"Boom—"
Thunder rumbled across the sky once again. The lightning crackling through the clouds illuminated the man's resolute and sharp - featured face. Rainwater trickled down his cheeks, slid past his Adam's apple, and seeped into his collar, soaking into the small brocade pouch hanging around his neck.
"By now, all those who could be evacuated have left. We can't abandon those stubborn folks who insist on staying at home," Xiao Jingcheng declared gravely. "All units, search every corner of the town. Once you find anyone hiding indoors, don't waste time talking. Whether you have to tie them up or knock them out, take them all away."
Zhao Hu roared, "Yes, sir!"
The dogs barked twice and then scattered in all directions. Xiao Jingcheng leaped onto his horse and yanked the reins hard. "Huang, let's go!"
Huang jumped off the steps and bounded forward, closely following Xiao Jingcheng's side.
Xiao Jingcheng galloped through the streets on his horse. As soon as he heard a dog's call, he'd immediately change direction and spur his horse towards the sound.
With a powerful kick, he burst open the closed door and strode inside. Upon finding the hiding civilians, he knocked them out without hesitation and tossed them onto the horse's back. Then he rushed to the next house.
Amid the deafening downpour, the faint sound of a gong could be heard in the distance.
"Dang—Dang—Dang—Dang—Dang—"
It had been two quarters of an hour since he last heard the gong.
In just two quarters of an hour, the river had risen another zhang. The water in the Caisang River was rising at an alarming speed. He was glad he'd made the right decision and hadn't wasted any time, allowing the townspeople to evacuate in time.
Soon, the horse's back was piled high with unconscious people. Xiao Jingcheng took them to the carriage - parking area and had others load them onto the carriages for evacuation.
A little over a quarter of an hour later, the five - stroke gong sounded again. The river had risen once more!
Xiao Jingcheng had made four round - trips in total. By the third trip, the water had reached his ankles. But when he set out on the fourth trip, it had reached his knees.
The group reached the last area they hadn't thoroughly searched. However, most of the houses in sight were already submerged in water, which had risen above the waist - level of the walls.
"Your Highness, the water here is getting deeper, and it's still rising. It's extremely dangerous. Please don't go any further!" Zhao Hu pleaded. "We've been busy all night. Those who knew about the flood and could leave should have already gone. There must be no one left here!"
Zhao Hu had a point. After a whole night of chaos, anyone with a bit of sense would have fled. They could just abandon this place and head for safety.
But Xiao Jingcheng, with his keen hearing, caught a faint cry amidst the wind and rain.
He opened the porcelain bottle Jiang Mian had given him, swallowed a pill, and felt the warmth spreading through his abdomen and chest. Then he calmly picked up the hemp rope that had been prepared and tied it around his waist.
The Taoist priest Yuanzheng had said that he was blessed with purple qi and would always escape danger. That was why Xiao Yixuan had tried to kill him with such a despicable plot.
Now, he was going to find out if that old Taoist's words were true.
He was going to see whether this damned heaven would let him live or die.
"Those who aren't afraid of death, tie a rope around your waist and come with me. If we manage to return safely, when I get back to the capital and resume my position as the Crown Prince, I will surely reward you handsomely," he announced loudly. Then he stepped resolutely into the river.
Zhao Hu scratched his head anxiously. He wanted to run away but couldn't forget Xiao Jingcheng's promise.
This was the Crown Prince!
If he could follow the Crown Prince in the future, he'd be the most successful person in the Zhao family!
He gritted his teeth. "I'm in!"
Zhao Hu jumped into the water after Xiao Jingcheng. Seeing this, the others also plunged in one by one and waded cautiously towards the houses in front.
...
Qianren Mountain was twelve li away from Dongli Town. Located between Dongli Town and Tianyuan County, it was a branch of the Jiangnan Bailing Mountain Range and the highest peak in the area.
The rain was pouring down in sheets, and lightning flashed across the sky as thunder roared. The caves on Qianren Mountain were now filled with civilians who had fled Dongli Town overnight to seek shelter from the rain.
Some civilians sat cross - legged, some stood, while others simply lay down on a flat spot.
"The rain is just too heavy," one person sighed.
"Yeah, it's been raining for two days, and there's no sign of it stopping. This damned heaven is trying to kill us all!"
"My farmland was growing so well. This rain has ruined everything!"
The civilians sighed and groaned, their faces etched with worry.
"What's the use of escaping? We only brought our money but no food. How are we going to survive these days of disaster?"
On the other side, there were stifled sobs. "My mother has a fever. Where's the doctor? Please come and save my mother..."
"My daughter has a fever too. Is there a doctor here?"
Someone sneered impatiently. "Even if there's a doctor, it's useless. There are no medicinal herbs here. We might as well just leave it to fate."
In the rain, several carriages pulled up on the mountainside.
Xiao Wuchen, wearing a straw raincoat, was directing the guards to unload the items wrapped in oilcloth from the carriages and carry them to the dry caves on the mountain.
From another carriage, Jiang Mian jumped down, wearing a hat.
Xiao Wuchen looked in the direction of the sound, but before he could get a clear look at her face, she had already rushed up the mountain.
Mo Zhizhang got out of the carriage with an umbrella. Meeting Xiao Wuchen's gaze, he nodded slightly and then followed Jiang Mian at a leisurely pace. Although he seemed to be walking, he was actually keeping up with Jiang Mian, who was running.
Behind them, the guards escorted Li Zhao and Qi Wen out of the carriages one by one.
Xiao Wuchen stepped forward and asked Li Zhao, "Excuse me, are you Mr. Li Zhao from Huichuntang?"
Li Zhao coughed lightly and nodded. "Yes, I am. Are you the Prince of Ning?"
Xiao Wuchen replied, "Yes, I'm Xiao Wuchen. My elder brother specifically told me that after I picked you up, I must take good care of you. This way, please, sir!"
Li Zhao wasn't surprised by Xiao Jingcheng's arrangement. He followed Xiao Wuchen up the mountain.
Xiao Wuchen had already had a small cave cleared out, big enough to accommodate four or five people. Although it was a bit cool, in the current situation of seeking shelter from the disaster, it was a good place.
"Sir, you can rest here for now. If you need anything, just let me know," Xiao Wuchen said respectfully to Li Zhao. Such respect from a prince was truly rare.
Li Zhao asked, "What else did Xiao Jingcheng tell you?"
Hearing him address the Crown Prince by his name, Xiao Wuchen became even more curious about Li Zhao's identity, but he didn't ask. Instead, he replied, "My elder brother said that if there are any changes on - site, I shouldn't act on my own. I must ask for your opinion first before taking any action."
Li Zhao said, "Okay, I understand."
On the other side, as soon as Jiang Mian got out of the carriage, she rushed up the mountain. When she reached the cave where the civilians were taking shelter, all she could hear were stifled cries and the civilians calling for a doctor.
She shouted, "The doctor is here! I'm a doctor!"