"All right, let's go home and rest for a bit. Later, Lan Kai, you're coming with me to the Blacksmith's Association.
"Na'er, are you coming with us, or staying home to rest?"
When school let out, Lan Kai walked out of the gates holding Na'er's hand. Juggler was already waiting there. His distinctive air made him stand out from the crowd, even without wearing the Spirit Pagoda uniform.
Lan Kai suddenly felt an urge to take a picture of Juggler just like this and send it to Kurenai Gai, along with everyone at the Storage Facility.
They'd surely be delighted to see Juggler looking so out of the ordinary.
"I'm going with my brother."
Na'er answered without hesitation, then leaned against Lan Kai.
Na'er felt closer to the brother who had become light and saved her.
As for Juggler, that weird uncle, Na'er did feel close to him too, but not as close as she did to Lan Kai.
After resting at home for a little while, Juggler took the two of them out again and headed for the Blacksmith's Association in Eastsea City.
In less than ten minutes, they arrived at the Blacksmith's Association, a thirty-story skyscraper with a huge hammer emblem on it.
The auction house's logo had changed by now, too. It featured a hammer, but also an auction platform.
The hammer-only logo, naturally, belonged to the Blacksmith's Association.
They walked through the glass doors on the first floor. Straight ahead stood a glass wall ten meters high, decorated with a golden hammer relief at least eight meters tall. It looked remarkably ostentatious.
Juggler ignored the staff at the first-floor counter and led Lan Kai and Na'er straight to the soul-guidance elevator. They rode it directly to the top floor, where he skillfully opened an office door.
"Spirit Envoy Juggler? Why didn't you—"
Inside, Mu Chen had been waiting for them. It seemed he had spotted something that didn't quite make sense, and the words slipped out before he could stop himself.
But when he noticed Juggler's gaze turn vicious for an instant, along with Lan Kai and Na'er following behind him, Mu Chen seemed to realize what was going on and immediately shut his mouth.
Lan Kai had already given him an "I see" look. It seemed that whenever Juggler had met with Mu Chen before, he had simply flashed to wherever Mu Chen was and then flashed away again—and he had done it more than once, leaving Mu Chen with a psychological shadow.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have blurted that out when Juggler came in after knocking like a normal person.
"President Mu, I've brought the child. Please give him some pointers on learning blacksmithing.
"Don't worry about his strength. That definitely won't be a problem."
"Both of them?" Mu Chen looked suspiciously at Lan Kai, then at Na'er, who was clinging tightly to Lan Kai's arm. A question mark seemed to appear above his head.
If a girl wanted to learn blacksmithing, she needed a suitable Martial Soul and specialized training, so she could learn without affecting her physique or development.
Even when it came to Mu Chen's own daughter, Mu Xi, he had devoted a great deal of effort to guiding her.
"No. Na'er's just here to watch. The only one learning blacksmithing is this brat, Lan Kai."
At Juggler's look, Na'er reluctantly let go of Lan Kai, allowing him to step in front of Mu Chen.
"Mm. Come with me first."
This was Mu Chen's first time teaching a six-year-old to learn blacksmithing. Even though the child had been brought by Juggler, the newly appointed Spirit Envoy, he was still worried Lan Kai might not be up to the task and end up hurting himself.
Soon, Mu Chen led Lan Kai to his private forge and brought out two ten-pound forging hammers.
"Try lifting them first. If they feel heavy, tell me right away."
At Mu Chen's warning, Lan Kai picked up a hammer in each hand and weighed them in his palms.
For an ordinary six-year-old, a ten-pound forging hammer would already be quite heavy—especially since he had one in each hand, and would have to swing them again and again.
But to Lan Kai, who had already fused with the Light of Orb, ten-pound hammers were no different from toys. He would have to be extremely careful while using them. Forging with these hammers would waste time and mess up his striking habits.
"Too light, Uncle Mu. Do you have anything heavier? These hammers don't feel right in my hands."
Lan Kai gave the two ten-pound forging hammers a few casual swings, then gently set them down and turned to ask Mu Chen.
He had wanted to try cosplaying that arrogant guy who could only appear after his warrior and scholar selves fused—the one who could summon a great flood from the heavens. But this wasn't the right place for that. If he tried it, he'd get a taste of the Snake Heart Sword the next instant.
Mu Chen's expression changed. No wonder this child had been brought by Juggler. Whether it was his Martial Soul or simply extraordinary natural talent, he had astonishing strength, swinging two ten-pound hammers as if they weighed nothing.
It seemed Lan Kai might truly have the makings of a Divine Craftsman.
Mu Chen had once given up his chance to become a Divine Craftsman for love. But if he could personally train one, wouldn't that be nice too?
"Then try these two. They weigh a hundred pounds each."
This time, Mu Chen brought out two hundred-pound hammers and handed them to Lan Kai, watching closely to see how he handled them.
"Now these hundred-pound hammers have some heft to them. Though compared to Juggler's attacks, they're still too gentle."
Lan Kai gave the two forging hammers another brief try. They felt just right for him as he was now.
He'd surely be stronger if he transformed, but that would do nothing to help him learn blacksmithing or develop good forging habits.
"Good. Now try refining this piece of Deep Silver. I'll help you adjust the temperature of the metal. Just strike the spots on the Deep Silver that feel right."
Seeing that Lan Kai could handle the two hammers, Mu Chen relaxed. After showing Lan Kai the basic techniques for generating force while forging, he placed a piece of Deep Silver on the anvil in front of him and signaled for him to try.
Lan Kai said nothing. Once he saw that Mu Chen had heated the Deep Silver to the right temperature, he immediately lifted the forging hammer in his right hand and brought it down on the middle of the metal.
As soon as the right-hand hammer struck the Deep Silver, Lan Kai lifted the hammer in his left hand too, bringing it down as the right-hand hammer rose.
Mu Chen watched Lan Kai's steady movements, then glanced at Juggler and Na'er. His thoughts began to stir.
As expected of a new Spirit Envoy parachuted in by the Spirit Pagoda. He certainly had a remarkable eye.
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