Chapter 148: Custom-Made Magical Instruments

“Sir!”

As Chen Donghe stepped through the door, people on both sides addressed him as ‘Sir’. The title burned uncomfortably in his heart, yet he couldn't bring himself to object.

Before his death, Chen Erniu had a final meeting with him. Chen Donghe sobbed, unable to speak. Chen Erniu squeezed his hand and said hoarsely, “Go forward boldly from now on; your father won't blame you. You are a clever child, you know how to get things done. Guard our family well.”

Chen Erniu understood Chen Donghe’s deep-seated worry. Although becoming a live-in son-in-law was a mutual decision, Chen Erniu no longer cared about his family name. If Li Gengshui, Li Mutian’s father, hadn't saved him back then, there would be no Chen family today to speak of. Moreover, on the Li family’s territory, neither of them was in a position to refuse.

Still, publicly, Chen Erniu had cast him out of the family, cursing his beloved son loudly for all to hear on the street. This was to demonstrate that the Chen family had completely severed ties with him. Chen Erniu knew that their current relationship with the Li family didn't require such a charade, but he had cautiously put on the act nonetheless.

Now that the old man had passed away, Chen Donghe, filled with guilt, approached his coffin. He was now twenty-six years old, having gone from childhood to adolescence to youth. He had been taught by two people: Chen Erniu until he was seven, and Li Xiangping thereafter. One taught him steadiness and forbearance, the other taught him ruthless offense.

“Father!”

Chen Donghe knelt before the coffin, weeping bitterly. The man he considered a father, and his own biological father, had both passed away in succession. How could he not be in pain?

Li Jingqian gently stroked his back from the side. Chen Donghe, clad in white, appeared particularly frail in the wind. Li Tongya also sighed softly. Chen Donghe had also grown up under his gaze and had married Li Jingqian. For a moment, he watched Chen Donghe crying bitterly, remaining silent, unsure what to say.

Li Pingyi, standing below, was moved by the somber atmosphere. He, too, couldn't help but shed tears. He covered his eyes and glanced at Li Yuanxiu beside him, only to see that Li Yuanxiu’s eyes were also brimming with tears. He then whispered, “Yuanxiu…”

Li Yuanxiu turned his head and made a shushing gesture. The two then lowered their heads, silently shedding tears.

Not until Chen Erniu’s funeral concluded did the two boys step out. Li Yuanxiu quietly sat down on the steps, and Li Pingyi choked out, “If my father died, I’d be this sad too.”

Wiping away his tears, Li Pingyi looked at Li Yuanxiu’s glistening tears in the sunlight and softly said, “Xiu…” Li Yuanxiu raised his eyelashes, turned his head, and looked at him, only to see Li Pingyi declare earnestly, “If you die, I’ll be sad too.”

Li Yuanxiu nodded vigorously, about to say something more, when Li Xuanxuan already walked out from the courtyard, took the child’s hand, and the two walked away together. Li Pingyi, meanwhile, sat there for a while, then stood up, patted his behind, and went off to play by himself in the alley.

Li Xuanfeng had arrived in town three days prior. He had spent several days with Jiang Yunü, playing day and night. The large goose was still pacing angrily in the courtyard, honking. He carried Jiang Yunü and spun her around the courtyard a few times, when he heard the young woman blushingly ask, “If we have a child, what should we name them?”

Li Xuanfeng chuckled and explained, “I'm of the ‘Xuan’ generation. If you have a boy, he'll be of the ‘Yuan’ generation; if a girl, she'll be of the ‘Qing’ generation. That will do.”

Jiang Yunü nodded. Li Xuanfeng glanced at the time, carried her back to bed, and whispered, “The Guanyun Peak market will open soon, but I still have important business to attend to. I need to go out for a while; I'll come back for you after I'm done.”

With that, he tidied his clothes, kissed Jiang Yunü, and flew west. Before long, he landed at the foot of Guanyun Peak.

He walked a few steps along the market street. The stalls gradually thinned out, and several shops appeared before him. Li Xuanfeng looked around for a moment, then chose a shop selling magical artifacts, and stepped over the threshold into the store.

Inside, a cultivator at the Embryonic Breathing stage stood, who greeted him with a broad smile. Li Xuanfeng said gravely, “Go ask your shop owner how many spirit stones it costs to custom-make a magical artifact. I want a longbow artifact of the Qi Condensation level.”

The welcoming attendant was stunned for a moment, then quickly said, “Alright, alright, I'll go right away!” He immediately hurried off. Before long, a burly, bare-chested man hurriedly pushed open a door from the back courtyard and entered. He approached as swiftly as the wind. Numerous iron tools hanging from his body clanged noisily. Observing his cultivation, he was already at the peak of the Qi Condensation stage.

“What are your requirements, fellow Daoist?”

The man, with a face full of stubble and sharp eyes, stared directly at Li Xuanfeng. He looked rugged, but his voice was rather gentle. He stared at Li Xuanfeng for a moment, as if recalling something.

“I am Li Xuanfeng of the Li family from Lijing. It's a pleasure to meet you, fellow Daoist!”

“The Li family from Lijing? So you’re from the family of the Azure Sprout Sword Immortal!”

The rugged man cupped his hands, a look of sudden realization on his face, and chuckled, “I am Chu Minglian. I also ran a small shop by Moon-Gazing Lake back then, and I should have some connection with your father's generation!”

“Really?” Li Xuanfeng’s spirits immediately lifted as he asked in return.

“Back then, the Azure Sprout Sword Immortal came to my shop to sell a rare fiery malevolence from Yue Kingdom. Later, when the Azure Sprout Sword Immortal’s reputation spread, old Chu found the name oddly familiar. After days and nights of pondering, he finally understood! I immediately felt a great deal of regret! If only I had known, I would have offered more spirit stones; who knows, I might have even gained the Sword Immortal’s favor!”

Chu Minglian was quite humorous; his banter quickly brought them closer. Li Xuanfeng chuckled aloud, cupping his hands as he said, “Senior, it seems you have such a connection with my family! It looks like I can pay fewer spirit stones today!”

Chu Minglian chuckled softly a couple of times, his laughter caught in his throat by that remark. He paused for a second or two, then burst into hearty laughter, repeating, “You're quite amusing, young brother.”

With that, he glanced at him, then sighed with admiration, “The Li family truly produces a continuous stream of talents. When the Sword Immortal came to me back then, he was only at the Embryonic Breathing stage, but now he is a senior who has established his immortal foundation. And you, young brother, are already at the Qi Condensation stage at such a young age. Your future is immeasurable!”

Li Xuanfeng exchanged pleasantries with him, then quickly got down to business. He briefly described the magical artifact he wanted to commission. Chu Minglian listened carefully and nodded, saying, “This artifact of yours is quite rare. Few cultivators use bows, let alone such a heavy one!”

After pondering for a few breaths, Chu Minglian said gravely, “I intend to use Golden Square Screen Stone for the bow body and temper it with profound fire. Only then can it withstand the five thousand *jin* of force you mentioned while retaining sufficient resilience. As for the bowstring… would you prefer the sinew of a demonic beast or a metal material?”

“Metal material, then!” Li Xuanfeng considered that *gangqi* inflicted immense damage on flesh, but it transmitted quickly through metal. He feared that a demonic beast’s sinews and bones wouldn't be able to withstand it, so a metal material would be most suitable.

“In that case, we'll use the refined essence of Qingwu Ore. By refining ordinary Qingwu Ore, we can forge a single strand of Qingwu metal essence that will also meet your requirements.”

Li Xuanfeng nodded repeatedly upon hearing this, saying quickly, “Excellent, excellent! But I wonder how many spirit stones it will cost?”

Chu Minglian smiled slightly and explained, “The raw materials will cost eighty spirit stones, and it will take me a full half-year to forge it. With a labor fee of forty spirit stones, the total will be one hundred and twenty spirit stones.”

Li Xuanfeng’s heart sank. This price far exceeded his budget. The spirit stones in his storage pouch, combined with the fifty spirit stones his family had provided, amounted to just over a hundred in total. Yet, he was very satisfied with the bow Chu Minglian described. He gritted his teeth and whispered, “Senior, if I provide the Qingwu Ore myself, how much of a discount can you offer?”

Chu Minglian pondered for a moment and replied, “The Qingwu Ore costs thirty spirit stones. If you can provide it yourself, then it will only be ninety spirit stones.”

“Then it's settled!” Li Xuanfeng was greatly invigorated. He piled a heap of spirit stones onto the table with a clinking sound and had the attendant count them. He then took out a large piece of Qingwu ore for Chu Minglian to cut off a portion. He watched him eagerly until Chu Minglian smiled and nodded, saying, “Young brother, come back in half a year to collect it!”

Li Xuanfeng immediately nodded repeatedly. The two went to the Xiao family members in the market and drew up a contract. They both swore a Profound Scenery Spirit Oath. Only then did Li Xuanfeng, completely satisfied, rise into the air on the wind, not bothering about his empty pouch, and happily went to find the young woman.