Dual Cultivation God Returns-Chapter 828 - In the flickering lights of the forges
828: In the flickering lights of the forges
828: In the flickering lights of the forges
The marriage arrangement between the Kai and Shan Families was a fairly discreet one, kept under wraps for a long time as talks were still undergoing on the exact conditions of the circumstances surrounding the marriage, rather than the marriage itself.
However, the breakdown of those talks and the arrangement was anything but discreet, as the Kai Family’s Patriarch, outraged at the sudden betrayal, started raising waves which devolved into very public and quite ugly airing of dirty laundry.
But after the storm passed, a jovial laughter resounded on a terrace of the pavilion that Wu Long once intruded on, this time being almost an honored guest as the Patriarchs of the Rou and Shan Families, as well as the Elder of the Rou Family he initially started the talks to were talking in excited tones at the same table as him.
“I must thank you Daoist Wu, it is a great favor you have done in arranging this splendid affair, one that will bring prosperity to both houses”, the Elder of the Rou Family cupped his fist toward Wu Long, slightly shaking it in reaffirmation.
“It is indeed.
The Shan Family also has a lot to be thankful for”, the Patriarch of the Shan Family nodded, making the same gesture.
“The Elder and Patriarch Shan are too polite, I merely acted as a bridge”, Wu Long made a slightly more formal fist and hand salute with a light smile.
“Hmm, I guess that concludes the deal between us”, the Elder of the Rou Family said with a nod, throwing Wu Long a probing look to see his reaction to this.
The Shan Family Patriarch instantly saw through that, understanding that there was something he didn’t exactly know between the Rou Family and Wu Long, taking this moment to very naturally take a pause and start emptying his wine cup into his mouth.
“It would be, but there is another thing I wanted to discuss with both Patriarchs and Elder Rou”, Wu Long smiled, leaning slightly forward, taking a bit more aggressive posture.
The three exchanged gazes, sensing the possibility of something lucrative, and leaned in as well.
—
Kai Huoshi used the background of the Kai Family’s uproar to quickly and discreetly assemble the crowd that Wu Long asked him to, especially invigorated by the fact Wu Long really did hold up his end of the bargain.
And thus, the evening of Wu Long’s meeting with the Shan and Rou Families, he arrived at a small gathering of the younger generation of Kai Family and some of their hired artisans.
It was right at the time as the older generation was assembled in the Main Mansion for an emergency meeting to discuss the matter of the broken down marriage arrangement.
That sent ripples through the confidence of the Branch Families, so they had to quell the unease.
Wu Long didn’t arrive alone though.
To be exact, there were three beauties with him, but they were concealed with Fen Baihu’s powers.
It was Nie Xiwang, Shen Min and Xue Bing, all of whom were here to help him discern the attitudes of those assembled.
Wu Long didn’t waste much time, making his offer in a concise manner, leaving the minor details to Kai Huoshi.
As expected, there were various reactions.
But there was one that united them all, which was surprise.
They thought it was a bit suspicious when they started arriving and saw a lot more than just a few people that the Third Young Master wanted a separate talk with.
But they never expected this.
Not to mention, the people here, just like Kai Huoshi himself, didn’t know of the impending troubles the Kai Family was facing.
The only sign they had was that there was currently an emergency meeting because of the failed marriage talks, but that didn’t really tell them the whole story.
However, even without knowing, there were a few people whose eyes showed interest, mainly from the second or third Young Masters of the Branch Families, but there were a few among the hired artisans as well.
“And you will be taking in our families as well?”, one of the hired artisans asked, to which he received a nod.
“Don’t listen to this crook!
Who knows what he’s scheming?!”, another voice rose from somewhere in the back.
“I can vouch that Master Wu indeed has a superior forging legacy, he has given me just one technique which I used to make this, and gave another I have yet to learn, but which is definitely at least equal, if not more profound to the one I received first”, Kai Huoshi produced a weapon from his Spatial Ring, the sight of which instantly attracted the gazes of those who were here.
Wu Long inwardly eliminated a few from candidacy who didn’t even look at the weapon.
The three beauties also constantly supplied him with the information through sound transmissions, as he made notes of which people he certainly did not plan to take in.
“D-did you really forge this, Third Young Master?”, one of the hired artisans spoke with widened eyes as he inspected the weapon.
“Yes, and I have only comprehended up to the third layer of the technique!”, Kai Huoshi excitedly noted.
“Can we get this ‘miracle forging technique’ first before deciding as well?”, a third Young Master of a Branch Family asked with narrowed eyes, standing with interlocked arms, “Or at least take a look at it?”
“No”, Wu Long shook his head.
“So we just have to take you for your word?
Isn’t that a little unreasonable?”, the Branch Family Young Master spoke in a slightly more aggressive tone.
“You don’t.
That’s the whole reason I asked Young Master Kai Huoshi to gather you all and didn’t approach you myself.
You don’t need to trust me, you have to trust him”, Wu Long corrected in a calm and collected tone.
Murmurs went through the people assembled in the forging hall of one of the workshops, the dim light of the furnaces vaguely illuminating their expressions and the gazes they turned to each other.
Wu Long made his case, and Kai Huoshi gave an impassioned speech on his behalf, it was now time for them to think.
Wu Long’s promise was simple, he would give them a stable job, safe environment, as well as opportunities to receive greater legacy, and continuous growth in cultivation and pursuit of the Forging Dao.
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They also could take their families with them for the hired artisans with families.
All they had to provide was hard work and not be complacent.
It sounded almost too good to be true, however, Kai Huoshi was the one promoting it, and it seemed he has firmly decided to abandon the Kai Family to pursue this endeavor.
But what really touched the souls of the true artisans among them was the weapon Kai Huoshi showed them.
They instantly could tell it was forged with a cultivation technique that the Kai Family did not have.
This was noticed also by a few more opportunistic people, one of whom was the Young Master demanding to inspect the technique to be certain it wasn’t just lies, while inwardly salivating with greed.
“And one more thing, you will have to decide tonight, and if you agree, assemble your families or things you need”, Wu Long added.
“O-on such short notice?”
“This…”
“Isn’t this a bit too sudden…?”
New murmurs went through the room as they looked at each other.
Even Kai Huoshi turned to Wu Long with a slightly hesitant expression, fearing that this condition will make more people doubtful.
“I will explain why”, Wu Long smiled, “Right now, in this room, there are several people who are thinking about earning points from whoever is the authority for them in the Kai Family by snitching on this meeting happening”
As he spoke, a deadly silence suddenly fell as some realized what he was saying was very likely to be true, while the others were shocked at being seen through, panicking and trying to see if Wu Long was just throwing wild guesses.
Meanwhile Wu Long continued, “…so if I gave you a day or two to decide, or even a few hours outside this room, you can see how this will turn out.
So, until all people who agree assemble their families or belongings, the others will not be leaving this room so as to not prevent the ones who wish to leave the Kai Family behind to do so”
“And how will you know who agreed and who says so just to go and snitch on the others?”, someone from among the crowd asked.
“I’ll know”, Wu Long simply said without much details.
However, the calm, cold gaze of his eyes somehow gave people goosebumps.
“Y-You can’t keep us here!
You have no right!”, one of the would-be snitches panicked, hoping to turn the crowd against Wu Long.
“It’s not like I’m killing you or keeping you here forever.
And I am not forcing you to make the choice in the favor of taking my offer either.
I am just detaining you for a short period of time so that those who truly wish to take my offer have the freedom and opportunity to do so”, Wu Long calmly replied.
“And if I refuse to be detained?”, one person stood up, but the next moment his eyes slightly widened, as he saw a peerless beauty with eight fox tails and glowing pink, beautiful…
enchanting eyes.
The man froze, a light pink glow visible from deep within his pupils to those who would closely look into his eyes.
“This will happen”, Wu Long replied to the shocked crowd, murmurs and shivers going through many of them.
“I agree to the offer”, finally, one of the Young Masters of the Branch Families stood up.
“You!
Are you out of your mind?!”, another next to him asked with shock.
“Welcome, you can go and assemble anything you want to take with you”, Wu Long nodded.
“I too, wis-….”, a second one stood up, but his eyes soon became unfocused as his words trailed off and he froze in place like the first one.
“I told you, I’ll know”, Wu Long just calmly noted.
From then on, slowly, more and more people who showed interest in the offer appeared, though some were declined even if they genuinely were attracted by the offer, confusing those like them, but for some reason this caused more people to accept the offer, with greater confidence.
The truth was, that those who were interested, started to understand what kind of people Wu Long refused, and thus showed more interest and trust in the offer.
After all, the people gathered here all knew each other very well after long years of working and living in a close-knit community, and thus knew the personalities of those who were rejected, this raised the legitimacy of the whole offer in the eyes of those who would be accepted.
As around 30 people agreed to the offer in total, the rest of the roughly 100 people either rejected or were rejected.
Only 5 people with families agreed, though there were only 14 people with families in the whole crowd.
Seven of those people with families who refused, however, were people Wu Long did want.
Hired artisans, who clearly yearned for what he offered, especially the opportunities of the Forging Dao, but refused out of loyalty to the Kai Family, who ‘took care’ of them and their families for a long time.
There were also three junior Young Masters of Branch Families who also refused out of obligation to their Branch Families.
However, Wu Long now knew who these people were, so he wasn’t worried.
It wasn’t late to return for them when the Kai Family eventually decided to cut them off, or perhaps worse, cut them down, swooping in to make an offer once again at that time.
When the people who accepted returned with families or lovers, or simply after gathering their belongings, Wu Long let the other crowd go.
But by the time the Kai Family arrived at the forge about half an hour later, only empty space with flickering lights of the forges greeted their view.
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