Chapter Seventy-Seven: A Narrow Escape from Death

Chapter Seventy-Six: Narrow Escape From Death

At the entrance of the Secret Service Office.

When the car carrying Bai Zeshao passed by Ah Hai’s rickshaw, Bai Zeshao, who had been lying inside, suddenly sat up with a jolt and let out a loud cry. His unexpected scream startled everyone present, but before they could react, Bai Zeshao, his willpower finally spent, collapsed once more onto the seat.

At the entrance to the Secret Service Office.

Ah Hai was surprised to hear Bai Zeshao’s shout, and then a wave of worry washed over him. He had no idea what had happened—why would Bai Zeshao suddenly cry out like that? Watching the car speed away, Ah Hai hurriedly pulled his rickshaw and followed at a distance. The automobile moved quickly, and Ah Hai, afraid of losing track, ran until he was out of breath.

Fortunately, the street was crowded, so the car couldn’t go too fast. Just as Ah Hai was about to give up, the car finally came to a stop in front of Yaren Hospital. From a distance, Ah Hai watched as members of the Secret Service lifted Bai Zeshao out of the car, his heart tightening with anxiety. Could Bai Zeshao be injured—and seriously so? Why else would they be carrying him out?

With urgent concern, Ah Hai abandoned his rickshaw, found a shop to change his clothes, and walked straight into Yaren Hospital.

When Bai Zeshao was brought into the hospital, he immediately fell into a coma. By coincidence, the doctor on duty in the emergency room that day was Shen Guohua. When Shen Guohua saw that the patient was Bai Zeshao, he was momentarily taken aback, but quickly began emergency treatment—for Bai Zeshao’s condition was dire, on the very edge of death.

During the resuscitation, Bai Zeshao’s vital signs were extremely unstable. Fortunately, his own will to live was fiercely strong, and with Shen Guohua’s superb medical skill, after three hours of intense effort, they finally snatched Bai Zeshao back from the brink of death.

Utterly exhausted, Shen Guohua dragged his heavy legs out of the operating room and said to Shi Zhichao, who had just arrived, “It’s lucky you brought him in time. Had you been even a little later, not even a miracle could have saved him.”

“Thank you, doctor. But do you know what caused this sudden crisis?” Shi Zhichao asked, curiosity in his voice.

“The patient must have unknowingly ingested some sort of potent poison, which caused acute blood toxicity. As for the exact substance, I cannot say,” Shen Guohua replied before taking his leave.

Shi Zhichao’s heart grew heavy at Shen Guohua’s words. It seemed Bai Zeshao had been poisoned—but how could that happen under the tight security of the Secret Service Office? Who would want to kill a mere newcomer like Bai Zeshao?

Could it be that someone had learned Bai Zeshao had obtained intelligence about that plan from An Guoming and wanted to silence him?

With these doubts swirling through his mind, Shi Zhichao glanced at Bai Zeshao, left two guards at the door of the ward, and returned to the Secret Service Office. He needed to handle Bai Zeshao’s case personally now, for it might be connected to their upcoming mission. By following the clues of Bai Zeshao’s poisoning, perhaps he could uncover something vital.

Inside the hospital.

Ah Hai waited anxiously until Bai Zeshao was finally wheeled out of the emergency room, and only then did he breathe a sigh of relief. He had wanted to approach, but seeing the two Secret Service agents stationed outside the ward, he stopped in his tracks.

Half an hour later, dressed in a white coat and surgical mask, Ah Hai appeared at the door of the ward. Without so much as glancing at the guards, he strode forward as if to enter.

“What’s your business here?” he was stopped by the guards.

“I’m Dr. Shen’s assistant. I’m here to check on the patient, who is in a critical and unstable condition after emergency treatment. It’s essential I examine him promptly,” Ah Hai replied, imitating the tone and manner of a doctor.

The agents allowed him to pass.

Inside the ward, as Ah Hai pushed open the door, he saw Bai Zeshao lying quietly on the bed and his heart trembled. In a low voice, he called, “Brother, what happened to you?”

On the hospital bed, Bai Zeshao, drifting in endless darkness, wandered in confusion. But then, familiar voices echoed at his ear, low and urgent, though he could not break free from the darkness no matter how he tried. Again and again, an inner voice urged him to wake up, warning him that disaster loomed if he did not.

At last, Bai Zeshao’s effort was rewarded. His eyes fluttered open, and he saw Ah Hai’s anxious face. Only then did he feel a measure of peace.

“Brother, you’re finally awake! What happened? How did you end up rushed to the hospital?” Ah Hai blurted out a string of questions the moment Bai Zeshao regained consciousness.

“We can’t worry about that now. Go to see Mr. Li at once and give him this. He’ll know what to do,” Bai Zeshao, ignoring the questions, slowly drew a bloodstained letter from his inner shirt and handed it to Ah Hai.

“A blood letter? You wrote this?” Ah Hai looked at it in shock, his gaze filled with alarm.

“There was no pen, so I had no choice. Go now—make sure you deliver it safely to Mr. Li,” Bai Zeshao explained weakly between breaths.

“I understand, brother. You rest. I’ll go right away,” Ah Hai said, realizing the urgency. He asked no more, but turned and left at once.

After Ah Hai departed, Bai Zeshao quickly slipped back into unconsciousness.

At the Secret Service Office.

News of Bai Zeshao’s poisoning and hospitalization spread quickly through the ranks. Shi Zhichao, his expression grim, began investigating Bai Zeshao’s meals. All the personnel involved had already been detained, and Shi Zhichao questioned each in turn. Yet neither guards, nor cooks, nor delivery staff would admit to any wrongdoing.

Their silence infuriated Shi Zhichao further. He ordered all of them thrown into detention for interrogation.

Shi Zhichao himself made his way to the cell where An Guoming was being held—he intended to release him. The Secret Service Office was in chaos. If Bai Zeshao, under strict confinement, could be so nearly killed, then the reach of the infiltrator must be formidable indeed. An Guoming’s safety was now of utmost importance, and Shi Zhichao had resolved to set him free.