The Blade-Wielding Legend-Chapter 1396 - 720: Aftermath of the Grand Ceremony (Part 2)

"Get the blueprints, leave immediately, and don't cause any trouble..."

......

"Dad, what's wrong with your face?!"

The spy returned home, covering the stinging and swollen half of his face, only to be noticed by his sharp-eyed child.

"Nothing... It's nothing," Inoue forced a smile uglier than a cry, pulling the child into his arms, "Dad... accidentally fell."

His gaze passed over the child's head, looking at the thin silhouette of his wife busying herself in the cramped kitchen, his eyes intensely struggling and flickering... ultimately, all complex emotions were completely swallowed by a cold determination, leaving only a stark indifference.

Haphazardly bandaging the strange, icy six-fingered handprint on his face, the spy changed his outfit and entered the bustling teahouse in South City as usual.

"Hey, Yu Er? What's happened to your face?" a familiar broker teased wryly.

"Oh! Don't mention it," the spy rubbed his cheek and replied vaguely, "Wind-fire toothache, hurting terribly!"

He waved his hand, seamlessly blending into the surrounding clamor.

Seemingly chatting idly, yet every word revolved around the "Divine Artifact" that had the entire city buzzing.

In ordinary times, such talk might reveal flaws.

But now, as the whole Capital is discussing this matter, asking a few more questions wouldn't draw attention.

Soon, he gathered quite a bit of information.

"The kiln workers around the Capital heard rumor that that 'iron monster' can replace hundreds of laborers! Many have gathered to discuss, fearing losing their ancestral livelihoods..."

"Rumor has it in the teahouse that strange red light appeared before the Academy's door, freezing cold, surely 'Demon Artifact absorbing yang energy'!"

"This morning the court was in uproar, the old Imperial Censor shouted to 'abolish Demon Artifact, restore sea ban!' Guess what happened? His official robes were stripped on the spot!"

"... On the black market, the bounty for the 'Divine Artifact' blueprints has risen frighteningly high!"

...

Listening to these gathered whispers, whether true or false, worried or fearful, even Inoue, who had been lurking for years, couldn't conceal a sense of confusion.

He personally felt this massive city, due to the creation named "Divine Artifact," was violently agitating and boiling from the inside out, as if a giant gunpowder barrel had been ignited.

As a deep-cover spy from Japan, he naturally understood the heavy pressure "Yu Yiyuan Serving the Coffin" bore on this mission.

After Toyotomi Hideyoshi unified Japan and pointed his sword at Korea, the Bunroku and Keichō wars left Korea teetering on the edge.

Meanwhile, the Great Xuan Dynasty is preoccupied with domestic affairs and, having only a mediocre relationship with Korea, ignored their pleas for aid.

The situation on the surface seems fine, but there are internal worries within Japan.

Originally Toyotomi Hideyoshi designated his nephew and adopted son, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, as heir.

But this year, he had another son, named Toyotomi Hideyori.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi became a stumbling block, but the "Five Elders" all stood on Hideyoshi's side.

Everyone knows a storm is brewing in Capital City.

If not handled well, it might stir up conflict again.

Yu Yiyuan Serving the Coffin is precisely a retainer of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's clan.

If they can retrieve the blueprints this time, there remains hope for succession...

Thinking of this, the spy stood up unhurriedly and, in the midst of noisy discussions, quietly left the teahouse, slipping into the more chaotic conditions of South City, conducive to hiding one's tracks.

This place is the last hiding spot for foreign merchants during the court's strict crackdown.

With his thorough understanding of the Three Religions and Nine Sects as well as the black and white worlds, Yu Er's keen eyes quickly caught much information:

Wrapped in head cloth, Persian merchants pretended to be picky about patterns at the porcelain shop's counter, their long fingers swiftly drawing the Academy's map with tea water in an inconspicuous corner...

A man dressed in Wala servant garb deliberately raised his voice buying meat in the noisy market, and in the gap when the vendor was chopping bones, swiftly whispered to a seemingly idle local rascal beside him, promising a sky-high bounty enough to drive people mad...

......

As the Japanese spy thought, the Capital was already awash with undercurrents.

On the court, Emperor Xiao Qixuan removed the official robes of several old ministers, and after leaving the court, rode away in his roaring, black-smoke-belching Dragon Carriage, thereby setting the tone for the matter.

There is no "Demon Artifact," only the auspicious "Divine Artifact."

The Sea Opening Sect was supportive, their interests lying overseas, originally supporters of Qiankun Academy, now upon hearing the "Divine Artifact" could propel large ships on long voyages, they further lent solid backing.

Everyone knows what this represents.

The most unfortunate are the Local Faction.

The Jinzhou Chamber of Commerce has already committed to building thoroughfares to help the court alleviate concerns.

Seemingly at a loss, but inns, teahouses, and wine shops along the way will be exclusively operated by them.

More crucially, the path and route of thoroughfares offer plenty room for maneuver.

No one noticed, numerous Five Dao General temples would also be concurrently built.

The Jinzhou Chamber of Commerce, engaged in banking business and connecting the nation, naturally has undeniable power.

Under its leadership, many merchants are aligning with the Academy.

Many of these are members of the Local Faction.

This faction, originally at odds with the Sea Opening Sect, shows signs of splitting...

...

Amidst all the chaos, Li Yan and his companions welcomed a rare peace.

The Academy held an opening ceremony but had yet to fill its enrollment, with the steam engine already secretly shipped away making entry difficult, the entire Academy remained tranquil.

Li Yan and others, seized the opportunity to busy themselves.

"This Arm Guard is indeed exquisite..."

In the Hundred Works Building, a middle-aged woman carefully inspected the Arm Guard "Thousand Thoughts."

"It's the craftsmanship of Chengdu's Luo Family, isn't it."

The woman spoke calmly: "Weaving heaven and earth in warp and weft is a good idea, but the technique is lacking."

Though her words were blunt, no one present refuted.

The reason was simple; she is the renowned "Wan Baicao."

She became the embroidery craftsman at Suzhou Weaving Bureau while young, inheritor of Cloud Brocade, even the Emperor's Imperial Robe, must be personally crafted by "Wan Baicao" for assurance.

"Is there a solution?" Li Yan hastily asked.

"Wan Baicao" pondered briefly, not answering directly, instead saying, "I've heard Young Hero Li is skilled in Thunder Technique?"

"Somewhat knowledgeable."

Li Yan responded modestly.

Wan Baicao was correct, not only does he know both the Yang Thunder and Yin Thunder techniques, his Duan Chen Blade can also be activated by Thunder Technique, with his strongest move, "Thunder God Transformation," greatly enhancing combat power.

"Young Hero Li is too modest."

"Wan Baicao" merely exchanged pleasantries before solemnly saying, "This Arm Guard, I have a way."

"I have independently created the 'Silk Thunder Pattern' method, which can weave Golden Thread into this Arm Guard, not only enhancing the Magic Artifact, but also augmenting potency when using Thunder Technique."

"I rely on your expert opinion."

Li Yan nodded, retrieving the five-sided chess piece from his pocket.

This is spoils left from the Five Directions slaying Ghost Emperor Xuan Mo.

The Treasure of the Sect of Yin Talisman Sect, refined by the renowned Zhang Jiao.

This item has significant history, originally refined by Zhang Jiao, eventually trading hands to Yin Talisman Sect.

Its flag's power Li Yan has witnessed, intending to use it as a vehicle for the "Five Directions Luo Feng Flag."

"This item is in your possession?"

"Wan Baicao" brightened up, speaking: "The refining experts of this treasure are adept, I can barely repair it, but you'll need to find Tao Fengchun to refurbish the flagpole...

...

Wang Daoxuan and Long Yan'er, consulted Ge Posheng in the Hundred Herbs Garden.

They are a Taoist and a Witch.

Observing a skilled Alchemist at work is a significant opportunity for them.

However, what further attracted them, were the numerous unfamiliar exotic flowers and rare herbs surrounding them.

Lv San was predictable; upon arriving at the Academy, he maintained his solitary demeanor, keeping to himself, shutting the door to others, spending days in his room, uninterested in interacting with outsiders.

And undoubtedly the busiest was Sha Lifei.

"Nurturing firearms with heartblood, biting tongue tip blood at 3 a.m and spraying on Talisman Wheel as equivalent to Sword Cultivator 'Blood Refining'..." 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Generals Zhao Huogong and Zhou Bainiao simultaneously scrutinized Sha Lifei's note on the "Mei Mountain Firearms Manual," their tone morphing from disdain to astonishment, "Did you come up with this?"

"Naturally." Sha Lifei wore a proud smile.

"It's quite challenging."

Zhao Huogong immediately stated: "The item can be manufactured, but whether it succeeds depends on you, at least I've never heard of training a gun like a flying sword."

"If it truly succeeds, you might become an ancestor of an entire lineage..."