Four or five days passed by in a flash, and Wu Zhen was completely immersed in the joy of forging.
The act of Forging offered two gameplay modes. One was a realistic, holographic first-person perspective, while the other was a forging mini-game. In the mini-game, she could add different materials, control the heat, hammer away according to the game's prompts, and then wait for the thrill of the final reveal, much like opening a blind box.
Wu Zhen was having the time of her life. With plenty of materials at her disposal, she wanted to try crafting every little trinket she could think of. She completely cast the birthday banquet at Flying Star Manor and the two absent men to the back of her mind.
For over ten consecutive days, she did not step a single foot out of the forging room. Deng Caiying was genuinely terrified that she might starve herself to death, so he made a trip over every day to deliver food, invariably pinching the bridge of his nose in exasperation as he stared at the tightly shut door.
Not daring to knock and disturb her, he simply left the food outside, greeted Granny Ran, and took his leave.
Meanwhile, by the fourth day, Wu Zhen had already begun crafting her exclusive weapon.
She used all the rarest materials dropped by the Life-Claiming Saber from her inventory, striving for a first-try success to forge a weapon of the most flawless quality possible. She even specifically activated the mini-game mode. Despite this, the disparate tiers of the materials caused the game's difficulty to skyrocket, requiring an extraordinary amount of concentration.
She had to ensure that every strike of the hammer and every step of the process received a Perfect rating.
This time, the forging room door was locked tight. Even Granny Ran would not disturb her lightly.
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, the day of the birthday banquet for the old manor lord of Flying Star Manor arrived.
As a descendant of the Deng family and a universally recognized first-rate master in the martial world, Deng Caiying naturally had his own designated seat at the banquet.
While conversing with other righteous martial artists, he could not help but worry about the situation over at the forging room.
"What is on your mind, Brother Deng?" a disciple of Flying Star Manor teased. "Could it be you are thinking of that lady who has you running over to Granny Ran's place every single day? I can only wonder what kind of peerless beauty she must be to leave Brother Deng so distracted and restless."
Hearing this, the others at the table also cast curious glances his way.
Deng Caiying sighed helplessly. "Please, gentlemen, spare me the teasing."
His expression then turned serious, even bordering on stern.
"Young Heroine Wu has shown me immense grace."
So, you had all best show some respect.
He kept that last sentence politely unspoken, but no one seated at the table was a fool; they easily caught the underlying warning in Deng Caiying's words.
Exchanging glances, they chuckled and smoothly changed the subject, letting the matter drop. The disciple who had made the inappropriate remark earlier offered Deng Caiying an apology. Deng Caiying simply smiled and did not reply.
As a young, first-rate master, he naturally had his own pride and temper. He certainly respected the elders of Flying Star Manor, but that did not mean he had to put on a friendly face for just anyone.
Did they really take him, Deng Caiying, for a pushover?
This was merely a minor interlude at the birthday banquet. Before the feast officially commenced, the guests from the various sects who had come to offer their congratulations presented their gifts one by one, and the old manor lord thanked each of them in turn.
Old Manor Lord He had snow-white hair and a matching beard, yet he remained remarkably hale and hearty. He had a kind and benevolent smile, and his speech was elegant yet brimming with a martial artist's boldness. Flying Star Manor's current prestige in the martial world was deeply tied to this old manor lord. Because of his many philanthropic deeds, all the major righteous sects held him in the utmost respect.
The last person to present a gift was Granny Ran.
Leaning on her cane, she stepped forward. She gazed at this old friend of hers, who was older than her yet appeared younger, and let out a wistful sigh. With a wave of her hand, attendants carried up a heavy, long wooden box.
The crowd had already faintly guessed what lay inside. The hall fell completely silent as everyone held their breath in anticipation.
Granny Ran spoke, "I am an old woman now, and I have nothing of great value left to give you. This sword took me nearly a year to forge. It is my most satisfying masterpiece to date. Today, I gift it to you to serve as the defining treasure of your manor."
With that, she waved her hand to throw open the lid of the box, revealing a four-foot-long sword resting inside.
The blade shimmered with a brilliant luster, exuding a layer of freezing, radiant energy that caught the sunlight and dazzled the eyes. With just a single glance, the sword's extraordinary nature was undeniable. The gazes of the swordsmen in the crowd immediately turned fervent. Even the old manor lord, who had seen countless precious swords in his lifetime, was visibly moved. He took a step forward, reaching out to lift the blade from the box.
However, right at that very moment.
A black shadow suddenly darted in front of the old manor lord, slamming a heavy palm strike into his chest. With its other hand, the figure snatched the precious sword and leapt into the air to flee!
An eminent Shaolin monk standing nearby reacted the fastest. He swung his demon-subduing staff, striking a heavy blow against the assailant's left leg. An ordinary person would have instantly lost the ability to move after taking such a hit, but the masked figure in black merely paused for a fraction of a second. Without hesitation, the intruder flicked their sleeve, unleashing a cloud of powder. By the time the dust settled, the thief had vanished without a trace.
"Pass down my orders..." the old manor lord rasped. He was clearly injured, his face deathly pale and covered in cold sweat as others rushed to support him. Through gritted teeth, he ordered, "Lock down the manor! Do not let even a single fly escape my grounds!"
"Manor Lord! Manor Lord!"
The scene immediately descended into chaos.
It was supposed to be a joyous birthday banquet gathering the greatest and most prestigious sects. Who could have anticipated such a disaster? Injuring the Manor Lord of Flying Star Manor right in the midst of a crowd of martial world heroes, stealing a precious sword, and escaping scot-free. It was an absolute slap in the face to every martial artist present!
For a moment, everyone's expressions turned exceedingly grim.
Deng Caiying, meanwhile, rubbed the hilt of his sword in deep thought.
The very instant the powder had obscured their vision, he had drawn his sword and thrust it forward. His blade was exceptionally fast and devastatingly precise. Even with his vision impaired, it had not affected his judgment. He was absolutely certain his strike had hit the thief, leaving behind a deep wound.
That wound should be on the intruder's right arm.
Sigh, what a mess. The manor would definitely be placed under strict lockdown now. He wondered if Young Master Jiang would even be able to get inside if he arrived at this time, and whether Young Heroine Wu might be in any danger staying all alone in the forging room.
While he was lost in thought, a renowned physician among the guests managed to stabilize the old manor lord's injuries. At the same time, someone successfully identified the origin of that palm strike.
It was none other than the martial art of the villainous demonic cult, the Crimson Fire Society, the Seven Evils Meridian-Severing Palm.
The moment this conclusion was announced, the crowd's fury boiled over.
"Flying Star Manor has always maintained strict security. How could a member of the demonic cult slip in so easily? We must investigate this matter thoroughly!"
"Exactly! The thief is injured and could not have gotten far. The manor is surrounded by steep cliffs; if we block the only road leading in and out, there is no way he can escape!"
After receiving Old Manor Lord He's permission, the various sects quickly coordinated their search efforts and began to comb through the manor inch by inch.
Deng Caiying remained where he was, deep in thought. His intuition told him something was wrong, leaving him with a lingering sense of unease.
The major sects first inspected their own disciples to ensure no one had infiltrated their ranks, and then they investigated each other's living quarters. The residences of Flying Star Manor's own disciples were searched by the Young Manor Lord, He You, who personally led a team of guards.
However, after a thorough sweep of the premises, they found absolutely nothing.
The Sect Leader of the Flying Leopard Sect lost his patience and barked angrily, "Could this thieving scoundrel have grown wings and flown away?"
The atmosphere grew exceptionally heavy.
Just then, someone suddenly spoke up. "Wait, there is still one place we haven't searched."
"...We haven't checked Master Ran's quarters yet."
Hearing this, He You acted as if he had finally remembered the matter. His spirits lifted. He cupped his hands in a salute to Granny Ran, bowed, and said with a helpless tone, "Senior, it is not that I doubt you, but it is highly likely the thief escaped in that direction..."
Granny Ran interrupted him impatiently, "Enough. Save your breath. We'll just go over and take a look."
Deng Caiying furrowed his brows slightly.
The ominous premonition in his heart grew stronger.
The group hurried toward Granny Ran's residence together.
The guards reported that they had not seen anyone acting suspiciously.
"Perhaps the thief possesses exceptional lightness skills," someone suggested.
They crossed the bridge, and before they even neared the stone hut, they could hear the rhythmic clanging of iron coming from the forging room.
Before anyone could question it, Deng Caiying took a step forward. Cupping his hands, he stated, "The person inside the forging room is Young Hero Wu Zhen. She has shown me great kindness, and ever since she entered Flying Star Manor, she has never left this spot. She absolutely cannot be involved in this matter."
He waited quietly as a guard whispered Wu Zhen's background into He You's ear.
He You nodded. "Naturally, I trust Young Hero Deng's benefactor. Search the other rooms first."
Several guards meticulously searched the other rooms but found nothing. However, when they finally reached the room Granny Ran had arranged for Wu Zhen, they suddenly discovered something amiss.
A guard pulled a small sandalwood token from beneath the bed and exclaimed, "It is a protector token of the Demonic Cult!"
"What?" He You immediately stepped forward to inspect it.
At this moment, Deng Caiying's heart finally sank.
He realized one thing with absolute clarity.
—This clumsy charade today was aimed directly at him, or, more accurately, at Young Hero Wu.
"Young Hero Deng, it is not that I do not believe you," He You said sternly. "However, since a Demonic Cult token was found in Miss Wu's room, it is only right that we question her about it. If someone is deliberately framing her, we can clear her name. Furthermore, it is my duty to be accountable to my father and the martial arts heroes gathered here!"
"Men, open the door to the forging room!"
"Let's see who dares!"
Granny Ran, who had remained silent until now, could no longer hold back. She slammed her wooden cane heavily against the ground.
She spoke in an icy tone, "Are you deaf, or are you blind? Can you not see that the door to the forging room is locked? Can you not hear the sound of forging inside? Little Wu's forging is at a critical juncture where she absolutely cannot be distracted. Otherwise, she might even suffer from qi deviation! What are your true intentions in trying to force your way inside?"
He You explained patiently, "Granny Ran, this is a matter of grave importance, and Wu Zhen is indeed a suspect. We have no choice but to question her."
Granny Ran replied, "Then wait until she finishes her forging to ask."
"This..."
"Granny Ran, that is simply unreasonable. Everyone here respects and honors you, but you cannot be so blind to right and wrong!"
The sect leader of the Flying Leopard Sect voiced his dissatisfaction. "I too have heard of this Wu Zhen. At merely fifteen or sixteen years of age, she killed the Life-Claiming Saber upon first stepping into the martial world. Yet, to this day, no one knows which master she studied under or which sect she belongs to. Her origins are a complete mystery, which is suspicious in itself! Now she is suspected of having ties to the demonic sect and severely injuring Old Manor Lord He. Perhaps she is that very demo—"
"Watch your words, Sect Leader," Deng Caiying cut him off directly, his voice as cold as frost. "There is no conclusive evidence yet. Is making baseless conjectures the conduct of a gentleman?"
He then cupped his hands to He You once more. "The Young Manor Lord is wise and reasonable. Surely you can afford to wait a few days. She is right here and will not vanish into thin air. Why not allow Young Hero Wu to finish her forging before questioning her? If you are truly uneasy, you can simply deploy your men to surround this place. Otherwise, if this all turns out to be a misunderstanding and Young Hero Wu suffers a loss due to such a rude intrusion, it will breed bitter enmity."
Granny Ran slammed her cane heavily against the ground once more.
He You's expression shifted. After a few seconds, he said, "Then we shall do as Young Hero Deng suggests."
"Men, clear out the vacant rooms nearby. We will stand guard here for the next few days."
Upon his command, the manor's disciples immediately sprang into action.
Deng Caiying volunteered to stay behind as well. However, his face was completely devoid of expression, radiating a frosty chill.
...
The outside world was in an uproar, but none of it affected Wu Zhen inside the forging room.
Immersed in a state of flow, she could not perceive the passage of time. Only when her hunger meter flashed red and neared its limit would she hastily scarf down a few bites of pastry to lower it.
The only real trouble was her fatigue meter, which could only be depleted through sleep and rest. At this moment, her fatigue level had already reached a highly dangerous threshold.
However...
The player looked at the prototype of the giant weapon on the forging table, nearly two meters in length, and her eyes slowly curved into a smile.
—She was only a hair's breadth away from ultimate success.
