113. Last-Ditch Interception (Third Update!)

"Damn it!"

Bang! Bang!

The two gunshots sounded jarringly loud in the empty night, immediately followed by a burst of intense automatic fire.

"Damn it!"

Li Changjiang was forced to roll back in a humiliating display of desperation. Before he could even lift his head, another series of pops rang out. Sand and concrete shards from the wall above his head were pulverized into a fine, suffocating powder that rained down on his face and hair, making him cough uncontrollably.

He cursed, then raised his weapon to return fire.

These damned Libyans had unexpectedly become cautious; they wouldn't even poke their heads out. The bastards.

Bang, bang, bang!

He emptied his magazine in one go.

Click! Click!

Damn, out of ammo!

"Nicholas! Nicholas! Ammo! Give me a magazine! Damn it!"

Under the wall across the street, Nicholas shouted something back at Li Changjiang.

"What?"

"What? Damn it, I can't hear you!"

"Ammo! He needs ammo!"

Bang, bang, bang!

Before the words could fade, a hail of bullets shredded the window frame above their heads, sending stone fragments flying. Nicholas, seemingly still dazed from the previous rocket blast, only understood what Li Changjiang meant when Jin pointed at the magazines on his belt.

But as soon as Li Changjiang caught the magazine tossed by Nicholas, he was stunned.

It was the completely wrong caliber.

Nicholas was carrying an FN-FAL assault rifle, a weapon frequently used in Libya. This Israeli-made rifle fired 7.62x51mm rounds, which were incompatible with the AK-series rifle in Li Changjiang’s hands.

"Damn it!"

"Nicholas! A gun! I need a gun!"

"Jin!"

But it was too late!

Just as Jin tried to move across, an RPG rocket streaked toward them, trailing white smoke.

"Asshole, it's an RPG!"

"Get down!"

BOOM!

The violent blast unleashed a shockwave that stripped the outer layer off the wall and warped the very doorframe. Fortunately, the wall absorbed the brunt of the explosion. Aside from the deafening ringing in their ears—a temporary bout of deafness—Nicholas and Jin hadn't sustained any serious injuries.

But Li Changjiang was in trouble.

Taking advantage of the RPG blast that suppressed Nicholas and Jin's fire, the small group of Libyans and several mercenaries began to advance. Bullets peppered the walls, sending stone chips flying everywhere. Li Changjiang huddled against the base of the wall, clutching his head, unable to lift it.

"Assholes!"

"Damn it! Nicholas, you bastard, I'm going to die!"

There was no response from behind. Nicholas and Jin were as silent as the grave. Li Changjiang could even hear footsteps approaching from the corner on the other side. Damn it!

His nerves tightened to the breaking point. Just as he prepared to gamble on a desperate charge, he heard it.

Rat-tat-tat!

Bang! Bang, bang, bang!

He finally heard the familiar sound of gunfire. Li Changjiang had never thought gunshots could sound so beautiful.

How important is a good teammate?

If asked right now, Li Changjiang would answer with one word: glorious.

It was simple: with an excellent teammate, the chance of survival increased exponentially. Without one, you weren't far from death. The Russian had finally come through.

Caught off guard by the sudden fire from the Russian and Jin, the attacking squad of Libyans and mercenaries were thrown into confusion and began to retreat. Li Changjiang took the opportunity to sprint into the room where the Russian and Jin were holed up, gasping for air.

"Hey, buddy! We meet again!"

The three of them exchanged quick, fierce hugs, and Li Changjiang immediately grabbed a spare rifle from the floor and began firing.

"Hey, pal, I knew you'd come back! This is Libya; this is where men belong."

The Russian seemed unusually excited, though Li Changjiang could still see a glimmer of exhaustion and tension in his eyes. The entire Griffin Mercenary Group had been either wiped out or captured, which was a grim outcome for the Russian. Jin was a capable fighter, but he fell short compared to Li Changjiang. With Li Changjiang there—a man who naturally assumed a leadership role—the pressure on the Russian was significantly reduced.

Hearing the Russian’s words, Li Changjiang felt a mix of excitement and helplessness. If not for necessity, no one in their right mind would choose to make a living on the battlefield.

"Those damned Libyans have been chasing us for a day and a night!"

"Hey, Li, did you receive the money I sent you?"

"Yeah, thanks, Nicholas!"

"Hahaha, that money was always yours, but remember, Lucia gets a share too."

"I will!"

After their brief exchange, Jin’s face had turned deathly pale. He had lost too much blood from his wound; if he didn't receive treatment soon, he would be in grave danger.

"Li, we don't have much time. We must leave now; Jin can't hold on much longer."

"What’s your plan?"

Li Changjiang peeked through a crack in the window. The Libyans were keeping their heads down; there was no way to leave without them giving chase. Those bastards would definitely follow.

"You take Jin and go. I’ll stay behind to provide cover!"

"Damn it! I'll stay!"

Nicholas tried to argue, but Li Changjiang glared him into silence.

"My aim is better than yours!"

The cold, flat statement made Nicholas shut his mouth. He knew Li Changjiang wasn't wrong. In urban warfare, his marksmanship couldn't compare to Li Changjiang's. He had witnessed the terrifying, peerless accuracy of Li Changjiang within a hundred meters.

"Okay, we'll rendezvous ten kilometers out!"

Pointing in a direction, Nicholas tossed his FAL assault rifle and spare magazines to Li Changjiang. He then pulled a handgun from his back, slung Jin over his shoulder, and bolted out the back door.

"Quick! They're running!"

"Fire!"

He heard a mercenary shout, and the gunfire erupted again. But this time, Li Changjiang didn't move. He held his breath, staring fixedly at the street corner.

A shadow emerged.

Pfft!

One!

Pfft!

Two.

By the time he pulled the trigger for the third time, the rebels and mercenaries on the other side were already scrambling back in a panic.

"Damn it, it's a sniper!"

The group pursuing Nicholas and Jin—a mix of Libyans and a few Arab mercenaries—had numbered nearly twenty. The previous three waves of attacks had already seen most of them taken out by Li Changjiang and Nicholas. It would be nearly impossible for the remaining ten or so to break through Li Changjiang's position.

In truth, a few sprints would have covered the distance, but Li Changjiang’s terrifying, sustained marksmanship had created intense psychological pressure. The mercenaries, in particular, were fighting for money; if they knew it meant certain death, they wouldn't throw their lives away.

Money was never more important than life.