Spy Wars: Strong Agents Who Are Ruthless and Talk Little

Chapter 395 Hold on, go faster!

Deep within the cabin, Su Ming swiftly moved through the flames, his vision as sharp as a hawk's, each step calculated to perfection. He used the burning oil drum to distract most of the enemies, allowing himself to slip away quietly. Though the wound on his left arm began to bleed again from the intense exertion, he continued to move towards the lifeboat without hesitation.

Finally, amidst the flames and chaos, Su Ming successfully reunited with Shen Ling. She had been waiting anxiously, and upon seeing him safely return, a flicker of unconcealable joy flashed in her eyes. But before she could ask, Su Ming took her hand and decisively jumped onto the lifeboat.

"Quick, row out!" he whispered, his voice filled with suppressed urgency. Shen Ling immediately cooperated, quickly untying the rope, and together they rowed the lifeboat out into the vast, dark sea.

There was a burst of gunfire behind them; the enemy had evidently discovered their escape. Bullets sent cascading waves across the sea. Shen Ling gritted her teeth and paddled furiously, while Su Ming, gripping his pistol tightly, calmly fought back.

"Don't stop!" he whispered. "We have to get out of their range!"

The sea breeze howled, and the waves crashed against the lifeboat, as if fighting against their fate. But Su Ming's eyes were still filled with determination. He knew that as long as they could survive this darkness, they would be able to usher in a new dawn.

The lifeboat raced across the vast, dark sea, like a lone boat drifting with the current. All around was silence, the only sound echoing in his ears except for the crash of waves against the boat. Su Ming gripped his pistol tightly, watching his surroundings with vigilance, his eyes sharp as an eagle's, fearing an enemy ship would suddenly surge out of the darkness. His breathing was steady, but his heart was like a taut string, ready to face the impending danger at any moment.

Shen Ling paddled with difficulty, her arms aching, but she knew she couldn't stop. Beads of sweat dripped from her forehead, and each stroke felt like she was exhausting all her strength. She felt Su Ming's silent protection behind her, his calm and resolute presence giving her strength. Despite the mingled fear and exhaustion in her heart, she persisted, believing that as long as Su Ming was by her side, there was still hope.

"Are you okay?" Su Ming asked softly, a flicker of concern in his eyes. Although he remained calm, he noticed that Shen Ling's movements were becoming slower, clearly reaching her limit.

"I'm fine," Shen Ling managed to answer, a hint of stubbornness in her voice. She didn't want to be a burden to Su Ming, nor did she want him to see her as weak. But she knew that if she continued like this, she would collapse at any moment. She gritted her teeth, telling herself not to stop, not to fall behind at this critical moment.

Su Ming noticed her fatigue, but said nothing more, simply patting her shoulder gently. "We should be nearing safety ahead. We must hold on." He turned his gaze to the distance, trying to find a glimmer of hope through the darkness. At this moment, his mind was already rapidly calculating his next move. Although they had temporarily escaped the enemy's pursuit, they could not let their guard down. In these dangerous waters, any moment of slack could be fatal.

"Su Ming, do you really believe we can escape?" Shen Ling suddenly asked, her voice whispering, yet trembling with unease. After the failure of this mission, her faith began to waver. She couldn't help but wonder if she should have embarked on this path of no return in the first place.

"Of course," Su Ming answered without hesitation, his tone firm and calm, without the slightest hesitation. This answer was like a shot in the arm, calming Shen Ling's anxiety slightly. But Su Ming knew that the crisis wasn't truly over; they had only temporarily escaped.

The sea breeze grew stronger, as if warning of an impending storm. Suddenly, the faint sound of a motor in the distance shattered the night's tranquility. Su Ming tensed instantly. He turned and gestured to Shen Ling to slow down, his ear pressed to the surface of the sea, listening carefully to the faint sound.

"Oh no! They're chasing us," Su Ming whispered, a sinister glint in his eyes. He quickly determined the enemy's position, his mind already racing with countermeasures. "We have to find a way to shake them off quickly, otherwise we'll be trapped in this sea."

Shen Ling's face paled, and she felt as if an invisible hand were gripping her heart. She looked at Su Ming, hoping to find some comfort in his eyes. However, Su Ming simply stared back at her indifferently. His eyes were deep and cold, as if they saw through everything, yet they also hid too many unknown secrets.

"Relax," Su Ming whispered, as if talking to her, but also as if talking to himself, "Being nervous will only make us more likely to make mistakes."

With that, he quickly adjusted the lifeboat's direction, snaking it beneath a rocky reef. At this moment, hiding was the only way to survive. While steering the lifeboat, he scanned the surroundings, searching for any exploitable terrain. Shen Ling gritted her teeth, trying to maintain steady strokes, knowing that any mistake could be fatal.

The roar of the motor grew closer, and the enemy was clearly closing in. Su Ming thought to himself, "It seems the enemy is well-trained. Getting rid of them won't be easy." He loaded his pistol, his finger lightly on the trigger, his eyes gleaming with a calmness bordering on madness.

Finally, under Su Ming's guidance, the lifeboat quietly entered a reef-filled area. The waterways here were narrow and complex, and the slightest mistake could lead to a run-on reef. However, precisely because of this, this place became their last hope. Su Ming believed that if they could hold out in this complex terrain for a while, they might be able to completely escape the pursuit.

"Keep rowing forward. I'll check out the back." Su Ming whispered, then quickly leaped to the stern of the lifeboat. His gaze, sharp as a hawk's, fixed on the darkness behind him. Soon, he discovered the enemy ships were only a hundred meters away, their faint lights flickering like will-o'-the-wisp in the darkness.

Time seemed to freeze at this moment. Su Ming slowly adjusted his breathing and controlled the trembling of his fingers. He knew that this shot had to be accurate, otherwise it would not only expose their position but also completely destroy their lives. Shen Ling held her breath, her hand trembling slightly on the oar. She could feel the tense and almost frozen atmosphere behind her.

"Bang!" A gunshot pierced the night sky, instantly extinguishing the enemy ship's searchlights and plunging the sea into darkness once again. Su Ming's lips curled up slightly, knowing he had hit the target. Without giving the enemy any chance to breathe, he fired two more shots in another direction, interrupting their rhythm of movement.

"Hurry, now!" Su Ming shouted, and Shen Ling immediately increased her paddling speed, and the lifeboat shot out of the reef like an arrow. Su Ming looked back to confirm that the enemy had fallen into disarray, and then he breathed a sigh of relief, but his vigilance remained undimmed. He knew this was only a temporary respite; the enemy would soon regroup and pursue.

"We must find a safe hiding place," Su Ming whispered, his gaze scanning the distant coastline. He quickly recalled the map, trying to find a place to hide. Although exhausted, Shen Ling still tried to follow Su Ming's instructions. She knew that in this desperate situation, Su Ming was her only hope.

Their tacit cooperation finally allowed the lifeboat to safely reach a remote beach under the cover of darkness. Surrounded by high cliffs, it felt like a secluded and hidden place. Su Ming jumped out of the lifeboat and quickly checked the surroundings. After confirming there were no ambushes, he signaled Shen Ling to disembark.

"Safe for now," Su Ming whispered soothingly. His voice was calm, but it revealed an undisguised fatigue. He took a deep breath, feeling a long-lost sense of relaxation, but he knew their battle was far from over.

Su Ming stood on the wet beach, feeling the cold water beneath his feet. The night was still thick, with only the whisper of wind and waves around him. This silence gave him the illusion of a momentary respite. However, Su Ming knew in his heart that this moment of peace was only the calm before the storm. The enemy would not let them off easily, and his mission was far from complete.

"Su Ming, what should we do next?" Shen Ling panted heavily, looking around warily. Her face was pale, and her eyes were filled with fatigue and anxiety. The thrilling escape had exhausted almost all her physical strength, and now her whole body felt as if it had been drained of energy.

Su Ming glanced at her and sighed softly. He knew Shen Ling was on the verge of collapse. Even so, she managed to remain calm, and this resilience filled Su Ming with a deeper admiration for her. After sharing life and death together, he came to regard Shen Ling as a true partner, not just a companion on a mission.

"Rest for a while, we need to replenish our energy," Su Ming said softly, but inwardly he was rapidly pondering his next strategy. He quickly considered the situation: the enemy had been delayed for a while, but sooner or later they would realize their pursuit had failed and resume their search along the coast. To completely escape pursuit, they had to find a place to hide completely, and then plan how to complete their final mission.

Shen Ling nodded. Although she was filled with doubt, she chose to trust Su Ming. Throughout their journey, Su Ming's calmness and decisiveness had saved her from danger countless times. She also gradually discovered that this man was more than just a cold-blooded spy. Deep within his heart, he seemed to harbor some tender emotions, though he kept them to himself.

The two men tacitly sought shelter on a reef and quickly checked their weapons. Su Ming pulled rations and a water bottle from his backpack and handed them to Shen Ling, signaling her to replenish her energy. He remained vigilant, fearing the enemy would pursue him again.

"Eat something first and recover your strength." Su Ming said in a low voice, his eyes still vigilantly scanning every corner in the darkness.

Shen Ling took the kettle and took a gentle sip. A salty sea breeze blew against her face, and she shivered with cold, as if the chill had seeped into her bones. Despite this, she tried to remain calm, knowing that any emotional vacillation would affect Su Ming's judgment.

"Su Ming, do we... really have a chance of completing this mission?" she couldn't help but ask softly. This question had been lingering in her heart for a long time, yet she'd never had the courage to speak it out loud. Now, on this dark beach, it seemed as if all her pretense and resilience were gradually peeling away in exhaustion. She began to doubt their true hope of survival.

Su Ming was silent for a moment, as if contemplating his response. He slowly turned to look at her, a hint of tenderness in his deep eyes. "No matter what the outcome, we must give it our all. This is our duty. As long as there's a glimmer of hope, we can't give up." His voice was low and firm, as if trying to give her strength.

Shen Ling froze for a moment. Feeling Su Ming's gaze, a sudden warmth welled up in her heart. At that moment, she seemed to see the warm heart beneath Su Ming's hard exterior. However, this warmth was only fleeting. Su Ming quickly regained his usual stern demeanor and returned his attention to his surroundings.

In the distance, the faint chirping of birds broke the night's stillness. Su Ming looked up suddenly, his brow furrowed slightly. He clearly remembered that there shouldn't be any birds in this area; the sounds must be a signal from the enemy. He quickly concluded that the enemy was approaching.

"Hurry, we have to get out of here." Su Ming lowered his voice, his eyes gleaming with a sharp light. He quickly gathered his equipment, cleared all traces, and then took Shen Ling's hand and ran inland. His movements were swift and decisive, as if he had already planned the route in his mind.

"Wait, I can't keep up..." Shen Ling's voice was breathless, her legs already feeling heavy as lead. However, she gritted her teeth and tried her best to keep up with Su Ming's pace. She knew that any hesitation at this moment could put them both in a desperate situation.

Su Ming didn't slow down, but simply squeezed her hand tightly, as if transferring his strength to her. His voice was low and urgent, without a trace of pity, because he understood that they had no time to hesitate.

Like ghosts in the night, the two men darted through the dense woods. Moonlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on their tense faces. Su Ming could sense the approaching footsteps behind him, and his heart pounded violently, as if it might leap out of his chest at any moment.

"There's a stream ahead. If we follow it, their tracking dogs won't be able to pick us up." Su Ming suddenly stopped and calmly gave directions. Shen Ling, enduring the pain in her ankle, nodded with difficulty. She didn't know how Su Ming was so familiar with this unfamiliar terrain, but she chose to trust him unconditionally.