54: Chapter 54 A Shocking Turn of Events on the Return Journey! Hongyuan Group Directly Obstructs the Journey, Perilous Situation Ensues (3)

"Initial observations suggest a common traffic accident; a large truck and a small car collided head-on. Both vehicles sustained varying degrees of damage, occupying the entire lane. The City Defense Team is currently rescuing the injured and clearing the scene, but it's chaotic, and we can't confirm yet if it was intentional." The voice coming from the walkie-talkie was accompanied by noisy background sounds. "We have sent personnel closer to investigate, focusing on checking the truck driver's background."

A trace of doubt also rose in Mu Li's heart. His fingertips unconsciously tapped his knee as he spoke with a heavy tone but clear logic, "After two failed attacks, Hongyuan Group will certainly not give up. Using a traffic accident to delay time is likely to deploy an ambush in the surrounding area, perhaps trying to force us onto a remote road before taking action." Terrain quickly flashed through his mind—country roads, woods, abandoned factories—all were ambush points that were easy to defend but hard to attack. "We cannot let our guard down. When taking a detour, make sure the lead vehicle slows down to scout the road ahead. At the same time, have the patrol fleet from the General Administration of Public Security speed up to close the distance. Additionally, notify the checkpoints along the way to pay close attention to unfamiliar vehicles and personnel, especially suspicious individuals carrying weapons." He deliberately slowed his speech, both to let Zhang Hongyuan receive the instructions clearly and to steady the emotions of the security personnel beside him.

"I was thinking the same thing." Zhang Hongyuan nodded in agreement and immediately ordered into the walkie-talkie, "Send people right away to thoroughly verify the truck driver's identity. Retrieve the vehicle's dashcam footage and roadside surveillance to confirm if this was an intentional accident orchestrated by Hongyuan Group. Meanwhile, contact the local City Defense Team and the General Administration of Public Security to explain the situation, requesting them to speed up the clearing process and send more personnel to maintain order. Also, immediately scout surrounding detour routes; we'll bypass this, we can't waste time here."

"Understood!" came a crisp response from the walkie-talkie.

About ten minutes later, the walkie-talkie crackled again with a definitive conclusion: "Manager Zhang, it's confirmed to be a staged accident! The truck driver is a temporary hire of Hongyuan Group. After initial questioning, he admitted he was instructed by Zhou Ming to intentionally run a red light and hit the car to create a traffic jam and prevent Engineer Mu from returning to the project site. We have reported the situation to the local General Administration of Public Security, and they are conducting a deep interrogation of the driver to gather evidence. Additionally, we've found a country road that can bypass the scene to the project site. Though the road conditions are poor, it will save time, with an estimated extra thirty minutes of driving."

"Good! Head to the country road immediately. Notify the lead vehicle to clear the way, and the escort vehicle to stay on alert in the rear. Keep communications open and report road conditions at any time." After Zhang Hongyuan finished speaking, he turned to the driver and instructed, "U-turn, follow the lead vehicle ahead, and take the country road."

The driver nodded immediately, skillfully turning the vehicle around and following the lead car onto the country road. The path was narrow and rugged, with an uneven surface full of gravel and potholes. The business van jolted as it drove, its body swaying constantly. Mu Li leaned against his seat, his eyes fixed on the environment outside. The road was flanked by dense poplar forests, their branches interlacing and blocking most of the sunlight. The light was dim and visibility was restricted, making it extremely easy for an ambush to be hidden; the danger level was very high.

"Everyone, stay alert. Pay close attention to the surrounding woods and any unusual movement by the roadside. If you spot suspicious persons, signal immediately—do not act on your own."

The security personnel nodded one after another, taking out their riot batons and walkie-talkies. They stared vigilantly out the windows, not daring to relax for a second. The business van drove on the country road for about twenty minutes. The surrounding forest grew denser, the light dimmer, and the air was thick with the damp scent of soil and leaves. It was so quiet that only the jolting of the vehicle and the 'rustle' of wind through the leaves could be heard, creating an oppressive atmosphere that made it hard to breathe.

Suddenly, the lead vehicle ahead slammed to a halt, its lights flashing a warning signal. An urgent and hurried voice came over the walkie-talkie: "Manager Zhang, the road ahead is blocked by several thick tree trunks! It's impassable! Also, footsteps are coming from the surrounding woods—suspected activity by a large number of unidentified personnel, at least thirty people!"

Zhang Hongyuan's face instantly turned ashen, his fists clenched tight. His voice carried fury: "It's Hongyuan Group's people again! It seems they planned this long ago, setting an inescapable trap! Everyone, prepare for combat! Engineer Mu, stay inside the car, lock the doors, and do not get out. We will protect your safety with our lives."

"Alright." Mu Li nodded, his heart exceptionally calm without a trace of panic. At this moment, he knew that panic would only cause disarray and burden those around him. He immediately took out his phone and dialed the head of the Ji Province General Administration of Public Security. His tone was as steady as if he were merely reporting project progress as he precisely described their location, the number of attackers, and their equipment: "This is Mu Li. I am currently on a country road heading to the nuclear fusion power station project site, surrounded by over thirty armed personnel from Hongyuan Group. The road is blocked by tree trunks. They are carrying wooden clubs and steel pipes, led by someone suspected to be Hongyuan Group's security head, 'Guangtou Qiang'. I have sent the location. Requesting immediate backup; please ensure the exits of the surrounding woods are cordoned off to prevent them from fleeing." Hanging up, he quickly checked the vehicle's emergency equipment while instructing the driver to deadbolt the doors and close the windows. His eyes peered through the bulletproof glass, observing the enemy's formation to find an opportunity to break through or stall for time—twenty minutes would be enough to hold out until backup arrived; the key was to hold this vehicle as a safe bastion.

"Rest assured, Mr. Mu. We have already dispatched ten law enforcement vehicles and fifty patrol officers. They are heading to the scene at full speed and are expected to arrive in twenty minutes. Please ensure you stay protected and do not expose yourself easily. We will arrive as quickly as possible." The voice of the head of the General Administration of Public Security was steady and powerful, giving Mu Li a sense of reassurance.

By now, the sound of dense footsteps in the surrounding woods grew closer. Dozens of men dressed in black emerged from the trees, wielding wooden clubs, steel pipes, and other weapons. With fierce expressions, they surrounded the business van, the lead car, and the escort vehicle, forming a seamless perimeter. The man in the lead was bald, tall, and burly, with a sinister tattoo on his arm. His eyes were as fierce as a hungry wolf. He was indeed Hongyuan Group's security chief, nicknamed 'Guangtou Qiang', known for his ruthlessness in the underworld.

"Engineer Mu, we meet again." Guangtou Qiang sneered, his voice loud and carrying undisguised arrogance. "I suggest you be a good boy, get out of the car, and come with us to save yourself some pain. Our boss said that if you hand over the core technical parameters of the nuclear fusion power station project, not only will he spare your life, but he'll also give you a huge sum of money so you can live the rest of your life in comfort. Otherwise, none of you in these cars are leaving here alive today!"

"Your conspiracy will never succeed!" Zhang Hongyuan opened the car door and stepped out with a riot baton. Several security guards followed closely behind him, forming a defensive formation. He shouted angrily at Guangtou Qiang, "The backup from the Ji Province General Administration of Public Security is already on the way and will be here in twenty minutes at most! If you surrender now, you might get leniency. Otherwise, what awaits you is the full severity of the law!"

"General Administration of Public Security? Hahaha!" Guangtou Qiang burst into laughter—a coarse, frenzied laugh filled with mockery. "This place is in the middle of nowhere. By the time they arrive, we'll have finished you all off! Boys, get them! Drag Mu Li out and beat the rest of them down. Hit them hard; I'll take responsibility for whatever happens!"

At Guangtou Qiang's command, dozens of men in black brandished their weapons and charged toward the vehicles with roars. The whistling sound of wooden clubs and steel pipes was piercing, and the scene became chaotic. Zhang Hongyuan and the security guards immediately met the charge. The 'bang bang' of riot batons clashing with steel pipes, screams, angry shouts, and the clatter of weapons intertwined, echoing through the entire forest.

Mu Li sat inside the car, gripping his phone tightly. His eyes were fixed on the fighting outside. His heart was racing, yet he maintained clear judgment. Seeing Zhang Hongyuan and the security personnel fighting desperately and sustaining new injuries filled him with guilt, but he did not impulsively exit the car. He knew he was the target; if he exposed himself, it would only put the guards at a greater disadvantage. He constantly refreshed his phone's GPS, watching the backup's location get closer bit by bit, silently calculating the time: five minutes, just five more minutes. Simultaneously, he quickly recorded the enemy's attack patterns and positions—details that would provide a basis for future pursuit and prevention. He suppressed the urge to rush out and help, knowing that holding his position inside the car was his greatest support for the security team.

At this critical moment, the piercing sirens of law enforcement vehicles sounded in the distance, getting closer and cutting through the din of the forest. Guangtou Qiang's expression changed instantly, a flash of panic appearing in his eyes. He shouted to his subordinates, "Damn it, the General Administration of Public Security is here! Boys, retreat! Fast!"

Hearing the sirens, the dozens of men in black lost their composure. They dropped their weapons one after another and turned to flee into the depths of the forest, vanishing into the dense foliage in an instant. Zhang Hongyuan and the security guards wanted to give chase, but due to their heavy injuries and exhaustion, they could only watch them escape, slumping to the ground and gasping for air.

Soon, over a dozen law enforcement vehicles arrived at the scene. Patrol officers from the General Administration of Public Security leaped out; some chased into the woods while others stayed to protect Mu Li and contact medical personnel to treat the injured security guards. Once the medics arrived, they quickly performed emergency treatment, bandaging wounds, stopping bleeding, and setting fractures with skilled and rapid movements.

The head of the Ji Province General Administration of Public Security walked quickly to Mu Li's side, his tone apologetic: "Mr. Mu, we've given you a fright; we arrived late. Are you alright? Are you injured?"

"I'm fine, thank you for arriving in time." Mu Li opened the door and stepped out. Looking at the injured security guards, his heart was full of guilt. "Thank you for your hard work, and thank you to my security brothers for protecting me with your lives. Please do your best to pursue the fleeing suspects and thoroughly investigate the remnants of Hongyuan Group to prevent them from causing trouble again."

"Rest assured, Mr. Mu. We have deployed a comprehensive pursuit force and cordoned off all surrounding intersections and forest exits. We will definitely capture all involved and punish them according to the law." The official's tone was firm. "Moving forward, we will arrange for dedicated personnel to be stationed 24/7 at the project site and your residence, strengthening patrol protection to ensure your personal safety and the smooth progress of the project."

After the medics took the injured guards to the ambulances, the patrol officers and Zhang Hongyuan worked together to clear the large tree trunks from the scene and open the road. About an hour later, the road was completely clear. The business van started up again and headed toward the nuclear fusion power station project site. After three harrowing obstructions, the security along the way became even tighter, with escort vehicles coordinating front and back and patrol officers stationed at every intersection to ensure everything was foolproof.

As evening fell and the setting sun cast its golden glow over the land, the business van finally arrived at the nuclear fusion power station project site. Lin Wei, Zhao Kai, Zhou Yaqi, and other core team members were already waiting at the entrance of the Main Control Room, their faces full of worry and anxiety. Seeing Mu Li arrive safely, everyone breathed a sigh of relief and hurried forward to meet him.

"Engineer Mu, are you alright? We heard about the three attacks you encountered on the road. We were worried sick and kept messaging you, fearing something had happened."

"I'm fine, sorry for worrying everyone." Mu Li smiled and waved his hand, his tone lightening a bit. "Thanks to the desperate protection of Manager Zhang and the security team, as well as the timely support from the General Administration of Public Security, we successfully turned the danger into safety. How is the project progressing? Are the core system and equipment stable?"

"Project progress is going smoothly!" Zhao Kai immediately stepped forward to report, his tone filled with joy. "The Intelligent Operation and Scheduling System's trial run is stable, and all core parameters are within standards without any anomalies. The Intelligent Robot for Core Equipment Maintenance has completed two rounds of comprehensive inspections and timely repaired minor faults on three pieces of equipment. Currently, all equipment is running normally, and according to the plan, we can move into the next stage of debugging next week."

"That's good." Mu Li nodded, his tone gradually becoming serious. "Everyone, go back and rest first to regain your energy. Tomorrow morning at nine, we will hold an emergency safety meeting in the Main Control Room to summarize this security incident and further upgrade the project's safety measures. We must not give Hongyuan Group any further opportunities."

"Understood!" The team members nodded one after another. Seeing Mu Li return safely, the weight in their hearts finally lifted, and they turned to leave, preparing for tomorrow's meeting.

Mu Li walked into the Main Control Room. Looking at the green system operation data scrolling on the screen, with every set of parameters stable within standard ranges, his heart was full of emotion, yet he did not relax in the slightest. This return trip had involved three life-and-death crises. Hongyuan Group's relentless pursuit had not crushed his will; instead, it made him even more determined. He knew that this project carried not just technical breakthroughs, but also the nation's trust and the well-being of millions. The more frantic Hongyuan Group's obstructions became, the more it proved the project's value. He quickly reviewed every vulnerability along the way in his mind: the route might have been leaked, the contingency plans for ambushes were still insufficient, and the protection at the project site needed upgrading. These thoughts quickly solidified into his next work priorities. He knew that grief and fear were meaningless; only by building a solid safety defense and accelerating project progress could he live up to the sacrifices of the security personnel and the perseverance of the team, and completely crush Hongyuan Group's conspiracy.

He walked to the window and looked out at the distant construction site. The afterglow of the setting sun fell on the towering cranes, the orderly equipment, and the busy construction workers, casting long shadows and outlining a scene full of hope. He knew the road ahead was still full of challenges, and the remnants of Hongyuan Group might still wait for an opportunity, but he was fully prepared. As long as he and his team members remained united, stayed true to their original intentions, and built a solid safety defense, they would surely overcome all difficulties, allowing the nuclear fusion power station project to go into production early, injecting new power into the nation's energy industry, and guarding the light and warmth that belonged to millions.