Swords emerge from the human world

Chapter 22: Better to starve than not to be hospitable
(With votes and updates, the author doesn't want to starve!)

This is a martial arts school, obviously dilapidated, but the sign above the door, with the four large gold characters "Qingshan Martial Arts School", is wiped very clean and bright.

Wang Fu, well aware of the host's temperament, instructed A Ping to buy a jar of fine wine and three catties of braised meat. Carrying these with him, he then came to pay his respects.
"Master Shi, I've come to see you."

Master Shi, whose full name is "Qifeng," is over sixty years old, tall, and quite robust, except that his right arm is completely bare.

On the way, Wang Fu briefly introduced Master Shi to Chen Jin, knowing that he was once a famous martial arts master. Later, he was injured in a fight and lost an arm, which greatly reduced his strength. He had no choice but to open a martial arts school in Maoxian County to make a living.

The name of the Qingshan Martial Arts School is probably derived from the saying "Where there's life, there's hope."

However, he was short-tempered and depressed, often drowning his sorrows in alcohol. He frequently beat and scolded the apprentices who had come to his tutelage, which many found unbearable.

This kind of business practice has a bad reputation, resulting in a lack of customers and making it difficult to maintain operations.

Wang Fu once visited Shi Qifeng to become his apprentice, but he left after less than half a month. This was because Wang Fu discovered that Shi Qifeng's teaching methods depended entirely on his mood; he would only teach a little when he was in a good mood, and completely ignore him when he was in a bad mood.

No wonder all the apprentices ran away later.

Master Shi sat in the courtyard, glanced around, and said coldly, "Wang family brat, what are you doing here again? I told you before, even if I starve to death, I, Shi Qifeng, will never work as a guard or a lackey for your family."

It turned out that Wang Fu felt that although Shi Qifeng had lost an arm, he still had considerable strength and was a highly skilled swordsmith, so he wanted to invite him to his home as a guard.

Wealthy families with vast estates cannot rely solely on strong servants and slaves to protect them; they must hire guards and even retainers.

Wang Fu laughed and said, "Master Shi, you've misunderstood. I didn't come to see you this time about becoming a guard. Please drink and eat some meat first."

Shi Qifeng remained unmoved: "Although I am fond of drinking, I will not accept food given with contempt, nor will I eat food from others without knowing why."

Wang Fu knew that this man was stubborn and inflexible, so he got straight to the point and told him about wanting to forge a heavy sword.

Shi Qifeng was taken aback and asked in confusion, "Didn't I forge you a Green Mountain Sword last time? Why would you need a heavy sword for no reason?"

Wang Fu hurriedly replied, "It wasn't me, it was my classmate who wanted it."

Shi Qifeng's gaze fell on Chen Jin, and after scrutinizing him for a moment, he shouted, "Where did this fellow come from? He doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth, and he's just making wild guesses and playing with this old man. Get out of here at once."

Chen Jin asked directly, "May I ask if Master Shi can forge this sword?"

Shi Qifeng countered, "Can you lift and wield such a heavy sword?"

Chen Jin replied calmly, "Whether I can carry it or not, whether I can use it or not, is my business. I only ask one question: can it be cast?"

Wang Fu was delighted to see Shi Qifeng humiliated, and laughed heartily, "That's right, Master Shi, as long as you can finish the casting, just name your price."

Shi Qifeng snorted coldly: "If it's just for fun and novelty, and you're wasting so much fine iron and materials on it, I'd rather starve than forge a sword for you."

Faced with his stubbornness, Wang Fu was quite helpless and could only look to Chen Jin.

Chen Jin paused for a moment, then took out a roll of paper from his book: "Master Shi, please take a look at these. They are my ideas for the heavy sword, as well as a description of its construction."

Shi Qifeng reluctantly took it, muttering, "With your abilities, what can you possibly write?"

At first, he glanced at it casually, but soon, a look of surprise appeared on his face, and then he became serious.

Seeing this, Wang Fu thought to himself, "This is promising." He then realized that Chen Jin's desire to forge a heavy sword was not a whim, but likely related to the jade slip for weapon forging given to him by Linghu Xueli.

That's the knowledge of immortals, and it's no wonder it's used to intimidate ordinary people like Shi Qifeng.

Sure enough, a quarter of an hour later, Shi Qifeng raised his head and stared intently at Chen Jin: "You know how to forge weapons?"

Chen Jin replied, "I wouldn't say I know how, I've only read some related materials and know some of the recipes and methods. But I've never actually done it before, and I don't have the stove materials, so I've come to ask Master Shi for help." Master Shi looked puzzled and fell into deep thought. After a while, he picked up the wine jar, opened the seal, and took a big gulp of wine: "Alright, I agree to this, but there's one condition."

"You said."

"I have never forged such a heavy sword before. To ensure success, you will have to stay at the martial arts school and help out during the process."

"it is good."

Chen Jin readily agreed.

Shi Qifeng glared at him: "Don't agree so quickly. Forging a sword is not something that can be done overnight. I estimate that it will take at least seven days and seven nights to complete, and that's assuming that all the materials are available."

"no problem."

Chen Jin did not hesitate.

This timeframe was already within the estimated range.

In fact, the craftsmanship and materials used in forging this heavy sword have already been reduced.

There's no way around it; demanding the specifications of a ritual implement would be asking too much. Not only are the methods lacking, but the materials are also insufficient, making it impossible to make.

Shi Qifeng nodded: "Alright, it will start tomorrow. You can leave now."

They started drinking heavily and eating large amounts of meat.

Chen Jin and the others then took their leave and went outside. It was already dusk.

Wang Fu said, "Brother Chen, this matter has been settled, so you can rest assured. Master Shi is a truly capable man; if he dared to agree, it means he was confident."

"Okay, where to go now?"

"Of course we're going to eat."

Wang Fu laughed and said, "Originally, since you've come to the city as a guest, I should have hosted a banquet at my home, but you know me well. Eating at home is rather dull and not very interesting, so it's better to eat out."

Chen Jin didn't care where they ate, and said, "When in Rome, do as the host does. You decide."

Wang Fu nodded slightly and said loudly, "We were classmates before, and then we went through hardships together on the mountain. We can be called friends who have been through thick and thin together. No amount of hospitality is too much. As for places to go in the city, the best place is of course Cuiyan Tower, where you can listen to music and have fun. However, I am not feeling well right now, so I will not go there. I need to go somewhere else."

Chen Jin knew of the reputation of Cuiyan Tower, the most extravagant place in the county, but he had never been there, had no interest in it, and couldn't afford it.

Wang Fu then said, "How about we go to Maolin Pavilion?"

Upon hearing the words "Maolin Pavilion," Chen Jin's eyes gleamed. He had heard his cousin Chen Zhi mention that this was the place where he and his father had hosted a banquet for Steward Zhao to conduct a financial transaction. He said, "Good, I've heard the food there is quite good."

"It's really good."

Wang Fuji waved his hand.

The servant, Ah Ping, being very perceptive, rushed ahead to find the manager of Maolin Restaurant to reserve a private room.

But the dishes couldn't be ordered in advance; we had to wait for Chen Jin to arrive so he could order them.

This is the proper way to treat guests.

(End of this chapter)