"How come the sword market in Qingquan Mountain is full of weapons that are not useful?"

I discussed this problem with Hu Xiaoer all the way, but to no avail.

When I returned to the courtyard of the Zhuzhu Guest House, the sky had begun to show some fish belly white, and Hu Xiaoer and I were both wearing two big black circles, and we were really sleepy.

Walking into the hall, I happened to meet the melon lady who got up early to boil water, and her sleepy face suddenly brightened, and asked us: "How is it, the sword you want to fight has fallen?"

Hu Xiaoer yawned repeatedly, tears flashed in his eyes, and he really had no mouth to respond.

I shook my head at her, showing a slightly disappointed look, "I don't know why, I walked around the sword market a few times and didn't find a suitable master to play the sword." ”

She was stunned for a moment, the light between her eyebrows dimmed, and then she didn't ask any more questions, as if she was expecting.

Hu Xiaoer and I were about to go back to the room, but Aunt Gua, who stayed in place, caught up again, and asked Ai Ai: "You, you two, really want to fight, fight a good sword?"

Aunt Gua deliberately accentuated the word "good".

I didn't know why she was so obsessed with this issue, maybe it had something to do with her philanthropic personality, so I nodded and patiently explained to her: "Aunt Gua, I won't tell you, I am also entrusted by others. On his brother's half-hundredth birthday, he asked me to come here to fight a good sword as a birthday gift. My friend and his brother were both martial artists, so they naturally wanted a perfect sword to match. ”

After hearing this, she nodded one after another, as if she had realized something.

"That's natural, if people who practice martial arts come to fight swords, those that are placed in the sword market are really not suitable. I thought you two were young ladies from some family to play foil, but now you look like people in the rivers and lakes......"

Aunt Gua thought to herself, I glanced at Hu Xiaoer, and when I had many questions, I heard her continue: "Now in this sword market, there are fewer and fewer powerful masters, all of them are some fists and embroidered legs, how can they be cast into any peerless good swords? I know a master Mao, although his temper is a little weird, but his sword casting skills are first-class. Do you want to ......?"

Before she finished speaking, she could find me and Hu Xiaoer looking at her with big eyes, with a slight difference in the eyebrows. Aunt Gua covered her heart and took a few steps back, and said cautiously: "I, did I talk too much......

"No more, no more!" Hu Xiaoer was the first to react, with a touch of drowsiness, he jumped to the table in the hall, and poured out a bowl of herbal tea, "Aunt Gua might as well say more, why are there fewer and fewer powerful masters in the sword market?" Qingquan Mountain is famous for casting swords, and there are few good swords in the sword market, which really shouldn't be!"

"Yes, Aunt Gua," I helped Aunt Gua, whose face was uncertain, to sit down at the table, "Who is that Master Mao you are talking about? He lives in Qingquan Mountain, why don't you go to the sword market to set up a stall?"

Aunt Gua stroked her chest and drank the cup of herbal tea in one go, settled down, and thought for a while before saying to us: "Okay, since everything has been said and you have found the clues, then Aunt Gua might as well tell you everything." ”

She frowned slightly and lowered her voice a little, "But after all, this is related to the reputation of Qingquan Mountain, and few people outside know about it, so you have to ...... it."

"Aunt Gua, we understand!"

Hu Xiaoer and I also lowered the timbre and nodded very obediently.

Seeing this, Aunt Gua was relieved. She has always been hospitable, even when she talks about the secrets of Qingquan Mountain, she is in a subdued tone, "Let's not talk about Master Mao." I think you have also seen that not only is the sword market not as prosperous as before, but the sword-casting families under Qingquan Mountain have also increased from 100 households to more than a dozen households left today, and there are fewer powerful sword-casting masters, and it is difficult for good swords to be born over the years...... If you ask me how Qingquan became like this, I have to start from eighteen years ago. ”

She told that eighteen years ago, the new king was in power, rebuilding the three armies, and urgently needed a group of swordsmiths to cast weapons.

The royal family uses it all of the best. And within the four continents, it is the spirit of Qingquan Dijie, who dominates one side with a sword.

"Although Qingquan Mountain is close to the Central Plains, it has rarely been controlled by the imperial court because of its special geographical environment and the unique livelihood skills of craftsmen. Originally, there were rules for doing business here, but the new king was a little anxious, and ordered to hire a group of powerful craftsmen to go to the palace in the capital to cast weapons.

At that time, the holy decree was quickly passed down from the capital, and the writing was also beautiful, saying that the craftsmen who could be selected were all 'royal', and the palace specially set up Huaguanglou for the royal craftsmen to forge swords, and they could also move in with their families, and those who performed well and made significant contributions, the holy general was personally named the marquis, and the glory and wealth were inexhaustible.

Even if it is a great temptation, it is for the emperor. As the saying goes, a companion is like a tiger. Qingquan people are used to being free and loose, and they have to leave their hometowns, so most of them are reluctant to go. But after all, the emperor's order is difficult to do, and the new king is anxious, and on the third day of the holy decree, he secretly sent a team of people to secretly visit the situation of the hundred craftsmen in Qingquan Mountain.

On that day, everyone was defenseless, and as usual, the door was wide open, and it was clear at a glance what materials were used, what kind of craftsmanship they used, and whether the sword forged was good or bad. After a few hours, the best swordsmiths in these hundred families were clearly singled out. Later, it was time to sign a life and death certificate...... Even if everyone is reluctant in their hearts, they are helpless......"

Aunt Gua said that she stopped here and drank a bowl of herbal tea, and I took the opportunity to ask her, "The master Mao that the aunt said is also in it?"

She nodded, then immediately shook her head and said, "At first, it was inside......"

Next, Aunt Gua's tone of voice was not so relaxed, her brows furrowed deeper and deeper, and her face gradually darkened.

"Master Na Mao was not only selected, he is also the best swordsmith in Qingquan Mountain, his craftsmanship is superb, his own school, the good swords born in Qingquan in the early years are all cast for him.

We have a saying here, sword quality is like character, which refers to what kind of person casts what kind of sword. Master Mao can not only forge a peerless sword, but also have a first-class character. This treats people with humility and courtesy, and he is not stingy in the teaching of sword-forging skills, and he never hides his selfishness. Several of the craftsmen who were selected had been instructed by him, but even so, Master Mao's skills were unmatched in Qingquan Mountain......

Aunt Gua's next words were all praising the Master Mao over and over again, and there was a faint hint of admiration on her face, and Hu Xiaoer and I both heard it.

"Aunt Gua," Hu Xiaoer couldn't help but interrupt her, "Then what about later, did that Master Mao go to the capital with him?"

"Nope. ”

Aunt Gua's expression slowly returned to normal, and she said very calmly, "Later, Master Mao went crazy, as if he had changed into a different person." ”

"Ah——?h

Hu Xiaoer and I were both taken aback by such a dramatic change.