NFBE Chapter 466 1 flashes by
Chapter 466 1 flashes by
What awaited him was likely a deadly trap. And if he continued to hide here, waiting for the enemy to force their way through, how much time would he have left? The enemy had already mastered their psychological tactics against him to the extreme. If he continued to delay, they would surely use every possible means to break through his defenses.
Thoughts swirled in his mind, as he recalled his conversation with Zheng Yaoxian. That calm composure, that unfathomable gaze, seemed to resonate deep within him. Zheng Yaoxian had once told him that in extreme circumstances, only calmness could guarantee survival. Now, he stood on the brink of life and death, and every choice could lead to a completely different outcome.
"I can't go down so easily." Su Ming gritted his teeth, the stubbornness in his heart impossible to ignore. At this moment, every nerve in his body told him to stay calm and not let the enemy gain the upper hand.
However, as the silence outside grew thicker, a subtle threat seeped into his heart. He knew the enemy wasn't truly committed to a direct confrontation; they were simply waiting for him to make a decision, to collapse, to give up. The man outside sneered again, "Do you think you can escape? How much time do you have, Su Ming?"
Every word cut through the air like a knife, piercing Su Ming's heart. He frowned, biting his lip to prevent himself from appearing overly shaken. This moment wasn't just a matter of life or death; it was a challenge to himself—whether he could remain steadfast in this desperate situation.
"What they want is for me to surrender, for me to compromise," Su Ming pondered inwardly, his eyes becoming even sharper. He began to have new ideas. The psychological warfare that was originally intended to restrain him seemed to be the breakthrough point for his counterattack.
He slowly loosened his grip on the iron gate and reached out with his other hand, gently pressing against his chest, feeling his rapidly beating heart. After a few seconds of deep breathing, his mind gradually cleared, and his anxiety and tension seemed to slowly dissipate. He was no longer the Su Ming who had struggled in confusion, but a man with a clear mind, ready to challenge any adversity.
However, time was running out before he made his decision. Outside, the footsteps of those people could be heard again. Though faint, they carried a strong sense of oppression, as if each step was closing in on him, forcing him to face an inevitable outcome.
"Should I open the door?" His inner voice echoed almost silently, trying to seize the right moment to make that crucial decision. Opening the door might lead to a fight, but that might be his only chance of survival. If he didn't, he might be trapped in the basement for even longer, or even face an even more terrifying siege.
At this moment, the people outside seemed to be growing restless. Their footsteps grew closer together, their voices deepened, and Su Ming could sense the increasingly oppressive atmosphere, as if the air had solidified. The enemy's presence was magnified several times over at this moment.
"They're trying to force me to submit through threats, to instill fear in me," Su Ming whispered to himself again. This time, his voice was much calmer, no longer as flustered as before. His inner anxiety seemed to be replaced by rationality. He knew that the enemy was only using psychological pressure, and the true outcome would depend on how he responded.
He stood up straight, took a deep breath, clenched his fists, and walked to the iron door again. He looked at the entrance before him, and his mind gradually became clear: "I can't lose my mind at this moment. If I open this door now, those people might try to catch me, but if I wait, the only thing left is my death."
Time seemed to stand still at this moment, and every voice in his heart urged him to make a decision. It was time to make a decision.
He placed his hand on the doorknob and slowly turned it, the sound of the door lock echoing in his ears. It was a calm and resolute sound, as if symbolizing his inner determination. The door lock made a slight "click" sound, almost without any warning. Su Ming stared at the iron door, prepared for the storm that might break out outside.
Just as he was about to turn the door lock completely, the footsteps outside suddenly stopped. Then, a cold voice sounded again: "You don't need to do this, Su Ming. Can you hear me? Open the door and come talk to us."
Su Ming's fingers trembled slightly as he remained on the handle of the iron door. He could almost hear every breath he took. The world outside remained silent, as if everything had been frozen in that moment. Time flowed through his fingertips. He knew that every second he spent was consuming his chances of survival. Everything in the past seemed to become insignificant in an instant. Only this door before him, this road leading to the unknown, was his only option at this moment.
The hesitation within him was like an insurmountable obstacle, weighing him down, nearly paralyzed. The voice outside still echoed in his ears, its icy tone impossible to avoid. Their threats were no longer literal; they seeped into every detail, weighing heavily on his mind and heart. "You can't escape any longer, Su Ming. Open the door! Come on! We don't want you to die."
He knew he couldn't wait any longer. Every moment of hesitation only put him in a deeper predicament. In this cramped basement, he didn't have much time to waste. The longer he lingered, the more he lost control. Furthermore, the people outside had already understood his habits and thinking, and forcing him to make a decision had become almost a game. If he remained trapped here, every hesitation would be his last chance.
"Sneak inside?" The thought flashed through Su Ming's mind. His eyes grew sharper, as if sensing a different direction. Opening the door to meet the enemy might reveal countless dangerous traps. But if he could quietly sneak inside and break the enemy's control, that would be his chance to truly turn the tide.
Sneaking inside wasn't an easy option for him. The basement wasn't complex, but the complexity lay not in the structure but in the enemies lurking within. He knew that if he rashly entered that area, he would be faced with an unknown world, and once trapped, there would be almost no turning back.