Mountains and giant beasts, cabins in the woods

Liu Xingmo gripped the iron chain and swung, swept, wrapped, and flicked it, performing several techniques.

Originally, weapons such as chains, whips, and even nunchucks are actually very difficult to use and require a lot of training to master.

However, the ritual implements are connected to the mind of their owner and possess extremely high manipulability.

On his way back, Liu Xingmo kicked away all the gravel on the road.

Even after arriving at his doorstep, he was still reluctant to put away his new toys.

"Xingmo, go to sleep early, you have to go to work tomorrow."

"Wait until I've used up all the blood energy in my body." Liu Xingmo said, swinging the iron chain as he downed a bottle of blood energy potion.

Sumari was quite helpless, but she could understand her husband's feelings. She put the witch's cauldron on the worktable and couldn't resist doing her own little experiment.

……

The next morning, the melodious sound of bells echoed throughout the entire mine.

"Oh, oh, oh~" Liu Xingmo rolled over on the bed, unable to help but groan, "My shoulders, I can't lift them..."

I played too hard last night and it seems I injured myself; the effects are showing today.

But the work must be done; it's an adult's responsibility.

Liu Xingmo rummaged through the cabinet and took out some external medicine, applying both the oral medication and the topical ointment. Then, with a chain wrapped around his waist, he set off.

We took the Wild Rabbit bus and arrived in Midtown.

This plain, surrounded by mountains on all sides, remains buried in wind and snow.

Several main roads were cleared out from the white expanse.

Those roads were once rivers, now frozen solid. Beneath the thick ice, the sound of flowing water is as faint as a whisper.

On the ice, people thronged.

Some people were skiing on ice skates; some were transporting goods on sleds pulled by rats; and some were just taking a walk, having been cooped up at home for too long.

Liu Xingmo kept swinging his arms.

Thankfully, the pain has mostly subsided.

The medication used is not simple; it is the result of Sumali's recent experiments and will be sold as her main product in the future.

Liu Xingmo couldn't help but pull out the iron chain from his waist.

"Clang! Clang!" The iron rings collided and struck each other, making a crisp and pleasant sound.

Liu Xingmo couldn't resist the urge to play, and just then he saw a round snowman by the roadside, grinning in the morning sun.

With a swift movement, the chain fell, a flash of silver light, and the snowman was beautifully split in two, falling to either side.

"Haha, let's call this move Silver Light Slash!" Liu Xingmo said smugly.

At that moment, a sudden change occurred!

"Waaaaah—!" A child's innocent cry suddenly rang out behind him.

Liu Xingmo felt a chill run down his spine. He turned around stiffly and saw a little boy with teary eyes.

I'm so damn stupid! Why can't I control this hand?

Liu Xingmo looked around, searching for elderly people selling candied hawthorns. Unfortunately, he wasn't lucky today; the streets were full of older men and women selling cigarettes and alcohol.

At the same time, several pairs of eyes shot over.

"Who's that? Bullying a child!"

"What does it mean to be holding an iron chain?"

"This person looks strangely familiar, isn't he...?"

Liu Xingmo felt as embarrassed as if a hundred silver needles were pricking his spine.

Seeing that things were not going well, he turned and fled.

I'm sorry, little one. Uncle will buy you candy later. I hope you'll learn a lesson from today: if you fall behind, you'll be bullied...

"Please make way!"

With a shout, a sled, pulled by five gray rats, sped by.

Liu Xingmo had a flash of inspiration and quickly swung out the iron chain in his hand, hooking it onto the tail of the sled.

A violent impact shot through my arm, pulling my entire body forward at breakneck speed. My flat shoes glided across the ice, covering dozens of meters in an instant.

Braving the fierce, cold wind, Liu Xingmo quickly fled the crime scene.

He got smarter and hitchhiked all the way, crossing most of the city along the river.

This spinal chain is surprisingly useful; no wonder it was recorded as one of the few exceptions in that illustrated book.

Unfortunately, it's too short and has limited functionality.

If a chain over twenty meters long were to be forged using better materials in the future, it would be able to combine offense and defense, becoming a powerful magical artifact.

We're still short of money. If we had money, we could do anything.

When spring arrives, Baohei will use the luck he's accumulated throughout the winter to search for treasure in the mountains. If he's lucky, he might just make a fortune.

This winter, I will focus on honing my skills and eliminating all the hidden dangers caused by drug dependence.

……

With his cheeks and ears flushed red, Liu Xingmo pushed open the library door.

"You've arrived." The macaque curator gently raised his eyes, then lowered his head again, engrossed in his book. He suddenly looked up sharply, as if remembering something. "Stop! What's that hanging around your waist?"

Liu Xingmo felt a fierce gaze sweeping over him. He quickly raised the iron chain: "Master, don't worry, it's just a magic artifact."

The curator commanded without room for argument, "Let me see that magical artifact!"

Liu Xingmo placed the iron chain on the reception table: "It's just a little thing we made for fun. The bone and flesh materials were bought from the pharmacy, and the metal materials were mined from the mine. It's really nothing special."

"Why are you still so playful?" The curator checked repeatedly, then put down the chains and warned, "Remember this: all magical artifacts related to flesh and blood, or souls, are considered demonic artifacts. Regardless of their quality, these things are prone to harboring the lingering resentment of old monsters, so you must treat them with extreme care."

"Understood."

"Also, magic artifacts are just for fun; they're useless to us and only a waste of soul imprints. In Black Dragon Stronghold, our main focus is on cultivating contracted beasts."

"I know, I know."

Liu Xingmo smiled ingratiatingly, intending to hurry to his office.

At that moment, a man walked over from the reading area.

He looked very young, around eighteen or nineteen years old.

He wore a white brocade robe with a thin sword hanging at his waist, his imposing aura restrained yet powerful.

He crossed his arms and said, "I am Jiang Youcai."

Liu Xingmo was stunned: "Talented? Who is it?"

"The old baboon's kid was dragged over by his mother this morning," the curator added. "Xiao Mo, keep an eye on him and teach this young man a thing or two. His mother said he's a bit stubborn and we need to keep an eye on him."

"No problem!" Liu Xingmo said confidently, then walked up to the man. "I'm Liu Xingmo, and also the deputy editor-in-chief of the newspaper. People call me the storyteller. You know that title, right?"

"I don't know. That's what I was going to say, but I do know you." The man's face was quite stiff. "Sigh! I have to say, your appearance is very disappointing."

For a moment, the scene became somewhat awkward.

The curator added, "Youcai, regarding your family's matter, justice will prevail, and it's not Xiaomo's fault. If you have any thoughts on this, tell me later."

"No, I understand. You have to accept the punishment for your mistakes. I don't care about my family's affairs." The man looked coldly at Liu Xingmo. "I just want to know if you're worthy of my following you."

Liu Xingmo smiled.

This young man has read too many fictional novels; they've made him stupid.