The Return of Stars to the Jianghu

How many pies are there?

"3.1415926." Luo Yifei looked at the handsome young man in simple clothes and could hardly believe that this person was actually the leader of the Tang Clan. Hearing the man's question, he seemed to have guessed something.

This is Huangjue Temple on the outskirts of the capital. Tang Clan leader Li Chao got straight to the point, "Before coming to the capital, I went to Mount Emei and met Lin Hai."

Luo Yifei hesitated for a moment in surprise, but quickly regained his composure. After all, there were too many doubts and mysteries along the way, and he had no time to worry about them. He was only thinking about how to find Shen Lixi and the others as soon as possible and bring them back to Earth. Now, hearing the words of the Tang Sect Master, Luo Yifei knew that he had come to the right person.

Seeing that Luo Yifei did not answer, Tang Clan leader Li Chao continued, "His current name is Lin Quan, and he is the current leader of the Red-Clothed Sect."

After saying that, Li Chao opened the wooden box that had been placed on the seat earlier that morning. Inside was Luo Yifei's drone.

"Take this thing back; the battery life is terrible."

Luo Yifei wanted to say something, but didn't know where to begin.

Looking at Luo Yifei's expression, Li Chao continued, "You know a little bit of Tang poetry, Song lyrics, and Yuan drama, right?"

"Not really, but I can memorize a little bit of what I must." Luo Yifei was a little caught off guard, but still answered truthfully.

“Then let’s not bother memorizing them. I’ve memorized most of the Tang poems, and that young master Ding from Wu has memorized quite a few Song lyrics in recent years. As for Yuan songs, that Chu Jun has also memorized a few.” Li Chao’s words were packed with information, undoubtedly telling Luo Yifei that the rest of us came from the same place.

Luo Yifei nodded silently, then said, "I studied science and am not familiar with these things, but my friend Shen Lixi is quite well-read."

Li Chao glanced at Luo Yifei, seeing the young man's eagerness to learn something from him, and said directly, "Of the four names you gave me, only Shen Lixi hasn't been found yet. We've already contacted quite a few people for the other three, and none of them are what you're looking for. The only one is Zhao Zhi from Meng, who knows the value of pi, but he doesn't know the value of pi. Actually, he can be ruled out, so I don't recommend you go to Meng to confirm."

Luo Yifei nodded and asked, "Then is there any way I can find them?"

“Yes, if some amazing poems or machines that don’t belong to this world appear somewhere, it might be the work of your friends. But that’s already very difficult. After all, we’ve already surpassed everything that this world’s current technology can create. So we’re looking at those barren places. If something beyond our time appears in those places, it’s worth being suspicious.” After saying that, Li Chao opened another box on the table.

Inside the box was also a drone, but it was made of wood and much larger; it was unclear whether it could fly.

Li Chao took the wooden drone out of the box, placed it on the table, and flipped a switch. The drone's blades started spinning, and it slowly rose into the air. In just one second, it fell back down.

"Did you make this?" Luo Yifei asked respectfully, somewhat incredulous at his eyes.

"No, it was made by the Prince of the Wu Kingdom's Gewu Sect under the guidance of that young master Ding. It can be said to be at the forefront of technology in this world. The manpower and resources used must have been countless," Li Chao replied calmly, his attitude towards the matter unreadable.

Seeing Luo Yifei nod blankly, Li Chao continued, "The economic base determines the superstructure. I didn't want the world to change too much, but that young master Ding wants an industrial revolution. The study of natural sciences is flourishing all over the Floating Life Continent, making it even more difficult to find your friends. We can only invest more manpower and resources."

"The study of things? Wang Yangming's?" The sheer volume of information was difficult for Luo Yifei to comprehend.

"No, it's just the rudiments of modern technology, merely the learning of craftsmen." Li Chao's words still didn't reveal his true attitude towards the matter.

The Huangjue Temple in the suburbs covers a large area, and there was no one else in the courtyard where Li Chao and Luo Yifei were.

……

In another small courtyard, three courtyards away, Qi Yuan, Bi Li, and Song Han were also sitting in the pavilion in the middle of the courtyard, chatting about something.

"Bandits and roving bandits are rampant in the Wu Kingdom, and the army is suppressing them everywhere. It will probably be very difficult to get from Wu Kingdom to Free City," Bili said, adding that they would hear the news along the way.

“Then instead of passing through Wu, we should head directly northwest from the Chu River,” Qi Yuan replied calmly.

“Whether it’s Wu or Chu, my Tang Clan can send Imperial Guards to escort you back to Freedom City via the official road,” Song Han said after a pause. “However, the world is not at peace right now. If you really encounter bandits, it will be easier for you to escape if you are few in number. If you are many, you will become a burden.”

"Along the way, the Tang Kingdom is a picture of peace and prosperity, with its people living in contentment. Compared to the stability of the Southern Han, it has a more vibrant atmosphere." Qi Yuan and Song Han were old acquaintances, and their comments on the various countries were perfectly frank.

"That's because His Majesty is wise; naturally, the Tang Kingdom enjoys favorable weather and abundant harvests," Song Han replied.

The three discussed the governance levels of various countries, the struggles for supremacy among nations, and which country was most likely to unify the world. In the end, none of them could convince the others.

The group then moved from the Ding family of Wu to the Shi family.

"Is Shi Hao coming to the capital with us this time to return to the Wu Kingdom?" Bi Li asked.

“No, that’s not it. The sect leader only asked me to bring him to the capital, but didn’t give any further instructions,” Song Han replied.

"I still don't understand why he wanted to assassinate us. I can't figure it out from any angle," Bili continued.

“That was the arrangement of the old patriarch of the Shi family. I can’t figure it out either. The people we met in the Black Forest were definitely not the vicious criminals we would become later. Maybe it was to stop us from going to An Island, or maybe to stop us from returning to Freedom City. I really don’t understand.” Qi Yuan also expressed his confusion.

"That arrow didn't hurt you, but Lin Lei took it for you. Fortunately, she's alright. Shi Hao himself is still seriously injured. I really can't see what kind of grand scheme those big shots are playing." Song Han was also puzzled by this matter.

"Perhaps when we get to Freedom City, we'll have the chance to ask Shi Qingfeng in person," Qi Yuan said casually.

……

Near Mount Emei on the Floating World Continent, Lin Quan, the leader of the Red-Clothed Sect, looked at the three people lying on the floor of the eighth floor of the nine-story pagoda.

"Nice diving suit, want to change? That room over there is the changing room," Lin Quan said, pointing to a room on the side of the eighth floor of the pagoda.

Wan Li stood up and looked at Lin Quan's face. Despite being mentally prepared, he still showed a surprised expression.