Chapter 236: Chapter 225: The Weapon Shop
Sword Lake Street was located near the west gate of Nan Luo. It was the heart of the night market, with lanterns hanging in front of every shop and street vendors setting up stalls, hawking their wares.
Men and women, young and old, passed by in an endless stream. It was the liveliest time of the night.
Zhao Lin, Xiang Bao, and their two companions wandered this way and that. Before they knew it, they had arrived in front of an apothecary.
The apothecary spanned six storefronts and had a grand, imposing facade. Even though it was late at night, many people were still going in and out.
The climate in Xiuzhao was hot and humid, with lush rainforests that produced many rare medicinal herbs not found elsewhere. Zhao Lin and the others had heard of this even back in Great Yue.
Xiang Bao, Zhong Yewu, and Li Liang came from wealthy families. Thinking this was a rare opportunity, they bought many expensive medicinal herbs.
Zhao Lin wasn’t as wealthy as them. After a look around, he only bought two prepared medicines: Xiling Ointment and Yiyi Powder.
Xiling Ointment soothed the lungs and relieved coughs, while Yiyi Powder could treat rheumatism of the muscles and bones. Both were local specialties he planned to take back for his parents.
Having bought their medicinal herbs, the four of them emerged from the apothecary carrying bags of all sizes and continued their stroll down the street.
Before long, they saw a weapons shop up ahead. In front of the door stood a rattan shield, with a long spear laid horizontally next to it, giving it a rather "self-contradictory" air.
Zhong Yewu’s eyes lit up. He smiled and said, "Interesting. Shall we go take a look?"
Zhao Lin and the others knew about Zhong Yewu’s hobby of collecting weapons, so they all agreed and stepped into the shop.
Inside the entrance was a spacious courtyard. Wind-proof lanterns hung along the walls, illuminating the space as bright as day.
The courtyard was filled with weapon racks, all laden with various kinds of armaments.
There were quite a few customers in the shop, standing before the weapon racks and selecting items. Clerks bustled about, attentively serving them.
In truth, for a Blood Realm martial artist, weapons weren’t a necessity. They were more or less optional.
But for lower-level martial artists, a weapon was still a means to enhance their strength.
Furthermore, people who practiced martial arts had an almost instinctual affection for weapons. Even many Primordial Realm martial artists enjoyed collecting them.
Zhao Lin glanced around and was surprised to find quite a few Blood Realm martial artists in the weapons shop. A quick count revealed there were more than a dozen of them.
Several of them were sturdily built with rugged features, bearing the distinct characteristics of people from the Western Regions or the northern lands.
Zhao Lin guessed they were probably here for the Grand Martial Tournament, just as he was.
These men also noticed Zhao Lin and his group. Their eyes met for a moment before parting, a silent understanding passing between them.
Since everyone understood the principle of minding their own business, Zhao Lin relaxed and casually strolled over to a weapon rack to take a look.
Xiuzhao was heavily influenced by the Central Plains, and its weapons showed clear signs of imitation, though they also had their own unique characteristics.
Take their straight swords, for example. The blades were much narrower than a Central Plains Sword, the scabbards were carved with exquisite patterns, and the hilts were made from precious woods or ivory, inlaid with pearls for decoration.
After observing for a moment, Zhao Lin found the weapons a bit gaudy. He knew they had to be expensive without even asking, so he moved on to another weapon rack.
"Oh?"
On the rack was a long saber, its style identical to the Yanling Saber used by officers in Great Yue. Curious, Zhao Lin reached out and touched it.
"Sir, what do you think of this saber?"
A clerk came over and asked.
"Where was this saber made?"
Instead of answering, Zhao Lin asked a question of his own.
The clerk gave him a thumbs-up and praised, "You have a great eye, sir! This saber was made in Great Yue!"
"Look, its form is so graceful, the blood groove on the blade is neat and distinct, the edge is sharp, and its shape is beautiful. It’s perfect for both combat and ceremonial use..."
The clerk’s words flowed like a river, praising the saber to the high heavens as if it were the only one of its kind, unable to stop himself.
Zhao Lin felt a little amused. ’Judging by the clerk’s tone, are weapons from Great Yue considered... superior?’
Zhong Yewu and the others heard this and looked over with smiles on their faces.
This wasn’t hard to explain. It was a classic case of "the grass is always greener on the other side"—the belief that foreign things are inherently better.
Moreover, although the people of Xiuzhao outwardly resented Great Yue, the influence of thousands of years was deeply ingrained. There were many who still admired the great empire, so goods from Great Yue were highly sought after.
The clerk didn’t notice the expression on Zhao Lin’s face and continued on his own, "Ah, the weapons from Great Yue are just so good! I remember there’s a poem that specifically praises the Yanling Saber... how did it go again?"
He frowned in thought for a moment, then suddenly slapped his forehead. Shaking his head grandly, he recited, "A great general is born with heroic spirit, / a Yanling Saber at his waist, like a glint of autumn water!"
’He can even recite poetry!’
This time, Zhao Lin was truly stunned. An ordinary shop clerk actually knew how to recite poetry from Great Yue.
"Hmph. It’s just an ordinary saber. What’s there to brag about?"
Suddenly, a cold, mocking voice spoke up.
The clerk glanced at the speaker and immediately fell silent, as if he’d been grabbed by the throat. He didn’t dare say another word and scurried off to the side.
The speaker was a man of short stature with a somewhat pointed chin and a thin mustache. He looked to be in his early twenties and was glaring over with a resentful expression.
Zhao Lin saw that the man was wearing a green training uniform with a lotus flower embroidered on the chest, identical to the one on Elder Ruan’s clothes from the Lotus Sect.
’So he’s a disciple of the Lotus Sect.’
A quick thought was all it took for Zhao Lin to understand why the man was displeased.
He paid the man no mind. Glancing over, he saw Zhong Yewu talking with another clerk, seemingly having found a weapon he liked, so he walked over.
In a prominent spot in the center of the courtyard sat a Long Sword. Its hilt was heavy, and its blade shone like a watery mirror. It was clearly a weapon the shop was heavily promoting.
"This sword just looks a bit sharper than the others. Why is it displayed here? Is there anything special about it?"
Zhong Yewu asked, pointing at the Long Sword on the ornate stand.
The clerk smiled. "Sir, this is no ordinary sword. It’s a mother-son sword."
"A mother-son sword?"
Zhong Yewu raised his eyebrows. "You mean there’s a sword within the sword?"
The clerk praised him, "You’re truly an expert, sir!"
As he spoke, he gripped the hilt and pressed one of the pearls on it.
SHIING! He drew a slender sword from within the main blade.
"You see? The mother-son sword has one long blade and one short, one in the open and one concealed, and they share a single hilt."
"The mother sword is hollow, and the son sword is sheathed within it. On the surface, it looks like a single sword. In combat, if the mother sword gets caught, you can trigger the mechanism and instantly draw the son sword, catching your opponent completely off guard for a decisive strike!"
Seeing Zhong Yewu’s eyes gleam with excitement, the clerk continued, "The design of this mother-son sword is ingenious, and it’s extremely difficult to make. We only have this one in the entire shop. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it our crown jewel..."
Zhong Yewu nodded as he listened, and just as he was about to ask the price, a voice from the side suddenly said, "That’s a nice sword. I’ll buy it!"
The clerk was momentarily stunned. He looked up and saw the man with the pointed chin and thin mustache.
Zhong Yewu’s face instantly darkened. Suppressing his anger, he said, "Friend, I’ve had my eye on this sword. Isn’t it a bit rude to just cut in like that?"
Little Moustache let out a soft laugh. "You look, I buy. What business is it of yours?"
As soon as he said this, the entire weapons shop fell silent.
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