https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-461-Grass-Head-the-Eight-Decaying-Gods/12918825/
Chapter 462: The Evil Blade Emerges
Chapter 462: The Evil Blade Emerges
"Master, isn't this all because of you?"
His senior disciple, now capable of holding his own, chimed in anxiously, "The moment you laid eyes on this blade, you became obsessed. You had us forge day and night without rest. Ironically, we finished three days early, only to coincide with the Lantern Festival Fair, when the town's blessings are at their peak..."
"..."
His second disciple also cried out, "Master, I think we should stop for a moment and go to the pavilion to offer our respects and seek some blessings..."
They were the longest-serving disciples, well-versed in the intricacies of blade forging. They knew their master's meticulous nature, that he wouldn't tolerate interruptions during the forging process, but this was a crucial reminder.
The Seventh Young Master Sun had brought this task to their workshop, promising a generous reward for a perfect reforging. Their shop catered to the needs of the jianghu, and they had crafted countless fine weapons and talismans.
But this time, the more they worked, the more they felt an eerie sense of foreboding.
It started with their master. When the Seventh Young Master Sun entered, he was sitting in a grand armchair, sipping tea without even lifting his eyelids.
But when the young master unveiled the blade wrapped in red cloth, their master jumped up, eagerly taking it into his hands and examining it closely. He even placed the blade on the workbench and bowed to it several times.
After the Seventh Young Master Sun explained the forging requirements and presented a bone sealed in a black vase, the master immediately knelt down.
With reverence, he placed the black bone on the altar and had the windows sealed. Using the finest charcoal, iron, and furnace, he began the relentless forging of the blade.
He declared that all necessities, from eating to sleeping, would be taken care of within the workshop. He also informed his disciples that no one could take leave until the blade was complete, not even in the event of death. The Sun family would provide ample burial funds.
And so, they worked tirelessly in shifts, catching brief naps when exhausted and even sharing precious blood-nourishing pills when they reached their limits. They endured this grueling routine for half a month.
However, their haste backfired. The blade was ready for the final stage just as the Lantern Festival Fair began.
The blade, an instrument of evil, was about to be completed during the town's most blessed period, an ironic twist that left the disciples pleading. The forge master, caught between a rock and a hard place, hesitated for a moment before gritting his teeth. "We can't stop now."
"Stopping the fire during forging is taboo. Weapons are heaven-forged, especially this evil blade we are crafting. The malevolent qi of this blade surpasses our own destiny. The timing of its completion is fated, and we can only estimate its emergence."
"Whether it is early or late, it is destined."
"Now that it is three days ahead of schedule, the forging is complete. We can only adapt to the heavens and serve its needs!"
"..."
"Then..."
The disciples understood their master's words, but as they gazed at the fiery red blade in the furnace, their faces grew increasingly tense. "What should we do?"
"If the blade emerges during the peak of blessings, it will be imbued with compassion. This blade... it may not be what we initially intended to create..."
"..."
"How can a weapon of evil be touched by compassion?"
Hearing these words, the master felt an overwhelming sense of irony, as if he had heard the greatest joke in the world. A sinister aura flashed in his eyes as he looked at his disciples' robust chests, brimming with vitality, and then at the furnace.
No one knew if the master had been bewitched by the blade, forging day and night, intimidated by its power, and harboring sinister thoughts in his mind.
The disciples sensed something amiss and fell silent, their bodies trembling with fear.
Just then, a gust of yin wind blew in from outside, causing the furnace flames to turn from white to green. Within the flames, there seemed to be wailing and howling, striking fear into the hearts of the disciples.
"Ah?"
The master was startled, turning to look outside. He seemed to see ghostly mist and a sinister aura, and his initial shock turned into elation. "Quick!"
"I knew this blade's fate was predetermined. We didn't finish early; we finished at the perfect time!"
"This is the best moment, a time we couldn't have chosen better for forging this blade..."
"..."
As he spoke, he grabbed the heavy hammer, his arms rippling with muscular strength. With a life-or-death determination, he struck the blade with each blow.
The disciples were unaware of what was happening in the town, but they felt as if something sinister had descended upon them, as if they were in the eerie depths of the underworld, surrounded by evil spirits. They sensed that something terrible was unfolding in the town.
Though they didn't know what it was, as blade forgers, they keenly felt that the current circumstances were ideal for forging, as if heaven itself was lending a helping hand...
Without time to ponder, they hurriedly joined their master in the forging process.
Swish, swish, each strike of the hammer landed with precision.
A rolling Yin Wind blew in from outside the shop, causing even the furnace fire to seem like ghostly flames, rising with dark and eerie energy. Illness, injury, pain, sorrow, shock, despair, and grief swirled within the fire, greedily licking at the blade, forming strange patterns on its surface.
The heavy hammer struck the knife, creating a rhythmic ding-ding-dang-dang sound. This monotonous tapping seemed like a leisurely sigh.
...
...
"It started early?"
As the Grass Head Eight Decay God bowed towards the town, a surge of Yin energy followed and entered the bustling crowd. Hu Ma, who was walking among them, suddenly came to a halt.
His brows furrowed slightly, and he felt increasingly uneasy. He had known this night wouldn't be peaceful, but he didn't expect the people outside to be so impatient. They spoke of rules, yet their actions seemed to defy them, giving off an unrestrained air.
Hu Ma took a deep breath and set down Little Red Tang, who was sitting on his shoulder, watching the flower lanterns. He turned and entered an empty room nearby. Then, from the wall of the adjacent street, he took down a brazier, which Little Red Tang held as they both entered the room.
Hu Ma signaled for Little Red Tang to keep watch while he closed his eyes and entered the Life Spirit Shrine. After a strand of life incense connected with the Monkey Wine, he immediately asked, "How much longer until they arrive?"
"I don't know."
The Monkey Wine's voice echoed in response: "Since I sent them the message, only two days and a night have passed. Considering the distance from Mingzhou to here, even if they rode fast horses without rest, day and night, it would still take them three days to get here."
"Last night, I also asked you this, and I couldn't get in touch with the other two. The girl with the nickname Sweet Potato Burn did respond, and she set off immediately after receiving the information."
"..."
"The reliable ones haven't shown up, but Sweet Potato Burn is already on her way?"
Hu Ma sighed deeply and said, "I'm afraid we can't wait any longer. Something has happened in the town, and I need to help. But if I intervene, I might also be in danger."
"I can see that."
The Monkey Wine spoke calmly, "Right now, some strange things are bowing towards the town, and even my Gu insects instinctively keep their distance from them."
"According to my estimation, you might not be their match. Do you need me to come to your aid?"
"..."
"No need."
Hu Ma sighed softly, pondering for a moment before saying to the Monkey Wine, "But I have two other requests for you. First, if they arrive, tell them these three things:
"One, there's a gap in the information about the reincarnatees."
"Two, I've met Lao Jun Mei."
"Three, this world is becoming lighter and lighter."
"..."
The Monkey Wine listened quietly, and after he finished speaking, it said, "These fragmented messages don't make sense. Why not explain everything?"
"It's not about conveying information; it's to let them know that I have crucial information here..."
Hu Ma wasn't being noble; he wanted to leave behind important information before doing something dangerous. He wanted these guys to understand the significance of the information he possessed as soon as they arrived, so they would cooperate more effectively.
Otherwise, with their cautious nature, they might quietly slip away at the mention of dealing with the New Year Hall Official and the Meng Family of the Netherworld.
Hearing this, the Monkey Wine didn't ask further, only saying, "Noted. What's the second request?"
"The second request..."
Hu Ma also sighed heavily before slowly saying, "Keep an eye on the town's situation. If you receive my secret signal, I want you to do your best to help me deal with a person."
"Okay," said the Monkey Wine.
Hu Ma was taken aback and asked, "You're not even asking who it is?"
The Monkey Wine also thought for a moment and replied, "Whoever it is, I will do my best to handle it. If I can't manage, I'll take reasonable precautions. What's the point of asking who it is?"
Hu Ma listened, feeling a little dazed, and sighed softly, "That's a very reasonable statement..."
...
...
"Having someone like the Monkey Wine on our side seems like good luck for us reincarnatees..."
After clearly conveying his requests to the Monkey Wine and leaving the Life Spirit Shrine, Hu Ma breathed a long sigh of relief. As he opened his eyes, he saw Little Red Tang crouching by the window, anxiously looking outside. Even through the window, Hu Ma could sense the chilly atmosphere.
"Let's go, Little Red Tang!"
He slowly stood up, his eyes narrowing slightly, a glint of determination flashing in them. "We're minding our own business in Mingzhou, and they come running to build a Ghost General Altar, secretly plotting against us. Since we can't shake them off..."
"Then let's go and give them a proper greeting!"
(End of Chapter)
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