Spy Wars: Strong Agents Who Are Ruthless and Talk Little

He glanced back and saw Xu Hongda appear at the end of the corridor, a sneer on his face. He held no weapon, but he exuded an oppressive aura that seemed poised to change the situation at any moment. Su Ming's eyes no longer hesitated; he had already made his decision.

"Master, are you ready?" he asked Zheng Yaoxian in a low voice.

Although Zheng Yaoxian's face was pale, a glint of determination flashed in his eyes. His eyes gradually became clear, and his lips moved slightly: "Take me away."

Su Ming didn't waste any more words. He turned around and rushed towards the exit at the end of the corridor with Zheng Yaoxian. Each step was extremely difficult. Although his pace did not stop at all, it became even heavier due to Zheng Yaoxian's weakness. The sound of pursuing footsteps continued to fill the air, getting closer and closer, like a beast about to pounce.

"Go forward and get closer to the door!" Su Ming ordered in a low voice. Although his heart was full of pressure, every move he made was full of determination.

Finally, they arrived at a dilapidated iron gate. Outside the gate was what appeared to be an abandoned area. The sight before him made Su Ming feel a little relieved - this was their only chance of escape.

"Master, hold on." Su Ming suddenly opened the door and rushed out with Zheng Yaoxian.

"Mr. Zheng, I am Su Ming, a junior, and I am here to ask for your advice." Su Ming clasped his fists and bowed slightly, speaking respectfully.

Zheng Yaoxian glanced up at him, as if instantly seeing through Su Ming's intentions. "Boy, do you know who you're looking for?" His voice was old yet powerful, each word carrying undeniable authority.

Su Ming nodded. "I know who you are and what you've done. I'm in dire straits, isolated and helpless, and can only rely on your wisdom, sir."

Zheng Yaoxian's brow furrowed slightly, as if he were trying to determine the truth of Su Ming's words. He slowly stood up. Though his figure was thin, his bearing was undeniable. He walked around the stone table and into the courtyard. He gazed at the setting sun and pondered for a moment: "You are a smart person, but smart people don't necessarily live long. Tell me, what do you want to learn?"

Su Ming took a deep breath, his hands trembling slightly. He knew the old man before him was once a legend hidden in the darkness, masterminding countless conspiracies and counter-conspiracies. When he spoke, his tone was already more urgent: "I am now lurking in the enemy camp, surrounded by undercurrents and crises. I want to learn from you, the master's forbearance and strategy, to protect myself and complete my mission."

Zheng Yaoxian didn't respond immediately. Instead, he pulled an old pipe from his belt, lit it, and took a deep drag, sending plumes of smoke rising. Through the smoke, his voice came through, deep and slow: "You're impatient, and impatient people can't learn to be patient. You're also too upright, and upright people can't handle stratagems."

Su Ming's expression changed slightly. He was about to argue, but Zheng Yaoxian raised his hand to stop him. "But I am willing to teach you. It's not because you are talented, but because you have a pair of ruthless eyes. However, learning from me requires a price. Are you ready?"

Su Ming was stunned, a strange chill rising in his heart. But he still straightened his back and answered firmly, "I'm ready."

Zheng Yaoxian smiled coldly, a smile that seemed to conceal a heavy burden. "Okay, let's start with the first topic - reading people's expressions."

He turned and walked back inside. A moment later, he brought out an old chessboard filled with black and white pieces. "This is an endgame I made up when I was bored. Now, I'll give you one hour to crack it."

Su Ming's brow furrowed slightly. The chessboard before him was as complex as a maze, its black and white pieces tangled in an intricate web. It was clearly no ordinary game. He sat cross-legged, deep in thought. Time flew by, and soon, sweat was beading on his forehead. He recalled every word Zheng Yaoxian had just said, trying to find a way to decipher it. Suddenly, a thought struck him: This game of chess might be more than just chess.

"This is a fake game!" Su Ming raised his head suddenly, a hint of pride in his voice.

Zheng Yaoxian's eyes twitched slightly, revealing a faint smile. "That's right. Fake chess, real game. If you understand this principle, you've already mastered it."

Over the next few days, Zheng Yaoxian led Su Ming through day-in, day-out training in the mountains. His teachings varied widely, sometimes focusing on code breaking, sometimes on mock interrogations, and even on training in impersonating a completely different self in desperate situations. Su Ming gradually discovered that Zheng Yaoxian's teachings weren't as logically driven as he'd imagined, but rather a form of psychological hardening.

Late one night, Su Ming was sound asleep when he was suddenly awakened by a fierce knock on the door. He hurriedly got up, only to find Zheng Yaoxian already waiting outside, holding a lantern. He said calmly, "The enemy is coming. Follow me."

The two of them hurried along, through the woods, until they came to a secluded cave. Su Ming was puzzled, but he didn't dare ask. Zheng Yaoxian led him into the cave, then suddenly stopped and turned to him, saying, "You'll need to handle everything from now on." As soon as he finished speaking, Zheng Yaoxian turned and left, leaving Su Ming alone in the dark cave.

Soon, footsteps could be heard outside the cave as a group of armed enemies entered. Su Ming was so frightened that he broke into a sweat, but he forced himself to remain calm. His mind raced through the various strategies Zheng Yaoxian had taught him, and ultimately, he chose the most daring path—disguising himself as a homeless man with amnesia.

The enemy questioned him repeatedly, trying to extract clues from him. However, Su Ming's performance was flawless, even making him cry out in a way that made it look real. Ultimately, despite their suspicions, the enemy could find no flaws and could only leave in frustration.

When the danger was over, Su Ming stumbled out of the cave and saw Zheng Yaoxian standing at the edge of the woods, his eyes calm and deep. "Yes, you survived."

Su Ming was exhausted, but he could detect a hint of appreciation in Zheng Yaoxian's tone. He asked gravely, "If you knew they were coming, why didn't you tell me?"

Zheng Yaoxian said slowly, "True opponents won't warn you of their arrival in advance. You need to learn how to deal with unexpected crises, otherwise, sooner or later, you'll die in an accident."

Su Ming remained silent, but his respect for Zheng Yaoxian deepened. He realized that the path he was on was destined to be a perilous one, and that what Zheng Yaoxian had taught him wasn't just strategy, but an instinct for survival.

In the days that followed, Zheng Yaoxian pushed Su Ming's training to its limits. He had him steal intelligence on the streets, infiltrate enemy camps under false identities, and even staged a fake death, forcing him to find a way out of desperate situations. Each mission was fraught with danger, but each success made Su Ming calmer and more experienced.