Chapter 66: The Three Heroes Display Their Divine Might

“Oh no, it’s on fire!” With a terrified shout, a figure burst out bare-chested, his body drenched in sweat as though just washed, his trousers soaked to the knees.

Li Dong glanced over and recognized the person as Luo Shixin, whose face was smeared in every imaginable color, looking utterly comical. Seeing he had escaped safely, Li Dong felt a surge of relief, but was worried—why hadn’t Qin Qiong and his father come out yet?

As he dashed out, Luo Shixin wielded his long spear. Spotting Li Dong unarmed and seeing the distant guards aiming their arrows at him, Luo Shixin threw himself in front of Li Dong.

He shouted defiantly, “You reckless fools! Daring to bully my second brother? Come at me if you dare! I, Luo Shixin, am not afraid of any of you!”

Gripping the spear tightly, he spun it in front of him at dizzying speed. The spear whirled faster and faster, like a windmill; soon, its shaft was blurred, a dark shadow before their eyes. Luo Shixin wielded his spear so fiercely that not a drop of rain or breath of wind could penetrate. The crowd felt the gusts rush against their faces, their garments fluttering wildly.

All the arrows shot by the guards were swept aside by the spinning spear, none piercing the wall of wind it created—no one could be harmed.

The fire atop the smithy raged ever fiercer, crackling like exploding beans. Tiles began to fall from the roof, and the danger mounted. Luo Shixin kept the guards at bay for now, but Qin and his son were still inside. Growing anxious, Li Dong gritted his teeth and leaped back into the burning smithy.

“Fire! Get out, quick!” he cried urgently.

Inside, father and son stood bare-shouldered, their clothes soaked through, flames flickering over them like golden statues in a temple. Qin’s father had spilled some blood, but looking at the materials in the furnace, he saw they needed a bit more. Glancing at his arm, the bleeding had stopped; he handed the short blade to Qin Qiong, commanding, “Just a bit more—give some blood!”

Qin Qiong took the blade and, without hesitation, sliced his palm. Blood gushed forth; he quickly let it drip into the furnace. Strangely, the flames, originally leaping three feet high, shrank as soon as Qin Qiong’s blood hit the materials, though the brightness inside the furnace far surpassed before.

Seeing this, Qin’s father finally smiled, a blossom opening on his aged face. Together, father and son poured the molten steel into the sword mold they had prepared. Amid a cacophony of hissing and crackling, steam billowed thickly, obscuring all within the smithy.

Li Dong was deeply moved by the scene.

Are there still people in this world who forge iron with such reckless devotion?

Are there still those willing to shed their blood for someone they’ve known less than three days, to fulfill his wish?

Are there still men who place loyalty and brotherhood above their own lives?

Yes—within the Qin family’s smithy stood two such men: Qin Qiong and Qin Ai.

The smithy was shrouded in mist; Li Dong was about to call out when suddenly, through the haze, a fire dragon appeared!

The dragon was about five feet long, bright red, its radiance piercing the dense steam and flooding the smithy and beyond. It was as if a miniature sun had burst forth inside, dazzling and brilliant.

As the dragon appeared, the clash outside between Luo Shixin and the guards abruptly ceased; perhaps they too were bewildered by the marvel unfolding within.

A clear voice rang out, “Catch!”

A wave of heat surged over Li Dong as the fire dragon leapt toward him. Seeing its path, Li Dong reached out and firmly seized one end. His hand felt a burning heat, and suddenly, a long sword appeared before him.

The blade was about five feet long, deep red, as though molten steel coursed within, ready to spill forth. From hilt to tip, it seemed alive with fire, its brilliance piercing the eyes.

Li Dong tapped the blade lightly, and it rang with a tiger’s roar and a dragon’s cry. Though long, its weight was perfect—neither too heavy nor too light. With a few swings, it felt weightless at first, then suddenly solid and fierce, brimming with fiery power.

“What a sword!” Li Dong couldn’t help but exclaim.

In no time, the steam dissipated from the smithy. Qin’s father, beaming, said, “Try the sword!” and tossed over a piece of scrap.

Li Dong raised the sword and struck—it made no sound, but the scrap split cleanly in two.

Qin Qiong was overjoyed, congratulating, “Congratulations, second brother! This sword is a treasure of heaven and earth, truly a rare find!”

Outside, Luo Shixin and the guards resumed their battle, the clash of weapons echoing.

Li Dong smiled in satisfaction, thanking, “My deepest gratitude to you both for forging such a masterpiece for me! Let me test its sharpness against the guards outside!” With that, he leapt out.

Brandishing his paired maces, Qin Qiong followed, and the three brothers stood side by side, youthful yet imposing.

The guards eyed them carefully; each held a dark, formidable weapon, but Li Dong’s sword was the most vibrant and radiant. Knowing these were freshly forged treasures, the guards shouted, “Kill them, seize the weapons, capture Qin Ai and Qin Ji Yang alive!”

The three exchanged glances, thinking: Our deaths matter little, but we must never let Qin’s father be captured alive! With that, they charged into the densest ranks of the guards.

Their weapons, newly forged, had never tasted battle. These twenty-odd guards were doomed, their heads offered up to these blades.

The guards wielded ordinary arms—any weapon touching Li Dong’s sword broke in two. A moment’s hesitation meant a kick or thrust to the body; clutching their wounds, they collapsed, never to rise again.

In the blink of an eye, the guards were all beaten down, lying on the ground and crying out in pain.

Li Dong intended only to defeat them, but Qin Qiong struck mercilessly, and Luo Shixin, with his immense strength, showed no restraint. Ten or more could not withstand their onslaught; a few kicks and blows, and they died on the spot.

Li Dong frowned slightly and said, “Why must you two be so ruthless?”

Qin Qiong put away his maces, still breathing steadily, and replied coldly, “Brother, you’re usually clear-minded—why falter now? These men saw our weapons and shouted to seize them. How could we let them live? If word spreads, we’ll bring endless trouble upon ourselves.”

Li Dong’s face reddened with shame. He sighed, “Ah! Even the most cautious can make mistakes. Your reasoning is sound—but now we’ve caused big trouble. The Inspector of Qi Province will never let us go easily.”

Qin’s father, Qin Ji Yang, appeared behind them, coughing lightly. “Well done! Kill them all—no survivors! Even so, the sword in Li Dong’s hand still lacks a crucial final step.”

Li Dong was shocked: The sword was already so mighty—what more could be missing?