Evening fell, and the sun sank toward the western horizon.
Shan Shi'er arrived, bringing a new face with him.
He had managed to trick the blacksmith, Li Da, into coming along.
After escaping Chengcheng County amid the chaos, the two had made their way toward Gaojia Village. The journey covered more than thirty li, including a considerable stretch of mountain roads. It was far from easy.
By the time they arrived, both men were exhausted, hungry, and thirsty, barely able to keep going.
"We're here! Just up ahead!" Shan Shi'er pointed toward Gaojia Village. Then he stopped mid-step, eyes widening. "Ah, it has only been a few days since I last came, yet another multicolored wall has appeared! Incredible! This is what one calls changing with each passing day!"
During the journey, Li Da had grown increasingly suspicious. The farther they traveled, the more remote and deserted the surroundings became. Hardly anyone could be seen along the way. He had begun to suspect Shan Shi'er was leading him into a trap, or worse, a cult.
But the instant he caught sight of the multicolored wall before him, he was momentarily stunned. A moment later, his eyes lit up with delight.
What an imposing wall! It stood a full two zhang high!
This could only mean one thing, Li Da thought. The lord who lives here possesses considerable wealth and influence.
And the man had even gone to the trouble of painting the wall in different colors! Clearly, he was rich enough to spend money on such seemingly pointless extravagances. In Li Da's experience, wealthy lords who spent money so freely were often generous when it came to rewarding others.
Unable to contain his curiosity, he asked, "There's actually such a magnificent city here? Where exactly are we?"
"Gaojia Village!" Shan Shi'er replied.
"A village?"
Li Da could hardly believe his ears. If Shan Shi'er had told him this was Xi'an, he might actually have believed him. But a village? With walls two zhang high? How could anyone call a place like this a village?
"Then this must be a fortified manor belonging to some powerful family," Li Da remarked curiously. "I've never heard of any prominent lord surnamed Gao in Chengcheng County."
"The lord here is called Tianzun," Shan Shi'er replied.
A gigantic question mark seemed to appear above Li Da's head.
Shan Shi'er continued, "Once we go inside, ask fewer questions and keep your eyes open. Don't offend the lord and get yourself thrown out. If that happens, I won't be able to save you. This is what one calls walking on thin ice!"
Li Da was no naive country bumpkin like Gao Chuwu. Having grown up in the county seat, he had encountered plenty of officials and members of the local gentry. He understood perfectly well that when entering a powerful household, it was best to observe quietly before opening one's mouth.
He promptly nodded. "I understand."
Shan Shi'er led the way, and the two entered Gaojia Village one after the other.
Only one leaf of the city gate had been completed. There had not been enough time to finish the other one that day, leaving the entrance looking rather comical.
Li Da secretly thought, So this place really has only just been built. They haven't even finished the gate yet. No wonder the lord is recruiting a blacksmith. Looks like I'll have a chance to show off my skills.
But before he could dwell on that prospect, something else caught his attention.
Several laborers were sitting inside the gate passage, eating their evening meal. Each held a large earthenware bowl filled with white broken rice, topped with cabbage leaves and strips of chicken. Together, the ingredients made a fragrant bowl of chicken-and-cabbage rice.
Li Da stared.
What kind of household does this lord run?
Even the laborers working for him get to eat food like this?
He had once forged armor for the local patrol officer, yet he had never been treated to such a decent meal.
And that wasn't all.
Are these laborers a little too healthy?
After three years of severe drought, most ordinary people Li Da encountered were thin, sallow, and so frail that a strong gust of wind might knock them over.
Yet these laborers had healthy complexions and looked remarkably well-fed.
It was utterly baffling.
How could he have known that ever since Li Daoxuan had begun providing food for Gaojia Village, the villagers had enjoyed rice, meat, vegetables, salt, and water with their meals? With proper nourishment and plenty to eat, it was only natural that their health had improved.
Li Da desperately wanted to ask a few questions, but Shan Shi'er had warned him to keep his mouth shut and his eyes open. All he could do was suppress his curiosity, which left him feeling thoroughly uncomfortable.
Before long, Shan Shi'er brought Li Da before Gao Yiye. Smiling, he cupped his hands in greeting.
"Miss Gao, following Tianzun's instructions, I have brought the blacksmith. This is what one calls fortunately, I have not failed in my mission!"
Gao Yiye acknowledged him and was just about to raise her head to address Tianzun when his gentle voice sounded in her ears.
"Mm. Praise him for me. Tell him he did a good job."
At that moment, Li Daoxuan was having dinner himself. He sat comfortably with a bowl of rice noodles topped with pickled cabbage and shredded pork, watching the miniature world inside his diorama box with an amused grin. He had spotted Shan Shi'er and Li Da the moment they entered.
Gao Yiye relayed his words.
"Tianzun says you've done a good job."
Shan Shi'er was delighted.
"This is what one calls a heart blooming with joy!"
Li Daoxuan was ready to discuss something more serious, so his tone became more businesslike.
"Yiye, have Shan Shi'er introduce the blacksmith."
Shan Shi'er immediately complied.
"This man's name is Li Da. He's the finest blacksmith in Chengcheng County. He's forged armor for the county's patrol officer, and many of the weapons used by the garrison soldiers were made by his hands. He's truly what one calls a skilled and ingenious craftsman!"
Li Daoxuan thought to himself, His surname is Li, too. Perhaps we were one family five hundred years ago.
Li Da was grateful that Shan Shi'er had spoken so highly of him, though he couldn't help finding the situation a little strange.
Shan Shi'er is a well-known figure in the county seat. So why is he acting so deferentially toward a young woman who looks like an ordinary village girl?
This girl's dress and appearance are clearly just those of an ordinary farm girl.
Li Da couldn't make sense of it. But he was not foolish enough to ask questions aloud.
Then Li Daoxuan turned his attention to him.
"Li Da, can you forge iron armor?"
Having been asked about his specialty, Li Da immediately perked up. His confidence returned, and he answered proudly.
"Reporting to... Miss... This humble one entered the Ordnance Bureau as a child and has been learning to forge weapons and armor ever since. There is nothing this humble one cannot make!"
"Oh? Quite confident, aren't you?" Li Daoxuan chuckled. "Can you make firearms, too?"
"Of course!" Li Da replied confidently. "This humble one can forge the Three-Eyed Arquebus!"
"Not bad, not bad at all. Your skills are impressive. It seems you can teach the villagers how to forge iron armor."
Privately manufacturing iron armor?
That's a serious crime of rebellion!
Li Da immediately grew nervous.
But after thinking it over, he began to see things differently.
So what if it's a capital offense? The fact that this lord dares to do something like this proves he has the power to back it up.
And someone with that kind of power might actually be able to help me escape my fate.
Li Da was trapped by his hereditary artisan registration. No matter how skilled he became, he and his descendants would remain bound to that registry unless someone powerful intervened.
If he could win this lord's favor, he might finally be able to free himself and give his descendants a chance to live as ordinary commoners.
The risk was considerable, but so was the reward.
What am I afraid of? Let's do it!
Li Daoxuan continued, "There's something else I'd like to entrust to you. A daunting task."
At the words "daunting task," a confident smile crept across Li Da's lips.
How daunting can it be?
There's no weapon or suit of armor I can't make. No matter how complicated the design, it's still just a pile of metal. Give me enough time, and I'll figure out how to forge it.
If he had been speaking directly to a powerful nobleman, he might have felt somewhat intimidated. But at the moment, he was addressing Gao Yiye, who appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary village girl.
He had no reason to feel nervous.
Puffing out his chest, Li Da declared, "Miss, please convey my words to Tianzun. There is nothing I, Li Da, cannot make. Whatever Tianzun wants, I can forge it."
He paused before adding earnestly, "All I ask is that Tianzun give me a chance. Once I have completed the task, I beg him to grant me commoner status so that my descendants can escape their hereditary artisan registration. If he does that, I will be eternally grateful."
Seeing how confident Li Da was, Li Daoxuan decided not to waste any more time.
He picked up a sheet of A5 paper and placed it on the open ground behind the city gate.