Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Han Ling’er was rendered speechless.
‘You used my talisman against me? You jerk!’
However, she did not really plan to beat up Zhang Zhi, she was just feeling it was a waste to use the Sky Crystal on her flying sword.
“Zhang Zhi, the Sky Crystal is too valuable. 10 mid-tier spirit stones are far from enough, how much do I need to pay you back? Can I… pay you with installment?” Han Ling’er said after a slight hesitance.
Zhang Zhi smiled at Han Ling’er’s pitiful look. “You’ve already paid me, you owe me nothing.”
“But…”
Before Han Ling’er could say anything else, Zhang Zhi added, “You pay, I smith. As for what tools or what materials to use, it’s up to me to decide, it’s none of your business. Immortal Han, the refinement is complete, good day.”
Han Ling’er carried Flying Swan Sword out of the blacksmith but she still could not wrap her head around the situation. She was even more intrigued by Zhang Zhi than ever.
If he continued doing business like this, he would never earn any money!
It was then a strange and scary thought popped up in her mind.
‘Could it be that Zhang Zhi liked me, that’s why he used the Sky Crystal on my sword?’
Her heart raced at the thought of it. She turned around for a glance and saw Zhang Zhi wiping his signage with a cloth.
He noticed her looking at him, so he replied with a gentle smile.
“You jerk! Hmph!” Han Ling’er’s face was as red as an apple, she stomped her foot and transformed into an aromatic gale, disappearing from Zhang Zhi’s sight.
Zhang Zhi was confused by her comment. “I’m a handsome man, since when did I become a jerk?”
On the other hand, Han Ling’er finally returned to Lingtai Sect and her heart was still pounding.
A female cultivator then came to her and said, “Han Ling’er, I’ve also asked Owner Zhang to take care of my sword, why don’t we have a spar now?”
Han Ling’er nonchalantly nodded.
The two of them headed to the training ground.
“Han Ling’er, draw your Flying Swan Sword! I shall redeem my Mystic Fire Sword today!” The female cultivator laughed out loud and a flying sword flew up in the air, leaving a trail of flames.
Han Ling’er reacted strangely to the situation, she asked, “Are you sure you want to spar with my Flying Swan Sword? Why don’t I swap it with others?”
“No, I want to spar with your Flying Swan Sword! What’s wrong? Scared?!” The female cultivator grunted as she teased Han Ling’er.
“No.” Han Ling’er skipped the hatters and drew a lively and shining flying sword out of her magical pouch.
The flying sword swirled around her as if it was alive.
“Engarde!” With her sword-controlling skill, Mystic Fire Sword turned into a burst of flame and flew towards Han Ling’er.
Han Ling’er sighed. She slightly moved her body and Flying Swan Sword blasted out like a bolt of lightning, it was so fast that it left a trail of blur in its wake.
The two flying swords clashed and whipped up a powerful dust storm.
“Hahaha! Han Ling’er, taste the power of my Mystic Fire Sword!”
The female cultivator thought she had it in the bag but before she could finish, a dark red flying sword flew backward and plunged into the ground in front of her.
The blade suffered a huge crack after the clash. As a low-tier artifact, Mystic Fire Sword was utterly defeated, it looked as dull as a common slaughter knife.
Han Ling’er’s Flying Swan Sword chimed clearly and flew back to her without a scratch on its blade.
The female cultivator looked at her Mystic Fire sword and then Han Ling’ers Flying Swan Sword. She was astonished.
“Han Ling’er, since when did your Flying Swan Sword become this powerful?”
Han Ling’er did not know what to say, so she decided to be honest instead. She concentrated on controlling her flying sword and it soared up into the sky strongly.
The female cultivator’s jaw fell on the ground in shock, she could not believe what she saw, “How is this possible? Flying Swan Sword is already a mid-tier artifact?!”
“Did you refine your sword with Elder Ouyang?” No, it can’t be right, even if Elder Ouyang did refine her sword, it would not rank up to mid-tier! “Han Ling’er, you better tell me what happened!”
Han Ling’er was actually close friends with this female cultivator, they always spent time sparring together, therefore she did not hold it back from her friend. “I got Owner Zhang to refine it for me. I was only trying to compensate for the natural flaw of Flying Swan Sword, I did not expect it to rank up to mid-tier after the refinement.”
Han Ling’er looked proud when she explained.
“Huh? Owner Zhang’s refinement can rank up an artifact?” The female cultivator had completely lost it.
Before this, when she and the other disciples left the blacksmith and saw the price for refinement, they thought it was ridiculous charging 10 mid-tier spirit stones for the service.
Everyone fled nervously. If they knew the refinement could rank up their flying swords, they would probably sell everything just to gather enough funds for the refinement.
The female cultivator deeply regretted her choice. She kept the flying sword and ran.
“Tang Tang, where are you going?” Han Ling’er asked.
“I’m going to Owner Zhang for refinement, just you wait!”
Han Ling’er chuckled.
‘Did I just recommend another customer to Zhang Zhi’s blacksmith?’
However, she was also curious about Zhang Zhi’s attitude, she wondered if she was treated differently or would Zhang Zhi treat everyone the same. Since she did not have the answer, she ought to wait for the outcome.
Back at the blacksmith, Zhang Zhi started to close shop since it was already dusk, but just when he was about to close doors, a group of Lingtai Sect inner disciples stormed his blacksmith again.
“Owner Zhang, hold up!” The leader of the group, Tang Tang, ran to the entrance with Gale Rhyme to stop Zhang Zhi from closing the shop.
“You guys again?” Zhang Zhi recognized them, they were here in the morning for their sword maintenance.
“Owner Zhang, we are here for flying sword refinement.” Tang Tang was a little excited, she took her flying sword out and prepared the payment in a pouch.
The other two cultivators also did the same.
Zhang Zhi found it amusing. Earlier in the day, the three of them said the price was too expensive yet now, they came back and asked for refinement service.
They must have seen Han Ling’er’s Flying Swan Sword.
“Why don’t you come back tomorrow?”
The system limited him to only accept one job per day, therefore he simply rejected them and continued closing shop.
“Owner Zhang, since we are already here, can you just close later?” Tang Tang thought Zhang Zhi wanted to go off work earlier, so she and the other disciples begged him.
“It’s not that. I can only refine one flying sword per day,” Zhang Zhi said.
“One flying sword per day?” Tang Tang was caught off guard by the answer but she was not willing to give up.
“Owner Zhang, that’s not how you do business. One extra job pays you one extra buck, am I right?”
“Come earlier tomorrow, thank you.” Zhang Zhi continued closing the shop without giving Tang Tang an explanation.
Tang Tang feigned an angry look and grabbed the door. “Owner Zhang, we still can be friends if you are less arrogant.”
“Okay, then I don’t need friends.” Zhang Zhi pushed Tang Tang away and closed the door.
“You!” Tang Tang was dumbstruck.
The other two disciples said, “He is being unreasonable, we just wasted our time coming here.”
“I hated an arrogant friend once and now, the grass around his tomb is almost taller than a tree!”
“He said he will only refine one flying sword per day, it seems like we will be wasting more time here.”
Tang Tang got angry, she turned around and bellowed, “How dare you say something like that!”
The two disciples were dumbstruck. “Tang Tang, I thought you are the one who said you don’t want to be his friend because of his arrogance.”
“Hmph! I like being friends with the arrogant Owner Zhang!” She intentionally raised her voice because she knew Zhang Zhi could hear her from inside the blacksmith.
She then glared at her peers and said, “I’m taking the refinement slot tomorrow, no one is allowed to cut the queue, or else I’ll destroy you!”
Tang Tang was able to seize the first spot by declaring it loudly. The other disciples regretted their slow reaction but since everyone was friends, it would harm their relationship if they fought Tang Tang for the spot.
The others also talked it out and decided on the following spots.
Even though 10 mid-tier spirit stones were barely enough for a mid-tier artifact, the demand for it far surpassed the supply, therefore it was extremely rare for one to get one in the current market.
Zhang Zhi’s refinement could possibly grant everyone a mid-tier artifact, therefore no matter how harsh his conditions were, no one could do anything about it other than accepting his terms.
After the discussion, the inner disciples left in endless sighs.
Zhang Zhi saw what happened through the seams of the door and he chuckled at it. He gave them a chance earlier in the morning but every one of them said it was too expensive, so it was not his fault.
He then happily headed to the backyard and cooked dinner to reward himself for a tiring day.
…
On the second day, Zhang Zhi arrived at his blacksmith while yawning and before he opened the door, he heard noises outside.
Tang Tang and her peers were already waiting for him.
The moment he opened the door, Tang Tang barged in and grumbled, “Owner Zhang, where have you been last night? You are late for business.”
The others grinned and took the chance to ridicule Zhang Zhi. “Owner Zhang, I think I saw someone extremely similar to you at Yingchun Brothel last night.”
“Be careful of your health, Owner Zhang.”
Zhang Zhi came to the blacksmith late because he overslept but the group managed to use it to make fun of him.
He did not want to explain, so he showed a fake smile and said, “I don’t know how to put this but since everyone here knew how tired my body is, I think I should take the day off. Please come again tomorrow.”
Zhang Zhi’s words surprised those who were laughing at him.
Tang Tang immediately apologized and said, “Owner Zhang, we are just joking. You are definitely a gentleman and a man of your words, you are handsome and skilled, you will never go to a brothel!”
Tang Tang glared at her peers and the others joined her in flattering Zhang Zhi.
“Owner Zhang must be reading all night, trying to boost his skills to new heights!”
“It’s actually the rooster’s fault, it’s late today! We’ll go kill it and make you a pot of chicken soup!”
“No, no, Owner Zhang is not late, we are just earlier! Am I right?”
…
Zhang Zhi found out that other than having a rich cultivation base, the disciples of Lingtai Sect were also good at flattery.
It was just a few words yet Zhang Zhi felt extremely flattered and confident, so confident that he could take on the Nascent Soul Patriarch alone!
“Okay, okay, I get it. I’ll open the shop now.” Zhang Zhi stopped the group’s endless flatter.
“Restoration or refinement, who first?”
“Me!” Tang Tang stepped out. She took her Mystic Fire Sword out together with 10 mid-tier spirit stones that she had a hard time gathering.
Zhang Zhi took the spirit stones before he sized up the sword but his brows were tightly knotted after a glance.
Tang Tang’s heart skipped a beat, she was worried that her sword could not be refined.
She asked, “Uh… Owner Zhang? What’s wrong with my sword?”
Zhang Zhi looked at her. “Your sword? You need to pay extra for this.”