Blacksmith

The next morning.

Shi Yi and Yu Xiaogang went to the Cafeteria together. After breakfast, they met Tang San.

"Senior Disciple Brother, Teacher, good morning." Tang San greeted them respectfully.

Yu Xiaogang nodded. Tang San then turned to Shi Yi and said, "Senior Disciple Brother, are you ready? Today, I'm going to the Blacksmith Shop outside the academy to forge."

Hearing this, Shi Yi said to Yu Xiaogang, "Teacher, you should head back first. In a while, I'll go forge with Xiao San."

Yu Xiaogang nodded. "Alright. Be careful."

Shi Yi smiled. "With Xiao San around, nothing will happen."

Yu Xiaogang then left alone. Seeing him go, Tang San was about to buy his breakfast from the first-floor Cafeteria window when Shi Yi pulled him aside. Under Tang San's puzzled gaze, Shi Yi took two eggs and a fried flatbread from his Soul Tool and handed them over.

"Xiao San, you're still growing. There's no need to wait until we've finished eating before going into the Cafeteria. Isn't it only natural for a disciple to eat his teacher's food? Don't regret it later if you fail to grow tall. A Soul Master's body is just as important. Our teacher can afford this little bit of food, and with your intelligence, you must have noticed that there's something extraordinary about him." Shi Yi said.

Tang San accepted the breakfast Shi Yi offered him somewhat sheepishly and nodded slightly. "Senior Disciple Brother, I understand. But do you know Teacher's background?"

"Where do you think Teacher differs from the other teachers in the academy?" Shi Yi asked with a smile.

Tang San took a bite of the fried flatbread. "His vast knowledge?"

"Correct, Xiao San. Knowledge of martial souls differs from ordinary knowledge. To possess such extensive knowledge of martial souls, one's background certainly can't be ordinary. Teacher should come from one of the continent's top powers," Shi Yi said with a light laugh.

Tang San nodded in surprise. Shi Yi patted him on the shoulder. "So eat without worry. Even ten more of you wouldn't eat Teacher poor."

Tang San scratched the back of his head. "I just feel that it isn't quite right. And other people will gossip."

Shi Yi shook his head and looked at Tang San meaningfully. "Xiao San, do you know? No matter what you do, until you can make everyone shut up, there will always be people who gossip. As long as you believe what you're doing is right, that's enough."

The two passed through the academy woods. A middle-aged man in a black robe slowly stepped out from behind a large tree, and a trace of gratification flashed through his cloudy eyes.

"Geniuses are always different from others. No matter what, you can never truly fit in with those Work-Study Students. They don't speak only because they fear your strength and don't dare to. Unless you can become exactly like them—but that is impossible. Innate Full Soul Power, a four-hundred-year First Soul Ring... you are already different from them."

Tang San fell into thought at those words.

Shi Yi continued, "The reason I came here to study theory and change myself is because I don't want to be like them."

After a moment of silence, Tang San suddenly stopped and bowed slightly toward Shi Yi.

Seeing Tang San's earnest expression, Shi Yi smiled as well. In truth, handling Tang San, a transmigrator from a feudal society, only required bringing out that Confucian set of ideals about brotherly friendship and respect.

Throughout the original novel, Tang San had tried his best to abide by such rules. Or rather, these rigid hierarchies had already been carved into his bones.

There was no need to mention Tang Hao. A father like that would probably have been disowned long ago in modern times, yet Tang San had instead taken on the role of father himself.

By becoming Yu Xiaogang's disciple, the most precious thing Shi Yi had gained was not improved living conditions, nor knowledge, but an identity—an identity that brought him close to someone.

Identity might be the most insubstantial thing to the strong, but to Shi Yi at the time, it had been the most important thing.

Having struggled for many years in modern society, Shi Yi understood the importance of identity all too well. So-called building connections meant establishing ties with people of high status. Friends, brothers, masters and disciples, even fathers and sons—such relationships could often solve problems one could not solve alone.

That was also why Tang San had not chosen to keep all those Immortal Herbs for himself after obtaining them. He understood this principle too. He knew that when he needed help in the future, these people would certainly help him. For that, Ning Rongrong had even staked the entire Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Shi Yi looked at Tang San and smiled. "Why so serious? We were just chatting."

As he spoke, the two had already arrived at the Blacksmith Shop. The sounds of forging were already ringing out from within.

Clang, clang, clang...

The moment they entered, they saw a spacious hall. On the right side hung all sorts of finished ironware, mostly armor and weapons. After all, Soul Masters were only a minority in this world. Weapons were still necessary.

Shi Yi quietly examined the weapons, then looked at his Storage Belt and thought to himself, Since these Core Formations only need to be engraved on special materials, could I use an assembly-line model from factories in my previous life? Xiao San could forge the items and leave spaces for the Core Formations, while I focus on studying how to engrave them.

But Shi Yi shook his head. If he wanted to become a powerful Soul Engineer, he had to do things himself. Only by personally forging something could Shi Yi fully grasp its structure, understand its flaws, and continuously improve it.

If only this world had a way to create clones. There are too many things to do, Shi Yi thought.

Meanwhile, Tang San was wondering how much income he could make if he opened a factory producing hidden weapons in this world.

"Kids, what are you doing here? If you want to buy something, have your parents come. Get out quickly. It's dangerous here." Just as the two were lost in thought, a booming voice interrupted them.

A burly, bare-chested man was looking at them. Muscles bulged beneath his dark skin, making him look extremely sturdy. He held a massive forging hammer in his hand, and his forehead was covered in sweat.

"Hello, Uncle. I wanted to ask whether you need apprentices here." Tang San was young, and his voice was clear. Though the Blacksmith Shop was filled with the sounds of metal being struck, everyone still heard him clearly.

Shi Yi echoed, "Hello, Uncle. I want to be an apprentice too."

Most of the blacksmiths stopped working and smiled at the two boys.

Shi Yi continued, "Xiao San and I are both Soul Masters. We're very strong, and we can do the work."

The burly man was briefly stunned by their serious expressions. "Kids, you aren't pulling my leg, are you? You're already Soul Masters, so why would you come here to be apprentices?"

Tang San said, "Uncle, it's like this. I'm a Work-Study Student at Nuoding Academy, and I have time every day. My father is the blacksmith in our village. I learned forging from him when I was little, and I want to earn a meal here. This is my Senior Disciple Brother. He's a beginner, but he's very interested in forging too. If you take us in, you won't need to teach us. I can teach my Senior Disciple Brother."

Hearing Tang San's words, the man's expression immediately softened. They were both from poor backgrounds, and he immediately felt sympathetic. He simply said, "Alright. If you're willing to come, then come. You can do odd jobs for us. You can at least serve tea and run errands, right? The pay won't be high, but you'll get enough to eat. How about it?"

"Alright, no problem." Tang San was overjoyed and quickly agreed.

The blacksmiths all smiled kindly at Tang San. The burly man glared at them. "What are you looking at? Don't you have work to do? Hurry up. Tonight, I'll treat everyone to ale."

Upon hearing that, the blacksmiths were immediately energized. They each raised their hammers and resumed work.

The burly man lifted his forging hammer. As he forged the pig iron before him, he looked at the two and said, "My name is Shi San, Shi as in stone. You can call me Third Uncle. This Blacksmith Shop has been passed down through my family. If you work here from now on, I'll cover your lunch and dinner every day, and give you ten copper soul coins—that's one silver soul coin. If business is good, I'll give you a little more. Oh, right. What are your names?"

"Third Uncle, my name is Shi Yi, and he is my Disciple Brother, Tang San."

"Shi Yi? Tang San? Hahaha, good! You two little fellows are fated with me. One shares my given name, and the other shares my surname." Shi San laughed loudly.

The other blacksmiths laughed as well. Some even teased, "Third Brother, these two kids aren't your illegitimate sons, are they?"

"Go to hell. If I could father two Soul Masters, would I still need to be a blacksmith?" Shi San cursed with a laugh.

Then Shi San looked at Tang San. "You said you learned blacksmithing from your father since childhood. You're so young. What could your father have taught you?"

Tang San said, "Forging, of course. Third Uncle, don't let my size fool you. I'm strong enough to forge pig iron."

Shi San burst out laughing. "Brothers, our new little helper says he can forge too. Do you believe him?"

The blacksmiths immediately burst into laughter as well. Tang San looked only six or seven years old, even though he had grown a little taller after obtaining his First Soul Ring.

Shi Yi smiled too. Tang San's strength was no small matter now—he was even considerably stronger than in the original novel. As for Shi Yi himself, there was no need to say more. Among hundred-year Soul Beasts, few could compare to a Thousand Jun Ant in strength.

Tang San said, "Third Uncle, I really can forge. If you don't believe me, let me try."

Shi San stopped working and planted his forging hammer on the ground. "How about this? If you can lift my hammer, I'll believe you."

Then, beneath everyone's astonished gazes, Tang San picked up Shi San's hammer. "Third Uncle, you're removing impurities from this pig iron, right? Let me help you finish it."

Tang San had already raised the forging hammer, holding it horizontally in front of him.

Watching Tang San slowly lift the forging hammer, Shi San's eyes widened. He praised, "What strength. As expected of a blacksmith's son."

Tang San fixed his burning gaze on the pig iron atop the furnace, exhaled sharply, and suddenly swung Shi San's forging hammer.

"Ha!" A youthful cry rang out.

Shi Yi saw Tang San's feet grip the ground tightly as his calves suddenly exerted force. The power traveled upward, Tang San's body turned halfway, and the enormous forging hammer swung a full circle through the air before smashing heavily into the pig iron.

With a loud clang, every blacksmith's smile turned to astonishment. Then, as the hammer rebounded, Tang San spun swiftly and swung it again. Another deafening impact rang out as the hammer landed even harder than before upon the red-hot pig iron.

Shi Yi stared fixedly at Tang San's movements, not daring to relax for even a moment, because he understood that Tang San was using the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer, hailed as the strongest forging technique.

"Third Uncle, please work the bellows for me. The temperature isn't high enough." Tang San spoke quickly as he swung his third hammer. This time, the forging hammer moved even faster, stirring a howling wind.

Shi San was an experienced blacksmith, so he naturally understood that if the temperature was insufficient, the pig iron in Tang San's hands would clearly burst apart. He quickly crouched to the side and began working the bellows.

Shi Yi kept his eyes fixed on Tang San until they began to ache. Soon, under the astonished gazes of the blacksmiths, Tang San stopped. After Tang San's relentless hammering, the pig iron's shape had not changed in the slightest, but it had shrunk by an entire circle.

Looks like I need to find a way to improve my learning ability. There aren't any Cameras in this world—how am I supposed to remember everything with just my brain? A trace of regret flashed through Shi Yi's eyes as he watched Tang San stop.

If he had a Camera to record it, he could simply watch it over and over. Learning it would only be a matter of time.

Then I should hurry and try it. I can't let the impression in my mind fade, Shi Yi thought.

Just as Shi San was explaining the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer to Tang San, Shi Yi said, "Xiao San, can I try?"

Everyone's gaze fell upon Shi Yi. After the surprise Tang San had given them, the blacksmiths were naturally extremely curious about Shi Yi as well.

"Of course, Senior Disciple Brother." Tang San answered, then briefly explained how to do it.

At that moment, Shi Yi recalled Tang San's earlier movements and Tang Hao's explanation of Disorder Splitting Wind in the original novel. He took the forging hammer from Tang San and weighed it slightly. To him, this hammer was not particularly heavy.

Seeing Shi Yi test the hammer's weight, the blacksmiths' eyes were filled with surprise. Shi Yi was clearly even stronger than Tang San.

After adjusting his posture, everyone watched Shi Yi and found that his stance was extremely similar to Tang San's earlier one.

Use the calves to exert force. Treat the body like a supple whip and swing it out. Turn with the momentum and swing again...

That was Shi Yi's understanding after watching Tang San forge just now.

The next second, Shi Yi's body suddenly tensed. Imitating Tang San, he brought down the forging hammer in his hand, and it struck the iron block solidly.

Bang!

"Not bad!"

"This kid may not be as good as that other one, but he's got some strength too."

After trying several swings, not only could the blacksmiths see the difference, Shi Yi himself could clearly feel that his hammering was less effective than Tang San's. His strikes were also far less precise, and several blows had nearly gone crooked.

Someone trained in martial arts really is different. My coordination and control over my body are far inferior, not to mention that Tang San has the Tang Sect's unique arts as well, Shi Yi thought.

Tang San comforted him, "It's alright, Senior Disciple Brother. Everyone is like this when they first start practicing. You'll improve with time."

Shi San smiled as well. "That's right, kid. Blacksmithing takes time to hone. Having this kind of strength means you're suited for the trade. Xiao San, I won't arrange for anyone to teach your Senior Disciple Brother. You can teach him yourself."

Tang San smiled and nodded.

And so, Tang San and Shi Yi officially became members of Shi San's Blacksmith Shop, beginning their fulfilling lives.