Their objective was clear: they stormed in and immediately looked towards the hospital bed.
Huo Rou's presence was an unexpected surprise.
"There's still someone in here?"
"A nurse, maybe?" someone replied, his knife-wielding steps unwavering. "Kill them all, let's finish this quickly!"
They didn't have time to think, they could only kill whoever they encountered.
As blades swung, Huo Rou's body dodged the attacks with graceful agility. In the blink of an eye, the roles of attacker and defender had been reversed. The assailant clearly hadn't expected Huo Rou's speed. "Save me!"
This time, no one dared to underestimate her. They surrounded her, "Looks like a bodyguard!"
"Close protection! Damn it!" another man cursed.
Huo Rou recognized their accents as local to Yizhou.
And...
Aside from their protective suits, they hadn't taken any other precautions, and their voices were clear. The entire Yizhou was in a state of panic, and no one would dare break into a hospital. Weren't these people afraid of—getting infected?
The guards outside were skilled. While Huo Rou was engaging them, they had already broken free and rushed in.
They thought it was too late, and all they would see was Cheng Guozhong bleeding to death. However, to their surprise, all they saw were several people being toyed with by Huo Rou.
"Are you playing with us??" someone realized and roared, "Brothers, our main mission is important, you two keep her busy, I'll go kill the old man!"
"Damn it, hurry up!" the others crowded forward.
They no longer focused on subduing Huo Rou, but instead tried their best to trap her.
The guards outside were stunned for a second. Although they were confused about why there was another person in the room, it seemed they were an ally, not an enemy.
"Don't worry about me," Huo Rou called out coldly, just as they were about to help her deal with the attackers. "Protect Cheng Guozhong."
"Still a woman?!" the intruders grew desperate. "Damn it, a woman?!"
Their eyes were bloodshot; this was an insult to them.
The guards moved swiftly, and the man with the knife had already reached Cheng Guozhong's bedside. "Die!!"
He thrust his knife down fiercely. The guards rushed forward as if flying.
He didn't have time to think. Cheng Guozhong was a key figure; he couldn't die!
But they were tangled by the intruders behind them, their reach too short.
Cheng Guozhong used all his strength to roll, avoiding the dagger. In doing so, he also rolled to the ground due to his violent movements.
The attacker pulled out the dagger, his voice grim and full of displeasure. "Still able to dodge even when you're this sick! Damn it! I don't believe I can't kill you?!"
He lunged at Cheng Guozhong again.
The guards finally arrived, blocking his attack, and a struggle ensued.
Another guard stumbled to Cheng Guozhong's side, reattached the dislodged tubes, and with heavy breaths, stood in front of him.
Footsteps echoed chaotically in the corridor, seemingly fast approaching.
"Who are you people?" a nurse in the corridor shouted, stopping them. "Where are your protective suits? Don't you want to live?!"
Before she could finish, "Bang—"
The nurse never spoke again. The gunshot sent all the patients in the building into a panic.
The intruders inside the room, with the cooperation of the guards and Huo Rou, were all subdued. Huo Rou, hearing the commotion outside, immediately knocked them all unconscious.
She held her breath and listened. The footsteps outside were chaotic, and the number of people was even greater than before.
Most crucially, they had guns.
"Is there another door over there?" Huo Rou turned to look at the guards, her gaze falling on the cabinet behind the oxygen tube.
The guards looked surprised. Huo Rou urged them, "Take him and hide. These people are after him!"
"Xiao You!" Cheng Guozhong refused to leave.
Huo Rou glanced at him with a faint look. "I'll trust you for now. Live for me."
Huo Rou began to set up defenses in the room.
The guards exchanged glances, leaving one behind while the others moved Cheng Guozhong to safety.
"Commander Qin hasn't gone far. We've sent out an alert, and help will be here soon..."
Huo Rou grabbed him and pulled him down sharply. Amidst the shattering glass, a bullet grazed Huo Rou's protective suit, tearing it.