Chapter 3387: 1687: Withstand the Hammer and Two Columns to Strike the Old Blade, Rank 1 Elephant Dragon Sees the Present |
Divine Relics.
Elder Sang and the Water Ghost rested on a stone, whispering softly as they kept Cen Qiaofu company.
The Holy Emperor Fengtian, Feng Yujin, resembled a delicate seamstress. After obtaining the last soul fragment of Mo Mo, he finally finished stitching the soul body together.
On one side, he was “refining” a rebirth, while on the other, Cao Erzhu, who had awakened at some point, crouched nearby, watching the soul-crafting process with a serious and visibly pained expression.
“This kind of flesh remolding… feels excruciating
Erzhu muttered to himself but received no response from the Divine Uncle, who appeared to have fallen into a deep silence since the battle, refusing to utter another word.
“Kid, come here.”
Elder Sang, by the stone, beckoned to Cao Erzhu, interrupting his murmurings. The Water Ghost, by his side, glanced at him as they appeared to be mid-conversation.
“Yes, you!”
At this point, anyone still lingering within the Divine Relics must be close friends of Big Brother Shou, surely not outsiders?
Even if this old man wearing a straw hat seemed grim-faced, and the middle-aged man beside him was as cold as a viper.
“Everyone here has such striking personalities
Cao Erzhu envied this air of strength that could be perceived at a glance—such presence reminded him of his father, the kind of person he aspired to become.
“Greetings to the two seniors.”
As he approached the stone, the two elders straightened up, making Cao Erzhu even more nervous.
The one in the straw hat seemed of an older generation—several cycles older than his father, old enough to be his grandfather.
The Water Ghost seemed better—middle-aged, younger in countenance than his father. Maybe “Uncle” would be a suitable term?
“You don’t need to call us seniors. We’re merely of your father’s era, not much older than him, though neither of us achieved the Ten High Nobles’ rank—just nobodies… Sang, the Elder.” The Water Ghost shook his head in self-deprecation, introducing the old man beside him with a hand gesture before pointing to himself, “Call me Water Ghost.”
From the same era?
Cao Erzhu was startled. Then… you—no, you look way too old! His gaze shifted to the straw-hatted figure.
Realizing his lapse in manners, he quickly greeted them politely, one by one:
“Uncle Water Ghost.”
“Uncle Elder Sang.”
Uncle… Elder Sang…
Elder Sang’s lips twitched as he shot a glare at the Water Ghost, who was tilting his head, snickering silently. Ignoring his mischievous companion, Elder Sang scrutinized Cao Erzhu, his gaze lingering on Erzhu’s robust arm muscles. Soon, a smile stretched across his face:
“You’re from Cao’s Blacksmith Shop?”
“Yes.” Cao Erzhu nodded timidly, finding Elder Sang’s smile rather unsettling.
One glance at that peculiar smile was enough to scare someone into fainting.
“How’s he doing?” Elder Sang asked.
“He?”
Cao Erzhu paused for a moment, then his lips turned downward bitterly, “Father… seems to have died
Elder Sang, who clearly already knew, waved dismissively and snorted in amusement:
“Cao Yihan hardly spares words, let alone a heartfelt goodbye. Sentimental moments—he absolutely abhorred those.”
“He hated nothing more than someone wailing with snot and tears… like what you’re doing right now.”
Cao Erzhu hurriedly wiped his nose. Yet holding it felt awkward, and letting it run down his hand felt worse. Grinning sheepishly, he dared not let out a sob, thoroughly embarrassed.
This old man… truly remarkable.
His depiction of my father’s personality was incredibly accurate—he seemed more like my father’s son than I did.
“So, Elder Sang Uncle—uh, senior—are you saying… my father didn’t die?” Cao Erzhu sniffled deeply, gulping loudly to suppress his emotions.
The Water Ghost burst out laughing again, nearly doubling over. His laughter carried an oddly familiar tone, reminiscent of Xu Xiaoshou, though it was unclear where he had learned it from.
Elder Sang himself couldn’t help but chuckle. Waving off the matter, he said, “In truth, I can indeed count as your senior. Just call me senior.”
“Alright then, Elder Sang Uncle—uh, Senior.”
Elder Sang’s smile froze, his eye wrinkles fluttering violently as if they could crush a mosquito into dust.
With a thud, the Water Ghost collapsed, falling off the large stone and nearly crushing the still-unconscious Cen Qiaofu beneath him.
“Watch out, Uncle Water Ghost Senior!”
“Heh Cao Erzhu suddenly heard a third laugh, seemingly echoing faintly in his head.
Elder Sang, utterly resigned, waved him off and said, “Your father isn’t dead. He’s likely still stuck in the same place, as Dao Qiongcang intends to trap him, and your father doesn’t mind being trapped.”
Cao Erzhu grew anxious, his thoughts tangling into a barrage of questions, though his single mouth could only ask one at a time.
Why does Dao Qiongcang want to trap Father, weren’t they friends with Big Brother Shou?
Why would Father willingly stay trapped? He’s so powerful—surely he could find a way out?
And most perplexingly, why would Father fake his death, stuffing his head into a wine barrel just to play such a massive prank on me…
“Don’t ask. It’s too complicated, and I can’t explain it clearly in a short time. Besides, I didn’t call you here to answer your questions.” Elder Sang cut off the boy’s unspoken torrent.
Big Brother Shou’s master—formidable indeed…
Cao Erzhu couldn’t fully understand what made him so impressive but was in awe nonetheless. It seemed the reason Big Brother Shou was so incredible was entirely due to Elder Sang’s guidance.
He sincerely asked, “Elder Sang Uncle—uh, Senior—do you need my help with anything?”
“Drop the ‘Uncle.'” Elder Sang finally had enough before quickly getting to the main subject, “You’re from a blacksmith shop, so you must be skilled at forging, right?”
“Yes. Definitely.” Cao Erzhu nodded emphatically. Forging was his family’s craft. Not just skilled—he excelled at it. This much, at least, he was confident in.
“Can you repair a famed sword?”
“Of course, I—uh?”
Cao Erzhu suddenly stammered.
What’s going on? The master of Big Brother Shou is this unpredictable?
I’m great at forging, but what does that have to do with repairing a famed sword? Are those even comparable skills?
I know how to eat.
My father knows how to eat too.
Does that mean I can compete with my father?