Casting immortality in the furnace

Chapter 52 Unkindness

Noon the next day.

Fan Zhou took advantage of his break time to visit Qin Zhiyuan's private courtyard.

This small courtyard is built at the foot of the mountain, surrounded by a fence, and planted with many pine trees and green bamboos to block the view, making it look quite elegant.

Seeing that no one was guarding the gate, Fan Zhou bowed and called out:

"Senior Uncle Qin, your disciple Fan Zhou requests an audience!"

As soon as he finished speaking, water-like patterns suddenly appeared in the void in front of him, opening to both sides as if two curtains were being lifted.

"Come in." A deep voice came from the courtyard.

Fan Zhou stepped into the formation, pushed open the bamboo gate, and a large yellow dog ran out, barked twice, and led him into the courtyard.

After walking along a winding cobblestone path, we arrived at a pond with clear water.

Qin Zhiyuan, dressed in casual clothes, sat by the pond fishing, with a small tea set beside him.

"Uncle Qin".

Fan Zhou was quite surprised that he could be so relaxed, he thought that this Uncle Qin was busy all day long without stopping.

"Please sit down."

Qin Zhiyuan gestured for him to sit down, and seemingly noticing Fan Zhou's curiosity, casually explained, "It's just a rare moment of leisure."

He poured Fan Zhou a cup of tea and asked:

"What do you want?"

"It's about the villagers from outside the village, and I'd like to ask for your opinion."

Fan Zhou first told Bai Lusheng about what happened last night.

Qin Zhiyuan took a sip of tea and said calmly:

"You were right to arrest him. This person was most likely tricked by demons, who deliberately showed off their abilities to gather followers."

Fan Zhou asked, puzzled, "Do monsters need followers too?"

"Don't underestimate demons," Qin Zhiyuan shook his head.

"Demons are like humans, each with their own ideas. Some rule in the mountains and wilderness, some travel among humans, some collect faith in the hope of becoming a god, and some devour countless living beings just to strengthen themselves."

"Demons can only take human form when they reach the Qi Refining stage, and many things can only be accomplished with the help of human forces."

Fan Zhou was astonished. "So, the reason so many villages around here can coexist with demons is because the demons need them too?"

"Not bad," Qin Zhiyuan nodded.

"So how should this matter be handled?"

"Let's leave the deer demon alone for now. As for Bai Lusheng, let's keep him locked up for the time being; I think he still has some use."

After resolving Bai Lusheng's matter, Fan Zhou raised the second issue:

"The number of villagers outside is increasing. What are you planning to do with them, Master? We can't just leave them like this, can we?"

Qin Zhiyuan smiled and asked in return, "What are your thoughts on this matter?"

Fan Zhou's expression was serious. "I want to take this opportunity to integrate these villagers. These thousands of people can definitely be used by the market."

Qin Zhiyuan looked at him with some surprise:

"That's my plan too; I'm just waiting for the right time to take action."

"When?" Fan Zhou asked curiously.

Qin Zhiyuan gazed into the distance, thinking, "When those powerful demons have all been captured..."

"Were you kidnapped?"

Fan Zhou was both surprised and suspicious. "Could it be that those demons have been watched all along?"

Qin Zhiyuan nodded slightly.

Fan Zhou's mind was in turmoil for a moment.

If someone was watching those demons, why did no one stop them when they were indiscriminately killing innocent people and devouring thousands of living beings?

He stared blankly at Qin Zhiyuan, "What... happened?"

Qin Zhiyuan remained silent for a while before speaking in a low voice:

"This area, spanning dozens of miles, is the ranch of a certain force in Fujian."

"Those demons are like the cattle and sheep they raise, while the villagers are like the grass they graze on in the fields."

"The grass grows lush and fat once, and the cattle and sheep eat it once. Once the cattle and sheep are fat, they are slaughtered by their owners."

"The reason why these great demons are rioting at the same time is because someone wants to slaughter cattle and sheep ahead of time, so they cut down all the grass and fodder in the fields, hoping that the cattle and sheep can get fatter before they are sold."

"What?!"

Fan Zhou was startled and immediately stood up:

"Who did this?!"

Qin Zhiyuan glanced at him but didn't say anything.

Fan Zhou could only sit down in silence, his heart filled with turbulent emotions.

He had assumed that the demons were the scourge of the area, but to his surprise, the real culprit never appeared from beginning to end.

The ferocious demons were nothing more than domesticated livestock, fattened up and then killed once.

The people who were cruelly killed by them were merely fodder in the eyes of others.

How many times has this tragedy happened?

Despite being under the blazing sun, Fan Zhou felt icy cold all over, as if he had returned to that afternoon when the wheat was golden.

After a while, he asked in a low voice:

"Now that the market town has taken over these villagers, can they finally live a peaceful life without having to...graze?"

Qin Zhiyuan did not answer, but said quietly:

"A sage is not benevolent; he treats the people like straw dogs. A ruler who is not benevolent regards his subjects as dirt and weeds."

Fan Zhou frowned, pondering the meaning of these words.

"Don't overthink it. These things are beyond the control of insignificant people like you and me," Qin Zhiyuan advised.

Fan Zhou lowered his head listlessly and said in a muffled voice:

"I see."

"Alright, let's put aside these demons and villagers for now and talk about your matter."

Qin Zhiyuan looked at Fan Zhou, "You've been at the weapon forging workshop for over a month now, are you settling in well?"

Fan Zhou nodded, "I'm used to it, but I'm not used to not getting paid."

"That's your own problem."

Qin Zhiyuan chuckled, "How many liters of steel can you forge now?"

Fan Zhou shook his head, "It's still far from enough, only eighteen refinements."

"Eighteen Refinements?"

Qin Zhiyuan's gaze sharpened. To be able to forge eighteen-refinement steel in just one and a half months was considered fast even in the sword furnace.

He thought for a moment and said, "This speed is alright, but it's still a bit slower than when I was back then."

"Oh," Fan Zhou responded in a low voice.

Qin Zhiyuan coughed and took out a scroll of wooden slips from his storage bag, handing it to him.

"These are some forging experiences I've recorded, as well as some knowledge about sword making. Take a look."

Upon hearing this, Fan Zhou finally perked up, quickly took the wooden slip, and eagerly began to read it.

What he lacks most right now is experience.

For a novice like him, it is very difficult to improve, because there are too many problems that can only be solved by eyesight and feel.

Qin Zhiyuan's summary of experience was a godsend for him.

Fan Zhou quickly became engrossed in it, frantically absorbing knowledge. The questions in his mind gradually found direction, and inspiration flowed continuously.

As the work bell rang outside, he reluctantly placed the item on the table and bid farewell to Qin Zhiyuan.

Before leaving, Qin Zhiyuan suddenly threw him a token:

"I'll leave this wooden slip here for you; you can come and see it anytime."

Fan Zhou was overjoyed and quickly accepted the array token, bowing respectfully and saying:

"Thank you, Master Qin!"

Qin Zhiyuan waved his hand, "Hurry up and get back to work. If you don't improve, you'll be in for a scolding."

"yes!"

Fan Zhou responded and jogged back to the workshop, where he resumed his clanging blacksmithing work.

"It'll be soon, soon. We'll be able to complete the Thirty-Six Steel Refineries project quickly, and then I'll be among the high-income earners."

He was filled with joy, and he pounded the hammer with even more force.

Peng Yue looked at him with a puzzled expression, not understanding why he was laughing so lewdly.