Chapter 85: with translation of chapter title

Cold wind swept snow particles, pattering against the barracks windows. Li Ping'an stood before the map, his finger pressing hard on the location of Blackwind Stronghold.

The little devils have been unusually quiet lately. He frowned and said, logically, after their supply depot was taken out, they should be jumping mad.

Zhou Zhengwei handed over a bowl of hot soup: "Who says it isn't? I also feel uneasy inside. Like the calm before a storm, I always feel something's about to happen."

Er Gazi wiped his gun on the side, interjecting: "What's there to fear? When the enemy comes, we meet them; when water comes, we block it with earth. We now have the Flying Eagle Team—what tricks could the little devils possibly pull?"

Li Ping'an shook his head: "The calmer it is, the more vigilant we must be. I reckon the little devils are brewing something nasty."

Just then, Squad Leader Yang rushed in, face grim: "Just received word—the Kwantung Army Command has dispatched a special unit; rumor has it they're all elite."

"A special unit?" Li Ping'an raised an eyebrow. "What's their background?"

"Unclear, only heard they specialize in infiltration and sabotage." Squad Leader Yang lowered his voice, "The commander is said to be an old China hand, well versed in our ways."

The room fell silent, only the howling wind outside could be heard.

Li Ping'an fell silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled: "Perfect timing. just what the Flying Eagle Team needs to sharpen their skills."

Over the next few days, the camp's atmosphere grew noticeably tense. Sentinels doubled, open and concealed posts coordinated, weaving a tight security net.

Li Ping'an intensified the Flying Eagle Team's training to the utmost. Besides regular shooting, hand-to-hand combat, and concealment, he added anti‑infiltration and anti‑reconnaissance courses.

"Remember, what you need to learn now is not how to attack, but how to defend." Li Ping'an told the trainees on the drill field, "Know that the best hunters often appear in the guise of their prey."

Er Gazi scratched his head: "Instructor, your words are too profound—I don't get it."

Li Ping'an patted his shoulder: "Simply put, we're going to give these shadow warriors a big gift."

Sure enough, a few days later sentries spotted suspicious footprints outside the camp. The prints were shallow, almost covered by wind and snow, but an experienced old soldier still noticed them.

"Looks like the fish has taken the bait." Li Ping'an gazed at the traces in the snow, a cold smile curling his lips.

He immediately deployed the Flying Eagle Team into several small groups to set up an all‑encompassing net around the camp.

"Remember, take them alive." Li Ping'an instructed, "I want to meet these shadow warriors."

Midnight, the camp lay silent save for the wind's howl. Several black shadows approached noiselessly, movements swift—clearly trained fighters.

But they didn't realize every move they made was under the Flying Eagle Team's watch.

The target entered Sector One. Er Gazi lay in the snow, imitating an owl's hoot twice.

From afar came the response of a cuckoo—this was the prearranged signal.

When those black shadows cleared the last obstacle, thinking they had succeeded, suddenly countless torches flared up all around.

"We've been waiting for you." Li Ping'an stepped out from the darkness, smiling, "Been waiting a long time."

The black shadows obviously hadn't expected to be spotted; they panicked at first, but being elite, they quickly steadied and assumed a fighting stance.

"No point struggling." Li Ping'an shook his head, "You're already surrounded. Drop your weapons and you might still live."

The leader of the black shadows suddenly laughed: "Li Ping'an, true to reputation. But do you really think this guarantees victory?"

He suddenly whistled, and from all directions another dozen black shadows emerged—evidently these were the real main force.

"Oh no, we've walked into a trap!" Er Gazi exclaimed.

Li Ping'an remained calm: "I knew you'd pull this trick. Don't forget—this is our turf."

He gave a hand signal; gunfire erupted. Oddly, the bullets struck the snow at the enemies' feet—clearly a warning.

"Last chance." Li Ping'an's voice turned cold, "Put down your weapons."

Those shadow warriors, clearly unaccustomed to such humiliation, flared with rage and charged heedlessly.

Just then, the unexpected happened: the lead shadow warriors suddenly felt the ground give way beneath them, falling into a pit dug beforehand; the rest were seized by Flying Eagle Team members who burst up from the snow.

The whole operation was clean and swift—within the time it takes to burn an incense stick, all the shadow warriors were captured.

"We'd already prepared pits for you." Li Ping'an walked up to the captured leader and said, "Who sent you? What's your game?"

That leader snorted coldly, suddenly bit something in his mouth, then spat out white foam and collapsed.

The other captives followed suit; in an instant over half were dead, only two slow‑reacting ones were stopped in time.

"Such ruthless means." Zhou Zhengwei's face paled, "These are die‑hards."

Li Ping'an examined the poison sac in the dead men's mouths, his expression grave: "Looks like we've stirred up a big trouble."

Interrogating the two remaining prisoners yielded a shocking revelation: these shadow warriors were not Japanese at all, but Chinese—traitor agents cultivated by the Japanese secret service.

"Their mission isn't just sabotage; more importantly, they're to find a certain person." Zhou Zhengwei stared at the interrogation record, brows furrowed, "Looks like the little devils have already set their sights on you, Comrade Li."

Li Ping'an smiled: "Good, saves me the trouble of hunting them down."

Just then a signalman came running in, breathless: "Political Commissar, Instructor, underground comrades risked their lives to bring intelligence!"

The intelligence stunned everyone: it turned out this shadow‑warrior unit was merely a decoy; the Japanese true aim was to raid the Anti‑Joint Command Command Center.

"Lure the tiger away from the mountain!" Zhou Zhengwei sprang to his feet, "We've been duped!"

Li Ping'an stayed composed: "Not necessarily. Now that we know their plan, dealing with it is easy."

He at once ordered the Flying Eagle Team to assemble and sent a messenger to the Command Command Center.

"Er Gazi, take your men to set an ambush on Blackwind Ridge. Squad Leader Yang, take your men to flank from the side. Li Ping'an pointed on the map, 'Remember, don't clash head‑on; delay them, wait for the main force to reinforce.'"

"And you?" Zhou Zhengwei asked.

Li Ping'an chuckled: "I'll go meet the shadow‑warrior chief myself. Since they're so eager to find him, I'll give them a surprise."

Midnight, Li Ping'an alone slipped into the valley where the Japanese temporary command was located. Sure enough, the place was heavily guarded, with sentries layered inside and out.

But he moved as if through empty space, easily evading all sentries and reaching the exterior of the command tent.

Just as he was about to slip in, voices drifted from inside.

"Your Excellency Colonel, the shadow‑warrior unit has lost contact; likely more dead than alive."

"Damn! A bunch of useless trash! But as long as the main force can take the Anti‑Joint Command Command Center, it's all worth it."

Li Ping'an's heart tightened; he realized he must act quickly. He quietly lifted a corner of the tent, preparing to enter, when suddenly a chill ran down his back.

"Don't move." A cold voice came from behind, "I've been waiting for you, sir."

Li Ping'an slowly turned, seeing a Japanese‑uniformed officer pointing a handgun at him. Astonishingly, this man spoke fluent Chinese.

You didn't expect that, did you? The officer laughed, I knew you would come.

Li Ping'an also laughed: "You know the saying, 'The mantis stalks the cicada, the oriole is behind'?"

That officer stared, suddenly feeling something pressing against the back of the head.

Put down the gun. Er Gazi's voice came from behind, otherwise I'll let your brains burst.

As it turned out, Li Ping'an had already arranged a backup, having Er Gazi lead people to follow secretly.

That officer's face changed several times, but he still put down the gun.

Tied up. Li Ping'an ordered, bring him back for a thorough interrogation.

Returning to the camp, when interrogating this officer, we obtained important intelligence. It turned out this officer was named Chen Bin, formerly a KMT special agent, later having defected to the Japanese. He disclosed the Japanese Soldiers' main force numbers, equipment, and operational plan.

Immediately deploy an ambush! Li Ping'an immediately ordered, right here at Black Wind Ridge to fight them.

At dawn the next day, the Japanese Soldiers' main force indeed appeared at Black Wind Ridge. But they didn't expect that what awaited them was an ambush already set up.

At Li Ping'an's command, gunfire Great Work.

The battle lasted a full day, the Flying Eagle Team, relying on terrain advantage and excellent tactical coordination, successfully repelled the Japanese Soldiers' attack, securing the Command Center.

But Li Ping'an couldn't feel happy.

Although we won this time, it also exposed many problems. He said at the summary meeting, our defenses still have loopholes, intelligence work still needs to be strengthened.

Zhou Zhengwei nodded in agreement: 'Most importantly, there might be a traitor among us. Otherwise the Little Devils couldn't be so clear about our movements.'

The meeting hall fell silent at once. Traitor, these two words were like a huge stone weighing on everyone's heart.

This matter must be investigated covertly. Li Ping'an said, without solid evidence, we cannot casually suspect our comrades.

After the meeting, Li Ping'an stood alone on the training ground, gazing at the distant mountains.

Er Gazi walked over: Instructor, who do you think will be the traitor?

Li Ping'an shook his head: Hard to say. But remember, suspicion is like a seed; once planted, it will take root and sprout. What we need most now is unity.

But what if it really......

No what ifs. Li Ping'an interrupted him, believing in one's comrades is the most basic principle.

But he understood in his heart, a new storm was brewing. And this time, the enemy might be right beside us.

Night fell, but the atmosphere in the camp was exceptionally heavy. Everyone was secretly observing others, guessing who might be that traitor.

Li Ping'an watched all this, knowing he must quickly ferret out the traitor, otherwise the Flying Eagle Team and even the entire anti-Japanese alliance could face annihilation.

At this moment, in an inconspicuous tent, someone was secretly writing something on a small slip of paper. After finishing, he furtively slipped the paper into a previously dug small hole, then covered it with snow.

Having done all that, he glanced around, making sure no one saw, then he breathed a sigh of relief, a strange smile appearing on his face.

The storm, it's really coming.