Immortal Travel of Longevity

The shop assistant firmly refused to sell it.

"You said it yourself, this sword isn't practical. You might as well sell it to me."

"Guest, to tell you the truth, it isn't practical, but it does showcase the superb craftsmanship of our Jiangbao Pavilion. Uncut jade forged into a sword—any sword lover who sees it marvels at it. How could we sell it?"

"Do you know who forged it?"

Yu Hongdou rejoiced inwardly and quickly pressed for more. He was incredibly curious about whose hands this sword had come from.

The assistant argued with him for a long time, but Yu Hongdou absolutely refused to leave. He insisted on having the sword, demanded to see the shopkeeper, and kept asking who had forged it.

Left with no choice, the assistant went to fetch the shopkeeper.

"I already told you we aren't selling it. Why must you persist, guest?"

"Let's negotiate a bit."

When the shopkeeper arrived, he first cupped his hands in greeting. Upon learning the situation, he smiled and said, "Please forgive us, guest. This sword is the anchor of our Jiangbao Pavilion. If we say we aren't selling it, we aren't selling it. You are welcome to look at our other swords."

"Then could you tell me who forged it? Could you introduce us?"

The shopkeeper opened his mouth, then waved it off. "Guest, that is a closely guarded secret. A closely guarded secret. Please do not ask any further."

Hearing this, Yu Hongdou finally understood.

This sword most likely hadn't been forged by their own people.

Otherwise, they wouldn't be so secretive about it.

"Never mind..."

Yu Hongdou said, "Shopkeeper, to tell you the truth, I really do love this sword. How about this? I am a swordsmith by trade and have achieved a little success. What if I forge two Treasure Swords right now and trade them for this one? Rest assured, the swords I forge will be entirely on par with it."

The shopkeeper froze, taken aback.

"I've never heard of a guest doing things this way."

"Just tell me if it's possible, shopkeeper."

The shopkeeper thought it over. Seeing how young the man was, he remained somewhat skeptical.

Yu Hongdou saw his hesitation and said, "I will stay nearby for two days and forge two swords. Once you see them, you can tell me if you are willing."

"This..."

The shopkeeper pondered for a moment before saying, "Then you can give it a try. But let me speak frankly—if the swords aren't up to standard, do not blame me for refusing."

"Of course."

Yu Hongdou stood up and said, "I will return in two days."

The shopkeeper saw him out.

The assistant asked, "Shopkeeper, do you really believe that kid can forge Treasure Swords?"

The shopkeeper patted his shoulder and said, "You can't judge a person by their appearance. Besides, since he put it like that, let him try. We won't lose anything either way. If he really has the skill, why not take advantage of it?"

"That's true."

The assistant didn't think highly of the young man.

He figured there was no way someone so young could possess such skill, so he put the matter out of his mind.

To his surprise, two days later, Yu Hongdou actually returned with two swords.

When the cloth wrapping them was unfolded, two Treasure Swords lay within.

The shopkeeper was immediately startled. He picked up the swords and examined them over and over.

Both blades were merely blanks, not yet fitted with hilts, but their edges radiated a biting sharpness. Even an ordinary person could tell that the craftsmanship of these swords was extraordinary.

The assistant stared in dumbfounded shock.

Yu Hongdou only asked one question: "How are they?"

The shopkeeper snapped back to his senses and hastily ordered, "Serve tea! Serve our best tea!"

The shopkeeper was a smart man.

He naturally knew that a person with such peerless skill absolutely could not be allowed to slip away.

"I haven't yet asked for your esteemed name?"

"My surname is Yu, Yu Hong..."

Yu Hongdou paused, coughed softly, and said, "Yu Hongjin."

Intent on winning him over, the shopkeeper immediately said, "To think that an expert of your young age possesses such craftsmanship—I am in awe. Please, put these two swords away."

"What do you mean? We aren't trading? Didn't I waste my energy then?"

"Not at all, not at all! With your level of skill alone, what harm is there in simply gifting that sword to you?"

The shopkeeper was smooth in his dealings, and Yu Hongdou knew he was trying to forge a good connection.

The shopkeeper understood perfectly. Since this person could casually produce such swords, he could certainly forge even better ones. The two swords before him represented only short-term profit; he needed to consider the long game.

Hearing that it was a free gift, Yu Hongdou was naturally overjoyed.

However, he didn't want to take advantage for nothing, so he left the two hiltless swords behind as well.

"As they say, it is impolite not to return a favor. You gifted me one sword, and I am gifting you two. It isn't a trade, merely a gift. Let me forge a good connection as well. How about it?"

"Excellent, excellent!"

Seeing how agreeable he was, the shopkeeper gladly accepted the two swords. Furthermore, he threw a banquet that evening to host Yu Hongdou, showering him with endless flattery.

Yu Hongdou had a few too many cups of wine and got completely drunk.

The shopkeeper handed him a Waist Token and said, "This is our Jiang Trading Firm Waist Token. Brother Yu, as you travel the world, if you ever encounter difficulties, just present this token at any Jiang family enterprise, and you will receive our assistance."

Taking advantage of his drunken state, the shopkeeper shoved it into his hands.

Yu Hongdou didn't even know how he accepted it; he was completely senseless at the time.

Having acquired such a fine sword, he was overflowing with joy.

When he sobered up the next day, he grasped the Green Jade Longsword in his hand, completely unable to put it down.

Stroking the blade, he smiled and said, "From now on, you'll follow me. I will absolutely never let your talents be buried. Hmm, I have to give you a good name. What should I call you..."

"I've got it!"

"I'll call you Jade Gentleness! How does Jade Gentleness sound?"

"Excellent, excellent, hahaha..."

Besides Flawless, he now had another Jade Sword at his side—an exceptionally beautiful Jade Sword.

Thanks to the Jiangbao Pavilion's shopkeeper, he also secured a temporary place to stay. It was a small courtyard, not very large, arranged by the shopkeeper. Because of the gifted swords, the shopkeeper felt he had gotten the better end of the deal and offered it to him.

But in truth, Yu Hongdou understood that while the two swords he forged were supposedly only a hair's breadth apart from Jade Gentleness, that hair's breadth was actually a difference of a thousand miles.

This actually made Yu Hongdou feel a bit embarrassed.

Later on, he simply forged a slightly better sword and gifted it to the shopkeeper.

With this back-and-forth exchange, a mutual bond was firmly established.

Because of these three gifted swords, Jiangbao Pavilion instantly shot to fame within the jianghu. One sword was kept to guard the pavilion, while the other two were bought by two jianghu persons.

"Of the two who bought those swords, one is a swordsman from the shores of the South Sea, known in the jianghu as Nanhai Qilang. He holds a massive reputation in the jianghu. The other sword was purchased by someone from the Nanbeilou, though it is unknown whose hands it ended up in."

"Is that so..."

Yu Hongdou asked, "Did they give them names?"

"Nanhai Qilang named his Cold Frost. As for the other, since we don't know who is using it, we don't know its name either."

"That is a good name."

Yu Hongdou wiped his sword, feeling relieved.

He had been afraid that the swords he forged would go unappreciated.

"Shopkeeper, I think I have to leave. Life here is too peaceful..."

"Is a peaceful life not good?"

"I still want to travel more and see more of the world."

The shopkeeper didn't want him to leave, but on second thought, how could someone with such skill be tied down to one place?

He asked, "Then will you ever return here?"

"Naturally!"

Yu Hongdou replied, "I have nowhere else to stay. Only this place counts as a home."

Hearing this, the shopkeeper paused for a moment, then burst into laughter.

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