Seeing his father looking at him with a serious expression, Han Fang said, "Isn't it better to arrive early? Besides, with the possibility of us leaving town tonight, you don't think sister and I would leave without seeing you and brother, right?"
Hearing Han Fang's calm response, Han Qi exclaimed in shock, "What?! What are you talking about? What do you mean by leaving town?"
Seeing his daughter's surprise, the Han family leader raised an eyebrow and asked, "What? Didn't your brother tell you?"
"No! He's been rushing me for the past hour, and when I asked why we were in such a hurry, all he said was, You'll find out when we get there." Han Qi's voice was filled with irritation as she responded to her father, her anger towards Han Fang evident.
Seeing his daughter glaring angrily at her brother, the Han family leader turned to Han Fang with a stern expression and asked, "Han Fang, why didn't you explain things properly to your sister?"
Noticing all three at the table staring at him, Han Fang raised both hands as if to say, "I don't know," and replied, "Come on, Father. If I had explained, she'd just have asked more questions. We wouldn't have even made it out of the house!"
The Han family leader's eyebrow twitched at his son's nonchalant attitude. He picked up the teacup in front of him, as if preparing to throw it, and exclaimed, "You little rascal—" but was stopped by the Lee family leader, who said, "Calm down, Brother Han. They're just kids."
The Han family leader froze, his hand holding the teacup mid-air. "Kids? Come on, Brother Lee, weren't we just saying they're of marriageable age?" he replied, lowering the cup back onto the table, his eyes still fixed on Han Fang.
After a few moments of silence, the Han family leader sighed heavily and said, "Ahh, Han Fang, you're really asking for a beating, but I won't hit you today."
Han Qi glanced at her brother, who gave her a smug grin and a subtle eyebrow waggle. Though anger flashed across her face, she took a deep breath and said, "Forget this idiot, Father. Just tell me what's going on."
Hearing his daughter's question, the Han family leader turned his attention to her, his face softening slightly. He sighed deeply and said, "Explaining everything in detail would take too long, and we don't have that kind of time, so I'll keep it brief." With that, he began explaining the situation.
For about a minute, the Han family leader spoke, and as silence settled over the room afterward, Han Fang couldn't hide his surprise at the new information not mentioned in the letter, while Han Qi's face was frozen in shock.
The two family leaders waited silently, observing the young siblings as they processed the revelations.
'Isn't this madness? Moving the Purple-Stone... what does that even mean?'
'Hmm... How are they planning to move the Purple-Stone, I wonder?'
A short while later, snapping out of their daze, Han Fang turned to the two family leaders and asked, "How exactly are they planning to transport the Purple-Stone?"
The unexpected question caught both family leaders off guard. The Lee family leader replied, "Martial nephew, they'll use a horse carriage." But inwardly, he thought, 'Is this little rascal just curious, or is he...?'
Hearing the word "horse carriage," Han Fang's eyes lit up. He clenched a fist and slapped it into his other palm, exclaiming, "Ahh, so cool! I wish I could've gone too."
The Lee family leader's suspicions were confirmed as he thought, 'Just as I suspected, this little rascal is completely reckless.' Similarly, the Han family leader rubbed his forehead in frustration, thinking, 'This boy... When will he grow up? Look at the situation, and he's focused on how fun it sounds. Can I really entrust his sister to him?'
"Han Fang, stop spouting nonsense," Han Qi interjected sharply. She turned to her father, her face filled with worry, and asked, "So, what are we supposed to do now, two of us?"
Hearing his daughter's question, a faint smile crossed the Han family leader's face. He sighed and said, "The plan hasn't changed. You'll do as your brother instructed. Go there and wait. If we haven't sent word by morning, take the horses and head for the city."
"Hmm," Han Qi nodded in agreement.
The Han family leader turned to Han Fang, waiting for his response. Han Fang said calmly, "Alright, Father. That's what we'll do."
Satisfied with his son's demeanor, the Han family leader nodded approvingly. After a brief silence, as if suddenly remembering something, he glanced at the cloth bags on their backs and asked, "Is that all you've brought? Why didn't you take your weapons?"
"I did. It's in my bag," Han Fang replied, gesturing to his pack.
"Mine too," Han Qi added, nodding.
"Hmm... Han Fang, it makes sense for your sister to carry a metal fan since that's her weapon of choice, but you're always walking around the house with a spear. Why didn't you bring one today?" the Han family leader asked, rubbing his chin as he looked at his son.
Hearing his father's words, Han Fang's expression noticeably darkened as he sighed and said, "Don't remind me, Father. You know Martial Apprentices can't use weapons. There's no point in carrying something I can't use—it'd just be extra weight. So I brought a crossbow instead, just in case."
The Han family leader was pleased by his son's practical reasoning. 'This rascal might be a reckless, but he can think logically when necessary,' he thought.
The Lee family leader, similarly impressed by Han Fang's response, thought, 'This boy may be wild and playful, but he seems capable of being rational and composed when it matters. Quite sharp."
The Lee family leader regarded Han Fang with an appraising gaze, as if evaluating a prospective son-in-law. Meanwhile, Han Qi interrupted, "So, should we head to the Lu family now?" she asked, addressing both family leaders but focusing on her father.
Han Fang's attention also shifted to the family leaders. After a brief exchange of glances between the two, the Lee family leader said, "While you're here, why not visit Lee Zi and Lee Fei Fei first? Spend some time chatting with them before heading to the Lu family. Besides, the horses aren't ready yet."
The Han family leader found the idea excellent. "Brother Lee, that's a great suggestion. You heard him, didn't you? Go spend some time with your friends. We'll be leaving soon anyway, and we'll send word when we've departed. Then you can leave after us."
"Hmm, okay."
"Alright, Father."
The two siblings agreed, and the Lee family leader asked, "You've never been to Lee Zi and Lee Fei Fei's rooms before, have you?"
"No, Martial Uncle," Han Qi replied politely.
Hearing this, the Lee family leader rose from his seat and walked toward the door. "Alright, wait here. I'll call a servant to show you the way," he said as he left the room.
A short while later, the Lee family leader returned with a servant in tow. Placing a hand on Han Fang's shoulder, he said, "Alright, Han Fang, your sister and Fei Fei are in your and Lee Zi's hands."
Han Fang looked up at the Lee family leader and said, "Leave it to us, Martial Uncle. You can count on us."
Hearing the young man's reply, the Lee family leader gave him an approving pat on the shoulder and said, "Then what are you waiting for? You two, follow the servant. Your father and I will gather the men and leave before it gets too late."