Chapter 138: Birth of the Bomb (Part Two)

Looking at Old Wu and Gu Bei standing before him, Fang Xu felt a slight sense of awkwardness. After all, he truly had not expected the experiment to cause such a massive commotion.

Even Fang Xu himself had been startled by the sudden, thunderous blast. Once the echoes faded and quiet was restored, Qiu Chuji and the other two finally got back to their feet. Yet, as he watched them seated in their chairs, Fang Xu could still tell they were suffering from lingering fear. Naturally, there was no helping that—such a reaction would be expected of anyone in their position. Fortunately, Fang Xu had booked the entire inn for themselves; otherwise, explaining the chaos that had just unfolded on the second floor would have been quite a headache.

"Was that deafening roar just now produced by that small bamboo tube?!" Zhuge Jun asked, looking at Fang Xu with lingering apprehension, clearly deeply shaken by the experience.

"Indeed it was. Do you find it impressive?" Fang Xu asked with a smile, prompting Zhuge Jun to nod instinctively.

"Impressive? It is nothing short of a divine miracle!" Shangguan Lian gazed at Fang Xu with an expression of pure adoration, completely forgetting that this was not solely his achievement. As the saying goes, beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, and at that moment, Shangguan Lian had eyes for no one other than Fang Xu.

"We owe this success to Chuji's perseverance in formulating the black powder; otherwise, manufacturing this would have been impossible," Fang Xu said with a modest smile, causing Qiu Chuji to blush slightly with embarrassment.

"What exactly is this black powder?" Zhuge Jun asked with burning curiosity, whereupon Fang Xu explained that black powder served as the primary component of the device.

"May I ask if Brother Fang has given this bamboo tube a specific name?" Zhuge Jun inquired with a smile, well aware by now of the endless surprises Fang Xu seemed capable of delivering.

"A name? I call it a bomb," Fang Xu replied, holding up the bamboo tube with a grin.

"A bomb? It is a most fitting title." Zhuge Jun agreed that the name was appropriate, though a complex expression soon clouded his eyes as he stared at Fang Xu. Even if Zhuge Jun remained silent, could Fang Xu possibly fail to guess what was on his mind?

"Once the research and development are perfected, I will naturally petition His Majesty to grant these formulas to both of your noble families," Fang Xu said with a reassuring smile. Hearing this, Zhuge Jun finally let out a sigh of relief. There was no avoiding this outcome—not after he had witnessed firsthand the devastating power of the so-called bomb. Zhuge Jun could vouch for the fact that if such a weapon were ever deployed on the battlefield, its destructive force would be beyond measure, capable of producing an utterly crushing advantage.

***

Fang Xu had to acknowledge Zhuge Jun's astute intellect, for anyone else would never have made such a leap in imagination. This was precisely why, although the components of gunpowder had been first discovered by the people of Huaxia, it was ultimately utilized by others to wage war against them. People failed to comprehend both the benefits and the drawbacks of gunpowder. The benefit lay in its ability to deter all four quarters, discouraging ambitious tribes from making any overt, aggressive moves. The drawback was that the formula for gunpowder could never be monopolized by a single individual; eventually, it was bound to become common knowledge. Therefore, in Fang Xu's view, the research had to be completed swiftly, leaving Qin Suwen to handle the question of ownership and regulation.

When Old Wu and Gu Bei learned that the deafening explosion had been caused by Fang Xu, they stared at him in utter disbelief. In Old Wu's eyes, Fang Xu was nothing short of omnipotent. After all, Old Wu had previously witnessed Fang Xu concocting flashbangs with his own eyes—though credit was certainly due to Qiu Chuji as well, with Fang Xu playing a guiding role. Once again marveling at Fang Xu's boundless creativity, Old Wu thought to himself that it was a fortunate thing indeed that Fang Xu stood firmly on Qin Suwen's side. Otherwise, Old Wu believed, Fang Xu might have posed a threat far greater than the southern aristocratic families or the nomadic tribes beyond the northern borders.

With the farce finally over, Fang Xu settled in for a peaceful slumber. The residual impact of the explosion seemed to have made Qiu Chuji and the others completely forget their initial intention of interrogating him. Growing wiser, Fang Xu left Old Wu and Gu Bei to thoroughly explain the intricate relationships among Zhuge Jun, Shangguan Lian, and Qiu Chuji, while he himself stretched out on the soft couch and drifted soundly off to sleep.

***

Meanwhile, deep within the imperial palace of Xianyang City, Qin Suwen looked down at the memorial reports on her desk, a complex look in her eyes. The documents detailed the relationships among Fang Xu, Zhuge Jun, Shangguan Lian, and Murong Fu, as well as everything Fang Xu had been up to lately.

Unbeknownst to Fang Xu, he had actually been under Qin Suwen's watchful eye the entire time. It was not that Qin Suwen distrusted him; rather, her surveillance stemmed solely from a deep concern for his safety, though the methods she employed were bound to displease him. In fact, it might even provoke his resentment, for who could genuinely enjoy the sensation of being constantly watched? At times like this, he might well wonder whether he was treated as a criminal or something else entirely.

Yet, when Qin Suwen read about the bomb Fang Xu had successfully developed, a sharp glint flashed across her eyes. Clearly, her thoughts mirrored Zhuge Jun's precisely—she, too, immediately recognized that the weapon's battlefield potential could not be underestimated. Unfortunately, as Fang Xu himself noted, the current iteration of the bomb remained unstable, possessing a dual nature. It could annihilate the enemy, but it could also inflict self-harm, an outcome neither Qin Suwen nor Fang Xu wished to see.

"A bomb? This beloved consort of mine is truly fascinating," a faint smile touched Qin Suwen's lips, especially when she read the closing remarks in the confidential report left by Fang Xu.

What had he written? Naturally, it was Fang Xu's intention to hand over such a dangerously potent invention directly to her for disposal. Qin Suwen did not take this gesture for granted. Instead, it made her feel deeply trusted by Fang Xu, sending a wave of warmth through her heart. Ever since she had ascended the throne, whether in the past or the present, the Empress Dowager had relentlessly drilled into her never to trust anyone, especially those closest to her. When necessary, even blood relatives were not to be trusted. In the past, Qin Suwen had adhered strictly to this advice, genuinely believing she would never place her trust in another soul.

Yet now, the conviction was dawning upon her that she could actually trust Fang Xu. Though she herself could not be certain whether her judgment was sound, Qin Suwen shared a personality trait strikingly similar to Fang Xu's: when she made up her mind to do something, she acted upon it without hesitation. Having decided to place her trust in him, Qin Suwen immediately took up her brush and drafted a secret decree.

The instructions were simple: ensure Fang Xu's safety above all else, and cease the need to report every single detail back to the palace.