bookcurios Chapter 428 Suppressed Anxiety
Chapter 428 Suppressed Anxiety
An invisible pressure suddenly came over him, like an invisible hand gripping his chest tightly. Su Ming turned quickly, his gaze piercing the darkness like an arrow. He didn't panic, because he knew that panic would be fatal.
The enemy came with ill intentions. They weren't eager to attack, but rather, like cheetahs, stalking the shadows, rapidly closing in on him and his team. His brow furrowed, a strange sense of danger rising within him. The enemy wouldn't surround them for no reason; there must be some undeniable hidden agenda behind this.
He felt the blood coursing through his body, his muscles tensing almost painfully. He couldn't miss a single movement. Every breath seemed to come more rapid, as if the weight of the world were bearing down on his shoulders. No matter what, he couldn't make the same mistake again—he could never underestimate the enemy before him.
"Retreat." Su Ming gritted his teeth and whispered, his voice hoarse and rapid.
He scanned his surroundings, quickly assessing the situation: the surrounding buildings were too dilapidated, offering no cover. If the enemy's firepower suddenly descended, they would be defenseless. Only a swift retreat would provide a new opportunity. Though he felt a certain reluctance, he knew clearly at this moment that his fate was no longer entirely in his own hands—every decision he made could mean the difference between life and death.
The team members responded in unison and began to retreat quickly, their movements swift and coordinated. However, their retreat speed was obviously not as fast as the enemy's approach.
"Hurry! Hurry!" Su Ming commanded hurriedly, sensing a tangible threat from behind him. He turned back abruptly, a fierce look in his eyes. He dared not let his guard down for even a moment. Even he couldn't predict whether he could make it out of this dark night.
The team had already retreated a few steps, and Su Ming was about to lead them away when he suddenly heard hurried footsteps coming from the other side. Instinctively, he turned around and saw two figures in black approaching rapidly. He barely had time to think before his eyes suddenly lit up and he quickly drew the pistol from his waist.
boom!boom!
Two gunshots rang out almost simultaneously in the night sky. Bullets pierced the air, whistling past with sharp whistles. Two enemies fell to the ground, their blood quickly seeping onto the dilapidated street surface, leaving a vivid mark on this deadly city.
Su Ming showed no sign of relaxation, his heartbeat steady, as if he'd long since grown accustomed to the bloodshed. Dead enemies lay on the street, eyes wide open, as if watching them depart. A complex emotion flashed across his gaze: a calm yet rational expression, a burden he was destined to never let go of.
"Quick!" He growled, and continued to order his team to evacuate. Although he had killed the enemy, he knew that the real threat had just begun.
They continued to move forward, but could not escape the growing sense of oppression. Every time they looked back, they would see eyes flickering faintly in the darkness, as if countless eyes were watching them.
"Su Ming, what should we do?" a team member asked nervously, with a hint of anxiety in his eyes.
"Remain calm." Su Ming answered firmly and decisively. His voice was no longer as calm as before, but was filled with suppressed fatigue. "There is no choice. Keep moving forward."
He knew that this had already exceeded their expectations. The mission had become incredibly complex, and the original goal had almost lost its meaning. Now, he just wanted to survive and get out of this quagmire alive.
The team members followed in tacit agreement, their hearts filled with mixed emotions. Everyone understood that the upcoming mission was far more dangerous than they had imagined. The enemy's pursuit and interception had long made them realize that they had become prey.
As time passed, darkness gradually engulfed their surroundings, and the silence in the air grew increasingly suffocating. Su Ming's steps grew heavy, each one like treading on the edge of a cliff; any slight movement could send him plummeting into the abyss. But he didn't turn back, his eyes fixed only on the looming goal ahead—the dilapidated building. It was his only hope, his only temporary refuge.
The footsteps grew more hurried, and Su Ming's anxiety grew. He began to regret his impulsiveness—could he have avoided all this if he had been more patient? But the regret was fleeting. He knew regret was futile. Every mission left a mark on his life, a mark deeply etched into his soul, indelible.
"Hurry, hurry!" he urged. The team members' faces grew paler and paler, and their pace quickened. The atmosphere in the entire team began to grow increasingly heavy. No one spoke, and everyone knew that they had no way out.
"How far can we go?" One of the team members finally couldn't help but ask, with a hint of despair in his voice.
Su Ming's sharp eyes swept over him and he said in a deep voice, "As long as we are alive, we can keep going. Now, just keep going."
Su Ming's steps grew heavier. Every stone slab on the street, every building, even the faintest breath in the air, seemed to remind him: in this dark city, no one can escape fate. Suddenly, he stopped abruptly and looked back at his teammates behind him, his expression even more solemn than before.
"Where is Zheng Yaoxian?" He asked in a low voice, with a hint of barely perceptible anxiety.
The air seemed to freeze as the team members stopped and looked around. A sense of unease rose in everyone's heart. Almost subconsciously, everyone began to quickly scan every corner. But Zheng Yaoxian was not within their sight. At that moment, Su Ming's heart suddenly sank, and a hint of unease flashed in his eyes.
"He should be in front, right?" a team member asked tentatively, with a hint of uncertainty in his voice.
"No, he's not here." Su Ming's voice was calm, yet he suppressed a hidden anxiety. "I clearly saw him next to me just now."
He subconsciously recalled the scene from just now, the familiar pressure and tense atmosphere that was almost suffocating. However, his thoughts blanked for a moment. Zheng Yaoxian suddenly disappeared from the team. He had always believed that this problem would be forgotten as the mission progressed - after all, the mission was too urgent, and the enemy was pursuing them everywhere, so every decision had to be swift and decisive.
But Su Ming only now realized that he had neglected Zheng Yaoxian. His heart throbbed, and he suddenly realized that as captain, he carried too much responsibility and often overlooked details. The fact that Zheng Yaoxian was missing told him that the pressure of decision-making was quietly eroding his judgment and thinking.
"You retreat first." He suddenly made the decision, his tone firm and without any hesitation. "I'll go find Zheng Yaoxian."
The team members were stunned for a moment, exchanging glances. Although they had some doubts in their hearts, no one said anything. Everyone knew that Su Ming's decisions were always carefully considered, especially at a moment like this. He would not tolerate any mistakes or slackness.
"Captain, we can't split our forces." A team member finally spoke up, a hint of worry in his tone. "Zheng Yaoxian can take care of himself. Let's go first and regroup our forces before making plans."
"You don't have time to worry." Su Ming frowned and said calmly, "The enemy may surround us at any time. At this moment, no one can be left behind."
He finished speaking, barely waiting for the team members to say anything before he set off. The uneasiness in his heart burned like a raging fire, suffocating him. He couldn't stand any of the team members being out of his sight, especially Zheng Yaoxian—the man who had fought alongside him.
Zheng Yaoxian had been quiet and reserved since joining the team, but he was always the most determined member during every mission. That inner strength had once earned Su Ming's immense trust. However, now, Zheng Yaoxian had vanished. He couldn't just leave him out of this, couldn't let him become a victim in this bloody game.
Su Ming quickened his pace, his gaze fixed on the front. He no longer cared about other voices or concerns. For him, the most important thing now was to find Zheng Yaoxian and ensure his safety. He could ignore the rest.
The city night was still as still as water, broken only by the occasional crack of shattering glass and distant gunfire. Every corner was filled with the presence of the enemy. Su Ming took a deep breath, his eyes becoming sharper, his surroundings instantly becoming exceptionally clear. Every utility pole, every window, every dilapidated wall became a clue in his pursuit of Zheng Yaoxian.
He sped along, passing through ruined neighborhoods. Every broken brick and tile seemed to tell of the city's former glory and desolation. There were no enemy sights along the way, only fluttering scraps of paper and flickering light and shadow, which made him wary.
Suddenly, a rapid gasp came from the street corner ahead. Su Ming stopped abruptly, took a deep breath, and slowed his breathing. He had a strong premonition. He could recognize that the voice was clearly Zheng Yaoxian's.
He quickly turned the corner and saw a figure squatting on the side of the road, with his hands on his waist, as if holding down something.
"Zheng Yaoxian!" Su Ming called out in a low voice, with suppressed anxiety.
Zheng Yaoxian looked up at the sound, a flash of surprise in his eyes before regaining his composure. His face was pale, a hint of pain between his brows, but he remained calm and resilient. He didn't answer, but slowly stood up and tightened the hem of his clothes.
"Captain, it's okay." Zheng Yaoxian's voice was hoarse, but still so calm.
Su Ming's heartbeat slowed instantly, and he suppressed the surging emotions within him. He knew full well that Zheng Yaoxian couldn't have been injured for no reason. As he approached, he noticed that Zheng Yaoxian's clothing on one side of his waist was stained red with blood, and the wound appeared to be deep.