"Drunk? That bastard! All he does is drink! I really don’t know what the hell the higher-ups are thinking! Damn it! Now what are we going to do?!"

After spitting out a curse, Lü Dong gritted his teeth and made a critical decision. He glanced quickly at the nervous Xiaozhou and said through clenched teeth:

"Xiaozhou, I’ve lost all feeling in my hand. I can’t do this anymore. We can’t delay any longer. Come on, I’m switching the plane to autopilot. We’ll swap seats quickly, and you’ll take over the pilot’s controls!"

Hearing this, Xiaozhou immediately shook his head. "I can’t, Captain! I can be your second-in-command, but I’ve never flown as the main pilot! I can’t handle it, Captain!"

"Cut the crap! You’ve been with me for so long, and you don’t even have the guts to fly as the main pilot? You call yourself my, Lü Dong’s, apprentice? My hand is useless now. I can’t even jettison the engine. If this keeps up and it affects the wing, then everyone on this plane is done for! We’re at that point now. If you don’t fly, who else can?!"

"I’ll do it."

After hearing the captain’s words, Fang Chenyi finally noticed that the man’s entire right hand was swollen like a pig’s trotter. Not only that, but the whole hand had turned a bruised, purplish-blue. It was clearly a very severe injury. He took a step forward, patted the captain’s shoulder, and spoke softly.

When he heard the voice, Lü Dong was clearly taken aback. He turned his head, his face a mask of anger, ready to reprimand whoever was causing trouble at a time like this.

But when he turned around, he froze. ’Why does this person look so familiar? Isn’t this the Chairman who we were told would be on our flight right before takeoff?’

After glancing at Fang Chenyi, Lü Dong quickly focused his gaze back on the instrument panel in front of him. He gave a wry smile and said to Fang Chenyi behind him:

"Chairman, you should go back to your seat and rest for now. We will absolutely do everything in our power!"

Lü Dong could only offer a helpless, wry smile in response to Fang Chenyi’s words. Just looking at Fang Chenyi’s age, it was obvious he wasn’t old. In fact, he looked even younger than his own apprentice, Xiaozhou. At that age, even if he had graduated from flight school, he would be at the co-pilot level at best, just like Xiaozhou. And Xiaozhou was the youngest and fastest-progressing co-pilot in all of Southern Airlines.

Fang Chenyi believed Captain Lü’s words; he was sure the captain would give his all to save the situation. But this was no time for pleasantries. Time was running out. Even if the captain wasn’t injured, Fang Chenyi was confident that his own chances of landing the plane successfully were much higher.

So, Fang Chenyi stopped wasting words and said in a commanding tone:

"I am now giving a direct order: I am taking over as the main pilot! You will assist the co-pilot!"

Lü Dong’s eyebrows furrowed, but he didn’t turn around or acknowledge the Chairman. This was a matter of life and death. It wasn’t just his own life on the line, but dozens, even hundreds of lives. He absolutely could not just hand over control, not even to his own boss! It was a matter of principle.

Seeing that the man was completely ignoring him, Fang Chenyi felt a mix of admiration and anger. ’Admirable, but this is no time to be stubborn. There’s no more time to waste.’

He reached out, unzipped his leather bag, and pulled out a woven pouch.

The young flight attendant standing nearby saw this and had no idea what the Chairman was doing. ’He’s pulling out a bag at a time like this? Is he planning to put it over Captain Lü’s head and beat him up? If that’s what he’s going to do, should I try to stop him?’

While the flight attendant was hesitating, she saw Fang Chenyi reach into the woven pouch. After a moment of rummaging, he pulled his hand out, now holding a small, sky-blue booklet.

He flashed the booklet right in front of Lü Dong’s eyes and said:

"This is my pilot’s license. It’s a much higher grade than yours! Now, temporarily transfer control to the co-pilot, get out of the pilot’s seat, and let me take over! Hurry! The other engine is already smoking. If you keep dawdling, it’ll be too late!"

Lü Dong, who had been completely focused on controlling the plane, froze. Having flown fighter jets for ten years and commercial airliners for fifteen, he recognized that pilot’s license with a single glance.

’What else could it be but the ’Ultimate Pilot’s License’ I’ve only ever dreamed of?’

This was a crisis. After a moment of shock, Lü Dong quickly snapped back to his senses. He took another quick glance at the license in Fang Chenyi’s hand, and all doubt vanished from his mind.

Lü Dong was a military veteran, and the swift, decisive nature of a soldier had stayed with him for decades. Now that he knew the new Chairman possessed an Ultimate Pilot’s License, he didn’t hesitate any longer.

"Xiaozhou, I’m transferring control now. Get ready! Three, two, one..."

As he finished speaking, Lü Dong quickly used his one good hand to transfer control to the co-pilot.

He then unbuckled his seatbelt without hesitation, stood up, and rushed towards the co-pilot’s side.

Seeing his chance, Fang Chenyi didn’t hesitate either. In a flash, he sat down in the seat Lü Dong had just vacated. He quickly buckled his seatbelt, and then his hands flew across the controls. He took back command of the aircraft and, within six seconds, managed to jettison the left engine.

This maneuver made Lü Dong, who was now beside the co-pilot giving instructions, nod repeatedly. He couldn’t help but admit to himself, ’I’m not as good as him.’

Snapping out of it, Lü Dong saw his co-pilot, Xiaozhou, staring with star-struck eyes at Fang Chenyi, who was rapidly adjusting the plane’s angle of descent. Annoyed, Lü Dong used his uninjured hand to rap Xiaozhou on the head.

"What the hell are you doing spacing out at a time like this! Stay 120 percent focused!"

Meanwhile, after quickly jettisoning the completely damaged engine, Fang Chenyi began to lower the plane’s altitude and gradually decrease its speed to ensure the single remaining engine wouldn’t overload.

As expected of his Super Piloting Skills, after a flurry of masterful maneuvers from Fang Chenyi, the plane slowly began to stabilize.

Seeing this, Lü Dong, Xiaozhou, and the flight attendant who had been waiting nearby all let out a long sigh of relief.

"Whew... Thank god you were here, Chairman. Otherwise, I’m afraid..."

Once the plane had completely stabilized, Lü Dong let out a long breath, turned to Fang Chenyi with a look of pure admiration, and spoke.

Fang Chenyi just smiled and waved his hand dismissively.

"I’ve got it from here. Go get your hand treated. I’d rather not lose an excellent captain!"

He had barely finished speaking when a call suddenly came in from the control tower over the radio:

[To be continued...]

PS: The suspense isn’t over yet, folks.