Black Widow had mentioned earlier that they couldn't send a large force across the border to rescue Tony.
Qin Xiao had expected maybe a few people to come and provide some equipment and supplies to make it easier for the two of them to infiltrate the Ten Rings' camp.
He hadn't expected S.H.I.E.L.D. to send another of their ace agents, Hawkeye.
Hawkeye appeared before Qin Xiao on foot at one in the morning.
Just like in the movies, he was wearing a black combat suit, had a quiver on his back, and held a composite bow in his hand.
He was also carrying a bag filled with various individual combat weapons.
Qin Xiao didn't know if it was because the actors in the movies were generally older.
But so far, all the characters Qin Xiao had seen were much younger than they appeared in the movies.
Hawkeye looked to be no more than thirty years old, and was quite energetic, with a cold expression.
"Clint Barton, Agent Barton, this is Qin Xiao."
Black Widow gave a simple introduction to the two of them.
"Natasha told me about you. You lost Isaiah's blood and became a Super Soldier. You're lucky, kid!"
Hawkeye extended his right hand towards Qin Xiao.
"Calling me kid and saying I'm lucky? Heh!"
Qin Xiao secretly sneered in his heart and reached out to grasp Hawkeye's right hand.
"Sure enough, he's trying to probe me?"
Looking at Hawkeye's sturdy arm, Qin Xiao smiled slightly and exerted some force with his hand.
Hawkeye's expression instantly changed drastically.
"Hmm?!!!"
God is my witness, Hawkeye was just shaking hands normally. It was all in Qin Xiao's head; he just suddenly increased his strength.
The strength he possessed was measured in tons; even if Hawkeye was the most elite agent, he was still within the realm of human limits.
"Hey, Qin, what are you doing? Let go!"
Fortunately, Natasha pulled Qin Xiao away in time, or else Hawkeye wouldn't have been able to draw his bow today.
"Are you alright?"
Black Widow looked at Hawkeye, whose face was flushed.
Hawkeye didn't say anything, but shook his hand, then moved his palm, indicating that he was fine.
"What were you doing? Are you crazy? Why did you grip my hand so hard?"
Black Widow questioned.
Qin Xiao was also embarrassed. In fact, he knew as soon as he used force that Hawkeye hadn't intended to test him. Otherwise, he wouldn't have offered any resistance.
It was completely like he had been ambushed.
He scratched his head awkwardly.
He explained with an embarrassed expression.
"I thought he was going to test me, like they do in the movies, and he called me 'kid' and said I was lucky..."
Qin Xiao's voice trailed off, clearly embarrassed.
"I'm sorry, Agent Barton. How about I don't resist, and you squeeze it back?"
Qin Xiao held out his right hand.
Hawkeye glanced at him, resisting the urge to punch him in the nose.
He'd figured it out. This kid was a complete rookie.
"You owe me one, remember that!"
With that, he turned away with a cold expression to gather his equipment.
Hawkeye's face twisted as he turned, almost in tears.
He couldn't help it; his hand bones had been crushed so painfully.
That brief episode could be considered a way of getting to know Hawkeye.
At four in the morning, supposedly the deepest sleep time for humans at night.
A figure slowly crept near the Ten Rings camp.
"I have reached the designated position! Over!"
Qin Xiao lay prone less than twenty meters from the camp, wearing Night Vision Goggles the size of ordinary sunglasses.
said softly.
"Understood! Don't move yet, observe the camp and await instructions. Also, don't say 'over', this isn't a movie, rookie!"
Hawkeye's voice came through the earpiece.
On a small dune, less than a hundred meters from the camp.
After speaking, Hawkeye turned off the voice communication and picked up a bow and arrow, aiming at the camp.
"Wanna compete? Same rules?"
Beside him stood Black Widow, holding a sniper rifle equipped with a silencer.
"Alright! I never thought I'd get a chance to fight alongside you in the desert. Looks like Nick really values Tony Stark!"
Black Widow was carefully observing the distribution of the sentries in the camp through the scope of her sniper rifle.
"They're not focused on Stark, they're focused on this Qin kid. It's obvious they want us to bring a rookie."
Hawkeye adjusted the small monocular scope on one eye as he spoke, which seemed to be his standard equipment for long-range archery.
"I'll count to three, then we start together. One, two, three!"
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Since Qin Xiao had absorbed the Super Soldier serum, his physical senses were also stronger than the average person's.
He heard the sound of arrows whistling through the air.
As the sounds rang out, the sentries in the camp ahead began to fall one after another.
Some were directly hit in the throat by arrows, while others had holes blown through their foreheads.
It should have been Black Widow and Hawkeye working together.
In less than two seconds, seven or eight sentries, both visible and hidden, had all fallen.
Immediately afterwards, footsteps came from behind.
Hawkeye quickly ran over from behind.
As soon as he reached Qin Xiao's side, Hawkeye immediately drew his bow and aimed his arrow, staring intently at the direction of the camp.
Then Qin Xiao saw Black Widow running towards them from the small sand dune.
Also, without a word, he aimed his gun directly at the camp.
"I'll take the left cave. I'll hold them off if anyone comes out. Stark should be on the right. It's up to you. Any problems?"
Hawkeye glanced at Qin Xiao and said.
Qin Xiao gave an OK sign.
"Go!"
Hawkeye shouted, and Qin Xiao immediately sprang up from the ground.
This showed how high the cost-effectiveness of the Beginner Fighting Technique was.
It wasn't just the fighting skills, but also the understanding of firearms, even for a hostage rescue mission like this.
Qin Xiao, even though it was his first time, moved with the speed and grace of someone who had been trained.
He didn't seem like a newbie at all! Hawkeye gave Black Widow a thumbs up.
An expert could tell at a glance, the speed, the way he dodged obstacles, and the constant awareness of potential enemies ahead.
It was obvious he wasn't new to this.
"Not bad, this kid!"
Hawkeye followed up with the comment and ran towards the camp.
Maybe they were lax on the outside, or maybe they were confident in their chosen location.
There were no guards inside the cave, only two at the innermost gate.
They were just asleep, leaning against the large iron gate.
Qin Xiao hesitated for a moment, then pulled out his silenced pistol and shot each of them.
This was his first time killing someone. Qin Xiao had initially wanted to use a knife, but he thought a pistol would be better.
Perhaps it was because he used a pistol, or perhaps it was because he was anxious to save someone, but killing them with a pistol from a few meters away didn't make Qin Xiao feel any discomfort.