Guan Ya, Queen, Jiang Jingwei, Li Chunfeng, and Xie Lingxi followed him into the hospital building.
Wei Yuanzhou's gaze swept over this patrol squad from Songhai, surprise flickering across his gentle, calm eyes.
They wore matching operational uniforms, led by Yuanshi Tianzun and that mixed-race beauty. Setting Yuanshi Tianzun aside, the mixed-race beauty with slightly curly long hair looked both gorgeous and dashing.
High-top combat boots, tactical climbing trousers tucked into the boots, a black stretch vest on top paired with a light-colored jacket.
Long legs, a wasp waist, and a full bust—her tall, voluptuous figure was showcased to perfection, yet she exuded heroic vigor without a trace of delicate coquetry.
The glamorous lady wearing silver hoop earrings wore the same outfit, but possessed ample allure and lacked heroic spirit. As for the two young girls, blooming with youthful vitality, they looked more like high school girls during military training or female internet celebrities playing cosplay.
Of course, Wei Yuanzhou was not surprised by the beauty of the patrol squad's female members, but rather because having watched the arena tournament, he knew Guan Ya and Jiang Jingwei, and he knew their tiers.
Three Saints in a single squad—such a lineup could not help but inspire astonishment.
Inside the intensive care ward, Zhang Yuanqing saw Long Live the White Tiger. The resolute, cheerful young man of his memory was now clad in a hospital gown, wearing an oxygen mask, hooked to IV drips, and lying comatose on the bed.
His wheat-toned skin was dull, devoid of luster or rosiness.
Guan Ya, Li Chunfeng, and Wei Yuanzhou entered the intensive care ward, while the rest kept watch outside.
"How bad are his injuries?"
Zhang Yuanqing looked toward the handsome, gentle captain from Jinghai City.
"The external injuries aren't too bad. What's truly troublesome are the Gu insects and Gu poison. The Gu parasites inside his internal organs have already been purged, but large quantities of eggs lurk in his bloodstream, so he requires daily blood transfusions now." Wei Yuanzhou sighed. "Most of the Gu poison has also been expelled, with a small portion lingering in his body that will take time to detoxify."
His voice was kept very low, as if afraid of disturbing the slumbering Long Live the White Tiger. At the same time, he handed over a file and said quietly, "The first time he was attacked was at his home. The attacker uncovered his address and set an ambush in his apartment. When Long Live the White Tiger broke out of the room, the attacker pursued him for several kilometers before finally being forced to give up and flee because of the commotion it caused. This is the investigation report. Read through it first, and feel free to ask me if you have any questions."
This Saint spoke with a gentle tone and handled matters with meticulous care. Zhang Yuanqing felt a "modest gentleman, warm and smooth as jade" demeanor from him, naturally inspiring goodwill.
Unlike those deacons from Songhai and Hang City, who always carried a faint air of aloofness and pride.
"Thank you!"
Zhang Yuanqing smiled as he took the file, but instead of opening it, he handed it to Guan Ya.
Guan Ya opened the folder, lowered her head, and carefully read through the investigation report before furrowing her brows.
"The perpetrator is a Level 4 Spirit Medium, not affiliated with evil organizations—likely a rogue cultivator who harbors a deep grudge against Long Live the White Tiger. Who on earth did he offend?"
The latter question was directed at Wei Yuanzhou.
Wei Yuanzhou shook his head. "Unclear! How did you determine the culprit is a rogue cultivator?"
Guan Ya chuckled softly. "Since the killer could infiltrate Long Live the White Tiger's home, if he were a member of an evil organization, he could easily have collected DNA, taken it back, and borrowed a curse prop from his organization. Although without blood he wouldn't be able to kill him outright via curse, a curse would still severely injure Long Live the White Tiger. Attacking afterward would ensure Long Live the White Tiger's death. Yet the killer chose to sneak into the house, smear Gu poison and eggs on the doorknob, disperse them in the air, and then engage in close combat while Long Live the White Tiger was poisoned. That proves the culprit isn't part of an evil organization; he has no means of obtaining an item with cursing capabilities."
Cursing was a skill that only Level 6 Saints could master.
Wei Yuanzhou nodded slightly, agreeing with her deduction.
Zhang Yuanqing asked, "What about the second attack?"
Guan Ya said, "For the second attack, he infiltrated the hospital, detonated the insect eggs inside Long Live the White Tiger from close range, and then forced his way into the intensive care ward trying to kill him, but Captain Wei led a team and intercepted him."
Wei Yuanzhou sighed. "Unfortunately, he still managed to escape. Let me describe that Spirit Medium's basic characteristics: average height, middle-aged to elderly. Though he was wearing a mask and a hat at the time, he had quite a lot of white hair at his temples, and the wrinkles on his face were pronounced. His martial arts are mediocre, his Gu transformation is toxin-based, and his speed and strength are average. Furthermore, the culprit possesses extremely high attainments in Gu insects, adept at dispersing eggs and microscopic Gu into the air. One misstep and you'll fall victim."
Guan Ya chimed in, "Based on behavioral analysis of the perpetrator, he might stage a third attack, or he might choose to back down. It all depends on how deep his hatred for Long Live the White Tiger runs."
*Looks like I should wake Long Live the White Tiger up first before anything else. Sigh, I really didn't want to use it...* Zhang Yuanqing immediately reached into empty air and drew out a scepter woven from vines, set with an emerald gem at its tip.
Under Wei Yuanzhou's astonished gaze, he pointed the staff toward Long Live the White Tiger and activated the item's healing ability.
The emerald gem blossomed with pure, gentle green light, enveloping Long Live the White Tiger on the hospital bed.
A few seconds later, black, blood-colored veins bulged across Long Live the White Tiger's face, and beneath his skin, tiny worms crawled frantically as if terrified and desperate to flee their host.
"Blegh—"
Long Live the White Tiger's head flopped to the side, and he threw up over the edge of the bed, vomiting huge gouts of foul-smelling, bloody fluid teeming with countless wriggling tiny worms.
This process lasted several minutes, leaving the spotless floor tiles covered in filthy blood and crawling worms.
Guan Ya turned on her heel and stepped out of the intensive care ward to call Jiang Jingwei in.
"Ew, so gross!" Yet there wasn't a trace of disgust on Jiang Jingwei's face; instead, she poked at the worms with the tip of her shoe.
"What you're doing right now is gross. Hurry up and destroy them," Guan Ya urged.
Jiang Jingwei uttered an "Oh," and with a puff from her small mouth, a searing tongue of flame shot out. The blaze licked across the worms, sending them squirming wildly before they fell motionless. The stench of charred remains filled the ward.
"Ugh..." Long Live the White Tiger groaned and dizzily opened his eyes, staring at Guan Ya and Zhang Yuanqing in dazed bewilderment. A few seconds later, an unmistakable look of delight washed over his pale face: "Lord Tianzun, Guan Ya, what are you doing here..."
No sooner had he spoken than he seemed to pull on a wound, and his voice turned into a groan.
"I heard someone tried to assassinate you, and the Jinghai branch requested Songhai's assistance. The moment I heard about it, I volunteered to come help you. Don't worry, with me here, no one can hurt you," Zhang Yuanqing said solemnly beside the hospital bed.
Long Live the White Tiger stared blankly at him, emotion and flattered surprise flashing in his eyes before he quickly concealed them and whispered, "Thanks! With you two here, my mind is at ease. Otherwise, I might really have ended up killed without knowing why. I have no idea what grudge that bastard has against me to be so hell-bent on taking my life."
Hearing this, Zhang Yuanqing and Guan Ya exchanged a glance. The former frowned. "You're saying you don't know who the attacker is? Here's the thing: after analyzing the investigation, we deduced the culprit likely holds a personal grudge against you, rather than this being a standard evil organization hunting orthodox faction members. Have you made enemies with anyone lately?"
Long Live the White Tiger shook his head against the soft pillow. "He wore a mask, so I couldn't see his face, but I shouldn't know the attacker. Think about it: I only advanced to Saint less than half a month ago. If I had an enemy at the Saint stage, would I have lived long enough to enter the killing trial? The strangest thing is that he even ferreted out where I live. I'm a Scout, damn it. If someone was tailing me, there's no way I wouldn't have noticed."
*Now that's interesting. Although I dream of being a great detective like Sherlock Holmes, I'm really just an amateur...* Zhang Yuanqing felt both a headache and a thrill.
A case like this—not excessively high-level yet sufficiently bizarre—was the perfect stage for him to play detective, but deep down he was a fraud.
*Well, at least even though the great detective's assistant, Brother Bing, isn't around anymore, I have a young and beautiful female assistant...* Zhang Yuanqing looked over at the oval-faced mixed-race elder sister beauty. "What do you think?"
Guan Ya was both amused and exasperated. "Are you trying to play master detective and crack the case? I can't read this one; you have to do it!"
*Nothing gets past a Scout, but don't say it out loud—it's embarrassing... Right, Guan Ya means for me to use Star Physiognomy to read Long Live the White Tiger's face. If there's misfortune or a blood calamity, it means the killer will attempt another strike soon...*
*Sigh, this method of cracking cases requires zero technical skill...* Zhang Yuanqing mused inwardly as brilliant starlight surged in his eyes, like a restrained galaxy.
In an instant, the Twelve Palaces on Long Live the White Tiger's face were clearly laid bare before his eyes.
All Twelve Palaces were normal; no dark clouds shrouded his Palace of Misfortune.
*Looks like the attacker has gone into hiding...* Zhang Yuanqing felt a twinge of disappointment. That made things tricky. He couldn't stay in Jinghai City forever, and once they left, that Spirit Medium could double back for another strike.
As he pondered, he turned to look at Guan Ya beside him, and suddenly froze.
Between Guan Ya's eyes, dark clouds loomed, foreshadowing that she would suffer an injury in the near future. The same was true for Jiang Jingwei beside her—a haze of gloom hung between her brows.
*This...* After a few seconds of thought, Zhang Yuanqing reached a conclusion.
The killer would still mount a surprise attack on Long Live the White Tiger, but because his squad was here to intercept him, Long Live the White Tiger wouldn't be in any danger. Meanwhile, Guan Ya's and Jiang Jingwei's physiognomy indicated that a bitter battle lay ahead in the near future.
"What kind of grudge is this?" he muttered in disbelief.
The killer couldn't possibly be unaware that after two attacks, the authorities would surely tighten security and even lay an inescapable dragnet. Yet even so, he still chose to assassinate Long Live the White Tiger?
Unless it was the hatred of a stolen wife or a murdered father, this made no sense at all.
He stared at Long Live the White Tiger with utmost gravity and asked, "What have you done recently? It doesn't have to be after advancing to Saint. Before entering the killing trial, did you offend anyone or commit any breach of discipline?"
Chapter 334