"My money! Damn it, back to square one overnight—or hell, it’s only been a few hours!" Lin Ming trudged out of Prosperous Scenery Hall, his heart bleeding.

He’d finally scored big exploiting a loophole in the Jade Vipers quest, thinking it’d last days. Gone in hours.

He glanced at the bill in his hand:

*Medical fees: 10,000 gold coins. Jingtian’s service fee: 5,000 gold coins. Equipment maintenance: 1,000 gold coins. Facial swelling reduction: 1,000 gold coins. Total: 17,000 gold coins.*

Lin Ming’s face darkened. *Equipment maintenance? A thousand gold coins?! And another thousand just to reduce swelling? Damn it! Swelling ointment costs five gold coins max. Robbery!* He could already picture Xiao Huang’s smug grin.

"Grr... Though my body does feel lighter now. Sigh! Life truly runs on gold—no profit, no purpose!" he muttered.

"Night’s fallen. Time to head to Uncle Beichen’s. Grab the weapons we agreed on, scrounge a meal, then head home." He turned toward Beichen’s Smithy under the darkening sky.

Inside Prosperous Scenery Hall, the last customers had left. Only Xiao Huang remained, tallying accounts. Headmaster Jingtian descended the stairs.

"Master!" Xiao Huang hurried over.

"Hm. Lin Ming gone?" Jingtian asked.

Xiao Huang recalled Lin Ming’s near-death expression while paying, that silly tuft of hair drooping lifelessly. He chuckled. "He bolted right after paying. Super fast."

Then he frowned. "Master... why do you always charge him so... *low* for treatments?"

"Just a token fee. His old man begged me so hard. How could I refuse?" Jingtian sighed, remembering Dugu Bai’s stern face when he’d brought Lin Ming here—*Fix him or I’ll tear this place down brick by brick*. He’d never seen that man so fierce.

"Understood," Xiao Huang said quietly. Hearing "old friend," he knew better than to ask more. Only *that* person could make Jingtian bend.

"Finish the accounts and lock up." Jingtian headed upstairs.

"Yes, sir."

***

"Hell, so crowded! Foot traffic’s insane even at night!" Lin Ming grumbled, jostled through throngs on the street.

After squeezing through the crowd, he finally spotted Beichen’s Smithy. Relief washed over him. Weapons here were always free—winnings from Beichen’s lost bets. Unlike Prosperous Scenery Hall’s "token fees" that still stung his wallet.

Heat blasted him as he entered. A forge glowed at the center. Burly smiths hammered red-hot iron on anvils—*clang-clang-clang!*—while apprentices sweated nearby. No sign of Beichen.

"Ugh, still sweltering even after all these visits." Lin Ming wiped sweat, panting. "Gotta grab dinner and weapons fast. Damn, I’m melting."

*No Beichen out front? Must be in the back.* He slipped toward the rear workshop. Beichen displayed the forging process publicly for three reasons:

First, for showmanship.

Second, to prove every weapon was hand-forged—not cheap cast-offs.

Third... well, Lin Ming figured sweat-drenched muscle men drew female customers.

*(Though Beichen’s brain probably only managed the first two.)*

The air cooled as Lin Ming neared the back trading area. Unlike Prosperous Scenery Hall—closed nights for peace—Beichen’s stayed open till midnight. Customers browsed weapons. At the counter, Beichen lounged on a stool, legs crossed, devouring roast chicken beside a bucket of beer.

"Knew it! Uncle Beichen always orders roast chicken while ‘inspecting’ the trading floor." Lin Ming grinned, pulling up a chair. He snatched a drumstick. "Delicious! Juicy yet not greasy. You’re living the dream."

"Lin Ming? Here to spar?" Beichen wasn’t surprised. Broke kids always scrounged meals here. "C’mon! My testing arena’s free. Lan can’t stop us now!" He grew animated.

Lin Ming swallowed a bite. "No time. Here to collect those swords you promised."

"Eh? I haven’t started them! Thought you’d wait... Aren’t you just back? Another mission?" Beichen scratched his head, flustered.

"Headmaster dumped two tasks on me. You know how it is."

"Ah, got it. But... you only ate *two* chickens?!" Beichen gasped. Lin Ming usually devoured a dozen. *Is the world ending?*

"Just got treated at Prosperous Scenery Hall. Full of energy. Not hungry." Lin Ming shot him a look.

"Phew! Thank goodness!" Beichen relaxed.

"Just give me any swords to get by," Lin Ming sighed. He knew no blades were ready.

Beichen straightened, serious. "Weapons aren’t ‘get by’ tools! They’re vital. Follow me to the vault." He stood.

*Ugh. My Spirit Energy’s sealed anyway. I just need backups for emergencies.* Lin Ming trailed him, resigned.