Fifty-one

Chapter 53: Intelligence Test

Following the sound of the explosion, a mushroom cloud slowly rose from the roof. Immediately afterwards, a dark shadow darted swiftly out of the room, laughing uproariously toward the sky: "This top scholar has finally succeeded, haahaha!"

Xie Xiande and Fan Fu finally managed to make out the appearance of the newcomer, staring at each other in blank dismay, utterly clueless.

Fortunately, Duan Mingyu was still alive—not only alive, but doing quite well. Opening his wide mouth, he spat out a thick plume of black smoke. After a violent fit of coughing, Duan Mingyu burst into tears, and with a gasping, wide grin, he muttered, "I've finally tasted the flavor of the New Year."

With that, he smacked his thick, explosion-scorched lips, looking as though he were savoring a lingering aftertaste.

Wang Aiqing squeezed her way out from the crowd, pointing shyly and exasperatedly at Duan Mingyu’s lower body: "Young Master, it's so big, so strong!"

Duan Mingyu hastily covered his crotch: "My fault, it's all my fault! Wait a moment, everyone, let me go change my clothes first!"

...

This wait lasted a full two hours. When Duan Mingyu finally reappeared before the crowd looking presentable and sharp, he had transformed from black back to white, once again the dashing and debonair top scholar of old.

Xie Xiande walked up to Duan Mingyu, lowered his head, and mumbled a few words. Duan Mingyu immediately stared at Fan Fu in utter astonishment. *Good heavens, even something as heaven-defying as a repeating crossbow has fallen into my grasp? I absolutely cannot let him slip away.*

At this thought, Duan Mingyu instantly switched to an amiable and warm smile: "What an honor it is for Fan Xiansheng to grace my humble dwelling!"

Fan Fu cupped his fists: "Not at all, not at all. I apologize for intruding so much!"

With that, he plumped himself right back down into his original seat.

An itch of unbearable anticipation began to grow in Duan Mingyu's heart: "Fan Xiansheng, I hear you possess the method for crafting repeating crossbows?"

Fan Fu stroked his beard smugly: "Indeed, such a matter exists. I wonder what Young Master Duan intends to do about it?"

Duan Mingyu cast a look of disdain at the fellow: "To be frank with Xiansheng, I am in great need of this gadget!"

Fan Fu hadn't expected Duan Mingyu to be so blunt: "Young Master Duan can certainly be considered a straightforward man. If you want Fan to pledge his allegiance to the Young Master, it is not entirely out of the question. However, I must ask the Young Master to honestly tell me what sort of device produced that earth-shattering roar earlier today."

Duan Mingyu smiled casually: "It is merely modified gunpowder. I plan to apply it to all walks of life, such as making fire, fighting wars, and so on."

Xie Xiande nodded. Once this gunpowder was turned into explosives, its might truly resembled a divine flatulence—extraordinary indeed. It wouldn't hurt to use it in military affairs; doing so would undoubtedly be a major asset.

Fan Fu's eyes lit up, his mouth watering as he quickly bowed to Duan Mingyu: "If the Young Master can impart the formula to Fan, I shall place myself entirely at the Young Master's disposal, and the method for the repeating crossbow shall also be delivered with both hands."

A surge of joy rose in Duan Mingyu's heart, though a moment later, he felt a slight pang of displeasure. It seemed every time, he was being led around by the nose by Fan Fu; he needed to deflate the man's arrogance a bit: "Fan Xiansheng, that is entirely possible, but before that, I must ask Xiansheng a few questions."

"Ask away, Young Master, without hesitation!" Fan Fu said heartily.

Duan Mingyu cleared his throat and said, "I'd like to consult you directly on a particular question."

Fan Fu nodded. "Go ahead, speak."

Duan Mingyu chuckled craftily, "Well, there is an old sow at my place, mottled black and white. Early in the morning, upon opening the front door, it went crazy and bolted forward at a speed of eighty miles per hour, slammed 'bang' into a tree, and died!"

Fan Fu scratched his head, perplexed, and asked, "Dead from the crash? Did this pig have vision problems?"

Duan Mingyu wore a resolute expression, "No way, both of the pig's eyes were 1.5 vision."

Fan Fu asked again, "Then could this pig have had some psychological disorder?"

"Its mental health was perfectly fine!"

Fan Fu was utterly bewildered, gazing at Duan Mingyu with a thirst for knowledge: "Then how on earth could it have crashed and died?"

Duan Mingyu smiled sinisterly: "Because that pig didn't know how to make a sharp turn in its thinking!"

Fan Fu slapped his forehead: "Aiya, I must say you don't play by the rules! Well, since that's the case, I have a question for you as well."

Duan Mingyu said smugly, "Go ahead."

Fan Fu said honestly, "It's the New Year, and our family didn't buy any New Year goods at all, leaving only a pig and a donkey. Tell me, should I slaughter the pig first, or should I slaughter the donkey first?"

Duan Mingyu blurted out, "Then you should slaughter..."

Duan Mingyu's heart began to waver with doubt, and he turned to ask Luo Hou and Wang Aiqing, "I'll give you two a chance."

Wang Aiqing didn't even think before answering, "Slaughter the donkey first."

Hearing this, Duan Mingyu turned back and replied to Fan Fu, "Slaughter the donkey first."

Fan Fu burst into a hearty laugh: "Congratulations, you guessed correctly. The pig thought so too."

Duan Mingyu was on the verge of tears, glaring fiercely at Luo Hou and Wang Aiqing: "You rascals! What a pity! You truly make me feel sorrow for the two of you! You're about to venture out into the pugilistic world alone—how can this possibly give me peace of mind?"

Luo Hou wore a mournful face: "Young Master, then let's slaughter the pig first."

Duan Mingyu spat in disgust: "The donkey thought that too! I'm telling you, with this kind of question, it doesn't matter which one you slaughter first. Why didn't I answer right away? It's because I realized there's something wrong with considering this question in the first place!"

Luo Hou flattered him: "As expected of the Young Master's brilliant insight, able to spot the flaw at a glance."

Duan Mingyu was left speechless. He had originally wanted to dampen this fellow's arrogance, but who could have expected that instead of stealing the chicken, he would lose the bait, getting outsmarted by Fan Fu instead? *No, I must still find a way to crush this fellow's pride.*

With a sudden flash of inspiration, Duan Mingyu didn't waste any more words. He picked up his brush and wrote down the formula for gunpowder on a piece of paper: "Fan Xiansheng, this top scholar always keeps his word. Here, this formula is yours now. I only hope Xiansheng remembers his promise from earlier."

Fan Fu puffed out his chest: "I, Fan, am also a man of my word!" With that, he accepted the formula as if receiving an imperial edict, examining it like a precious treasure. However, he saw that the handwriting on it was crooked and entirely devoid of any standard structure.

Before long, Fan Fu's expression turned somewhat sour: "Young Master, this... how do you pronounce this character?"

Duan Mingyu gently set down his teacup: "One character for one copper coin!"

Fan Fu angrily pulled out a single copper coin and slammed it onto the table with a *clack*.

Duan Mingyu leaned in: "Where is it? Which character?"

"Right here, this messy scribble of a character."

"Oh, this is the character for carbon."

Fan Fu nodded in understanding and buried his head back into reading. Duan Mingyu sighed inwardly—this fellow truly was a mad scientist!

Yet, barely a minute later, Fan Fu leaned in again: "What are these two characters?"

Duan Mingyu gracefully extended two fingers.

Fan Fu knowingly fished out two large copper cash coins and placed them on the table: "Here, now you should tell me!"

Duan Mingyu slanted a look at Fan Fu and slowly said, "Are you trying to dismiss a beggar? Two characters cost two taels of silver!"

"Just now you..."

"I've raised my prices, alright!"

Fan Fu angrily fished two taels of silver from his bosom: "Hurry up and tell me, tell me!"

Duan Mingyu deliberately drawled at a leisurely pace: "These... two... characters... are... called... sulfur!"

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