The blacksmith slowly pushed himself up, still breathing heavily from the fight.
Only now, standing closer, did his presence become clearer. His arms were wrapped in worn but solid gauntlets scarred, dented yet crafted with remarkable precision.
Luo He's gaze lingered on them. Not the man. The work. "Interesting," Luo He murmured. He stepped closer, his eyes tracing every detail of the metalwork.
"These aren't ordinary," he said calmly. "Balanced. Reinforced at the joints yet flexible."
A faint smile appeared. "You forged these yourself?" The blacksmith stiffened. Then, without hesitation, he dropped to one knee. "Yes, my lord."
Luo He studied him for a moment longer.
"Where did you learn to forge like this?" he asked. "From your father, I assume."
The blacksmith lowered his head slightly.
"Yes." There was a brief silence. Then Luo He spoke again, his tone shifting slightly. "I am a grandmaster-level fighter," he said, as if stating something insignificant.
"I specialize in training those who seek to master their element." He gestured toward Jin Mulan. "This is my second disciple." Jin Mulan blinked. Her eyes widened slightly. "Second?" She hadn't even agreed but she said nothing.
The blacksmith looked up, clearly surprised. Luo He continued, as if it were already decided. Then his gaze sharpened. "Now why were you being hunted?" The blacksmith's expression darkened. His fists tightened.
"They work for a man named Oka my lord," he said slowly. "My father owed him money."
A pause.
"They killed him because he couldn't pay it on time." Jin Mulan's eyes narrowed. "They said now I must repay the debt," he continued. "It was originally thirteen gold coins." His jaw clenched.
"But now… they say it has become forty."
"Interest," Luo He said flatly. The blacksmith nodded bitterly. "I don't have that kind of money. So they kept coming, threatening, pushing." His voice hardened. "So I chose to fight." Silence settled for a moment.
Then Luo He smiled. "I like that answer."
The blacksmith looked up, slightly startled. "I can help you," Luo He said calmly. "Not just with this but with something far more valuable."
He stepped slightly to the side, placing a hand on Jin Mulan's shoulder. "This is your elder sister." Jin Mulan froze.
"What?" Luo He ignored her completely.
"She will help you repay your debt." The blacksmith's eyes widened in disbelief.
"And I," Luo He continued, his voice steady and confident, "can train you to master your element." A brief pause.
"So tell me," He looked directly into the blacksmith's eyes. "Are you willing to become my disciple?"
The question hung in the air. Heavy.
Tempting. Dangerous. The blacksmith hesitated. His mind clearly racing. Luo He turned away slightly. "You don't have to decide now," he said casually. "Think about it."
Then, without warning he grabbed Jin Mulan's wrist and pulled her aside.
"You will handle this," he said. She frowned. "Handle what?" "You will go to these men," Luo He said, his tone now firm. "Take fifty gold coins. Pay the debt."
"Fifty?" she repeated. "If they accept it and release him," Luo He continued, "then it ends there."
A pause.
"But !" His eyes darkened slightly. "If they demand more" Jin Mulan's expression sharpened. "then they are not just people," he finished. Silence.
"And if they refuse to let him go?" she asked. Luo He met her gaze directly.
"Then don't show mercy." The words landed cold and clear. "Cut them down," he added calmly. "It will be good for your training."
Jin Mulan's breath slowed. "Being a mother," Luo He continued, "has softened you." A faint smirk appeared.
"Your killing instinct has dulled." Her eyes flickered. That hit. "Don't worry," he added. "If you get into trouble"
He paused.
Then finished without emotion "I won't help you." Jin Mulan looked at him sharply. "This is your mission," he said.
A brief silence passed.
Then his smirk turned sharper. Almost wicked. "And try provoking their leader as much as you can. It's a side quest." "What?" she frowned. "If I feel you aren't doing it well enough," Luo He said casually, "I might step in."
A pause.
"To anger him properly." He leaned slightly closer. "You know how good I am at that." Jin Mulan exhaled slowly. Half annoyed. Half fired up. "Fine," she said.
Luo He nodded, satisfied.
He returned to the carriage, reaching inside and pulling out a heavy pouch. The faint clink of gold echoed as he tossed it to her. "Fifty." Jin Mulan caught it. Without another word the two of them set off.
Behind them, the guards remained.
Watching. Waiting. And ahead a simple debt was about to turn into something far more dangerous.
The road ahead was quiet. Too quiet.
Jin Mulan walked forward, the pouch of gold tied at her side. Luo He followed a few steps behind, hands behind his back, completely at ease as if they were taking a stroll, not walking into trouble.
"Remember," he said lazily, "you're not here to negotiate nicely." Jin Mulan didn't look back. "I know."
They didn't have to search long. A rundown courtyard, half-hidden behind broken walls and rusted iron tools. Laughter echoed from inside loud, crude, careless. "Found them," Luo He said softly.
Then he stopped. "I'll stay here."
Jin Mulan stepped forward alone.
As she entered, the noise died down.
Several men turned toward her, eyes immediately locking onto her presence.
Then grins spread. "Well, well," one of them sneered. "What do we have here?"
Another leaned forward, eyeing her boldly. "You lost, girl?" Jin Mulan didn't react.
Her gaze swept across them calmly until it stopped on the one sitting at the center.
The leader. She walked forward. Steady. Unhurried. Then stopped a few steps away.
"I'm here to settle a debt," she said.
The leader raised a brow. "Oh?"
She untied the pouch and tossed it forward. It landed with a heavy clink.
"Fifty gold coins, To settle the debt of the blacksmith you teoubled yesterday." She said. "More than enough to cover what's owed." Silence.
Then laughter. The leader leaned back, clearly amused. "Fifty?" he repeated. "That was forty yesterday." He leaned forward slightly, eyes narrowing. "But today it's sixty."
Jin Mulan's eyes hardened slightly.
"Take it," she said coldly. "And release him." The leader kicked the pouch aside.
Coins spilled across the dirt. "I don't think so." The air shifted. A very brief pause.
A flicker.
Jin Mulan's fingers tightened. Just slightly. A thought passed through her mind. Walk away? No. Her expression went still. "Then you've made your choice," she said quietly. The men laughed again. One stepped forward.
"Or what?"
Jin Mulan stepped forward, flames lightly beginning to stir in her hand "Wait." Luo He moved first.
In a blur, he crossed the distance and dropped to one knee in front of the group.
The sudden shift stunned everyone.
Even Jin Mulan froze. "My lord," Luo He said calmly, bowing his head. "Please forgive my wife. She acted out of impulse."
His tone was steady controlled, almost sincere. "She is still learning restraint."
Oka narrowed his eyes, studying him.
Luo He continued without hesitation.
"I will compensate you. Sixty gold coins.
I ask only that you release my cousin from his debt."
A pause.
The tension lingered. Then Oka smirked faintly. "Sixty?" "Yes," Luo He replied immediately. After a moment, Oka gestured slightly. The pressure eased.
"Very well," he said. "The man goes free."
But Oka raised a hand again.
"However," he added coldly, "your interruption cost us time and patience."
His eyes sharpened. "Add another hundred gold coins for damages."
Jin Mulan's expression darkened instantly.
But Luo He spoke first. "Agreed."
A flicker of surprise passed through Oka's face. He hadn't expected such quick acceptance. Luo He straightened slowly. "Give me one day," he said. "I will bring the gold." Oka studied him for a long moment. Then nodded once.
"Very well."
The pressure in the air eased further.
The confrontation defused.
For now. Jin Mulan stepped closer, voice low. "We're just leaving like this?"
Luo He didn't look at her immediately.
Instead, he turned slightly toward Oka.
Then smiled. Just faintly.
"She's surprisingly difficult to travel with," he said lightly, as if making casual conversation.
A pause.
"My lord I will keep her as a Collateral untill I fully pay back." Oka seeing the hot figure of Jin Mulan readyly agreed. Luo he looked at him and winked saying "she is really good at keeping company."
He turned toward Jin Mulan. His hand landed briefly on her shoulder. Firm. "Stay with these men my love," he said calmly. Jin Mulan hesitated. Then followed suit.
As Luo He walked away, he didn't look back. But his voice dropped just enough for her to hear. "Don't draw your blade until they push you right to your limit."
Even before Luo he moved a man came forwards and slapped her in the ass. "Nice a..." He didn't finish. Jin Mulan moved. A sharp step forward. A clean strike. He dropped dead instantly.
Silent.