Chapter 53

Lu Buqi's heart stirred, and he slowly lowered his tiger fist stance: "What do you mean, Chief Steward? Can a lowly slave like me also ride the divine kite machine?"

Wang Lishou laughed heartily and said: "You still remember what the Sixth Young Master said? Don't worry, he probably forgot about it. Besides, you're not just an ordinary slave now; you're the martial contestant of Guojian Town. The next time you go to Yangze, you might also have the chance to ride the divine kite machine."

It had been two years, and it was time to go back for a visit. Lu Buqi pondered for a moment and then nodded: "When do we set off?"

"Early evening today, at the beginning of the You hour!" Wang Lishou replied: "I have to go this time, so if you're going, we'll head over after dinner."

"Alright, then I'll trouble you to inform the Chief Steward, Old Wang." Lu Buqi nodded: "Don't forget to bring the 500 spearheads and 8 decapitation knives."

Wang Lishou nodded: "Don't worry, I've already informed the Chief Steward. The divine kite machine will be empty when it enters the forest, so there's plenty of space for your things."

After settling these matters, Wang Lishou yawned and left, while Wang Niansheng and Wang Gangqiang stayed behind to practice the bear and tiger exercises. In this area, Wang Gangqiang was more diligent than Wang Niansheng, especially after he discovered that the bear stance could improve his focus during forging, which made him completely obsessed with the Five Animal Imitation Fist.

Of course, in Guojian Town, everyone who was obsessed with the Five Animal Imitation Fist had their own reasons. Undoubtedly, being able to practice the Five Animal Imitation Fist was a symbol of ambition. As Wang Lishou had predicted, the Five Animal Imitation Fist would inevitably become popular in Guojian Town. However, many people only occasionally received guidance from the Four Heavenly Kings, and those who could receive direct instruction from Lu Buqi were still few and far between.

Thirty-two mushroom meat buns—this was Lu Buqi's current breakfast quantity. Wang Shuangqiao, although a girl, also consumed a lot after practicing martial arts, eating eight meat buns.

When the food box was empty, Wang Shuangqiao tidied it up and glanced at Lu Buqi casually, saying lightly: "You're going home?"

"I'll be back!" Lu Buqi smiled.

"But it will probably take half a month to go and come back..." Wang Shuangqiao hugged her knees and murmured: "When you're not here, I... I have to remind Mother to use less flour, otherwise we won't sell as much..."

Lu Buqi still smiled: "Why don't I let Niansheng and Gangqiang, these meat-eaters, switch to your vegetable buns?"

"No need!" Wang Shuangqiao laughed: "I just... I just feel that without you in town, I'll be very unaccustomed to practicing alone."

"Isn't there still Niansheng and Gangqiang?" Lu Buqi said: "I'll make them more diligent and report on time these days."

"No need!" Wang Shuangqiao said softly: "They... are different!"

Bathed in the morning light, Lu Buqi's face also broke into a sunny smile: "Why don't I ask the Chief Steward if you can come along, as a trip?"

"Really?" Wang Shuangqiao was pleasantly surprised, but then she smiled gently: "No need, the Chief Steward and you are going on official business, I can't hold you back..."

Lu Buqi smiled: "Really no need?"

"No need!" Wang Shuangqiao nodded obediently: "You go, be careful, I'll wait for you at the north entrance... By then, I'll definitely be able to stand the Crane Stance and Deer Stance better!"

Lu Buqi smiled inwardly at Wang Shuangqiao's attempt to hide her feelings and stood up: "Then I'll wait for you... to check your progress!"

In the morning, it was generally Lu Buqi's forging time. Over the past year and a half, Lu Buqi's greatest growth was not that he had cultivated the Force Formula to the point where fourteen meridians could exert force simultaneously, nor that his internal strength had reached the Ming Strength level. Instead, it was his mastery of concentrated forging techniques.

During this year and a half, Wang Lishou had taught Lu Buqi blacksmithing skills, and Lu Buqi's talent in this area had once again greatly surprised Wang Lishou.

Originally, Wang Lishou thought Lu Buqi was born for the Force Formula, but seeing his rapid improvement in forging, he had to retract that statement. Lu Buqi was not born for any one thing; as long as he was interested, he would put in full effort to study and work hard, and this dedication would inevitably bring great rewards.

Of course, one cannot ignore Lu Buqi's talent in both the Force Formula and forging. Without talent, it would be impossible to achieve the level of a normal person in ten years in just one and a half years.

Now, in Wang Lishou's shop, Lu Buqi, besides being provided with food and lodging, received twelve knives per month, which was the same as Wang Niansheng and Wang Gangqiang's salary. Lu Buqi naturally did not care about this money; even after spending nearly ten thousand knives over the past year to stockpile weapons and infrastructure for the villagers, he was still a ten-thousand-knife household.

Lu Buqi had not apprenticed to anyone, so he had no formal graduation. However, with his current level, he was not much different from Wang Niansheng and the others a year and a half ago. Moreover, if he were to compare the strength and hardness of the weapons he forged, Lu Buqi would probably be slightly better, given his much greater physical strength. A decapitation knife, if he wished, could be forged with forty layers.

Lu Buqi loved forging, or rather, he loved the feeling of sweating and creating. He discovered that blacksmithing was also an art, like listening to a symphony.

When the bellows were pulled, it was like the music began. As the need for heating increased, the bellows would accelerate in a steady, even rhythm, filled with fervent hope. The flames in the furnace would dance to the rhythm of the bellows, rising with the strong wind.

When the iron was heated to a red glow, it was quickly clamped onto the large anvil. A series of hammer strikes, a string of clanging sounds, and a shower of sweat would transform the iron into an ideal tool according to the blacksmith's inner vision.

Since mastering blacksmithing, Lu Buqi was most satisfied with the trident he forged for himself. Unlike the tridents from his previous life, the blood grooves, which were slightly less advanced, were not as neat and smooth, but they were effective.

One long and nine short, all sharp and pointed! The long one, similar to a fish gut sword, was about a foot long including the handle, while the short ones were only four inches. The long one, when used in close combat with the fish gut sword, could take a life as easily as picking something from a pocket, while the short ones could be used as hidden weapons to kill silently.

Only Wang Lishou had seen this set of weapons, and recalling the blood-stained tridents that had played a significant role during the journey through the Guojian Forest, he had sighed: "This thing should only exist in hell!"

In the afternoon, before the routine evening practice, Lu Buqi had some relatively free time. Over the past year and a half, he had also learned some basic carpentry principles from Wang Lihong and gained some understanding of basic mechanical techniques.

Although his skills in carpentry were not as advanced as in blacksmithing, he had mastered some basic tasks, especially in making wooden traps and small protective mechanisms.

As for Wang Liqing and Wang Lihai, who enthusiastically invited him to learn construction and textile techniques at the construction site and dye house, Lu Buqi politely declined. One reason was that he did not have the spare time, and the other was that the slaves in the Guojian Forest were content with simple wooden houses and plain animal skin clothing.

Some might question why Lu Buqi did not spend more time on martial arts practice and instead focused on these ingenious skills. Was he planning to return to the Guojian Forest and become a major figure again?

Lu Buqi's ambitions were not so short-sighted. However, at different stages of life, one's values can vary. At this stage, Lu Buqi, while pursuing freedom and human rights, also had to prepare for the worst, as no one knew if good fortune would always accompany him.

Having multiple skills would only enhance his survival capabilities, not weaken them. As for martial arts, although it required hard practice, it was not just about rote training; many things required insight, and sufficient practice was enough.

This was the almost routine and simple life that Lu Buqi had lived for the past year and a half, and without a doubt, he had gained a lot!

As Lu Buqi stepped onto the divine kite machine, he glanced back at the slender figure at the north entrance of the town, a smile playing on his lips. When he was completely inside the machine and looking around at the strange wooden structure, another person came to mind.

That person was Wang Bo, who had once said: "The divine kite machine, which our Wang family spent a fortune on, is not meant for slaves to ride, is it?"

Lu Buqi smiled, but what he did not know was that Wang Bo was also thinking about him at that moment!

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