Under the lamp, Qin Tiexin was holding the silver silk book, and his fingertips could feel the softness and coldness of the fabric.
He lit the oil lamp again and took a closer look.
The handwriting is vigorous and powerful, the ink is deep black, and it is particularly clear on the silver background. The opening sentence, "Seeing the words is like meeting each other", is free and easy, revealing the calm demeanor of the writer.
Qin Tiexin Take a deep breath and continue reading.
"I, Azure Xuan Continent Lin Household Lin Feng, will die soon. I leave this book to my brother Qin Tiexin."
"Brother Qin, there are indeed immortal cultivators in this world. The place where they live is called the 'cultivation area', which is separated from the mortal world. The first one has an endless ocean with dangerous waves that can be crossed by ordinary boats; the second one has Spirit-Severing Mountain Range, which stretches for thousands of miles, has high and steep mountains, and Spiritual Qi is so thin that monks entering it are like carrying a heavy mountain, and it is even more difficult for mortals to cross."
"I am the youngest son of the head of the Azure Xuan Continent Heavenly South Domain Lin Household family in the world of cultivation. He has Triple Spirit Root qualifications and is slow in cultivation. Among his peers, there are some Dual Spirit Root and some Single Spirit Root. I am caught in the middle, practicing hard day and night, unable to reach my level, so I feel tired."
"Three years ago, Yu Zi invited me to practice in the secular world. One way is to relax, and the other is that Lineage also has property in the world that needs someone to take care of. It was a coincidence that we met in the army, but we have been together with Brother Qin for half a year, and we are very close to each other."
After reading this, Qin Tiexin's fingers paused.
Lin Feng's tone is relaxed and calm, as if he is talking about an ordinary thing, but there is helplessness between the lines. Xiuxian, Spirit Root, Lineage... these words are strange and distant, but they are written in this silk book, but they are so real.
He continued to look.
"When I was in the military camp, I noticed that Brother Qin's physique was different. For ordinary warriors, although Qi and Blood is strong, he has no outward aura. But Brother Qin is often surrounded by a very light but condensed 'Spiritual Qi', which is different from a pure warrior. This is not a result of practice, but seems to be natural."
"I suspect that Brother Qin has a special background or physique, or has a hidden Body Refining talent, or has a different bloodline, but it has not been triggered. If you have fortuitous opportunity, you may be able to step on Dao Path, which is completely different from ordinary warriors."
Qin Tiexin is breathing slightly.
Spiritual Qi? Special physique? These words were spinning in his mind. He remembered that he had been stronger than his peers since he was a child, and he had a larger appetite. When he was Northern Army, his recovery power was also faster than others. He originally thought it was from blacksmithing, but now that he thinks about it...
He shook his head and continued reading.
"I feel something unexpected during this northern expedition. If I encounter an accident or disappear inexplicably, I hope Brother Qin can send this sword back to Heavenly South Domain Lin Household after seeing this letter. Although this sword is broken, it is a token given by Lineage."
"As a reward, I have attached a simplified map, which shows the path starting from a hidden valley in the northwest of Great Xuan, crossing Spirit Severing Mountain, and arriving at the edge of the cultivation world in relative safety. This road is difficult and very few people can cross it, but Brother Qin has a special physique, so you may give it a try."
In the last few lines of the letter, the handwriting became more and more free and easy.
"Brother Qin, if you can really read this letter, it means that the fate between you and me is not over. The world of cultivation is full of strange things, with dangers and opportunities coexisting. Maybe that is the world where you can truly display your talents."
"If you come, Lin Household will sweep the bed to greet you."
"Lin Feng, the last word."
Qin Tiexin slowly rolled up the silk book and placed it on the table.
The room was so quiet that I could hear my own heartbeat.
The flame of the oil lamp danced slightly, casting a swaying shadow on the wall. A few night birds chirped outside the window, far away.
He sat for a long time.
The contents of the letter were turning over and over in my mind. Immortal cultivator, cultivation area, Spiritual Qi, special physique... These words seemed to open a door that I had never seen before, and behind the door was a completely unfamiliar world.
He thought of Lin Feng in the army - always smiling, Swordsmanship was good, good at archery, and could chat with anyone. Only now did he realize that he was a person from another world.
He thought again of Illustrated Catalog of Ten Thousand Artifacts. The mysterious book that lingered in his mind, asking him to refine "Law Artifact". Law Artifact... wasn't it something used by immortal cultivators?
Qin Tiexin looked down at his hands. The palms were broad, the knuckles were thick, and they were covered with calluses and burn scars. These were a pair of blacksmith hands, holding a hammer, a knife handle, and all real things.
But now some people say that these hands may have "special constitution" or "hidden Body Refining talent".
He doesn't understand.
But he knew that there were some things that he needed to talk to someone about.
***
Early the next morning, the shop opened the furnace as usual.
Qin Tiexin was hitting the iron with his bare arms, and when the hammer fell, sparks flew everywhere. He hit a bone chopping knife with a thin edge and a thick back, custom-made for Butcher Li from the east of the city.
Hammer after hammer, the rhythm is steady.
Zhou Cang was sitting by the fire, watching his movements, and suddenly said, "Did you not sleep well last night?"
Qin Tiexin keeps moving. "Sleep."
"You can't lie to me." Zhou Cang stood up on crutches, "There are bloodshot eyes, and the strength of my hands is not right - it is three points heavier than usual."
Qin Tiexin stopped and put down the hammer. The fire reflected his face, and beads of sweat flowed down his cheeks.
"Teacher," he said, "I have something I want to tell you."
Zhou Cang glanced at him. "Say in the room."
The two entered the backyard room and closed the door. Qin Tiexin took out the silver silk book from his arms and handed it to Zhou Cang.
Zhou Cang took it and unfolded it. He didn't know much about literacy, but he could barely read. The more he looked at it, the more solemn his face became.
After reading it, he was silent for a long time.
"Lin Feng..." He muttered the name in a low voice, "So that's it."
"Does the teacher believe it?" Qin Tiexin asked.
"Letter." Zhou Cang returned the silk book to him, "You know better than me what happened on the battlefield. Zhao Xuan Law Technique you also saw it with your own eyes that night. There are things in this world that we don't know, it's normal."
Qin Tiexin nodded and put away the silk book.
"Do you want to try it?" Zhou Cang asked.
Qin Tiexin Silence.
But Lin Feng's letter is in his hand. The letter says that he has a special physique and may be able to set foot on Dao Path.
"I don't know." Qin Tiexin said honestly.
Zhou Cang sighed, "You have to choose your own path. But there are a few things I have to say."
"You said."
"First, Zhao Xuan's affairs are not over yet." Zhou Cang said in a low voice, "The law enforcement team took him away and just followed the rules. Is there anyone behind him? Will he come back again? You can't say for sure. You have to be on guard."
Qin Tiexin nodded. He had thought about this a long time ago. Zhao Xuan is a monk of Qi Refining Third Layer. Although he was taken away by the law enforcement team, Heavenly Craft Workshop is still there, and Zhao Household is still there. This matter will not end like this.
"Second, Dazhu is getting married." Zhou Cang looked at him, "The shop can't live without you now. If you want to leave, you have to wait until you settle down here."
"I don't want to leave." Qin Tiexin said.
"I don't think about it now, but what about in the future?" Zhou Cang asked, "The letter said that the world of cultivation is the world where you can display your talents. After reading it, can you not be tempted?"
Qin Tiexin said nothing.
Was he tempted? I don't know. But the world described in the letter, the dangers, opportunities, weirdness... did make something in his heart move.
It's like seeing a piece of fine iron material and you can't help but want to shape it into something.
"So," Zhou Cang patted him on the shoulder, "You decide which way to go. But no matter which way you choose, you have to do the things in front of you well. The shop needs to be opened, the iron needs to be forged, and the brothers need to get married. These are real things."
"I understand." Qin Tiexin nodded.
***
In the following days, Qin Tiexin worked as usual.
But something is different.
When he was blacksmithing, he would try to feel the "Spiritual Qi" mentioned in Lin Feng's letter. He would close his eyes, concentrate, and feel his surroundings.
At first, I felt nothing. Only the heat of the fire, the weight of the hammer, and the saltiness of sweat.
But slowly, he vaguely felt something strange.
When he was concentrating on forging, there seemed to be a weak warm current flowing in his body. It was very light, so light that it was almost imperceptible, like a stream seeping through the cracks in the rocks.
He tried to guide this warm current. Like controlling a muscle, let it flow to his arm, to his wrist, and to the hand holding the hammer.
There are no obvious changes. The hammer is still the same hammer, and the iron is still the same piece of iron.
But one time, he was making a short blade. When the edge of the blade was about to be quenched, the warm current just flowed to his hand. He subconsciously dipped his hand into the quenching pool--
"Tsk!"
In the steaming water, he saw a very faint silver light flash across the edge of the blade, and it disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Looking at the short blade, the blade is Sharpness, the texture is fine, and it is better than usual.
Qin Tiexin stared at the short blade for a long time.
He didn't know if this was "Spiritual Qi" that Lin Feng said. But there was definitely something in his body and in his hands.
After finishing the work, he went back to the house and took out the leather map left by Lin Feng.
This map is hidden in the secret compartment of the sword hilt, placed together with the silk book. The leather is soft and soft, and the tentacles are slightly cool. I don't know what kind of paint was used to write the ink on it, but it does not fade.
Unfold it, with mountains and rivers drawn on it, and densely marked with small characters. In the corner of the map, there is a red dot, which says "Great Xuan·Ink City". From Ink City to the northwest, a dotted line stretches out, passing through numerous mountains, and finally reaches an area marked "Heavenly South Domain".
Next to the dotted line, there is an annotation in small characters. "Spirit Severing Mountain Path, it is steep and difficult to walk, ordinary warriors should be careful when entering."
Qin Tiexin looked at the map carefully. The route was clear and marked in detail. It even marked where there were water sources, where there were poisonous miasma, and where Demon Beast was found.
Lin Feng is really attentive.
He moved his fingers along the dotted line. Starting from Ink City, he had to pass through three mountains, two large rivers, a desert, and finally arrived at the Spirit-Severing Mountain Range. The journey was far away. Just looking at the distance on the map, it would take at least three or four months.
Moreover, the words "Demon Beast" and "Poison Miasma" marked on the road are not easy to deal with.
Qin Tiexin put away the map, sat on the edge of the bed, and looked at the night outside the window.
Cultivation world, Heavenly South Domain, Lin Household.
These words are spinning in my head.
Sending a sword to such a far place just for a promise.
Is it worth it?
He didn't know. But he knew that he had to do what he promised. This was what his master taught him, and it was also his own principle.
***
Tu Dazhu The day before the wedding.
The shop was closed. Qin Tiexin and Zhou Cang helped decorate the new house, put up happy words and hang red silk. Liu Wan'er also came, wearing a newly made light red skirt, with a shy smile on his face.
Tu Dazhu was wearing a new suit of clothes and stood in the courtyard, at a loss.
"Brother Qin, I, I'm nervous." He said.
"Why are you nervous?" Qin Tiexin patted him on the shoulder, "Be nice to me."
"I know!" Tu Dazhu nodded vigorously.
In the evening, the four of them sat in the courtyard to eat. The food was cooked by Liu Wan'er, with four dishes and one soup, including meat and vegetables. Tu Dazhu was sweating profusely after eating, and Qin Tiexin also ate two bowls more than usual.
After the meal, Liu Wan'er cleaned up the dishes and Tu Dazhu helped fetch water.
Zhou Cang looked at them and said to Qin Tiexin, "When you have a family, you are an adult. You should also think about your own affairs."
Qin Tiexin Silence.
"Lin Feng's letter, what are you going to do?" Zhou Cang asked.
"Send the sword back first." Qin Tiexin said, "You must do what you promised."
"When are you leaving?"
"Wait for Dazhu to be more stable here." Qin Tiexin looked at the two people working in the yard, "The shop must also be arranged."
Zhou Cang nodded. "Just do it if you think about it. Dazhu and I can still hold on for a while in the shop."
It was late at night, Qin Tiexin returned to his room.
He took out Lin Feng's sword from under the bed and held it in his hand. The sword was cold, and the damaged Spirit Rune was vaguely visible in the moonlight.
Send the sword, go to Heavenly South Domain, and meet the family of Lin Feng.
What then?
He doesn't know.
But the road has to be taken step by step. Just like forging iron, you can hammer the iron into the desired shape with one hammer.
He put away his sword and lay down.
Tu Dazhu is getting married tomorrow, and the shop will be busy all day. I have to get up early to help.
As for what happens next... we'll talk about it later.