Putting aside his identity as the son of Wen Changjing, the patriarch of the Wen family, Wen Jueyuan, as the leader of the young generation of the Wen family, had his own sense of pride.
At the age of nine, he entered the Songyun Sword Sect for cultivation and became a well-known figure among the students of the Songyun Academy, a young prodigy.
At the age of thirteen, he successfully became an Outer Sect disciple of the Qinghe Sword Sect.
In just four years, he was selected as an Inner Sect disciple of the Qinghe Sword Sect, ranking among the top.
By now, his cultivation had reached the fourth level of the Blood Moving Realm, the "Bone Refining" stage.
Such martial achievements were enough to make some important figures in Guangling City feel inferior!
A character like Wen Jueyuan would never bother to pay attention to Su Yi, a useless son-in-law.
Even Huang Qianjun, the arrogant and unruly young man, was beneath his notice.
"A pair of hooligans? What a fitting description!" Wen Shaobei and the others followed suit, laughing heartily.
With Wen Jueyuan backing them, they weren't afraid of Huang Qianjun even in front of the Huang family's swordsmith workshop.
"Wen Jueyuan, who are you cursing?" Huang Qianjun was furious, his eyes fierce.
"What? Did I say something wrong?" Wen Jueyuan's expression was cold. "In Guangling City, who doesn't know that you're a troublemaking dandy? Who doesn't know that Su Yi is a laughingstock as a son-in-law?"
"You..." Huang Qianjun's eyes turned red.
But Wen Jueyuan just smiled and said, "In half a month, the 'Dragon Gate Banquet' will begin. I will also participate. If you, Young Master Huang, have the ability, why not join us and let me see what you're capable of?"
As soon as these words were spoken, a commotion broke out nearby.
"It's over. Wen Jueyuan, a figure like him, is also going to participate in the Dragon Gate Banquet. Where does that leave us to make a name for ourselves?"
"Stop being discouraged. Let's perform well, as for the first place... only someone like Wen Jueyuan has the qualifications to compete for it."
The young men and women who were waiting in line to purchase weapons were in a commotion, discussing and speculating about Wen Jueyuan. They all had a feeling that the title of the first place in the Dragon Gate Banquet was likely to fall on Wen Jueyuan's head!
This showed just how high Wen Jueyuan's reputation was among the young generation in Guangling City.
This scene also made Wen Shaobei and the other young members of the Wen family feel proud. They stood tall and proud, basking in the glory.
Huang Qianjun's face turned pale, his expression constantly changing.
But before he could speak, Wen Jueyuan casually threw out a remark, "Stop talking nonsense. If you have the guts, meet me at the Dragon Gate Banquet!"
With that, he led the people from the Wen family and left.
As for Su Yi, he was completely ignored by Wen Jueyuan. He didn't even bother comparing himself with a useless person.
If he did, others would only laugh at Wen Jueyuan for bullying a useless son-in-law.
Moreover, what sense of achievement was there in bullying a son-in-law?
As he watched Wen Jueyuan and his group leave, Huang Qianjun clenched his fists tightly, lips pursed, his face turning an ugly shade of pale.
"Feeling uncomfortable, aren't you?" Su Yi glanced at this dandy young master.
Huang Qianjun took a deep breath and nodded.
Suddenly, as if realizing something, he looked astonished and asked, "Su, you... How do you feel? Aren't you angry at all?"
He was very confused. Back at the Ju Xian Tower, Su Yi easily defeated all the followers by his side. That kind of martial strength was far from ordinary!
Furthermore, the connections that Su Yi possessed were enough to make his father, Huang Yunchong, completely bow down in submission.
In this situation, how could Su Yi just let it go?
Su Yi casually said, "It's just the clamor of a small ant. If he could make me angry, I would have regarded him highly. But unfortunately, he's not worthy."
Huang Qianjun was stunned, clearly unable to comprehend.
Su Yi didn't bother to explain any further.
However, there was one thing he didn't mention: anyone who opposed him, no matter who they were, had a bad outcome.
This little incident quickly passed.
Inside the Forge.
In front of a blazing furnace.
Led by Huang Qianjun, Su Yi successfully met Wang Tianyang, the renowned swordsmith of Guangling City.
Wang Tianyang had sparse hair, almost bald, and a lean and sturdy figure. His skin was tanned, and he held a huge hammer, pounding a sword embryo that glowed red from the heat.
Sparks flew, illuminating the room.
"Old man, my friend is here. Could you do us a favor and help forge a sword?" Huang Qianjun stood on the side, bowing low with a smiling face.
However, Wang Tianyang ignored him and continued to hammer the sword embryo, making loud banging noises. The sparks almost landed on Huang Qianjun.
Embarrassed by being ignored, Huang Qianjun smiled awkwardly and whispered to Su Yi, "Su, this is just how Wang Laosi is. Please don't mind."
Su Yi replied, "Let him continue his work. Take me to see the iron materials required for sword forging."
Huang Qianjun quickly nodded.
The Forge naturally had various materials for forging weapons, including some rare and precious ones.
After looking through these materials, Su Yi fell into silence.
Even the precious materials for refining tools were mostly ordinary goods.
"Is Su not satisfied? This is already the best forge in Guangling City. If there isn't anything suitable here, perhaps we can only go to the Yunhe County City to find better ones," Huang Qianjun explained.
Su Yi neither agreed nor disagreed and said, "Prepare for me thirty catties of Qingguang Cold Iron, one catty of Chiyang Copper Powder, and five catties of Xuanbing Pure Water..."
He listed more than ten different materials.
Among them were both precious and common items.
Huang Qianjun took note of each item and instructed the servants of the forge to start preparing.
Meanwhile, he led Su Yi back along the same path and returned to the place where Wang Tianyang was refining his tools.
Wang Tianyang had finished his work and was now reclining in a wicker chair, with a servant standing beside him, attending to him with tea and water.
"Old man..." Huang Qianjun began, but Wang Tianyang interrupted him, saying, "I have already forged a sword today, and it has taken a great deal of energy. Come back in three days."
With that, he lifted the tea cup and leisurely sipped from it.
Huang Qianjun's face fluctuated between gloom and brightness. He had personally invited Su Yi!
But he was now being rejected on his own turf. Where could he possibly put his face?
Taking a deep breath, he said, "Old man, my father has said that anything concerning Su is to be dealt with as the first priority. You..."
Once again, Wang Tianyang interrupted, sounding displeased. "Then let your father forge the sword for him. I don't have time to cater to your so-called Su."
Even though he could clearly see Su Yi standing right there, his words showed no courtesy whatsoever. He didn't care in the slightest, even when Huang Qianjun mentioned Huang Yunchong. He had an exceptionally arrogant attitude.
"Young master, the materials for forging have been prepared."
At this moment, a group of servants approached, carrying a large box.
Upon seeing this, Wang Tianyang was the first to get angry and shouted, "Who told you to bring the materials here? I have been forging swords for half a month straight and planned to take a good rest and visit the brothel in the city. But you idiots had to go and find trouble for me! Take everything back!"
He was furious, rising from the wicker chair and throwing the tea cup in his hand.
"So the old man is in a hurry to go to the brothel..." Huang Qianjun suddenly understood. Given the robust physique of the old man and the frustration of holding back for half a month, he must be quite uncomfortable.
Suddenly, a daring thought occurred to Huang Qianjun. Should he offer the "Voucher" to the old man to relieve his urgent desires?
"Hold on."
Seeing the servants about to take the materials back, Su Yi spoke up, "I didn't intend to rely on others' help for this sword forging."
Both Huang Qianjun and Wang Tianyang were taken aback.
"May I borrow this furnace for my own use?" Su Yi's gaze turned towards the nearby furnace.
Huang Qianjun quickly said, "Of course, but... Su, are you planning to forge the sword yourself?"
Su Yi nodded, "Yes."
As a sword cultivator, only a sword crafted by one's own hands is most suitable and allows for the fullest expression of one's swordsmanship.
"Oh, so you're here to make trouble?" Wang Tianyang sneered, his eyes filled with disdain.
A young boy who had just stopped breastfeeding, planning to forge a sword in front of him—this challenge was too much.
"Old man, please don't misunderstand. There's no way Su would have such intentions. He only..." Huang Qianjun didn't know how to explain it in the end.
Beforehand, he truly had no idea that Su Yi had the intention of forging the sword himself.
Wang Tianyang, like a combative rooster, was stirred by his competitiveness and loudly declared, "No need for explanations! Since you've come here to provoke, how can Wang Tianyang not respond? If word gets out that I'm afraid of him, all the martial artists in Guangling City will think less of me!"
With that, he pointed to the nearby furnace and fixed his gaze on Su Yi, proudly saying, "You can use this furnace however you like. Do you need anything else? I will fulfill all your requests. If you have any abilities, show them to me!"
After a moment of consideration, Su Yi said, "The fire in the furnace isn't strong enough. How good are you at stoking the fire?"
Caught off guard by this request, Wang Tianyang couldn't help but be stunned. After a moment, he pointed at himself, wearing an incredulous expression, and said, "You... You want me to... stoke the fire?!"
The atmosphere suddenly became oppressive.
The servants present gasped, sensing that Wang Tianyang was getting angry.
Huang Qianjun became anxious and was about to speak to ease the tension when he saw Su Yi nod naturally and say, "Since you are the most skilled swordsmith in Guangling City, your control over the fire must also be the strongest. If you stoke the fire while I forge the sword, there should be no mishaps."
Huang Qianjun was dumbfounded. The renowned master swordsmith was being treated as a fire stoker by Su Yi... What kind of situation was this?
Looking at Wang Tianyang, whose chest was heaving and whose tanned cheeks had turned red, it was evident that he was thoroughly infuriated.
"Old man, please don't get angry," Huang Qianjun quickly reassured him.
Wang Tianyang clenched his teeth and waved his hand forcefully, "Get out of here! I've been forging swords for forty years and have seen all kinds of challenges. These petty provocations won't trouble me!"
"It's just stoking the fire, right? Fine, I agree!" he said, his gaze shifting towards the servants as he commanded, "Go and tell the swordsmiths in the workshop to stop their work and come here. Let them witness the abilities of this challenger who dared to come to my doorstep!"
Huang Qianjun inwardly sighed. Wang Tianyang was determined to escalate the situation!
However, when he saw Su Yi's calm and indifferent expression, something clicked in his mind, recalling the scenes from yesterday at the Apricot Yellow Medicine Hall when Su Yi revealed his profound knowledge of medicine.