Guo Zhentong was true to his word. After arriving, he did not disturb Li Qing's stance training. He merely took small sips of strong liquor as he gazed somewhat wistfully at Master Gu's grave.
Li Qing had originally hoped to receive some guidance, but when he turned around, the commander of a thousand had vanished at some unknown point.
By then, the sky had already dimmed, and the howling gale beyond the border had gradually begun to subside.
Li Qing added one final shovelful of earth to Master Gu's grave mound before returning to the border fortress military camp.
Yet the parade ground was anything but peaceful that night. A great number of soldiers had assembled, making grand preparations for an expedition!
Were they going to move against those bandits north of the border?
That was Li Qing's first thought. Squinting, he took a look at the commander of a thousand standing at the very front of the formation. It was Yuan Xiao!
After a round of impassioned speech, the nearly two thousand men led by Commander Yuan Xiao marched in a mighty procession toward the north of the border to kill.
Seeing this, Li Qing hurried back to his camp tent, not daring to look any longer.
As an accompanying army blacksmith, Li Qing naturally only needed to remain stationed in the camp and did not have to join the expedition.
"Phew! Looks like they really are about to fight. I just don't know whether the Liang Kingdom and those bandits have truly colluded."
After returning to his camp tent, Li Qing silently weighed the current situation.
If the Liang Kingdom and the bandits had colluded, then this expedition would likely end in a disastrous defeat. It might even spread to the place where he was stationed.
"I wonder whether the imperial court has sent additional troops to the border fortress. The situation is already this tense—larger-scale unrest could erupt at any moment."
Li Qing sighed. His sources of information were far too restricted. Without sufficient intelligence, no matter how sharp his mind was, he could not analyze the precise state of affairs out of thin air.
"I can't worry about all that. The most urgent matter is to first step into the ranks of Outer Strength experts. Only then will I have some ability to protect myself."
Saying this, Li Qing subconsciously picked up two meal bowls and prepared to go to the Kitchen Hall for food.
But he quickly shook his head and set down Master Gu's meal bowl, taking only his own as he headed to the Kitchen Hall.
The Kitchen Hall area, usually bustling with voices every night, was exceptionally quiet tonight. Even the soldiers occasionally passing by wore grave expressions.
War was coming.
War meant death. It seemed that these men in the army were not completely unaware of the current situation either.
Fatty Wu was still on duty at the Kitchen Hall that night. Even on his fat face, a trace of worry could unusually be seen.
"I heard your master was robbed by bandits while transporting grain?" Li Qing probed. This matter was no longer a secret in the army, and it was also the excuse Commander Yuan Xiao had used for his expedition.
Fatty Wu swiftly filled Li Qing's meal bowl with food, even pressing it down and forcibly adding two extra spoonfuls of cured meat.
"Yes, but the imperial court is about to send another Grain Transport Team over. I just don't know who will receive them this time. What if they take me along?" Sweat had already appeared on Fatty Wu's anxious face.
Another Grain Transport Team was being dispatched?
This showed that the imperial court was not entirely unaware of matters at the border fortress. Moreover, their grain supplies were fairly sufficient, and the food supply line could remain stable.
It seemed the situation was not as terrible as he had imagined.
Thinking this, Li Qing casually picked up a steamed bun, stuffed it into his mouth, and said indistinctly, "There’s no need to worry. Receiving the grain this time probably won't be too dangerous. With the lesson from last time, this grain shipment will definitely be escorted by heavily armed troops."
"How do you know?" Fatty Wu asked with a suspicious look.
Li Qing rolled his eyes and said no more. Carrying his meal bowl, he returned to his camp tent.
After finishing his meal, when the night had grown still and quiet, he once again traveled to the Eternal Night World.
"Calculating the time, it should be about time to deliver the goods. Yan San ought to come today, right?"
Wrapped in a thick cotton coat, Li Qing assumed his stance and continued his stance training.
He did not wait long before the courtyard gate was indeed knocked upon again.
Knock, knock, knock!
"Is Master Li here?" Yan San's voice rang out as well.
Li Qing walked unhurriedly to the courtyard gate and welcomed Yan San inside. Yan San still wore a fawning smile, clearly eager to ingratiate himself with this highly skilled blacksmith in the city.
"I've finished forging all the sickles. Where are the things I asked for?" Li Qing pointed at the large pile of sickles in the corner of the courtyard.
"Oh! Master Li truly is a man who keeps his word! Rest assured, I brought the things you wanted from the Yan family as well!"
Saying this, Yan San took out a Beast Skin Scroll and a Green Bamboo Slip, directly handing them to Li Qing.
Li Qing accepted the Beast Skin Scroll and bamboo slip. Both were exceedingly ancient and simple in appearance, clearly objects with some age to them rather than forgeries.
Unfolding the Beast Skin Scroll, he saw that it depicted a scene of a Fierce Tiger Pounces on its prey, brimming with profound intent!
After only one glance, Li Qing was stunned by the martial intent emanating from the Beast Skin Scroll.
Seeing this, Yan San thought Li Qing did not understand what was depicted on it. He said, "Little Master Li, the Yan family said this was once an extremely ferocious beast. A Martial Hall Master created this martial art after observing such a beast hunt for prey!"
"Although such ferocious beasts can no longer be found, this martial art has been passed down!"
Li Qing pondered for a moment before saying, "Mm, not bad."
The other ancient Green Bamboo Slip contained something that surprised Li Qing even more. It was actually an internal martial art—the Turtle Breath Technique!
This time, Yan San did not offer further explanation, because he had seen satisfaction in Li Qing's eyes.
"Master Li, then I'll take the sickles away now?" Yan San asked tentatively.
"You may. Take them." Li Qing nodded.
Bam!
Only after the courtyard gate closed did a faint, half-smiling curve appear at the corners of Li Qing's mouth.
"Heh, the Yan family is being clever for nothing."
Obsidian City, within a grand and luxurious residence at the city center.
"You're saying that after that Blacksmith Li accepted the two martial arts you brought him, he showed a satisfied expression?"
A fair-skinned young nobleman dressed in brocade robes asked with a strange expression.
Yan San, who stood beside him with an extremely humble posture, repeatedly nodded. "Yes, that's right. This lowly one dares to guarantee it, Young Master Yan. Look, I even exchanged the sickles back!"
"Mm, well done. That Blacksmith Li truly is an ignorant man. There's no need to pay him much attention in the future," the young master of the Yan family said casually, waving a hand.
Behind him, a burly middle-aged man also sneered.
"That Blacksmith Li is probably just a layman, utterly ignorant of martial arts."
"The first martial art sent over, the Light Silk Leg, places tremendous emphasis on deft force. As a blacksmith, he uses broad, sweeping movements. He absolutely isn't suited to this technique. At most, he can train it to minor accomplishment; it poses without any threat."
"As for the later Black Tiger Pounces, although the artistic conception on the Beast Skin Scroll is powerful, anyone who has never seen a true fierce tiger can never cultivate it successfully. In times like these, where would he find a vicious tiger for observation?"
Yan Song also laughed softly. "That final Turtle Breath Technique takes the longest to cultivate. Without ten years or eight, I'm afraid one cannot even enter through its gate."
"Three useless things actually made that Blacksmith Li so satisfied. It seems he truly is only a layman."