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Chapter 257: Passing By
🕑 Added 2024-09-28 06:53:55 +0000 UTCHaving made up his mind, Lin Xiao planned to find Liu Yunan to discuss his upcoming arrangements. However, as he passed through a shaded area, he noticed his older cousin, Lin Yan, sitting beside Aunt Yang, intently focused on something in Aunt Yang’s hands.
Curious, Lin Xiao walked over to greet them.
"Aunt Yang, Yan'er, what are you doing?"
Upon seeing him, Aunt Yang and Lin Yan both smiled warmly.
"Xiao'er, you're here."
"Sanlang, I'm learning embroidery from Aunt Yang."
Aunt Yang chimed in, "Yes, Xiao'er, you wouldn't believe it, but Yan'er has an exceptional talent for embroidery. She grasps everything quickly, and I believe in a few years, her skills might even surpass mine."
Before her family's misfortune, Yang Jinshu had been a well-educated young lady from a prominent family. Though not a master in all arts, she was well-versed in various skills, and her embroidery was taught by a renowned master her mother had hired.
Hearing this, Lin Xiao was genuinely surprised. He glanced at the tightly stretched silk fabric on the embroidery frame in Aunt Yang’s hands and the delicate needle threading through the fabric, forming an intricate flower design. Just looking at it made his head spin.
The idea that Aunt Yang and his cousin could enjoy such a meticulous and detailed craft amazed him. He felt exhausted just watching the fine needlework and the hair-thin threads being woven into patterns.
Nodding to Aunt Yang, Lin Xiao skeptically asked Lin Yan, "Yan'er, do you really find this fun?"
Seeing his doubtful expression, Lin Yan smiled and replied, "It's very enjoyable. Watching a pattern gradually take shape from nothing on the fabric is incredibly satisfying. Would you like to try it too, Xiao'er?"
"Oh, no, no, that won't be necessary. As long as you're having fun, that's great! I have some things to take care of, so I'll be off. Goodbye, Aunt Yang, Yan'er—"
Before they could respond, Lin Xiao made a quick escape, disappearing in a flash.
As they watched him leave, Aunt Yang and Lin Yan couldn't help but laugh under the shade.
After fleeing from the two who had tried to get him to learn embroidery, Lin Xiao slowed his pace. By chance, he found himself near the Blacksmithing Hall, where the sound of hammering metal, "clang, clang, clang," resonated from within.
Curious, Lin Xiao walked over to investigate and saw that the person hammering away was none other than Tietou. He was drenched in sweat, his clothes soaked through, while his strong arms tirelessly wielded a large hammer, continuously striking a piece of dark iron on the anvil.
"Do you enjoy blacksmithing—uh, I mean, refining weapons?" Lin Xiao asked as he approached Tietou.
Without stopping his work, Tietou slowed his hammering slightly and gave Lin Xiao a sheepish grin. "Oh, it's you, Xiao'er! Heh, I noticed that the Blacksmithing Hall hasn't been used much since you built it, except for that time you used it six months ago, and recently, Yigao and Yuanjiao used it a few times. So I thought, it would be a shame to let it go to waste. Even if no one else is interested, I can at least keep it active by practicing here. I figure, even though I'm not very smart, if I work hard every day, maybe someday I'll get the hang of it. And if I can't, at least I'm keeping the place alive. Who knows, maybe someone else will want to learn it later, heh."
Listening to Tietou's words, Lin Xiao remained silent for a moment, observing the piece of dark iron that Tietou was hammering repeatedly. He soon noticed that the previously chaotic patterns on the iron were gradually forming into a stable structure. Though faint, it was something Lin Xiao could discern, thanks to his current Golden Core stage cultivation.
For some reason, Lin Xiao felt that Tietou might have the potential to achieve something in the art of weapon refinement.
Just as Lin Xiao was about to encourage him, he glanced at Tietou's bulging, muscular arms, with veins popping out, and his muscular physique.
A wave of envy washed over Lin Xiao.
He placed a hand on Tietou's shoulder, giving it a light pat. "Tietou, keep at it. I really think you have a future in blacksmithing—I mean, weapon refinement!"
Tietou's eyes lit up with excitement as he turned to Lin Xiao. "Really, Xiao'er? Great! I'll work even harder!"
With renewed vigor, Tietou began hammering the iron with even more force, each strike resonating with a loud "bang, bang, bang."
Lin Xiao watched as the delicate patterns he'd seen forming on the iron were completely obliterated by the heavy blows. He closed his mouth tightly, falling into silence before giving Tietou's shoulder another pat and letting out a long sigh.
"Keep going. I have other matters to attend to."
Without looking back, Lin Xiao left the Blacksmithing Hall, the sound of Tietou's hammering growing louder and more intense behind him.
Feeling somewhat melancholy, Lin Xiao wandered over to the Cold Pool near the small garden by the secret realm entrance. There, he found Fang Tuantuan, the orange-furred cat, with its backside in the air, head lowered as it pawed at the Silver-Tailed Fish swimming in the pool.
The orange tail swished back and forth, as if beckoning Lin Xiao, "Come on, give me a kick."
His foot moved before his mind did, and he was just about to give that little backside a nudge when Fang Tuantuan suddenly sensed the malicious intent behind him. The cat's fur bristled instantly, and it spun around at lightning speed, claws gleaming.
"Meow!"
Caught in the act, Lin Xiao quickly withdrew his foot, pretending to draw circles on the ground with the tip of his toe, while smiling innocently and waving at Fang Tuantuan.
"What a coincidence, Tuantuan. Why aren't you with Yigao today?"
Recognizing Lin Xiao, Fang Tuantuan retracted its claws, glanced around suspiciously, and even peeked behind Lin Xiao.
Strange, no enemies around.
But why had it felt a sudden chill earlier?
"Meow~" Fang Tuantuan half-heartedly responded to Lin Xiao, then turned back to the pool, resuming its play with the Silver-Tailed Fish, causing the fish to scatter in all directions.
Having failed to carry out his mischief, Lin Xiao said goodbye to Fang Tuantuan and continued toward the affairs hall.
For some reason, he suddenly felt as though he had nothing to do.
For instance, right now, all he needed to do was go to the affairs hall and discuss his plans with Yunan, who would then gather everyone to carry out the tasks. After that, there wouldn’t be much left for him to do.
At most, he'd check on the progress after it was done. But Yunan was meticulous and thorough in his work, so Lin Xiao's inspection was more of a formality.
It seemed like everyone in the sect had their own tasks to attend to, leaving him, who had once been so busy, with nothing but free time.
Could it be that as the sect leader, his only task now was to focus on cultivation, improving his strength, and serving as a mascot for the sect?
As he slowly made his way to the affairs hall, Lin Xiao gazed up at the sky, pondering whether there was anything else, aside from cultivation, that he could engage in.
When his gaze happened to fall on the private school down the mountain, an idea suddenly came to him.
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