Chapter 33: Xiao Yan: Bro, Why Do You Keep Snatching My Bargains at My House?
Take Diamond Smash for example—Jiang Lin's understanding of this Dou Technique had already surpassed what a small Dou Zhe should reasonably grasp.
Not only could he forge it into a defensive battle weapon, but he could also incorporate it into his attacks, delivering devastating heavy strikes with ease.
During his exploration of Dou Technique models, Jiang Lin even modified minor issues overlooked by the original creators—blockages in Dou Qi flow—making his own version faster, more efficient, less energy-consuming, and more powerful.
In Jiang Lin's past-life words, it was like someone achieving the effect of your 100 lines of code with just 10 lines.
"What else can I do? Just keep grinding through it…" Jiang Lin pulled from his workbench several materials marked with various Dou Qi parameters. After drafting a rough model, he laid out the channels and used his sensory perception to monitor the Dou Qi flow within, recording and compiling the results bit by bit.
Jiang Lin's Black Knight battle armor was embedded head to toe with the "Diamond Armor" trait—mainly because his other models weren't suited for defensive gear. However, for the boots, he didn't want to keep going heavy; this time, he wanted a speed-boosting trait.
"Actually... if I made wings, wouldn't I move even faster?"
At the reception of Wan Yao Zhai, Xiao Yi Xian sat cross-legged at her desk, lazily writing prescriptions.
After finishing one, she looked up at the mercenary staring blankly at her feet and snapped, "What are you looking at? Never seen fluffy slippers before? Here's your prescription. Go pick up your medicine at the dispensary! Next!"
The mercenary blinked, finally snapping out of his daze and shifting his gaze from Xiao Yi Xian's petite feet wrapped in blue-and-white gradient doggy slippers. He took the prescription and walked out, still somewhat dazed.
He knew exactly what those slippers were made from—Moonhowl Wind Wolf pups. There was no way he was mistaken.
Just then, he overheard a group of mercenaries chatting nearby:
"Did you hear? The magical beasts over at Xingyue Mountain yesterday were cleared out by Mr. Yao. Two second-rank beasts."
"Yeah, I heard. Mr. Yao was even injured, but out of kindness, he didn't confront the person who spread the false info."
"Tsk, tsk… sounds like there was some scheming going on."
"Heh, well it's none of our business anyway. Come on, let's check if the weapon shop has any new stock. That kid Jiang Lin is something else—he keeps sending the good stuff to Wutan City. We barely see a battle weapon here every few months, and it's impossible to get one."
"Then go to Wutan City. Some lucky guy took a stroll and scored a crazy bargain."
"Forget it. Do you know how lucky you'd have to be? There's a frenzy over there too. Who would've thought that kid breaking stones in the market would become the envy of all as a blacksmith?"
"Hahaha! I didn't think much of it before, but now… having a blacksmith nearby feels even more impactful than having an alchemist. Pills get used up, but battle equipment lasts a long time."
That mercenary, wide-eyed, turned and sprinted back to his camp.
Later that evening, on the outskirts of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, a group of mercenaries gathered around a campfire.
"Captain… you…"
A gloomy-looking middle-aged man sat by the fire, slowly polishing a golden-patterned long blade. A young man in Wan Yao Zhai's light-colored uniform was forced to kneel before him by several others.
"You know what it means when Mr. Yao sends you out alone?" Mu She's voice was low and chilling.
"He wants the mercenary group to kill me! But he didn't know I was your man, Captain! Once I disappear, I can just change identities!" the young man shouted, crawling forward to grab Mu She's leg.
"But…"
Mu She finished polishing the golden blade. The fire reflected in its gleaming edge.
Swish!
The youth's head flew, blood spraying into the flames.
"Mr. Yao of Wan Yao Zhai never asked us to kill you."
Just as Mr. Yao had predicted, the tension in Qingshan Town gradually eased. Aside from the incident where a herb-gathering team was attacked by magical beasts—resulting in the death of one staff member—the mercenary group in charge issued an official apology to Wan Yao Zhai.
"Mr. Yao hired the Wolf Head Mercenary Group to protect the gathering team, then used them to eliminate the spy planted inside Wan Yao Zhai. I get the feeling Mr. Yao didn't even need to speak directly. Just sending that spy into the mountains was enough—Wolf Head figured out the rest."
"They had no choice but to kill him. Otherwise, Captain Mu She and Mr. Yao's fragile diplomatic ties would've been broken. Killing him showed they didn't want trouble. Not killing him would've implied that the matter wasn't over. Tsk tsk… In the end, not only did they have to kill the man—they still had to apologize."
A few days later, Jiang Lin, cooped up in the study of the inner courtyard, heard about the recent events from Xiao Yi Xian. He couldn't help but sigh internally.
"Mr. Yao's still too kind. If it were me, I'd have pointed at that Dou Shi Mu She and cursed him out. Ten guys couldn't guard one person? Even ten pigs could hold off a magical beast long enough! Hmm… Maybe I'm being a bit too cocky."
"You at least realize you're being cocky?" Xiao Yi Xian peeked in and teased Jiang Lin, who was once again talking to himself.
Jiang Lin had spent so much time alone he'd gotten used to talking to himself. To someone unaware, it might seem like he had an old grandpa living in his ring.
"Oh come on, I'm still not as shameless as you, Big Sis Xian." Jiang Lin laughed as he organized his notes.
He forged weapons in the smithy and studied Dou Technique models in better-lit, calmer places. Practice, reflect, repeat—that was his method.
Xiao Yi Xian stepped in wearing her doggy slippers, pausing at the doorway so as not to step on Jiang Lin's notes scattered on the floor. Last time she'd accidentally stepped on one, he'd grumbled about how moving things disturbed his memory.
"By the way, Linzi, I've been meaning to ask—why didn't you keep those two little puppies?" she asked, leaning on the doorframe.
Jiang Lin shook his head. "First, they were wolf pups. Second, they were magical beasts. If they were vegetarians, maybe I'd have brought them back."
"And I'm kindhearted—I couldn't bear to separate them from their parents, so I sent the whole family off to be together."
Of course, there were other reasons behind that decision—this was just part of it.
Xiao Yi Xian: "…"
"You're full of nonsense!"
"Hahaha!" Jiang Lin laughed, then changed the topic. "I'm heading to Wutan City to see if I can find any bargains. Is there anything you want? I'll try to bring it back for you."
Jiang Lin made these "bargain runs" to Wutan City every six months—he'd discovered that good items really did pop up there randomly.
Xiao Yan: Bro, if you grab all the bargains, what's left for me!?
(END CHAPTER)
Friends, if you enjoyed the novel, you can subscribe to my Patreon channel.
Until November 31st, get 25% off both your subscription and the purchase of your novel. Thank you for your support.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Franklin1