Under the sky

Chapter 55 Unbelievable
Gan Tiechi was born in Yuanzihao, which was the largest iron shop in Wuwei.

Casting is Kongtong's most outstanding skill.In addition to iron ore, Gansu also produces various minerals, which provide various raw materials for casting.Due to military needs, there were many iron shops in Gansu as early as the period of King Nu. In the first 20 years after the Kunlun Conference, it was still a good time for Kongtong. At that time, the nine major families contributed money and efforts to transport a large amount of stone materials from the east to build it. Arrived at Kongtong City.

At that time, the rule that hatred could not last more than three generations had just been established. Every family was fighting for territory in the name of revenge, and they were constantly killing each other.That was also the best time for the iron shop. As long as you can sharpen the iron, you can get three hundred silver. If you can get a good sword, three or five taels of silver can feed and clothe a family for a few months. If you have a A magical weapon... You have to hide in a hidden place to avoid being targeted for money or death.

Even if the weapons created by Yuan Zihao cannot be called "magic weapons", they can definitely be qualified as "sharp weapons".What's even more rare is that the output is large and the quality is excellent.There were not many iron shops that could produce a large number of weapons at one time. Yuan Zihao was the main source of weapons for Iron Sword and Silver Guard at that time, and the owner Yuan Bingji also became the richest man in Wuwei.

By the time Gan Tiechi was born, the supply of the nine families had long been cut off, and their respective territories had roughly taken shape. Except for some disputes over a few boundaries, the martial arts world was peaceful.Most of those iron shops that took advantage of the chaos in the world to make a living changed their profession. Those with skills continued to stay, while those without skills bought a few acres of fertile land to cultivate for a living, or turned to business, or simply started practicing with their own weapons. Wulai, this is how Wuzibao in Huashan started.

The Yuan name is still there, but it no longer has the glory of the past.Fortunately, there are not many iron shops that can cast a large number of weapons. Every once in a while, the demand for a large number of weapons such as iron swords, silver guards, bows and arrows, gun heads, chainmail, etc. is still supplied by Yuan Zihao.The Yuan family bought a large acre of fertile land, which seemed to indicate a change of business. The old shopkeeper retired, the eldest son died young, and the second son Yuan Yingcheng took charge of this time-honored brand.

Yuan Yingcheng was a down-to-earth man. The Nine Families did not use weapons and all matters of chivalry and righteousness were taken care of by the sect.The sword is empty and profitable, and it screams in the middle of the night. It is the right thing to control the many but not the fine, and the price is good and affordable.This was also Yuan Zihao's later policy. The craftsmanship does not have to be exquisite, but it should be plentiful and cheap.

The first time Gan Tiezhi met Xiang Hai was in the furnace room. He was squatting in front of the iron boiler and staring at the red hot iron juice.There were traces of snot dried by the high temperature on his lips.The two exchanged greetings.Gan Tiechi asked him: "Is your father from the furnace room?"

When I ask this question, I am somewhat trying to boost my own pride. Who doesn't know that those big guys in the furnace room are just rough guys who work hard and have no ability at all.The master in charge of forging in the foundry is the one with real skills.

"My dad works in the foundry." Xiang Hai asked back, "Why are you here? Didn't dad say that children are not allowed to enter the furnace?"

The question was too much to ask, and their father soon came after them, yelling and cursing.They had to run away separately.When I go home at night, I will inevitably get scolded.

Xiang Hai was the same age as him and had the same stubborn temperament that refused to admit defeat. They always played together and often quarreled. If they couldn't argue, they would fight.Higher to the sea, Gantiechi is stronger.The two often went home with bruises and swollen faces.The adults said that they would not be allowed to interact with each other next time, but the two of them played and fought together as usual the next day.It doesn't hinder anyone's friendship.

As the sons of a forger, they always compete to see whose father can forge better weapons.It was just bragging at first, then they started to quarrel, and finally they got into a fight. It wasn't until one time that the two of them stole the knives their father had just made and started to cut each other, until the edges of the knives curled up, and it was confirmed that the two fathers' casting skills were equal, and they stopped. ended this meaningless competition.

Of course, it was also because they were each spanked dozens of times by their father.Those are the hands used for blacksmithing, and each blow is enough to make a child scream and scream.

When he was ten years old, Gan Tiechi and Xiang Hai were playing in the courtyard of Yuanzihao.Several carriages stopped at the door, and a woman and dozens of strong men got out of the carriages.The strong man followed the woman, showing great respect.

Apart from her always expressionless face, the only thing that left an impression on the woman was her eyes.Gan Tiechi only glanced at her and quickly turned his head.

His sharp eyes seemed to pierce into people's hearts.

They came to see the boss Yuan Yingcheng.The boss was also very respectful to the woman. He bowed very politely and invited the woman to visit Yuanzihao.

Gan Tiechi later learned that the woman was the second young mistress of the Tang clan, who had brought people to study the making of sleeve arrows.

The Tang Sect has extremely high requirements for sleeve arrows, and the quality of sleeve arrows depends on two aspects, one is the mechanical design, and the other is the material used.

The demand for sleeve arrows in the Tang Sect is huge, and the price per piece is high. This is an important income for Yuan Zihao.After Mrs. Lengmian left, eight archers who were said to be from Jinyu Villa were left behind to participate in the production of sleeve arrows.They improved the shape of the traditional sleeve arrow to make it shoot farther and more powerfully. Of course, this must be consistent with the use of the machine.

Almost all masters from Yuan Dynasty participated in this delicate work, but the finished product was quite unsatisfactory.The Tang Sect wanted the sleeve arrows to be shorter, smaller and more portable than usual, and they also wanted to be able to hide more arrows, which was quite difficult.The two fathers looked tired every day, and often missed dinner in the workshop and did not come back.They were enjoying the days without me, playing around every day, running to the furnace room and the foundry.He stole his father's hammer and learned how to hit rocks.The hammer was so heavy that it had to be held with both hands to move it.

The two children had long regarded casting as their future job, and they had another dispute over this matter.

"What do you want to do about this matter?" Gan Tiechi asked Xiang Hai, of course referring to the Tang Sect Xiujian matter. "Dad said that the picture drawn by the workshop was not good. There were not enough gaps in the leaf springs and the tension was insufficient. The workshop blamed it on my father's poor craftsmanship. He was so angry that he would beat people with his hammer."

Xiang Hai said: "We have to get the materials right first. The toughness of the steel is not enough, and the strength of the leaf springs made is not enough. I think they all used the wrong force. They should find a way to get the casting materials right first."

"With that piece of iron, what other tricks can be made?" Gan Tiechi retorted: "It's so easy to get good materials. Since it's a sleeve arrow, of course we have to start with Ji Kuo's design."

"Bah, you're talking nonsense about having no hair on your eggs. Those masters in the workshop don't know how to draw? Are you going to give them pointers?"

"Do you have more fucking balls than me? Let's take off our pants and count them one by one, and whoever loses will lick their balls. Doesn't the master in my furnace room know how to make steel better than you?"

So the two children quarreled again. One said the other was unreasonable, and the other said the other was whimsical.After this quarrel, they ignored each other for more than half a year. It was not until Xiang Hai fell ill that Gan Tiechi brought a piece of steamed bun to visit him, and the two children reconciled.

Although the relationship has recovered, no one can give in when it comes to casting.The two began to delve in their own directions.

Before these two children grew up, Yuan Zihao had already designed a new type of sleeve arrow for the Tang Sect, with two shots per type and more power than usual.Tang Sect was satisfied and ordered two thousand products. Yuan Zihao could only produce two hundred products per year and delivered them over ten years.

But Gan Tiechi and Xiang Hai sneered at Yuan Zihao's sleeve arrows.Gan Tiechi drew a lot of design drawings for his father to see, but his father just shook his head.As for Xiang Hai...

When he was 19 years old, Xiang Hai found Gan Tiechi with a smile and showed him a picture.

"What is this? A steel furnace?" Gan Tiechi frowned, "There is too little coke at the bottom." It was a steel-making furnace pattern with the lower level covered with air vents. "Where do you put the coke?" Gan Tiechi asked.

"Put the pig iron in, put the coke on the bottom, and then blow it."

"The firepower is not enough." Gan Tiechi said, "The molten iron has condensed into a ball in the pot."

"If too much coal is put in, the resulting steel will be too brittle and cannot be used as a good weapon." Xiang Hai said, "Let's try it."

"Try your mother, where did you get the money?" Gan Tiechi cursed.Xianghai's boiler requires a lot of silver to realize, but this is not something that two young people can afford to try.But Yuan Zihao has no intention of continuing to improve in forging.This old brand produces a large number of cheap and high-quality weapons.

"Yuan Zihao is useless." Xiang Hai said: "Let's open an iron shop together. You will cast it, and I will make the steel!"

"I'm a fucking fool to join you." Gan Tiechi scolded: "Is Yuan Zihao's salary less?"

Despite the scolding, the two of them smiled at each other.

So Gan opened his arms to Tiepu.The two teenagers left Yuanzihao and started running their own iron shop with the money given by their father.

Gan Tiechi was talented and made high-quality products. Although it took a long time, the weapons forged by the two teenagers were indeed extraordinary. Gan Xiangtiepu's weapons gradually gained a reputation.They saved their money and built their own steel-making furnace.Sure enough, the first test failed. The molten iron condensed into lumps in the pot, and the steel furnace that was finally built was scrapped in one go.

Xiang Hai was not discouraged and drew a second design drawing.This time it still ended in failure.Xianghai increased the amount of coal. Although the temperature was maintained, it was difficult to control the fire, and the quality of the refining was not as good as before.

It's not just Xiang Hai who encounters difficulties, Gan Tiechi also has difficulties.The design drawings he drew were too detailed, and ordinary steel could not achieve that level of strength.

They knew they had to work together to create that sleeve arrow.

The construction of the steel furnace was not easy, and by the fifth test of the steel furnace, they were at the end of their rope.The two of them had already married wives, and almost all their family wealth was spent building this steel furnace.The last time they were making steel, even the old master of the Yuan Dynasty came to see them.

"This steel furnace is not good." The old master frowned, "There is less charcoal and more iron, and the firepower is insufficient."

Xianghai ignored the old master's warning, poured the molten iron into the pot, and began to blow the air vigorously, maximizing the firepower.

A miracle happened. The molten iron was churning in the boiler, and a faint smoke was emitted. There were brown, green, and even lighter red in the mist.

After the poured molten steel solidified, the old masters sighed in admiration.

That's a fine piece of steel.

Almost unable to wait for the fine steel to cool down, Gan Tiechi rolled up his sleeves and forged the materials needed for the sleeve arrows.

The next year, when the Tang Sect came to Yuanzihao to pick up the goods, Gan Tiechi secretly stuffed a sleeve of arrows into the Tang Sect's envoys and asked them to take them back to show the boss.

A month later, more than ten carriages stopped in front of Ganxiang Iron Shop.Gan Tiechi had seen the woman who got off the carriage, but he didn't expect that the second young mistress was now the head of the Tang family, and he didn't expect that she would come to this small iron shop in Wuwei in person for the sleeve arrow.

Mrs. Lengmian only asked: "How many products can you give me a year?"

The sleeve arrows designed by Gan Tiechi and Xiang Hai could be loaded with three arrows at a time and were more powerful than the sleeve arrows designed by Yuan Zihao. He knew that the Tang Sect would be interested.

"This forging is not easy, and it cannot be polished by ordinary masters." Gan Tiechi said, "There are only ten grades at most in a year, and one grade is 20 taels."

"Too expensive, too little." Mrs. Lengmian shook her head, "This thing is useless. A Yuan-style sleeve arrow only costs two taels of silver, which can be given to two hundred items a year, which is enough for the Tang Sect's guards to replace the old ones with new ones. You At the tenth level of the year, the output is insufficient, the price is ten times higher, and it is too big to be practical."

Gan Tiechi and Xiang Hai were both shocked. In order to cast this sleeve arrow, they spent all their wealth. Although Yuan Zihao bought a lot of newly made steel ingots from them as materials, the price of the change was really not proportional to the effort spent. .

"Either it's cheaper and more, or it's better and more expensive." The cold-faced lady said, "Only the best deserves to be respected. If you're not good or bad, you're just half-assed."

"We have no money." Gan Tiechi gritted his teeth and said, "If this continues, you will only be able to use Yuanzi's sleeve arrows."

Mrs. Lengmian handed over a banknote of 300 taels, which was a huge amount of money.

"I only want level [-], or level [-]. It's better, or cheaper." The cold-faced lady said, "Two years, is it enough?"

They have no choice.

This is the third time Gan Tiechi has had a quarrel with Xiang Hai.Gan Tiechi wanted to make better Xiujian, but Xianghai didn't want to.

"Bringing this steel-making method to Yuanzihao will give us a worry-free life for the rest of our lives." Xiang Hai said, "The cost of this sleeve arrow can be reduced to more than ten taels at most. No matter what we do, we will lose money. We don't have the capital to get new steel." furnace."

Of course Xiang Hai has his reasons for thinking.His wife is pregnant and short of money.He invented the new steelmaking technology, and when it reaches Yuan Zihao, Boss Yuan will definitely be willing to pay for him to test it again.

But what about yourself?The Xiujian designed by Gan Tiecheng would not have been completed without Xianghai's steel.However, the cost of making new Xiujian arrows is too high. Yuan Zihao has long been unwilling to pursue casting technology. He only wants to make cheap and good weapons. How can he use his skills?Perhaps for Xiang Hai's sake, Yuan Zihao would treat him well, and perhaps he would have no worries about food and clothing, but this skill was ultimately given to Yuan Zihao.Xiang Hai left behind technology, what did he leave behind?
In past quarrels, there may have been the possibility of seeking common ground while reserving differences or reaching the same destination through different paths, but this time...

※ ※ ※

Mrs. Lengmian looked at the finished product in front of her, and even she, who had always been indifferent to emotions and anger, couldn't help but feel moved.

"The five-barrel arrows of the first grade are only slightly larger than before. They can still be hidden in the sleeves and can penetrate an inch-thick wooden board. I named it 'Lai Wuying'." Gan Tiechi said, "Each grade I make them all myself, with five products in one year and ten products in two years. 300 taels, does Mrs. Lengmian think it's okay?"

"Only ten levels, no more?" asked Madam Lengmian.

"I am the only one left in Gan Xiangtiepu." Gan Tiechi said sadly.

"Where are your friends?"

"Last year he was climbing a mountain, and he lost his footing and fell off a cliff." Gan Tiechi said sadly, "leaving only a posthumous son."

The cold-faced lady nodded, without asking any questions, and just took out a stack of banknotes from her arms.

Lai Wuying must use the steel furnace left by Xiang Hai to refine the steel, which was made by Gan Tiechi himself.Later, Gan Tiechi improved Lai Wuying's design several times, and finally changed it to four-barreled arrows, which were more powerful. Shooting at close range, even without poison on the arrows, was enough to kill them. The price of each item was 50 taels, which became the only one. There are hidden weapons that only important figures in the Tang Sect can equip.

Gan Tiechi has been taking care of Xiang Hai's wife and children.Xiang Hai's posthumous son is named Xiang Yingcai.A year later, Gan Tiichi moved to Wudu, Longnan.Another year, he gave birth to a daughter named Gan Qiqi.

Although the place of business has changed and Xiang Hai is no longer here, the name of Gan Xiang Iron Shop has never been changed.Gan Tiechi studied casting all his life, using Xianghai's steel furnace to cast many alloys and create a handful of sharp weapons.He was good at designing mechanisms and all kinds of strange weapons, so he earned the title of "Excellent Craftsman". Even the Kongtong Sect came here to ask him to design cheap and easy-to-use sleeve arrow weapons.

Before Xiang Hai's wife died, Gan Tiechi promised her that when Gan Qiqi comes of age, she will marry Xiang Yingcai and inherit Gan Xiang Tiefang to commemorate the friendship between the two families.

A few years later, he accepted an apprentice named Ma, and Gan Tiechi gave him the name Ma Chenggang.

In a few years...

※ ※ ※

Ma Chenggang had just locked the door bolt and heard a knock on the door.

"It's closed, please be early tomorrow!" Ma Chenggang said loudly.

The person who knocked on the door didn't hesitate. After hearing Ma Chenggang's answer, there was no sound or even a question.Most people would probably ask a few more questions or ask for more favors, which made Ma Chenggang curious.

"Are the people outside still there?"

"Yes." The voice outside replied.

"Why is there no answer?"

"Sir, didn't you say please come early tomorrow?" the voice outside the door replied, "I'll come back tomorrow."

"What an honest man." Ma Chenggang thought to himself.

"Who is outside?" Xiang Yingcai walked over and asked.

"Guest, tell him to come early tomorrow."

"The door has just been closed, why didn't you let him in?" Xiang Yingcai asked, "Look at the weapons. It won't take long."

"Gan Xiang Iron Shop doesn't lack customers." Ma Chenggang said impatiently, "It closes and opens again, as if we will starve to death if we don't do this business. Why do you feel bad about not being able to make money?"

Xiang Yingcai was silent for a moment and said, "I'm just asking."

"Why are you arguing again?" Gan Qiqi, who wore two big braids, asked with her big bright eyes, "There was a noise outside the door just now?"

As soon as he saw Gan Qiqi, Ma Chenggang immediately beamed: "Junior sister! There was a guest knocking on the door, but I sent him away and asked him to come back tomorrow."

"Oh?" Gan Qiqi shook her braid and said, "The food is ready, and today we have your favorite lion head."

After hearing this, Xiang Yingcai frowned and turned to leave: "I'll go ask Master for dinner."

Gan Qiqi said hurriedly: "There are also braised beef tendons."

Xiang Yingcai stopped for a while, then walked straight away.

"You can't even say thank you, who do you think you are?" Ma Chenggang said to Gan Qiqi with a sullen face, "Why are you so nice to him?"

Gan Qiqi lowered her head and said, "He is my future husband after all."

"What kind of future husband!" Ma Chenggang said angrily, "Master has raised him for 20 years, I don't owe him anymore! Just that broken furnace, if it weren't for Master's skill, what kind of steelmaking would it really be able to produce? Bah, it was made decades ago. It’s an antique!”

Gan Qiqi took Ma Chenggang's hand and whispered: "Brother, I know you are good to me. Don't be angry, dad will be unhappy when he hears it. Senior Brother Gan just talks less and is a good person."

Ma Chenggang sighed and turned his head.

Gan Qiqi said sullenly: "Are you getting angry with him, or are you showing off to me?"

Knowing that Junior Sister was angry, Ma Chenggang quickly flattered her with a smug look on her face: "How dare I lose my temper with Junior Sister? Junior Sister..." As he said this, he took Gan Qiqi's hands.Gan Qiqi's cheeks turned red and she gently broke away. She felt Ma Chenggang's grip tightened, so she had to turn her head and said coquettishly: "What are you doing? Let go, don't let Senior Brother Xiang see it." Although she said this, she did not break away. meaning.

"Do you like me or not?" Ma Chenggang asked.

Gan Qiqi's face turned redder, she lowered her head and said, "I like it, why don't I like it."

"Then tell the master. If the master loves you, he will definitely help you break off the engagement. If that boy has mastered the master's craftsmanship, he can at most share some of his family property with him and become a branch of Ganxiang Iron Shop. If he can't starve to death, he will find a short-lived wife as his wife. It’s up to him.”

Gan Qiqi broke away from Ma Chenggang's hand and said softly: "This won't work. If dad doesn't beat me to death, he will beat you to death."

Ma Chenggang said: "Master loves us, he won't."

Gan Qiqi shook her head and heard the sound of footsteps. It was her father and Xiang Yingcai walking together.She called her father, stepped forward to greet him, took her father's arm and left.

Gan Tiechi nodded and walked directly to the kitchen.

He was obsessed with the foundry industry and rarely took care of household chores.Three years ago, when my wife was still alive, there were still some noises at the dining table. Now, when four people are eating, it is as quiet as a bedroom in the middle of the night.Xiang Yingcai and Ma Chenggang each gave Gan Qiqi a piece of chicken. Gan Tiechi frowned, seeming to be fed up with the way their senior brothers and sisters got along.After finishing the meal, Gan Tiechi said: "I'm in the foundry, don't bother me if you have nothing to do."

The three senior brothers and sisters agreed, and each of them packed up their dishes and went to rest.

At night, Gan Qiqi was about to fall asleep when she suddenly heard a knock on the door. When she opened the door, it was Xiang Yingcai.Gan Qiqi frowned and asked in a low voice: "It's so late, why are you here? Why don't you scold me when dad sees you?"

Xiang Yingcai smiled and took out a mutton-fat white jade bracelet from behind his back.

Gan Qiqi exclaimed, hugged Xiang Yingcai and kissed him on the face.

Xiang Yingcai held her waist and refused to let go.

"Isn't this jade bracelet cheap?" Gan Qiqi leaned into Xiang Yingcai's arms and asked in a low voice.

"Everything I give you is worth it." Xiang Yingcai has always been taciturn, and he only talks more when he is facing Gan Qiqi. "That bastard keeps pestering you, why don't you tell him clearly?"

"Senior Brother Ma is a very nice person. He really likes me." Gan Qiqi said, "Besides, my father has been too lazy to make weapons in the past few years. The iron shop depends on him to maintain..."

It turned out that Gan Tiechi had long lost interest in casting ordinary weapons.In the past few years, all the weapons sold by Gan Xiang Iron Shop were made by Ma Chenggang.It's just that the name of Gan Tiechi is still attached, and the craftsman's castings cost at least seven or eight taels of silver.If Ma Chenggang's name was changed, I'm afraid it wouldn't even be worth a tael of silver.

"Shit!" Xiang Yingcai scolded: "If dad's steel furnace hadn't produced good iron, he really thought it was because of his ability? Look at his arrogance. I'm tolerating him, not afraid of him."

Then he said sullenly: "You always speak for him, do you also like him?"

Gan Qiqi's face changed, she lowered her head and said sadly: "I will be yours sooner or later. If you are so suspicious of me now, how can you treat me well when we get married? That's all, take this jade bracelet back. Anyway, we have a marriage contract. , don’t waste any time trying to please me.”

Xiang Yingcai said hurriedly: "That's not what I meant, it's just that Junior Brother Ma... he doesn't give up."

Gan Qiqi cried: "We grew up together since childhood and have a good relationship. You always want me to ignore him. You are cruel, but you come to force me to be a cruel person."

Xiang Yingcai comforted him softly: "I'm not forcing you. It's up to you, I can trust you."

Gan Qiqi buried her head in Xiang Yingcai's arms, and then she burst into laughter.

If asked who of the two men she likes more, Gan Qiqi may not know it herself.According to her father's orders, she should marry Xiang Yingcai, but she also liked to see the two men competing for her and being jealous.

In this Ganxiang Iron Shop, she was the most favored and the one who deserved to be favored the most.

※ ※ ※

Early the next morning, Gan Qiqi raised the door bolt. As soon as she opened the door, she saw a young man standing outside the door.The young man has a handsome face, braided hair, fair and rosy complexion, and is wearing a coarse Tsing Yi.The blue was the color of the sky, washed white but clean. The clothes, which were originally made of rough material, looked radiant somehow when he wore them.

How come there are such good-looking people?Gan Qiqi couldn't help but be stunned.

"Girl, I want to make weapons."

The young man told her why he was here, but when Gan Qiqi ignored her, he added, "Girl, I want to make weapons."

Only then did Gan Qiqi react, her pretty face flushed, and she hurriedly said: "Please come in!"

Ma Chenggang asked, "Who is it?" He walked up to him and was surprised to see a young man. He said hello, "My guest is here early."

Gan Qiqi said hurriedly: "Yes, what a coincidence, you came as soon as we opened."

The young man said calmly: "I stayed at the door last night."

Ma Chenggang asked in surprise: "Did you sleep at the door last night?" After thinking about it again, he asked, "Are you the guest last night?"

The young man nodded, and after a while he said, "I haven't left yet, just sitting at the door."

Then didn't he hear all the flirting conversations between him and Gan Qiqi?Ma Chenggang thought to himself, feeling quite uneasy.

Gan Qiqi asked again: "What weapon do you want to buy? A knife, a sword, an Emei thorn? Or..."

The young man said: "I would like to ask Mr. Gan to build a weapon for me."

"Want a custom-made weapon? Master made it himself? That will get you a lot of silver, do you have it?" Ma Chenggang felt that this young man was strange, and because he was dressed simply and did not look like a rich man, he became even more suspicious.

Gan Qiqi said angrily: "Senior brother, what are you saying? Are you afraid of offending the guests?" Then she turned to the young man and said, "My senior brother is outspoken, please don't mind me. Ah, haven't you asked me your name yet?"

"It's unclear whether it's bright or not." The young man said, "The sun and the moon are bright, but it's unclear whether it's clear or not." He took out a stack of banknotes from his arms.

"The price here is about 100 taels, please order some." Ming said in a very polite tone.

Gan Qiqi was surprised that this young man had such a huge sum of money, but did not accept the banknote. She only asked: "What kind of weapon do you want to forge? A knife, a sword? Or a gun head, a chain dart? My father has gotten older in recent years, so what?" Receive all weapons."

Ming shook his head and said, "None of them." He handed over a drawing.Gan Qiqi took it, and Ma Chenggang also came over to take a look.

"What the hell is this?" Ma Chenggang scolded, "The knife doesn't look like a knife, and the sword doesn't look like a sword. It's just a big spoon. It's hollow in the middle, and you have to attack from both sides? This is too difficult!"

Xiang Yingcai rushed over after hearing the sound and said, "Bring it to me and take a look."

Ma Chenggang cursed: "What a fart! You can't do it!"

Xiang Yingcai knew that he was deliberately provoking, so he didn't reply. He took the drawing from Gan Qiqi and looked at it. He couldn't help but frown and said, "I'll ask the master." He walked away quickly.

Ma Chenggang shook his head and said, "It's so hard to earn these 100 taels."

Gan Qiqi complained: "Don't always provoke Senior Brother Xiang."

Ma Chenggang curled his lips and expressed disapproval.

Gan Qiqi said to Ming Qiqi: "My guest, please come in and sit down for a meeting. Dad will reply later."

Ming nodded and walked into the iron shop hall.Gan Qiqi was about to follow.Ma Chenggang suddenly saw a mutton-fat white jade bracelet on Gan Qiqi's wrist.He couldn't help but stepped forward and asked, "Junior sister? Where did your bracelet come from?"

"Do I have to tell you everything?" Gan Qiqi asked sullenly.

"Did Xiang Yingcai give it to you?" Ma Chenggang felt disgusted: "Take it off and I'll buy you something better."

"It's nice to see you as a gift to me." Gan Qiqi turned around and left with a displeased look on her face.Ma Chenggang stepped forward to stop him, but Gan Qiqi just ignored him.He hurried into the hall to greet the guests.

It's all that brat's fault, Ma Chenggang was secretly angry.I hope Master will not take this business.Get that kid away as soon as possible.

Although Ganxiang Iron Shop is an iron shop, it is not like an ordinary iron shop. It is a large courtyard with three entrances, which is spacious and neat.There are weapons displayed in the front hall, the number is similar to that of a general iron shop, but each weapon is placed on a shelf, as neat and solemn as an exhibition. Common weapons such as swords, guns and swords are mainly used. The knives are divided into ghost-headed knives, thick-backed knives, and chopping There are various types of sabers and swords, such as long swords, short swords, mandarin duck swords, etc.

Ming Wuxi looked at these weapons in detail and asked, "Are these weapons made by Master Gan himself?"

Ma Chenggang said loudly: "Yes! If it wasn't made by the master, how could there be such a good weapon?"

He said this without any shame. Every customer who came to see the weapons was very satisfied with Ma Chenggang's craftsmanship, and no one ever had any doubts.

However, Mingmei just nodded and stood at the table in the front hall, waiting quietly, never looking at the weapons again.

Did this young man see something?Ma Chenggang felt a little uneasy.

Gan Qiqi poured tea to treat him, and then peeked out to see the unknown figure, thinking: "It really looks like a carved jade statue." It was as if the jade bracelet he had given to Yingcai last night was not as gentle as the young man in front of him, and he couldn't look away for a while.

After a while, Xiang Yingcai walked quickly and said, "Master invites you."

Ming unknown nodded and said, "Thank you." After saying that, he smiled slightly at the three of them.

Gan Qiqi was fascinated by it.

※ ※ ※

The casting room is on the innermost floor of the three-entry courtyard. It occupies a larger area than the front hall. It has all the equipment including the casting steel furnace and a large pool. It is kept clean and tidy, and there is nothing else except tools. .

Gan Tiechi was also stunned when he saw this young man. He didn't expect that he would be such a young boy, only... seventeen or eighteen years old?Twenty at most.

"Who designed this weapon of yours?" he asked. "The blade is one foot and three feet long. It is open on both sides, with a hollow in the middle, and a curved blade surface."

Gan Tiechi thought for a while and said: "This weapon can be used as a dagger to stab, or it can be used as a dagger to chop. If it penetrates the body, it will be dug out as a piece of flesh. It is extremely vicious."

"I don't intend to use it to kill people." Ming Ming said calmly, "It's just for self-defense."

Gan Tiechi asked: "Did you design this?"

Ming unknown nodded.

Gan Tiechi shook his head and said: "It's unrealistic. The blade is too thin. Once it collides with the enemy's weapon, it will curl up and deform. It is also difficult to forge. It is not easy to have a curvature. If there are two blades, one on the left and the other on the right. stand up……"

"One blade." Ming said vaguely, "There is a gap between the two blades and they are easily damaged."

Gan Tiechi nodded and said, "Indeed."

"I have been to Yuan Zihao." Ming said vaguely. "I thought they had the qualifications and could respond to my request, but they said they didn't have such materials and asked me to come to you."

"I can't help it." Gan Tiechi said, "Even the steel I made can't meet this requirement." He handed the design drawing back to Ming Wuxiang, but Ming Wuxiang didn't take it. "If you have this, is it okay?" Ming Wuxiang took out a small piece of red metal about the thickness of his index finger from his arms. When he looked closely, he saw a faint layer of black light.

"Black gold black iron? Where did you get it?" Gan Tiechi asked in shock.

"I bought it." Ming said vaguely, "It took a lot of effort to buy it."

Gan Tiechi's eyes shone with light.

Black gold black iron is produced in Kongtong. It is said to be dead iron that fell from the sky. It is difficult to mine and even more difficult to refine. Just add a little to a weapon to make a magical blade that blows away hair and breaks hair.

However, black gold black iron is extremely difficult to use. It is mixed with fine steel and then calcined. If the proportion is slightly wrong, the material will be damaged and cannot be restored. Even if the proportion is correct, forging is extremely difficult.

"It is said that there is a kind of steel outside the pass, called Wujin steel. It is used to make weapons and blow hair to break hair. It has been lost." Ming said unknownly, "This kind of weapon has never existed before. Only you can forge it. If you become it, This will be a unique weapon in the world, unprecedented and unprecedented."

Gan Tiechi thought.Since Gan Xiang Tiepu became famous, the weapons he forged have become the favorites of various families, and a sword can easily cost a hundred taels.But those are ordinary weapons, precious swords and famous swords. Who hasn’t seen one or two of them?

Are the weapons he forged enough to leave a mark in history?Gan Tiechi remembered that almost 20 years ago, the third son of the head of Qingcheng sent three pieces of black gold black iron and asked him to forge three swords.It was indeed his proud work, but was it worthy of being remembered in history?No, there's too much of that.Unless a sword like that meets an owner who can make it famous, it will just be a beautiful ornament. It may be treasured in a pavilion in Qingcheng until the years rust it into a mottled appearance.

Where is Lai Wuying?

No matter how exquisite the mass-produced concealed weapons are, they will always be waiting to be improved, just like Lai Wuying who improved them in the past.When better metallurgical technology and more detailed design drawings appear, Lai Wuying will be like those forgotten works before. If you are lucky, you will find a chat in a book recording the history of the evolution of hidden weapons. A memorable image.

If you follow in the footsteps of those who came before you, your footprints will be covered up by those who come after you.

This young man is right. Only this weapon forged is his work, unique in the world.

Gan Tiechi remembered what Mrs. Lengmian said to him: "Only the best is worthy of respect. If you are neither good nor bad, you are half-assed."

"Okay, I'll try." Gan Tiechi nodded with a firm tone.

Ming looked at him unknownly and smiled slightly, as if he was grateful and polite.

※ ※ ※

Gan Tiechi closed Gan Xiang Iron Shop and sealed the foundry. No one could enter except Ming and unknown people.He asked Gan Qiqi to put the daily food in the opening under the door of the casting room, and the rest was to wait.

Apart from that, he didn't explain anything else. He only discussed how to forge this weapon with Ming Weixiang every day.Mingwuxi is well-informed and well-read. He knows a lot of ancient methods and foreign forging knowledge. Gan Tiecheng is deeply surprised. Mingwuji only said: "It's nothing. It's all what I read in books. I haven't tried it and I don't know the effect."

The steel-making furnace left by Xiang Hai has been improved several times, and the finished product is even better than before. However, this time the black gold black iron is added to the forging, and the temperature required is higher.Ming Ming made several more suggestions, but Gan Tiechi tried several times but failed, so he had to redesign again, feeling very distressed.

During this time, Ming and unknown people have been living in the iron shop.

Gan Qiqi often came to see him, constantly asking about his origins. She would not refuse him even if she didn't know, saying that she was originally a Shaolin disciple.

"Shaolin disciple?" Gan Qiqi asked in surprise, "Do you want to be shaved?"

"Not necessarily." Ming said vaguely, "If I have a chance to become a Buddha, I will be a monk. Maybe I won't."

"What is Buddha fate?" Gan Qiqi asked, "What are the signs of Buddha fate?"

Ming Wuxiang thought for a while: "There is no sign. If you know the time has come, the time will come."

Gan Qiqi was puzzled, but when she heard that he didn't want to be sworn off, she immediately felt relieved.But why feel at ease?Gan Qiqi's face turned red and she asked again: "Have you... promised me a kiss?"

"I grew up in Shaolin. I didn't see many women. I was an orphan and I didn't have any engagement."

Gan Qiqi said: "It turns out that you didn't have parents to take care of you. Poor child, didn't you have a hard time when you were a child?"

"When you are at ease, you will have no worries. If you let go of greed, anger, and ignorance, you will be free from suffering and gain happiness."

"Your realm is too high." Gan Qiqi chuckled, "I think you are really destined to be a Buddhist. Sooner or later you will become a monk."

"It is also common for lay monks in Shaolin Temple to marry and have children." Ming said unclearly, "Although my master is a regular monk, I have not ordained. Even if I become a monk, I don't know whether I will be a regular monk or a lay monk in the future."

Gan Qiqi's face turned even redder. She wanted to ask more questions, but found that Ming Wuxiang was looking at her wrist, and she couldn't help but wonder.

"What's wrong with my hand?" Gan Qiqi raised her hand and asked, "Why do you keep looking at it?"

"That bracelet..." Ming Wuxi thought about it for a while and said, "It's not appropriate." After finishing speaking, he seemed to realize that he had made a mistake, and said hurriedly, "Girl, don't worry about it."

Gan Qiqi frowned.

This mutton-fat white jade bracelet was indeed of the highest quality, but it was too white. Jing Ming was not clear about it, and she also found that her skin color was already fair, and wearing this bracelet did not highlight her advantages...

On this day, Ming Ming walked out of the casting room and heard the argument between Xiang Yingcai and Gan Qiqi.He stopped at the corner and heard Xiang Yingcai ask, "Why have you been so cold to me this month?"

Gan Qiqi said: "I'm just busy..."

"What are you busy with?" Xiang Yingcai asked, "The iron shops are closed, what else can you be busy with?"

Gan Qiqi sighed: "Just because Tiepu is fine, Senior Brother Ma is fine too...I...if I get close to you, I'm afraid he will be jealous and you will quarrel again."

Xiang Yingcai said: "You are my unmarried daughter-in-law, why should he argue with me? Otherwise, we can ask the master and explain the matter clearly so that he will not bother you again." , he grabbed Gan Qiqi's hand and walked to the foundry.

Gan Qiqi said hurriedly: "No, dad is busy! If you disturb him, he will be angry!"

Xiang Yingcai suddenly asked in shock: "Where is the bracelet I gave you? How did you take it off?"

Gan Qiqi said: "I felt it was not good, so I took it off."

"Why is it bad again? You were fine without wearing it before?" Xiang Yingcai raised his voice, obviously angry. "Did Ma Chenggang ask you to take it off?"

"I thought it was good before, but now I feel bad." Seeing his entanglement, Gan Qiqi said angrily, "You always like to force me, you like to make me a bad guy, and want me to quarrel with my senior brother. He is my senior brother, and the three of us We grew up together, and you don't allow me to care about our friendship regardless of our friendship? You insist on forcing me to break up... You force me, you force me, force me to death!"

When Xiang Yingcai saw her angry, he comforted her softly, blaming himself, and then asked: "How often do you go to see that boy named Ming recently?"

After being comforted by him, Gan Qiqi had already lost much of her anger. When he heard him mentioning the unknown, she became angry again and said: "He is a foreigner. I find it strange and want to ask some questions about the world. Why is it still bothering you?" "

Xiang Yingcai endured his anger and apologized quickly.Gan Qiqi shook off his hand and ran away.Xiang Yingcai was about to chase her, but he was afraid of making her angry, so he had to stop and turned around, seeing that he was walking over.

"You...you heard everything?" Xiang Yingcai was very embarrassed.

Ming unknown saluted and said: "I didn't mean to listen to what you said, I'm sorry."

Xiang Yingcai shook his head and said, "It's okay." Then he asked worriedly, "When the weapons are made, will you leave?"

Ming Wu nodded and said: "Of course. Why would Senior Brother Xiang ask this question?"

Xiang Yingcai hurriedly waved his hand and said, "No, I'm just asking."

Ming said vaguely: "Master Gan is a smart man. He betrothed Miss Gan to Senior Brother Xiang because he must have thought that Senior Brother Xiang is suitable. Otherwise, why not betrothed to Senior Brother Ma?"

Xiang Yingcai said: "That's what he promised to my mother. Also, he is a good brother to my father."

Ming seemed stunned for a moment and said, "Yes, Senior Brother Xiang is the son of Master Xiang Hai. It seems that the rumors spread over Yuan Zihao are just slandering Master Gan."

When Xiang Yingcai heard him mention his father's name, he couldn't help but wonder: "How do you know my father's name? Yuan Zihao? Isn't that Master's old employer?"

When Xianghai died in Ganxiang Tiepu, his reputation was not very prominent and few people asked him about it.It is unknown whether such a young man, who was not even born when his father died, actually knew his father's name?

Ming asked for unknown reasons: "Senior Brother Xiang, have you never returned to Wuwei?"

Xiang Yingcai shook his head: "I have never gone back, and my mother will not take me back."

Ming Wuxi hesitated for a long time, and Xiang Yingcai became even more suspicious when he saw his hesitation. Ming Wuxi could only say: "When I came here, I went to Yuanzihao in Wuwei first. The people there were very jealous of Master Gan's achievements, and they all mentioned that if it weren't for Master Xiang's For the steel-making furnace, Master Gan has no such achievements."

"Master always talks about my father's merits." Xiang Yingcai said, "He never forgets it." He said it, thinking to himself, whether it was clear or not, these words seemed to be the fulfillment of his previous words, Yuan Zihao slandered Master, He gave the credit to his father's steel-making furnace.But why was he so hesitant, and why did he ask if he had returned to Wuwei?
It was unclear but he said: "Senior Brother Ma, if Senior Brother Xiang really can't explain it to him, maybe I can help persuade him."

Xiang Yingcai was overjoyed and asked, "Do you want to help?" He then asked doubtfully, "But you are an outsider..."

Ming said vaguely: "It's just because I'm an outsider that I can speak easily. How about that there is always a person between you and Miss Gan, and Master Gan has lived up to his hard work?" He added, "I will do my best to tell Miss Gan I like you and you are engaged. I advise him not to be persistent."

Xiang Yingcai said: "He has a bad temper. If he takes action..."

"I will have a good talk with him. If he wants to take action," Ming said calmly, "I think...he can't hurt me."

This proposal aroused Xiang Yingcai's suspicion. Why was he, an outsider, willing to help him?What's more, emotional matters are not easy for outsiders to intervene.It's just that he is really tired of Ma Chenggang's entanglement with Gan Qiqi. It would be best if he could end this matter with unknown hands.

That night, Xiang Yingcai tossed and turned, feeling that what he said was reserved and untrue.I also thought that my mother never mentioned anything about my grandparents and grandparents since I was a child, and I couldn't help but wonder.During festivals, there are no memorial tablets for grandparents and grandparents when worshiping ancestors. I grew up in Wudu. How come my mother never took me back to her hometown to meet her elders until she died?It’s been 20 years…

The more he thought about it, the more suspicious he became. He wanted to ask the master, but the master was in retreat and was not seeing anyone else. If he wanted to ask questions, it would be futile.

Why not take advantage of Master's retreat and go to Wuwei tomorrow... Xiang Yingcai thought to himself.

A few days later, Ming unknown went to see Gan Tiechi again, only to see Gan Tiechi sitting there with his head in his arms, thinking hard about setting up a steel furnace.

"My lady and the two senior brothers seem to have some disputes. Master Gan, why don't you wait for two days and go out for a look?" Ming asked Gan Tiechi unknown.

"No need, what trivial matters can those three people have? They are just jealous." Gan Tiechi said, "Look, does this plan work?"

Ming Wuxi looked at the picture and said calmly: "Try it."

After the steel furnace was set up, Gan Tiechi tested a pot of steel and finally achieved satisfactory results.After that, nothing unknown happened.

"If you want to see me forging, you can come at any time." Gan Tiechi said, "Besides, don't let others disturb me."

"Why don't you say hello to Qiqi and the two senior brothers first?" Ming asked unknownly, "You haven't seen them in two months."

"Watching them quarrel is distracting." Gan Tiechi stroked the black gold black iron that Ming Wuxiang gave him, his eyes were blurred.

"Ever since I built the last product of Lai Wuying, I have lost all hope." He said, "The design of Lai Wuying has reached its end. If it is better, it cannot be mass-produced. Knives, swords, guns, swing darts, these common I'm tired of weapons. Even the best weapons are modified based on the works of predecessors. I want to make something that no one else has done, but weapons must be used by someone. No matter how strange the weapon is designed, if there is no People can use it, but it is just a piece of scrap metal."

As he spoke, he took out an iron box about a foot long, lifted it up, and nailed six funeral nails on the wall six times in a row.

He threw it down casually and said: "For the past ten years, I have been trapped in the foundry, thinking about how to make new weapons, until you came and brought this picture." He picked up the design drawn by Ming Wuxiang Tu, said softly, "If it works this time, this will be a new weapon that has never been seen before or since. My life will not be in vain."

Ming Wuxiang heard what he said clearly, nodded, opened the door and left without saying anything else.

Three days later, flames ignited in the foundry. Gan Tiechi, shirtless, ground the black gold black iron into fine chips and mixed them into the molten iron...

Ming Wuxi went to see Gan Qiqi. Gan Qiqi was surprised. This was the first time Ming Wuxi took the initiative to find her.

"Master Gan has started the furnace. When the weapons are finished, I have to leave." Ming said vaguely: "Miss Gan treated me very well, I think I should say hello."

"Are you leaving?" Gan Qiqi couldn't hide the disappointment on her face.Then asked: "Will you come back in the future?"

Ming shook his head uncertainly, and Gan Qiqi asked him where he was going.

"Hanzhong, Chengdu" Ming said vaguely: "I want to go to Qingcheng and Tangmen. Then go to Yunnan, I heard that the scenery there is good. It's a pity..."

"What's a pity?" Gan Qiqi asked.

"Miss Gan is about to get married. Otherwise, it would be a good idea to leave Gansu for a walk." Ming answered unceremoniously.

"Are you going to take me there?" Gan Qiqi asked, her pretty fair face as red as freshly melted steel.

"Don't you like Senior Brother Xiang?" Ming asked unknownly.

"That was dad's idea. I don't like it. I don't like senior brother Ma either." Gan Qiqi said hurriedly: "Dad hasn't done any casting in these years. In order to maintain the iron shop's work, I am friendly with them. One of them makes steel, the other Blacksmithing. Both are only half-skilled. You will not have a good life with either one."

She mustered up the courage to grab Ming's hand, which felt even softer and softer than her own. "How about I come with you?" Gan Qiqi said, "When dad makes the weapons for you, I'll tell him to let me follow you."

Ming Ming gently pulled his hand back and said, "Life with me will not be easy." He smiled and shook his head.Smiling like the spring breeze in March and the first snow melting.

Gan Qiqi was fascinated again.

※ ※ ※

knock knock knock...

"Who is it?" Ma Chenggang stood up impatiently and opened the door. The handsome young man stood outside the door.

"Is it you? Why are you looking for me?" Ma Chenggang asked impatiently.He hates this kid, especially since Gan Qiqi has become much colder to him since he arrived.He was not as confused as Xiang Yingcai. He understood that his lover had already had wild thoughts about this handsome young man.

But so what?This man would have to leave sooner or later, a few months at most, unless Gan Qiqi wanted to sleep with him.But he also knew that this young man had always kept a distance from Gan Qiqi, and it seemed that he was not attracted to Qiqi.

"You'd better go." Ming said vaguely.

"Go? Where to go?" Ma Chenggang was puzzled, "You came here specifically to ask me to leave?"

"I'm here to help Senior Brother Xiang resolve the issue. He has an engagement with Miss Gan." Ming said vaguely, "If you interfere, it will only cause trouble to everyone."

Ma Chenggang laughed loudly and said: "Did Xiang Yingcai's grandson call you here? Why didn't he do it himself? By the way, he just said he wanted to go on a trip a few days ago. So he didn't have the nerve to see me, so he sent you to summon me? "

Ming said vaguely: "It's good for you to leave tonight. This is a matter between their Gan family and Xiang family, and it has nothing to do with you."

"Fuck you!" Ma Chenggang had a hot temper and punched Ming Wuxiang in the face.Unknown Ming stepped back slightly, stretched out his foot and tripped him to the ground.

Ma Chenggang suffered a loss and became even more furious. He roared and rushed forward to reveal the unknown situation.However, the difference in their kung fu was too great. Ming Ming fluttered out of the way and without even a trace, Ma Chenggang punched him more than a dozen times and kicked him seven or eight times without even touching the corner of his clothes.

He didn't even raise the tips of his hair.

"This place is called Ganxiang Iron Shop, not Ganma Iron Shop. Don't you understand?" Ming said vaguely, "This is what your master owes to the Xiang family."

"Qiqi likes me and she wants to marry me!" Ma Chenggang couldn't understand what he meant.Just roar.

Ming unknown said calmly: "Miss Gan told me personally that she doesn't like you. She is just doing it to maintain the iron shop's work. That's what's good for you."

Ma Chenggang was stunned. The goods in the iron shop were all imitations. This was a big deal for Gan Xiang Iron Shop. How did this kid know?If Master didn't say it, could it really be Qiqi?

"Miss Gan also said that without Senior Brother Xiang's steel, you wouldn't be able to build weapons like Master."

"You're talking nonsense!" Ma Chenggang felt that his self-esteem was being thrown to the ground and trampled on. He rushed towards Ming Wuxiang, but Mingwu did not avoid it sideways. Ma Chenggang's impact was too strong and he hit the door panel. He felt dizzy and fell down. On the ground.

"Master Gan is going to make swords tonight, and I have to go to the forging room." Even though it was unknown, he repeated the same sentence, "You can go."

Ming Wuxi left immediately, leaving Ma Chenggang sitting on the ground panting, thinking about what Ming Wuxi had just said.

Master was thinking about the old relationship between Xiang Hai and his wife, so there was no way he would betroth Qiqi to him. Even if he begged Master, Master would never agree to it.

He knew a long time ago that he would not have a chance, and his hopes for the eventuality were just self-deception.After all, this iron shop is called Gan Xiang Iron Shop. Only when the descendants of their two families get married can this iron shop truly deserve its name.

Give up, he thought... He has almost mastered the master's casting skills, why should he stay here?Are you so proud of looking at Yingcai?Waiting to see him inherit the family business?

But he is not willing to give in... Junior sister likes me!Ma Chenggang thought. "You must have been under the instigation of that coward and came here specifically to lie to me!"

He stood up and walked to Gan Qiqi's room.

There is another way...

Xiang Yingcai is not here, and Master and Ming Wuxi are both in the casting room...

Gan Qiqi was lying on the bed, and all she could think about was what Ming Wuxi said today. She thought that if he said it was a pity today, he must have some ideas.If I had not been betrothed to Xiang Yingcai, would he have taken me to Yunnan?
When he withdrew his hand, did he lightly hold it back?Gan Qiqi is sure there is.Otherwise, why can I still feel the residual warmth on his hands now?Is he also interested in me?
But it still didn't work, she couldn't elope, and she didn't seem like that kind of libertine.At this time, she actually became somewhat resentful towards Xiang Yingcai and Ma Chenggang.

Her random thoughts were interrupted by Ma Chenggang's rapid knock on the door.

Gan Qiqi was surprised: "Why are you here?" Her tone was very impatient.

"Qiqi...do you like me?" Ma Chenggang asked.

Gan Qiqi raised her eyebrows and said, "Of course I like senior brother, but..." Although she said this, the tenderness and sweetness in her eyes were gone.

Ma Chenggang didn't notice this subtle change. He stepped forward and hugged Gan Qiqi and said, "Then you can follow me tonight."

Gan Qiqi was shocked, pushed him away, and said angrily: "Are you crazy? Dad will beat us to death!"

"Master won't do that. You are his daughter, and I am his apprentice. He has no son, and he still expects me to die for him. Qiqi, if you really like me, the worst we can do is run away!"

He rushed forward and hugged Gan Qiqi, kissing and hugging her. Gan Qiqi struggled hard but couldn't break free.

※ ※ ※

The forged black gold steel burned red, and the wind furnace was blowing for unknown reasons, and the fire was burning in the furnace.Gan Tiechi used tongs to pick out the steel block and kept hammering it.

"Let me help too." Ming unknown picked up the hammer.

"You?" Gan Tiechi was confused. He doubted whether this young man had the strength. He was about to stop shouting when he hit him with a hammer.

Only the force of this strike was stronger than Gan Tiechi's three strikes. Gan Tiechi was surprised that this young man had such infinite potential in his body.

"I can do this job. There is still some time. Otherwise, Master Gan..." Ming unknown asked, "Go and see your daughter's apprentice. You haven't talked to them properly for a long time."

Gan Tiechi shook his head. For him, only the piece of iron in front of him was everything.He didn't have the patience to take care of his daughter or apprentice.He raised the hammer and struck it down one hammer at a time.

※ ※ ※

"No!" Gan Qiqi pushed Ma Chenggang away with all her strength and fled to the door of the room, "I...I can't be sorry to Senior Brother Xiang..."

Shame, anger, unwillingness, grief and indignation, many emotions suddenly poured into Ma Chenggang's mind. He roared: "You still prefer Xiang Yingcai! You... you just lied to me! You lied to me to help the iron shop forge weapons."

Gan Qiqi saw him roaring and said angrily: "Even if I don't love senior brother, I won't follow you! Get out!"

Ma Chenggang became angry and roared: "Bitch, I'll strangle you to death!"

He yelled and ran after her, but Gan Qiqi ran away and shouted for help.She wanted to escape to the foundry, but was blocked by Ma Chenggang, so she turned towards the hall and ran.

She ran very fast, looking back from time to time to see if Ma Chenggang was chasing her. Suddenly, there was a bang and she bumped into someone.That man raised eyebrows, but who was he if he wasn't Xiang Yingcai?

I saw Xiang Yingcai's brows furrowed and angry, and he didn't know what happened...

※ ※ ※

The sound of tinkling, tinkling, tinkling echoed in the foundry, steady and rhythmic.

Gan Tiechi looked focused, folded the flattened steel block again, and repeated the next step.

ding... ding... ding...

※ ※ ※

"Brother Xiang?!" Gan Qiqi said in surprise, "Where have you been these days?"

"Where is the master?" Xiang Yingcai's voice contained anger, "Where is the master? I want to ask him, did he kill my father?!"

Gan Qiqi was horrified and asked: "How could your father be killed by my father? No...this is impossible..."

"All the masters and fathers of Yuan Dynasty said so, and my deceased grandparents also said so. Is it still false?"

Before Gan Qiqi could tell the difference clearly, Ma Chenggang had already caught up with her. When he saw Gan Qiqi leaning in Xiang Yingcai's arms, he became even more furious.Although he said he wanted to kill Gan Qiqi, he was out of anger for a while. After all, he loved Gan Qiqi deeply, and if he really wanted to do it, he would be reluctant to do so, but it was different with Xiang Yingcai.He heard Xiang Yingcai yelling angrily, and remembered that Ming Wuxi said that this was what Master owed him, and he suddenly realized.The master will definitely give him his iron shop and his daughter, and he will end up with nothing... The depression of the past few years suddenly burst out. Ma Chenggang drew a sword in the hall and stabbed Xiang Yingcai.

When Xiang Yingcai saw him attacking and Gan Qiqi's disheveled clothes, he knew immediately that he was committing evil and was discovered by him, so he wanted to kill someone and silence him, so he also drew his knife, and the two of them fought extremely fiercely.

The two people had been grudges for a long time and each had their own agenda. Xiang Yingcai had just learned the truth about his father's death and was angry and resentful. He was also angry with Ma Chenggang for bullying Gan Qiqi, and now he wanted to kill him again without mercy.

Ma Chenggang couldn't argue with this situation. In his rage, he just wanted to burn both jade and stone, and chopped like a violent storm.

The two of them came from the same sect, but they were not very skilled in kung fu. When they lost their minds, they stabbed each other into their opponent's chest with a pop.

Gan Qiqi exclaimed, blood splattered all over her face.

※ ※ ※

After being folded and hammered again and again, the black gold steel gradually took on the shape of a wide blade.When making weapons, counterweight is extremely important. Gan Tiechi is a veteran and has already asked Ming about his thoughts.Then comes the most important step, which is to hammer the extremely thin steel into an arc.

Gan Tiechi set up the steel sheet and guided Ming unknown to hammer it.Black steel is tough, but Mingwu has deep internal strength that belies his age, and he doesn't feel tired at all.

The steel piece gradually twisted and deformed...

※ ※ ※

Although the two people lying on the ground struggled, they still refused to give up.Both of them looked at Gan Qiqi, wondering whose arms she would jump into first at this critical moment.

Gan Qiqi's eyes widened in fear, her feet felt weak, but she didn't approach anyone.

"Qiqi... come here..." Xiang Yingcai moaned softly, "I'm so cold... you... hug me..."

"Qiqi... you... you like me, right?" Ma Chenggang groaned, "I was wrong, you... forgive senior brother... okay... not good..."

Gan Qiqi still made no move.These two men were covered in blood and disgusting to death. She thought, it turned out that she didn't like them as she imagined, or maybe it was because she had already moved on to someone else?She wasn't sure, but what she was sure of was that at this moment, she didn't want to go near any of them.

She remembered that Ming Wuyang... that face was so pretty, and she felt as if she was suddenly relieved.Didn’t you say you were going to Yunnan?Now that all the senior brothers are dead, I am helpless and want to leave this sad place.Wouldn't it be better to follow him?He seems so innocent and a good person... He will promise me... to take me away.Dad won't stop me.

Ma Chenggang saw that she was so absorbed in thinking that he even had a faint smile on his face.His face changed, and he said: "You...could you...really fall in love with that boy named Ming?"

Xiang Yingcai's eyes widened and he said in a trembling voice: "No wonder... no wonder that boy wanted to trick me into going to Wuwei..."

Gan Qiqi shook her head quickly and stepped back as she spoke: "You... just hold on. I'll go find Mr. Ming for help!"

Yes, she wanted to find Ming Wuxi, throw herself into his arms and hug him tightly, cry that she was scared, and Ming Wuxi would hug her and comfort him softly.She thought, her cheeks flushed, how could she look half sad?

Everyone could see that these two people were hopeless.She turned around and left, but as soon as she took two steps, two figures rushed towards her.

She exclaimed as the front and back swords pierced her chest.

The two of them struck a fatal blow and used all their strength. Their weapons penetrated Gan Qiqi's chest and then pierced the other's chest again.Just like that, three people with two swords fell into a pool of blood in the hall like a skewer.

※ ※ ※

At dawn, the unknown weapon was completed. Gan Tiechi put the hilt on it and asked: "This weapon is the only one in the world. It should have a name."

Ming Wuxi thought for a while and said: "The human heart is full of chaos, and the worries are as numerous as the sands of the Ganges River. A single thought of ignorance can cause huge waves. Such a scene is incalculable, uncountable, and unthinkable. This is a warning, so it is called: 'Unthinkable' .”

"Unbelievable" Gan Tiechi muttered this name, "One thought of ignorance can cause huge waves. What a good name."

He pushed open the door of the foundry, and the sunshine that had not been seen for a long time poured into the foundry. At this time, his wish was fulfilled. "I haven't talked to Qiqi for a long time. We shouldn't get entangled in the matter of the three senior brothers and sisters." He thought and walked towards the hall.

(End of this chapter)