Chapter 182 Lu Zhanming shields Gu Baobao from a bullet
Just as they stood under the hotel's magnificent entrance hall, exchanging business cards with several scholars one last time and preparing to say goodbye, an unexpected change occurred!
But this attack was not a lone gunshot.
The first sound was a dull thud and a short gasp from across the street, like something heavy had fallen to the ground.
Immediately afterwards, the headlights of two black sedans that had been parked on the side of the road suddenly blazed on, and their engines emitted an abnormal roar.
Like wild horses, they charged suddenly from the left and right towards the crowd under the hotel entrance! Their speed was extremely fast, clearly premeditated!
"Watch out—! Car—!"
Someone screamed.
The crowd instantly erupted into chaos, instinctively seeking refuge inside the hotel or behind pillars.
This is only the first wave:
Create chaos and disrupt the protective barrier.
Lu Zhanming's pupils suddenly contracted!
This is no accident!
He made his judgment almost the instant the car started moving, picked Gu Baobao up by the waist, and swiftly moved to the side behind the nearest heavy marble column!
Almost at the same second they dodged behind the pillar!
"Bang--!!!"
A gunshot, far crisper than the sound of a car engine yet carrying a deadly chill, rang out from a higher and farther direction:
In the shadow of the clock tower of an old building diagonally opposite, or behind a dark window!
The bullets were aimed precisely at the spot where they had just been standing, hitting the smooth ground and sending up a shower of sparks and stone chips!
Sniper!
This is the real killer move!
Under the cover of chaos, carry out precise elimination!
"Sniper! Take cover! Protect the target!"
Lu Zhanming's roar was like a thunderclap, instantly drowning out the chaos at the scene.
He used his body to completely press Gu Baobao against the innermost side of the pillar, his mind racing:
The enemy's plan was meticulous. They first created panic and disrupted visibility by ramming the vehicle, while the real snipers lay hidden in the shadows, waiting for their chance to strike. Their target was Gu Baobao!
On the street, the two cars that were speeding towards the hotel swerved at the last moment before they hit the hotel steps. The tires screeched as they screeched against the ground, and the cars swayed violently. Clearly, the drivers were highly skilled and willing to go to any lengths.
One of them even deliberately scratched another vehicle that was parked normally, causing more noise and chaos, and obstructing the view of a possible pursuer.
"Protect Expert Gu! Establish a defensive line! Contact the police and the embassy!"
Amid the chaos, Sui Jianguo tried his best to remain calm and directed the security personnel.
Just then, a second shot rang out!
This time, the bullets flew at an even more treacherous angle, seemingly anticipating their evasive positions, grazing the edge of the pillars!
In the instant the bullets whizzed through the air, Lu Zhanming made his most instinctive choice: he couldn't risk letting any stray or ricocheting bullets hurt her.
Having already shielded Gu Baobao beneath him, pressing her tightly against the pillar, he suddenly spun around, adjusting the exposed side of his entire back to face the direction of possible attack, like the strongest shield, completely covering her.
"Pfft—!"
A muffled thud, accompanied by the dull sensation of fabric tearing and muscle being pierced, came from below Lu Zhanming's right shoulder blade!
The powerful impact caused him to stagger forward, but he gritted his teeth, let out a muffled groan, and stubbornly used the force to his advantage.
Press Gu Baobao even closer to the angle between the pillar and the ground; that's the relatively safest blind spot.
It may not be an immediately fatal area like the heart or spine, but the bleeding can be significant and can damage muscle groups, affecting arm movement.
This shows that in the chaos and haste, and with Lu Zhanming's extreme evasion, the sniper failed to hit the initially targeted vital point, but still caused serious injury.
A strong smell of blood instantly filled the air.
"Brother Zhanming—!!!"
Gu Baobao's screams were filled with heart-wrenching panic.
"Brother Zhanming—!!!"
Gu Baobao's piercing scream tore through the night sky.
Chaos erupted instantly!
Screams, running sounds, and the clatter of things being overturned filled the air!
Sui Jianguo's eyes were bloodshot, and he roared hoarsely:
"Protect the expert! Surround him! Call an ambulance immediately!!!"
The well-trained security personnel reacted instantly, quickly forming a human wall around Lu Zhanming and Gu Baobao, who had fallen to the ground, using their bodies and any obstacles they could grab.
The others quickly rushed toward the direction from which the gunshots rang out.
Dean DuPont was also stunned, but quickly regained his composure, directing hotel security to control the scene and evacuate guests while shouting:
"Stretcher! Prepare for emergency treatment! Get him directly to our hospital! Quickly!!"
Gu Baobao was pinned down by Lu Zhanming, and she reached out with trembling hands to touch his back.
It felt sticky, warm, and damp to the touch!
The pale white sleeves of the cheongsam were instantly soaked with a glaring bright red!
"Brother Zhanming... Brother Zhanming!"
Her voice trembled uncontrollably, and tears welled up unexpectedly, blurring her vision.
She tried to sit up to look at him, but he held her tightly in his arms, preventing her from moving.
"Baby……"
Lu Zhanming's voice rang out above her head, weaker than usual, yet still carrying a reassuring strength, and even a hint of a smile.
"Don't be afraid... Zhanming is alright... Don't be afraid... I promised... I would protect our baby..."
His breathing was somewhat rapid, but he was conscious.
A burning pain shot through my back, but it felt like the bullet hadn't penetrated and was stuck in my muscle.
Fortunately, there was no severe colic or spinal injury.
"Don't speak! Don't move!"
Gu Baobao cried and struggled to pull out a silver needle pouch from her small handbag, which she actually retrieved instantly from her spatial storage.
She forced herself to calm down, and her trembling fingers miraculously steadied. Using the human wall as cover, she quickly inserted silver needles into several key acupoints on his back, forcibly sealing the surrounding blood vessels to slow the bleeding.
Tears blurred her vision, dripping onto his blood-stained suit and mixing with the blood on his back.
Her carefully styled hair was now disheveled, with a few strands of black hair clinging to her tear-streaked face. Her moon-white cheongsam was stained with large patches of glaring blood, making her look utterly wretched. There was no trace of the composure and elegance she had displayed at the banquet just moments before.
"Brother Zhanming, you can't be hurt... We're not married yet... You can't abandon me..."
As she administered the acupuncture, she sobbed incoherently, her voice broken.
Upon hearing the word "marriage," a faint yet incredibly tender and content smile appeared on Lu Zhanming's pale, bloodless face.
He tilted his head with difficulty, his lips almost touching her ear, his breathy voice weak but clear:
"Okay... I won't abandon you... I'll go back... and then... I'll submit a report..."
The stretcher arrived quickly.
The group carefully lifted Lu Zhanming up.
Gu Baobao held his hand tightly as she ran alongside the stretcher, tears streaming down her face.
The ambulance, sirens blaring, sped toward Pitié-Salpetril Hospital.
In the car, Gu Baobao held Lu Zhanming's hand while continuing to stabilize his condition with silver needles, frantically calling out Defu's name in her mind.
[Defu! Quick! Scan Zhanming's injuries! Precise location! Are any internal organs or nerves damaged?]
[Urgent scanning in progress!]
De Fu's voice was extremely serious.
[Host, the target has been shot in the lower left scapula of the back. The bullet is small-caliber and did not penetrate completely, but is lodged between the trapezius and rhomboid muscles!]
Fortunately, the blood avoided the spine, pleural cavity, and major blood vessels! However, the bleeding is moderate and requires immediate surgical removal! The patient's vital signs are currently stable, but prompt treatment is necessary!
Gu Baobao breathed a slight sigh of relief, but her heart still ached terribly.
She looked at Lu Zhanming's face, which was growing paler from blood loss and pain, and at his eyes, which he was forcing to maintain a gentle but somewhat unfocused look in order to comfort her. Her heart ached terribly.
"Brother Zhanming, hang in there! We're almost at the hospital! You can't sleep! Look at me! Talk to me!"
She kept talking to him and patting his face to keep him from losing consciousness.
"Okay... I won't sleep..."
Lu Zhanming strained to open his eyes and look at her, his voice growing weaker and weaker.
"Baby...don't cry...it doesn't look good..."
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