Shang hurried back to the Imperial Palace.
Li Ping'an went along to see what exactly had happened.
Before long, they saw Zhong Guotao wearing a woeful expression.
Zhong Guotao sighed. "I've made a fool of myself before you, sir."
Li Ping'an asked, "How did you manage to upset the emperor, Lord Zhong?"
Zhong Guotao glanced around and explained quietly, "This emperor is moody. He just asked me which was stronger, the Featherfolk Nation or the Great An Country.
"I gave him a couple of perfunctory answers. Who knew he would fly into a rage?
"He threatened to kill me and take the fight to the Great An Country as well.
"What do you even say to that...?"
Li Ping'an smiled. "The people of the Featherfolk Nation are quick-tempered by nature. You could simply have gone along with what he said, Lord Zhong."
"Ah..."
Zhong Guotao heaved a heavy sigh. By now, however, anything he said was too late.
He was not afraid of actually being killed. Never mind the Great An Country.
Even the fleet he had brought was enough to wipe out the Featherfolk Nation.
But if things came to that, his wish to find the Longevity Pill would probably come to nothing.
After Shang's painstaking persuasion, the volatile, hot-tempered emperor finally spared this outsider.
He ordered them to leave the island at once.
Li Ping'an felt it was something of a shame. He had intended to stay a few days and properly experience the local customs before leaving.
After this commotion, however, he had no choice but to depart.
Back aboard the ship, Zhong Guotao noticed Li Ping'an's reluctance to leave.
He apologized to him. "I've dragged you into this, sir."
"Where will you go next, Lord Zhong?"
"Continue searching for the Longevity Pill, of course. And you,