"Demon Bear Douluo has arrived here…"
Her thoughts stilled for a breath, then clarity struck.
'That aide… he's not just Meyers' dog. He's one of the Twilight Hermit's hidden agents.'
Memories of Qian Renxue's calm voice echoed in her mind:
"Sister Wu Meng, you don't need to do anything. All the actors will appear on stage when the time comes. Your role is simply to complete the mission."
Wu Meng exhaled softly, folding the paper in her palm. With a faint motion, she crumpled it into dust and slipped it into her soul guide, erasing all trace. Her expression returned to serene calm, as though nothing had happened.
She turned toward Si Long, her voice light and composed.
"Why don't we meet your master after the auction ends?"
Her words snapped him out of his seething thoughts. Still glaring at the doorway where Meyers had vanished, Si Long blinked and turned back to Wu Meng.
"Ah… yes. Alright." He nodded firmly. "We'll go to Master's workshop as soon as it's over."
----
A fat old man, no taller than 1.6 meters, with a waistline that matched his height, stumbled out of the forging hall. His beard was a tangled mess of soot and sweat, his ears stuck out noticeably, and his small eyes seemed half-buried in wrinkles. His every movement radiated exhaustion, yet behind those cloudy pupils flickered the stubborn fire of obsession.
This was Lou Gao, acknowledged as one of the greatest blacksmith of this era.
At the moment, however, Lou Gao looked far from divine. His wide robes clung to his damp figure, sweat dripping down his brow as though the forge flames had followed him out.
Wu Meng silently observed him, her mind recalling her Qian Renxue's words:
"A man who has already climbed to the peak of his craft, yet still hungers to go further. His spirit burns brighter than the forge. Once he sees the words in this book, any doubts, anger, or suspicion will vanish. Desire will chain him faster than any oath."
She almost smirked. 'Truly, Young Master's insight is terrifying.'
Wu Meng and Si Long had attended the auction earlier. Nothing on display had felt worthwhile to her. When the event ended and dusk approached, she suggested waiting for Lou Gao in his office. Si Long had agreed, And so, this peculiar scene unfolded: the divine craftsman finally returning to his office, only to find his disciple waiting with a stranger.
Si Long rose hastily, his posture stiff with nerves.
"Teacher," he said, his voice caught between respect and unease. "This is Wu Meng. She… she has come a long way to meet you."
Lou Gao's expression darkened instantly. His small eyes darted to Wu Meng, suspicion written plainly on his face. He despised being interrupted, especially after a day of forging. Strangers who came bearing "opportunities" or "requests" usually wasted his time.
Before the old man could dismiss her, Wu Meng bowed slightly and spoke, her tone measured and unhurried:
"My Young Master has sent something to you. Something that will matter more than you realize."
She withdrew a thin notebook from her sleeve, the leather binding plain yet elegant, and placed it gently on the desk before Lou Gao.
The atmosphere in the room shifted.
Lou Gao frowned, reaching out reluctantly. He had already decided to skim a few lines and dismiss this bold intruder. Yet the moment his eyes touched the first page, his hands trembled.
The forge-scorched master craftsman who had seen countless blueprints, metals, and theories in his life suddenly forgot to breathe. His pupils widened, his chest rose and fell as though he were staring at a divine revelation.
His pupils shrank to the size of needles, his breathing turning ragged as though each page weighed upon his chest.
Wu Meng and Si Long were startled by such a reaction from Lou Gao. They had never seen the usually steady and unshakable old blacksmith lose composure like this.
While Wu Meng had brought the notebook, out of duty as the messenger she had not dared to open it. Still, as Lou Gao flipped through the pages, a few words drifted through her eyes—enough to ignite curiosity.
"Thousand Refining."
"Spirit Forging."
"Soul Forging."
"Thunder Tribulation."
Her eyes narrowed slightly. Even though she was no blacksmith, the very phrasing of those terms carried a weight of mystery and finality.
"Teacher."
Si Long's voice broke the strange atmosphere, pulling Lou Gao out of his reverie.
The old man forcefully closed the notebook, fingers trembling slightly. He pressed it against his chest, shutting away the brilliance that had nearly swallowed his soul. Taking several deep breaths, he steadied his expression, but his heart was anything but calm.
Sweat dripped from Lou Gao's forehead,
Wu Meng exchanged a knowing glance with Si Long, whose eyes were wide with disbelief.
"Teacher?" Si Long called out again hesitantly.
Suppressing the storm inside him, Lou Gao turned to his disciple.
"Si Long, have you completed the fifty-hammer forging I asked you to practice?"
Si Long straightened his back immediately, answering with confidence, "Yes, teacher. I have already done it."
Lou Gao's eyes flickered . "Then do a sixty-hammer forging on steel and show it to me."
The young man froze. His shoulders drooped. He instantly understood—this was an eviction order. His teacher did not want him around at this moment.
"Teacher, I—" He turned, as if to invite Wu Meng to see his foundry, but before he could finish—
"Hmph!"
Lou Gao's cold snort cut through the air like the strike of a hammer on iron. It was filled with irritation, not entirely at Si Long, but at the possibility of distraction in this crucial moment.
Si Long flinched, his face pale. Without daring to argue, he bowed and hurried out of the room, his footsteps echoing with frustration and confusion.