After all, Zhang Zhi’s range of services might include the forging of epic-tier artifacts and such artifacts could not simply be measured by spirit stones, even high-tier spirit stones, therefore the suggestion of raising the price a little more.
Zhang Zhi sighed at Han Ling’er’s suggestion. She was a good girl yet he managed to bring her off her righteous path. He felt a little sinful.
Zhang Zhi said, “The heavens are merciful, 10 high-tier spirit stones are enough.”
If he raised the price anymore, it might really be too harsh.
Then, Zhang Zhi thought of something and said, “Wait, what did you call me just now?”
Han Ling’er replied after a thought, “Since I’m working for you, of course I have to call you boss.”
“Immortal Han, I think it’s better for you to stick with Zhang Zhi.” Zhang Zhi had gotten used to Han Ling’er calling him by name, the sudden change somehow felt weird.
Han Ling’er was not overly concerned. “Okay, you can also drop the Immortal and just call me by my name.”
A second of hesitation later, Zhang Zhi said, “Uh… Ling’er? It’s a good name.”
…
Meanwhile, after Zhang Zhi’s crazy move of raising the price and making himself a public enemy, people were criticizing him everywhere.
“That stupid Zhang Zhi charges 10 high-tier spirit stones for a single service? He’s just a blacksmith, who does he think he is? A Nascent Soul Patriarch?”
“We must stand united and not go to his shop anymore even if we have the money!”
“He will get what he deserves soon! I really wish the Stardust Swordsman can come out right now and chop Zhang Zhi’s little d*ck off!”
…
Zhonglizi[1], a Golden Core inheritance disciple of Lingtai Sect, was in a bad mood recently and would scold anyone he did not like.
“You people are making too much noise! Is Zhang Zhi your father? Why is everyone scolding him everywhere?”
Zhonglizi actually wanted to read some books in the scripture library to stay away from the constant scolding but he did not expect to hear them in the library. The noisy group grinded his patience and made him mad.
The cultivators noticed Zhonglizi’s purple uniform and were shocked. “Sorry senior, we will leave right away!”
Right before the few of them could leave, Zhonglizi held them back. “Hold up.”
“Yes senior? I’m sorry, we didn’t mean to disturb you.”
The cultivators thought Zhonglizi wanted to scold them and they quickly got on their knees and begged for mercy.
“Shut up!” Zhonglizi rubbed his ears as he bellowed.
Then, he said, “Who is this Zhang Zhi that you people are talking about?”
Since Zhang Zhi only provided services for low-tier flying swords and made his name known among the Qi Refining and Foundation Building cultivators, he was rarely known among the Golden Core circle.
The cultivators were surprised and decided to bend the truth.
“Senior, Zhang Zhi is a liar, he’s charging 10 high-tier spirit stones for restoring lousy flying swords and a lot of our brothers fell into his trap!”
“That Zhang Zhi is an evil man, he commited all kinds of sinister crimes, that’s why his head is bald and sore and his legs are swollen and filled with pus! He’s so smelly that you can smell him 10 miles away!”
“More importantly, he’s forcing our Senior Sister Ling’er to work in his blacksmith, he’s making her do all kinds of dirty work and he takes advantage of her! It’s a pitiful scene to see and it makes me teary!”
Zhonglizi found their words disgusting but it sparked his ember of rage. No wonder everyone was scolding Zhang Zhi.
Based on what he heard, Zhang Zhi was a shameless piece of garbage!
“If no one is doing anything about him, I’ll do it!” Zhonglizi was in a bad mood because his high-tier flying sword broke and he was looking for a place or someone to vent his anger on, maybe killing someone that everyone hated.
The other cultivators were in joy. They were thinking since they could not do anything to Zhang Zhi, a Golden Core expert could easily take that bastard out!
They excitedly said, “Senior! We will lead the way!”
…
Back to Zhang Zhi’s side, due to the fact that he raised the price to a ridiculous level, he had not been receiving any jobs for a few days.
What he had been receiving was scolding from the crowd.
Fortunately, he had not been taking them seriously, as long as they stayed out of the blacksmith, he did not care what the others did.
As for Han Ling’er, even though there was nothing to do in the blacksmith, she came to the shop on time everyday.
She finally gave in to the boredom and asked Zhang Zhi, “Zhang Zhi, why don’t you give me something to do?”
Zhang Zhi thought about it before he tossed a magic pouch to her. “Here, count it.”
Han Ling’er was speechless. He said her job was counting money and he really meant it?
A cultivator could know how much the pouch had with a single scan, she did not even need to count it physically.
She noticed Zhang Zhi was dozing off on the chair and since she felt bad for taking salary from Zhang Zhi without doing anything, she went up to her and said, “Zhang Zhi, why don’t I give you a massage?”
“A massage?” Before Zhang Zhi could reject, Han Ling’er’s soft hands were already rubbing his temples.
“My mother suffered from headaches back in the days and my massage can help her ease her pain.”
Han Ling’er noticed that Zhang Zhi was enjoying her massage. She asked, “How is it? It’s good right?”
“Mhmm…” Zhang Zhi squinted his eyes and then quickly fell asleep.
A while later, Zhonglizi and a group of angry cultivators arrived at the blacksmith and they saw Han Ling’er attentively caring for Zhang Zhi.
He angrily bellowed, “A Foundation Building cultivator of Lingtai Sect is giving a massage to a puny Qi Refining cultivator?!”
Han Ling’er anxiously said, “Senior Uncle Zhongli, this is a misunderstanding…”
“Shameless! I am embarrassed even if you are not!” Zhonglizi scolded her without courtesy.
Zhang Zhi did not interrupt since Zhonglizi was Han Ling’er’s senior but the man was stepping over the line and had made her cry.
He said with an unhappy tone, “Senior, I think you should watch your mouth!”
“Bullsh*t!”
Zhonglizi came to the blacksmith for Zhang Zhi anyway and since he poked the beehive, Zhonglizi threw a palm strike at him.
Fortunately, Elder Wu appeared just in time and blocked Zhonglizi’s palm strike.
He bellowed with his strict face, “No hurting others in Lingtai Town!”
“Old Dog Wu? What is this garbage to you? Since when do our disciples have to endure such insult? It’s fine that you don’t want to intervene but you are helping someone that’s not one of us? If my sword wasn’t broken, I’d cut you also!” Zhonglizi was extremely pissed.
Elder Wu did not have the right to punish Zhonglizi, who was also a fellow Golden Core, but he got the order from the Grand Elder to look after Zhang Zhi.
He said with a strict look, “I am only upholding the rules of Lingtai Town, I don’t care about others.”
“Old Dog, you f…” Zhonglizi did not expect Elder Wu to be this stubborn.
He wanted to argue with Elder Wu again but a quick thought appeared in his mind. He said with a fierce tone, “Okay, if this is how you want to play, I’m game! Stay here forever if you can! The moment you leave, I’ll level this place to the ground and you can’t do anything about it!”
Elder Wu’s eyelid twitches helplessly. He knew Zhonglizi, quite well in fact, but the man had a bad temper and could never be reasoned with.
He was thinking about whether to use the sect order or not.
The Grand Elder told him that the sect order could only be used at a desperate moment, otherwise Zhang Zhi would be overly protected and protecting a Qi Refining cultivator to this extent would surely attract suspicion and threats.
Then, Elder Wu noticed the signage outside the blacksmith and a thought came into his mind. He took a flying sword out and said, “Owner Zhang, are you up for a job today?”
“Of course.” Zhang Zhi did not know why but he was indeed open for business.
“I heard Owner Zhang is good at refinement, I wonder if my flying sword can be refined?”
For whatever reason, the forever strict Elder Wu showed a smile and even looked like he tried to win Zhang Zhi’s favor.
“Oh my god! Elder Wu smiled!”
“Sh*t! I’m blind!”
The other cultivators found the rare scene to be shocking and squealed in awe.
Zhang Zhi hesitated for a moment before he took Elder Wu’s sword.
It was a mid-tier flying sword, of course it could be refined.
He nodded. “Not a problem.”
Elder Wu then took 10 dazzling red high-tier spirit stones from his magic pouch. “I’ll leave it to you then, Owner Zhang.”
Han Ling’er looked a little excited. The blacksmith has not been doing business for a few days now and the first one they got in many days was from Elder Wu.
“Ling’er, bill please.” Zhang Zhi then took the flying sword to the rear.
Han Ling’er nodded and took the 10 high-tier spirit stones from the elder.
‘Oh my god! These are real high-tier spirit stones, and there’s 10 of them! Am I dreaming?’
Han Ling’er almost passed out from her happiness.
The cultivators behind Zhonglizi were astonished.
“Has Elder Wu lost his mind? He’s really paying 10 high-tier spirit stones?”
“I always thought Senior Brother Dugu was secretly supporting the blacksmith but now it seems like it’s Elder Wu!”
The group whispered in surprise and shock.
Zhonglizi was a fellow Golden Core, so he was not as shocked.
He grunted, “Old dog, do you think I’ll spare the blacksmith just like that? I’m free enough and I can play with you whenever you want! When your flying sword is done, I’ll bring the place down!”
Zhonglizi took a chair out of his magic pouch and sat in front of the blacksmith, confronting Elder Wu.
Elder Wu looked at Zhonglizi with a pitiful gaze and thought, ‘When my sword is done, you won’t have the heart to take down the blacksmith anymore.”
[1] 钟离子 Zhonglizi – the -zi is an honorific title for his name. His original name should be 钟离 (Zhongli) and the -zi is added whenever someone calls him in his honorific title. It is commonly used to address taoists of higher ranks.