Xu Xian took a sip of tea. It was slightly astringent, making him click his tongue.
"Tsk, tsk. Is that so? And here I thought our Wendao Sword Sect's recruitment strategy was mainly free-range, wild growth?"
Ye Xianyu looked up, the end of her brush resting against her chin. "Wild growth?"
She pointed the ink brush at Xu Xian and suddenly smiled. "That's a good term. I like it, hehe."
Xu Xian rolled his eyes in polite response.
Ye Xianyu didn't mind. Resting her chin on one hand and twirling the brush with the other, she said softly, "Flowers in a greenhouse might bloom beautifully, but they're only for display. They can't withstand the wind and rain; when the time comes, they wither on their own. But the weeds in the mountains grow back batch after batch. Wildfires cannot burn them away; they grow again when the spring breeze blows."
"Our Wendao Sword Sect guards the Northern Borders, surrounded by enemies on three sides. Which of those foreign races isn't eyeing us greedily? Without real substance, we would have perished long ago."
"As my Little Junior Brother and a future leader of the Wendao Sword Sect, if you're just a flashy showpiece, it wouldn't be a bad thing if you perished early..."
Xu Xian swayed his head and replied perfunctorily, "I know, I know. I get it, I totally get it. I understand perfectly."
Ye Xianyu frowned slightly, showing a hint of a young woman's feigned resentment.
After three cups of tea, Xu Xian felt refreshed and got straight to the point. "Tell me, my dear Senior Sister, why did you call me here?"
"No reason!"
"You called me here for no reason?"
"Can't I just miss you?" Ye Xianyu teased.
"Heh!" Xu Xian chuckled without saying a word.
Ye Xianyu said lazily, "Anyway, it's not like you're busy, and you're not in a hurry to repay your loan."
"You know a bit too much."
"What, is Little Eleven going to silence me to keep his secret?"
"Childish!"
Ye Xianyu curled her lips and continued writing. Without looking up, she asked, "I heard you're looking for Blazing Red Crystal?"
Xu Xian glanced at her from the corner of his eye and tested, "You have some?"
"No!"
Xu Xian's excitement instantly deflated.
"But I know who does," Ye Xianyu said.
Xu Xian's eyes lit up again.
"Really?"
"Mhm—"
"Where?"
Ye Xianyu's brush moved, and the hair on her forehead swayed. She acted as if it were none of her business. "Didn't you tell me not to meddle in your affairs? Why ask me?"
Xu Xian paused. 'Hmph, this old woman really knows how to hold a grudge, doesn't she?'
"Ahem," he coughed lightly and said sincerely, "I admit my voice was a bit loud just now."
"Apologize."
Xu Xian didn't hesitate. "I'm sorry!"
"Sorry to whom?"
Xu Xian didn't stall for a second. "Senior Sister, I'm sorry."
Ye Xianyu's eyes crinkled into crescents as she smiled. "Your attitude isn't bad."
Xu Xian said flatteringly, "So, can Senior Sister tell me now?"
Ye Xianyu said straightforwardly, "Master Ruan has a piece. As for whether you can get it, that's your business."
"Master Ruan..." Xu Xian's tone rose. "Ruan Zhong's grandfather?"
"Yes."
Xu Xian became thoughtful.
Ye Xianyu tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and said softly, "Now, get lost."
"Oh!"
Xu Xian stood up to leave. As he neared the door, Ye Xianyu's cold voice drifted over again.
"Drinking and then just leaving?"
Xu Xian stopped and looked back.
Ye Xianyu looked at him from across the room, her eyes narrowed.
Xu Xian's gaze flickered guiltily. He walked back, took a box of tea leaves from his sleeve, and placed it on the table, his mouth twitching.
He looked like he was cursing, but no sound came out.
Under Ye Xianyu's gaze, he picked up the remaining half-pot of tea and tilted his head back, gulping it all down.
After finishing, he set the teapot down, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and said coolly, "I'm leaving!"
Then, as if nothing had happened, he walked out.
Left behind, Ye Xianyu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She shook her head and said, "His silent cursing is quite foul!"
-------------------------------------
After leaving the Peach Blossom Immortal Abode, Xu Xian headed straight for Zhujian Peak. Familiar with the path, he found Master Ruan's old forging workshop.
Before even landing, he could hear the heavy sounds of forging from a distance.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sounds echoed across the mountain peak!!
Xu Xian landed on the peak and entered the workshop. He knocked, but no one answered; his knocking was no match for the roar of the hammer, so he entered uninvited.
Just like his last visit.
Master Ruan was at the forging table, holding a heavy hammer and pounding an unformed sword.
Though his face showed he was an elderly man, with wrinkles and age spots on half of his profile revealing his waning years, his bare upper body resembled that of a vajra warrior.
It looked as if it were cast from bronze and iron.
Combined with his nine-foot height, he was a natural-born titan.
It was no exaggeration to say that his palms, when spread open, were larger than Xu Xian's face.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The heavy hammer didn't slow down, its rhythm remaining steady. Xu Xian stood to the side, silent. Although Master Ruan never spared him a glance the entire time...
Above his head floated the words:
[Great Ascension Stage · Late Stage].
He was in the same realm as Li Qingshan.
It was impossible for Xu Xian's arrival to escape his divine sense; the man was clearly too busy forging to bother with him.
Xu Xian wasn't so tactless as to disturb him now.
After all, this Master Ruan was nearly obsessed with forging. Had it not been for this, he might have already entered the tribulation transcendence stage.
As everyone in the sect said, forging was his Dao, and cultivation was merely incidental.
About the time it took for an incense stick to burn passed.
Master Ruan's hammer fell, and he glanced at Xu Xian from the corner of his eye.
Xu Xian nodded slightly and returned a smile.
After looking at Xu Xian, the master picked up the forged sword, walked to the spirit furnace to heat it again, and asked in a deep voice, "Why are you here?"
He had a deep impression of Xu Xian.
It wasn't just because he was the Little Grand-Uncle, nor just because of his peerless talent.
He had lived most of his life and seen many highly talented people.
It was simply because Xu Xian had returned his grandson's belongings intact.
Moreover, he had heard that on that night in Yecheng, even though he was only in the foundation establishment stage and could have hidden, Xu Xian had returned to the tiger's den to save his fellow disciples.
Master Ruan had been obsessed with forging all his life, but every member of his family had fought for the sect until their strength was spent.
Every single one of them was a hero.
He especially admired those who were fearless. That was all.
Xu Xian walked slowly toward Master Ruan, gave a respectful bow, and said directly, "I have come to see Master Ruan to ask for a favor."
Master Ruan released a strand of qi, and the spirit fire in the furnace immediately surged, making a roaring sound.
He said slowly, "Don't you know my rules? I don't take private commissions. Not for anyone... not even for you."
Xu Xian hurriedly said, "Senior, you misunderstand. I'm not here to ask you to forge a sword."
Master Ruan turned his head and gave him a deep, surprised look. If not for forging, then for what?
He uttered a single word. "Speak."
Xu Xian asked, "I heard that Master Ruan has a piece of Blazing Red Jade?"
"Mhm."
With joy in his eyes, Xu Xian cupped his hands and said, "To be honest, Senior, I am in urgent need of this item. I wonder if you would be willing to part with it and sell it to me? As for the price, you name it, and I won't haggle."
Xu Xian didn't want to wait any longer.
However, his upbringing wouldn't allow him to haggle with the Master Ruan before him.
Master Ruan chuckled upon hearing this.
"Heh... you want me to sell something to you?"
"Yes!"
Master Ruan refused without a second thought.
"Young man, you've come to the wrong place. This is a forging workshop; I only forge weapons, I don't do business."
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