51: Chapter 51 Thunder and Water, Surprise Attack on the Demon Cave of He Island

The results of the preliminary count made even Old K's expression shift slightly. Mountains of cash (a mix of RMB, USD, Burmese Kyat, and Thai Baht), neatly stacked gold bars, bags of gemstones and uncut raw emeralds, rooms filled with designer bags and watches... as well as virtual currency records involving dozens of global accounts and astronomical sums recovered from encrypted computers and hard drives.

"Preliminary estimates place the value of physical assets alone at over 3.8 billion RMB. Virtual assets are still being decrypted, and the amount is unknown." Old K compiled the information and transmitted it back to Pangkham instantly through the system.

Mengping Baisheng, the massive tumor that had fed on the blood and flesh of countless compatriots and occupied North Wa for years, was completely crushed into ruins and ash in a steel storm lasting less than three hours. The firelight reflected the black "Death God" flags fluttering over the ruins, as well as the tearful faces of those who had finally seen the light of day again.

And this storm was only just beginning.

When the earth-shaking sound of artillery from the direction of Mengping drifted faintly to He Island on the night breeze, "Water Ghost" Sha Li was lying on a rattan chair in his waterfront bedroom, eyes closed to rest, his finger tapping the armrest rhythmically.

He appeared leisurely, but his ears were pricked, catching every hint of unusual movement.

"Master Sha." A lean subordinate wearing a black wetsuit pushed the door open softly and whispered, "There's a lot of movement over at Mengping... the shelling is intense. Tu Gang's side might be... finished."

Sha Li didn't even lift his eyelids; the frequency of his tapping on the armrest merely quickened slightly. "I know. What about our side?"

"As per your orders, surface patrols have doubled. The speedboats are ready, fully fueled, and can leave at any time. The bridgeheads and coastal defenses have been checked; ammunition is plentiful. Those two hundred 'cores' have been gathered in Warehouse No. 3 and are under guard," the subordinate reported fluently.

"Mm." Sha Li finally opened his eyes slowly, a cold light flashing in his triangular eyes. "Zhang Cheng is using heavy artillery to plow the fields in Mengping. It's the perfect way to deal with a simple-minded brute like Tu Gang. But for me..." A mocking sneer curled his lips. "He can't exactly fire shells into the river. Pass the word down: everyone stay sharp, but don't panic. Our way out is in the water, not on the walls."

"Yes," the subordinate replied, hesitating for a moment. "Master Sha, those remaining 'piglets'... nearly two thousand people. If..."

Sha Li's gaze turned icy as he glanced at him. "If what? If we can't look after them once the fighting starts? Then we don't. Those we can't take with us—are we supposed to leave them for Zhang Cheng to claim as credit? You know what to do when the time comes. Keep it clean."

The subordinate's heart chilled, and he lowered his head, not daring to look further. "Understood."

Sha Li waved him off and closed his eyes again. He had calculated everything clearly: there was only one bridge on the land route, and blowing it up would stall the enemy for a long time. The water surface was vast, and the Nanma River connected to other tributaries; the terrain was complex, and he knew it like the back of his hand. As long as he could hold out until dawn or escape via the water in the chaos, who could catch a "Water Ghost" like him?

He was confident that no matter how hard Zhang Cheng's fist was, hitting cotton and water would sap seventy percent of its force.

But he never expected that what Zhang Cheng sent to deal with him wasn't heavy artillery, but a sharper, more uncanny scalpel.

The moon was dark and the wind high. The Nanma River flowed, the sound of the water masking many subtle noises.

In a reed marsh about five hundred meters from the western shore of the He Island compound, a dozen dark figures wearing fully enclosed diving helmets silently emerged from the water. They were well-equipped, carrying waterproof packs and holding suppressed weapons—the elites of the Death God Legion's Special Operations Squadron.

The squad leader, codenamed "Blade," made a hand signal. Like ghosts in the water, the members submerged silently once more, leaving only faint ripples. Their objective: eliminate several key observation posts and hidden sentries along the shore.

Meanwhile, in a river bend two kilometers downstream, several boats that looked like dilapidated fishing vessels were quietly moored. Inside the cabins, however, was a different scene. S-04 stood before a modified command console, facing multiple screens displaying infrared drone views, underwater acoustic signals, and the status of each squad.

"Group A (Underwater Infiltration) has reached the designated position and is clearing targets," a calm electronic voice reported.

"Group B (Demolition) has finished deployment along the waterway. Underwater obstacles have been marked."

"Group C (Surface Assault) engines are preheating and ready to launch at any time."

Data streams flickered steadily in S-04's eyes. He received all the information, his brain processing it like a precision computer to form the optimal plan. The terrain of He Island, the distribution of defenders, firepower points, and possible escape routes were all constructed into a clear 3D model in his "mind."

"The Master wants total annihilation, especially the leaders; none must escape," S-04 murmured as if to himself, then ordered: "Group A, synchronize the clearing of all marked sentry posts in three minutes. Group B, prepare for detonation. Group C, wait for my command. Once the assault begins, prioritize taking out the river patrol boats and the pier to blockade all water routes."

"Copy."

"Understood."

"Ready."

Cold responses came in sequence. On the dark river, the killing intent was like a drawn bowstring.

He Island Compound, Western Bridgehead.

Two guards holding rifles huddled behind a fortification made of sandbags, whispering while they smoked.

"Damn, Mengping is probably in bad shape. Listen to that artillery..."

"Shh, keep it down! If Master Sha's people hear you, they'll skin you alive!"

"What's there to fear in this pitch blackness... Hey, do you think we'll..."

Before he could finish.

Thud! Thud!

Two muffled sounds, so faint they were almost masked by the water. Both guards stiffened simultaneously, a small bloody hole appearing in each of their foreheads. They slumped to the ground without a word.

At the edge of the reed marsh, two other hidden sentries had their mouths and noses covered by hands reaching out from the water at almost the same time, sharp daggers slicing through their throats.

The entire clearing process was fast, precise, and silent, taking no more than ten seconds from start to finish.

On the command ship, S-04 watched as the red dots representing sentry posts on the screen went out one by one, his expression unruffled.

"Group A clearing complete. Group B, detonate."

The order was given.

"Boom! Boom!"

Beneath the river surface, in the waters near the compound's main pier and speedboat berths, two massive plumes of water mixed with fire suddenly erupted! Pre-positioned underwater demolition cords blew Sha Li's carefully placed underwater barbed wire and hidden pilings to pieces, clearing an assault path!

The sound of the explosions was like thunder, instantly shattering the tranquility of the river!

"Enemy attack! Underwater explosion!"

"It's not artillery! It's from underwater! Alert! Alert!"

Alarms blared shrilly within the compound, and searchlight beams swept frantically across the river.

Now!

"Group C, assault! Open fire with everything you've got and suppress the coastal defenses!" S-04 barked coldly.

Vroom—!!!

Several disguised fishing boats suddenly threw off their tarps, revealing their ferocious true forms—high-speed assault boats! Engines roared, and bows cut through the waves like arrows as they charged toward He Island! The heavy machine guns and automatic grenade launchers on the boats spat out fierce tongues of flame even as they moved!

Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong!

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Hot tracer rounds, like the Death God's whips of fire, instantly lashed against the machine gun nests and observation towers on the shore! The wooden observation towers were riddled with holes and collapsed with a crash. The sandbag fortifications were blasted into clouds of dust, and the guards inside were suppressed, unable to lift their heads.

"They're coming from the water! Quick! Return fire!" a small coastal defense leader shouted at the top of his lungs.

Scattered return fire rang out, but under the fierce suppressive fire of the assault boats, it seemed weak and futile. More fatally, their attention was completely drawn to the front.

"Blade, take your men ashore and strike straight into the core zone. Control the 'Water Dungeon' and 'office area,' and find Sha Li," S-04 ordered the special forces team waiting in the water.

"Understood!"

The "Blade" squad, like an unsheathed blade, surged ashore through the gap blown underwater. In a practiced tactical formation, they cut into the compound's interior silently yet with incredible speed. Their target was the heart, not to get bogged down on the periphery.

Sha Li was startled out of his rattan chair by the explosions and the sudden eruption of gunfire.

"What's happening? Where is the shelling coming from?!" He rushed to the window, only to see fire flashing on the river and tracers crisscrossing. The coastal defenses he relied on were being peppered with fire, most of them silenced. And the explosions had come from underwater!

"It's not heavy artillery... it's assault boats! Special forces!" Sha Li instantly understood the opponent's tactics, and his heart sank. Zhang Cheng didn't intend to storm the fortress head-on; he wanted a precision decapitation!

"Master Sha! It's bad! The pier has been bombed! The patrol boats are suppressed by fire and can't get out!" a subordinate ran in panic to report.

"Useless!" Sha Li slapped him. "Use Waterway No. 2! Quick! Go to the private pier! Bring the men and the goods!"

He no longer hesitated, knowing that his slight advantage in the water network would likely be greatly diminished against special forces prepared for aquatic warfare. If he ran now, there was still a sliver of hope!

Taking several of his most core confidants and two waterproof cases filled with USD, gold bars, and hard drives, he hurried through the internal passages toward a hidden private pier in the northeast corner of the compound. His fastest modified speedboat was moored there.

However, just as they rushed out the back door and ran to the pier's jetty, they discovered to their despair that two Death God Legion assault boats had already blocked the narrow waterway exit like ghosts! The muzzles of the heavy machine guns on the boats gleamed coldly in the moonlight.

"Sha Li, you have nowhere left to run," S-04's emotionless voice came over the public channel.

"Damn it! Charge through!" Sha Li's eyes were bloodshot as he pulled out a pistol and roared at the speedboat driver.

The speedboat's engine roared as it tried to force its way through.

Dong! Dong! Dong!

The response was pitiless machine-gun fire.

Bullets instantly shredded the speedboat's cockpit and foredeck. The fuel tank was hit and exploded with a roar! The searing airwave knocked Sha Li and the others on the jetty to the ground.

Sha Li rolled on the ground, his face covered in soot. The waterproof cases had also burst open, and USD bills were scattered everywhere by the river breeze.

He looked at the burning wreckage of the speedboat, then at the two "killing gods" at the waterway exit, and heard the increasingly close sounds of intense gunfire and explosions from inside the compound (the main force of the 4th Battalion had launched a heavy assault from the land route). A cold despair completely submerged him.

It was over. The water route was blocked.

He still wanted to struggle, but a confidant beside him suddenly screamed and fell forward, a bloody hole in his back. A sniper!

Sha Li scrambled to hide behind a pile of discarded tires, his heart pounding wildly.

He saw special forces soldiers in black combat gear moving as fast as ghosts inside the compound, cutting through like daggers. Wherever they went, resistance quickly collapsed. More black-clad soldiers poured in from the main bridgehead (the breakthrough of the 4th Battalion's main force).

Attacked from front and back, and the water route cut off.

Sha Li panted heavily, his eyes darting around. He suddenly spotted a set of filthy clothes from a "piglet" killed by his subordinates nearby. A desperate, crazy idea popped into his head.

He crawled over on all fours, quickly stripped off the stained, ragged clothes, and pulled them over his expensive silk pajamas. He smeared his face with mud and soot, curled his body, and blended into a crowd of terrified "piglets" being rounded up by soldiers, lowering his head and shivering like the others.

Maybe... he could slip through? His heart thudded as he prayed.

The crowd was led in an orderly fashion to an open area for grouping. A soldier from the Death God Legion was responsible for the preliminary screening, his sharp gaze scanning the terrified or numb faces.

Sha Li kept his head down, holding his breath.

The soldier's gaze swept over him and seemed to pause for a fraction of a second. Sha Li's muscles tensed.

Then, he heard the soldier's emotionless voice: "Pupil feature scan matched. Gait analysis consistent. Target confirmed."

Sha Li jerked his head up, only to see a pair of cold eyes devoid of human emotion and a muzzle pointed at his forehead.

"No..." He only managed to squeeze out half a word.

Thud.

A faint sound. A small hole appeared on Sha Li's forehead, the terror and disbelief in his eyes frozen forever. His carefully planned water escape and his "three burrows" of preparation had become a joke in the face of absolute strength and technology.

He fell onto the muddy ground of He Island, which he had once viewed as his paradise and fortress, like a literal dead fish.

"Target 'Water Ghost' Sha Li has been eliminated," the soldier reported calmly.

With Sha Li's death, the remaining will to resist in the He Island compound completely collapsed. The Death God Legion forces from both land and water quickly took control of the entire scene.

When the soldiers opened the iron doors of the notorious "Water Dungeon," even the Death Soldiers fell silent for a brief moment. In the murky, foul water floated dozens of dying figures, their skin pale and ulcerated from soaking. Some still had their hands and feet shackled, their eyes as hollow as an abyss.

"Quick! Medics!" the leading officer's voice carried a hint of subtle urgency.

The battle lasted less than four hours, and the He Island scam compound was annihilated. Resisting forces and the leader Sha Li were killed, over three hundred were taken prisoner, and more than 2,800 imprisoned compatriots were rescued, nearly a hundred of whom were pulled from the Water Dungeon in critical condition.

The seized cash, gold, and virtual currency decrypted from Sha Li's secret encrypted devices were preliminarily estimated to be worth nearly 14.4 billion RMB.

Another tycoon of North Wa met his end under the more precise and uncanny "Thunder on Land and Water" strike.

When the battle reports from Mengping and He Island reached Pangkham almost simultaneously, a touch of white was appearing on the eastern horizon.

A new day was coming, and sunlight was about to shine upon this land that had just undergone a baptism of blood and fire.