noffsinger Chapter 142: Don’t deal with your friends casually
Chapter 142: Don’t deal with your friends casually
Su Ming deliberately spread the word that he was about to launch a large-scale raid, and the target of this operation was the cargo warehouse run by Chen San. Once the news was released, Su Ming secretly observed Chen San's movements.
Chen San fell into the trap and began to contact his "friends" everywhere, trying to seek help. During this series of contacts, Su Ming finally caught sight of his true target - "Plum Blossom" appeared in his sight.
Plum Blossom's appearance didn't alarm many people. She continued to appear and disappear like a ghost, carefully and perceptively handling every detail. However, this time, Su Ming didn't give her any chances. He laid foreshadowing in every step of his actions, gradually forcing Plum Blossom into the trap he had set.
That evening, Su Ming and Zheng Yaoxian had a long talk. Zheng Yaoxian highly praised Su Ming's plan and expressed his support. The two of them formulated a rigorous action plan to capture "Meihua" in one fell swoop. However, Su Ming's heart was not at peace. He knew that the success of this operation was directly related to the end of his game with "Meihua".
On the day of the operation, the sky was overcast, foreshadowing an impending storm. Su Ming, leading a team of elite agents, lurked around the warehouse, waiting for Plum Blossom to fall into his trap. As the seconds ticked by, Su Ming's heartbeat quickened. He knew every second of this moment would determine the success or failure of the operation.
Finally, as night fell, a dark figure quietly emerged. Su Ming's gaze, like a hawk, fixed on the figure—it was "Plum Blossom." Her movements were incredibly light, making almost no sound, as if she blended into the darkness. However, Su Ming had already laid a tight net, leaving "Plum Blossom" no chance of escape.
"Plum Blossom" quickly entered the warehouse and began inspecting Chen San's goods. She seemed to sense something was amiss and looked around warily, but everything seemed normal. Just as she relaxed her guard, Su Ming ordered a surprise attack. Rapid footsteps echoed around the warehouse, and almost instantly, agents swarmed from all directions, surrounding "Plum Blossom."
"Don't move, put down what's in your hand!" Su Ming shouted in a low voice, aiming the gun in his hand firmly at "Plum Blossom".
Plum Blossom showed no sign of panic, but rather appeared remarkably calm. She slowly turned to face Su Ming, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "It's you," she whispered, a strangeness in her voice. "I should have known."
Su Ming didn't respond, merely staring at her coldly, his finger on the trigger. At that moment, countless thoughts raced through his mind—this months-long pursuit had finally reached a critical juncture; there couldn't be even the slightest misstep.
"You think you've won?" Plum Blossom's voice remained calm, even with a hint of sarcasm. "Unfortunately, you're still far from it."
As soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly pulled an object from her pocket and attempted to detonate it. However, Su Ming's reaction was faster than her. A gunshot pierced the night sky, and "Plum Blossom" fell to the ground. The object in her hand fell to the ground before it could fully unfold, revealing an unexploded grenade.
Su Ming strode forward and confirmed that Plum Blossom was incapacitated. He breathed a sigh of relief, yet a complex wave of emotions welled up within him. This opponent, who had so much trouble plotting against him, had ultimately ended her life in such a way, and the truth behind this still seemed to remain a mystery.
"She's a formidable opponent." Zheng Yaoxian stepped out from the shadows and patted Su Ming on the shoulder. "You did a great job."
Su Ming gazed upon Plum Blossom's corpse, but he felt no joy of victory. He knew that, though he had won this battle, the road ahead would be even more difficult and dangerous. Plum Blossom's death could stir up an even greater storm, and he must remain vigilant and ready for new challenges.
"What is she saying?" Zheng Yaoxian asked when he saw Su Ming was silent.
"She said...we're still a long way off," Su Ming muttered, a hint of uneasiness in his eyes.
Zheng Yaoxian frowned slightly, and after a moment, he said, "Perhaps she is just using this psychological tactic before her death to shake your confidence. Don't be swayed by her words. We have more important things to do."
"Yes." Su Ming nodded, but the lingering doubt in his heart still existed.
A few days later, Jun Tong conducted a detailed investigation into the identity of "Plum Blossom" and discovered that her true identity was actually a mysterious figure who was once a powerful figure in the intelligence community. For many years, she has been wandering between the hostile camps and being used by various forces. Behind her, there is even more...
Su Ming knew he had entered a more complex and dangerous world. Although he had demonstrated exceptional talent in espionage, he knew that in this world of intrigue and betrayal, sheer ability alone was insufficient. Zheng Yaoxian, fully aware of this, decided to personally teach Su Ming how to protect himself in this ever-changing landscape, while also gradually revealing to him more high-level, classified missions.
Zheng Yaoxian's teachings
One evening, Su Ming was summoned to Zheng Yaoxian's office. The room was thick with smoke, and Zheng Yaoxian leaned back in his chair, his eyes sharp as an eagle. He pointed to the chair across from him, motioning for Su Ming to sit down. Su Ming felt a little uneasy, as he had a vague feeling that today's conversation would touch upon something very important.
"Su Ming," Zheng Yaoxian said slowly, his voice low and powerful, "Your recent performance has been outstanding. Even I have to admit that your progress has exceeded my expectations."
Su Ming did not answer, but just looked at Zheng Yaoxian quietly, waiting for his next words.
"But you also have to understand," Zheng Yaoxian continued, "In this circle, victory on the battlefield is certainly important, but sometimes the real danger comes from the people around you. You can kill the enemy, but you can't deal with your 'friends' at will."
Su Ming frowned slightly. He understood what Zheng Yaoxian meant. In the world of espionage, it was difficult to distinguish friend from foe, and sometimes the most deadly threats came from within.
"I want you to understand that in this world, it's not just a battle of guns and bullets; it's also a psychological battle without the smoke of gunpowder." Zheng Yaoxian's tone became more serious. "You must learn to hide yourself and learn how to stand firm in the storm."
Zheng Yaoxian paused and continued, "You need to understand the rules of the game of power. Don't trust anyone easily, even those you think you can trust. Learn to influence others without revealing your true intentions. Remember, always keep a mask."