bookcurios Chapter 520 A Low Voice
Chapter 520 A Low Voice
The boss nodded and pointed to the corner: "It's over there, take your pick."
Su Ming walked to a corner, selected a reasonably sized notebook, and grabbed two pens. He tried not to appear anxious, but his hands were a little stiff. His mind was still mulling over the complex symbols, and he couldn't help but mutter to himself, "What exactly do these things imply..."
“People have been buying these things a lot lately,” the boss said suddenly, a hint of casual curiosity in his tone.
Su Ming's heart tightened when he heard that. He turned to look at his boss, trying to make his expression look natural. "Really? Quite a lot of students, huh?"
The boss smiled and didn't respond, simply lowering his head to continue sorting things on the counter. Su Ming didn't want to continue this conversation, so he hurriedly took a pen and paper to the counter to pay. As the boss took the money, his eyes seemed to glance at him, intentionally or not, making him feel uncomfortable.
"Thank you." Su Ming said briefly and quickly left the shop.
Upon returning to his residence, Su Ming locked the door and, after confirming that nothing was amiss, breathed a sigh of relief. He spread out the notebook and pen he had bought on the table and unfolded the crumpled paper again. The symbols on the paper looked even more eerie in the candlelight.
He picked up a pen and began to copy the symbols one by one, trying to sort out the connections between them. However, as time went on, he found that the symbols did not follow any direct logical order. They looked like a coded language, but mixed with some seemingly ambiguous patterns, leaving him completely confused.
"If these symbols are a code, then what are the rules for decoding them?" Su Ming frowned, his eyes solemn. He tried to group the symbols and then analyzed them using common code-breaking methods, but each method was fruitless.
"This doesn't seem like an ordinary password at all." He gritted his teeth, feeling powerless.
Time slipped by unnoticed, the candlelight gradually extinguished, and the room grew even darker. Su Ming rubbed his sore eyes, his anxiety gradually building. He suddenly remembered Zheng Yaoxian's words—"Don't trust anyone." These words echoed in his ears like a curse.
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. At this moment, he could only rely on himself. Zheng Yaoxian wouldn't give him a direct answer, and the threats lurking in the shadows made it difficult for him to trust others easily. "I must find the meaning of these symbols," he said to himself, his eyes growing more determined.
Just as he was immersed in his analysis, another slight noise came from outside the door. This time, it was a low, persistent sound similar to friction. Su Ming's nerves instantly tensed, his hand involuntarily clenching around his pen, his eyes fixed on the door.
"Who?" he asked tentatively in a low voice.
Su Ming felt a chill run down his spine, the feeling of being watched pricking his nerves like needles. Although he didn't turn around, his peripheral vision caught a glimpse of vague figures. The streetlights were dim, their light intermittent, and the shadows in the distance were as deep as a bottomless abyss. Every time he quickened his pace, the feeling of being watched intensified, as if an invisible gaze was fixed on him.
"Someone is following me." This thought flashed through his mind like lightning, his heartbeat suddenly accelerated, and his palms were slightly sweaty. He quickly calmed down and tried to appear natural, but his pace could not help but become faster.
Various possibilities flooded his mind simultaneously. "Is it Zheng Yaoxian's men, or a hostile force?" Su Ming weighed the options in his mind, trying to come up with an answer. If it was Zheng Yaoxian's men, then this might be some kind of test or temptation. But if not—then he was probably being pushed to the brink.
He couldn't help but glance behind him. Sure enough, the blurry figure was still not far away. The other party's steps were very skillful, neither hurried nor deliberate, but always maintaining a safe distance, just enough to be inconspicuous. This tracking method was definitely not something an ordinary person could master, and it made Su Ming even more alert.
He turned into a secluded alley, where the light was even dimmer. The walls were covered in moss, and the air was filled with a damp, cold smell. The cobblestones beneath his feet were uneven, and each step echoed slightly. He reached the end of the alley and deliberately paused, pretending to sort through his pockets while keeping his ears open, monitoring any movement behind him.
A moment later, Su Ming heard the sound of soft footsteps coming from the alley entrance. The sound was gentle, like a cat scurrying cautiously, but it was amplified by his tense nerves. The other party, apparently aware of something unusual in the alley, paused for a moment before resuming a steady pace.
Su Ming's heartbeat grew increasingly rapid, and his hand was already stealthily reaching for the dagger hidden within his coat. He knew he had to act, or else, if the other party struck first, he might not even have a chance to react. He quickly pondered a strategy for escape, the tactics and techniques Zheng Yaoxian had taught him flashing through his mind.
"Don't let your emotions control you. Take the initiative." Zheng Yaoxian's voice seemed to be right beside him, calm and powerful. Su Ming took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. He decided to do the opposite. Rather than continue to be followed passively, he would test the other party's strengths.
He pretended to be calm, straightening his coat and heading towards the alley entrance. As he approached, the footsteps indeed stopped, as if the shadow was hesitating whether to continue following. Su Ming's eyes flashed, and he felt a little more certain. He suddenly turned around, his eyes as sharp as an eagle, staring straight at the alley entrance.
"Who's there?" Su Ming's voice was low, yet it carried an undeniable authority. His right hand was already gripping a dagger, hidden beneath his coat, ready to respond to any emergency.
A figure slowly emerged from the darkness. It was a middle-aged man wearing an ordinary gray coat, holding a cigarette case in his hand, with a faint smile on his face.
"Don't be nervous, my friend." The man's voice was hoarse, with a hint of deliberate kindness. He raised the cigarette case in his hand and said slowly, "I just want to borrow a light."
Su Ming narrowed his eyes, mentally analyzing the man's words and actions. He didn't recall seeing any cigarette shops anywhere he'd just passed, and the man's gait, demeanor, and sudden appearance all hinted at something unusual. He didn't respond immediately, instead staring intently into his eyes, trying to decipher something.