[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-high-martial-arts-across-two-worlds":3,"chapter-high-martial-arts-across-two-worlds-high-martial-arts-across-two-worlds-chapter-137":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","High Martial Arts Across Two Worlds",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2361108,4616,"Chapter 137: Widow","high-martial-arts-across-two-worlds-chapter-137",137,"\u003Cp>Behind the Divine Weapon Workshop, the forging yard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still bustling with heat and noise, over a dozen muscular forge masters, bare-chested, hammered away at weapons with clanging strikes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cang Luo scanned the area, spotting Master Lu and Wang Zhonghu studying something at a workbench; he ignored them, then quickly spotted Zhang Han, who was still silently engraving a formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Han noticed Cang Luo at once and nodded to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cang Luo nodded back, but inwardly startled—he marveled at how powerful the other’s spiritual sense was; he hadn’t spoken, hadn’t moved, just glanced, yet Zhang Han had already sensed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cang Luo silently shook his head and hurried toward Zhang Han, planning to retrieve his items, ask a few questions, then immediately return to Xuantian Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for becoming a guest forge master of the Divine Weapon Workshop and earning silver by selling design blueprints, he was now hesitating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His master was fake, his own cultivation base was weak—he always felt like dancing on the edge of a blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If someone developed improper desires for these designs, he wouldn’t even know how he died...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Cang Luo pondered this, he suddenly halted, slowed his steps, and cast a suspicious glance toward the workbench where Master Lu and Wang Zhonghu stood...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Lu Zheng and Wang Zhonghu were forging a longsword—a new design they had drafted overnight and rushed to forge that morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade was about four feet long, two inches wide, nearly half an inch thick, with a hilt wide enough for two hands—a heavy sword suited for warriors who practiced broad, sweeping martial arts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first glance, it was nothing special, just an ordinary heavy sword—but Cang Luo spotted three deep air-grooves carved into the blade’s surface!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Despicable!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Plagiarist!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shameless! I haven’t even left yet and you’re already pirating my designs!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cang Luo cursed inwardly fiercely but didn’t approach to expose or accuse—he dared not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were a sixth-rank forge master; even if they spent little time cultivating, they still possessed the cultivation base of a Martial Sovereign. If angered, the man could kill him with a single finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cang Luo seethed in silence, walking swiftly toward Zhang Han. Lu Zheng glanced at him, a flicker of shame crossing his face—but it vanished instantly, replaced by a cold ruthlessness...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Cang!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Zhang!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Han set down his engraving tool and bowed to Cang Luo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cang Luo returned the bow, then cut straight to the point: “Has the formation engraving on the war chariot’s external attachments been completed?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Han pointed to a pile of oil-paper-wrapped items beside him and smiled: “All done. Want to test the formation’s effect?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cang Luo shook his head and smiled: “No need—I trust your skill.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After exchanging a few polite words, Cang Luo asked: “Brother Zhang, do you have any device or formation that can continuously emit a strong light source, about the size of a fist, and is controllable?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And is there any coating or method that can solidify leather armor—making it impervious to ordinary blades and swords—without reducing its toughness or elasticity?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Han answered without hesitation; Cang Luo’s questions were simple—but just as he opened his mouth, He Jiu appeared, forcing him to fall silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With He Jiu present, he had no right to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiu gripped Cang Luo’s hand tightly and grinned warmly: “Younger brother, don’t rush off—stay for a meal, let’s drink three hundred cups! Afterward, I’ll personally escort you back to Xuantian Sect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, many forge masters and apprentices turned to stare, all puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who was He Jiu talking to?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man wore the robes of an outer disciple of Xuantian Sect—he’d come yesterday—and now He Jiu was calling him “younger brother”?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And inviting him to dinner? What was going on?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuantian Sect was powerful, but compared to the Divine Weapon Workshop, it was a mantis trying to stop a chariot—why treat an outer disciple with such smiling deference?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wasn’t it different yesterday?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last night, Wang Zhonghu said this fellow couldn’t even afford the forging fee—how did he become a big shot today?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of world is this? The debtor becomes the master?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the pavilion nearby, Lu Zheng and Wang Zhonghu also froze. What’s going on with He Jiu? Why is he being so courteous to that kid?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiu ignored the curious stares and pressed on warmly: “Younger brother, Younger Brother Cang...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cang Luo, unable to pull his hand free, snapped coldly: “Manager He, show some respect. I’m not into that. Let go—I’m leaving.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though He Jiu didn’t understand what “into that” meant, he sensed it wasn’t a compliment. Seeing Cang Luo was angry, he released his grip—but still tried to persuade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cang Luo ignored him, bid farewell to the bewildered Zhang Han, grabbed the external attachments, and walked out. He’d ask about the headlights and tires another time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing him leave, He Jiu panicked but dared not physically block him—he feared offending him completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do I do? When will the Master arrive? A master who can build mechanical chariots... I can’t miss this again!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiu thought for a moment, then said: “Younger brother, our mistress is coming—why not wait? Stay for a meal with her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cang Luo paused slightly. Mistress? The female head of the Divine Weapon Workshop?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No time!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cang Luo muttered, walking out without looking back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiu called after him: “Our mistress is a renowned beauty of Danyang County! Many have begged for a glimpse and failed!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cang Luo froze again, then turned back with amusement: “Manager He, what are you implying? Is your mistress a widow? Looking to take on a live-in... husband?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was joking—but He Jiu’s face darkened slightly as he nodded: “Our mistress is the master of the Divine Weapon Workshop, Lady Shen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She has long sought a worthy husband. Younger brother, why not give it a try?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No—let your master try?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Han: “...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cang Luo: “...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this real? He’d just joked—and hit the truth. Not only was she a widow, she was the owner of the Divine Weapon Workshop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder—such a massive weapons factory was run by a woman with long hair and short vision, tolerating sixth-rank forge masters plagiarizing designs, disrespecting intellectual property. A company led by such a person wouldn’t just fail—it would never grow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cang Luo said coldly: “Not interested. I don’t play the kept man. I rely on myself—I don’t need a rich woman to support me. Nor does my master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, Cang Luo swept his sleeve and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him, including He Jiu, Lu Zheng, Wang Zhonghu, and Zhang Han, all forge masters and apprentices froze, staring blankly at his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiu was stunned because Cang Luo showed no interest in the mistress; Lu Zheng and the others were stunned because of He Jiu’s words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment of silence, Lu Zheng roared: “He Jiu, what nonsense are you spouting? When did the mistress say she wanted to take on a... husband?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And what was that about her wanting to invite him to dinner? Does she actually mean it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Lu Zheng was already before He Jiu, unleashing a powerful aura—his robes flared without wind, his right hand pointed into the air, and a surge of martial energy shot out, lifting He Jiu off the ground and pinning him in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiu, only at Martial Spirit Stage One, had no strength to resist; his body was crushed and bound by Lu Zheng’s martial energy, writhing in agony!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this moment, the sixth-rank forge master who always acted the dignified master was gone—only the Martial Sovereign Stage Two powerhouse Lu Zheng remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had stayed with the Shen family, at the Divine Weapon Workshop, solely for Lady Shen—and to seize control of the workshop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, after all these years, he had never succeeded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Shen was no weakling—she was already at Martial Sect Stage Nine. Though he was a Martial Sovereign, his combat power was low—he wasn’t certain he could defeat her in a direct fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most crucially, her social maneuvering was masterful; she navigated the power circles of Danyang County with effortless finesse, turning others’ strength against them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, a woman could never have held up the Divine Weapon Workshop, never protected the legacy left by her dead husband—she’d have been devoured down to the bones long ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, Lu Zheng roared again: “He Jiu, is what you said true or false? Why have I never heard of it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had seen Lady Shen just last night—when he had dismissed Cang Luo’s “master” as utterly useless, insisting there was no need to hire him as a guest forge master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Lady Shen hadn’t fully listened—she’d agreed to hire him at one upper-grade Qi Stone per month—she hadn’t shown any other intention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How had it turned into “taking him as a live-in husband” in He Jiu’s mouth? They hadn’t even met!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trapped by Lu Zheng, He Jiu struggled to speak: “Master Lu, let me down first—I’ll explain slowly...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Zheng glanced around at the onlookers, realizing he’d acted too impulsively. He snorted and released He Jiu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiu hurried to explain: “Master Lu, you misunderstood—I was lying to that kid, just to keep him here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Zheng frowned: “Lying? Why keep him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiu’s face paled—he’d been injured by Lu Zheng’s martial energy, gasping as he spoke: “The mechanical chariot! The kid’s master really can build mechanical chariots!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I kept him to wait for the Master—to let her speak with him directly, to invite his master here, or at least get the manufacturing method!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Lu, think—if the Divine Weapon Workshop could produce mechanical chariots...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Zheng froze, interrupting: “You’re lying to me! That kid’s master knows nothing about formations! You say he can build mechanical chariots? He Jiu, do you think I’m that gullible?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Jiu panicked: “Master Lu, I’m not lying! The kid brought the chariot—it’s parked at the workshop’s entrance! If you don’t believe me, go see for yourself!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He handed Lu Zheng the twenty weapon design blueprints Cang Luo had used as payment, then rushed out of the yard to chase after Cang Luo—he feared he’d leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Zheng ignored He Jiu’s departure. He stared at the blueprints in his hand—and was stunned again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had to admit: apart from the lack of formation markings, these designs were far superior to his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could the kid’s master really build mechanical chariots? Is he a Mo Family mechanical master?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Zheng pondered, then swiftly left the yard—whether true or false, he’d see for himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Zhonghu, Zhang Han, and the others exchanged glances, then followed—curious as forge masters and formation experts, they too wanted to see the mechanical chariot.\u003C\u002Fp>",1790,"2026-06-21T06:04:04.528Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","748f5eb71721ac3adbec19229f2a883847146dd2b4205df945c19b8b2791fcfa","high-martial-arts-across-two-worlds-chapter-138","high-martial-arts-across-two-worlds-chapter-136",157,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhigh-martial-arts-across-two-worlds-cover.jpg"]