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Just as they were chatting, a shout rang out from outside.
âDad, is my Hundred-Steel Sword finished yet?â
Xu Zimo turned his head and saw a young woman walk into the shop. She had short hair that barely touched her ears, was dressed in a slightly worn white robe, and carried herself with an energetic, unrestrained air. Her eyebrows were sharp like blades, and her eyes glistened with intensity.
She wasnât a stunning beauty, but her looks were above average. Though she wore no makeup, she had a quiet, understated charm, and gave off a carefree, tomboyish vibe.
As soon as she entered and saw Xu Zimo and Tianshi, she gave them a quick once-over and smiled.
âNew around here?â
âWe just arrived today,â Tianshi replied with a grin.
âThis is my daughter, Lin Qing,â the man beside them added. âAh, I forgot to introduce myself earlier. Iâm Lin Bao, town chief of Greensky Town.â
Xu Zimo and Tianshi quickly introduced themselves in return.
âDad, these two still donât have any work assigned, right?â Lin Qing interjected. âWhy not have them help you out here at the smithy? Youâve been doing everything alone, and youâre also responsible for making tools for half the town. Itâs way too much.â
âNo need,â Lin Bao shook his head. âThe town needs help in all areas. I can manage for a while longer.â
âFarming tools are fine, but weâre seriously short on weapons,â Lin Qing argued. âThose monsters out there can bite through our tools like theyâre nothing. The townsfolk havenât said much because they donât want to overburden you. But if you let these two help out, youâd lighten your load, and weâd be better prepared.â
Lin Bao paused, clearly thinking it over. He then looked at Xu Zimo and Tianshi.
âWeâre happy to help,â Tianshi said with a smile. âAs long as you're willing to teach us, weâre willing to learn.â
âGood,â Lin Bao finally relented with a smile. âNo need to be formal. Just call me Uncle Lin from now on.â
âUncle Lin,â the two chimed in respectfully.
âLin Qing, take them to find a place to stay,â Lin Bao added. âLet them rest today. Tomorrow, theyâll start learning the craft.â
âe with me,â Lin Qing nodded to the two of them.
âŚ
The three walked down the moderately busy main street. The townâs architecture was simple and straightforward. The homes were lined up in neat rows, with no courtyards, gardens, or ponds, just one small room per household.
âFrom now on, you two are under my wing,â Lin Qing said smugly. âSince you're my dad's apprentices, technically, Iâm your senior sister.â
âDon't mess around, little sister,â Xu Zimo waved his hand. âYou're younger than both of us.â
âAge doesnât matter,â Lin Qing protested. âSeniority is about status, not age!â
âTianshi, the sun's really bright today, donât you think?â Xu Zimo said airily, glancing at the sky.
âSure is, Brother Xu. And this breeze feels rather rowdy too,â Tianshi nodded solemnly.
The two ignored Lin Qing pletely, chatting among themselves while she huffed in frustration.
âIâm talking to you two! Did you not hear me?!â
Neither responded, and they both strolled on, shaking their heads in mock seriousness. By the time Lin Qing had led them to their new quarters, she was fuming and stormed off without a word.
âŚ
Watching her leave, Tianshi muttered, âHow could a mighty future Grand Emperor like me be the junior brother of some sassy little girl? What would that do to my imperial dignity?â
âSassy little girl?â Xu Zimo chuckled. âIf you go by the timeline, sheâs probably a few eras older than us.â
â....Doesnât matter,â Tianshi shook his head. âDid you notice anything strange while walking around earlier?â
âNot really,â Xu Zimo replied. âEveryone here seems pretty weak. The strongest person is probably the town chief, maybe at the True Meridian Realm. Most others are in the Meridian Forging or Spirit Meridian realms, or even just the Mortal Realm.â
âDonât underestimate the Legendary Era,â Tianshi warned. âSome of the monsters here could rival Grand Emperors. Weâre better off keeping our heads down until the timeline stabilizes and we return to our era. No unnecessary trouble.â
Xu Zimo nodded in agreement.
That afternoon, the two explored the area. Within a hundred miles of Greensky Town, there were no other settlements.
The townsfolk said there was a large tribe far away, but the journey was perilous, filled with deadly beasts, and no one dared attempt it.
âŚ
At dusk, Lin Qing brought dinner to their quarters.
Xu Zimo looked at the food, just simple coarse grains. It was clear the people here lived under harsh conditions.
âJust so you know,â Lin Qing said proudly, âI made these meals for my junior brothers. If you eat them, you admit youâre my juniors.â
Xu Zimo and Tianshi exchanged glances. She was clearly still a kid at heart. Given her age and finally having someone to "outrank," it made sense she'd be excited.
âThen we wonât eat,â Xu Zimo said with a grin as he and Tianshi both turned and flopped onto their beds.
âH-hey! What are you doing?â Lin Qing exclaimed, flustered. âI was just joking! Donât starve yourselves!â
Tianshi chuckled and pulled a small blue disk from his storage ring, handing it to Lin Qing.
âHere, a little gift from me,â he said. âCall it a meeting present.â
âWhatâs this?â Lin Qing asked curiously, turning it over in her hands.
âA formation disc,â Tianshi explained. âIf youâre ever in danger, infuse it with spiritforce. Itâll protect you for a while.â
âWow, cool!â Lin Qing lit up as she examined it.
Formation discs were an invention from the Desolate Era. Before that, people had to manually inscribe formation seals, a slow, plicated process. Formation masters were also often defenseless in bat.
âThanks, Senior Brother Tianshi,â Lin Qing said sincerely. âRight now, Iââ
She suddenly turned to Xu Zimo.
âBrother Xu, donât you feel a little awkward right now?â
âYour mood swings are terrifying,â Xu Zimo blinked, speechless.
âDonât blame him,â Tianshi chimed in. âHeâs just broke. Canât really expect a present.â
âThat reverse psychology is painfully obvious⌠but Iâll bite,â Xu Zimo chuckled.
He channeled his spiritforce, and with a wave of his hand, a creature appeared beside him, the Nightmare Beast.
âSo cute!â Lin Qing squealed, scooping it up into her arms. âThanks, Big Bro Xu!â
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