a smile crept onto her face as she remembered the intensity of the night.

After finally getting ready and stepping out of the room, Ye Fei noticed that all the special forces members, apart from himself, had already assembled in the yard. With years of training, these soldiers had a strong discipline and respect for time.

Even though Ye Fei was the last to arrive, no one seemed particularly surprised—Ye Fei's impressive strength and unconventional approach meant he was accustomed to operating a bit differently from the rest.

He smiled and nodded toward those who glanced in his direction, making his way over to stand next to Zhang Qiang. Though he had been given a separate mission, he would still travel with the group until they reached the forest's edge.

"Xiaoman, your aunt and the others headed to the meeting. Why didn't you go with them? You joined them before," Zhang Qiang asked curiously.

Ye Fei chuckled. "My task was already set, so there was no real need for me to join this one."

Zhang Qiang looked slightly surprised. "So you're not joining us at all?"

Ye Fei nodded and explained his mission to scout the enemy's base on his own. In this operation, everyone was on the same side, and he trusted Zhang Qiang implicitly.

"Ah, that makes sense. Given your strength, going solo is probably the best approach," Zhang Qiang replied.

"Exactly," Ye Fei said with a grin. "My aunt wouldn't send me off on anything too dangerous."

Just then, one of the gossip-loving soldiers in the group sidled up with a mischievous look. "Ye Fei, so, nothing going on between you and that sharpshooter from Beijing? I swear, she's glanced over here a dozen times since you showed up."

Ye Fei followed his teammate's gaze and noticed that Wei Qing indeed kept glancing his way, though she seemed hesitant to approach. When she caught Ye Fei looking back, she immediately averted her eyes. Her unusually shy demeanor intrigued Ye Fei.

Curious, he approached her with a friendly smile. "Is there something on your mind?"

Wei Qing hesitated, then blurted out, "Did you stay with Captain Liu last night?"

Ye Fei's pulse quickened momentarily, but he answered calmly, "Yeah. I was injured the other day, and my aunt has some experience with treating injuries, so she stayed to help."

Wei Qing seemed to consider his answer but looked unconvinced. When she had seen him stepping out of Liu Junyi's quarters that morning, looking like he'd just woken up, an inexplicable pang of jealousy had hit her. She had been surprised by how much it affected her, especially since she wasn't even sure why she felt so strongly.

Ye Fei could read her expression. He smiled reassuringly. "Is something bothering you? You're not jealous of my aunt, are you?"

Flustered, Wei Qing immediately blushed, glancing around to ensure no one was listening. "Don't get the wrong idea!" she said, forcing a laugh. "I just—Captain Liu and the others are back. You should probably return to the group."

Ye Fei followed her suggestion, slightly amused at her reaction. He couldn't help thinking he had been a little careless; perhaps he would need to be more cautious to avoid any misunderstandings in the future.

After the group briefing, Liu Junyi addressed everyone from the platform, briefly outlining the upcoming mission. Without further formalities, she gave the order for the team to move out.

After two hours of travel, the military convoy reached a temporary base near the forest's edge, constructed overnight by local forces. This site would serve as a supply point, but the team would spend most of their time deeper in the forest.

After briefly saying goodbye to those he knew, Ye Fei began his solo mission. His goal was straightforward: to search through the forest quickly and locate any enemy strongholds without being noticed.

Once identified, they could surround and neutralize the enemy forces before any could escape. Meanwhile, the rest of the group would proceed through the forest in a methodical sweep, ensuring the enemy had no hidden advantage.

Given that the team numbered nearly a thousand soldiers, it would take years to cover every inch of the massive forest. But if they made it clear they were prepared for a prolonged campaign, their opponents would likely feel pressured and act rashly, which could reveal their plans and perhaps even expose the orchestrators behind this entire plot.

Alone in the forest, Ye Fei felt a sense of freedom. Though all the special forces soldiers were highly skilled, their presence was, in his mind, a limitation. Now, he could move at full speed through the trees, so swift that if any enemy spotted him, they would likely think they'd imagined it.

He planned to head directly to the center of the forest, then search outward in expanding circles. Thanks to his speed, this otherwise daunting approach seemed achievable.

***

In less than twenty minutes, Ye Fei reached an area near the forest's center. Notably, this part of the forest felt unusually silent. He saw neither human nor animal tracks, sparking his curiosity. Could this be where the forest's apex predator resided?

Still curious, Ye Fei began a methodical search of the area, though he found nothing out of the ordinary besides the massive, ancient trees and thick layers of fallen leaves.

Just as he was about to give up, he noticed a small cave near the roots of an immense tree. The cave opening was just large enough for someone to crawl through.

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"Could this be the lair of some kind of forest guardian?" he mused himself with a joke, driven by a mix of caution and curiosity. While he doubted the cave housed enemies, the oddity of the place intrigued him enough to investigate.

Carefully, Ye Fei cleared the entrance and crawled in. The tunnel, surprisingly, expanded as he moved further inside, allowing him to stand upright.

The deeper he went, the darker it became, and soon he was moving in pitch-black surroundings. Ye Fei took out his high-intensity flashlight, securing it to a branch to hold it a few meters ahead, illuminating the path while keeping himself safely back from the light source.

Strangely, despite hours of walking, the tunnel appeared endless. Finally, the path began to descend sharply, and before long, it sloped almost vertically. Ye Fei managed to navigate carefully, but as the slope became steeper, he allowed himself to slide down, occasionally stabilizing himself on rough patches to control his descent.

After nearly fifteen minutes of sliding, a faint light appeared below. Ye Fei was astonished. He was now likely miles below the surface, yet light seemed to fill the depths.

After reaching the bottom, he walked toward the light until he emerged from the tunnel into a breathtaking scene. He found himself in a valley, surrounded by sheer cliffs and filled with a gentle, luminous mist. There was no visible sun, yet everything was softly lit, creating an otherworldly glow.

"Paradise on Earth," he murmured. That was the only description that fit. The valley was filled with vivid flowers and plants that glowed as if enchanted, and unfamiliar animals roamed about, adding life to the dreamlike landscape.

For a moment, Ye Fei wondered if the legends of hidden sanctuaries for cultivators were true, but as he explored, he found no signs of human presence. It seemed this place was a natural formation.

While the valley's energy felt much more concentrated than that of the outside world and the fruits scattered around seemed almost mystical, Ye Fei knew this environment would be of limited help to him. His unique cultivation method meant that even such a place couldn't rival his own potential growth rate.

Having assessed that this place held no particular advantage for him, Ye Fei decided to explore further. He approached the valley's cliffs, intending to climb up to get a better sense of his surroundings.

Summoning his inner strength, he leaped ten meters up, using the cliff as leverage to continue his ascent. But to his surprise, his body seemed to grow heavier as he rose, and the further he climbed, the stronger the force pulling him down became. He managed to reach a little over a hundred meters before he found himself unable to lift his own weight any further.