The inn was very close to the dical clinic, and it didn’t take long to get there.
Yu Tingwan settled the cattle, then asked the shopkeeper for two adjoining rooms on the first floor.
Taking advantage of the fact that it wasn’t dark yet, she sipped so hot tea, nibbled on a bun ordered from the inn, and then ran out.
She was heading to the blacksmith shop in town.
Whether it was because it was late or business was bad, there weren’t many custors in the shop.
As soon as she entered, a wave of heat hit her.
The furnace was burning vigorously, with flas flicking their long tongues upwards. A muscular man with a bare torso was swinging a large hamr and working the iron.
"Clang, clang, clang."
Yu Tingwan looked around.
The shop wasn’t too big or too small, just rightly proportioned.
She stepped forward and spoke, "Can you customize hidden weapons?"
It was still Wei Shen who reminded her that a butcher knife was inconvenient—cumberso to carry around.
As she spoke, she handed over the sketch she was holding.
That was the sketch Wei Shen had drawn on the ox cart after entering town.
With just a few strokes, even though his wrist was weak, his drawing skills remained exquisite. It depicted a modified sleeve arrow suitable for won.
When they entered the inn earlier, Wei Shen pointed her in this direction, saying this was the cheapest ironwork around.
Yu Tingwan ca with a sense of skepticism.
The muscular man glanced at her indifferently, showing a stern face, "Not taking any more business."
"I’m willing to pay extra."
The muscular man dropped the hamr he was holding, impatient.
"Even if there were, we wouldn’t sell to you. Get out!"
As they spoke, a skinny person ca out from the inside room, looking very thin, with red and swollen eyes, and a dejected appearance.
The skinny Shunzi spat, "In a bad mood, why scare the young lady?"
The muscular man sneered.
Shunzi couldn’t do much against him, after all, he couldn’t beat him, and had to listen to him. He forced a smile at Yu Tingwan.
But the smile was very awkward.
"To be honest, miss, soone in our family passed away. The sky has fallen, and we’re not taking any more business. We’re not planning to open the shop anymore, and intend to transfer it. We’re only completing orders from custors who paid deposits earlier."
Isn’t that true!
The general is dead.
The public face business of these iron shops, secretly providing weapons and hidden weapons for the Wei Family Army, should also shut down.
The Wei Family Army’s invincibility owed much to the weapons in the soldiers’ hands.
Since Duke Shun passed away, Wei Zhao has been defensive toward Emperor Ying.
It’s not like past emperors haven’t gone mad, ordering the Ministry of Justice and Military Equipnt Bureau to switch military weapons to seemingly sturdy but easily broken scrap tal to eliminate war heroes they saw as a significant threat.
The grain allocated by the Court was also ticulously inspected by Wei Zhao for edibility. The swords and weapons sent over were even more distrusted.
There were many such secret establishnts scattered around towns in nearby cities, spread out and unnoticed by the Court’s eyes.
This place was desolate, with an indifferent governnt office, making the transportation of weapons convenient.
The muscular Rong Di was the head of this area’s secret establishnts.
Upon hearing this, Yu Tingwan’s eyes flashed with regret, "Condolences."
Rong Di glanced indifferently at the sketch in the girl’s hand.
His whole body stiffened.
Without further thought, he abruptly got up and snatched it.
He wasn’t looking at the intricate sleeve arrow but at the hidden ssage within the sketch.
It was...the general’s secret ssage.
Rong Di’s eyes flashed with shock, as if experiencing great sorrow and joy, his breathing was notably heavy.
He was in a daze, seemingly incredulous.
Yu Tingwan frowned, "If you’re not making it, why snatch my item?"
"This..."
Rong Di didn’t have ti to think much.
He looked at Yu Tingwan, eyes gleaming with light.
"I can do it!"
He changed his tone from before, his excitent unconcealed, "Our shop is renowned, we can make anything. Miss, you’ve co to the right place."
The attitude shift was evident.
Not only Yu Tingwan, but even Shunzi was stunned.
Since the incident with the General, the head has been a bit deranged. Often showing a grim face, not to ntion this big guy secretly crying on the roof at night.
It’s understandable, after all, if it weren’t for the General, Rong Di would have long been dead.
He considered Wei Zhao akin to a reborn parent.
Shunzi, noticing sothing amiss, shifted to look at the sketch in the head’s hand, eyes abruptly widened.
He didn’t understand, but before, when the head communicated with the general, he had seen similar secret ssages.
Yu Tingwan furrowed her brow, "Is there sothing wrong?"
Shunzi: "No!"
He regained his senses, awkwardly smiling, "It’s just that this hidden weapon’s design is excellent!"
"Just curious as to who made it?"
"Is there a chance for a visit?"
Yu Tingwan: ???
If it were under normal circumstances, she’d think the two were sowhat peculiar.
But right now...
The lady felt proud.
Her man had skills that were unmistakable!
Yu Tingwan couldn’t help but curve her lips, yet was unwilling to disclose too much.
"Wasn’t there trouble at ho?"
Rong Di: "I am willing to make it for you!"
Alright then.
Yu Tingwan didn’t understand, but respected, "I’m in a hurry, when can it be ready?"
"It can be done overnight; the young lady can pick it up tomorrow. Or you can leave a location, our brothers can deliver it to your door."
This attitude was overly diligent.
Yu Tingwan suddenly grew wary.
Could it be they’re planning a hefty charge?
Thinking of her thin purse, she decided to save wherever she could.
"I’ll pick it up myself, how much?"
Rong Di: "You can pay whatever you think is right."
Yu Tingwan: ???
"That’s not quite right."
Shunzi’s sweet words, "A guest is a guest, the young lady feels like fate brought us together."
Yu Tingwan had always been stingy.
Given this chance, she couldn’t resist the temptation.
With her purse tight, Yu Tingwan spoke, "Thirty coins?"
Even buying a quality butcher knife costs eighty coins!
Let alone a hidden weapon!
How could you have the nerve to say it that low?
In the past, if soone tried to take advantage of Rong Di, he’d flatten them with a hamr.
But now, without hesitation, "Alright!"
Thought she’d be kicked out," Yu Tingwan: ...
She regretted it.
Did she say too much?
Aunt Wu did once advise her to haggle outside, blindly going lower and negotiating upwards with the seller, otherwise, she’d suffer losses.
Girl: "Then..."
Yu Tingwan, always thick-skinned, "Could you throw in a small discount?"
Rong Di readily agreed, "Sure!"
Yu Tingwan: ...
She felt she...might have miscalculated again.
Your family doesn’t need deaths to incur losses, and you are closing at a loss.
Rong Di courteously offered, "It’s getting dark, should we escort you back?"
If Wei Zhao hadn’t vouched for this shop’s trustworthiness, Yu Tingwan would’ve ditched the sketch and ran.
Refusing the muscular man’s offer, the young lady returned to the inn by herself.
Little did she know, once she left, Shunzi was extrely excited, "The General isn’t dead, is he?!"
Rong Di caressed the treasured sketch, hoarsely, "The ink isn’t dry yet."
Rong Di, "I knew it!"
"Soone like the General, even King Yama wouldn’t take!"
He paced back and forth in excitent, "I don’t know what’s being said at the border, but everyone says the General is dead!"
And that the coffin is supposed to pass through Ze County.
Who is really inside the coffin!
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