“Terrorist Attack?”
Dr. Zhao’s face turned pale, disbelief mingling with her fear.
Songhai, a metropolis with a population of over twenty million, integrates industry, finance, transportation, and shipping. It holds a pivotal position in the nation.
In the past decades, not to mention terrorist attacks, even common crimes were rare occurrences.
“Call the police, call them now!”
Dr. Zhao, flustered, fumbled for her phone, trying to dial the Public Security Bureau.
But no one answered the call.
“Everyone who can call the police is already doing it. The operators at the Public Security Bureau are limited; they can’t get to your call,” Jiang Yuer whispered, closing the door gently, and said in a low voice:
“We should stay here; don’t run around.”
Dr. Zhao’s eyes were filled with fear, her expression panicked: “We can’t stay here, the kidnappers are inhumane, they will kill hostages. Jiang Yuer, we need to escape through the back door.”
Jiang Yuer frowned and interrupted sternly, “Stay here!”
Dr. Zhao was stunned, and looked at her familiar colleague in astonishment. This young woman, with her plump face and sweet, lively appearance, who always seemed so obedient, had suddenly revealed a severity that was both awe-inspiring and frightening.
It was a severity that Dr. Zhao had never seen before.
Jiang Yuer’s expression softened, and she said in a low voice:
“Listen, the noise outside has died down. This means that most people have been controlled. If the terrorists have taken the hospital, they’ll definitely be guarding the front and back entrances, and they might even be watching the surveillance. Staying here is the safest option.”
Dr. Zhao nodded blankly.
In the control room, Li Xianzong stood with his arms crossed in front of the console, a walkie-talkie in his left hand and a Butterfly Knife in his right. The light from the fluorescent blue screens illuminated his sharp, cold eyes.
On the surveillance screens, in the outpatient building’s lobby, two armed personnel had taken control of the situation and were herding the pharmacy, registration desks, and various office staff towards the ground floor lobby.
Anyone who didn’t cooperate was shot dead on the spot, with a cruelty that seemed completely indifferent to their Moral Value.
After several killings, the medical staff and patients had no thoughts of resistance left; they obediently squatted down with their heads in their hands.
For a spirit realm walker, using their abilities to kill was far more efficient and accurate than bullets, but when it came to intimidating the average person, firearms were still the most effective.
To coerce a large group of people, violence alone wouldn’t suffice; firearms were needed.
“All personnel on the first floor have been cleared; everyone has been gathered in the living room.”
“All personnel on the second floor have been cleared; everyone has been gathered in the living room.”
Reports from his comrades came through the walkie-talkie.
Li Xianzong pressed the button on the walkie-talkie and brought it to his mouth, saying, “Check out the obstetrics and gynecology department, and bring down the medical staff. If there are pregnant women, don’t harm them.”
“Hey! You, a Bewitching Demon, pretending to have a heart?” a comrade sneered.
“I don’t sympathize with the weak, but when my dad was alive, he often told me that children are the flowers of our nation and that they deserve some mercy and care,” Li Xianzong said with a smirk.
At the Fu’s Bay Villa.
Fu Qingyang lay lazily in a massage chair, resting with his eyes closed. His skin exhibited a strange flush, and his limbs showed slight muscle spasms.
Two Playboy bunnies crouched on either side of the massage chair, their small hands tapping and kneading, easing his muscle soreness.
On another Solo sofa, Ling Jun was squatting, grabbing a piece of honeydew melon and stuffing it into his mouth, sighing:
“You still push yourself so hard. I remember you practicing your slashing since you were ten years old, and you’ve been at it for over a decade to become a spirit realm walker. What level have you reached now?”
Fu Qingyang kept his eyes closed, “I’ve practiced enough to behead you with one strike.”
“Nonsense!” Ling Jun retorted, not convinced: “I am the Beast King, with two lives. You’d need two strikes to kill me.”
Suddenly, the two Playboy bunnies stiffened and then slumped to the floor.
Fu Qingyang’s eyes snapped open, sharp as a sword.
Ling Jun, perched on the sofa, struggled to keep his eyelids open, his body swaying:
“So, so sleepy. Damn, it’s the Dreamkeeper.”
His head tilted, and he fell into sleep.
“Yichuan Mei?” Fu Qingyang huffed coldly, closed his eyes, and Active entered sleep.
At the Kangyang District Public Security Bureau.
Zhang Yuanqing had just stepped out of the bathroom when he saw a Civilian Staff member hurriedly climbing the steel staircase to the second floor.
Her face was anxious as she looked towards the lazily seated Guan Ya and called out:
“The Public Security Bureau has received an alert, terrorists have attacked Pingtai Hospital, the medical staff and patients from the outpatient building are all inside.”
“What?” Guan Ya sprang to her feet and strode towards the Decurion’s office.
Even Wang Tai, who usually paid no attention to the storms outside, also raised his head in shock, his expression turning grave.
Pingtai Hospital?! Zhang Yuanqing felt as if someone had struck his head with a blunt object, buzzing.
Jiang Yuer worked at Pingtai Hospital.
Zhang Yuanqing’s face turned ashen. While pulling out his phone he urgently asked:
“What’s the situation in the hospital? How many casualties? How many kidnappers are there?”
The Civilian Staff shook her head: “Don’t, don’t have that much detail, the Public Security Bureau has already called for personnel to head to the hospital, specifics will require further investigation.”
At least this meant the incident had just occurred. Zhang Yuanqing moved aside, took out his phone, and dialed Jiang Yuer’s number.
“Sorry, the number you have dialed is switched off, please try again later!”
Switched off? Zhang Yuanqing cursed angrily, “Damn.”
At this moment, Guan Ya, along with Li Dongze, Jiang Jingwei, and Teng Yuan, rushed out of the office.
Li Dongze walked briskly, his face composed, speaking very quickly:
“Let’s move out immediately!”
The group quickly got ready, Guan Ya pulled two gun holsters from her desk drawer, too hurried to strap them onto her thighs; Wang Tai cradled his beloved notebook and rose to leave.
The group exited the Glass Building and climbed into Li Dongze’s Business car parked at the entrance. The driver floored the accelerator, heading towards the gates of the Public Security Bureau.
Pingtai Hospital was not far from the Public Security Bureau. Running through red lights, they arrived at the hospital in a matter of minutes.
By then, the hospital’s entrance was filled with police cars flashing their warning lights.
A dozen armed security officers were confronting a middle-aged man in patient’s clothes. The patient stood in front of the hospital’s main entrance with a walkie-talkie hanging around his neck, holding a scalpel to his throat, and shouting manically:
“Don’t come any closer, don’t come any closer, get the Primordial Celestial Lord to see me.”
The Business car stopped, and the doors swung open. Zhang Yuanqing immediately spotted the leading Captain Chen Yuanjun.
He silently put on a baseball cap and mask.
Li Dongze, carrying a cane, strode toward Captain Chen and asked in a deep voice:
“What’s the situation now?”
Captain Chen clearly recognized Li Dongze, glanced past the Business car behind him, and said in a low voice:
“The kidnapper has taken control of the patients and medical staff inside the hospital. The number of casualties is still unclear, and the perpetrator refuses to communicate with us, threatening to detonate a bomb if anyone tries to break into the hospital.”
After pausing, Captain Chen continued with a slightly bewildered look, “The kidnapper’s demand seems to be to talk to the Primordial Celestial Lord. I suspect he has mental issues.”
Li Dongze nodded slightly, scrutinizing Captain Chen for a moment, and said with a frown:
“Captain Chen, staying calm is an essential quality for security officers. Why are you so nervous and eager? What’s going on?”
He could tell at a glance that this security officer was anxious and uneasy beneath his stern exterior.
Captain Chen gave a wry smile, “My cousin is a doctor at Pingtai Hospital.”
Li Dongze’s expression tightened. He patted Captain Chen on the shoulder, said nothing more, and turned back to the Business car.
“Jiang Jingwei!” He looked at the red-haired girl and pointed to the patient at the door, saying:
“Get his walkie-talkie, and be gentle. Don’t harm him.”
Jiang Jingwei nodded excitedly, got out of the car, crouched down, and stealthily moved half-circle to the side of the patient, using the police cars and security officers for cover.
Then, with a small dip of her knees, she charged at the patient like an unleashed wild dog.
The security officers only saw a blur. By the time they reacted, the red-haired girl was already at the patient’s side.
With a high kick, she knocked the scalpel out of the patient’s tight grip, then twisted her waist, spinning into the air and bringing her other leg crashing down on the back of the patient’s neck.
“Snap!”
The Middle-aged man was knocked unconscious before he even realized what had happened.
Among the Lawful Classes of the Five Elements Alliance, the Fire Warrior is ranked first in speed.
The security officers swarmed in, securing the patient, while Jiang Jingwei grabbed the walkie-talkie and sprinted back to the Business car.
Li Dongze took the walkie-talkie, pressed the button, and announced:
“I am the Decurion of the Second Team from Kangyang District. If you have any demands, you can speak to me.”
After repeating it three times, a defiant laugh came through the speaker: “I want to talk to the Primordial Celestial Lord.”
Zhang Yuanqing was about to speak when Guan Ya pressed down on his shoulder. Li Dongze seamlessly continued:
“The Primordial Celestial Lord is not here. What do you want with him?”
The defiant male voice laughed:
“Not here? It seems I didn’t choose the right time, huh? I’ll give you ten minutes. In ten minutes, I want to see the Primordial Celestial Lord, or else, after one minute, I’ll kill one person.
“If you dare to force your way into the hospital, I’ll have someone detonate the bomb and kill everyone.”
Li Dongze looked at Guan Ya and mouthed: “Contact Fu Centurion.”
Then, with a firm tone, he said: “You can try to detonate the bomb. We, the Official, will not compromise. If you are willing to die along with everyone in the hospital, I’ll oblige you.”
Laughter erupted from the walkie-talkie.
“Decurion, sir, you overestimate me. I don’t have the courage to die alongside these ordinary people. As I said before, I would have someone else detonate the bomb. They are all my Servants, under the Sinister Eye Judge, people who are already in desperate straits. When they heard I wanted to take revenge on the Official, to retaliate against society, they immediately agreed. Of course, my Bewitchment played a part in this.”
Servants of the Sinister Eye Judge. Li Dongze felt a chill in his heart: “Are you the Bewitching Demon?”
“You should have heard of my name. I am Li Xianzong.”
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the Business car changed their expressions.
With the Large-Scale Slaughter Instance about to commence, they had anticipated that walkers from the Evil Classes would target the Primordial, but they had not expected it to be Li Xianzong.
And this Bloodthirsty Bewitching Demon had started with a big move. No Assassination, no stealthy attack, just a direct Terrorist Attack.
His arrogance was extreme.
“Now a minute and a half has passed, you don’t have much time left. I await your good news.”
The voice in the walkie-talkie went silent.
Li Dongze put down the walkie-talkie and looked towards Guan Ya.
Guan Ya’s eyebrows were slightly furrowed: “Fu Qingyang isn’t answering his phone.”
Everyone’s hearts sank once more.
Li Dongze stroked his cane, pondering:
“It seems that the opponent has come prepared. If the Primordial doesn’t show up within ten minutes, Li Xianzong will withdraw, and none of the people in the hospital will survive. Ha, as you just heard, the Kidnapper is a Servant of the Sinister Eye Judge, and this Terrorist Attack is aimed at mutual destruction.”
Ten minutes was not enough time for Directors from other districts to make it, the timing was too tight.
Teng Yuan said: “This guy is smart. Even if the Primordial doesn’t come, he can retreat easily and also create a big problem for us.”
Zhang Yuanqing spoke in a deep voice: “He’s targeting me. He wants to hunt me down. Decurion, let me go in.”
He was a bit anxious, not knowing how Jiang Yuer was inside, whether she was hurt or not.
Li Dongze glared at him: “You’ll only be going in to die!”
“No!” Guan Ya immediately objected, frowning: “You’re not someone who acts recklessly.”
Only Jiang Jingwei supported him, rubbing her hands together, her small face brimming with fighting spirit: “Let’s charge in, watch me punch his head off.”
At this moment, the experienced Li Dongze, who had the composure and steadiness of an old walker, slowly said:
“Don’t rush, there are always more solutions than problems, we need to come up with a set of tactics.”
“Terrorist Attack?”
Dr. Zhao’s face turned pale, disbelief mingling with her fear.
Songhai, a metropolis with a population of over twenty million, integrates industry, finance, transportation, and shipping. It holds a pivotal position in the nation.
In the past decades, not to mention terrorist attacks, even common crimes were rare occurrences.
“Call the police, call them now!”
Dr. Zhao, flustered, fumbled for her phone, trying to dial the Public Security Bureau.
But no one answered the call.
“Everyone who can call the police is already doing it. The operators at the Public Security Bureau are limited; they can’t get to your call,” Jiang Yuer whispered, closing the door gently, and said in a low voice:
“We should stay here; don’t run around.”
Dr. Zhao’s eyes were filled with fear, her expression panicked: “We can’t stay here, the kidnappers are inhumane, they will kill hostages. Jiang Yuer, we need to escape through the back door.”
Jiang Yuer frowned and interrupted sternly, “Stay here!”
Dr. Zhao was stunned, and looked at her familiar colleague in astonishment. This young woman, with her plump face and sweet, lively appearance, who always seemed so obedient, had suddenly revealed a severity that was both awe-inspiring and frightening.
It was a severity that Dr. Zhao had never seen before.
Jiang Yuer’s expression softened, and she said in a low voice:
“Listen, the noise outside has died down. This means that most people have been controlled. If the terrorists have taken the hospital, they’ll definitely be guarding the front and back entrances, and they might even be watching the surveillance. Staying here is the safest option.”
Dr. Zhao nodded blankly.
In the control room, Li Xianzong stood with his arms crossed in front of the console, a walkie-talkie in his left hand and a Butterfly Knife in his right. The light from the fluorescent blue screens illuminated his sharp, cold eyes.
On the surveillance screens, in the outpatient building’s lobby, two armed personnel had taken control of the situation and were herding the pharmacy, registration desks, and various office staff towards the ground floor lobby.
Anyone who didn’t cooperate was shot dead on the spot, with a cruelty that seemed completely indifferent to their Moral Value.
After several killings, the medical staff and patients had no thoughts of resistance left; they obediently squatted down with their heads in their hands.
For a spirit realm walker, using their abilities to kill was far more efficient and accurate than bullets, but when it came to intimidating the average person, firearms were still the most effective.
To coerce a large group of people, violence alone wouldn’t suffice; firearms were needed.
“All personnel on the first floor have been cleared; everyone has been gathered in the living room.”
“All personnel on the second floor have been cleared; everyone has been gathered in the living room.”
Reports from his comrades came through the walkie-talkie.
Li Xianzong pressed the button on the walkie-talkie and brought it to his mouth, saying, “Check out the obstetrics and gynecology department, and bring down the medical staff. If there are pregnant women, don’t harm them.”
“Hey! You, a Bewitching Demon, pretending to have a heart?” a comrade sneered.
“I don’t sympathize with the weak, but when my dad was alive, he often told me that children are the flowers of our nation and that they deserve some mercy and care,” Li Xianzong said with a smirk.
At the Fu’s Bay Villa.
Fu Qingyang lay lazily in a massage chair, resting with his eyes closed. His skin exhibited a strange flush, and his limbs showed slight muscle spasms.
Two Playboy bunnies crouched on either side of the massage chair, their small hands tapping and kneading, easing his muscle soreness.
On another Solo sofa, Ling Jun was squatting, grabbing a piece of honeydew melon and stuffing it into his mouth, sighing:
“You still push yourself so hard. I remember you practicing your slashing since you were ten years old, and you’ve been at it for over a decade to become a spirit realm walker. What level have you reached now?”
Fu Qingyang kept his eyes closed, “I’ve practiced enough to behead you with one strike.”
“Nonsense!” Ling Jun retorted, not convinced: “I am the Beast King, with two lives. You’d need two strikes to kill me.”
Suddenly, the two Playboy bunnies stiffened and then slumped to the floor.
Fu Qingyang’s eyes snapped open, sharp as a sword.
Ling Jun, perched on the sofa, struggled to keep his eyelids open, his body swaying:
“So, so sleepy. Damn, it’s the Dreamkeeper.”
His head tilted, and he fell into sleep.
“Yichuan Mei?” Fu Qingyang huffed coldly, closed his eyes, and Active entered sleep.
At the Kangyang District Public Security Bureau.
Zhang Yuanqing had just stepped out of the bathroom when he saw a Civilian Staff member hurriedly climbing the steel staircase to the second floor.
Her face was anxious as she looked towards the lazily seated Guan Ya and called out:
“The Public Security Bureau has received an alert, terrorists have attacked Pingtai Hospital, the medical staff and patients from the outpatient building are all inside.”
“What?” Guan Ya sprang to her feet and strode towards the Decurion’s office.
Even Wang Tai, who usually paid no attention to the storms outside, also raised his head in shock, his expression turning grave.
Pingtai Hospital?! Zhang Yuanqing felt as if someone had struck his head with a blunt object, buzzing.
Jiang Yuer worked at Pingtai Hospital.
Zhang Yuanqing’s face turned ashen. While pulling out his phone he urgently asked:
“What’s the situation in the hospital? How many casualties? How many kidnappers are there?”
The Civilian Staff shook her head: “Don’t, don’t have that much detail, the Public Security Bureau has already called for personnel to head to the hospital, specifics will require further investigation.”
At least this meant the incident had just occurred. Zhang Yuanqing moved aside, took out his phone, and dialed Jiang Yuer’s number.
“Sorry, the number you have dialed is switched off, please try again later!”
Switched off? Zhang Yuanqing cursed angrily, “Damn.”
At this moment, Guan Ya, along with Li Dongze, Jiang Jingwei, and Teng Yuan, rushed out of the office.
Li Dongze walked briskly, his face composed, speaking very quickly:
“Let’s move out immediately!”
The group quickly got ready, Guan Ya pulled two gun holsters from her desk drawer, too hurried to strap them onto her thighs; Wang Tai cradled his beloved notebook and rose to leave.
The group exited the Glass Building and climbed into Li Dongze’s Business car parked at the entrance. The driver floored the accelerator, heading towards the gates of the Public Security Bureau.
Pingtai Hospital was not far from the Public Security Bureau. Running through red lights, they arrived at the hospital in a matter of minutes.
By then, the hospital’s entrance was filled with police cars flashing their warning lights.
A dozen armed security officers were confronting a middle-aged man in patient’s clothes. The patient stood in front of the hospital’s main entrance with a walkie-talkie hanging around his neck, holding a scalpel to his throat, and shouting manically:
“Don’t come any closer, don’t come any closer, get the Primordial Celestial Lord to see me.”
The Business car stopped, and the doors swung open. Zhang Yuanqing immediately spotted the leading Captain Chen Yuanjun.
He silently put on a baseball cap and mask.
Li Dongze, carrying a cane, strode toward Captain Chen and asked in a deep voice:
“What’s the situation now?”
Captain Chen clearly recognized Li Dongze, glanced past the Business car behind him, and said in a low voice:
“The kidnapper has taken control of the patients and medical staff inside the hospital. The number of casualties is still unclear, and the perpetrator refuses to communicate with us, threatening to detonate a bomb if anyone tries to break into the hospital.”
After pausing, Captain Chen continued with a slightly bewildered look, “The kidnapper’s demand seems to be to talk to the Primordial Celestial Lord. I suspect he has mental issues.”
Li Dongze nodded slightly, scrutinizing Captain Chen for a moment, and said with a frown:
“Captain Chen, staying calm is an essential quality for security officers. Why are you so nervous and eager? What’s going on?”
He could tell at a glance that this security officer was anxious and uneasy beneath his stern exterior.
Captain Chen gave a wry smile, “My cousin is a doctor at Pingtai Hospital.”
Li Dongze’s expression tightened. He patted Captain Chen on the shoulder, said nothing more, and turned back to the Business car.
“Jiang Jingwei!” He looked at the red-haired girl and pointed to the patient at the door, saying:
“Get his walkie-talkie, and be gentle. Don’t harm him.”
Jiang Jingwei nodded excitedly, got out of the car, crouched down, and stealthily moved half-circle to the side of the patient, using the police cars and security officers for cover.
Then, with a small dip of her knees, she charged at the patient like an unleashed wild dog.
The security officers only saw a blur. By the time they reacted, the red-haired girl was already at the patient’s side.
With a high kick, she knocked the scalpel out of the patient’s tight grip, then twisted her waist, spinning into the air and bringing her other leg crashing down on the back of the patient’s neck.
“Snap!”
The Middle-aged man was knocked unconscious before he even realized what had happened.
Among the Lawful Classes of the Five Elements Alliance, the Fire Warrior is ranked first in speed.
The security officers swarmed in, securing the patient, while Jiang Jingwei grabbed the walkie-talkie and sprinted back to the Business car.
Li Dongze took the walkie-talkie, pressed the button, and announced:
“I am the Decurion of the Second Team from Kangyang District. If you have any demands, you can speak to me.”
After repeating it three times, a defiant laugh came through the speaker: “I want to talk to the Primordial Celestial Lord.”
Zhang Yuanqing was about to speak when Guan Ya pressed down on his shoulder. Li Dongze seamlessly continued:
“The Primordial Celestial Lord is not here. What do you want with him?”
The defiant male voice laughed:
“Not here? It seems I didn’t choose the right time, huh? I’ll give you ten minutes. In ten minutes, I want to see the Primordial Celestial Lord, or else, after one minute, I’ll kill one person.
“If you dare to force your way into the hospital, I’ll have someone detonate the bomb and kill everyone.”
Li Dongze looked at Guan Ya and mouthed: “Contact Fu Centurion.”
Then, with a firm tone, he said: “You can try to detonate the bomb. We, the Official, will not compromise. If you are willing to die along with everyone in the hospital, I’ll oblige you.”
Laughter erupted from the walkie-talkie.
“Decurion, sir, you overestimate me. I don’t have the courage to die alongside these ordinary people. As I said before, I would have someone else detonate the bomb. They are all my Servants, under the Sinister Eye Judge, people who are already in desperate straits. When they heard I wanted to take revenge on the Official, to retaliate against society, they immediately agreed. Of course, my Bewitchment played a part in this.”
Servants of the Sinister Eye Judge. Li Dongze felt a chill in his heart: “Are you the Bewitching Demon?”
“You should have heard of my name. I am Li Xianzong.”
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the Business car changed their expressions.
With the Large-Scale Slaughter Instance about to commence, they had anticipated that walkers from the Evil Classes would target the Primordial, but they had not expected it to be Li Xianzong.
And this Bloodthirsty Bewitching Demon had started with a big move. No Assassination, no stealthy attack, just a direct Terrorist Attack.
His arrogance was extreme.
“Now a minute and a half has passed, you don’t have much time left. I await your good news.”
The voice in the walkie-talkie went silent.
Li Dongze put down the walkie-talkie and looked towards Guan Ya.
Guan Ya’s eyebrows were slightly furrowed: “Fu Qingyang isn’t answering his phone.”
Everyone’s hearts sank once more.
Li Dongze stroked his cane, pondering:
“It seems that the opponent has come prepared. If the Primordial doesn’t show up within ten minutes, Li Xianzong will withdraw, and none of the people in the hospital will survive. Ha, as you just heard, the Kidnapper is a Servant of the Sinister Eye Judge, and this Terrorist Attack is aimed at mutual destruction.”
Ten minutes was not enough time for Directors from other districts to make it, the timing was too tight.
Teng Yuan said: “This guy is smart. Even if the Primordial doesn’t come, he can retreat easily and also create a big problem for us.”
Zhang Yuanqing spoke in a deep voice: “He’s targeting me. He wants to hunt me down. Decurion, let me go in.”
He was a bit anxious, not knowing how Jiang Yuer was inside, whether she was hurt or not.
Li Dongze glared at him: “You’ll only be going in to die!”
“No!” Guan Ya immediately objected, frowning: “You’re not someone who acts recklessly.”
Only Jiang Jingwei supported him, rubbing her hands together, her small face brimming with fighting spirit: “Let’s charge in, watch me punch his head off.”
At this moment, the experienced Li Dongze, who had the composure and steadiness of an old walker, slowly said:
“Don’t rush, there are always more solutions than problems, we need to come up with a set of tactics.”
