“Huai Dao, you flatter me. Even if my brothers and I were willing to become officials, we would only be minor generals at most,” Bu Fang said, shaking his head.

"Brother Bu, have my father and uncle left yet?" Qin Mu asked as he sat down and poured tea for Bu Fang.

"Yes, they left early this morning, saying they would be back soon. I have poor eyesight, so I stayed behind."

"I'll have to trouble you to take care of me during this time, Brother Bu," Qin Mu said gratefully, bowing once more.

“Since you’re calling me ‘Big Brother,’ there’s no need to be so polite,” Bu Fang said, waving his hand.

At this moment, Bu Mang had already sent someone to bring the food. Qin Mu didn't stand on ceremony, picked up the bowl and started eating. The simple side dishes were just right to accompany the rice.

A loud "bang!" suddenly rang out, causing Qin Mu's hand holding the bowl to tremble involuntarily. Bu Fang had already stood up abruptly, reaching for the hilt of his knife at his waist; Bu Mang also turned around, looking seriously in the direction from which the sound came.

Qin Mu was stunned for a moment, and his lips twitched involuntarily. He then remembered that the little girl Xiangli Yanran seemed to live nearby. After all, the Qin family's villa was used to entertain guests. He just hadn't expected that she would manage to set it up in just one night.

Bu Fang listened intently, waited a moment, then released his hand and said, "Could someone be refining pills?"

"Alchemy? Alchemy makes such a commotion?" Bu Mang asked in astonishment.

"It is said that there are some special pills that are difficult to refine. If you are not careful, the furnace will explode. I once saw a similar noise at a Taoist temple. It is said that the furnace exploded while refining pills," Bu Fang said, stroking his beard.

"Oh! I see." Bu Mang said with a relieved expression.

Qin Mu smiled but didn't reply. Right now, he just wanted the little girl to stay out of trouble. Although the Qin family wouldn't blame him, he still felt a little embarrassed.

Unbeknownst to Qin Mu, a chaotic scene was unfolding in the courtyard not far from them. Squads of guards, armed with weapons, rushed in, then stared blankly at the courtyard.

Xiangli Yanran's face was filled with excitement, while Xiangli Zuka looked helpless.

"I'm sorry to trouble you all. I encountered a small problem while refining pills just now," Xianglizuka said with a slightly embarrassed smile, cupping his hands in greeting.

"Sirs, it's good that you're all alright. This humble general will take his leave." Seeing that nothing seemed amiss in the courtyard, the leading lieutenant clasped his hands in greeting and led his men out. He knew that none of the guests who had come were ordinary people, and his orders were merely to guard the area and not interfere in their private affairs. As long as no conflict arose and no one died, that was fine. As for the explosion, since everyone said it was for alchemy, then it was for alchemy.

"What are you doing?!" Sangori Tsukasa asked Sangori Yanran with a frustrated expression. On the ground was a round metal object and a large burlap sack, with lots of white rice fluff on the outside of the sack.

Although Qin Mu told Xiangli Yanran about the design and working principle of the popcorn machine, he never imagined that Xiangli Yanran would make a machine with the size of a pregnant woman's belly.

Xianglizuka was very annoyed. Yesterday, Xiangli Yanran had dragged him along in a hurry, asking him to help her make something. It was a very simple thing. With his skills, he could have finished it in two hours by borrowing the Qin family's smelting workshop. He originally thought it was a pill-refining furnace that Xiangli Yanran was making for someone. Although it looked a bit strange, he figured it was just something needed for refining special medicinal materials.

To my utter surprise! She started tinkering early in the morning, and I initially thought she was finally interested in something other than martial arts, which made Xianglizuka happy. But reality told him he was too optimistic. As Xiangli Yanran poured rice and honey into the jar, his cheeks twitched involuntarily. Disappointed, he closed his eyes to rest.

A deafening bang startled him so much that he fell off the stone bench and into the ground. When he opened his eyes, the courtyard was filled with white smoke. He was worried about Xiangli Yanran, but when he rushed over, Xiangli Yanran happily grabbed him and jumped up and down.

A mess... not a pile of rice. He didn't believe this was a refined elixir. Considering Xiangli Yanran's tastes, it was self-evident. Such a large formation produced such a thing; Xiangli Zhong felt the veins on his forehead throbbing, barely managing to suppress his anger.

"Yanran! You want to eat this fried rice? Just have someone make it. Why did you have to do this? Look how dangerous it was just now," Xianglizuka said with a forced smile.

In the Xiangli family, Xiangli Yanran is the only girl among the direct descendants, and everyone dotes on her, including Xiangli Zhong.

"Dangerous? No! Uncle, you have no idea how fun it is! 'Pop!' and the popped rice comes out." Xiangli Yanran looked around, gestured with her hand, and then took a deep sniff, exclaiming, "Wow! Uncle, smell this! It smells so good!"

“Yes! Second Uncle knows it smells good, but Yanran! We’re in someone else’s house. Isn’t it a bit inappropriate to make such a commotion?” Xianglizuka reminded him.

"Yes! Second Uncle, you're right. Then I won't make it. I'll make it when I get home. Anyway, this is enough for two days." Xiangli Yanran, being polite, nodded in reply and then put the popcorn machine away.

"Mmm! I'll make it when I get home." Sarizuka nodded repeatedly with a smile. As long as Sari Yanran doesn't cause him trouble outside, that's fine. As for home, well, even without this thing, it's better to be in chaos because of her.

"Once I get back, I'll immediately make an excuse to go out," Xianglizuka secretly decided. As for whether Xiangli Yanran would frighten the old men at home, he didn't even consider it. In his experience, even if she did frighten them, the old men wouldn't blame Xiangli Yanran. Instead, they would blame him for not teaching her well and for bringing her out into the world and making her go astray.

This sudden and unexpected news naturally alarmed many people, including Qin Yao, who was talking with his son and daughter at the time.

He stood up solemnly, waiting for the guard's report. Nothing, big or small, at Juyong Pass escaped his control. Before long, the lieutenant rushed over.

"Was that noise coming from the other courtyard? What happened?" Qin Yao asked hurriedly.

"Returning home, Master! It came from the other courtyard. It was the other courtyard where the Xiangli family lives just now, but I didn't see any conflict. Mr. Xiangli said it was caused by alchemy." The lieutenant replied with clasped hands.

"Tell me in detail!" Qin Yao asked, frowning. He was somewhat skeptical of alchemy; after all, even if someone were to refine pills, there wouldn't be a rush. If there was a real need, and the Mo family didn't have it, he could certainly help.

"Yes!" The lieutenant quickly recounted what had happened.

Qin Yao became increasingly confused as he listened, but Qin Yue seemed to understand something.

Qin Yue smiled and said to the puzzled Qin Yao, "Dad, you don't need to think about it, I know what it is."

"Oh! Yue'er, you know? Tell your father quickly!" Facing his daughter, Qin Yao asked gently with a smile.