NOVEL WEB Chapter 82: Return to the Cold Wind
After half a month, the [Blacksmith Association - Shuimu Kingdom Branch] has finally been established.
Within the branch, there is one president and five vice presidents, managing all blacksmithing businesses, the procurement of raw materials, the training of blacksmith apprentices, and the certification of blacksmith levels throughout the Shuimu Kingdom.
The position of president is held by the most senior and eldest of the original three master smiths of Shuimu Kingdom, Elder Jin, who is also a fellow disciple of the only divine craftsman from the Douluo Continent, Iron Pagoda.
Although Elder Jin is the president, due to his advanced age, he mainly takes charge of strategic planning and coordination, drafting development guidelines and directions for the association.
The day-to-day management within the Shuimu Kingdom Branch is overseen by the four vice presidents.
The vice presidents include Li Qiang, the Royal Blacksmith who oversees all blacksmith shops in Wood City; Fu Shan, who is responsible for the military workshops and all township blacksmith shops within the five major military departments of the kingdom; Long Ang, a Power Attack System Battle Spirit Emperor and senior blacksmith overseeing all blacksmith shops in Cold Wind City; and Qingqiu Li, an Agility Attack System Battle Spirit Emperor and senior blacksmith managing all shops in Sapphire City.
The final vice president, Ling Yi, is the youngest blacksmith ever, at just fourteen years old.
Due to his youth, Vice President Ling Yi’s role is to assist the elderly President Elder Jin with various tasks, effectively acting as a secretary and advisor.
However, while many within the Shuimu Kingdom anticipated Ling Yi remaining in Wood City to grow in strength and eventually take over Elder Jin’s role as president, helping construct the headquarters framework of the Blacksmith Association - Shuimu Kingdom Branch, Vice President Ling Yi, eschewed mundane administrative tasks, appearing disinterested in power, and set out on a journey back to Cold Wind Camp.
Unlike before, when Ling Yi left alone, following the military escorts from Cold Wind Camp to Mumu City, this time his return was slightly different. Although Ling Yi still hitched a ride with the military convoy, he now had a few young companions by his side.
Cold Wind Camp, Military Industrial Camp.
In the blacksmiths' camp area, Ling Yi brought along three youths who were about his age. Each of them chose an empty tent to settle down in.
“Alright, let's go eat. We’ll head over to the soul master's dining hall in a bit. I'll treat you to a good meal as a welcome,” Ling Yi said, watching as the last of the sturdy youths finished organizing their tent.
“Hmm~” the three nodded in slight reservation, obediently following Ling Yi through Cold Wind Camp.
It was mealtime, and the soldiers were also heading to their respective mess halls. As they saw the group of four with Ling Yi, they greeted him and couldn't help but cast their eyes towards the three youths trailing behind.
Leading the way was Ling Yi, standing a bit over 1.7 meters tall. The three youths followed half a step behind him, each keeping about a meter apart, moving forward in sync.
The closest to Ling Yi was a sturdy young man, slightly taller by two fingers' width than Ling Yi. He wore a brown robe, his arms swinging powerfully as he walked, with a steady stride. Though his face wasn't particularly handsome, his features were pleasing, and his brow exuded a sense of reliability and straightforwardness.
Behind the sturdy youth was a tall and robust young man, nearly 1.8 meters in height, donning a fur-lined coat. His bright eyes and energetic demeanor carried a sense of aggression. If not for the faint fuzz on his upper lip and his youthful face, anyone seeing him from behind would assume he was a young man.
The last was a handsome young man, about the same height as Ling Yi. He wore a similar smile to Ling Yi's, though his skin, tanned from constant exposure to sunlight, had a light wheatish hue, and his appearance lacked the fair and refined beauty of Ling Yi.
“Brother Xiong! Long time no see—”
“Ah Yi, you're back from visiting your folks? Come on! Join us for a meal...”
“No, not now. I've brought a few friends. I'll show them around first and we can have a feast together in a few days, Brother Xiong—”
“Hey—Ah Yi, let your Dog Brother treat you first; let Old Brother Xiong wait his turn—”
Smiling at the familiar faces joking and laughing on the street, Ling Yi whispered to introduce the three fresh-faced newcomers beside him, while continuing to lead the way.
When they reached a spot where the aroma of meat and grains was in the air, Ling Yi called out loudly from a distance to a 'big' figure, whose waist circumference matched his height. This figure wore a white robe and chef's hat, and he asked enthusiastically, “Old Li, what good stuff do you have today? I want to treat these young brothers to something nice—”
Hearing the voice, the young chubby man who had been merely watching a few chef-assistants bustling about, turned his head to look over.
Upon seeing Ling Yi's face clearly, a genuine smile immediately appeared on his large round face: "Hahaha— Ah Yi! You've finally come back—!
Come, come, I've got some great stuff today—"
He said, raising his plump hand, waving eagerly at Ling Yi.
Seeing this, Ling Yi said ‘let’s go’ to the three companions beside him, picking up his pace towards the young chubby man.
As they got closer, a fragrant white steam wafted from a giant clay pot in front of the young chubby man, enticing their senses.
Upon catching the aroma, Ling Yi's eyes lit up: "Is this... soup made from the bones of a hundred-year-old spirit beast?"
"That's right!" The young chubby man lifted his chin, almost blending in with his neck, and said with a cheerful smile, "Only Ah Yi would recognize it just by the scent—"
“This is something I spent quite a bit on, acquiring it from those guys in the hunting team—a stew brewed from the spine and thigh bones of a two-hundred-year-old White-haired Ironback Boar...”
“Wow—!” Ling Yi gave the chubby young man a thumbs-up, jokingly saying, “Looks like I'm going to bleed out a lot today, this isn't cheap at all—”
“Hey!” The chubby young man gestured at Ling Yi, shaking his round head, “If it were anyone else, I wouldn't necessarily sell it to them, but since it's you, Ah Yi, I'll just charge you the cost price—!”
“No way!” Ling Yi shook his head repeatedly, waving his hand, “It should be priced as it should be. I can't let you take a loss. Saying it's cost price, but Old Li, your skills are worth more than these spirit beast bones—”
Without giving the chubby young man a chance to refuse, he pulled the muscular youth beside him and said, “Alright, Old Li, I brought friends. We're going in first. Make sure Snow and the others serve all the dishes listed for today. You know my appetite; don't worry about us not finishing—”
“Alright!” The chubby young man nodded towards the three youths with Ling Yi. “Well, go ahead and sit. I'll have everything arranged for you right away... You sure can eat, and the way you talk about the dishes makes them taste even better—”
Soon enough, sitting at a square table, Ling Yi glanced around at the three sitting opposite him. He lifted a ceramic bowl and looked at the milky white broth before speaking, “Ah Yin, Ah Xin, Ah Feng, since Uncle Ang, Uncle Li, and senior brother entrusted you to me, I'll make sure to teach you well. I'll strive to impart the 'Chaotic Cloak Hammer Technique' to you in the shortest time to help you become senior blacksmiths—!”
The sturdy youth, Long In, son of Long Ang, a High-rank Offensive Assault Soul Master and senior blacksmith of 'Cold Wind City', Martial Soul 'Snow Soul Bear', thirteen years old, Level 19 Offensive Assault Soul Master of one ring.
The delicate youth, Qingqiu Xin, son of Qingqiu Li, a High-rank Agile Assault Soul Master and senior blacksmith of 'Azure Blue City', Martial Soul 'Swift Wind Seagull', eleven years old, Level 17 Agile Assault Soul Master of one ring.
Strong and sturdy youth Zhang Mufeng, the eldest disciple of Elder Jin in Wood Tree City, senior apprentice brother Ling Yi, the son of high-level blacksmith Zhang Tie, possesses the martial spirit "Mixed Iron Staff." At twelve years old, he is a Level Fifteen Soul Master specializing in strong attacks.
(End of Chapter)
