Chapter 641: Chapter 640: With Background
In this room, if you were to take any item at hand, it would be an extremely fine weapon. A common blacksmith certainly couldnât produce such handy armaments. So, who were these two individuals before me?
"You are descendants of Ouyezi!" Jadeite exclaimed in surprise after examining a Fish Intestine Sword closely.
Wufu thought for a moment. Ouyezi, the legendary sword-casting master?
Lady Li snatched the Fish Intestine Sword from Jadeiteâs hand and said, "We are not direct descendants of Ouyezi, yet we have inherited his skills. The techniques of Master Ouyezi, the progenitor, have been passed down to several people, and our Li Family is one of those branches. My father, Li Kuo, was the one hundred and twenty-eighth successor."
"Li Kuo? The craftsman proclaimed to be the worldâs number one in forging weapons?" Jadeite exclaimed.
Lady Li responded with a scornful laugh, "Thatâs just what people say."
"Wasnât Li Kuo long dead? And Iâve never heard that he had any descendants," Jadeite said, looking at Lady Li with hesitation.
A trace of sadness appeared in Lady Liâs eyes, her voice choked up, and she could not speak.
"My father-in-law had only one daughter, named Shuangshuang, my wife, who was sent to be raised in a close friendâs family since her birth," Duan Rong continued the conversation.
"So you are that close friendâs son?" Wufu pointed out sharply.
Duan Rong showed a hint of appreciation in his eyes and nodded.
"The Li Family never passed on their smithing techniques, and although my father-in-law worked for the Imperial Armory when he was young, he did so only as a consultant. However, the core techniques were never disseminated. My master also knew that possessing such precious knowledge was a crime, and he was always vigilant. Thus, even with a daughter, he dared not publicly acknowledge her. My father, Duan Qinglin, and my father-in-law were life-and-death friends, hence Shuangshuang was always treated like our own daughter when sent to our home."
"The Li Family bore an infatuated man. My father-in-law only had my mother-in-law in his life. When she gave birth to Shuangshuang, she died of postpartum hemorrhage, and my father-in-law never remarried. He only had one daughter in his life. Knowing that the skills he possessed were feared by the imperial court, he made arrangements for the future and directly let âShuangshuangâ follow her mother in death," said Duan Rong calmly. "In fact, my father-in-lawâs arrangement was the right decision."
"I heard that Craftmaster Li died in an accident when the furnace overturned while he was forging weapons. Itâs a pity," said Jadeite.
Li Shuangshuang sneered coldly, "Thatâs just an ugly fabrication crafted by the imperial court to cover up their vile deeds."
"In reality, my father-in-law secretly forged a weapon capable of destroying heaven and earth. The imperial court found out and demanded that he reveal the technique for forging that weapon," Duan Rong said. "My father-in-law knew that the weaponâs appearance would bring about catastrophic loss of life and chose to die rather than comply, even destroying all traces of its creation."
"What was it, exactly?"
Duan Rong looked at Li Shuangshuang, who took a basket from a corner containing several black, slick spheres: "There are only these few left."
Curious, Jadeite extended her hand to take one, but Wufu sternly stopped her, "Donât move."
Jadeite was startled and pulled her hand back, turning to Wufu, "Miss."
Wufu first glanced around and said with a cold laugh, "You dare to keep these things here?"
"You know what these are?" Duan Rong asked in surprise.
"Did your father ever mention that this weapon was infinitely powerful and must never come into contact with fire?" Wufu asked Li Shuangshuang.
Li Shuangshuang nodded.
"If Iâm not mistaken, this is made with gunpowder. Letâs call this weapon a bomb," Wufu said carefully, picking up a black sphere. After examining it and noticing a fuse tail at the bottom of the sphere, she hummed.
No wonder Li Kuo refused. Once this thing appeared, even the mightiest martial arts skills would be of no use against being blasted to pieces.