Chapter 295: The Gongsun Clan of the Sword Casting Hut

After Hu Wanwan finished speaking, he raised an eyebrow; he noticed that Ren Yidao's expression seemed somewhat off.

"... Daoist, could it be that you have a grudge against Fellow Daoist Gongsun?"

Good!

If you two have a feud, then I can have a reason to let you not go.

"No, I have simply heard of the reputation of the Gongsun clan of the Sword Casting Hut, and was surprised for a moment."

Ren Yidao shook his head, causing Hu Wanwan's expectations to fall through.

After leaving the Li Family Treasury, Ren Yidao had also conducted some investigations and gained a deep understanding of the Gongsun clan of the Sword Casting Hut.

As one of the three great super sects of the Beiming Divine Continent, the Sword Casting Hut had something very special in common with the other two.

They did not practice the traditional system of masters passing down teachings to disciples, but rather a traditional apprenticeship system similar to that of the old society.

If an outsider entered the Sword Casting Hut, regardless of their former status or position, they would only have one identity—a chore disciple.

They all had to start as blacksmithing apprentices, preparing rough blanks for sword casting, and would do so for five years.

After five years, those with aptitude could become assistants during sword casting, observing and helping out, which also lasted for five years.

Only after the ten-year term was up could they truly learn the craft of sword casting, formally apprentice under a master, and be promoted from a chore disciple to a formal disciple.

This was the path of Jingsheng for outsiders in the Sword Casting Hut; because it took ten years to formally begin learning the craft, many could not endure this hardship, so few people took this path.

Since there were outsiders, there were naturally the corresponding family members.

Most of them were descendants of former outsider disciples; they did not need to endure those ten years of bitter toil and could learn techniques under the guidance of their elders from birth.

And among these family members of the Sword Casting Hut, there were three surnames that were the most powerful and ancient.

Gongyang, Gongye, and Gongsun.

These three families were the three Sect Ancestors who founded the Sword Casting Hut; these three fellow blacksmiths together established the Sword Casting Hut, which at the time only sold ordinary iron sharp swords.

Each of the three families had different areas of expertise.

The Gongyang family was skilled in casting offensive magical treasures and had once created the "number one in slaughter" Spirit Sword of the Sword Casting Hut.

The Gongye family was skilled in casting defensive magical treasures and had once created the "number one in protection" Spirit Sword of the Sword Casting Hut.

The Gongsun family was proficient in both offense and defense; although neither was as prominent as the other two, their strength lay in having no obvious weaknesses.

The position of Sect Leader of the Sword Casting Hut was also held in rotation by the patriarchs of these three families, and this generation it was the turn of the Gongye family's Patriarch to serve.

However, Ren Yidao had not found the true identity of that Gongsun disciple who had left a deep impression on him by crafting such an eccentric Heaven Grade magical treasure as the "Winter Pole Thunder."

He only knew that those qualified to sign "Gongsun" on a magical treasure were fewer than a handful in each generation of the Gongsun family.

And since that person could craft a Heaven Grade magical treasure, they must have long held a high position, making it impossible to investigate by force.

To avoid causing unnecessary small troubles, Ren Yidao stopped his investigation at the right time.

He had originally thought he would have to wait a long time before meeting a disciple of the Sword Casting Hut, but he did not expect to run into a disciple of the Gongsun family right here in the Eastern Wasteland.

Ren Yidao smiled at the two and explained:

"It's just that I didn't expect to meet a fellow daoist from Beiming in the Eastern Wasteland; it is truly rare."

Jiang Mingzhi did not think Ren Yidao's surprise was a problem and smiled upon hearing this:

"Daoist, you may not know, but although there is no large-scale interaction between the two Divine Continents of Beiming and the Eastern Wasteland due to some issues, there have always been many cultivators moving between the two continents in private."

"Not only that, one also has the chance to encounter Divine Servants from the Southern Border and monks from the Western Desert in the Eastern Wasteland."

Rather, the reason Ren Yidao would exclaim in such a way was actually because Beigan itself was slightly closed off.

Hmm... there was also the reason that the Divine Path Sect had always been reclusive and unwilling to have contact with the outside world.

They didn't even want to deal with the other two sects in Beigan, let alone strangers from other Divine Continents.

"Since the personnel have been decided, when shall we set off?"

Regarding Ren Yidao's swift and decisive style, Jiang Mingzhi, who had already experienced it once, did not find it unexpected, but Hu Wanwan's prepared speech lost its utility.

I haven't even persuaded you to set off early yet, why did you say it yourself?

How come you don't play by the rules at all!

Hu Wanwan's lips moved, and he gave a light cough:

"Ahem, Daoist, won't you stay at the Tianxiang Pavilion for a few more days? Could it be that you feel the Hu Family's hospitality is lacking?"

"It is not that; I have no complaints about the hospitality."

Ren Yidao waved his hand and said with some anticipation: "I am just impatient to meet this Fellow Daoist Gongsun."

"Meeting an old acquaintance in a foreign land—although he and I cannot be considered old acquaintances, our two families have always been on good terms, so we can be considered descendants of old friends."

"Where should we go to rendezvous with them? Are they going directly to Wanshou City? Or somewhere else?"

"Please follow me." Hu Wanwan shook his head and took the lead in guiding the way, bringing the two onto the carriage:

"Chu Hairen has already gone to Wanshou City a step ahead; he intends to gain some experience there first, but Fellow Daoist Gongsun is actually staying in the north of the city."

Inside the carriage, Hu Wanwan explained with a somewhat strange expression:

"Although I tried my best to invite them, Fellow Daoist Gongsun does not like the environment of the Tianxiang Pavilion and has moved into a blacksmith shop instead."

Disliking the sound of strings and songs, but instead liking the noisy sound of hammering and forging—this was indeed in line with the identity of a Sword Casting Hut disciple.

Ren Yidao became increasingly interested in this Gongsun disciple he had yet to meet.

The carriage drove toward the north of the city at a slow pace; along the way, Ren Yidao also heard Hu Wanwan explain the "bitter circumstances" that forced him to accept the trial, and they settled on the reward to be given afterward.

"Daoist, do you really not want a Hu Girl? The women of our Hu Family are all volunteers; you can rest assured about that."

"Many thanks for the kind offer, but it is unnecessary. I am a person who lives in seclusion to cultivate the Dao; they would do more harm than good to my cultivation."

Regarding this, Hu Wanwan expressed understanding on the surface, but inwardly he was constantly slandering him.

"Didn't Hu Yaoyao spend the night in your room yesterday? I didn't see you have any reaction then either?"

Hypocrite!

This guy looks like he has the bearing of an immortal, but in reality, his skin is very thick; he is an old hand who is kind in appearance but dark at heart.

But in truth, Young Master Hu really wronged Ren Yidao this time; he truly did not do anything shameful or impolite to Hu Yaoyao.

"It was merely a bit of very serious research."

Ren Yidao lightly licked his lips, savoring the bits and pieces of last night, and thought to himself:

"I could write an investigation report when I go back, titled 'Observation Journal of Human and Demon Race Hybrids'."

"From flesh and muscle texture to the soul and Consciousness Sea, no one understands human-demon hybrids better than me!"

……

"Mmm—ha!"

In the dim room, Hu Yaoyao stretched lazily with effort and covered her mouth to yawn.

Refreshing.

A comfort originating from her soul made her not want to open her eyes at all; she only wanted to lie lazily in the bedding.

Just as Hu Yaoyao was about to enter dreamland again for a satisfying second sleep, her eyes slowly opened.

"……Mmm!!?"

Clatter!

She threw off the quilt abruptly, sprang up directly from the bed, and scanned back and forth.

Here, this is the guest room of the Jiang Family young master, I... why am I here.

Hu Yaoyao tried hard to recall, but only felt her mind was a blank; she could not remember a single thing about what happened last night.

"I went to deal with the little one who broke into the Tianxiang Bridge first, and then... right, I brought that Daoist here."

"But then what?"

"How can I not remember anything!?"

Hu Yaoyao swallowed in fear, continuously patting her chest to calm herself down.

She was not afraid of losing her chastity.

That kind of custom that restricts ordinary women would not cause any trouble for a woman of the Hu Family.

Not only would they not be disgusted, but they would actually greatly welcome it.

For the Hu Family, even a dew-like romance that lasted only one night was still fate.

And as long as there is fate, it is a gain.

The ancestral teaching of the Hu Family is "Widely sow good fate, befriend the world," and it has always encouraged them to form connections with people.

However, this does not mean Hu Yaoyao could be indifferent to her memory lapse.

These are two different things!

But Hu Yaoyao was a cultivator of the Dharma Aspect Realm after all, and she forced herself to calm down shortly after the panic.

"There is no one else's aura in the room; that Daoist likely left long ago. Since no one came to look for me, they probably think I succeeded... tsk."

Succeeded?

What did I succeed at?

Hu Yaoyao knew her own body very well; she didn't even need to check after waking up to be certain that nothing happened last night.

At least, nothing she expected happened.

After thinking this through, Hu Yaoyao also completely calmed down, and then suddenly smacked her lips with some annoyance:

"Is he even a man? Or does he really like men?"

"Has my charm really declined? Huh?"

Hu Yaoyao looked at the back of her hand, suddenly widened her eyes in pleasant surprise, and brought the back of her hand before her eyes to observe carefully.

"It got better?"

After a quick check, the smile on Hu Yaoyao's face could not be suppressed.

"Just by sleeping, my skin became even better!?"

"What exactly happened last night?"

This inexplicable change made Hu Yaoyao particularly curious about what happened during her blackout, and she wished she could travel back in time to see it with her own eyes.

After thinking hard for a while, Hu Yaoyao's expression changed, and she frowned uncertainly.

"Hmm? What is this..."

Hu Yaoyao suddenly remembered the dream she just had.

It was a very realistic, yet very unreasonable and grotesque dream.

She dreamed that she... was cut open.

Right.

Just like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered, placed on a chopping board, with her flesh and blood cut open and studied repeatedly.

But she did not feel fear at such a bizarre scene.

There was no pain at all, and there was even a bit of comfortable tingling that made her intoxicated and lost in a trance.

"It should just be a dream, right?"

Uncertainly, she carefully touched her skin, and Hu Yaoyao still did not find a single trace left behind, so she let out a long sigh of relief.

"Sure enough, it was just a nightmare."

"Perhaps I should change my way of thinking; is it because my body underwent such a transformation that I had this strange dream... perhaps my bloodline has advanced further?"

"However, why did I pass out? In the dream, I even regarded him as such a terrifying person; is it because I subconsciously felt he was dangerous?"

Pondering the unanswered questions, Hu Yaoyao's expression suddenly froze, and she shouted out in shock:

"My bloodline!!!"

"How did it become so strong?"

"Ah!?"

No one knew of Hu Yaoyao's gasp; after an hour of swaying, the carriage finally arrived at the north of the city.

Unlike the extravagant and luxurious central palace area, the buildings in the north of the city were much simpler, and there were far fewer young ladies dressed in revealing clothing; everywhere revealed a philosophy of simplicity and plainness.

The three of them stepped down from the carriage, and Ren Yidao looked over the tall shop before him, his gaze falling upon the plaque above.

"Sword Casting Pavilion?"

Did this Sword Casting Pavilion have any relation to the Sword Casting Hut?

Just as Hu Wanwan went to find Gongsun Changshou, Ren Yidao suddenly sensed a gaze from the sky behind him staring fixedly at him.

"Who?"

Turning his head quickly, Ren Yidao had expected to see a panicked expression, but he did not expect to see a familiar figure.

"Meow."

A large, fluffy, earthy-yellow cat leaped down from the roof, landing silently not far in front of Ren Yidao, and began to walk toward him with an elegant cat-like gait.

"Big Yellow?"

Upon hearing this tacky name, the Ink Earth Yellow Sand Tiger's originally elegant movements stopped, and its raised tail drooped down.

It pulled a long face, staring at the young man with oil-green eyes in resentment.

Yellow Sand Tiger: Can't you pick a better-sounding name?

Ren Yidao: I can, but there's no need; I don't want to.

Yellow Sand Tiger: "......"

After a moment of silence, the Yellow Sand Tiger finally lowered its proud head, pretending not to care as it walked to Ren Yidao's side and rubbed its head against his ankle.

"Heh."

Ren Yidao chuckled, not mocking the Yellow Sand Tiger for returning, but simply bending down to scoop it into his arms.

"Rest assured, I keep my word."

He said:

"I will let you obtain that missing portion of Heaven's mandate."

Upon hearing this promise, the Yellow Sand Tiger breathed a sigh of relief, and its tense body relaxed.

This was a gamble.

For the Demon Race, submitting to the Human Race was a disgrace; once this choice was made, it would be difficult for him to be accepted by other members of the Demon Race in the future, and he would be branded as a slave of the Human Race for the rest of his life.

But the Yellow Sand Tiger did not care.

As long as he could obtain greater power, then all of this was worth it.

"I want to become stronger."

"Only by continuing to be strong can I have the chance to avenge it!"

To achieve that goal, he could discard his pride as a member of the Demon Race.

Ren Yidao sensed the Yellow Sand Tiger's resignation, and the corners of his mouth curled up silently.

This gamble—he had won.

In a great mood, Ren Yidao carried Big Yellow as he wandered into the Sword Casting Pavilion shop, scanned the area, and discovered the figures of Hu Wanwan and the other person in a corner.

Were they surrounding something?

Ren Yidao walked over curiously, and before he could even ask, Hu Wanwan said with a headache:

"If they stay asleep like this, how long are we supposed to wait?"

It was already this late, and Gongsun Changshou still hadn't woken up?

This sleep quality could probably rival Senior Sister's!

Thinking this with a sigh, Ren Yidao looked at the figure blocked by the two of them.

"Hm?"

Looking at the bleary-eyed fellow reeking of alcohol, Ren Yidao lost control of his facial expression.

"Wait a second, Gongsun Changshou..."

Hm???

"Why is it a woman?"