The Proud Artifact Refiner

One incense stick's worth of time before Lu Qing'an returned to the courtyard.

A short figure in black robes, with a huge hammer on his back, appeared in the sky above it.

The newcomer was half the height of an ordinary person, with white hair around a bald crown and extraordinarily muscular arms. His face was full of defiance as he looked down at the courtyard below.

After he appeared, Xue Tianfei and the other two walked out of the courtyard.

Seeing that Wang Duanshan had arrived, Xiao Qingyi flew up into the sky with a smile. "Old Wang, it's been a while. How have you been lately?"

Wang Duanshan stared at Xiao Qingyi with disdain. "If you've tricked me again this time, you're dead!"

"He might have tricked you, but I wouldn't, would I?" Xue Tianfei did not fly up to greet him, instead speaking coldly from below.

Wang Duanshan looked down at Xue Tianfei.

She was also the reason he had come this time.

Xiao Qingyi could imitate Xue Tianfei's voice, but not her experiences. He had asked Xue Tianfei how many weapons he had forged for her back then, and only after receiving a definite answer did he believe that the person sending him the voice transmission was her.

From what he knew of Xue Tianfei, she was unlikely to deceive him.

Ignoring Xiao Qingyi, he flashed down and landed on the ground in front of Xue Tianfei.

"Xue Tianfei, you really weren't lying to me? The Eternal Night Demon Emperor is back?" Wang Duanshan stared at her, trying to catch some subtle change in her expression that would prove it was true.

But as Xue Tianfei faced him, her face was like a block of ice, without the slightest change in expression.

"He's back. He just went out for a bit and will return later. He asked you to help this fellow Daoist build an artifact-refining room."

Xue Tianfei was willing to handle things for Lu Qing'an. Since he wanted to help He Hong build an artifact-refining room, she would do her best to help get it done.

The moment He Hong saw Wang Duanshan, his face lit up with a warm smile. He hurried forward, reached out, and grasped Wang Duanshan's hand.

"Greetings, fellow Daoist! I'm He Hong, an artifact refiner as well! I've seen the weapons you forged, and I was truly amazed!"

Wang Duanshan frowned and pulled his hand free. "Wang Duanshan," he said, his face full of pride.

He disdained getting acquainted with He Hong. He had come here for only one purpose.

Nor had he come specifically to help someone build an artifact-refining room.

In his eyes, there was not a single artifact refiner in the entire Demon Domain who could stand shoulder to shoulder with him.

As he saw it, He Hong was just an ordinary artifact refiner.

Seeing He Hong press his warm face against Wang Duanshan's cold backside, Xiao Qingyi stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder. "Don't be angry. That old bastard's just like that. He acts as if everyone he meets owes him money."

He Hong hastily waved a hand with a smile. "It's all right. I like people with character! Fellow Daoist Wang, please, come inside!"

He knew full well what most artifact refiners were like: they were all stubborn, and some had particularly peculiar personalities. But there was no denying that the stranger an artifact refiner's temper, the greater his skill!

"Don't bother going in to sit down. Wang Duanshan, just start helping build the artifact-refining room," Xue Tianfei said, stopping him. She wanted Lu Qing'an to see the room completed before he returned.

She wanted to be a truly virtuous wife and loving mother.

She would support him in everything he did!

"Ahem, we should at least have a cup of tea..." Xiao Qingyi glanced at Xue Tianfei. Why is this woman putting our guest to work the moment he arrives?

But no sooner had Xiao Qingyi finished speaking than Xue Tianfei glared at him.

"Hurry up. You can drink after the work is done," Xue Tianfei said.

"Hmph, who said I came here this time because I'd agreed to help you build an artifact-refining room? Don't you know what my services are worth these days? I can't do it!" Wang Duanshan said.

The people seeking his artifact-refining services now formed a line stretching from the easternmost end of the Demon Domain to the westernmost.

Asking him to refine an artifact was one thing, but they actually wanted him to help someone build an artifact-refining room.

How was that any different from using a precious sword to dig up wild vegetables?!

"What, you won't even listen to my man? He said that if you wouldn't listen, he'd beat you until you did," Xue Tianfei said in a low voice.

"Oh? Since when did the Eternal Night Demon Emperor become your man? Are you lovestruck again? Besides, I'm still wondering whether you've lied to me. I haven't seen a trace of him yet." Wang Duanshan hated being forced into anything. Though he was a little weaker than Xue Tianfei, if they really fought, he would not be at much of a disadvantage.

"What, do you want to fight me?"

Xue Tianfei instantly flared up at his words.

What did he mean, lovestruck?!

Could liking someone be called being lovestruck?!

Seeing the two suddenly poised like drawn bows and unsheathed swords, Xiao Qingyi felt his head swell.

He Hong had not expected the three of them to change moods so quickly either. He stood there, utterly stunned.

"Qing'an, when will you be back..." He Hong smiled bitterly to himself.

In the end, thanks to Xiao Qingyi and He Hong's efforts to mediate, the two did not come to blows. Wang Duanshan also went inside and sat down.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, I have a question about artifact refining. Might I ask you about it?" Seeing that the others were sitting in silence, He Hong spoke with a smile.

He did indeed have a question about artifact refining, and he was already certain that Wang Duanshan was far more skilled than he was. Opportunities to seek his advice were rare.

"I don't have time." Wang Duanshan glanced at He Hong, his face full of arrogance.

He Hong: "..."

They were all sitting around waiting with nothing to do, so how did he not have time?

He paid no mind to Wang Duanshan's answer and asked his question anyway.

"The thing is, whenever I'm refining an artifact, just as I'm about to finish, I always run into..."

Wang Duanshan had said he did not have time, but he listened when He Hong asked his question.

After hearing it, his brow twitched slightly, though he concealed the subtle change in his expression.

"You don't even know such basic artifact-refining knowledge? Ridiculous."

"You know the answer, fellow Daoist Wang? Then could you clear up my confusion?" He Hong asked eagerly with a smile.

"Heh, all you have to do is..." Wang Duanshan held his head high as he shared a great deal of artifact-refining knowledge and experience. When he was done, he glanced at He Hong. "Not that you understood any of it, did you?"

He Hong sat there, his eyes darting rapidly. After a long silence, he suddenly struck his fist into his palm.

"Of course! How did I not think of that? Thank you for clearing that up, fellow Daoist Wang! You're truly experienced! I'm in awe!!"

Hearing He Hong's praise, Wang Duanshan was a little surprised that he had understood, but still felt it must have been because his own explanation was clear and easy to follow. He lifted his chin another notch.

"Right, fellow Daoist, I have another question! This one has me even more baffled!"

He Hong quickly asked another question about artifact refining.

At that, Wang Duanshan suddenly frowned.

Seeing Wang Duanshan fall silent, Xiao Qingyi said with an amused expression, "Old Wang, don't tell me you don't know either!"

"Bullshit! Is there an artifact-refining question I don't know the answer to?! Be quiet! I'm putting it into words!"

Wang Duanshan frowned. He Hong really had stumped him a little; it was an artifact-refining problem he had not even noticed himself!

After giving it some careful thought, he came up with an answer and shared it.

He Hong clapped his hands again after hearing it.

"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!!"

Seeing that his answer was perfect, Wang Duanshan breathed a sigh of relief, but there was a slight change in his gaze as he looked at He Hong.

This fellow has some skill!

"Thank you, fellow Daoist! One last question-it's troubled me the longest!" He Hong had never expected such an opportunity. He would gladly give up ten thousand years of his life to solve this question.

Coming to the Demon Domain this time was the best decision he had ever made in his life!

"You have another question? Is this one harder?" Wang Duanshan was starting to worry.

How did this fellow come across so many strange artifact-refining problems?!

And this one was even harder??

He Hong scratched his head and smiled bitterly. "I spend a lot of time mulling things over on my own. The question is..."

When he had finished asking, he continued to stare eagerly at Wang Duanshan.

This time, He Hong's question left Wang Duanshan completely at a loss for words.

He actually did not understand it!

"Well..."

Wang Duanshan hemmed and hawed for a while. Suddenly, a familiar presence appeared in the sky above the courtyard.

"They're back!" Xiao Qingyi said with a smile.

Wang Duanshan sensed Lu Qing'an's familiar, powerful presence, and his eyes lit up.

They really had not lied to him!

That fellow was truly back!