To be fair, the sword-making conference organized by Zhuoyu Villa is not as grand and gorgeous as Long Yuan's talisman conference, which can be seen from all aspects.
However, Zhuoyu Villa also knew that their financial resources, strength, and heritage could not compare with Long Yuan, one of the seven major forces, so they devoted themselves to finding another way.
The sword-making venue was decorated by Xue Yeyu and two junior sisters. They did not let Tang Zhao and Jiang Shenyi interfere. Of course, they did not bring Bai Yushenghui's lively business atmosphere into the venue. Instead, the decoration was fresh and elegant. , also grand.
The venue is right next to the swamp. It is a platform made of the same wood as the plank road. Half of the platform is shallow swamp water and the other half is fine white sandbank. Fish, shrimps, crabs, turtles, crocodiles and other aquatic animals swim freely in the swamp, while waterfowl such as white cranes, wild ducks, egrets and pelicans rest leisurely on the sandbar. Every movement and silence are all natural.
There are small half-moon-shaped tables placed on the stage. The tables and chairs are all made of pine wood from the mountains, and are covered with thick brocade cushions. They are not looking for luxury, just comfort. There was no banquet on the table. Tea, a fruit plate and some practical things were placed on the table. In addition, there was only a small bonsai on the table shelf as decoration.
If there is anything really surprising about all this, it is probably this bonsai. This is not some flowers, herbs, or colorful flowers, but pots of Ganoderma lucidum and cinnabar grass. Ganoderma lucidum is like an umbrella, and the cinnabar grass is bright in color. Although it may not be very expensive with age, it is fragrant, mixed with the earthy smell, and the grass outside the fence. The water vapor mixed together, creating an atmosphere of spiritual rain in the sky. The red color of the vermilion grass is also a rare embellishment of joy.
Everyone is sitting on the stage, there is no dazzling mixture of colors, and there is no unnecessary silk and bamboo to clutter the ears. They just need to look at the water, sip tea, and enjoy the morning sunshine, which is very comfortable.
It would be nice if Xue Xianyun spoke a little softer.
"When A-Zhao was twelve years old, he was so tall. At first glance, the kid looked stupid, as if he had lost his mind studying. But when I saw him, he was a smart kid with hidden beauty, extraordinary talent, and tenacity. He is also diligent, I say he will become a great person..."
"When he was thirteen years old, he learned all the elementary talismans. What should you do with those idiots who spent ten or eight years? Fortunately, your master was not bad when he was young. Some people are stupid themselves. He has no face to teach him even if he is a genius..."
"When I was fourteen years old..."
"That winter..."
…
As the owner of Zhuoyu Villa, the absolute protagonist of the originally scheduled sword-making conference, and the master of the current protagonist, Xue Xianyun will definitely say a few words after the conference begins. Most of us are social people. Who has never experienced such a scene? ? Who wouldn’t pretend to listen carefully and then applaud and so on?
Little did he know that he wanted to speak more than two sentences, twenty sentences, or two hundred sentences.
Most of them were related to Tang Zhao, and most of them recalled how this disciple was a genius, how diligent he was, and how he taught him. It was mixed with endless boasts, which not only praised Tang Zhao, but also praised himself.
It can only be said that it was a shame that Tang Zhao was one step behind and had just spoken to Xing Ji and was not sitting in the audience to listen to him, otherwise he would have wanted to dive into the water.
And he not only boasted, but also worried about it. As he spoke, he said: "Do you know how long it took him to solve this problem? It only took three days, Lao Qi, I remember it took you half a year, right?"
An old man sitting below had half finished his tea and looked at him blankly.
"Actually, you were quite fast. There were many people stupider than you at that time. For example, Li Wu, Lao Cheng, Xiao Du... Haha, I have to call him Lao Du now. You guys were out of the world at that time. Famous..."
He pulled further and further, and Xue Yeyu had to step forward and coughed lightly.
Xue Xianyun finally gave his daughter face and continued to bring the topic back, but still kept talking. Finally, Xue Yeyu glared at him again, signaling that it was enough. Just as Tang Zhao came back to take his seat, the protagonist has arrived. Others should not overwhelm the guests and move on to the next step.
Xue Xianyun ended angrily and said, "I would also like to ask Tang Zhao's teacher to come up and give a few words."
Xing Ji, who had just sat down to drink tea:...
Guan Lei, who felt sleepy after hearing this:...
Xue Yeyu breathed a sigh of relief and said loudly: "Please come up and put the sword on the sword stand. Everyone can come up and watch. If you have any doubts, you can raise questions in person. If no one questions, the sword will be cast." success."
This is the most important part of the sword-making conference. It stands to reason that the moment the sword-making furnace goes out and the sword takes shape, it should be considered a success. However, that is only success in the physical sense, not in the social sense. Real and complete success also needs to pass everyone's test and gain everyone's approval.
You say that achievement is success and failure is failure. I don't need to care about the world's opinions. That's fine. Then you don't need to hold a sword-making conference. Hiding alone in the mountains, forging swords for myself to use, the King of Heaven has no control over me.
However, a swordsmith is not a swordsman. A swordsman only relies on one person and one sword, and his strength can naturally distinguish him from the other. A swordsmith is difficult to compete head-on with, and requires fame and resources. It is a serious "profession". Since the sword-making conference is held to enhance the reputation and attract more resources and "customers", it will naturally have to be scrutinized and tested by everyone.
But since it relies on "human" testing, it cannot be completely fair. There must be some who are flattered by relatives and friends, and some who are jealous of villains.
If you don’t want jealous villains to confuse right and wrong and interfere with the joy of making swords, you might as well screen carefully when choosing inspection objects to eliminate hidden dangers in advance. It stands to reason that this step should be carried out before the sword-making conference. You only need to invite your relatives and friends to heighten the atmosphere, and select a few highly respected "sages" to show fairness. For an occasion like Zhuoyu Villa, you also need to invite enemies and enemies. Still very rare.
Sure enough, when I heard that it was time to observe the sword, the ugly-faced person who had just been squeezed by Xue Xianyun with a gun and a stick became energetic. He just waited to find fault, secretly saying that he had to find out the fault even if there was no fault.
Xue Xianyun had already seen it with cold eyes, crossed his arms, and was not afraid at all.
Seeing that there was nothing else to say, Tang Zhao breathed a sigh of relief and went straight up with his sword in hand, placing the newborn sword on the sword stand that had already been set up. After putting it away, he stood aside, his mood still ups and downs.
The newborn sword has no name, only a ray of dark golden light facing the sun.
Xue Yeyu raised his hand and said, "Please come up, Sir Jun Cheng and Deputy Governor."
It turned out that there were several serious officials from Yunzhou sitting in the audience at this time. Most of them were Zuo Er, the chief official of Dongshan County and Chuncheng. However, they did not come from the Guest House, but Jiang Shenyi specially picked them up from the mountain this morning. The emergence of a swordsmith in Yunzhou is also a big event, and it is actually worth a visit from the local county governor. However, the chief officials of a county or a city cannot leave the country at will, let alone go to Jiugao Mountain, a barren mountain where birds do not lay eggs, so they can only send deputies. Jichuncheng sent the deputy garrison envoy of the District Prosecution Department here to give Tang Zhao face. After all, the District Prosecution Department had nothing to do with this kind of thing, so he didn't need to attend at all.
That Jun Cheng was a scholar in his fifties. He looked like an official, but he was actually an official. He stood up with a smile and said, "Okay, I haven't seen a sword up close yet." After that, he walked slowly towards the official position. Let's take a look first.
Behind him was the deputy governor of the Jichun City Prosecution Department, his surname was Chi, who was in his early thirties. Compared with the usual energetic military attachés of the Prosecution Department, this boy looked depressed and listless. Tang Zhao knew that he was giving himself face, so he tidied up and changed into clean clothes. Otherwise, according to his usual temperament, he smelled of alcohol, was disheveled, and waddled when he walked, as if he could fall down at any time. He was so unconscious that he looked like a shameless drunkard.
The Deputy Chi passed by Xingji and said with a smile: "Old Xing, are you coming up together?"
Xing Ji also smiled and said: "You old boy, you are so drunk that you can't count again? Who do you call Lao Xing? I am white now, and I am no longer in the same row as you. You go first, I want to see that sword You can watch it anytime.”
Deputy Chi smiled and said: "You say it as if I can't take it lightly. Isn't Xiaotang a member of Chuncheng and I?"
At this time, Jun Cheng had already come to the sword, looking around the sword up and down with his eyes, but he couldn't figure out why. Finally he just asked: "Can you touch it?"
Xue Yeyu secretly thought that this person didn't understand anything and was going to refuse. Tang Zhao had already smiled and said, "Okay."
Xue Yeyu was stunned for a moment and glared at Tang Zhao, meaning: "Are you crazy? Now that there is no swordsman in the sword, he can touch it casually. Who is responsible for the match?"
Tang Zhao smiled and said nothing, and Xue Yeyu couldn't go back on his word with Jun Cheng. Jun Cheng touched it out of curiosity, but nothing happened, because he was just a man of letters and had no inspiration.
But his touch seemed to turn on a switch, and some of the other guests couldn't sit still - Jun Cheng could touch it, but I couldn't? How about I go up and touch it after a while?
What if there is a match?
This is also the reason why Xue Yeyu is impatient: If you don't plan to find a swordsman for the sword, you can't just let others touch the sword. Although it is unlikely, what if someone here is a match?
Of course, you don't have to give it if you are matched. As long as you don't become a swordsman, it is not considered a success in theory. This sword was originally made by Tang Zhao, and he can make the decision. However, the person you meet becomes a source of uneasiness. I didn't know if they could match before. It was just a possibility. Most people would not take too much risk to cause trouble. But if they did match, there would be a sword in front of them that could definitely change their destiny. These blades would lick blood. Who can guarantee what a charlatan can do?
Isn't this just looking for trouble?
However, she had no choice at this time. Deputy Chi also came up here. He didn't touch the sword. It didn't matter if he did, because he was a swordsman to begin with. He just smiled and said to Tang Zhao, "Is this your sword?"
Tang Zhao smiled and said: "Exactly."
Deputy Chi clicked his tongue and said: "My sword is like my wife. Let others touch it at will. You are very generous. Be careful that your wife runs away with others."
Tang Zhao smiled and said, "I can't run away."
Deputy envoy Chi said: "That's right, we have so many eyes on you, where can you go? Take your sword and have a drink with the brothers in the town office tomorrow."
"Five Dynasties Rivers, Mountains and Winds"
