With a loud clang, the hammer struck the red-hot iron block. Sparks flew, and Qin Mu felt a jolt in his hand.
"Don't rush, take it slow. Everyone has trouble controlling their strength at the beginning," Yuchi Baolin comforted him.
"But you'd better change your clothes tomorrow," Yuchi Baoqing advised.
Seeing the other craftsmen shirtless, wearing only leather aprons, Qin Mu, without a word, took off his shirt and put on his own leather armor. It's not like everyone's been shirtless in a crowd. When he was young, there were plenty of shirtless people on the street, mostly laborers hauling goods in the summer. While he himself hadn't been shirtless in the streets, he'd been at home quite often.
"Tsk tsk! Such delicate skin!" Yuchi Baoqing shook his head and sighed as he looked at Qin Mu.
"Envious, aren't you?" Qin Mu smiled and raised his arm. He was quite satisfied with his current physique. After a period of training, his muscles were starting to show some definition.
"Tch! This is how a man should be. You look so pale and delicate, like a poor, pedantic scholar." Yuchi Baoqing waved his hand dismissively.
“I’m about as fair-skinned as your brother!” Qin Mu looked at Yuchi Baolin. He couldn’t understand how this guy could be Yuchi Gong’s biological son.
"Be careful, don't let anyone else find out." Yu Chi Baolin's envious gaze swept over Qin Mu and landed on the Heavenly Mystery Tower at his waist.
Qin Mu then realized that he had been so focused on changing his clothes that he had forgotten they were outside. Mainly, he was just used to using the Heavenly Mystery Tower.
"Hmm. Of course, I wouldn't use it in front of outsiders." Qin Mu silently reminded himself that he couldn't be too careless in the future, and said with a smile on his face.
In another world, everyone is used to talking about themselves, like brothers, and doesn't say such things. Now, he says it out of habit, which makes the Yuchi brothers very happy.
"Don't worry! My brothers and I are very tight-lipped," Yuchi Baolin said with a smile.
"It's just a small gift, please don't find it offensive." Qin Mu flipped his hand, and a box appeared in his hand. He took out two folding fans from the box.
Of the six folding fans, Qin Yue took one, Qin Huaiyu took one, and Qin Mu took one for himself, leaving three. He kept one as a spare, and gave two to the Yuchi brothers. Qin Mu also thought the Yuchi brothers were straightforward, or perhaps simple-minded, and worth investing in and winning over.
"What is this?" Yuchi Baolin asked, taking it and examining it.
Qin Mu didn't explain, but simply took out his folding fan, opened it with a "snap," shook it, closed it again, tapped it in his palm, and smiled at the two of them.
Seeing Qin Mu's actions, the two brothers' eyes lit up. Then they looked down at the folding fan and imitated Qin Mu, opening and closing it, but since they were just getting the hang of it, the sound wasn't as loud.
"This fan is something else!" After playing with it for a while and getting used to it, Yuchi Baolin finally examined the folding fan and exclaimed in amazement.
"I had the two master craftsmen of the Qin family make it when we were at Juyong Pass," Qin Mu said casually. When giving a gift, if the recipient doesn't recognize it, you should subtly and casually mention its value. Only then can the recipient feel your sincerity.
Yu Chi Baolin, true to his craftsmanship, weighed the fan in his hand, touched its surface, and then slightly tightened his grip. He then looked at Qin Mu and exclaimed, "Brother, this gift is far too precious!"
"It's alright, we're not strangers," Qin Mu said generously.
Since the gift has already been given away, of course it needs to be presented in a grand manner. Perhaps this is because it came too easily, reflecting the mentality of some nouveau riche.
"Tsk tsk! The ribs and the fan surface of this fan are quite remarkable. It is truly the work of a master." Yu Chi Baolin examined the folding fan again, sighing repeatedly. He reached out and stroked it, much more gently than before.
"Good eye! The fan ribs are made from several special ores, with the addition of meteorite iron; as for the fan surface, it's made from the skin of a Silver Wolf General. This was originally a weapon." Qin Mu praised, giving a thumbs up.
This isn't meant as a compliment; most people can't tell the difference between good and bad. They might think it's nice, but they wouldn't recognize its extraordinary qualities. Only an expert like Yuchi Baolin could quickly discover the folding fan's unique features.
"What a pity! What a pity." Looking at the folding fan, Yuchi Baolin couldn't help but shake his head and sigh repeatedly.
"What's wrong?" Qin Mu asked curiously.
"This method of production is not suitable for carving array patterns or inlaying because the fan ribs need to open and close. Otherwise, it would be a Grade Earth item at least," Yuchi Baolin explained.
"Don't worry about those things, just tell me if he's handsome or not," Qin Mu asked.
"Come on, brother, stop talking nonsense. You start practicing first, and I'll take you to a good place later." As if thinking about something, Yuchi Baolin put his arm around Qin Mu's shoulder and pulled him in front of the iron felt.
Qin Mu stopped chatting and began to swing the iron hammer as taught by Yuchi Gong and his son. It was indeed difficult at first; he had to coordinate his legs, waist, and hands to strike the pre-defined spot. If the coordination wasn't good, he would often miss the target, or feel awkward.
Hammer after hammer struck the iron. At first, Qin Mu found the sound harsh and unpleasant, but after he focused on hammering, he stopped noticing it.
Just like striking, you have to coordinate your breathing. Gradually, Qin Mu mastered a little trick, and the sound of the hammer striking became rhythmic if you listened carefully.
This method of beating requires neither spiritual power nor righteous energy; it relies entirely on physical strength. Fortunately, Qin Mu is no longer what he used to be. Although he feels tired, he can still endure it.
With increased physical strength and daily training, Qin Mu had become accustomed to various cultivation methods and quickly mastered the knack of exerting force.
Next came constant practice, honing the coordination of force and eyesight, developing a steady hand, and achieving effortless control over the strike. In other words, it meant being able to hit exactly where you pointed, applying as much force as you wanted to strike the iron block. No wonder Qin Qiong said that in pure martial arts skill, Yuchi Gong was even superior to him.
Qin Mu thought that even if this was somewhat exaggerated, the two should be roughly equal in strength. This was evident from Yuchi Gong's body-forging method; he emphasized the method of exertion and used his body more rationally. Most martial artists primarily utilize the power of their qi and blood, drawing upon their qi and blood's killing intent to unleash greater power—a burst from within. Yuchi Gong's family, however, added coordination of various body parts, naturally resulting in even greater power.
At the same time, this training method allows for more rational control of his strength, using neither too much nor too little. It's foreseeable that once he truly masters this art, even a burly man will be able to wield his weapon with exceptional skill, hitting exactly where he aims, accomplishing with less effort than he would with more. This will undoubtedly enhance his stamina, allowing him to sustain himself for longer periods in large-scale battles.
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