Future Hopes

Still shaken by his discovery, Jing Jiang dazedly instructed Lei Mingxing to check the different materials in the storeroom and count the stock they still had left. To familiarize herself with the different ores, demon and spirit beast materials and types of wood.

This was a very important aspect of the artificer profession, as different materials had different effects on the product. Iron, copper and the like were pretty basic, providing different amounts of hardness, durability or weight, but there were also much more special ores like Frozen Core Silver or Spotted Copper, you wouldn't see in your everyday life.

Not to mention the ungodly amount of different demon and spirit beast materials, every single one of them trickier to handle than the last.

In fact, the small storeroom only held a fraction of the countless different materials in this world. The items here, comparable to a drop in the ocean.

But it was all about small steps, to build the sturdy foundation of a ship that would hopefully be able to sail this endless sea of new inventions, waiting to be created, on its own.

After he saw Lei Mingxing seriously focusing on her new task, Jing Jiang left to finish the Fire Saber that was still waiting for him.

He unhurriedly chose a suitable guard and hilt for the saber. The guard was made from the tough scales of a Hidden Fire Salamander. They would shield the user from the flames on the blade after they activated the Fire Spirit Core he had inlaid. The hilt was also made from a Hidden Fire Salamander's bones, preventing any heat from the metal to pass through and harm the user's hands.

After carving the guard and handle until he was satisfied with them, Jing Jiang stuck them to the saber and secured them so they wouldn't get loose no matter the circumstances, finally finishing the hilt off with a layer of tenacious but soft leather and a vibrant red tassel at the end.

Jing Jiang examined his work for any imperfections and nodded with a serious expression after not finding any.

At just that moment, Jing Jiang heard the door to the shop being pushed open.

A rarity nowadays, he commented sadly in his mind.

He exited the workspace, greeting the customer.

"Welcome, are you here to pick up your custom order? I just finished it up."

The customer, a relatively muscular man with a head of seemingly haphazardly cut hair, nodded in response to Jing Jiang's question.

Jing Jiang went back into the workshop to pick up the Fire Saber, taking the arrows he and Lei Mingxing created along with him.

Even if they weren't quite up to par, he could still sell them for a few yuan. The material needed for their creation wasn't cheap after all.

"Here is your Fire Saber. How about you try it out a bit to see if there are any issues?"

The customer took the saber from Jing Jiang and proceeded to swing it a few times, he also inserted some inner Qi into the Spirit Core. With a sudden 'swoosh' the entire blade was covered in a bright flame. After examining the blade for a bit the man turned the Fire Spirit Core off again.

Satisfied with the saber's performance, the customer turned to Jing Jiang.

"Very good, how much is it?"

Waiting for Jing Jiang's response the man was already rummaging in his coin bag.

" 88 silver and ten yuan."

The man nodded, but before he completed the transaction, he asked.

"What's with the arrows over there?"

The man motioned at the arrows lying next to Jing Jiang on the counter.

"My new apprentice made them, their performance is not quite up to par, so the price is lower than usual. Would you like to buy them?"

Jing Jiang explained honestly.

Of course, it would have been more profitable to lie and just ask for the same price as always, but Jing Jiang chose not to. His pride as a Master Artificer wouldn't let him. The man before him was a mercenary, facing off with all kinds of beasts on a daily basis, which meant that his life depended on the quality of his equipment. So even if there was only a small flaw he didn't know about, it could spell his untimely demise.

Carelessness like that was the one thing Jing Jiang would never allow to happen inside his forge.

"Sure, if they're as cheap as you say."

The man shrugged.

"In that case, it's an additional 35 yuan."

The customer handed over the money and left with the newly acquired saber and arrows.

Jing Jiang happily put the money away and returned to the workshop to work on a few more artifacts.

A few hours passed, and Lei Mingxing had long since completed her task inside the storeroom, even cleaning a bit while she was at it. After that, she did some odd jobs around the store. Sweeping the floor, wiping off the dust on the weapons in the storefront, just a bit of cleaning in general.

After her inner Qi had recovered somewhat, she created one more arrow, feeling especially motivated after Jing Jiang had told her how her arrows had already been sold for thirty-five yuan.

She only stopped working because Jing Jiang asked her to take a lunch break. But after discovering that Lei Mingxing didn't have anything to eat with her, Jing Jiang offered to share some of his food.

She declined his offer, busying herself in the workshop once more.

Throwing Lei Mingxing some pitying glances from the small table Jing Jiang was sitting at, he sighed inside his mind.

These noble girls are really too proper and reserved! His apprentice didn't even dare ask for food from him, despite having worked so diligently this whole time!

He really had to support her the best he could in the future!

Jing Jiang decided in his heart.

The remaining time until Chang Liuyun returned to pick up Lei Mingxing passed peacefully. There were no sudden incidents.

Or customers for that matter.

Jing Jiang sighed softly but there was nothing he could do for now. He only hoped that Lei Mingxing would improve to the level of an Assistant quickly so that they could join the Spirit Blessing Festival in about a month's time.

"Goodbye, see you tomorrow!"

While Jing Jiang was still lost in thought, Lei Mingxing bade him farewell and was just about to join Chang Liuyun on their walk home before Jing Jiang stopped her.

"Wait! You forgot your salary!"

He quickly took out the coins and handed them to Lei Mingxing.

Lei Mingxing looked at the clinking yuan in her hand, raising one of her bold brows.

"You gave me fifteen yuan too much, we agreed on twenty," she said while picking out the fifteen yuan, intending on returning them.

Jing Jiang waved his hand while casually explaining.

"Keep them, this money was earned with your arrows after all."

He smiled encouragingly at Lei Mingxing.

Lei Mingxing felt hesitant, unsure whether she should insist on returning them or just keep the money, but Jing Jiang quickly fled into the workshop again, leaving her at the forge's entrance with Chang Liuyun.

She clenched her hand with the coins for a moment before taking out her coin bag and putting them inside.

Chang Liuyun was still waiting for Lei Mingxing, internally feeling relieved that the whole job offer wasn't a scam in the end, while looking at the different weapons and armor hanging in the shop.

He had to admit, seeing all these magic weapons, the idea of snatching one was very tempting. Especially since that would make his job a lot easier, killing the different beasts in the Dark Spirit Woods turned out to be a risky business after all.

He was glad he didn't take Lei Mingxing with him. Even someone like him, who was at Qi Condensation high-stage, struggled while hunting in only the outskirts of the forest.

His experience today only proved that Lei Mingxing surviving the forest to be nothing short of a miracle, but it wasn't all bad.

As he pondered, Lei Mingxing finally stepped next to him and they left the forge once again hand in hand.

Neither of them felt embarrassed by this, after all, there was no helping it. Chang Liuyun had to stay by Lei Mingxing's side to shield her from most of the crowd while leading them back to their house, and the best way not to get separated was simply by holding hands.

Also.

It wasn't like they disliked each other and were forcing themselves.

"I have some good news," Chang Liuyun announced while they were strolling down the street, only halting to buy a few buns, this time directly ordering four, two for each one of them.

"Hm?" Lei Mingxing asked while chewing a bite of her bun beneath her face veil.

"I found a hidden cave while hunting today, we can go there to cultivate tomorrow," Chang Liuyun continued before biting into his bun as well.

Small theater:

Jing Jiang: Mission: Taking Care of Apprentice Until She Acts Like A Normal Teenage Girl, short TCOAUSALANTG, start!

Author:..

Author: That's a very bad code name.

A/N:

Ranking for Artificers: Apprentice -> Assistant -> Craftsman -> Artificer -> Great Artificer -> Master Artificer -> Grandmaster Artificer -> Heavenly Artificer -> Divine Artificer