Testing the Saber, Wang Zhi's Strange Behavior

"What a fine saber!"

"No wonder he dared to ask four thousand Gold Coins. This saber really does have something going for it."

"Let me see, let me see!"

"Never mind anything else—with that design and the cold gleam on its edge alone, I can tell you that even if it isn't worth four thousand, it would still cost a few hundred Gold Coins!"

"That impressive? My saber was one of the finest at the Cheer Weapon Shop, and it only cost fifty Gold Coins."

The instant the Ghost-Head Saber left its sheath, the crowd erupted into discussion.

There was skepticism and curiosity, but there were also a few experts who knew their stuff.

Although Wang Zhi was no blacksmith, his work as a Mercenary meant he handled weapons year-round.

He had worn out at least fifty weapons, if not a hundred, so he naturally knew how to judge them.

From the Ghost-Head Saber's grip, weight, the sound it made leaving its sheath, and the quality of its blade, he could tell it was the finest of the fine!

Even if it could not match a weapon set with a Second-Tier Magic Core, it was certainly no worse than some weapons set with first-tier magic cores.

This eased Wang Zhi's anger considerably.

After all, the young stallholder was not actually taking him for a fool.

In his view, the boy had probably misjudged the saber's value because of his limited experience and youthful pride.

Stroking the Ghost-Head Saber's blade, Wang Zhi could not help praising it. "What a fine saber!"

He had already decided not to give the boy any trouble. As long as the boy returned the Gold Coins beyond the saber's actual price, he would let bygones be bygones.

Yes, he intended to buy this saber.

His current weapon was certainly better than this Ghost-Head Saber.

But he really liked its design, and its quality was quite high. Keeping it as a backup weapon would be a good choice.

Before he could speak, however,

Zhou Changqing took out a lump of iron and handed it over.

Wang Zhi blinked. "Kid, what's this supposed to mean?"

A free gift with the saber?

Don't think this will stop me from getting those four thousand Gold Coins back. Not a chance!

Four thousand Gold Coins amounted to half his wealth. Losing that much would leave him aching for a long time.

"Use it to test the saber. Then you'll understand," Zhou Changqing said, as concise as ever.

"Whoa!"

"What does this kid think his saber is? Some divine weapon? Isn't he afraid of getting his face slapped swollen?"

"Young people are too hotheaded. They always think their judgment is second to none. Ah, this little fellow will take a tumble sooner or later."

"Could that iron be defective, or made from something else? This kid doesn't look brainless to me."

"Wang, since the young fellow asked, give it a try. Let us broaden our horizons and see what an 'Iron-Cleaving Treasure Weapon' can do!"

"Exactly! Give it a try, Wang!"

At those words, the crowd burst into an uproar, some mocking him, others egging him on and fanning the flames.

Wang Zhi frowned as well, looking at the Ghost-Head Saber with uncertainty.

As someone in the crowd had said, the boy before him did not look brainless.

If he dared to ask Wang Zhi to test the saber, he clearly had some confidence in it.

After giving Zhou Changqing a long look, Wang Zhi shook his head slightly. "If we're testing the saber, we certainly can't use something you provided. I'll find something myself."

He had already planned to let the boy off, yet the boy remained so stubborn. Naturally, Wang Zhi would oblige him.

Zhou Changqing said nothing. He put away the iron block, looking as though Wang Zhi could do as he pleased.

Seeing this, Wang Zhi drew the saber at his waist.

The movement immediately drew cries of surprise from many in the crowd.

"Well, now! Wang's getting serious. He's going to test it against his own saber?"

“Tsk, Old Wang's saber was made from Hundred-Forged Fine Steel, and it's set with a low-grade second-tier Earth-Attribute Magic Core. Ordinary iron weapons would be cut apart within two exchanges.”

"That's what the kid gets for being so stubborn! Now he'll lose his saber, get no money, and might even take a beating. Serves him right."

The corners of Wang Zhi's mouth lifted slightly as he looked toward Zhou Changqing.

The onlookers had already described his weapon for him. He refused to believe the kid could stay as calm as before.

Unfortunately, he was disappointed. Zhou Changqing remained as impassive as ever, completely unmoved.

Wang Zhi's raised lips twitched.

Fine, fine, fine. I don't want the saber anymore. Whatever happens, I'm teaching this kid a lesson today!

"Hah!"

Without another wasted word, Wang Zhi bellowed, spread his arms with a saber in each hand, and swung with all his strength!

The two blades flashed and crossed in an instant!

At that moment, every gaze fixed on the two sabers, eager to see the test's outcome.

"Shhk!"

Yet the expected clang of metal never came. Instead, they heard the sound of something being sliced!

As the two sabers met, the Ghost-Head Saber passed through with ease, cutting Wang Zhi's saber clean in two!

The entire motion was utterly smooth!

So smooth that many people failed to register what had happened!

"What?!"

"How is that possible?!"

"Hiss!"

"Fuck! This has to be fake! Isn't this Wang fellow you're talking about just a shill that kid hired?"

Once the crowd recovered, an uproar broke out!

The result of the test left everyone present wide-eyed!

Many cried out in disbelief. Some even questioned whether the test was genuine, convinced it was all a performance!

Wang Zhi froze at the result as well, staring blankly at the two sabers in his hands.

The disbelief in his eyes made it clear just how stunned he was!

He looked at the undamaged Ghost-Head Saber, then at his own saber, severed in two, and fell silent.

He did not know what to say.

Only when he heard voices in the crowd questioning the test did he react.

Without another word, Wang Zhi ignored the broken half of the blade on the ground. Holding the Ghost-Head Saber and his broken weapon, he snatched up the stall's coarse cloth, grabbed the sheath, and pulled Zhou Changqing along, ready to leave.

"Make way, make way."

"Everyone, I'm terribly sorry. That really was an act the boy and I put on to amuse you. Who would have thought one of our clever friends would see through it?"

"I offer you all my apologies. Please don't take offense."

"I'm deeply ashamed of this and have no face to remain here, so please make way, friends."

As he spoke, Wang Zhi pushed through the crowd, even going so far as to use his Dou Qi to form a Dou Qi Veil!

With the Dou Qi Veil's aid, Wang Zhi soon dragged Zhou Changqing clear of the crowd.

Within a few blinks, the two disappeared from everyone's sight.

"What's going on with Wang? Was it really an act?"

“Pah! An act, my ass! That bastard Old Wang played us! That saber is a genuine Iron-Cleaving Treasure Weapon! It really can slice through Hundred-Forged Fine Steel like mud!”

"Fuck! That was hundred-forged fine steel! If that saber struck a Dou Qi Veil, wouldn't every slash leave someone silent?!"

"Why would they go silent after being slashed?"

"Obviously! They'd be dead! How the hell would they make a sound?"

Someone in the crowd soon caught on and could not help cursing furiously!

With those reminders, the others recalled Wang Zhi's string of strange actions and suddenly understood!

The same thought rose in all their minds!

"Damn it! We've been fooled!"

(End of chapter)