The next day, Fang Er appeared in Yuan Tiangang's small courtyard with Jiao Xu and Li Tianjing.
Upon entering, they saw a pillar of medicinal herbs placed in the courtyard. The cook brought back from Bishacheng was carefully trimming it with a knife, while old Yuan sat cross-legged nearby, eyes closed in meditation.
"Heh, old Yuan, what cultivation technique are you practicing?"
Having known him for so long, this was Fang Er's first time seeing Yuan Tiangang meditate, so he couldn't help but step forward to tease him.
"Get lost! This Daoist is deducing the way of explosions, don't disturb me!"
Yuan Tiangang rebuked without opening his eyes, then continued to fantasize in his mind about what kind of explosion would be considered a miracle. Ordinary gunpowder no longer satisfied his need to show off.
Jiao Xu was petrified on the spot. How could the identity of Duke Fang, the駙馬 (imperial son-in-law), be so unwelcome in front of this old man?
Seeing this, Fang Er laughed, "Hahahaha, Master Crafter Jiao, Master Crafter Li, don't misunderstand. This is Yuan Tiangang, True Person Yuan. If you talk about who understands gunpowder the most in the Great Tang, he would be second, and no one would dare to claim first."
Jiao Xu was stunned and pointed at Yuan Tiangang, questioning, "Him? The Yuan Tiangang who drew the Tuibeitu (Pushing Hands Chart)?"
"No, no, no. Here, the Tuibeitu was created by his disciple."
After Fang Er finished speaking, he saw Li Chunfeng emerge from the backyard and then led the two towards him.
"Come, come, let me introduce you~"
"Wait!"
Just as he was about to introduce their identities, Li Chunfeng stared intently at Jiao Xu, his eyes scanning him from head to toe, and then he even glanced carefully at his backside.
After this examination, he actually turned and ran.
Fang Er watched his retreating back, completely bewildered. What was wrong with this guy?
But soon, he saw Li Chunfeng return with a peach wood sword, the tip of which was pointed directly at Jiao Xu's nose.
"Halt! What demon are you, daring to wreak havoc on the human world? Behold as this Daoist captures you!"
Fang Er: "???"
What had this guy deduced now?
He quickly pressed down the wooden sword in Li Chunfeng's hand, "Stop, stop, stop! It's broad daylight, where are the demons!"
"But his physiognomy is not normal!" Li Chunfeng pointed at Jiao Xu, his words carrying an undeniable tone.
"Where are there so many ghosts and spirits? Have you seen the Eldest Princess?"
"Yes, why?"
"Is the Eldest Princess's physiognomy normal?"
"How would this Daoist know? Does this Daoist dare to look?"
Li Chunfeng rolled his eyes.
He really didn't know how Duke Anguo could ask such an idiotic question. If he were to stare at the Eldest Princess's face, wouldn't he be beaten to a pulp by Duke Qiao?
He didn't dare to look at Li Xiuning. As for Xiang Yu and Guan Erye, when they were at the Duke's mansion, they often stayed indoors, so he hadn't met them.
In other words, Jiao Xu was the first person he had seen from outside the Great Tang, besides Fang Er.
"Can you truly tell anything different from his face?" Fang Er asked doubtfully.
"This matter is a bit too mystical!"
"But this Daoist cannot explain it, it just feels like his physiognomy is off!" Li Chunfeng replied candidly.
Fang Er: "!!!"
Mystical my foot, this guy is probably suffering from a delusion!
"Alright, stop talking nonsense. How much longer until old Yuan is done?"
Li Chunfeng put away the wooden sword and shrugged, "Who knows?"
"Sometimes, you close your eyes and open them, and a day has passed."
"Sometimes, you close your eyes and open them..."
Fang Er always felt that this sentence was strangely familiar. "Wait! You're not going to say a lifetime has passed, are you?"
"My Lord, we are familiar with each other, but if you curse my master like this, this Daoist will get angry with you!"
Saying this, Li Chunfeng made a move as if to fight.
"Forget it, you were the one who led me to say it."
Fang Er snatched the wooden sword from his hand, casually twirled it, and said, "Here, let me introduce you. This is Jiao Xu, skilled in gunpowder. This is Li Tianjing, skilled in astronomy and calendrics. They will be staying here from now on."
"Master Crafter Jiao, Master Crafter Li, this is Li Chunfeng, the beloved disciple of Yuan Tiangang, the one who created the Tuibeitu!"
Jiao Xu listened to their conversation from the side and had already guessed some things. Hearing Fang Er's introduction now, he quickly stepped forward to pay his respects.
"I am Jiao Xu, greetings to True Person Li! I have long heard of True Person Li's great name and admire him greatly. Meeting you now truly lives up to your reputation!"
"I am Li Tianjing, greetings to True Person Li! I have long admired you, and to be able to see you is not in vain!"
Li Chunfeng cupped his hands in return with a blank expression, while internally he muttered, when did he become so famous?
Fang Er saw his confusion but just smiled without much explanation. After all, Yuan Tiangang would have to say something when he was done, so let him be confused for now.
After waiting for a long time, Yuan Tiangang finally made a move.
"Hahahaha, this Daoist understands!"
With a loud laugh, he jumped up three feet high and rushed into the house, starting to record the results of his deductions in his mind.
Seeing this, Fang Er watched quietly at the doorway without disturbing him, only speaking after Yuan Tiangang put down his brush.
"It seems True Person Yuan has gained a lot~"
"Of course! Wait a few days, and this Daoist will let you witness what a miracle is!"
Yuan Tiangang cherished his manuscript, tucking it into his chest, then asked.
"Who are these two companions of yours?"
This was a place for gunpowder research, and for safety and secrecy, Fang Er had never brought any unrelated personnel here. Therefore, having two more people behind him this time made him puzzled.
Fang Er called Jiao Xu and the two of them, along with Li Chunfeng, into the house, then closed the door and sat down next to Yuan Tiangang, smiling.
"True Person Yuan, these two are from a thousand years later. Jiao Xu, skilled in gunpowder, and Li Tianjing, skilled in astronomy."
Hearing this, Yuan Tiangang's hand trembled, and he plucked out several of his own beard hairs.
"Hiss~~"
After gasping in pain, he widened his eyes and asked.
"You said they are from a thousand years later? How is that possible!"
"Some things will have to be revealed sooner or later." Fang Er then explained the matter of parallel worlds to Yuan Tiangang in detail.
After hearing these words, the master and disciple exchanged glances and then said in unison, "Where did you come from!"
Well, these two, with this information, combined with their previous suspicions about Fang Er, had now directly guessed the truth.
Fang Er immediately put on a stern face, "This Duke is a native of the Great Tang, with ancestors from Gaoling!"
Seeing that he wouldn't admit it, Yuan Tiangang rolled his eyes, "Fine, you're a Tang person, your family is from Gaoling~"
However, his tone did not sound certain at all.
But he didn't dwell on this issue any further. Instead, he complained with a dejected expression.
"Such interesting things, and you didn't bring this Daoist along? That's too unfair!"
"I don't want to talk to you, go away~"
With that said, he actually took Jiao Xu and Li Tianjing and walked outside with Li Chunfeng, leaving Fang Er behind.
Fang Er was speechless for a long time. This old Yuan's temper had been growing recently!
Since the people were handed over to them, he walked away with his hands behind his back.
As he passed the courtyard, he noticed that old Yuan was fawningly asking Jiao Xu and the others about himself.
Fang Er was amused. "Go ahead and ask. You old fellow, you're no longer the original True Person Yuan!"
"Heh heh~~"