One-Eyed Monster

”A sword?” Master Lao savored Igor’s words. It had been a long time since he last crafted a weapon.

This time, he was determined to have a satisfying forge.

Master Lao scooped a ladle of water and poured it over himself, ”Oh, ho, ho, ha, ha, ha, it’s time to stretch my muscles.”

Charcoal tumbled from Master Lao’s hands into the forge. In no time, flames leaped within the furnace, and the iron lay quietly on top, waiting to be heated red hot.

”Many blacksmith shops have replaced charcoal with coal, without realizing that charcoal does a better job of perfectly heating these iron lumps,” Master Lao said as he rhythmically worked the bellows. Soon, the entire blacksmith shop grew warmer.

”Do you need an extra hand, Master?” Igor asked.

”No need. You haven’t grasped the rhythm, and you’d only get in the way. The size of the flame and the force used must be measured; it’s not just about random hammering. Of course, you could bash aimlessly and still forge something, but the quality wouldn’t be as good,” Master Lao replied.

Crafting a sword isn’t as simple as that mask hoop just now. A sword is a substantial piece, usually requiring an apprentice’s help. Especially during forging, the apprentice swings the heavy hammer, the master wields the smaller hammer, and the apprentice follows the master’s rhythm to strike the heated iron. The master uses the small hammer to refine...

But Master Lao didn’t need Igor as an assistant. He said he could handle it alone.

So Igor witnessed a stunning spectacle.

It was as if Master Lao had suddenly grown several more arms, swinging both heavy and light hammers. With a series of clangs, the heated iron gradually took the shape of a sword. Ding ding, clang clang, the small hammer in Master Lao’s hand refined the sword’s contour.

”Every weapon needs integration with its bearer. How will you achieve this, young man?”

Igor was stunned; clearly, he didn’t grasp what Master Lao meant.

”This sword is yours, but its soul is still within this anvil and the quenching pool. How will you carry away the soul of this sword?” Master Lao kept hammering. The heated iron had now taken the form of a sword.

”What methods do others use?” Igor scratched his head, clearly unfamiliar with such methods!

”Well, there are myriad ways. Some envelop the entire weapon with Spirit Power, the traditional Spirit Power infusion. But I don’t think that’s ideal. Others might integrate nails or hair, but that leaves gaps and weaknesses in the weapon once forged...”

”Then what do you think is the best way, Master?” Igor asked with curiosity.

”I believe the best method is to use your blood. When the sword is quenched, sprinkle your own blood on it, so it will be part of you before it’s even unveiled.”

”Blood?” Igor scratched his head. Though he thought the master’s suggestion made sense, he was hesitant.

”That’s right. Your sword will eventually drink blood.”

”Alright!” Igor resolved.

”Have you decided to quench it with blood?” Master Lao asked.

”Yes!” Igor replied resolutely.

”Then do it now.” Master Lao gave Igor a slight smile.

”Okay!” Igor found a small knife, sliced open his arm, and allowed blood to drip onto the sword.

Sizzle—line by line, Master Lao evenly distributed Igor’s dripping blood across the sword’s surface,

then swiftly submerged the bloodied sword into the quenching pool.

Sss—steam and white smoke rose as the initially red-hot iron sword abruptly hardened!

”Next, it’s time to polish and sharpen!” Master Lao appeared excited, clearly having poured his heart into crafting this sword for Igor.

”Thank you, Master!” Igor wrapped a cloth around his freshly cut arm to staunch the bleeding.

”Polishing is a delicate task. It’ll look completely different in time, but not now; a smoke break’s worth before we can polish,” said Master Lao as he began to smoke.

During the intermission before polishing, Igor remembered he forgot to ask Master Lao something earlier.

”Master, how did you end up assigned here? With your skills, you should have a place among the blacksmiths in Luona!”

”Oh, ho, ho, ha! It’s simple, really. I refused to forge those masks for the alchemy workshop folks, so I was sent here.”

”Ah, I see!” Igor looked at the mask hoop in his hand, finding Master Lao to be quite a complex person. ”But why then make this mask hoop for me, Master?”

”This,” Master Lao puffed a smoke ring, ”because of A Rang’s design.”

”I don’t get it,” Igor admitted honestly.

”I know A Rang made this mask hoop for you. If A Rang dabbles in crafting it, it means you’re not part of those alchemy workshop scoundrels,” the master explained.

Igor nodded, surprised by the simplicity of Master Lao’s logic—his steadfast trust in someone led to such a firm decision.

”Facts prove, after all, that my judgment was correct. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have crafted this sword for you,” said Master Lao, winking at Igor. Beads of sweat dripped from his disheveled hair.

Igor was at a loss for words. This began with crafting a mask hoop for Kadi, and he ended up with a sword...

”Alright, about done!” Master Lao grabbed the whetstone and began to hone the sword with rhythmic strokes.

The sword gradually took on a unique radiance under Master Lao’s skilled hands.

”This is the difference blood integration brings!” Master Lao remarked, clearly satisfied with the sword.

This was his first weapon crafted since coming to Gaga County, and it was a labor of love.

In no time, the former mass of red iron in Master Lao’s hand transformed into a shining, splendid sword!

The sword glistened brightly, its sheen enhanced by the forge’s flames, prompting Igor to exclaim, ”What a fine sword!”

The master wiped the sword as if gazing at his beloved child, handling it with utmost care.

”Would you like to name this sword, Master?” Igor suggested, barely able to contain his excitement!

”Heh, what good names could a simple blacksmith like me come up with?”