27 Taking In 3 Disciples. (1/2)
The moment he returned to his courtyard, Zhang Wu Ji went straight into his room for the sake to rewrite the three outdated Blacksmithing Technique Manual and his two newly created manual. It was an important project for him, because only after rewrite can he enhance their usefulness when he immerses himself in forging. Although their improvement may end up superficial, a small crab leg is still a meat.
Holding over 1600 Strands of Inner Qi with him, the rewriting did not take a toll on him, as he easily copied half of the first book before heading for his rest. But unfortunately, before he managed to doze off, a commotion came from outside of his courtyard's main door, where the visitors are knocking at the door without controlling their own strength. The continuous knock caught the three subordinates attention, where Zhao Xiao Hua have no other way except to see who was so daring to knock the Master Senior Ninth's door in such way.
But when the door is opened, the Three Elder ranked senior came in without an approval, and immediately went to the courtyard's garden, afraid of being rejected before they mentioned their request. Since the three-person before her belonged to the Elder's ranking, Zhao Xiao Hua has no other choice but to inquire about their arrival.
”Three elders, can this junior inquire the reason of your arrival. I am afraid that our Master Senior Ninth just came back from outside and in need of a good rest before anything...” Zhao Xiao Hua politely asks as she was afraid of invoking the wrath of the three elders because of the differences in their status. But what was happening next changed her view towards her master and also on the three elders.
”Little girl, can you try to call your master out? Please tell him the Department Elder and two Vice Department Elders have something we need to inquire him. Please deliver our request to him and try your best to ask him to receive this three old man?” the Department Elder actually lowered his tone as he speaks with the junior. In fact, his tone is more to asking for a favor and not demanding for an audience.
”S... Sure! I will go and ask now!” she quickly answered to their request and prepared to the left to the room Zhang Wu Ji slept inside, but as she turned around, one of the Vice Department Elder took a small medicinal pouch out and placed them on her palm. Although the elder was holding her hand during this moment, it was more to a reward to help them convey a message, and not how a leecher trying to take advantage of a lady.
”Three elders please wait for a moment, this junior will wake Master Senior Ninth now.” she was confused with all these changes. It was well known in the whole sect that the Elders are all high and mighty individuals, why will they change their tone when it comes to their Master Senior Ninth? Additionally, all three elders from the Blacksmithing Department is here, if Bai Hei Tie is here, he will be surprised until he falls on his bottom.
She moves quickly and reaches where the room was located, but before she can knock, it was opened from inside. Zhang Wu Ji walks out after hearing out those loud knocks on his main door and intends to see what happened. But as he comes out, Zhao Xiao Hua is standing by his door, so he conveniently asked.
”What's wrong?”
”Reporting to Master Senior Ninth, the Blacksmithing Department's Department Elder and two Vice Department Elders are requesting for an audience, in fact, they passed me this medicinal pouch which is quite heavy for the sake of making sure you will accept their audience.” Zhao Xiao Hua was well known for Zhang Wu Ji's behavior, which was told by Tang Yuan personally.
”Bring me to them,” he replied. Walking in big and steady steps, he followed his subordinates and walked towards the three elders, while Tang Yuan who was smarter went to prepare the tea for the four of them while talking about those important matters. The only lacking is that Zhang Wu Ji has no habit of drinking top quality tea, thus his courtyard only have the most simple upper-class Soothing Chamomile Tea leaves in their kitchen.
”Three elders, please be seated. It was a lucky day for this junior to have his courtyard receive the shining grace from the three elders from Blacksmithing Department. Can this junior ask, what brings the three elder here today? Did this junior's arrival into the workshop disrupted the progress of the seniors?” since he just came back from the Blacksmithing Department's Vault this morning, it should be related to his handiwork. Either on the two manual or because he messes with their ingots.
”Hahaha, Ninth Direct Disciple is too polite, this three old man really underserve of such a statement. In fact, the three of us were here for the sake of one matter. It was extremely important thus I hope the Ninth Direct Disciple will give it a thought before deciding.”
”The three of us has gone through the two manuals Ninth Direct Disciple left in the vault this morning, and we were surprised by the depth and immensely simplified techniques that were thought inside of its contents. This three shameless old man immediately tried to follow the guidance, and it was an unexpected, a nine of nine success in our attempt to refine the Advance-Quality Metal straight from the moment they were smelted from the Raw Mineral Ores.”
”The Blacksmithing Department has received the grace of your abilities, and this three old man wishes to take you in as our master. Do you mind accepting this three old man that was halfway into their grave as your disciple? Please give us the chance to learn from you, and teach what we could so those from the more unfortunate condition can obtain their part of growth.” the Department Elder unexpectedly kneeled before Zhang Wu Ji, and it was just right on the time that Tang Yuan is here with the four cups of newly brewed tea.
The elder lifted one of the cups and hold it with both hands. With the height of the cup of tea above his temple, this action signifies the seriousness of his words and crucified his intention to take this person as his master in the Blacksmithing Profession.
In their mind, this wasn't a shameful matter. There was over a hundred thousand case where one from the older generations is willingly becoming the direct disciple to a junior generation, for the sake of furthering their understandings in a profession. There was a word says that Talent and Knowledge are what justified a person's seniority. Ability and Might are what justified a person's strength.
”Department Elder, please stand up! Why would this kind of thing happened to me?” he immediately tried to hold the Department Elder up from his knees, but how can a 1st Stage Inner Qi Fighter can compete with an elder in his Inner Qi Elder's strength? Even in the competition of stubbornness, he may lose. As he thought of all this sudden occurrence, the other two Vice Department Elders followed the first's footsteps, and also kneeled with their hand both holding the cup above their temple.
”This two junior that lacked knowledge in the blacksmithing also wished that the Ninth Direct Disciple will give this two a chance as well! Please do not reject our effort!” the two of them must be practiced while coming on their way. There is no such coincidence that the two of them muttered the same sentence together.
Looking at this situation, the three subordinates were speechless with the shamelessness of the three elders. What made all of them kneeled on the ground? Even if their Master Senior Ninth is too amazing for one to accept, it doesn't need you, three elders, to do such an act, right? Why don't you consider how are we going to process this sight before us when we're going back to sleep and cultivates?
”I don't know what makes the three of you went to such a length just for the sake of accepting me as your master, but I will be honest, I might no as knowledgeable and half of you.” Zhang Wu Ji was turned speechless after he sees how committed are the three elders in their action. Left with no other choice, he accepted the three of them, and see what funny thing were they trying to do.
If this thought were made known to the three of them, perhaps they will spit blood at this spot.
”Master! With your ability to easily produce 40% High-Quality Pure Iron and Sentient Iron from raw materials, even the Department Heads from other sect and clan will discard their sect to come and become your disciple.”
”Alright, tell me, what do you three intend to do?” Zhang Wu Ji knows that this three must stumble across some difficult issue, causing them to be this desperate. But it was hard to guess, because no matter what, it was a rare occasion that a Department Elder and Vice Department Elders are left in such a sorry state, making them so desperate at that.
”The truth is, the three of us are barely a skillful Blacksmith, to begin with. We were lucky to be given the opportunity to grow under the previous Department Elder, but he passed away before he taught us all the skills he knows. At the end of the day, we were left with only half of a bucket full of knowledge, but doesn't know where is the tail, and what is the head.”
”This ends up putting the Blacksmithing Department in a very dangerous position, where our quality of weapons and metal crafted weren't up to their standard. In a matter of fact, we are only able to barely produce material in Military grade and above, and the wastage from our department is quite high as well.”
”Due to this matter, the Blacksmithing Department are wasting too much but our production remains low. Although the supply is above the demand at this moment, we cannot continue to only produce half dependable weapons that will endanger the disciple's life if they went out on an expedition. In order to get rid of all these weaknesses, we hope master can help the three disciples in this matter.”
The three did not have any intention to hide any of the problems from his knowledge, which were a good thing especially towards Zhang Wu Ji's personality that hates to guess for the root of the problem. While at the same time, the three elders were a fellow blacksmith, thus their personality was also being mold according to their usual direct, straightforward, and honest manner.
”I see. That is an important matter. It was like what the three of you mentioned, the quality of the weapons stored inside of the vault are not up to their standards. I will give each of you with a task for now, and try to complete the preparations before I can think of another plan. As for now, stops the distribution of the worthless Seven Leaves Sword, and issue a call for the disciples to return the sword back to the Blacksmithing Department, and tell them that the department just found a new technique to increase the durability and lightness of the weapon. It will progress without issue like this.”
”Other than that, I want you to create a mold for few different items. We will craft weapon straight from top quality ingots, thus we can skip the earlier process to hammer the ingots until we obtained the desired piece. The mold should contain the blade, the guard, and the pommel part. Make sure all of them were crafted well and accurate because this is how mass production weapon is made.”
”Next, is to refine all the metal ingots in your vault. Use three-quarter of them and refine them until they reach proper Advance-Quality ingots. We will melt all of them later for the sake of producing a brand new Seven Leaves Sword for the disciple's usage. Last but not least, the two manual I compiled have all the required technique to enhance your results in refining the metal, and also in your smelting process. Follow the guidance well and for now, the three of you will act as the supervisor and mentor for the senior and junior blacksmith.”
”If we have any Inner Qi Fighter's members, used them efficiently by placing them in the position of a bellow blower, and also the Rock Crusher Operator. This will help them to prepare the raw material faster. In the future, I will teach you all how to utilize enhancement material to increase the quality of the Metal Ingots created, so order the department to stop operating like how you do now. Stop all operation and run a renovationto repair all your tools and furnaces.”