Chapter 60 - Cunning (2/2)

At that instant, the tripod lid started to jump around. Perhaps it was due to the prolonged quenching that something had changed inside the tripod furnace. The knocking noises became louder and vigorous. Many a time the tripod lid was nearly knocked off the furnace.

“You name a price, I’ll agree to whatever price you name. Please do not let go again!”

Elder Song was stricken with terror. He desperately directed his palm force at the tripod furnace.

Xu Yi grabbed the handle and pulled along. He added, “In view of your sincerity, it’d be gaudy to talk about money. You help me forge the armour, and I’ll help you with pulling the air box. We help each other, and we are on the same team. It’s fair and square. Do you agree, Elder Song?”

We help each other? What a rascal! It’s easy to find anyone in Guang’an to pull the air box. How’s that comparable with one expert who can forge an armour out of a piece of dragon crocodile skin? And he says it’s fair and reasonable?

Elder Song clenched his teeth. His lungs were bursting with anger. He forced one word out of his mouth: “Deal!”

He had no more options. Earlier, two strong men had been smashed to the wall by the forceful air currents and perished. It would be too late to ask for replacements. In hindsight, Elder Song had allowed Xu Yi to follow him. Perhaps he had subconsciously intended for him to handle the air box.

He had not anticipated that rascal to be so conniving and cunning!

Xu Yi was overjoyed. He added more strength, and the furnace was roaring. That stabilised the tripod lid. He did not stop talking, “From what I can see, your seniority and cultivation has already attained the level of Qi Ocean Stage. I reckon you’re a man who honours his word!”

“Young man, if you utter another word, do you believe that I’d sacrifice this Star Moon Sword in exchange for your pathetic life?”

Elder Song was on the verge of spitting out blood.

“Alright, I’ll shut up. Geez, there’s no need to get angry with me!”

After his mumble, Xu Yi kept his reticence and focused on pulling the air box.

He was not afraid that Elder Song’s anger would escalate. He had predicted that the item in the furnace must have been extremely important to Elder Song. He was more concerned that the Elder might reject the forging job out of spite.

An hour passed along with at least several hundred pulls. It reminded Xu Yi of those tormented days where he had to carry five hundred catties of heavy metals.

Xu Yi was a man who honoured his word. As long as Elder Song did not signal him to stop, he would continue despite his gruelling and arduous task.

As time passed, Elder Song began to admire the young man. The disgust he had for him had dissipated.

He knew very well how heavy his supreme tripod furnace’s air box was. That was built from ancient metals and heavy sand. Every tug and pull would require the strength of a bull.

An ordinary warrior who had reached the peak of Body Forging stage could sustain several pulls before they were exhausted.

That had been the precise reason for Elder Song to purchase two brute forces. Their jobs were to pull the air box.

These two strong men were put on rotational shift work. Each shift lasted no more than an hour.

However, this young man was scrawny, and his cultivation must not have reached the peak of Body Forging stage, but he could still persist the arduous tasks for over an hour.

What was more impressive: this young man was not panting nor out of breath. His body was upright, his techniques were still suave and smooth, and he did not appear to be drained of energy.

Elder Song had yet to meet one with such alarming stamina and perseverance.

While Elder Song was trying to figure Xu Yi out, a sharp howl from the tripod furnace pierced through the air. Elder Song bellowed, “Hold it there!” He mastered his palm force and aimed at the tripod furnace. He delivered over a dozen bolts before the sharp noise deepened and gradually came to a halt.

“It’s done!”

Elder Song signaled and leapt towards the furnace. He pulled the control lever and turned off the furnace fire. He waved his big sleeves to open the tripod lid. When he struck out his palm force, the air currents surged. An item flew out from the hearth and was caught in Elder Song’s hand.