The Blacksmith Market

Lazily swinging on the hammock, Fang watched his flowers sway gently in the cool and sweet breeze. Feeling bored, he picked up a random twig from the ground and observed it for a while.

Fang whittled the piece of the wood he was holding. Using his fingers, he sharpened the wood until it reached a fine point, capable of being a stake.

Using flame, he began to temper the piece of wood until it reached a point similar to the hardness of a metal. Poking it into his finger several times, he threw it to the side where countless other similar creations lay.

[Created Supreme Grade Toothpick x57]

Groaning in boredom, Fang rolled out of the hammock. Standing up, he stretched outwards with his hands. Yawning, he turned around, heading down the mountain.

"Hey guys?" he called.

A series of sounds responded.

"Watch the mountain for me!" he replied.

Walking down the mountain, he was covered in the illusory mist.

Fang walked through the town, inhaling the smell of the dusty streets. Smiling to himself, he headed down to the forging district.

Metallic scents filled the air and the temperature rose several degrees. Flames burned in braziers outside various shops. The din of hammering filled the air as heavyset blacksmiths stomped through the streets.

Tall and heavyset men with hammers walked through the streets, pushing carts full of metals. Shining bronze and gold glinted in the sun as diamonds and other gems rushed past him. Everyone was in a hurry to get their parts and leave. However, there was a small number of people who stayed behind and explored the wares being sold at each forge or stall.

Fang joined a random group of these people, seamlessly blending in with the traffic.

Fang, looking lost, pushed his way through the traffic. Tapping someone in a hood on the side of the street, he asked them several questions.

"Hey, do you know where I can find some good materials?" he asked, somewhat nervously.

The figure whipped around. Their hood fell off to reveal a small figure with beautiful sapphire eyes.

White hair fell to their shoulders and their smooth porcelain skin glowed in the morning sun.

"Of course!" she replied.

Taking his hand, she led him to the side. A dingy cart was parked there and she hopped on the bench behind the cart.

"Hello, cherished and dear customer! My name is Nokana! You can call me Noka!" she spoke cheerfully.

Fang smiled awkwardly.

"Ahh.... alright," he spoke.

Accepting his circumstances, he began to browse through the girl's wares.

'Interesting... She has some very good stuff here...," he mused.

Pointing at an object wrapped in black foil, he directed Noka's attention to the object.

"That?" she spoke, surprised.

Fang nodded. Noka smiled.

"Alright. That's actually a custom work that I made," she spoke.

Handing the object to Fang, she attached a bill to it. Fang smiled and paid the total. Smiling again, he left a crystal on the table as a tip. Noka's eyebrow raised, but she said nothing.

Smiling Fang stared her straight in the eyes. Shaking her head and smiling, she tucked the crystal back into a pouch. Fang grinned again.

[Merit earned]

Fang smiled. Involuntarily, he had gained merit by trying to help this girl a little.

Nodding his head, Fang turned around and rejoined the crowd as Noka's smile faded from view.

"That man is interesting...," Noka spoke.

He was... kind. Those were rare to find. Smiling to herself, she slowly vanished into smoke. Her purpose was fulfilled.

Fang walked through the streets.

"Hey did you hear? The Ghost of the Silver Flute is roaming around these parts...," a voice spoke in a hushed tone.

"Really? Wow!" another voice replied.

"Yeah... didn't she used to be the most powerful music cultivator of her era? An unmatched genius?"

Fang's grip on the black package tightened.

"Yeah she was.... they say that she appears as a young girl with blue eyes. If you managed to meet her and get the flute, you'd be considered the luckiest person alive! but she hasn't given it to anyone for over 250 years..."

Fang smiled thinly. What exactly was in this black package that he had bought? Forgetting about buying materials, Fang rushed towards the mountain. He had to check out what was in this package!