"A terrorist attack?"
Dr. Zhao's face paled, his voice tinged with disbelief.
Songhai, a metropolis of over twenty million people, served as a national hub for industry, finance, transportation, and shipping, holding a pivotal position in the country.
For decades, not only had terrorist attacks been unheard of, but even ordinary crimes were rare.
"Call the police! Call them now!"
Dr. Zhao frantically fumbled for his phone, trying to dial the Public Security Bureau.
But no one answered.
"Everyone who can is already calling. The Public Security Bureau has limited operators—they can't get to your call," Jiang Yu'er whispered, quietly closing the door. "We need to stay here. Don't run around."
Dr. Zhao's eyes widened with terror, his expression frantic. "We can't stay here! Kidnappers are ruthless—they'll kill the hostages. Jiang Yu'er, let's escape through the back door!"
Jiang Yu'er frowned, cutting him off sharply. "Stay here!"
Dr. Zhao froze, staring in shock at his familiar colleague. This young woman, with her round face, sweet and lively demeanor, and perpetually obedient air, had suddenly revealed a terrifying, awe-inspiring severity.
It was a severity Dr. Zhao had never witnessed before.
Jiang Yu'er's expression softened as she murmured, "Listen, the commotion outside is dying down. That means most people have already been subdued. Since the terrorists have seized the hospital, they'll definitely have guards at both entrances and someone monitoring the security cameras. Staying here is the safest option."
Dr. Zhao nodded blankly.
In the surveillance room, Li Xianzong stood before the control panel, arms crossed. His left hand gripped a walkie-talkie while his right hand flipped a butterfly knife. The fluorescent blue glow of the screens illuminated his sharp, cold eyes.
The surveillance monitors showed the lobby of the outpatient building. Two armed men had already secured the area, herding medical staff from the pharmacy, registration desk, and various offices into the main hall on the first floor.
Anyone who resisted was shot dead without hesitation, their cruelty seemingly unconcerned with their Morality Value.
After several executions, the medical staff and patients abandoned all thoughts of resistance, obediently crouching down with their hands on their heads.
For Spirit Realm Walkers, using their abilities to kill was far more efficient and precise than bullets. However, when it came to intimidating ordinary people, firearms remained the most effective tool.
To coerce a large crowd, brute force alone wouldn't suffice—firearms were essential.
"First floor cleared. All personnel have been gathered in the main hall."
"The second floor is cleared. Everyone's gathered in the living room," a companion reported over the walkie-talkie.
Li Xianzong pressed the transmit button, leaned close to the microphone, and said, "Check the obstetrics and gynecology department. Drag out the medical staff. If there are pregnant women, don't harm them."
"Ha! You, a Seductive Demon, playing the compassionate hero?" a companion sneered.
"I don't pity the weak," Li Xianzong grinned, "but when my dad was alive, he always told me children are the flowers of our nation. We should show them proper care and affection."
Fu Family Bay Villa.
Fu Qingyang lay languidly in a massage chair, eyes closed in deep relaxation. His skin glowed an unnatural crimson, and his limbs twitched slightly.
Two bunny girls knelt beside the chair, their nimble hands kneading and tapping his muscles to ease his aches.
On a nearby armchair, Ling Jun squatted, grabbing a slice of honeydew melon and popping it into his mouth. He sighed, "You're still pushing yourself so hard. I remember you started practicing sword strikes when you were ten. You've been at it for over a decade, all the way to becoming a Spirit Realm Walker. What level have you reached now?"
Fu Qingyang remained motionless, his eyes still closed. "I've reached the level where I can sever your dog head with a single strike."
"Nonsense!" Ling Jun retorted, unconvinced. "I'm the Beast King, with two lives! You'd need two strikes to kill me."
Suddenly, two bunny girls stiffened and collapsed to the floor.
Fu Qingyang's eyes snapped open, his gaze as sharp as a sword.
Ling Jun, perched on the sofa, struggled to keep his eyelids open, his body swaying.
"So... so sleepy... Damn it, it's... it's the Dream Master."
His head lolled to the side as he drifted into sleep.
"Yichuan Mei?" Fu Qingyang scoffed, closed his eyes, and deliberately entered a dream state.
Kangyang District Public Security Bureau.
Zhang Yuanqing had just emerged from the restroom when he saw a clerical staff member hurrying up the steel staircase to the second floor.
Her face was frantic as she called out to Guan Ya, who was sitting languidly at her desk:
"The Public Security Bureau received an alert! Terrorists are attacking Pingtai Hospital! All the medical staff and patients in the outpatient building are trapped inside!"
"What?!" Guan Ya shot to her feet and strode toward the Chief's office.
Even Wang Tai, who usually paid no attention to the outside world, looked up in shock, his expression turning grave.
Pingtai Hospital?! Zhang Yuanqing felt as if he'd been struck with a blunt object, his head ringing.
His aunt worked at Pingtai Hospital.
Zhang Yuanqing's face turned ashen as he pulled out his phone, urgently asking, "What's the situation at the hospital? What are the casualties? How many kidnappers are there?"
The clerical staff shook his head. "No, we don't have those details yet. The Public Security Bureau has already mobilized personnel to rush to the hospital. We need further investigation to determine the specifics."
At least this meant the incident had just occurred. Zhang Yuanqing stepped aside, pulled out his phone, and dialed his aunt's number.
"We're sorry, the number you've dialed is currently switched off. Please try again later."
Switched off? Zhang Yuanqing cursed angrily, "Fuck!"
Just then, Guan Ya burst out of the office with Li Dongze, Jiang Jingwei, and Teng Yuan in tow.
Li Dongze strode forward, his expression grim and his voice urgent. "Let's move out immediately!"
The group quickly prepared. Guan Ya pulled two holsters from her desk drawer, not even bothering to strap them to her thighs. Wang Tai grabbed his beloved laptop and stood up to leave.
They rushed out of the Glass Building, piled into Li Dongze's business van parked outside, and the driver slammed on the gas, speeding toward the Public Security Bureau's main gate.
Pingtai Hospital wasn't far from the Public Security Bureau. Ignoring red lights, they arrived at the hospital in just over ten minutes.
Outside the hospital's main entrance, police cars with flashing warning lights were parked everywhere.
A dozen armed Security Officers were confronting a middle-aged man in a hospital gown. The patient stood blocking the hospital entrance, a walkie-talkie hanging around his neck and a surgical scalpel pressed against his throat, shouting hysterically:
"Don't come any closer! Don't come any closer! Let the Primordial Heavenly Venerable come see me!"
The van pulled up, its doors sliding open. Zhang Yuanqing immediately spotted his cousin, who was leading the team.
He silently put on a baseball cap and a mask.
Li Dongze, cane in hand, strode purposefully toward Chen Yuanjun, his voice low and urgent:
"What's the situation?"
Chen Yuanjun clearly recognized Li Dongze. His gaze swept over the van behind him before he replied in a hushed tone:
"The kidnappers have taken control of the hospital, holding patients and staff hostage. We haven't confirmed any casualties yet. They refuse to negotiate and have threatened to detonate explosives if we try to enter the building."
He paused, his expression slightly bewildered. "Their demand seems to be a meeting with the Primordial Heavenly Venerable. I suspect the kidnappers have mental health issues."
Li Dongze nodded slightly, scrutinizing Chen Yuanjun for a moment before frowning. "Captain Chen, composure is essential for a Security Officer. You're too tense and agitated. What's wrong?"
He could immediately sense the anxiety and unease beneath the Security Captain's stern exterior.
Chen Yuanjun forced a bitter smile. "My aunt is a doctor at Pingtai Hospital."
Li Dongze's expression hardened. He patted Chen Yuanjun on the shoulder, said nothing, and turned back to the van.
"Jingwei!" he called out to the red-haired girl, pointing at the patient by the door. "Get his walkie-talkie. Be gentle—we don't want to kill him."
Jiang Jingwei nodded eagerly and immediately hopped out of the van. Crouching low, she used the police car and Security Officers as cover to stealthily circle around to the patient's side.
With a slight dip of her knees, she lunged at the patient like a wild dog unleashed.
The Security Officers only caught a glimpse of a black blur before the red-haired girl was already beside the patient.
She kicked the surgical knife from his grip with a high leg sweep, then twisted her lithe waist, spinning her body into the air. Her other leg lashed out, striking the patient hard on the back of his neck.
Thwack!
Before the middle-aged man could even register what had happened, he was knocked unconscious.
Among the Orderly Classes of the Five Elements Alliance, Fire Masters ranked first in speed.
The Security Officers swarmed in to restrain the patient, while Jiang Jingwei grabbed the walkie-talkie and sprinted back to the van.
Li Dongze took the device, pressed the transmit button, and spoke:
"This is Chief Li Dongze of the Kangyang District Second Team. State your demands."
After repeating his demand three times, a defiant laugh echoed from the loudspeaker. "I want to speak with the Primordial Heavenly Venerable."
Zhang Yuanqing was about to speak when Guan Ya pressed her hand on his shoulder. Li Dongze seamlessly continued, "The Primordial Heavenly Venerable is unavailable. What is your purpose in seeking him?"
The arrogant male voice chuckled. "Unavailable? It seems I chose the wrong time. I'll give you ten minutes. After that, I want to see the Primordial Heavenly Venerable. Otherwise, I'll kill one person every minute."
"If you dare storm the hospital, I'll have my men detonate the bombs and kill everyone inside."
Li Dongze glanced at Guan Ya and mouthed, "Contact Centurion Fu."
Then, his voice firm, he declared, "You can try detonating the bombs. The Officials will never compromise. If you're willing to sacrifice everyone in the hospital, I'll grant you that wish."
A burst of laughter erupted from the walkie-talkie.
"Chief, you overestimate me. I don't have the courage to die with these ordinary people. As I said, I'll have my men detonate the bombs. They're all my recruits, servants of the Eerie Eye Judge, already desperate souls. When I told them I wanted to take revenge on the Officials and society, they immediately agreed. Of course, my seduction played a part."
Servants of the Eerie Eye Judge. Li Dongze's heart sank. "Are you a Seductive Demon?"
"You've probably heard of me. I'm Li Xianzong."
The moment those words were spoken, the faces of everyone in the van paled.
With the Grand Slaughter Instance about to begin, they had anticipated that Primordial would be targeted by Evil Class Walkers, but they never imagined Li Xianzong would be the one after him.
This bloodthirsty Seductive Demon had gone all-in from the start. No assassinations, no ambushes—just a full-scale terrorist attack.
His arrogance knew no bounds.
"Ninety seconds have passed. Your time is running out. I await your good news."
The walkie-talkie went silent.
Li Dongze set down the device and turned to Guan Ya.
Guan Ya frowned slightly. "Fu Qingyang isn't answering his phone."
The group's spirits sank further.
Li Dongze stroked his cane thoughtfully. "It seems they came prepared. If Li Xianzong doesn't see Primordial within ten minutes, he'll retreat, and no one in the hospital will survive. Heh, you heard it yourselves—the kidnappers are servants of the Eerie Eye Judge. This terrorist attack is meant to be a mutually assured destruction scenario."
In ten minutes, Deacons from other districts wouldn't be able to arrive in time. The window was too tight.
Teng Yuan said, "This guy's got brains. Even if Primordial doesn't show up, he can retreat calmly while creating a massive headache for us."
Zhang Yuanqing said grimly, "He's after me. He wants to hunt me down. Chief, let me go in."
He was anxious, desperate to know if his aunt was safe inside and whether she had been injured.
Li Dongze glared at him. "Going in there would be suicide!"
"Absolutely not!" Guan Ya immediately objected, frowning. "You're not usually this reckless."
Only Jiang Jingwei supported him, rubbing her fists together, her small face brimming with battle lust. "Let's smash our way in! I'll punch his dog head into oblivion!"
At this critical moment, the experienced Li Dongze displayed the composure and calm of a seasoned Walker. He said slowly, "Don't rush. There's always a solution. We need to formulate a strategy."