The Blacksmith's Traitor, A Corpse

The Black Tiger Gang's intimidating arrival with about twenty men at the Li Family Blacksmith Shop had already drawn the attention of many town residents. Now, with this commotion, the area outside the shop was packed three rings deep.

"What's happening inside?"

"I heard someone from the Black Tiger Gang bought a blade from the blacksmith shop and there's a problem with it?"

The hushed discussions outside the shop faintly reached the courtyard. Li Tie, the shop owner, his expression changed. If the Black Tiger Gang continued to make such a scene, the reputation of the Li Family Blacksmith Shop would likely be ruined. This was the culmination of nearly twenty years of his hard work!

He quickly stepped forward. "Hall Master Wu, this saber does have a problem, but it's most likely not our shop's master blacksmith's fault... Our Li Family Blacksmith Shop is willing to forge a new long saber for you, Hall Master Wu. Its quality will undoubtedly surpass this one, and it will surely satisfy you."

"We hope you can be lenient."

As Li Tie spoke, his gaze fell upon the long saber. He didn't suspect Su Mu of any wrongdoing. Li Tie clearly remembered that Su Mu was the one responsible for inspection that day. Moreover, Su Mu had never made a mistake in forging since arriving at the shop.

Su Mu possessed a composure far beyond his peers; he wasn't the impulsive type. Li Tie believed he hadn't misjudged him.

He suspected the Black Tiger Gang was behind this, but he couldn't produce any evidence for the moment. Thus, he decided to accept the loss and offer compensation, hoping to resolve the matter peacefully.

"Be lenient? Is this about forging a new long saber? Your blacksmith shop selling such shoddy weapons, isn't that tantamount to murder for profit..."

A member of the Black Tiger Gang sneered.

The words "murder for profit" made Li Tie's face turn extremely grim, and the blacksmiths behind him also grew angry.

Just then, Wu Heng waved his hand, signaling the Black Tiger Gang member to step back. "Shopkeeper Li, I don't want to make things difficult for you. How about this... Our Black Tiger Gang's Gang Leader Zhao's birthday banquet is approaching. I don't want any trouble with weapons bringing bad luck. I won't ask for anything more, lest outsiders say our Black Tiger Gang bullies others with our influence."

Wu Heng paused with a smile. "Since this saber has a problem, we'll proceed as Shopkeeper Li suggested, but the conditions need a slight change. I want to choose a weapon from your shop now as compensation. This way, this matter will be considered settled."

Hearing the first half of his statement, everyone in the blacksmith shop inwardly scoffed. If the Black Tiger Gang didn't bully people with their influence, then there would be no bullies in Qingshui Town.

But when Wu Heng finished speaking, everyone, including Li Tie, looked surprised. Wu Heng, who had arrived so aggressively with twenty men, was actually being so accommodating today?

Had Wu Heng changed his ways?

"Perhaps it's because their Gang Leader Zhao's birthday banquet is approaching?"

Li Tie thought to himself, feeling a sense of relief. He then subtly glanced at the long saber in Su Mu's hand. That Thirty Refinements Long Saber, once sheathed, showed no extraordinary qualities to outsiders. With such terms, how could he refuse?

"Alright, we'll do as you say, Hall Master Wu. Please."

Seeing Wu Heng genuinely take a step back, everyone in the shop felt a surge of joy. After all, it was better to have less trouble than more. Their thoughts were the same as Li Tie's: it was just one weapon, one way or another.

Only Su Mu, among the crowd, felt differently. With his superior senses, he had noticed Wu Heng's gaze searching through the crowd since earlier. Finally, Wu Heng's eyes landed beside him.

"This Wu Heng is likely after this weapon of mine..."

As expected, after Li Tie cleared the path, Wu Heng called out, "Wang He, where is that saber?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of everyone in the blacksmith shop changed in unison.

"Wang He, you traitor!"

Li Xiaohu, enraged, immediately cursed and raised the shovel in his hand, ready to act.

Wang He trembled all over and suddenly knelt before Li Tie. "I, I could only do this. Shopkeeper Li, please forgive me..."

Clang, clang, clang.

Wang He kowtowed several times in front of everyone, breaking his own head. Seeing Wang He, whose head was bleeding, Li Xiaohu's shovel froze mid-air, and he was stunned.

Not long ago, Wang He had sold himself in town to get medicine for his mother. Li Tie, taking pity on him, had given him some silver and brought him back to the shop as an apprentice. He never expected this fellow to be from the Black Tiger Gang.

Li Tie and the other blacksmiths looked on with disbelief and complex emotions. They were angry yet helpless, speculating that Wang He had some leverage, or perhaps his family was held by the Black Tiger Gang.

After all, the Black Tiger Gang often engaged in such despicable acts.

After kowtowing, Wang He tremblingly pointed at Su Mu in the crowd. "The saber is with that person."

Seeing this, Wu Heng walked towards Su Mu with a smile. Just then, Li Tie stepped in front of Wu Heng, blocking his path.

"Shopkeeper Li, are you going back on your word?"

Li Tie's heart was in turmoil. This saber was a test from his senior brother for Su Mu, one of the tokens Su Mu needed to take to the county's Weapon Forging Workshop. If Wu Heng seized it, Su Mu might have trouble entering the workshop.

His senior brother had set a deadline before the Start of Autumn. There wasn't enough time to forge a new saber.

"Move aside."

Wu Heng's voice turned cold, and his inner Force surged.

At that moment, Su Mu concealed the killing intent in his eyes and stepped forward, handing over the long saber with one hand.

"Hall Master Wu, the saber you want is here."

"Su Mu, you can't give it..."

Li Tie exclaimed, but it was too late. The long saber had already fallen into Wu Heng's hands.

With the long saber in hand, Wu Heng held it horizontally in front of his chest and slowly drew the blade from its sheath.

Ching!

A cold, sharp light flashed.

The long saber emerged from its sheath, accompanied by a faint green glow.

"A good saber. It lives up to the Li Family Blacksmith Shop's reputation."

Wu Heng's words felt like sharp knives stabbing into the hearts of everyone from the blacksmith shop present. The blacksmiths, especially Zhou Shan, clenched their fists, grinding their teeth.

Su Mu, however, remained calm. The moment Wu Heng drew his saber, he was already a dead man in Su Mu's eyes.

His saber, Su Mu's saber, wasn't so easily taken.

"Shopkeeper Li, I'll take this saber. Everyone else, you don't need to see me out."

The long saber was drawn three inches before Wu Heng sheathed it. He let out a light laugh and swaggered away with the Black Tiger Gang members.

After Wu Heng left, Li Tie remained silent for a long time before finally speaking.

"Everyone... go back to work. Su Mu, come with me."

The two arrived at a corner of the small courtyard. Li Tie spoke first to comfort him, "Su Mu, I believe the issue wasn't with the saber, but likely Wu Heng's own doing."

Li Tie was worried about how this incident would affect Su Mu and if Su Mu would be disheartened by self-blame.

"Mmm, Shopkeeper, I understand," Su Mu replied, then casually added, "Shopkeeper, I'd like to buy that problematic saber... as a reminder."

"No need to buy it, Su Mu, you can just take it."

Afterward, Li Tie's expression was complex. He hesitated several times but ultimately couldn't voice his thoughts. Finally, he reached out and patted Su Mu's shoulder. "You can go back now."

Watching Su Mu's retreating figure, Li Tie murmured softly.

"No, Su Mu's talent shouldn't be buried in the shop... I'll think of another way. I'll tell him about this after some time has passed."

That day, Li Tie publicly kicked Wang He out of the shop and then gave another apprentice a few days off.

At dusk, Su Mu sealed his furnace and left the forging room. He walked through Scholar Street and turned into a small alley.

Two masked figures in black quickly followed Su Mu into the alley.

"Strange? Where did that kid go?"

The two were dumbfounded, looking at the empty alley. They had clearly seen the kid enter this alley just moments ago. One of the black-clad men asked in confusion.

The other pondered for a moment, "The monk can run, but the temple can't. There will be other opportunities in the future... Let's report back to Hall Master Wu first."

When Wu Heng learned that Su Mu was the one who forged the saber, he had a plan. He sent two men to kidnap Su Mu, but unfortunately, they lost track of him.

"Mmm, let's go back and report to Hall Master Wu first."

After searching the empty alley and finding no trace of Su Mu, the two quickly left.

As they departed, they were completely unaware that in the empty alley behind them, a pair of cold eyes were watching them.