bookcurios Chapter 213 An Iron Door Appeared
Chapter 213 An Iron Door Appeared
Although he had expected that Lao Zhang's temptation would not be simple, at this moment he felt for the first time that he might have been caught in a more complicated vortex.
However, the man didn't give him more time to think. Suddenly, his hand moved violently, as if trying to pull something out of his arms. Su Ming reacted immediately and almost subconsciously swung his knife, slitting the man's throat.
Su Ming stared at the man lying on the ground, his blood gradually spreading, staining the floor a dark red. His hand remained tightly gripped on the hilt of his knife. Although the man was no longer breathing, he remained vigilant. His heartbeat stabilized in this brief moment of peace, but the shadow deep within him grew thicker. The strange smile the man had worn before his death pierced his mind, like a hint—he had not won.
He slowly sheathed his knife, his gaze fixed on the man's corpse. Though he was already dead, the chill and unease he exuded lingered. Su Ming's breath was distinctly distinct in the dimly lit room, a nauseating blend of blood and decay.
Su Ming gently clutched his cheek. The blood had stopped flowing, but the burning sensation from the wound was still palpable. Although the wound wasn't fatal, it reminded him that this mission was far from over. His thoughts calmed slightly, Su Ming approached the man and rummaged through his clothing, searching for any clues related to the "token." However, aside from a few simple items, the man's person bore no particular resemblance.
"What is he hiding?" Su Ming pondered, his brow furrowed as various possibilities flashed through his mind. He couldn't help but recall Old Zhang's unspoken smile and the man's final, taunting words.
"Where is the token?" Su Ming muttered to himself. He began to suspect that the token was not with the man at all, or this was just part of the mission, and the real test was far from revealed.
Just as he was lost in thought, he heard familiar footsteps behind him. Su Ming looked up suddenly and saw Lao Zhang standing quietly at the door, his expression calm, as if he had anticipated everything before him.
"You did a good job," Old Zhang said lightly, his eyes lingering on the man's body for a moment, then moving back to Su Ming's face, his eyes cold but with a hint of approval.
"I killed him." Su Ming's tone was devoid of emotion, as if this were a perfectly normal statement. His fingers trembled slightly. Although he was accustomed to this kind of cold-blooded killing, tonight's mission gave him a sense of oppression. This wasn't just a contest against the enemy, but more like an invisible game, in which he was merely a participant.
"This is what you have to do," Lao Zhang said calmly, as if this was the inevitable outcome. "In the world of espionage, life and death are decided in a split second. You have no other choice."
Su Ming was silent for a moment, still unable to shake off the uneasiness. He raised his head, looked at Lao Zhang, and whispered, "Where's the token? What did his last words mean?"
Old Zhang slowly walked towards him, his eyes flickering with a complex emotion. It was as if he was anticipating Su Ming's reaction, or as if he had already anticipated his question. He stood beside Su Ming and whispered, "The token is indeed here, but... you haven't found it yet."
Su Ming paused for a moment, pondering the deeper meaning behind Old Zhang's words. He glanced around again, scanning every corner of the room, but found nothing relevant to the mission. The air was filled with a decayed atmosphere, as if everything had been forgotten in the corners of time.
"Basement." Old Zhang suddenly spoke, interrupting Su Ming's thoughts.
Su Ming was slightly startled, then a flash of understanding flashed through his mind. Yes, perhaps there was a hidden place. Old Zhang didn't explain too many details to him, obviously leaving him to discover the clues on his own. The basement was likely the true location of the hidden token.
Old Zhang led the way to the other side of the room, gently lifting a rug in the corner, revealing a hidden trapdoor. Su Ming's heartbeat quickened, feeling the tension of a mystery about to be solved. The basement was clearly a long-forgotten place, dust thickly coating the door panels, as if no one had set foot there in years.
"Do you remember what I said?" Lao Zhang suddenly stopped and looked back at Su Ming with a deep gaze. "Trust is more important than anything else in a spy war."
Su Ming frowned and nodded. He remembered. However, his mind was now filled with growing doubts. Why did Lao Zhang emphasize the relationship between trust and mission so much? Could there be a greater secret hidden in the basement? He suppressed these chaotic thoughts and followed Lao Zhang, pushing open the door to the basement.
The basement steps were steep and narrow, dimly lit by the remnants of old lamps adorning the walls. The stone steps were covered in moss and dust, and the slight scraping sound of footsteps was particularly clear. As he stepped deeper, the damp air grew thicker, and the atmosphere grew more oppressive. With each step, Su Ming's nerves grew more and more tense; he could even hear his own rapid heartbeat.
Old Zhang walked ahead, his steps steady, as if he knew the route like a pro. Su Ming, on the other hand, remained alert, his fingers still tightly gripping the hilt of his sword, his eyes scanning the surroundings, wary of any signs of danger. Even with Old Zhang by his side, he couldn't help but feel a surge of unease, as if unforeseen dangers awaited him.
The steps finally came to an end, and an iron door appeared before him. Lao Zhang stopped and gently pushed the door open. The hinges made a low creaking sound, as if it had not been opened for years.
Behind the door lay a small basement. Several old kerosene lamps hung on the walls, their dim light illuminating the surrounding piles of cardboard and wooden boxes, which exuded a stale smell. The air was so thick that breathing was difficult, and the surrounding silence made Su Ming's every nerve tense.
"The token is right here," Old Zhang stood at the door, stepped aside to let Su Ming in, and said calmly, "Go find it."
Su Ming didn't ask any further questions and stepped into the basement. In the dim light, he could sense the tension in the air. Though everything appeared calm on the surface, his intuition told him this place was no ordinary place. Lao Zhang's request that he personally search for it signified the final test of his mission. Every detail here could harbor a murderous intent.