Chapter 310 Jump onto my back

The people who were engrossed in watching the spectacle just a moment ago were completely overwhelmed by the sudden, terrifying loud noise and pungent smell.

The scene descended into chaos, the crowd instantly losing their bearings, like a flock of sheep scattered by a rolling stone.

The area around the giant lotus lantern became the center of a vortex of fear.

People scattered in all directions, some were knocked down, letting out shrill screams, children's cries, and men's angry curses, all of which echoed throughout the Imperial Street.

The instant the explosion occurred, Li Nanke felt an irresistible force squeezing her from all directions, almost crushing her bones.

"careful!"

With a roar, Shen Cong lunged at her, grabbed her hand, and tackled her to the ground.

"Ninth Brother!"

Li Nanke clutched his clothes, her face pale, clearly terrified.

Shen Cong frowned deeply.

"Didn't I tell you to go home? Why are you back again?"

"Quickly, get up and get out of here."

Shen Cong stood up and pulled her up with his cold hand.

Li Nanke gripped his sleeve tightly, her small hands trembling slightly.

Just as I was about to say something, Erfeng rushed over.

The voice was urgent, "Your Highness, as soon as the explosion was heard, two boats on the Bian River took advantage of the darkness and quickly headed downstream."

My subordinate noticed a figure on one of the ships that resembled Bai San Niang, and suspects that Prince Chen is on one of those two ships.

Shen Cong turned his head and shouted sharply, "Wei Yan!"

"I'm already busy. Leave this to me, you go and do your work."

Wei Yan had his back to him and waved his hand.

Then he quickly and loudly commanded, "Team One, organize everyone to retreat to the Bian River."

Second team, immediately carry the wounded to the nearest medical facility. Firefighting team, extinguish the fire immediately!

As soon as the words were spoken, those who had been walking on stilts and performing the blessing dance pulled off their outer robes and began to move in an orderly manner.

Shen Cong handed Li Nanke over to Er Feng.

"Send someone to take her home immediately."

After saying that, he turned and ran towards the Bian River.

As soon as I took a step, my sleeve was grabbed again.

Shen Cong turned around and met Li Nanke's pale face.

His brows were furrowed.

"I'm going to Bianhe to capture Prince Chen. You go back first, and we can talk tomorrow."

Li Nanke shook his head, took a deep breath, and recovered from the shock of the explosion.

"Ninth Brother, I...I just saw Prince Chen."

"This explosion was caused by Prince Chen himself."

Shen Cong trembled and grabbed her arm.

Where did you see him?

Li Nanke pointed to the direction of the explosion.

"On my way home, I met a few people. The person in front was wearing an inconspicuous gray-brown short jacket and a tattered straw hat on his head."

Carrying a worn-out bamboo lantern, he walked quickly towards the Imperial Street.

At that time, merchants such as the Zhu and Zhou families had already begun to distribute their wealth, and everyone was running towards the Bian River.

They were unusually running towards the Imperial Street, which struck me as odd. I took a closer look and recognized the person under the bamboo hat as Prince Chen.

Erfeng said, "I knew it! We had already poured water on the gunpowder in the lotus lanterns and the dancer's lanterns, so how could they still explode?"

It turns out it was that bastard Prince Chen who did this. He must have discovered that we were secretly evacuating the crowd.

So he brought a lantern over and prematurely detonated the explosion, hoping to escape in the chaos.

Li Nanke said, "I had Master Nangong chase after him all the way here, but I'm a slow walker and fell behind."

To their surprise, as soon as they arrived, they saw Prince Chen light a lantern and throw it out, which then exploded.

Shen Cong looked in the direction Li Nanke was pointing.

The scene of the explosion was in complete chaos; there was no sign of Prince Chen anywhere.

Erfeng said, "Your Highness, let's go to the Bian River immediately. Prince Chen must have already run towards the Bian River."

Shen Cong remained silent for a moment, then shook his head.

"You go to the Bian River, I'll take some men to the city gate."

"It's actually farther to get to the Bian River from here, but much closer to the city gate."

As soon as Shen Cong finished speaking, he immediately turned and walked towards the city gate.

After taking two steps, he turned to look at Li Nanke, then turned back.

"Fine, you can come with me."

Nangong Qiang hasn't shown up yet; she's probably being held back by something.

Li Nanke let him pull her along, and the two quickly walked towards the south gate.

As soon as I turned off the Imperial Street, I saw crowds surging in from both banks of the Bian River in a panic.

The crowd fled in panic, bumping into each other, and surged toward the south gate.

"There was an explosion on Imperial Street. I heard that many people were killed."

"That's terrifying! Let's get out of the city quickly."

"If we don't leave the city soon, we'll be bombed to death."

The crowd surged toward them, almost instantly separating Shen Cong and Li Nanke.

There were too many people, and Li Nanke's small body was almost pushed over and stepped on several times.

"Climb onto my back!"

Shen Cong roared at Li Nanke.

Li Nanke hesitated for a moment, then saw that Shen Cong was already half-bent over.

This position is too dangerous; if the crowd pushes in, they will both fall.

Li Nanke dared not delay any longer, and with a hop, climbed onto Li Nanke's back.

The two were swept along by the crowd and rushed towards the city gate.

Li Nanke's face was tense.

With so many people, it's impossible to check them all at the city gate.

If Prince Chen wanted to take this opportunity to leave the city, it would be as easy as turning his hand.

She clung to Shen Cong's back, her arms wrapped around his neck, her round eyes anxiously scanning the crowd.

We must find Prince Chen!

Just as she was about to be overwhelmed by despair, a figure suddenly bumped into Shen Cong's shoulder.

Shen Cong staggered slightly, but managed to regain his balance.

The man brushed past Li Nanke's arm and quickly slipped into the crowd ahead.

Li Nanke frowned as he looked over. The man's hat brim was pulled low, obscuring most of his face, making it impossible to see his features.

But in the crowded throng, he moved with extraordinary agility, like a slippery eel, weaving through the crowd in an almost eerie manner.

“Ninth Brother! That person!” Li Nanke suddenly shouted urgently in a low voice, his voice carrying a strange tension and certainty.

Her small hands suddenly gripped the fabric on Chen Cong's shoulders tightly, her nails almost digging into his flesh.

"The guy who hit us just now, his cuffs... smelled of sulfur! Very strong! That was the smell when it exploded!"

Shen Cong's heart trembled violently, and his gaze instantly locked onto the gray-brown figure.

The man was using the crowd as cover to nimbly avoid a woman who had fallen, without pausing his steps at all.

That movement and footwork were definitely not those of ordinary people!

Shen Cong took a deep breath, lifted Li Nanke on his back a little higher, and growled, "Hold on tight!"

Before he finished speaking, he was like a crossbow released from a bow, suddenly exerting force and chasing after the figure going against the current!

The difficulty of chasing a cunning adult target through a crowd while carrying a nine-year-old child on one's back is unimaginable.

Every step Shen Cong took felt like wading through mud, his shoulders and back bearing immense pressure, and sweat had already blurred his vision.

But the gray-clad man in front suddenly changed direction.