Chapter 36: Genius Grand Artisan

Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Genius Grand Artisan

In addition to training, there was time for rest. Lu Yuan couldn’t help but set his sights on Mu Lingche. In the Demon Suppression Bureau, Mu Lingche was currently the only person he could farm for quests and experience. Since Lu Yuan needed to increase his strength as quickly as possible, he couldn’t afford to let this opportunity slip by. Therefore, as soon as the break started, he stared at Mu Lingche and took the initiative to approach him.

"What are you doing?" Mu Lingche frowned. "Are you trying to secretly learn the Su family’s martial arts?"

"You must be joking, Young Master Su. How could the Su family’s martial arts be learned just by taking a couple of glances? You overestimate me. I don’t have that kind of talent, much less the intention." Lu Yuan quickly denied it. Such a heavy accusation was not something he could bear. "I just think that you are a dragon among men, standing head and shoulders above the rest. You look somewhat familiar; I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere before."

"Nonsense, how could you have possibly seen me?" Mu Lingche had just been feeling pleased by the flattery, but then his eyes flashed. His identity from the Marquis Mansion was not to be exposed.

"Oh, then I must be mistaken. It really is impossible for me to have seen Young Master Su on the outside. The gap between our statuses is too vast, after all," Lu Yuan said, shaking his head.

"You were definitely mistaken!" Mu Lingche quickly confirmed.

"Heh, how ridiculous. You really know how to spout nonsense and latch onto people. Did you think some sweet words could confuse Young Master Su? As if!" Yu Qiuyang sneered. Such tactics were too low-level. He had tried the same trick before and failed to make a connection.

"So what you’re saying is that Young Master Su isn’t a dragon among men, doesn’t stand head and shoulders above the rest, and can be easily fooled by a few random words of mine?" Lu Yuan asked, looking utterly astonished.

"No! That’s not what I meant!" Yu Qiuyang’s expression abruptly changed as he rushed to explain. "I didn’t—"

"Then what did you mean?" Lu Yuan pressed.

Mu Lingche’s face had already darkened. Anger was brewing.

"I... I..." Yu Qiuyang was entirely at a loss. "You misunderstood me! What I meant was... What I meant was that Young Master Su is wise and brilliant, and wouldn’t be swayed by your sweet talk!"

"See? And you said I was making things up," Lu Yuan shook his head.

"You... Lu Yuan!" Yu Qiuyang gritted his teeth.

"Enough!" Mu Lingche shouted. He glared at Yu Qiuyang with a gloomy expression before sweeping his gaze over to Lu Yuan. "Stay away from me from now on. Especially you, Yu Qiuyang—keep at least ten meters away! And don’t you dare discuss anything related to me!"

Yu Qiuyang could only nod and silently retreat ten meters away.

Lu Yuan also walked away. Facts proved that he couldn’t trigger any quests from Mu Lingche today. It made sense; the trouble had already been resolved last time.

"Brother Lu, the Grand General’s Mansion would never take an interest in us. Just give up," Liu Zhi came over to console him. They weren’t in the same social circle, so there was no point in forcing it.

"Would you believe me if I said that in less than a month, he’ll be the one taking the initiative to befriend me?" Lu Yuan glanced at Liu Zhi, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.

"I..." Liu Zhi’s eyes flickered. He definitely didn’t believe it. "Maybe, but it’d be incredibly difficult."

"Let’s wait and see."

Lu Yuan left the training grounds, planning to look elsewhere. The Demon Suppression Bureau was vast, with so many people inside; there were bound to be others who could trigger quests. Of course, the areas Lu Yuan currently had access to were quite limited. He wandered around for a bit, but the results were underwhelming. Or rather, he encountered absolutely no one of note.

Before he knew it, he had arrived near the Craft Workshop. Lu Yuan spotted a young man in his early twenties with a scruffy beard and messy hair. Getting closer, one could even catch the faint smell of smoke and rust.

"Can I help you with something?" the young man asked, looking up.

"I’d like to forge some hidden weapons," Lu Yuan replied. Since he was practicing the Cloud-Brushing Hand, he naturally needed a set of hidden weapons to match.

"Hidden weapons! What kind do you want?" The young man’s eyes instantly lit up, brimming with a unique vigor. "By the way, I’m Yan Qing, a Craftsman here. I can forge anything below a Spiritual Weapon."

"Spiritual Weapon!" Lu Yuan’s eyes widened slightly.

Was he for real? What a massive boast!

Weapons were divided into four tiers: Mortal Weapons, Profound Weapons, Spiritual Weapons, and Divine Weapons. The corresponding craftsman ranks were Apprentice, Craftsman, Grand Artisan, and Divine Artisan. For someone in their twenties to forge a Profound Weapon meant they possessed top-tier talent. It was the aptitude of a future Grand Artisan.

"Haha, I can’t forge a Spiritual Weapon just yet." Yan Qing shook his head. "But soon! Give me five years at most! Besides, you don’t need a weapon as good as a Spiritual Weapon right now anyway."

[Ever since obtaining the system, your luck has begun to turn around. Just by wandering aimlessly around the Demon Suppression Bureau, you have encountered the genius Grand Artisan, Yan Qing.]

[Quest Issued: Establish a connection with Yan Qing and gain his initial approval. Reward for completion: 3 Root Bone and 1000 EXP.]

Lu Yuan was inwardly shocked. "He really is a future Grand Artisan!"

Becoming a Grand Artisan before the age of forty or fifty was a display of talent barely inferior to his prospective father-in-law reaching the Martial Arts Second Grade in his sixties or seventies. The two would hold roughly the same status.

"Well, my Cultivation hasn’t even reached the Eighth Grade, so ordinary Mortal Weapons will do for my hidden weapons," Lu Yuan said. "Furthermore, I’m afraid I can’t afford Master Yan’s services."

Typically, Spiritual Weapons required at least a Fifth Grade expert to wield. The Seventh Grade and Sixth Grade could make do with Profound Weapons. Anyone below the Seventh Grade used Mortal Weapons. Even the most shoddy, semi-finished Profound Weapon cost several hundred taels of silver.

"No problem. I’ll forge it for you for free," Yan Qing said generously.

"This... how could I accept such a favor?" Lu Yuan’s eyes lit up.

"There’s nothing to feel bad about. I can tell you like this stuff. Just tell me how they handle after you use them," Yan Qing said with a smile.

"Definitely, definitely! I’ll give you a thorough and detailed review!" Lu Yuan nodded repeatedly. Yan Qing was using him as a test subject and just wanted user feedback.

"By the way, what kind of hidden weapons are you looking for?" Yan Qing asked.

"Needles! Needle-shaped ones, ranging from thin to thick... and it would be best if you threw in some diamond-shaped darts!" Lu Yuan quickly and meticulously described his needs. Flying needles pierced through aura fields, making them perfect against Eighth Grade martial artists. The diamond-shaped darts were mainly for dealing with Ninth Grade and below, especially useful when besieged by a group.

"Alright, I understand. Very simple." Yan Qing’s eyes sparkled. "I happen to have some previously forged ones lying around. I just need to modify them a bit. Wait here for an hour." With that, he hurried back inside.

"An hour..." Lu Yuan muttered, waiting outside the Craft Workshop.

Less than an hour later, Yan Qing emerged and handed Lu Yuan a belt.

"I made some modifications to them. You might get a pleasant surprise when you use them," Yan Qing said with a mysterious smile.

"A surprise?" Lu Yuan was also looking forward to this surprise. He took the belt and examined it carefully, tracing the thirty-six needles and fifty-two darts securely fastened to it. Casually drawing two steel needles, he gave them a flick.

SWISH, SWISH!

The needles flew almost silently and invisibly, instantly embedding themselves into a tree trunk several meters away.

"Nice! Not bad!" Yan Qing nodded in satisfaction. Lu Yuan’s throwing technique might not be particularly outstanding, but he was young and possessed boundless potential.

"Just a meager trick. I just hope I don’t fail your handiwork," Lu Yuan said as he stepped forward to pull the steel needles out. He tested the diamond-shaped darts next, finding them exceptionally smooth and easy to use.

"Don’t practice on trees. Wood is too hard; it’s very different from the human body." Yan Qing winked at Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan understood. The sole purpose of all hidden weapons was to shoot people. Human flesh was soft, and humans moved.

"Sigh, I just hope I never have to use them."

"Hehe." Yan Qing chuckled. Working in the Demon Suppression Bureau, how could he possibly avoid using them? "Come find me when you run out, but I’ll have to charge you for the next batch," Yan Qing said with a smile as he turned to leave.

[Congratulations on completing the quest. The reward of 3 Root Bone and 1000 EXP has been credited.]