Forging Contest

Outside, only a few short breaths had passed.

Niu Gao was still painstakingly trying to persuade Tai Tan by appealing to the clan's future. Yang Wudi kept a cold face and said nothing, while Bai He sighed from the side.

Tai Tan simply stiffened his neck, his face full of stubborn refusal: "Don't even think about persuading me."

At that moment, Xiao Yin, who had remained silent, spoke again and interrupted Niu Gao. "Clan Chief Niu, there is no need to persuade him further."

Everyone turned to look at him.

Xiao Yin slowly rose to his feet and looked at Tai Tan calmly. "Since Clan Chief Tai Tan holds Tang Hao's forging skills in such high regard, treating them as an important reason he is worth following... why not appraise Xiao's forging methods as well, and see whether they meet your standards?"

"..."

The scene instantly fell into an eerie silence.

Not only was Tai Tan stunned, but Niu Gao, Yang Wudi, and Bai He all looked at Xiao Yin in unison, their faces filled with shock and disbelief.

The Marquis... knew how to forge as well? They had never heard of such a thing before!

And he wanted to bring up "forging" before Tai Tan, the universally acknowledged grandmaster of the craft?

Was that not showing off before an expert?

Tai Tan stood there dumbfounded for several seconds before seeming to hear the greatest joke in the world. He looked Xiao Yin up and down, taking in his tall, well-proportioned frame beneath his black robes. It was by no means frail, but certainly not imposing either—especially those hands, which looked far more suited to holding a brush or playing the zither than swinging a heavy hammer. He could not help letting out a booming laugh.

**"Hahahahaha! You? Marquis Xiao,