Approaching the Blacksmith Shop, Cheng Xiao could already hear the rhythmic hammering coming from inside.
"Is this the Blacksmith Shop?" Xiao Wu asked curiously, looking at the hammer emblem hanging above the door, her big eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Cheng Xiao nodded gently and led Xiao Wu inside.
As soon as they entered, a wave of heat washed over them, a product of the intense flames of the forging furnace.
"Kids, it's dangerous here, stop," a burly man, shirtless and hammering on raw iron, quickly came over to Cheng Xiao and Xiao Wu. "Where are your parents? Didn't they tell you the Blacksmith Shop is dangerous?"
The Blacksmith Shop was filled with various iron tools and clutter, along with a high-temperature forging furnace. To prevent accidents caused by children's playfulness, blacksmiths usually didn't allow children inside. Even for purchases, only adults were allowed.
"Hello, uncle. I'd like to have two Short Swords made. Is that possible?" Cheng Xiao asked.
"Forge a Short Sword?" The burly man glanced at Xiao Wu, who was standing shyly beside Cheng Xiao, and immediately laughed. "No problem with forging something. But you need to have your guardian come over and tell me the Short Sword's blueprint, materials, and style, and also pay for the Short Sword."
Hearing that he needed to get his guardian, Cheng Xiao frowned slightly and said, "If it's just me, can't I forge it?"
Hearing this, the burly man was slightly stunned and explained with a smile, "Of course not, kid. Judging by your appearance, you should still be in school, right? It's better to have your guardian come forward for matters like forging weapons."
"Uncle, I understand what you mean." Cheng Xiao took out a Gold Soul Coin and a Soul Master Handbook from his pocket and gestured towards the burly man. "Uncle, I am now a Soul Master. Every month, I can receive a Gold Soul Coin subsidy from the Spirit Hall. This is the Soul Master Handbook, which can prove my identity."
"Soul Master? Such a young child is a Soul Master?" The burly man thought to himself and solemnly accepted the Soul Master Handbook that Cheng Xiao handed over.
The Soul Master Handbook was a metal plate the size of a palm. This special metal could only be used by the Spirit Hall and was the exclusive proof of becoming a Soul Master.
Taking the cool metal plate, the burly man examined it carefully.
After a moment, the burly man returned the Soul Master Handbook to Cheng Xiao, and as for the Gold Soul Coin, he kept it.
"Kid, I'll take this job." The burly man readily agreed, then asked, "Do you have a blueprint for the Short Sword? What about the material requirements?"
"Depending on the materials used, the price will increase. But don't worry, once you finalize the design, I'll forge it for you as quickly as possible."
Hearing the man's words, Cheng Xiao was immediately in a bind. He had the Short Sword's design in his mind, but he didn't know which materials would be best. After all, he didn't understand that aspect. He only needed a Short Sword to match his Throw Short Sword skill.
As if sensing Cheng Xiao's predicament, the burly man smiled kindly. "How about this, kid? I won't take this Gold Soul Coin yet. Come back when you have the design, including the materials. What do you think?"
Hearing this, Cheng Xiao unconsciously scratched the back of his head, saying, "No need, Uncle. Do you have any paper here?"
"You're going to design the blueprint right here?" The burly man was taken aback.
"Yes, it's too troublesome to go back. I know exactly what the Short Sword should look like, and I can also ask you about the materials." Cheng Xiao said.
"Alright, I'll have a worker go buy some paper and a pen. You two wait here for a moment." The burly man nodded and sent a worker to buy paper and a pen.
After a moment, the shopkeeper returned with a pen and paper. Cheng Xiao began to draw, following the design of the Short Sword in his mind.
Xiao Wu watched Cheng Xiao, who was completely absorbed in drawing the blueprint. Her big eyes were filled with curiosity. She hadn't expected that, as a fellow work-study student, Cheng Xiao would be so outstanding. Even when he was concentrating on drawing, he was different from others.
Time passed, and Cheng Xiao's speed in drawing the blueprint increased. He was completely in the zone now. When the last detail was added to the blueprint, the sky had darkened.
"Phew, finally finished." Cheng Xiao exhaled deeply, then wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand.
"Let me see." The burly man picked up the Short Sword blueprint drawn by Cheng Xiao, and his eyes immediately lit up. "What a beautiful Short Sword design! But if we want to perfectly replicate it, it will take a lot of time."
Cheng Xiao said, "It doesn't matter, as long as it can be made."
"Alright, then we'll follow your design." The burly man nodded and said, "For the manufacturing material, let's use Mysterious Iron. But if we use Mysterious Iron to forge it, it will take a little longer."
"No problem, Uncle. Waiting is essential if you want to forge a good weapon." Cheng Xiao shook his head and said, "Then, see how much it will cost."
"Kid, I won't ask too much. I'll give you five Gold Soul Coins for each of those Short Swords, how about that?" the burly man said.
"Alright, I'll give you one Gold Soul Coin first, and the remaining nine, I'll give them to you over nine months," Cheng Xiao said.
"Cheng Xiao, use my Gold Soul Coin too," Xiao Wu suddenly said, seeing that they had reached an agreement. "I'm a Soul Master now too, and I can receive one Gold Soul Coin in subsidies every month. If I help you, it'll only take four months. Anyway, I don't eat much, and the money I get from cleaning the garden is enough."
Hearing this, Cheng Xiao was stunned for a moment. Looking at Xiao Wu, who was so generous on the surface, but whose eyes were full of reluctance, his heart moved slightly, and he said, "Alright, consider it as me borrowing from you."
As he spoke, Cheng Xiao handed another Gold Soul Coin to the burly man.
After paying two Gold Soul Coins, Cheng Xiao and Xiao Wu walked out of the Blacksmith Shop with the blacksmith shop owner. Perhaps it was because of Xiao Wu, but before they left, the burly man had voluntarily reduced the cost of the Gold Soul Coins. The original ten had been changed to nine.
Cheng Xiao didn't quite understand, but the burly man didn't want to say more, just kept talking, saying things like, be nice to the little girl, one Gold Soul Coin wasn't a small amount of money, and so on.
Of course, Cheng Xiao also confirmed the completion time with the owner, which was about a month. After all, their casting level wasn't very high, and it was the first time they were casting such a complex pattern, weapons made with expensive Mysterious Iron. It was indeed quite difficult.
"Thank you, Xiao Wu."
Walking along the dimly lit street, Cheng Xiao thought for a moment and then thanked the girl beside him, who had her hands clasped behind her back.
"I helped you so much, and you're just going to say thank you?" Xiao Wu sounded a little displeased, but Notting City was a small city, and it was already dark. The streetlights were dim.
Cheng Xiao couldn't see the expression on Xiao Wu's face, but he could hear the unhappiness in her voice. He immediately said softly, "So, what do you want me to do to thank you? Buy you something delicious?"
"Something delicious?" Xiao Wu was a little excited, but then she thought about the Gold Soul Coin she had just lost. She immediately pouted and said, "One meal isn't enough."
"If one isn't enough, then two." Cheng Xiao chuckled.
"Just two?" Xiao Wu stopped walking, her tone rising.
"Um... how about a month?" Cheng Xiao thought for a moment and said.
"One month, it's not impossible." Xiao Wu suddenly leaned in close to Cheng Xiao. Using the dim light, she reached out and pinched his cheek. Then she mumbled to herself, "What is it? He's clearly a boy, but his skin is even better than mine."
Hearing Xiao Wu's mumbling, and having his face pinched, Cheng Xiao instinctively reached out and pinched Xiao Wu's cheek. He mimicked her words, saying, "What is it? She's clearly a girl, but her skin is worse than mine."
"Ah! Cheng Xiao, you're so bad! How could you imitate me!"
...
Fully Completed English PDF of this fan-fic on my Patreon shop if you want to support and own the full fan-fic in one go. Just grab the PDF and binge the entire story from start to finish!
I've uploaded some High Quality english translated fanfic on my Patreon shop! recently Feel free to check it out—if you're interested, you can grab a copy and support me there.
Here are a few titles of recently uploaded fanfics:
" Douluo Ah Yin Just Transformed, Tricked Her Into Being My Wife "
" Douluo Golden List Revealed: I Can't Hide My Identity Anymore! "
" Douluo: Becoming a God Starting from Dreams "
" Douluo: I Get Stronger by Accepting Disciples! "
" Douluo: Reborn as Dai Weisi, Zhuqing Calm Down! I'm your Brother-in-law! "
" Douluo: Taking Advantage of Bibi Dong's Naivete to Woo Her as My Wife "
" Douluo: Martial Soul – Shadow Monarch "
" Douluo: Many Children and Many Blessings Start from College
" Douluo After Being Reborn, Who Would Still Be a Bootlicker "
" Douluo Many Children, Many Blessings, Subdue Bibi Dong at the Beginning
many more up to 80+ are available
Your support means a lot—thanks in advance, legends!
Patreon.com/UIGOD
(End of Chapter)