Order had initially prevailed, but as the crowd began to stir, the scene descended into chaos, even spiraling beyond control.
When the Chen family remained indecisive, people started to mock them. Those who had no chance of being chosen, finding the spectacle insufficient, joined in the jeering.
Soon, one remark led to another, gradually escalating from verbal attacks to physical altercations. Many in the crowd started shoving each other, and then, for reasons unknown, a fight broke out.
The Chen family patriarch and Chen Wenyi stood at the Welcome Pavilion, gazing at the chaotic crowd below, both their faces pale. They hadn't yet figured out a course of action when the situation had already veered in an uncontrollable direction.
Fighting in crowded places, if one isn't careful, can easily result in hitting others. Similarly, those who fail to dodge in time are always at risk of being bruised and battered.
Some individuals, initially injured by accident once or twice, tried to run and escape. However, the sheer number of people blocking the way made it impossible to squeeze through.
As the saying goes, a flurry of random punches can defeat a seasoned master. Already struggling to move, and repeatedly injured by mistake, even the most patient individuals eventually became enraged.
Thus, they ceased to hold back, fighting blindly, hitting whoever they encountered. The ultimate outcome was that more people joined the melee, causing the scope of the fighting to widen.
Those who hadn't joined in, upon seeing so many people fighting, primarily thought of hastily retreating or finding a suitable spot to watch the commotion, turning the entire street into a scene of utter disarray.
Meanwhile, those who had retreated to the sides at the beginning had no idea what was happening within. Someone in the crowd uttered, "Did the Chen family start distributing lucky rice and money?"
Unbeknownst to them, this remark was like pouring water into a sizzling oil pan, erupting into a frenzy! Consequently, those waiting on the sides also surged towards the center, afraid of being slow and missing out on the handout.
Su Muqing and her companions were jostled by the crowd. Shielded on all sides, no one could get close to them. Yet, even so, they were pushed back by the throng until they were pressed tightly against the large banyan tree behind them.
The onlookers diagonally behind them continued to push forward. Su Muqing and her group then retreated into a small alley to their side, separating themselves from those trying to push further in.
Observing the chaotic scene before her, Su Muqing frowned deeply. This situation was extremely perilous. Unsuspecting people on both sides were still pushing inward, while those in the middle trying to get out were recklessly rushing outwards.
If the crowding continued like this, a stampede was highly likely.
Moreover, many people were holding children, also caught in the throng. In such dense crowds, the children in the middle couldn't get fresh air and were at risk of suffocation at any moment.
"Trouble!" Su Muqing's expression changed drastically. Without time to explain anything to those around her, she reached out, grabbed Huo Qiyuan, and they swiftly ascended to the rooftop.
Leng Si and the others, seeing their master leave, also quickly ascended to the rooftop. The group looked down together, and their expressions immediately changed.
The men who had been brawling amidst the crowd were now packed together so tightly that they could barely move. Their faces were pressed against each other, their bodies touching. Except for some who had raised their hands above their heads when the fighting began, no part of their bodies could move an inch.
Their complexions shifted from pale to flushed, and finally, to a purplish hue from being choked. They opened their mouths to emit terrified cries; some were visibly struggling to breathe. Yet, people from both sides continued to push inwards.
The scene transformed from sporadic disturbances into a chaotic panorama filled with screams and cries. Not only were children wailing, but many adults were also overwhelmed by the crush.
On the Welcome Pavilion. Even the Chen family patriarch, accustomed to large-scale events, was somewhat at a loss seeing the situation. He watched as the people below grew increasingly distressed, many with their eyes closed.
The Chen family patriarch's heart was in disarray. It was no wonder the esteemed master had said that if his daughter's fated person did not appear, the Chen family would begin to decline. This arranged marriage ceremony, intended to be a joyous occasion, now appeared to be turning into a disaster:
After a moment of stunned silence, Chen Wenyi also realized that something was amiss. She shouted loudly at the people below, "Stop pushing! Those behind, stop pushing! Don't push further inside! Those in front are suffocating..."
However, compared to the clamor below, her voice was too weak. No one perceived the urgency in her voice, nor did anyone notice the fear that flickered in her eyes.
With no other option, Chen Wenyi ran back and forth on the Welcome Pavilion, continuing to shout with all her might.
At this moment, Leng Ren also flew over from a nearby rooftop, holding a bag of potato pancakes in one hand and the deflated red embroidered ball in the other.
It turned out that after making eye contact with Chen Wenyi, he had inexplicably sensed her inner grievances. For such a significant event as a maiden's arranged marriage, kicking the embroidered ball away like that made Leng Ren feel somewhat guilty.
So, before the crowd became too chaotic, he had flown from the banyan tree to the rooftop and then swiftly flew towards the small red dot in the distance.
Unfortunately, his kick had been too powerful, sending the embroidered ball far away, and it took him some time to retrieve it. By then, the situation below had devolved into such chaos.
Seeing that a tragedy was about to unfold, at Su Muqing's signal, Leng Si gathered his internal energy and shouted loudly at the crowd below with his powerful internal force.
"Do—Not—Push—An—Y—More!"
The shout, imbued with internal force, made everyone's eardrums buzz. Those who were still forcefully pushing inward for lucky rice and money halted amidst the deafening roar.
The previously noisy crowd finally quieted down, but their feet did not retreat. Therefore, those trapped in the middle still found no respite.
Su Muqing stood on the rooftop beside the large banyan tree. Holding a megaphone, she was the first to address the crowd below. "From now on, no one is to push further into the center! Those on the sides, retreat outwards in an orderly fashion! Be careful not to jostle, to prevent falls and stampedes!"
Following Su Muqing's lead, Leng Si and the others, each holding a megaphone, dispersed in different directions. Standing on elevated positions, they began shouting at the crowd below.
If Leng Si's internal force had evoked admiration in Chen Wenyi, then the subsequent appearance of the megaphones left her utterly astonished? And after the astonishment came an irrepressible surge of ecstasy!