When Leitao led a few men to scout the path ahead, their steps were light and cautious, each movement made with the utmost care to avoid any sound. Leitao took the lead, his gaze sharp as a torch, constantly scanning the surroundings for the slightest disturbance. Suddenly, his keen eyes caught the movement of several figures in the distance. His body instantly stiffened; he raised his hand and spread his fingers—a silent command.
The team, well-trained and disciplined, immediately scattered into hiding. Huang Guangyang crept forward, agile and soundless, until he crouched beside Leitao and whispered, "Phantom, is it the Japanese Army?" Leitao did not answer at once. He quickly pulled out his binoculars, adjusting them with calm precision as he replied, "I don’t know. Let me observe for a moment..."
He pressed the binoculars to his eyes and looked in the direction of the figures. As the lenses focused, he recognized Li Shuiniu, Li Shuiyang, and several scouts from the Eighth Route Army, who were also out scouting the movements of the Japanese Army. Leitao began to let his guard down, thinking it was a false alarm, but as his eyes habitually continued to scan the periphery, he suddenly noticed something strange a few hundred meters ahead of them. That area held an unusual silence, as if some danger were quietly lurking.
Chapter 174