Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
"What brings you here?" A refreshing voice came from inside.
It was clear that the master had already been informed of his arrival.
"Master, we have a visitor today who has taken an interest in our weapons and wants to place an order for one thousand of each type. Should we accept this?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the door creaked open, revealing a young man dressed in blue silk with dark embroidered patterns. His gentle face was hard to see clearly.
The young man was none other than Yang Yichen.
"What is the identity of the visitor?" he asked with a slight frown. The Blacksmith Shop was an establishment under his name, which he rarely visited, leaving it to Axi and Abei to manage.
The shop primarily dealt in iron pots, farming tools, and various necessary components like tables and chairs. Although the profits were slim, it was still better than many other blacksmith shops.
Axi was a very talented individual; no matter how complex the item, as long as it was given to him, he could create it perfectly. As for Abei, he was more unconventional and preferred to hone his skills there.
The weapons were actually inspired by ideas that came to him while reading related books during his leisure time. He would sketch them out and hand them over to Axi, who would then slowly forge them.
Of course, as the designer, Yang Yichen understood the lethality of those items; they were not ordinary swords or knives. Therefore, he never sold them and kept them as collectibles in a room that wasn't used.
Over time, various weapons accumulated there. Abei loved those peculiar swords and treated them like children, always cleaning them, which is why he noticed something unusual right away.
"How did he know about our weapons?" Yang Yichen couldn't believe that no information had leaked out for someone to come here: "We will not take this business!"
A total of two thousand swords was not just one or two; such a large quantity would surely be intended for something significant. Without a doubt, the other party must have corresponding numbers on their side.
Whether in the martial world or at court, secretly purchasing so many would be a major affair. If these unusually powerful weapons fell into the wrong hands, what kind of bloodshed would ensue?
Yang Yichen couldn't bear to imagine it, so he immediately refused.
Abei anxiously scratched his head, "But Master, we can set the price as we wish. After the job is done, there will be a reward of ten thousand taels! Ten thousand taels! Plus the profit from the weapons, this deal would allow us to live without worries for many years!"
Thinking of the shiny silver, Abei couldn't help but swallow hard. Why was the young master rejecting such a good opportunity?
"No, we can't agree to this. I don't know what he intends to do with so many weapons, so we cannot manufacture them. And you should know that the total quantity exceeds what is allowed under Western Moon Law, which carries severe penalties, including immediate execution."
Yang Yichen's words were not alarmist; they were facts.
In this era, there were strict regulations regarding iron ore management and the amount of raw iron that private blacksmith shops could possess. It was impossible to acquire so much raw material, and even if it could be obtained, knowingly breaking the law was not an option.
"Master, I understand that, but can't we just do it quietly? If we don't let anyone see us, it should be fine?" Abei tried to persuade the young man before him.
Yang Yichen remained resolute; he could compromise on other matters, but for this one, he would rather earn less silver than engage in such activities.
One misstep could lead to unpredictable consequences.
"Alright, you go back. I will not agree to this. Tell Axi to firmly refuse the other party and not to disclose any information," Yang Yichen said with a serious expression.
Abei shrank back his neck, knowing that his master was angry. He dared not say more and quietly left after confirming that no one was around at the door.
He easily shook off a few tails he had picked up on his way here; it was obvious who had sent them. There was no way he would let any pursuers catch up.
He strolled around the city for a while before returning to the Blacksmith Shop with two bags of pastries.
At this time, people were coming and going. Axi had no time to rest. Abei slightly shook his head to signal him; their developed understanding made it clear that his master did not agree with the proposal.
Thus, even if he had many thoughts in mind, he could not act on them and would follow his master's orders.
The next day, at the same time, the young man in black with a cold and bloodthirsty gaze appeared at the door of the Blacksmith Shop again, his thin lips tightly pressed together without a hint of a gap.
The temperature dropped sharply in the air, and the passerby felt goosebumps all over, wondering why it was so warm yet felt so cold.
Tightening his collar, he hurried back, realizing that the spring chill was still biting, and he needed to go home to put on another layer.
At the Blacksmith Shop, Axi was no different from yesterday upon the return of the Black-Clad Youth. "Young master, we are a small business and cannot take on your large order."
"Is that so? I thought you had such skills, yet you are hiding here." The Black-Clad Youth did not finish his sentence, but his disdainful expression spoke volumes.
"Ahem, we only sell ordinary items here. As for what you want, it's not about quantity; this could be a death penalty offense! I'm just an honest person trying to make a living."
The implication was clear: please don't make things difficult for me.
But would the Black-Clad Youth give up?
Of course not! He never expected such a significant gain from this northern journey; how could he possibly give up?
All those years of enduring had not brought him any benefits, only endless schemes.
As for this county town, it turned out to be a place full of hidden talents; what a surprise.
However, the muscular man before him, with dark skin and immense strength—was he really just a blacksmith?
The Black-Clad Youth observed Axi's facial expressions without missing any subtle details.
It was evident that Axi's breathing had quickened noticeably compared to earlier. The tea in his cup rippled slightly as the leaves floated gently, and there was an almost imperceptible twitch at the corner of his eye.
Understanding dawned in his heart, especially after being dismissed yesterday.
Time seemed to stretch for a century as Axi's heartbeat quickened. He struggled to control the rhythm of his heart under the pressure of power, yet the thumping sound remained clear and distinct.
The youth's cold gaze sent a chill down his spine, and a gentle breeze blew in, bringing with it a sense of icy tension that matched the rapid beating of his heart.
His legs felt weak beneath the stone table, and the silence from the boy was more nerve-wracking than if he had spoken.
Time seemed to stand still.
Finally, the Black-Clad Youth lifted his gaze, his dark eyes steady as he slowly began to speak.
Axi's heart tightened.
"You can't make decisions!" The Black-Clad Youth stated with certainty and confidence.
Crash! The teacup in Axi's hand fell onto the table, producing a crisp sound.
"You can't make decisions!" The words echoed in his mind. How did he know? It was in that moment that the teacup fell.
He opened his mouth, wanting to argue that he could make decisions.
But—
Was there any point in explaining? Did it matter? His earlier performance had already made everything clear.
Comment 0 Comment Count