One-Eyed Monster

Igor finally gave Master Lao two gold coins; he initially wanted to give four, but Master Lao refused to accept them.

The whole process took quite a while, with back-and-forth conversation.

”That mask hoop is just worth half a gold coin, you don’t need to give four gold coins!”

”And this Meteor sword!” Igor thought the sword would need two or three gold coins for crafting.

”I gifted it to you; I said it back then. I wouldn’t take money for it!”

”The tavern across the street was damaged too, and they are asking you for compensation...” Igor found that no matter what he said, Master Lao wouldn’t accept his gold coins, so he found a way to make him accept them.

The aunt from the tavern across had already returned; when she saw Meteor, she knew it was the sword that damaged her tavern. The tavern owner always had foresight; she knew better than to provoke adventurers, even when she could shout at the blacksmith but wouldn’t dare babble a word to adventurers.

”No problem, they won’t ask me for compensation. I’ve been here for a year, and they are all kind people.”

”It’s even more important that kind people shouldn’t suffer losses. It’s only right and proper to compensate for the damaged items.” Igor insisted.

”Well...” Master Lao scratched his head, ”I will ask them how much the damages cost.”

”No need, I’ll give you these gold coins. If they’re not enough, you can cover the rest yourself!” Igor handed over four gold coins; he knew well the extent of the damage he caused, four gold coins were more than enough.

”Not necessary, I’ll just take half.” Master Lao persistently refused to accept too many gold coins.

”Four coins, it’s set!”

”Why don’t you take them over yourself?” Master Lao directly said to Igor, ”This way it doesn’t have to pass through my hands, just give me half a coin.”

”This... fine, I’ll trouble you then!” Upon hearing Master Lao’s suggestion, Igor had to compromise.

”Great, now Meteor can release its brilliance on this continent!” Master Lao chuckled happily, as if seeing his own child embarking on a journey, with a mix of reluctance and anticipation.

”I will ensure Meteor releases all its radiance!” Igor slung the sword onto his back; Master Lao even made a sheath for it, crafted from a piece of cowhide. It couldn’t help but amaze Igor over Master Lao’s nimbleness—able to forge metal and fashion leather covers, and create both intricate and solid items.

”Alright then, Master Lao, farewell!” Igor felt a bit reluctant too, but with the sky darkening, he needed to find Kadi. He wondered how Kadi was alone in that dilapidated cow house.

”Farewell, I hope one day I can hear the Sword Spirit of Meteor spring forth!”

”It will!” Igor echoed, his footsteps already leaving the blacksmith shop.

All things have spirits, the sword has integrated with Igor’s blood, and in time, the Sword Spirit will undoubtedly emerge.

Igor believed this firmly, and during his brief time in the blacksmith shop, he felt that adventurers and non-adventurers weren’t as he had previously thought.

Master Lao seemed more formidable than an adventurer; he felt many adventurers might be formidable, but not as remarkable as Master Lao the blacksmith.

Master Lao could refuse crafting masks for the Alchemy Workshop people, believing these people abandoned basic things for power, losing themselves. Without a soul, what spirit could they have?

Conversely, people like Master Lao are conscientious with every task, seemingly pouring their entire soul into their work. These are the people who deserve respect.

Such people possess limitless power.

Igor ran, his sword seemingly agreeing with him, whispering softly in the wind brought by his speed.

Unintentionally, Igor thought about how Dean Hoffman once mentioned wanting to establish a profession for artisans at Yonder Travel Academy, but for some reason, it wasn’t realized.

In retrospect, what Dean Hoffman meant by artisans were people like Master Lao!

Even though these people didn’t exude Spirit Power or pose threats, when Master Lao wielded his hammer, Igor could feel an enigmatic power flowing from him.

”The reason the artisan profession wasn’t established was because I never found a true artisan, one with Craftsman Spirit!”

Dean Hoffman’s words echoed in Igor’s mind; he wouldn’t have thought, A Rang’s master was like someone possessing Craftsman Spirit.

Craftsman Spirit—a term he first saw in the Spirit Book; in these years spent on Guru Mountain, he casually flipped through these Spirit Books. While not memorized verbatim, he became quite familiar with many content.

Artisans are almost an extinct profession; nobody knows what the profession used to entail, but it’s clearly documented in the Spirit Book that progress and growth of adventurers and artisans are closely interconnected.

Yet, no one could identify the traits of artisans, even learned scholars struggled to define them.

Igor felt lucky to have met a master like Master Lao, witnessing the entire crafting process of a weapon imbued with life!

Though he couldn’t ascertain if Master Lao was truly an artisan, he thought it necessary to inform Dean Hoffman, leaving subsequent matters untouched by him.

Now, the priority was to return to Kadi, because all the Mail Birds were with Kadi!

He wondered how Kadi was alone, whether asleep or facing trouble. Could he cope with any issues in his current state?

Igor’s thoughts raced; nearly a day passed since he went to the county to exchange gold coins for crafting the mask, indeed taking considerable time but reaping substantial rewards. He hoped Kadi would understand.

Unconsciously, Igor quickened his pace; he could hear the wind rushing past his ears...

Almost there, nearing the cow house.

The sky had darkened, and the evening dampness of Gaga County was heavy, coupled with the transition between winter and summer, bringing a chill through the air.

This chill gave Igor an ominous premonition!