Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Zhou Shu didnât reject Mi Ziwenâs generous gift.
They were already sworn brothers, so there was no need to pretend to be polite.
In addition, Zhou Shu didnât think that Mi Ziwen would be at a disadvantage. Once he became a Grand Craftsman, any weapon he casually forged for Mi Ziwen would be worth more than a single residence.
As for becoming a Grand Craftsman, Zhou Shu felt that there was no problem at all.
âSteward Mi, just arrange for a few people to clean up the place,â Zhou Shu said without standing on ceremony. âI wonât stay here often. Iâll have to trouble you to take care of it.â
It was quite convenient to have a residence in the capital. At least, he wouldnât have to be in a situation where he had nowhere to go like last night.
Zhou Shu reckoned that he would come to the capital frequently in the future. He had originally planned to buy a residence in the capital, but he had no money temporarily.
Now, Mi Ziwen had solved his big problem.
âDonât worry, Second Master. I will handle it well.â Mi Zhifu was a professional steward, and it wasnât a problem.
Zhou Shu looked at the secret forging technique manual in his hand and fell into deep thought.
This manual didnât have much meaning to Zhou Shu.
Zhou Shuâs forging techniques all came from the Legendary Armament Canon. As long as a weapon appeared in the Legendary Armament Canon, he would automatically be able to master the relevant forging techniques.
As long as a ranked weapon appeared on the Legendary Armament Canon, Zhou Shuâs forging skills would definitely automatically increase to the level of Forging Masters.
Therefore, there was no need for him to learn the secret forging techniques in this manual.
But this manual was very useful for him to nurture Zhang Yibei and the others.
To put it bluntly, there was no problem with Zhou Shuâs forging techniques. But there was a problem with how to teach Zhang Yibei and the others.
Now that he had the secret forging technique manual, this problem was solved.
Compared to the residence and servants, I owe Big Brother much more for the secret forging technique manual,?Zhou Shu thought.
To him, money was a trivial matter. But the value of the secret forging technique manual was immeasurable. It was something that could produce several Forging Masters.
How to repay Mi Ziwen was a headache.
Mi Ziwen was a fourth-rank martial artist. With his family background, he shouldnât lack any weapons.
Even if Zhou Shu became a Forging Master, ordinary ranked weapons probably wouldnât be able to catch Mi Ziwenâs eye.
I can only wait and see. In any case, it will take at least a few months for the army to return.
Zhou Shu temporarily put this matter to the back of his mind. He suddenly thought of something else. âSteward Mi, I have something to ask you.â
Mi Zhifu was the steward of the Mi family, so he should be very knowledgeable. He might know about this.
âSecond Master, please speak,â Mi Zhifu said.
âYou heard it just now. His Majesty has decreed for me to participate in the so-called military parade.â
Mi Zhifu was speechless.?Why do I feel that Second Master is very unwilling?
To participate in Great Xiaâs military parade as a Forging Apprentice was something that many people didnât even dare to imagine.
This second master was really hard to figure out.
âSecond Master, you are excellent beyond compare. His Majesty is wise and discerningâ¦â Mi Zhifu said.
Zhou Shu rolled his eyes.?Do I want to hear your flattery?
Is there a need for you to say such words?
âSteward Mi, what do you know about Great Xiaâs military parade? I heard that there are rewards for participating in this parade, right?â Zhou Shu continued asking.
Mi Zhifu nodded. âThe so-called military parade is for His Majesty to watch Forging Masters forge on the spot, and His Majesty will reward the winner.â
âWhat is the reward this time?â Zhou Shu asked.
Previously, Zhou Shu had learned from Zhen Cai that Zhu Chuanfeng was willing to use any means possible to take him in as a disciple in order to claim the reward from the military parade for himself.
Although he didnât know why Zhu Chuanfeng was so sure that he would get the reward, the reward was definitely very important to Zhu Chuanfeng.
Now that Zhou Shu and Zhu Chuanfeng had fallen out, he naturally couldnât let his enemy get what he wanted.
Zhou Shu had already decided that no matter what the reward was, he wouldnât let Zhu Chuanfeng have it!
âThe reward for this military parade?â Mi Zhifu shook his head. âThe rewards for every military parade are different. Iâm afraid only His Majesty knows the specifics.â
No, Zhu Chuanfeng knows,?Zhou Shu thought.
But after he thought about it, Zhu Chuanfeng was a Grand Craftsman after all. It wasnât strange for him to know some inside information.
Even if Mi Zhifu had the support of the Mi family, he couldnât compare to a Grand Craftsman. It was normal that he didnât know.
âAlright.â Zhou Shu shook his head. âThereâs nothing else. Steward Mi, you go ahead. I have to return to the workshop. Our grand minister has lost her temper, so I have to work harder.â
Zhou Shu signed his name on the deed Mi Zhifu had brought over. Then he instructed Mi Zhifu to clean up the residence before he went to the 0th Workshop.
Although Zhou Shu wasnât afraid of Yin Wuyouâs threats, from his own point of view, he had to speed up his pace of forging.
He had not maxed out the number of Spring Embroidered Sabers yet.
The revolution has yet to succeed. I still have to work hard.
â¦
Bang!
A porcelain teacup fell heavily to the floor and shattered.
A few maids kept quiet out of fear and stood trembling at the foot of the wall.
Zhu Chuanfengâs face was ashen as he panted heavily.
âVery good! A mere Forging Apprentice actually dares to go against me!â Zhu Chuanfeng said coldly. âThen, Iâll let you see the consequences of opposing me!â
He already knew about what had happened in the Divine Constable Bureau. Yang Hong had come to inform him of the situation personally. At the time, Yang Hongâs accusing attitude made Zhu Chuanfeng furious.
If not for his status, he would have easily killed this mere constable of the Divine Constable Bureau!
Now, he had transferred all of his hatred onto Zhou Shu.
Even if that boy surnamed Zhou wanted, he wouldnât be able to kill Zhen Cai.?After venting his anger, Zhu Chuanfeng calmed down. Thereâs something strange about this matter. I donât know if Zhen Cai was unlucky enough to encounter an enemy spy or if someone is targeting me!
Cold light flickered in Zhu Chuanfengâs eyes. As a Grand Craftsman, his status was extraordinary. But at the same time, he also had enemies.
If someone is testing meâ¦?Zhu Chuanfeng fell into deep thought.?I canât delay any longer. I have to make sure nothing goes wrong.
A moment later, he raised his hand and called a few people in. After giving a few instructions, these people left the Zhu residence and went to various places.
â¦
When Zhou Shu returned to the 0th Workshop, the first thing he saw was Zhang Yibei kneeling at the door, shirtless.
âWhat kind of show is this?â Zhou Shu asked curiously.
Zhang Yibei lowered his head and shouted, âSuperintendent, I didnât listen to your instructions and went out to look for the grand minister. Please punish me.â
âSuperintendent, we all made this decision together. If you want to punish someone, punish all of us!â
Zhou Shuâs expression turned cold. âWhat? What tricks are you up to? Do you think I wonât punish all of you?â
âNo, no. Youâve misunderstood, Superintendent,â Zhang Yibei hurriedly said. âIâm the one who disobeyed orders. Whether you want to beat me or kill me, itâs all up to you!â
âI havenât even done anything yet, yet you all dare to disobey me?â Zhou Shu snorted. âIf you really become Forging Masters, wonât you all climb above my head?â
âWe wouldnât dare!â The apprentices were terrified.
âNo one is allowed to eat today!â Zhou Shu said coldly. âThe Huben Sabers, Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Sabers, and Horse Slaying Sabers, each person is to choose one to forge. If you canât forge it, you are not allowed to sleep!â
Zhou Shu flicked his sleeves and walked straight into the backyard.
Zhang Yibei, Sixth Brother Wu, and the others looked at one another.
âIs the superintendent⦠punishing us?â
âI guessâ¦â someone said with uncertainty.
No food for a day and to forge a weapon?
Was this considered punishment?
âI guess so,â a forging apprentice said uncertainly.
âIt must be. I havenât completely mastered the forging methods of these three weapons. I canât forge one in a day by myself,â a Forging Apprentice cried out miserably.
The difficulty of forging the Huben Saber, Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Saber, and Horse Slaying Saber was very high. When Zhang Yibei and the others forged them before, they had instructed others to forge them according to the broken down steps of the forging process.
If they forged independently, the success rate would be ridiculously low.
Being able to succeed once every ten times was already considered very good.
âStop talking!â Zhang Yibei said loudly. âThis is the superintendentâs benevolence! What else are you not satisfied with?
âTo be able to meet such a superintendent, itâs our three lifetimes of fortune! This time, we have indeed disobeyed the superintendentâs orders. Although he is benevolent, this should serve as a warning to us.
âEveryone, thereâs no need to discuss anymore. Letâs do as the superintendent says!â
Zhang Yibei took the lead and rushed into the factory. He grabbed his hammer and started forging.
Afterward, the group of Forging Apprentices also grabbed their hammers and threw themselves into forging.
The sound of hammering echoed in the 0th Workshop.
When Zhou Shu, in the backyard, heard the commotion in the front yard, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.
In truth, he wasnât angry. Zhang Yibei was worried about his safety, which was why he had taken the risk to go to the Forging Division to find Yin Wuyou. For Zhang Yibei, this was a huge improvement. At the very least, he was no longer that cowardly Forging Apprentice who only obeyed orders. They already had their own thoughts.
This was also why Zhou Shu had always wanted to change them. To him, the Forging Apprentices were all living people, not tools for forging. He didnât want all the Forging Apprentices under him to become obedient bugs. He hoped that Zhang Yibei and the others would have their own thoughts and opinions.
Iâve given you all a chance. As for how far you can go, it will depend on yourselves,?Zhou Shu thought. Then his gaze fell on his smelting furnace.
Letâs get to work and max out the number of Spring Embroidered Sabers as soon as possible!
Zhou Shu was full of energy.