C15 (1/2)
The southeastern part of the Tang Dynasty Region was the most lively area in the capital. It was a place where all sorts of different types of people lived, where fish and dragons mixed together, and where the most bustling trading area of the entire Tang Dynasty was located.
To the north and west of the trading area were the residences of the tycoons of the merchants. Thousands of servants and huge mansions were closely connected to the trading area. It was a scene of prosperity and prosperity. South of the trading area was the southeast gate of Shangjing, which was precisely where the merchants were going in and out.
On the east side of the trading area was a region where goods were processed. This place was inhabited by the poor people of almost the entire Shangjing. They were situated at the lowest level of society and engaged in a large amount of work every day in exchange for essential living necessities.
In the middle section of the commodity processing zone, there was a smithy, but it seemed to be out of place in the surroundings. Many rich and powerful young masters and martial artists frequently visited this place because it was the ”world's best blacksmith” bestowed upon by the late emperor.
In the forging workshop of the metal shop, a young man who appeared to be seventeen or eighteen years old was bare-chested. The young man's fair body seemed out of place in this room.
He was forging a weapon, and next to him stood an old man in his sixties or seventies, and a middle-aged man, also bare-chested, both watching the young man as if a work of art were about to be born.
In just a moment, the young man let out a loud shout, and a huge sword-shaped object flew into the Pond of Refinement next to him. A dragon's roar rang out, and the Pond of Refinement was filled with a three-foot-long, three-inch, half-foot-wide sword.
Its entire body was dark, its great sword blade-less, but it emitted a cold aura. The middle-aged man walked over and grabbed the gigantic Long Sword s with both of his hands. Sensing the gigantic sword's weight, the middle-aged man could not help but increase his strength by 20%.
Under the gazes of the old man and the young man, he let out a loud shout and swung down forcefully. A sword mark that was an inch long appeared on the Sword Testing Stone, flashing with blue light at the same time. The middle-aged man laughed: ”Amazing, another divine sword ah, Long'er, it seems like you have already left your master's training!”
The three people in the room were Smelting Clan, Fang Tian and Fang Yunlong.
Fang Yunlong was already thirteen years old, but due to years of practicing martial arts, he looked like a seventeen or eighteen year old adult. It had already been more than six years since he returned home from Tiger Hidden Valley with his grandfather. In these six years, quite a few changes had occurred.
In these few years, for the entire Tang Dynasty, a major event had occurred. Tang Dynasty was the largest nation in the entire nation, but to the south of Tang Dynasty, there was a great Song Empire. Although it was only half the size of Tang Dynasty, it was brave, fierce, and extremely aggressive.
A few years ago, after annexing a few small nations, he suggested that they could compete with Tang Dynasty for the position of Yuzhou's overlord. Tang Dynasty had already sat in the overlord's position for a thousand years.
Of course they would not give up so easily, so the two countries began to attack each other tentatively. They were all trying to find each other's weaknesses, hoping to defeat the other.
It was just that the wars between big countries were too huge and could not be easily waged. Thus, in the past two years, there was only a small fight every three days and a big one every seven days. However, there was no national war.
As for the Fang Family, Fang Ligong had spent most of his time in seclusion these past few years, trying to comprehend the insights he had gained from his discussion with Tang Yuan.
Fang Tian Feng's business was booming, his martial arts had broken through to the fifth level of the 'Holy Mantra of Li Huo', and he was now at the sixth level. He was famous in the martial arts world, like the sun in the sky.
When he looked forward to entering the Upper Sky, he would be busy with the business of the Evil Fire Escort Office and would be at home for a short period of time.
Fang Yunlong's father, Fang Tianshui, had become the Great Tang Dynasty's Right Premier and had a status only lower than the Left Premier. His authority had increased in these few years, and because of Fang Tianshui's youth, his status became even more imposing.
The officials generally believed that the later Minister Zuo would be none other than himself. Students of the imperial court would be everywhere, and this would become a huge force of Tang Dynasty that could not be ignored.
In the past three years, when the number one craftsman in the world stopped crafting weapons, he had already become the world's number one craftsman after the number one craftsman in the world, and the price of the weapons he forged was hard to come by.
Fang Yunlong's best friend, Fang Tong, had been living in the attics in the backyard of the Fang Residence for the past few years, rarely showing his face.
Fang Yunlong's older sister, Fang Shan, had already been married for three years. Zhang Li was from the Fu family, and was an escort from the Fiery Escort Office.
As for Zhang Li's father, Zhang Yong, he was one of the three great escort officers of the Fiery Gilt Steel Ops. He was a master of martial arts and was only second to Fang Tianfeng in the Fiery Blaze Escort Company.
Second sister Fang Yu had always been with her best friend in Fang Tong's pavilion, learning some four books and five scriptures, as well as an absolute art of formations. A year ago, her father, Fang Tianshui, had already arranged a marriage for her. Her husband was the eldest son of the Military Department's Minister of War, Tong Qian, Tong Jing.
Due to the tense situation at the border, Tong Jing, as the deputy commander of the elite cavalry in the southern region, couldn't return to the capital in a short time, so the marriage was delayed. However, it was nearing the end of next year.
Third sister Fang Ling had the highest martial arts skills among the three sisters, and she often accompanied Fang Yunlong in male attire as she sneaked out of the Fang Residence. He was already the age for marriage.
However, she always expressed her unwillingness to marry. Furthermore, her second elder sister was not married yet, so there was no need for her to be in such a rush. However, after Fang Yu's wedding next year, Fang Tianfeng expressed that he would definitely not give her the chance to drag things out.