148: Chapter 148 Scumbag! He took advantage of me and then ignored me!

After a long time, Qin Feng finally spoke slowly.

"I need those medicines, especially the antivenom. I also need that boat. Without these, you will likely not make it out of that swamp."

He did not argue about right or wrong; he was simply stating a cold fact.

Lanna's lips moved, wanting to retort, but she found she couldn't say a single word.

She knew that what Qin Feng said was right.

Reason told her this was the only choice.

But emotionally, she could not accept that in order to survive, she had become an unscrupulous bandit.

Looking at the conflicted expression on her face, Qin Feng sighed for no reason.

A troublesome woman.

He rubbed his brow and instructed, "Tonight, you stay here, don't go anywhere, and wait for me to return."

The night deepened quickly.

Qin Feng's figure, like a ghost, melted into the boundless darkness.

In the river bend camp, the bonfire had already gone out, leaving only a few red embers.

The four smugglers had drunk some alcohol and had long since fallen into a deep sleep, their snoring rising and falling.

They never dreamed that a Grim Reaper had quietly arrived.

Qin Feng did not choose to infiltrate directly.

He first controlled the bionic spider to silently crawl onto a tent, using the micro-camera on its appendages to confirm the four men's positions and sleeping postures.

Subsequently, he took something unexpected out of his backpack—a few pieces of dried wild boar meat.

He threw the meat into the bushes dozens of meters downwind from the camp.

After doing all this, he and Ghost lurked quietly in the darkness like patient hunters, waiting.

Not long after.

A rustling sound came from the depths of the jungle.

It was a beast!

A beast attracted by the smell of blood!

Immediately after, a suppressed low growl and the sound of tearing flesh were exceptionally clear in the silent night.

"What sound?!"

Inside the tent, a more alert smuggler was awakened.

He grabbed the AK beside him and shouted nervously.

"Damn it, what's the noise! Probably a wild dog fighting for food!"

Another companion who was woken up cursed impatiently.

"Something's not right, I'll go check!" The first person was still uneasy.

He pulled open the tent, carrying his gun, and walked cautiously toward the direction the sound came from.

Just the moment he left the camp area.

A black shadow lunged silently from the shadows behind him.

It was Ghost!

The smuggler didn't even have time to let out a cry before his entire body was dragged into the darkness by immense force.

The whole process was silent.

Qin Feng's figure took advantage of this gap to slip into the camp and knock everyone else unconscious.

His goal was clear—the medical kit and that boat.

After secretly swiping the important items, he headed straight for the boat by the river.

Lifting the tarpaulin, underneath were several boxes filled with smuggled goods.

Qin Feng didn't even look at them, throwing them directly into the river. Then, he cut the ropes securing the boat.

After doing all this, he didn't leave immediately.

Instead, he took the two AK rifles leaning outside the tent as well and threw them far into the jungle.

Only then did he jump onto the small boat and, using the oars, silently rowed the boat away from the shore, disappearing into the dark river channel.

When he returned to the temporary camp with the spoils, Lanna was pacing back and forth anxiously.

Seeing Qin Feng return safely, she let out a sigh of relief, but immediately after, when she saw what Qin Feng brought back, her expression became complicated again.

"You... what did you do to them?" She asked nervously, afraid of hearing the worst result.

"Don't worry, I didn't kill any of them." Qin Feng threw the medical kit to her and said flatly.

"I just invited them to feed the mosquitoes for a while and confiscated their tools of the trade. By the time they realize something is wrong at daybreak, we'll already be long gone."

Hearing this result, Lanna's hanging heart finally dropped completely.

She looked at Qin Feng, and there was something in her eyes that she herself couldn't explain.

This man, although cold, had his own bottom line.

Bottom line?

Fortunately, Qin Feng didn't know what she was thinking, otherwise, he would have laughed out loud.

What Lanna didn't know was that as long as these guys had military merit on their heads, Qin Feng would have hacked them to pieces!

Late at night.

Everything was ready.

The two boarded the boat and drifted downstream.

The night was like ink, and the occasional unknown insect chirping only made it seem quieter.

Qin Feng sat at the stern, controlling the direction with the oars, his movements light and steady.

His gaze was like a night hawk, scanning the surroundings vigilantly.

Lanna curled up in the cabin, covered by Qin Feng's coat.

She wasn't actually asleep, just closing her eyes, feeling the slight rocking of the small boat and the scent coming from the coat.

This scent made her a little intoxicated.

"Hey, Chef." She finally couldn't help but speak softly.

"Hmm?"

"Aren't you curious at all about what they were transporting on their boat?"

Lanna turned on her side, pillowing her head on her arms, looking at his blurred silhouette.

"Not curious." Qin Feng's answer was crisp and decisive.

"Whatever it is, it's sinking to the bottom of the river to feed the fish now. Our goal is to survive, not to strike it rich."

"You really are boring." Lanna curled her lips.

Qin Feng didn't respond, focusing on rowing the boat.

Lanna, on the other hand, became interested. She sat up, leaned toward the stern, and lowered her voice as if sharing a secret.

"I guess it was diamonds or gold! I've heard of this area; there are some abandoned old mines, and people often sneak in to dig."

"Oh."

"Or maybe it was arms! To sell to those local militants!"

"Hmm."

"It's also possible that it was..."

"Shut up and go to sleep." Qin Feng finally interrupted her impatiently.

"If you keep making noise, I'll throw you in to feed the crocodiles. My private property is divided into obedient ones and disobedient ones."

"You..."

Lanna was choked speechless by him, glared at him angrily, and finally lay back down obediently.

Only this time, she turned over, facing Qin Feng's direction, but the corners of her mouth curled up uncontrollably.

"Chef. Do you have a girlfriend?"

"Why are you asking this?" Qin Feng was stunned.

"Can't I ask? Don't be stingy, tell me." Lanna was increasingly curious.

"Let me tell you, don't you dare covet me. I'm a man you can't climb high enough to reach."

Qin Feng was straightforward and didn't give her any face.

"You jerk!" Lanna was successfully angered again, turned her head away, and stopped talking.

Now that they had kissed and hugged, and he had seen her all over.

Now that it's done, this jerk ate and ran without taking responsibility, and started turning his face and denying anyone.

She hated it so much!

"Scumbag!" Lanna muttered softly.

But even she didn't know why she couldn't bring herself to hate the Chef.

...

The night passed without incident.

The next morning, when the first ray of sunlight hit the river, Lanna was awakened by an enticing aroma.

Qin Feng had docked the boat at a hidden river bend at some point, and a small bonfire had been lit on the shore.

On the fire, several river fish were skewered on branches, sizzling with oil, golden and crispy.

"Awake? Come eat." Qin Feng handed her a grilled fish.

Lanna took the grilled fish and took a big bite; the skin was charred and fragrant, the meat fresh and tender. Simple salt and spices, yet he cooked it to a top-tier taste.

"Chef, who did you learn your skills from?" Lanna asked indistinctly while eating.

"New Oriental."

"What is New Oriental? Is it a very powerful Special Forces unit?" Lanna asked with curiosity.

Qin Feng's mouth twitched. He was too lazy to explain this meme that crossed world lines to her, only saying flatly: "Can't food plug your mouth?"

The next two days were the most comfortable period since they began their escape.

The small boat drifted downstream, saving them the hardship of hiking.

At night, Qin Feng would find a safe river bend to dock, light a bonfire, and grill fish or meat.

Lanna's injuries recovered extremely quickly under sufficient rest and medication.

Her complexion improved day by day, and those sapphire-like eyes regained their luster.

With her injuries mostly healed, Lanna was in a great mood, and she talked more.

She would tell Qin Feng some interesting things about Bear Country, talk about her life in college,

Talk about how she went from an unworldly top student to a military industrial female engineer.

Most of the time, Qin Feng just listened quietly, occasionally saying "Hmm," or making a snarky comment with his unique sharp tongue.

But Lanna could feel that he was actually listening.

This afternoon, the sun was just right.

Lanna leaned on the bow of the boat, took off her shoes and socks, soaked her fair calves in the cool river water, and narrowed her eyes comfortably.

"Hey, Chef."

"What now?"

"Tell me, after the war is over, what will you do?"

Qin Feng's rowing movement paused.

This question was something he had never thought about.

In his previous life, he had dedicated his whole life to the country and the army until the very last moment.

In this life, he seemed to be repeating the same trajectory.

"Probably... open a small restaurant."

This time, he uncharacteristically didn't use his sharp tongue, his tone carrying a hint of longing he hadn't even noticed himself.

"Really?" Lanna's eyes lit up, "Call it 'New Oriental'?"

"..."

Qin Feng's face darkened, "Call it 'Private Property, No Dogs Allowed'."

Lanna was stunned for a moment, then realized, and grabbed a handful of water and splashed it at him: "You're the dog!"

Qin Feng dodged nimbly, the water splashing on the boat deck, creating a crystal-clear spray.

The two laughed and played, the atmosphere so relaxed it was as if they weren't on the run, but on vacation.

However, this comfort was ultimately short-lived.

As the small boat continued to travel downstream, the surrounding environment began to undergo visible changes.

The river channel became wider and wider, the current became calmer, but the river water was no longer clear, presenting a disturbing yellowish-brown color.

The broad-leaved forests on both banks gradually disappeared, replaced by various strange vines and low, twisted trees.

In the air, a damp, rotting, fishy stench began to permeate.

"Are we... almost there?" Lanna pulled back her feet, her expression becoming somewhat solemn.

Qin Feng didn't answer, just looked up toward the front.

At the end of their line of sight, a thick, impenetrable green lay across the horizon.

Within that green, there seemed to be wisps of gray mist mixed in.

Death Swamp.

We've arrived.