sinovels Chapter 100: The Loyal Chain Shop
Chapter 100: The Loyal Chain Shop
Chapter 100 Returning to the Faithful Hundred Refinements Workshop
"Puhahahahaha" (/≥V≤)/
As soon as she stepped over the high threshold of the Hundred Refinements Workshop, Qu Feiyan could no longer hold back and burst into laughter, her clear laughter echoing like a string of silver bells in front of the busy blacksmith shop.
She didn't know why she had held back her laughter when she was outside. Perhaps subconsciously she felt that laughing out loud in front of everyone would ruin An-gege's nonchalant and aloof demeanor.
Now that there were no outsiders around, she had no more scruples. She grabbed Shen An's sleeve, raised her head, and looked up at him with bright, sparkling eyes full of admiration and curiosity.
"Brother An, you were amazing just now!" she chirped like a cheerful little sparrow. "How did you do that? It was so effortless, yet—it felt even more satisfying than just beating him up!"
She tilted her head, her face a mixture of confusion and excitement.
In her previous understanding, people in the martial arts world resolved things in a simple and direct way: if they didn't like someone, they would draw their swords and fight to see who was better.
Shen An's methods, which were completely devoid of any human touch yet rendered the other party utterly humiliated and ashamed, were something she had never seen before, and she found them both novel and exhilarating.
Shen An chuckled at her words and reached out to ruffle her hair. "There's really no need for anything. There are plenty of people in the martial arts world who spout nonsense; does that mean we have to beat them all up?"
That guy only said a few words, why should I hit him?
"Then—then why did you still take action?" Qu Feiyan was even more puzzled.
"He shouldn't have slandered Bailianfang." Shen An's smile remained unchanged, but his eyes became more serious. "By belittling Bailianfang's weapons, he's ruining my business and cutting off my source of income. Cutting off someone's source of income is like killing their parents."
"He needs to be taught a small lesson."
His twisted logic was delivered with such conviction that Qu Feiyan was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing: "Brother An, you—you're such a money-grubber!"
"That's called having principles," Shen An corrected. Then, remembering something else, he instructed a waiter who was responsible for greeting customers by the gate, "Make a note of this and tell the manager of the shop that if a guy from the Qingcheng Sect comes to our Bailian Shop to buy a sword today, give him a fine Qinggang sword for free."
"Huh?" The waiter and Qu Feiyan were both stunned.
"Consider it compensation for breaking his sword."
Qu Feiyan was initially taken aback, but then immediately understood. She burst into laughter, pointing at Shen An and saying, "Brother An, you're so mean! This is worse than beating him ten times!"
Uh, is that so? Shen An didn't intend to continue humiliating Peng Renqi; he just felt that since he had casually broken Peng's weapon, he should compensate him with a new one, both morally and logically.
He smiled noncommittally, but was thinking about something else.
The Qingcheng Sect has arrived—but why hasn't Chief Escort Lin from the Fuwei Escort Agency in Fuzhou sent any news yet? In the original story, the Qingcheng Sect's arrival to attend Liu Zhengfeng's retirement ceremony took place long after the massacre of the Fuwei Escort Agency.
He thought about it again and understood.
Because he had informed Liu Zhengfeng in advance about the Songshan Sect's interest in him, Liu decided to hold the Golden Basin Retirement Ceremony much earlier than in the original story.
This advance was just before Yu Canghai could acquire the "Evil-Repelling Sword Technique".
"Brother An, what are you thinking about?" Qu Feiyan shook his arm when she saw him lost in thought.
"It's nothing." Shen An came back to his senses and smiled at her. "I need to go see Junior Brother Feng to discuss some important matters. You should go back to your room and rest for a while. You've been traveling all day and night, you should relax."
Qu Feiyan pouted, though unwilling, she knew her limits, and reluctantly nodded: "Okay—then hurry up!"
The workshop was still bustling with activity. The shop assistants and apprentices greeted him as they saw him, but their hands never stopped working.
Feng Changrong was already waiting in the study. Upon seeing Shen An, he felt as if he had found his pillar of support and hurriedly came forward with a solemn expression: "Senior brother, you've finally returned."
T
"Is everything alright inside the neighborhood?"
"All is well." Feng Changrong led Shen An to a seat, personally serving him hot tea before saying with concern, "Senior brother, as soon as I received the news that Master Liu was retiring from the martial arts world, I immediately dispatched someone with urgent news to both Xiangtan and our sect. However—I truly cannot understand why Master Liu, renowned throughout the land and in the prime of his life, would suddenly choose to retire. Could it be that he discovered our association with Tian Boguang? There's more to this than meets the eye—"
There's something fishy going on. Senior brother, how should we handle this?
Shen An picked up his teacup, gently blew away the foam, took a sip, and slowly said, "This matter is far beyond what you and I can decide."
His voice was steady and powerful, which calmed Feng Changrong's anxious mind a bit.
"Our master is a man of deep thought and long-term planning. Whatever the hidden reasons behind Liu Zhengfeng's actions, they will attract close attention from the sect." Shen An put down his teacup. "What we need to do now is not to speculate, but to prepare. First, increase manpower to meticulously collect all intelligence related to Liu Zhengfeng, especially who he has been in close contact with recently. Second, clear out enough guest rooms and stables, and be prepared to receive a large number of elders and fellow disciples from the sect at any time."
"Yes!" Feng Changrong's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this, and he immediately accepted the order. "I'll go arrange it right away!"
"Go ahead." Shen An nodded. "In this chaotic situation, doing our part is enough."
After Feng Changrong left, Shen An picked up his teacup and slowly drank it.
This time—what pretext and method will the sect use to launch an attack?
The claim that he "befriended Tian Boguang based on mere hearsay" is definitely not enough.
After a while, Shen An got up and walked alone to the forging area in the front yard.
The furnace roared, heat waves swept across the face, and the air was filled with the scorching smell of iron and the unique aroma of burning coal.
The craftsmen, shirtless, wielded large hammers, repeatedly striking the red-hot iron billets, producing a clear, resounding clang.
In the deepest part of the forge, on a specially made sword rack, lay the greatsword that had been tailor-made for him.
The blade is more than a hand's width wide, entirely black, lacking the sharp, cold gleam of ordinary swords, possessing only a heavy, solid metallic texture. The blade is unsharpened, exhibiting a rounded, blunt feel, precisely the form of a heavy sword without a sharp edge, its great skill seemingly effortless.
Shen An reached out and picked it up.
It's gotten a bit heavier.
He frowned slightly. He had been careless. The sixty or seventy-pound staff he had used before was indeed handy, but holding it in the middle and coordinating both arms made it easier to exert force.
This sword is also heavy; when held with one hand, it feels top-heavy and unstable.
However, it is still usable.
Shen An secretly estimated that once his "Glassy Body Sun King Mantra" broke through to the second level and his physical strength greatly increased, this weight should be just right.
Holding the heavy sword, an unprecedented sense of security welled up in my heart.
With it, many of his swordplay ideas could be truly put into practice.
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eternal