Chapter 437: Niu Jinda: What a Great Nephew!

When Li Tai, increasingly excited, explained to Li Shimin the origin of the explosive, its manufacture, and its power.

He did not at all notice Li Shimin's face gradually turning black, nor Chen Yan, who had just been by his side but was now slowly retreating.

Niu Jinda and the others, who had originally been shocked, also sensed the atmosphere solidifying and followed Chen Yan in retreat.

"Qingque, have you finished?"

Li Shimin smiled kindly.

"Huh?" Li Tai was startled, only then noticing that Chen Yan and the others had unknowingly withdrawn far away, while the Father Emperor before him…

Something seemed off.

He carefully recalled his own words and instantly understood where the mistake lay.

Li Tai panicked instantly: "Father Emperor, I… I did not intend it, I had no such meaning, I merely wanted to tell you the entire origin of the explosive."

Explosive! Explosive!

Originally Li Shimin should have been pleased, after all he had just witnessed the explosive's power, and Li Tai and the others had not exaggerated at all.

If this thing were deployed on the battlefield, the results would be unimaginable.

But… why is it called an explosive?

Is it because the formula he gave for the immortal… poison pill included the character "explosion," so it was named explosive?

Li Shimin recalled how the poison pill had tormented him to death and back, and for some reason couldn't feel any amusement at all.

Of course, he still reasoned, knowing that Li Tai truly had no intention of hitting a sore spot.

Li Shimin, his face blackened, said, "Chen Zian, return!"

"Hey, I'm coming!"

Chen Yan forced a laugh, hopping over: "His Majesty, what are your orders?"

Seeing Chen Yan like that made him angry: "Can you at least look like a Duke? Look at you, still like a child who never grew up."

"Still young?"

"Yes, yes, yes, His Majesty is right," Chen Yan hurriedly nodded, with an innocent expression.

Li Shimin's forehead showed a few black lines; after hesitating a moment, he waved his sleeve: "Enough, I won't compare with you two."

At this moment, he also calmed down and raised the main matter.

"The explosive you mentioned was inspired by the poison pill formula; what's the exact story?"

Chen Yan, upon hearing, gave Li Shimin a thorough explanation of the ingredients in the formula and the principle of the exploding elixir.

Li Shimin was speechless after listening.

If that's the case… those alchemists also deserve credit?

Thinking this, Li Shimin quickly shook his head.

No!

That's not right!

The credit belongs to Chen Yan and Qingque, and has nothing to do with those alchemists.

Then he paused, let out a long sigh, unsure what to say.

"Does this… count as a blessing in disguise?"

Li Shimin wanted to save a bit of face for himself.

Chen Yan, stifling discomfort, couldn't speak, and could only keep nodding.

Fortunately, Niu Jinda and the others didn't know the details, and seeing the atmosphere ease, the group hurried over.

"Big nephew, my dear big nephew!" Niu Jinda eagerly clasped him: "I've been good to you since you were little, right?"

Chen Yan, after a brief silence, said: "If we don't count the stuff you slipped away from me, it should be pretty good."

Niu Jinda, secretly resentful, hurriedly said: "Later, later I'll send you all the wine money, I guarantee my big nephew won't suffer a loss!"

"Then thank you, Uncle Niu," Chen Yan said with a forced smile.

"Cough cough…" Niu Jinda cleared his throat, "Since that's the case, then, what, is it the explosive?"

Chen Yan helplessly: "Rest assured, it's already being fast‑tracked, the raw materials are easy to gather, not difficult."

"When you set out on the campaign, I will hand it to you."

"That's great," Niu Jinda and the others rejoiced.

With this explosive in hand, there's nowhere in the world we can't go.

Speaking, Chen Yan turned to Li Shimin and said: "His Majesty, the people I used were the ones you secretly sent last time to forge the Mystic Night Armor and the Strange Sword."

"To make explosives for the Bannerless Cavalry, I may need to borrow some time."

Hearing this, Li Shimin's eyes flashed with a hint of helplessness, yet he was also pleased: "Arrange as you see fit, I trust you."

Li Chengqian, who had been unable to speak, suddenly said: "Brother Zi An, we've heard you talk about this explosive, we've already witnessed its power; could you bring one out for us to see?"

With those words, everyone except Chen Yan and the Prince of Wei showed curiosity.

Obviously, regarding the explosive, they all wanted to see the finished product.

"Of course, no problem," Chen Yan waved his hand, and Xiao Shunzi behind him hurriedly stepped back.

In a short while, he returned holding a package of explosives.

"Is this the explosive?"

The crowd quickly gathered around.

Li Shimin poked it with his hand, skeptically asking: "Such a tiny thing, can it have such great power?"

Chen Yan said: "His Majesty, the earlier barren mountain explosion involved more than one explosive, which is why it produced such great power; a single explosive naturally isn't that strong, but it shouldn't be underestimated either."

"If anyone is curious, you can try it."

"How to test it?" Niu Jinda asked impatiently.

Chen Yan steps forward, pulls the fuse of the explosive, "Do you see this fuse? As long as you light it and throw it, the explosive will detonate."

"The usage is quite simple, but you must throw it quickly, otherwise it will hurt you."

Speaking of that, Chen Yan recalls the first time he and Li Tai detonated it and almost met his great‑grandmother; a flash of dread passes through his eyes.

Coincidentally, Li Shimin notices and says, "Zi An, you weren't tinkering with this and hurting yourself, were you?"

After the words, Chen Yan and Li Tai both show awkward expressions.

"Father Emperor, the first explosive fuse we made was too short and burned too fast, so Li Tai and I didn't have time to run far, and we were a bit affected."

"Is 'a bit' the right word?" Chen Yan says calmly, "I almost went to meet my ancestors."

Li Shimin: "......"

Niu Jinda: "......"

"You… you two!" Li Shimin points at the two, so angry he can't speak.

"Never mind, never mind, as long as nothing happened, let others handle such dangerous matters in the future!"

How could the two dare to say anything? They could only agree.

"Since it's so dangerous, let me do it!" Su Dingfang steps forward, takes the explosive from Xiao Shunzi.

Prince of Wei reminds, "We have already optimized the explosive; the current fuse doesn't burn fast. Stay a little farther away, light it and toss it quickly, it'll be fine."

"Alright!" Su Dingfang concentrates and nods; Xiao Shunzi hands him another fire strip.

He walks a bit farther with the explosive, selects a throwing spot, lights the fire strip to ignite the fuse, then throws it with all his strength.

The explosive pack is thrown into a slightly recessed pit below, then Boom—.

That thunderclap‑like sound erupts again, and the air fills with a sharp gunpowder smell.

The recessed pit has already been blown, the soil churned up, and the surroundings are a mess.

"Tsk tsk, impressive." Li Shimin, having seen the explosion with his own eyes this time, feels his hatred toward those alchemists who poison themselves lessen a few points.

It also makes him more resolute in his previous decision!

"......"