Introduction to Forging

When Gu Yue arrived at the forging room early, daylight had yet to fully break. The room carried the mingled scent of metal and flame, and the faint crackle of sparks could be heard from the forge. Tang Wulin stood with his back to the door, bent over as he adjusted the air valve, his shoulders and back tightening slightly with the movement. Xie Xie was curled up on a wooden stool in the corner, propping his cheek with one hand as though he had not fully woken up. Only when he heard footsteps did he lazily raise his eyelids.

"Wulin, I'm here. When are you going to start teaching me?" Gu Yue's crisp voice rang out, sending faint echoes through the empty room.

Tang Wulin turned at the sound. When his gaze fell on Gu Yue, his movements visibly paused. She wore a black jacket and matching pants today, her long hair tied into a high ponytail. The outfit was clean and neat, but also rather thin, making her seem delicately out of place amid the forging room's rugged atmosphere.

"Gu Yue," Xie Xie laughed before Tang Wulin could say anything. He jumped off the stool and circled her halfway, his tone full of teasing. "Are you here to learn forging, or did you dress like this for... well, for someone to see?" He deliberately dragged out the last words, glancing at Tang Wulin.

Tang Wulin coughed lightly and looked away, turning back toward the forge, though the tips of his ears seemed a little red. "Aren't you cold, dressed so lightly?" he asked in a lower voice than usual.

"Not at all." Gu Yue answered as if it were only natural, apparently not finding anything unusual about what she wore. She stepped forward twice, the firelight illuminating one side of her face as eager anticipation flickered in her eyes. "Let's begin."

"Mm." Tang Wulin nodded, suppressing the subtle stirrings in his heart. In his usual steady tone, he said, "Go to the storage room over there first and pick a forging hammer that feels right for you. Try the weight and grip. Don't rush."

"Okay." Gu Yue agreed and turned toward the small room to the side. She pushed open the heavy iron door, then gently closed it behind her.

Tang Wulin refocused on his work, carefully checking the furnace temperature and fuel, occasionally using iron tongs to shift the charcoal inside. Xie Xie returned to his stool and stayed quiet at first, but after a few minutes, he began to grow restless. The forging room contained only the roar of the fire and the occasional soft clink of metal tools. Time seemed to stretch on.

"Why isn't Gu Yue done yet?" Xie Xie muttered impatiently, curling his fingers and tapping them against his knee. "She's only picking a hammer. Does it really take this long?"

Tang Wulin did not respond, though his hands moved slightly faster. Around ten more minutes passed, and even he found it somewhat strange. The storage room had remained completely silent, without any sound of someone testing weights or selecting tools.

Xie Xie finally rose from the stool, crossed the room in a few strides, and pushed open the storage room door. "Gu Yue, what are you doing—"

The words caught in his throat. Gu Yue stood before a row of forging hammers hanging at different heights, her brows faintly furrowed as her eyes slowly swept from left to right with intense focus. She did not reach out to touch any of them. She merely stood there looking, as though studying the curve of every hammer, the shape of each head, the grain of every handle, even their faint sheen. She did not look like she was choosing a tool; she looked more like she was appreciating precious works of art, or conducting some kind of perception that required extreme concentration.

"I'm picking a hammer." Hearing him, Gu Yue turned her head, her expression perfectly natural. "Didn't you say I had to choose one that suited me? I need to take a good look."

Xie Xie opened his mouth, unsure what to say for a moment. He had seen others choose forging hammers before. They would usually just weigh them in their hands and swing them a few times to test their balance. Who simply stared at them with their eyes for so long? Still, he knew Gu Yue had always done things her own way, so he merely rubbed his nose and retreated to lean against the doorframe.

The storage room was brightly lit by a hanging lamp. The forging hammers hung silently as Gu Yue's gaze finally settled on one toward the back. It was neither the heaviest nor the lightest. Its hammerhead was streamlined, with no excessive decoration, but the metal was unusually uniform. Its handle was made of dark hardwood, with subtle curves at the grip that fit the shape of a hand. She reached out and lightly brushed the side of the hammerhead with her fingertips, then grasped the handle. Rather than lifting it immediately, she closed her eyes briefly, as though sensing something.

A moment later, she closed her fingers and steadily removed the hammer from its hook. The instant it settled in her hand, she rotated her wrist slightly, making a small adjustment to the hammer's angle in her palm. Then the corner of her mouth lifted into a faint, satisfied curve.

She carried the hammer out of the storage room and returned to the brightly lit main chamber. Tang Wulin had finished his adjustments and was wiping coal dust from his hands with an old cloth. He looked up at Gu Yue, his gaze lingering for a moment on the hammer in her hand. It was one he had used in his early days. It was not particularly good, but it was exceptionally well-balanced. He had not expected her to choose it.

"Picked one?" he asked.

"Mm." Gu Yue gently raised the hammer, the firelight dancing in her eyes. "This one."

Tang Wulin nodded. He did not ask why she had chosen that hammer, nor did he mention that she had taken nearly half an hour to make her choice. He simply walked to the workbench and clamped a prepared metal billet onto the anvil. "Then let's begin. We'll start with the most basic hammer grip and how to apply force. Watch my movements carefully."

Gu Yue stepped closer as instructed, her expression focused. The fire in the forging room burned brightly.

The air was filled with the faint scorched smell of heated metal. Tang Wulin had just explained the basic principles and core points of forging in detail—how to grip the hammer, how to borrow momentum, and how to sense the grain and impurities inside the metal. Gu Yue had listened intently, rare curiosity and concentration shining in her purple eyes. Now, it was her turn.

A piece of pig iron lay on the forging table, heated red-hot by the flames and radiating a dim glow and heat. Gu Yue stood by the table and copied the stance Tang Wulin had demonstrated, spreading her feet slightly and lowering her center of gravity. Her right hand gripped the forging hammer, which was somewhat heavy for her. Tang Wulin moved to her side, his voice steady. "Lower your wrist a little more. Yes, that way it'll be steadier when you swing. Use your waist and core. Don't rely only on your arm."

Gu Yue adjusted as instructed. She could feel the residual warmth on the hammer handle and the heavy, tangible solidity unique to metal. It was completely different from the lightness of controlling the elements. She took a deep breath, focused her mind, and fixed her gaze on the red-hot iron block. Tang Wulin said softly, "That's it. Bring it down."

Clang—!

Her first strike landed. A crisp, resounding collision of metal exploded through the room, accompanied by dazzling sparks flying in every direction like crimson-gold flowers that bloomed and withered in an instant. Gu Yue had clearly not expected such a violent reaction. Those scorching sparks nearly splashed onto her clothes. Her entire body jolted like a startled cat, and she nearly loosened her grip and sent the forging hammer flying. A flash of unprepared panic crossed her face.

Tang Wulin reacted quickly, pulling her away from the forging table in one motion. "How are you? You weren't scared, were you?" He looked at her slightly pale face.

Gu Yue steadied herself and shook her head. The lingering fright in her purple eyes was quickly replaced by stubbornness. She pulled free of Tang Wulin's hand and returned to her position, her voice quiet but clear. "C-continue."

For the next half hour, uneven clangs continued to echo through the forging room. Tang Wulin stood beside Gu Yue almost the entire time, occasionally offering guidance and sometimes directly helping her adjust the angle of her swings or correct the way she applied force. His hand would occasionally cover the back of hers, briefly guiding the downward force of each strike.

Gu Yue learned quickly. Her initial awkwardness gradually faded, and each hammer strike sounded firmer than the last. Sweat seeped from her brow and slid down her cheeks, but she did not spare it a thought. All her attention was fixed on the gradually changing iron block before her as she listened to Tang Wulin's instructions and hammered it again and again.

At last, the pounding stopped. Gu Yue panted as she lowered the forging hammer and looked at her result. The originally irregular lump of pig iron had shrunk by a full circle. Its surface bore the rough texture of repeated hammering, but its color was a dull gray-black, with some places even showing scorched patches. It truly did not look very good.

"Gu Yue, this..." Xie Xie, who had been watching from the doorway, leaned forward with his usual teasing smile. "This doesn't look like forging. It looks more like you forged carbon. It's all black."

Gu Yue abruptly turned to glare at him, her eyes narrowing dangerously as she raised the forging hammer she had not yet fully lowered. "Xie Xie, say another word, and believe it or not, I'll stuff this 'carbon' into your mouth."

Xie Xie immediately raised his hands in surrender, though he still muttered under his breath, "Can't afford to provoke her, can't afford to provoke her..."

Tang Wulin ignored their bickering. He stepped forward and carefully examined the forged metal. It was indeed unattractive, with an uneven surface and a dull color. Clearly, her control of the heat and hammering technique was still unskilled, causing excessive carbonization on the surface. However, he picked up the metal block, weighed it in his hand, then carefully ran his fingers over its surface and edges. "The impurities have basically been removed." He turned to Gu Yue, his tone approving. "The internal structure is much more uniform and compact than before. For your first independent forging attempt, being able to remove the major impurities is already very good. You have the right feel for it. Practice more, control the heat and force properly, and the appearance will naturally improve."

Gu Yue looked at him. The sharpness in her eyes quietly faded when she looked at Tang Wulin. Her eyes widened slightly, carrying a hint of uncertainty. "R-really?"

Seeing the rare hopeful look in her questioning expression, Tang Wulin nodded very seriously. "Really. You took the first step well."

Watching this scene from the side, Xie Xie could not help rolling his eyes. He quietly complained to the air beside him, "There you go, boss. Just keep spoiling Gu Yue, the Great Devil King."