Gu Chenyu's voice finally rang out, carrying the dry hoarseness unique to prolonged concentration, along with a faint delight mingled with surprise that even he himself had not expected.
The impatience and irritation from being disturbed had long since vanished like snowflakes thrown into a furnace.
He carefully set the precious God-tier metal at the edge of the forging table. When the metal touched the specially made surface, it made a steady thud, jolting the scattered sparks on the table into dancing.
"Do you know how long it's been since you last stepped through this door?"
Gu Chenyu turned around to face Lu Jun directly, his tone carrying undisguised reproach.
"Ever since you earned yourself the title of God Craftsman, have you grown wings and tossed forging clean out of your mind?"
Lu Jun slowly entered the room, and the air unique to the forging chamber—a mixture of scorching metal and Soul Power Fluctuation—washed over him.
His gaze swept across the room before finally settling on the God-tier metal resting quietly on the forging table, emanating a spiritual aura.
"You wrong me, Master."
Lu Jun stepped forward and bowed slightly, his tone holding just the right amount of respect along with a trace of helpless amusement.
"I have never dared forget the path of forging. I was merely tied down by worldly affairs and only found the time to visit today. Master... have you been well?"
Gu Chenyu snorted through his nose and turned away, seemingly carelessly fiddling with several tools beside the table, though his voice softened somewhat.
"I'm doing very well. Every day, I deal with these precious treasures, listen to the hammer ring, smell the furnace fire. There's no life more comfortable or fulfilling than this."
Lu Jun's gaze lingered on the metal.
It was a deep,