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“That’s right,” Zhao De explained. “We can deliberately leak some seemingly important but trivial information to mislead the Shadow Weavers into thinking there’s an opportunity. While they’re busy analyzing this information, we can secretly observe and look for their real weaknesses.”
"This 'openly repairing the plank road while secretly crossing the Chencang' strategy is brilliant!" Yu Meishu exclaimed. "I'll make the arrangements right away to ensure that the dissemination of the information is both covert and sufficiently enticing."
"Alright, Meishu, you'll be in charge of information deployment. I need you and a group of team members to be ready to act at any time. Once we find any weaknesses, we'll strike immediately." Zhao De assigned the tasks, his gaze sweeping over everyone present. "As for the rest of you, continue to strengthen the city's defenses. There can be no slackening."
"Understood!" the crowd responded in unison, their morale high.
As night fell once more, an invisible contest quietly unfolded both inside and outside the Frozen City. Yu Meishu's meticulously crafted message, like a pebble thrown into a lake, stirred up ripples, and as expected, the Shadow Weavers began to stir.
“They’ve taken the bait.” Zhao De stood atop the city wall, gazing at the shadowy forest in the distance, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips. “Mentor, proceed according to plan.”
"Move," Zhao De commanded succinctly, though a hint of nervousness lingered in his heart. This was a gamble, a gamble on the Shadow Weavers' greed for information and their own negligence.
The next morning, in an abandoned castle outside Ice City, the Shadowweavers gathered together, intensely discussing the "intelligence" they had obtained the previous night.
“This is absolutely Ice City’s Achilles’ heel!” A Shadowweaver member excitedly waved the parchment in his hand. “As long as we act according to plan, Ice City will fall without a fight!”
"Don't get too excited," another more cautious member warned. "This intelligence came too easily; we need to be careful of traps."
"Hmph, what's there to be afraid of!" A tall Shadowweaver sneered disdainfully. "We Shadowweavers are best at walking in the shadows. How could those guys from the Heart of Light possibly defeat us!"
Just as they were arguing, the castle gates were suddenly pushed open by an irresistible force, and Zhao De's Heart of Light squad descended like divine soldiers, instantly surrounding the entire venue.
"How...how could you have found this place?" The tall Shadow Weaver was shocked, but even more so, he was incredulous.
Zhao De smiled faintly and looked around: "No matter how long the shadow is, it will eventually be illuminated by the sun. Your plan has been under our surveillance from the very beginning."
In the crowd, an elderly man dressed as a commoner covered his mouth in astonishment: "My God, this is simply a miracle! Warriors of the Heart of Light, how did you do it?"
Chapter 131 Breaking Free from Restraints
Chapter 131 Breaking Free from Restraints
Instead of answering directly, Zhao De turned to Zhao De and said, "Mentor, it seems we have received our 'gift'."
Zhao De nodded in satisfaction: "Very good, now it's time to close the net."
At the command, the members of the Heart of Light acted swiftly. Although the Shadowweavers were well-trained, they were quickly routed by such a sudden and precise attack.
“This…this is impossible!” A captured Shadowweaver leader struggled, his eyes filled with resentment.
Zhao De walked up to him, his voice calm and firm: "Nothing is impossible. As long as there is light in your heart, darkness will eventually have nowhere to hide. Tell me, what is your ultimate goal?"
The Shadowweaver leader kept his lips tightly shut, refusing to answer.
"He won't talk?" Zhao De sighed, then turned to his teammate and instructed, "Take him back to Ice City. We'll have plenty of time to talk about it."
Just as the group was preparing to leave, a Shadow Weaver suddenly broke free of her restraints, drew a hidden dagger, and pounced on the unsuspecting Yu Meishu.
"Meishu, watch out!" Zhao De shouted and leaped to save her.
In the blink of an eye, a flash of silver light appeared, and the Shadow Weaver was blasted away by an invisible force, crashing heavily to the ground, his dagger slipping from his hand.
A gasp of surprise erupted from the surrounding crowd, who cast awe-inspiring glances their way.
"Chenxi, are you alright?" Yu Meishu rushed forward to check on you, her eyes filled with worry.
Zhao De steadied himself, smiled and shook his head: "I'm fine, but you, you can't take such risks again."
"I'm sorry, I was too careless," Yu Meishu said apologetically.
“Alright, now is not the time for self-blame.” Zhao De stepped forward, his gaze stern as he stared at the Shadow Weaver on the ground. “It seems we need to understand your organization more deeply. Take him away.”
As the last Shadowweaver was escorted away, peace gradually returned to the castle. Zhao De and Yu Meishu stood side by side, gazing at the rising sun in the distance, their hearts filled with both anticipation for the future and vigilance against unknown challenges.
"This victory is the result of teamwork," Zhao De said, turning to his teammates with gratitude in his voice. "Everyone's efforts are indispensable."
"Captain, you are too modest. If it weren't for your quick reaction, the consequences would have been unimaginable." Yu Meishu shook her head gently, her eyes full of admiration for Zhao De.
“We are a whole, and no one can be missing.” Zhao De interjected at the right moment, his gaze lingering on each team member’s face as if to confirm their safety. “What happened today reminds us that the enemy is more cunning than we imagined. We cannot afford to be complacent in the slightest.”
“Mentor is right.” Zhao De nodded in agreement. “Next, we need to analyze the Shadow Weavers’ behavior patterns in more detail to find out their true purpose and the mastermind behind them.”
"By the way, Chenxi, what skill was that you just used? I don't think I've ever seen it before," Yu Meishu asked curiously, and the surrounding team members also cast curious glances at her.
Zhao De smiled slightly, a hint of mystery in his smile: "I learned it by chance, an ancient light-based defensive technique that can protect myself and my companions in crucial moments. However, now is not the time to reveal it. After all, the enemies we face are getting stronger, and it's always good to keep some trump cards up."
Chapter 132 Brings a Surprise
Chapter 132 Brings a Surprise
"Captain, you always surprise us," one team member exclaimed, followed by a chorus of agreement from those around him.
"Alright, surprises aside, we still have a lot of work to do." Zhao De quickly steered the conversation back on track. "Next, we need to take two steps: first, strengthen the city's defenses to ensure the safety of Ice City; second, continue our in-depth investigation to uncover the truth behind the Shadow Weavers."
“I suggest we set up a special team to be responsible for intelligence gathering and analysis,” Yu Meishu proposed. “This way we can filter out useful information more efficiently and avoid falling into the enemy’s trap again.”
“Good idea, Meishu, I’ll put you in charge of this task.” Zhao De nodded in agreement. “At the same time, Chenxi, I hope you can lead an elite squad, ready to deal with any emergencies and deliver a fatal blow to the enemy if necessary.”
"Understood, mentor," Zhao De replied firmly, his eyes gleaming with fighting spirit.
"So, everyone, let's return to Ice City and begin our new plan." Zhao De's words were filled with strength and determination, as if all fatigue had vanished in that moment, leaving only the desire for victory.
"Let's go!" With Zhao De's command, the members of Heart of Light quickly prepared their equipment and were ready to set off. Bathed in the morning light, the team resembled a flowing golden river, passing through the abandoned castle and heading towards Ice City.
Along the way, villagers who occasionally encountered this dashing group couldn't help but cast admiring glances at them and whisper among themselves.
“Look, those are the warriors of the Heart of Light! I heard they thwarted another of the Shadowweavers’ plots last night.”
"It's incredible, how do they do it? They always appear at the most critical moment to protect us."
"Yes, especially that young captain, Zhao De. I heard he has extraordinary abilities; he can even light up shadows!"
These words drifted into the ranks on the wind. Zhao De smiled slightly upon hearing them, but his resolve only strengthened. He knew that this trust and expectation was both a driving force and a responsibility.
Back in Ice City, Zhao De immediately convened an emergency meeting to detail the formation plan for the special task force and elite squad. Everyone received a new assignment, and the meeting room was filled with a tense yet highly motivated atmosphere.
"Remember, our goal is not just defense, but also to take the initiative, completely eliminate the Shadow Weavers, and restore true peace to this land." Zhao De's words resonated with everyone present.
After the meeting, Zhao De and Yu Meishu walked together on the streets of Hanbing City. When the residents on both sides saw them, they all looked at them with gratitude and respect.
"Chenxi, are you really going to keep that skill a secret?" Yu Meishu couldn't help but ask again.
“Yes, it’s not appropriate to reveal it now, at least not yet,” Zhao De said thoughtfully. “The enemy we face is unfathomable, and every trump card could be the key to victory or defeat. Moreover, the origin of this skill… is somewhat complicated, and I need time to understand it.”
“Okay, I respect your decision.” Yu Meishu nodded, then changed the subject, “However, you were really cool just now, I was almost captivated.”
Upon hearing this, Zhao De couldn't help but laugh, and the atmosphere between the two became much more relaxed.
Chapter 133 Overcoming All Difficulties
Chapter 133 Overcoming All Difficulties
“Mi-sook, you’re not bad either. If you hadn’t discovered the value of that intelligence in time, we might still be stuck in the same place.”
“Of course, I’m an intelligence expert.” Yu Meishu raised her eyebrows proudly, then said seriously, “But seriously, Chenxi, we must be careful. The fact that the Shadow Weavers were able to infiltrate here means that their strength is far beyond our imagination.”
"Yes, I will be careful." Zhao De's smile faded, and his eyes became serious. "We must not only protect Ice City, but also protect each other. Only when the team works together can we overcome all difficulties."
The two walked and talked, and before they knew it, they had arrived at Yu Meishu's residence.
"Alright, I've arrived. See you tomorrow, Chenxi." Yu Meishu stopped and waved goodbye to Zhao De.
"Goodnight, Meishu. See you tomorrow," Zhao De replied, watching her walk into the house until the door closed gently before turning and leaving.
Night once again enveloped the Frozen City, but unlike usual, the starry sky seemed brighter tonight, as if foreshadowing that light would soon dispel all darkness.
Zhao De walked alone back to his dormitory, his mind racing with thoughts of today's battle and the challenges that might lie ahead. The occasional sounds of the night market and children's laughter from the streets added warmth and life to the snow-covered city. He slowed his pace, savoring this moment of tranquility.
"Captain Dawn!" A childish voice interrupted his thoughts. A little boy ran up to him, panting, clutching a yellowed map tightly in his hand. "I... I found this, and I thought I should give it to you!"
Zhao De crouched down, gently took the map, and unfolded it. It was marked with strange symbols and routes, seemingly concealing some secret. "Thank you, little friend. Where did you find this map?" he asked.
The little boy blinked his big eyes and said excitedly, "It's next to the used bookstore at the foot of the east city wall. There were suddenly a lot of strange uncles and aunts there today. After they left, they left this behind."
Zhao De's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately realized that this map might be related to the Shadow Weaver. He patted the little boy's head and smiled, "You did a great job. This map is very important to us. Remember, if you find anything strange again, be sure to tell an adult."
"Yes, yes, I will!" The little boy nodded vigorously and ran off with a proud look on his face.
Zhao De quickly returned to the base and went straight to his office. Zhao De was buried in a pile of documents, his brow furrowed.
“Mentor, I’ve discovered something.” Zhao De handed over the map and briefly explained its origin.
Zhao De carefully examined the map, his expression gradually becoming serious: "These markings... seem to indicate a possible hiding place or transport route for the Shadowweavers. Dawn, take the elite team and set off tonight to investigate. Be extremely careful; we don't know if this is a trap."
"Understood, I will act with caution." Zhao De nodded and turned to leave.
“Wait,” Zhao De called out to him, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes, “Take this with you.” He handed Zhao De a delicate communication talisman, “Activate it immediately if there is any danger, and I will come as soon as possible.”
"Thank you, mentor." Zhao De put away the communication talisman, a warm feeling welling up inside him. He knew that this was more than just a tool; it was Zhao De's silent support and trust in him.
Chapter 134 Vigilance
Chapter 134 Vigilance
As night fell, Zhao De led his elite squad silently away from Ice City. Following the map, they traversed the dense forest and arrived at a secluded valley. Under the moonlight, several dilapidated buildings could be vaguely seen in the valley, and an ominous aura permeated the surroundings.
"Captain, why is it so quiet here? There aren't even any guards?" Team member Xiao Zhang asked in a low voice, sounding somewhat uneasy.
"The quieter it is, the more vigilant we must be," Zhao De whispered, signaling everyone to spread out and approach the buildings cautiously.