Chapter 593: Using Oneself as Bait

Lin Yuan's fingers gripping the phone tightened suddenly, and the unease in his heart grew stronger.

Lin Yuan urgently asked, "What happened? Is something wrong on Lei Chen Zhou's side?"

"Yes! Lei Chen Zhou……was kidnapped!" In the phone, Mu Lingxue's voice carried undisguisable anxiety and heaviness……

On the phone, Mu Lingxue said, "All six guards stationed in the hospital's Intensive Care Unit are gone, and several medical staff are injured, casualties severe! We have already sealed off the entire hospital, and are conducting a full-scale manhunt for the kidnappers, but so far we haven't found any trace of them!"

"What!" Lin Yuan sprang to his feet, the phone in his hand almost slipping!

Lin Yuan's face changed instantly, his eyes full of shock.

Although he had a premonition, he never expected the people of the Thunder Tiger Gate to dare be so arrogant……

The other side actually dared to directly seize a person in the hospital?

And it caused such heavy casualties.

Once again, Mu Lingxue's urgent voice came through the earpiece: "According to the scene investigation, the kidnappers struck ruthlessly and moved with extreme speed; the six fully armed officers were taken down in just a few seconds……"

"We suspect the kidnappers are martial arts masters, and they are definitely related to the Thunder Tiger Gate! The situation is urgent; we need your support!" Mu Lingxue pleaded on the phone.

"Wait, I'm coming right away!" Lin Yuan answered without the slightest hesitation.

The moment he hung up, he grabbed the jacket on the table and put it on.

Lin Yuan hastily asked Su Mo Nong for leave, then drove straight to the People's Hospital!

……

Several minutes later, Lin Yuan's car arrived at the entrance of Hangchengshi First People's Hospital.

From afar, the hospital's surroundings were tightly sealed off by police lines……

Several police cars were neatly lined up at the entrance, red and blue warning lights flashing alternately.

Although the piercing siren had weakened, it still kept people's nerves taut.

Multiple fully armed officers were stationed at the entrance, strictly screening people entering and exiting.

Around, many citizens who had heard the news rushed over, standing on tiptoe to look inside, with murmurs rising and falling.

Lin Yuan slowly pulled his car to a stop outside the cordon.

He had just opened the car door when he saw a familiar figure striding toward him.

It was Mu Lingxue.

She no longer bore her usual capable composure; her uniform was specked with dust, her forehead covered in fine sweat, her expression anxious.

"Lin Yuan, you've finally come!" Mu Lingxue hurried to Lin Yuan's side.

She said in an urgent tone, "The situation is worse than we imagined; we have sealed off the entire hospital, are conducting a thorough search inside, but so far we haven't found any trace of the kidnappers."

Lin Yuan nodded.

Lin Yuan's gaze swept over the tight cordon and the busy officers inside the hospital……

Lin Yuan said in a low voice, "First, take me to the scene."

"Sure! Follow me!" Mu Lingxue didn't hesitate, immediately turned and led Lin Yuan toward the cordon.

She exchanged a few words with the officers at the entrance; the officers gestured them through, allowing the two to enter the sealed area smoothly.

Upon entering the hospital building, the air was thick with the smell of blood and disinfectant……

Unlike the usual clamor, the interior now felt especially oppressive.

Officers in uniform each performed their duties; some carefully searched the corridors, others inquired about the medical staff's conditions.

The officers moved hurriedly yet in orderly fashion, every face etched with solemnity.

Mu Lingxue led Lin Yuan swiftly down the corridor, heading straight for the Intensive Care Unit……

As she walked, Mu Lingxue added, "The scene is in the Intensive Care Unit; the stationed officers encountered the kidnappers' ambush, suffering heavy casualties."

Soon, the two arrived at the entrance of the Intensive Care Unit.

Two officers stood guard at the doorway.

Upon seeing Mu Lingxue and Lin Yuan approach, the guards immediately stepped aside to let them pass.

The moment Mu Lingxue pushed the door open, a strong smell of blood rushed forth……

Upon smelling that blood odor, Lin Yuan's brows furrowed instantly.

The scene inside the Intensive Care Unit was horrific to behold:

Large patches of undried bloodstains remained on the floor……

The bloodstains snaked and flowed, dampening the corners of the walls and the edges of the beds;

The originally neat medical equipment was knocked askew……

IV stands lay on the ground, various tubes and instrument wires tangled in disarray;

Five officers lay on the ground……

Their uniforms were soaked with blood, they groaned in pain, obviously seriously injured;

A group of medical personnel were administering emergency wound treatment and bandaging to the five officers.

And near the window, two officers lay motionless, each with a ferocious wound at the neck……

The two officers had already lost vital signs, eyes wide open, as if still holding the shock and unwillingness from moments before death.

Seeing this, Lin Yuan's aura instantly solidified.

He had seen countless fights and experienced life‑and‑death crises……

but he had never felt anger like this before.

Five wounded.

Two dead.

This is a serious criminal case!

Those officers lying on the ground, each of them had struggled to maintain order and protect the populace, yet they had unwittingly paid the price of severe injury or even death.

A surge of unprecedented anger... burst forth from Lin Yuan's heart.

"Thunder Tiger Sect..." Lin Yuan clenched his fists, his voice icy and piercing.

He secretly swore that he would eradicate this evil ancient martial sect.

If the Thunder Tiger Sect's wicked disciples are not eliminated, Hangcheng's peace will never know rest.

Moreover, no one knows how many casualties will increase.

In the midst of his anger, a thought...... suddenly surged into Lin Yuan's mind.

Lei Chen Zhou...... knows that Lin Yuan is a member of the Ghost Doctor Sect!

Earlier in the mine cavern, Lei Chen Zhou had already recognized the Overbearing Dragon Piercing Heavens Needle, thus learning Lin Yuan's identity as a Ghost Doctor Sect member.

Now Lei Chen Zhou has been rescued away...

Then, the Ghost Doctor Sect's secret...... is very likely to leak out through Lei Chen Zhou's mouth!

The Ghost Doctor Sect's secret...... is Lin Yuan's greatest trump card!

It is also the bottom line Lin Yuan must protect.

Once the secret is leaked, it will not only bring endless trouble to Lin Yuan...

Even possibly implicate more people related to the Ghost Doctor Sect.

Including Lin Yuan's parents!

Thinking of this, killing intent surged in Lin Yuan's eyes!

This further strengthened his resolve to exterminate the remnants of the Thunder Tiger Sect!

No, we must act as soon as possible.

Before the secret leaks, eliminate all hidden dangers completely!

At this moment, a officer in charge of the search walked up to Mu Lingxue's side.

The officer reported in a low voice: "Captain Mu, we have conducted a preliminary search of every floor, stairwell, elevator shaft, and even ventilation ducts of the hospital building, finding no trace of the robbers."

"All entrances and exits of the hospital have been sealed; they cannot escape, they must still be hiding inside the hospital!"

Mu Lingxue frowned, her eyes full of doubt: "Hiding inside the hospital? But we've searched for so long, how could there be no trace at all?"

Lin Yuan, hearing this, slowly raised his head.

Lin Yuan's gaze quickly swept over the environment of the Intensive Care Unit...

He also looked through the window toward the hospital's logistics area.

Immediately, Lin Yuan lightly shook his head.

Lin Yuan said firmly: "No need to keep the blockade; they've already fled."

"What?" Mu Lingxue furrowed her brows tightly, her tone full of incredulous questioning.

"Impossible! Within five minutes of the incident, we sealed all hospital entrances and exits, with police three layers inside and three outside—how could they possibly escape?"

Mu Lingxue couldn't believe it.

"Maybe we need to check to find out." Lin Yuan didn't elaborate further, turned and walked toward the ward exit, saying, "Come with me, let's check the logistics area."

Although Mu Lingxue still had doubts, seeing Lin Yuan's resolute attitude, she immediately followed his steps.

The two hurried through the oppressive corridor, avoiding busy officers and medical staff, heading straight for the hospital's logistics area.

The logistics area mostly consists of storage rooms, equipment rooms, and abandoned passages.

Here, usually few people come, although there are some officers checking now, it is far less strict than the surroundings of the Intensive Care Unit.

Lin Yuan's gaze quickly swept over every corner...

Finally, he fixed his gaze on a concealed abandoned storage room nearby.

He quickly stepped forward; the ground beneath his feet...... faintly retained some muddy water stains, incongruous with the surrounding dry ground.

"There's something wrong here." Lin Yuan crouched, pinched a bit of moist soil between his fingertips, and lightly sniffed it at his nose?

Immediately, he walked toward the storage room.

Mu Lingxue closely followed behind...

Only see Lin Yuan moved the wooden boxes stacked in the corner of the storage room.

A manhole cover covered in iron rust suddenly appeared before his eyes.

The edge of the manhole cover still had fresh sludge%

Obviously, it had just been moved.

Lin Yuan reached out and lifted the manhole cover...

A pungent stench instantly gushed out; below was exactly the hospital's sewer tunnel.

"They escaped through the sewer." Lin Yuan pointed at the dark, damp sewer entrance.

Lin Yuan said calmly: "Your blockade only covered the obvious entrances and exits, but neglected this kind of concealed underground passage, rendering it pointless."

Seeing this, Mu Lingxue's pretty face instantly turned pale...

Mu Lingxue's red lips trembled slightly, her eyes full of shock and regret.

She had always believed the police blockade was flawless...

But she never expected...... the robbers would actually choose such a filthy, concealed route to escape.

Her own carelessness allowed the robbers to escape successfully, and she also paid such a heavy casualty price.

Lin Yuan stood up, looking at her lost and dejected appearance, and warned in a low voice: "Now is not the time for self-blame; we must quickly capture them. Lei Xiaotian and his son are ruthless; for each day they remain outside, the danger increases, and no one knows how many more innocent people will suffer because of this."

These words struck Mu Lingxue like a thunderclap, waking her.

She clenched her fists tightly; the regret in her eyes instantly turned to fury.

Mu Lingxue immediately took out her walkie-talkie.

She spoke sharply into the microphone: "All personnel, note! Immediately lift the hospital's internal blockade and switch to a city-wide blockade! Mobilize all available police, thoroughly check traffic arteries in the urban and suburban areas, abandoned sites, focus on screening the areas around sewer outlets, and be sure to capture the robbers!"

After issuing the orders, Mu Lingxue took a deep breath, turned, and walked to Lin Yuan's front.

Her eyes were complex, filled with guilt, as she bowed deeply: "Lin Yuan, I'm sorry. I previously dismissed your warning, thinking the police deployment was flawless; it was my negligence and arrogance that led to the current outcome, letting the brothers die in vain. I apologize to you."

"It's my fault; I shouldn't have doubted your judgment." Her voice carried a barely perceptible choke, full of self-reproach.

Lin Yuan looked at her sincere expression and let out a soft sigh.

Lin Yuan said helplessly, "Forget it, what's done is done; pursuing blame won't help. What we can do now is seize the time to catch them, so no more people get hurt."

Mu Lingxue straightened up, a flash of gratitude appearing in her eyes.

Immediately, her eyes were replaced by anxiety: "But Lei Xiaotian and his father have already escaped; their whereabouts are uncertain, and the remnants of the Thunder Tiger Sect are covering for them, making it extremely difficult to find them quickly. You… do you have a way?"

Lin Yuan's eyes narrowed, and a cold arc curled at the corner of his mouth.

Lin Yuan said firmly, "They will definitely try every means to find me……"

"When Lei Chen Zhou was in the mine cavern, he had already recognized my Overbearing Dragon Piercing Heavens Needle and knew my identity as a Ghost Doctor Sect inheritor. Now that he has been rescued, he will surely tell this secret to Lei Xiaotian. The Ghost Doctor Sect's secret arts are a tremendous threat to them, and may also be what they covet; the Thunder Tiger Sect will certainly not let me go."

Mu Lingxue, upon hearing this, her eyes grew solemn as she asked, "So, what do you plan??"

Lin Yuan slowly said:

"So, I will use myself as bait, openly reveal my whereabouts, and wait for them to come find me. As soon as they appear, we will seize the opportunity to wipe them all out in one fell swoop!"