67: Chapter 67 Hidden Dragon in the Night! Mercenaries Lurk in the Shadows, Solo Adventures Bury Danger (5)

Meanwhile, Scorpion led several of his remaining men into a hidden cave deep within the dense forest. The cave was narrow and damp, with tiny water droplets constantly dripping from the ceiling. The "tap-tap" sound echoed in the silent cave like a death countdown. The air was thick with a nauseating smell of mold and earth, mixed with the bloody scent and murderous aura of the mercenaries. The interior was pitch black, save for a few torches stuck in the crevices of the stone walls. The flickering flames cast a shifting light on their sinister faces, making their long shadows twist and writhe on the walls like ghosts. The light reflected off the mottled moss on the cave walls, making it look even more eerie and terrifying. Scorpion stood by a torch, his chest heaving violently. His heavy breathing was exceptionally clear in the silence, and his white breath dissipated instantly in the cold air. His face was so dark it looked like it could drip water. He suddenly raised his right fist and slammed it hard against the cold, hard stone wall. A dull "thud" echoed through the cave, causing the torch flames to flicker. His knuckles were instantly smashed into a bloody mess, and dark red blood slid down the stone wall, leaving a hideous bloodstain that contrasted strikingly with the moss. The intense pain did nothing to suppress the towering rage in his heart; instead, it made his crazed, murderous aura grow even more intense. The night wind blew in through the cracks at the cave entrance, carrying a biting chill that made the flames dance wildly and shattered his shadow into pieces. This operation had not only failed to capture Mu Li alive but had also resulted in the loss of several elite members. Their whereabouts were completely exposed, the mission was in a desperate state, and they might not even leave Huaguo alive. He stared toward the cave entrance, his eyes filled with frantic murderous intent. His teeth ground together with a creaking sound as he spoke through gritted teeth, his voice hoarse, cold, and filled with bloodthirsty malice: "The mission failed and we lost men; this debt must be settled on Mu Li's head! He's currently hospitalized with injuries. No matter how tight hospital security is, it's easier to infiltrate than the project site. We will definitely seize him at 3:00 AM tonight! This time, no one will stop me!"

"Leader, what do we do now?" A tall, thin subordinate stood to the side with his hands down, his body trembling slightly. His tone was full of worry and hesitation, and his eyes unconsciously flickered toward the faint glint of police lights from the patrol outside the cave. That light felt like the Sword of Damocles hanging over their heads. "The Huaguo Public Security General Administration has already intensified its search. The surrounding forests and roads are all blocked, and there are patrolling police and soldiers everywhere. Even the village entrances have checkpoints. It will be very difficult for us to get near Mu Li or the project site again. Moreover, our identities have been exposed. Staying in Ji Province is no different from walking into a trap; it's too dangerous. Why don't we retreat to the border first and look for another opportunity later?" His voice was kept very low, with an undetectable tremor, clearly showing his fear of their current situation.

"Retreat?" Scorpion let out a low, cold laugh as if he had heard a massive joke. His laugh was full of madness and disdain, and a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes like a wounded lone wolf. "How could I possibly give up on the meat that's already in my hands? Li Hongyuan's double reward and the technical parameters in Mu Li's head are all mine! Since overt methods didn't work, we'll use covert ones. Mu Li is currently hospitalized and covered in injuries; he can barely move. Furthermore, the hospital is a complex environment with frequent foot traffic, so security will inevitably be weaker and easier to infiltrate than the heavily guarded project site. We're going to the hospital tonight to bring him back! This time, I won't give him any chance to escape!" His tone was resolute and brooked no doubt, every word dripping with bloodthirsty madness. The torchlight reflected on his face, making his expression look even more hideous.

"Difficult?" Scorpion suddenly turned his head, his eyes gleaming with a ferocious light. His roar was like that of a wild beast, instantly intimidating everyone present, and the stone walls of the cave seemed to vibrate with it. "We've even broken into Middle Eastern government military camps and aren't afraid of a hail of bullets; what's a single hospital!" He raised a hand to wipe away the blood seeping from the corner of his mouth due to his fury. The blood on his fingertips glowed with an eerie red light under the torchlight, and his eyes were frantic and determined. "Everyone, change clothes! Immediately gather medical staff uniforms, family members' clothing, and maintenance tools. Disassemble and disguise the weapons, hiding them in medical kits and toolboxes to bring into the hospital. At 3:00 AM, when the medical staff shifts change and the guards are most relaxed, we strike. There is only one objective—capture Mu Li alive! Kill anyone who resists! This time, we leave no one a chance!"

"Yes, Leader!" Although the subordinate was still filled with worry, he didn't dare to disobey in the slightest under the pressure of Scorpion's frantic aura. He could only bow and take the order, then quickly walked toward the depths of the cave to quietly relay the instructions to the waiting team members. Everyone immediately sprang into action. Some rummaged through pre-hidden supplies, the sound of backpack zippers rising and falling. Others disassembled weapons for disguise, the crisp clinking of metal parts echoing in the cave. Some quickly changed clothes, the sound of fabric rubbing together exceptionally clear. The cave was suddenly filled with a cacophony of noise. A short, stout mercenary whispered a complaint while disassembling a pistol: "Is the Leader crazy? Hospital security is so tight, and we're shorthanded now. This trip will probably be our end!" Hearing this, the subordinate scolded harshly: "Shut up! The Leader has his arrangements. If you don't want to die, get to work! If we capture Mu Li alive this time, there will be no shortage of rewards for you. If you dare to shrink back, you'll die by my hand first!" His voice was ruthless, and his hand unconsciously pressed against the dagger at his waist. The mercenary shivered and quickly lowered his head, not daring to say more, but his movements became faster. Everyone's face was set with solemnity and ruthlessness as a lethal raid on the hospital was being prepared with intense focus.

Inside the cave, Scorpion stood alone by the torch, his eyes flashing with a frantic and bloodthirsty light. In the firelight, the hideous scar on his face looked even more terrifying, like a twisted centipede. He raised his hand to grip his injured fist, the pressure sending a sharp jolt of pain through him, which only served to clear his mind. With his other hand, he pulled out a micro encrypted communicator hidden inside his collar—this was his exclusive tool for contacting his overseas employer, the blonde-haired, blue-eyed man, used only when a mission failed or at critical moments. He took a deep breath and pressed the communicator button. The cold metal felt firm in his palm. He kept his voice very low, carrying lingering malice and a faint, undetectable hint of awe: "Sir, the forest operation failed. Mu Li was rescued, and we lost over half our men. We have retreated to a hidden point. I plan to raid the hospital at 3:00 AM to capture Mu Li alive and make up for the losses." There was a moment of silence on the other end, the buzzing of static in his ear. The Blonde Man's voice came through the current, cold and hard like metal: "There is no need to rush into a head-on confrontation. Your primary task is not to take risks, but to preserve your strength. The hospital's defenses will inevitably be upgraded; a forced raid will only result in total annihilation." Scorpion frowned, a flash of reluctance on his face, and said urgently: "But Mu Li being hospitalized is the best opportunity. If we miss this, getting close to him again will be as difficult as reaching the heavens!" "I said, follow my plan." The Blonde Man's tone was indisputable, carrying the authority of a superior. "I have already arranged for Hans's team to be on standby. They will infiltrate the project site as Siemens maintenance personnel; that is a more covert breakthrough point. You will execute the hospital raid first to draw the attention of the Public Security General Administration. Regardless of success or failure, you must quickly retreat to the border and subsequently cooperate with Hans's actions. The goal is not just the technical parameters, but also to ruin Mu Li's reputation. Remember, you are just a pawn. Do not attempt to act on your own." The communicator was hung up unilaterally, the static buzzing before falling into dead silence. Scorpion stared at the device, the murderous intent in his eyes deepening, yet he didn't dare to disobey—he knew the Blonde Man's methods. Obedience meant a slim chance of survival; defiance meant certain death. He hid the communicator away again and clenched his injured fist. The pain in his knuckles cleared his head further as he growled: "Mu Li, consider yourself lucky this time. Next time, I will certainly tear you into ten thousand pieces!" The torch flame jumped, stretching his shadow long against the cold stone wall like a predatory beast lying in wait, anticipating the 3:00 AM diversionary raid and laying the groundwork for the ensuing conspiracy.

Inside the hospital's VIP ward, the light was soft and quiet. The white walls, sheets, and bedding everywhere carried a cool scent of disinfectant, which happened to be mixed with the faint fragrance of magnolias drifting in from the window. It was the magnolias in the garden below blooming quietly in the dead of night, their sweet scent slightly tempering the solemnity of the ward. Mu Li lay on the snowy white hospital bed, his back and arms wrapped in thick sterile gauze. Faint bloodstains showed through the edges of the gauze like blooming dark red flowers. The small scratches all over his body were coated with pale yellow disinfectant ointment, showing a faint pink hue that contrasted sharply with his pale skin. The night outside was as thick as spilled ink. The city's neon lights filtered through the slats of the blinds, casting fragmented spots of light on the white walls. The light and shadows were mottled, and occasionally the glare of car headlights would sweep across the window and vanish instantly, leaving a brief trail of light. The air conditioning in the ward was set a bit low, and a cool breeze blew from the vent, passing over the abrasions on his exposed arm and bringing a sting of pain. He couldn't help but frown, and fine beads of cold sweat broke out on his forehead, blurring into a small damp patch at his temples. Zhang Hongyuan sat on a chair to the left of the bed, his hands clasped on his knees. His eyes were fixed on Mu Li's face, his eyes bloodshot and the dark circles under them particularly prominent, clearly having gone without rest for a long time. His face was etched with worry and exhaustion. Lin Wei sat on the right, gently tidying the bedside table, arranging the medicine bottles and water glass neatly. Her movements were so light for fear of disturbing Mu Li. The moonlight outside occasionally fell on her profile, making the worry in her eyes appear even more genuine. The second hand of the wall clock went "tick-tock," its crisp sound exceptionally clear in the silent ward, speaking of the midnight stillness and the hidden dangers. The atmosphere in the ward was incredibly heavy, and even breathing became cautious, as if the slightest force would shatter this fragile peace and draw out the hidden killing intent.

"Engineer Mu, rest easy and recover," Lin Wei said softly, her tone full of gentle comfort. She picked up the warm water from the table and unscrewed the lid, the sound of water hitting the cup walls very light. She used a cotton swab dipped in water to carefully wipe Mu Li's dry, cracked lips, her movements as gentle as if she were handling a fragile treasure. "We've already made arrangements at the project site. Wang Lei and Zhou Yaqi are both experienced veterans. We've assigned dedicated personnel to guard the core equipment area and the Main Control Room 24 hours a day, and equipment parameters are synchronized every hour. Nothing will go wrong. The Huaguo Public Security General Administration has also set up a tight defensive line around the hospital. A large number of law enforcement forces have been stationed at the outer walls, main gates, and parking lots. There's a guard every three steps and a sentry every five. Even the internal corridors, elevators, and stairwells of the hospital have plainclothes police patrolling. Every entrance and exit has identity verification to ensure your safety. Just focus on recovering."

Mu Li nodded slightly, his movement minimal for fear of pulling his wounds and causing intense pain. The muscles in his neck tightened slightly, and a flash of gratitude appeared in his eyes. His lips moved, but he couldn't make a sound; only a faint breathy noise escaped his throat. A dull, continuous pain came from his back, and the abrasions on his arms throbbed. Every heartbeat felt like it was striking his wounds, bringing small, sharp jolts of pain that made him frown slightly. Looking at Zhang Hongyuan and Lin Wei guarding him, and the security personnel faintly visible at the door, their faces filled with worry yet exceptionally determined looks, his heart was instantly enveloped in warmth. Much of the unease born from the crisis dissipated. Seeing this, Zhang Hongyuan added another sentence, his voice even softer: "Engineer Mu, just rest peacefully. I've arranged for brothers to guard the ward door 24 hours a day. Not even a mosquito will fly in. We absolutely won't let Scorpion have another chance." Lin Wei also Chimed in: "That's right, Engineer Mu. We have the project matters covered; you don't need to worry. Getting better is the most important thing. Once you're well, we'll fight side-by-side again." He fully trusted his teammates. Wang Lei's rigor and Zhou Yaqi's sharpness were enough to hold the defensive line at the project site. Zhang Hongyuan's steadiness and Lin Wei's attentiveness, combined with the tight protection of the Public Security General Administration, would surely withstand any raid. He knew that the most important thing for him now was to recover his health and not let down his teammates' protection and trust. Only when he was healthy could he return to the front line, continue leading the team, protect the nuclear fusion power station project, and completely thwart the schemes of Li Hongyuan and the 'Black Crow' mercenaries.

He slowly closed his eyes, his long eyelashes drooping and casting a small, pale shadow under his eyelids. A lingering weariness and pain still clung to his brow, and he only wanted to use this moment of peace to rest for a while. But the wounds on his back would not settle, as fine, sharp, hidden pains repeatedly surged, one wave lighter than the next, completely disturbing the drowsiness that had just begun to rise. The vigilance and unease in his heart were like the rising and falling tide, one wave following another. Those hidden killing intents and unremoved enemies constantly circled in his mind, making it hard to let go. But then he thought of the teammates who had rushed to his rescue, Zhang Hongyuan's determination, and Lin Wei's concern. That bone-deep trust became the most solid support in his heart, like a lighthouse standing firm in the darkness. It allowed him to slightly lower his tensed guard in this peril-filled situation, suppress the anxiety in his heart, and quietly nurse his body. He only waited for his injuries to improve so he could immediately return to the team, stand side-by-side with his comrades, and continue the battle to protect the project and punish the villains.