That seemingly offhand remark at the smithy was like a stone tossed into a tranquil lake.
The ripples would not settle at once, of course.
Ling Feng could guess at the towering waves raging in Tang San's heart at that moment. He could imagine the doubt, wariness, and even trace of panic born of having his greatest secret vaguely touched upon.
But that was precisely what he wanted.
Toss a stone to test the path.
That "stone" had already been thrown. Next, he only had to wait for that sensitive "fish" to swim over and investigate.
He was in no hurry to return to Dorm Seven. Instead, he strolled through the academy with seeming aimlessness, giving the other boy plenty of time to digest things and let them brew.
Sure enough, evening came, and the setting sun stretched the academy buildings' shadows long.
Ling Feng had just reached the tree-lined path near the dormitory building when a figure emerged from the shade of the trees beside him and blocked his way.
It was Tang San.
His expression had regained its usual composure, but the lingering trace of scrutiny and gravity deep in his eyes did not escape Ling Feng's perception.
"Ling Feng." Tang San spoke, trying to sound as natural as possible. "What you said at the smithy this afternoon... was very interesting."
He paused, seemingly arranging his words to avoid appearing too eager. "About... concentrating force, speed, and those grooves and catches... how did you think of all that?"
Ling Feng stopped, a perfectly measured hint of pleased surprise at "finding a kindred spirit" appearing on his face. "Oh? You're interested in this too, Tang San? I was just tossing ideas around. I thought smithing shouldn't just be about mindlessly using strength. There ought to be some technique to it."
His tone was relaxed, as though he were merely sharing an insignificant little discovery.
"Technique..." Tang San rolled the word over, his gaze flickering slightly. "True. Techniques for exerting force are important. What sort of technique do you think... could achieve the effect you described?"
He began trying to guide the conversation, hoping to sound out Ling Feng's depths.
Ling Feng laughed inwardly, but feigned thoughtfulness before following his lead. "I was thinking that when a hammer comes down, its force is scattered. If you could twist that strength into a single strand, like twisting a rope, and unleash it instantly on one tiny point, wouldn't its penetrating power be greater?"
As he spoke, he gestured with his hands. "You'd also need speed. So fast that before the force of your first strike has completely dispersed, the second strike follows and stacks on top of it... mm, like piling waves upon waves."
Tang San's pupils contracted slightly!
Force penetrating a single point! Exerting force in stacked waves!
This was already a remarkably sophisticated theory of force application! It even touched on the rudiments of how he controlled the internal power of his Mysterious Heaven Skill!
Forcing down the shock in his heart, he pressed on. "Then... what about the grooves? The mechanisms and catches?"
"Oh, that." Ling Feng scratched his head, looking as though he were "just making random connections." "I just thought, if hammerheads could be made in different shapes, or if you struck at more unusual angles, couldn't you carve whatever patterns or indentations you wanted into an iron blank? Combine a few indentations, and perhaps you could get several components to fit together perfectly, so that when one moved, they all moved..."
His description was somewhat crude, even carrying a touch of an amateur's imagination.
But in Tang San's ears, it was like an explosion of thunder!
Precise force control! The concept of molds! Linked mechanisms!
This was already infinitely close to the most fundamental manufacturing principles behind the Tang Sect's mechanical hidden weapons!
This person... had he really come up with all this through imagination alone?
Tang San drew a deep breath, his gaze turning utterly serious. He even set aside part of his wariness for the moment, completely captivated by the subject. "What you're saying... makes a lot of sense. But this seems to go beyond ordinary forging. It's more like... making some sort of precision device."
He stared intently into Ling Feng's eyes.
Ling Feng smiled openly. "Exactly! That's what I was thinking! Say we could make a... hmm... a powerful weapon that needed no Soul Power, or only a little Soul Power, to operate. Something like... something that could fire short bolts in succession, with strong penetrating power... wouldn't it be interesting to give ordinary people something like that?"
Successive shots! Strong penetrating power! For ordinary people to use!
Those key phrases slammed into Tang San's heart like heavy hammers!
The Godly Zhuge Crossbow!
This renowned mechanical hidden weapon of the Tang Sect instantly surfaced in his mind!
Though the details were completely different, the central idea-giving ordinary people the possibility of fighting Soul Masters-was astonishingly similar!
An immense sense of absurdity and shock swept over Tang San.
He stared fixedly at Ling Feng, as though truly seeing him for the first time.
The other boy's eyes were clear, shining with a pure desire to explore the unknown, with no sign of deceit or scheming.
Could there really be such a genius in this world? Could imagination alone touch the crystallized wisdom another world had accumulated over countless years?
Or could it be...
All manner of thoughts battled furiously in Tang San's mind.
But regardless, the "ideas" Ling Feng described held a fatal attraction for him.
This had even opened a new door for him-perhaps the Tang Sect's arts were not unique in this world? Perhaps exchanging ideas could bring new inspiration?
His tone involuntarily took on a trace of urgency and eagerness. "This kind of weapon... roughly what do you think its structure would look like? How would it fire repeatedly? How would you ensure its power?"
The two stood beside the tree-lined path beneath the setting sun, utterly absorbed in their "technical discussion."
One deliberately guided the conversation, feeding out concepts; the other devoured them hungrily, drawing connections from one principle to the next.
Ling Feng offered no concrete blueprints, merely throwing out one vague yet crucial guiding concept after another-magazine-fed crossbows, linked gears, spring-loaded force storage, trigger assemblies...
Every concept made Tang San's eyes blaze and his breathing quicken.
Many problems he was painstakingly pondering and trying to solve actually found breakthroughs in the other boy's wildly imaginative yet unerringly incisive "ideas"!
He completely forgot the time, forgot his original purpose, and lost himself entirely in the frenzy of colliding thoughts.
Until the sky had gone completely dark and the first stars appeared.
"...Those are about all my half-formed ideas." Ling Feng brought the conversation to a timely halt and smiled. "I've made a fool of myself, Tang San. It's all just idle fancy."
Only then did Tang San abruptly awaken from his entranced state.
He looked at Ling Feng, his gaze extraordinarily complicated.
There was admiration, shock, gratitude, and uncertainty, but his earlier wariness and sense of distance had indeed faded considerably.
However the other boy knew these things, this exchange had been worth a fortune to him!
"No! Your ideas... are extremely... extremely impressive!" Tang San's tone held unprecedented sincerity, and even a trace of excitement. "This is absolutely not idle fancy! This... this is nothing short of groundbreaking!"
He took a deep breath, as though reaching some decision. "Thank you, Ling Feng. I've gained a great deal from talking with you."
Ling Feng waved a hand, looking as though it were nothing.
Tang San seemed unable to wait to go back and digest these inspirations. He gave Ling Feng a solemn nod, then turned and strode away, his departing figure even looking somewhat hurried.
Judging by his direction, he certainly was not returning to Dorm Seven. It looked more as though he was heading somewhere he could think in peace.
Watching him leave at almost a jog, Ling Feng's lips curved slightly.
The fish had not only taken the bait, but was enjoying its meal.
It had even grown a little reluctant to leave.
Just then, Tang San, who had already gone a dozen or so paces, suddenly stopped and spun around.
Beneath the starlight, his expression was somewhat indistinct, but his eyes were exceptionally bright as he looked straight at Ling Feng.
In the end, he could not hold back and asked the greatest question that had circled in his heart since the smithy:
"Ling Feng, just... how much more do you know about all this?"
Ling Feng met his gaze. The smile on his face remained unchanged, yet gained a hint of something unfathomable.
He did not answer.
He merely gave Tang San a meaningful smile.
Then he turned and walked leisurely toward Dorm Seven.
Tang San was left standing alone, watching his retreating figure blend into the night. The little warmth and eagerness that had just risen in his heart were instantly shrouded in a deeper, icy fog.
Did he not know?
Or... was he unwilling to say?
The starlight was silent; the evening breeze spoke no words.