Cold Moon Blade

Silk Street.

Shops stood packed like fish scales along both sides of the long street, with Sun Family Cloth Shop situated right in the middle.

Lu Li stepped forward and entered the cloth shop.

The front hall was where customers were received and garments tailored. Quite a few wooden racks stood there, hung with silk, satin, and coarse cloth martial outfits.

The clerk, Sun Xiao'er, was a distant relative of the proprietor. He had greeted customers at the cloth shop for seven or eight years. The moment he saw Lu Li enter, his expression instantly grew more respectful.

"Honored martial master, your arrival graces our humble shop. Forgive this little one's failure to welcome you from afar. Please, honored master, take a seat this way."

"First, take my measurements and make three sets of martial attire, three sets of everyday clothes, and another ten sets of night clothes. I also need ten black face cloths that can cover both the face and head. In addition, for men, women, young, and old—for every age and every build, fat or thin—give me two sets of each kind of clothing. One set should look like something poor people would wear, and the other should look like something rich people would wear..."

Lu Li spoke with a river of words, pouring forth without end.

Sun Xiao'er froze at the side, then froze again, and again and again, until he was left staring dumbfounded.

This gentleman wasn't here to smash up the place, was he?

Sun Xiao'er began to grow nervous and asked tentatively,

"Honored martial master, you aren't here to make sport of this little one, are you? If you have any requests, please state them freely. This little one cannot make the decision and must ask our shopkeeper..."

After explaining his thoughts, Lu Li asked,

"Did you remember what I said?"

Sun Xiao'er's eyes rolled wildly. How could he dare offend Lu Li? Stammering, he repeated everything Lu Li had said.

"Very good."

Lu Li nodded in satisfaction. He would need these clothes in the future to practice the Disguise Technique.

"Since you remember, hurry and notify the tailors to make them. Then invite your proprietor, Shopkeeper Sun, and tell him that I am Lu Li of Golden Gate Martial Academy."

At those words, Sun Xiao'er secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

He nodded vigorously. So he was from Golden Gate Martial Academy—that was good. The martial masters of Golden Gate Martial Academy would not bully the weak.

Sun Xiao'er hurried into the rear hall. After telling the tailors on duty about Lu Li's requirements, he hastily served Lu Li a pot of fine tea before running off to find Shopkeeper Sun.

Lu Li leisurely sipped his tea, his gaze sweeping back and forth over the various fabrics from time to time.

More and more ideas for disguises and changing outfits arose in his mind...

Just then, an enthusiastic voice rang out.

"Master Lu, what a rare guest at my door! How could I let you come in person? A single word from you, and I would have gone to the academy to pay you a visit."

The moment Sun Jintang entered, he called out loudly to Lu Li from far away.

Lu Li rose to his feet, and both men wore broad smiles.

"Master Sun, can your establishment meet the requests I just made?"

"What are you saying?"

As Sun Jintang looked at Lu Li's mountain-like upright figure, he could not help recalling the scene of Lu Li knocking Lei Zhengming down with a single punch that day. It was still vivid before his eyes.

"Master Lu, some time ago, I heard rumors... rumors that you had failed Gate-Breaking, that your flesh and blood had been depleted, and that you had become so gaunt you were barely recognizable.

Rumors truly harmed people!"

Sun Jintang sighed inwardly. Fortunately, he had been steady and prudent enough to ask Sun Xiao'er about Lu Li's appearance. Had he dismissed him carelessly, would he not have missed the chance to forge a connection?

Now that Ironwood Hall had united the outer city, Protection Silver had tripled in barely half a month. Not long ago, they had even asked him to tailor uniforms for all of Ironwood Hall.

This single order would bring in at least several dozen taels of silver.

Sun Jintang's thoughts spun like lightning, and he quickly said,

"Master Lu, I see that your complexion is vigorous today, and your entire spine is like a jade dragon running through your body. I presume you have already succeeded in Gate-Breaking?"

Lu Li's eyes burned like fire, bright and spirited. He answered softly,

"It was accomplished last night."

Hearing this, Sun Jintang hurriedly clasped his fists.

"Master Lu, congratulations! A joyous occasion indeed!

Since Master Lu has come in person today, the clothes you requested can be delivered to the academy before the day is out. From now on, all of Master Lu's new clothes will be covered by Sun Family Cloth Shop. In addition, I am willing to provide Master Lu with thirty taels of silver every month to support your martial training expenses."

Lu Li's eyes shifted, and the smile on his lips became more sincere.

"Master Sun is so generous. The Protection Notice of this Lu will be available to Sun Family Cloth Shop and your residence alike."

Amid laughter and conversation, the two men drew up a contract, and both were immensely satisfied.

His purpose had been achieved.

After chatting with Sun Jintang for a while, Lu Li took the silver and headed for the next shop.

In half an hour, Lu Li visited fourteen shops.

Eternal Abundance Rice Shop, Eternal Spring Winery, Gathered Fortune Tea House, Prosperous Harvest Pawnshop, Prosperity Inn, Primordial Peace Timber Shop...

The shopkeepers, proprietors, wealthy households, and local gentlemen were all generous with their money. Some gave thirty taels, others twenty. Lu Li refused none who came and accepted every offer in full.

Ever since he began training, he had always lacked silver. He still owed his master an enormous debt of twenty thousand taels, and naturally, he had to repay it.

The expenses required for his own training were not small either. The Vermilion Sand Powder he would soon need cost a thousand taels of silver per packet.

And after the sixth Skin Tempering, the Tiger Hide Powder he would need cost two thousand taels per box.

How could the six taels of regular pay from the Road Department yamen possibly be enough?

Benevolence Street, Wu's Weapon Forge.

Unlike the refined bustle of Silk Street, this entire street was filled with iron shops, charcoal merchants, and woodworking workshops.

Lu Li arrived at the final shop of his trip. He remembered that Wu Shoucheng of the weapon forge had once said he would give him a fine iron cold blade.

Having trained with the blade for so long, he still did not own a weapon that suited his hand.

Lu Li stepped into the shop. The ground was full of deep pits and shallow hollows, black and glossy with oil, yet hard and solid beneath his feet.

The storefront was enormous, broad at the front and deep at the rear.

Fine iron filings floated in the air, while charcoal dust under the sunlight shimmered with the flowing radiance of an iron city, like drifting catkins.

Wang Shi, who was hammering iron, merely glanced at Lu Li. The movement of his hands paused for an instant before returning to normal as he continued striking.

"I am Lu Li of Golden Gate Martial Academy, here to see your proprietor, Shopkeeper Wu."

Seeing that he did not speak, Lu Li raised his voice and announced his identity.

In the inner courtyard, Wu Shoucheng, who had been resting with his eyes closed, slowly opened them at the sound. He rose and walked out at an unhurried pace. Upon reaching the front courtyard, his gaze, as heavy and dim as old iron, swept over Lu Li from head to toe.

"Master Lu, have you succeeded in Gate-Breaking?"

Lu Li nodded calmly, then went straight to the point.

"Shopkeeper Wu, does the fine iron cold weapon you mentioned that day still stand?"

"Now that I have seen you today, I have changed my mind again."

Wu Shoucheng nodded, a trace of approval flashing through his eyes. His voice was rough and hoarse, yet carried a weighty solidity.

"My forge has Refined Steel better than fine iron. Above that, there is Triple-Fold Forged Steel and Seven-Forged Folded Steel. The finest of all is Hundred-Forged Folded Steel."

Lu Li's gaze stirred slightly. This trip had been worth it.

"Shopkeeper Wu, I need a blade made from the finest Hundred-Forged Folded Steel. What price would it command, and how long would it take?"

Wu Shoucheng smiled faintly. What martial artist did not love weapons? He greatly enjoyed the heat in Lu Li's eyes. Rather than answer Lu Li's question, he asked,

"Have you thought of a name for the blade?"

Lu Li nodded. He had spent all last night thinking about it.

"Cold Moon."

Wu Shoucheng nodded slightly and said in a deep voice, "We will light the furnace today. Seven days to form it, then another seven days of water grinding to sharpen its edge. Come collect it in half a month."

A good blade was worth waiting for.

Lu Li was naturally willing to wait, and he nodded.

Just then, a heat wave carrying an iron wind roared toward him. Fine iron dust danced across the sky, and thunderous rumbling filled his ears.

Lu Li circulated Primordial Unity Force and temporarily sealed his ears. His gaze swept over Wang Shi, who was still swinging his great hammer. Flames surged and withdrew, while the red-hot steel stabbed at the eyes.

The blazing fire scorched brightly, and the iron wind howled.

When the great hammer changed to a small hammer and Wang Shi's movements slowed slightly, Lu Li shifted his gaze back to Wu Shoucheng's face and raised his voice.

"Shopkeeper Wu, I also want some handy throwing knives—palm-sized throwing knives. Can you make them?"