Martial Arts Longevity Begins with the Equipment Slot

Chapter 23 Sword Forging Manor, Blacksmith Apprentice

"Sword Forging Manor?"

Chen Yu pondered.

Judging from the name, it should be a place where weapons are forged.

If I can join, I might have a chance to find some good weapons.

"My name is Lu Xiaoyu, and I am a disciple of the External Affairs Hall of the Sword Casting Manor."

As the girl spoke, she took Chen Yu's hand.

Her fingertips gently caressed Chen Yu's palm, as if she were reading a book.

"So soft."

Lu Xiaoyu suddenly laughed out loud, revealing a sharp canine tooth.

"It's better to be gentle; a hard hand can be used to work clumsy things, while a soft hand can be used to do skillful things."

Before he could finish speaking, Chen Yu shook off her hand.

The moment Lu Xiaoyu reached out, the image of the woman in red suddenly flashed into his mind.

She was the strange woman who emerged from the blood mist on the Cliff of Broken Souls that day.

Just like Lu Xiaoyu, she suddenly grabbed his hand and was about to extract his meridians.

In a moment of panic, Chen Yu nearly knocked Lu Xiaoyu's hand away.

Fortunately, I was still conscious and managed to hold back.

Lu Xiaoyu didn't mind, and just blinked as she continued to ask.

"So, are you interested?"

"I could tell at a glance that you have the makings of a blacksmith; it would be a shame if you didn't come to our Sword Forging Manor!"

Chen Yu snapped out of his daze and asked:

"Could you tell me what the Sword Forging Manor does? What are the pay and benefits like? Is the promotion system smooth?"

Lu Xiaoyu paced back and forth, thought for a while, and then said:

"Our Sword Forging Manor currently recruits four types of apprentices."

"The first type is the blacksmith's apprentice, who helps the master craftsman to forge iron and learns forging techniques. After completing the apprenticeship, he can be promoted to a master blacksmith."

"The second type is the handyman, who carries coal and siftes ore every day. He can be promoted to a miner and work in the mines of our manor."

"The third type is the accountant, who must be literate, able to calculate iron coins, and organize accounts."

"The fourth type is the purchasing agent, who is required to be able to identify minerals, distinguish charcoal materials, and be fluent in Mandarin in order to make and receive goods."

"Among them, the ironworker's monthly wage was 300 cash, the miscellaneous laborer's monthly wage was 150 cash, the accountant's monthly wage was 200 cash, and the purchasing laborer's monthly wage was 250 cash."

"During the Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, and Lunar New Year, there will be an additional few hundred coins as a reward."

"Apprentices initially learn their skills at the outer academy. After successfully completing their apprenticeship or being noticed by their superiors, they can enter the middle academy for further study."

"In the Central Courtyard, if you perform well enough, you will have the opportunity to participate in the assessment and become an inner court disciple, or even a true disciple of one of the hall masters."

After listening to Lu Xiaoyu's description, Chen Yu thought for a moment.

Of the four types of apprenticeships, the ironworker apprenticeship is the most suitable for him.

Because they receive the highest monthly pay, they also have a greater chance of accessing weapons.

Blacksmithing is a decent craft and well worth learning.

I just saw on the list that a security escort agency was recruiting a blacksmith.

If I can master this skill, I can make a living anywhere in the future.

"Have you thought it through? Have you thought it through?"

Lu Xiaoyu took a step forward, and a faint fragrance wafted towards her.

Chen Yu knew what was going on, so he gave his answer.

"I would like to become an apprentice blacksmith; I would be grateful if Miss Lu could guide me."

"Hmph, fine."

Seeing that Chen Yu had finally agreed, Lu Xiaoyu began to smile broadly.

"Just call me Senior Sister Xiaoyu."

"By the way, I haven't yet asked you, junior brother, your honorable name?"

"Chen Yu".

"Oh, from now on I'll call you Junior Brother Chen."

……

Sword Forging Manor is located in the Azure Mist Mountain, north of Sunset City.

Qinglan Mountain is located at the border of Sunset City and Wangjiang City. Although it is not a famous mountain or river, it is still a magnificent peak with an altitude of over 1,000 meters.

Starting from the nearest city gate, it takes more than 30 li (approximately 15 kilometers) to walk along the winding mountain road.

For a martial artist like Chen Yu, who is at the Skin Refining Realm, it's only a little over half an hour's journey.

Lu Xiaoyu was even faster than him, always staying about two meters ahead of him, moving with ease.

It was obvious that they deliberately slowed down the speed to accommodate Chen Yu.

Before long, the two arrived at Qinglan Mountain.

Looking around, the scene was indeed beautiful.

A green mountain shadow rose from the ground, like a giant sword, piercing through the clouds and soaring straight into the sky.

Lu Xiaoyu pointed and told Chen Yu stories as they walked.

"Legend has it that Qinglan Mountain was originally formed from a divine sword from outer space. The Ye family ancestor received a dream from an immortal and sacrificed his blood to the sword. The sword spirit was then subdued and transformed into a mountain range, leaving only mineral veins for its use."

"Therefore, the buildings of this mountain villa are all shaped like a sword, in order to repay the gods' grace."

Chen Yu remained expressionless and silent.

Lu Xiaoyu felt that the story was too old-fashioned, lacked charm, was not moving enough, and seemed uncultured.

She racked her brains for a long time before finally remembering a poem she had heard as a child.

The poem, titled "Looking at the Sword-Casting Manor," was written more than a decade ago by a great poet named Han Yuchun.

"The blue mist rises from the west with unabated force, and suddenly a sword cuts through the torrent."

"Black Mountain does not grow old with Green Mountain, but white snow floats with the red sun."

"Nine pillars of smoke lead to the imperial throne, and a thousand peaks of iron city guard the divine land."

"Lord Ye forged countless swords, but could he forge swords to relieve the suffering of the common people?"

Lu Xiaoyu recited the poem with great intonation and rhythm, but Chen Yu remained unmoved.

She was somewhat frustrated. It seemed that the guy in front of her wasn't exactly cultured. She decided to be more direct.

"Hey, look, doesn't that Sword Forging Peak look like a sword hilt?"

"Qiankuang Peak is the sword's body, the guard is Jianmen Peak, and the tassel is Xijian Creek..."

As we continued onward, the green mountain shadows became increasingly clear.

Chen Yu looked in the direction Lu Xiaoyu indicated.

Sword Casting Peak is like a sword tip piercing the sky, Forging Furnace Peak has nine columns of smoke rising, and Sword Gate Peak has two towers facing each other like a gate. The entire Sword Casting Manor is like an iron chessboard spread out in the valley.

Directly in front is a large courtyard with the four large characters "Sword Casting Manor" written in sword marks on the plaque.

On both sides are stone inscriptions: "Those who enter this gate should abandon distracting thoughts and forge the sword with their hearts," and "those who leave this gate should be filled with reverence, for the sword also has a spirit."

Under Lu Xiaoyu's guidance, Chen Yu quickly completed all the formalities and officially became an ironworker apprentice at the Sword Casting Manor.

……

The next day, at the third quarter of the Yin hour.

Before dawn, Chen Yu got up and started working.

Blacksmithing is a tough job; you have to work from dawn till dusk every day.

In recent years, the world has been in turmoil, and the demand for weapons has been enormous, so the business of the Sword Forging Manor has been increasing day by day.

That's why the manor recruits apprentices widely, regardless of their status or past; as long as they have strength, they're all brought in to work as blacksmiths.

Bailian Hall, No. 9 forging workshop (Bingzi).

The sounds of hammers, bellows, metal hissing, and sweat dripping mingled together, filling the entire room.

A wave of heat surged up from the soles of my feet.

Chen Yu stood barefoot on the rammed earth, sweat streaming down his back and forming a salt stain at his waist.

"Watch the fire."

Master Chef Xiahou Fei's voice came from the furnace opening.

Chen Yu looked up and saw him using pliers to take out a cherry-red blade blank.

Chen Yu subconsciously narrowed his eyes.

The first lesson for an ironworker's apprentice is "watching the fire".

Dark red is cold, orange-yellow is hot, incandescent is molten, only cherry red can be forged.

"Catch the hammer."

Xiahou Fei placed the knife blank on the anvil, picked up a large iron hammer himself, and handed Chen Yu a small iron hammer.

The moment Chen Yu received the small iron hammer, he immediately saw the relevant information in the [Weapon Slot].