"Little Gold, y-you're leaving?"
The old blacksmith's voice trembled slightly. Though Golden Armor was a man of few words, he was steady and hardworking, respected his master and valued the Dao, and had not a single bad habit in daily life. Not only was he diligent and eager to learn, but the tools he forged were praised by all the neighbors, making him all the more trustworthy.
After living together these past few years, the old blacksmith had come to regard Golden Armor as his closest family. He treated this apprentice as though he were his own son. Not only had he considered passing the Blacksmith Shop on to him, he had even sought out girls from respectable families for Golden Armor. What he felt for Golden Armor was both the bond of master and disciple, and that of father and son.
"Little Gold... how can you leave? This Blacksmith Shop of your master's is still counting on you to inherit it!"
Golden Armor slowly turned around and looked at the old blacksmith, seemingly at a loss for what to say.
"Master, I..."
The old blacksmith's lips moved. Seeing Golden Armor unable to speak, he finally let out a sigh.
"Alas... I know you must come from an extraordinary background. I've known ever since you learned blacksmithing and began forging those sabers and swords—even producing weapons worthy of being called divine weapons. As your master, I had long considered that one day, you would leave this place... it's just, it's just..."
The old blacksmith repeated himself several times, desperately wanting to say something that might make him stay.
"It's just that if you leave, what will happen to Cuilan in South City?"
Outside the Blacksmith Shop, Great Hero Zuo, who had been pretending to chat with Li Feng, immediately turned