Chapter 638: Blacksmith Shop (Part 2) – Extra Release for Array Alliance's Popularity Surge

Mojiao Zongyuan said: "Since the Long Princess has spoken, I naturally cannot refuse, but there are so many devices on this diagram; to finish crafting all of them will surely take considerable time."

Xue Lingjun asked: "How long?" She really could not wait.

Mojiao Zongyuan thought for a moment and said: "If we work through the night, perhaps we can finish by noon tomorrow."

Xue Lingjun said: "No need to rush so much; finishing by dusk tomorrow is fine." Good, she wouldn't have to wait too long.

Mojiao Zongyuan said: "However, these devices are quite intricate in construction; I worry I cannot make them perfectly uniform, so I have a favor to ask."

Xue Lingjun said: "Go ahead; if it's something I can do, I will certainly help you resolve it."

Mojiao Zongyuan said: "This matter the Long Princess cannot help with; I would like to ask Sir Hu for assistance, since the diagram was drawn by Sir Hu, he must be extremely familiar with the details of these devices. So I would like to invite Sir Hu to stay here for a night, to discuss the forging together with me; if there are any unclear points, he can ask me at any time, and with Sir Hu's guidance, we will surely achieve twice the result with half the effort."

Upon hearing this, Xue Lingjun felt the artificer's request was reasonable; Hu Xiaotian had merely given him a diagram, and many details might not be drawn clearly, so it was normal for him to make such a request. She glanced at Hu Xiaotian, obviously seeking his opinion.

Hu Xiaotian said: "No problem, but I need to go back first to greet my brothers."

Xue Lingjun said: "You don't need to go back; I'll have someone send word back for you."

Hu Xiaotian nodded: "That's fine!"

Xue Lingjun smiled at Mojiao Zongyuan and said: "Master Zong, Sir Hu is my most honored guest; you must treat him well."

Zongyuan respectfully said: "Princess, rest assured, we will certainly take good care of Sir Hu."

Although Xue Lingjun wished Hu Xiaotian could perform the double-eyelid procedure on her today, reality forced her to wait another day. Before departing, Hu Xiaotian gave her several precautions; Xue Lingjun and Hu Xiaotian agreed to meet at noon tomorrow to pick him up. Then she left.

After Xue Lingjun left, Mojiao Zongyuan invited Hu Xiaotian to his Instrument Crafting Hall, where they discussed in detail the specifics of the equipment in the diagram and settled on the dimensions. Actually, crafting the double-eyelid instruments for Xue Lingjun was not originally that complicated; he merely wanted to take this opportunity to make more surgical tools, which he considered as a prepayment of her consultation fee.

Mojiao Zongyuan was extremely meticulous in his work; while discussing the equipment details with Hu Xiaotian, he also personally drew diagrams of the equipment from various angles, and they simply had lunch in the Instrument Crafting Hall.

After a full three hours, they finally settled all the equipment details. Mojiao Zongyuan placed his brush on the rack, wearily rubbed his eyes, and said: "I truly do not know how Sir Hu came up with these devices. Many of them are things I have never seen in my life."

Hu Xiaotian knew this diagram would surely arouse suspicion; he smiled and said: "It was passed down from my ancestors; I hope Master Zong will keep it secret for me and never let the contents of this diagram leak out."

Mojiao Zongyuan pointed to a small screw in the diagram, his expression showing some excitement: "Not satisfied, Sir Hu. I never imagined using this method to join metal parts together."

Hu Xiaotian's heart skipped a beat; he then realized that in this era, no one had ever used screws, and he had unintentionally revealed a tremendous secret to Mojiao Zongyuan. He did not know whether this tiny screw would cause a leap in the ironware industry of this age, perhaps even sparking an industrial revolution. Nowadays, it seems there is no such thing as applying for patents, nor any intellectual property protection law. It appears that from now on he must be cautious, for some advanced knowledge must not be displayed before others. This time he merely demonstrated the principle of the screw; if he were to tell Mojiao Zongyuan about steam engines and piston movements, goodness! He could hardly imagine it—would it not overturn the existing world?

Seeing Hu Xiaotian silent, Mojiao Zongyuan thought he regretted revealing the diagram's secret to him, and said in a low voice: "Sir Hu, do not worry; I have always conducted myself openly and uprightly, and will never steal others' techniques for profit."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Master Zong, you have misunderstood; since I have presented this album for your perusal, I absolutely trust your character, and in fact there are not many secrets in it."

Zongyuan said: "Sir Hu is being overly modest; I have been in this trade for over fifty years, and I can say that the devices on Sir Hu's diagram can truly be called marvelous craftsmanship; many of them are things I have never heard of nor seen before."

Hu Xiaotian suddenly recalled what Liu Changsheng had previously told him about the Ghost Medicine Talisman, and deliberately asked: "Master Zong, have you never seen such devices before?"

Zongyuan said: "Not entirely nonexistent; I once helped someone make a willow-leaf blade, but that was more than ten years ago."

Hu Xiaotian asked: "Who?"

Zongyuan sighed and said: "Forget it! Sir Hu, please wait a moment; I will have them start the fabrication." He rose to make the arrangements.

After Zongyuan left, Hu Xiaotian waited quietly in the Instrument Crafting Workshop, scanning the surroundings. Many device diagrams hung on the walls; besides the common swords, spears, swords, and halberds, there were also numerous exploded diagrams of armor. What most caught Hu Xiaotian's attention was a pair of wings. He had previously clashed multiple times with Flying Wing Warriors in Kangdu, and was very familiar with this kind of wing that possesses gliding capability and can be freely retracted and extended; seeing it here naturally drew his notice.

As Hu Xiaotian gazed intently, he suddenly heard footsteps outside the door, then immediately heard Zong Tang's voice: "Sir Hu, are you also interested in instrument crafting?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "I just find it novel; I have never dabbled in this before." He turned around and saw Zong Tang standing behind him, composed and serene, with inner essence gathered. He inwardly judged that Zong Tang's martial arts should not be weak. Although Hu Xiaotian had only cultivated the basic part of the Formless Divine Skill, it had already transformed his bodily senses, making his perception of the external world acute; he could even make a preliminary judgment of someone's martial prowess from their outward aura. He was not clear on the basis of this judgment, likely stemming from some intuition.

Zong Tang came to Hu Xiaotian's side, his gaze directed at the wing diagram on the wall, and said softly: "This is a diagram of the Wing Armor."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I have seen it before."

Zong Tang asked: "Flying Wing Warriors?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said: "As far as I know, this type of Wing Armor was first created by the Heavenly Mechanism Bureau's Hong Beimo."

Zong Tang said: "If he can make it, others can do the same." He misunderstood Hu Xiaotian's meaning, thinking Hu Xiaotian's words hid another implication. The Flying Wing Warriors are exclusive to Dakang's Heavenly Mechanism Bureau, trained personally by its chief strategist Hong Beimo, and the Wing Armor was also originally designed by Hong Beimo.

From Zong Tang's words, Hu Xiaotian sensed his displeasure and also gained an piece of information: the blacksmith shop had already successfully produced Wing Armor, which would mean that Da Yong also possessed Flying Wing Warriors? Hu Xiaotian smiled: "Not bad; actually, the Wing Armor is nothing special."

"The outer shape is easy to make, but truly achieving the effect of free extension and retraction and soaring through the skies is not so easy; even if Wing Armor is successfully produced, mastering its use skillfully is another challenge." Zongyuan's voice sounded again—he had just returned, happening to hear the conversation between his son and Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "Master Zong has returned."

Zongyuan said: "Sir Hu, please do not address me as 'master' so lightly; truly few in this world deserve the title of master, and your country's Heavenly Mechanism Bureau's Hong Beimo should count as one." He gazed at the exploded diagram of the Wing Armor on the wall and continued: "This is not really a secret; two years ago, General Yuchi received a set of Wing Armor and sent it to me, hoping I would study its mysteries. I originally thought it would not be difficult, but upon actually disassembling it, I discovered that the structure of this Wing Armor is intricately complex, with as many as thirteen thousand two hundred sixteen parts alone—its complexity unprecedented." He paused and then added: "Seeing Hu Xiaotian's diagram today only deepens my admiration for Dakang's superb craftsmanship; as the saying goes, 'Beyond people there are people, beyond heavens there are heavens.' I dare not accept the two characters 'master'."

Zong Tang coughed softly beside them, apparently reminding his father not to say too much to Hu Xiaotian, since Hu Xiaotian came from Dakang, although brought by the Long Princess Xue Lingjun, he is ultimately a foreigner, and they cannot openly disclose the true situation.

Zongyuan also realized he had said too much, and said to his son: "Zong Tang, take Sir Hu to rest; if needed, we will call upon Sir Hu again."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, followed Zong Tang to the thatched hut beside the Eternal Spring; the scenery was beautiful, the environment tranquil, an ideal place to nurture body and mind. Behind the hut there was a specially dug hot spring; Zong Tang entrusted Hu Xiaotian to a young attendant, then left himself.

Having arrived, one should settle in; Hu Xiaotian finished dinner, took a lovely bath in the hot spring, and went to bed early. Looking out the window, he could see the furnace blazing brightly in the direction of the Sword Hut; the devices he needed were likely being forged now. Although those devices are precise, for someone called Mojiao, Zongyuan should find them no difficulty at all. Recalling the exploded Wing Armor diagram he had seen in the Instrument Crafting Workshop, and then thinking back to Zong Tang's vigilant expression, could it be that they have already successfully forged the Wing Armor? If so, Da Yong's combat strength would surely rise to a new level. Dakang is currently plunged into unprecedented internal power struggles, whereas Da Yong is united as one, striving for good governance; thus Da Yong's rise is no accident, and Dakang's decline is no misfortune. One wanes as the other waxes; if this continues, the state of Dakang will cease to be a state, and the day of its downfall is not far off.

Thanks to the Array Alliance for another surge of popularity, and thanks to all who tipped and supported Zhangyu, brothers and sisters! (To be continued~^~)