"What a fine blade!"
"No wonder he dares to ask for four thousand gold coins. This saber has something to it."
"Let me see, let me see!"
"Say what you will, but just from the style and the cold glint off the edge, I'd bet this blade is worth at least a few hundred gold coins, even if it isn't worth four thousand!"
"That good? My own greatsword is a top-quality piece from Chel's Armory, and it only cost fifty gold coins."
The moment the Ghost-Head Saber was drawn, it stirred a heated discussion among the crowd. There were doubts and curiosities, but there were also a few knowledgeable experts mixed in.
Although Wang Zhi was no blacksmith, as a mercenary, he had spent years handling all sorts of weapons. He had gone through dozens, if not a hundred, blades, and naturally knew how to appraise one. From the saber's grip, weight, the sound of it being unsheathed, and the finish of the blade, he could tell that this was a masterpiece among masterpieces. Even if it couldn't compare to a weapon inlaid with a Second-Order Magic Core, it was definitely no worse than some inlaid with a First-Order core.
This realization greatly eased the anger in Wang Zhi's heart. After all, it seemed the young stall owner wasn't actually trying to play him for a fool. From his perspective, the boy was probably just inexperienced and, coupled with youthful arrogance, had misjudged the blade's true value.
Stroking the body of the Ghost-Head Saber, Wang Zhi couldn't help but praise it again. "A fine blade!"
He had already decided not to cause any more trouble for the young man. He would simply have him return the gold coins beyond the blade's real price, and he would let the matter go. Yes, he was prepared to buy this saber. Although his current weapon was certainly better, he truly liked the style of this one. Coupled with its high quality, it would make an excellent backup weapon.
But before he could speak, Zhou Changqing had already picked up an iron ingot and held it out.
Wang Zhi was taken aback. "Kid, what's the meaning of this?"
A freebie with the purchase? Don't think for a second that this will stop me from getting my four thousand gold coins back. Dream on! Four thousand gold coins was half his savings; losing it all would be a painful blow that would sting for a long time.
"To test the blade. Then you'll understand," Zhou Changqing said, as concise as ever.
A wave of murmurs swept through the crowd.
"Who does this kid think he is? Does he think that's some legendary artifact? He's just asking for a slap in the face!"
"Young people are too arrogant, always thinking their judgment is infallible. Ah, this little fellow is heading for a fall."
"Could that iron ingot be defective or made of some other material? The kid doesn't seem like an idiot."
"Old Wang, since the little brother is insisting, just give it a try! Let us all witness the might of a 'steel-slicing treasure blade'!"
"Yeah, yeah, Old Wang, try it!"
The crowd erupted in a clamor of taunts and goading jeers.
Wang Zhi frowned, his gaze on the Ghost-Head Saber now filled with a mixture of suspicion and uncertainty. As someone in the crowd had pointed out, the young man before him did not seem like a fool. The fact that he dared to suggest a test proved he had confidence.
After giving Zhou Changqing a long, deep look, Wang Zhi shook his head. "If we're going to test the blade, I certainly won't use something you provide. I'll find my own test material."
He had been planning to let the boy off the hook, but since he was being so stubborn, Wang Zhi was more than happy to oblige him.
Zhou Changqing said nothing in response, simply retracting the iron ingot with an air of "do as you please."
At this, Wang Zhi drew the greatsword from his waist.
The action drew gasps from several people in the crowd.
"Well, I'll be. Old Wang is getting serious, using his own sword for the test?"
"Tsk, Old Wang's blade was forged from Hundred-Forged Steel and is even inlaid with a low-grade Second-Order Earth-Attribute Magic Core. Any ordinary iron weapon would be shattered within two exchanges against it."
"Serves the kid right for being so stubborn. Now his blade will be destroyed, he won't get his money back, and he'll probably get a beating on top of it all. He deserves it."
A faint smile touched the corners of Wang Zhi's mouth as he looked at Zhou Changqing. The onlookers had already described his weapon; he refused to believe the kid could remain as calm as before.
But to his disappointment, Zhou Changqing's expression remained as cool and indifferent as ever, completely unmoved.
The smile on Wang Zhi's face twitched. Fine, fine. I don't even want the blade anymore. Today, I'm going to teach this kid a lesson he won't forget!
"Hah!"
With no more wasted words, Wang Zhi let out a great roar. Gripping a saber in each hand, he spread his arms and then swung them together with immense force.
The two blades flashed and instantly collided.
In that moment, everyone's eyes were fixed on the two weapons, eagerly awaiting the outcome.
Sching!
However, the expected clang of metal on metal never came. Instead, there was a sharp cutting sound.
As the two blades met, the Ghost-Head Saber sliced through Wang Zhi's personal weapon with ease, cutting it clean in two. The entire process was unbelievably smooth, so much so that many people didn't even register what had happened at first.
"What?!"
"How is that possible?!"
A collective gasp went through the crowd.
"Damn it! This has to be fake, right?! This 'Old Wang' you're all talking about, he must be a shill the kid hired!"
As the reality of the situation sank in, a wave of shock and disbelief washed over the onlookers. Many cried out, unable to believe their eyes. Some even began to question the authenticity of the test, thinking it was all a staged performance.
The outcome left Wang Zhi frozen, staring blankly at the two sabers in his hands. The utter disbelief in his eyes was a clear testament to his shock.
He looked at the pristine, undamaged Ghost-Head Saber, then at his own weapon, now in two pieces. Wang Zhi was speechless. He had no idea what to say. It wasn't until he heard the accusations from the crowd that he finally snapped out of his stupor.
Without another word, Wang Zhi ignored the half of his blade that had fallen to the ground. He grabbed the Ghost-Head Saber and its sheath, his own broken blade, and the rough cloth from the stall, then seized Zhou Changqing's arm and began to leave.
"Make way, make way."
"Everyone, my apologies. It was just a little act the boy and I put on to entertain you all. I never thought one of you clever friends would see right through it."
"I, Wang, offer my sincerest apologies. I hope you won't hold it against me."
"This whole affair has left me quite ashamed. I can't bear to stay any longer, so please, friends, let us through."
As he spoke, Wang Zhi pushed his way through the crowd, even going so far as to summon his Dou Qi to form a protective mantle around himself. Empowered by the Dou Qi Mantle, he quickly pulled Zhou Changqing out of the throng of people. In a few blinks, the two of them had vanished from sight.
"What's with Old Wang? Was it really an act?"
"An act, my ass! We've been played by that bastard Wang! That blade is a true steel-slicing treasure! It really can cut through Hundred-Forged Steel like mud!"
"Damn it! That was Hundred-Forged Steel! If that saber hits a Dou Qi Mantle, it'll cut right through without a sound!"
"Why without a sound?"
"Because the person would be dead, you idiot! What sound is a dead man going to make?!"
It didn't take long for someone in the crowd to figure it out, and they couldn't help but curse loudly. With this reminder, and thinking back on Wang Zhi's series of strange actions, the others had a sudden epiphany.
A single thought appeared in everyone's mind.
"Shit! We've been tricked!"