Chương 39: Sun Tiexin's Ruthless Masterstroke

"I wouldn't dare." The answer carried a deeper meaning. Su Zhe was unwilling, but he would not defy his sect's decision. He would accept the arrangement. The response was sincere—tinged with the indignation of a young man facing injustice, yet also revealing his willingness to put the interests of the Ironsmith Gang above his own. Yang Dingtian nodded slightly. The look in his eyes grew even more appreciative.

"Brother Su..." Yu Yi called out, guilt written all over his face.

"You don't need to feel bad, Brother Yu," Su Zhe replied with a smile.

"For martial artists, innate talent comes first. That's simply fate."

"If you truly feel indebted to me, then join Sword-Casting Manor and cultivate diligently."

"When I enter Sword-Casting Manor next year, I'll be relying on your support. It's always easier to rest beneath a big tree." He stepped forward and patted Yu Yi's shoulder. Yu Yi felt even more ashamed. Yet there seemed to be something he could not say aloud. Unable to refuse, he could only nod heavily.

"Enough nonsense. Bring out the compensation." Sun Tiexin snorted, cutting off the conversation. Turning to Wang Shan, he said, "I've heard Su Zhe used to train alongside Yu Yi. He should already be familiar with the Tiger Fiend Saber Art."

"Yu Yi's an honest kid. He taught him everything from Minor Mastery to Major Mastery."

"Today, I'll add the Tiger Fiend Martial Killing Technique. With Su Zhe's talent, reaching Perfection may be difficult, but the Tiger Fiend Bone Tempering method within it will greatly help his breakthrough into the Third Rank." Wang Shan nodded and pulled out a handwritten manual from his robe. A blur flashed. Before anyone could react, the manual had already landed in Sun Tiexin's hand.

"My disciple suffered a great injustice today. I'll hold onto this for him first." Then Sun Tiexin shot Yang Dingtian a provocative look. Looking somewhat embarrassed, Yang Dingtian produced another manual.

"This is the Spirit Serpent Windbreaker Sword Art. Everything from Minor Mastery to its Martial Killing Technique is recorded within."

"Although you won't have the opportunity to enter Sword-Casting Manor this year, obtaining martial arts that normally only personal disciples of the three leaders can learn is still a fortunate gain." Before he even finished speaking, Sun Tiexin had already snatched the manual away. He carefully compared both manuals, flipping through page after page. Only after confirming everything was genuine did he close them.

"Thank you, Hall Master Wang and Gang Leader Yang, for your generosity." Su Zhe bowed respectfully. To him, losing the Sword-Casting Manor slot was frustrating, but not unbearable. Wang Shan had become nearly obsessed with breaking into the Fourth Rank. Anyone who openly blocked his path would likely suffer terrifying consequences. Nepotism... It existed everywhere. Even if he waited another year, there was no guarantee he wouldn't encounter the same situation again.

"Not enough." Sun Tiexin shook his head.

"These martial arts are common goods. The only valuable part is the killing techniques."

"My disciple is a once-in-a-century genius of the Smithing Dao. He's vital to the future of the Ironsmith Gang." He grinned broadly. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

"You two should bleed a little more."

"State your terms." Wang Shan made a helpless gesture.

"Simple. My disciple comes from a poor family. He needs money."

"Fifty taels of refined gold."

"I'm already giving you a discount." The room instantly fell silent. Su Zhe nearly choked. Fifty taels of refined gold? Inside the Ironsmith Gang, that amount required refining at least five hundred taels of ordinary gold. Outside, it could easily cost a thousand taels of gold to acquire. Equivalent to ten thousand taels of silver. Even Su Zhe's body trembled. He had known his master's face was dark. He had not realized his heart was even darker.

From now on, if anyone dared claim brutes lacked intelligence, Su Zhe would fight them.

"Fifty taels?! Iron Bull, don't push your luck!" Wang Shan's eyes nearly bulged from their sockets. Even if he emptied his entire fortune, he couldn't produce that amount. He would have to borrow money.

"It's too much, Tiexin." Even Yang Dingtian shook his head.

"Too much?" Sun Tiexin exploded.

"I've managed the Artisan Hall for the Ironsmith Gang all these years. How much wealth have I made for this gang?"

"My disciple was humiliated. I lost face as well."

"Are you paying or not?" With a thunderous slam, the agarwood tea table beside him instantly disintegrated into dust. His massive eyes widened furiously.

"If not, I'll leave and establish my own Artisan Gang!" The room froze. Without weapon smiths, could the Ironsmith Gang still call itself the Ironsmith Gang? Below the hall, both Su Zhe and Yu Yi trembled. Yu Yi was terrified. Su Zhe, on the other hand, was secretly delighted. Well played, Master. Exactly like that. Make them cough up more blood. Neither Wang Shan nor Yang Dingtian had expected Sun Tiexin to go this far for Su Zhe. The Artisan Hall was effectively the gang's treasury.

If Sun Tiexin truly broke away, the Ironsmith Gang would be crippled overnight.

"Iron Bull, calm down..." Wang Shan suppressed his fury and practically begged.

"But fifty taels is simply too much." What followed was a prolonged tug-of-war. In the end, Wang Shan and Yang Dingtian agreed to compensate Su Zhe with twenty taels of refined gold. Even then, Sun Tiexin remained unsatisfied as he led Su Zhe away. Although Wang Shan had secured this year's Sword-Casting Manor quota for Yu Yi, he couldn't shake the feeling that he had been thoroughly cheated. He only possessed fifteen taels of refined gold himself. The remaining amount had to be borrowed from Yang Dingtian.

No matter how he calculated it, this deal seemed like a loss. Still, he consoled himself. As long as Yu Yi entered Sword-Casting Manor and later recommended him into the Black Armor Army, the investment would eventually pay off. Though once he entered the army, further expenses and bribery would inevitably follow. His finances would become painfully strained. Thinking of money only reminded him of another headache. Huang Mazi. The local fishing tyrant had been under his protection.

The River Guild had turned a blind eye because of Wang Shan's backing. By exploiting countless fishermen, Huang Mazi generated several thousand taels of silver for him every year. Now that revenue stream had vanished.

"Mad Shark..." Wang Shan clenched his teeth.

"Just wait."

"Once the Sword-Casting Manor matter is settled, I'll hunt you down, skin you alive, pull out your tendons, and make shark-fin soup out of you." The names of Huang Mazi, Huang Yuan, and several elite palace warriors flashed through his mind. That damned water bandit had humiliated him again and again. His hatred had reached the bone. Turning toward Yu Yi, Wang Shan's expression darkened.

"Your family has already been taken care of."

"Focus entirely on your cultivation."

"You know the consequences if you ruin this opportunity."

"In seven days, an inner disciple from Sword-Casting Manor will arrive."

"Don't disappoint me." The moment he heard the words "your family has been taken care of," Yu Yi visibly shuddered. He immediately knelt and slammed his forehead against the floor.

"Disciple will not fail Master's expectations!" Yang Dingtian ignored the exchange. His thoughts had already drifted back to Su Zhe. A strange expression appeared on his face.

"His vitality is as strong as an ox. He possesses the aura of a mighty tiger..."

"And there's another beastly aspect hidden within him. Something serpentine."

"No wonder he's suited for the Spirit Serpent Sword." His eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

"Can this boy truly inherit the Ironsmith Patriarch's legacy?" Compared to that legendary inheritance, admission into Sword-Casting Manor suddenly seemed far less impressive. If Su Zhe truly obtained the Patriarch's legacy, Sword-Casting Manor might personally invite him to join. Even the Four Heavenly Kings would become envious. On the way back to the Artisan Hall, Sun Tiexin suddenly asked:"Do you resent me?"

"No." Su Zhe answered calmly.

"It seems Master anticipated this outcome long ago. You've already secured tremendous benefits for me. I'm satisfied." Before leaving the meeting hall, Sun Tiexin had already handed over both martial arts manuals and all twenty taels of refined gold.

"Hah!" Sun Tiexin laughed loudly.

"Smart, patient, and knowing when to advance or retreat."

"I'm liking you more and more, kid." His eyes rolled mischievously.

"That sickly cat Wang Shan has practically gone mad over Sword-Casting Manor. Somehow he even convinced Yang Dingtian."

"Under those circumstances, anything I said would have been useless." A crafty grin spread across his face.

"So after seven days, when Sword-Casting Manor's disciple arrives..."

"I'll personally tell him about your smithing talent."

"We'll see whether Sword-Casting Manor can resist that temptation." Su Zhe froze. His master... This was truly a masterstroke. Not only had he squeezed compensation out of Wang Shan and Yang Dingtian— He still had no intention of giving up the Sword-Casting Manor opportunity. Su Zhe genuinely hadn't seen that coming. He frowned.

"Is smithing talent really that important to Sword-Casting Manor?" Sun Tiexin picked at his nose and shrugged.

"How should I know?"

"Xiao Xunhuan visited Sword-Casting Manor before."

"According to him, they place extraordinary importance on smithing geniuses." Su Zhe fell silent. He couldn't shake the feeling that Sword-Casting Manor's obsession with smithing talent had a deeper reason behind it. Unfortunately, his status was still too low. He simply lacked the information to understand why.

"For now, focus on forging." Sun Tiexin patted his shoulder.

"When Sword-Casting Manor's people arrive, try to forge a Third-Grade Mortal Weapon."

"And don't neglect your cultivation of the Tiger Fiend Saber or Spirit Serpent Sword."

"Those are even more important than the admission slot itself."

"Remember that."

"I understand, Master." Su Zhe nodded. A Third-Grade Mortal Weapon... Would that really be enough to impress Sword-Casting Manor? His eyes burned with anticipation. The answer would soon reveal itself.