Ye Yin walked directly to the main gate of the Strength Clan's compound. He gave a slight nod to the nearest guard. "Please inform Tai Tan, patriarch of the Strength Clan, that Ye Yin of Shrek Academy wishes to see him."
The guard, a mountain of a man with eyes like large bells, scanned Ye Yin from head to toe. Compared to the clan's members, the young man before him was slender. He was dressed in a simple academy uniform, and his aura didn't feel particularly powerful. He certainly didn't look like someone who would have business with their patriarch.
With the characteristic bluntness of his clan, the guard's deep voice boomed, "Ye Yin? Never heard of you. The patriarch is busy and doesn't see outsiders. You should leave."
Ye Yin's brow furrowed slightly, but his voice remained even. "I'm here to discuss a matter of cooperation."
"Cooperation?" another guard scoffed. "Kid, do you know how many people show up every day trying to see the patriarch with some excuse? You can't just say 'cooperation' and expect us to let you in. Where's your proof? Our patriarch is an important man; he doesn't have time to meet with some random kid. Now hurry up and leave before you get in our way!"
Ye Yin just shook his head. He knew it wouldn't be that simple. If a mere conversation could open any door, the world would be a far easier place.
"In that case," he said calmly, "I apologize for the intrusion."
Four spirit rings—three purple and one black—erupted from under his feet. The first purple ring glowed, and twelve faint black rays of light shot out, striking the four guards.
The effect was instantaneous and bizarre. The guards felt their bodies betray them in strange ways. One of them immediately lost control of his bowels, soiling his pants. Another dropped to his knees and began retching violently. A third started scratching furiously at his own skin as if he were being swarmed by invisible ants. The last one's legs began to tremble uncontrollably, his entire body shaking as if caught in a freezing wind.
"So, how about it now?" Ye Yin asked, his tone unchanged. "If you won't let me in, I'll have to fight my way in."
The guard with the trembling legs was the only one still standing, though just barely. "You… you… you just wait!" he stammered through chattering teeth. "You'll pay for offending the Strength Clan! I'm going to get the patriarch right now!"
He was the only one of the four who could still move, but his legs felt like jelly. The curse had trapped him in a state of constant, exhausting tremors. There was no pleasure in the sensation, only a deep fatigue that grew with every passing second.
Ye Yin waited patiently. Before long, a figure even more massive than the gate guards emerged from the compound. He had a build similar to Zhao Wuji's, but he stood much taller. It was Tai Tan.
The patriarch frowned as he studied Ye Yin. "Are you the one demanding to see me? You mentioned cooperation?"
Ye Yin didn't answer with words. Instead, he calmly took out the Upgraded Zhuge Divine Crossbow. He aimed it at the thick outer wall of the Strength Clan's compound and pulled the trigger. Six crossbow bolts fired in a rapid burst. With a series of loud cracks, the steel-tipped bolts punched clean through the several-foot-thick wall, embedding themselves deep into the ground of the courtyard on the other side.
In an instant, Tai Tan's gaze shifted from Ye Yin to the weapon in his hand, his eyes shining as if he were looking at a priceless treasure.
"I just need the Strength Clan to help me forge these," Ye Yin said simply.
Tai Tan's stern expression melted away, replaced by a wide, eager smile. "Please, please come in!"
The heavy cast-iron gates were hastily pushed open by the guards. Without another word, Ye Yin stepped into the Strength Clan's residence, the air thick with the scent of hot metal and raw power. He walked past the bewildered guards, crossed the massive training ground, and was led directly into the clan's main reception hall.
Tai Tan's face was still wreathed in a grin. "Young friend, may I have a look at that marvelous creation?"
Ye Yin casually tossed the Upgraded Zhuge Divine Crossbow to him.
Tai Tan examined the crossbow, nodding in appreciation. Then, he applied a bit of force, attempting to disassemble it. The outer casing immediately fell apart into several pieces, but he found himself unable to go any further, stopping short of touching the core components.
"The design of this thing is truly ingenious!" he exclaimed. "Its core structure… even I can't seem to take it apart!"
Ye Yin's expression remained indifferent. Of course you can't, he thought. If it were that easy to disassemble, my upgrade would have been for nothing.
Tai Tan carefully reassembled the external parts he had removed. "Young friend, you mentioned cooperation. What did you have in mind?"
"This item is called the Upgraded Zhuge Divine Crossbow," Ye Yin explained. "I need a large batch of them forged, so I came to you, Patriarch Tai Tan, to propose a partnership."
"Good! Very good!" Tai Tan's voice was filled with a new, profound seriousness. A weapon with such terrifying power could change the standing of blacksmiths forever. "Someone! Bring our finest tea! Young friend, where did this crossbow come from? Do you have the blueprints? Without them, I'm afraid I won't be able to replicate the internal components. There's a powerful anti-disassembly mechanism inside that I can't crack."
He paused, studying Ye Yin intently. "I am considered one of the three Divine Craftsmen in this world. Although I may be the weakest of the three, the others are not much better than me. If I can't bypass this mechanism, it's unlikely they could either. I'm very curious, who was it that designed and built such a masterpiece?"
Ye Yin answered calmly, "The person you're looking for is right in front of you. I crafted it myself. I plan to sell them to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School."
"What!" Tai Tan exclaimed, his eyes wide with disbelief. He once again scrutinized Ye Yin from head to toe, as if seeing him for the first time.
Ye Yin took the crossbow back. In a blur of motion, his fingers expertly worked over the device. In seconds, all the components were laid out on the table, completely disassembled without triggering the anti-disassembly mechanism.
Staring at the table covered in intricate parts, Tai Tan was completely and utterly convinced. He gave Ye Yin a thumbs-up. "This old man is impressed! With all the parts laid out like this, I can definitely replicate them. However, putting them back together is another matter entirely. Young friend, could you teach me? Or perhaps… are the blueprints for this Upgraded Zhuge Divine Crossbow for sale?"
Ye Yin chuckled. "Patriarch Tai Tan, think about what you're asking. If you possessed the blueprints for a weapon like this, would you sell them?"
Tai Tan laughed awkwardly, a hint of red coloring his cheeks. "You're right. This old man was being presumptuous."
Ye Yin didn't press the matter. "Then, Patriarch Tai Tan, why don't you try forging one set first? If your clan can successfully forge all the parts, we can finalize our agreement for cooperation."
Tai Tan nodded eagerly. "Good! I'll have my men prepare immediately. However, I must state beforehand, forging this item will not be easy. The cost for each one will be at least one hundred gold spirit coins. The materials required are all high-grade, so they account for a large portion of the cost."
"Understood," Ye Yin replied calmly. "I will need five hundred of them."
Tai Tan's eyes lit up. Five hundred units meant fifty thousand gold spirit coins in business. If managed well, the profit would be enormous.
Ye Yin followed Tai Tan to the Strength Clan's forging workshop. The massive space echoed with the constant, rhythmic clanging of hammers on steel.
"Young friend, please wait here for a moment," Tai Tan said, his voice filled with renewed energy. "This old man will go and help out. We will have a finished product for you within the hour!"
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