After Zhong Peng left the underground market, he went straight to the blacksmith's shop to get himself a weapon.
After his fight today he realized that he needs to get himself a weapon to prepare for the cloud gathering.
As Zhong Peng entered the blacksmith's shop, he was greeted by the sound of clanging metal and the smell of burning coal.
The blacksmith, a burly man with a thick beard, was hammering away at a piece of molten iron, shaping it into the form of a sword.
"Welcome, young man," the blacksmith said, wiping the sweat off his forehead. "What can I do for you?"
"I need a weapon," Zhong Peng said, eyeing the weapons hanging on the walls to his disappointment there was no gauntlet there
The blacksmith seeing the disappointment on Zhong Peng's face said "We have a wide range of weapons to choose from, swords, spears, axes, you name it and you get it "
Zhong Peng scanned the weapons on display after a while he turned towards the blacksmith.
" I am looking for a gauntlet, a spiked gauntlet," Zhong Peng said.
" I don't make gauntlets, not many people use gauntlets to fight, but I happened to come across a spiked gauntlet a week ago," he said.
He led Zhong towards a corner of the store, where Zhong Peng saw weapons of different styles and shapes, the blacksmith pulled out a box lying carelessly on the corner, there was a golden-colored gauntlet, and there was a dragon carved on it.
"This one," the blacksmith said handing the gauntlet over to Zhong Peng.
Zhong Peng examined the gauntlet and nodded. "Excellent, this is exactly what I want."
When Zhong Peng wore the gauntlet on his right hand and struck his fist out he felt that the strength of his punch has been amplified.
Zhong Peng paid for the gauntlet and left the blacksmith's shop, feeling satisfied with his purchase. He knew that the Cloud Contest would be a tough competition, and he needed a weapon that would help him with the contest.
Over the next few days, Zhong Peng trained rigorously, honing his skills and perfecting his techniques. He meditated for hours, focusing his mind and cultivating his inner energy.
*******************
As the day of the Cloud Contest approached, Zhong Peng made his way to the cloud city where the competition was to be held. The city was bustling with activity, with martial cultivators from all over the Zheng great-kingdom converging on the city to compete in the contest.
The cloud gathering will start in a week, Zhong Peng decided to go there earlier to familiarize himself with the environment before the cloud gathering begin.
Zhong Peng checked into a nearby inn and spent the rest of the day preparing himself for the contest. He practiced his fighting skills and meditated.
The next day, Zhong Peng made his way to the Duan clan, he agreed to meet Duan Xue a week before the cloud gathering.
Zhong Peng stood before a massive gate, it was the Duan clan, as he made his way towards the Duan clan he was stopped by a guard.
" Who are you and what is your intention of coming to the Duan clan," he noticed that they wore the same armor as the man who pushed him the day he arrived at the Zheng great kingdom.
" My name is Zhong Peng I am here to see Duan Xue," Zhong Peng said handing over the token given to him by Duan Xue.
One of the guards took the token after confirming that it was real he let Zhong Peng to a courtyard inside the Duan clan.
" Wait here, I will inform her of your arrival," the guard said as he left to call Duan Xue.
Zhong Peng looked around, the courtyard was very big, and there were many statues around the corner of the courtyard, Zhong Peng figured out that it might be the statue of their ancestors.
As he was observing the status he heard footsteps behind him, he turned to see Duan Xue walking in.
She was with Shen Hong and another person whom Zhong Peng recognized as the person he saw with him on the golden rose on the third floor the day he fought with Shen Hong.
As he looked towards Shen Hong he noticed that he was giving him an unfriendly look, if looks could kill Zhong Peng would have been dead long ago.
" I see you finally came, " Duan Xue said as she walked toward Zhong Peng.
" Were you expecting me not to come?" Zhong Peng asked.
" No, I knew would come, but if you haven't it would have given him a reason to tear you apart, " Duan Xue said pointing towards Shen Hong.
When Zhong Peng looked towards Shen Hong, he noticed that his eye has never left him since they arrived, and they were not a friendly look, without needing anyone to tell him he knew that if given an opportunity he would surely tear him apart.