Spy Wars: Strong Agents Who Are Ruthless and Talk Little

Chapter 414 Deep Guilt

Su Ming didn't pause. He quickly turned and led his team toward another alley. Every step was like treading on thin ice. Every time he looked back, he felt as if he saw invisible eyes staring at them. He could feel the pressure in the air, like an invisible net, slowly tightening.

"Don't let your guard down." These words kept echoing in Su Ming's mind, as if it was not just a reminder, but more like an invisible command, forcing him to stay alert.

The footsteps drew closer, and Su Ming's every nerve was on edge. The street ahead was completely bathed in the dim light of the streetlights, and the footsteps behind him grew louder. It was an enemy patrol. Although they had strayed from their original path, their reaction speed was incredibly sharp, sensing something was amiss almost the moment they began to move.

A sharp cry was heard from not far away, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps approaching rapidly. Su Ming knew that they had been discovered. The enemy was rapidly approaching their position.

"Get ready," he said in a deep voice, his eyes gleaming with determination. Without further ado, he quickly pulled out a grenade and hurled it at the approaching enemy. As the grenade arced through the air and exploded, a powerful shockwave erupted, and smoke and flames instantly engulfed everything around him.

At that moment, all sounds seemed swallowed by the force of the explosion, and the air was filled with the smell of gunpowder and dust. Su Ming didn't pause, and immediately took the next step. Almost at the moment of the explosion, he leaped forward, leading his team through the smoke that formed after the explosion.

His heart beat faster and faster, as if a nuclear bomb had exploded in his chest, but he knew that this moment of respite wouldn't guarantee victory. The sound of the explosions might confuse the enemy, but it wouldn't change the outcome. Sooner or later, the enemy would lock onto their path again. The longer the battle lasted, the more Su Ming felt the irresistible pressure, hammering down on his heart like a sledgehammer.

The team members followed closely behind, their steps swift but coordinated. Each of them held a silent determination in their eyes, as if the entire operation had transcended the mission itself, becoming their final sprint, their final attempt to prove themselves.

Although every minute and every second seemed invaluable, Su Ming still dared not slack off. Even though his body was beginning to feel tired and his legs were gradually losing strength, he still gritted his teeth and persevered, as if this was the only way to live up to himself and those who expected him the most.

"Front, turn right." A low command suddenly came from the team member in front of him, and Su Ming responded immediately. There was no delay, no hesitation—it was simply an instinctive reaction. No amount of calculation would be futile. Only swift decision-making and unwavering execution could find a way out of this life-or-death situation.

Su Ming's steps grew heavier, and his fatigue became more pronounced. He knew he couldn't stop, couldn't slack off any longer. But a vague sense of unease lingered, like a shadow buried deep within his heart, lingering. His eyes grew sore, the weapon in his hand felt incredibly heavy, and the tight grip between his fingers made his joints ache, as if every second of pause was sapping his remaining strength.

He glanced down at the communicator on his wrist. The signal from headquarters had vanished, leaving only the echo of silence in the air. The team members continued to follow closely, their tacit steps unwavering, but Su Ming's mind became increasingly aware that their current situation had subtly changed.

A sudden stirring in his heart, as if something was missing, struck him. He glanced behind him. None of the team members appeared unusual, except for the newcomer, Lin Tao, whose expression seemed a little nervous, a subtle anxiety in his eyes. Su Ming couldn't help but frown. He didn't feel any great danger, so why did this feeling of anxiety linger with him, lingering like a shadow? He quickly gathered his thoughts, trying to pinpoint the problem even in the smallest detail.

Suddenly, a strong sense of uneasiness came over him. He turned around abruptly, his eyes sweeping over everyone in the team, and finally stopped on Zheng Yaoxian.

Zheng Yaoxian stood slightly behind the other team members, his expression less composed than usual. In stark contrast to Su Ming, Zheng Yaoxian seemed even quieter, his eyes concealing an undisguised weariness. His unspoken anxiety was even more pronounced than Lin Tao's, yet deftly concealed. However, Su Ming hadn't noticed anything unusual about Zheng Yaoxian until this moment, when he suddenly realized that this usually taciturn team member seemed to be on the brink of danger.

"Zheng Yaoxian, what's wrong?" he asked softly, with a hint of concern in his tone.

Zheng Yaoxian's eyes flickered slightly, and he lowered his head to look at the weapon in his hand, as if he was at a loss. "It's okay." His voice was low and almost inaudible, but that moment of hesitation was like a heavy stone hitting Su Ming's heart.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Su Ming stopped, turned around, and fixed his eyes on Zheng Yaoxian's unnatural expression.

"I'm fine." Zheng Yaoxian's eyes were a little vague, but he quickly regained his composure and forced a smile, as if to reassure Su Ming.

However, Su Ming wasn't fooled by his smile. Zheng Yaoxian's movements were stiff, and the fatigue in his eyes was no longer the usual battle fatigue, but a deep weariness, even tinged with a faint sense of fear. His gaze wasn't as resolute as before, but instead held a hint of evasion. Every time Su Ming's gaze passed over him, he unconsciously lowered his head, as if avoiding something he didn't want to face.

"There's a problem." A sudden, confirming thought crossed Su Ming's mind. A change that had escaped his notice through all his tactical judgment and careful observation of his surroundings suddenly surfaced at this moment, thanks to Zheng Yaoxian's reaction.

He suddenly realized that he'd been too focused on advancing the mission in his decision-making lately, neglecting to consider his teammates' mental states. Even the slightest change in a person's mood could, at some unnoticed moment, affect the entire operation. Zheng Yaoxian, a crucial member of the team, was particularly vulnerable. If something went wrong, it could have a significant impact on the entire team.

Su Ming's thoughts quickly retraced to several previous decision points. He had paid scant attention to Zheng Yaoxian. Recent mission assignments, especially the rapid response to emergencies, had consumed almost all of his energy in managing external pressures, neglecting the well-being of his teammates, especially Zheng Yaoxian. This small oversight, like a drop of water in a crack, began to invisibly erode the stability of the entire team.

"You don't have to pretend anymore." Su Ming's tone became serious, with a hint of unquestionable deterrence.

Zheng Yaoxian lowered his head, as if he had completely lost the strength to resist, his shoulders hunched slightly, appearing somewhat powerless. He didn't seem to say anything, but Su Ming clearly felt the struggle within. He didn't know what Zheng Yaoxian had been through, but regardless, now was not the time for him to escape.

"What happened?" Su Ming asked again, his eyes becoming sharper, like a sharp blade, piercing through Zheng Yaoxian's defense.

Zheng Yaoxian's expression finally showed some change. He raised his head, locked eyes with Su Ming for a second, and then spoke slowly, "I... I can't do it anymore, Su Ming. I..."

At this point, his voice suddenly faltered, as if some invisible force had seized his throat. His face paled, cold sweat instantly broke out on his forehead, and a flicker of panic crossed his eyes. Zheng Yaoxian's usual calm and decisive demeanor was gone; instead, he felt an unconcealable sense of collapse.

Su Ming frowned. He could sense Zheng Yaoxian's fear, like an invisible wave, permeating the air and affecting everyone's emotions. Zheng Yaoxian had never been one for emotions; even during the most dangerous missions, his calmness and decisiveness always impressed. But now, his condition was clearly off, as if he was under pressure beyond his capacity.

"What did you say? No?" Su Ming lowered his voice, his tone even colder than before.

Zheng Yaoxian seemed unable to bear the pressure. His body trembled slightly, and his lips began to turn pale. He took a deep breath, finally summoning the courage to whisper, "I... I can't go on, Su Ming." He closed his eyes, as if he couldn't bear to look Su Ming in the eye.

Su Ming's heart went blank for a moment. In truth, he should have sensed something was amiss. Zheng Yaoxian wasn't the type to be easily defeated by external circumstances. He had always been a team member with a strong heart, never easily shaken. But now, this change had occurred without warning.

"What on earth did he go through?"

At that moment, Su Ming felt a deep sense of guilt. This team member had stood on the front lines of countless missions, enduring countless dangers and pressures, yet no one had truly understood his inner vulnerability. Su Ming knew that as the team leader, he not only had to ensure the success of the operation but also had to constantly monitor the well-being of his teammates, especially those as quiet as Zheng Yaoxian. His silence didn't mean everything was okay.

Su Ming paused, and a decision was made in his mind. He slowed down his tone, and his voice was no longer so urgent: "Yaoxian, don't be anxious. Tell me what happened and how you need help."

Su Ming's heartbeat was pounding so hard in his chest that he could almost hear it thumping. The team members' pace remained steady. Although Zheng Yaoxian's abnormal condition had been temporarily suppressed, the heaviness in Su Ming's heart did not ease in the slightest.