"Be careful. If it doesn't work, it’s okay. I’ll think of another way," Zhu Yanyi said directly.
Zhang Hua nodded. Zhu Yanyi thought for a moment and added, "Comrade Old Yang, why don’t you go with Comrade Zhang Hua? With me here, the children will be fine."
Old Yang considered this, looked at Zhang Hua, who also nodded. Facing the Crocodile Mercenaries, he indeed lacked confidence. Going with Old Yang would increase their chances slightly.
"Alright, I’ll go with Zhang Hua. Then, Comrade Little Zhu, you stay here with the children. Be careful and do not come out," Old Yang instructed after a pause. "Do not leave this place until we return."
"Okay, I understand," Zhu Yanyi nodded very seriously, making a promise.
Zhang Hua and Old Yang then left. Although worried, they knew they had to eliminate the Crocodile Mercenaries to proceed.
Zhu Yanyi processed information from the surrounding plants, calculating how to help Zhang Hua and Old Yang unnoticed. She decided to use the plants to monitor the mercenaries first, planning to assist secretly if the situation allowed.
Old Yang and Zhang Hua were both in the Border Region’s Seventh Squad. They had cooperated on many missions. They had originally thought this task—just picking up a few children—would be simple. They hadn’t expected to be blocked. They knew ordinary human traffickers wouldn’t cause such trouble; there must be other reasons. Regardless, their mission was to deliver the children and Zhu Yanyi to the airport. No matter how difficult, they had to complete it.
Facing the Crocodile Mercenaries alone was terrifying for normal people, but they had no choice. With no way back, they could only move forward.
"Old Yang, I’ll go over and make some noise to draw them away. You administer the poison then," Zhang Hua suggested.
Old Yang nodded. "Be careful."
"It’s fine. You know I’m very familiar with the jungle. There won’t be any problems." He handed the poison to Old Yang and began thinking about how to distract them.
Before Zhang Hua acted, Zhu Yanyi spotted an opportunity. Less than fifty meters from where the Crocodile Mercenaries were resting, a giant python was sleeping. While pythons were common in the jungle, they usually avoided crowded areas. It was a coincidence that one was so close.
Using her wood ability, Zhu Yanyi gently urged the python toward the mercenaries’ resting spot.
"What’s that sound?" One mercenary heard a hissing noise and stood up. The others quickly became alert.
Zhang Hua thought he had been discovered and didn’t know what to do. Then he heard the mercenaries shout, "There’s a giant python! Everyone be careful!"
Indeed, the giant python approached. Seeing people, it quickly coiled up. Its snake eyes stared gloomily at the Crocodile Mercenaries, seemingly displeased by the humans disturbing its rest. It raised its head, its eerie gaze making people shudder.