Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“Your Highness, are these the best standard weapons of Great Xia?” Shen Yue said with a face full of disappointment. “If it’s only at this level, then I feel that this bet is meaningless.”
Yin Wuyou, Meng Jinguang, and the others’ expressions were extremely ugly.
Shen Yue had only taken four hours to forge three standard weapons: a spear, a saber, and a halberd.
On Great Xia’s side, they sent three elite Forging Apprentices to forge weapons. They also used four hours to forge three weapons: Great Xia’s standard long spear, standard saber, and standard halberd.
They were the same type of weapons, but it was obvious how much better they were!
The standard weapons forged by Shen Yue were not existing standard weapons of Great Wei but weapons they had never heard of before!
They even guessed that these were Shen Yue’s trump cards and also the reason why Great Wei dared to bet with Great Xia.
It had to be said that the standard weapons forged by Shen Yue were indeed more powerful than the original standard weapons of Great Xia.
The difference was about the same as Great Xia’s standard long saber and the Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Saber…
In other words, the three weapons forged by Shen Yue had completely surpassed the three weapons of Great Xia.
“Your Highness, I feel that there is no need for us to waste any more time. Please invite Zhou Shu out,” Shen Yue said. “I’m not targeting anyone. Unless anyone here can forge a standard weapon of the Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Saber’s level—”
Disdain appeared on Shen Yue’s face. It was obvious that the standard weapons of Great Xia did not have a place in his eyes.
The expressions of Yin Wuyou, Meng Jinguang, and the others became even uglier.
They knew very well that other than saber-type weapons, Great Xia didn’t have any breakthroughs in other types of weapons. Now, the weapons forged by these apprentices were the strongest standard weapons in Great Xia.
Meng Jinguang and the other ministers looked at Yin Wuyou. It was as if they were using their eyes to ask why Zhou Shu hadn’t come yet.
The 0th Workshop was Yin Wuyou’s personal workshop, and Zhou Shu was Yin Wuyou’s trusted aide. Meng Jinguang and the others had never interacted with Zhou Shu before.
Including this incident, it was Yin Wuyou who had directly informed Zhou Shu.
Zhou Shu’s absence was Yin Wuyou’s responsibility.
Yin Wuyou turned a blind eye to everyone’s gazes.
She had been angry before, but now, she only felt guilt toward Zhou Shu.
Great Xia had already treated him so badly. There was no reason for him to get involved in this mess.
Right now, she wouldn’t take the initiative to ask Zhou Shu to come over, nor would she force Zhou Shu to participate in that bet.
As for whether Great Xia could win or not, it would depend on fate.
Yin Wuyou didn’t answer, but Shen Yue didn’t give up.
“Could Zhou Shu be afraid?” Shen Yue said. “If that’s the case, then—”
“He’s not afraid!” Yin Wuyou interrupted. “He has other matters to attend to, so he might not be able to make it back in time.
“Since Deputy Envoy Shen’s skills are superior, then today’s competition is my Great Xia’s Forging Division lost.”
Yin Wuyou felt that there was no need to continue this competition. In any case, it had nothing to do with the overall situation. She didn’t want to continue accompanying Shen Yue in acting perfunctory anymore. She only wanted to go back and comfort Zhou Shu.
“Grand Minister!” The expressions of Meng Jinguang and the others changed.
Although this competition had nothing to do with the bet, admitting defeat like this would cause the Great Xia’s Forging Division’s reputation to plummet.
How could she admit defeat just like that?
“Grand Minister, I’ll call Zhou Shu over!” a minister said in a deep voice.
Although they didn’t really like Zhou Shu, it was undeniable that he was the only Forging Apprentice in the Forging Division who could handle this matter.
Meng Jinguang and the others didn’t think as much as Yin Wuyou did, and they weren’t worried about Zhou Shu not coming.
He was just a Forging Apprentice and a workshop superintendent. How could they not order him around?
Yin Wuyou shook her head. “I’ve already made up my mind. No need for nonsense!”
Meng Jinguang and the others were indignant, but they didn’t dare to voice it out.
“Your Highness, what you said isn’t right.” Shen Yue shook his head. “Winning is winning, and losing is losing. Without competing with Great Xia’s strongest Forging Apprentice, I won’t live up to my name.”
“It’s fine if you want to compete with him. Minister Meng, bring a Horse Slaying Saber over.” Yin Wuyou said coldly, “Deputy Envoy Shen, if you can forge a standard long saber that’s stronger than the Horse Slaying Saber, then you’ve really won.”
“Grand Minister!” Meng Jinguang and the others exclaimed.
Although the Horse Slaying Saber was good, Shen Yue wasn’t weak either.
In their view, they should call Zhou Shu over and see if he could develop an even stronger weapon.
“Do as I say!” Yin Wuyou solemnly said.
“Your Highness, could it be that Zhou Shu has something to hide?” Shen Yue said with a burning gaze.
Yin Wuyou’s face darkened as she said coldly, “Deputy Envoy Shen, watch your words! This is Great Xia, not Great Wei!”
“I misspoke.” Shen Yue shrugged with a smile. “I just don’t understand. I just want to meet Zhou Shu. Why is Your Highness making so many excuses? With everyone here, are you all still worried that I’ll hurt him?”
Not only was Shen Yue a Forging Apprentice, but he was also a fourth-rank martial artist. With his age and cultivation base, he could be considered a genius that only appeared once in a hundred years.
“You are thinking too much,” Yin Wuyou said coldly. “I said he has more important things to do.”
“Haha, are the two prefectures not important enough? Since when did Great Xia become so generous?” Shen Yue smiled.
Meng Jinguang and the others were also very puzzled. Why was the grand minister like this?
Didn’t they agree yesterday that Zhou Shu would come and compete with him?
Did something happen to Zhou Shu?
Countless thoughts flashed through their minds, both good and bad.
“Deputy Envoy Shen, we competed to exchange pointers. Our Great Xia only has these people. Now that you’ve won, there’s no need to be so overbearing,” Yin Wuyou said coldly. “Please leave.”
“I see.” Shen Yue seemed to understand something. “Looks like I have to think of a way myself to meet Zhou Shu.”
“Shen Yue!” Anger appeared on Yin Wuyou’s face, and she said coldly, “I said before. This is Great Xia, not a place where you can act recklessly!”
Shen Yue shrugged. From the looks of it, he didn’t take Yin Wuyou’s threat to heart.
Right at this moment, a lazy voice suddenly sounded. “Someone wants to see me?”
He saw Zhou Shu walking toward the crowd.
“It’s you, right?” Zhou Shu came in front of everyone and sized up Shen Yue. “You wanted to see me?”
“Zhou Shu?” Shen Yue’s face sank slightly, and the smile on his face disappeared.
“It’s me.” Zhou Shu nodded. “I didn’t expect my reputation to spread out of Great Xia. Although I have some ability, you don’t have to admire me too much. After all, you can’t learn my skills.”
Yin Wuyou looked at Zhou Shu, who had suddenly appeared, and a light flashed in her eyes. She was extremely moved. He came. He finally came.
For me, he still came to get involved in this mess.
Zhou Shu didn’t look at Yin Wuyou. Instead, he continued to look at Shen Yue. “I heard that you are representing Great Wei to challenge Great Xia?”
“You’re not a coward anymore? You’re finally willing to fight me?” Shen Yue replied coldly without answering the question.
“You’ve misunderstood.” Zhou Shu shook his head. “I’m just here to see how you can be so arrogant.
“From the looks of it, there’s nothing special about you. I thought you had three heads and six arms.”
“Cut the crap!” Shen Yue said coldly. “Zhou Shu, the other Forging Apprentices of Great Xia’s Forging Division are too weak. If you’re a man, then fight me. Let the world see if you, the number one Forging Apprentice of Great Xia, are worthy of your reputation!”
“Say…” Zhou Shu pretended not to know Shen Yue’s name. “You speak so arrogantly. Those who don’t know might even think that you are a Grand Craftsman. If you have the ability, go and challenge a Grand Craftsman. Otherwise, a Forging Master works too.
“We are both Forging Apprentices. Who is stronger? I really don’t know where your sense of superiority comes from.”
Zhou Shu’s words made the surrounding Forging Apprentices nod in agreement. That’s right. We’re all Forging Apprentices. What’s so impressive about you? If you’re really so good, go and challenge a Forging Master!
Shen Yue narrowed his eyes, his expression cold.
“I thought that the person who developed the Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Saber and the Horse Slaying Saber would be a hero, but it seems that I was overthinking,” Shen Yue said coldly.
“Are you provoking me?” Zhou Shu glanced at him out of the corner of his eye. “Do you think I need your approval? What do your thoughts have to do with me?
“Who do you think you are?”
Killing intent flashed in Shen Yue’s eyes. “You don’t dare to compete with me?”
“It’s not that I don’t dare, it’s that I’m too lazy to compete with you,” Zhou Shu said. “Unless…”
“Unless what?” Shen Yue asked.
“Look, Great Xia and Great Wei are betting on the number one ranking in the Standard Armament Manual. The stakes are the two prefectures.
“As for me, Zhou Shu, I’m also someone with status. If I don’t get any rewards from competing with others, wouldn’t that be embarrassing?
“If you want me to give you pointers, sure. Bring out enough stakes.”
Shen Yue narrowed his eyes. He didn’t mind that Zhou Shu had taken advantage of him with his words. It was not important he was giving him pointers, or if they were competing.
“You want to bet with me?”
Originally, he had used the excuse of coming to Great Xia’s Forging Division to exchange pointers in order to probe Great Xia’s secrets and suppress their prestige.
Of course, there was another reason. He wanted to see Zhou Shu!
Originally, the outcome of this match had nothing to do with the overall situation.
But now that Zhou Shu had said this, he wouldn’t refuse.
“Hmph, what do you want to bet?” Shen Yue sneered.
“Two prefectures are too much,” Zhou Shu said in a low voice.
Shen Yue cursed inwardly, Do you think you are worthy of betting so much with me?
“One prefecture is more like it,” Zhou Shu seemed to be muttering to himself. “Grand Minister, which prefecture do you like the most?”
Yin Wuyou was startled. Which prefecture of Great Wei do I like the most?
What does he mean?
“Zhou Shu, if you’re afraid, just say it! Don’t find any excuses!” Shen Yue was furious.
Using a prefecture as a bet?
Isn’t that bullshit?
Even if Shen Yue had an extraordinary status in Great Wei, what right did he have to decide the ownership of a prefecture?
The You and Bing prefectures were agreed upon by the higher-ups, not proposed by Shen Yue himself!
By the same logic, what right did Zhou Shu have to bet with a prefecture?
If he lost, would Great Xia really give up an entire prefecture?
Was this a joke?
“I’m just kidding. You really don’t have any sense of humor.” Zhou Shu pursed his lips. “You look so poor. I don’t think there is much you can bet.
“How about this? I’ll be direct. How about we bet ten thousand gold taels?”
“Ten thousand taels of gold?” Shen Yue frowned.
“That’s right. If I win, you’ll give me ten thousand taels of gold. If you win, I’ll give you ten thousand taels of gold. Isn’t this fair?” Zhou Shu said. “Are you afraid?”
“Would I be afraid?” Shen Yue sneered. “Who will judge who wins and who loses?”
In the previous match between the Forging Apprentices, the difference between the two sides was too great, so Shen Yue wasn’t worried that the people judging would make a wrong judgment.
But if the strength of both standard weapons were too close to each other, then the winner would depend on the judge.
“Are you a layman?” Zhou Shu said disdainfully. “Do we need outsiders to judge this? Unless you’re shameless, how can we not know who wins?”
“Hmph.” Shen Yue snorted. They had more say in the quality of weapons than outsiders.
If they couldn’t even tell the quality of weapons, they were not worthy of being called forging geniuses.
“Very well. I’ll bet with you!” Shen Yue said coldly. “I can take out ten thousand taels of gold, but you…”
Shen Yue sized up Zhou Shu. “Are you sure you can afford it? Don’t go back on your word later!”
Ten thousand taels of gold was a huge sum even for his status.
If he could really win ten thousand taels of gold, it would be considered an unexpected gain.
“If he loses, I’ll pay for it!” Yin Wuyou said before Zhou Shu could speak.
Zhou Shu opened his mouth. What’s the meaning of this? The grand minister is so generous? Are you trying to get a share of my winnings?
If I lose, you pay. If I win, will you get half of it?
“You don’t have to—” Zhou Shu wanted to decline.
Yin Wuyou said without any room for question, “That’s right! Deputy Envoy Shen, do you think I can’t afford ten thousand taels of gold?”
“Since Your Highness has said so, then I have nothing to doubt.” Shen Yue nodded.
“Wait, I haven’t agreed yet,” Zhou Shu interrupted them. “Shen something? This is a bet between you and me. It has nothing to do with anyone else.
“Ten thousand taels of gold is nothing.
“Don’t tell me you don’t know? I am the sworn brother of the eldest son of the Mi family, Mi Ziwen. Do you know the Mi family? They are the richest family in the capital. Let alone ten thousand taels of gold, even a hundred thousand taels or one million taels wouldn’t be a big deal.”
It wasn’t easy for him to get a chance to take some money from the Great Wei diplomatic mission team, so how could he share it with others?
He glared at Yin Wuyou and said with his eyes, We may be familiar with each other, but don’t think about stealing my benefits.
Perhaps Yin Wuyou understood the meaning behind his gaze, so she pouted with slight grievance and didn’t say anything else.
“Mi Ziwen’s sworn brother? Very good!” Shen Yue gritted his teeth. “In that case, I’ll take the ten thousand taels of gold from the Mi family first!”
