Douluo Dalu: Volume 27: Gengxin City

by Tang Jia San Shao

  “Even if smiths aren’t valued in the two great empires, the army’s weapons and equipment, farm tools, buildings, furniture, all require the participation of smiths. The higher level the smith, the more expensive his work.”

  Ma Hongjun astonished asked:

  “Elder Tai Tan, what, smiths are also split into levels?”

  Tai Tan nodded, saying:

  “It’s not as detailed as you spirit masters. Generally speaking, smiths are split into seven grades. From lowest to highest, they’re: junior smith, intermediary smith, advanced smith, master smith, grandmaster smith, smith scholar, and divine craftsman.”

  Ma Hongjun asked closer:

  “Then what level of smith are you?”

  Oscar to the side interjected:

  “Idiot. No point asking. Elder Tai Tan is the vice president of the smith association, of course he’s a divine craftsman.”

  Tai Tan laughed out loud, a tacit agreement.

  Tang San said:

  “Elder, how many divine craftsman level smiths are there on the Continent?”

  Tai Tan’s expression changed slightly, sighing:

  “Three. Me, your father, as well as the smith association president.

  Hearing Tai Tan mention his father, Tang San couldn’t keep his heart from contracting. Thinking of his father’s ruined limbs, he felt a burst of heartache. But right now he really had far too many things to do. If he wanted to go see his father, he couldn’t set out immediately. Tang San secretly decided that, once Spirit Hall’s seven sects re-election assembly ended, he would definitely return to the Ice Fire Yin Yang Well to see his parents. He didn’t know to where his mother had evolved there.

  Tai Tan patted Tang San’s shoulder,

  “Don’t think too much about it. Master has a good son like you to inherit his legacy, he can live in seclusion at ease. Young master. Bring me to see him when there’s a chance.”

  Tang San nodded softly.

  Just at this moment, everyone suddenly heard a loud and clear voice hawking from further ahead,

  “Walking past or walking by, don’t miss it, the current blacksmith association president, divine craftsman king Lou Gao’s[1] second generation disciple’s personally crafted Glorious Bright Silver Armor, only one set. Preferential price.”

  “Lou Gao?”

  Tai Tan said a bit doubtfully:

  “Old Lou’s second generation disciple has to hawk his wares at the side of the street? Oh, Lou Gao is the president of the smith’s association, calling him the divine craftsman king isn’t wrong. Your father has retired, and in forging we struggle for victory. I’m better at refining metal, he’s better at elaborate work. Speaking of, this time I was planning on getting a few of his disciples. Among those hidden weapons of yours, some of the especially elaborate work will be even more fluent for his branch of smiths to make. Let’s go, we’ll take a look.”

  By now the source of the hawking was already surrounded by a lot of people. Tang San and the others squeezed their way through, then saw the circumstances within.

  That was a seemingly very ordinary smith’s shop, just now hawking. A bare chested bronze skinned muscular middle aged big man, seemingly in his fourth decade, sat there in front of the door, his eyes calmly closed, with the appearance of an able person. Just next to him was arranged a suit of armor.

  The suit of armor was entirely bright silver colored, shining and dazzling in the sunlight, with gorgeous craftsmanship. It could be seen that each chunk had undergone special polishing. It even had a huge transparent crystal inlaid on the heart guarding mirror[2], reflecting the sunlight to set off the armor itself.

  Tai Tan only gave that armor a glance, his brows wrinkling, then said one disdainful word,

  “Trash.”

  Let alone Tai Tan, even Tang San who was far from him in terms of forging could see that this suit of armor was all flower and no fruit. Even though it seemed very pretty, with Tang San’s eyesight, his Purple Demon Eye having already reached the Detailed level, he could clearly make out the material and methods this armor had been created with.

  Those sheet after sheet of silver armor leaves were actually made by polishing steel, but each armor leaf was very thin, clearly without any defensive power. But the weight was correspondingly not very high, perhaps that was the only advantage of this suit of armor. If you wore this armor, its only effect might be for decoration. As for using it on the battlefield, don’t even think about it. The weakest infantryman could break it with one chop.

  Even though Tai Tan was in his eighth decade, as the Strength Clan’s chief, he absolutely had lung power. Even though he only proclaimed it as trash in his normal voice, the people all around still heard it. That middle aged robust man hawking it was naturally no exception.

  Just exerting himself to call out, his gaze immediately fell on Tai Tan,

  “Old fellow, what did you call trash?”

  With Tai Tan’s status, he coldly said:

  “I said that armor is trash. The smith who forged it is too.”

  This time, his voice was a bit higher. That middle aged man sitting upright in the blacksmith shop door had already opened his eyes, looking at Tai Tan with a condescending gaze.

  That hawking middle aged robust man had already stepped over in front of Tai Tan with large strides,

  “Old fellow. Don’t you understand forging? By your appearance you’re a stranger to this town, don’t talk drivel when you don’t understand. My teacher is the current smith’s association president senior Lou Gao’s direct disciple. You dare say the armor my teacher forged is trash? That’s an insult to our divine craftsman branch. If you don’t make your words clear today, don’t think about leaving.”

  Tai Tan snorted disdainfully,

  “You want me to say it clearly. Fine, then I’ll let you hear it properly. Let alone this teacher of yours, even if Lou Gao was here, claiming this armor was created by him, I’d equally proclaim it as trash.”

  At these words, the surroundings were immediately in an uproar. There was no lack of smiths among the crowd watching the scene, and also some with extraordinary strength. They of course saw that this armor was all flower but no fruit, but the hawker’s sentence about Lou Gao’s second generation disciple still dominated everyone present. Lou Gao’s status here in Gengxin City was equivalent to Bibi Dong in Spirit Hall.

  Nobody had any objections to Tai Tan criticising this armor, but when he talked about directly criticising divine craftsman Lou Gao, the surrounding smiths couldn’t ignore it. The noise instantly grew louder, and even included some curses.

  Tang San frowned, just pulling Xiao Wu in front of him. Both his hands encircled her waist, letting her comfortably lean against his chest. Incorporeal spirit power naturally released, isolating her from the surrounding crowd. He wouldn’t let anyone touch Xiao Wu.

  Tai Tan took two steps forward. Even though he hadn’t released the pressure of his spirit power and the Spirit Douluo level, his tall stature and the dignity formed over many years as clan chief still made that hawking middle aged big man retreat a few steps.

  Tai Tan walked over to that armor and turned around, looking at the surrounding crowd,

  “You don’t accept it? Fine, then I’ll let you hear it. This armor is made with the interlocking chains method. If you look carefully, the size of each armor plate is slightly different. On the surface it might seem very bright and neat, but in fact, the quality itself is very meager. Bright Silver Armor? This is made from silver plated polished steel, not much stronger than wet paper.”

  Hearing him say this, that calm and easy going middle aged man couldn’t take it sitting. Shooting to his feet, he angrily said:

  “This suit of armor is originally for decorative use. Not for the battlefield. Making each armor leaf so thin shows skill. Like this the weight is low, wearing it won’t be tiring. Ornamental, do you understand the word ornamental?”

  Tai Tan said coldly:

  “Then what do you say
about the different armor plate sizes?”

  The middle aged man strongly argued:

  “That’s called asymmetrical harmony. It’s taught by my grand master divine craftsman Lou Gao. What do you know.”

  Tai Tan laughed out loud,

  “Good, such an asymmetrical harmony. If that old fellow Lou Gao was here, I don’t know if you’d make him so angry he’d spit blood, whether his current reputation has already been just about ruined by someone like you. Glorious Bright Silver Armor, Lou Gao really did create such an armor. Only, this imitation of yours is still too shoddy.”

  While speaking, he raised his hand and pulled that suit of armor from its stand, turning it over to the back. That middle aged man didn’t have time to stop him.

  If the surface of the armor was as shiny as a mirror, then the back was crude as hemp. Tai Tan casually shook his hand, and there were already armor plates falling to the ground.

  With a cold snort, Tai Tan casually threw that suit of armor in front of the dumbstruck middle aged man,

  “Calling you trash is a bit generous. Teach you to behave, Lou Gao’s Glorious Silver Armor leaves used pure silver undergoing refinement, made from silver essence. Even though each plate was also very thin, the defensive power was quite powerful. Even though it was ornamental, it was still practical to use. Don’t drag his name around to swindle people in the future. Otherwise, there’s no need for you to stay in Gengxin City.”

  “You, you……”

  That middle aged man purported to be Lou Gao’s second generation disciple’s face had already turned blue, and the din from the surrounding spectating civilians and smiths was a lot lower.

  “I’ll fight you.”

  The middle aged man pulled out an ox ear knife from behind his back with a trembling hand, throwing himself straight at Tai Tan.

  With Tai Tan’s strength, having him fight at close quarters would be a joke. Without turning his head, his right foot stomped hard on the ground. Immediately followed by a deep rumble. Intense shockwaves immediately threw that middle aged man to the ground. The surrounding crowd felt a burst of shaking under their feet, but they weren’t struck.

  “Who’s causing trouble here?”

  Just at this moment, the watching crowd suddenly parted, a group of soldiers in non-standard Star Luo Empire equipment striding inside.

  Common infantry at most had only leather armor, but these Gengxin City soldiers could count as a pavilion by water, unexpectedly outfitted with light metal armor. Altogether more than ten people, led by a man around thirty years old or so. His armor was clearly a bit thicker, and his hand supported the hilt of a long sword at his waist as he strode in.

  When that middle aged man who had been shocked into confusion by Tai Tan’s stomp saw these soldiers, his mind immediately roused, rolling and crawling over in front of that leader,

  “Brother in law, it’s him, I was just selling my latest work, and this old fellow came to cause trouble. He’s obviously an outsider. Not only did he criticise my newly crafted armor, he even insulted divine craftsman Lou Gao. Quick, arrest him.”

  Tai Tan gave a cold laugh,

  “No wonder you would dare exploit Lou Gao’s name, you actually have a bit of backing.”

  The captain’s face chilled, sharply swinging his hand,

  “Take him away.”

  “Stop.”

  Before the soldiers could move, a loud shout suddenly resounded from the crowd. The crowd parted, and a sixty year old elder quickly stepped inside. The old man seemed very strong and healthy, his pace vigorous and full of strength. But he had an alarmed expression.

  Seeing this old man, that captain’s expression immediately changed, softly saying:

  “Master smith Ren Yuan[3]. Please don’t block us from carrying out justice. Otherwise, even with your status as master smith, you still won’t be pardoned.”

  That master smith called Ren Yuan didn’t seem to have heard him, rushing over to Tai Tan, staring wide eyed and carefully watching Tai Tan’s flat face,

  “You, you’re……”

  Tai Tan’s brows wrinkled,

  “I seem to have met you. At that time you should have been an apprentice under Lou Gao. Now it seems you’re a master smith. Pretty good, pretty good.”

  Old Ren Yuan immediately shivered, kneeling on the ground with a putong sound,

  “It’s really you, lord Tai Tan.”

  Seeing Ren Yuan’s action, that captain’s face immediately stiffened, and the surrounding civilians and smiths were in an uproar. In fact, as a master smith, Ren Yuan was famous in this neighbourhood. But right now he was kneeling on the ground in front of this old man.

  Tai Tan pulled him back up,

  “Don’t be like this, what does this look like.”

  The captain came closer, tentatively asking,

  “Mater smith Ren Yuan, this is?”

  Ren Yuan sharply turned around, his expression immediately turning cold,

  “You really are an idiot brat, you actually dare arrest lord Tai Tan, Even if your father, grandmaster Si Di[4] was here, even he would deferentially kowtow to lord Tai Tan. You kids go back and take your family’s punishment. Let me tell you, lord Tai Tan is the vice president of our smith’s association. Just like lord Lou Gao, he’s one of the three divine craftsmen in the present world.”

  Hong——

  Ren Yuan’s words immediately made the surrounding spectators explode. If it was any other town, perhaps it might be nothing. But don’t forget that this was the capital of metal, the holy land of smiths. The meaning contained in the words “divine craftsman” was paramount to the people of Gengxin City.

  The captain’s expression immediately turned deathly pale, subconsciously retreating a few steps, his feet softened and he immediately fell to the ground.

  Ma Hongjun came closer to Tang San, softly saying:

  “I didn’t expect that senior Tai Tan would actually have such a status here in the capital of metal.”

  Oscar sighed even further:

  “I’m afraid being low key might be damn difficult this time.”

  Looking at the excited appearances of the surrounding crowd, Tai Tan somewhat helplessly told Ren Yuan:

  “Have everyone disperse, what does it look like always being surrounded here. Is this fellow really Lou Gao’s disciple?”

  Speaking, he pointed to that middle aged man.

  Ren Yuan said disdainfully:

  “He’s only a distant relative of grandmaster Si Di. Oh, grandmaster Si Di is lord Lou Gao’s chief disciple. That’s why this fellow cheats people by bragging with the name of a second generation disciple. We don’t bother dealing with him out of consideration to grandmaster Si Di’s position.”

  * * *

  [1] Lou Gao - (楼高) “Stories Tall”

  [2] Heart guarding mirror - a decorated plate on the middle of the chest and back on some Chinese armors. http://img4.131home.com/www/500/2012/01/31/20120131140637966.jpg

  [3] Ren Yuan - (任怨) “Assigning Blame” - by chance also the pen name of the author of Immortal Executioner.

  [4] Si Di - (思迪) “Think Enlightened”

  Chapter 184: Divine Craftsman Lou Gao

  Under the help of this master blacksmith Ren Yuan, all the problems instantly vanished, the soldier captain had also left in disgrace. While the crowd had dispersed, the people were still unwilling to go too far away, instead they respectfully observed Tai Tan from a distance, the fiery light in their eyes seemingly wanting to consume Tai Tan.

  Tai Tan embarrassed walked back to Tang San’s side saying: “Young Master, I have been too reckless.”

  When Ren Yuan who was beside them heard this, his legs went limp and almost fell flat on the ground. Yo-young master…? This lord divine craftsman actually went and called this young man who barely looked 20 years old young master. Heavens! What on earth was going on here? Seeing Tang San holding onto the stunning Xiao Wu, with a expression clear as sky, Ren Yuan could not h
elp but feel ashamed. He had never seen such a handsome youth and such an extremely beautiful young woman.

  Acting as if not noticing Ren Yuan watching him with a monstrous gaze, Tang San looked towards Tai Tan and said: “Since we are going to see the Divine Craftsman Lou Gao anyway, doing it slightly earlier is of no harm.”

  Tai Tan naturally knew that everybody in the area were looking at them and thus told Tang San: “Young Master, it would be better if we board the carriage for now. After we meet with Lou Gao, let me accompany you and take you around Geng Xin.”

  The group once again got back on their carriages, Ren Yuan also had the fortune of riding in the same carriage as Tai Tan as they headed towards the central district of Gengxin City.

  Even though Ren Yuan really wanted to ask Tai Tan about Tang San’s identity, because he knew he had a humble identity he decided that not asking was for the best. While directing the carriages forward, he could not help but constantly look back at Tang San who only held Xiao Wu’s hand while resting with his eyes closed.

  Gen Xin city itself was not very big, and before long they had already reached the heart of the city where the carriages stopped.

  Ren Yuan glanced out the carriage window before announcing: “Everybody, we have arrived, let's get off here.” then jumping off the carriage, furthermore taking the initiative to hold open the carriage curtains.

  Tai Tan, Tang San and Xiao Wu got off in order, while Oscar, Ning Rongrong and Ma Hongjun also got off the rear carriage.

  As everyone got off their carriage, they could not help but look up.

  The carriages had stopped in front of a tall building, if you raised your head to look, you could see that this building would be at least 30 meters high and spanned a wide area. For a building to occupy such a large space in the heart of the city district, you could tell it was of great importance to the city. The overall look of the building was similar to the large fighting arena in Suo Tuo city, and on the upper region of the building hung a dark iron plaque with no words on it, only the convex pattern of a hammer and a chisel.