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nThe next morning after Ou Yangming awoke, he practiced the martial-art squad in the courtyard as usual, and cultivated his fist art and blade technique.

nBefore Zhang Yinfan visited, he had always been like an inapparent mountain on Ou Yangming’s head, a constant pressure that urged Ou Yangming to work hard at all times. Now, although Zhang Yinfan had personally visited with a gift of apology, for some reason, not only did Ou Yangming not feel relaxed at all, but he also gained a sense of urgency.

nPerhaps it was because Zhang Yinfan had not openly talked about Zhang Hanyu, hence Ou Yangming was dubious and wary.

nThe practice of the martial-art squat, the fist art, and the blade technique had almost become a habit that was imprinted in Ou Yangming’s body. He did not find the processes tiring, and was eager to carry them out instead. Similar to smithing art, he had invested a lot of passion in them.

nJust as he was washing up after being drenched in sweat from his training, a knock was heard from the door.

nOu Yangming sighed. Back then, he barely had visitors looking for him at his courtyard, but after yesterday’s challenge, he was already visited twice within a couple of hours.

nAs Ou Yangming went to open the door, he was expecting a blacksmith master from the Armament Camp, but ended up being surprised again by his visitors.

nHead Shopkeeper Lin Yichen from the Yi Pavilion was standing outside with a smile. Beside him stood Zheng Ziwen, who was embarrassed and looked rather guilty, especially when he looked at Ou Yangming.

nOu Yangming naturally understood why. Since Zheng Ziwen had left halfway yesterday, it only made sense that he did not feel too good when he met one of the parties involved after that.

n“Head Shopkeeper Lin, Master Zheng, please come in.”

nOu Yangming treated the two visitors differently. He welcomed them and said, “I met a Shopkeeper Lin when I previously visited the Yi Pavilion, and another Shopkeeper Lin is paying me a visit at my residence now, what a coincidence.”

nLin Yichen grinned. “It’s not really a coincidence, that Shopkeeper Lin is my junior and nephew. He’s not very sensible, so please excuse his poor manners.”

n“That’s really a coincidence.” Ou Yangming was stunned. He pondered and asked, “I’m guessing that you’re here because of the appraisal?”

n“Master Ou, you’re right. According to the Yi Pavilion’s rule, every piece of equipment must be appraised by three appraisal masters before a conclusion is drawn. As for those that have greater doubts and disagreements from the appraisers, the appraisal art will be used,” Lin Yichen said with a serious face, and continued after a pause, “We transferred more pieces of equipment this time, and we have to pick some Fine Grade ones to be sent to the prefecture, so we must confirm every piece’s grade and rank.”

nOu Yangming nodded and responded, “Three appraisal masters, but we… Eh? Did you invite Ni Yinghong too?”

nLin Yichen laughed. “Master Ou, to have guessed it right, you’re amazing.”

nOu Yangming wondered, ‘I’ve never heard of appraisers from the town. So far, there are only two appraisers if I include myself and Zheng Ziwen, so Ni Yinghong is the only candidate left. If I can’t even guess that right, am I not an idiot?’

nZheng Ziwen bowed at Ou Yangming. “Master Ou, I’m sorry about what happened yesterday.”

n“Master Zheng, you don’t need to be so polite, I would’ve done the same if I was in your shoes,” Ou Yangming quickly replied to him.

nThough Zheng Ziwen knew that Ou Yangming was only comforting him, he still felt rather glad.

n“Master Ou, I’ve been away from home for quite some time, and I really miss my family, so I’d like to complete the task and return to them as soon as possible.” Zheng Ziwen looked at Ou Yangming eagerly as he asked, “When will you be free?”

nOu Yangming looked at him strangely because he did not expect the appraiser to be devoted to his family.

nHe instantly became soft-hearted because he thought about Old Craftsman, so he said, “We can leave once we have everyone.”

nZheng Ziwen was delighted as he did not expect Ou Yangming to be so easy to deal with. However, he did not know that if he had not brought up his family, which caused Ou Yangming to think about Old Craftsman, the young man would not have been so spirited.

nEverything that happened was predestined, and everything happened for a reason.

n“Master Ou, Master Ni Yinghong is already waiting outside the camp, so we can head over there if you’re free.”

nOu Yangming was stunned, but he quickly smiled. “Alright, since it has to be done sooner or later, let’s finish it as soon as possible.”

nHe had promised General Deng Zhicai to take up the task, hence he would not be overly snobbish about it. Besides, since Lin Yichen and Zheng Ziwen had personally visited him, he was not going to make things difficult for them.

nFollowing that, the three of them left the residence and made their way to the military camp’s entrance, where a huge and gorgeous carriage was seen prepared.

nOu Yangming was astonished. It was the military camp’s entrance and exit point, yet nobody drove out the carriage for having stopped here. It proved that Head Shopkeeper Lin had a high reputation indeed.

nOnce they got on the carriage, Ou Yangming quickly noticed a handsome face.

nNi Yinghong smiled at Ou Yangming. “Master Ou, welcome.”

nOu Yangming laughed. He had no idea why he somehow felt at a loss around Ni Yinghong, and wondered if something was wrong with him.

nAfter nodding at Ni Yinghong, Ou Yangming turned to converse with Zheng Ziwen.

nHe was not doing it to ignore Ni Yinghong on purpose, but because he did not know how to get along with him.

nOn the other hand, Ni Yinghong was surprised. In the past, she had met many fops with graceful bearings, who always approached her like moths that darted into flames. The men often looked for an opportunity to become intimate with her, or to gain a pretty lady and money at the same time.

nNevertheless, Ni Yinghong always treated the playboys harshly.

nOn the contrary, after witnessing Ou Yangming’s serious attitude in smithing, she felt as though a string in her heart was plucked. A man who was fully focused on something was naturally charming, so if a lady of the right age met one, it made sense that she would keep the man in mind.

nIf Ou Yangming had done his best to please and woo Ni Yinghong from the start like the other playboys, perhaps she would get rid of the thought. However, Ou Yangming happened to be the opposite as he took a completely different path.

nEven though Ni Yinghong knew that Ou Yangming was clueless about her real identity—a female, she somehow had a rebellious mentality when she saw Ou Yangming conversing with Zheng Ziwen in such a friendly manner but treated her with indifference.

nNi Yinghong curbed her thoughts and listened quietly. She noted down Ou Yangming’s favorite topics and bore them in mind.

nStrangely enough, if someone had previously told Ni Yinghong that she would be interested in men, who were even a year or two younger than her, she would definitely react angrily. Now that it was actually happening to her, she neither hated nor rejected the idea.

nOu Yangming tried his best to come up with more topics, but ended up having nothing else to say. He was soon struck with an idea, he closed his eyes to pretend to be taking a nap.

nWhile he did not want to talk, Ni Yinghong started a conversation in the carriage.

n“Master Zheng, who did you learn the appraisal art from?”

nOu Yangming rolled his eyes a bit while keeping them shut, and also pricked up his ears a little.

nThe appraisal art. That was the secret technique that Ou Yangming was trying to inquire about earlier, but Zheng Ziwen did not talk about it in detail. The appraiser only skimmed over the important parts, thus Ou Yangming was still confused.

nTherefore, Ou Yangming quickly paid attention when Ni Yinghong raised the question.

nZheng Ziwen hesitated before he answered, “I was initially a staff member at the Yi Pavilion, but I was valued by an appraisal master, who later took me as his disciple. I learned the appraisal art only after cultivating for ten years. As for who my master is, please forgive me for not being able to disclose it without the elder’s permission.”

nOu Yangming was slightly moved. ‘Looks like an appraisal master’s cultivation is tougher than what I have imagined. One can only succeed after cultivating for ten years.’

nHe turned to look at Ni Yinghong, who seemed to be not much older than him, and shook his head while wondering, ‘Geniuses don’t count.’

nNi Yinghong found it strange after being looked at like that. ‘It’s fine that you’re looking at me, but why did you suddenly shake your head?’

nShe gritted her teeth and said, “Master Zheng, I have some questions about the appraisal art, and I’d like to inquire about them from you.”

nZheng Ziwen was startled, but he quickly replied to her, “Master Ni, you’re being too polite. Let’s exchange views.”

nHe thought to himself, ‘What the hell is he up to?’

nIn actual fact, they had exchanged views before this. Zheng Ziwen knew very well that Ni Yinghong was not a simple person although she was young. Whether it was her vision or her judgment, she seemed to be above him. The only thing she lacked was probably experience.

nNonetheless, in terms of the appraisal art, how could Ni Yinghong be more inferior to him?

nWithout further ado, Ni Yinghong began questioning. For instance, she asked what the appraisal art meant, where it came from, and why it could be used for appraisals. Other than that, she also asked how the appraisal art could be used, and how its advantage could be maximized.

nThe questions were very repetitive, some were simple while some were complicated. There were also some important questions about how the art could be executed.

nDespite that, Ni Yinghong was very skilled at asking. In particular, she occasionally asked some confusing questions to distract Zheng Ziwen, who subconsciously answered everything when he was in that state. Moreover, as their discussion became more heated, they eventually spoke so loudly that they forgot about the two other people in the carriage.

nOu Yangming had already opened his eyes to listen quietly. He was sometimes in high spirit, other times pondering while lowering his head, and would also smile when he suddenly fathomed something.

nThe person who actually benefited from the conversation was Ou Yangming.

nAll of a sudden, the carriage stopped, and Lin Yichen laughed and announced, “Everyone, we’re here, let’s get off.”

nZheng Ziwen looked like he had just awakened from a dream, and he followed Ni Yinghong out of the carriage.

nBefore Lin Yichen left the carriage, he whispered to Ou Yangming, “Master Ou, you should thank Master Ni.”

nOu Yangming was in a daze. When he recalled everything that happened earlier, he realized that Ni Yinghong had not asked about the appraisal art for no reason. He was taking the opportunity of discussing with Zheng Ziwen to let Ou Yangming gain the knowledge.

nThough Ou Yangming could not make sense of Ni Yinghong’s kind gesture, he said softly, “Master Ni, thank you.”

nNi Yinghong curled her lips into a smile, causing two deep dimples to be seen on her face. Subsequently, she walked away like a proud peacock.

nOu Yangming looked at Lin Yichen in confusion, but noticed that the shopkeeper was also looking at him helplessly. Afterward, Lin Yichen shook his head and left.

nIn the end, Ou Yangming was puzzled for a long time.

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