Casting immortality in the furnace

Chapter 20 Waxing Moon

At night, the full moon was slightly waning, its light obscured by clouds.

Fan Zhou led Liu Ergou through the market.

The market town is completely different now than when he first arrived.

The wide road is paved with gravel, and the houses along the way rise and fall, with warm lights dotting the landscape. Through the paper windows, you can see the figures of people talking and laughing.

Nearly a hundred people live here, making this remote mountain area much more lively.

Fan Zhou carried a lantern and walked all the way to a two-story restaurant.

Two large red lanterns hung under the eaves of the restaurant, illuminating the three gilded characters on the signboard: Yingchunlou (Welcoming Spring Restaurant).

This is the name Hou Yi gave to his restaurant.

Fan Zhou and Liu Ergou went inside together.

"You've finally arrived! We've been waiting for you for so long!" Guan Qingyun waved to them.

Hou Yi also laughed and said, "If we don't come soon, all the good wine and food will be eaten by us first."

There was only one table set up in the restaurant, and all the people seated there were Fan Zhou's earliest acquaintances.

"Sorry, I was delayed a bit on the way." Fan Zhou smiled as he extinguished the lantern and led Liu Ergou to sit down.

Zhang Yu poured them wine and, laughing, started to joke:

"You two are late, you have to drink three bowls of wine as punishment!"

"Haha, no big deal!" Fan Zhou laughed nonchalantly.

"Wouldn't that mean he got the better deal?" Hou Yi picked up his wine bowl and said to the crowd.

"Let's have a drink together first!"

"good!"

Everyone raised their bowls and drank heartily, and the atmosphere quickly became lively.

As they talked about the hard work they had done in clearing the land, comparing the calluses and scars they had accumulated while working, they all missed the leisurely days at the beginning.

"We'll recruit another batch of handyman disciples next spring, and then we'll have more people."

Hou Yi's face was flushed from drinking, but his eyes were very bright.

"It's still a long way off," Guan Qingyun said disappointedly.

"It'll be quick, just a matter of two months," Hou Yi comforted him.

Zhang Yu replied, "It won't take that long. I heard from Steward Hu that the manpower will be reorganized in the first month of the lunar calendar. At that time, you will only need to take care of your own affairs."

Wu Xiu smiled and said, "It was cold then, and there wasn't much to do at the tea plantation, so it would be much more relaxing if we went there ourselves."

Guan Qingyun looked on with envy, then sighed for himself:

"I heard from Steward Wang that the charcoal yard gets even busier during the first month of the lunar calendar!"

Everyone laughed.

Zhang Yu suggested, "Why don't you come work at the tea plantation with us?"

Guan Qingyun was somewhat tempted, but still shook his head:

"Forget it, I've already spoken with Deacon Wang. He even promised to teach me internal energy cultivation techniques after I break through to the third level of fetal breathing."

"Isn't this fine too?" Wu Xiu comforted her.

Guan Qingyun could only nod. In fact, he felt that working at the charcoal yard was quite tiring, but he was too embarrassed to say so.

He looked at Fan Zhou, who had been busy eating and hadn't said much:

"A-Zhou, what are your plans for the future? I heard you say before that you wanted to become an apprentice at the weapon forging workshop."

Fan Zhou shook his head slightly, "Currently, I plan to work under Deacon Tian."

"I thought you were really planning to go to the weapon forging workshop. It's good that you gave up sooner rather than later," Guan Qingyun said with a smile.

Zhang Yu patted Fan Zhou on the shoulder and agreed:

"Work hard and steadily, at least there's something to look forward to."

Wu Xiu gently comforted her, "There's nothing wrong with following Steward Tian. I think he likes you quite a bit, so he'll definitely be willing to teach you."

Fan Zhou nodded, "Deacon Tian has indeed taught me a lot."

"So, Brother Liu... has he decided what he wants to do?" Guan Qingyun asked politely after considering his options.

Liu Ergou now knew they were talking to him. But when asked what he wanted, he didn't know, and could only say sheepishly:

"I follow Fan Zhou; I do whatever he does."

"You're going to work as a spiritual farmer too?" Guan Qingyun asked in surprise.

"Didn't the other deacons come to see you?" Zhang Yu asked curiously.

Liu Ergou looked puzzled. "Why are they looking for me?"

Zhang Yu opened his mouth, but in the end, he didn't say anything.

He and Guan Qingyun exchanged a glance and both secretly shook their heads.

What a waste of that nine-inch-eight-point spiritual root! If only it were mine, but it was given to an idiot!

Wu Xiu kindly asked Liu Ergou, "Would you like to come work at the tea plantation? Steward Hu seems like a nice guy."

Liu Ergou shook his head and repeated, "I follow Fan Zhou, I do whatever he does."

Seeing this, Wu Xiu had no choice but to give up.

Hou Yi joked, "A-Zhou, Xiao Liu is such a good friend of yours, it wouldn't be right for you not to have a drink with him."

Unlike the others, Hou Yi knew that Fan Zhou and Liu Ergou were learning swordsmanship from Huang Yi, and he also knew that Huang Yi treated Liu Ergou differently, and that his future achievements would likely be the best among those present.

He encouraged Fan Zhou to drink with Liu Ergou, hoping that Fan Zhou could get along well with Liu Ergou and perhaps gain some favor in the future.

Knowing that he meant well, Fan Zhou drank a bowl with Liu Ergou and then a bowl with Hou Yi.

The drinking lasted for almost an hour. Guan Qingyun was unhappy and drunk, staggering as he walked. Zhang Yu had to help him back first.

Wu Xiu originally intended to stay and help Hou Yi pack up, but he refused, saying that he could hand it over to someone else tomorrow.

"Master Hou, thank you so much for your help tonight."

Wu Xiu thanked him and took his leave.

Fan Zhou was about to take Liu Ergou home when Hou Yi stopped him.

"Ah Zhou, are you really planning to become a spiritual farmer?"

Fan Zhou smiled. "No, I've already decided to go to the weapon forging workshop."

Hou Yi raised an eyebrow, but he wasn't surprised. He simply said:

"That's not easy; getting into the forging workshop is very difficult."

Fan Zhou remained calm. "Master Hou, I believe that with my efforts, I can definitely do it."

Hou Yi smiled and said, "It's good that you have the intention. If you really can't do it, then come and learn to cook with me."

"Haha, no problem!"

Fan Zhou nodded in agreement and left with Liu Ergou.

Halfway there, Liu Ergou suddenly said:

"If you're going to the weapon forging workshop, then I'm going too!"

Instead of discouraging him, Fan Zhou smiled and said, "Then let's work hard together!"

Liu Ergou nodded vigorously, "Okay."

The two returned to their dwelling to rest.

Before going to sleep, Fan Zhou glanced at the Heavenly Crafting Furnace inside his body. There were still seven days left until the Ten Styles Sword was completed.

…………

When I woke up, it was December 1st.

It's payday again.

Fan Zhou felt that receiving a salary at the beginning of the month was a good thing, as it filled people with anticipation for the new month.

He received two spirit sands and three essence-nourishing pills this month.

With the addition of the one grain of spirit sand he saved last month, he now has savings of three grains of spirit sand.

He didn't plan to use the money yet because Tian Youliang had told him that there would be many expenses in the future, and it was the right thing to do to save more money while there were no expenses now.

After receiving her wages, Han Jiangyue assigned the task for the month: to cultivate terraced fields.

After a period of logging and quarrying, a lot of wasteland has been cleared on the surrounding mountains. Their task is to reclaim this wasteland and turn it into terraced fields that can be used for planting.

It's hard work, but it's better than smashing rocks.

So Fan Zhou once again threw himself into his daily work.

Until the day of the heavy snow.

That is, the night of December 7th.

The bright moon is like a mirror, shining its light in all directions.

Fan Zhou stood alone in his usual sword-practicing spot, holding his wooden sword and waiting quietly.

Until one moment, a line of small, burning crimson characters appeared before his eyes:

[The Ten Styles Sword is complete!]