(twenty two)
In that dark cave with little sun and moon, there was only a dim glow of fire. Sparks burst out from time to time in the corners, followed by the sound of shaking iron, as regular as the morning and evening bells of the temple.
"Dang, Dang, Dang..."
The old blacksmith threw the Longming Sword into the furnace and burned it until it was red. Then he placed it on the casting platform made of iron blocks and beat it repeatedly. This move is intended to reshape the sword's shape and thereby repair the damaged blade of the Longming Sword. Faced with such an extraordinary object, Yuan Fengzi chose to recast the sword directly instead of just randomly patching up the missing parts.
The scars on Longming Sword became more "unforgettable" with the hammer blows, turning into new and unique patterns on the core of the sword.
"The so-called good sword, even if it is rusted and corroded, its core will never be damaged by the same damage." Yuan Fengzi faced the Longming Sword on the casting platform while using the hammer to strike sparks , while saying to the two juniors behind him: "Even if the exterior is full of cracks, its 'core' will never break or collapse... The so-called gentleman and hero are just like a peerless sword."
"No matter what obstacles he encounters or what blows he receives, as long as he throws himself into the 'raging flames' again, he can be reborn!" The old blacksmith doesn't care what others think, but he is deeply in love, and inadvertently changes the feelings in his heart. Express emotions.
The sparks that bloomed on Longming Sword were as beautiful as if they were alive in an instant, attracting the attention of onlookers - that was its rebirth, and it also benefited the bystanders a lot.
"The Longming Sword was originally made of meteorite iron. It is an extraterrestrial thing. I will not give it to others casually." The old blacksmith looked like a pathfinder who had gone through many hardships and was sharing the fun of the past. To others, the vicissitudes deeply embedded in the white hair and skin folds are the best proof: "It's just that Bai Shaoxia's master is in love with me, even though I am more than twenty years older than him, hahaha..."
Yuan Fengzi looked like he was about to complete the recasting process. He immediately put the iron in the water to cool down, then put it on the grindstone for refinement. He continued: "At that time, he was just a fledgling, dressed in a sloppy Taoist dress, and introduced to others. At that time, she did not say her Taoist name, but boldly called herself 'Gao Zhen', a traveler heading north to find relatives."
After listening to this, Bai Feng, who was sitting on the thatch and resting, could no longer hide the joy and surprise in his heart and said: "It turns out that the old man had such an interaction with his master!"
Although Fu Wentao on the side didn't know who Gao Zhen was, Yuan Fengzi's earnest instruction just now was obviously meant to reprimand him, and it also made him feel a little relieved from his sadness, even though the wound on his left arm was still aching.
"To be honest, before I met your master, I worked at the furnace almost every day and every night. Except for some interactions with outsiders when I went out to drink, in fact, I didn't know much about the world, let alone other people in this world. It’s fun!” The old blacksmith joked and teased his young self, saying: “In my eyes, the sparks on the sword are enough to move people’s hearts. Such thoughts continued until Brother Gao came with a baby that day. That just changed.”
Yuan Fengzi suddenly stopped what he was doing, turned to look at the two young masters behind him with interest, and said with a smile: "Brother Gao claimed that he was destined to commit a crime and was unable to raise the baby, so he insisted on letting the old man raise it. At first The old man naturally refused sternly, but later he couldn't help the other party's ridicule. He said that I am nearly forty years old and I have no one to accompany me. No wonder I am so mean... Later, after we talked for a long time, the old man found out that this man is well versed in Taoism and is a good person. He was a wise and heroic man, so he raised the baby and gave him a sword made of meteorite iron."
"That's Ayu?" Fu Wentao said in surprise.
"Brother Gao found this child under a pile of rocks. His parents should have hidden him to avoid a disaster. When passing by the village, except for the child's cry and the mess, there was nothing left. what……"
"It turns out that Ayu is the adopted daughter of senior?" Bai Feng asked one after another: "I just don't know why Master became so depressed and slack later on. He is not at all like the arrogant junior described by senior."
"There is indeed a reason for this..." Yuan Fengzi said: "But in fact, Brother Gao and I only met twice. The first time we got connected because of Ayu, and we gave Longming Sword as a gift in return. Token. But unexpectedly, after the second meeting, we were separated forever... It was half a year after I started raising Ayu. Brother Gao came here to look for me in an extremely depressed manner, muttering to himself for some reason. "
"He said that I am his only best friend in the world, even though he has only met twice and played with me for a few days." The old blacksmith hung the polished Longming Sword in the only place illuminated by the moonlight next to the furnace. Then he walked up to Bai Feng and said: "He also laughed and said that living like me, Yuan Feng, would be the happiest life. However, in fact, after meeting him, I felt more and more like I was living like one person……"
"Is it because of Ayu?" Fu Wentao asked calmly.
"Ayu was just born at that time. She needed milk to satisfy her hunger, so I invited a wet nurse to come over. However, Cangzhou was soon invaded by the remnants of the Seven Towns Rebellion, and the Yuan family's world was overturned. After the family fell into decline, We can only borrow 'Baijia Milk' from the pregnant women in the town to nurture her." The old blacksmith spoke for a long time before his eyes filled with tears and he almost shed tears. "Those days were really difficult. But I can see If Ayu's pretty little face can smile happily, this life will be considered worthwhile."
"No matter how many murderous weapons you create, you can't buy for raising a living life!" Yuan Fengzi said this while sitting on the haystack, swinging a cattail leaf fan and resting.
"Old senior?" Bai Feng said with empathy and concern: "So, Master, he has never come back since then?"
The old blacksmith looked at the forging furnace that was still burning with embers in the distance. Under the moonlight, it formed a clear separation of yin and yang, and then replied: "Probably. Since then, I have been separated from the ordinary world. Until I met a stupid boy like you, hahaha... This is really fate destined by God, fate!"
After hearing this, the two young masters also looked at each other and smiled, in order to obey Yuan Fengzi's sentiments.
"Mianmian Ge Shen, in the Margin of the River. Brother Zhongyuan, call him your father. Call him your father, and you don't care about me..." Yuan Fengzi sang this ancient poem softly, with a lot of emotions in his heart: "Ge Shen, Ge Shen , this is your master’s Taoist title, if you have the chance, go to Kunlun Mountain, that is where your master has lived for twenty years.”
While the old blacksmith was talking and laughing, he lay down on the hay randomly spread in the cave to rest for a while because he was tired from the labor just now. It wasn't until Ayu's voice calling "Grandpa, Grandpa" arrived that they left the Zhujian House.
The first night before committing to the imperial mausoleum was spent in this way. Although this place is by no means a permanent place, just for a moment of conversation with the legendary swordsmith, it is considered a worthwhile trip.
