Chapter 326

Chen Wuji's offhand question seemed to have opened a formidable Pandora's box.

Xiao Zong apparently thought Chen Wuji was interested in his inventions; after showing him the inkstone platform, he eagerly invited Chen Wuji inside to see something even more impressive, saying he wanted to go into big business with Chen Wuji using that thing.

This room was in the northeast corner of the backyard; its former purpose was unknown, and it was much smaller than the other houses.

"Miss Qin and these two can wait a bit outside; this matter involves secrets, I can only let Deputy Commander Chen view it alone." Xiao Zong blocked Qin Zhanhong and the two Chen oxen at the door, "Rest assured, I harbor no ill intent toward Deputy Commander Chen; I guarantee I'll return him safe and sound."

Chen Wuji nodded at Qin Zhanhong.

There's no need to be so cautious; this situation probably isn't dangerous.

Qin Zhanhong gave Chen Wuji a look, then stepped aside holding his sword.

"Deputy Commander Chen, please!"

Xiao Zong warmly grabbed Chen Wuji's arm and led him into the room, speaking nonstop: "Deputy Commander Chen, you must surely be aware of the Zhang family case recently? In that case there was a very special object that captured everyone's attention in the city."

Chen Wuji's mind stirred, "That thing… is it yours? I've heard it's a genuine weapon of mass destruction."

"That one isn't mine, but I'm about to finish making it." Xiao Zong said, unable to hide his excitement.

"Shocking Heaven Thunder is something that has been around for many years; it has remained mysterious in the Rivers and Lakes, and even the Court, despite exhaustive efforts, has never found it."

"And I am about to produce it!"

Chen Wuji glanced around the whole room; it indeed looked like a laboratory, covered in soot and scorch marks, with shelves full of various jars.

"What step does 'immediately' refer to, as Lord Xiao mentioned?" Chen Wuji asked.

Just now he had almost been startled by this unkempt old fogey, thinking he had already produced it.

The situation in Yunan City is already complicated enough; this tangled mess leaves him unsure where to start cutting, and if Shocking Heaven Thunder were to appear in large numbers now, Chen Wuji truly doubts he would survive here.

Although Shocking Heaven Thunder's power in this era isn't tremendous, it still possesses astonishing lethality.

Its effect on boosting a unit's combat power is nearly visible to the naked eye.

The battle at Shenxian Ling against the Qiang People is the best proof.

"The final step!" Xiao Zong said forcefully, his eyes blazing with fire.

"I've roughly figured out the proportions for Shocking Heaven Thunder; now only the final refinement remains. The ruined state of this room is Shocking Heaven Thunder's masterpiece—had I not fled in time, I might have perished by my own creation."

"Although its current lethality is modest—it can't lift roofs or kill people outright, probably only scorching someone unexpectedly—my direction is correct; I've taken ninety-nine of a hundred steps, and now only this final twitch remains."

Chen Wuji looked at Xiao Zong, who spoke nonstop, and expressed his astonishment fittingly: "Such an important thing, and Lord Xiao just shows it to me so openly? Aren't you afraid I might have other motives?"

"I know you half-heartedly took Zhang Lao as your apprentice; I'm not close to him, but I trust his judgment." Xiao Zong said, "The world is about to change; when the Great Xia dynasty teeters, even a speck of dust faces annihilation, so this ordinary person like me also needs to make early preparations."

"What I produce myself will certainly differ from what Deputy Commander Chen discovers and seizes by force."

Chen Wuji shook his head. "I generally don't do such things."

Xiao Zong smiled without speaking, his expression still a bit awkward.

Although he didn't say it outright, he clearly didn't believe Chen Wuji's words.

"I have risen through mechanical arts and also fallen through them; now I merely wish to trade this skill for a livelihood, nothing more." Xiao Zong suddenly sighed, "Deputy Commander Chen came to see me today presumably to buy information—whose?"

"The Cao family."

"Five hundred taels!"

Chen Wuji:?!

"Lord Xiao, are you a bandit by birth?" Chen Wuji shouted.

This old brat opens his mouth demanding five hundred taels—even bandits wouldn't be that ruthless.

Xiao Zong said mysteriously, "This information is worth five hundred taels."

"In all of Yunan City, aside from those few who truly manage the Cao family, probably no one else knows the details of this matter."

Chen Wuji stared at Xiao Zong for two glances, then waved his hand and said, "No money, not buying."

Five hundred taels—you're joking, right?

He doesn't care who exactly the Cao family relies on.

When soldiers come, we block them; when water comes, we dam it—just the usual.

Which people in the Cao family and the city are close, and when they plan to stir trouble.

He can also not care.

Five hundred taels—absolutely impossible!

Although he holds a fortune of one hundred thousand taels, five hundred taels of silver is still a large sum for Chen Wuji.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zong immediately grew anxious: "Deputy Commander Chen, I'm not trying to undermine your prestige, but the Cao family, even after you just took office and crushed six thousand Qiang troops, still dares to act so brazenly—do you really think they have no backing?"

"They basically aren't afraid of war; in fact, they're waiting for you to attack, Deputy Commander."

Chen Wuji clicked his tongue, "If that's the case, even with detailed intel I likely couldn't defeat the Cao family. Forget it—I might as well surrender Yunan City; knowingly fighting a superior foe is folly."

Xiao Zong stared, mouth slightly open, his gaze unfocused.

"Actually…" he coughed lightly.

"Actually it's not that exaggerated, but the Cao family's preparations are indeed real. If Deputy Commander Chen bought this information from me, wouldn't he have a chance to respond, pick them off one by one, and still have a shot at victory?"

"Forget it, I know my own limits." Chen Wuji waved his hand, "Let's talk about Shocking Heaven Thunder instead—how do you intend to do business with me, Lord Xiao?"

"Deputy Commander Chen provides the silver, I'll keep refining the final step; once it's born, Deputy Commander Chen can buy it first. No matter how others jack up the price, throwing fistfuls of silver at my face, I'll still sell Shocking Heaven Thunder to Deputy Commander Chen at the original price." As Xiao Zong spoke, he seemed to come alive again, his eyes full of strong confidence.

Chen Wuji is now considering a question.

Shocking Heaven Thunder rendered great service in the battle against the Qiang People—would this information dealer Xiao Zong not know that?

His troops surely aren't that tight-lipped, are they?

"I don't want things that cost money, and I have none anyway." Chen Wuji said.

Whether Xiao Zong knows he has a source for Shocking Heaven Thunder doesn't really matter in this deal—either way, he certainly won't trade.