Chapter 43: Discussion, Punishment And Apology!
Hong Yuan recalled the details he had seen in movies from his previous life, added a bit of his own imagination, and wrote with flying speed.
He had not studied painting, nor did he understand sketching, but his control over his own force had already been refined to the microscopic level.
Where the brush tip touched the paper, it was like iron painting with silver hooks, the force penetrating the back of the paper without any smudging.
In the time it took to wave the brush and outline, in no time at all, a diagram of the Life-Snatching Throat-Locking Spear leaped onto the paper.
“Old mister, please take a look!”
Hong Yuan casually waved his hand, and the diagram slowly flew into Ou Zhenyun’s palm. The latter caught it, furrowed his brows, and examined it closely.
After a long while, Ou Zhenyun exhaled, and smiled:
“With the Hundred Refinements Workshop’s craftsmanship, forging this spear is not difficult. But for the spear to be disassemblable into two segments, yet able to connect at any time, and not loosen or break during combat, the finer details still need some consideration.”
Hong Xi’s original version of the Life-Snatching Throat-Locking Spear could actually be disassembled into three segments, but Hong Yuan felt two segments were more suitable.
The whole spear was seven feet two inches long, about two meters twenty, and when disassembled, it became short staff and short spear each about one meter long, also convenient to carry.
“How much time will it take?”
Hong Yuan asked.
If it took too long, he might as well just buy one directly. Not to mention those beside Black Iron Town, all kinds of weapons were available.
“That depends on how high Young Master Hong’s requirements are for this spear: thirty refinings, fifty refinings, hundred refinings… Weapon forging is like martial practice, requiring balance of hardness and softness, hard yet unbreakable, soft yet sturdy!”
Hong Yuan nodded, that is, both hardness and toughness were needed.
“Hundred refinings is naturally the best, but also the most time-consuming, at least three months. For thirty refinings, one month is enough.”
Ou Zhenyun smiled.
Hong Yuan thought for a moment, then said gravely:
“Your town is famous for Cloud Pattern Iron. I hear this kind of iron ore is both sturdy and tough. If used for weapon forging, can it save some time?”
“This…”
A hint of hesitation flashed in Ou Zhenyun’s eyes, but after glancing at the white-clothed youth opposite, he made up his mind and said solemnly:
“Cloud Pattern Iron is not ordinary. If forged with it, nine refinings and nine quenchings can surpass ordinary iron’s hundred refinings. But this material is quite rare; even in Black Iron Town, we have little stock, so it is extremely expensive.”
In fact, this was not a matter of expense, but that it had a price yet no market.
In Black Iron Town, the Ou and Xu Families forged Cloud Pattern Iron weapons, often using them to befriend nobles and great noble clans, rarely letting them fall into the hands of loose cultivators.
Even less would they sell to ordinary Jianghu people.
But Ou Zhenyun saw a rare talent in the youth before him.
At such a young age, he already had such astonishing force, actually pinching deep finger marks into a fine steel saber with his flesh fingers.
Ou Zhenyun did not know if a Microscopic Level Grandmaster could do it, but he knew several Form Transformation Second Layer martial artists with balance of hardness and softness, and knew they could not.
This youth was far from reaching his peak. Give him a few more years, ten years, how profound would his martial arts be then?
He might truly become someone capable of founding a sect.
Pulling him in early and investing in such a great figure was also Black Iron Town’s way of survival.
Even if the other lacked silver, Ou Zhenyun would directly gift it.
“How much will it cost? How long will it take?”
Hong Yuan asked directly.
“Just the material alone is about two hundred taels, but since Young Master Hong is in a hurry, this old man must invite my brother Xu to help, plus the other artisans and workers, it will always take eight or nine hundred taels. This way, it can be forged in fifteen days.”
Eight or nine hundred taels, for one spear!
Such a weapon in the Jianghu, even if not a divine weapon, would be a treasure weapon.
Hong Yuan slightly furrowed his brows.
Fearing the other would misunderstand him as trying to cheat for money, Ou Zhenyun hurriedly said:
“This old man absolutely does not exaggerate. I dare to stake the Hundred Refinements Workshop’s decades of reputation. If Young Master Hong…”
Hong Yuan waved his hand and smiled: “Old mister overthinks it. I just feel the time is still a bit long.”
As he spoke, he took out a stack of silver notes from his bosom, did not count them carefully, and casually placed them on the counter. “These silver notes should be enough. If there is excess, consider it hard work pay for the artisan masters.”
Ou Zhenyun’s eyelids twitched. His eyes were sharp; with one glance, he knew that stack of silver notes was at least two thousand taels, and he could not help but smile bitterly inside.
Indeed, how could such a person lack money?
Hong Yuan had spent quite a bit along the way, but he had met even more kind-hearted people, so the over five thousand taels of funding he initially received from the Huang Mansion not only did not decrease, but showed signs of increasing.
“Please, Mister Ou, forge this weapon for me as soon as possible!”
Hong Yuan cupped his hands and bid farewell.
“Young Master Hong, why not come to this old man’s mansion for a chat, and let me fulfill my duty as host.”
Ou Zhenyun hurriedly tried to keep him.
Hong Yuan waved his hand backward, his voice coming:
“No need. Hong wants to wander the city a few more rounds. If I have leisure later, it won’t be late to bother you then.”
As he spoke, he had already left the Hundred Refinements Workshop hall, brushing shoulders with a fair-faced young master who still carried the scent of wine and powder on him.
In the hall, Ou Zhenyun did not even look at the stack of silver notes, waved his hand at the middle-aged shopkeeper, and only lightly instructed: “Record it in the accounts!”
Then he hurriedly held the diagram and left with quick steps.
The fair-faced young master entered, saw Ou Zhenyun’s figure, and hurriedly greeted: “Uncle!”
But whether Ou Zhenyun did not hear or did not care to pay attention, his figure vanished in an instant.
“Why ignore people?”
The fair-faced young master muttered, then looked at the middle-aged shopkeeper who was gathering the silver notes, his eyes lighting up:
“Tsk! Such a grand gesture!”
He quickened his steps and said to the middle-aged shopkeeper with a playful smile: “Uncle, big business has come. Lend me a few to spend.”
As he spoke, he reached for the silver notes.
‘Pa!’ With a sound, the middle-aged shopkeeper pulled out a ruler from somewhere and struck the back of the fair-faced young master’s hand, immediately causing him to yelp in pain and voice his dissatisfaction.
The middle-aged shopkeeper looked at him helplessly and sighed.
Although Black Iron Town was founded by a group of artisan households, originally of lowly status, after over a hundred years, with such a vast family business, the families that rose had long transformed into one of the noble clans.
Accustomed to the lavish life of noble clans, there were naturally many descendants who could not endure the hardship of forging.
Among them, the ambitious ones would do business, join the army, or participate in family affairs, but there were also quite a few idle, frivolous good-for-nothings.
The fair-faced young master before him was from the Xu Family, indulging in eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling all day, not doing a single proper thing.
“Uncle, this must be one or two thousand taels worth, right? Who is so generous?” The fair-faced young master took a ruler strike, yelped a few times, but still pestered the middle-aged shopkeeper, asking this and that.
Harassed by him, the middle-aged shopkeeper was annoyed beyond measure and simply gave a brief account, but did not mention Hong Yuan pinching marks into the steel saber with five fingers.
“Just to forge one spear, and he pulls out two thousand taels… What a big customer!”
The fair-faced young master’s eyes turned, and he smiled: “Uncle, you’re busy. I’ll go find someone to drink with.”
With that, he slipped out the door like smoke.
The middle-aged shopkeeper sighed and shook his head.
The discussion with Ou Zhenyun had not taken much time.
Hong Yuan walked along the long street of Black Iron Town, with the mild evening breeze blowing and the sky slightly darkening, lamps lit everywhere.
Perhaps because of the many Jianghu people and passing merchants in the city, though it was almost night, compared to daytime, the street crowds were a bit thinner, but the noise and bustle were even greater.
There was even a night market street, extremely noisy and crowded inside!
Since Hong Yuan was in no hurry to return to the restaurant, he strolled in the night market street. Unknowingly, he arrived at a place full of blooming flowers and willows.
Hm?
Hong Yuan looked into the building, where a group of twittering women were waving and laughing inside. A thick powder scent hit his face, and several young ladies saw Hong Yuan and waved to him.
Something was off!
Hong Yuan felt it was quite abnormal. How could he, an upright gentleman, inexplicably wander to such a place?
It must be that fat Huang’s ghost at work!
Damn it, he shouldn’t have killed him so easily back then; it was too quick.
Even in death, daring to turn into a vengeful spirit to confuse him—he really should have minced fat Huang into sausage.
Hong Yuan glanced at the building, saw it was a group of vulgar women, snorted coldly, and strode away without reluctance.
As he walked, Hong Yuan turned his head and saw a figure standing in front of a stall, seemingly talking to the vendor—it was that fair-faced young master he had brushed shoulders with in the Hundred Refinements Workshop.
Hong Yuan chuckled lightly.
He had noticed this person long ago.
Not long after leaving the Hundred Refinements Workshop, this person had quietly followed, trailing him for a street.
At this moment, Hong Yuan just quietly watched him. The fair-faced young master felt slightly unnatural, talked a few words with the vendor, turned, quickened his steps, and turned into an alley.
Once in the alley, the man quickly jogged, and in no time entered another street, hurrying toward a patrolling squad.
It was near night, and this guard squad wore light armor, steel sabers at their waists, ten men divided into groups of three-three-four, patrolling the streets back and forth.
The fair-faced young master ran toward the guard who looked like the small leader, pulled him aside under the latter’s surprised gaze, and whispered: “Cousin, I have a big money-making opportunity. Do it or not?”
The small leader was a stern-faced young man with an indifferent expression: “Let’s hear it.”
The fair-faced young master excitedly recounted the events at the Hundred Refinements Workshop, not noticing the small leader’s eyes growing colder, still excitedly saying: “Cousin, that kid casually pulled out two thousand taels. Hiss! If we kidnap him, wouldn’t we be rich?”
“Yeah!”
“Cousin, you think so too? Then when do we act?” The fair-faced young master urged: “We need to be quick, or that kid might run. I was tracking him earlier, and it seems he spotted me?”
“Good, let’s act now.”
Hearing this, the fair-faced young master’s face lit up with joy, but suddenly a large hand swung over, viciously slapping his face, sending him tumbling to the ground, dizzy and seeing stars, half his face rapidly swelling red.
He cried out in pain, stars in his eyes, and only after a while came to his senses: “Cousin, why hit me?”
Ignoring the astonished gazes of passersby on the street, the guard small leader dragged the fair-faced young master to a corner and viciously said: “Hitting you is light. I wish I could beat you to death!”
“Your usual eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling, I couldn’t be bothered to care, because no matter how much you spend, you’ll come back.”
“But I never imagined you’d be this stupid? Have you lain on women’s bellies too long and shot out your brains?”
“Someone who can casually pull out two thousand taels… How long has it been since the Hundred Refinements Workshop took a single person’s business? Even Uncle personally came out to receive him, and you still dare to have crooked thoughts?”
The small leader was furious beyond control, kicked the fair-faced young master a few more times. Two guards came over and quietly asked: “Leader, what is this…”
“Nothing! I’m teaching a fool a lesson!” The small leader took a breath, coldly staring at the trembling fair-faced young master, and said gravely: “Drag this fool to the river over there to sober him up…”
The two guards assented and were about to step forward when suddenly a short sharp whistle sounded, followed by a ‘crack’ crisp sound. The fair-faced young master on the ground let out a heart-wrenching scream, all his teeth shattered by an unknown flying pebble, blood spurting wildly.
Whoosh whoosh!
Two more wind sounds split the air, almost simultaneous with the bone-cracking sounds.
The fair-faced young master, still writhing and screaming, had his right hand and right leg suddenly twist. His right palm was nearly pierced through, beaten into bloody flesh, and his right knee bone shattered, flesh and blood splattering, smearing the small leader’s face.
Clang clang! Two pebbles hit the wall and fell to the ground.
On the rooftop ridge of a distant house, Hong Yuan’s figure merged into the shadows, tossing a pebble in his hand. Seeing the guards’ faces change drastically, they all drew steel sabers and warily looked around, he leisurely leaped down from the rooftop.
‘Just crippled an unworthy son, they wouldn’t play the ‘hit the small, the old comes’ routine on me, right? One must believe in the survival wisdom of great families.’
Hong Yuan strode toward the restaurant where he was staying.
With his eyes and ears, even if the fair-faced young master truly had elders who couldn’t hold back and gathered men to surround him, he would detect them from far away.
In fact, a force that could grow from a group of migrating artisan households to fully occupy a town and rise as a noble clan, how could they really be fools?
At least the leaders weren’t that many fools.
Less than the time for one incense stick, someone knocked on the door of Hong Yuan’s private room.
A steady voice sounded: “Young Master Hong, this old man Ou Zhenyun, bringing my old friend Xu Jingren to pay a visit.”
“The door’s not closed, Mister Ou, please come in.”
Outside the private room door stood three people. Besides Ou Zhenyun, there was a man about his age with bronze skin and a sturdy build—none other than the Xu Family helmsman Xu Jingren!
Behind the two, a pretty beautiful young woman stood with her head bowed respectfully, holding a delicate wooden box, her expression showing some unease.
Ou Zhenyun and Xu Jingren exchanged a glance, both showing a wry smile.
Ou Zhenyun’s attitude toward such a young man like Hong Yuan could be called extremely courteous, all because he wanted to win him over and establish a favor.
When he returned to his mansion and invited Xu Jingren, showing the steel saber to his old friend, Xu Jingren, shocked as he was, agreed with Ou Zhenyun’s idea.
Who would have thought the clan had an unworthy son causing trouble. Fortunately, it had not caused a great disaster!
As for that wastrel, not beating him to death was already considering that he was half-crippled.
Although Hong Yuan had not shown himself, both guessed it was his doing, and had no thought of playing deaf and dumb or pretending ignorance. After hasty discussion, they came to apologize.
Pushing open the door, they saw Hong Yuan with hands behind his back, standing by the window, admiring the night view of the town.
Xu Jingren bowed: “Young Master Hong, this old man Xu Jingren. A clan disciple was rebellious and disturbed Young Master Hong. This old man specially came to apologize.”
Hong Yuan turned, smiled: “Mr. Xu takes it too seriously.”
He did not reach out to help the other up.
Today, it was only because he had real skill that he could vent his anger.
Xu Jingren smiled wryly, took the wooden box from the beautiful girl behind him, and presented it with both hands: “This is this old man’s apology gift. Please accept it, young master.”
Hong Yuan did not sense danger, but did not take it either, just smiling at the other.
Xu Jingren had no choice but to open it himself, revealing a thick stack of silver notes inside the box.
Hong Yuan spotted his own portion at a glance; the apology gift was probably two or three thousand taels.
This apology gift could be called extremely heavy!
“Mister Ou, Mr. Xu, both of you, the money I handed over has no talk of return. Take it back. This matter is settled. I only hope you two can forge the weapon for me as soon as possible!”
Hong Yuan said.
“Young Master Hong, rest assured. Forging weapons is our livelihood. Even if we don’t sleep or rest, we two will forge that Life-Snatching Throat-Locking Spear for you as early as possible!”
Ou Zhenyun said gravely.
“Old mister, those words are excessive. If you two sirs fall ill from fatigue, it would be my fault instead.” Hong Yuan smiled.
Seeing Hong Yuan truly had no intention of receiving gifts and no anger on his face, Xu Jingren took a breath, pushed the beautiful young woman forward, and smiled: “Young Master Hong has extraordinary magnanimity; Xu admires it. This is this old man’s niece, named Xu Qingjing, just eighteen. During the time it takes to forge the weapon, with no one to attend you, why not let her serve you?”
That Xu Qingjing had been uneasy before entering the room. She had seen the wastrel’s miserable state; he was of her older brother’s generation.
Though not close, seeing such a miserable appearance, her mind conjured an image of a fierce and evil man. Thinking the clan leader wanted her to serve such a fierce person, she was naturally frightened.
But once inside, seeing the youth opposite, with one glance, her pretty face blushed red, she lowered her head, not daring to look again, her eyes watery and bright.
Hong Yuan glanced at the girl, saw she was indeed a beauty, and smiled: “Such a fine lady, how can she do servant work? I am but a Jianghu loose cultivator, not accustomed to being served…”
Fine wine and beauties, Hong Yuan naturally liked.
But now, he wasn’t afraid of sudden group attacks, but feared conspiracies and tricks like poisoning. Before his physical fitness truly reached inhuman levels, Hong Yuan dared not be so reckless!
“Enough! Both of you, please go back. If you keep being so polite, Hong will get angry instead.
