Go Back, My Ass!

Master Li grew more satisfied the longer he looked, nodding repeatedly, his face full of praise.

He then turned to Li Chengwen, his tone carrying a hint of rebuke. "Look at your younger brother, then look at yourself! Why aren't you thanking Li Jiwu already? If he hadn't cleaned up your mess for you, how would you have wrapped this up?"

At those words, Li Chengwen's anger flared up at once.

He straightened his back and said loudly, "Father! There's something I have to say!"

Master Li was momentarily stunned.

"Fine, fine, say it!"

Master Li replied irritably, and Li Chengwen continued, "Han Tieshan left because he was jealous of the talented and incapable of tolerating the new blade forgers promoted in the courtyard. That was why he stormed off in anger. A man like that may be kept in body, but never in heart—sooner or later, he would become a disaster! After he left, Master Sun Ping of our Sword-Forging Courtyard was no longer suppressed. Just today, he personally forged a Low-Grade Short Blade!"

As he spoke, Li Chengwen took the short blade from his sleeve and presented it with both hands.

"Father, look! With this Low-Grade Short Blade in hand, even if we fall short of the Zhao Family's three hundred long blades by a hundred, this Low-Grade Short Blade will be enough compensation to shut their mouths! The Zhao Family deals in weapons. They know better than anyone the weight a low-grade weapon carries!"

"Now that Master Sun Ping has forged a Low-Grade Short Blade, he has become the fourth blade forger in our Li Family capable of forging low-grade weapons. With such a master here, why should we lower ourselves and beg Han Tieshan to return?"

After finishing, Li Chengwen turned provocatively toward Li Jiwu and lifted his chin at him.

Li Jiwu was taken aback at first. Then a mild smile appeared on his face. He politely nodded in return, then lowered his head and remained silent, his eyes cast down.

Master Li took the short blade and examined it over and over for quite a while. The more he looked, the more satisfied he became, and delight gradually appeared on his face.

Naturally, he understood the value of a blade forger capable of forging low-grade weapons.

Such a person could already be considered one of the top experts in the Sword-Forging Courtyard. Han Tieshan might have had many disciples and been skilled at forging blades, but he had never forged even a single low-grade weapon!

"Good!"

For once, Master Li looked at Li Chengwen with approval.

"Eldest, you handled this matter well! Later, go and properly assess Sun Ping. Once you confirm that his skills are truly solid, I'll personally host a banquet to celebrate his promotion to low-grade weapon forger!"

Hearing this, Li Chengwen felt as refreshed as if he had drunk ice water in the scorching heat of midsummer. His chin nearly rose to the sky as he quickly clasped his hands. "Father, rest assured. Your son will handle this matter beautifully!"

Li Jiwu also rose at the right moment, smiling as he clasped his hands. "Congratulations, Father. Congratulations, Elder Brother. Our Li Family has gained another capable pillar. This is truly a joyous occasion worthy of celebration."

Seeing his second brother so tactfully offer congratulations, Li Chengwen unusually did not mock him. He merely snorted, accepting the sentiment.

Master Li watched the two brothers getting along so harmoniously for once, and he felt greatly gratified. Stroking his beard, he nodded again and again.

After exchanging a few more casual words, the two brothers took their leave together and walked out of the study.

Li Chengwen held his head high and thrust out his chest, his steps carrying the wind. He looked as proud as though he had already accomplished some world-shaking feat.

Li Jiwu, meanwhile, followed unhurriedly behind him, that gentle, jade-like smile never leaving his face as he watched his elder brother's back disappear at the far end.

Only after Li Chengwen had vanished completely from sight did the smile on Li Jiwu's face gradually fade.

He stood silently for a moment, then beckoned over a servant and said blandly, "Prepare the carriage. I'm leaving the residence."

The carriage passed through several streets and alleys before stopping in front of a secluded courtyard.

"Young Master, there are a few refugees at the gate. Please wait a moment."

The coachman reminded him from outside.

When the refugees saw someone approaching, they did not linger and simply left.

Li Jiwu then stepped down from the carriage. He adjusted his collar, pushed open the courtyard gate, and walked inside.

In the courtyard, Han Tieshan was lounging in a recliner with one leg crossed over the other, cracking melon seeds.

The moment he saw the Second Young Master arrive, he hurriedly tossed aside the seeds and trotted over, his face piled with fawning smiles.

"Second Young Master! You've finally come! Just as you instructed, I took away everyone I could take. Eldest Young Master must have stumbled straight into the mud this time!"

The more he spoke, the more pleased he became, utterly failing to notice Li Jiwu's dark expression.

"Oh, right, have you settled everything? When can I return to the Sword-Forging Courtyard?"

Watching him act so stupidly, Li Jiwu finally could no longer suppress the fury he had been holding down all the way there.

He abruptly raised his hand and viciously slapped Han Tieshan across the face.

Smack!

The crisp sound echoed through the courtyard. Han Tieshan was struck so hard that he spun half a circle on the spot, staggering several steps before finally regaining his balance with a hand over his face.

"Go back, my ass!"

Li Jiwu cursed through gritted teeth. His normally refined face was now twisted with savagery.

Han Tieshan clutched his burning cheek, still dazed from the blow.

He stood there blankly for a long while before stammering, "S-Second Young Master... what happened? Why are you so angry?"

Li Jiwu stared at him coldly and recounted everything that had happened in the study, from beginning to end.

"H-How is that possible?!" Han Tieshan's eyes widened, and even his voice changed pitch.

"That old Sun has been forging iron for decades without ever producing a single graded weapon. Why now, of all times..."

"How would I know?!"

Li Jiwu let out another low roar.

But after delivering that slap, his emotions gradually settled somewhat.

He paced back and forth across the courtyard twice before saying in a deep voice, "Don't make any rash moves yet. Maybe Sun Ping simply stepped in dog shit and happened to forge a Low-Grade Short Blade by sheer luck. There are precedents for this in the weapon-forging trade. A blind cat can stumble upon a dead rat once or twice, but it can't possibly strike one every time, can it?"

Han Tieshan nodded repeatedly. "Right, right, right! It must be luck! It has to be luck!"

Though they said so aloud, both of them knew that the possibility was not great.

But in their current situation, they could only cling to that sliver of hope and use it to comfort themselves.

Yet reality soon gave them a resounding slap across the face.

Over the following days, with Shen Chu's cooperation, Sun Ping seemed to have suddenly awakened. One after another, he forged a full five Low-Grade Short Blades!

Every one of them was personally inspected by Master Li and confirmed to be genuine.

As a result, the Li Family's Sword-Forging Courtyard officially announced Sun Ping's promotion as the Li Family's fourth low-grade weapon forger.

Master Li was overjoyed and immediately ordered a grand banquet, inviting fellow tradesmen far and wide to celebrate Sun Ping's promotion.

The feast was held in the main hall of the Li Residence, festooned with lanterns and colorful decorations. Cups clinked and wine flowed, making for a lively affair.

Sun Ping changed into a brand-new brocade robe and sat at the seat of honor among the guests, grinning so broadly that he could not close his mouth. Shen Chu had also been seated at a side table, where all manner of delicacies filled the space before him.