The night market at this hour was bustling with people. The area outside the barbecue restaurant was almost full, and there were many passersby. The streetlights and the lights from the barbecue restaurant were both bright.
Yang Jian noticed the person when their eyes were fixed on Yang Fan. The individual was ordinary-looking, around thirty years old, about 1.7 meters tall, with a side-parted hairstyle and a long, rectangular face. He wore a black jacket and jeans. Without paying attention, he could have been mistaken for just another passerby.
Yang Fan, completely unaware of the impending danger, raised his glass, preparing to drink.
The assailant was three meters behind Yang Fan. With no time to warn him, Yang Jian decisively threw the glass in his hand, aiming to slow down the attacker's shot.
The glass flew past Yang Fan's ear. Before he could understand what was happening, he saw Yang Jian lunge from the table, wrap his arms around his neck, and roll to the ground.
Immediately afterward, a gunshot rang out. Yang Fan instantly knew it was an assassination attempt and that Yang Jian was saving him.
A Feng and Xiao Jiu, seated on either side, reacted with remarkable speed. The moment Yang Jian threw the wine glass, they also sensed the danger.
One grabbed a ceramic plate from the table and threw it, while the other instinctively grabbed a chair and charged towards the assassin.
Ordinary civilians would have been terrified by the gunshot, either hiding or fleeing. However, A Feng and Xiao Jiu launched their counter-attack immediately.
This threw the assassin into a panic. He dodged the flying wine glass and the plate, then fired a shot in the direction of the charging Xiao Jiu in his haste. He turned and fled. Before accepting the assassination mission, he had done some research and knew that Yang Fan and his companions were all skilled fighters, and he would surely die in close combat.
The shotgun fired steel pellets, many of them. At close range, it could kill a person. Fortunately, Xiao Jiu's chair shielded his head, but he was still hit by pellets. Nevertheless, he continued to pursue the assassin.
The assassin clearly had backup. A commercial van was already parked by the roadside with its doors open. The assassin leaped inside, not even closing the door, and the van sped away.
A Feng and Xiao Jiu, who had chased to the roadside, could only watch the rear of the van and angrily smash the chairs in their hands onto the ground.
"A Feng, come quickly and help. Little Yang is injured."
Yang Fan, who had been rolling with Yang Jian, quickly got up but saw Yang Jian lying motionless on the ground, and he cried out in panic.
"Master, Xiao Jiu is also injured."
A Feng was now supporting Xiao Jiu, who was about to collapse.
"Call an ambulance quickly. Brother, wake up, please wake up."
Yang Fan was going mad. He saw blood on Yang Jian's head, clearly a gunshot wound to the head, and he might be in mortal danger.
The onlookers dialed the emergency services and the police.
The police arrived very quickly. In less than three minutes, two patrol officers arrived, immediately cordoned off the scene, and reported to their superiors, requesting reinforcements. After all, it involved a shooting, and with so many onlookers, they worried the assailant hadn't gone far.
Eight minutes later, the ambulance arrived. Medical personnel immediately provided on-site first aid to Yang Jian and Xiao Jiu, fitting them with oxygen masks before loading them onto the ambulance.
A Feng remained at the scene to cooperate with the police investigation, while Yang Fan followed the ambulance to the hospital.
"Director Lu, save my two brothers at all costs."
At the provincial hospital's emergency center, Luo Tong, who had been informed, directly summoned the hospital director from his home.
Director Lu, clearly familiar with him, said, "Mr. Luo, rest assured, we will do our utmost to save them. However, I heard from the doctors who provided on-site first aid that the situation is not optimistic. One was shot in the head, and the other in the chest. These are both fatal locations. You need to be prepared."
"No, you must save them. I'll give you a million, no, ten million. You must save them no matter what."
Luo Tong was extremely agitated. Such a major incident at this critical juncture had a significant impact on him. He needed to stabilize morale and let his subordinates know that he would not abandon anyone.
Meanwhile, Yang Fan was pacing anxiously outside the operating room. Several of his disciples had also arrived, ready to provide twenty-four-hour protection to prevent any follow-up attacks.
Century Garden residential complex.
Song Jianhao, who had just returned from a late-night snack, was in high spirits. His first day at the Toudao Street casino had been a great success, winning sixty thousand yuan. He held a seventy percent stake, and with a few more wins like this, he could afford a new car. The new Toyota Prado was a model he had always wanted.
"Biao Biao, call Little Yang. Why isn't he back so late?"
It was past eleven o'clock, and they had to reconcile accounts daily. Yang Jian still hadn't returned, and Song Jianhao was getting impatient.
Biao Biao shook his phone, "Brother Hao, I've called several times, but no one answered."
"No answer? Call again."
Song Jianhao felt a sense of unease. He already knew about Yang Jian being chased at home; Wu Wangchun had informed him. He was now worried that Bao Guo and his men might be pursuing them to Hancheng.
"Brother Hao, still no answer."
Biao Biao also became nervous.
Song Jianhao remained silent, then took out his phone and dialed Yang Fan's number. His expression immediately changed.
"Biao Biao, Liang Liang, San Pang, hurry up and come with me."
"Brother Hao, what's wrong? Is Brother Jian in trouble?"
"Yang Jian was shot in the head by an assassin while saving Yang Fan. He is currently in the emergency center undergoing treatment."
When Song Jianhao said this, everyone was stunned and couldn't accept it.
"What are you standing around for? You three come with me to the hospital. The rest of you stay at home. Remember, do not disclose this news to anyone for now. Yang Jian has many enemies, and we need to prevent people from taking advantage of his misfortune."
Song Jianhao was an experienced veteran of the underworld and knew that striking when someone is down was a common tactic among gangsters. At this time, information had to be contained. The main precautions were against Wu Laizi and Bao Guo's crew.
"I'll go take a look too."
Old Wu said, following behind them as they left the house. They were all from Xinqiao Town, and with such a major incident, they had to show some concern.
The five of them arrived at the hospital, where Yang Fan and the others were still waiting outside the operating room.
"Mr. Yang, what's going on? How could there be assassins?"
Upon meeting, Song Jianhao immediately questioned Yang Fan. After all, he was Yang Jian's boss, and he needed to show some authority at this moment.
"Mr. Song, I apologize. This is my oversight. I asked Yang Jian to help me with something this morning, and I invited him for a late-night snack on my return. I never expected my enemies to hire a gunman to deal with me. Yang Jian took the bullet to save me."
Yang Fan's face was filled with guilt. If anything happened to Yang Jian, he would never be at peace in his life.
"You said on the phone that Yang Jian was shot in the head. Is there a risk to his life?"
"It's hard to say right now. The doctors who provided on-site first aid said the situation is not very optimistic. He's been in there for almost two hours. But don't worry, no matter the cost, I will save him."
"What are we going to do? Yang Jian is the only son in their family and isn't married yet."
Song Jianhao was truly panicked. Yang Jian was in his early twenties and worked for him. If something were to happen to him, he, as his boss, would be held responsible and unable to face Yang Jian's parents.