Franklin stared blankly at Qian Jing. Lucas's Ironworks, the premier forge in Oakland? Was that true? Lucas might only be a Second-tier Blacksmith, but he had been operating in Oakland for years and maintained deep connections with the provincial capital’s Blacksmith Guild. To confront him so rashly...

"Don't worry about it," Qian Jing bent down, tapping Franklin lightly on the lower back as he murmured, "Uncle, let me tell you a secret. I'm actually a true Master Smith..."

"What!"

Franklin was so shocked he almost tripped over his own feet. He looked up, his gaze fixed on Qian Jing's smiling face.

A Master Smith! The rank that countless blacksmiths looked up to? A title that commanded great deference, even from the City Lord himself! Rumor had it that even the most talented geniuses within the Blacksmith Guild only achieved the rank of Master Smith in middle age, some not until their beards had turned white! How old was this Qian Jing?

"Let's go then," Qian Jing tugged at Franklin and pulled him through several streets until they reached the entrance of Lucas's Ironworks.

Compared to Franklin's humble shop, Lucas's Ironworks not only had a much grander facade but also occupied a floor space that dwarfed anything Franklin could boast.

Above the tall entrance hung a massive emblem carved from wood—a blacksmith's hammer—projecting an aura of mastery over Oakland's metalworking trade.

The sheer scale, easily five times the size of Franklin's shop, made Franklin feel deeply inadequate. The steady flow of people entering and exiting the doorway also proved a stark contrast to his own establishment.

"Qian Jing... maybe we should just forget this..." Franklin grabbed Qian Jing's wrist. "This place... are we really..."

"Uncle, just listen to me." Qian Jing turned and grasped Franklin's wrist firmly, steering him toward the entrance. "Have you forgotten how arrogant he was in our shop last time? Since Lucas gave me such a grand 'gift' that night, I absolutely must repay him today! If he wants my life, he should be prepared for my retaliation! Today I smash his shop; tomorrow I’ll eliminate his people to remove any future trouble."

"Your life?"

"Uncle, just follow me inside."

In the spacious showroom hall, Lucas was not engaged in forging as Franklin usually was. Instead, he sat on a stool near the counter, sipping clear tea, his brow furrowed in deep, troubled contemplation.

"Sir, what can I get for you?"

A female sales clerk, whose appearance was quite presentable, hurried two steps forward and stood before Qian Jing, executing a crisp, respectful bow. Her service attitude was leagues beyond what one found at Franklin's Ironworks.

"Hmph! Lucas always loves this sort of theatrics," Franklin sneered, glancing dismissively at the distant Lucas. Now that his skill as a Third-tier Blacksmith had surpassed Lucas’s, and with Qian Jing standing beside him, his own confidence surprisingly swelled once they entered the room.

"What do you need?" Qian Jing deliberately raised his voice so that everyone in the hall could hear. "Bring out your strongest, best weapons! Only the absolute best will do!"

Several adventurers overhead heard Qian Jing's loud declaration and shifted their attention toward him, subconsciously moving closer, curious why this young man was being so conspicuously demanding.

Lucas’s furrowed brow suddenly smoothed out, replaced by an expression of shock as he looked at Qian Jing. His brow quickly knitted together again, then slowly relaxed, and a smile supplanted his previous bewilderment.

"Oh? Isn't this someone from Franklin's Ironworks?" Lucas said with a smile, slowly strolling toward Qian Jing, raising his voice slightly as well. "The best weapons? What, did Franklin’s shop take on a job so impossible that you need to buy supplies from Oakland's premier forge?"

The adventurers and several of the shop clerks displayed varied expressions. Some clearly believed Lucas’s words, while others, observing Qian Jing’s overtly challenging demeanor, sensed the situation was far more complex—this young man was clearly looking for trouble.

Qian Jing shrugged and remained silent, not giving Lucas a direct look. With his hands clasped behind his back resting on his Zhanmadao (horse-slashing saber), he paced slowly around the main hall, occasionally plucking a weapon from a rack, curling his lip in a cold sneer. "What is all this junk? You call yourselves Oakland's Number One Ironworks with equipment like this? Look at this blade—it probably couldn't even kill a chicken! Deceiving people isn't done this way."

Lucas’s brow tightened slightly, but instead of anger, he countered with a smile. He took the saber from Qian Jing’s hand and, without further words, brought it down sharply onto a wooden weapon rack.

Bang! One strike! The half-inch thick rack offered no resistance and immediately split into two pieces.

"Impressive!"

Two adventurers exclaimed their admiration for the display. Those who made their living fighting outside could immediately judge the quality of a weapon.

"This blade..." Lucas looked at Qian Jing with a sinister grin. "It wouldn't be difficult to kill you with this, would it?"

Qian Jing lightly flicked the back edge of the saber in Lucas's hand with his fingertip. "Is this your best weapon?"

Lucas chuckled softly and shook his head. "Of course not. Our finest weapons at Lucas's Ironworks could likely bankrupt Franklin's entire shop if we sold them to you. Why bother looking?"

The minor commotion in the smithy had drawn the attention of many passersby. By now, a crowd had gathered at the entrance, their hushed, scattered whispers filling the air.

"What's wrong with Franklin's Ironworks today?"

"Yeah! With their meager skill, they dare come here to cause trouble at Lucas's?"

"I heard Lucas was causing trouble at Franklin's shop a while back..."

"Even so, they shouldn't have come here. Aren't they just inviting public humiliation?"

Qian Jing ignored the surrounding whispers. He patted the slightly uneasy Franklin at his side and smiled at Lucas. "If I insist on seeing them, what conditions must be met for Mr. Lucas to agree?"

"Simple!" Lucas's voice suddenly rose as he confidently held up three fingers. "There are three ways! First: You produce enough money!"

"Sorry, not right now," Qian Jing shrugged, drawing a cascade of jeers from the onlookers.

"Second: You have insulted my craftsmanship, so you must apologize to me first, and then beg me!"

"I did not insult your craftsmanship." Qian Jing glanced at the saber that had cleaved the wooden rack. "To say it could kill a chicken was already giving it too much credit. Therefore, I have no need to apologize to you. As for begging, I have no interest."

:This is a double chapter update; I'll upload the second chapter immediately! I will explain the reason for the double update in the next chapter. F