"Good!"
"A magnificent wish for peace, sacrificing to the Nine Heavens!"
"Such a grand aspiration, if Emperor Xuanyuan were in spirit, he would surely lend our Great Song a helping hand!"
"Nephew Wending, with such literary talent, you are certain to leave your mark on the imperial examinations this year. This old man eagerly awaits to see which fortunate family will be blessed to take you as their son-in-law!"
Han Qi stroked his beard and said to the man with great admiration.
"Chancellor Han, you flatter me. In front of all these esteemed scholars, I am but a naive soul who still has much to learn."
The man called Wending stood again to express his gratitude, yet despite his humble words, his face was filled with pride.
After he sat down, another person stood up.
"Chancellor Han, your humble student has also composed a poem. I implore you to offer your critique."
"Hahahaha, Nephew Liuzhong, please proceed!" Han Qi replied, raising his wine cup to his lips.
"Ah!"
"What a flock of birds!"
"Everyone, look quickly!"
"Nine birds in total!"
"Pfft—"
Upon hearing Liuzhong speak, the wine Han Qi had brought to his lips instantly spewed out.
He berated him with anger, "Yang Liuzhong, what kind of rubbish have you written!"
Yang Liuzhong quickly waved his hands, trying to explain, "No, no, you've misunderstood. What your student just said..."
Mid-sentence, he pointed at the raining sky and exclaimed, "Oh dear, everyone, look at the sky!"
Seeing that he wasn't joking, everyone rose from their seats and looked in the direction he was pointing.
Indeed, in the sky, nine colossal objects were rapidly approaching.
The rain had intensified by then, pattering down on the roof tiles and the pond beside the pavilion, making the sound of the distant aircraft not particularly prominent.
It was only when they flew closer that they could hear the buzzing roar.
"What is this? Has anyone seen such a thing before?"
Han Qi, momentarily stunned, instinctively asked the others.
"Hiss, these are not birds. They seem to be crafted by the hands of artisans. This is truly miraculous!"
Someone who had clearly seen the appearance of the aircraft stated with certainty.
Another nodded in agreement, "Precisely. Birds have wings, but this object is smooth and so immense. It cannot possibly be a bird!"
Suddenly, a bundle of ropes was thrown down from the aircraft. Han Qi and the others were then shocked to discover that people were sliding down, holding onto the ropes.
"This is bad! The Western Xia must be launching a surprise attack!"
"Quickly relay the order for the army to enter the city and defend!"
The noise of the aircraft was considerable, and Han Qi could only shout at his subordinates with all his might.
"Who is the commanding officer here!"
Xue Rengui released the rope, holding his AK, and bellowed at Han Qi and the others.
"You Western Xia scoundrels, how dare you be so arrogant!" Seeing his personal guards rushing in from the front, Han Qi shouted with newfound courage.
"Guards, apprehend this man and question him thoroughly!"
"Oh? How will you question him? Will you interrogate first, then search, or search first, then interrogate?"
Fang Er's voice leisurely appeared beside Xue Rengui.
Upon hearing this, Han Qi realized there was another person. He looked up and saw people descending like dumplings, sliding down ropes.
Surrounded by scholars, he panicked and yelled at his guards, "Quick, apprehend them!"
"They're yours!"
Fang Er tossed a casual remark to Xue Rengui before heading straight for the pavilion.
"Don't worry, Commander, the battle will be over in a minute!"
"Brothers, be gentle with your blows!"
Xue Rengui flashed a contemptuous smile at the guards and charged forward.
Li Da, Ge Luoyang, and Zhou Yanxi followed behind. The four of them, like tigers unleashed from their cages, launched their attack on the guards.
Fang Er ignored their combat and pushed Han Qi aside, entering the pavilion to seek shelter from the rain.
When he saw the abundant meat and delicacies on the table, his expression turned grim.
"Who is the commanding officer here!"
"Who exactly are you! You dare to trespass into the prefectural office, aren't you afraid I'll kill you on the spot?"
Han Qi was furious. He had never been so underestimated.
"How will you kill?"
Xue Rengui's figure appeared inside the pavilion, astonishing everyone.
Turning to look, Han Qi's personal guards were already sprawled in the rain, while Ge Luoyang and the others looked on with smiles.
"I... I am Han Qi. Who, who exactly are you!"
Han Qi's tone became much more subdued, clearly lacking his previous confidence.
"Never mind who I am. Tell me, do you know of a person named Qian Yi?" Fang Er asked, staring into his eyes.
Han Qi thought for a long time but couldn't recall anyone named Qian Yi. He then asked the people around him.
Yang Liuzhong, who had been berated by him earlier due to a misunderstanding, stepped forward and said uncertainly.
"Qian Yi? You mean Qian Zhongyang, who is skilled at soothing crying infants?"
Fang Er's heart leaped with joy, and he pressed further, "Precisely! If you know him, do you know where he is now?"
"Qian Zhongyang is from Dongping in Jingdong Circuit. If you're looking for him, that's where you should go," Yang Liuzhong replied to Fang Er, looking confused.
However, he immediately added, "I passed through there on my travels and heard that Qian Zhongyang had gone to Dengzhou to find medicine for his ailing mother."
"When was this?" Fang Er grabbed his collar, his voice becoming agitated.
Startled, Yang Liuzhong stammered, "Half... half a month ago~"
Fang Er released him and then looked coldly at Han Qi, "A renowned doctor in Donghua, a true man! Well done, Chancellor Han!"
"The heavy rain has lasted for a day and a night. Instead of thinking of easing the people's burdens and managing the watercourses, you have the leisure to drink here. I will settle accounts with you when I return!"
With that, he made a gesture to the Helicopter No. 1. Wang Xuance, seeing this, immediately lowered the aircraft's altitude.
Inside the cabin, Li Shimin retrieved the rope and tossed down a rope ladder.
After Fang Er and the others ascended the ladder into the cabin, the aircraft took off and headed towards Dengzhou.
Han Qi had not recovered his senses by the time they departed.
Damn it, who were these people?
The rain only stopped as the helicopter passed over Jinan Prefecture, indicating that the downpour had covered most of the north bank of the Yellow River.
By the time they arrived at Dengzhou Prefecture, it was already noon the next day.
Helicopter No. 3 landed at the city gate. Ge Luoyang, with a bruised head, walked up to the gate soldiers and casually tossed them a piece of silver.
"Brother, I'm looking for someone. Qian Yi, Qian Zhongyang, the one skilled in treating children's illnesses..."
"My heavens, look!" Before he could finish speaking, he heard someone on the city wall exclaim.
Many people were drawn by this exclamation and rushed to the city wall, looking in the direction indicated.
To the east of Dengzhou, a massive pillar of fire, accompanied by boundless black clouds, shot up into the sky!
Fang Er, in the sky, also saw this scene. That direction seemed to be towards the land of the rising sun?
With such a massive disturbance, could Mount Fuji have erupted?