Several months passed quietly.
Qinshan County gradually returned to what appeared to be normal life.
The damaged buildings caused by the previous disturbances had long since been repaired, merchants reopened their businesses, and the streets once again bustled with traders and pedestrians. To ordinary people, it seemed as though the unrest from months ago had already become nothing more than a distant memory.
Outside the county, however, unsettling rumours continued to spread.
Entire villages had reportedly become deserted overnight.
Some said bandits had slaughtered everyone before fleeing into the mountains.
Others believed powerful demonic beasts had attacked under the cover of darkness.
No one knew the truth.
As more reports arrived from different directions, the number of unsolved cases steadily increased until even Qinshan County began feeling the pressure.
Then...
Another rumour quietly surfaced.
Ghosts.
Some claimed they had seen pale figures wandering abandoned villages at night.
Others insisted they heard strange crying from empty houses.
Many dismissed such stories as drunken nonsense.
Others silently began avoiding travel after sunset.
Inside the Yamen, however, nobody dared treat the reports lightly.
The County Constable immediately withdrew large numbers of officers from routine patrol duties before ordering a full investigation throughout the county.
The investigations moved with astonishing speed.
Within only half a day, dozens of people were arrested.
Some were travelling merchants.
Others were local residents.
Several even held respectable occupations within the county.
After interrogation, they were all branded as members of an evil cult.
The news spread through Qinshan County like wildfire.
An execution date was announced almost immediately.
The condemned cultists would all be publicly executed after the New Year celebrations.
For a time, public morale rose considerably.
Many believed the Yamen had finally uncovered the source of the recent disturbances.
Only a handful of people remained uneasy.
---
Lou Feng's life, meanwhile, had improved considerably.
Several months earlier, he had successfully captured the notorious Flower Thief Zhao Yunze after discovering the man's hiding place through careful observation rather than reckless pursuit.
That achievement earned him widespread recognition inside the Yamen.
Instead of remaining among the ordinary patrol officers, Lou Feng requested a transfer into the smithing division.
His request was approved.
Thanks to the skills his master had personally taught him, Lou Feng's craftsmanship rapidly surpassed many veteran blacksmiths.
His position within the division steadily rose.
Even several senior officers had begun requesting weapons forged specifically by him.
One matter continued to puzzle him.
Recently...
The Yamen had been ordering an unusually large quantity of weapons.
Spears.
Sabres.
Crossbows.
Even heavy armour.
The requests showed no signs of slowing.
Lou Feng occasionally asked his superiors about the sudden increase.
Every answer remained the same.
"Simply do your work."
He eventually stopped asking.
Whatever preparations the Yamen was making clearly exceeded his current authority.
Fortunately...
His own cultivation continued progressing smoothly.
He had recently celebrated his thirteenth birthday.
Not long afterward, he successfully stepped into the Qi Refining Realm.
Combined with his Rank One early-stage physique, his overall strength had increased dramatically.
His body had likewise undergone noticeable changes.
He had grown several inches taller, his shoulders broadened, and the childish appearance that once lingered on his face gradually disappeared.
When he mentioned it to Lin Sheng, his master simply nodded.
"You've entered your growth spurt."
The explanation sounded ordinary.
Lou Feng accepted it without much thought.
As the New Year approached, Qinshan County gradually filled with festive decorations.
Red lanterns hung from nearly every street.
Markets overflowed with customers purchasing food, clothing and gifts for their families.
Children laughed while running through the streets.
Musicians performed outside restaurants.
Even the usually dangerous Western District appeared quieter than before.
Lou Feng realised something else.
He hadn't encountered the Wind Tiger Gang for quite some time.
Ever since Meng Jin's disappearance, the gang seemed to have deliberately avoided provoking him.
Although the memories remained difficult to forget...
Life finally appeared to be moving forward.
Throughout every district, preparations for the New Year celebration continued with growing excitement.
Meanwhile...
Inside the county prison, the captured cultists quietly awaited their scheduled execution.
---------
"Master, you wanted to see me?"
Lou Feng respectfully cupped his fists as he entered the quiet courtyard.
Lin Sheng put down the jade slip in his hand and looked at his disciple.
"Sit."
Lou Feng immediately obeyed.
After a brief silence, Lin Sheng asked, "You've been cultivating the Qi Eating Method for several months now. Have you noticed anything unusual?"
Lou Feng nodded.
"Yes, Master."
"It doesn't resemble any martial art manual I've ever heard of."
"The way it absorbs energy is completely different."
Lin Sheng wasn't surprised.
"That's because it is different."
He calmly continued, "The Qi Eating Method isn't a martial cultivation scripture. It belongs to an ancient cultivation path that has long been lost."
Lou Feng's expression became serious.
Lin Sheng deliberately avoided mentioning immortal cultivators or the Immortal Continent.
Those matters were far too distant for Lou Feng's current realm.
"You happened to possess the aptitude to cultivate it."
"So I taught it to you."
"From today onward, never reveal this cultivation method to anyone."
"No matter who asks."
"No matter what promises they make."
"You are forbidden from teaching it, copying it or mentioning its origin."
Lou Feng immediately bowed.
"This disciple understands."
Lin Sheng nodded with satisfaction before taking out another booklet from his storage ring.
"This is what I truly wish to teach you today."
Lou Feng accepted it curiously.
Across the cover were several ancient characters.
Basic Artifact Refining Records.
His eyes widened.
"Artifact... refining?"
Lin Sheng explained calmly.
"The weapons blacksmiths forge are merely mortal weapons."
"Artifact refinement is different."
"It uses Spiritual Qi, runic inscriptions and spiritual materials to create true weapons."
"They can recognize their owners."
"They can channel Spiritual Qi."
"They can even fly."
Lou Feng blinked.
"...Fly?"
"Master..."
"Does that mean..."
"...I can forge flying swords?"
His breathing unconsciously quickened.
After all, every youth dreamed of soaring through the heavens with a sword beneath his feet.
Lin Sheng smiled faintly.
"In theory."
"In practice, you'll need many years before reaching that level."
"Artifact refinement is far more profound than ordinary blacksmithing."
Lou Feng lowered his head and immediately began reading.
The more he read...
The brighter his eyes became.
Runic inscriptions.
Spirit metals.
Refining flames.
Spiritual resonance.
Everything inside seemed to open an entirely new world before him.
Seeing his disciple immerse himself so quickly, Lin Sheng silently nodded.
As expected of a Child of Luck.
His comprehension truly bordered on the absurd.
After watching for a while, Lin Sheng quietly fell into thought.
His Metal Spiritual Root is naturally suited for sword cultivation.
Among countless weapon types, swords possessed the greatest compatibility with Metal Spiritual Roots.
However...
Lin Sheng wasn't in a hurry.
A suitable sword art wasn't something that could be chosen carelessly.
He decided to continue observing Lou Feng for a while longer before making that decision.
---
At the same time...
Within a forgotten courtyard hidden somewhere inside Qinshan County...
More than ten cloaked figures sat around a dim oil lamp.
The atmosphere was heavy.
One of them finally broke the silence.
"What exactly is the City Lord doing?"
"The Yamen has been arresting our people nonstop."
Another calmly replied,
"The City Lord cannot openly interfere."
"If he orders the Yamen to stop investigating..."
"...he'll expose himself."
The first man slammed his fist onto the table.
"So we simply watch our people die?"
Silence followed.
Every person present wore an ugly expression.
The recent investigation had caught them completely off guard.
For years...
Their organization had operated beneath the Yamen's nose without incident.
Now...
Dozens of members had already been captured.
Many were scheduled for execution immediately after the New Year celebrations.
A middle-aged man seated at the head of the table slowly spoke.
"Has the Feng Shui node been located?"
Everyone turned toward another cloaked figure.
The man slowly shook his head.
"Not yet."
"The geomantic survey is still ongoing."
"We've narrowed the area considerably..."
"...but we haven't found the exact Earth Vein convergence point."
The leader narrowed his eyes.
"We don't have much time."
"If those prisoners are executed..."
"...we'll lose too many people."
The room fell silent once again.
Finally...
The leader slowly raised his head.
"If the Yamen refuses to look elsewhere..."
"...then we'll give them something they cannot ignore."
His voice became cold.
"Create another incident."
"A much larger one."
"Shift every pair of eyes in Qinshan County away from the executions."
The surrounding cloaked figures silently nodded.
Soon...
The oil lamp flickered once.
Then the room became empty once more.