Becoming a Martial Master: Starting as a Swordsmith

"What's wrong with him? Tell me!"

Seeing his appearance, Li Chengwen felt even more puzzled.

Old Wu looked around before whispering, "Young Master, while you were away, Manager Zhao... disappeared. Everyone says he stole money from the counter and ran away. The authorities even came to investigate and found two bodies in the burned-down house, but Manager Zhao himself has vanished without a trace..."

Perhaps having started talking, Old Wu became more and more animated, recounting in detail all the things Zhao Dezhu had done after Li Chengwen left.

Li Chengwen's expression gradually darkened.

He grew angrier and angrier as he listened, until finally his chubby face turned bright red.

"Damn it, that Zhao Dezhu! He dared to cause so much trouble while I was away! He even stole money from the house?! He's incredibly audacious!"

He didn't bother to inspect the room anymore, and turned around to stride angrily toward Master Li's study, muttering curses under his breath:

"Dad probably doesn't know about this yet, right? I have to tell him right away! This is outrageous! They're bullying us!"

Li Chengwen rushed to the study door, not even bothering to announce his arrival, and burst in, shouting, "Father! Do you know what that bastard Zhao Dezhu has done?!"

Master Li was sitting behind his desk drinking tea when he was startled by the sudden noise.

He put down his teacup and glared at his eldest son, annoyed. "How dare you be so reckless! What kind of behavior is this! Can't you just talk things out?"

Li Chengwen didn't even bother to apologize. He rushed to the desk and blurted out everything in one go.

He became increasingly agitated as he spoke, finally slamming his fist on the table and exclaiming, "Father! Keeping someone like that in the household is a disaster! Thank goodness he escaped, or I would have skinned him alive!"

After listening, Master Li remained silent for a moment, then picked up his teacup and slowly took a sip.

However, the expression on his face was not as angry as Li Chengwen had expected.

He put down his teacup and said slowly, "Your second brother has already reported this matter to me."

Li Chengwen was taken aback: "It's been reported? What did he say?"

He said it was his fault for misjudging people and that he had already apologized to me.

Mr. Li waved his hand.

"Let's leave it at that. The authorities will handle it; they'll investigate what needs to be investigated and resolve what needs to be resolved. Let's not cause any more trouble for now. Things have just calmed down in the prefecture for a few days; let's not create any more chaos."

Li Chengwen's eyes widened: "Father! You're just letting it go like that?! He stole our family's money! Three hundred taels of silver!"

Master Li picked up his teacup and took another sip, saying calmly, "Three hundred taels is a lot, but it's only three hundred taels at most. Zhao Dezhu is already missing, and there's a high chance we can't get the money back. Continuing to struggle will just be a waste of effort. The most important thing right now is to stabilize the situation and complete the order from the Qingyang County government; that's the real prize!"

Upon hearing this, Li Chengwen froze on the spot.

He opened his mouth, staring at Master Li with an incredulous expression:

"Father...do you remember? One winter when I was little, our family couldn't even afford to buy charcoal. You took me out of the city in the wind and snow and we got two baskets of broken charcoal on credit. It only cost us three taels of silver. On the way back, you told me that when things got better, you would never let me suffer like this again."

"Back then, it would take us a long time to save up three taels of silver. Now, three hundred taels of silver have been stolen, and you're saying, 'It's no more than three hundred taels at most'?"

These words were like a needle, piercing deeply into Master Li's heart.

Looking at his chubby eldest son, he felt both angry and guilty.

After a long silence, Master Li finally put down his teacup and sighed.

"Eldest son, times have changed. Our business is much bigger now, and while three hundred taels is a lot, it won't cripple us. I know you've done a good job this time. But family matters can't be just about money; we also have to consider people's hearts. Do you understand?"

Master Li was fairly aware of Li Jiwu's true intentions.

It's just that there are some things he doesn't want to dwell on.

So we can only rely on the boss.

Li Chengwen stood there, looking at Master Li's tired and helpless face, and suddenly felt a sense of unfamiliarity.

He remained silent for a long time, and in the end did not say another word. He simply cupped his hands in greeting, turned around, and walked out of the study.

Standing under the eaves, the cold wind blew, but instead of extinguishing the fire in Li Chengwen's heart, it burned even brighter.

He clenched his fists, gazing towards the distant forging compound, a fierce resolve hardening in his heart.

Fine, you all don't take this seriously, huh? Then I'll take responsibility for it myself!

I must make sure that business deal with the Qingyang County government is handled flawlessly, so that Father can see who truly cares about the family!

Besides, I can't let my younger sister down!

His younger sister helped him a lot on this business trip. If it weren't for her, he wouldn't have been able to show his face in front of his father!

Thinking of his younger sister, the frustration in his heart eased a little.

Li Chengwen took a deep breath and strode towards the forging courtyard.

Instead of brooding here, you should keep an eye on the progress of that order. Doing the job well is more important than anything else!

......

After receiving the silver-patterned meteorite, Shen Chu did not rush to take action.

He kept the piece of silver-patterned meteorite iron close to his body, and every day after work he would hold the iron in his hands, examining and caressing it repeatedly, feeling its texture and density, while mentally rehearsing forging plans over and over again.

On the day the knife-forging compound is closed for the day,

The entire courtyard was empty.

By this time, the furnace fire had gone out, the hammering had stopped, and even the few people who usually loved to wander around the yard had gone out for a stroll.

Shen Chu closed the courtyard gate.

He stood alone in the middle of the courtyard, his fists clenched.

Success or failure hinges on this one move!

Shen Chu lit the fire and added coal. The orange-red flames licked the stove, making crackling sounds and warming the surrounding air, raising the temperature in the courtyard again.

He took the silver-patterned meteorite iron out of his pocket, examined it carefully, and then steadily placed it into the furnace fire.

He didn't rush to hammer, but waited quietly for the iron to heat up slowly in the furnace. Only when the iron was evenly heated to a deep red did he take it out and place it on the anvil.

The first hammer blow fell.

clang!

The crisp sound of metal clashing echoed through the empty courtyard!

Shen Chu held nothing back, pouring all his energy into the forging hammer in his hand.

Each of his hammer blows was steady and deliberate. The iron gradually stretched under his hammer, and the natural silver patterns became more and more distinct with repeated forging, meandering and flowing on the iron surface.

Time slipped away quietly amidst the sound of hammering.

Gradually, the forging process was nearing its end, and the blade blank was basically formed.

Shen Chu couldn't help but feel excited.

With only a few final tempering and quenching steps to set the shape, this knife will be finished!