To them, a woman was like a stain on their reputation. If Mingyi were to wear the sky-blue misty rain robe, would they expect the noble families in the city to dismount and pay respects to a woman? That would be absurd.
The group of students, having calmed down from their excitement about having a Forgemaster, frowned as they looked at Mingyi. They regretted her female identity but truly coveted her skills.
Qin Shangwu rubbed the patterns on his robe, quite troubled, and remained silent for a while.
Mingyi, however, was frank. She waved her hand and said, “Although I can’t enter the Yuan Shi Academy, I can still forge divine weapons. Whether I sell to Sun Liao or the Yuan Shi Academy, it’s all the same. As long as you can afford it, I can forge any divine weapon you want.”
Her words were both arrogant and carefree, which amused Qin Shangwu. “If I want something even more powerful than the divine weapon of Chaoyang City’s heir, can you forge it?”
“I can, but it’s expensive,” Mingyi said, clasping her hands behind her back. “Forging requires a vast amount of Yuan Power and mental energy. I’ll state the prices upfront: ordinary divine weapons range from one thousand to five thousand, exquisite divine weapons are twenty thousand, and top-grade ones are one hundred thousand. As for the kind you just mentioned, more powerful than Chaoyang City’s, it’s five hundred thousand, non-negotiable.”
Divine weapons were consumables that needed to be updated every few years. Although these prices were fair, participating in the Six Cities Conference with such expenses would be too costly.
Qin Shangwu looked troubled. “Let me think about it.”
“There’s a second option,” Mingyi held up two fingers. “If Mustar City’s flying beast carriages can take me and my friends to other cities at any time, I’ll charge only one-fifth of the price for all divine weapons, and maintenance will be free.”
The students exclaimed in surprise, and Qin Shangwu was delighted. “Excellent! We have flying beast carriages for the Six Cities Conference in the inner courtyard of our main city. You can use them.”
Buying a carriage was far too expensive and could easily expose one’s whereabouts. Maintaining divine beasts was also very troublesome. Using their beast carriages would not only conceal their tracks from Shan Er’s detection but also save them other troubles.
Mingyi nodded with satisfaction, and Qin Shangwu was equally pleased. He cheerfully pointed to the courtyard nearby and said, “With your skills, it’s not safe for you to live outside. Here, no one can harm you, and you can do as you please.”
Ji Bozai had just arrived and heard these words. He pursed his lips and looked at Mingyi.
Earlier at the Sun family residence, her attitude had softened, showing signs of willingness to return to his mansion. Surely, she wouldn’t change her mind so quickly…
“Alright,” Mingyi agreed with a smile. “I’ll go to the Situ Mansion to bring my friend, and then we’ll settle here. But regarding food and daily necessities—”
“The same as other students,” Qin Shangwu said with a wave of his hand.
Ji Bozai’s face darkened.
Mingyi happily left to fetch her friend. Qin Shangwu turned around, full of joy, only to see his beloved disciple standing behind him with a gloomy expression.
Startled, he looked him up and down. “What’s wrong?”
“Why keep her at the Yuan Shi Academy?” His voice was low. “It’s hot in summer and cold in winter here, far less comfortable than my mansion.”
“But it’s safe here, isn’t it?”
“She’s a woman. There are so many men here; it’s not appropriate.”
“But it’s safe here…”
“She’s not familiar with this place at all.”
“But it’s safe here!”
A vein throbbed on Ji Bozai’s temple as he grew annoyed. “Master, can you say something else?”
Qin Shangwu patted his shoulder. “Everyone who can participate in the Six Cities Conference must be heavily protected by Mustar City. Your Yuan Power is strong, so you fear nothing, which is why I allow you to live at home. Mingyi is a woman with no relatives here, so staying at the Yuan Shi Academy is best for her.”
“Your mansion is comfortable, but you might grow tired and abandon her. The Yuan Shi Academy won’t. As long as she can forge weapons, the Academy will support her for life.”
Ji Bozai was speechless.
The logic made sense, but why did those words sound so irritating? Who said he would abandon her? He was just… angry for a moment.
Speaking of which, he still hadn’t explained to Mingyi why he had driven her out of his mansion. But seeing how happy she looked earlier, it seemed she wouldn’t return with him anyway. Her behavior at the Sun residence was probably just an act.
Feigning nonchalance, Ji Bozai shrugged. “If that’s the case, I won’t worry about it anymore. I was only concerned about her out of fear of the Grand Judge’s reproach.”
Qin Shangwu glanced at him and said thoughtfully, “That’s good. You have heavy responsibilities and shouldn’t be distracted by romance. Since you usually live at home and we have a new addition to the Yuan Shi Academy, we’ll give up your courtyard. Let Luo Jiaoyang move in there.”
Ji Bozai remained silent, walking alongside Qin Shangwu for a while before speaking. “Luo Jiaoyang is lazy. If he lives alone in a courtyard with no one to watch over him, his practice will become lax. It’s better to let him continue living with Chu He.”
In the distance, Luo Jiaoyang sneezed.
He rubbed his nose in confusion, looked back, and then continued walking beside Mingyi. “I want my divine weapon to be red. It looks good.”
As Mingyi left to return to the Situ Mansion under his escort, she replied, “Red is commonly used in Chaoyang City. Deep blue is more suitable for Mustar City.”
“I didn’t know there were such considerations,” Luo Jiaoyang scratched his head and then smiled. “But at least we finally have a Forgemaster. The old man Weng in the inner courtyard was too old. It took half a year to forge a divine weapon; I couldn’t wait that long.”
It was understandable that Mustar City couldn’t cultivate a Forgemaster, as it required a vast amount of wealth.
Understanding was one thing, but while she would make money, she wouldn’t help them cultivate Forgemasters. After all, she was from Chaoyang City. Chaoyang had failed her, but she never intended to help others destroy it. It was still the city she had built up with her own hands.
She didn’t have much time left to live anyway. Taking money from Mustar City and helping them enter the top three cities would be enough. After that, she couldn’t care about much else.
Humming a tune, Mingyi returned to the Situ Mansion to pick up Xiuyun.
Situ Ling had already returned from the Judicial Hall, his face full of joy as he welcomed her. With his sharp canine teeth showing, he smiled, “Thank you, Sister, for your help. The villain Sun has received his just deserts, and Official Qian has kept his position.”
As he spoke, he stepped aside to clear a path and pointed to the dining table in the hall. “We’ve prepared a big feast for you, Sister. It was just brought back from Hua Biezhi.”
Mingyi’s eyes lit up, and she hurried over to look. The table was laden with a rich variety of dishes, including rare delicacies from land and sea. It was clear they had spared no expense.
Xiuyun sat down beside her and smiled. “I’ve packed up everything from the courtyard. The young master said this meal is to see us off.”
“Thank you,” Mingyi said.
Situ Ling took a seat, swinging his legs. “Although the Yuan Shi Academy is an extremely safe place, not everyone there is easy to get along with. I may not be able to help you in the future, Sister, so please take care of yourself.”
Previously, at the Yuan Shi Academy in Chaoyang City, she had been a top-tier fighter, and no one dared to provoke her, so her days had been quite peaceful. Now, not only was she a Forgemaster, but she was also a woman. She would inevitably face some difficulties.