Mo Zi retorted sarcastically, “I don’t know the rules, but why didn’t you explain them earlier? You gave me three words—’draw a question’—how was I supposed to know what to do next? I’m not a roundworm in your belly.”

The man choked with anger. Though he didn’t know what a roundworm was, it sounded disgusting.

Min Yu laughed heartily, “Song’er, you should learn from Mo San.”

The man replied indignantly, “Learn his slick tongue? Be like some street hoodlum?” He looked at Mo Zi, thinking what a waste of such a refined, handsome face.

Mo Zi waved her hands repeatedly, “Old Master Min, you’re wrong. He shouldn’t learn from me. I see him following behind you, which means he must be your trusted man, naturally having you to shield him from wind and rain. When your name is mentioned, who would make things difficult for him? He can naturally maintain an air of calm indifference, everything coming effortlessly. Unlike people like us, who must win everything ourselves. If we’re not slick-tongued, we easily offend people; if we’re not like hoodlums, we can’t deal with others.”

Min Yu’s expression finally changed. Not from anger, but because Mo Zi’s words struck at the heart of the matter. This young man was Min Song, one of the most outstanding members of the Min family’s seventh generation, and his great-nephew. Risheng Shipyard was one of the most important businesses of the Min family’s Fozhen Hall, managed by him for many years. Now that he was advanced in age with no children or grandchildren, the ancestral home had sent Min Song. This young man’s carving skills were excellent, but he knew nothing about ships and was quite arrogant, looking down on this trade. After half a year, he maintained his young master airs, only learning management without studying shipbuilding, which worried him greatly. Shipbuilding was different from the family’s Fozhen Hall’s treasure-making and treasure-identifying—it wasn’t something where having skilled hands alone would make the ship seaworthy. He hadn’t expected this Brother Mo from Hongyu Cove to immediately expose his concerns. His sharp observation and swift counterattack made him look forward to these three trials with some anticipation.

“Song’er, give the slip Mo San drew to Master Wang and have him read it,” Min Yu said to his grandson.

Wang Cheng, a master craftsman from the Great Zhou capital’s imperial shipyard, would serve as impartial judge.

Though Min Song didn’t know why his grandfather wouldn’t let him announce the first trial’s content, he respected the old master’s words despite his disdain for shipbuilding. He handed the item to Wang Cheng and stood behind his grandfather, glaring at Mo Zi.

Mo Zi had no time to pay him any mind, focusing intently on hearing what Blade Mountain would test.

Wang Cheng opened it, first showing it to everyone. It was a rough ship diagram with some basic measurements—length, width, height, designated ship type, and so on.

He then read aloud, “Build a ship model according to the diagram. Wood materials may be freely chosen, but only blades may be used as tools. Time limit is three hours. Those who can complete at least one deck of cabins and sail on Ya River for one incense stick’s duration without sinking will pass Blade Mountain.”

The other requirements were manageable, but the time limit was extremely harsh. Mo Zi saw it was a river cargo-passenger dual-purpose vessel. Though not large, it had two deck levels. The ship diagram was extremely simple, providing no internal structure, yet the written requirements were very detailed. The first deck required a passageway, four cabin rooms, plus doors and windows. The second deck, besides the first deck’s structure, also needed a top railing. Though length, width, and height were provided, they were only general proportions. Additionally, it required a cargo capacity of two hundred dan, and the draft would affect the lower hold’s construction—all these had to be solved through experience. Mo Zi’s experience was sufficient to handle this; the key issue was only three hours—that is, six hours. In six hours, to carve raw wood into the ship’s various components, then assemble them, and at minimum build up from the bottom to the first deck—she had no confidence. Because among her five people, only she could use woodworking blade tools.

Mo Zi was already considering the most efficient approach when Min Yu said a few words that startled everyone present.

“Mo San, if you don’t mind, may I have Song’er lead four people from my Risheng to form a team, build the same ship model, and attempt this trial? I guarantee it won’t affect the judgment of your side.”

“Old Master?” Min Song was most shocked, his fair face full of incomprehension and disdain. “Our Risheng elite forces competing with these ignorant people—what’s the point? No need to compare, we’ll definitely win.”

“Song’er, didn’t you hear clearly? It’s not about competing with the Hongyu people, but about passing this Blade Mountain trial. These three trials have existed since the guild’s establishment, with ever-changing content, yet the essence remains the same. As the premier shipyard of the trade, Risheng has never once passed the three trials, yet we set high standards for others. I’m getting old, and so far I’ve never seen a shipyard pass all three trials. According to you, with so many capable people at Risheng, let me witness it before I close my eyes.” No one could fathom Min Yu’s thoughts.

“Old Master Min, these three trials are naturally easy for Risheng to pass,” said Zhen Luo, owner of Zhen Family Shipyard, with a smile.

Zeng Hai also hastily added flattery, “You speak too seriously, honored elder. The three trials are harsh for those fledgling newcomers with inflated egos, but for us, aren’t they just a piece of cake?”

Fang Ming from Yacheng Shipyard said coolly, “If it’s a piece of cake, why doesn’t Boss Zeng also form a team to try? The size of your belly determines how much rice you eat. Among our yards, only Risheng can pass all three trials consecutively. The rest of us should save our energy and have some self-awareness.”

Mo Zi thought to herself that among these three bosses, only Fang Ming was relatively honest.

Zeng Hai shot Fang Ming a sideways glance, wanting to say something, but was silenced by that suggestion to form a team and try. Other things aside, he had no confidence in passing even today’s first trial. Build a ship model in three hours? His yard’s best craftsman would need at least three days at the fastest.

“Song’er, you don’t have to accept this trial if you’re not confident,” Min Yu picked up his teacup and slowly took a sip, his expression leisurely.

Even Mo Zi could smell the smoke of provocation, let alone Min Song.

“Old Master, you’ve already spoken before everyone. If I don’t accept, wouldn’t it make people think Risheng is incompetent? Not only will I accept this trial, I’ll accept the other two as well.” He refused to believe he couldn’t outdo newcomers entering the trade.

“Excellent!” Min Yu’s face showed approval. “Truly worthy of being my Min family descendant.”

He turned to Mo Zi and asked again, “Mo San, it depends on whether you agree?”

Mo Zi thought to herself, this was their Risheng’s territory—they could do whatever they wanted. What could she say?

“Old Master, as long as it truly doesn’t affect the judgment, we naturally agree. However, please be lenient afterward, seniors, and don’t compare us to Risheng’s elite forces.” She could also witness just how skilled Risheng’s shipbuilding techniques were.

When Min Song heard Mo Zi speak, somehow it sounded wrong to his ears, feeling thick with mockery, “Naturally there’s no comparison. If it weren’t a trial but competing with our Risheng, don’t expect to win even one round.”

Mo Zi ignored him, bowing to Min Yu, “Old Master Min, I have a presumptuous request. Could the model-building area be sealed? Within the time limit, no one may disturb us. For Hongyu Shipyard to reopen, naturally it has its secret techniques. These techniques absolutely cannot be transmitted outside.”

Zeng Hai snorted through his nose, laughing coldly, “Tiny little Hongyu, a speck of a place—what mysteries are you pretending to have? Secret techniques? Only the Min family’s treasure-making techniques are untransmitted secret techniques. A few greenhorn brats—what secret techniques could you have!”

Chou Yu found Zeng Hai’s vulgarity very annoying and rudely cursed back, “Mind your own damn business!”

Min Yu intervened to calm the brewing commotion, agreeing to Mo Zi’s request, “Very well. Two rooms, both sealed, and we’ll see the results after three hours.”

Thus, teams were formed and rooms were cleared. Half an hour later, everything was ready.

Mo Zi and Min Song led two teams, standing before two adjacent rooms. Min Song’s team included Chang Ji, and three others Mo Zi didn’t recognize, but judging by their hands, all were accustomed to handling tools. She thought to herself that she had misjudged—she hadn’t expected Chang Ji, whom she’d thought was a minor figure, to actually be quite important.

Later, she learned that Chang Ji, just over thirty, had recently earned the title of master craftsman.

Mo Zi and her group entered the room, which had inner and outer sections. Food and water were placed on a table beneath the window wall, along with a large, wide worktable and sufficient wood. Most eye-catching was a wall of blade tools—various sizes, shapes, and purposes, newly sharpened, gleaming brightly.

Chou Yu exclaimed “Mother!” —this truly was Blade Mountain.

Fei Xia and Zan Jin checked the inner room and reported it had soft couches for resting.

Mo Zi squatted in a corner examining the wood—it was a relatively common type of cedar, with below-average buoyancy, thus suitable for building lightweight vessels. A dual-purpose cargo-passenger ship traveling rivers might have deep draft and easily run aground. However, this wasn’t the issue now—she needed to build the model according to the diagram.

During the previous half hour, she had already devised a method.

She spread out the blueprint and broke it down onto several other sheets. Thirty minutes.

She gathered the four people around and assigned tasks. They knew no woodworking, but were skilled with blades and swords, so her first diagram showed four basic interlocking board types, having each person handle one type and carve them for her. She would then perform secondary precision work, marking numbers on each board. Three and a half hours.

She demonstrated how to assemble step-by-step according to the numbers on the boards. She would complete the most difficult nailing and joining parts. After assembly, she would conduct final inspection. Two and a half hours.

The principle: combining model and puzzle assembly with assembly line operations.

Would it succeed?

Well—to be modest, it looked passable at a glance.

However, Chou Yu, Zan Jin, and the others were dumbfounded.

“Brother Mo, your handiwork is amazing. With the blade in your hand, the wood comes alive.” Chou Yu clicked his tongue in wonder. Carving the same boards, he struggled to cut one piece while she could cut seven or eight.

Fei Xia bent down staring at the ship model, “Brother Mo, why don’t the pieces fall apart?”

“Because they’re interlocking boards.” Plus wooden pegs—it couldn’t fall apart. Mo Zi had made ship models numbering not ten thousand but seven or eight thousand. Moreover, in her previous life, her favorite hobby was ship models, constantly breaking the entire military’s speed records.

“This trial is definitely passed,” said Shui She.

Zan Jin sat alone at the worktable, spinning a paper-thin small blade in his hand, continuing to practice carving wood.

Click—the door lock opened. Someone entered—it was Chen Zhi.

“Brother Mo, time is up. Please come out.” The guide—guiding all the way to the end.

Mo Zi carefully cradled the ship and walked out.

Chen Zhi had been somewhat casual at first, then his eyes widened, brilliant light within them, and he couldn’t help but exclaim—

“Fine ship.”