Dugu Ce? That idiot again? Zhang Zhi reacted fiercely.
“Tang Tang, stop…” Han Ling’er signaled Tang Tang but Tang Tang did not care, as if she came all the way to the blacksmith to tell on Dugu Ce.
“I’m not stopping and I’m telling the truth!” she grumbled.
“I thought Ling’er was holding back and did not bring Flying Swan to the battle but then I noticed Dugu Ce was using it instead. He was winning every battle and became the center of focus!” Tang Tang grumbled.
“I mean it’s fine if you want to lend him the sword on other days but the inner ranking battle is important to you as well. Without Flying Swan, how can you make it into the top 10?”
Zhang Zhi generally knew what happened. He asked Han Ling’er, “Why did you lend Flying Swan to Dugu Ce?”
He helped refine Flying Swan and his question made Han Ling’er guilty. However, she did not want to tell the truth, so she simply said, “Senior Brother Dugu can get a better place with Flying Swan, I lent it to him out of my own will.”
“Oh no you didn’t!” Tang Tang knew Han Ling’er well enough to retort her excuse.
“Owner Zhang, I am here to tell you the truth. Ling’er’s father loved Dugu Ce a lot, he must have told Ling’er to lend him her sword so that he could get a better place in the battle. I can’t believe there’s such a heartless father in this world!”
Tang Tang was a straightforward person and she was not afraid of offending people with her remarks. She cut to the chase and revealed the reason to Zhang Zhi.
Han Ling’er did not blame her friend, instead, she nervously explained, “Father is having a difficult time either. He must have his reasons to make such arrangements…”
Zhang Zhi did not have the heart to scold her when he saw how sad she was. He looked at Tang Tang and said, “Okay then, I got it. Is there anything else?”
Tang Tang’s loud voice was silenced, Zhang Zhi’s reaction somehow felt strange to her.
However, since Zhang Zhi had made it clear, Tang Tang did not delve into the topic. A quick thought later, she said, “Owner Zhang, since I came all the way here just to tell you about Ling’er, can you take care of my flying sword for free once?”
“10 high-tier spirit stones.” Zhang Zhi sounded merciless when he said the price.
“You scrooge!” Tang Tang did not really expect Zhang Zhi to give her a discount, she asked the question just because she wanted to know how important Han Ling’er was to him.
As Han Ling’er’s best friend, the real reason she came was because she wanted Zhang Zhi to solve the problem of Han Ling’er lacking a handy weapon for the ranking battle.
Han Ling’er was an employee of the blacksmith after all and Tang Tang could tell that her friend had feelings for Zhang Zhi, feelings that exceeded friendship.
However, based on how cold and merciless Zhang Zhi was, she knew the scrooge would never help.
“Owner Zhang, I’m really disappointed in you!” Tang Tang came and went like an angry wind.
After Tang Tang left, Han Ling’er was left in a confused state. She did not know what to say except apologizing. “I’m sorry about this, Zhang Zhi.”
“What did you do wrong?” Zhang Zhi asked.
Han Ling’er was stunned. Zhang Zhi did not seem to blame her for lending her Flying Swan to Dugu Ce.
Zhang Zhi knew what Han Ling’er was thinking. He said, “Flying Swan is yours, you have the freedom to lend it to whoever you want, but…”
A little pause later, he added with a stricter tone, “I hope that you won’t put yourself in a difficult position because of your kindness.”
Zhang Zhi’s words touched Han Ling’er. It made her eyes teary and tears almost rolled down her cheeks, she quickly turned around and wiped her tears. She then forced a smile with her red eyes in front of Zhang Zhi. “You are right, boss!”
Zhang Zhi felt sorry and helpless at her reaction.
“Let’s close shop today,” Zhang Zhi said.
Han Ling’er was stunned. She thought she ruined Zhang Zhi’s mood because every time he decided to close the shop, it was related to his mood. She said anxiously, “Zhang Zhi, you don’t have to…”
“Come, let’s go shopping.” Zhang Zhi then walked out of the shop.
Han Ling’er was stunned on the spot. Zhang Zhi turned around to nudge her. “Are you coming?”
She blushed and said, “Yeah!”
Zhang Zhi made his way to the market. Han Ling’er kept quiet all the way like a little follower anxiously following her master.
The inner sect ranking battle was a huge event in Lingtai Town, it attracted a lot of individual cultivators to the town, therefore the town was livelier and more crowded than usual, especially the marketplace.
The market was so crowded that one had to squeeze himself through.
Han Ling’er was hurt, whenever someone bumped into her due to the congested path, it would hurt her but she dared not fall behind too far. She did her best in following Zhang Zhi.
It was then Zhang Zhi slowed down and walked in front of Han Ling’er. He then reached out for her hand and held it tight.
Han Ling’er was shocked and stunned on the spot.
“Don’t get lost,” Zhang Zhi said without looking back. He held her hand and continued forward.
Han Ling’er’s heart was racing. Even though it was inappropriate to hold hands in public, she did not pull her hand away and allowed Zhang Zhi to lead her through the congested market.
There were a lot of wandering merchants in the market today, meaning there was more good stuff on sale but the price was also a lot higher than usual.
After shuttling around for a while, Zhang Zhi squatted down in front of a middle-aged man’s stall and grabbed something.
“Hey, hey! Who gave you the permission to touch that?” the man said.
“You are not selling?” Zhang Zhi frowned because there were several good items on sale.
“I’m selling but only those who can afford it can touch it!” The stall owner looked down on Zhang Zhi. The items he had on sale in his little stall were all high-quality items, only cultivators of Golden Core and above could afford them.
Zhang Zhi was just a Qi Refining cultivator, of course, the man looked down on him.
“Oh,” Zhang Zhi said. He was not concerned by the stall owner’s remarks and took two more pieces of mineral in front of him.
The stall owner bellowed, “What are you looking at? You don’t even know what you are holding! Put it down!”
Zhang Zhi did not care. He had a piece of red mineral and a piece of gold mineral in his hands and asked Han Ling’er which she liked.
“Which color do you like?”
“Huh?” Han Ling’er was a little surprised. Zhang Zhi was shopping for materials, so why did he ask for her opinion?
Regardless, she said, “Uhmm, red is nice.”
The stall owner looked at the two of them in silence. He assumed they were window shopping because they simply judged the quality of the minerals based on their color.
Just before the stall owner could scold them, Zhang Zhi nodded and put the golden color mineral back. He kept the red one in his hand and said, “Owner, how much is this Phoenix Blood Gold, I’m buying it.”
“Hmph, you don’t even know… What? You know about Phoenix Blood Gold?!” The stall owner originally wanted to ridicule Zhang Zhi but he was shocked when Zhang Zhi identified the piece of mineral.
There were a plethora of strange minerals in the cultivation world, even the best material merchant could not identify them all, such as the Phoenix Blood Gold that Zhang Zhi was holding.
The piece of mineral was red, so it was easily mistaken as Beast Blood Gold even by the Nascent Soul Patriarch. The stall owner did not expect a mere Qi Refining cultivator could have such high insights.
“Uh… What’s the problem? How much are you selling?” Zhang Zhi asked.
The stall owner chuckled. “Okay, you have something up your sleeves since you can identify it but this Phoenix Blood Gold is weighed at 3 catty and it’s worth 50 mid-tier spirit stones! You can’t afford it!”
Han Ling’er simply said red was nice, she did not expect Zhang Zhi to really buy it and when she heard the price from the stall owner, she quickly stated, “Zhang Zhi, the Phoenix Blood Gold is too valuable! What are you trying to do with it?”
The stall owner showed a disdainful look when he heard Han Ling’er’s words, he believed his assumption was correct. A Qi Refining cultivator could never afford it, he would at least have to work a hundred years to get 50 mid-tier spirit stones.
Before Zhang Zhi could say anything, the stall owner interrupted. “Fine, since you are able to identify the Phoenix Blood Gold, I’ll let you go. Put it down and get lost!”
The stall owner might be an individual cultivator but he was also a Golden Core cultivator, which was why he had the confidence to shoo Zhang Zhi away.
“I’m buying it for a little training,” Zhang Zhi answered Han Ling’er first.
The girl was rest assured, as long as he was not buying for her, it would be fine.
Then, Zhang Zhi looked at the stall owner with the Phoenix Blood Gold with a faint smile. “Why do you think I can’t afford it? Will you believe me if I say you have to give me 50 mid-tier spirit stones as change later?”
“Hoho? A young fella like you is asking for a protection fee from someone like me?” The stall owner reacted as if he had listened to the biggest joke.
“Even if Elder Wu is governing this town, I alone can single-handedly destroy you! Do you believe me?!”
At the next moment, the stall owner was forced to take back his words because Zhang Zhi gave him a piece of shining high-tier spirit stones.
Were all Qi Refining cultivators this rich now?”
“What did I say? 50 mid-tier spirit stones of change please.” Zhang Zhi smiled.
The stall owner regained his senses from the shock and blushed. He cupped his fists and apologized, “Sorry for my rude manners just now.”
No normal Qi Refining cultivator could have a high-tier spirit stone and the stall owner was honest enough to not raise the price at the last minute, he simply made the deal with 50 mid-tier spirit stones.
Zhang Zhi put the Phoenix Blood Gold and the change into his magic pouch before he grabbed Han Ling’er’s hand again. The two of them then walked back.
“What’s wrong Zhang Zhi? Done shopping?” Han Ling’er did not say anything along the way until she noticed Zhang Zhi was walking away from the marketplace.
She wished they could stay longer because after they left the market, Zhang Zhi would not hold her hand anymore.
Then, she realized Zhang Zhi was still holding her hand even when they had left the market.
Even though she too wanted to hold hands, she had the integrity of a girl and there was no reason for her to hold his hand anymore.
“Uhm… Zhang Zhi, I can walk by myself.” Han Ling’er sounded like a mosquito.
“It’s slippery here,” Zhang Zhi said respectfully when he saw the ground.
It rained in the morning and there were water puddles on the road. However, as a cultivator, she could stand and walk perfectly even on oil, water was not a problem.
Han Ling’er simply went along with the situation and pretended that the ground was actually slippery. She held his hand tightly.
Zhang Zhi finally let go of Han Ling’er when they were back to the blacksmith. He too wanted to hold her hand a little longer but there was no reason anymore.
Han Ling’er bit her lips shyly and did not say anything.
The two of them walked into the blacksmith.
“Wait for me.” Zhang Zhi walked to the rear and started working on something.
Han Ling’er was confused but since it was still practically working hours, she laid down on the counter and stared at Zhang Zhi blankly.
Zhang Zhi went smithing the Phoenix Blood Gold and the piece of mineral was slowly becoming a sword.