Chapter 83: Cao Yan's Return, Hammer Technique Perfected

Having not slept all night, Li Yuan returned to the Weapon Forging Shop, washed his face, and went straight to the forging room; listening to the clanging of hammer on iron, his heart finally settled.

"This matter is a bit big!"

Wielding the forging hammer, Li Yuan was still thinking about what he had seen and heard the day before.

At first he had only assumed that someone had coordinated forces inside and outside the city to ambush Qiu Long for the sake of competing for interests in Gao Liu County, but now it seemed the waters behind this were likely far deeper.

The Divine Weapon Valley had dominated the Hidden Dragon Prefecture for a thousand years; its influence had long since spread to every aspect — to call it a nation within a nation was no exaggeration.

What level of backing must Cao Yan have latched onto, to dare pluck the tiger's whiskers so directly?

"Lu Lu Yunqing and Cao Yan joined hands to ambush Qiu Long. The experts of Divine Weapon Valley had been quiet for a long time before that — were they also waiting for the people behind them to show themselves?"

Is this mutual fishing?

"I only just managed, after great difficulty, to get connected to Fang Fang Yunxiu, and the quota hasn't even warmed in my hands yet…"

Li Yuan muttered uneasily to himself.

What he had witnessed last night made a sudden sense of crisis well up in his heart — cases of the city gate catching fire and the pond fish suffering were far too common.

"I'm still far too weak…"

The sound of hammering grew heavier; Li Yuan quickly cast aside the distracting thoughts and calmed his mind.

Forging demands great patience, and great talent as well. To forge one superior-grade blade, every step from ore selection to the final quenching, tempering, and grinding must be just right — fall short by even a little, and it cannot be called superior-grade.

Li Yuan calmed his heart and forged, and before he knew it, a whole day had passed.

When work ended in the evening, he wiped his face and was just about to head home when Zhang Ben strode over, a faintly relieved smile on his face:

"Quick, tidy yourself up and come with me to the inner courtyard — the Shopkeeper has returned!"

These past few days, his heart had been heavy; if something had happened to Cao Yan as well, then the two-hundred-year foundation of the Weapon Forging Shop would have collapsed in an instant — none of the other members of the Cao family could hold up this enterprise.

"Cao… the Shopkeeper has returned?"

Li Yuan started — this matched exactly what he had heard yesterday.

"That's right, he came back at noon. After taking stock of the recent business, the very first thing he asked about was you."

Zhang Ben smiled; clearly his mood had lifted.

"He — the Shopkeeper asked about me?"

Li Yuan's heart tightened slightly.

"Hurry and tidy up, this is a great thing!"

Zhang Ben urged him on.

"Old man, stop rushing me!"

Li Yuan fetched a basin of water and washed up, but couldn't help feeling a little uneasy in his heart.

He held no goodwill toward Cao Yan; when he had revealed his talent earlier, it had been with the plan of bypassing Cao Yan to get in touch with Divine Weapon Valley's line.

But now…

"Hah!"

After a hasty tidy-up, Li Yuan followed Zhang Ben to the rear courtyard.

The rear courtyard was divided into three clusters of buildings; the one Cao Yan occupied was naturally the largest and finest, with not only all manner of pavilions and terraces, but also a small flower garden.

By now the sky had darkened, and candles were lit in the small courtyard.

Cao Yan had changed into a long gown and sat at a table, waited on by several female apprentices who served tea and poured water.

"Elder Zhang is here, please sit."

Cao Yan raised a hand, inviting the master and his disciple to be seated, his smile warm as he raised his cup in salute:

"These past few days, a great deal has happened in the shop, and it's all thanks to Elder Zhang's care…"

"Shopkeeper, you're too kind. Whatever the old man has today is entirely thanks to the shop's nurture — putting in a bit of effort, what is that worth mentioning?"

Zhang Ben drained his cup in one gulp, his face flushed with color.

"It's in times of hardship that a man's heart is truly seen!"

Cao Yan set down his cup and looked at Li Yuan intently:

"Speaking of which, it's I, the Shopkeeper, who have been derelict — meeting you several times, I never realized that beyond your outstanding forging skill, your hammer technique had reached such a level!"

One year of martial study, and his hammer technique had reached perfection.

The most talented disciple in the Weapon Forging Shop's two hundred-plus years had also taken over a year to achieve great mastery of the hammer technique; compared to that, the apprentice before him had surpassed them by no small margin.

With such talent, in only a few years he could reach the great perfection of hammer technique, and alter his own bone structure to the superior grade.

And then enter Divine Weapon Valley…

"This disciple wouldn't dare…"

Li Yuan lowered his head and raised his cup, feeling as though needles pricked his back.

He naturally knew that what Cao Yan was referring to was his own initiative in approaching Fang Fang Yunxiu…

"Not only the Shopkeeper, but even I, the old man, never saw that his talent was actually this good! Hammer technique at perfection — I, the old man, only just brushed against that threshold a few years ago…"

Zhang Ben raised his cup in toast, quite pleased with himself.

Such a fine seedling — he had been the one to spot him at first glance.

"What a pity, such a fine seedling, and yet he cannot be kept here in our Weapon Forging Shop!"

After draining the wine in his cup, Cao Yan looked at Li Yuan, his gaze bright and piercing.

At this point, however slow Zhang Ben might be, he sensed something was off.

But no matter how he thought it over, he couldn't see where anything might be wrong.

A genius apprentice from the shop, sent off to a great sect — so long as he achieved anything, the Weapon Forging Shop could reap great benefits from that bond of shared history.

A trade of one for ten thousand — why would Cao Yan…

What is he trying to do?

Force me to stay in the Smithy?

Li Yuan's heart tightened, but he could only pretend not to understand, raising his cup to toast: "Regardless of talent, this disciple will never forget the shop or the Senior Shopkeeper's grace in cultivating me."

"It is good to know gratitude."

Cao Yan held his cup without drinking, speaking calmly:

"Originally, the shop planned to settle in Fucheng next year, but who knew that this year, several Shopkeepers and the Guard Qin have met with misfortune one after another, leaving us suddenly with no one available..."

At these words, Zhang Ben's face changed:

"The Senior Shopkeeper?"

Cao Yan ignored him, looking only at Li Yuan with a sincere expression:

"Cao Mou can promise that as long as you stay temporarily, all future treatment will be no different from that of the Shopkeepers, and your family members may also live in the shop."

"After a few years, if you still wish to go to the Divine Weapon Valley, the shop will certainly give its full support..."

"What is your opinion?"

You haven't even left your chair yet...

Seeing Cao Yan's face full of sincerity, Li Yuan felt a slight chill in his heart, but naturally could only bow and agree:

"Honored by the Senior Shopkeeper's regard, this disciple is overwhelmed with gratitude..."

Cao Yan was naturally not asking, and Li Yuan did not feel he had any room to refuse.

Of course, he still made a symbolic struggle on his face, afraid that if he agreed too quickly, Cao Yan would not believe him...

Cao Yan looked at him for a long time before raising his cup and smiling:

"Good!"

Watching the two smiling faces, Zhang Ben inexplicably felt a chill on his back.

The banquet was a case of 'both host and guest rejoicing'.

When Li Yuan left, he was somewhat drunk, and only with Zhang Ben's support did he avoid falling.

"A hammer technique genius!"

At the wine table, Cao Yan spun his cup, his expression subtle.

In less than a year, Wu Gong reached perfection.

Such a person, if appearing in Zhe Long Prefecture, would not surprise him, but in Gao Liu County, no one has heard of such a thing in dozens or hundreds of years...

"Such people are usually proud and arrogant; if you suppress him like this, are you not afraid he will harbor resentment in his heart?"

Feng Gang stepped out of the shadows, holding his sword:

"For those with such talent, if they cannot be used by us, it is better to kill them with a single blade strike to prevent trouble from arising later."

"What if there is resentment?"

Cao Yan sneered, his eyes cold:

"In this entire courtyard of apprentices, working themselves to death every day, which one does not have a heart full of complaints? Yet they still must work busily every day, fearing being kicked out of the shop."

To kill, he was somewhat reluctant to kill.

A blacksmith who could consecutively craft superior grade sharp blades at seventeen; in two hundred years, the Smithy has had only a few, and those few rare ones allowed the Smithy to develop to its current state.

If not for borrowing the supreme-grade sharp blades and famous artifacts left by those few, how could he have learned the Tiger Roar Blade to break through Inner Fortification, and how could he have entered Zhe Long Prefecture?

"Tsk."

Feng Gang twitched the corner of his mouth, then suddenly as if sensing something, retreated into the shadows.

"Senior Shopkeeper!"

Zhao the Leader, holding an iron spear, arrived at the rear courtyard, bowed slightly, and handed over a booklet.

Inside the booklet were the major and minor events occurring inside and outside the city walls of Gao Liu County over these few months, very detailed.

"Much trouble."

Cao Yan nodded slightly, asked about many matters, and only then sent Zhao the Leader away.

"This boy's talent is indeed excellent. He inquired about Red Gold; could it be that he already has some confidence to craft supreme-grade sharp blades?"

Cao Yan's eyes brightened slightly: "If this is the case..."

"No wonder you regard him highly; if he can craft supreme-grade sharp blades at this age, even the Hall Masters would be willing to take him in!"

Feng Gang reappeared like a ghost.

Cao Yan's expression turned cold: "This is my person!"

"Heh~"

Feng Gang snorted.

Cao Yan's face grew gloomy, but he said no more, simply flipping through the booklet, lingering on the words 'Buddha Temple Massacre' and 'Fang Fang Yunxiu'.

"Divine Weapon Valley..."

"Enough, stop pretending!"

After supporting Li Yuan out of the courtyard, Zhang Ben let go of his hand.

"No, I am truly drunk..."

Li Yuan staggered.

"Those truly drunk all say they are not yet drunk."

Zhang Ben sighed:

"If I had known this earlier, I should not have let you try to craft superior grade sharp blades; now look, the Senior Shopkeeper is reluctant to let you go..."

As for 'after a few years', he did not believe it.

Years after years, Cao Yan made it clear he had no intention of releasing anyone...

"What does that have to do with you?"

Li Yuan was quite open-minded: "If you feel guilty, why not give the disciple a few hundred taels..."

"Get lost!"

Zhang Ben glared at him, saw he showed no signs of drunkenness, then yawned and turned back:

"Since you agreed to stay, you must ask for what you need with great boldness, otherwise..."

Otherwise, suspicion would arise.

Zhang Ben didn't finish, but Li Yuan understood his meaning, though he had never intended to be polite anyway.

"He should know I want red gold, right?"

Turning around, Li Yuan showed not a trace of drunkenness.

He had known long ago that Cao Yan possessed a secret chamber; the most precious materials for the weapon forge and the finest blades were all inside, and red gold naturally should be there too.

"Cao Yan..."

"Hoo!"

"Haa!"

Back in the courtyard, Li Yuan held a hammer, stood in a stance, adjusted his breathing, circulated his blood and Qi, and internal strength until his blood energy was exhausted, then took out medicinal ointment and oil to rub his body.

Afterwards, he jumped into the large water vat he had bought not long ago, enduring the friction of the iron sand.

Hard-body Wu Gong is not difficult to learn; as long as one can endure the pain and has medicinal ointment and oil, there will be no obstacles at least until reaching the minor success stage.

Splash splash splash!

Inside the large vat, Li Yuan, naked, stirred the iron sand, feeling the stinging pain all over his body, his breathing becoming unavoidably rapid.

Iron sand is not ordinary sand; it is material used for sharpening blades. If an ordinary person dared to soak here even once, not a single piece of good skin would remain on their whole body.

Crack crack~

The vat was nearly two meters high; Li Yuan standing inside had plenty of room. He assumed the Soldier Body Stance to distract his mind.

Even he found this friction method somewhat unbearable.

"Hoo!"

After a long time, Li Yuan was truly exhausted, climbed out of the large vat, lay down in the courtyard, gasped for air, and felt the changes within his body.

From the long-term iron sand friction, his skin, though appearing smooth, possessed considerable toughness, like the sole of a shoe sewn from several layers of ox hide; even a somewhat dull blade might not be able to cut through it.

"If a woman with little strength were to chop, she might truly fail to break the oily skin, but with greater strength, it probably wouldn't work, and besides, one couldn't withstand the stinging and cutting..."

Li Yuan relaxed his tendons and bones; the Seven Stars Hard Body Stance breaking through to 'Proficiency' slightly dispersed the gloom in his heart.

"A flesh-and-blood body is best not to clash directly with blades and swords; this can only serve as a last resort. Those who truly believe themselves invulnerable to blades and swords might be chopped to death at any moment..."

As a blacksmith, Li Yuan knew this point all too well.

The Seven Stars Hard Body Stance claims that after reaching great success, one fears no blade or sword strikes; he held a skeptical attitude toward this.

He estimated that this fearlessness was limited only to ordinary people and ordinary blades and swords; replace them with sharp blades, high-grade sharp blades, or supreme-grade sharp blades, and it would certainly be impossible.

Similarly, for experts like Cao Yan and Fang Fang Yunxiu, even if they held ordinary blades and swords, who would dare to withstand them with their bare flesh?

"Hoo!"

After lying for a long time, feeling his internal blood energy recover by a small half and his internal strength begin to circulate again, Li Yuan finally rose, wiped himself clean, and returned to his room to put on clothes.

"Cao Yan has already returned, why hasn't Fatty Sun come back yet?"

Glancing at the inner room, Li Yuan shook his head inwardly.

Although he guessed that Tang Tong and his wife should not have met with trouble, how could Sun Hao possibly believe that?

"This Fatty doesn't have much courage; since Cao Yan has returned, he probably wouldn't dare to stay long..."

Tearing off several pieces of cured meat to feed the still somewhat wary fat little mouse, Li Yuan lit an oil lamp, took out the human-skin mask obtained upon leaving the city, which he hadn't yet had time to examine closely.

"As thin as a cicada's wing!"

Holding this human-skin mask at close range, Li Yuan couldn't help but murmur in amazement.

This mask was as light as nothing, extremely transparent, almost like a work of art; at such craftsmanship, he too could not help but marvel.

"Let's try sticking it on!"

Carrying the oil lamp to the bronze mirror, Li Yuan carefully pressed it onto his face, feeling only a slight coolness, as if applying a transparent and breathable facial mask.

He carefully pinched the edges and discovered with surprise that his own features and facial organs in the mirror had suddenly transformed into those of the previous sallow-faced blade-wielder 'Li Ba'!

"Truly a masterpiece of craftsmanship!"

Li Yuan examined it closely, found no flaws, reached out to pull at it, and felt a sharp pain on his face, as if it were glued to his skin.

At that time, he had simply wiped his right hand and stored it directly into the Weapon-Commanding Space; only now did he realize the power of this human-skin mask, it was as if he had swapped faces entirely.

"Pity there is only this one face; if only one could switch back and forth..."

Li Yuan played with it, tried it several times, and felt quite satisfied; even without the Weapon-Commanding ability, this human-skin mask was a rare treasure.

"Hmm, with this stuck on, some things will be much easier to do."

Re-sticking the mask, Li Yuan tore off a sheet of straw paper, scribbled some characters with his left hand, tucked it into his sleeve, and slipped out at night, heading straight for the Inner City, toward the Lu Mansion.

If Cao Yan did the first, he would do the fifteenth.

He didn't know who that Hall Master was, but Fang Fang Yunxiu should know, right?

With a changed face, Li Yuan acted quite boldly; he directly knocked open the main gate of the Lu Mansion, knocked the Retainer who opened the door unconscious with a single punch, and stuck the straw paper onto the main gate.

Before any sound could emerge from within the mansion, he turned and ran.

(End of this chapter)