[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal":3,"chapter-investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-433":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Investing in the Reborn Empress, She Actually Calls Me ‘Husband’",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},596406,846,"Chapter 433: Xiao Li must be feeling unwell.","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-433",433,"\u003Cp>The tempered iron longsword was something both elders had seen many times before—hardly a rarity. Yet what astonished them about this blade was neither its form nor material.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the forging technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The texture is so remarkably even and dense.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And these layered forging patterns—so elegant, like rippling water converging in one direction...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elder Zeng extended a finger and lightly flicked the blade, eliciting a clear, resonant ring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Excellent, truly excellent. This is undoubtedly a fine weapon—one of the highest grade.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For a first attempt at weapon-smithing to yield such results... I’ve never seen the like in all my years!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elder Zeng was no stranger to famed swords, yet he couldn’t tear his eyes away from this superior-grade iron longsword, his admiration plain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elder Hanhe took the sword and examined it meticulously, clicking his tongue in approval.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mmm, yes. This blade carries a soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every inch bore the marks of painstaking effort. That kid, hammering ten strikes in a single breath—he’d truly done it. And surpassed even their expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It seems you took my words to heart.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmph, without my Five Elements smelting technique, how could this iron endure five temperings and quenchings?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elder Zeng lifted his chin proudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The strengths of both masters’ crafts had merged flawlessly in this young man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two elders exchanged a glance, as if reading each other’s thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’s still young. Full marks might breed arrogance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, the sword wasn’t perfect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the very least, it still fell short of what the two of them could forge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Theoretically, iron can be refined into a masterwork. But this blade of yours, though superior-grade, remains a fine weapon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There are still areas where you fall short.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m all ears.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo set down his hammer and listened intently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the accumulated wisdom of seasoned artisans—earned through years of toil, not something martial insights or epiphanies could replicate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"First, your understanding of ‘swordcraft’ is lacking. Different blade types demand distinct techniques and emphases during forging...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elder Hanhe and Elder Zeng took turns critiquing, their comments flowing back and forth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, Elder Zeng summarized:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"One more thing—this isn’t your fault. The issue lies in the quenching material.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The quenching oil was reused too quickly, causing its temperature to rise. The final quenching didn’t achieve the intended effect. Otherwise, this iron sword’s quality could’ve reached even greater heights.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Li Mo... Li Mo?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elder Zeng noticed the young blacksmith spacing out and waved a hand in front of his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo’s vision swam, his body burning as if swollen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Seems like it’s not just the sword that won’t cool down.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hm?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s me too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wha—?! Hiss...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elder Hanhe poked Li Mo’s shoulder and recoiled—his skin was scalding, like red-hot metal. The heat of the fire veins had masked it until now...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn, this kid’s like a freshly forged ingot.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is he tempering weapons or himself?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a way, tempering himself wasn’t far off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Divine Refinement technique involved honing one’s own body alongside the metal...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This can’t go on...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long, grave silence, the master smith and the forging grandmaster reached a consensus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had to ‘quench’ young Li.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two elders lifted the novice blacksmith between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Splash—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was tossed into the frigid pool at the fire vein’s extreme yang point, where the energy shifted to extreme yin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shit, Li Mo’s sinking!\" Elder Zeng leaned back slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leave him in too long, and not even a hair would remain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elder Hanhe panicked: \"Fish him out! You’re great at slacking—get him up now!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elder Zeng bristled: \"Bullshit! I call it ‘productive breaks.’ You’re the slacker here!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Always coming back empty-handed from fishing, then diving in to grab them and pretending you caught them. Shameless!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, neither elder had much experience with this... unconventional quenching method.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>......\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evening arrived, the early spring chill biting deep. Withered leaves rustled on the courtyard’s banyan tree as the cold shifted from physical to magical, seeping into the bones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this hour, Autumn Water Pavilion was unusually devoid of cooking smoke, amplifying its desolate air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because, well... Chef Li was down with an illness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carried back by Elder Hanhe, he’d been stiff as a board. Now wrapped in a blanket, he sat shivering, eyes vacant, even his eyebrows frosted over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Sect Leader Qin Yuzhi and Shang Wu circled him, baffled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yesterday he was burning up, now he’s an icicle?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No idea.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo was equally confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He only remembered using Divine Refinement to temper his body, forging a fine longsword, then blacking out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Probably... from overheating?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So why was he now covered in ice?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it wasn’t just the frost—inside, he felt like a furnace was blazing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Calling himself a ‘cool exterior, fiery heart’ youth wouldn’t be wrong...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wait here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang Wu scratched her head, disappeared into a room, and returned with a cup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sharp scent of alcohol wafted from it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Take it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huh? Some kind of medicinal wine...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo accepted it, puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nope. Alcohol tastes better chilled.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course. Never expect reliability from Master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let me see.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Yuzhi, ever the solemn sect leader, pressed a hand to his wrist like a seasoned physician.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her brow furrowed slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given Qin Yuzhi’s vast knowledge, Li Mo tensed at her expression:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What’s wrong with me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hiss... Your condition—it’s extreme yang birthing yin!\" Her eyes widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo shuddered, though whether from cold or fear was unclear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yesterday you said I was just a bit overheated, nowhere near this! How’d it escalate overnight?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just kidding! Scared you, didn’t I?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So I’m not at that stage?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Couldn’t tell. I don’t know medicine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Are you kidding me?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo’s face darkened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder no one tried waking Qin Yuzhi during her long slumber in Cloud Dream Palace. Hard to believe the disciples weren’t ‘accidentally’ negligent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you two were any less reliable, you’d be outright hazardous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Staying in Autumn Water Pavilion felt like visiting a hospital in his past life for a cold—likely to leave with actual problems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took a deep breath, forced his stiff body upright, and resolved to visit Dan Ding Peak for Elder Xue’s diagnosis. Though it didn’t seem severe, unchecked issues could fester.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just then, crisp footsteps echoed from the staircase.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo paused mid-step and turned to see the ethereal, ice-cold beauty of Ying Bing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Bing's gaze immediately landed on young Li Mo. Sensing something amiss with his condition, her usual detached and otherworldly expression suddenly grew solemn, her delicate brows knitting deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Li Mo, come here and sit properly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1091,"2026-05-30T17:19:00.270Z","2026-06-01T04:31:46.286Z",1,"novelbin.me","4948a7470e1547ec5a381d637898b9099381c9cfce8a43d91bbabffddcfbf3be","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-434","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-432",737,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Finvesting-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-cover.jpg"]