The Buddhist Li Qing

Under the poor acting of the Master of the Green Mountain Pavilion and Zhang Lai of the Flying Cloud Martial Arts School, the monthly fees paid by the merchants on Chiming Street increased by one tael of silver.

Everyone was angry but dared not speak. No matter how much they complained, they knew that facing the Flying Cloud Martial Arts School and the Green Mountain Martial Arts School, they, as merchants, could not change anything.

Some merchants who could not afford the increased fees, or rather, those unwilling to be further exploited, chose to leave. They either left the street or left Shengtian.

Time slowly passed, winter was nearing its end, and the temperature had reached its coldest point.

During this period, Li Qing persevered in his martial arts training, tempering his physique daily. His Outer Strength became increasingly robust with the accumulation of time.

The blacksmith shop's business also gradually improved. At first, only neighbors came to him to forge ordinary ironware like kitchen knives. As the end of the year approached, someone finally commissioned him to forge a long saber.

The person who came was a disciple of the Green Mountain Martial Arts School named Zhong Hui, a young man with a yellowish, often smiling face.

"Master Li, I've heard you usually make kitchen knives and pots for people. Can you forge the long saber I want?" Zhong Hui asked with a smile.

Li Qing did not answer with words. He walked to the back wall of the blacksmith shop and pulled aside a curtain that covered it.

Swish!

On the thick wall hung a row of weapons, emitting a cold, sharp glint.

Sabers, spears, swords, halberds, axes, battle-axes, hooks, and forks!

From their texture, it was evident that these weapons were all top-quality, each meticulously forged by Li Qing.

Zhong Hui of the Green Mountain Martial Arts School was momentarily stunned by the weapons on the wall, his jaw dropping.

Li Qing patted the dust off the curtain and asked with a smile, "How about it, are you reassured now?"

Hearing this, Zhong Hui nodded repeatedly, his head bobbing like a pecking chicken.

"Reassured, reassured, completely reassured!"

Since Li Qing's Ancient Profound Hammer Technique had been steadily improving, his blacksmithing skills had also become better. For an ordinary piece of iron, each strike with the Peerless Hammer was equivalent to more than ten strikes by an ordinary blacksmith.

Coupled with the enhancement of a martial artist's Outer Strength, every weapon forged was extraordinary. If the materials were also chosen carefully, they could even rival some renowned divine weapons in the martial world!

"Tell me, how heavy, how long, and what type of long saber do you want?"

Zhong Hui quickly replied, "I want one in the style of a zhanmadao (horse-chopping saber). The weight should be around fifty jin. Any heavier and I won't be able to wield it. It should be as sharp as possible, and the length should be about this long..."

With Zhong Hui using his hands and feet to demonstrate, Li Qing got a general idea of his requirements for the long saber and already had a rough design in mind.

"Eighteen taels of silver. Half as a deposit, and the other half upon completion," Li Qing said without looking up.

This price was actually not expensive. Considering Li Qing's current skill, a carefully forged, meticulously crafted weapon could easily sell for dozens or even a hundred taels of silver outside.

However, Li Qing was not solely motivated by money. He primarily valued the Lifespan he gained from forging weapons, which was why he set the price relatively low.

Yet, Zhong Hui seemed to be quite strapped for cash, even frowning at the eighteen taels of silver.

"Haha, Master Li, can you make it a little cheaper? We're neighbors..." Zhong Hui said, scratching his head awkwardly.

Li Qing replied in a calm tone, "It's precisely because we're neighbors that I'm charging you eighteen taels of silver. Otherwise, if someone else asked me to forge a weapon, I wouldn't even bother for less than several dozen taels."

Qi Kang, who was sitting by the side, idly watching the snow, couldn't help but sneer, "If you don't have money, why are you getting a weapon forged? If you have money, go learn martial arts at a school. If you don't have money, can't afford a saber?"

Ever since the incident at the Green Mountain Martial Arts School, Qi Kang's impression of these people rushing to pay money to learn martial arts had soured to the worst possible degree. He found everyone from the Green Mountain Martial Arts School displeasing.

He had even become taciturn, no longer holding any hope for the world, and spent his days in melancholy.

"Shut up!" Li Qing reprimanded with a frown.

At his words, Qi Kang turned his head away, remaining silent.

Zhong Hui didn't seem to mind Qi Kang's taunt much. He said with a wry smile, "It's fine, Master Li. You don't need to scold your disciple."

"To be honest with you, I only have twelve taels of silver on me right now. I can keep one tael and use the remaining eleven as a deposit. Once the saber is forged, within seven days, I'll pay you the remaining ten taels!"

His tone was pleading and urgent, as if he was in a great hurry.

This made Li Qing a bit curious. He casually asked, "Isn't Shengtian quite stable recently? Why are you in such a hurry for a saber?"

Zhong Hui's expression became conflicted. After thinking for a moment, he finally spoke, "Alas, it's fine to tell you, but Master Li, you must not leak this information!"

He looked around and then lowered his voice, "A tomb from a previous dynasty has been discovered at Little Cui Ridge outside the city. It's suspected to be the tomb of a famous Internal Energy master. Prince Yu's Mansion is hiring us martial arts school disciples with a hefty sum to explore this tomb!"

"Moreover, Prince Yu's Mansion is not taking any of the treasures within the tomb. They only want the martial arts inheritance left by that martial arts master!"

At this point, Qi Kang, sitting in the blacksmith shop, perked up his ears.

"However, the Nine Lotus Sect also seems to have their eyes on this tomb of a martial arts master, and the news seems to have leaked out. Others in the martial world might also get involved, which is why I've come to you to forge a weapon for self-defense."

"Master Li, don't worry. Once this matter is over, if I get some wealth from the tomb, along with the reward from Prince Yu's Mansion, I'll definitely be able to pay for the weapon!"

After hearing this, Li Qing nodded and said, "So that's how it is. Brother Zhong, since you've explained it so clearly, it would seem rather unreasonable for me to refuse now."

"Hahahaha, not at all, not at all. Master Li, you're too kind."

Thus, the two reached an agreement. Zhong Hui left after leaving the eleven taels of silver he had on hand, cupping his fists in farewell.

Li Qing watched Zhong Hui's departing figure. After a long while, he said in a deep voice, "Qi Kang, bring the iron!"

After a considerable pause, Qi Kang finally reacted. He patted his backside and brought over the iron ingots.

"Master, that tomb at Little Cui Ridge..." Qi Kang tentatively asked, observing Li Qing's expression.

However, Li Qing's response disappointed him once again.

"An item that Prince Yu's Mansion has its sights on, and the Nine Lotus Sect is also watching covetously. Do you really think that tomb is something I could covet?" Li Qing said calmly.

As soon as he said this, Qi Kang drooped his head in dejection.

He knew that once his master made a decision, no one could change it.

During this time, no matter how much he pleaded, Li Qing refused to teach him martial arts, which made him feel despair.

However, he also understood that Li Qing treated him very well, never neglecting his food or lodging, and was indeed serious about teaching him how to forge iron.

Everything was good, except he was too laid-back, almost like a monk!

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