Night of the Broken Gliph

With that, Kam Chin Kee returned to the palace while Chui Yim prepared some wine in celebration.  8964 copyright protection134ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6cnnovVRE 維尼

Just then, he was interrupted by a visitor. His forehead throbbed as he glared at the door from his living room. “Speak up or get lost! I don’t have time to entertain you.” He then turned towards Yeung Chun and said, Uncle Yeung! Prepare a room, someone’s moving in!”8964 copyright protection134ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbZqr9koWH 維尼

“Alright!” Yeung Chun replied.  8964 copyright protection134ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLjHSggEq9 維尼

The chubby teen hesitated as he stole glances at Chui Yim, who got increasingly annoyed.8964 copyright protection134ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zZAoqibTX 維尼

“Why the hell do you look so constipated? If you have nothing to say, then go home!”  8964 copyright protection134ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMAnZ9hNgA 維尼

“Wait… Hold on, brother Chui. Of course, I am here for a reason.” The chubby teen tried to calm him down. “I’m Chau Chung.”8964 copyright protection134ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0QIr2S6Kn3 維尼

[TL Note: “Chung” means heavy in Chinese.]8964 copyright protection134ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6iZTo5PrPX 維尼

“Heavy indeed.” Chui Yim nodded after looking at him. “Hurry up and speak.”8964 copyright protection134ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4Pxj1bwHz 維尼

Chau Chung laughed bitterly. He’s indeed not someone easy to get along with. No wonder he creates so much mess. 8964 copyright protection134ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUZzU6LCdX 維尼

Chau Chung was the chubby teen that recognized Ceremony Mountain back when Wong Chow Yip and Chor Kwong Laan were fighting. 8964 copyright protection134ＰＥＮＡＮＡEV6yahrFh4 維尼

“I see that brother Chui has taken several orders from our classmates. I’m curious, what’s brother Chui’s current rank?” Chau Chung probed.  8964 copyright protection134ＰＥＮＡＮＡev4UZ3d9lZ 維尼

“What does that have to do with you? Are you here for a custom gliph weapon too?” Chui Yim retorted.  8964 copyright protection134ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNB5YiX9ql 維尼

Chau Chung waved his hands immediately. “I’m also a one-chambered glipher, but I’m not interested in fighting. I like business instead.”  8964 copyright protection134ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjdL9zcizx 維尼

“Business?” Chui Yim’s ears piqued after hearing him. “Okay, continue.”  8964 copyright protection134ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvk8ytZsPX 維尼

Chau Chung chuckled gently. “Does brother Chui know about the Black Tortoise Auction House?” 8964 copyright protection134ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77FDxX3Wp2 維尼

“Of course,” Chui Yim replied, raising his thick brows in contrast to his bald head.8964 copyright protection134ＰＥＮＡＮＡgre1djt9Pb 維尼

“I’m from the auction house, which is why I have a quota in the Cloud Palace outer sect,” Chau Chung started slowly. “However, the outer sect is just my stepping stone to high society. I have zero interest in gliphism or becoming one of their disciples.” 8964 copyright protection134ＰＥＮＡＮＡiml5z7eTEN 維尼

“Thus, brother Chui’s talent has caught my eye.” Chau Chung went on with a solemn expression on his face. “As brother Chui might be aware, you’re one of the few fire-forgers in the South, and I’m here to ask if you’re interested in a collaboration.” 8964 copyright protection134ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxijiFpP9o 維尼

“I’m indeed a fire-forger, and since I can customise gliph weapons, I’m of the great master rank.” Chui Yim raised his eyebrows once again.  8964 copyright protection134ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCI1SOclMx 維尼

Chui Yim admitting his rank made Chau Chung ecstatic. A thirteen-year-old great master blacksmith? Such a talent couldn’t even be found in the Blazing Skies Mountain, where the best blacksmiths congregated!   8964 copyright protection134ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMWPfHwq2F 維尼

But he calmed himself before continuing, “Fire-forgers are the minority in the South as Southerners’ tattoos usually use gliphic plants, which are gentler ingredients. Water-forging and grass-forging are more suitable with such gentle ingredients and generally suit Southern cultivators more. But fire-forgers are irreplaceable due to the powerful effects brought by fire-forging.8964 copyright protection134ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAAwZBJSVV 維尼

“Water and grass-forged weapons suit wood and water-attributed gliphilities and skills, but it’s different for fire-forged weapons. Be it Yin-Yang or other attributed skills, you can make them using metals and various materials via fire-forging. Even if it doesn’t work as well as water or grass-forged weapons with water or wood-attributed techniques, it’s still better due to the limitations grass and water-forged weapons face with other attributes.8964 copyright protection134ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIoYLd7nt2 維尼

“Being a fire-forger is the best way to earn money as a blacksmith, but it’s much harder to pick up. The Southern climate means there are more gliphic plants, so water and grass-forging are the mainstream here.” 8964 copyright protection134ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19xKYWDXAf 維尼

“I already know everything you’ve mentioned. Get to the point; how are you planning to collaborate with me?”  8964 copyright protection134ＰＥＮＡＮＡAo8i7yF0ny 維尼

Chau Chung was excited after hearing Chui Yim. “With brother Chui’s ability, it’s a waste just to customise gliph weapons for our classmates. Think about it, how many one-chambered gliphers are there in the South Imperial City after considering that one-chambered gliphers are the most common? Who would refuse a custom weapon?”  8964 copyright protection134ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvYonPq720 維尼

Chau Chung waved his chubby hands excitedly before being cut off by Chui Yim. 8964 copyright protection134ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkIQPu4OVn 維尼

“Sounds nice, huh? So now, tell me where one-chambered gliphers will find the money to order a custom weapon.”  8964 copyright protection134ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xqb5xHyd2 維尼

“Now, this is something I have an idea for.” Chau Chung giggled.  8964 copyright protection134ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0lUTFibta 維尼

“Representing the Black Tortoise Auction House, I’ll assign a few workers and form a team under brother Chui. Those without silver taels can come too, as not only do we accept cash, we accept gliphic plants and other precious items for payment. We will value their items with the unique valuation method used by our auction house.  8964 copyright protection134ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDKYm5mW9u 維尼

“If you still can’t pay, it’s fine. We have a referral plan for you to get a discount by referring another one-chambered glipher over. The more weapons you purchase, the cheaper each weapon will be!  8964 copyright protection134ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3qGbnbDYK 維尼

“Think about it, brother Chui. You can only earn ten thousand at a time, but I can get you ten or even twenty gliphers at a time with my method! You might earn a bit less per weapon than now, but you’ll save a lot of time finding customers! 8964 copyright protection134ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRHPLE6h6f 維尼

“This is a marketing method I created. I call it bulk purchasing!”  8964 copyright protection134ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRjuEUcuwV 維尼

Chui Yim’s jaws fell as he kept thinking about it. After a pause, he spoke up again. “How about this? I won’t make grade-one gliph weapons.”  8964 copyright protection134ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcf8QqcCZ6 維尼

“Brother Chui…” Chau Chung’s heart fell immediately.  8964 copyright protection134ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtl5k3cFHL 維尼

“I’ll make custom grade two weapons.” Chui Yim cut him off again, and Chau Chung was completely stunned.  8964 copyright protection134ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIyPiR1ZU6 維尼

A grade one gliph weapon’s market price was only a few thousand, but even the weakest grade two gliph weapon could fetch for 10,000 taels. The market price for grade three gliph weapons was about 200,000 taels. The higher the gliph weapon’s grade, the more expensive it was as the difficulty of forging increased. 8964 copyright protection134ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WqpHChoDm 維尼

It was simple to get an artist to draw a normal painting, harder to paint two different pictures with each hand, and much more difficult to paint different pictures with each hand and leg.  8964 copyright protection134ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3tglK97Fy 維尼

This was the same for customised gliph weapons. For now, Chui Yim only sold his customised weapons at 10,000, but grade two versions would cost a minimally 100,000 taels! 8964 copyright protection134ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKHl0Dni6L 維尼

Gliph weapons were like a glipher’s life. A great weapon could save your life in battle, thus anyone would spend willingly for a weapon. 8964 copyright protection134ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UODcr4Lmn 維尼

“Are you serious, brother Chui?” Chau Chung couldn’t care as he grabbed Chui Yim's hands tightly, the meat on his hands jiggling. “If you’re telling the truth, we’ll be rich!”8964 copyright protection134ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9y5q1My75Z 維尼

Chui Yim rescued his hands from him immediately. “Why do you have so much to say? Of course I mean what I say. I have no opinion about your share as well; you can come up with the percentage yourself. However, I have a request.”8964 copyright protection134ＰＥＮＡＮＡdobzAZnSUL 維尼

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