by Fang Xiang
The guard leader gaped. Grandmaster was invincible as he bargained his way down.He felt that everything that was happening in front of him was incomprehensible. A great grandmaster was arguing furiously with other people for just a few mobei, this this this … …
Shouldn't grandmasters sit in the private rooms, drink the best wine, and elegantly pick the treasures surrounded by beautiful females?
Zuo Mo forgot himself in bargaining and felt great pleasure.
But gradually, he found the situation wasn't quite right.
"Ten mobei, sell?"
"Sell sell sell!"
Zuo Mo looked with puzzlement at the shop owner. The shop owner's expression was excited as though he wanted to sell immediately. This wasn't right, ten mobei was definitely just above cost. He had given the other one mobei above. He hadn't expected the shop owner to agree immediately. Something was strange!
Was there something wrong with the wares?
Zuo Mo flipped it over and inspected it for a long time. He was even more puzzled. There were no problems!
Suppressing the bewilderment he felt, he took two hundred of the material. His gaze landed on another kind of material. "Will you sell for seven mobei?"
"Sell sell sell!" The shop owner nodded repeatedly.
Zuo Mo raised his head and couldn't help but curse, "How can you do business like this? Sell for seven mobei? Are you crazy? This costs at least ten mobei, is something wrong with your head?"
The shop owner nodded with a dumb smile.
Zuo Mo stilled. Was this person really stupid? He raised his head and the excitement quickly receded. He immediately discovered the strangeness in the surroundings. The noisy market was silent.
What was this … …
Zuo Mo hurriedly looked around. When he saw everyone’s gazes were on him, he understood. Cough cough cough, he hurriedly raised his head and puffed out his chest. He pointed at the things he had bought and said to the guard, "Oh, put these away."
"Yes!" The guard leader's face was burning. Today was really a great embarrassment! He raised his head and glanced at Grandmaster. Grandmaster's expression was normal as though nothing had happened. As expected of Grandmaster, his face was thicker than normal people!
Suddenly, a middle-aged person walked forward with an excited expression. "Respected Grandmaster! Welcome! We feel honored by your arrival!"
"Hello hello!" Zuo Mo smiled.
"Please give us a list for what Grandmaster requires. We do not have anything good, but the quality of our low- level materials is not bad!" the middle-aged person said respectfully.
Zuo Mo had come because he needed to use low-level materials. He had prepared a list before coming but hadn't expected that he would use it at this time. While he could not experience the pleasure of bargaining, it would save him effort. Zuo Mo handed the list to the middle-aged person.
The middle-aged person seemed to have a reputation here. He handed the list to the servant behind him and the servant went away to gather materials.
"Does Grandmaster need assistants?" the middle-aged person inquired.
The guard leader spoke in displeasure, "Are you qualified to be Grandmaster's assistant? Hmph!"
The mo weapon masters in the surroundings were silent. While the guard leader's words were harsh and not easy to hear, but it was the truth. The mo weapon masters that were in this place were not very good.
But Zuo Mo was moved. "If they have talent, they may be able to learn from me."
His words were pretentious but the effect was excellent.
The mo weapon masters in the surroundings became excited. Many of them had desirous expression. Even the middle-aged person was slightly excited. But he was experienced and did not lose his calm. "How do we judge for the talent that Grandmaster speaks of?"
After thinking, Zuo Mo said, "Use mo weapons, the grade doesn't matter, just let me have a look."
The guard leader felt disdain but he could not speak now, otherwise his actions would mean not giving Grandmaster face. The mo weapon masters here were not good ones. The mo weapon masters at Bu Zhou City who had talent were almost all part of the Tang Family.
These toads wanted to eat the meat of a swan?
They were delusional!
He didn't understand. Grandmaster actually agreed to such a boring and meaningless matter?
There were countless mo weapon masters in the Tang Family that wanted to be Grandmaster's assistant. While this grandmaster liked to boast, he was still a grandmaster!
He could not understand Zuo Mo's way of thinking.
A pile of mo weapons were quickly laid out and presented in front of Zuo Mo. The guard leader took a glance and then snorted. There wasn't even a single colonel level mo weapon here.
Zuo Mo ignored the sneer of the guard leader. His gaze swept across the mo weapons.
His gaze suddenly stopped on a dagger mo weapon.
He took out the dagger, raised it up and asked, "Who made this mo weapon?"
A youth with a slightly pale complexion walked out of the crowd. His face was flushed and he was excited. "Grandmaster, I made it!"
Zuo Mo then asked him a few questions. The youth responded smoothly and Zuo Mo confirmed that he was the one to forge the dagger.
Zuo Mo nodded. "Starting today, you are my assistant."
Gasp!
The people around shouted in shock. Disbelief and joy floated into the youth's face. The middle-aged person was also very excited. He went forward and hugged the youth. Then he said solemnly, "Sproutling, be good and learn from Grandmaster!"
His fellows came up to congratulate him. Everyone knew that this opportunity would alter Sproutling's fate.
The guard leader’s face was not very good. He hadn't thought that Grandmaster would really select an assistant from here. As a guard of the Tang Family, he naturally put the Tang Family first. There were so many Tang Family mo weapon masters waiting for the opportunity but an outsider had gotten there first. While it was not his mistake, he could not escape being connected to this.
"Grandmaster, shouldn't this … …" he couldn't help but speak.
Zuo Mo's expression darkened. "Do I need to report my actions to you?"
Hearing this, the guard leader's heart jumped and he hurriedly said, "Grandmaster is joking, this one doesn't dare. But Grandmaster is of high status, and your safety should be prioritized. This person is unknown … …"
Sproutling's face paled.
Zuo Mo impatiently interrupted the guard leader. "I have my own way of conduct!"
The guard leader gritted his teeth and persisted. "If something happens to Grandmaster, and the patriarch assigns blame, this one … …"
"A Gui, throw him out," Zuo Mo said coolly.
A Gui who had been silently standing next to Zuo Mo suddenly disappeared.
The guard leader was shocked .Before he could react, his neck was gripped and he wasn't able to use his own strength. Woosh, he flew out of the market. He smashed onto the ground, and wasn't able to get up for a while.
The faces of the other guards changed. They were about to move but when they saw that A Gui didn't seem to have moved at all, their faces were ashen white. Their fighting spirit that had just started to burn immediately disappeared.
A Gui's undying shen power had a great qualities. It had no color and was extremely deceptive.
"What's your name?" Zuo Mo asked Sproutling in a gentle gone.
Sproutling gathered his courage. "Grandmaster, I don't have a name, they all call me Bean Sprout or Sproutling."
"No name, your parents?" Zuo Mo asked.
"They are dead." Sproutling said in a low voice.
Zuo Mo was slightly surprised. He suddenly thought of himself and felt emotional. But he quickly raised his head and patted Sproutling's thin shoulder. "Your way of thinking is good but there are some mistakes. Is there a small mo weapon pool here?"
The middle-aged person knew that Zuo Mo was going to teach Sproutling and was overjoyed.
He hurriedly said, "Yes yes yes!"
Zuo Mo looked at the mo weapon masters in the surroundings with desire on their faces and smiled. "You can all come watch."
All of the mo weapon masters cheered!
Zuo Mo definitely would not have thought that his accidental action would … …
Translator Ramblings: Zuo Mo can't stand seeing other people deliberately not making a profit.
Chapter 702: The Snow of the Blue Flower
The little mo pool in the market was low grade and usually used by the low level mo weapon masters who were short on money. Naturally, the results were never very good.
The middle-aged person was slightly embarrassed, and all the mo weapon masters all had expressions of embarrassment. It really was lowering Grandmaster's status to have him use such a low grade mo weapon pool.
It was not acceptable, but they did not have any better mo weapon pools. They looked uncertainly at Zuo Mo.
Zuo Mo did not care. He looked at the mo weapon pool and then moved his gaze away.
He turned around and faced the crowd with the dagger that Sproutling had made in his hand.
"The concept behind this dagger is very interesting. It has three primary materials, White Wood Bone, Ice Blue Stone, and Concerted Shine Crystal."
Everyone perked their ears up and focused in fear of missing a single a word.
"I believe that everyone knows these three materials. Most people would use the White Wood Bone as the base material, the Ice Blue Stone to give it the trait of iciness, and then use the Concerted Shine Crystal in order to merge the two together."
Some of the mo weapon masters nodded. This was the basic method, and even the most ignorant mo weapon master knew it. They were curious. The more basic the materials were, the harder it was to do something new with it. They could not think how these three basic materials could be put together any other way.
"But Sproutling's thinking is unorthodox. He used the Concerted Shine Crystal as the base, and then used the white wood bone and the ice blue stone as materials to strengthen it."
Gasps rang out. Everyone felt this recipe was impossible and unconventional.
"Speaking from the view of traditional mo weapon forging, this is completely against the rules. The Concerted Shine Crystal is a very good low level material but it is not a material that can act as the base for a weapon because it is too soft."
The mo weapon masters almost unconsciously nodded.
"As a result, Sproutling treated the Concerted Shine Crystal with the sap of the Fragrant Leaf Tree to merge Gold Thread Amber, and hardened Concerted Shine Crystal after the White Wood Bone and Ice Blue Stone was merged."
Some mo weapon masters had thoughtful expressions.
"This is a creative idea." Zuo Mo's words caused Bean Sprout to flush. Bean Sprout knew just how terribly his dagger was made.
Zuo Mo changed subject. "But in order to finish this line of creative thought, good forging technique is required. White Wood Bone is rarely used as a base and people will rarely remember that it has a trait, [Wood Thread]."
The entire crowd was silent, and everyone had expressions of respect. If people had a thread of doubt about Zuo Mo's skill due to the rumors before this, then the doubt now disappeared.
Even the basic materials in Grandmaster's mouth had all kinds of transformations.
"In the eyes of many people, [Wood Thread] is a trait that isn't useful, but if it is used well, it will have unusual effects."
Finishing his analysis, he started to throw materials towards the mo weapon pool.
With each item, he would say the name of the material, and then explain why he was using this material as well as the details that one needed to pay attention to. The mo weapon masters didn't dare to make a sound. They were like Zuo Mo's students and listened with a tinge of devoutness.
Low level mo weapon masters did not have any status in society. Their income was low, and making a living was difficult. Their skill was crude which meant they were unable to make fine mo weapons. Their income was limited which in turn caused them to lose the possibility of improving.
They knew just how rare this chance was.
A grandmaster was giving them a lecture. This was the only and the most important class in their life.
Their gazes as they looked at Zuo Mo were filled with sincere respect and gratefulness.
They memorized Zuo Mo's practiced skill and the contents he spoke casually off. The usually noisy market was completely silent. Zuo Mo's voice was the only sound that echoed.
All of the shop owners did not make a sound. They knew the difficulties of these low level mo masters. Many of them were friends.
They did not understand deep principles, but they were infected by this devoutness, yearning and passion.
In this moment, in this place that only recognized mobei, there was no low and high status of society.
Afterwards a completely new style of mo weapon masters would form from here.
They preferred simple and practical materials. They aimed to be creative, they were enthusiastic about the spread of mo weapon skills.
They had a special name, they were the Market Mo Weapon Masters.
———
"Those damned bastards!" The guard leader gritted his teeth. A Gui was never light handed when she attacked. While he wasn't wounded, he was left disheveled and there was a large green bruise on his face.
He quickly noticed the burning gazes in the surroundings and wanted to find a crack in the ground to hide in.
One of the guard leaders of the Tang Family was left in such a sorry state!
At this time, a familiar, grave and murderousness voice sounded. "Old Three, what happened?"
Head!
He climbed up from the ground with embarrassment. "Head!"
"What happened?" Boss's face was murderousness and his gaze vicious. He was sitting on top of his mo steed that seemed to be a small mountain. The steed's four limbs seemed to be made from iron, the long tail spiked. There was an arm-thick horn at its forehead that flashed with a blue light.
This was a Sword Tail Blue Hone Rhinoceros. It was vicious and battle-hungry, a powerful offensive mo steed.
"The Grandmaster … …"
Head immediately understood and his face abruptly changed. His eyes flashed with a cold light as he said, "Even a grandmaster doesn't qualify to run rampant on our Tang Family's land."
He had disliked Xiao Yun Hai's proud attitude a long time ago. The Tang Family treated him as an honored guest yet he was so proud! Even if he might be punished by the patriarch today, he would teach that person who did not know his limits whose land he was on.
"Big Brother, be careful of that servant of his!" the guard leader gritted out.
"Yes, I will cripple her," Head said coolly.
When he finished speaking, he picked up a long spear hanging from the mo steed. He looked towards the depth of the market. Xiao Yun Hai's voice was coming faintly from it. It was unusually silent inside. He did not care. He had absolute confidence in his own power.
He nudged the Swordtail Blue Horn Rhinoceros under his body. With every step, the ground trembled slightly.
Clip-boom, clip-boom!
The head of the Swordtail Blue Horn Rhinoceros started to lower. The blue horn flashed with a soul-shaking light. A low howl came from its mouth. Its heavy breathing showed that it was gathering its strength.
The Head had a secure grip on the long spear in his hand. His cold face seemed to be carved from stone.
The battle spirit that came from the mo steed under him caused his eyes to rapidly turn red.
The icy feeling from the long spear in his hand removed the last stray thought in his mind.
———
Qinghua Xue was enchanted as she listened. There was a knowing smile on her lips.
Actually, she didn't understand what Zuo Mo was saying at all. For a yao, mo weapon forging was so cryptic it was like trying to read the heavens. But she could fee
l the unique atmosphere of the market. She did not realize that there was a respectful expression on her face.
The Xiao Mo Ge in front of her was so unfamiliar. It was unlike the Xiao Mo Ge that Qinghua Xue had seen in the mirages. There was natural and indescribable presence emanating from his body.
She had been paying attention to Zuo Mo all this time. Zuo Mo had not concealed his tracks and she had quickly followed him as he left the Tang manor.
Ning Xin'er couldn't help but tease. But had agreed to help cover her for. They were not like Ji Li Yu who could come and go as she wished.
Qinghua Xue had seen the entire course of events.
She had never thought that Xiao Mo Ge would pay attention to the lowest level of mo weapon masters. Compared to the strict class structure of the mo, the yao were slightly better but even for the yao no grandmaster would be like this.
Definitely not.
The grandmasters were of great status, far above these mo weapon masters of the lowest class. But such a scene was happening in front of her, and the reason was Xiao Mo Ge that she had been searching all this time.
When her gaze swept across the respect and devoutness on the aces of these low level mo weapon masters, she suddenly was moved.
For some unknown reason.
An enormous figure suddenly blocked the entrance to the market.
A strong killing energy was like a cold and snowy wind that blew in. The temperature inside the market immediately dropped.
"Hmph!"
A cold snort exploded like thunder. The mo weapon masters that had weak mo skills changed expression in unison.
Qinghua Zue's pupils suddenly contracted.
An enormous figure charged like a strong wind.
Qinghua Xue's body reacted immediately. Like a blue bolt of lightning, she suddenly appeared in front of the other's path.
When she blocked the other, she suddenly realized what she had done.
"Unrelated people, move!"
The thunderous and furious howl, along with the roar of the wind and the rumble of the ground shaking echoed through the entire market.
Several serene blue flowers floated up from her hand.
[Blue Flower]!
What was she doing?
Having suddenly realized this, Qinghua Xue's face burned but at this time, she did not have the attention to question her reaction.
