CHAPTER 396: 394 AT THIS MOMENT, HE WAS SHOCKED!

"What happened?"

Zhongli Wuzhi was startled by the huge explosion. Looking up from two streets away, he saw a rising cloud of black and gray smoke accompanied by flames.

"Here we go again..."

"Oh... No! That’s near my house!"

Song Lili’s expression was extremely grave as she urgently said to Zhongli Wuzhi,

"Quickly! We need to rescue Xiaoer! It’s not safe here anymore!"

Zhongli Wuzhi’s heart sank. The rescue personnel of country M had already evacuated the subway tunnels, and the volunteer leading the way had just emerged, dragging a ground drill!

"It’s just opened, but not wide enough."

Song Lili responded, "Thank you. You all should go to a safe place to shelter. We can handle things here."

She was truly grateful to everyone who had helped her and Zhongli Wuzhi, but now was not the time for extended thanks.

She handed the Big Stone Hammer to Zhongli Wuzhi, "Do you go in or shall I?"

Zhongli Wuzhi grabbed the Big Stone Hammer, his actions expressing a clear "Need you ask?"

He deftly jumped down. One meter underground, aside from the sturdy foundation of Angus Church, the soil was relatively easy to excavate.

Once opened, there was no longer fear!

Two firefighters, drenched in sweat, stood dazedly at the edge of the rubble, facing the explosion site. They just stood there, watching...

Their faces void of expression...

They knew all too well that it was no longer a terrorist attack, no mere minor disturbance. From the moment that missile hit the center of Caesar City, war had broken out.

Countless people must have died, numerous families shattered...

"Thank you. Without you, my friend wouldn’t have had any hope."

Song Lili stood up and walked over to the two firefighters, her gaze somewhat distant.

Next to Lili, the firefighter spoke faintly,

"Heh... but this... is all we can do right now..."

"..."

"Tang, my country... it’s finished... I hope you can safely return to country G, stay in your country, and truly enjoy peace."

The firefighter’s head was covered in silvery-white hair, a natural feature for nearly one-third of the population in country M.

"Thank you, Narek. I will bring back what I’ve seen and heard here, to alert my people and our government."

Song Lili spoke earnestly.

Even though they were more than two streets away from the explosion site, they could distinctly feel the shockwave and the air saturated with gunpowder smoke.

After the massive blast came the screams of people scattering in every direction.

Narek’s walkie-talkie crackled to life; he answered, "Fire team one, Narek, go ahead."

"Where are you guys? You should have regrouped by now! Hurry back! The situation is urgent!"

"Yes!"

After Narek responded, he turned to explain to Song Lili, but she gestured dismissively,

"Go ahead."

Narek swallowed his words, "Good luck."

"And good luck to you too..."

Song Lili watched as Narek and his colleague headed towards their parked fire truck. Narek’s team of firefighters entirely withdrew from the area, leaving only a few large flashlights for their lighting.

"Zhongli! How are you? Can you still hear me?"

Song Lili shouted into the tunnel.

After a while, "I hear you, I see Xiaoer!"

Song Lili finally felt a bit relieved. She crouched at the entrance of the tunnel, positioning the light towards it.

Just then, her own cellphone vibrated, and at that vibration, she immediately realized something and quickly checked her phone – messages from Wen Nian were flooding in like a bombardment.

She hurriedly answered the video call—

"Ah Nian, I’m sorry, I forgot."

She frustratingly hit her head.

Wen Nian was really not doing well, "Didn’t I say to keep in touch with me no matter how busy or chaotic it gets!"

"Sorry... the rescue work here was really a race against time, I forgot..."

"Your phone? Didn’t it ring?"

"The vibration was too soft, so..."

"Where are you now? Has Lu Xiaoer been rescued? Caesar is no longer safe; you must move immediately!"

Wen Nian said anxiously.

No one expected the rebel army to act so fiercely! They gave no breathing space to the Caesar City Government.

"It’s close, the rescue passageway has been cleared. Zhongli has gone in to rescue Xiaoer. Once Xiaoer is out, I’ll immediately move them."

"Don’t go to the airport, avoid all crowded places. I’ll give you an address, go there, someone will meet you."

Wen Nian spoke decisively.

"Okay, I’ll follow your arrangement."

"Lili... remember, don’t overexert yourself."

"I am very clear about my purpose this trip."

Wen Nian leaned on the desk with both hands, clearly seeing behind Song Lili in the distant air, there were flames... thick smoke...

Intense gunfire was also nearby.

"The attacked place is a landmark theater in Caesar... only two streets away from you."

Though Wen Nian was in country G, he received news quickly.

"Yes."

Song Lili acknowledged.

"The person hasn’t come out yet?"

Through the screen, one could feel Wen Nian’s anxiety and tension.

"He’s out! Lili, help me!"

Zhongli Wuzhi’s voice came from the passageway.

Song Lili set the phone aside, turned around, crouched at the entrance of the passageway, and then saw a rope thrown out,

"Help me pull; the passageway is too narrow..."

Song Lili jumped down into the passageway, picked up the rope, and started pulling!

Nearby gunfire grew denser and shriller, the crowd around Angus Church had been evacuated early, leaving no one but the relatives of the victims.

And now, people were fleeing toward them from afar...

This was not a good sign.

Song Lili mustered all her strength to drag Lu Xiaoer out.

Thankfully, Zhongli had the foresight to bring his suit jacket, padding it under Lu Xiaoer and tying it around him.

"Cough cough... cough cough cough..."

Lu Xiaoer’s weak cough elicited a laugh from Song Lili.

At last, understanding Lu Xiaoer’s face appeared in her line of sight,

as Lu Xiaoer removed the hand covering his face, revealing his soot-covered face with clearly black and white eyes gleaming with a hint of redness before tears rolled down his cheeks,

"Lili... huh... uh..."

Lu Xiaoer chuckled too, but the tears just wouldn’t stop.

"Xiaoer, can you climb up yourself? The passageway here is too narrow; I’ll climb up first, then pull you up."

A one and a half meter deep pit was quite high even for an average person.

"Yes..."

Xiaoer and Zhongli Wuzhi both came out, Zhongli Wuzhi holding Xiaoer in his arms, carefully giving him water to drink...

"Ah Nian, the person has been rescued."

Song Lili picked up the phone, and from waking up in the morning until now at 8:30, her face finally showed a relieved and understanding smile.

She reported to Wen Nian.

Wen Nian watching her... at this moment, his heart was shaken.