Chapter 7: Born Strong, with an Heirloom Black Bull  

"No worries, Old Bull. When we have money in the future, I'll buy you a wooden carving of a little cow." 

"Moo~ Moo~" The black bull's mood instantly brightened, letting out two joyful calls. 

It was the end of the year, and by the river, countless objects resembling sky lanterns were slowly rising into the air, carrying the townsfolk's hopes and wishes for the coming year. The entire city of Pan Ning was illuminated brightly. This was a local tradition called "Wishing Lanterns." 

Chen Xun looked up at the sky, a faint smile unconsciously appearing on his lips. 

"Old Bull, shall we let one go? Let's splurge for once!" 

"Moo! Moo!" The black bull's eyes sparkled. Only a fool wouldn't participate—it had plenty of wishes in its heart. 

The riverside was crowded with townsfolk, possibly even some cultivators. In a quieter corner by the river, Chen Xun bought two wishing lanterns. He and the bull decided not to squeeze into the bustling crowd. 

"Old Bull, what's your wish? Let's write it down; they say it's more effective that way." 

Chen Xun held a piece of charcoal and looked at the black bull. "You can write it yourself. Didn't I teach you how to write?" 

Moo! The black bull snatched the charcoal with its mouth, its eyes showing a thoughtful expression as it began working on its lantern. 

"Heh, it's not about a little cow, is it?" Chen Xun chuckled mischievously, watching the black bull's lantern. If it were about a little cow, then the wish would truly be "bullish" enough to ascend to the heavens. 

"Forever something." Chen Xun frowned at the black bull's crooked handwriting. "Follow… Chen." 

His heart trembled as he looked deeply at the black bull. The two wishing lanterns slowly floated away, merging into the sea of lanterns and gradually disappearing. 

"Moo?" The black bull nudged Chen Xun. 

"Wishes lose their magic if spoken aloud, you know." Chen Xun said mysteriously. The black bull's eyes widened in surprise, and it believed him again, no longer nudging him. 

Man and bull began wandering the streets of Pan Ning City at night. Chen Xun took the opportunity to scout for work, as he was now skilled in all sorts of trades. 

Having experienced the benefits of speed, Chen Xun continued to invest his longevity points into improving his speed, giving the black bull a point as well. 

The next day, Chen Xun arrived at a blacksmith shop in the city. He entered with an air of confidence, startling the shopkeeper, who thought he was there to cause trouble. 

"Sorry, young man, we don't take bulls here." 

"I'm naturally strong. I think your blacksmith shop might be missing something without me." 

"What do you mean?" 

"Boss, are you hiring at the blacksmith shop?" Chen Xun suddenly grinned, rolling up his sleeve. "I'm worth two workers, and my heirloom black bull can help too. I guarantee your business will thrive!" 

Bang! Chen Xun was thrown out, and the shopkeeper spat, "You think I'll hire just anyone off the street?" 

Moo! The black bull was furious. How dare this shopkeeper insult them? It spat back in retaliation. 

Chen Xun quickly stopped the bull, his voice cold. "If this place won't take us, there's always somewhere else that will." 

The shopkeeper crossed his arms, and a few blacksmiths emerged from behind him. Their stance made it clear that if Chen Xun said one more word, they'd resort to violence. 

Chen Xun silently grabbed the bull's rope, said nothing more, and led the black bull away. 

"Bah!" The group scoffed, waving dismissively before returning to their work. 

On the way, the black bull nudged Chen Xun, trying to cheer him up. 

"It's fine. I heard there's another blacksmith shop on the next street. Their business isn't doing well; let's try there." 

"Moo!" The black bull nodded. 

When they arrived at the other blacksmith shop, Chen Xun was shocked. It looked like it was on the verge of closing down. An old man was dozing off in a chair. 

"Old man." Chen Xun led the black bull inside. There wasn't a single customer. 

"Eh?" The old man jolted awake, his cloudy eyes looking at Chen Xun. "Young man, what are you buying?" 

"Heh, I'm naturally strong. Is the blacksmith shop hiring?" Chen Xun asked with a smile. 

"Haha… Hiring, of course!" The old man nodded enthusiastically. "But all the blacksmiths have left, and there's no money to pay wages." 

"No problem, boss. Just give us a place to stay." 

"That works!" The old man said happily. "You can stay in the backyard of the shop." 

The two quickly struck a deal. Chen Xun and the black bull began organizing their pots and pans, while the black bull searched for places to stash rice. 

"This world is vast indeed," Chen Xun marveled. The shop was so spacious that even the black bull could move around freely. 

An hour later, he and the black bull began working together to forge iron. The shop rang with the sound of hammering, making the old man's eyelids twitch. Such strength! 

"Young man, judging by your technique, have you forged iron before?" The old man's eyes lit up, his hands clasped behind his back. "Though your method is a bit rough." 

"Of course, old man. To be honest, I have five years of experience. Anyone who hires me is making a profit." Chen Xun boasted. He enjoyed forging—it was a way to master his strength, though he hadn't yet achieved precision. 

"You can't forge like this," the old man shook his head. "You're wasting too much energy. Let me show you how it's done." 

Whoa, a master! Chen Xun watched the old man's forging technique, which was completely different from the village blacksmith's. But before long, the old man was panting heavily. 

"Getting old, getting old. Young man, you take over." The old man waved his hand, glancing at the black bull. This bull truly had spirit. 

"Got it!" Chen Xun mimicked the old man's technique. Surprisingly, it worked. He felt his control over his strength gradually improving. 

Over the next year, Chen Xun and the black bull forged iron daily, with the old man offering guidance. He even gave the black bull a few pointers. 

Whether cultivators or ordinary folk, everyone had their own brilliance and wisdom. Chen Xun gained a lot from working at this blacksmith shop. 

"Old Sun, our shop's business is booming now!" Chen Xun laughed, shirtless. The shop was finally turning a profit, and both he and the black bull had some savings, which the latter had buried in the backyard. 

The old man's name was Sun Kaile. He once had a son who died seeking immortality in the Ningyun Mountains. For years, he had lived alone. 

"Hehe, wonderful," Sun Kaile smiled. Since Chen Xun joined the shop, his face had been much brighter. 

Chen Xun's speed and quality in forging surpassed other shops, and word spread quickly. Customers often came to order custom ironware, leaving with satisfied smiles. 

"Chen Xun!" A loud shout came from the street. A burly man approached with two others, carrying a long blade. 

"Brother Zhang is here." Chen Xun greeted him with a smile. "What do you need forged? I'll take care of it." 

Brother Zhang, whose full name was Zhang Jiang, was a senior disciple of a martial sect. Bold and forthright, he often visited the shop and brought his fellow disciples along. 

Zhang Jiang stepped forward and bellowed, "A hundred broadswords—can you take the order?" 

A big deal! Chen Xun's eyes lit up, his hands still busy forging. "Of course. When do you need them, Brother Zhang?" 

"Within two months. If you finish in one, I'll pay extra." Zhang Jiang grinned. 

"No need for extra, Brother Zhang. Don't be so formal. I'll have them ready in a month." Chen Xun gave Zhang Jiang a reproachful look. "We're brothers, aren't we? Come back next month to pick them up." 

"Straightforward! See, this Chen Xun knows how to do business." Zhang Jiang laughed heartily, turning to the two men behind him. They nodded in approval—this was the kind of person they liked in the martial world. 

"Chen Xun, don't let that black bull of yours end up on someone's dinner table. Bulls with such spirit are rare these days." 

"This is an heirloom from my family. It's not for eating." Chen Xun quickly waved his hand. 

"Alright, I'm off. If anyone causes trouble at the shop, let me know." Zhang Jiang laughed, glancing at the black bull. "Black Bull, I'm leaving. Say goodbye to Brother Zhang." 

"Moo!" The black bull turned its head and actually called out. 

"Hahaha…" Zhang Jiang left with his companions, his laughter echoing behind him. Chen Xun waved goodbye, his figure disappearing down the street.