The following days were filled with even more bizarre concoctions.
Some were laced with laxatives.
Others with dried dogwood powder.
In short, Fang Er experimented with everything he could think of and create with the available materials.
Ultimately, only the satchel charges and the grenades with sleeping powder were selected.
After the laxative-laced charge exploded, the sheep were largely unfazed. Fang Er even selected a craftsman, bribed him with two taels of silver to personally test it, but it failed to produce the desired effect.
The dogwood powder also proved ineffective, only causing a slight tickle in the nose, unable to incapacitate anyone.
Returning to the Ministry of Works, Fang Er reported the day's results to Du Yiyang.
With the items created, his task was complete.
Fang Er then returned to Fang Family Village with Zhuzi.
"My Lord Cui, the person surnamed Fang was busy all day today with those old relics. I heard they created something called a satchel charge, which has considerable power. It flattened an entire patch of forest."
In a small room within the Ministry of Works, a minor clerk reported to Lord Cui.
Lord Zheng from the Ministry of Cultivation was also present.
"Find a way to get one for me to examine. Be careful not to be discovered by those old fellows."
Lord Cui instructed the clerk.
After the clerk left, Lord Zheng spoke, "Lord Cui, regarding the refined salt extraction method, what are your Cui family's intentions?"
"The patriarch has sent word. This person surnamed Fang cannot be allowed to live! Once he is dealt with, we will find a way to destroy the extraction method. The Great Tang needs only our two families to supply salt; that is sufficient."
Lord Cui declared with a fierce expression.
Only Cheng Yaojin, Yuchi Gong, Li Er, and Du Yiyang had personally witnessed Fang Er's refined salt extraction method.
Salt was equivalent to money in this era.
Due to military intelligence, Li Er had not yet authorized Du Yiyang to begin salt production. Therefore, while the method for refined salt was known, very few had actually seen it.
However, the fact that this method was presented by the same person who offered gunpowder was no secret to the powerful families with extensive networks within the court.
"Brother Cui, how do you plan to proceed? Do you require any assistance from my side?"
Lord Zheng was not surprised by the Cui family's decision.
This was because the instructions received from the Xingyang Zheng family were identical to those of the Cui family!
"I have already made preparations. Brother Zheng, just await the good news."
Lord Cui did not press further.
Night fell.
Outside the city, at Fang Family Village.
Four slightly hunched figures in black stealthily approached the Fang mansion.
"You two, go to the front. You, follow me, and we'll scale the wall directly into the backyard."
"Yes, boss!"
The leader finalized the infiltration route, and the four split into two teams, scaling the walls from the front and back courtyards respectively.
Fang Er and Xiao Qing were feeding milk powder to Wangcai when they saw Wangcai's two ears twitch violently. Then, the dog's head, which had been buried in the milk bowl, suddenly lifted.
Its two glowing eyes stared intently in the direction of the entrance.
Seeing Wangcai's reaction, Fang Er's heart tightened.
"Who's there!"
Zhuzi's voice echoed from the courtyard.
Following that were the sounds of clashing swords and blades.
"Young Master, be careful, there are assassins!"
Zhuzi shouted a warning to Fang Er inside the house while engaging the black-clothed assailants.
Xiao Qing's face instantly turned pale.
"What are you doing!"
Zhuzi's panicked voice came from outside.
Then, Fang Er saw something smoking being thrown through the window!
It was unmistakably a lit satchel charge!
"Damn it all!"
Fang Er's heart pounded.
He violently overturned the table and chairs, then pulled Xiao Qing behind the table to hide.
Xiao Qing, terrified by Fang Er's reaction, understood the danger of the object thrown inside.
As soon as they were hidden, a loud "boom" sounded, followed by explosive fire and the clatter of debris.
"Young Master!"
Zhuzi, seeing the explosion and fire erupting from the house, looked on with grief and rage!
Abandoning all defense, he attacked the two black-clothed figures with reckless abandon.
But at this moment, an explosion also came from the backyard!
"Hurry! Everyone, hurry! Protect the Young Master!"
With a bang, the main gate of the Fang residence was kicked open from the outside, and the people of Fang Family Village rushed in.
"Kill them!"
Zhao Hu, leading the charge, wielded a chopping knife and lunged at the black-clothed attacker engaged in a fierce fight with Zhuzi.
"Take them down! I'll go check on the Young Master!"
Seeing reinforcements arrive, Zhuzi ceased his attack and dashed towards the house.
Inside the house, Fang Er held Xiao Qing, his face contorted with anguish.
His clothes were splattered with blood!
Wangcai anxiously paced at Fang Er's feet.
A shard of porcelain, about the size of an egg, was embedded in Xiao Qing's back.
Blood flowed out incessantly.
"Qing'er, hold on! I'll have them fetch a doctor immediately!"
Fang Er embraced Xiao Qing, tears uncontrollably streaming down his cheeks.
The beautiful, adorable young girl from before, the one who blushed so easily, the one he had spent the most time with since arriving in this world!
Now, due to the gunpowder he created, she was severely injured. Seeing Xiao Qing's pale face, Fang Er felt as if his heart was being twisted by a knife!
"Young Master, don't cry, Qing'er is fine. Qing'er is just tired. Qing'er wants to sleep for a while. Can Young Master let Qing'er sleep, just for a moment?"
Enduring the pain in her back, Xiao Qing weakly used her hand to wipe away Fang Er's tears, speaking intermittently.
"No! Young Master forbids you to sleep, so you cannot sleep!"
Fang Er said, tightly gripping Xiao Qing's hand, his voice filled with pain.
His mind was a complete blank; he had no idea what to do.
"Young Master! Are you alright? What's wrong with Qing'er?"
Zhuzi called out, following Fang Er's voice.
"Zhuzi! Zhuzi, quickly look at Qing'er, her back is injured!"
Seeing Zhuzi, Fang Er clutched him like a lifesaver, begging him.
Seeing his young master's pained expression, Zhuzi couldn't help but blame himself for not being able to stop them from throwing the explosive into the house.
Carefully laying Xiao Qing down on Fang Er's lap.
Zhuzi examined the porcelain shard lodged in the wound. He tore a strip of cloth from his sleeve, rolled it into a ball, and held it to Xiao Qing's mouth: "Qing'er, bite down. I'm going to pull out the shard."
Xiao Qing obediently bit down on the cloth.
"Zhuzi, are you sure this will be okay!"
Fang Er grabbed Zhuzi's hand as it reached for the shard, his eyes bloodshot as he stared at Zhuzi.
Having come from the battlefield, Zhuzi believed that as long as no internal organs were damaged, such external wounds should be manageable.
Fang Er, having been scared earlier, saw Zhuzi's reassuring nod and released his arm.
*Scrape!*
With a grating sound of porcelain scraping against bone, Zhuzi successfully pulled out the shard.
Looking at the bloodstain on the shard, Zhuzi said, "Young Master, thankfully, no internal organs were damaged. The fragment is likely lodged in the bone."
Fang Er looked at the still-bleeding wound and frantically retrieved antiseptic and gauze from his system space, preparing to treat Xiao Qing's injury.
"Young Master, I'll go take a look outside."
Seeing Fang Er's actions, Zhuzi politely excused himself.