Chapter 49: I vow to die before the Emperor, so that my demise will not be in vain.
Xingguofang Foundry
Guan Ye spent two days repairing the spiral blower. The smelter burned the coarse coal into silver charcoal, made a furnace with sand and clay, purified iron ore and fused it with corundum. In just ten days, the two were melted into a slurry. The black iron was shiny and the corundum was colorful. The slurry was the color of black copper. When stirred, it did not feel heavy at all. The sword showed a sharp and light feeling even before it was forged.
The crowd gathered around to watch the slurry, all full of praise. Pei Yuan glanced at Guan Ye and asked, "The 'Casting Classic' doesn't seem to record anything about spiral airflow. Where did you learn that?"
"That's what Steward Pei said," Guan Ye said immediately.
"Me?" Pei Bi was speechless, "Master of the shop, I..."
"It was Steward Pei who reminded us." Guan Ye blinked her big eyes. "He said that the woodshed had collected a lot of old things from Tianhu Workshop, and asked us to see if there was anything we could use. Well... we found an item we'd never seen before. I thought it looked strange, so Ajiu and I fiddled with it for a bit... Steward Pei is a good manager, he saved us a lot of trouble. Thank you, Steward Pei." Guan Ye said, bowing to Pei Bi with her hands clasped.
"You're welcome...you're welcome..." Pei Bi was so frightened that he retreated repeatedly, waving his hands haphazardly to parry, almost stepping on Pei Yuan's newly made riding boots.
Pei Yuan remained silent, turning to the old blacksmith beside him and asking, "If this sword, forged from molten metal, weighed only five jin, could it withstand a heavy blow?"
Guan Ye's heart stirred slightly. Pei Chong's Flowing Gold Sword, the ancestor of the Pei family, was forged from diamond sand. However, this peerless weapon was destroyed by the sword of Tianhu Workshop. Now it is a test of swords. If this knot is not untied, Pei Yuan is afraid that the path to Tianjue Xingguo will follow in the footsteps of his ancestor.
The old blacksmith stirred the slurry again, nodding emphatically, "Black iron is hard and tough, and corundum is tough. The two complement each other, so there shouldn't be any problem."
"Should?" Pei Yuan's hawk-like eyes glared angrily. "Xingguo Ward still has a way out?"
The old blacksmith's knees buckled, but he was fortunate to be supported by the sword servant so that he did not fall. "This old servant has not forged many weapons, but only heard about them from my master. No matter how much the workshop master presses me, this old servant... does not have complete confidence."
Pei Yuan turned his gaze to Guan Ye. Guan Ye steadied her breathing and said calmly, "The 'Sword Forging Classic' records that in the art of sword forging, hardness and sharpness cannot be both achieved. Sometimes, one must choose one of the two. The Xuan Tie sword can cut heavy objects, but it is not sharp enough. The Liu Jin sword can cut a hair with a breath, but it is difficult to pierce the armor of soldiers. This is the principle."
"You've said so much," Pei Yuan said, scrutinizing Guan Ye's earnest face with a meaningful look in his eyes. "So, is the iron paddle you crafted more hard or more sharp?"
Pei Yuan's eyes were sharp and menacing. The swordsmen exchanged glances, all sweating for Guan Ye. Pei Bi rubbed his hands together. When he left Guan Ye behind, he never imagined she would know so much. Even the shopkeeper was unsure of herself during the sword-testing, yet Guan Ye fearlessly offered guidance, making it seem quite reasonable. Pei Bi hid his sweaty hands behind his back. He was also curious about what kind of sword Guan Ye had brought to Xingguo Shop.
"It depends on the purpose." Guan Ye mustered her courage. "If it's for fighting on the battlefield, the Xuan Tie Sword is naturally the best choice. But if it's for testing swordsmanship, where swordsmen compete in swordsmanship and skill, then the lightness of this sword becomes more important. So... the swords from Xingguo Workshop are sharper."
"If it's not tough enough, won't it be cut in half by the opponent!" Pei Yuan's voice boomed, startling everyone in the foundry.
"No." Guan Ye said firmly, "Diamond sand is tough and difficult to break. This is a basic principle. Even if it is facing a Xuan Tie sword, it will not be easily damaged."
"Why was our ancestor's Golden Sword broken?" Pei Yuan leaned down, his gaze as heavy as a mountain.
Guan Ye gently bit her lip, her eyes still filled with courage. "I don't know... I just... I don't know yet." As she spoke, she raised her head to meet Pei Yuan's burning eyes. "There's a reason for everything. One day, I will find out."
“One day.” Pei Yuan straightened up with difficulty and looked around at the wall of people gathered in the foundry. “We will only have that day when we win the sword trial.”
Before he finished speaking, Lou Cangyu strode forward, knelt on one knee, and unsheathed his sword, inserting it into a crevice in the stone. "Your subordinate, Lou Cangyu, requests to test his sword on behalf of Xingguo Warehouse. If I am defeated, I will atone with my death!"
"Lou Cangyu!" Pei Bi roared, "How dare you! This is no place for you to speak. Go back here."
Lou Cangyu remained motionless like a stone statue, as if he would kneel there forever if he didn't agree. Pei Yuan turned his back to him, not looking at him, and followed the disappearing figure of the old blacksmith. "Burn incense and fast for three days, and prepare to start casting."
"Master!" Lou Cangyu shouted, "I volunteer to test the sword for the workshop. If I lose, I will die for the sword."
"Why are you doing this?" Pei Yuan shook his head and turned his head. "The Golden Sword was broken, and the blacksmith, unable to bear the humiliation, committed suicide by striking his head against the sword. You are so young. If you lose, are you willing to risk your own life?"
"As long as my opponent can't kill me, I will never lose." Lou Cangyu knew that Xingguofang's first battle after entering the capital was one of the few opportunities he had in his life. He was willing to risk his life to seize it. He was not afraid of dying, but he was afraid of dying a mediocre death. Dying on Canglang Island would be nothing more than a handful of yellow earth. To die in Rongdu, to die before the emperor, would be a worthy death.
On the eve of the sword test, the sword from Xingguo Workshop was finally forged. The blade was black and gold, and upon closer inspection, it resembled a frosty blade. It was thin and sharp, made of dark iron with a deep, dark luster and golden sand. It shimmered in the sunlight. To reduce the weight, the hilt was made of golden silk wood instead of iron and stone, and was carved with the Pei family's curved knife pattern. It was clearly a rare and fine sword.
Lou Cangyu took a deep breath and lifted the sword hilt. The blade flashed, leaving a trail of light wherever it struck. Lou Cangyu was overjoyed. He gripped the hilt tightly, focused his strength on the sword's edge, and let out a low roar. The sword energy he unleashed startled the onlookers, who covered their faces and dodged. His movements were fluid and seamless, as if he and the sword had become one.
Guan Ye stared intently at Lou Cangyu. Compared to his duel with Ajiu on Canglang Island, Lou Cangyu's swordsmanship had improved considerably, showing that he had practiced diligently in recent days. His moves were clean and crisp, full of determination, as if he were determined to cut through everything and defeat his opponent. For a moment, Guan Ye thought of Aunt Lou and Shitou who were left on the island. If they knew that Lou Cangyu was going to perform for the emperor, Aunt Lou would surely be moved to tears. And Shitou, even if he didn't know what a sword trial was, seeing his younger brother happy would make him even happier than his brother.
What are the Lou family mother and son doing right now? Guan Ye sniffed, shook her head self-deprecatingly, and stopped thinking about it.
Lou Cangyu sheathed his sword, then gracefully twirled it with his back to the others. He looked at Ajiu and the others with an air of arrogance, raised two fingers and traced them across his forehead ribbon, mimicking the sound of a sword whistling through the wind.
"That's great!" Feng Shisan clapped his hands and said, "No wonder he dared to risk his life."
“Cang Yu practices until midnight every day.” Ji Fang tilted his head and looked at the dumbfounded group of people. “You sleep like a pig, of course you wouldn’t know.”
"Xingguo Workshop can forge the best swords, but does it also have the best swordsmen?" Pei Bi leaned closer to Pei Yuan and asked in a low voice, "Is Lou Cangyu really capable?"
“Where there is a best sword, there will naturally be a best swordsman.” Pei Yuan opened his eyes to the wind. “The Lou family’s little stone wants to stay in Rongdu more than anyone else. He will definitely fight hard to win, after all…” Pei Yuan’s voice lowered, “a person only has one life.”
Pei Yuan raised his crimson hair, "With a wielding blade, I soar through the heavens; with a long swing of my sword, I tread the vast ocean. Success or failure will be decided tomorrow. If Heaven abandons my Pei family again, I, Pei Yuan, will have no choice but to sacrifice this remaining life to the ancestral furnace!"
Lou Cangyu knelt on the ground, sword in hand, declaring, "Cangyu will not fail in his mission!"
As night fell, Lou Cangyu was still caressing the sword he would be using for the next day's duel in the backyard. He had heard from the old sword slave on the island that if a swordsman held reverence for the sword in his hand, he would be blessed by the sword spirit and be invincible. When he was young, he did not take it seriously. The outcome of a sword duel depended on the swordsman's skill. Reverence? His life had always been in his own hands, so why should he revere a sword?
But this time, he was willing to believe the old sword slave's words. Lou Cangyu gripped the sword hilt and murmured prayers for the sword spirit's protection.
"So you're here." Guan Ye approached with a cheerful voice, followed by A Jiu and the others. Moreover, a wisp of hot soup aroma wafted over. Lou Cangyu slowly loosened his grip on the sword, but his body remained motionless.
Ji Fang put down the large bowl he was holding and handed it to him with a simple smile. "I noticed you haven't touched your chopsticks for dinner. You have to have a sword fight tomorrow. If you don't eat enough, you won't have any strength. You'll be knocked out in a few moves. Do you really want to watch the master of the workshop sacrifice himself for the furnace?"
“Not only the shopkeeper, but I also signed a life-or-death pledge. I don’t want to die yet.” Lou Cangyu sheathed his sword, his fingers twirling the gold-threaded hilt. He put the sword into its case, and as he closed the lid, he paused and looked at Guan Ye. “Vajra sand is tough, tough yet hard to break, isn’t it?”
“Yes.” Guan Ye replied without hesitation, “The competition is tomorrow, you shouldn’t be doubting it now.”
"I didn't." Lou Cangyu closed the box lid, patted it heavily with both hands, and lowered his eyes, no longer looking at anyone else.
Ajiu placed her palm on his slightly trembling shoulder. "I heard from the shop owner that the Emperor and the Crown Prince will be attending the sword-testing ceremony in the inner workshop tomorrow. We few are not qualified to meet the Emperor, so I'm afraid we can't accompany you..."
Lou Cangyu suddenly raised her head, a hint of unease flashing in her eyes, "You're not going?"
"Are you panicking?" Feng Shisan teased. "We're just going to support you. We can't help you fight the inner swordsmen. Whether we're there or not doesn't matter." He clenched his fist and pressed it against his chest. "Being here with you is enough."
Xiao Ma picked up his chopsticks and stirred the noodles in the bowl. He picked up some thin noodles with the chopsticks, and there was a poached egg lying at the bottom of the soup. It was white, tender, and bouncy. With a little stirring, the half-cooked yolk flowed into the soup, glistening with an enticing sheen. Xiao Ma's eyes were watering, and he even swallowed hard. "I added this egg for you. You want to eat it? If you don't, I'll eat it."
"I'll eat." Lou Cangyu pulled out his bamboo chopsticks, picked up a mouthful of noodles, and slurped them down. As he ate, he raised an eyebrow and glanced at the people surrounding him. He swallowed the noodles whole and said, "Why are you all looking at me like that?"
"Whether I, Xiao Ma, can stay in Rongdu depends on you tomorrow." Xiao Ma punched Lou Cangyu, who choked and coughed violently a few times. Xiao Ma hurriedly patted Lou Cangyu's back and chest, saying, "Slow down, no one is going to take it from you."
Lou Cangyu pointed at him, unable to utter a sound. He caught his breath, lowered his head, and slurped a large bite. Golden yolk dripped from the broken egg. Guan Ye watched the drops, one by one, then leaned closer, resting her chin on her hand, and asked, "Is it delicious?"
Lou Cangyu stopped chewing, swallowed hard, and said, "Stupid, would I eat it if it didn't taste good?"
Seeing Guan Ye's eager look, Lou Cangyu was afraid that she would suddenly snatch the rest away, so he picked up the large bowl and drank it all in one gulp. After putting the bowl down, Lou Cangyu was about to say something when Guan Ye snatched the bowl and placed it in front of him, her expression becoming unusually stern.
"What are you doing?" Lou Cangyu wiped his mouth. "Do you want me to spit it out?"
Guan Ye bit her fingertips, then suddenly opened the sword case, reached for the hilt, and flicked the blade with her knuckles, the sword ringing out in a melodious note. "I've heard the inner workshops are incompetent, but even incompetent, they're still the imperial workshops, not to be underestimated. Ajiu and I went to the ghost market to buy diamond powder; the Western Region stall owner said someone even bought three hundred catties from him..."
"Is it the inner workshop?" Lou Cangyu pricked up his ears.
"Perhaps it is, perhaps it isn't." Guan Ye stared at the thin, resilient blade. "If the inner workshop also uses a mixture of diamond sand and black iron, to ensure lightness, the proportions will be similar to ours. In that case, it will be two almost identical swords. Lou Cangyu, then the sword test will be a contest of your swordsmanship."
"The Azure Jade Sword Technique is undoubtedly superb." Ji Fang chuckled and put his arm around his shoulder. "On the island, Xiao Ma and I suffered quite a few defeats at his hands."
"What if... the inner workshop didn't use corundum?" Lou Cangyu followed Guan Ye's gaze, staring intently at the sword blade without blinking.
"With a half-month deadline, even if the inner workshop has other iron ore, the time is too short for them to forge anything else, so there's nothing to fear," Guan Ye said confidently. "There's another possibility: they might forge a... five-pound black iron sword to compete with you."
"The Xuan Tie Sword?" Ajiu took the hilt from Guan Ye's hand, pinched the blade between two fingers and applied slight force, and the thin blade bent into an arc. "You said that the 'Forging Classic' records that hardness and sharpness cannot be fully obtained, so we should use our sharpness to test the hardness of the inner workshop."
"A-Jiu," Lou Cangyu stammered, "if you were me, what would you do?"
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