Chapter 768: Chapter 765: Journey to the Huang Family
Deng Shulan waved her hand dismissively: "No problem! Older folks don’t sleep much. How would you design it? Explain your thought process to me first."
"I, I brought the blueprint!" Ji Dantong nervously took out the wrinkled design from her pocket and respectfully handed it over, feeling somewhat anxious as she recalled her conversation with Sun Miaohan last time.
Luckily, Deng Shulan didn’t say much, only commented: "First of all, this drawing is quite mediocre. Although there aren’t any major flaws in the design concept, some details seem to me to be mere surface decoration without substance."
Ji Dantong’s expression grew serious: "Please, Master Uncle, enlighten me!"
"The phoenix on the sword guard, the patterns on the blade, including the sword tassel."
Deng Shulan immediately pointed out three issues, saying: "You young people always like to pursue flashy things without realizing that sometimes, the more splendid the appearance, the more it deceives your eyes!"
Upon hearing these seemingly reflective words, Ji Dantong’s mind automatically conjured up the legends about Deng Shulan, so she asked, "Does Master Uncle think forging this way isn’t acceptable?"
"That depends on you. I can only offer some advice!"
Confident in her own skills, Deng Shulan casually placed the blueprint on the table and said, "You just need to figure out one question: do you want a piece of art or a weapon? If it’s the former, then it doesn’t matter. If it’s the latter, I suggest you skip the flashy decorations!"
It must be said that Deng Shulan’s words inevitably caused Ji Dantong some hesitation. After all, she was a master in the field, and taking her advice would certainly make the weapon more powerful!
But on the other hand, Ji Dantong truly didn’t want to make any changes from the bottom of her heart. Even if Deng Shulan described it as superficial, she was willing to accept it joyfully!
"I’ve decided!"
After a slight hesitation, Ji Dantong said firmly, "Please, Master Uncle, help me forge it according to the blueprint I provided!"
"You..." Deng Shulan was momentarily speechless, only managing to say after a while, "You young people, huh!"
"Alright, this time I’ll make an exception and forge it for you."
Deng Shulan saw that Ji Dantong wouldn’t change her mind, so she reluctantly agreed but still complained, "If it weren’t for your grandmaster speaking up this time, I wouldn’t agree to such an unreasonable request from you."
"Thank you..." Ji Dantong immediately placed down the Proud Snow Evil Shadow Bamboo and thanked her.
However, Deng Shulan interrupted her, "Don’t rush to thank me. I agreed to forge the weapon for you, but you must agree to one thing!"
Ji Dantong frowned slightly but still said, "Please, Master Uncle, tell me!"
"Once I’ve forged it, you can’t tell others it’s my work!" Deng Shulan said very seriously, "This is my only requirement. If you agree, I will start forging for you immediately."
Ji Dantong chuckled bitterly, realizing this was the request, and agreed without hesitation, "Okay, I agree!"
The two parties promptly agreed, thus sealing the deal.
But Deng Shulan could not have imagined that the blade she looked down upon for its flashy design would one day showcase an astonishing power!
——
After a day of preparation, Xiao Tian had a general plan in mind and then said, "Huang Feizhong!"
Outside the door, Huang Feizhong, who was leaning against the wall and dozing, was startled awake and quickly responded, "Yes!"
"Inform the Huang Family people that I will personally send them back. Let them arrange vehicles for pickup."
Xiao Tian’s words made Huang Feizhong feel troubled, as the person who suffered the most stress over the short day wasn’t the two abducted brothers but rather him, the intermediary.
However, Huang Feizhong dared not disobey Xiao Tian’s order and immediately called Huang Feihu.
"It’s you again?!" Huang Feihu said directly, "This time, spare me any ’don’t get excited after hearing this’ nonsense. Just say what you have to say without any beating around the bush."
Huang Feizhong was blocked from his prepared introduction by Huang Feihu, so he quickly said, "The Hunter says he will personally return the two young masters, and you should arrange for vehicles to pick them up."
"Alright, I understand!" Huang Feihu really didn’t want to waste words with this Huang Family young master, who always brought bad news, and directly hung up.
In less than five minutes after the call ended, a vehicle sent by the Huang Family stopped outside the hotel entrance.
Xiao Tian fed a soybean-sized pill to both Huang Xiadi and Huang Shangtian, and coldly said, "If you don’t want to die, you’d better behave. I bet you wouldn’t want to know what I’ve given you."
Upon hearing this, Huang Xiadi and Huang Shangtian nodded quickly and obediently, swallowing back the questions about the pill’s nature.
After untying the two, Xiao Tian didn’t bother with the Flying Tiger Institute experts scattered about the room but led the two brothers and Lin Bingxuan out of the hotel.
As soon as they stepped out, Xiao Tian noticed several eyes on them. Among them were people from the Huang Family but more were spies arranged by wealthy and influential figures.
Seeing Huang Xiadi and Huang Shangtian following behind Xiao Tian like lackeys, those hidden observers were shocked and quickly conveyed the news to their patrons.
Almost simultaneously, social elites from the Northern Desert and elsewhere grew increasingly suspicious about Xiao Tian’s identity, issuing new orders that were surprisingly consistent and seemed coordinated.
The orders were to tail Xiao Tian and see where he was taking the two Huang Family young masters.
Although aware of lurking observers, Xiao Tian couldn’t spare the effort to deal with them now. Besides, it wouldn’t matter if they followed; they couldn’t exactly walk into the Huang Family with him?
Once in the car, the driver, following Huang Feihu’s instructions, drove the luxury car silently forward.
"It seems there are a few cars tailing us," Huang Shangtian, showing his professional counter-surveillance skills, said, "It doesn’t look like Huang Family people, does it?"
Xiao Tian opened his half-closed eyes but didn’t answer his question, instead asked, "Do you know Zhuo Bochao?"
Upon hearing this name ingrained in his memory, Huang Shangtian’s body instinctively shook and he replied seriously, "That’s my instructor!"
Xiao Tian nodded imperceptibly, revealing a look of sudden realization, then closed his eyes again without a word.
"You... know my instructor?!" Seeing Xiao Tian not speak further, Huang Shangtian couldn’t contain his curiosity and asked.
