As for the matter of Yuanen Yehui and the Demon Plane, Arthur found it hard to explain.
He stammered, not knowing how to put it into words.
Facing the increasingly dangerous looks around him, he took a deep breath and forced himself to babble nonsense. "As for that... let's just say those who know, know. Knowing it wouldn't do you any good. The stakes involved are too high. Let's just say the waters run deep."
Yuanen Yehui, the very culprit who had been watching from the sidelines this whole time, was thoroughly enjoying the show.
That's right, she was doing it on purpose.
She still remembered perfectly well how Arthur had played the riddle man in front of her before.
Arthur's excuse clearly wasn't fooling anyone. His voice grew smaller and smaller as he spoke, until it was barely audible.
Just as Arthur ran out of things to make up and was about to bolt for it, his communicator rang.
The ringtone cut through the tense atmosphere among the group.
Arthur, feeling as though he'd just been granted a pardon, answered at once. "Hello?"
It was Mu Chen calling. "Arthur, where are you right now? Could you come by the association?"
At that moment, Mu Chen's voice sounded like heavenly music to Arthur's ears.
He put on a show of wiping away tears of emotion, his voice thick as though he were about to cry. "Teacher, you're the best teacher I've ever had."
Mu Chen was startled by this sudden "heartfelt confession," taking a couple of seconds to recover before responding. "...What are you up to now?"
"Teacher, tell me what happened." Arthur waved the communicator at the girls around him, throwing in a helpless look for good measure. "I'll be right there."
"How should I put it." Mu Chen's tone was a bit strange. "Someone's come to crash the party, saying they want to challenge our association's genius."
"Good, let them crash it! Ahem... I mean, who's so bold! Don't they know Shrek City's association is under my protection, the little Master Craftsman!" Arthur said gleefully. "On my way!"
Then, with a mournful look, he said to the girls, "Sorry... I can't stay with you all. You understand."
He pointed at the communicator, worked himself up for a moment, then said with deep anguish, "I regret it too, but the Blacksmith Association can't do without me."
The girls: ...
Na'er was the most exasperated of them all. She began wondering whether she should send Di Tian to burrow into Mu Chen's bed in the middle of the night.
Gu Yue, meanwhile, stayed fairly composed. "I don't have anything else going on anyway. I'll come along and take a look."
Xu Xiaoyan immediately raised her hand. "I want to go too! I've never been to Shrek City's Blacksmith Association."
Ye Xinglan nodded. "We agreed I'd spend today resting with you all, so I'll come along."
Arthur didn't mind either way.
As long as he could get inside the association, he had no intention of setting foot outside again for the rest of his month-long vacation!
When they arrived at the Blacksmith Hall, the place was already packed, chatter rising and falling on every side.
But the moment Arthur stepped through the door, he became the center of attention. All the talking died away at once.
Arthur had never hidden his talent for forging, and as a result his reputation in the blacksmithing world was now sky high, second only to Zhen Hua's.
No other reason for it, simply because he was that impressive.
Every blacksmith who had ever watched Arthur forge in person had become convinced he was destined to be a future Master Craftsman.
Arthur glanced around. There were plenty of familiar faces, even Zhen Hua was here.
Nearly every notable figure in the Federation's blacksmithing world had shown up.
Why "nearly"? Because Feng Wuyu wasn't among them.
"What's the meaning of this?"
Mu Chen secretly sent Arthur a voice transmission to explain.
Because of Arthur's terrifying feat not long ago, single-handedly killing two Evil Douluo, Zhen Hua and Mu Chen had worried that people might grow wary of him and try to make a move against him.
So they'd gathered the blacksmiths here for a gathering, to discuss standing behind Arthur.
And then, as luck would have it, someone had shown up to crash the party.
Only then did Arthur understand why the Blacksmith Association was as lively as a New Year's celebration today: Zhen Hua and Mu Chen had been quietly backing him up.
His heart warmed, though he couldn't help grumbling anyway. "You threw a party and didn't even invite me?"
Mu Chen shot him an irritated look. "Enough nonsense."
Zhen Hua laughed heartily and stepped forward, clapping him on the shoulder. "Arthur, you're finally here."
"Let's cut to the chase." Arthur called out loudly. "Who's the one crashing the party?"
That shout made everyone turn as one toward the center of the hall.
There stood an old man and a young girl. The old man's hair had already gone gray, yet he looked full of vigor.
The other was a girl who looked around fifteen or sixteen, strikingly beautiful, with a graceful figure.
Seeing everyone's eyes on him, the old man got straight to the point, saying calmly, "This old man is Chang Gongyan. Having learned there was a grand gathering of blacksmiths here, I thought I'd bring my disciple along to challenge the younger generation of your Blacksmith Association."
At those words, everyone, as if by silent agreement, struggled to hold back their laughter.
The old man gestured to the girl beside him. "This is my disciple, Lin Yuhan. If any blacksmith under twenty in your association can defeat her, we'll admit defeat. And if we lose, we'll join the Blacksmith Association."
Having said that, he turned a sharp gaze on Arthur. From the mood in the room, it was clear Arthur had to be the top genius here.
"Hm." Ever the model of respect for his elders, Arthur strutted forward, chin high. "Old man, do you know who I am?"
Chang Gongyan snorted coldly. "This old man cares only for strength, not names."
"Oh." Arthur nodded. "So you're from the Xingluo Continent?"
The old man and the girl's expressions changed at once.
Holy crap, doxxed!
They couldn't help glancing around, only to find that everyone else's expressions showed they'd already seen it coming.
"No need to make a fuss. I'm actually quite well known here on the Douluo Continent. If you don't recognize me, odds are good you're from the Xingluo Continent."
Chang Gongyan was silent for a few seconds before speaking slowly. "Our purpose in coming today is simple: just a friendly exchange."
Arthur nodded. "Of course. How do you want to do this?"
Chang Gongyan was clearly confident in his disciple. "Simple. Two rounds. In the first, we'll choose a metal and you'll both forge with it. In the second, you choose a metal and you both forge with that."
"Compare the results side by side, and who's better will be plain to see."
Once preparations were finished, the contest began.
Lin Yuhan chose Blue Gestation Copper. She struck first, her Soul Power erupting suddenly as four purple Soul Rings surfaced. Her hammer technique was fierce and precise, every strike carrying tremendous force, sparks scattering as her movements flowed like water.
By contrast, Arthur seemed rather unbothered. Not only did he not begin forging, he even stood off to the side, watching. "Pretty interesting."
Why hadn't he started yet? Chang Gongyan frowned, sensing something was off.
He swept his gaze around, only to find that the blacksmiths nearby showed no concern at all.
They were watching Lin Yuhan with great interest instead. "So this is the forging style of the Xingluo Continent?"
Not until Lin Yuhan completed her spirit forging and finished did Chang Gongyan's unease grow strong enough that he couldn't hold back. "Are you conceding?"
Arthur didn't answer. He strolled unhurriedly over to his own forging table.
"I know everyone's gathered here in Shrek City today because of me, Arthur." Arthur said. "Since you've all given me so much face..."
"then I'll put on a real show for you!"
Soul Forging, starting today!
Intuition, Fortune: show me your limits!