Magic Chef of Ice and Fire

"This... place...? Master, are you sure?" Nian Bing rubbed his eyes to confirm that he wasn't misunderstanding Cha Ji's intention.

No wonder Nian Bing was so surprised. What appeared before him were two doors, to be precise, two somewhat dilapidated wooden doors. Only one doorknob remained on the door, and the paint on the door frame had already peeled off. There was a sign leaning crookedly to the side. Even from a distance, he could barely make out the five crookedly-written words—Second-Hand Ironware Shop.

Based solely on its name, he doubted anyone would ever visit. Not to mention the location of the shop was hidden away, unlikely to receive any foot traffic. Its pitiful state made Nian Bing want to turn around and leave.

Cha Ji looked at the sign with a knowing smile on his face, "Old pal, I've come to see you again. It's been a year, I hope you're not dead yet."

Nian Bing spoke in surprise: "Master, do you know the owner here?"

Cha Ji replied, "Of course I do, otherwise why would I bring you here? Nian Bing, remember, no matter what you do, never be fooled by appearances. This shop may not be eye-catching, but who else knows that the so-called Second-Hand Ironware Shop hides a Forging Master within it, the world's finest Forging Master?"

"The world's finest Forging Master? Are you kidding me, Master? Would the world's finest Forging Master settle for a place like this?"

Cha Ji showed a slight smile, "Why not? Ghost Chef could live in the deserted Peach Blossom Forest, so why can't God Zhu live in a dilapidated courtyard? Let's go in." He led Nian Bing to the door without knocking and kicked it forcefully. Despite its dilapidated appearance, the door did not get damaged by Cha Ji's kick and slowly opened to reveal a dark courtyard.

"Little Broken Knife, are you dead yet?" Cha Ji shouted out loud.

An old voice echoed from deep within the courtyard, "Who's the ill-mannered one? Ah, it's you, Old Gui, come to visit again." A staggering figure emerged from the courtyard, carrying a dim oil lamp. He exuded such an air of advanced age, Nian Bing wondered if this could really be the so-called world's greatest blacksmith. Could his master have been mistaken?

Cha Ji led Nian Bing into the courtyard under the dim light of the oil lamp. Nian Bing managed to make out an old man in a black robe. He was hunched over, his hair was snowy white, his face full of wrinkles, looking at least ten years older than Cha Ji.

"Old Gui, who's the boy you've brought along?" The old man in the black robe looked at Nian Bing, appearing dissatisfied.

"Little Broken Knife, this is my recently accepted apprentice. I think you should consider finding a child to pass your mantle onto. Are you really going to take everything to the grave with you?"

The old man in black hmphed, replying, "What do you know? Everything has to be decided by fate. Yon cannot simply take an apprentice at will. Your apprentice looks like a fine eater, just like you."

Nian Bing was dissatisfied by their words, but as the conversation was between elders, he refrained from interrupting. He took a closer look around the courtyard, which was quite small and appeared empty. Even weapon racks were nowhere in sight, but there was what appeared to be a large kiln in a corner.

Cha Ji laughed, saying, "You're just the same as ever, as eccentric as they come. Alright, cut the chatter. You know I came to see you for a reason."

The black-robed old man said, "Then come in." He led Cha Ji into a room. As soon as they entered, Nian Bing felt a chill spread across his entire body. The Ice-Snow Goddess Stone thrummed restlessly, causing his mind to spin. The two kinds of Magic Power within him were fluctuating unstably. Surprised, he thought it must be because he hadn't balanced the usage of Ice Magic and Fire Technique. Besides, the Magic Power was already chaotic due to their interaction, and he didn't know how much Ice Magic he needed to keep them balanced. Relying on his willpower, he forcibly controlled the two streams of Magic Power, trying to separate them. Just then, the Tianhua Token given by Yu Ruyan radiated a stream of warm energy which entered Nian Bing's body, making him feel much better. The intense sensation of cold and heat had diminished significantly.

The black-robed old man used the oil lamp to light the room; it immediately brightened. The room was the size of a shop, with a tall counter in the center. It seemed that there was another door behind the counter. The black-robed old man went behind the counter, rubbing his fingers together, "Give me some money. As much as you want to spend."

Cha Ji remarked irritably, "Little Broken Knife, after all these years, you're still obsessed with money."

The black-robed old man snorted, "Business is business, friendship is friendship. Now that you can't make the Treasures of Eight Delicacies, you can only exchange goods with money. Everyone is equal in a transaction."

Cha Ji leaned onto the counter, "Stop pretending. Make a good knife for my apprentice. Once he completes his apprenticeship, wouldn't you be able to enjoy the Treasures of Eight Delicacies again?"

The old man's eyes lit up momentarily, but the spark soon faded. "Easier said than done. If your apprentice could graduate in ten years, perhaps I'll be alive to taste it."

Cha Ji chuckled, "Well, you never know! You're still around after saying the same thing years ago. You could probably live for another ten or twenty years."

The old man let out a sigh, saying, "Only one knows one's own body. I've committed too many sins in this life. If your apprentice completes his training in ten years, perhaps I'll still be alive."

Cha Ji laughed, "Just let it be. Even I don't know if I can live through the next ten years. Enough chit-chat, can you make a knife for my apprentice? Just tell me how much it'll cost."

The black-robed old man glanced at Nian Bing, saying, "No."

Cha Ji frowned, asking, "Little Broken Knife, could you possibly deny me this favor?"

The old man hmphed, "It's not about not doing you a favor; it's about the principle. A knife, regardless of whether it's for chopping vegetables or killing people, must suit the user. Your chubby apprentice hasn't grown yet. His body and gripping hand could change greatly. Making a knife for him now wouldn't make any sense, because once he grows up, it'll become impractical."

Nian Bing was anxious upon hearing the old man's refusal, "Then can't you make one for me based on an adult's size? I'm sure I'll be able to use it."

The black-robed old man glanced at him, "Like master, like student. You think my knives are like those made by those mediocrities? If a knife is not suited to its carrier, what's the use? A personal knife is like underwear: only when it fits perfectly can it reach its maximum efficacy. If you buy an ill-fitted pair of underwear, you might find it comfortable after some time, but it's not because the underwear is of higher quality but because you've gotten used to it. There's a world of difference between a knife that fits because you've accommodated it and a knife that fits perfectly from the get-go. Come back when you're eighteen, and if I'm still alive then."

Cha Ji showed a thoughtful expression, "It seems I was too careless. Old buddy, we'll talk about it in the future. Can I look at your weapon collection? Have you made any outstanding pieces recently?"