The first light of dawn crept into the cramped room, painting the bare walls with a faint golden hue. Ye Chen opened his eyes, the resolve from the previous night still burning brightly in his chest.
He swung his legs over the edge of his rickety bed, the wooden frame creaking beneath his weight. The cold morning air bit at his skin, but he paid it no mind. Today was the day he would start changing his life.
After lighting a small fire, he cooked a bowl of watery gruel, adding a handful of wilted vegetable leaves scavenged from the market. It wasn't much, but it was enough to keep him going. He ate quickly, his mind already racing with plans.
The streets of People Lane were already bustling with activity. Vendors shouted to advertise their goods, children ran barefoot through the alleys, and laborers hauled goods to and from the market. In the midst of the noise and commotion, Ye Chen's destination stood out—a squat, smoke-stained building with a wide-open workshop.
Li's Blacksmith Shop.
The clang of hammers against metal echoed through the air as apprentices and blacksmiths worked tirelessly inside. The shop was the heart of People Lane, the only place where tools, horseshoes, and the occasional weapon were crafted.
As Ye Chen approached the entrance, the heat from the forge washed over him, and the acrid smell of molten iron filled his nose. He hesitated for a moment, adjusting his threadbare clothes, then stepped forward.
"Do you want to forge weapons?"
The voice startled him. A young man, covered in soot and sweat, stood by the doorway, his hands resting on his hips. It was clear he was an apprentice, though his confidence made him seem more authoritative.
"I'm here to join the shop as an apprentice," Ye Chen replied firmly, meeting the other man's gaze.
The apprentice raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms. "We're not hiring. No need for more hands. Go find work elsewhere."
Before Ye Chen could respond, the apprentice turned back toward the shop. Desperation gripped Ye Chen's heart, and he quickly shouted, "I don't need wages! I'll work for free!"
The apprentice froze mid-step, then turned slowly, a look of disbelief crossing his face. "What did you just say?"
"I'll work for free. I only ask for three meals a day, the simplest food. If I'm not good enough, you can fire me anytime," Ye Chen said, his voice steady despite the tension in his chest.
The commotion caught the attention of others in the workshop. Apprentices paused their work, their hammers stilled mid-swing, as they turned to see what was happening. Murmurs rippled through the crowd, some amused, others irritated.
Soon, a burly man emerged from the depths of the shop. His arms were thick with muscle, his hands calloused from years of forging, and his face was lined with age and experience. This was Li Han, one of the three blacksmiths who ran the shop.
"What's going on here?" Li Han's voice was deep and commanding, silencing the apprentices immediately.
The first apprentice gestured toward Ye Chen. "This guy says he wants to work for free."
Li Han's gaze swept over Ye Chen, taking in his thin frame and worn clothes. His brows furrowed slightly. "You're serious about this?"
Ye Chen nodded. "I am. No wages, just three meals a day. I'll do any work you assign me, and if I fail, you can send me away."
For a moment, Li Han said nothing. He stroked his chin, his eyes narrowing as he considered Ye Chen's offer. Finally, he grunted. "Three days. You get three days to prove yourself. If you're useless, you're out, even if you're free labor."
Ye Chen's heart soared. "Thank you! I won't let you down."
Li Han turned back to the workshop, shouting, "Stop gawking and get back to work!"
The apprentices returned to their tasks, though many shot Ye Chen hostile glances. It was clear that his offer had stirred resentment. For the apprentices, who toiled for meager wages, Ye Chen's willingness to work for free was a threat.
Ye Chen's first day at the blacksmith shop was grueling.
He was immediately assigned the most labor-intensive tasks—hauling heavy sacks of iron ore, stacking firewood, and sweeping the shop floor. The work was backbreaking, and sweat poured down his face as the hours dragged on.
But Ye Chen didn't complain. He threw himself into the tasks with determination, his mind focused on the opportunity he had been given.
During breaks, he stood at a distance, watching the other apprentices work. He paid close attention to the ones forging fine iron, noting their techniques and the rhythm of their movements. The sound of the hammers, the way the metal glowed under the forge's heat, the precise timing of each strike—all of it fascinated him.
Though he wasn't allowed near the forge yet, he knew that simply observing was valuable.
By the time night fell, Ye Chen was exhausted. His muscles ached, and his hands were blistered, but he felt a sense of accomplishment. After a simple dinner of porridge and bread provided by the shop, he returned home, dragging his tired body to his bed.
---
Lying on his worn mattress, Ye Chen summoned the data panel in his mind. The familiar golden glow appeared before him.
[Host: Ye Chen]
[Cultivation: None]
[Dao Fruit: Forging (Lv0, 2%)]
His eyes widened in excitement. "The experience value increased by 2%!"
It was a small gain, but it meant everything to him. Even though he hadn't directly forged anything, simply observing and being immersed in the blacksmithing environment had contributed to his growth.
"If I can gain 2% every day, I'll reach level 1 in just fifty days." A grin spread across his face as he imagined the possibilities. Once his Forging Dao Fruit reached the next level, he would have the skill and knowledge to forge fine iron—and from there, real weapons.
For the first time in a long while, Ye Chen felt hope for the future.
"This is only the beginning," he whispered.
As he closed his eyes, the ache in his body faded, replaced by the quiet hum of excitement. The road ahead would be hard, but with his Dao Fruit, he knew he could forge his own destiny.
The early morning sun barely pierced through the gray smog that perpetually hung over Red Night City, casting its light through the soot-streaked windows of Li Ji's Blacksmith Shop. The air smelled of coal, metal, and despair—a constant reminder that in this harsh, unforgiving world, only the strong survived.
Red Night City wasn't a place for the weak or naive. Danger lurked around every corner, and power dictated everything. For those like Ye Chen, at the bottom of the social ladder, survival was a daily struggle. People disappeared in the shadows of the Outer District all the time—victims of criminals, debt collectors, or worse. The city guard didn't care for the lives of commoners.
In this world, martial artists reigned supreme. Cultivators with their mystical powers and strength controlled wealth, resources, and even life itself. For those without talent, like Ye Chen, life was a battle against hunger, exploitation, and violence.
---
Ye Chen stood at the back of the gathered apprentices, his thin frame and tattered clothes blending into the group. Despite his growing muscles, he looked no more formidable than a starved stray dog. His time in Red Night City had taught him to mask his emotions and intentions, for any sign of weakness could invite danger.
"Many of you have been here long enough to learn the basics," Li Han said, his voice carrying the weight of authority. His scarred arms and steely gaze told the story of a man who had fought for every breath in this city. "It's time to prove your worth."
The announcement sent ripples of excitement and tension through the apprentices. This was their chance to escape the drudgery of hauling coal and scrap metal, but it was also a high-stakes gamble. Failure wasn't just humiliating—it could mean losing their place in the shop altogether.
Ye Chen knew the stakes. Li Han was not a man of charity. The blacksmith shop operated on thin margins, and apprentices who didn't contribute were quickly cast out. Those who were dismissed from a stable job like this often met grim fates in the Outer District.
One by one, the apprentices stepped forward to test their skills. The clang of hammers striking iron echoed through the shop, accompanied by curses and muttered prayers. For many, the task proved too difficult. Their strikes were either too weak or too erratic, resulting in flawed and useless iron.
A few managed to produce refined iron, but the results were crude at best. Even the successful ones received only gruff nods from Li Han, who was a perfectionist when it came to his craft.
Ye Chen watched closely, his sharp eyes noting every mistake and misstep. He had spent months observing the blacksmiths and apprentices, storing every detail in his mind. This was his moment.
When the last apprentice failed, Ye Chen stepped forward.
"Master Li Han, I'd like to give it a try," he said, his voice calm but firm.
Li Han's gaze fixed on him, skeptical. "You?" he said, his tone laced with doubt. "You've only been here a little over two month. Do you even know the basics of forging refined iron?"
"I do," Ye Chen replied. His eyes met Li Han's without wavering. "Please, give me a chance."
Li Han's eyes narrowed. "Fine. Everyone gets one chance. Let's see what you can do."
---
Ye Chen approached the forging table, feeling the weight of the apprentices' stares. Some looked at him with amusement, others with disdain.
He ignored them. Taking a deep breath, he picked up the hammer.
The first strike was awkward, the hammer glancing off the iron billet. A few apprentices chuckled, but Ye Chen didn't flinch. He adjusted his grip and stance, then struck again.
The second blow landed true, sending a shower of sparks into the air. Slowly but surely, a rhythm began to form. Each strike grew more confident, more precise.
One refinement.
The room grew quieter as the apprentices watched, their amusement giving way to surprise. Ye Chen worked methodically, quenching the iron after each refinement before returning it to the forge.
Three refinements.
His arms ached, and sweat dripped down his face, but he didn't stop. His movements, though tiring, were guided by the knowledge of his Forging Dao. He could feel the impurities leaving the iron with each strike, could sense the material transforming under his hands.
Four refinements.
By now, his muscles burned, and his breaths came in ragged gasps. He had the knowledge to go further, to create ten-level refined iron if he wished. But he chose to stop after five. There was no need to reveal the full extent of his abilities just yet.
Ye Chen stepped back, placing the hammer down. "It's done," he said.
Li Han approached, inspecting the iron closely. His sharp eyes missed nothing. After a long moment, he nodded. "Not bad," he said. "This is refined iron of acceptable quality. You've done well, Ye Chen."
The apprentices murmured among themselves. For someone with only a month of experience, this was an impressive achievement.
---
That night, as Ye Chen returned to his small, dilapidated home, he couldn't shake the sense of unease that had settled over him. Success in white Night City often came with its own set of dangers. Jealousy, sabotage, and betrayal were common.
Sitting on his rickety bed, he summoned the data panel in his mind.
[Host: Ye Chen]
[Cultivation: None]
[Dao Fruit: Forging (Lv1, 8%)]
The progress was slow, but it was progress nonetheless. He had taken his first step toward carving out a future for himself.
Yet, as he stared at the glowing text, he couldn't ignore the gnawing sense of urgency. The world outside the blacksmith shop was ruthless, and power was the only way to survive. He had a long road ahead, filled with dangers far greater than the jealousy of a few apprentices