48: Chapter 48 Crimson Gold Hall, formidable strength

As the night deepened, the market was nearing its closing time.

Wang Tiezhu sold the last bundle of wolf pelts and counted the earnings; it was a full three hundred taels, nearly double their previous income.

And all of this was thanks to Lin Ye.

Looking at Lin Ye, who was still bargaining with the old man at the book stall, Wang Tiezhu smiled and shook his head.

“Brother Lin, this hundred taels is for you.”

Without allowing for any refusal, Wang Tiezhu stuffed a small cloth bundle into Lin Ye's arms.

“This... it's too much. Just ten taels is enough.”

Lin Ye had originally intended to borrow some money from Wang Tiezhu to buy books, but he hadn't expected the man to hand over a hundred taels directly.

“It’s not much at all. Without the wolf pack and the wild boar you killed, Brother Lin, our village wouldn't have had such a great harvest this time.

If you don't take it, I won't be able to face the Village Chief when I get back.”

“That's right, Brother Lin, just take it.”

The others chimed in one after another.

Seeing Wang Tiezhu's firm attitude, Lin Ye had no choice but to accept: “Then, thank you very much.”

“Haha, that’s the spirit. Come on, let’s go eat.” With a wave of his large hand, Wang Tiezhu prepared to lead everyone to a meal.

“Wait a moment.”

Lin Ye turned back, pulled out three taels of silver and tossed them to the old man, then tucked the three books under his arm and followed the group.

The group found a small stall nearby. After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Lin Ye asked casually, “By the way, where do you plan to stay tonight?”

Wang Tiezhu paid the bill, wiped his mouth, and spoke nonchalantly: “We’ll just make do on the donkey cart for the night. We have to head back tomorrow morning after buying supplies.

But what about you, Brother Lin? Have you found a place to stay?”

“Not yet, but I need to deliver a letter for my second uncle first.”

“Where to?”

“The blacksmith shop. Brother Tiezhu, do you know the way?”

Wang Tiezhu nodded and pointed toward the north side of the street: “The blacksmith shop is at the north end of town. Just follow this street, turn right at the crossroads, and go two more blocks.

The shopfront is very large, with a big sign for Chijin Hall standing at the entrance. It's very easy to recognize.”

“Alright, thanks. I’ll come see you off tomorrow morning.”

Bidding farewell to Wang Tiezhu and the others, Lin Ye dragged the Silver Wolf toward the blacksmith shop.

Fortunately, the folk of Black Stone Town were tough by nature, and since there were few people on the street at this hour, Lin Ye's behavior—dragging a wolf carcass around in the middle of the night—didn't cause any commotion.

After several twists and turns, Lin Ye finally found his destination—Chijin Hall.

Chijin Hall was much more grand than he had imagined. Over a dozen storefronts were connected in a row, and there were no door panels; the entrances were all wide open.

The glow of the furnace fires reflected from within, illuminating the entire alley in a deep red.

A large sign stood at the entrance—not an ordinary plaque, but a solid iron plate with three large characters engraved on it: Chijin Hall.

Lin Ye dragged the Silver Wolf carcass and stopped not far from Chijin Hall.

At that moment, two young men were packing up tools at the entrance. Seeing Lin Ye approaching while dragging such a massive wolf, they were startled.

One of them remained relatively calm and quickly regained his composure, looking Lin Ye up and down.

A set of wolf king leather armor, a refined iron bow on his back, a saber at his waist, a refined iron staff in his left hand, and a Silver Wolf larger than an ox being dragged by his right.

This attire and this Aura—he was undoubtedly a Ranked Martial Artist.

“Brother, are you here to forge a weapon or repair one?” the apprentice asked politely.

Lin Ye set the Silver Wolf down and cupped his hands to the two: “I am looking for the Master of the blacksmith shop. I have been entrusted by someone to deliver a letter.”

“This...”

The two looked at each other.

“Please wait a moment, I will go inside to report to my Master.”

He turned and entered the shop, his pace quick as if afraid of slighting Lin Ye.

Before long, the man returned.

“Please come in, my Master will be here shortly.”

“Thank you.”

Lin Ye nodded and followed the two into the blacksmith shop.

The interior of the shop was even larger than it appeared from the outside.

In the center was a massive melting furnace, over two people tall. At this moment, the furnace fire was raging, with flames leaping three meters high.

Beside the furnace were seven or eight blacksmiths and apprentices, swinging hammers, wielding tongs, pulling bellows, and quenching metal—each performing their duty amidst a chorus of clanging sounds.

The surrounding walls were covered with various weapons, so densely packed that there were roughly a thousand of them.

After he watched for a while, a curtain at the back of the shop was suddenly lifted.

A middle-aged man stepped out, bare-chested with a leather apron tied around his waist, holding an iron hammer in his hand. He had clearly just finished forging a weapon.

He was burly, looking even broader than Lin Ye's second uncle.

“Who is looking for the Master?” The man's voice was booming, clearly audible even in the noisy blacksmith shop.

Lin Ye stepped forward and bowed with cupped hands: “I am Lin Ye. I have been entrusted by Master Wang Hao to deliver a letter to you, Master.”

“You have the wrong person. I am not the Master. The old Master hasn't been in the shop for a long time.”

Hearing this, Lin Ye was stunned.

Not in the blacksmith shop?

“May I ask where the Master is now?”

“The Master lives in Pagoda Tree Alley at the east end of town. It's the house at the very end.”

Fortunately, an address was enough.

Lin Ye gave his thanks and turned to leave the shop.

Dragging the Silver Wolf for nearly the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Lin Ye finally arrived at the place the man had mentioned.

It was a small courtyard with low walls. There was no plaque or sign on the door to indicate the owner's identity; it looked like a perfectly ordinary courtyard.

The courtyard gate was tightly closed and it was quiet inside. It was unclear if the owner had already gone to bed.

Lin Ye stepped forward and knocked gently a few times.

*Knock, knock, knock.*

He waited for a moment, but there was no response.

*Knock, knock, knock, knock.*

He knocked several more times with more force, but still, no one answered.

Left with no choice, Lin Ye took a deep breath and called out toward the courtyard: “Is the Master of the blacksmith shop living here?

I am Junior Lin Ye, entrusted by Master Wang Hao to deliver a letter to the Master!”

As soon as he finished speaking...

BANG!

The courtyard gate swung inward violently, slamming against the wall with a muffled thud.

A person stood behind the door—specifically, an elderly man.

The old man’s hair and beard were completely white, but his complexion was ruddy and his back was straight, giving off an Aura of natural authority.

Lin Ye’s gaze fell upon the old man, and his heart immediately skipped a beat.

The Aura on this man was even stronger than that of the Wild Boar King from before. He was clearly a Eighth-Grade Martial Artist, and a top-tier one at that.

But it made sense; as the face of Chijin Hall, it was only reasonable for him to have some cultivation.

The old man glanced at Lin Ye, then reached out his hand: “Where is the letter?”

Lin Ye pulled the letter from his robe, but he didn't hand it over immediately. Instead, he confirmed the old man's identity: “Senior is the Master of the blacksmith shop?”

The old man nodded calmly.

Lin Ye no longer hesitated and presented the letter with both hands.

The old man snatched it away, crudely tore open the seal, and began to read by the moonlight.

He read very carefully, his eyes scanning the paper line by line.

Lin Ye stood at the door without moving, waiting quietly.

The old man read for a long time.

It wasn't until fifteen minutes later that he folded the letter, tucked it into his sleeve, and looked up at Lin Ye.

His eyes were not large, but they were startlingly bright.