Tang San Was Shocked—Senior Brother Xiao Xian Also Knew Hidden Weapons?

The Blacksmith Shop was scorching hot; the moment they entered, a wave of heat washed over them.

Inside was a large hall. To the left, near the entrance, was the forging area, where several casting stations stood in a row. The wall on the right was covered with weapons, farming tools, and even armor.

Xiao Xian moved farther to the right, avoiding the heat wave where it was slightly cooler.

Tang San went to the forging area on the left, found a burly man named Shi San, and explained why he had disappeared.

Shi San's skin was dark, his forehead covered in beads of sweat, with even traces of salt visible.

Originally, his expression had not been very pleasant, even somewhat cold.

But when he heard Tang San say that he had become a spirit master, and saw the yellow spirit ring flash briefly around him, he was immediately startled.

Not only did his expression soften, but a trace of respect unconsciously entered his tone.

This was the norm on Douluo Continent.

Even the most ordinary spirit masters were important figures in the eyes of commoners.

Especially since Tang San was so young... or rather, so little.

The other blacksmiths in the Blacksmith Shop also stopped swinging their Big Hammers and looked at Tang San with curiosity and shock.

Xiao Xian admired the weapons on the wall and took a moment to glance at Tang San.

His expression did not change much, and he remained respectful toward Shi San, calling him Uncle San with every other sentence.

He had not started acting any differently just because he had become a spirit master.

On the contrary, he kept saying that they absolutely should not dismiss him as an apprentice.

He looked extremely humble.

But Xiao Xian knew that, at his core, Tang San was still merely an "ancient person."

An ancient person who had never left the Tang Sect in his entire life.

His moral outlook was exceedingly simple...

Judging from his experiences in the original story... that was indeed the case.

When he was in the wrong and lacked strength, he would obediently admit his mistake. Once he had strength, it immediately became, "How dare you old dog bully me? You have earned your death."

He was exceptionally adaptable.

Better let him remain a Food System spirit master for the rest of his life, Xiao Xian silently thought. He did not want to somehow earn his own death one day.

"Senior Brother, I've explained everything. Let's go." Tang San seemed to be in a good mood after clearing things up with Shi San. He found Xiao Xian and smiled.

But Xiao Xian was in no hurry. He shook his head. "Xiao San, no rush."

Under Tang San's puzzled gaze,

Xiao Xian stepped forward and greeted Shi San.

"Uncle Shi San, how are the things I ordered before?"

Shi San stopped the Big Hammer he had just raised.

He looked at Xiao Xian, immediately recognized him, and even forced out an awkward smile.

"It's you."

"I'm terribly sorry. That batch of short blades, along with those other things, proved harder than we expected. We've only forged half of them..."

Shi San went into the rear storeroom and carried out the things Xiao Xian had ordered, saying that if he did not want the rest, they were willing to refund his money.

Tang San glanced at the boxes on the ground and was immediately surprised.

They were filled with throwing knives of various sizes, steel needles, darts, and things like wire nets.

Though some seemed only vaguely familiar, as a disciple of the Tang Sect, he could not have known such things better.

Shi San said these things had been ordered by Senior Brother...

But why would Senior Brother...?

Could this world have Hidden Weapons too?!

Xiao Xian noticed Tang San's expression and pretended not to see it.

Of course, this had been intentional on his part.

If he did not show Tang San in advance that he knew a little about Hidden Weapons,

then if Tang San discovered it later, he might think Xiao Xian had secretly learned them and earned his death. Though Xiao Xian had indeed stolen plenty of knowledge, he simply did not want Tang San to come knocking one day to "settle accounts."

Xiao Xian casually picked a throwing knife and two steel needles from the box, then flicked his wrist.

It seemed as if the wind whistled past.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—!

Smack! Smack! Smack!

The throwing knife and steel needles traced several arcs through the air and lodged firmly into the wooden slats on the wall where the weapons were displayed.

"Good quality. I'm not in a hurry, so I'll leave the rest to you too, Uncle Shi San!" Xiao Xian nodded in satisfaction, walked over to the wall on the right, and pulled the steel needles and throwing knife from a wooden slat barely an inch wide.

Tang San looked at Xiao Xian's back, astonishment flashing in his eyes as he cried out inwardly, Hidden Weapons... They really are Hidden Weapons!

Shi San stared at Xiao Xian in confusion. He could not see anything special; he only knew that this young Lord Soul Master had terrifyingly accurate aim. As expected of a spirit master, and no wonder he wanted those things.

But Tang San had seen it clearly.

That throwing knife and those two steel needles had not flown straight through the air!

Instead, each had trembled slightly along an arc!

They looked exactly like Flying Swallows from the Tang Sect's Hidden Weapon Compendium!

And the technique had been incomparably practiced.

Was it a coincidence... or... Tang San felt both excited and doubtful. He opened his mouth, wanting to speak but stopping himself.

In the end, he temporarily suppressed his doubts. This was the Blacksmith Shop, and there were too many people around.

"I'll take these first. Take your time with the rest. I'll come collect them when I'm free."

Xiao Xian tossed the steel needles and throwing knives back into the box, stored it in his Storage Spirit Tool, then took out a Gold Soul Coin and handed it to Shi San.

After the two left the Blacksmith Shop,

the people inside continued forging while discussing Xiao Xian and Tang San in animated voices, full of amazement and envy.

It was not until Shi San laughingly cursed them out and said he would treat them to wheat ale that night, telling them to focus on finishing this batch first so they would not accidentally produce defective goods.

"..."

On the way back to the academy, Tang San repeatedly seemed as though he wanted to say something, only to hold back.

Xiao Xian naturally noticed and knew that Tang San must be full of questions.

Not until they returned to Nuoding Junior Spirit Master Academy,

and there were more Teachers and students around them,

did Xiao Xian finally ask with concern as though he had only just noticed, "Xiao San, is something wrong? You seem distracted."

Tang San hesitated for a while, but ultimately could not hold it in. "Senior Brother, the technique you used to throw those knives just now looked incredible! Was that also a spirit skill?"

"A spirit skill?" Xiao Xian looked as though he found that amusing. "It was just throwing things outward. Isn't having hands enough? There are a few tricks to it, sure, but it does not count as a spirit skill."

Tang San was a little stunned. He had not expected Xiao Xian to answer like that.

In his view, it had very likely been Flying Swallows!

A remarkably exquisite technique.

How could it merely involve a few tricks?

Xiao Xian acted as though he had not noticed Tang San's expression and continued walking into the academy.

"Still, your situation is somewhat similar to that of your Senior Brother."

"This technique of throwing things does have a little combat potential. If it catches someone off guard, it might even be able to take down a spirit master or something."

"If you want to learn, I can teach you when I have time."

"But I only figured it out based on my own circumstances, so if I teach it badly, don't blame me."

So it really was a coincidence... Hearing the words "figured it out," Tang San's heart settled, though he could not help feeling disappointed.

He had thought that Hidden Weapons might also exist in this world.

Or perhaps there was another Tang Sect here.

After all, he himself was living proof.

Now, though, it seemed he had been overthinking things.

As for whether Xiao Xian had secretly learned Flying Swallows...

Tang San secretly shook his head.

He had only used it on the night he fought Xiao Wu. It had been pitch-black, and Xiao Xian had not been there.

Besides, Xiao Xian's technique had been far too practiced.

It did not look like something he had just secretly learned.