Translator: AnubisTL
Giant Rock City, Falling Stone Street.
No one noticed that a blacksmith shop had suddenly appeared on this street.
Clang, clang, clang Accompanied by the rhythmic clang of tal striking tal, Li Qing arranged the newly forged farming tools—sickles and crude weapons—on the shelves.
Having just arrived, Li Qing had instinctively opened a blacksmith shop, choosing to temporarily lay low in the city.
Miao Qi had helped him secure the shop. Although Giant Rock City was the largest city in the Black Wind Domain, its population remained relatively small.
A significant number of buildings in the city were vacant, so renting a shop for a blacksmith shop didn’t cost much.
The ordinary weapons and farming sickles filling the shelves had earned Li Qing nearly a year and a half of lifespan.
With everything set up, Li Qing found himself with nothing to do, suddenly idle.
Taking advantage of the free ti, he focused on honing the Shadow-Seeking Footwork he had just learned.
This Lightness Technique, when combined with the Light Silk Leg Technique, produced unexpected results. He no longer needed to deliberately cultivate the Vital Energy in his legs.
Having practiced the Light Silk Leg Technique, he already possessed the foundation to learn this Lightness Technique.
With Li Qing’s current level as an Inner Strength expert, he could briefly control his entire body’s Vital Energy. This allowed his progress in the Lightness Technique to accelerate rapidly.
Thus, he practiced the Lightness Technique while passively gathering information about the city. Ti flew by quickly.
In Giant Rock City, besides the City Lord’s Manor and the Red Fish rchant Guild, there were nurous gangs of varying sizes.
For example, the street where Li Qing’s shop was located was controlled by the Sand Crocodile Gang. Every ti the Dark Wheat Mushrooms matured, his shop had to pay the gang either so food or two Money Crystals.
The fee wasn’t excessive, and Li Qing had no objections. Whenever the Sand Crocodile Gang mbers ca to collect, he paid without fail.
To Li Qing’s surprise, despite the presence of many gangs, Giant Rock City remained as tranquil as stagnant water. The gang wars and territorial disputes he had anticipated never materialized.
Even the Red Fish rchant Guild and the City Lord’s Manor, the two top-tier powers, coexisted peacefully. Their relationship was surprisingly cordial, with no conflicts whatsoever.
This left Li Qing feeling sowhat helpless. If life truly remained this peaceful, wouldn’t he end up becoming a blacksmith here for good?
"Could it be that the Red Fish rchant Guild is just an ordinary rchant guild after all? Then why have they been so conspicuously collecting beasts from the Sunlight Era?"
Li Qing muttered to himself, his eyes flickering slightly.
What intrigued him most, of course, was the Armored Pig, a novel species.
He didn’t believe the Red Fish rchant Guild was collecting beasts to preserve their species. In this world, who would bother with such a thing unless they had nothing better to do?
After nearly a month of waiting, the stagnant Giant Rock City finally stirred with so unusual activity.
That day, several mbers of the Sand Crocodile Gang ca to Li Qing’s blacksmith shop.
"Master Li, how have things been lately? Business doing alright?"
A few young n with rough, thug-like appearances entered the shop. Li Qing imdiately recognized them as the low-level thugs of the Sand Crocodile Gang.
He had always looked down on these street thugs, who knew only a few half-baked martial arts moves.
Li Qing put on a show of humility: "Oh, thanks to your patronage, I’m barely scraping by."
"I don’t think it’s ti to pay the Protection Fee yet. What brings you gentlen here?"
The next words from the thugs made Li Qing’s heart stir.
"Hehe, we’re not here to collect money. We’re here to do business."
"That’s right. The Sand Crocodile Gang wants to order a batch of ironwork from you."
Li Qing remained calm. "Oh? What kind of ironwork, and what will it be used for?"
"Bring it out and let Master Li take a look," the leader gestured.
Soon, a rusty, dilapidated animal trap was placed before Li Qing. It was clearly old, covered in dust, and difficult to identify.
"So, Master Li, do you recognize this thing? It’s called an animal trap. Can you make it?" the leader asked expectantly.
Li Qing’s answer didn’t disappoint. "Hmm, judging by the construction, it shouldn’t be too difficult. I can try. I should be able to make it."
Hearing this assurance, the Sand Crocodile Gang mbers imdiately said with satisfaction, "I knew this newly opened blacksmith shop had real skill. It’s nothing like the other shops on the street that only forge farming tools."
"Master Li, na your price. We need about ten of these animal traps. Can you give us a discount?"
Na your price?
Li Qing felt no sympathy for these bloodsucking parasites who made their living extorting protection money. He imdiately made an outrageous offer: "Including the waste from the trial production... fifteen Money Crystals each!"
He hadn’t gone completely overboard, just raised the price slightly above what was reasonable.
Claiming to account for the trial production waste, he was charging them a total of 150 Money Crystals. This wasn’t a small sum; it was almost enough to buy an Armored Pig from the Red Fish rchant Guild.
The Sand Crocodile Gang mbers hesitated for a mont before finally agreeing.
"Alright, we’ll pay that price. Let us know when they’re ready, and try to make them as quickly as possible!"
With that, the Sand Crocodile Gang mbers left Li Qing’s blacksmith shop.
Li Qing watched their backs recede, his eyes flickering thoughtfully for a mont.
"Making animal traps? Are they planning to go hunting?"
The city currently had a stable supply of Armored Pig at, which, though expensive, was still considered a decent source of protein.
Spending 150 Money Crystals to commission a batch of animal traps was a significant upfront investnt.
After all, the Red Fish rchant Guild typically paid only 300-400 Money Crystals on average for a wild beast from the Sunlight Era.
If they failed to catch anything, it would be a complete loss. Animal traps weren’t exactly valuable assets; they would rust and break down over ti.
Just as Li Qing was about to inquire about recent events in the city, an unexpected visitor entered his blacksmith shop.
Miao Qi strode in, his face flushed with excitent. "Brother Li, our Gang Leader sent a letter recently. He’s instructed to station myself in Giant Rock City and assist you in any way possible. Just tell what you need, and I’ll take care of it."
Li Qing glanced at Miao Qi in surprise, then imdiately burst into laughter.
Just when I was thinking about it, soone brought a pillow!
"Perfect timing. Can you gather information? The Sand Crocodile Gang recently commissioned to make a batch of animal traps. I need you to find out what they’re planning."
"Be discreet and don’t be too obvious."
Miao Qi’s eyes lit up. He nodded eagerly. "No problem, leave it to !"
With that, he quickly left the blacksmith shop, his body still trembling slightly.
Could it be... the Gang Leader has decided to extend our reach into Giant Rock City?
Miao Qi rembered how Li Qing’s clever plan had brought down the Yan Family, securing all of Blackrock City for the Righteous Gang. He knew the story intimately.
Could this finally be my chance to participate in such a crucial operation?
The thought made Miao Qi clench his fists, as if he could already see the wide, open road of his future stretching before him.
(End of the Chapter)
📚 Read [IR] on Patreon/AnubisTL – Up to c146. [ 2]
☕Support and Read Ahead for just $5/mo.
🎯 Translated [2] Novels [745k ] Words and counting!
User Comments
0 comments from readers