A Long Grind to Daoist Monarch-Chapter 135 - 117: No More Than Three Apprentices; Twin Hundred Refinements Hand

"Lu Yaotou!"

The bushy-browed youth shouted as he tossed aside the steel saber in his hand and casually placed it on the furnace.

"I've forged wind-listening sabers of ten refinements and fifty refinements, and if Master Li asks me to forge a hundred-refinement wind-listening saber, I have thirty percent confidence that I can succeed!

I traveled all the way from Yihai Prefecture to Black River County because my second sister told me that Li Yuan was the most renowned master blacksmith in the entire craftsmanship trade!

He once established three rules for accepting apprentices: under twenty years of age, forge a ten-refinement saber to cut through a fifty-refinement! Forge a fifty-refinement to cut through a hundred-refinement!

I've accomplished both!

The third rule: within five days, forge twelve sabers! For me, that's not difficult either!"

Lu Shiping awkwardly smiled and said:

"Zhu Wulang, you are indeed a rare talent in forging weapons, but you must also understand that my master values rules greatly. Since he has said he won't accept more than three apprentices, he won't make exceptions."

The bushy-browed youth lifted his eyelids as a servant draped a cloak over him, his tone icy:

"Lu Yaotou! Master Li, with his kind heart, took in a starving refugee boy halfway, feeling sorry for him, and reluctantly accepted him as an apprentice!

Ten days ago, I competed against him. With the same fifty refinements, his wind-listening saber was severed within three strikes by mine! Clearly, his skills are far inferior to mine!

Master Li ventured out on his own early on, leaving 'Victor's Workshop' to establish 'Humming Workshop'! He left behind a saying; in the craftsmanship trade, skill reigns supreme!

I dare to ask, Lu Yaotou, whose forging skills are stronger, mine or your junior apprentice's?"

Lu Shiping stood outside the shop, his face slightly cold before returning to a calm demeanor, sighing:

"Zhu Wulang, you provoked on purpose, enticing my junior apprentice into a forging competition, privately using the Quenching Iron Liquid crafted by Firework Daoist, which can barely be called a fair victory.

Moreover, you possess One-Practice Perfect Golden Flesh and Jade Veins, and during the blade duel, you shattered my junior apprentice's tiger's mouth, almost ruining his livelihood tool.

If it weren't for Zhu Family's past kindness to my master, this matter wouldn't have been resolved peacefully!"

The bushy-browed youth named "Zhu Shou Rang" glanced at the robust blacksmiths and kiln workers around him, showing no fear and not stepping back:

"If forging weapons doesn't consider quality but focuses on techniques, then allow me to say plainly: Master Li's 'Humming Workshop' will never surpass 'Victor's Workshop,' and that's only natural!"

Upon those words, Lu Shiping's hair and beard stood on end, like an enraged tiger:

"How dare you be so insolent!"

Zhu Ling'Er, standing prettily nearby holding an umbrella, furrowed her graceful brows and scolded:

"Wulang! Watch your words!"

Zhu Shou Rang's nostrils exhaled two streams of white air; he hadn't seen the master from Yihai Prefecture to Black River County's Wagang Village for half a month, his limited patience already exhausted.

This Zhu Family's Wulang spread his hands as servants assisted him, fastening the cloak around his waist and pulling on socks and boots, treating Lu Shiping as if he didn't exist.

"Second sister, I know what I'm doing! Since it's all about Master Li keeping rules, fine! I'll stick to his rules! Li the kid! Speak for yourself!"

Zhu Shou Rang pulled a playful grin at the corner of his mouth, raising his hand to clap twice, as a tall youth with his tiger's mouth wrapped in cloth was led to the blacksmith's shop by a robust servant of Zhu Family.

Sensing something amiss, Lu Shiping frowned:

"Junior apprentice, why aren't you at home recovering, what do you want in the mountains?"

The tall youth rescued by his master from a lowly origin, a refugee fleeing calamity, nicknamed Dog, his parents lost to a demon disaster.

Li Yuan noticed his diligence and strength, able to swing a fifty to sixty pound hammer to forge without formal training, thus allowing him to share the surname and naming him 'Li Jun'.

Jun, meaning a unit of measure.

The old saying goes: crushed beneath ten thousand Jun, all is obliterated.

This showed Master Li's care and deep expectations for his junior apprentice.

Li Jun shrank in fear, seemingly unable to meet eyes with Senior Brother Lu Shiping, stuttering with a sobbing tone:

"...I don't want to be Master's apprentice anymore! Senior Brother! I'm worthless, I don't want to forge iron anymore!"

Lu Shiping was shocked, glaring at Zhu Shou Rang, whose arrogance was overt, with fierce anger in his eyes.

He knew very well that his junior apprentice viewed his master as a reborn parent, never uttering such rebellious words.

It must be Zhu Family's Wulang scheming secretly!

"Master Li accepts no more than three apprentices, but he now only has two. As the sole inheritor, who else but me?"

Zhu Shou Rang's gaze was disdainful, his brow full of pride.

Born with martial bones, his Hundred Refinements Hand could forge iron and create weapons!

Furthermore, originating from Zhu Family's main branch, why shouldn't he become Li Yuan's apprentice?!

"Zhu Wulang, this is too much!"

Lu Shiping took seven or eight large strides, his fan-like hand sweeping with force, causing pliers and scissors hanging from the ceiling to clang!

Zhu Shou Rang stood unmoved as a shadow emerged from behind him, raising a blocking hand, pressing forward!

Thud!

The fierce wind billowed, the blazing furnace dimmed, almost extinguished!

Lu Shiping's arm was numb as if struck against an impenetrable wall, his legs buried half an inch deep in the mud, creating two furrows.

His gaze narrowed, focusing on the figure blocking Zhu Shou Rang.

Gray garments, cloth shoes, average height, skin as aged as a crane.

"Words are fine, but resorting to violence ruins the peace."

The shadow's voice was hoarse, speaking leisurely:

"The Zhu Family and Master Li's Humming Workshop have been in business for eight or nine years, after all, harmony brings wealth.

In terms of emotion, Fifth Young Master is Zhu Family's main branch, which is closer in ties.

In terms of rationale, possessing martial bones and Hundred Refinements Hand, his forging skill outweighs Li the kid's.

Fifth Young Master suffered since childhood, and the main family sought out the kiln's gate merely to secure his livelihood.