Chapter 005: Blade Forging

As night falls in the mountains, the large livestock come out to roam, and even the seasoned hunters are reluctant to travel at night. When three people set out, the villagers are filled with concern

While breakfast had not yet been finished, voices began to rise outside as the villagers surged in noisily. Shi Hong's father felt a twinge of guilt, as this was all trouble he had brought upon himself.

At first, the villagers were somewhat convinced, as many had heard the sound of iron being struck at night. With his words, they all felt a chill run down their spines.

In the eyes of the villagers, Shi Hong has seemingly become an omnipotent deity; whenever there is a failure, they immediately come to him to inquire about the situation. In the matter of blacksmithing, Shi Hong is no different from these villagers, both equally in the dark.

Shi Hong originally thought he was quite clever, understanding many principles that the villagers could not grasp. However, when it came to blacksmithing this time, he finally realized that he was not much better than the others

The last time the villagers had meat was when Shi Hong hunted that wild boar king. As for drinking, there is no need to mention it; they even have to go to the neighboring village to do so

Shi Hong was somewhat troubled: "Time is running out, yet I still can't produce a usable knife..." Zhang Xiucai appeared to be hesitant to speak, and Shi Hong, puzzled, said: "Brother Zhang, if you have something to say, just go ahead."

"No, no, Master Zhou, Master Zhou, please have a seat. I will send someone to buy wine right away." Scholar Zhang, feeling helpless, reassured Blacksmith Zhou while turning back to discuss with the villagers.

With a single sound of "ping," the sword broke in half against the anvil, leaving a mark on it. Shi Hong shook his head; according to the description on the jade tablet, it was essential to be able to sever the anvil with a single strike in order to barely meet the qualifications

Upon hearing Scholar Zhang's words, the villagers erupted in cheers, rushed forward to lift Shi Hong, and noisily made their way to the valley

Shi Hong held a pancake in one hand and gestured for everyone to be quiet with the other. Over a hundred villagers were crowded in the small courtyard in front of Shi Hong's house, which was certainly not very comfortable. However, as soon as Shi Hong made the gesture, everyone immediately fell silent

When Zhang Xiucai was discussing with everyone, they were originally concerned that Shi Hong would oppose hiring someone from outside due to his pride, which is why they entrusted the most "esteemed" Zhang Xiucai in the village to present the proposal. However, they did not expect that Shi Hong, a fifteen-year-old boy, did not have such complex thoughts. He simply believed that the blacksmiths from outside, who relied on their blacksmithing skills for a living, must have more insights than his own research over the past few days. By inviting them, he could observe from the side and would surely gain a lot, perhaps even be inspired to personally forge the "good sword" mentioned on the jade tablet.

While Zhou the blacksmith was enjoying a feast of fish and meat in the village, Shi Hong was contentedly eating the scallion pancakes made by his mother, savoring the taste as he let out a satisfied burp. Exhausted, as soon as his body touched the bed, he fell into a deep sleep. Half an hour later, the sound of clanging and hammering echoed from his small room.

Shi Hong was taken aback and said calmly: "Everyone has been forging iron all day, and the sound of clanging metal has been ringing in our ears. What we think about during the day often manifests in our dreams at night, so it is normal to feel as if we are still hearing the sound of forging iron in the evening"

Everything proceeded smoothly thereafter. According to the records on the jade tablet, Shi Hong arranged for personnel to build a furnace and smelt iron. Once the square ingots of iron were produced, he immediately instructed the villagers on how to forge weapons and armor, following the methods documented on the jade tablet.

After much fussing around until noon, everyone finally set off. Shi Hong's mother had made another scallion pancake, wrapped it in oiled paper, and tucked it into Shi Hong's bosom as provisions. This truly made Shi Hong feel delighted; the gratitude of the entire village could not compare to the happiness he felt from his mother's care.

In any case, hope has finally been seen. The villagers immediately welcomed him warmly. Zhou the blacksmith, with a smile that did not reach his eyes, exchanged a few pleasantries with everyone, stretched lazily while looking at the sky: "Oh dear, today is not going to work out. Let's start early tomorrow. Boss, what food have you prepared for tonight? Old Zhou must say upfront, I am doing heavy labor here; if there is no wine or meat at any meal, I will lose my strength. If I delay your progress, don't blame me, Old Zhou."

Shi Hong smiled and said, "Great, why didn't I think of this solution? We will also contribute a share towards the blacksmith's payment."

Zhou the blacksmith was relentless, relying on the fact that the entire village depended on him. He shouted and cursed loudly, while his wronged wife hid inside the house, wiping her tears, refusing to come out no matter who tried to persuade her

In fact, for an ordinary person, being able to create a knife of his current caliber would already be satisfying, but Shi Hong is not like that

The long-awaited sound of hammering finally emanated from the blacksmith Zhou's house. Listening to the crisp clanging sounds, everyone's anxious hearts finally settled down.

Due to his persistent dissatisfaction with his own work, he did not inform others

He irritably tossed the broken knife aside, and upon turning around, he saw Scholar Zhang peeking in from outside the door. He smiled kindly and said, "Brother Zhang, do you have something to discuss"

Upon hearing this, everyone felt relieved. However, Zhou the blacksmith truly had an annoying knack for causing trouble. Three hunters had finally managed to buy some wine, and Uncle Zhang brought out the badger meat he had stored at home. A skilled cook from the village prepared it and served it up, but Zhou the blacksmith, emboldened by the wine, pinched the rear of the man's wife, nearly provoking a fight with her husband on the spot

The sound of the hammer is uniform and crisp, very rhythmic, clearly indicating a high level of skill. The experienced blacksmith knows how to utilize the reactive force of the hammering to lift the hammer again, saving considerable effort, unlike Shi Hong's uncoordinated and forceful strikes.

From the very beginning, Shi Hong did not come out, not because he was arrogant, but because he was completely unaware that Zhou the Blacksmith had arrived. He had been practicing all along, oblivious to the happenings outside. Ultimately, everyone was concerned about his pride, and since Zhou the Blacksmith came unannounced, no one thought to inform him.

Ah! The villagers were taken aback, their expressions changing dramatically. Twenty guan was absolutely beyond what the villagers could bear; even if everyone sold their pots and pans, they could not gather such a sum of money

Scholar Zhang hurriedly smiled and said: "Master Zhou, it is already late in the day, and it is too late to go to the neighboring village to buy wine. How about we skip the wine today..."

This jade tablet is crafted using the techniques of the immortals. Though it is a small piece, it is capable of recording a vast amount of text. Shi Hong had already noticed this, but having witnessed the marvels of the Great Dao Divine Lord's Qinglong Ten Guardian Formation, he was not particularly astonished by such minor techniques.

... ...

Finally, three familiar hunters were chosen to travel at night to the neighboring village to buy wine

Indeed, there is nothing wrong with the son-in-law one has chosen for oneself

Zhou the blacksmith, with a self-satisfied chuckle and a smile at the books, left the knife behind and arrogantly returned to forge the next one. The villagers were filled with joy, as they finally saw hope again. Scholar Zhang slapped his forehead: "Quick, send someone to buy wine..." Only then did everyone remember that the wild boar meat was secured, but they had forgotten to buy wine. The two jin of wine from yesterday had been completely consumed by Zhou the blacksmith in one sitting.

He is particularly confident in his prospective son-in-law, but as time grows shorter, he has become somewhat anxious, making several trips to Shi Hong's home each day

In this mountain village, there are already two individuals who consider themselves to possess the ability to discern people's character

Scholar Zhang nodded slightly and, mustering his courage, said: "This is also for the sake of the entire village, so please do not take it to heart. Everyone is discussing whether we should invite a few skilled blacksmiths from outside..." After speaking, Scholar Zhang anxiously looked at Shi Hong.

It was only when I thought about how the blacksmith was involved in the conscription of the entire village this week that everyone exchanged glances, and they all endured it.

Old Zhou's expression changed suddenly, and he lifted his foot to leave: "Boss, I only came here because of Liu Yuanwai's face. You can ask around; in the ten or so villages nearby, if I, Old Zhou, were to acknowledge anyone as second, who would dare to claim first? There are plenty of people waiting to invite me, Old Zhou. If you find me unsatisfactory, I will leave right now..."

The few villagers remaining in the valley had been busy all day and were now sound asleep. Even if some were stirred awake, Shi Hong could remain alert at the slightest movement, immediately stopping in place. Those villagers, hearing no further sounds, assumed they had misheard and turned over to continue their deep slumber

Initially, the ring-headed knife he crafted could only leave a mark half the depth of a finger on the anvil before breaking. Now, although it still breaks with the same strike, it can leave a mark a full finger deep.

Long ago, he discovered that in a state of soul, he could still "pick up" many things, and it seemed he was tireless and possessed immense strength

... ...

Dear uncles and brothers, I have already thought of a solution... while eating a cake, I simply shared my plans with everyone

After walking for half an hour in the mountains, we finally arrived at the valley. Shi Hong directed everyone to start digging. The people in the mountains are strong, and since this matter is closely related to everyone's fate, everyone worked especially hard. By the time dusk fell, we had already dug through the soil layer and found the black iron ore beneath.

Throughout the night, Shi Hong continued to practice tirelessly with his soul. After a full day and night of relentless practice, what originally required two hours to forge a ring-headed saber now only took one hour, and the quality had indeed seen a significant improvement

The matter of the two families' engagement has been temporarily set aside due to the ongoing incidents in the village, and Shihong's mother has not yet informed him.

Shi Hong's father woke up in the middle of the night, troubled and unable to fall back asleep. As dawn approached, he stood by his son's bed, feeling uneasy. He wanted to ask his son if there was any solution, but seeing his son sleeping soundly, he couldn't bring himself to wake him. Thus, he remained by the bed for more than half an hour.

I just did not expect to encounter difficulties while forging weapons. Although the jade tablet recorded everything clearly, it was merely text after all. There isn't even a blacksmith in the village, and the villagers are just beginners, wasting quite a bit of iron ingots. After several days, they have not managed to produce even a single kitchen knife.

When they usually meet, Shi Hong would call out "Brother Zhang," and Tu Shu Zhang would definitely correct him, saying, "I am of the same generation as your father, you are my junior." However, today Zhang did not dwell on this, smiled, and walked in, saying, "Ah Hong, still forging iron, are you"

Scholar Zhang was the first to step forward and said, "What a fine blade! Master Zhou truly deserves to be known as the best blacksmith in our county!"

Scholar Zhang suddenly slapped his forehead: "Don't rush, everyone bring your hoes and shovels, otherwise how are we going to mine..."

On the second day, although he was still unable to forge the fine blade described on the jade tablet given to him by the Great God of the Road, he had managed to create a complete ring-handled knife. Despite its unremarkable gray appearance, Shi Hong gave it a try and found that its sharpness was quite satisfactory, not inferior to the typical tools purchased from outside.

The sun had shone on his backside, and it was only after Zhang Xiucai's repeated invitations that Zhou Tiejian finally got up. After consuming six egg pancakes, the virtuous wives in the village watched with hearts full of pity—everyone's situation was not great, and aside from Zhang Xiucai's family, who would dare to be so extravagant? Under a low eave, one must bow their head.

His trickery led everyone to feel justified, and some even laughed heartily at the supernatural believer, calling him a coward without any guts, frightened by his own ears

Ah Hong, is there really no way?

Scholar Zhang waved his hand and said: "This is not boasting; even in the county, Zhou the blacksmith's skills can rank among the top three. A couple of years ago, he even forged a batch of official knives for the county's constables. If his skills were poor, would the county choose him?"

Scholar Zhang was greatly pleased to see Shi Hong's indifference and immediately returned to discuss the matter of hiring craftsmen with others. After exchanging a few words with him, Shi Hong considered it a break. As soon as Scholar Zhang left, he immediately picked up the iron hammer and continued his practice

There is no need to worry about money, yet some villagers are concerned about the skills of the blacksmith Zhou: "Master, could it be that this Zhou blacksmith is just boasting? Our hopes rest entirely on him, what if..."

After lunch, Scholar Zhang took out two guan of money and went out to invite the blacksmith, and he did not return until the evening

At the crowing of the rooster, Shi Hong was already able to forge a ring-headed knife that left a mark of one and a half fingers on the anvil.

Here, Scholar Zhang is busy urging Uncle Zhang and the others to hurry up the mountain to hunt wild boars

It should also be mentioned that he is my son-in-law; if it weren't for him, I would have had to purchase the barren land in this valley, which would have resulted in a significant loss

It turns out that more than one person could come up with this idea. Currently, blacksmiths are in high demand, and many villages are selling their pots and pans to hire blacksmiths, purchasing raw iron from elsewhere and asking craftsmen to help forge weapons. Scholar Zhang was only able to invite this blacksmith Zhou through the assistance of a contact.

Time is of the essence. During the day, Shi Hong is engrossed in his studies, while at night, even as his soul plays, he is somewhat distracted. Floating above the forest, he absorbed the moonlight—his assistance to the Great Dao Deity was not without reward, as he has at least gained insights in absorbing moonlight.

Scholar Zhang was quite displeased with Shi Hong calling him "big brother"; in fact, his age was indeed not sufficient for him to be considered Shi Hong's uncle. However, if he were to become Shi Hong's big brother, then his daughter would be a generation apart from Shi Hong.

Zhou the blacksmith followed behind Scholar Zhang, holding his head high and chest out, while the scholar in front appeared rather servile, giving off a distinctly subservient air

Scholar Zhang originally came merely to observe the excitement, to see what methods his chosen "son-in-law" might possess. He prided himself on his status, standing behind the crowd without pushing his way forward. Before Shi Hong could finish speaking, Scholar Zhang, unable to contain his eagerness, rushed forward from the back, using his frail body, which was more than half weaker than anyone else present, to force his way through the crowd. He lunged in front of Shi Hong, raised his fist with great effort, and with a face flushed with excitement exclaimed: "Ah Hong is right, there is indeed such a provision in the laws of the Great Xia!"

Shi Hong's father finally breathed a sigh of relief and quickly said: "Hurry and wash up, your mother has made pancakes for you"

After breakfast, Zhou the blacksmith reminded once again about the lunch dishes, specifically requesting stir-fried wild boar with chives. Scholar Zhang patted his chest to assure him, and only then did he slowly get to work

Some people found the arrogant blacksmith Zhou even more displeasing and privately asked Scholar Zhang, "How much did you pay to hire this blacksmith?" Scholar Zhang gestured with five fingers, and the villagers were astonished: "Five guan?" Scholar Zhang flipped his palm back and forth twice: "Four fives—twenty guan!"

It was not until evening that Scholar Zhang returned, panting, accompanied by a blacksmith.

Scholar Zhang looked at the small house of Shi Hong in the distance, where the sound of clanging metal could still be heard, and felt even more satisfied. He had already made up his mind that no matter what, once the military service matter was settled, he would immediately marry his daughter off to him, ensuring that this son-in-law was firmly tied down first.

Time is of the essence. If Shi Hong practices proficiently one day earlier, he will be able to teach the other villagers one day sooner. Upon realizing this, he immediately began to practice. However, in order to avoid being seen by others, he chose a room as his blacksmithing venue.

"Yes, yes, yes..." The villagers scattered in a rush, and with a loud thud, Shi Hong fell to the ground. The villagers immediately felt a deep sense of regret, and Zhang Xiucai was heartbroken, for this was indeed his son-in-law

Everyone is busy saying: "That's enough, that's enough, this is sufficient"

Another night of practice, this night, the clanging sound of the hammering woke several villagers. Thanks to Shi Hong's cleverness, everything was managed.

Hahaha! Zhou the blacksmith stroked his beard and smiled: "Time is of the essence, so I won't flaunt any skills. This knife will definitely pass the government's inspection, but don't expect it to cut through iron like mud."

Time waits for no one. As the final deadline for military service approaches, not only the villagers but even Scholar Zhang is becoming anxious. After all, he is not the kind of heartless landlord; the older generation in the village has watched him grow up, and how could he bear to see these neighbors perish on the battlefield

Shi Hong stood up, rubbing his backside, and called everyone back together. According to the records on the jade tablet of the Great Dao Deity, he explained to the villagers what tools they would need. The iron ore vein in the valley is not buried deep beneath the soil, so it is sufficient to simply dig through the soil to extract the ore. In addition to tools like shovels and hoes, only a few scoops and wheelbarrows for carrying and transporting the soil are necessary

At this moment, no one was stingy anymore, and everyone brought out all the tools from their homes

At the sound of a rooster crowing, Shi Hong opened his eyes from his slumber, and the first thing he saw was his father's weathered face, covered in stubble. Shi Hong was startled and exclaimed, "Father, what are you doing standing here?"

The pancakes made by Shi Hong's mother are very fragrant, and this is Shi Hong's favorite food; he cannot bear to eat just half. Shi Shan stands to the side, watching her brother's half pancake with keen interest, occasionally wiping her shiny and sparkling mouth with her small hand.

Shi Hong, however, felt no joy in his own progress. Time waits for no one; if a practical ring knife cannot be crafted, everyone will have to serve in the military. The efforts of the entire village over these many days may very well go to waste

After absorbing the moonlight and refining his body, he became somewhat distracted. Recently, Shi Hong had been residing in the valley mine, and his gaze inadvertently fell upon the various blacksmithing tools. A thought crossed his mind: although he was currently in a spiritual state, he could still practice blacksmithing.

There was no other way; Shi Hong could only study that jade tablet day and night

After two hours, under the eager gaze of the villagers, Zhou the blacksmith emerged with a gleaming ring-headed knife. The villagers waiting outside erupted in cheers, as the days of enduring silence had finally yielded hope

During the daytime practice, even Shi Hong could not persist for an entire day; after a while of practice, he would need to take a break. However, in the state of his soul at night, tools like the hammer and bellows felt almost weightless in his hands. Thus, he practiced without pause throughout the night, gaining more insights in that one night than he would in two days of regular practice. Even some aspects that he could not comprehend during the day became clear after repeated practice in the state of his soul.

Shi Hong occupied the stone-built house alone, spending the entire morning practicing incessantly with a clanging sound. He also forged a ring-headed knife, waved it in his hand, and then aimed at the anvil beside him, striking down with a single blow.

His excitement was entirely due to the valley mentioned by Shi Hong, which happened to be their family's land. The soil in the valley was poor, lying fallow for three years before it could be cultivated for one year. Scholar Zhang had originally planned to sell it within the next two years, but unexpectedly, it turned out to be a treasure trove.

Scholar Zhang waved his hand and said, "Everyone, don't worry, I will cover this expense." It was not that Scholar Zhang was particularly generous; rather, his son-in-law had found him a lucrative iron mine, which was akin to a treasure trove. Although the mine was currently not being sold due to military conscription issues, once this matter was resolved, with the Great Xia and the Gui Rong engaged in war, iron ore would be in high demand. Scholar Zhang was calculating that once the war was over, his family would be considered wealthy in the entire county. A mere twenty guan was certainly not a concern for him. Moreover, it would also show his son-in-law that he was not someone who was blinded by money.

Shihong was solely focused on the fine blade inscribed on the jade tablet of the Great Dao Divine Monarch. This blade was merely referred to as a "fine blade" by the Great Dao Divine Monarch and had not yet reached the level of a treasured sword. Shihong felt that he must forge such a blade himself.

The villagers were taken aback: "There is wine and meat at Dun Dun? How much would that cost!"

In a state of the soul, everything within a radius of twenty meters is within his perception—this sensation, atop that peak, can extend to all the surrounding mountains; however, in a normal state, it is limited to merely twenty meters. Fortunately, this distance is already sufficient for Shi Hong.

Shi Hong smiled and said, "Rest assured, I have already thought it through."

Moonlight settles within the body, akin to a red-hot iron block repeatedly quenched in water, refining itself time and again to achieve better results. Merely settling leads to a loose foundation, and the potential for enhancement is also quite limited.

However, one villager stubbornly refused to believe that he had misheard, insisting that he had once heard his grandfather say that this valley was an ancient battlefield from the past, where many people lost their lives in a great battle, and it must be the vengeful spirits causing trouble