Chapter 6: The Escaping Assassin

Upon hearing Li Mo’s shout, Mu Jinyi and Chen Xi exchanged a look as if they shared a single mind. Mu Jinyi bolted from the ward like an arrow released from a bow.

Chen Xi, however, remained as steady as a mountain. She hoisted a chair from by the window, watching the direction of Li Mo and the assassin with the vigilance of someone facing a formidable enemy, stepping forward cautiously.

The assassin, having just been struck hard by Li Mo’s headbutt, felt as dazed and disoriented as a bell rung by a sledgehammer. Yet, he keenly sensed Chen Xi’s relentless approach. He made an instant decision to drop the syringe, breaking free from Li Mo’s iron-like grip with startling speed.

"No, he’s going to escape!"

The moment the assassin shifted, Li Mo had already anticipated his intent. However, instead of lunging like a tiger to capture him, Li Mo stood like an impenetrable fortress, blocking Chen Xi as she advanced menacingly with the chair.

"You're not going to chase him?" Chen Xi looked at Li Mo, full of suspicion.

By now, the assassin had dashed to the window like a cunning rabbit. He turned back, glared at Li Mo and Chen Xi with the ferocity of a starving wolf, made a throat-slitting gesture, and then, like a bird diving into the woods, smashed through the window and leaped out.

"No more chasing."

Li Mo shook his head slowly. Blood was pouring from the hand where the syringe had been, as if from an opened faucet. He was like a flickering candle in the wind, teetering on the edge of collapse. Trading blows with the assassin for a short time was one thing, but if he had engaged in a prolonged struggle, he would surely have been defeated. Especially with Chen Xi in the room—if the assassin had been backed into a corner, he might have harmed her, leading to endless and unpredictable consequences.

"You're bleeding!"

Chen Xi’s sharp eyes caught the blood dripping from Li Mo’s palm. Burning with anxiety, she rushed to the bedside cabinet, grabbed a cotton swab, and carefully pressed it against the puncture wound on his hand.

"Sit down, the doctor will be here any second!"

Chen Xi spoke with deep concern. She no longer wondered why Li Mo hadn't pursued the assassin; his face was as pale as paper from blood loss, and at a glance, it was clear he was at his absolute limit.

"In here! Hurry!"

Mu Jinyi’s voice rang out, accompanied by the clamor of hurried footsteps. A team of hospital security guards burst into the room.

"Xiao Xi, Xiao Mo, are you alright?" Upon rushing into the ward and seeing Li Mo sitting on the bed with Chen Xi standing beside him, Mu Jinyi let out a sigh of relief.

"Mom, where are the doctors?" Chen Xi asked, looking at the guards.

"Doctors, come in quickly!" Mu Jinyi shouted toward the hallway.

Several doctors in white coats entered.

Seeing them, Chen Xi’s eyes filled with wariness; the previous assassin had also been dressed in a white coat.

"All of you, take off your masks and verify your identities to each other. If there are no issues, you may treat Li Mo’s wound!" Chen Xi commanded coldly.

The doctors exchanged glances, their brows furrowing in unison.

"Listen to her and do it immediately!" Mu Jinyi’s icy voice cut through the air.

While these doctors didn't know who Chen Xi was, they knew exactly who Mu Jinyi was—the Governor’s wife. They had no choice but to remove their masks.

"You are all doctors from this hospital, aren't you?" Seeing they had complied and nothing seemed amiss, she nodded and said, "Come over and treat his wound."

Mu Jinyi added quickly, "Don't take offense, doctors. An assassin posing as a doctor just broke into this room and tried to inject Li Mo with an unknown substance, which is why my daughter insisted on verifying your identities."

Hearing this, the initially disgruntled doctors turned solemn. One of them quickly stepped forward to tend to Li Mo’s hand. Because the needle had been pulled out unprofessionally, the wound was a jagged puncture, which explained the heavy bleeding.

"We understand," the doctor not currently bandaging Li Mo said to Mu Jinyi. "Ma'am, should we call the police?"

"No need, I will call the police station directly."

Li Mo had regained some composure. He was certain that this assassination attempt was inextricably linked to the shooting of Wang Ze. He was now worried about Zheng Feng; since he himself had been targeted, the situation for Zheng Feng was likely equally grim.

Upon hearing Li Mo’s request, Chen Xi handed him his phone. Li Mo dialed Zheng Feng.

Outside the police station, Zheng Feng and his team were searching locations he suspected might have been the shooter's vantage point. His phone rang at that moment. Zheng Feng answered immediately, "Li Mo..."

As he listened to Li Mo’s account, Zheng Feng’s expression shifted instantly.

"Understood. I will report this to Director Tang. Be careful at the hospital. I’ll bring my team there as soon as I’ve finished my report!" Zheng Feng hung up, his face grim.

If Zheng Feng had previously only suspected the explosion outside the station was related to the Wang Ze case, the fact that both he and Li Mo had been targeted confirmed it was a direct continuation of that affair.

After failing to reach Tang Hu by phone, Zheng Feng immediately sent a text reporting the call and his own deductions.

Tang Hu was currently in a county government conference room, attending a high-level meeting on the Wang Ze shooting led by Tian Yun, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Committee and Director of the Public Security Department. The meeting included the Provincial Criminal Investigation Detachment, the Nanshi City Bureau, and the Pu County Bureau. Chen Teng was also present at the leadership table; although he remained silent, his presence signified that the case was a top priority for the provincial government.

Tang Hu’s expression changed as he read the text message.

Just as the current speaker finished, Tang Hu stood up, walked to the side of the podium, and reported the content of the message. Upon hearing it, Tian Yun immediately approached Chen Teng.

"What?!"

Hearing the report, Chen Teng was enraged. "Audacious! This is truly audacious!"

"Secretary Tian, these thugs are rampant. Not only did they kill a prisoner in custody and shoot our officers, but they are now launching retaliatory strikes against them. The Public Security Bureau must apprehend them immediately!" Chen Teng said with a dark expression.

"Understood!" Tian Yun’s face was equally grim. "Governor Chen, I will immediately arrange to have Pu County locked down and screen everyone entering or leaving!"

"Tang Hu, take a team to the Pu County hospital to investigate and see if there are any leads!"

"Yes, sir!"

Tang Hu saluted Tian Yun, quickly rose, and headed out of the conference room. As he exited, he pulled out his phone to order a team to meet him at the hospital.

Seeing Tang Hu leave, Chen Teng stood up. "Secretary Tian, the pursuit of these thugs is in your hands."

"Understood, Governor Chen," Tian Yun nodded. "I will catch these rampant criminals as soon as possible!"

Chen Teng nodded and walked out of the conference room. His secretary followed closely. "Boss, what now?"

Chen Teng replied, his face expressionless, "Go to the hospital first, then return to the provincial capital tonight. I need to report the events in Pu County to the Secretary!"