Chapter 62: Go to Hell
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“Old Zhou, I’m here to bid you farewell.” Sun Gongping stood at the entrance of the 0th Workshop and leaned against the door with a smile.
Zhou Shu didn’t know if it was an illusion or not, but he felt that Sun Gongping’s tone was much closer than before.
Although he had called him this name before, at the time, it was only because of his personality. Now, how should he put it? Zhou Shu felt that he had been acknowledged?
Damn it. Do I need his acknowledgment?
I’m his uncle!
While cursing inwardly, Zhou Shu looked at Sun Gongping. “Farewell?”
“Yeah.” Sun Gongping nodded. “You’re not an outsider, so there’s no harm in telling you.
“Great General Meng wants to lead the army to the borders, and I will set out with the army.”
“You’re going to war?” Zhou Shu was a little surprised. “Aren’t you a divine constable of the Divine Constable Bureau? Do divine constables also need to go to the front line to fight?”
Zhou Shu naturally knew that Meng Bai wanted to lead an army into battle. He was even in charge of forging the batch of Huben Sabers, Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Sabers, and Horse Slaying Sabers.
Moreover, Mi Ziwen had previously invited him to go along with him to the battlefield to earn military merits, but he had declined.
Zhou Shu didn’t expect Sun Gongping to go.
Logically speaking, the Divine Constable Bureau and Great Xia’s three armies were two different systems. Has the situation in Great Xia reached such a critical state?
Even the police have to go to the battlefield?
“Divine constables obviously don’t need to go to the front line.” Sun Gongping shook his head. “But I have a reason to go. I can’t go into the details.
“Just take it that I’m being temporarily transferred to the military.”
“But aren’t the soldiers of the Country Protector Army all ordinary people? You’re a ranked martial artist,” Zhou Shu asked curiously.
In a rare occurrence, Sun Gongping patiently explained, “The Country Protector Army is made up of ordinary people, but this doesn’t mean there are no ranked martial artists. Cheng Wanli of the Huben Troops is also a ranked martial artist. Isn’t he still the commander of the Huben Troops?
“It’s true that the soldiers of the Country Protector Army are ordinary people. But there are also many people who have advanced in the Country Protector Army and broke through to become ranked martial artists, and they still haven’t left. They usually become the generals of the Country Protector Army.
“Besides, other than the Country Protector Army, the Demon Executing Army will be deployed as well to prevent the enemy from sending a large number of ranked martial artists into battle.
“I will mainly follow the Demon Executing Army.”
“I see.” Zhou Shu nodded. “Then, what should I say? Have a safe trip?”
He now knew Sun Gongping’s identity. As a noble young marquis, he was definitely not going to the front lines to get killed, so he wasn’t worried about Sun Gongping’s safety.
“Of course.” Sun Gongping said. “With me, Sun Gongping, on the battlefield, no matter what kind of people they are, all of them will have to get lost!”
“Hehe.” He chuckled and returned to his usual self. “Old Zhou, I came to find you for another matter.
“I already know about the Spring Embroidered Saber. Old Zhou, you’re really good!”
Sun Gongping gave a thumbs up and said proudly, “Standing tall in embroidered robes in springtime, returning home proudly in colorful official clothes. What a fitting description!
“I know that the Spring Embroidery Saber has just been developed, and it’s not realistic to mass produce it. Her Highness is holding onto the saber, and she won’t let go of it. I can only come to you.”
Sun Gongping’s eyes lit up as he stared at Zhou Shu. “Old Zhou, help me forge another Spring Embroidered Saber. This time, I want to be equipped with a Spring Embroidered Saber when I go!”
“You want a Spring Embroidered Saber?” Zhou Shu frowned. “Although the Spring Embroidered Saber was custom-made for the Divine Constable Bureau, it isn’t for divine constables. It’s only a standard weapon.”
The Divine Constable Bureau’s divine constables were all ranked martial artists, and their weapons should be ranked ones.
The Spring Embroidered Saber was only meant for the constables who had yet to become divine constables.
“What does it matter?” Sun Gongping said. “Old Zhou, you’re not a ranked martial artist, so you don’t know. Let me tell you. Even if I was only holding a tree branch now, I would still be able to completely suppress an unranked martial artist. Even if it’s a standard weapon, I will still be able to kill with it.”
Zhou Shu believed him.
A ranked weapon could increase the combat power of a ranked martial artist. Even if it didn’t, it wouldn’t affect their strength.
“If you want one, there’s no problem,” Zhou Shu said. “However, you have to pay.”
The forging materials of the Forging Division belonged to the Imperial Court. Although it wouldn’t be too much of a problem for him to use them secretly to forge a saber, Sun Gongping was a young marquis.
A standard weapon cost nothing to him.
“Old Zhou, you’re being so calculative with me! I’ve treated you as a brother in vain!” Sun Gongping scolded.
“Accounts should be clear even between blood brothers!” Zhou Shu pursed his lips. “If it was anyone else, even if they paid, I wouldn’t forge for them!”
The workshops of the Forging Division were not private workshops. They didn’t sell weapons.
If others wanted a weapon, they would have to wait for it to be distributed.
“Fine, you have a point,” Sun Gongping said. “I’ll pay!
“Old Zhou, did you really hear that poem from that restaurant’s storyteller?” Sun Gongping changed the topic. “I’ve been to that restaurant a few times. The storyteller’s standard is just average. I didn’t expect him to be such a literary talent.”
Yin Wuyou didn’t know what kind of place the restaurant was, but Sun Gongping knew. Back then, it was Sun Gongping who had told Zhou Shu about it.
“He probably heard it from somewhere else. He’s a storyteller, after all. Nobody says he can’t talk about things he hears from elsewhere,” Zhou Shu said perfunctorily.
“That’s true.” Sun Gongping stroked his chin. “I’ll have to find him later to have a chat. I have to get him to complete the poem for me.”
“I hope he remembers everything.” Zhou Shu lowered his eyes.
“You’re going out to battle tomorrow, so I’m sure you have a lot of things to do. Go do what you need to do. I’ll deliver the Spring Embroidered Saber to you before tomorrow.” Zhou Shu didn’t want to continue this topic, so he stood up to send the guest off.
Sun Gongping indeed had a lot of work to do. Before he left, he turned around and said to Zhou Shu, “Old Zhou, I’ll get you some forging materials unique to the barbarians. When the time comes, you’ll definitely become a Forging Master.”
With that, Sun Gongping rode off.
…
In an ordinary alley in the capital, Yin Wuyou and Haitang were dressed as men and walking on a limestone road.
“Your Highness, I’ve asked around. The restaurant that Superintendent Zhou mentioned is right in front.”
Haitang whispered, “But—”
“But?” Yin Wuyou asked.
“But that place doesn’t seem to be—” Haitang hesitated.
“Are you trying to say that Zhou Shu lied to me? He didn’t hear those poems in the restaurant?” Yin Wuyou understood.
“Yes!” Haitang hesitated for a moment, then nodded vigorously. “Superintendent Zhou is sometimes a strange person. I think he was the one who wrote those two poems. He’s just spouting nonsense about some storyteller.”
“That’s true. That fellow doesn’t look like an honest person.” Yin Wuyou nodded in agreement. “But since we’re here, let’s take a look first.”
A moment later, Yin Wuyou stormed out of the restaurant. Damn Zhou Shu, how dare he lie to me! This storyteller doesn’t even know how to recite a single poem!
After walking a distance away, Yin Wuyou seemed to think of something and burst out laughing. The anger on her face instantly vanished.
Haitang was confused. “Your Highness, what’s wrong?”
She didn’t find anything funny.
“Forget it. I’ll remember this!” Yin Wuyou shook her head. “That fellow is a forger, yet he can compose poems. Don’t you think it’s very interesting?”
Haitang’s eyes were full of confusion.
…
Achoo—Zhou Shu had just picked up his hammer when he sneezed.
With his current body, it was impossible for him to catch a cold.
Who is scolding me? Zhou Shu rubbed his nose in thought and then began to forge the Spring Embroidered Saber.
Zhou Shu had yet to teach Zhang Yibei and the others the Spring Embroidered Saber’s forging process.
He wasn’t in a hurry to mass produce the Spring Embroidered Saber yet.
But since Sun Gongping wanted one, Zhou Shu wouldn’t refuse.
If Sun Gongping went into battle with his saber, he would probably have many chances to kill enemies. When the time came, he would naturally receive the benefits of the Spring Embroidered Saber successfully completing kills.
Most importantly, Sun Gongping was a member of the Divine Constable Bureau. Giving him a Spring Embroidered Saber wouldn’t violate his agreement with Ma Fengzhang.
The backyard of the 0th Workshop was Zhou Shu’s personal space. Without anyone present, Zhou Shu unleashed his full power.
His movements left behind afterimages. It was as if several Zhou Shus were forging at the same time.
Amid the clanking sounds, a Spring Embroidered Saber quickly took shape.
After carefully wiping the blade clean and looking at the sky, Zhou Shu returned to his room to take a bath and change his clothes. Only then did he pick up the Spring Embroidered Saber and head into the city.
Sun Gongping was going to set off tomorrow, but Zhou Shu didn’t know where and when he would set off, so he had to give him the saber today.
After leaving the Forging Division’s workshop, Zhou Shu walked far away. When he saw that no one was around, he began to exert his strength.
He didn’t know any lightness techniques, but his Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique was at the eighth level, and the Golden Bell Shield Technique had broken through to the sixth level. His strength was universally shocking.
As he ran with all his might, every step he took was over ten feet. His speed was comparable to a galloping horse.
It’s said that high-ranked martial artists have the ability to fly. I wonder what it feels like to fly in the sky.
This was the first time Zhou Shu was running at full speed. As he felt the strong winds blowing against him, he felt as though he was flying through the wind.
“Hmph!”
Just as Zhou Shu was happily running, a cold snort suddenly rang out in his ears.
Zhou Shu’s heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly stopped moving. His feet dug a deep ditch into the ground.
He suddenly looked around. “Who is it?!”
His right hand subconsciously grabbed onto the handle of the Spring Embroidered Blade, and the violent energy in his body was ready to be unleashed.
“I originally thought that you were the easiest to kill, but I didn’t expect you to have hidden yourself so deeply.” A cold voice rang out. Then ripples appeared in the space in front of Zhou Shu. The light seemed to distort, and a person in a black robe suddenly appeared.
He only revealed a pair of cold eyes as he said coldly, “A talented forger who has such high cultivation at such a young age. Those spies actually placed you last. They must be blind!
“But fortunately, I’ve noticed it. It’s your honor to die at my hands.. Go to hell.”