C5 Attack

South University Affiliated Hospital, the only tertiary Grade A hospital in Changnan City, boasted a wealth of medical expertise and was a gathering place for many legendary figures. Mo Qingge was among those who worked there.

The sterile light cast a pall over the bustling crowd, where sighs occasionally punctuated the air, and a shroud of gloom clung to each face, swirling with countless negative emotions.

Despite being a hospital, a place often revered as sacred, few people actually wanted to be there...

Zhang Zhen wore a peculiar expression; he was all too familiar with hospitals. It was here that he had experienced the pinnacle of his achievements, and it was also here that he had been plunged into the abyss.

"Registration to the left, patient visits to the right, restrooms at the bottom of the stairs..." A sweet-looking nurse greeted him as he walked in.

"I'm here to see Mo Qingge," Zhang Zhen announced his intent.

"Do you have an appointment? Dr. Mo's schedule is booked solid for the next three months. Without an appointment..." She was interrupted by a flurry of doctors rushing up and down the stairs. Among them, a statuesque woman in her mid-twenties stood out. Amidst the mundane hustle, she seemed like a daffodil above it all, capturing the gaze of everyone present.

"There's the Ice Queen of the hospital. Not only is she stunning, but her medical skills are unmatched!" "I've heard that eight out of ten people who book an appointment with Dr. Mo are men, just to catch a glimpse of her!" "I'd gladly give up ten years of my life just to be treated by her!" A sleazy man ogled her with a lecherous grin.

The nurse's vision blurred as Zhang Zhen bypassed the sign-in sheet and pursued the doctors, prompting a look of contempt from her.

"Just another delusional lech!" Outside the emergency room, a crowd had gathered. Zhang Zhen managed to push his way through and took in the scene before him.

"If the hospital won't save people, we might as well tear it down!" "If anything happens to my cousin today, you all in white coats are going to pay!" A group of burly, shirtless men were blocking the emergency room entrance, menacingly wielding weapons like watermelon knives and crowbars. Behind them, a bald man around fifty-six years old lay on a stretcher, bleeding from his mouth and nose, his body convulsing, struggling to breathe.

Was this a case of medical disturbance?

Amidst the murmurs of the onlookers, Zhang Zhen pieced together the events that had unfolded.

Lying in the hospital bed was Second Master, a notorious figure in Channan City with a gang of thugs under his command. His misdeeds had finally caught up with him, as he suddenly fell ill with a strange disease that no hospital could cure, until he was brought to the South University Affiliated Hospital.

The hospital's duty was to treat the sick, regardless of their moral character. Yet Second Master's condition was so critical and aggressive that no one dared to take on the case. There was a fear that if he died during treatment, his gang might retaliate in unpredictable ways. Rumor had it that they once broke a surgeon's hand over a misplaced stitch!

Now, they were crowding the entrance to the emergency room, refusing to let any doctor treat Second Master or anyone else...

"I'll go take a look," Mo Qingge said, rising to her feet. A middle-aged doctor next to her grabbed her hand in an attempt to stop her.

"Don't wade into this mess. We've already notified security and the police. They'll be here soon to disperse the crowd," he advised. "So, we're just going to leave the patient untreated?" Mo Qingge replied coolly, leaving the doctor at a loss for words.

The doctors might be afraid, but what about the patient? If even the South University Affiliated Hospital hesitated, a life could be lost right before their eyes. The middle-aged doctor's grip loosened, and Mo Qingge walked out.

"Move away from the door, all of you!" she commanded with the authority of a seasoned physician, startling the thugs. They only intervened when they saw Qingge begin to push a gurney.

"You? Fresh out of university, right? Are you up for this?" "If you're going to treat him, then save the talk. If not, make way!" Qingge was resolute and commanding. The leader, with his dirty braids, waved his hand to signal the others to step aside. After sizing her up, he finally spoke.

"I'm warning you, if anything happens to my Second Brother-in-law, I, Meng Hu, won't care whether you're a woman or not!" Qingge ignored the threat and wheeled Second Master into the emergency room. The other doctors could only sigh at the sight.

"She's young, too young," they murmured. The gang followed closely behind, intent on witnessing the resuscitation efforts. As Qingge was about to object, the braided man slashed his own left arm with a melon knife, blood gushing out.

"We've seen our share of blood. Do your surgery, and we won't make a peep!" The thug was as hard on himself as he was on others, and his boldness sent shivers down everyone's spines. They understood it was a threat aimed at Mo Qingge, and in that moment, no one dared to utter another word.

Inside the ward, Qingge's eyes narrowed when she noticed Zhang Zhen entering with her. She was momentarily taken aback, but she quickly composed herself and concentrated on treating the patient.

"Neurological disorder, soaring blood pressure—administer 10ml of diazepam to stabilize the patient!" Qingge worked swiftly, and with her in charge, the nurse cooperated enthusiastically.

The rescue operation proceeded smoothly...

True to her reputation as one of the hospital's leading figures, it wasn't long before the Second Master's condition had stabilized, much to everyone's relief.

"The patient has a significant mass in his stomach that requires gastric lavage." "The patient's high fat levels have led to clogged arteries. To avoid future illness, he should maintain a light diet and engage in regular exercise." This was a sign that the Second Master had survived the ordeal. But as they were discussing this, a sudden blare of alarms filled the air—the numbers on the heart rate monitor were skyrocketing!

"What's happening?" Meng Hu was instantly on edge, rushing forward. Qingge, too, was visibly shaken and bewildered.

"This is bad!" The doctors immediately recognized the gravity of the situation and hastily backed away, none daring to step forward to pull Qingge to safety. Meng Hu realized something was amiss and his anger flared.

"I knew you couldn't be trusted!" he bellowed, as the watermelon knife in his hand descended towards Qingge's forehead, its blade glinting ominously—this was the handiwork of someone accustomed to bloodshed.

A collective gasp rose from the onlookers, fearing the worst.

If the blade connected, Qingge's beauty would be marred, if not worse.

The ice goddess was in peril!

Many lamented internally at the thought.

In her panic, Qingge froze, forgetting to evade the attack.

But in a flash, a figure leapt in front of her.

"Clang!" The sound of metal rang out.

Meng Hu's watermelon knife was stopped in its tracks, and there, standing protectively in front of Qingge, was the silhouette of a man.

In a split-second decision, Zhang Zhen braced his elbow against Meng Hu's wrist. Overcome by pain, Meng Hu's knife was disarmed.

A single move to overpower the enemy!

Qingge watched Zhang Zhen, stunned.

After three years of marriage, she had regarded Zhang Zhen as virtually useless. Yet, now shielded by him, she realized how formidable his presence was...

"You're asking for it!" the others bellowed, incensed by Meng Hu's embarrassment, and charged forward.

A glint of icy resolve flashed in Zhang Zhen's eyes, his movements a blur to the onlookers.

* Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! *

Within a minute, the menacing thugs lay sprawled on the ground, clutching their bellies and howling in pain. Incredibly, Zhang Zhen had single-handedly taken them all down!

Everyone's gaze shifted to Zhang Zhen, now tinged with a mix of awe and fear.

Could this man really be that formidable?

These were hardened individuals who wouldn't flinch at their own wounds, yet now they were keeling over in more agony than a pig at slaughter. How intense was their suffering?

But the most astonished was Qingge.

The intense, pure aura of menace in Zhang Zhen's eyes surpassed that of the brawling thugs. Could this really be the same man she had once known?