Chapter 114 - You're Thinking Too Much
Chapter 114 – You’re Thinking Too Much
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“Great Xia’s Forging Division truly lives up to its reputation!”
At the entrance of Great Xia’s Forging Division’s workshops, a handsome young man in his twenties spoke with a smile.
Not far away, Yin Wuyou, Meng Jinguang, and the other three ministers of the Forging Division were expressionless.
“Great Wei’s Forging Division isn’t bad either,” Meng Jinguang said.
Yin Wuyou didn’t want to speak on such an occasion. As the number one minister beneath Yin Wuyou, he naturally couldn’t remain silent.
No matter how much he disliked the other party, the other party was still an envoy from another country. He couldn’t embarrass Great Xia in front of him.
“We can’t compare. We can’t compare.” Shen Yue shook his head and smiled. The others didn’t know if he was referring to Great Xia being incomparable to Great Wei or Great Wei being incomparable to Great Xia.
Shen Yue was extremely good-looking. He was wearing a light blue robe with a long sword hanging from his waist, looking carefree and elegant.
Even though they were enemies, Yin Wuyou and the others had to admit that this person was indeed exceptional.
“Your Highness, I heard that your country has a genius Forging Apprentice. As an apprentice, he obtained the qualifications to participate in Great Xia’s military parade. I wonder if I have the honor of meeting him today?” Shen Yue looked at Yin Wuyou with expressive eyes.
Yin Wuyou felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze and frowned slightly. “You’ll see him.”
Shen Yue had been looking at her with a gaze that made her very uncomfortable since they met. Although she was angry, Shen Yue wasn’t rude, so she couldn’t make things difficult for him.
She only hoped that Zhou Shu could help her teach Shen Yue a lesson!
“I have been learning how to forge since I was a child. At the time, I already knew that Great Xia was a sacred ground for forging. Today, I finally have the chance to witness Great Xia’s forging techniques. I am extremely happy.” Shen Yue smiled.
“I hope you’ll still be so happy later,” Yin Wuyou said coldly.
Shen Yue smiled slightly. “I will. Even if I’m defeated today, being able to witness Great Xia’s forging technique and recognize my own inadequacies is also a great blessing.”
Yin Wuyou walked into the workshop without saying anything more.
Meng Jinguang made a gesture of invitation and followed behind Yin Wuyou. Together, they walked through the door of the Forging Division’s workshops.
The Forging Division’s workshops were a military factory. This place was like a military base.
Normally, irrelevant people shouldn’t even think about getting close.
Although Shen Yue was the deputy envoy of Great Wei’s diplomatic mission team, under normal circumstances, it was impossible for him to come into contact with Great Xia’s Forging Division’s workshops.
But this time, one of the stages of the two sides’ betting match was the competition between Shen Yue and the Forging Division’s Forging Apprentices.
It was also Shen Yue’s request to come here.
In order to take back the two prefectures, Emperor Yuan Feng had gone all out and agreed to this condition.
However, although it was easy for Shen Yue to enter the workshops, it wouldn’t be so easy for him to see any secrets.
Things that involved secret forging techniques had long been kept away from sight.
Shen Yue could at most take a look at the construction of the Forging Division’s workshops.
A row of forging furnaces had been set up on the spacious square, and the flames in the furnaces were burning fiercely.
Next to the square were ordinary iron materials.
Forging standard weapons only required ordinary iron.
A dozen or so well-built Forging Apprentices stood in a line.
They were the Forging Apprentices whom Yin Wuyou and the others had specially selected. They were all experts from the various workshops.
It was a little difficult for them to develop new weapons, but they were definitely good at forging Great Xia’s standard weapons.
Shen Yue’s gaze swept over the dozen or so Forging Apprentices, and a hint of disappointment flashed across his eyes.
“I wonder which one of you is Zhou Shu, who forged the Horse Slaying Saber?” Shen Yue asked.
Yin Wuyou’s expression changed. He really didn’t come!
This damn Zhou Shu!
Although she was cursing in her heart, Yin Wuyou didn’t show any change in her expression and said coldly, “He’s not here. He’ll come later.”
“That’s good.” Killing intent flashed in Shen Yue’s eyes. “To be honest, Your Highness, the person I want to see the most this time is Zhou Shu.
“The training system of our Great Wei’s forgers is different from Great Xia’s. The forgers of your country use a master-and-disciple system, and your Forging Apprentices are just skilled workers. The forgers of our Great Wei start from Forging Apprentices. No matter how talented they are, they still need to be an apprentice for three years before they can learn Forging Master skills.
“Let’s not talk about the advantages and disadvantages of both systems for now. Zhou Shu was actually able to develop several new weapons despite being just a Forging Apprentice. If he were in our Great Wei, we would have already focused on nurturing him…”
“Are you saying that Great Xia doesn’t value him enough?” Yin Wuyou said with a cold expression, but she was also a little flustered.
Is Great Xia really not good enough to Zhou Shu?
It seemed to be true. Zhou Shu had contributed five new weapons: the Huben Saber, the Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Saber, the Horse Slaying Saber, the Spring Embroidered Saber, and the Autumn Anatidae Plume Saber.
Furthermore, the Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Saber and the Horse Slaying Saber had greatly increased the strength of Great Xia’s Country Protector Army.
But what did the Imperial Court reward him with?
It only gave him the title of workshop superintendent.
Now that she thought about it, this reward was definitely not enough.
“I don’t mean anything by it,” Shen Yue said.
“Perhaps your country has other considerations. After all, the situation in our two countries is different. I’m just saying that if he were in our Great Wei, such a talent would be arranged to study under a Grand Craftsman…”
The more Shen Yue spoke, the more flustered Yin Wuyou became. The bit of resentment she had for Zhou Shu in her heart had long vanished into thin air.
She was a little worried now. Is Shen Yue here to poach him?
Could Zhou Shu really be persuaded by him?
Great Xia has indeed treated him unfairly.
With this thought, Yin Wuyou became restless.
She couldn’t wait to find Zhou Shu and explain. It wasn’t that Great Xia didn’t want to nurture him, nor was it that they couldn’t find him a teacher who was a Grand Craftsman. It was just that…
Even she felt that her words were not convincing enough.
Why didn’t I think of this before?
Could it be that the Great Xia’s Forging Division has already reached such a level in suppressing Forging Apprentices?
“Let’s not talk about this anymore.” The corner of Shen Yue’s mouth raised. “Back to the topic. Your Highness, let’s begin. Let me experience Great Xia’s standard weapon forging techniques.”
“Deputy Envoy Shen,” Meng Jinguang said coldly. “To be honest, our two countries’ standard weapons have confronted each other many times on the battlefield. This competition doesn’t seem necessary, right?”
“Minister Meng, you are talking about the past.” Shen Yue shook his head.
“I have never seen the power of your country’s new Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Saber and Horse Slaying Saber.
“Furthermore, Great Wei has a few new weapons that haven’t appeared on the battlefield. This time, we want to compete with Great Xia’s standard weapons.”
Meng Jinguang really wanted to say, ‘If you want to see them, then let’s meet on the battlefield or at the Ten Nations Martial Arts Tournament.’
But he also knew that saying this was just nonsense. The emperor had already agreed to this competition. No matter how much he said, it would only be nonsense.
Fortunately, this competition was only carried out within the Forging Division. Even if the Forging Division lost, the impact was still within their control.
Actually, other than Shen Yue himself, everyone else felt that this match was a little strange.
It was completely unnecessary.
As long as the weapons were forged, they would be included in the Heavenly Mountain Villa’s Standard Armament Manual. It could be said that even if Great Xia and Great Wei forged the standard weapons privately, the other party didn’t need to know, and this bet could still be carried out.
The competition between Shen Yue and the Forging Division’s workshops was simply superfluous.
Yin Wuyou had previously explained to Zhou Shu that Shen Yue was doing this to lower morale in the Forging Division. It was just her own guess. As for the exact reason, perhaps only Shen Yue himself knew.
“Although guests should follow the host’s wishes, this competition was proposed by me. Then, let me start first.” Shen Yue smiled. “If I don’t show some real ability, I’m afraid your country’s Zhou Shu won’t appear easily, right?
“That’s true. It’s normal for a genius who has developed killing weapons like the Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Saber and the Horse Slaying Saber to be a bit arrogant. I can understand.”
As Shen Yue spoke, he unceremoniously walked in front of a forging furnace, selected some iron ingots, and threw them into the smelting furnace. Then he started to forge as if there was no one else around.
Shen Yue’s seemingly casual words made Yin Wuyou even more restless.
That’s right. Why didn’t I take such a forging genius seriously before?
Wasn’t my attitude toward him a little too bad?
Furthermore, he has developed five new weapons and contributed so much to Great Xia. What did Great Xia do for him?
He was only given the title of workshop superintendent. It seems he even paid for the construction of the 0th Workshop.
Grand Xia treated him like this, yet he was still willing to work hard without complaint. Why?
Yin Wuyou suddenly thought of the poem, and her face flushed red.
Just like Gushe Immortal, they are ethereal and graceful, and otherworldly and unsullied; With myriad flowers in array, who believe in the Dao? The blossoms have been aloof from other flowers; But their nobleness, elegance, and extraordinariness have not been perceived by the earthly world; Only when they return to the Jade Pavilion, can their uniqueness be perceived.
Every time Yin Wuyou thought of this poem, she felt that Zhou Shu was praising her too much. Only now did she understand that this wasn’t praising her too much but Zhou Shu expressing his feelings.
Ah, Yin Wuyou, Yin Wuyou, you’re really too foolish!
Could it be that he’s willing to suffer and stay in Great Xia’s Forging Division for my sake?
That’s right. Otherwise, why didn’t he say anything after suffering so many grievances? Why does he continue to stay in the Forging Division and work hard without complaint?
This poem has already made it so clear. If this wasn’t the case, why would he make such a poem?
Why else would he praise me?
Yin Wuyou’s face heated up, and her heart was in a mess. For a moment, she wasn’t even paying attention to Shen Yue’s forging. Her entire being was in a state of panic, and she didn’t know how to face Zhou Shu. She didn’t know whether to accept him or reject him.
Unfortunately, the forging genius Zhou Shu didn’t know what Yin Wuyou was thinking.
If he knew, he would definitely tell Yin Wuyou: Your Highness, don’t flatter yourself.
I’m staying at the Forging Division because I can use the Forging Division to send the weapons I forge to the military.
Otherwise, how could I get benefits from the Legendary Armament Canon?
As for how Great Xia treats me, I really don’t care!
Zhou Shu actually didn’t feel wronged. He hadn’t even thought about what significance the Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Saber and the Horse Slaying Saber had.
To him, the Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Saber was the Heavenly Saber Art, while the Horse Slaying Saber was the Golden Bell Shield Technique.
As long as they had the opportunity to kill enemies, Zhou Shu had never thought about whether he could use them to earn money.
Speaking of which, it was strange. He had wanted to rob the Great Wei’s diplomatic mission team to accumulate funds, but he had never thought of using the standard weapons he had developed to get some benefits from the Great Xia Imperial Court.
In a sense, Zhou Shu had contributed the Huben Saber, Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Saber, Horse Slaying Saber, Spring Embroidered Saber, and Autumn Anatidae Plume Saber. But Great Xia’s reward for him was indeed not generous enough, and it was even a bit stingy.
Not to mention gold, silver, or treasures, he was only given the position of a ninth-rank official after making such a huge contribution.
Logically speaking, this was already considered a military achievement, and it wasn’t a small one at that!
Not to mention giving him a rank of nobility, it wouldn’t be too much to confer him the title of marquis!
Although Zhou Shu had never thought about this matter, even if he had, he wouldn’t have left the Forging Division.
He never had any hopes of being rewarded. He didn’t stay in the Forging Division for the sake of promotion and wealth. He stayed here because the Forging Division was useful to him.
After all, to him, the greatest use of the Forging Division was to serve as a channel.
Furthermore, he was quite comfortable in the Forging Division. His overall impression of Great Xia was also quite good. Most importantly, his body was indeed a native of Great Xia.
At this moment, Zhou Shu was hiding in the backyard of the 0th Workshop, forging weapons.
After the previous spy incident, the backyard of the 0th Workshop had become a restricted area. Even Zhang Yibei wouldn’t step into the backyard without Zhou Shu’s permission.
Furthermore, Zhang Yibei had arranged for people to patrol the area, fearing that someone would steal weapons from the backyard.
This way, Zhou Shu felt much more at peace, so he let Zhang Yibei do as he pleased.
After Zhang Yibei was punished with two lashes, not only did he not bear any hatred, but he even became more responsible.
This made Zhou Shu understand that blindly imitating the things from his previous life might not be suitable for this world.
Taking care of a workshop was really a skill.
He couldn’t be too distant or too close. Just thinking about it gave Zhou Shu a headache.
He really didn’t have the talent to be a capitalist!
In comparison, forging was becoming increasingly easy for him.
Compared to managing others, he preferred to forge and become stronger alone.
The final Autumn Anatidae Plume Saber is finally completed!
Zhou Shu gripped the hilt of his saber and excitedly performed a few moves of the Heavenly Saber Art. After working tirelessly for a few days, he was finally done.
Although it was still unclear who the Autumn Anatidae Plume Sabers would be distributed to, he had already forged the one hundred sabers. And the Legendary Armament Canon could flip to the next page!
Zhou Shu impatiently summoned the Legendary Armament Canon.
The Legendary Armament Canon flipped rapidly and finally stopped on a blank page.
On the blank page, it was as if someone was writing, and the contents quickly appeared.
This is… The content before Zhou Shu’s eyes gradually became complete. His eyes grew brighter and brighter.. In the end, he couldn’t help crying out in alarm, It’s actually this!