Born with great strength—and an ancestral Big Black Ox

"It's fine, Old Ox. Once we have money, I'll buy you a wooden carving of a Little She-Ox."

"Moo~ moo~"

Big Black Ox's thoughts immediately cleared, and he happily mooed twice.

Today was year's end. Lantern-like objects resembling Kongming lanterns slowly rose from spots along the river, carrying the people's beautiful wishes for the coming year. The entire Pan Ning City was lit bright.

This was Pan Ning City's custom, known among the locals as Wishing Lanterns.

Chen Xun looked up at the sky, a trace of a smile unconsciously appearing at the corner of his lips.

"Old Ox, shall we set some off? Let's splurge for once!"

"Moo! Moo!"

Big Black Ox's eyes gleamed. Only a fool would refuse. He had plenty of wishes in his heart.

The riverbank was filled with common folk, and there might even be immortals among them. In a corner by the river, Chen Xun bought two Wishing Lanterns. One man and one ox would not go squeeze into those crowded places.

"Old Ox, what's your wish? Let's write it down. I heard that makes it more effective."

Chen Xun held a piece of charcoal and looked at Big Black Ox. "Just hold it in your mouth and write. Didn't I teach you how to write?"

Moo!

Big Black Ox immediately snatched the charcoal with his mouth. A thoughtful look appeared in his eyes as he began writing on the Wishing Lantern.

"Hehe, it's not something about Little She-Oxes, is it?"

Chen Xun gave a lecherous grin as he looked at Big Black Ox's Wishing Lantern. If it really was, then it would be like a Little She-Ox riding a Wishing Lantern—bullshit soaring straight to heaven.

"Forever... what?"

Chen Xun frowned. Big Black Ox's handwriting was crooked and twisted. "Follow... Chen."

His heart trembled. He gave Big Black Ox a deep look as the two Wishing Lanterns slowly floated up, merging into the countless lanterns before gradually vanishing from sight.

"Moo?" Big Black Ox nudged Chen Xun.

"If you say a wish out loud, it won't come true anymore. Understand?"

Chen Xun said mysteriously. Big Black Ox's eyes widened in alarm. He believed it again and stopped nudging Chen Xun.

One man and one ox resumed their night stroll through Pan Ning City. Chen Xun also took the chance to see what work there was in the city. After all, he was now skilled in all eighteen trades.

Having tasted the benefits of speed, Chen Xun continued adding this year's Longevity Points to speed. He also gave Big Black Ox one point.

The next day, Chen Xun went to a blacksmith shop in the city. The moment he entered, he swaggered in with an overbearing air, startling the Boss into a daze. The man thought he had come to cause trouble.

"Little brother, we don't take oxen here."

"I was born with great strength. I think your blacksmith shop might be missing something without me."

"What do you mean?"

"Boss, is your blacksmith shop hiring?"

Chen Xun suddenly beamed and bared his arms. "One of me is worth two, and I've got my family's ancestral Big Black Ox to help out. I guarantee your business will flourish!"

Bang!

Chen Xun was thrown out. The blacksmith shop's Boss spat, "Do you think I take in every person of unknown origin?"

Moo!

Big Black Ox flew into a rage. How could this Boss insult people like that? He spat back as well.

Chen Xun hurriedly stopped Big Black Ox and said coldly, "If this place won't keep me, another place will."

The Boss folded his arms as several blacksmiths came out behind him. Their stance made it clear that if Chen Xun said one more word of nonsense, they would start fighting.

Chen Xun silently grabbed the lead rope. Without another word, he pulled Big Black Ox along and ran.

"Tch!" The men jeered and waved them off before returning to their ironwork.

On the road, Big Black Ox nudged Chen Xun, telling him not to be angry anymore.

"It's fine. I asked around—there's another blacksmith shop on the next street. I heard business isn't doing well there. Let's give it a try."

"Moo!" Big Black Ox nodded.

When they arrived at that blacksmith shop, Chen Xun was shocked. Why did it look like it was already on the verge of closing down? A little old man was even sitting in a chair, dozing off.

"Old sir." Chen Xun led Black Ox inside. There was not a single customer.

"Ah."

The little old man sprang up, his eyes clouded. "What would you like to buy, little brother?"

"Hehe, I was born with great strength. Is the blacksmith shop hiring?" Chen Xun asked with a smile.

"Haha... yes."

The little old man nodded sharply. "It's just that all the blacksmiths in this shop have run off, and there's no wage to pay."

"That's fine. Boss, just give us somewhere to live."

"That works."

The little old man said happily, "You can stay in the blacksmith shop's back courtyard as you please."

The two immediately hit it off. Chen Xun brought Big Black Ox to organize their pots, bowls, and other belongings, while Big Black Ox searched everywhere for a place to hide the rice.

"This world really is vast."

Chen Xun sighed. The shop was so spacious that even Big Black Ox could move through it without obstruction.

An hour later, he and Big Black Ox began working the iron together. The blacksmith shop rang with clang after clang, making the little old man's eyelids twitch. What tremendous strength.

"Little brother, judging by those techniques, have you forged iron before?"

The little old man's eyes gleamed as he clasped his hands behind his back. "Though your technique is still a bit rough."

"Of course. Old sir, to be honest, I have Five Years of work experience. Whoever hires me is definitely getting a bargain."

Chen Xun boasted. He liked forging iron. It was a form of control over strength, though he still could not reach the realm of meticulous precision.

"You can't forge iron like that."

The little old man shook his head. It wasted far too much strength. "Let me show you a hand."

Whoa, an expert.

Chen Xun watched the little old man's forging method. It was entirely different from the blacksmiths in the village, but before long, the little old man was already panting heavily.

"I'm old, I'm old. Little brother, you do it."

The little old man waved his hand and looked at Big Black Ox. This ox really was spirited.

"Alright."

Chen Xun copied the old man's technique. Sure enough, it really worked. It seemed his control over his body's strength was slowly growing stronger.

Over the following year, Chen Xun brought Big Black Ox to forge iron every day, while the little old man guided them from the side—and even gave Big Black Ox some pointers.

Whether immortals or mortals, everyone had their own shining qualities and wisdom. Chen Xun benefited immensely from this blacksmith shop.

"Sun Lao, our blacksmith shop's business is getting better and better."

Chen Xun said with a smile, bare-chested. The shop was beginning to make money now, and both he and Big Black Ox had some savings, which the latter buried in the dirt of the back courtyard.

The little old man was named Sun Kaile. He had once had a son, but when his son went to Ningyun Mountain Range seeking immortality, he met an untimely death. Sun Kaile had spent these years alone.

"Hehe, very good."

Sun Kaile smiled. Ever since Chen Xun came to the blacksmith shop, there had been far more smiles on his face.

Chen Xun forged iron faster and with better quality than the other blacksmith shops. Word spread from one to ten, ten to a hundred. People often came to commission ironware, and whenever they left, satisfaction filled their eyes.

"Chen Xun!"

A shout came from the street. A burly man walked over with two others, a long saber hanging from his hand.

"Brother Zhang is here."

Chen Xun greeted him with a smile. "What are you looking to have made? I'll make sure Brother Zhang is properly taken care of."

Brother Zhang was named Zhang Jiang. He was the Senior Brother of a martial sect, a bold and generous man who often patronized the blacksmith shop and even sent his fellow disciples here.

Zhang Jiang stepped forward and shouted, "A hundred broadswords. Can you take it?"

A huge order. Chen Xun's eyes lit up, though his hands continued forging. "Of course. When does Brother Zhang need them?"

"Within two months. If you finish them in one month, I'll pay extra." Zhang Jiang grinned.

"Why add extra money? Brother Zhang, you're treating me like an outsider. I'll have it all arranged for you within a month."

Chen Xun shot Zhang Jiang a reproachful look. What need was there for formalities between brothers? "Come pick them up this time next month."

"Straightforward! See? Brother Chen Xun knows how to do business."

Zhang Jiang shouted and looked at the two men behind him. They clicked their tongues and nodded as well. People of the martial world liked Chen Xun's kind.

"Brother Chen Xun, don't turn that Big Black Ox behind you into food. Old oxen with such spirit are rare these days."

"This is an ancestral heirloom from my family. Can't eat him." Chen Xun hurriedly waved his hands.

"Fine, then I'll be going. If anyone dares cause trouble at the blacksmith shop, let Brother Zhang know."

Zhang Jiang laughed loudly and looked toward Big Black Ox behind him. "Black Ox, I'm leaving. See Brother Zhang off."

"Moo!" Big Black Ox turned his head and actually mooed.

"Hahaha..."

Zhang Jiang left with the two men. Chen Xun's farewell called out from behind them. Zhang Jiang raised one hand in a wave, his figure disappearing down the street.