novelraw Chapter 59
Chapter 59
Although Fei Zai was one of Hall Master He’s people, he still did not dare offend the blacksmith of the weapon room. He led Su Wangchuan on a tour of various areas within the main hall.
Aside from the residences of the gang leader, hall masters, and other big figures—which he did not dare approach—they walked through the medicinal hall filled with the scent of herbs and the spacious, solemn training ground. In the end, they arrived at the weapon room.
The weapon room occupied no small area.
From the outside, it looked like a shop. There was a counter, and the interior was arranged in a circular layout. Ordinary people could only wait in the main hall, selecting and purchasing weapons from the dazzling array on display.
Two dark-skinned attendants were greeting customers outside.
When they saw Fei Zai approach, one of them frowned and said,
“Brother Fei Zai.”
“The Hundredfold Steel saber you want really isn’t in stock yet. You don’t have to come running over here three times a day. If the room master finds out, he’ll be unhappy.”
“Yes, Brother Fei Zai. Our room master still has to prepare items for the gang leader and hall masters. There are also rudder masters and elders ahead in line… We really can’t move your order up. Please be understanding.”
The two of them launched into Fei Zai the moment they met, their words sharp and barbed.Fei Zai’s expression darkened.
Losing face in front of Su Wangchuan, he naturally had to make it back. He straightened and said coldly,
“I’m here on the orders of Hall Master He and Elder Lin to deliver someone to your weapon room!”
“Deliver someone?”
“We already have plenty of apprentices here. We’re not short of people.”
The two looked at Su Wangchuan—clearly a stranger—with guarded hostility.
Fei Zai snorted.
“You can’t even produce a Hundredfold Steel saber after half a month. The weapons for the gang leader, hall masters, and rudder masters keep getting delayed! And you still have the nerve to say you’re not short on people? This is an arrangement from above. Call your room master out to receive him!”
The two attendants were completely shut down.
They dared not delay official matters. One of them immediately went inside to summon someone.
Su Wangchuan said nothing throughout, waiting quietly.
The so-called room master was in fact a blacksmith whose strength was close to that of a martial artist. He had served the Yulong Gang for many years. His surname was Zhang, given name Chongba.
At this moment, Zhang Chongba was forging iron in the rear courtyard. Upon hearing the report, he set down his hammer, frowned, and muttered to himself,
“Hall Master He and Elder Lin both stuffing people into my weapon room—what does this mean? Are they dissatisfied with the weapon room because our last batch of Armor-Piercing Arrows didn’t perform well?”
Due to limited manpower and his own selfish nature, he had never put much effort into cultivating the apprentices of the weapon room.
He feared that teaching apprentices too well would starve the master, undermining his own position and influence within the Yulong Gang. As a result, all Hundredfold Steel weapons were forged personally by him.
He only passed down techniques for ordinary iron weapons and handled some repair work. As for the weapons of important gang figures and the Armor-Piercing Arrows, he handled all of those himself.
Now, hearing that Hall Master He and Lin Xun were assigning someone to the weapon room, he naturally became wary and immediately headed to the front hall.
Fei Zai cupped his fists with a smile.
“Room Master Zhang.”
“Allow me to introduce him.”
“This is Brother Wangchuan. He was recommended by Elder Lin Xun and approved by Hall Master He to join our Yulong Gang. He used to be a blacksmith in Blackstone Village and is skilled in forging Hundredfold Steel arrowheads. That’s why he’s been specially assigned to the weapon room to help shoulder some of your workload.”
The moment these words were spoken, everyone was shocked.
Room Master Zhang’s expression changed.
The apprentices who had come out to watch, upon hearing that the newcomer knew Hundredfold Steel forging techniques, were astonished, their expressions varied.
“Excellent.”
Room Master Zhang forced a smile onto his thick-featured face.
“The forging workload in the weapon room is indeed heavy. For Hall Master He and Elder Lin to send us such a talented individual at this time truly resolves our urgent needs.”
“Welcome, Brother Wangchuan.”
“Since that’s the case, I’ll hand him over to you. Make proper arrangements for him. If I remember correctly, there are still a few empty rooms in the weapon room. Arrange lodging for Brother Wangchuan here.”
Su Wangchuan’s heart stirred slightly.
Those words had not been instructed by Hall Master He at all. Fei Zai was purely leveraging the authority of two big figures to secure treatment for him.
It seemed that his earlier verbal promise had already brought tangible benefits.
“Good!”
Room Master Zhang agreed without a second thought.
The weapon room indeed still had empty rooms.
Even if it did not, driving out a few apprentices would solve the problem.
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
Fei Zai turned and winked at Su Wangchuan.
“Brother Wangchuan, don’t forget our agreement. Once you’re settled here, I’ll take you to Laifeng Pavilion to see the gentle delights of Huishui County.”
“Certainly.”
Su Wangchuan cupped his fists in response.
The flesh on Room Master Zhang’s face twitched faintly.
After Fei Zai left, Zhang Chongba quickly withdrew the sharpness from his eyes and put on a genial expression. He took the initiative to cup his fists at Su Wangchuan.
“I never expected Brother Wangchuan to be recommended by Elder Lin. You must have unique strengths in forging for Elder Lin to take notice of you.”
“Not at all.”
Su Wangchuan knew this was not the time to be overly humble, so he followed the other man’s lead.
“When I was in Blackstone Village, I learned Hundredfold Steel forging techniques from my master and gained some insight into forging various Hundredfold Steel weapons. In terms of experience, I certainly cannot compare with Room Master Zhang. I still have much to learn from you.”
Room Master Zhang immediately began weighing the situation.
“Oh?”
“So there are actually experts in Hundredfold Steel techniques even in Blackstone Village. Zhang has truly been ignorant. How about we have an on-the-spot sparring session?”
He still did not quite believe that a poor youth from a remote village could truly have much achievement in Hundredfold Steel forging.
Whether it was real gold would be known after putting it through fire.
“Please.”
Su Wangchuan naturally understood the intent and showed no fear, following him toward the rear courtyard of the weapon room.
His 《Hundredfold Steel Forging Technique》 was already at the Entry-Level Mastery stage. He would not embarrass himself.
And besides…
The more complex Hundredfold Steel forging techniques consumed an enormous amount of time. At most, the other party would arrange a sparring session using small Hundredfold Steel items.
He was not afraid.
At once, the apprentices of the weapon room grew excited.
Seeing two blacksmiths about to spar on the spot, a dozen apprentices eagerly shut the front doors of the weapon room and crowded into the rear courtyard around the high furnaces and forging tables.
The weapon room’s facilities were fully equipped, far more advanced than Blackstone Village’s.
The rear courtyard was extremely spacious. Not only were there tens of thousands of jin of raw iron ore stacked nearby, but rain sheds had been erected above, with drainage channels laid below.
Two high furnaces.
Seven or eight forging tables.
Iron hammers of various sizes, weapon molds of every kind—everything was complete.
Su Wangchuan knew that this sparring match concerned whether he could establish himself in the weapon room, whether he could gain a voice there, and even more so, the reputation of Brother Lin Xun who had recommended him.
He could not lose.
“Fire up the furnace!”
“Bring up the molten iron!”
“Brother Wangchuan, let’s keep it simple. We’ll directly forge Hundredfold Steel arrowheads and see who can produce the greatest number of finished pieces in the shortest time. How about it?”
“Good!”
Su Wangchuan smiled.
Exactly what I wanted!
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