Mortise and tenon joints build cloud dwelling
The market town of Linshan was bustling with activity.
The smells of soil, new seeds, and livestock mingled and rose, adding to the heat of spring plowing than usual.
Ling Zhan carried a heavy backpack.
Wrapped in fur and filled with exquisite jade, it ignored the surrounding noise and headed straight for the blacksmith's shop on the street corner, where the furnace was burning brightly and clanging.
"The best steel! The toughest steel!"
A heavy, enormous bear skin with icy blue frost patterns was slapped onto the dark, shiny oak counter.
The sound wasn't loud, but it carried the chill of the mountaintop, instantly drowning out the noise of hammers and anvils in the shop.
Behind the counter, the old blacksmith, who was wiping his sweat with a dirty rag, subconsciously looked up.
When her cloudy eyes met Ling Zhan's cold, piercing gaze that seemed capable of freezing the air, they suddenly widened in surprise!
His hand, which was wiping away sweat, froze in mid-air. His Adam's apple bobbed, and the color drained from his face instantly, leaving only a pale complexion mixed with awe and fear.
"It's...it's you?!"
The old blacksmith's voice was dry and strained, almost as if it were being squeezed out of his throat.
They instinctively lowered their heads as low as possible, as if afraid of waking a sleeping beast.
"Everyone in town is saying... that you single-handedly took down the Black Tiger Gang's stronghold... and threw Scarface Biao and his gang into the county government like dead dogs... was it... was it you?!"
He looked Ling Zhan up and down incredulously—
Carrying a basket on her back and dressed in coarse cloth, she looked like an ordinary village woman, but the chilling aura that penetrated to the bone, like a knife scraping against her skin, made him believe it.
Ling Zhan's gaze remained calm and unwavering, only falling back on the bearskin on the counter: "Steel."
The old blacksmith shuddered; all his doubts vanished, leaving only his instinct driven by fear.
"Yes! Yes! I have good steel! This old man has it!"
He bowed and scraped, his movements so nimble that he didn't seem like an old man.
Ignoring the pity for the treasured item stored away, she turned and rushed into the deepest corner of the back room.
A moment later, he carefully took out several iron blanks that shimmered with a cold, eerie blue light and were icy to the touch, and placed them on the counter as if offering them to a deity.
"Miss...you have a good eye! This is an heirloom material, mixed with meteorite powder from outer space, and refined through countless trials! It's as tough as old vines and as hard as bluestone! You won't find anything better within a hundred miles...no, a thousand miles!"
He rubbed his hands together, his tone both ingratiating and apprehensive, "It's just...it's just that she has a very strong personality and is extremely difficult to please...it takes so much time and effort..."
"Fight," Ling Zhan interrupted, his words concise and to the point.
She then took out a jade box emanating a chilling aura from deep within her backpack and opened it.
Two perfectly shaped Jade Mushrooms, shimmering with an icy blue aura, lay quietly inside. A rich, chilling aura and a refreshing medicinal fragrance instantly filled the air, even clearing the scorching heat.
"Urgent. Follow the instructions."
She handed me a drawing made with charcoal on rough tree bark.
The lines are sharp and the structure is clear.
A heavy-duty □.
A three-piece set of combined precision steel chisels.
Wide-backed, thin-bladed planers with grooves, saws with special teeth, precision lead weights and ink markers, graduated right-angle rulers, portable hand-cranked drills, and drill bits of various specifications.
When the old blacksmith saw Han Yuzhi, his eyes almost popped out!
This is a rare treasure that can mend broken bones and save lives!
He instantly understood what this scoundrel was up to—he was definitely going to establish an even more terrifying stronghold in those man-eating mountains!
He dared not entertain any further distractions and said resolutely, "Alright! Don't worry, young lady! Leave it to me! I'll risk this old man's life, without eating or sleeping, and within ten days, I'll make sure you get the right weapon!"
He whirled around and roared at the back room with an unprecedentedly fierce voice: "Big Hammer! Erniu! Stop all the chores! Turn on the furnace! Bring out the best coke! Bring out that barrel of century-old tung oil quenching oil that's been stored away in the cellar! Now!"
The fire roared instantly, the blazing flames licking the furnace and turning the entire shop a fiery red.
For the next ten days, the blacksmith's shop echoed with deafening hammering sounds day and night, and sparks flew everywhere like an angry swarm of red bees.
Ling Zhan arrived every day without fail, like the most silent and strictest overseer, standing beside the scorching furnace. Her figure was elongated and distorted in the flickering flames, resembling a cold, demonic statue. Her gaze was sharp as a hawk's, locking onto the angle and force of each hammer blow, the timing of the rising smoke and the changes in oil temperature during each quenching. Occasionally, when the old blacksmith and his apprentice were exhausted or at a crucial forging point, she would silently take over the heavy hammer, twist her waist, and channel all her strength into the hammer handle like a volcanic eruption!
"clang--!!!"
A terrifying hammer blow, far exceeding the strength of the master and apprentice, crashed down! Sparks flew violently! The entire anvil groaned under the unbearable weight! The dark blue meteorite iron twisted, stretched, and fused painfully in the process of being hammered and forged. The rough outer shell gradually faded away, revealing the deep, starry essence within, and was finally forged into a tool blank with cold, hard lines, exuding a chilling aura and deadly efficiency.
The tip of the steel chisel is imbued with a sharp, concentrated light that seems capable of piercing through mountain rocks; the blade of the □□ is adorned with layers of forging patterns like ripples in water, and a cold, deep blue light dances on the edge; the alloy drill bit of the crank drill reflects a dazzling white light in the morning light, like solidified lightning.
When the last dagger was dipped into century-old tung oil, emitting a clear, long, dragon-like "clang," the old blacksmith, exhausted like a skinned corpse with its bones removed, collapsed onto the scorching ground, sweat pouring down his gaunt face, leaving deep furrows.
But as he gazed at the set of tools, quietly displayed in the morning light, exuding a cold beauty and unparalleled sharpness, a craftsman's almost manic pride shone in his eyes. And there was also a deep awe of that inhuman power.
He struggled to his feet and, with a treasured, unused fine velvet cloth, meticulously and almost reverently wiped away the remaining oil and dust from each tool. Then, he held the heaviest weapon in both hands, bent deeply, and respectfully presented it to Ling Zhan, his voice hoarse yet incredibly clear:
"Ling... Madam Ling! The tools... are all forged for you! You... you take a look? I dare to swear on my ancestors for eighteen generations that this is absolutely... the best set of tools I've ever forged in my life! With these... you'll definitely be able to carve a path to heaven in that dragon's den and tiger's lair!"
His gaze swept over Ling Zhan's cold profile, then quickly lowered, his reverence ingrained in his very bones.
Ling Zhan took the [illegible] .
It was heavy and icy cold to the touch, its center of gravity perfectly extending from her arm. She casually twirled the blade, the pale blue edge silently slicing through the air, leaving only a cool afterimage. No words were needed; this toolkit was perfect.
She gave the remaining payment—a few golden leaves that shimmered alluringly in the morning light—
He placed it on the counter, slung the grim tools over his shoulder, and turned to disappear into the bustling crowds of the market.
The old blacksmith gazed at the gleaming gold on the counter, far exceeding the value of the Cold Jade and his wages, then looked in the direction Ling Zhan had disappeared. He let out a long sigh, as if a thousand-pound burden had been lifted. He wiped his forehead, which was almost covered in salt, and muttered, "Goodness... finally got rid of that true god... but... with such a powerful thing... the mountains are going to be in chaos..."
He shook his head, carefully put the gold leaf away, and felt an indescribable curiosity and a deep-seated worry about Kaoshan Village, the place that could "tether" this evil star.
Returning to the mountaintop, the remaining snow gleamed with a cold, hard silver light in the shade.
Carrying his newly acquired weapon, Ling Zhan headed straight for the edge of the grassland, where a forest of hemlocks and spruces stood as straight as halberds and whose wood was harder than refined iron.
Target: A giant tree with a straight trunk and in its prime.
After selecting the first giant sequoia that required two people to encircle, Ling Zhan did not rush to swing his axe.
She walked slowly around the tree, her fingertips brushing against the rough bark, feeling the grain, internal stress, and the center of gravity of the crown. The faint data stream from the star's core intertwined with her knowledge of logging, forming a clear, three-dimensional force model in her mind. Finally, she stopped at the optimal point to strike.
"Clang—!"
The sword was drawn! A flash of cold, dark blue light!
His core muscles tensed instantly, like iron, and the power of his entire body was released like a fully drawn bow! The blade transformed into a streak of lightning that tore through the air, whistling like thunder, and pierced the depths of the tree trunk with perfect precision!
"Snap!"
The tough bark burst open with a snap! The pale yellow wood was exposed! The blade was deeply embedded!
Ling Zhan's arm remained as steady as a cast-iron pillar, his wrist vibrating at a high speed and with extremely small amplitude, almost imperceptible to the naked eye! The blade followed the precise trajectory calculated by the model in his mind, cutting, slicing, or vibrating! Under this superhuman strength and precise strike, the thick and tough wood fibers were easily torn apart and peeled off like rotten paper! Wood chips shot out in all directions like an explosion!
Between breaths came a sickening "crunch—boom!"
With a deafening roar, the towering cedar, groaning in resentment, crashed down onto the designated clearing!
The wood fibers were clearly visible at the break, emitting a rich, fresh woody aroma... The efficiency was astonishing.
The processing of logs is more refined.
Under her single-handed control, the heavy double-barrel saw steadily advanced along the straight ink line, cutting a smooth, mirror-like surface that required almost no secondary polishing.
The obstructive tree bark and branches, under the high-frequency vibrations of the blade, were instantly reduced to dust as if encountering an invisible storm.
Only the thick, straight trunk, like a javelin, remains.
The platform that Ling Zhan temporarily chose last time has a huge main rock wall behind it and a gentle grassy slope in front of it, offering an excellent view.
Use a right-angle ruler for positioning and a chalk line to accurately mark the foundation boundary.
The foundation is laid starting with the main beams and columns.
She chose a gnarled ancient pine tree that grows tenaciously in the rock crevices as a natural load-bearing column base.
Using both a steel chisel and a precision steel chisel, they carved out a foundation trench several feet deep and shaped like a mold on a giant rock platform.
The heavy log main beam was easily lifted by Ling Zhan with one arm, the base of the column aligned with the foundation trench, his waist sank down, and he pressed down forcefully!
"boom--!"
A muffled thud, like a boulder crashing to the ground! Shards of rock shot out!
The giant pillar was as if it had been struck by an invisible hammer, instantly embedding itself deep into the foundation groove, becoming one with the rock below, and remaining completely still!
Next came the crisscrossing beams and the heavy ridge purlin.
Ling Zhan lifted a heavy beam, one end of which had been precisely and intricately crafted into a dovetail tenon. Visually assessing the position, angle, and depth of the mortise on the other end of the pillar, he lifted it with one arm, his arm muscles bulging like steel wires, and steadily inserted the beam end into the mortise. Then, with a powerful thrust, he rammed it into the mortise!
"Snap—!"
Like the perfect meshing of fine steel gears!
The dovetail tenon is instantly inserted into the mortise with tremendous force, and the joint fits perfectly, as if it were made by nature itself!
The beam instantly became as stable as a rock, as if it had always been there!
"Squeak!"
Startled by the loud noise, Little Jinbao jumped up and saw the giant tree "grow" into one. Excitedly, he did somersaults on the branches and screamed in cheers.
Tenon and mortise joints... floor slab joists, mortise and tenon joints... corner connections, wedge tenons... reinforcement and locking... all kinds of complex and precise mortise and tenon structures, under Ling Zhan's inhuman strength and absolute precision control, are like building blocks being manipulated by an invisible giant hand, violently yet precisely embedded, hammered, wedged, and locked!
"Boom!" The pillar.
"Click!" The mortise and tenon joints meshed.
"Bang!" The wedge slammed in.
Muffled thuds, impacts, and explosions intertwined, creating a construction rhapsody of primal power and absolute control!
A massive wooden house, solid and well-proportioned, with sharp lines and a geometrically violent aesthetic, rose from the ground at an astonishing speed visible to the naked eye! The reserved openings for doors and windows, the side kitchen entrance, and the outline of the corridor leading to the herb garden and the cave were clearly visible.
With the main framework in place, Ling Zhan did not covet the complete picture.
Prioritize sealing off the core areas: the master bedroom, living room, and temporary kitchen. Thick wooden planks were smoothed and planed with a wide back plane, tightly joined together, and the gaps filled with a mixture of straw and mud. Thin, polished, translucent mica sheets were embedded in the windows, allowing light to pass through but not shadows. The heavy wooden doors were fitted with thick iron chains and heavy bolts purchased from town.
When the firewood roared into flames for the first time in the central stove of the new house, the warm, leaping flames dispelled the lingering chill of spring on the mountaintop and illuminated the spacious and empty hall.
Jinbao, as one of the first "owners", excitedly leaped and darted among the thick roof beams.
Frostblade and Stormshadow, the little wolves, curiously sniffed around the new territory, leaving their own scent marks.
Outside, the planned medicinal herb garden slope is still overgrown with weeds and urgently needs to be thoroughly tilled.
Ling Zhan's gaze fell upon the edge of the hot spring pool—
The little black bear she named "Black Ball" had grown much rounder than when it first arrived. It was currently clutching a fragment of honeycomb, licking it with obvious delight, its shiny black nose covered in golden honey. Rather than saying it had followed Ling Zhan here, it was more accurate to say it had been firmly "captured" by the sweetness of this mountaintop.
Ling Zhan wove a sturdy lasso using freshly cut, tough vines.
Specially designed wide shoulder straps, not the kind that choke you.
She walked up to the black ball and waved a freshly cut, golden-yellow honeycomb block in her hand, exuding a deadly, alluring aroma.
The black ball's nostrils flared sharply.
Its beady eyes instantly locked onto the honey, drool dripped down, and it clumsily moved its round body closer.
Ling Zhan did not give honey.
Instead, he soothingly slipped the wide shoulder straps onto the black ball's thick shoulder blades.
The other end was firmly attached to her heavy triangular sled, which she had carved from hardwood.
Place the plow at the edge of the field to be cultivated, and then place the tempting honeycomb block a few steps in front of it.
"Black ball, let's go." Ling Zhan gently pulled the vine, pointing in the direction of the honey.
Black Ball's only fan!
With a low growl, it unleashed astonishing brute force, charging forward with a sudden burst of power! The vines taut instantly like bowstrings! The heavy wooden plow, dragged by immense force, "rip—" dug deep into the fertile grass! Under the ultimate lure of honey, Black Ball, this tireless "bear power engine," unleashed terrifying strength, dragging the wooden plow like an out-of-control heavy tank, violently plowing deep furrows into the soft spring mud! The black, oily soil churned like waves, and the tangled grass roots snapped in response!
"Roar!" Honey!
"Swoosh—!" Dust flew everywhere!
"Squeak, squeak, squeak!" Jinbao excitedly directed from the branch!
Ling Zhan only needed to make minor adjustments to the direction of the vines and the placement of the honey blocks, and the black ball, working tirelessly, plowed up the entire planned medicinal garden! Its efficiency was ten times that of human labor. The price was the consumption of several precious honey blocks, and the black ball collapsing exhausted beside the newly turned, fertile soil, exuding the rich scent of spring mud, panting heavily, its long tongue lolling out, its claws still unwillingly digging through the soil, searching for any remaining honey residue.
The deeply tilled, smooth, and vibrant black soil before us stands in stark contrast to the limp, muddy "heroes."
A barely perceptible curve appeared at the corner of Ling Zhan's lips.
The main structure of Yunju was gradually perfected through Ling Zhan's daily construction.
The side kitchen is taking shape, and a running water system is being installed.
Split bamboo pipes guide the clear mountain stream, and wastewater flows into a depression for sedimentation and filtration.
Blackball is an unparalleled expert at plowing, while Jinbao is both a "ranch diplomat" and a "chief overseer".
The wild boar cubs and deer that migrated from the caves have gradually adapted to the environment of the sinkhole pasture.
As the weather warms up, more creatures follow the passages to the fertile mountain meadows, each occupying its own territory and living in peace.
Ling Zhan was almost completely immersed in the world he had created.
Planning, building, working, interacting with the little wolves of Jinbao Black Ball, observing the tender shoots of Anoectochilus roxburghii breaking through the soil in the herb garden... The hustle and bustle of spring plowing at the foot of the mountain and the trivialities of life in the village near the mountain seem to be completely isolated and forgotten by the breeze and the chill of early spring on the mountaintop.
Until one twilight, when weary birds returned to their nests on a spring evening.
Ling Zhan was embedding the last polished, smooth door panel into the kitchen door frame, his fingertips tracing the delicate, solid wood grain, feeling the tight fit of the mortise and tenon joints…
Suddenly—
Buzz...!
A faint yet incredibly clear throbbing sensation originating from the deepest part of my soul—
Like a pebble thrown into a deep well, it suddenly created ripples in the still lake of her heart!
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