Observing Wanfa from the martial arts school servants

Chapter 54 Demon Blood Soldiers

After leaving the training ground, Cui Mingyue and Ye Lang walked side by side at the back of the crowd.

"I need to go home," Cui Mingyue suddenly said.

"Xue Yuan's strength is well known. He has the Wolf Claw Kung Fu and the throwing knife skill. He can be considered as a middle-level expert in internal strength."

"Lin Mu defeated him with ease, clearly demonstrating his considerable strength."

"You want him to be a sacrificial offering?" Ye Lang asked.

"Thirty taels of silver a month and three Qi and Blood Pills are nothing to the Cui family."

"Even considering only Lin Muming's apparent strength, he's not at a disadvantage, not to mention his potential."

"Yes, I'll go back too."

......

Lin Mu left the martial arts arena and headed straight for the inner city.

He needs a long spear that can withstand hidden force.

He understands the principle that "an inch longer, an inch stronger".

Why use your flesh and blood to fight against others?

When he arrived at the inner city gate, the guards stopped him.

Lin Mu reached into his robes, pulled out the Palace Guard's waist token, and handed it to a soldier.

The soldier turned the token over to look at it, then handed it back: "Those not on duty today are not allowed to enter the city."

Lin Mu took the waist token and was wondering if he could ask someone to pass a message to Zhao Rong at the Palace Guard when his fingers touched another hard object in his sleeve pocket, which he then casually pulled out.

It's that bronze plaque that the Zhao family worships.

The soldiers' eyes fell on the bronze plaque, and their bodies, which had been lazily leaning against the wall of the city gate, immediately straightened up.

He took the bronze medal with both hands, glanced at it, handed it back, and then stepped aside to make way.

It was noon.

The cobblestone streets of the inner city were bleached white under the midday sun, and the shops on both sides were at their busiest.

On the left is a steamed bun shop, and on the right is Huang's Beef Shop.

A large pot of beef bone soup was set up in front of the beef shop, steaming and bubbling. Several men who looked like laborers were squatting by the roadside, eating their noodles with bowls in their hands, sweating profusely.

A figure dressed in a gray-blue cloth was standing under the signboard, slightly turned to the side, as if checking how much soup was left in the pot.

The man held an empty bowl of noodles in one hand and had the other hand hanging down at his side—his thumb was clenched and the other four fingers were slightly bent. He quickly scribbled a line on the wooden board in the lower left corner of the signboard.

The movements were so fast that it looked like he was just wiping the noodle soup off his hands.

But Lin Mu, a martial artist with hidden strength, had a keen intuition that he saw the man's index, middle, and ring fingers draw three arcs on the wooden board, which intersected at one point, and then his thumb pressed down heavily at the intersection.

After doing this, the person picked up the empty bowl, turned around, and left.

Lin Mu then realized that the person was Meng Changqing.

He didn't see that a servant boy from the Ye family was hurrying away with Meng Changqing not far away.

......

When he arrived at the Palace Guard, Zhao Rong was copying documents in a side room of the west courtyard.

Hearing footsteps, he looked up and was taken aback for a moment—Lin Mu rarely came to the Palace Guard on days other than his duty days.

He then put down his pen, stood up, and smiled as he cupped his hands in a respectful gesture:

Congratulations!

"The news about today's martial arts arena has spread throughout half of the inner city."

Lin Mu bowed in response.

"Lord Zhao, I've come today to ask for your help."

"Please feel free to speak."

"Today, when I fought Xue Yuan, the throwing knives he threw could withstand hidden force."

"I also want to create a weapon that can withstand internal force."

Zhao Rong pondered for a moment: "The best blacksmith shop in Heyuan County is the Ye family's."

"The Ye family's best blacksmith is Ye Gang."

"He is skilled in using the Ye family's unique stacking and forging method."

He put down his teacup, stood up, and took his outer robe from the clothes rack. "Come with me."

The Ye family's house is located deep in the alley.

The door is made of black lacquered wood, with a copper plaque above the lintel bearing the character "叶" (Ye).

Zhao Rong knocked on the door. The gatekeeper recognized him, put on a smile, cupped his hands in greeting, and led them to the front yard and into the main hall.

There were already people in the hall.

A middle-aged man in his forties was sitting in a grand chair drinking tea. He was wearing a dark blue robe, had a square face, and his eyes and brows carried the amiable air typical of a businessman.

"Editor Zhao, what a rare guest."

The man stood up, cupped his hands in greeting, and looked past Zhao Rong, his gaze landing on Lin Mu.

"Lin Mu," Lin Mu introduced himself.

"The young hero, who fought against Zhao Lie and Xue Yuan, is known throughout the city. We have long admired him."

"I am Ye Huaijin from the Ye family."

"Editor Zhao is a very busy man. He brought Brother Lin to visit in person today. He must have something important to say."

"Brother Ye is a sensible man, so I won't beat around the bush."

Lin Mu wants to forge a weapon with demonic blood.

"In the entire Heyuan County, Ye Gang has the best craftsmanship."

Ye Huaijin held the teacup, gently stirred the tea leaves floating on the surface with the lid, blew on them, took a small sip, then put the teacup back on the table and sighed.

"Uncle Ye Gang has a very good skill. He can use the hides and flesh of demon beasts to quench iron, which consumes a lot of resources. The demon blood used for quenching is even more expensive."

"Moreover, for this kind of business, I don't have the final say; several elders in the family have to agree."

"Please allow me to inform you."

Zhao Rong knew Ye Huaijin well; he was always reserved and never made definitive statements. He would first pour out his grievances and then wait for the right price to offer.

Just as he was about to help Lin Mu negotiate the price, a servant from the Ye family slipped in through the side gate and whispered a few words in Ye Huaijin's ear.

Ye Huaijin first frowned slightly, then a very subtle smile appeared on his lips, his attitude changing instantly.

"It is rare for Editor Zhao to personally visit, and Brother Lin is the most dazzling young hero on the martial arts field today."

"Although the Ye family is not a wealthy family, they are not too muddle-headed when it comes to making friends."

"Uncle Ye Gang just happened to have a batch of materials made from demon beast bear skins today. Let's see if they're suitable."

"Please come with me, both of you."

"Thank you." Lin Mu stood up and cupped his hands in thanks.

Ye Gang's forging furnace was located deep within the Ye family compound.

After passing through a long corridor and then through a side door, there was a forge half a person's height inside, with the fire burning brightly and waves of heat hitting you in the face.

Various forging hammers and fire tongs were hanging on the wall.

Standing by the furnace was an old man in his fifties, shirtless, revealing his two arms, which were red-hot from the furnace fire. He held a long-handled iron hammer and was forging a piece of iron billet that had turned white from the heat.

Each hammer blow is accompanied by a short rotation, and the hammer face rotates at an imperceptible angle the instant it contacts the iron billet, making the texture on the iron surface denser and more uniform.

Lin Mu had never seen this hammering technique before.

"Uncle Gang," Ye Huaijin called out.

Ye Gang looked up and wiped his hands on his apron.

"This is Editor Zhao, and this is Brother Lin Mu. They would like to ask Uncle Gang to forge a unique demon blood weapon."

Ye Gang glanced at the two of them, said nothing, and continued to hammer away, sparks flying everywhere.

At that moment, the sound of the side gate rang again.

The servant from before came in again, his steps even more hurried than before.

He leaned close to Ye Huaijin's ear, his lips moving slightly. In an instant, the welcoming warmth on Ye Huaijin's face vanished.

He looked up, and a smile returned to his face.

"Editor Zhao, Brother Lin, I am truly sorry."

"The shop just received a task from Chief Instructor Yu Mubai of the Palace Guard to forge a batch of weapons. It seems we'll have to reconsider the matter of forging demon blood weapons."

"Another day, another day I will host a dinner to apologize to you both."

"This way, gentlemen." Ye Huaijin gestured for them to enter.

Lin Mu and Zhao Rong were politely asked to leave the forge.

As Lin Mu left the Ye family, he looked back to estimate the location of the forging furnace, and then looked up at the street across the street.