Chapter 16: The "Tsundere Little Dog" Weapon Shop!
"Since you understand what you want, then go ahead and do it. Xiao Yi Xian and I will support you," Mr. Yao said seriously, looking Jiang Lin straight in the eye.
Xiao Yi Xian rolled her eyes at him. Though she didn't like being "spoken for" and left without a line of her own, she still nodded firmly and added:
"Mr. Yao is right. If you really have talent as a forgemaster, then give it your all! I'll be doing my best too!"
Under the setting sun, Jiang Lin turned back to the two of them and smiled warmly.
"Hehe, let's all do our best together."
Ever since Jiang Lin's "Dao-proving weapon," the Flameburst Armor-Cleaving Sword, was revealed, the residents of Qingshan Town had noticeably felt things quiet down—particularly around Wan Yao Pharmacy, where the sound of hammering had all but disappeared.
A year later, a small storefront opened next to Wan Yao Pharmacy. It sold finely crafted weapons from time to time—blades, spears, axes, halberds, helmets, armor, and more. The townsfolk, with a mix of teasing and affection, called it the "Tsundere Little Dog Weapon Shop." The weapons there weren't always superior in quality to those from other smithies, but they always looked cool. Stylish, modern, and eye-catching, the shop quickly became a hit among the younger generation in Qingshan Town.
However, the shopkeeper Jiang Lin was notoriously tsundere. He would randomly stock a few uniquely shaped, well-crafted weapons. Though technically unranked, they were sturdy enough to withstand attacks from Tier 1 or Tier 2 magic beasts.
"Well, well. I didn't expect you'd actually make something of yourself." Inside the Little Lin Weapon Shop, Mu Li—the arrogant vice leader of the Wolf Head Mercenary Corps—watched the boy and girl emerging from the backroom with a sour look. The boy dragged a crate filled with various metal goods, while the girl helped arrange them on shelves. Shop assistants also came over to lend a hand.
"You know him?" asked Jiang Lin, now noticeably more muscular, dressed in black, and eyeing the sour-faced Mu Li standing outside.
"Him? Never met him," Xiao Yi Xian replied with a faint glance, her face showing a hint of recollection before shaking her head and going back to organizing weapons.
"You—?! Kid! You don't even recognize your Grandpa Mu?!" Mu Li's face flushed with anger. Though he was addressing Jiang Lin, his eyes remained glued to Xiao Yi Xian, scanning her up and down shamelessly.
"If you're not here to buy weapons, then get the hell out of the way!" A booming voice came from outside. Several brawny mercenaries from another group had entered just in time to see Mu Li harassing Xiao Yi Xian again. Outraged, they shouted on the spot.
Seeing four or five large men glaring down at him, with even their Dou Qi flaring, Mu Li didn't dare say a word. He scurried away in defeat.
"Thank you, Uncle Wang, for helping me out," Xiao Yi Xian said sweetly to one of the mercenaries. He just laughed bashfully, asked about some items, bought a heavy sword, and left with his crew.
"That guy's so arrogant… Does his family even know?" Jiang Lin muttered from inside the shop, watching the mercenaries come and go.
"And another thing! This is clearly the Little Lin emblem I designed for my forgemaster brand. But you went around calling it a tsundere little dog, and now all the mercs are calling it that too! Nobody even listens to my explanation anymore!" Jiang Lin grumbled, annoyed.
What had started as a cute little qilin emblem had been misinterpreted by Xiao Yi Xian. He hadn't cared much—until now, when everyone else started calling it "that adorable little dog logo."
"Oh please. The people have spoken. Everyone thinks it looks like a puppy. You're the only one insisting it's a qilin. Who's really to blame?" Xiao Yi Xian rolled her eyes again. She had never seen anyone as petty as him.
"That Mu Li guy used to act normal. But ever since you showed up, he's been getting more and more unhinged." She went on to explain her observations about Mu Li.
Of course, Xiao Yi Xian knew full well what Mu Li wanted—he was after her beauty. At first, he thought of himself as the most eligible young bachelor in Qingshan Town. Among the local boys, he believed none could compare to him and that, in time, the Wolf Head Mercenary Corps would form a powerful alliance with Wan Yao Pharmacy.
But then Mr. Yao brought home Jiang Lin—the real young heartthrob. Now the entire town knew that Wan Yao Pharmacy housed a pair of stunningly attractive youths: a dashing young man often nicknamed "Little Handsome" in girls' private conversations, and a beautiful young woman who appeared in many boys' dreams as "Little Beauty."
With no hope of competing in looks, Mu Li gave up the act. Since he couldn't win in charm, he planned to use strength to intimidate "Little Handsome" into backing down.
"He's always trying to invite me hunting or out with his group," Xiao Yi Xian added, clearly disgusted. Mu Li didn't dare touch Jiang Lin directly, but his passive-aggressive needling knew no bounds.
Jiang Lin was seriously considering giving Mu Li a lesson… in physics.
Watching his expression change, Xiao Yi Xian smirked and offered, "Want me to teach him a lesson for you?"
"If you do it, that's just giving him what he wants. Forget it. I don't go out much anyway." Jiang Lin shrugged. At Dou Qi Stage 6, he could easily defeat Mu Li, who was only a 3-Star Fighter. If Mu Li dared fight him, he'd lose before he could finish a sentence.
But most people knew exactly when Jiang Lin had started cultivating. If he revealed his real strength too early, it would only cause unnecessary complications. Mr. Yao understood this, too—he never pressured Jiang Lin to test his Dou Qi on the monument.
Before reaching Dou Fighter rank, Dou Qi trainees had to test their energy with a stone tablet. No one could sense it unless he fought. As long as Jiang Lin didn't actively pick fights, no one in Qingshan Town—not even the Great Battle Masters—could know how strong he really was.
And once he became a true Fighter… Jiang Lin planned to forge an entire set of custom Dou Weapons. The moment he crossed that threshold, he'd be able to kill a Battle Master on the spot.
"I heard from Fu Bo that you're heading to Wu Tan City to 'buy supplies'?"
"Mm, we leave the day after tomorrow."
(END CHAPTER)
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