Chapter 064: Lofty Ambition Forges Great Heights

Qin’s father brought out even more stone than before, throwing it all into the furnace. He then addressed Qin Qiong with a solemn tone, “Make a mold for a mace.”

Qin Qiong was puzzled; why hadn’t his father asked Li Dong what weapon he desired? Instead, he wanted to forge the very mace Qin Qiong had long yearned for. There was enough material—shouldn’t Li Dong get his turn first? Such secrecy could surely bring discredit.

From the stern expression on Qin’s father’s face, Li Dong sensed something was amiss. He wondered silently: Was Qin’s father dissatisfied with his third son’s long spear? Perhaps he wished to try his hand at forging a mace instead. If so, why not remelt and refine the spear to make it even more exquisite?

Just as he was mulling over these uncertainties, Luo Shixin strode in, cradling the long spear, his face beaming with delight. He loudly proclaimed, “I’ve finished polishing it!” He spun the spear twice, nearly knocking into other items in the forge.

After Luo’s meticulous polishing, the spear’s surface glistened darkly, as though it had just been soaked in oil and unwrapped—entirely new from tip to hilt.

Li Dong was about to tell him to take his antics outside when he saw Qin’s father pick up a palm-sized piece of scrap metal from the refuse pile and, without warning, toss it directly at Luo Shixin’s face.

“Take this!” Qin’s father shouted as he threw the scrap, warning Luo to be alert.

Luo quickly reversed the spear, pointing its tip forward, and thrust it fiercely at the incoming scrap.

With a muffled “thud,” the spear tip pierced the scrap metal cleanly, skewering it onto the shaft.

The four men examined it closely—the scrap was iron, yet the spear had impaled it as easily as threading a candied fruit onto a stick. The spear’s tip was remarkably sharp and its force extraordinary.

Luo stood the spear at his feet, grinning broadly. “What a weapon! There’s nothing in the world that could stand against it!”

Qin’s father shook his head gently and sighed, “Defeating a thousand foes would be no trouble. But as for the whole realm, it still falls short. Compared to ordinary weapons, though, it is truly exceptional.”

Qin Qiong nodded, knowing his father spoke truth. If it weren’t for Luo’s innate strength, piercing the iron might not have been so easy.

This display left Li Dong awe-struck. If the weapon was already so formidable, what heights could it reach if refined further? His admiration for the craftsmanship of the Qin family deepened.

Qin’s father said to Luo Shixin, “If you’re satisfied with the spear, set it aside for now—put all your strength into working the bellows. Let’s see what power comes from the next weapon!”

Luo carefully placed the spear in a corner, then bounded to the bellows like an eager pup, working them with renewed vigor.

For the pair of long maces, Qin’s father let no one else touch them, handling every step himself. He didn’t want another unsatisfactory weapon.

When he took the maces from the mold, he personally polished them at the sand pile.

He returned to the forge with a joyful face, barely containing his excitement. “This is a divine weapon!”

Li Dong inspected it—the mace gleamed with an oily sheen, as if it could reflect one’s image. Its shaft was as thick as an arm, about three feet long, with a groove every hand’s breadth. The grooves sparkled, as if lined with white paper, ready to burst forth.

Qin’s father smiled at Luo Shixin, “Bring your spear for a trial.”

Luo eagerly picked up the spear, standing before Qin’s father. “How should I test it?”

Qin’s father explained, instructing him to grip the spear tightly with both hands, plant his feet firmly, and raise it overhead.

Luo followed every instruction.

Qin’s father stepped back several feet, then rushed forward, leaping high and bringing both maces down upon the spear with all his might.

A deafening “BOOM!” erupted as the weapons collided.

Everyone felt their ears ring painfully, as if a tiger’s roar echoed from miles away.

“My! These maces are even better than my spear!” Luo exclaimed after enduring the blow, unmoved in stance, gazing at the maces in awe.

Li Dong and Qin Qiong agreed—the maces were indeed superior, their very sound attesting to their peerless quality.

Yet Qin’s father continued to shake his head.

He repeatedly examined the maces in his hands, scrutinizing them under the light from outside, clicking his tongue and murmuring, “What a pity! There’s still a layer missing—where did I go wrong?”

The three others were taken aback. The maces were already of the highest caliber; what could be lacking? If perfected, what greatness might they achieve? Their anticipation grew.

As the four men worried in the forge, Ye Jishan, the prefect of Qi County, received two confidential memorials in his office.

One was from Emperor Yang of Sui, stating that Shi Lang’s troops had risen in Zhangqiu but were swiftly defeated and routed by Li Dong and Zhang Xuduo. The emperor, delighted, instructed Ye Jishan to send two artists to paint portraits of Zhang Xuduo and Li Dong, dispatching them by fast rider to the Liaodong front so he could admire the heroes’ faces. The emperor urged haste.

This task was simple: Zhang Xuduo was training troops within Qi County and could be summoned within a day. Li Dong must be in Zhangqiu City; a directive to the local magistrate Lu Li’er would suffice.

The other memorial concerned a case from Dong’e County. A prominent household had suffered a massacre, their immense wealth vanished overnight.

At the scene, a weapon bearing the inscription “Qin Family Forge” was found. The Dong’e magistrate investigated thoroughly, learning there was only one such forge near West Gate Five Dragon Pool—the Qin Family Forge.

Upon seeing the “Qin Family Forge” inscription, Ye Jishan recalled an earlier report from the county constable, which also implicated the forge—a wealthy household robbed, and a similar weapon found at the scene.

The two reports were sent on different days, but the incidents occurred the same night. Dong’e was thousands of li from Qi County; unless someone from the Qin family had wings, how could two crimes happen so far apart in a single night?

Clearly, they couldn’t have personally committed both crimes, but their connection could not be dismissed. At the very least, they should know who wielded the weapon, or have close ties to the thieves. He decided to detain the forge’s members for questioning.

With this in mind, he summoned a constable, ordering him to arrest the Qin family near West Gate Five Dragon Pool. The constable gathered a squad of about twenty men and marched resolutely toward the West Gate.