bookcurios Chapter 417 Iron Wall
Chapter 417 Iron Wall
"Speak." Su Ming lowered his voice. Although he had some doubts in his heart, he knew that this was not the time to question Zheng Yaoxian. The enemy's threat was approaching.
Zheng Yaoxian lowered his head, his lips trembling slightly. He seemed to have a lot to say, but he kept it to himself. Finally, he sighed deeply, "I know you haven't forgotten that incident... We can't continue like this, Su Ming. Every decision you make now is too risky."
This sentence sent a tremor through Su Ming's heart. He suddenly realized that Zheng Yaoxian's words were filled with deep helplessness, as if he wasn't simply uneasy about the current situation, but felt unbearable pressure from certain past events.
"What are you talking about?" Su Ming's eyes flashed with a complicated light, trying to read more from Zheng Yaoxian's tone.
A thought flashed through Su Ming's mind. His heartbeat quickened, and suppressed emotions washed over him like a tide. Zheng Yaoxian's expression was unlike anything he had ever seen before. The nervousness, the conflict, the even slightest hint of fear on his face instantly sent a chill through Su Ming's heart.
He knew Zheng Yaoxian wasn't one to easily express his emotions. In many crises, he'd always remained calm and composed, rarely losing his composure in the face of complex situations. But now, his silence was no longer a sign of fortitude, but one of repression, hesitation, even resignation, as if an unbearable burden were looming. And this burden had clearly, at some point, breached his boundaries.
"What do you know?" Su Ming's voice was so low that it was almost inaudible, but with a hint of determination. He stared into Zheng Yaoxian's eyes, not wanting to miss any details.
Zheng Yaoxian didn't answer immediately. His eyes were downcast, as if he was thinking about something, or perhaps avoiding Su Ming's gaze. An unspeakable silence filled the air, with only the occasional rustling of the wind through the grass, adding a touch of oppression to the conversation.
"I..." Zheng Yaoxian opened his mouth, as if about to say something, but swallowed it back, ultimately letting out a long sigh. His voice was low, filled with deep resignation. "Su Ming, this mission... for me, is more than just a simple task. I know you've worked hard to complete it, but some things just can't go on."
Su Ming was slightly stunned, his heart skipping a beat. He knew Zheng Yaoxian wasn't one for directness, and his hesitation and struggle at this moment were clearly significant. Every word carried a weight, as if telling Su Ming—what they were about to face wasn't just an enemy, but an inescapable abyss.
"Zheng Yaoxian, what are you hiding?" Su Ming's doubts grew stronger, but his tone remained calm. "If anything seems amiss, speak up now, immediately."
Zheng Yaoxian finally lifted his gaze from the ground, raised his head slightly, and looked at Su Ming. In that instant, Su Ming saw a complex emotion flash across his eyes, a mixture of determination and confusion. After a moment's silence, Zheng Yaoxian slowly spoke, "Have you ever considered that all this... isn't as simple as we imagined? Do you think those supplies and intelligence are really that important? Do you think the enemy will really act according to conventional methods?"
Su Ming's heart trembled. He could hear the uneasiness, even the alarm, in Zheng Yaoxian's words. This wasn't just a doubt about the mission itself, but a reflection on the entire situation. Su Ming pondered for a moment, and suddenly a sense of unease emerged in his heart.
"What do you mean?" Su Ming's tone was a little anxious. He had begun to vaguely understand that what Zheng Yaoxian said, "Things are not as simple as we think," seemed to hide a more complicated truth.
"You..." Zheng Yaoxian lowered his head and remained silent for a long time, as if he was making a difficult decision. His voice was soft, but it carried a firmness that could not be ignored. "Su Ming, listen to me. All of this was a plot that had been planned for us long ago. That batch of supplies was not an accident; it was deliberately set for us to take over. We are not the only target. In fact, our actions have long been anticipated by the enemy. Every decision you make now is in line with their plan."
Su Ming's heart sank suddenly, as if he were being weighed down by a heavy force, unable to breathe. His intuition told him that Zheng Yaoxian wasn't exaggerating. Everything he said was like a veil suddenly lifted, hiding countless mysteries.
"What are you talking about?" Su Ming could hardly believe his ears. His voice was low and nervous. "Why didn't you tell me earlier? We've come this far. Do you want me to stop?"
Zheng Yaoxian closed his eyes and remained silent for a long time, as if he had made some kind of decision. His voice rose again, but more calmly than before: "Because, even now, I'm still not completely sure. Everything is too complicated and too dangerous. I dare not take risks easily, especially when you are so deep in it."
Su Ming's emotions instantly became extremely complicated. He knew Zheng Yaoxian was not one to give up easily; every decision he made was the product of careful consideration and calm analysis. Zheng Yaoxian's hesitation and uneasiness were clearly due to his glimpse of something more hidden. Su Ming's thoughts raced, trying to piece together a complete picture from these fragmented words, but no matter how he tried, he could not fully understand why Zheng Yaoxian was so cautious, even a little afraid.
"So, why didn't you tell me earlier?" Su Ming's tone gradually cooled, his eyes sharpening with a hint of reproach. "If you knew there was trouble, why didn't you warn me sooner? You know how complicated the situation we're facing is, so why didn't you take action sooner?"
Zheng Yaoxian's eyes dimmed, and he whispered, "I know, but now... we've gone too far. As you can see, all our arrangements are irreversible. If we stop now, we might not even have a way out. I don't want you to get stuck any deeper, but I also know that it's too late to say anything now."
Su Ming's heart grew heavier. Zheng Yaoxian's words carried an undeniable tinge of fear. His profound understanding of the situation, his helplessness at the extremes that might unfold, resonated clearly within him. His chest felt like it was being crushed by a huge rock, making it impossible to breathe. The air around him seemed to grow thicker, the surrounding fog swallowing up all sound. Only his conversation with Zheng Yaoxian seemed to hold everything in place.
"You said the enemy knows everything about us?" Su Ming gritted his teeth, his tone almost cold. "Then what should we do now?"
Zheng Yaoxian didn't answer directly, but simply stared at him in silence, his eyes filled with complex emotions, as if he had a thousand words to say but couldn't find the words to express them. Su Ming knew that he could sense the pain and helplessness Zheng Yaoxian felt deep within, but the decision he had made at this moment would not allow for any more delay.
"We can't turn back." Su Ming suddenly made up his mind, his voice clear and decisive, as if speaking to himself and Zheng Yaoxian, "Since we have come this far, we must continue. The enemy has set his sights on us, so we must wipe them out. No matter what, we can't let them continue to control the situation."
Zheng Yaoxian was stunned for a moment, looking into Su Ming's eyes. He seemed to want to say something, but he didn't. Silence filled the air, broken only by the occasional unidentified sound from afar.
Su Ming took a deep breath, a glint of determination flashing in his eyes. He knew he could no longer retreat, and this path would determine the outcome of everything.
"Get ready, let's move on." Su Ming's voice was steady and his eyes were firm, as if there was no sign of hesitation.
Su Ming's heartbeat accelerated dramatically, the rush of adrenaline making his every movement incredibly clear and swift. In that moment in front of the iron gate, he barely hesitated as he slammed the doorknob open with both hands. His figure flashed through the doorway like a flash of lightning, disappearing into the darkness.
Behind the door lay a dim corridor, the air thick with a musty odor. Su Ming took a deep breath and continued forward, almost without pausing. His steps were light and almost silent, yet the tension within him surged like a turbulent ocean. With each step, he mentally calculated, and every advance felt like challenging an unknown abyss.
He knew that they had been targeted and could not afford any more hesitation or mistakes. If they missed this moment, they might never get back on their feet again.
The corridor was flanked by iron walls, emitting a deep, echoing sound, as if every step warned him of the dangers lurking within. Su Ming didn't dare be careless. He quickly pulled out his pistol, gripping it tightly in his hand. His movements were swift and decisive. Every inch of advancement required caution and care.
The uneasiness within him grew stronger. Although the outside world was relatively quiet, he couldn't shake the feeling of potential threat. It seemed that every dark corner, even the mottled marks on the wall, reminded him that this place was not a simple storage warehouse, but a secret room harbouring a deep danger.
Suddenly, a faint sound, like footsteps, echoed from the far end of the corridor. Su Ming's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly stopped, leaning slightly against the wall, holding his breath. His eyes scanned every detail ahead, his mind racing through every possible scenario—could the enemy have discovered their tracks, or was this all a clever setup, waiting for them to step into a trap?