Xu Lin stood quietly by the edge of the mountain, lost in deep thought while vigilantly observing his surroundings. His eyes swept across every nook and corner where danger might lurk with the sharpness of a hawk. The night was as dark as ink, shrouding the small hilltop camp in an unsettling tranquility. Fortunately, during these long three hours, no unexpected incidents occurred. Aside from the occasional call of a night owl and the rustle of the breeze sweeping through the grass, there was not a sound.
When the three-hour watch ended, Xu Lin crept quietly to the sides of Christopher and Martin, who were fast asleep. He crouched down, gently nudged them, and whispered to wake the two men. Christopher and Martin snapped out of their slumber, their eyes instantly clearing and turning alert—true to their training as seasoned soldiers. After a brief handover with them regarding the situation, Xu Lin turned and walked toward the three injured men. He came to Lucas, Stefan, and Mark to examine their wounds closely. By the dim moonlight, he saw that the condition of the three was noticeably better than before; the deathly pallor of their faces had regained a trace of color, and their health had recovered considerably. Although an occasional stretching movement would pull at their wounds and cause them to wince slightly, there were no other abnormalities. Only then did Xu Lin set his mind at ease. He found a relatively hidden and comfortable spot nearby and lay down slowly. Perhap…
Chapter 82