Yingjie And Xiaotan’s Weapons

After obtaining the Serpent-Blade Goat’s horns, we returned to Gyorei Cave. Yingjie and Xiaotan, who had been thoroughly covered in Hanamoge Grass powder, immediately went to the bathing area and washed the powder off their bodies. Since it was already the season when snow would soon begin to fall, washing themselves with plenty of cold water was almost as painful as torture.

I finished bathing as soon as I had washed off the dirt, but the two of them scrubbed themselves thoroughly until the smell disappeared.

“S-So cold.”

“M-My heart feels like it’s going to stop.”

At times like this, I wished we had a proper bath, but we were on top of a mountain. Preparing one would have been difficult. Once the smell of Hanamoge Grass had finally disappeared, the two thanked me and returned to Wallside Hall.

I returned to my room with the Serpent-Blade Goat horns I had received from them. To process these horns into weapons, I would have to use qi forging. However, since I had never made a sword or spear through qi forging before, I decided to ask Elder Min about any precautions I should take.

The next day, I went to Elder Min’s workshop.

“Kou? What brings you here?”

“I’m thinking of processing Serpent-Blade Goat horns into a sword and spear through qi forging, so I came to ask whether there was anything I should be careful about.”

Elder Min looked thoughtful before explaining the precautions to me.

“Thank you very much.”

After she taught me several points to keep in mind, I thanked her.

“I’ve told you the basics, so I’ll finish with the most important thing.”

“What would that be?”

“If you spread the processing over several days when making a weapon, it’ll become a second-rate product.”

Hearing that, I tilted my head.

“Why is that?”

“When you process it over several days, its durability decreases slightly. It seems better to complete it all at once.”

“Understood.”

After hearing her advice, I went to the Old Immortal Workshop beside the Old Immortal Cave. Yingjie and Xiaotan, whom I had called in advance, were waiting in front of the cave.

“Kou, are you going to process the Serpent-Blade Goat horns now?”

Yingjie asked me.

“Yes, I am.”

“What should we help with?”

“I can handle the work alone. I called you here because I wanted to ask in detail what kind of weapons you wanted before I started.”

I entered the Old Immortal Workshop with the two of them.

I took out the two horns and asked Yingjie and Xiaotan what kinds of weapons they wanted.

“I’d like mine to have the same shape as the longsword I’m using now.”

“I had been considering a spear, but I think I would like a weapon that could also be used as a broadsword.”

After discussing it with Xiaotan, who wanted a weapon usable as both a spear and a broadsword, we decided to make one with a long shaft and a machete-like blade approximately forty centimeters long.

“Are you going to change the martial art you train in from spearmanship to broadsword techniques?”

I asked Xiaotan.

“You know that Gyorei Cave’s martial arts are somewhat unbalanced, with swordsmanship being the most widespread and broadsword techniques coming next, right?”

“Yes, I know. Is that why you’re switching from the spear to the broadsword?”

Xiaotan nodded.

Gyorei Cave had the most swordsmanship practitioners, followed by a smaller number who used broadswords, spears, and warhammers. Recently, however, the number of inner disciples learning broadsword techniques has increased. It seemed that several inner disciples who had seen me use the Broadsword Fox-Flame Technique had begun learning the broadsword.

“Besides, there are sword and broadsword techniques that use spiritual power, but no spear techniques.”

“What? There are broadsword techniques that use spiritual power?”

Martial arts that used spiritual power were not taught until one became at least a high disciple, so I had not even known what kinds existed.

“I’m a librarian, so I at least know what kinds of books are kept in the Main Hall library.”

According to Xiaotan, the sword art that used spiritual power was called the Dragon Spirit Sword, while the broadsword art was called the Flame Phoenix Broadsword Art.

“Hm? Is the Dragon Spirit Sword the only sword art that uses spiritual power?”

“If you mean the Vermilion Spirit Sword, neither its oral teachings nor its forms remain. Apparently, even Sect Leader Wei cannot use it.”

So that was why it had been placed in the outer disciples’ library.

After listening to the two of them, I understood what kinds of weapons they wanted.

“Then I’ll begin processing the Serpent-Blade Goat horns.”

I held a hammer and one of the Serpent-Blade Goat horns. In qi forging, nonmetallic materials were not heated during processing. I poured Heavy Yin Qi into the horn and struck it with the hammer while visualizing its final shape.

At first, the Serpent-Blade Goat horn barely changed, but as I continued, it gradually began to transform. The curved sections straightened, and it took the shape of a sword. By the time evening arrived, the sword was complete. Yingjie’s longsword had become a white blade approximately ninety centimeters long.

“How is it?”

I handed the longsword to Yingjie.

“It has a satisfying weight. The balance seems good too. Kou, thank you.”

Yingjie looked delighted.

Afterward, I also made Xiaotan’s spear. However, snow began falling around that time, so Yingjie and the others’ inner disciple examination was postponed until spring. Since it was due to the weather, nothing could be done about it.

The two of them seemed disappointed, but I suggested that it would be better to use this period to become accustomed to their new weapons. Yingjie and Xiaotan agreed that it made sense and began training together with us at the Old Immortal Cave.

As for what kind of training it was, we practiced advanced applications of Floating Yang Qi and Heavy Yin Qi, whose basics I had taught them before, as well as drills for responding to rapid movements. Since the two of them had not learned the Broadsword Fox-Flame Technique, they could not use Moment of Foam. Therefore, I had them conduct combat training against fast opponents such as me, Haoxuen, and Seiran so they could learn to respond to the movements of Sword-Leg Spiders.

“Switch between Floating Yang Qi and Heavy Yin Qi more quickly. And don’t mistake which qi you channel into your sword. Use Floating Yang Qi when delivering a fast strike and Heavy Yin Qi when delivering a powerful one.”

I instructed Yingjie while sparring freely with him. Even though snow was falling outside, Yingjie was breathing heavily and sweating.

“Haah, haah… Let me rest for a little while…”

“Very well. Xiaotan-shixiong, you’re next.”

As Yingjie staggered back onto the wooden floor of the Old Immortal Cave, Seiran offered him warm water.

“Thank you. So the two of you have continued training like this. I’m envious.”

Seiran and Haoxuen, who thought it was difficult in its own way, smiled wryly.