Mission Accomplished

Madam Liu chimed in from the side:

"Yes, Master. This batch of orders is of great importance. You'll feel more at ease if you go take a look yourself."

Master Li considered it, then nodded.

"Very well. Let's go have a look."

Li Jiwu and Madam Liu exchanged a glance, and faint, imperceptible smiles appeared at the corners of their lips.

Li Jiwu secretly reveled in his triumph.

He had arranged everything long ago. Once they reached the Sword-Forging Courtyard, they would surely find the miserable sight of an unfinished task.

Then, when the time was right, he would unveil his "backup plan." Not only would he stomp hard on his eldest brother's fat face, but he would also earn a great merit before his father.

The three of them made their way to the entrance of the Sword-Forging Courtyard.

Li Chengwen had already received word and hurried out to greet them, wearing a somewhat unnatural smile.

"Father, why have you come? It's dusty here. How about you head back first? Once the inspection is over, I'll personally report to you."

Before Master Li could speak, Li Jiwu smilingly cut in from the side. "Big Brother, Father means well. He wants to see how the great contributor to our Li Family has been doing. Why are you stopping him from going in?"

Madam Liu covered her mouth and chuckled. "That's right, Eldest Young Master. Could it be that... you aren't ready yet?"

Li Chengwen's expression stiffened slightly. He stammered out a few words, but could find no better excuse to stop them.

Seeing this, Master Li's face darkened. "What exactly is going on? Haven't the goods been finished?"

Li Chengwen opened his mouth, intending to stall for a few more words, but Master Li had already lost patience. He shoved him aside and strode into the Sword-Forging Courtyard.

Li Jiwu and Madam Liu exchanged smiles and hurried after him.

Yet the instant they stepped through the courtyard gate, the sight before them left all three stunned.

In the courtyard, the furnace blazed fiercely, its orange-red flames illuminating the entire yard.

A lean, muscular man stood bare-chested before an anvil, slowly lifting a quenched saber from the water.

His body was balanced and solid, the lines of his muscles resembling a finely carved sculpture beneath the firelight and mist, every inch of flesh holding the beauty of strength.

Sweat slid down his back, gleaming crystal-bright in the firelight.

He then raised the saber and flicked his wrist. Every drop of water on the blade flew away, turning into a fine mist beneath the sunlight.

Cold light flowed across the blade, reflecting his calm, focused face. His entire being radiated a sharp yet steady presence, like a battle-hardened general stepping out of blazing fire.

The man was none other than Shen Chu!

Madam Liu recognized him at a glance.

She had been the one to bring Shen Chu into the household that day.

She had never expected that the scrawny, weak-looking boy from back then would grow into such a build!

Standing at the courtyard gate, her gaze fell upon Shen Chu's bare upper body.

Her eyes traveled inch by inch from his broad shoulders to his narrow waist, from his bulging chest muscles to his defined abs, drifting steadily lower.

The longer she looked, the drier her mouth became and the faster her heart raced. A surge of heat rose uncontrollably from her lower abdomen.

Her legs unconsciously pressed together slightly, and even her breathing grew somewhat hurried.

Amid the silence, Sun Ping stepped forward, cupped his hands toward Master Li, and announced loudly, "Master, all fifteen hundred standard long sabers have been forged. Please inspect them!"

Master Li stood in the center of the courtyard, his gaze slowly sweeping over the rows upon rows of neatly arranged sabers.

He randomly selected several and carefully examined their workmanship.

He also tested the sharpness of their edges and the hardness of their blades.

Not one of them had a single flaw, and his expression steadily improved.

Master Li set down the saber in his hand and turned to his eldest son. Rare gentleness and approval filled his eyes.

"Chengwen, you truly handled this batch of goods well. You've worked hard these past days."

At those words, Li Chengwen seemed to freeze in place. It took several seconds before he came back to himself.

His nose suddenly stung, and his eyes reddened at once.

He wanted to say something, but it felt as though something had lodged in his throat. In the end, he could only nod forcefully and answer in a muffled voice.

"Father... this is what your son should do."

Li Jiwu, standing nearby, wore a proper smile and cupped his hands in congratulations as well.

"Congratulations, Father. Congratulations, Big Brother. Big Brother has truly worked hard this time. To render such meritorious service to the Li Family, he is truly a model for me, his younger brother."

Though his words were beautiful, the hand hidden in his sleeve was clenched iron-tight.

Madam Liu also echoed a few smiling remarks, but her gaze drifted from time to time toward Shen Chu, who was dressing not far away, her eyes carrying a trace of lingering desire.

Shen Chu paid no attention to this scene of paternal kindness and filial devotion. After wiping the sweat from his body and putting on his outer robe, he let out a long breath.

It was finally done!

The days of intense rushing had finally come to an end, and the stone in Shen Chu's heart finally fell to the ground.

With this order completed, he had fulfilled his promise to Li Chengwen, and the debt of gratitude born from the Silver-Veined Meteorite Iron had finally been repaid.

Next, it was time to plan his departure.

He would leave the Li Residence, leave Changping County, and go somewhere no one knew him. There, he would begin his sword-forging life anew and quietly keep his head down while building himself up.

After everyone talked for a while longer, Master Li left the Sword-Forging Courtyard with Li Jiwu and Madam Liu.

Li Chengwen stood at the courtyard gate, watching his father's back recede into the distance, his face still wearing that foolish grin he could not suppress after being praised.

But after Li Jiwu returned to his room, the smile on his face vanished completely.

He dropped into a chair, his face so dark it seemed capable of dripping water, his fingers tapping irritably against the tabletop.

"Zhang San!" he called out.

A middle-aged man pushed the door open in response. It was Zhang San, his trusted confidant.

Seeing Li Jiwu's poor expression, Zhang San carefully shut the door and stood with his hands at his sides. "Second Young Master, you called for me?"

"Didn't you say everything had been arranged?"

Li Jiwu's voice was low, but it carried fury he could barely contain.

"Didn't you say Little Six had tampered with all the weapons? Why was every single saber fine during the inspection just now? Explain yourself!"

Zhang San shuddered in fright and hurriedly said, "Second Young Master, I truly did arrange for Little Six to do it, I swear it's the absolute truth! As for why this happened... I don't know either! Could it be that Little Six was discovered before he had time to finish?"

"Then where is Little Six?" Li Jiwu abruptly raised his head and glared fiercely at Zhang San, his gaze looking as though he wanted to swallow him whole.

A layer of cold sweat immediately seeped across Zhang San's forehead. "I... I went to find him at once, but I couldn't locate him. The place where he lived was empty too. No one knows where he went..."