Chapter 113: A Bet for Land

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Zhou Shu didn’t know much about the history of Great Xia, but he understood what Yin Wuyou meant.

Recovering lost land, it was indeed easy for people to get zealous over.

“Great Wei wouldn’t be so kind, right? If we win, they will return the two prefectures to us. What if Great Xia loses?” Zhou Shu asked.

“Since it’s a bet, it’s naturally equal,” Yin Wuyou said calmly. “If the number one weapon in the Standard Armament Manual belongs to Great Wei, Great Xia will give two prefectures to Great Wei.”

Are they crazy? Zhou Shu wanted to curse. He seriously wanted to tell Emperor Yuan Feng that gambling was wrong and illegal!

“What if the weapon ranked first in the Standard Armament Manual belongs to neither Great Xia nor Great Wei?”

“That would count as Great Xia’s loss. But in that case, the stakes won’t be the two prefectures but the Forging Division’s secret weapon forging methods,” Yin Wuyou said solemnly.

“Grand Minister, what makes you think that Great Xia can win?” Zhou Shu said speechlessly. If Great Xia wants to recover the lost land, they can just fight for them.

Don’t you think that it’s too much of a joke to use betting?

Besides, what makes you think that Great Xia’s weapon can rank first in the Standard Armament Manual?

As long as they don’t rank first, they’ll lose? Why didn’t I realize before that Great Xia is so confident?

Furthermore, to use a mere standard weapon to decide such a major matter, are they serious?

“You!” Yin Wuyou looked straight at Zhou Shu without blinking.

Zhou Shu even suspected that she would fall in love with him the next moment…

“Don’t—” Zhou Shu took a step back and distanced himself from Yin Wuyou. Don’t try to seduce me! I won’t fall for this!

“Grand Minister, don’t say that. This has nothing to do with me.” Zhou Shu repeatedly shook his head. “I’m just a Forging Apprentice. At most, I’m a workshop superintendent and a ninth-rank official. This kind of national affair has nothing to do with me.”

“You are Great Xia’s number one Forging Apprentice. Shen Yue is also a Forging Apprentice,” Yin Wuyou said. “He came to challenge Great Xia. If you don’t step out, who will?”

“Great Xia’s number one Forging Apprentice?” Zhou Shu was dumbfounded. Since when did I have this title? Why don’t I know about it?

“Of course!” Yin Wuyou said with certainty. “To obtain the qualification to participate in Great Xia’s military parade as a Forging Apprentice is something that hasn’t happened in Great Xia for hundreds of years!

“Besides, with the Huben Saber, Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Saber, Horse Slaying Saber, Spring Embroidered Saber, and Autumn Anatidae Plume Saber, who else would dare to claim they are number one among Forging Apprentices? I feel that Shen Yue is far inferior to you!”

Yin Wuyou’s eyes sparkled as she spoke.

She actually looks like a little fangirl now? Zhou Shu was embarrassed by her words.

Am I really that good?

The number one Forging Apprentice of Great Xia doesn’t sound bad either.

His lips had just curled up when he shook his head firmly.

“Grand Minister, don’t try this with me,” Zhou Shu said firmly. “It’s fine if you want me to forge a weapon. But if you want to compete with someone else, you should find someone better.”

This bet was for Great Xia’s land. It was better to leave such exciting things to others.

It would be fine if he won. But if he lost, his reputation would go down the drain.

Although Zhou Shu didn’t think that he would lose, he felt that there was no need to take the risk.

With what the Forging Division was paying him as a superintendent of a small workshop, was it worth it?

“Among the Forging Division’s Forging Apprentices, is there anyone better than you?” Yin Wuyou asked.

Zhou Shu still shook his head. “Grand Minister, it’s useless to flatter me. Who knows how the Standard Armament Manual ranks standard weapons?”

Standard weapons were different from ranked weapons. Ranked weapons had strict rankings. It was a matter of which was stronger.

But the strength of standard weapons was subjective.

The swords used by cavalry were more lethal than those used by infantry. Did this mean that their swords were better?

Bows and arrows could attack from a distance, so they must be stronger than daggers?

All of this had to be included in the Standard Armament Manual.

The Heavenly Mountain Villa had their own set of algorithms for this matter. Although it could be considered fair, no one knew exactly how it was determined.

In the past, no one paid too much attention to the Standard Armament Manual. After all, standard weapons were not divine weapons. The difference in quality was not that big.

What everyone was more concerned about was the Ranked Armament Manual.

Therefore, in the past, which standard weapons ranked at the top and the bottom, no one would mind or take it seriously.

Who knew what went wrong with Great Wei this time? They were actually using this to bet!

“Since Shen Yue dares to propose that, he must have made some preparations. I don’t even know how the weapons in the Standard Armament Manual are ranked. Isn’t this making me take the blame? No way!” Zhou Shu firmly shook his head.

“You really won’t agree?” Yin Wuyou’s pretty face turned cold, and she took a step closer to Zhou Shu. She raised her head and puffed out her chest, her towering parts almost touching Zhou Shu.

Zhou Shu’s gaze drifted away. As he breathed in the pleasant scent of her body, his mind began to wander.

“No!” However, he still maintained his rationality.

“You have to do it no matter what!” Yin Wuyou suddenly reached out and grabbed Zhou Shu’s clothes with both hands. Her pretty face was almost stuck to Zhou Shu’s face as she bared her two little canine teeth and spoke fiercely.

Zhou Shu looked at the beautiful face that was so close to him. Her skin was as white as snow, and her veins were clearly visible. It was almost impossible to see any pores.

Zhou Shu felt his body heat up.

He carefully moved back and said, “Grand Minister, mind your status. It is improper for men and women to touch each other.

“Shouldn’t both parties be willing? There’s no use forcing me.”

“Tell me. What must I do for you to agree?” Yin Wuyou said angrily. “Don’t you want to help Great Xia win back the You and Bing prefectures at all?”

“Grand Minister, I look in the mirror every morning,” Zhou Shu said seriously.

“What, are you saying that you’re handsome?” Yin Wuyou snapped.

“Uh…” Although this is a fact, I’m not saying this!

“I know what I’m capable of! Recovering lost land is something great generals should do. Who am I? Am I capable of it?” Zhou Shu said.

“You weren’t in the past. Isn’t this your chance now?” Yin Wuyou earnestly advised.

Of course, she could directly give the order and even have Emperor Yuan Feng issue an imperial decree to order Zhou Shu to compete with Shen Yue.

However, forcing Zhou Shu to agree to something like this was definitely not as effective as getting him to agree.

“Zhou Shu, as long as you succeed, it’s not impossible for you to be conferred a rank of nobility and become a minister,” Yin Wuyou said.

“Conferred a rank of nobility and become a minister?” Zhou Shu shook his head. She’s starting to exaggerate.

The prerequisite to being conferred a rank of nobility and becoming a minister was to win.

What if he lost?

Why don’t you say that if I lose, the citizens of Great Xia will curse me to death?

That’s not all. Great Wei likes to draw up an assassination list. If I beat their genius, won’t they put my name in it?

When the time comes, there will be people trying to kill me from time to time. How will I live then?

“Grand Minister, I just want to say this. The Standard Armament Manual is about to be released. In such a short period of time, I won’t be able to develop any new weapons. If the weapons I forged previously can make it onto the rankings and luckily win against Shen Yue, so be it. But if they can’t, then I can’t do anything either. Anyway, I can’t specially forge a weapon to compete with him,” Zhou Shu said, not giving in.

Yin Wuyou frowned and said with a pleading voice, “That won’t do. This time, not only does Shen Yue want to get first place in the Standard Armament Manual, but he also wants to suppress Great Xia in every type of weapon. Sabers, spears, swords, halberds, all eighteen types of weapons, he wants to compete with the Great Xia’s Forging Apprentices one by one!”

“He’s so talented?” Zhou Shu was only a little surprised, but he didn’t really care. Knowing more didn’t mean that one understood more.

Someone had to be good if they knew how to forge all eighteen kinds of weapons?

If one didn’t master them, would one become a laughing stock?

Zhou Shu even suspected that this Shen fellow was still a Forging Apprentice now because he was too distracted.

Of course, he might really be a genius. He might have other plans for not advancing to Forging Master.

“Grand Minister, you’ve got the wrong person. I only know how to forge sabers…” Zhou Shu said.

There were no other weapons in the Legendary Armament Canon now.

“You are a genius. It should be easy for you to comprehend the forging techniques of other weapons once you manage to understand one!” Yin Wuyou said with certainty.

1

Zhou Shu was speechless. Princess, am I glowing in your eyes? Doesn’t that make me seem too heroic?

Shen Yue might be a real genius, but Zhou Shu was really not a genius…

Without the Legendary Armament Canon, his forging skills might not even be comparable to those of Zhang Yibei, Sixth Brother Wu, and the other veterans.

Zhou Shu had a deep understanding of his poor aptitude in his previous life.

Of course, with the Legendary Armament Canon, Zhou Shu wasn’t afraid of him.

“Grand Minister, in any case, the winner is decided by the ranking on the Standard Armament Manual. Is there any point in playing so many tricks?” Zhou Shu was speechless.

“If he can suppress the Forging Division with all eighteen types of weapons, Great Xia will lose without waiting for the Standard Armament Manual to be released!” Yin Wuyou said. “Furthermore, if we let him be too awe-inspiring in Great Xia, where would the dignity of Great Xia be?”

“Alright.” Zhou Shu shrugged. As long as you are happy.

“In that case, Grand Minister, you should go and find some apprentices who are good at forging these weapons instead of wasting your time with me.”

“Zhou Shu!” Yin Wuyou was enraged. A beauty was a beauty. Even if she was angry, she was still so beautiful…

“Do you have to go against me?”

How am I going against you? Zhou Shu was confused.

As it turned out, women could not be reasoned with.

“You’re mine now. If I ask you to do it, you have to do it!”

After saying this, Yin Wuyou turned around to leave. “Tomorrow, Shen Yue will come to the Forging Division’s workshops. If you don’t turn up, then just wait and see!”

She left angrily, leaving Zhou Shu speechless.

Aren’t you forcing someone to put a square peg into a round hole?

If you push me too hard, I—I will deliberately lose! Zhou Shu thought angrily.

It was only because he couldn’t bear to leave the Forging Division that a little girl could threaten him.

Then again, her threat didn’t seem all that threatening.

I won’t show my face. Just wait and see.

Will the emperor punish me for this?

This isn’t the responsibility of a workshop superintendent.

That’s right. He was no longer just a Forging Apprentice. He was a workshop superintendent!

In theory, he could even forgo forging standard weapons!

At this thought, he whistled. Little girl, you’re still too inexperienced to fight with me. I won’t show up tomorrow. What can you do?

He didn’t have the time to play with Shen Yue. If he had the time, he would rather forge a few more Autumn Anatidae Plume Saber.

There was no benefit in competing with Shen Yue!

Speaking of which, I wonder if the Huben Saber, Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Saber, Horse Slaying Saber, Spring Embroidered Saber, or Autumn Anatidae Plume Saber will be able to rank first.

A thought flashed across Zhou Shu’s mind, but he immediately tossed it aside.

He didn’t want his weapons to be ranked. He knew very well what kind of weapons he had forged. There was no need to obtain affirmation through other people’s rankings.

The emperor is unreliable as well. Putting everything else aside, with the Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Sabers and the Horse Slaying Sabers, the strength of Great Xia’s armies has definitely increased greatly. Isn’t it enough to recover the You and Bing prefectures directly? Is there a need to bet?

Zhou Shu didn’t know much about the state of this world. These were just his thoughts. Who knew what the exact situation was like?

Perhaps an ordinary army wouldn’t be able to determine the outcome of a battle.

In the past, Zhou Shu had thought that as long as an ordinary army had enough numbers, they would be able to crush powerful martial artists.

But after he met a true expert, his opinion wavered.

The top experts of this world were much stronger than he had imagined.

Therefore, things with the military might not be as simple as he thought.

Who cares? It has nothing to do with me anyway.

Zhou Shu turned his attention back to the Autumn Anatidae Plume Sabers. I’ve already forged ninety-three Autumn Anatidae Plume Sabers. With seven more, I’ll complete the task.

I’ll work harder and try to max it out tomorrow.

After the number of Autumn Anatidae Plume Sabers reached 100, a new page would appear in the Legendary Armament Canon.

He wondered if it would be a ranked weapon this time.

He had already forged quite a number of standard weapons. After witnessing the power of heaven-grade weapons last time, he was now looking forward to forging ranked weapons.

Weapons were similar to cultivators. Once they were ranked, it would be a brand new world.

But the forging process of ranked weapons required a lot of external conditions such as forging materials. These were all very expensive. The materials provided by the Forging Division were limited, and it was impossible for them to be consumed freely.

The four heaven-grade weapons he had obtained from Zhu Chuanfeng could be used as the starting capital for his own weapons.

It’s a pity I lost three of them. Otherwise…

Zhou Shu thought fiercely, It’s all because of that imperial preceptor! Why don’t I wait for Great Wei’s diplomatic mission team to leave and secretly beat him up? A country’s diplomatic mission team should be quite rich, right?

I just don’t know how much my cultivation can improve by the time they leave. If I can reach perfection in both the Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique and Golden Bell Shield Technique, I can give it a try.

Zhou Shu actually began to seriously consider this issue. He wasn’t interested in competing with Shen Yue, but he was very interested in robbing Great Wei’s diplomatic mission team!