Mu Chen dismissed everyone else and led Su Chen and Mu Xi to the top floor of the Blacksmith Association.
On the way, Mu Chen learned a little about Su Chen's background.
Most importantly, he learned about Su Chen's talent.
Su Chen didn't hide anything. After all, it wasn't an important secret.
"Being able to sense metal and even have it actively cooperate with your forging—your talent is absolutely unmatched throughout history."
Mu Chen sighed with admiration.
He had been in the blacksmithing world for many years and had seen plenty of extraordinary talents, but Su Chen's was the first this absurd.
"How can someone have a talent like that? It's so unfair..." Mu Xi pouted, looking indignant.
"Xiao Xi, you can't put it that way. That's his talent and good fortune. It's just like how you were born my daughter and enjoyed the best resources from day one. That's just as unfair to Soul Masters born into ordinary families."
Mu Chen said with a chuckle.
Mu Xi fell silent at his words.
"All right, Xiao Xi. Xiao Chen will be your junior apprentice from now on. You can teach him the basic forging techniques."
Mu Chen assigned Su Chen to Mu Xi without hesitation.
His thinking was simple: Su Chen was now his apprentice.
But it would be even better if Su Chen became his son-in-law. Ideally, they'd have a whole litter of chubby little boys. Then they'd truly be one big family.
That was why he wanted Mu Xi to spend time with Su Chen and let their feelings grow early.
It was easiest to build a bond between senior and junior apprentices.
As for the age difference, it mattered a lot when they were children, but it wouldn't be a problem once they were a little older.
Soul Masters lived long lives, and couples with age gaps of several decades were everywhere. Su Chen and Mu Xi were only two years apart, so that was even less of an issue.
"Ah, but I'm only a Level 1 Blacksmith..."
Mu Xi was stunned.
Su Chen was a Level 3 Blacksmith, while she was only a Level 1 Blacksmith. How could she teach him?
"Senior Sister Mu Xi, the one who has mastered a skill is the teacher. I may have talent, but I'm far behind you in every other way. Sorry for the trouble, Senior Sister~"
Su Chen spoke first, smiling humbly.
He really did need to learn some forging techniques. Even a little instruction could increase his efficiency tenfold or more.
"Xiao Chen's right. Xiao Xi, teach your junior apprentice well. If Xiao Chen becomes a God Craftsman someday, you'll deserve some of the credit."
Mu Chen laughed heartily.
"Ah... Is that so...?"
Mu Xi felt a little embarrassed.
But when she imagined Su Chen actually becoming a God Craftsman, she realized that being his senior apprentice would be quite an honor...
Besides, Su Chen was so polite and not the least bit arrogant. He was handsome, too, and had the potential to become a God Craftsman...
Having a junior apprentice like him seemed more like a stroke of luck for her.
At the same time, Su Chen noticed that Mu Xi's favorability toward him had finally reached 10 points.
"By the way, Xiao Chen, you should perform a blood sacrifice on your first piece of Thousand-Refined Deep Silver. You can take it with you afterward."
As he spoke, Mu Chen took out the piece of Thousand-Refined Deep Silver Su Chen had just forged.
"Ah, what's a blood sacrifice?"
Su Chen pretended to be confused.
"It's a rule in the blacksmithing world. Every blacksmith has to perform a blood sacrifice on their first Thousand-Refinement piece. It's best to turn it into a forging hammer. It'll be a great help to you in your future work."
Mu Chen gave him a simple explanation.
"I see. Then thank you, Teacher~"
Su Chen didn't refuse.
With Mu Chen's help, Su Chen performed the blood sacrifice.
The instant it was complete, Su Chen could clearly feel that his connection with the Sinking Silver had grown much closer.
"All right, take this Sinking Silver with you. You should forge it into a hammer of your own."
Mu Chen handed Su Chen the Sinking Silver after the blood sacrifice, his expression solemn.
"Thank you, Teacher."
Su Chen beamed.
"All right, off you go."
Mu Chen waved them away, clearly handing Su Chen over to Mu Xi so the two would have more chances to spend time together.
"Come on, Junior Brother. I'll take you to the Forging Room~"
Mu Xi looked at Su Chen. She was still a little unconvinced, but her attitude toward him had improved considerably.
"All right. Sorry for the trouble, Senior Sister~"
Su Chen was humble and extremely polite.
"Hmph, you're pretty polite~"
Mu Xi gave a little huff, but the corners of her lips curled up.
Her favorability toward Su Chen rose again.
"Come on, follow me to the Forging Room."
Mu Xi led Su Chen to the Forging Room.
It was spacious, but crammed full of forging stations, furnaces, racks of materials, and scattered tools. It looked a little messy, but that didn't matter.
"Your talent is absolutely the best in the world, but you have no foundation at all. I'll start by teaching you the simplest hammering technique."
As she spoke, Mu Xi took a deep breath, her gaze turning focused.
She gripped the hammer in her right hand and used the tongs in her left to hold an iron ingot steady on the forging table to heat it.
A moment later, the ingot glowed red, radiating waves of scorching heat.
"Watch closely."
As soon as the words left her mouth, the hammer in her hand came down with a rush of wind.
"Clang!"
The crisp ring of metal on metal echoed through the room.
The hammer struck the edge of the ingot with pinpoint accuracy, sending up a few tiny sparks.
"Clang... clang... clang..."
The blows flowed together in a steady rhythm, like a simple percussion piece played on metal.
"See? Your strength needs to be even, and your breathing needs to match your movements. One breath for every strike." As she demonstrated, she explained between blows.
Su Chen watched closely. He picked up a piece of raw iron the same size and began forging it, copying Mu Xi.
"Bang—!"
The crash was so loud that the entire forging table seemed to shake.
The hammer sank deep into the iron ingot, sending sparks flying everywhere.
He had clearly used far too much force.
Su Chen had chosen Sinking Silver because it could take a beating.
But now he was working with black iron. One careless blow with too much force, and it would be ruined.
"You... really have never studied forging before?" Mu Xi couldn't help asking again, her voice filled with disbelief.
"I really haven't. I passed the previous test by just smashing away with strength and instinct." He pointed at the mangled ingot. "This... I think I broke it?"
Mu Xi pressed a hand to her forehead, feeling utterly helpless.
At last, she completely believed her father: this guy was a complete forging novice.
His so-called "Thousand-Refinement" was nothing but a miracle hammered out through terrifying strength and heaven-defying talent.
"It's not 'I think.' You definitely ruined it!"
Mu Xi glared at Su Chen in exasperation.
She set aside the scrap metal and replaced it with a fresh ingot.
"Your angle's wrong. Don't tense your wrist so much..."
"Hold the ingot tight!"
"Clang... bang... clang..."
"Go easy, idiot!"
"..."
"Hey! That's not how you hammer it!!"
Mu Xi saw that Su Chen just wasn't getting it and finally lost her patience.
She tossed aside the tongs in her hand and hurried around behind Su Chen.
Before he could react, a soft, warm body pressed against his back.
The girl's distinctive fragrance instantly enveloped him.
Mu Xi placed both hands over his where he gripped the hammer handle. Her palms were warm and soft, snugly covering the back of his hand and his fingers.
"Don't move. I'll show you once!!"
Mu Xi's voice sounded right beside Su Chen's ear, her warm breath brushing against his earlobe.
"What are you spacing out for? Pay attention!"
Mu Xi was clearly so absorbed in teaching him that she didn't notice his reaction at all. Leaning forward slightly, she guided his arms and showed him how to apply his strength.
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