Iron Department Takes the Blade

"I just passed the assessment to be promoted to Squad Leader and am forming my own team. How about you join me?" Qin Shuang seized the opportunity to invite him.

"Sure!" Heng Feijing agreed without hesitation.

"Then I'll see you in a few days." Seeing Heng Feijing's immediate acceptance, Qin Shuang felt pleased, though he didn't show it on his face.

At this moment, Jiang Xiaoyu had already retrieved the Tiger Break. Heng Feijing took it and simply said, "Good."

"Where do we go next?" Jiang Xiaoyu asked Qin Shuang, seeing that he had successfully recruited Heng Feijing.

"Do you have anyone else suitable to recommend?"

"I can't think of anyone right now," Jiang Xiaoyu shook his head.

"Since there's no suitable candidate for now, let's head to the Flood Unit's Iron Department first to pick up a new set of blades!" Qin Shuang decided on their next destination after a brief thought.

The Flood Unit's Iron Department was responsible for forging the Dragon Guard's weapons and armor, the most important of which was crafting the Dragon Guard's signature weapon: the standard dual blades!

As one's rank increased, the quality of the Dragon Guard's standard dual blades also improved. Qin Shuang, having passed the assessment for Squad Leader, was eligible to receive the standard dual blades for his rank.

The Flood Unit's Iron Department was adjacent to the Dragon Guard Yamen and had its own forging area, inspection grounds, armory, offices, and dormitories. Qin Shuang and Jiang Xiaoyu presented their identification tokens and stated their purpose. A colleague led them to the armory.

On rows of weapon racks, numerous long and short dual blades of similar design were displayed. The long blades were three feet seven inches, and the short blades were two feet one inch. Both the hilts and scabbards were black.

The difference lay in the ranks. Ordinary Dragon Guards were issued Yong'an Blades and Changning Blades, made of snow-refined steel. Squad Leaders received the Gilded and Jade-Inlaid Dual Blades, with black iron cold blades and bronze hilts carved with patterns. Section Leaders were issued the Mountain Slicers and Stream Breakers, also with black iron blades featuring a snowflake-patterned edge. Squad Leaders wielded the Sorrow Dispellers and Hatred Severers, with dark gold blades and serrated edges. Garrison Generals were equipped with the State Stabilizers and Barbarian Breakers, with jet-black blades adorned with silver mountain and river patterns. Military Marquises received the Duty Settlers and Obstacle Breakers, with snow-white blades that shimmered with golden sunlight.

Commanders and above were bestowed weapons by the Emperor himself, a gesture to display imperial favor and one of the means by which the royal family garnered loyalty.

Qin Shuang took down the Sorrow Dispeller and swung it a few times in the air. He felt no discomfort in its weight or length, his heart filled with joy.

Qin Shuang then took down the Hatred Severer and said to the colleague who was guiding them, "I'll take these blades. Please register them."

The guide, who appeared to be in his early twenties, was tall and sturdy with dark skin. His facial features were sharp and resolute, like a sculpture. His deep, dark icy eyes gave him an air of unyielding integrity and wild freedom.

"Sorrow Dispeller, Hatred Severer? Please show me your Squad Leader token." The guide, seeing that Qin Shuang was younger than himself, couldn't help but express doubt.

"I'm from the Yu Unit's Divine Department. I just completed the assessment to be promoted to Squad Leader, and my identification token hasn't been issued yet." Qin Shuang knew the rules and explained, "My saber was damaged during training earlier, so I came to collect a new one in advance."

"That's difficult. As a mere blacksmith, I can't make that decision. Do you have any acquaintances in the Flood Unit who could help communicate with my superiors to verify your identity?"

"I don't have any acquaintances. Can't you make an exception? My identification token and appointment letter should arrive in three to five days at most."

"I'm sorry, but according to the rules of our Iron Department, we cannot issue the dual blades in advance before your identity is confirmed. If you really need them urgently, you can take the Yong'an and Changning Dual Blades for now. Leave your address, and I'll have the Sorrow Dispeller and Hatred Severer delivered in five days." The guide spoke politely but stood firm on his principles, refusing to budge.

"Alright, then I won't make things difficult for you. I'll come back in a few days. It's not far from the Yamen anyway," Qin Shuang said helplessly, acknowledging that this was the rule.

"Wait a moment!" Just as Qin Shuang and Jiang Xiaoyu turned to leave, the guide suddenly called out to them.

"Is there something else?" Now it was Qin Shuang's turn to be confused.

"I heard that if you're promoted to Squad Leader, you can recruit your own squad. Have you filled your team yet?"

"That's right, we have that rule, and I haven't recruited everyone yet?" Qin Shuang's mind raced as he vaguely guessed the man's intention. "You want to join?"

The guide took a deep breath, as if making a firm decision. "My name is Huai Mie. I've been learning forging and martial arts from my master since I was young. I've officially been in the Dragon Guard for five years, always following my master in the Flood Unit's Iron Department. I hope to join your team and venture out into the world!"

"You want to join the Yu Unit's Divine Department? Do you know what we do?" Qin Shuang looked Huai Mie up and down curiously.

"I know. Our main responsibilities are supervision, apprehension, interrogation, and case handling."

"So, what advantages do you think you have that would make me choose you over my colleagues from the Divine Department?"

"I'm confident in my courage and resourcefulness. My martial arts skills are not inferior to anyone my age, and I can absolutely fulfill the duties of the Divine Department. Most importantly, if you choose me, I will be loyal to you!" Huai Mie declared earnestly.

"Interesting!" Qin Shuang's heart stirred upon hearing Huai Mie's last sentence. "May I test your martial arts skills?"

"Certainly. The weapon inspection grounds are quite spacious and suitable for demonstrating hand-to-hand combat." Huai Mie understood Qin Shuang's caution and readily agreed.

"No need, we can do it here!" Qin Shuang smiled slightly. He wasn't planning on a full-blown fight.

"Brother Shuang, your fight with Heng Feijing just now made my hands itch. Let me stretch my muscles this time!" Jiang Xiaoyu stopped Qin Shuang and volunteered.

"Good!" Qin Shuang naturally knew that Little Fish was worried that he hadn't fully recovered from his previous battle, so he didn't refuse his kind offer.

"Hello, I'm Jiang Xiaoyu from the Yu Unit's Divine Department. Shall we spar with fists or weapons?" Jiang Xiaoyu introduced himself first, then asked.

"Fists," Huai Mie replied, assuming a cautious stance.

Although Jiang Xiaoyu was young, Huai Mie didn't underestimate him. This spar wasn't about winning or losing, but about showcasing his abilities, so he couldn't afford to be careless.

The Jiang family's ancestral martial art was the "Five Absolute Divine Arts." This art was compiled by the Jiang family elders who gathered the most profound techniques from various schools and sects across the land. They integrated the strengths of each school and, at great cost, sought out the era's most outstanding figures like Ouyang Ting and the Five Absolutes of Heaven and Earth to refine it, eventually establishing it as a unique system. It contained the most secret essence of various martial arts, not only allowing the user to execute them to their fullest potential but, more importantly, each move had variations, incorporating the essence of other schools. Most crucially, the transitions between these different forms of techniques were extremely skillful and natural, never appearing stiff or rigid, making it seem as if all these martial arts were originally part of a single cohesive practice.