Chapter 393 It’s Not Because He’s Not Afraid of Death
Chapter 393 It’s Not Because He’s Not Afraid of Death
He turned and whispered to Shen Ling, "You go first and go around to the warehouse in the back. I'll attract their attention."
Shen Ling was stunned and looked at Su Ming with complicated eyes: "Can you do it alone?"
"I can still hold on." Su Ming's mouth corners slightly raised, revealing a determined smile, "Don't worry, we still have to go back and drink together." Before he finished speaking, he quickly squeezed into the crowd and ran in the opposite direction.
As expected, the enemy spies immediately gave chase. Shen Ling gritted her teeth and, without hesitation, quickly detoured toward the rear warehouse. As Su Ming's figure receded, his heart grew calmer. At every turn, he cleverly used the terrain to delay the pursuers, his only concern being to ensure Shen Ling's safe escape.
"This time, I will hold on to the end." Su Ming secretly tightened his grip on the gun, as if the cold metal could give him endless strength. The road ahead might be filled with danger, but he never stopped moving forward. For him, every risk of his life was for a glimmer of hope, and that light would always belong to those who held justice in their hearts.
The sound of gunfire echoed through the dawn mist, and Su Ming's steps suddenly stopped. He quickly sidestepped, slipping into a corner piled high with goods, his figure instantly fading into darkness. In that instant, he could almost feel the burning breath of the bullet whistling past his ear. His heartbeat reverberated in his chest like a drum, yet his expression remained calm, without a trace of panic.
The enemy was closing in, the air filled with the clatter of footsteps and the murmur of conversation. Su Ming narrowed his eyes, rapidly weighing the possibilities of his next move. He had to find a way out quickly, or else Shen Ling would be surrounded by the enemy. He gently pulled the trigger on his pistol, sweat trickling down his forehead, his inner anxiety buried beneath a calm exterior.
"He should be around here, search quickly!" A gruff male voice echoed, accompanied by the sound of approaching footsteps. Su Ming took a deep breath, pressed his back against the cargo box behind him, and scanned his surroundings with eagle-like sharpness. He knew that if he was exposed now, he would be surrounded by the enemy. At this moment, he could not afford any mistakes.
"Calm down, Su Ming, calm down," he muttered to himself, forcing himself to remain calm. Years of spying had instilled in him an instinct for responding to emergencies. Even though the enemy was within reach, he remained steadfast, patiently awaiting the perfect opportunity to escape. In the dimly lit corner, he was like a beast poised for action, ready to strike at any moment.
At that moment, a figure swiftly passed from the left. Seizing the momentary opening, Su Ming leaped from his hiding place without hesitation. With a steady, controlled move, he tossed the patrolling scout to the ground. He quickly grabbed the man's neck, twisting his wrist with force. With a barely audible snap, the enemy's breath was completely silenced. Without hesitation, he dragged the body into the darkness and hid it, quickly searching his possession for a spare pistol and a small bag of ammunition.
"Su Ming, hurry up." Shen Ling's low voice suddenly came from the headset. She had obviously reached a safe location, but her tone could not hide her anxiety. "The enemy's encirclement is tightening. We must evacuate as soon as possible."
"I'll be there right away," Su Ming whispered back. He knew time was running out. The enemy was closing in, and the intelligence they held was crucial; they couldn't afford to lose it here. Su Ming quickly gathered his gear and crept down the narrow alley toward the warehouse.
As the sky brightened, the fog around the East Pier gradually dissipated. Su Ming advanced swiftly along the edge of the pier, his steps as light as a cat. He constantly controlled his breathing, trying not to make any sound. The area was already blocked by the enemy, and he had to exploit every possible terrain and shadow to conceal himself. This environment was already a natural fit for him, and the enemy's anxiety and panic were the perfect opportunity to break through the encirclement.
Suddenly, a burst of rapid gunfire rang out again, followed by heart-wrenching screams. Su Ming's heart tightened, knowing the situation was dire—the enemy had clearly discovered Shen Ling's hiding place. Countless response plans flashed through his mind, but he ultimately chose the most direct path—a forced breakout.
He quickly climbed onto a container near the dock and peered down at the enemy's movements. He saw a group of militants rapidly encircling the warehouse. Trapped in a corner, Shen Ling was firing furiously, trying to stop the enemy's advance. It was clear she was running low on bullets, and the situation was extremely critical.
"Damn it! Hurry!" Su Ming cursed inwardly, tightening his grip on his pistol, aiming at the enemy in front and firing. With a few muffled thuds, three enemies fell, and the rest turned back to search for the source of the fire. Without giving them a chance to react, Su Ming pulled the trigger again, shooting down several more enemies in quick succession, buying Shen Ling precious time.
"Go!" he shouted, his voice penetrating the chaotic gunfire and reaching Shen Ling's ears. Shen Ling reacted immediately and rushed towards Su Ming. Su Ming, in turn, opened fire to provide cover while quickly adjusting his position to avoid being hit by the enemy's counterattack.
By the time Shen Ling successfully reunited with Su Ming, both were already running low on ammunition. They exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with tenacity and determination. There were no extra words, only a deep understanding. At this moment, words were superfluous. They both knew in their hearts—the only option was to continue forward and break through.
The iron gate behind the warehouse was their final exit, but that path was already heavily surrounded by enemies. Su Ming looked around, his eyes landing on a nearby oil drum. Suddenly, he had a crazy plan: "Use the drum to create an explosion to attract the enemy's attention, and then we can break out in the chaos."
Shen Ling was stunned for a moment, but she immediately understood Su Ming's intention. Together, they pushed the oil drum toward the door. Su Ming pulled out his last grenade, pulled the safety pin, and threw it into the drum. They quickly lay down. A second later, a deafening explosion erupted, flames shot up into the sky, and the surrounding enemies were thrown into chaos.
"Hurry!" Su Ming pulled Shen Ling up, and the two of them, taking advantage of the chaos caused by the explosion, quickly broke free from the encirclement. They passed through the burning warehouse and rushed to the cargo ship on the other side of the dock. This ship was their only way out, but the last few hundred meters before boarding was where the enemy's firepower was most concentrated.
"We're just one step away!" Shen Ling gasped, her eyes gleaming with determination. She was already injured, blood oozing from her abdomen, but she still gritted her teeth and didn't flinch.
Su Ming fired while supporting Shen Ling as they advanced. He knew they couldn't pause for a moment, or they would both die. Enemy fire poured down like raindrops. Su Ming was struck in the left arm, blood instantly staining his sleeve red. But he didn't stop, instead charging forward with even greater resolve.
"Hold on a little longer, we're almost there!" Su Ming pulled Shen Ling with all his might, and finally, the two stumbled onto the deck of the cargo ship. The captain saw them and immediately started the engine, and the cargo ship quickly left the dock before the enemy could react.
The two men collapsed on the deck, gasping for breath. At that moment, a brief silence finally returned to the surroundings, with only the sound of waves crashing against the hull. Su Ming turned to look at Shen Ling, a smile appearing on his tired face. "We did it."
Shen Ling smiled weakly, but tears welled up in her eyes: "Fortunately, I have you here."
"The road ahead is still long," Su Ming said softly, his gaze fixed on the receding dock. In his heart, he began to ponder his next plan. He knew the enemy in the darkness would never give up, and the real challenge had only just begun.
Pushed by the waves, the cargo ship slowly pulled away from the dock, gradually retreating from the din of gunfire and hail. Night fell once more, and the sea breeze, carrying a moist, salty smell, blew across his face. Su Ming half-leaned against the side of the ship, clutching his injured left arm, his eyes fixed on the receding coastline. His mind raced with thoughts, the thrilling escape just now replaying like a nightmare.
"How are you?" Shen Ling's voice came from behind, a hint of weakness and concern. She slowly approached. Although the wound had been simply bandaged, the blood still soaked through her clothes, making it particularly glaring. Su Ming turned to look at her, his eyes softening for a moment before returning to a cold stern look.
"You're not dead yet." He endured the pain and forced a smile. "But you, if I had been a step later, I'm afraid I wouldn't have been able to save you."
Shen Ling lowered her head, her long eyelashes fluttering slightly. She knew how dangerous this mission was. If Su Ming hadn't acted decisively, she would have likely been killed. But as a spy who had long lived in the shadows, she had long since learned to conceal all emotions behind a mask of calm. She took a deep breath and transformed her gratitude into a simple thank you: "I owe you one."
Su Ming waved his hand, saying nothing more. The two stood side by side on the deck. The sea, shrouded in darkness, seemed remarkably tranquil, a stark contrast to the life-or-death struggle just now. But he knew in his heart that this tranquility was only the lull before the storm. The enemy would not let them off easily, especially since they carried crucial intelligence. This intelligence depended on many lives; if it fell into the enemy's hands, the consequences would be disastrous.
"What should we do next?" Shen Ling's voice rang out again, breaking the brief silence. Her gaze pierced the night sky, into the distance, filled with confusion and uneasiness about the future. Although she was experienced, she was now gravely injured, and her heart was somewhat shaken.
Su Ming pursed his lips, a cold look flashing in his eyes. "Don't think too much for now. Finding a safe place to stay is the top priority. As long as we're alive, there's hope." He paused, his eyes flickering slightly in the darkness. "Also, I suspect there's a traitor among us. Otherwise, the enemy wouldn't have found our hiding place so quickly."
"Traitor?" Shen Ling frowned, a flicker of shock and anger in her eyes. She quickly recalled every detail of the mission, trying to find any clues, but all the clues were like mist blown away by the sea breeze, elusive.
"Yes." Su Ming nodded calmly. "The enemy knows our route and plan too well. They even know the exact time of our transfer. This is definitely not a coincidence."
Shen Ling pursed her lips tightly, a chill rising in her heart. If Su Ming's words were true, then even if they escaped the encirclement, they would still be trapped. "We must find this traitor," she whispered, her tone filled with determination. "Otherwise, we could fall into the enemy's trap again at any time."
Su Ming looked at her determined eyes and nodded slightly: "Yes, but now we need to survive first and find a place we can trust to adjust and think about the next action." He knew that facing the situation where the enemy is in the dark and we are in the light, they cannot relax for a moment.
The cargo ship slowly drifted toward the horizon. As night deepened, the surrounding darkness seemed to swallow them whole. Su Ming returned to the cabin and began to treat the wound on his left arm. His movements were quick and sharp, yet each one pierced through him with excruciating pain. He endured it, refusing to make a sound. As a spy, he had long been accustomed to burying all his pain deep within, never revealing it on the surface.
Shen Ling stood silently by, watching Su Ming expertly tend to the wound, a complex wave of emotions welling up within her. This man seemed tireless, always calm and resolute, as if nothing could shake his convictions. But she knew that beneath this strength lay unspeakable loneliness and pressure.
"You don't need to try so hard." She suddenly spoke, a rare gentleness in her tone. "If this mission fails, we still have other opportunities. There's no need to always push yourself into desperate situations."
Su Ming paused for a moment. He raised his head, his eyes sharp as a knife as a razor as he glared at Shen Ling. "For us, every mission could be our last. There's no such thing as 'next time.'" His voice was deep, a hint of fatigue in it, yet he remained resolute. "Furthermore, only if we succeed can more people survive."
Shen Ling was stunned by his resolute gaze, and suddenly realized that this man was not only fighting for himself, but also carrying the hopes of countless people. His desperate gamble was not because he was not afraid of death, but because he could not bear the consequences of failure.
After a brief silence, Shen Ling whispered, "No matter what, I will fight alongside you, no matter how many obstacles lie ahead."
Su Ming didn't respond, only nodding slightly. To him, emotions were a luxury, the most easily exploited weakness in his spy career. Therefore, he never opened his heart easily, even to Shen Ling, maintaining a distance.
As time passed, the atmosphere on the ship grew increasingly tense. Su Ming sat in the corner of the cabin, his fingers tapping lightly on the wooden tabletop, his eyes filled with deep thought. He mentally combed through every detail of the mission, trying to find clues to the traitor.
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