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Chapter 111 - A Tidal Wave of Sword Hums
Su Yi spent three tier-one spirit stones to rent a forge at the workshop.
The workshop’s boss was rather confused. Normally, customers came to hire the workshop’s grandmaster smiths to forge their weapons for them, but this youth was rather strange. He wanted to forge his sword himself!
Furthermore, he spent a fortune purchasing expensive auxiliary materials.
But then, if a customer was happy to spend his money, the proprietor naturally saw no reason to refuse him.
Huang Qianjun, meanwhile, waited in the reception area of the workshop.
This weapons workshop was rather famous. Even at night, there was no shortage of lavishly-dressed customers. Practically all of them were martial artists.
Time slipped by.
Before long, two hours had passed.
Huang Qianjun was idling around when he saw a familiar figure. It was a good-looking young man in ornate robes. He looked suave, and he had a whole flock of attendants trailing after him.
It was obvious at a glance that his background was extraordinary. When the master of the workshop saw him, he bowed low at the waist and smiled toadyishly.
“Cousin Qin Feng!” Huang Qianjun lit up with delight, then he strode up to greet the youth.
The youth in ornate robes looked at him. He was briefly stunned. “You are… Huang Qianjun?”
“What a surprise! It’s been two years, but you still recognize me, Cousin.” Huang Qianjun smiled.
The young man in ornate robes was called Qin Feng. He was the son of the Cloudriver Prefectural Governor, Qin Wenyuan.
Huang Qianjun’s maternal aunt was Qin Wenyuan’s concubine. Given their relationship, he wasn’t wrong to call Qin Feng “cousin.”
Qin Feng looked Huang Qianjun up and down, then said expressionlessly, “What are you doing in the prefectural capital?”
Huang Qianjun seemed to pick up on Qin Feng’s cold attitude, and his smile faded. “In a few days, I plan to proceed to Blueriver Sword Manor to continue my cultivation.”
“Oh,” said Qin Feng indifferently. “The prefectural capital isn’t remotely comparable to a backwater like Guangling City. Since you’re here, you’d best behave yourself. Don’t cause problems. Whatever you do, don’t try to take advantage of the governor’s estate’s reputation when you conduct your affairs. Got it?”
Huang Qianjun’s expression was a bit unsightly. “Cousin, what’s that supposed to mean? Do you really see me as that type of troublemaker?”
He could sense Qin Feng’s cold, arrogant attitude, and it made him uncomfortable.
“I’m just warning you. Listen or don’t, I don’t care,” said Qin Feng. Then, he seemed to recall something, and he added, “Right, going forward, don’t call me ‘cousin.’ I, Qin Feng, couldn’t possibly have a cousin like you.”
He turned, his hands behind his back, a cold sneer on his face. When he talked to Huang Qianjun, it was as a superior addressing his inferior. His every word and gesture was insulting.
“Fine, I suppose I brought that humiliation upon myself. “ Huang Qianjun snorted coldly and turned to leave.
Qin Feng shook his head, then commented, “A bit of a cold shoulder, and you already can’t take it anymore? You Guangling City hicks really are short-sighted!”
“You….” Huang Qianjun was instantly infuriated. It’s been two years since we last met. Who’d have thought this guy had become so obnoxious?
“Not convinced?” asked Qin Feng leisurely. “Then you’re welcome to go ahead and try me. I certainly don’t mind taking this chance to teach you a lesson. You’ll need to learn to lower your head to get by in the prefectural capital. If you don’t change now, you’ll cause disasters down the line.
He sounded like a senior lecturing his grandson.
Huang Qianjun was so angry, his expression darkened, but in the end, he could only clench his fists and swallow his fury.
“Not bad. You’ve learned to endure and make concessions. You’ve understood the gap between us. That’s praiseworthy.” Qin Feng said this, then seemed to lose interest. He went up to talk to the workshop’s proprietor, ignoring Huang Qianjun completely.
Huang Qianjun saw numerous people pointing at and discussing him throughout the surrounding area. This only made him feel worse
Strength! Without enough power at my disposal, why would I care about Qin Feng or some governor’s estate? Who among them would dare look down on me? Huang Qianjun couldn’t help but recall Su Yi. So what if he’s the Wen Family’s live-in son-in-law? With his cultivation, even Grandmasters have to be on their best behavior around him!
Suddenly, a sword hum reverberated throughout the workshop, passing through metal and shaking stone. It echoed throughout the spacious workshop, startling numerous people.
“A tidal wave of sword hums! This is the prelude to the birth of a spiritual sword!”
An experienced old weaponsmith shouted excitedly, “Hurry! Just who forged a spiritual sword?”
To the martial artists of the mundane world, the value of a spiritual weapon was inestimable.
They were already beyond the reach of gold and silver. Such treasures were only obtainable by spending vast sums of spirit stones!
“It’s coming from the third forge!”
“Come on, let’s go take a look! Hurry!”
…..
The weaponsmiths and their apprentices all set down the tasks at hand and rushed over to the third forge. Even some of the customers were swept up in the excitement.
This was a weaponsmith capable of forging a spiritual weapon! Based on that ability alone, even the city’s top factions would honor him as a distinguished guest!
“The third forge?” The smithy’s proprietor was briefly stunned. Wait, wasn’t that the room that blue-robed youth rented?
Don’t tell that boy is a deeply hidden master weaponsmith?
When this occurred to him, even the proprietor could no longer keep his cool. He too rushed after the crowd.
As expected of Brother Su. He makes great waves even when he’s just forging weapons! Huang Qianjun was waiting outside the third forge, so he could hear the hum emanating from inside clearly. He sighed, suddenly emotional. Is there anything he can’t do?
Before long, countless people surged over. As they waited, their fiery gazes were fixed on the tightly-shut door to the third forge.
“Does anyone know which weaponsmith is inside?”
“I’m not sure, but judging by that hum, he’s sure to be forging an extraordinary spiritual sword. Throughout the prefectural capital, those with such attainments in the art of weapon forging can be counted on the fingers of a single hand!”
“I’ve never heard anyone say this workshop had a weaponsmith capable of forging a peerless spiritual weapon!”
“Let’s just wait and see.”
….As they discussed the matter amongst themselves, the tightly-shut door gradually opened beneath countless curious gazes.
Shortly after, a youth in blue stepped outside. He was tall and lean, with a calm, transcendent air. He carried a bamboo staff.
The crowd froze, utterly flabbergasted. They’d expected someone capable of forging a blade that triggered “a tidal wave of sword hums” to be an incomparably experienced master smith of the older generation.
Who would have thought it was a mere youth?
“Young Man, is there anyone else in the third forge?” one of them couldn’t help but ask.
“Just me,” said Su Yi.
His gaze swept across the dense crowd. There was no way he’d miss the fact that they’d come on account of that sword hum.
Someone exclaimed, “Were you the one who forged a spiritual sword just now?”
The others were staring at him too, and quite a few of them noticed his bamboo staff.
Someone with particularly keen eyes couldn’t help but blurt, “A Bluejade Spirit Bamboo staff. It seems there’s a sword hidden inside?”
Suddenly, everyone started evaluating Su Yi’s bamboo staff.
When he saw this, Su Yi couldn’t help but shake his head.
“Brother Su, did you succeed?” Huang Qianjun walked up to him.
Su Yi nodded. “Let’s go.
WIth that, he turned and headed outside, but partway, someone with a toadyish smile blocked his path. “Please wait up, my young friend. Might I be so bold as to inquire who your master is?”
It was none other than the weaponsmith’s proprietor.
“Why ask me that? Don’t tell me you want me to work for you?” said Su Yi mockingly.
“Uh, I did indeed consider inviting you to work here, I just don’t know if you’re interested? Of course, if you have conditions, please feel free to say them!” said the proprietor, his face nothing but smiles.
Su Yi rejected him outright. “I’m not interested in forging weapons, and my ambitions lie elsewhere. Farewell.”
Seeing this, the proprietor couldn’t help but sigh.
If they had a young weaponsmith like that in residence, there’d be no need to worry about becoming the top smithy in the city!
“Young Lord, please wait up.” Against all expectations, before they even made it through the smithy’s front door, someone stopped Su Yi yet again.
This time, it was a good-looking young man in ornate robes. A pack of attendants trailed after him. This was none other than Qin Feng!
“What are you doing?” Huang Qianjun’s expression darkened.
“Heh heh, I’m surprised! It seems you’re actually doing quite well for yourself; you’ve actually started following a talented young weaponsmith.” Qin Feng laughed. “But I’m certainly not here to talk to you.”
He then turned to Su Yi, clasped his fist, and said, “Young Lord, for your work to trigger a wave of sword hums proves that your attainments in the Dao of Forging are lofty indeed. I admire talented people such as yourself. Might we find a place and have ourselves a private chat?”
But to his surprise, Su Yi didn’t even look at him. Instead, he asked Huang Qianjun, “Did you get bullied?”
Huang Qianjun went rigid, then said bitterly, “It’s fine. That’s all in the past, and it’s already getting dark. Brother Su, let’s hurry back.”
Su Yi saw his behavior and didn’t ask any further questions.
But when he saw that Su Yi was ignoring him, Qin Feng’s expression soured. “Did you not hear what I just said?”
Huang Qianjun’s expression shifted too. “Qin Feng, I urge you to leave right now. Don’t bring disaster upon your father! My Brother Su isn’t someone you can afford to offend!”
Qin Feng was stunned, and he couldn’t help but find it funny. “What a mouth you’ve got on you! I’ve lived in the prefectural capital for eighteen years, and I’ve never heard of a young weaponsmith capable of threatening my father.”
His attendants laughed along. None of them paid this threat any heed.
Su Yi paused, then glanced at Huang Qianjun and said flatly, “Who is he?”
Huang Qianjun went rigid. He sensed that Su Yi was already somewhat displeased.
Before he could say anything, one of Qin Feng’s attendants said coldly, “Young man, there must be something wrong with your eyes. This is the Cloudriver Prefectural Capital. Who doesn’t know our young master, the prefectural governor’s son?”
Another retainer sighed. “Our family’s young master loves talent, which was why he struck up a conversation with you. If you’re smart, you’ll obediently lower your head and apologize, and this matter will end here. Otherwise, I’m afraid you’ll be biting off more than you can chew!”
“Qin Wenyuan’s son?” Su Yi arched his brows. He suddenly recalled something Fu Shan had said back at the Immortal Gathering House. Huang Qianjun’s aunt had married Qin Wenyuan, and she was now the prefectural governor’s most favored concubine.
Looking at it that way, Huang Qianjun and Qin Feng were sort of relatives.