Chapter 242 Blacksmith Ranks
The sudden unusual change caused a disturbance. Whether it was the cavaliers or the burly men from before, they were all casting strange looks at Ou Yangming. In particular, the sturdy men looked at the young fellow in confusion. The men initially thought Ou Yangming was a young man who was hurrying on with his journey. Although he carried a martial artist’s aura, they figured he was inexperienced and was new to the scene. Therefore, they marveled at Ou Yangming’s flick, which was not the least bit overbearing.
Honestly, even if the men had given their all, they could not have caused such an effect.
“Hmph, what presumptuous men! Take them down!”
A furious roar was suddenly heard coming from the convoy, then roughly ten men jumped down from their forces to surround Ou Yangming and the big men. It was evident that they regarded Ou Yangming and the big men as a group.
Ou Yangming sighed and was secretly angry because he felt wronged for encountering the unexpected misfortune.
Nonetheless, he was not going to flinch or escape since he had already made a move.
The few big men exchanged glances, and instead of backing away, they stood together. Just as a fight was about to break out, one of the carriages’ curtain was opened, and a middle-aged man walked out and asked in a deep voice, “What’s going on?”
‘Do you not know what happened? This is such a huge scene,’ Ou Yangming rolled his eyes and thought. However, his eyelids then twitched abruptly because he recognized the man.
It was Hu Yicheng, a senior officer from the Inspection Division. Back when Ou Yangming acquired the Military Fire, it was he who gave him the Military Fire Badge. Once Ou Yangming identified the man’s identity, he looked at the cavaliers and noticed two familiar faces too; they were protectors who had guarded the courtyard that day.
ere
The head cavalier dared not delay the matter, so he immediately approached the officer and reported softly, “Sir, a group of unruly men is causing trouble.” “Pfft! You’re the ones who are stirring up trouble, okay? Don’t throw mud at us!” The burly man yelled as he was infuriated. “First come, first served. If you’d like to snatch our spot, you should ask if our weapons agree!”
He drew a big saber from his back, and the people around him followed suit.
Ou Yangming frowned because he had a vague feeling that the men’s approach was off.
Nevertheless, they could not be blamed for being reckless. After all, they were cooling off at the gazebo but were suddenly driven off by someone else, so they needed to vent their anger.
“Do you know what this place is? The gazebo was renovated by the emperor for masters from the imperial court to take a rest! How are you qualified to occupy the building?” The head cavalier stated with a grim face.
The big men were stunned, but they were not fearful at all. Instead, they were even more dauntless when they faced the cavaliers.
When they showed how they would not hesitate to fight, the cavaliers were the ones who became wary.
“Forget it. Since it’s not a big conflict, this comes to an end.” Hu Yicheng frowned and looked at the leader among the big men. “I’ll only be using half of the gazebo, so you may stand down.”
The leader hesitated for a while and glanced at the cavaliers and the carriages. He scoffed and turned around to order, “Let’s go!”
As he waved his hand, the big men around him left together with him, and they soon went on the main road. Even so, the sharp-eyed Ou Yangming noticed that they were not resigned to the outcome.
He had a slight feeling that this was not the end of the conflict, but he would not say it out loud.
The head cavalier had a grave expression on his face when he watched the men leave. All of a sudden, one of the cavaliers shouted, “Sir, there’s another man here!”
“Young fella, who are you, and where did they come from?” The head leader’s eyes glowed, and he smiled hideously. He clenched his fists, causing the sound of bones being cracked to be heard. “Come clean, and you’ll suffer less!”
Ou Yangming furrowed his eyebrows. “I don’t know them.”
“Hmph! Nonsense, why were you with them if you don’t know them?”
“Like patches of drifting duckweed, we only met by chance. If you don’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do.” Ou Yangming was neither humble nor haughty when he spoke. “Hah, you’re full of excuses!” The head cavalier sneered. “Judging from their appearances, even if they’re not bandits, they’re definitely not good men. Since you were with them and even hurt one of our brothers…”
Ou Yangming cut him off. “Your brother whipped me with his lash. Am I only considered a good man if I let him hit me?”
The head cavalier was instantly lost for words, and he roared madly, “You’re a madman-take him down!”
He would not have been so domineering if the strong armed men were still around, but he no longer held back because Ou Yangming was the only one left. Seeing as the other cavaliers began to surround him, Ou Yangming curled his lips and said, “Sir Hu, if you’re going to let them be, don’t blame me if an accident happens later.”
The cavaliers were dumbfounded, and they could not help but stop.
Hu Yicheng had been watching quietly from the side, so he was struck dumb too, and he scanned Ou Yangming as he was puzzled. Even though they had met once, Ou Yangming was only a helper in the military back then. Now, he had been reborn, and become a totally different person.
Hu Yicheng pondered for some time but could not recall Ou Yangming’s background.
He asked with deep furrows in his eyebrows, “Young man, who are you” Ou Yangming did a fist salute. “I’m Ou Yangming, and you did me a favor in the past by giving me the Military Fire Badge.” Hu Yicheng’s eyes lit up when he finally remembered the young man. “Ou Yangming? You’re Ou Yangming from the Immense Forest Military Camp.”
Despite that, it was exactly because he remembered the young fellow that he was shocked.
As an inspector, he naturally could not stay in the Immense Forest Military Camp for long, and he had even left Changlong County long ago. Hence, he figured that the young fellow had died a graveless death for having offended the Zhang family.
When Hu Yicheng studied Ou Yangming from head to toe, he realized that the young fellow’s bearing was extremely different from when they first met. Based on the young man’s calm attitude when he confronted the cavaliers earlier, he deserved to be treated with different respect. Ou Yangming nodded. “That’s me. Greetings, Sir Hu.”
His fate was changed the second he received the Military Fire, so regardless of Hu Yicheng’s intentions, he was grateful.
If Hu Yicheng had not stuck to his views and simply pushed the boat along with the current by giving Zhang Hanyu the Military Fire Badge, Ou Yangming could not have accomplished what he did.
Hu Yicheng flashed a smile and asked, “Very well. Ou Yangming, have you incited the Military Fire and became a Military Fire Blacksmith?”
“Yes,” Ou Yangming answered seriously and added after a pause, “I’m able to come this far because of you.” “Don’t be so polite; I ought to do so,” Hu Yicheng laughed out loud, then looked at Ou Yangming and questioned, “Are you… An official Military Fire Blacksmith now?”
Ou Yangming smiled faintly. “I was already one long ago.” “Oh?” Hu Yicheng nodded with bright eyes and grinned. “I get it now; you’re heading to the capital to learn skills and to take an exam.”
“Learn skills and take an exam?” Ou Yangming was taken aback, and he could only smile bitterly.
“Sir Hu, you probably made a wrong guess.”
Another man walked out of a carriage; it was a middle-aged scholar with gentle eyes.
When he left his carriage, every cavalier took a step back and bowed at him. Hu Yicheng was surprised, “Brother Xu, what do you have to say?”.
The scholar whose surname was Xu responded with a smile, “The examination for Military Fire Blacksmiths is popular in the capital, but the Immense Forest Military Camp is too remote. According to my knowledge, none of the blacksmiths from the military camp has taken the assessment in the prefecture.”
Ou Yangming nodded. “Sir, you’re right. None of the blacksmiths in the Immense Forest Military Camp has attended the exam in the prefecture.”
Blacksmiths were separated into different ranks, by which those who could smith pieces of Common Grade equipment could become official blacksmiths.
That said, a blacksmith of that rank was only on the threshold of the trade.
Those who could smith pieces of Good Grade equipment were known as Rudimentary Blacksmiths; those who could smith pieces of High Grade equipment were known as Intermediate Blacksmiths; those who could smith pieces of Fine Grade equipment were known as Advanced Blacksmiths, but it was a rare status.
Being an Advanced Blacksmith was the greatest pursuit of most Military Fire Blacksmiths and Spiritual Fire Blacksmiths.
Nonetheless, there was another title above Advanced Blacksmith-Superior Blacksmith.
It was difficult to attain the title.
Other than having the ability to smith pieces of Fine Grade equipment in mass, one also needed to have a unique skill.
For instance, Old Craftsman’s Layering Art, the Ni family’s Suit Runes Technique, Embedding Art, Boring Skill, and so on. Those who could arrive at such a level were usually talents who would be roped in by different forces.
Needless to say, not all blacksmiths would strive for a title. It was true that having a title would be beneficial, but one would have to bear certain duties.
Blacksmiths who worked at remote military camps or core blacksmiths from influential families would usually keep their identities hidden, so they would not bother about getting a title. A great example would be Old Craftsman, who worked hard his whole life and had great skills, but he never went to take any exam to obtain a rank.
Ou Yangming was influenced by Old Craftsman, hence he was also not interested in it.
One could take the assessment in the prefecture too, but powerhouses who were aware of Ou Yangming’s ability never urged him to sit for the exam.
After all, Ou Yangming was someone who could smith magic tools. Why would anyone ask him to take part in an exam to become a Rudimentary Blacksmith or an official blacksmith?
Nobody would be thick-faced enough to say that.
However, Hu Yicheng and the other people present were clueless.
Sir Hu frowned and suggested, “Ou Yangming, if you’re based in the Immense Forest Military Camp forever, it won’t matter if you take the exam or not. Since you’re out now, you should go sit for the exam because it’ll be advantageous for you.”