Blacksmithing and cooking, repeating in such cycles, every day watching the progress in skills subtly rising, Bai Qi felt an incomparable sense of fulfillnt.
[Skill: Blacksmithing (Proficient)]
[Progress: 47/800]
[Effect: Finely crafted, sharpness begins to erge]
...
[Skill: Culinary Arts (Proficient)]
[Progress: 14/800]
[Effect: A complete harmony of color, aroma, and taste, can be called a delicacy]
...
"Wagang Village is truly a wonderful place. In less than half a month, it already feels like ho."
Bai Qi's lips slightly curved upward, his right arm muscles flexed with strength, hamring again and again on the millstone-sized Sinking Water Copper, producing a resounding clang.
These days, he ate spirit monster flesh and worked with rare materials.
When bored, he would go mountain hunting with He Jingfeng and Zhu Ling'Er, while also eradicating the wandering Red Eyebrow Bandits, honing various martial skills.
What a comfort!
Bai Qi, his whole body swollen with Qi and blood, casually wielded a hundred-pound hamr as if playing, scraping off the charred impurities peeling from the surface of the Sinking Water Copper.
"I've been in craftsmanship for many years, it's the first ti I've seen soone who enjoys blacksmithing more and more."
Uncle Hui, who was assisting nearby, had a complex expression, thinking to himself:
"Master Li not taking him as a pupil, such a pity. This passion and love for blacksmithing are simply inborn traits of a master craftsman!"
Forging weapons and tools through countless trials is indeed laborious work, not only enduring the extre heat of lting tal but also the monotony of swinging a hamr and the incessant clanging noises.
Who on earth enjoys hardship?
Yet from this Bai Brother's eyes, Uncle Hui saw a genuine pleasure that couldn't be faked, resembling the enjoynt of a drunkard sipping fine wine, or a gourt enjoying an imperial feast.
"Who else but a genius in craftsmanship could enjoy blacksmithing every day with a smile on their face?!"
The longest-serving blacksmith in the kiln, Uncle Hui, deeply admired Master Li's patience.
If he saw such promising talent, he'd cherish it like a treasure, even more than his own son.
Speaking of which, where has Master Li been these past few days?
"Uncle Yang, Bai Bro is really too hard on himself!"
Dragged daily to the Big Punishnt Kiln for tornt, He Jingfeng shook his head:
"It's said there are three hardships in the world, steering a boat, blacksmithing, and grinding tofu, yet Bai Bro is fishing, blacksmithing, how does hardship excite him more?"
Uncle Yang, who once prided himself on having broadened his horizons in Celestial Water Prefecture, had admiration flash in his eyes and said sincerely:
"The master once said, when a great task is entrusted to soone, they first must suffer their mind and sinew.
This Bai Qilang, having co from humble beginnings, has endured hardships yet finds them sweet; truly worthy of my respect.
With such an apprentice, his master must indeed be extraordinary!"
Many in Black River County viewed Bai Qi more favorably because he was a pupil of Ninghai Zen.
Only Uncle Yang, who had never seen Ninghai Zen himself, began to revise his opinion due to Bai Qi's various performances, thinking that perhaps Tongwen Hall was truly sothing special.
"What a thrill!"
After hitting a thousand tis, Bai Qi set down the hamr, wiped the sweat from his forehead, feeling completely satisfied:
"Uncle Hui, I've done enough for today; the rest is up to you."
Like an experienced craftsman, he grabbed a water ladle, gulped ferociously, and then wiped with a sweat towel haphazardly. After several days of blacksmithing and forging, his muscles seed even firr, showing well-defined, compact lines.
Anyone who glanced at him had to praise, "What a physique."
"Brother Bai, I won't keep you today; the kiln has already slaughtered all the Spiritual Sheep and Spirit Deer."
Lu Shiping looked distressed; his own master had instructed him before leaving to entertain Bai Qi well, but then just vanished without a trace.
Unable to bring Li Yuan back, Lu Yaotou could only continue providing food, but one Spiritual Sheep was enough for two als.
After several days, even the animal pens of the kiln were empty, with not a single hair left.
"I've yet to thank you for your generous hospitality, Lu Yaotou. I'm planning to take the boat from the pier to return to Black River County, having troubled you long enough, it's ti to head ho before the end of the year."
Having honed "blacksmithing" and "culinary arts" to proficiency, Bai Qi decided to stop here. To advance further would require more than a few spirit monsters or good materials.
Lu Shiping didn't insist much on him staying, only regretting that his master's standards were so high, ignoring such a blacksmithing prodigy like Brother Bai.
"Please visit Wagang Village again; I'm quite curious about the kiln design you ntioned last ti. Once I finish the Zhu Family's order, I plan to tear down and rebuild the Cyan Flower Kiln, striving for official recognition!"
Bai Qi nodded gladly:
"I will surely visit after the spring next year."
He also planned to involve Song Qiying, engaging in the Chai Market and kiln business, expanding and strengthening it, opening a trade route.
...
...
In the ground level room of the inn, He Jingfeng frowned deeply, having kicked away the stumbling block Zhu Shou Rang, but failing to enlist Master Li's help, the task entrusted by his elder brother remained undone.
This troubled the Seventh Young Master of the He Family's main house greatly:
"With the new year approaching, even if a master craftsman could produce a usable magical artifact base, it would take about two months. If it delays my elder brother's participation in the Dao Trial, that would be disastrous."
Uncle Yang, offering advice and strategies on the side:
"With Master Li nowhere in sight, getting him to relent is not easy. Seventh Young Master might consider another approach, for instance, through your Brother Bai."
He Jingfeng's eyes lit up:
"What you said makes sense, Brother Bai's dedication to blacksmithing is winning Li Yuan's favor. If he speaks a good word for , it's likely to succeed."
With his advice accepted, Uncle Yang's weathered face broke into a smile:
"To win over a master craftsman is imasurably difficult, but with the friendship between Seventh Young Master and Brother Bai, persuading him to speak up isn't far-fetched."
He Jingfeng nodded repeatedly, imdiately instructing Uncle Yang to invite Bai Qi for drinks in the evening.
Unexpectedly, the latter returned quickly, awkwardly saying:
"Brother Bai has an appointnt with Second Miss Zhu."
He Jingfeng was greatly surprised, filled with disbelief, knowing that Zhu Ling'Er had tried to get close several tis these days, but Bai Qi had never shown any interest.
"I thought Brother Bai was above worldly desires, not caring for won."
Uncle Yang, with hands in his sleeves, lowered his head and said:
"In my opinion, it's because Second Miss Zhu brought a Spirit Moose. Bai Qilang not only loves blacksmithing but also can't resist handling Spirit Monster Flesh and Blood himself. His enthusiasm for cooking skyrockets."
"Oh, I see."
He Jingfeng finally returned to normal, exhaling a big breath, and imdiately ordered Uncle Yang to fetch pen, ink, paper, and inkstone:
"Our He Family has several large estates with hundreds of people, and we raise quite a few spirit monsters.
If I have father send more, it'll increase my expenses for affairs in Black River County.
As long as Brother Bai is not seeking beauty, the rest, this young master can handle!"
After all, Zhu Ling'Er is a woman, and if it ca to competing for Bai Qi, she'd have the upper hand.
Uncle Yang, eyes twitching, thought sarcastically:
"A re Fisherman from Black River County could have the two major families in Yihai Prefecture alternating to serve him; what kind of fortune is that!"
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