Chapter 42

Wang Lishou was very pleased with Wang Niasheng's bachelor appearance: "This is what a disciple of mine should look like. Although you lost today, it's clear that you've made some progress in the past six months. Tomorrow... you will forge a decapitation sword on your own. If I'm satisfied, you can graduate!"

Wang Niasheng was suddenly startled, then overjoyed: "Ah... really?"

"Everyone heard that!" Wang Lishou laughed heartily: "And Gangqiang, you're also involved. The task is the same. As long as I'm satisfied, you can also graduate!"

Wang Gangqiang was also overjoyed and couldn't resist hugging Wang Niasheng. The two of them laughed and played like children.

"Do you need to be so happy?" Wang Lishou chuckled and lightly slapped both of them on the forehead: "It seems my little temple can't hold you two great gods anymore?"

Wang Gangqiang shook his head repeatedly: "Master, what are you saying? Even after graduating, we'll still follow Master. It's just that after studying for so many years, we've been waiting for this day. Our parents will be proud too!"

Wang Niasheng was also very excited: "Gangqiang is right. Master, your decision really surprised me!"

Wang Lishou glared at him: "This decision surprised you so much, why didn't you question it?"

"How could I?" Although he had to cut himself eighteen times, the news that he could graduate the next day made him very happy: "I... I'll go find a bed for Buqi."

"Get back here!" Wang Lishou suddenly reached out and pulled Wang Niasheng back: "You want to run away? Buqi hasn't said if he wants to live with you. If he doesn't want to, you'll have to give up your room and squeeze in with Gangqiang!"

Wang Niasheng's lips twitched. He wasn't unwilling to apologize, and his willingness to find a bed for Lu Buqi showed that he was a good boy who could admit and correct his mistakes. He had planned to apologize privately or when they drank together the next day.

However, Wang Lishou clearly wanted him to apologize on the spot. Otherwise, given his previous attitude towards Lu Buqi, Lu Buqi would surely mock him if given the chance.

Just as Wang Niasheng was hesitating, Lu Buqi spoke up: "Old Wang, I think Niasheng is pretty good. Let's leave it at that!"

"Old Wang?" Not only were the hundred or so people present shocked, but even Wang Lihong was surprised. Wasn't Lu Buqi being too disrespectful? Who was Wang Lishou? In Guokantown, he was a prominent figure, and everyone called him Master Wang.

"Don't be so surprised!" Wang Lishou smiled: "I told Buqi to call me that. Alright, Niasheng, go prepare a bed for Buqi. Find something thick and comfortable."

Realizing that Lu Buqi was quite reasonable and didn't embarrass him, Wang Niasheng's perception of Lu Buqi had changed. He responded lightly and immediately pulled Wang Gangqiang to help him find a bed.

The other blacksmiths and apprentices were still wondering why Wang Lishou favored Lu Buqi so much. It was too unbelievable.

"Hey, what a lively scene!" A familiar voice to Lu Buqi sounded, it was Wang Liqing and Wang Lihai. As the crowd parted, Wang Liqing's gaze locked onto Wang Lishou: "Lishou, you're finally back. I was surprised to hear you were back. I thought you were planning to gnaw on wolf bones and sleep with Zenu women in the forest!"

"Wolf bones are quite tasty, and Zenu women aren't bad either," Wang Lishou replied nonchalantly, as the crowd laughed: "You two came at the right time. Let's go have a drink?"

"Sure, you've been gone for half a year. If we don't welcome you back, people will laugh at us!" Wang Lihai responded: "Let's go to Kuaihuo Building... Hey, isn't that Buqi? Want to come along?"

Lu Buqi shook his head lightly: "No, I just got here and need to settle in."

Lu Buqi wasn't a fool. They were showing respect, but if he insisted on joining, it would ruin the reunion atmosphere and make him look bad. Lu Buqi understood that his relationship with Wang Lishou had improved, but it didn't mean he had entered the upper echelons of Guokantown.

Wang Lihai was clearly pleased with Lu Buqi's tact and his eyebrows lifted: "That's fine. When you get used to Guokantown, we'll talk again... Let's go, Lishou!"

"Then you..." Wang Lishou looked at Lu Buqi. The six months of living together had created a deep bond between the childless man and Lu Buqi.

"Go ahead, I'm not going anywhere!" Lu Buqi's lips curled, and he turned to walk towards the luggage area.

As Wang Lishou left, the blacksmiths and apprentices in the forge became even more curious about Lu Buqi, especially the younger ones like Lu Yazi, who chattered away asking all sorts of questions. They also diligently led Lu Buqi to the attic where Wang Niasheng lived.

Lu Buqi's responses to Lu Yazi's questions were brief, and he didn't answer some of the silly ones. Wang Niasheng's attic was one of the two in the north of the courtyard, the other being Wang Lishou's room.

Wang Lishou's decision to arrange for Lu Buqi to stay there showed how much he valued him. Lu Buqi felt grateful as he pushed the door open.

A sour smell hit him, and he frowned, but his lips curled. It reminded him of the dorm rooms in his university days. For Wang Niasheng to create such a strong smell in such a large attic was quite remarkable.

Lu Yazi and the others didn't show any surprise, probably because they were used to it, or their own rooms might be even worse.

The attic wasn't small, about thirty square meters, and was long and narrow. It currently had only one bed, a wooden box, and some metal items, including a heavy ancient bronze axe that caught Lu Buqi's attention.

He pushed open the window at the back of the attic, and the cool night breeze made him feel refreshed: "That guy never opens the window to air the place out. Is it that easy to get robbed in Guokantown?"

Soon, as Lu Buqi was examining Wang Niasheng's axe, Wang Niasheng and Wang Gangqiang arrived with a pile of wooden frames and planks.

Their eyes met, and Wang Niasheng smiled awkwardly: "Um... Buqi, where do you want to put the bed?"

Lu Buqi pointed to the window: "There!"

"It might leak a bit when it rains. Should I move it a little inward?" Wang Niasheng asked, clearly trying to be friendly.

"Sure!" Lu Buqi nodded, and the three of them quickly assembled the bed. Then he unpacked his things. He didn't have much: two sets of leather armor, four animal skins, two ironwood spears, a wooden bow, and some miscellaneous items.

Wang Niasheng and Wang Gangqiang, though not experts, had some discernment. When they saw the four animal skins, their eyes widened in surprise. Recalling the refined beast meat Wang Lishou had mentioned, they exclaimed together: "Buqi, are these refined beast skins?"

Lu Buqi nodded: "Yes, they are."

"Did you and Master kill them all?" Wang Niasheng and Wang Gangqiang had heard of refined beasts, but in their minds, they were almost invincible.

"In the forest, we encountered many refined beasts. We had no choice but to fight to the death. Running away was actually more dangerous! Of course, it was mainly because of Old Wang. You might not know, but his cultivation has improved. He's now a great expert at the sixth level of Bone Resonance."

"Wow!" Though they were in their mid-twenties, their minds weren't particularly mature. The relationships in the forge were simple due to Wang Lishou's authority. It was normal for them to show childlike curiosity. Wang Niasheng's eyes sparkled with hope as he said: "Tell us about your adventures in the forest with Master?"

Young people, when they have a common topic, can easily become close. Lu Buqi wasn't a grudge holder. He shared a few thrilling and novel stories, and the two of them, along with Lu Yazi and the others, were captivated. Their relationship undoubtedly became much closer.