68: Chapter 68 Deadly Crisis! Trial Run Concludes with Hidden Dangers, Foreign Shadows Lurk in a Web of Deception (1)

Mu Li did not know that a deadly crisis had quietly enveloped this hospital, like an invisible net slowly tightening.

The hospital ward building in the dead of night was immersed in half-light and shadow. The corridor lights were dimmed to their lowest brightness, and the warm yellow halos lay weakly on the smooth terrazzo floor, barely outlining the contours of the corridor but failing to dispel the thick black shadows in the corners, stairwells, and behind the elevator cabins—those shadows were like dormant lairs, hiding unknown dangers. Even the air was filled with a cold, murderous aura, mixed with the faint smell of disinfectant, which was chilling.

The incandescent light from the nurse's station shone through the glass, casting a faint, dim glow and a square patch of light on the floor. The nurse on duty wore a light blue nurse's uniform, and her soft footsteps, accompanied by the creaking sound of the medicine cart's wheels, echoed faintly in the empty, silent corridor, only to be instantly swallowed by the thick night and silence. Even the subtle clinking of medicine bottles seemed exceptionally clear, like some kind of secret signal in the darkness.

Beneath this seemingly peaceful tranquility, undercurrents were surging, and murderous intent lay in ambush everywhere.

The "Black Crow" mercenaries led by Scorpion had quietly blended into this play of light and shadow, each disguised with different identities, scattered in every corner of the ward building like vipers hidden in the dark, waiting for a fatal strike:

The "nursing assistant" at the elevator entrance lowered his eyes, pretending to tidy the sheets and bedding on the cart, but his finger movements carried the precision peculiar to a soldier. The cuffs of his white coat inadvertently revealed half of a black tactical glove, and his fingertips tightly gripped a modified short blade hidden under the sheets. The cold light of the blade flashed occasionally, and the afterglow of the corridor light fell on his tense profile, reflecting the coldness and focus in his eyes;

In the shadows of the stairwell, the "maintenance worker" leaned against a heavy toolbox. The metal casing of the toolbox was printed with the blurry logo of a maintenance company. He kept his breathing extremely light, almost merging with the environment. Only the slight sound of a wrench colliding with the metal box exposed the modified weapon hidden in his hand. The night wind poured into the open stairwell, blowing the stray hair on his forehead, but it did not move his vigilant gaze at all; his line of sight remained locked on the floor where Mu Li's ward was located.

On the bench at the end of the corridor, the "family member" buried his head, arms crossed over his chest as if taking a nap, but in reality, he was scanning every passing figure with his peripheral vision. The tips of his leather shoes were always pointed toward the direction of the emergency exit, and the surface of his shoes was spotless; he was clearly not an ordinary family member. His fingers unconsciously caressed the silencer hidden at his waist, the cold metal touch keeping him alert, and a faint chill radiated from his body.

Cold murderous intent was hidden in the soft light, the fragmented sounds, and the passing crowds, entangling around Mu Li's ward like a festering sore. The concealed weapons in their hands were already poised for action, waiting only for the three o'clock bell to pierce the silence of the night, at which point they would pounce like hungry wolves and launch a fatal surprise attack.

This time, they had laid an inescapable net, vowing to capture Mu Li alive, and would not give anyone any chance.

Scorpion's team's hospital raid ultimately ended in a crushing defeat—just as the Blonde Man had anticipated, the Public Security General Administration, utilizing the raid signal he had passed on, had laid an ambush in the fire escape and the perimeter in advance. The mercenaries were wiped out, and Scorpion only managed to break out with two trusted subordinates, having been shot several times, and fled in a sorry state to an abandoned warehouse on the border of Ji Province.

The warehouse had been abandoned for many years; the walls were mottled and peeling, revealing traces of the blue bricks inside. There were several damaged spots in the roof, and the night wind, carrying dust and grit, poured in, swirling with a "wooing" sound, whipping up dead leaves and debris on the ground to scatter everywhere.

The interior of the warehouse was filled with a pungent smell mixed with rust, dust, and mold. In the corner, there were piles of discarded wooden crates and rusted metal parts covered in thick dust. Moonlight shone through the holes in the roof, casting fragmented, flickering spots of light on the ground.

He leaned against the cold, damp wall, his back wound bleeding incessantly, staining his tattered clothes red. The smell of blood gradually permeated the empty warehouse.

He dialed the encrypted satellite phone again. His tone was no longer as arrogant as before; only embarrassment and awe remained, even carrying a hint of justification: "Sir, the hospital raid was carried out according to plan, attracting the main force of the Public Security General Administration, but the enemy's defensive deployment far exceeded expectations, and 'Black Crow' was almost completely wiped out. I have retreated to the border as you instructed, awaiting further orders. In addition, I have lost contact with Li Hongyuan; I fear he has already been captured."

He deliberately emphasized "carried out according to plan," his fingertips gripping the phone tightly until his knuckles turned white, fearing that the Blonde Man would hold him responsible for the failure. The night wind howled outside the window, carrying the biting chill of the border, making him shiver all over.

From the other end of the phone came the Blonde Man's deep, cold voice. It carried no emotion, yet it was filled with unquestionable authority, clearly already aware of the battle situation: "I know. Li Hongyuan was just a pawn used to divert attention and connect with you; if he fell, he fell, he is not worth mentioning. Your value this time lies in successfully attracting the attention of the Public Security General Administration, buying infiltration time for Hans's team."

Scorpion felt a sense of relief and quickly replied: "Everything is up to your arrangements, Sir."

The Blonde Man continued to deploy, his tone carrying the certainty of someone in control of everything: "Mu Li and the nuclear fusion power station project are the core. If a direct break-in doesn't work, then switch to a covert method. Hans's team has already prepared a full set of Siemens maintenance qualifications and will arrive in Ji Province tonight. They will use the contractually agreed-upon temperature control system maintenance as an excuse to approach the project.

After you recover from your injuries, secretly connect with Hans. On one hand, help him divert the project security's attention; on the other hand, contact the people I have planted inside the project in advance to cooperate with Hans in implanting programs and collecting evidence. We want to kill two birds with one stone—either get the core technology or destroy the project, and while you're at it, bring down Mu Li with forged evidence of bribery and leaks. If you mess this up again, you don't need to see me again."

"Understood." Scorpion gritted his teeth and agreed, his eyes surging with viciousness and a sense of luck—this was his last chance for redemption. If he failed again, not only would he be unable to protect himself, but his family far away overseas would also not escape the retaliation of the Blonde Man's forces.

At this time, inside the VIP ward of the hospital, the morning light cut through the blinds, casting mottled light and shadow that spread across the white floor in fine golden patterns. The smell of disinfectant had not dissipated, but it was tinged with a hint of warmth by the morning light. Outside the window, the magnolia flowers were in full bloom, and the faint fragrance drifted in through the cracks in the window, refreshing the heart and mind.

Mu Li leaned against the head of the bed, the bandages on his back wrapped tightly. Any slight movement sent a piercing, dull pain through him, and the ointment on the contusion on his left arm still felt slightly cool. The morning light fell on his pale face, slightly diluting his sickly look. His gaze was locked on the direction of the project site outside the window, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the creases of the bedsheets. His heart was burning with anxiety; he felt no relaxation at all from having escaped danger. Even though the birdsong outside the window was crisp and pleasant, it could not soothe the worry in his heart.

"Engineer Mu, the doctor advised that you need at least a week of rest for the wound to initially heal; you absolutely cannot leave the hospital early!" Lin Wei entered with warm water. Seeing Mu Li bracing himself to get up, she immediately stepped forward to stop him, her tone urgent. "We are watching the project wrap-up; you should rest at ease and not push your body too hard."

Zhang Hongyuan also chimed in, his movements slightly stiff due to an old back injury: "Yes, Engineer Mu, the Public Security General Administration has deployed heavy forces at the hospital, so your safety is guaranteed, and we will sync the project updates with you at any time. Besides, if your wound worsens, let alone guarding the project, you won't even be able to take care of yourself; it would be a loss that outweighs the gain."

Mu Li slowly shook his head, his voice hoarse but firm, his brows tightly knitted due to the pulling pain in his back: "No, the trial run conclusion is a life-or-death line. Scorpion is at large, and the Overseas Forces are eyeing us like tigers; I must go back. Hans's team could arrive at any time, and I am the one who knows the core area situation best. If any mistake occurs, all our efforts will be in vain."

He threw off the quilt and got out of bed. As soon as his feet touched the floor, he was sent staggering by a sharp pain. He subconsciously gripped the edge of the bed, his knuckles turning white, and his forehead was instantly covered in cold sweat, but he did not retreat even a bit.

Lin Wei hurriedly supported him, her eyes turning red: "Engineer Mu, can you stop being so stubborn? We can keep a closer eye on things. If there's any situation, we'll call you immediately. You can just direct remotely; why do you have to go back in person and suffer like this?"

Mu Li patted her hand, his tone softening a bit, yet still firm: "Remote command is not enough. Hans's team is very cunning; if they play dirty, you might not notice. I must go back and watch in person to be at ease."

"Engineer Mu!" Lin Wei and Zhang Hongyuan stepped forward to support him simultaneously, their eyes full of worry.

Mu Li took a deep breath to suppress the pain, his tone brooking no argument: "Notify the doctor; I am being discharged. I will change my bandages and take painkillers on time, and it will absolutely not affect my work."

No matter how many times the two of them tried to persuade him, his mind was made up—as the project leader, he could neither let go of the teammates who fought alongside him, nor dared he be absent at this critical moment fraught with crises. In the end, the doctor could not overcome his resolve, and after repeatedly emphasizing the precautions and leaving a sufficient amount of medicine, had to agree.

Returning to the project site, Mu Li pushed open the door to the Main Control Room directly. A scent mixed with the roaring of machines, the smell of disinfectant, and a faint odor of machine oil rushed toward him. The indicator lights inside the Main Control Room flickered with a faint glow, and the parameter curves jumping on the screens were exceptionally clear under the dim light.

He rejected the team's proposal for him to rest. Under his dark blue work uniform, his wound was aching from the pressure. Every breath brought a slight tug, and the painkillers could only temporarily ease the pain; any exertion would lead to a backlash of severe pain.

The sunlight outside the window was just right, spilling in through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Main Control Room and falling on the buttons of the control console, casting a faint luster, yet it could not dispel the vigilance in his heart at all.

He leaned against the control console, checking the test data sent by Zhao Kai line by line. His fingertips trembled slightly due to the pain, yet he precisely circled two deviated parameters: "The deviation in the plasma confinement fluctuation value here is 0.3%. Re-calibrate the sensors immediately; give me the results in half an hour."

The fan on the control console whirred, blowing the stray hair on his forehead lightly and also blowing away some of the cold sweat that had seeped out due to the pain.

Over the next few days, Mu Li started an extreme, high-load work mode. During the day, he endured the pain, shuttling between the Main Control Room and the core equipment area, closely watching Hans's team's maintenance operations throughout the entire process, verifying every single procedure one by one.

Because the wound on his back soaked the bandages with blood from standing for long periods, he would find a hidden corner to quickly change them, then swallow painkillers and immediately return to his post. Late at night, the lights in the Main Control Room were always on for him. He would hunch over the desk, reviewing work and troubleshooting risks. The pain from the wound became even clearer in the silence, often causing his whole body to tense up from the ache, and he would rely on pressing against the wound to barely support himself, eventually falling asleep on the desk without realizing it. When he woke up, his forehead was covered in cold sweat, and the desk was left with bloodstains and medicine boxes.

Zhao Kai watched Mu Li's increasingly pale complexion and tried to persuade him to rest several times, but was rejected each time. "Engineer Mu, your back is bleeding again. Deal with the wound first; I'll watch things here." He handed over sterile gauze, his tone full of heartache. "Besides, I can check these data points too. You rest for half an hour, just half an hour, okay?"

Mu Li waved his hand, his gaze still locked on the parameter curves on the screen, his voice weary but firm: "Small problem. Hans's team arrives tomorrow; we must be fully prepared and never give them any opportunity. If you can all hold your posts, I, as the person in charge, must not retreat even more."

He knew clearly in his heart that his body was already on the verge of its limit, but the threat from the Overseas Forces was like a sword hanging over his head, allowing for no relaxation. Only willpower supported him in pushing through.

"Engineer Mu, the last set of test data from last night is out!" Zhao Kai rushed in, the report in his hand crumpled slightly. The excitement in his tone could not be suppressed, and even his fingertips were trembling. "The plasma confinement time reached 112% of the design standard, the energy conversion rate is stable at over 48%, and all indicators are fully met!"

A suppressed cheer instantly erupted in the Main Control Room, and smiles of survivors of a catastrophe rippled across everyone's faces. After experiencing the mercenary kidnapping and the hospital terror, the team's nerves, which had been tense for dozens of days, were finally able to relax, and even the air was filled with a hint of lightness.

Mu Li forced himself to straighten his back and checked the data line by line. As his fingertips slid across the jumping parameters on the screen, the weariness in his eyes was replaced by an indescribable gratification—this was a result that everyone had traded their lives for. Just as he was about to speak to deploy the wrap-up work, Zhang Hongyuan walked over, limping, the bandages on his back faintly showing a pale red, his steps slightly staggering.

The bandages on Zhang Hongyuan's back were seeping with blood spots; that was the injury he sustained during the hospital raid when he had forcibly blocked a blow from an iron rod to protect Lin Wei.

He raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead, his voice dropping a bit: "Engineer Mu, security has been fully upgraded. The core area has added three layers of fingerprint + iris dual access control, the perimeter has been replaced with military-grade pulse protective nets, and drones patrol at low altitude every hour, achieving full air-ground coverage. Not even a fly can fly in."

Speaking of this, he paused, his brows tightly locked, and his tone became a bit more solemn. "In addition, news came from the Public Security General Administration that Scorpion has escaped. That guy is cunning enough; using the cover of the dense forest, he managed to tear a hole in the encirclement. They are currently searching in the border area, and we cannot rule out the possibility that he will return."

Mu Li nodded, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the edge of the control console, making a "tap-tap" sound, his brows slightly furrowed: "Li Hongyuan has been caught, but he is just a middleman who does things for money. The Overseas Forces behind him will never give up. Scorpion is just a pawn; the real mastermind is still hidden in the shadows, and we cannot lower our guard."

He looked up at Zhang Hongyuan, his eyes sharp: "Is there any progress in the Public Security General Administration's interrogation of Li Hongyuan? Has he revealed any specific information about the Overseas Forces?"

Zhang Hongyuan's expression darkened, and he shook his head: "That guy has a very stiff mouth. He only admits to hiring Scorpion to kidnap you and conceals all core information about the Overseas Forces. He only confessed to having contacted a masked overseas person at a border warehouse. The other party was generous with money, and their goal was clear—it was the core technical parameters of the Nuclear Fusion Power Station."

He paused and added, "I have already communicated with the people from the Public Security General Administration. They said they would increase the intensity of the interrogation, but Li Hongyuan is impervious to anything; it is estimated that it will be difficult to have a breakthrough for a while."

Mu Li said in a deep voice: "Keep watching; do not relax. Even if there is only a thread of a clue, we must ferret it out."

Zhang Hongyuan quickly replied: "Rest assured, Engineer Mu; I have already arranged for people to follow up on the interrogation progress throughout the whole process. As soon as there is news, I will tell you immediately."

"If they can't do it openly, they will most likely switch to a covert method of infiltration, such as using the guise of a third-party organization to mix in." Recalling the viciousness of the hospital raid, Mu Li's heart sank, and his tone became increasingly solemn. "Focus on monitoring all external personnel, especially those like maintenance and technical support who can access core equipment. Their identity information and travel trajectories must be checked one by one; do not give them any opportunity."

Zhang Hongyuan quickly replied. He had already arranged for secondary verification and explicitly required that all external personnel be accompanied closely by security personnel throughout the entire process, eliminating the possibility of them accessing the core area alone.