Gunpowder

Gun.

A weapon that uses the pressure of gunpowder gases to launch a projectile.

It is a weapon of mass destruction.

It completely changed the landscape of warfare, making killing more efficient, ending the millennia-old struggle between spear and shield, and allowing humanity to transcend the food chain and rise above all other creatures, except for cats.

Whether ancient or modern, extinct or still existing, so-called ferocious predators are nothing more than a pile of rotten flesh under a large-caliber rifle. Even a Tyrannosaurus Rex wouldn't be of any use. This is the tragedy of carbon-based life forms; proteins are inherently incredibly fragile.

Although it's very powerful, the principle behind it is very simple, even a child can understand it.

Truly powerful things often have very simple basic principles, just as modern humans have only two sources of power: creating explosions and boiling water.

A gun is essentially just a sealed tube in which gunpowder burns in a closed environment, and the resulting gas propels a projectile in front of it. That's a gun. Since the first gun appeared, all that humans have done is make this iron tube lighter, more powerful, faster to fire, and more accurate. That's all.

It's just a sealed pipe.

Just like... the one that the green-skinned man in front of Kang De was holding.

It sat down on the ground, looking bewildered. It must have been startled by the recoil and the loud noise. The thing in its hand was a metal tube. The Green Skin's processing capabilities shouldn't be able to produce such a thing, and the otherworldly beings didn't have a need to forge such a thing. It was most likely made by Iron Son.

This green-skinned creature has no idea what it just did.

Just like the first China person on Earth to discover that sealed tubes and fireworks could be used to kill... he didn't even know what he had done.

Hong San asked doubtfully, "Sir, this sounds a bit like your weapon."

Guns are terrifying weapons. Firing a gun produces an extremely loud explosion and a terrifying flash, so much so that any animal or even a human seeing it for the first time would be startled. Hong San was frightened at first, but after fighting a few times with Kang Shuangying on the city wall, he became familiar with it.

He naturally assumed this was a powerful, unique weapon possessed by Kang De, but he never imagined it could be mass-produced; otherwise, he probably would have been excited too.

Kang De remained silent.

He merely glanced at Hong San.

Hong San shut his mouth, a look of horror on his face, and quickly lowered his head.

The green creatures were startled by the sound, but they quickly realized what was happening. They surrounded their companion, shouting excitedly and clapping their hands, as if to say, "One more! One more!"

The Autobots transformed into human form, half-kneeling as it looked at the tube in the green-skinned man's hand, its expression serious.

Kang De strode over, his expression grave. He glanced at the Autobots and asked in Chinese, "Did you make the pipes for it?"

The Autobots replied, "Yes, this is the motorcycle's exhaust pipe. It probably loved that ride so much that before abandoning it, it forcibly ripped off this exhaust pipe and has been carrying it with it ever since."

Kang De paused for a moment before asking, "Did you also provide the gunpowder?"

The Autobots silently shook their heads.

Kang De took a deep breath.

He turned and walked towards the group of green-skinned orcs. Seeing him, the orcs immediately grinned and made way for him, grabbing the boy like Kan Fantian prized possession and exclaiming, "Big Mek! Watch Boom!"

The orc holding the tube kept grinning, like a child expecting praise from an elder.

Kang De's expression became even more complicated. He looked at the primitive firearm in the orc's arms and only when he got closer did he realize that the thing was even more rudimentary than he had imagined, but it was already in its infancy. One end of the tube was completely blocked with stones, rags, and dirt, and then a small hole was drilled in it, probably for igniting the gunpowder. There was also black ash on the green-skinned man's face.

He held out his hand and said calmly, "Can I take a look?"

Hong San, who was not far away, quietly looked up. The eye contact they had just exchanged had already revealed something. After hearing the loud noise, Kang De had become wary and cautious, but he couldn't figure out why for the moment.

Just like the China man who combined pipes, fireworks materials, and iron filings, he had no idea how many people this combination would kill over the next thousand years.

The atmosphere became very strange, but the green-skinned men continued to laugh and joke, seemingly carefree.

The green-skinned beastman had no objection upon hearing this, and even showed a thoughtfulness that was unusual for an orc. He wiped the tube with his hand before handing it to Kang De.

Kang De accepted it calmly.

But the moment it was taken, this haphazard, primitive firearm suddenly made a strange noise, then cracked and shattered, scattering all over the ground. Even the dirt, stones, and rags used to plug one end were broken beyond recognition... just like a failed enchantment attempt.

The greens exclaimed in unison, disappointed and shocked, especially the gun inventor, who beat his chest and shouted, "My big bang!"

Kang De frowned, squatted down, picked up a piece of iron, examined it for a moment, and said, "This wasn't shattered by the explosion just now... A barrel explosion is normal, but it wouldn't explode afterward, nor would it shatter into such fragments."

What happened?

Kan Fantian, Kan Fantian said, "I'm figuring out that this Big Bangbang probably felt too weak and pathetic, like a little chick, yet it was being held by Big Mek. So it felt ashamed, like it had dirtied Big Mek's hands, and simply killed itself."

--ah?

So, this green-skinned Boom thinks he's not good enough?

This is such a simp! It's just a primitive firearm!

This claim is utterly absurd. As a rational human being who believed in science, Kang De didn't believe it at all. He was more inclined to think that this situation was related to his own special abilities, since the popping and disintegrating was very similar to what a failed Fantasy Enchantment would look like.

However, the greenskins believed it. They nodded in agreement, their expressions unwavering. Even the heartbroken gunsmith knelt down, stroking the wreckage of the giant bang, seemingly no longer so sad, and exclaimed, "Giant bang, you've got guts! You were a good bang, very waaaagh!"

Kang De examined the fragments in his hand, his feelings a mixture of complexity and confusion.

When the bridge between the two worlds was built and he returned to Earth from Glittering Sand, Kang De completely separated the concepts of otherworldly beings and Earthlings. That was his home, and this was a foreign land. The humans here had no DNA ancestry with him, and it could even be said that they were two different species from Earthlings.

In addition to his experiences in Glittering Sand Town, he was able to treat otherworldly beings with a detached attitude, treating them equally. In fact, one could say he was an egalitarian—the so-called equality meant that no matter whether they were human or other races, anyone who was stupid should be killed, anyone who was kind deserved a better life, and others should be judged by their good or evil, and by their closeness or distance.

Therefore, those who blindly shout "human supremacy" on this kind of issue are just delusional and pretentious. You can say Earthlings are supreme, but there are idiots among Earthlings, let alone otherworldly beings. For example, on one side are the unconditionally obedient and loyal greens, and on the other side are those bastards from Glittering Sand Town. If one side has to die, should we still advocate human supremacy?

Kang De always acted in this way, treating every life in another world equally.

Therefore, he rejected the mayor's suggestion and request. Even though he felt closer to the otherworldly humans both physically and psychologically, this did not mean that the view that "it's worth it no matter how many greenskins die as long as more Goth People can be saved" was correct, because the orcs had not done anything to the Goth People.

If you replace the greenskins with an invading army of elves, then he agrees, because they did it before.

That's what he thought.

But sometimes life is complicated, and fate plays tricks on people, and he was just a young man.

When Kang De discovered that a green-skinned man had figured out the mechanism of firearms on his own and even invented gunpowder, he suddenly felt fear and wariness, and even subconsciously had murderous intent.

This race, possessing wondrous abilities and inexplicably powerful craftsmanship, invented gunpowder. What does this mean? No one can guess. Even if these greenskins before us are sincere, loyal, and obedient, will all greenskins be like that? Will all greenskins believe in this prophecy, be close to him, and always be willing to listen to him? What if a disobedient orc obtains this technology and uses it for plunder and war?

All sorts of thoughts flashed through my mind almost instantly.

But the murderous intent that arose subconsciously did not spread; Kang De immediately extinguished it.

Because from beginning to end, these green-skinned people did nothing wrong.

He's just an ordinary person, and he doesn't have the awareness to become that kind of person... at least not now.

Killing is a method that should not be used against innocent people.

He looked up and saw the Autobots with a worried expression—even though he was a Transformers, his iron face could show such a wide range of emotions.

Kang De smiled slightly, indicating that everything was fine and there was nothing to worry about.

Glittering Sand Town was a sad place, but it also taught him many things.

But if there is one most important lesson, it is to follow one's own conscience. Because of his compassion, he did not cut open Hannah's stomach to plant the bomb, so Lost was not seriously injured by the explosion. This allowed the opponent to turn the tables with the cursed artifact. However, the divine power on the dagger ultimately connected the bridge between the other world and Earth, sending the dying Kang De back to his homeland, and thus he was finally redeemed.

Above destiny, there is even more destiny.

As before, this time, I will still choose the path I believe is right.

He said to his Iron Son, who was slightly relieved, "Make a few more of those iron pipes."

If a problem is discovered, if some dangerous signs are found, then a solution and control method must be found... Hopefully, as he thinks, this risk is manageable.

The Autobots transformed back into Humvee, their interiors rumbling and sparking with lightning. The green-skinned creatures, unaware of their brush with death, were overjoyed and crowded around to watch the spectacle.

They jumped around, clapping their hands and shouting, "It's starting! It's starting! The Little Mek is going to perform again! Eating iron and steel, and then pooping out good stuff! You're much better than us, all we can do is poop!"

The words had barely left his mouth when the Autobots transformed and stood up in a dazzling display, each wielding an iron pipe. With two loud bangs, they smashed all the green-skinned creatures to the ground, roaring, "That! Isn't! Excretion!"

Then he cut the pipes shorter and threw them to those bastards.

Kang De said to the gunsmith, "Could you make another one?"

The boy scrambled to his feet and replied, "Let me think about it!"

Kang De pointed to a corner to the side. "Go over there and think about it, go over there and do it."

Without asking any questions, Greenie immediately agreed, grabbed an iron pipe, and ran over. After thinking for a while, he picked something up from the ground and ran to the corner of the wall, digging for something.

The other orcs were very curious and turned to look, but Kang De said, "Don't look at him."

The green-skinned men were itching to get back to work, but they obediently turned back, sat down on the ground again, and looked up at Kang De.

A moment later, the gunsmith came running back, holding a tube. "It's done!"

It's exactly the same recipe, the same taste, a hollow tube with one end stuffed with all sorts of random things, tightly sealed, and with a small hole.

Kang De stepped forward, took the pipe, and the next moment, with a snap, the big rod killed itself again, metal fragments clattering all over the ground.

Moreover, this rod had never been fired, and its structure had not been impacted.

Kang De thought for a moment, then said, "Make another one."

The gunsmith picked up a pipe, scurried back, pondered for a moment, then returned carrying it. Kang De gestured to Kan Fantian: "Go and take it."

Kan Fantian in his hand, looked it over, and swung it a few times under Kang De's instructions. There was no problem at all. He took it from several orcs, and the same thing happened. Even when it was in the hands of the Autobots and Hong San, it was completely unharmed. Finally, when it was handed to Kang De, it was smashed to pieces.

"Interesting."

Kang De then asked the gunsmiths, "Can they learn how to make this?"

Bangbang replied, "Sure, I'll figure it out if I think about it."

Kang De sighed inwardly, but then he thought about it and realized that they could even manually operate heavy machinery.

But firearms and gunpowder are ultimately two different things...

He instructed, "Choose four green-skinned fish and teach them how to make them, one for each of them, and you make two."

The greens quickly engaged in infighting, selecting the four most powerful ones to go and make the "Bang Bang," hoping to impress the Big Mek.

This took a relatively long time, until the five green-skinned men returned carrying their respective bangbangs.

Kang De asked the gunsmith, "Can we fire now? Give me a shot."

The other party readily agreed, took out a handful of powder from a bag at his waist, poured it into a tube, threw in a few small stones, and then looked at the fire.

At this moment, Kang De said, "Wait a minute."

He took a freshly made steel armor from the Autobots, capable of protecting his head, face, neck, and even chest. Kang De wiped the lenses of the Ironface's eyes, etching Fortification Enchantment onto them. He handed the armor to the gunsmith. "Put this on before you come back."

The green-skinned man was overjoyed and proudly put on the hastily made protective gear. The other green-skinned men were extremely envious. The gunsmith grabbed a piece of burning coal from the fire and held it to the small hole drilled in the tube. The next moment, there was a loud bang and a tiny whooshing sound shot into the sky.

Hong San had excellent eyesight and could see clearly that the structure of this primitive firearm was extremely simple. After observing it several times, he completely understood its principle and... its immense value.

He murmured, "My goodness, this thing is incredible..."

Kang De drew his pistol and waved it in front of Hong San's eyes.

The other person instantly calmed down... but the next moment, their expression became even more horrified.

Kang De shook his head, then gestured with his chin, "Hong San, you put on your protective gear and go get a go too."

Hong San approached with a mixture of curiosity and surprise. Kang De instructed the gunsmith to give Hong San the second gun to prevent it from exploding. Green Skin was clearly reluctant, but still obeyed. It took out a handful of powder, preparing to load the bullet, but Hong San stopped it. The Cathayan smiled obsequiously and finally got permission to load the gunpowder and bullet himself. He was seen thinking as he loaded the bullet, and even picked up a little powder and smelled it.

It seems Hong San has also realized that the iron pipes and such are not important; the most crucial thing is the propellant.

Kang De suddenly became curious; he had been lost in thought and had forgotten the most crucial question.

He asked, "How do you make this... gunpowder?"

Then, Kang De's face showed extreme shock.

He saw the gunsmith get very excited and touch his buttocks.

￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥

PS1: I shouldn't have made that promise...

PS2: Also, you guys always misunderstand me. It was the same with the Great Sword incident. You believe everything you hear. You see the word "shit" and think I want to play with shit. Humph, Kang De was a decent person with a sense of shame and principles. Even if the surrounding environment was dirty and filthy, he would always stick to his principles and would never do such a shameful thing! What I want to write is a protagonist with such a firm moral compass!