Lou Gao's Frustration!

After learning what had happened, Lin Xia held Larvitar and silently retreated from the Corridor's shadows back to the Backyard.

After all, even if he kept watching, there was nothing he could change with his current strength.

He might as well think of a solution as soon as possible.

Lin Xia forced himself to calm down and gently placed Larvitar on the Stone Stool covered with a soft cushion. The Little Guy seemed to sense Lin Xia's unease. For once, he did not immediately pounce on the remaining Purple Lightning Iron Ore, instead looking at him worriedly with his Scarlet Eyes.

Lin Xia paced over to the Stone Table, his fingertips unconsciously tapping against the cold tabletop and producing dull sounds while his mind raced.

The root of the conflict was Miles's greed, the corruption within Spirit Hall's Gengjin City branch, and Teacher Lou Gao's old grudge against them.

The current predicament was not one of strength. But there were hundreds of people in the Blacksmith Association, along with countless commoner blacksmiths who depended on it for survival. If a large-scale conflict erupted, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Teacher was holding back out of concern for others.

After sorting through the plot of the original story, Lin Xia came up with a method that could preserve both the Association and his teacher, make Miles quiet down for the time being, and even... completely eliminate that tumor in the future.

However, he was still insignificant and unheard of. He needed to have an in-depth discussion with his teacher, confirm his teacher's true intentions and attitude toward Spirit Hall, before deciding whether this plan was feasible.

Time passed amid oppressive silence. About half an hour later, heavy footsteps approached from afar.

"Bang!"

The Backyard gate was shoved open with force. Lou Gao's tall figure strode in, still carrying unspent fury. His face was livid, his thick brows drawn tightly together, the veins at his temples twitching faintly as his chest heaved violently.

Lou Gao took several long strides to the Stone Table. Without even looking, he grabbed the half-cup of Herbal Tea Lin Xia had left behind and tilted his head back, gulping it down. It was as though it was not tea, but Ice Spring water capable of quenching the flames in his heart.

Tea dripped down his beard, yet he did not notice. Humiliation and unwillingness burned in his eyes as he slammed the empty cup heavily onto the Stone Table with a Muffled Sound.

"Bastard! They've gone too far!"

Lou Gao let out a low roar, his voice hoarse from suppressed rage, like an injured lion.

Lin Xia immediately rose to his feet, picked up the Teapot on the table, and steadily yet gently refilled Lou Gao's empty cup with hot tea.

Steam rose in soft swirls, blurring the overly sharp anger on Lou Gao's face.

Lin Xia lightly pushed the cup before his teacher, his tone carrying concern and a perfectly measured hint of confusion.

"Teacher, calm down. Those people who came just now... were they from Spirit Hall? Why... are they causing trouble for our Blacksmith Association?"

At his words, Lou Gao's bloodshot eyes snapped toward Lin Xia. A trace of astonishment flashed through them before giving way to helplessness and a hint of reproach.

"Didn't I tell you to stay in the Backyard and not come out? Those filthy things would only dirty your eyes!"

A stubborn smile, unique to a young man, appeared on Lin Xia's face as he replied frankly.

"Teacher, I'm also a member of the Blacksmith Association, and even more so, your disciple. How could I hide in the back and remain indifferent? What did I have to fear?"

Lin Xia's gaze was clear and resolute.

Seeing the sincere concern in his disciple's eyes, the knot of rage in Lou Gao's chest seemed to loosen slightly beneath the warmth of the tea and that heartfelt sentiment.

Lou Gao slowly let out a long, heavy breath, as though it carried a thousand pounds of weight.

He picked up the freshly poured tea. This time, he did not chug it down. Instead, he held it in his hands, drawing in what little warmth it offered. The fury in his eyes settled into profound weariness and helplessness.

"Yes, Spirit Hall..."

Lou Gao's voice was low, filled with complicated emotions.

"But it's not the Spirit Hall you read about or heard of in books, Kid! At least not in Gengjin City. In the hands of that scum Miles, it lost its proper character long ago! It's become a pack of jackals in divine robes, sucking people dry to the bone!"

Seeing that his teacher was willing to talk, Lin Xia immediately followed up, his tone carrying appropriate confusion and concern.

"Then... why have they always targeted our Blacksmith Association? We forge weapons and armor, and we've even supplied Spirit Hall with quite a bit of fine equipment. We should have been able to coexist peacefully, shouldn't we?"

Lou Gao fell silent for a moment. His gaze drifted into the distance, as if he had sunk into unpleasant memories. Only after a long while did he slowly speak, his voice tinged with reminiscence and bitterness.

"Sigh... it's a long story. At the beginning, while our relationship wasn't especially good, we kept out of each other's way. The turning point came six years ago..."

Lou Gao's gaze became distant yet sharp.

"Six years ago, something happened. An old friend of mine came from a family that had forged for generations. Their craftsmanship was superb, and they were upright, honorable people."

"But later, they were implicated by the Clear Sky Sect and suffered retaliation from Spirit Hall. Their family was dealt a devastating blow. They wrote to borrow money, and I couldn't swallow it. That was how I came into conflict with Miles!"

Lou Gao's fists clenched unconsciously, his knuckles turning white.

"Back then, my Blood and Qi surged, and my temper flared! I grabbed my Diamond Chisel and charged straight in front of that dog Miles! Right before all his subordinates, I pointed at his nose and cursed him out!"

"If another senior Deacon from the Holy Temple hadn't stepped in to stop me at the last moment, I would have smashed that hypocritical fat face of his with one chisel!"

Lou Gao let out a heavy sigh, carrying a trace of self-mockery and weight.

"That fight never truly broke out, but the grudge was completely set! Miles is vindictive to the extreme. From then on, he saw my Blacksmith Association as a thorn in his eye!"

The flames of anger rose in Lou Gao's eyes once more.

"After that, he got a taste for it and realized that the Blacksmith Association was a fat piece of meat he could easily take a bite from with any excuse! Safety inspection fees, Soul Tool material registration fees, fire and theft prevention sponsorships... the pretexts never stopped!"

"He skimmed away a full thirty percent of the Association's profits! If I voiced even the slightest complaint, he would use Spirit Hall as an excuse and threaten to thoroughly investigate the Association! There are hundreds of people in the Association, all with families to support. I... sigh."

At this point, Lou Gao's eyes were filled with humiliation and powerlessness.

"As for this time, it was all my fault. I got carried away and let my guard down!"

Lou Gao ruefully scratched at his messy hair.

"This afternoon, Old Man was at the entrance to the Association's storeroom, fiddling with and inspecting the Purple Lightning Iron Ore you had given me as a tribute."

"The Lightning Power contained within that ore was truly pure. Old Man couldn't help being intrigued and took a few extra looks. I even used Soul Power to stimulate it slightly and sense its properties... That magnificent purple light, that unique Energy Fluctuation... It was far too conspicuous!"

Lou Gao's face turned ashen, his teeth clenched in fury.

"It must have been a spy that bastard Miles planted near the Association, or someone who happened to be passing by at the time! That was why he couldn't wait to bring people to our door, hoping to get a share of the spoils!"

Lou Gao looked at the remaining Purple Lightning Iron Ore on the table, his expression complicated.

"To send that plague god away and settle this matter, Old Man... Old Man had no choice but to grit my teeth and give him some Purple Lightning Iron Ore!"

After saying this, Lou Gao seemed to have had all his strength drained away, becoming noticeably more dejected. Yet deep within his eyes, the flame of defiance still burned.

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