“Wulin’s here!” A youngster in his twenties, with a tall and sturdy build, called out to Tang Wulin in greeting.
“Brother Long.” Tang Wulin asked with a smile, “What task has teacher assigned to me today?”
Brother Long grinned, “There’s quite a lot for you to do. Just go into the room and take a look for yourself. Speaking of which, I’m really envious of you. You’re so young, yet your workload is already more than mine!” Blacksmithing was an industrious profession. Naturally, the more work one did, the more one’s income would be.
With a chuckle, Tang Wulin asked, “If I’m comparable to you, then how come Teacher still hasn’t let me forge large components?”
Brother Gong answered, “That’s so you can have a stronger foundation. Fine then, hurry up and go! Otherwise you won’t be able to finish today’s work in the two hours you have.”
Mang Tian’s workshop had just three members, Mang Tian, Brother Long, and Tang Wulin. Originally, Brother Long was Mang Tian’s sole disciple, but with Tang Wulin’s arrival, he had gained a second disciple. Starting from his second visit to the workshop three years before, Tang Wulin had begun calling Mang Tian ‘Teacher’.
Mang Tian was an extremely strict teacher. He had high demands of his disciples, but he also taught them earnestly. Tang Wulin would often find himself thinking that he learned more things here at the workshop than at the academy.
Everyone had a workshop to work in. Mang Tian brought some forged machine components from outside before distributing them. He gave the simple ones to Brother Long and Tang Wulin, while he personally oversaw the forging of the complex ones.
Every week they would each have one day of specialized training when Mang Tian would instruct them personally. For the rest of the week, they only had to finish the tasks that Mang Tian gave them. The more they worked, the better their craftsmanship and the more money they earned.
Tang Wulin entered his own forging room. It was very different from the dirty and disordered reception room outside. In contrast, he had kept his room extremely neat and tidy.
There were already some raw materials lying on the forging bench, as well as a blueprint by its side.
When he had first come here, Mang Tian had made him pound iron for three months in order to teach him the proper force transmission and mitigation techniques. Each day he had to strike the iron for two hours. Those two hours were always an abyss of suffering for him.
Due to his constant practice, Tang Wulin had grown even stronger than before. Originally, he had used a small iron hammer, but the necessary hammer was gradually replaced by larger and larger ones. After three months of practice, he was allowed to do some simple metal extraction work. One year later, he began making the simplest of components.
It wasn’t until half a year before that he had been promoted from forging small components to medium sized components. Mang Tian even began comparing him and Brother Long more and more strictly. However, Tang Wulin’s temperament had a special sort of perseverance. In the three years he had been working there, not once had he complained about his hardships.
After seriously looking over the blueprint, he understood what today’s task was. He had to make ten machine armored ankle-joints. They were spherical in shape so if the work was done with a mold, it would only have to be pressed twice in order to be finished. However, when it came to forging it, the demands were much higher.
Blacksmithing was divided into many ranks. Generally speaking, there was the Hundred Refined. Hundred Refined was when a component was refined a hundred times throughout. Even higher than that was Thousand Refined.
The more times it was refined, the less impurities a metal would have. Naturally, a metal of quality was required to withstand the pressure of a thousand refinements. For now, Tang Wulin was still unable to create a Thousand Refined component, so he was rarely required to do this sort of work.
With practiced movements, he pressed the button on the workbench, causing it to split open in the middle which exposed a forging furnace. He fastened some metal to the channel on the side, then pressed another button which delivered the metal into the furnace.
He picked up a pair of metal hammers with a shiny black finish. These two hammers were about the same size as the ones he had first used when he had first come here. For this kind of small component, hammers of this size were the most suitable.
However, these hammers were also a present that Mang Tian had given him after having worked in his workshop for one year. Mang Tian had personally manufactured these Thousand Refined Tungsten Hammers. Each one weighed about 40 kilograms, which made it exceedingly difficult for an ordinary person to swing them. Nevertheless, they seemed nearly weightless in Tang Wulin’s hands.
Under the high temperature of the furnace the metal quickly blushed a deep red. Tang Wulin swung the hammer in his right hand onto the crown of the metal. The hammer in his left hand soon connected from the bottom. Pressing down from either side, Tang Wulin was able to remove the chunk of heated metal.
He rapidly swung the tungsten hammers in each hand and a succession of ‘dings’ could be heard. With those resounding ‘dings’, he began that day’s forging.
Blacksmithing was a craftsman’s job. It wasn’t just a simple skilled trade. Mang Tian had told him when he first started that in order to become a blacksmith, he had to use his brain. During the process of pounding the metal, he had to feel the vibrations and the changes in the metal’s vein lines. Only after grasping these two things would he be able to forge quality goods.
In the aspect of perception, Tang Wulin was excellent. Tang Wulin wasn’t aware of the fact that when Mang Tian had gifted him this pair of Thousand Refined Tungsten Hammers, it had signified that he had formally become a blacksmith.
His monthly income couldn’t be considered much but he still earnestly saved a set amount each month. With the remainder, he set apart a small portion to spend for his little sister, while the rest was given to his mother as aid in their family expenses.
He was only a nine year old child right now, but with his three years of forging as well as his resolute nature, he was much more steadfast in comparison to his peers.
Two hours later he gave the final component the finishing strike. Letting out a sigh, he grabbed a nearby towel and wiped away his sweat. Looking upon the ten shining joint components in front of him, he revealed a satisfied expression.
After becoming accustomed to forging, he had grown to like this type of work. Everyday he would brandish his hammer and pound metal. It was a way for him to vent his feelings in a carefree manner. Moreover, there were times when he was pounding the metal that he would enter a peculiarly fantastic state. It was as if he resonated with his hammer as well as with the metal he was forging. Whenever this state occurred, the components that he forged would be especially outstanding. Those components would even draw praise from the cold natured Mang Tian.
“Teacher.” Tang Wulin was just preparing to hand in his work when he discovered that Mang Tian was already in his forging room.
Mang Tian walked over to the workbench to inspect the product first. He nodded, then handed Tang Wulin some paper bills. “Here’s this month’s wages. Your work is pretty good.”
“Thank you, teacher.” Tang Wulin was elated as he hurriedly received the paper bills and stuffed them into this pocket. Due to his excitement, Tang Wulin’s little face was somewhat red yet he couldn’t help but wave his fists in joy.
Mang Tian gave him a doubtful look. “I’ve never seen you so happy to receive your monthly wages before.”
Slightly short of breath, Tang Wulin took a deep breath of air before saying, “Teacher, I’ve saved up enough money to buy a spirit soul!”
Mang Tian blankly looked at him, then said with a hint of emotion, “You’re saying that your martial soulhas already reached rank 10?”
Tang Wulin nodded his head. “I should nearly be there.”
Mang Tian gave a rare trace of a smile. “Good luck.”
“Teacher, I’ll head back first then.” Tang Wulin placed his finished components in a box, then departed full of joy.
As he watched Tang Wulin’s departing back, Mang Tian couldn’t help but show a bigger smile. “At last, that kid is acting like a normal kid. It’s a pity that his martial soulis Bluesilver Grass. No matter what his spirit soul is, I fear that it’s all… However, this is also fortunate for me. This child’s talent in forging far surpasses my own.”
Tang Wulin was happily bouncing up and down the whole trip home. He was truly happy at the moment.
Three years. It had been three whole years. He had painstakingly forged metal everyday. All those swings of his hammer, they had all been for the sake of earning enough money for a spirit soul.
Although he had already calculated the month before that he would finally have enough money for a spirit soul this month. Now that he actually had the money in his hands, he just wanted to shout out in excitement.
Thirty thousand Federation Coins. For those upper class wealthy families, this was nothing. however, to a child who was barely nine years old, it was the fruit of over one thousand days of hard work and sweat! He couldn’t even count the number of times he had raised his hammer in order to earn this amount of money, let alone how much he had sweat for it.
He had finally succeeded! The more he thought about his achievement, the more elated he became. His emotions were simply impossible to convey right now!
The moment he succeeds in breaking through the bottleneck, he would finally be able to obtain a spirit soul. And now he was so close that he was just counting down the number of days before it happened. His soul power was about to make a breakthrough and what’s more, it would be likely be before graduation! Breaking into rank 10 would signify the moment he became a Soul Master.
Although Tang Wulin had taken a liking to forging, it didn’t mean that he wished to take it on as his profession. His dream was still to become a Soul Master, and in the future, he even dreamed of becoming a Machine Armor Master.
All boys had this kind of dream, but how many people were able to put in the necessary effort to achieve their dreams?
Diligence compensates for dullness. Over the last three years, Tang Wulin had always kept these four words in his heart and strived to follow its teachings.
He could finally see this come to fruition now.
“Mom, dad, I’ve earned enough money now! I have enough now!” As soon as Tang Wulin rushed through the doorway, he already began shouting out in excitement.
Na’er was sitting in the living room, sucking on the lollipop Tang Wulin had bought her.
“Big brother, you have enough money to buy a spirit soul now?” She understood Tang Wulin’s excitement too well.
“Mn. I have enough now. I have all thirty thousand.” Tang Wulin swiftly took out the money and put it on top of the table. Afterwards, he quickly returned to his room and retrieved an iron case from underneath his bed. He ran back to the living room and poured out all of the money that was inside of the case.”
“One hundred, two hundred, two hundred twenty…”
“Twenty-nine thousand six hundred, twenty-nine thousand seven hundred… Thirty thousand, thirty thousand and two hundred. There’s actually an extra two hundred! Na’er, I’ll give you a hundred to buy some good food to eat.”
Looking at the large pile of Federation Coins in front of him, Tang Wulin’s little face turned red with excitement.
Lang Yue had already finished working and returned home before them. Even from the kitchen, she could hear her son’s shouts. Tang Ziran had finished work and he was just stepping through the doorway when he also heard his son’s cheers. When they saw all the money on top of the table, the two of them couldn’t help but tear up a bit.
This child, truly had it too hard. While other children were playing, he was already earning money.
Lang Yue walked to her husband’s side and thumped on his shoulder. She didn’t turn around, in fear that the children would see her tears.
“I know what you’re capable of. You’re a very capable son,” said Tang Ziran while patting his wife’s back in comfort. With a smile, Tang Ziran walked over to Tang Wulin and hugged his shoulders from the side and gave him a big thumbs up.
“Once I’ve broken through into the 10th rank, I’ll be able to go buy my spirit soul, right dad?” Tang Wulin excitedly asked.
“That’s correct. When that time comes, I’ll accompany you. No, our whole family will go. You’re about to become a Soul Master, son! I’m very proud of you.”
He was truly ecstatic.Once the night came, no matter how hard he tried, Tang Wulin wasn’t able to enter a meditative state.
Na’er had already fallen asleep. The moon and stars were especially bright that night. The next day would definitely be a sunny day!
Tang Wulin quietly got off his bed. His excitement was simply too much for him to fall asleep. He pulled on Na’er’s blanket and adjusted it so that it covered her delicate body. As usual, she couldn’t stay still while she slept.
‘Mom said that once I turn 10 next year, I won’t be able to sleep in the same room as Na’er anymore. When that time comes, I’ll have to give the room to Na’er and I’ll go sleep in the living room. But why is that?’
At the thought of this, Tang Wulin began to feel uneasy. He liked to being greeted with the sight of Na’er the moment he woke up everyday.
He carefully opened the door, then softly and quietly went out. He wanted to go out for a walk and let his heart calm down. Then he would be able to meditate after he came back.
Opening and closing the door, he didn’t make the slightest sound as he quietly went out.
Bright moonlight shone into the bedroom, falling upon Na’er’s body. This night’s moon was especially bright. Na’er’s silver hair glistened and shone under the blanket of moonlight.
Blanketed by moonlight, suddenly, a ring of light quietly appeared from Na’ers body. Yellow, green, red, blue, purple, gold and silver. These seven colors twinkled one by one.
Had Tang Wulin still been in the room, he would have been able to see this extraordinary scene.
Na’er’s body trembled slightly. After twinkling for a while, the seven-colored ring of light began fusing into the space between her eyes. After a long time, she returned to her previous peaceful state.
The moonlight was still as bright as before, but the ring of light on Na’er’s body had already disappeared. It seemed as if her delicate body had grown a bit. Although she hadn’t grown too much in the last three years, tonight she had a breakthrough.
Her trembling faded away, and once again, Na’er’s breathing returned to normal. However, her eyebrows were knit. It seemed as if the dream she was having wasn’t wonderful or beautiful at all.
This night’s air was especially cool. There was a small garden in the commoners’ area that Tang Wulin lived in. He would often bring Na’er here to play, whenever there was a school holiday.
As soon as he entered the garden, he felt a powerful attraction force from a strand of Bluesilver Grass. He breathed in the sweet scent of the plant as well as the fresh air and a satisfied smile gradually overcame him.
Subconsciously, he sat down cross-legged.
Birds were chirping quietly, the air was cold and pure and he was basking in the the dim radiance of the moon and stars. Under these conditions, he was gradually able to calm down and enter a meditative state.