Dual wielding volcanoes, killing through the west

"Oh dear, Green Wine and Red Stove, you two should have told me in advance that you were coming, so I could have freed up my afternoon for you!"

A warm voice came from among the swords and weapons hanging in the shop, and a short, stout man with muscular build strode out.

He didn't look young, probably in his forties or fifties, but Zhang Fulin could tell at a glance that beneath his not-so-robust physique lay muscles honed from years of blacksmithing. Despite his short stature, his strength was considerable when he wielded a weapon.

He quickly ran out of the store and then saw Zhang Fulin and Zhang Wusheng standing to the side. He smiled awkwardly and said, "Wusheng is here too. Welcome, welcome. I didn't see you two because you were hidden by the armor. Sorry."

“It’s alright, Mr. Black Palm.” Zhang Wusheng nodded.

To be honest, this blacksmith shop was one of the places he would least ever visit in his life—someone like him who gets out of breath after just a few steps, would have his lungs explode if he were to wear a full suit of armor. Black Palm was well aware of this, so maintaining a polite facade was enough for him.

"Bear Paw, this is Mr. Black Paw from Three Horses Town, an excellent blacksmith. Weapons, armor, horse armor... anything related to iron can be made."

Zhang Lvjiu began by saying, "Mr. Black Palm also contributed a lot to the battle to capture Sanma Town and defeat the Zorael family. Later, in the Battle of Lagras, my father's armor and greatsword were both made with his help."

"Hahaha, not at all." Black Palm quickly waved his hand and laughed loudly, "It is my honor to have the opportunity to forge armor for your father!"

Throughout his life, Hei Zhang had forged weapons and armor for many people, and with most others, his words were somewhat of flattery and acknowledgment. But with Zhang Renfeng… it was absolutely not flattery; it was all from the bottom of his heart. No one else in the world could utilize cold weapons and armor to such an extreme degree except Zhang Renfeng.

Furthermore, even setting aside the psychological factor of admiration, the mere fact that "Zhang Renfeng used the armor" has a huge brand effect. Especially in Baiju City, many people genuinely worship Zhang Renfeng as a god.

The value of a weapon maker who has served God cannot be captured in words.

Since the railway was built, Sanma Town has been in a phase of rapid development, and there are hardly any people left who need the forged ironware. As the saying goes, "A tree dies when transplanted, but a person thrives," and Hei Zhang moved to Baiju City, managing to capitalize on Zhang Renfeng's immense popularity and making a fortune.

Henry's occasional knightly tournaments also provided a long-term source of business for his armor trade. People would frequently come to him to have armor, horse armor, and similar items made. In addition, Zhang Renfeng's two sons were also his main customers.

"This is our elder brother, Zhang Fulin."

"Oh~~~~ I see." Upon hearing that he was Zhang Renfeng's son, Hei Zhang's eyes almost lit up, and he exclaimed repeatedly, "No wonder, from a distance, his eyes and nose are exactly the same as Mr. Zhang's, just a bit younger. Come on, come in and pick something out."

"I……"

Zhang Fulin glanced at Zhang Wusheng, who was standing outside with his cane, showing no intention of going in.

Seeing that the other person was looking at him, Wu Sheng smiled and shook his head, "There's no point in me going in, you go ahead, I'll wait for you outside."

"Hey, you there, stop hammering! Can't you see we have guests?" Black Palm snapped. "Quick, get a stool for the guests at the door! Go now!"

The blacksmith's apprentice was a bit slow-witted; he blankly brought out a low stool.

Zhang Wusheng's expression changed slightly. He wanted to say that it was just standing and waiting for a while, nothing serious. He was only having trouble walking, not that he couldn't stand, so why did they have to do this, blatantly setting up a stool? But when he looked down and saw the pitying look in his apprentice's eyes, he became even angrier.

In the end, he could only say thank you, thank you for your sympathy and your kindness, and slowly sit down on the low stool that felt like a pit of fire.

……

People were coming and going on the street. He sat there, and for some reason, he felt like a dog tied up in front of a shop.

He always felt that everyone who walked past him would glance at him casually, then quickly look away, whispering among themselves.

"Nobody's watching you!" Zhang Wusheng muttered viciously to himself. "It's all an illusion. You take yourself way too seriously!"

But the whispering didn't disappear; instead, it grew louder and clearer in his ears.

----

"This is really..."

Upon entering the store, Zhang Fulin couldn't help but marvel at how complete the equipment was.

Longswords, short swords, long knives, short knives, round shields, long shields, knight's shields... as well as all kinds of armor, wooden spears for duels, and some real weapons, all hung on the wall, a dazzling array, quite impressive! This shop sells both weapons and armor, and the products it produces are all of the highest quality.

Although we are no longer in the era of cold weapons, it would be a real pity if this craft were to be buried in Sanma Town and lost in the long river of history.

“It’s not just Western weapons.” Black Palm patted his chest and said proudly, “Your father is also a regular customer here. Every time he needs any Eastern weapons, they are made in my blacksmith shop. Swords, spears, halberds, axes, hooks, and forks, none of them are a problem.”

"I've received a lot of help from your father's family over the years. Today, as if it's our first meeting, let me give you a gift. Pick whatever you want."

"Uncle Black Palm's craftsmanship is absolutely top-notch," Zhang Honglu said with a smile, giving his assurance. "My pear blossom axe and Green Wine's coiled dragon iron rod were both made here. Not only do they feel great to the touch, but even the patterns on them are exquisitely detailed... You won't find anything as beautiful anywhere else."

"This is a rare opportunity, Fulin. You should choose a weapon for yourself too. That way, we can fight with weapons in the future, which will be even more exciting!"

"Red-hot furnace!" Zhang Lüjiu said in a deep voice, "Between brothers, fists and feet are fine, how can we turn to weapons? Have you forgotten what Lady Nymeria instructed us to do?"

"cut……"

Zhang Honglu rolled her eyes at her brother, clearly annoyed.

----

"...Wait a minute." Zhang Fulin finally noticed a blind spot and looked at Zhang Honglu. "Honglu, are you using an axe?"

“That’s right,” Zhang Honglu laughed. “You can use your weight to move it, and with one swing of the axe, you can split a person in two. How satisfying!”

"And then... your brother's weapon was a stick?"

“Since ancient times, the staff has been called the ‘chief of all weapons,’ as it can be used for both offense and defense. Once you are proficient in staff techniques, you can almost defeat all other weapons,” Zhang Lvjiu said in a deep voice. “My father told us the story of ‘Journey to the West,’ in which the magical Monkey King used a long staff as his weapon.”

"What's wrong, Fulin? Is something the problem?"

"Hiss...ha..."

Zhang Fulin took a deep breath, hesitated, and finally chuckled twice, "It's nothing, nothing's wrong."

"It's because I... overthink things."

Chapter 938: Of all martial arts techniques, none are invincible except speed.

Zhang Fulin reached out and lightly brushed his hand across the hanging sword, without pausing, as if only to feel the lingering chill on the weapon. He merely glanced at the sights, walking from one end to the other and back again; among so many gleaming swords, not a single one suited his taste.

"I didn't realize he was so picky." Zhang Honglu tapped his right foot on the ground like he was working on a sewing machine, his impatience practically written all over his face. He muttered under his breath, "It's just a weapon, there are so many, it should be easy to choose... I walked around less than halfway before I took a liking to that axe."

“Doesn’t this just show that you’re much more cautious about this matter than I am?” Zhang Lvjiu glanced at him and said in a deep voice, “Honglu, you don’t actually think… you really won that competition just now, do you?”

"Huh?" Zhang Honglu raised his head, a hint of disdain in his eyes. "Please, Green Wine, I'm not stupid. Of course I can tell he went easy on me."

"At first, when I struck him with my palm, he didn't even flinch. He's different from our second brother. Since he inherited our father's bloodline, he must be a monster of unfathomable strength. How could he suddenly run out of strength after just a few moves and be kicked away by me?"

"It's good that you have self-awareness." Seeing that he wasn't arrogant to that extent, Zhang Lvjiu secretly breathed a sigh of relief and instructed, "Brother Fulin's strength is so profound that even I can't see through it, let alone you. He did that simply because he's new here and wanted to give you, his younger brother, some face."

"So what?"

“…What did you say?” Zhang Lvjiu was puzzled by his nonchalant attitude.

"Whether he held back or not, a loss is a loss, and a win is a win," Zhang Honglu shrugged and said calmly. "Green Wine, think about it carefully. If it were a life-or-death situation, and he was held back for various reasons, missing a move, while his opponent was ruthless enough to stab him in the abdomen, wouldn't he have died too?"

"What use is a high level of martial arts if you can't use it at the crucial moment?"

……

Zhang Fulin's gaze finally settled on the pair of strange weapons hanging there—they hung among a group of knight's broadswords, their crescent-shaped arc immediately catching his eye and making him exclaim, "The Midnight Mandarin Duck Axes!"

“Yes, yes, that’s the name. Your father mentioned it to me, but I could never remember it.” Black Palm nodded repeatedly, then sighed with regret. “However, the one hanging on the wall was for your father to use as a reference.”

"I can forge a knife, sword, spear, or battle axe, but this thing... I'm really helpless. Even if he tells me how to forge it, the final product will most likely be crooked and unusable."

Actually, it's not fair to blame Black Palm for his lack of skill. People always have preconceived notions. In Black Palm's mindset, having wielded weapons for most of his life, he had never seen a weapon like this before. And this Meridian Mandarin Duck Axe is marketed for its small size and speed; if even a little too much force is applied, the blade will be damaged and rendered unusable.

Despite the language barrier, Black Palm had seen quite a few customers, and the light in their eyes when they saw something they liked was always pretty much the same.

"You want this?" He pointed to the Mandarin Duck Axe hanging on the wall.

Zhang Fulin nodded repeatedly.

"Really? You're going to practice with such a weird weapon?" Zhang Honglu was shocked by his choice and exclaimed in surprise, "This thing... isn't it just a few thin pieces of iron stuck together? It probably doesn't even weigh two ounces. If someone were to chop it down, it would fall apart on the spot."

"Red furnace, you mustn't be rude!" Zhang Lvjiu scolded softly. "My brother has his reasons for making this choice."

Zhang Fulin smiled without saying a word, looking at the Mandarin Duck Axe on the wall, clearly very satisfied with it.

As the saying goes, "There are no fixed formations in warfare, just as water has no fixed shape." There are weapons like the Iron Rod and the Mountain-Splitting Axe, which are obviously developed for the "exhilaration of combat." Naturally, there are also unusual weapons like the Meridian Mandarin Duck Axe, which are designed specifically for infiltration, assassination, and surprise attacks from unconventional angles.

In Zhang Fulin's eyes, no other factors mattered when it came to this weapon; the one that truly suited him was the best.

Of course, he only thought these words to himself and didn't actually say them aloud. Otherwise, it would seem like he was showing off his knowledge as the eldest brother. He felt that his relationship with these two brothers wasn't that close yet, so it was better to say less than more.

This unusual weapon was originally a gift from Zhang Renfeng to Hei Zhang. Now, after going through a full circle, it has returned to his son's hands—a twist of fate, one might say. Anyway, Hei Zhang wouldn't be able to forge another one just by keeping it in the shop; he'd only be helping with its maintenance. Now that a knowledgeable person has finally come and taken it away, he's happy for the weapon.

----

"Awaited."

……

A familiar voice came from behind him. Zhang Wusheng slowly turned his shoulders and neck, feeling extremely stiff—he had been so immersed in his self-imposed exile that he had remained in the same position, sitting motionless for several minutes. It was as if even his heartbeat and breathing had stopped.

Zhang Fulin didn't reach out to him, but instead asked, "Do you need my help?"

"..." Zhang Wusheng's pupils widened slightly due to the surprise. He couldn't help but feel a bit more favorably toward this elder brother who had suddenly appeared. He shook his head and said, "No, no need. I should rest enough after such a long time."

He leaned on his cane and used his left leg to push himself up, which was very difficult, but he managed to stand up by his own strength.

Zhang Fulin just stood by and watched without helping him, which seemed rather heartless.

"What about those two people?"

"Green Wine said that he and Red Furnace wanted to discuss the paint and patterns on the new armor with this boss. They needed to try it on in person, which might take another hour or two." Zhang Fulin shook his head and laughed, "I wasn't interested in those things, so I came out."

In addition to crafting armor, the blacksmith shops in Blackhand offer an extra service: the maintenance and decoration of armor.

The custom of decorating armor is ancient; going into battle dressed in a tin can is certainly acceptable. However, if one has spare money, giving their armor and weapons a more imposing and stylish makeover would be a wonderful thing.

Those famous Western gunslingers, including Calaway, all had the habit of carving patterns on their gun barrels and stocks, the only difference being the type of weapon they carried.

"What?" Zhang Wusheng asked curiously, "You...you're not interested in armor and such?"

It's not that I'm not interested.

Zhang Fulin's tone was very calm, as if he were declaring a fact that was obvious: "The martial arts I practice do not allow me to wear armor, let alone carry any heavy objects."

"Since you'll never wear it in your life, why waste the time looking at it?"

"It should be known that no martial art in the world is invincible..."

"Only speed can break it."

----

"Speed ​​is everything..."

……

Zhang Fulin had no idea that these unintentional words had been remembered by Zhang Wusheng.

Moreover, I remember it very well.

Chapter 939: Miracles in the Everyday

"This is... I'm so sorry, I didn't know you were coming, so my shop didn't make any preparations."

As soon as the two entered, they saw the cane engraved with a cicada. The gun shop owner, who had been leaning back in his chair, jumped up, his expression changing. He waved his hand and said, "Hey you, don't just stand there like an idiot. Hurry up and bring out the stuff!"

"..."

Zhang Wusheng would never normally patronize a gun shop. In his physical condition, he could barely stand, let alone fire a gun. The recoil from a single shot would probably knock him over. Yet this shop owner recognized him; it seemed his limp and sickly, crippled body were so famous that the whole town knew about them.

Thinking of this, Zhang Wusheng heard whispers again. These people must be cursing him as a useless person.

Therefore, their superficial respect and flattery appear repulsive.

"Gentlemen, this way, this way please..."

The shop owner had never met Zhang Wusheng before and didn't know his purpose, but he didn't dare to be negligent in the slightest. He was so nervous that he appeared flustered. He led the two of them into the shop, to a quiet private room reserved for VIPs.

The sofa was soft and the decorations were luxurious. On the marble coffee table, two cups of hot drinks were already laid out. Zhang Fulin had never tasted hot cocoa before. After taking a bite, he found it incredibly novel.

"Um, I wonder if Mr. Hargunda... has any instructions?"

"Halgunda?" Zhang Wusheng looked completely bewildered by the question.

It's normal to have such a reaction.

In White Torch City right now, which weapon shop doesn't have some connection to the Hargunda Armed Company? The weapons sold in those shops are basically the kind of weapons that the company's big players have managed to squeeze through their fingers.

They usually work with a few large partners, such as Sanyuan Group, to make transactions first. After they have made their selections, the remaining guns and bullets are simplified and cut into civilian versions before being sold in stores.

Normally, the Zhang family's weapons are custom-made by the company and delivered directly to their home; they never need to come to the store to buy them. Therefore, the shop owner was unsure what this young master from the Zhang family was up to.

They were speaking Chinese, which he couldn't understand. Sitting opposite them, he awkwardly rubbed his hands together.

……

You like guns?!