Chapter 18: The Black Market Counterattack (All-Out Battle for Survival)

The forest before dawn was shrouded in gloom, the air damp and heavy.

Chen Ye crouched in a clearing, a Type 56 semi-automatic rifle in his hand, a hunting rifle and pistol ready for action.

His sister, Chen Xue, stood ahead, her fingers lightly touching the ground, the power of their contract trembling slightly under her will.

The three brothers surrounded him, their eyes sharp, alert to every rustle of wind and the slightest movement of leaves.

In the distance, the low rumble of engines came from the highway, and seven or eight black jeeps slowly came to a stop.

The doors opened, and a dozen or so black market members stepped out, hunting rifles and pistols in hand, their eyes cold and sharp, as if the night itself had become their blades.

"Chen Ye!" the leading black market boss shouted, his voice icy and filled with murderous intent, "You scared us yesterday, but today, there's no turning back!"

Chen Ye gripped his rifle tightly and whispered to his brothers, "Don't make any rash moves, observe first. I'll take the lead."

The first wave of black market members rushed into the forest.

Chen Xue's breathing was steady as she lightly tapped the ground with her fingers, her contracted power fluctuating at will.

The space trembled slightly, and fallen leaves, branches, and forest air instantly formed a whirlwind, as if the forest itself was retaliating.

A Type 56 semi-automatic rifle fired, accurately hitting the shoulder of an approaching enemy.

A shotgun followed closely, intimidating the enemy formation.

However, the experienced black market members quickly dispersed, attempting to flank them.

Chen Ye shouted, "Xue, protect the flanks!" His sister nodded, her fingers tracing the ground, and her contracted power instantly created a whirlwind barrier, keeping the enemy at bay.

The system vibrated subtly, detecting a high degree of coordination between the two, but their mental strain was nearing its limit.

The battle escalated.

The black market leader decisively created distance, firing his shotgun in rapid succession, accompanied by chaff and smoke.

Chen Ye relied on a secret technique taught by his father to control his breathing and will, maintaining the stability of his domain.

A whirlwind of falling leaves, the clash of branches, and the churning of soil formed a natural barrier, yet without harming the siblings.

However, the younger sister's contracted power grew stronger with each use, beginning to exhibit a small-scale berserk state. Branches snapped back abruptly, the whirlwind intensified, and even the airflow itself shifted abnormally.

Chen Ye took a deep breath: "Xue, listen to me, breathe in sync with me!"

The younger sister nodded, adjusting her focus. The spatial fluctuations gradually subsided, but a sense of oppression remained.

The black market members were terrified, clearly not expecting the 16-year-old girl's power to be so ferocious.

But the leader remained calm. He directed the remaining troops to flank the forest, forming a pincer movement.

Chen Ye immediately sensed the danger and whispered to his three brothers: "Spread out and encircle them, suppress the flanks, and whatever you do, don't get close to Xue!"

The battlefield seemed alive; the domain and contracted power interacted with the forest environment. Every shot fired, every movement, caused micro-tremors in the space and the clash of branches.

The scents of blood, earth, and metallic gunpowder mingled, the oppressive feeling reaching its limit.

After nearly ten minutes of fierce fighting, the air in the forest gradually calmed down.

The black market operators were forced to retreat; several were injured, and the leader retreated to a distance, his eyes cold, clearly making a silent vow—

"This was just a test; the real revenge will come."

Chen Ye squatted in the forest, his shoulders slightly sore, sweat streaming down his face.

His younger sister knelt on the ground, breathing rapidly, her fingers still twitching slightly.

Chen Ye looked at her and said softly, "Xue, you did well, but don't forget—power is a partner, not a weapon."

His sister nodded, her eyes flashing with unwavering determination.

The forest was temporarily calm, but a slight tremor still lingered in the air, as if reminding them—the black market wouldn't give up so easily, and the system was also observing in secret; the battle of power and will had only just begun.