Leitao frowned. He knew that if he didn't intervene, the Sichuan Army Reconnaissance Squad would likely face a grim fate. Silently, he retrieved his VSS Vintorez from the Bagua Spinning Top Space. With practiced ease, he braced the rifle against a tree branch and peered through the telescopic sight, aligning his crosshairs with the head of the Japanese Army squad leader. He took a deep breath, steadying his pulse. The world seemed to fall silent, leaving only him and the Japanese officer. His finger curled lightly around the trigger. With a soft "phut," the bullet flew out like a ghost. Almost instantly, a spray of blood mist erupted from the officer's head. The man’s eyes widened, and before he could even react, he collapsed stiffly to the ground, his service sword clattering as it fell from his hand. The surrounding Japanese soldiers were stunned by this sudden turn of events. Their rhythm was broken, and for a moment, they scrambled in confusion like headless flies.
A Japanese mortar team had been targeting the Sichuan Army Reconnaissance Squad’s position. They fired a shell that landed just in front of the defensive line, kicking up a cloud of dust and acrid smoke. Just as the Japanese mortarman was adjusting his aim, Leitao held his breath, his eyes locked through the scope of his VSS Vintorez onto the mortar shell the Japanese soldier was about to load. His finger rested steadily on the trigger.
As the Japanese soldier held the mortar shell, preparing to drop it into …
Chapter 81