Meanwhile, elsewhere.
In the hotel room, Na'er had just finished bathing and changed into clean clothes. She looked as pretty as a little fairy.
Mu Xi couldn't help marveling at the sight.
"Wow, little girl, you're really beautiful all cleaned up!"
Mu Chen had also heard what happened at the beach, and he approved of Yao Chuan's actions.
"You did the right thing. When something like that happens, you should help."
He told them,
"I've already called the administrator of Aolai City. I asked them to check Na'er's registration records and look for her real family. Get some rest early tonight. We'll probably hear something tomorrow."
After Mu Chen finished speaking, he even got a separate room for Na'er.
He thought it would be better for a little girl to sleep by herself.
Mu Xi and the others all nodded in agreement. After Mu Chen left, Yao Chuan sat alone in the room, his brows tightly furrowed.
The others didn't know Na'er's true identity, but he'd read the script.
As a clone of the Silver Dragon King, Na'er didn't have any "real family."
His biggest headache now was whether he should keep this clone of the Silver Dragon King by his side, send her to an orphanage, or... let her go to Tang Wulin, just like in the original story.
Yao Chuan's thoughts were a mess, and he still hadn't made up his mind.
Just then, a soft knock sounded at the door. "Knock, knock, knock."
Yao Chuan got up and went to open it.
Standing outside was Na'er, her silver hair hanging damp around her shoulders, her little feet bare, and a small pillow clutched tightly to her chest.
She tilted her little face up slightly, her big, amethyst-colored eyes glistening as she looked at Yao Chuan. Her gaze was full of hurt and fear.
"Big brudder... I'm scared of the dark..."
"I want to sleep with you..."
She looked so pitiful, like a little kitten that had been abandoned.
The moment Yao Chuan saw her like that, his heart melted into a puddle.
Who could possibly refuse a pitiful little angel like Na'er?
He sighed. "All right, come in."
He stepped aside, and Na'er immediately followed him into the room like a little shadow.
He watched Na'er climb onto the bed and curl up in a comfortable spot. Before long, she had fallen asleep.
Yao Chuan could only smile helplessly. At the same time, he made up his mind.
No matter what, he had to find a way to keep Na'er.
But it wasn't enough for him to want to keep her. His word alone wouldn't decide it.
He was still an adopted child himself.
In this situation, how could he bring himself to ask Uncle Mu Chen to adopt another child?
Although, given Mu Chen's means, it wouldn't be a problem at all.
But this wasn't about money.
Thinking about it, Yao Chuan couldn't help fretting again. What was he supposed to do?
Yao Chuan was worrying about the matter.
His phone suddenly gave a soft buzz.
He looked down and saw that Uncle Mu Chen had sent him a text message.
It was full of encouragement, telling him to show off in front of Mang Tian tomorrow and make himself proud.
Mu Chen also said that if he pulled it off, he'd grant him one request. Whether he wanted a new toy or a big feast, anything was fine.
It was obviously the sort of trick adults used to coax children, but the moment Yao Chuan saw the message, his eyes lit up. He'd found his solution!
He slapped his thigh, finally coming up with a great idea.
The next day, Yao Chuan went straight to Mang Tian's workshop in Aolai City with Mu Chen and Mu Xi.
When they arrived, Yao Chuan poked his head around and looked over the place, but he didn't see Tang Wulin.
That didn't matter, though. It did nothing to dampen Uncle Mu Chen's urge to show off.
He pulled Yao Chuan along, all but urging his disciple to show his skills at once and give Mang Tian a good shock.
Yao Chuan knew exactly what was going on, but he didn't rush forward and get to work. Instead, he cleared his throat and looked at Mang Tian and Mu Chen, speaking quietly but earnestly.
"Uncle Mu, Uncle Mang, I'd like to challenge Thousand Refinement Heavy Silver."
He paused, then turned his gaze to Mu Chen and continued, "If I succeed, you'll have to agree to one... um, possibly a little unreasonable request. Deal?"
At that, Mu Chen visibly froze, taken by surprise.
Mu Xi was even more curious. She blinked, then immediately stepped closer to press him for an answer.
"Huh? What request? Why so mysterious? Come on, tell us!"
The little girl's face practically screamed, "I want the gossip."
Yao Chuan only smiled, ignoring Mu Xi's question.
He stared at Mu Chen without blinking. His meaning was clear: Uncle, it's up to you whether you agree.
Looking at Yao Chuan's determined little gaze, Mu Chen's heart gave a thump.
He had a vague idea of what the boy wanted to ask. It was probably related to the little girl named Na'er they'd found last night.
He didn't say much. He just waved his hand and readily nodded.
"Fine! If you really succeed, I'll agree!"
Then he turned to Mang Tian and called out, "Old Mang! You heard him, right? Hurry up and get everything ready for Thousand Refinement Heavy Silver!"
Seeing the master and disciple egg each other on, Mang Tian's brows knitted together. He couldn't help warning them again, his voice tinged with sternness.
"Old Mu, Yao Chuan, listen to me. Thousand Refinement Heavy Silver is no joke!"
He pointed at the piece of Heavy Silver.
"This stuff is much harder to work with than other metals, and the recoil is enormous!"
Mang Tian looked at Yao Chuan, his tone serious.
"Even if your disciple is incredibly talented, how old is he? Six! If he tries to tough out the recoil from Thousand Refinement Heavy Silver at such a young age, he could damage his bones and tendons. That could affect him for the rest of his life! I'm not trying to scare you."
His expression clearly said, "Don't be reckless."
Yao Chuan had yet to explain when Mu Chen ran out of patience and waved Mang Tian off.
"Oh, Old Mang! Don't worry about it! Don't I know my own disciple?"
Mu Chen looked even more confident than Yao Chuan himself.
"If he says he can do it, then he can! Hurry up and get the tools!"
He seemed even more eager than Yao Chuan. Mang Tian looked at Mu Chen, brimming with confidence, then at Yao Chuan's calm little face.
All right. They'd said their piece.
What else could he say?
Mang Tian sighed helplessly and shook his head. He stopped trying to talk them out of it.
He turned and took out the piece of Heavy Silver specially set aside for Thousand Refinement, then placed it steadily on the forging table.
"Here, the material's ready. Take it easy, kid."
Yao Chuan nodded, walked up to the forging table, took a deep breath, and picked up the Thousand-Refined Tungsten Steel Hammer prepared beside it.
He tested its weight. It felt just right.
He recalled the key points Mu Chen and Mang Tian had mentioned the day before.
He tried to settle his mind and began to "communicate" with the gray, nondescript Heavy Silver before him.
This time, the feeling was completely different!
It was as if the blurred door he'd encountered during yesterday's Hundred Refinement had been gently pushed open a crack.
The moment the hammer came down,
it was no longer just a collision of force. He seemed to actually "hear" the faint humming deep inside the metal.
He could feel its unique texture and resilience.
A wondrous rhythm flowed naturally from his arm to the hammerhead, then from the hammerhead into the block of Heavy Silver.
Under his blows, the incredibly heavy Heavy Silver seemed remarkably "obedient."
Each strike seemed to guide the metal's inner "breathing" just right.
The crisp, rhythmic clang of the hammer blows rang out in a continuous stream.
The whole process was even easier and smoother than his first attempt at Hundred Refinement the day before!
Even Yao Chuan found it a little unbelievable. It was as if the hammer wasn't striking the metal, but guiding it along some invisible pattern.
The metal itself seemed to be working with his movements, changing toward its most perfect form.
As naturally as water finding its course, the block of Heavy Silver slowly shrank under the steady hammer blows, its density steadily increasing.
Its dull gray surface grew deeper and more lustrous.
Finally, Yao Chuan brought down his last, gentle strike.
"Bwoom—!"
A strange metallic hum suddenly rang out.
A soft but remarkably solid silver glow burst from the block of Heavy Silver!
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