Preparation

The next day, Heero gathered his Academy students. He had a task for them.

"It's about time! It's time for you to get some experience out there!"

Standing next to Heero, Butcher Wang grinned from ear to ear as he rubbed his thick beard. He was beaming with happiness as he looked at the children.

"This is your Senior Wang. Your task is to follow him to hunt the beast!" Heero announced the task.

"Form a group of three and hunt a silver-class beast. It doesn't matter if it's low class, middle class or even high class, as long as it's silver class, you'll complete the task!"

"The top three groups with the most Silver Class Beasts will be rewarded, and the bottom three will be punished, got it?"

The children were surprised by the task, but they accepted it without complaining.

"Yes, teacher!" The children replied loudly.

This was the effect of yesterday's game. No group or individual could push Kang Dong-Woo and Xu Lingxun out of the circle.

To his surprise, not only did this discourage the kids, but the kids also followed the training menu with even more determination.

"Huhuhu... The new kids are certainly spirited," Butcher Wang chuckled happily.

It looks like I will be able to harvest more beast meat. More meat, more money...' Butcher Wang thought happily as he scanned the children in front of him. His eyes turned green at the prospect of these children's future. They would harvest the meat for him, so he could relax and spend more time with his daughter.

"Off you go then!" Heero sent the children off.

Butcher Wang, Kang Dong-Woo and Xu Lingxun led the group out of town. They left Heero alone in the academy. Not completely alone though, because there were other classes like the blacksmith class and the medical class.

Heero looked at his smartwatch and muttered, "It's about time!"

He made his way to Blacksmith Huang's workshop. Since the day he opened up the new way of smithing, Blacksmith Huang had dedicated his time to smithing.

Over the past few months, he had created many amazing weapons and armours. There was not a hero or ranker who did not know his name.

Despite the high quality of the equipment he produced, the price was quite low compared to the weapons on the market. That was why it had become so popular in such a short time.

Next week, there would be an auction at the Xing Auction House. The auction was Heero's idea to strengthen the heroes. The stronger the heroes were, the safer the city would be.

He would not only spread the Ki Comprehension through his apprentice and his disciples. He would also distribute quality equipment to the masses.

99 weapons and 99 armours would be auctioned and three hundred tickets would be sold at a high price.

Heero went to the workshop of the blacksmith Huang to check the preparations.

When he arrived at the workshop, the usual long queue was nowhere to be seen. Blacksmith Huang had closed his forge until his work for the auction was done. He prioritised his work for the auction.

The old workshop had been repaired. The old building on the verge of collapse was nowhere to be seen. The smithy was standing straight, a three-storey building had become a seven-storey building. It was the tallest building in the Xing district.

The first floor was a lobby where Blacksmith Huang displayed his work. Heero entered the lower level, the student workshop of Blacksmith Huang.

He felt less heat than before because the air circulation was much better. Blacksmith Huang certainly knew how to spend his money.

Blacksmith Huang's apprentices, who were also students of his academy, recognised him. The boss of Xing District, the owner of Heero Academy, and the head of Hero Instructor.

Everyone in the workshop greeted Heero respectfully, while Heero returned the greeting with a nod and a smile.

He immediately headed for the stairs, the fifth floor being his destination.

Half of the first floor, the second floor and up to the fifth floor were workshops. The workshops from the first to the fourth floor were for Blacksmith Huang's apprentice, while the fifth floor was Blacksmith Huang's private workshop.

Heero went to the fifth floor where Blacksmith Huang was working.

Dok! Dok! Dok!

He knocked on the door three times when he reached the fifth floor.

"Come in!" A strong voice came from the room.

Heero opened the door and saw Blacksmith Huang standing at a table. With his working clothes, Blacksmith Huang seemed to be making a design for a spear.

Blacksmith Huang thought it was his apprentice looking for him. With his eyes fixed on the design, he asked, "What is it?"

"I want to ask about the preparation of our item to be auctioned next week. Are the items ready?" Without beating around the bush, Heero asked.

When the familiar voice reached his ears, Blacksmith Huang took everything in his hand without hesitation and turned around, "You are here, Master," he said.

Smith Huang was delighted to see his master. A smile formed on his lips, his bright face telling Heero how happy his student was.

Blacksmith Huang had truly undergone a great transformation. He looked much younger now, despite being in his mid-forties. Instead, he looked like someone in his mid-thirties.

"Mnn, so how about the preparation?" Heero nodded.

"Everything is ready, 98 weapons and 99 armours will be auctioned next week!" Blacksmith Huang replied willingly.

"Let me show you the items, Master,"

Then Heero was taken to the sixth floor where Blacksmith Huang kept his collection.

There, Blacksmith Huang showed everything he had prepared for Heero to inspect. Despite his fame, Blacksmith Huang still respected Heero.

"Everything is ready as you requested. The last touch, the 99th weapon..."

"I will finish it today! Have you prepared the materials?" Heero interrupted Blacksmith Huang halfway.

"Yes!"

"Good! Follow me, I will teach you something new and give your creation a consciousness. It will be your next lesson and it's extremely hard, be prepared!"

Heero turned and headed for the stairs. The seventh floor, his private workshop, given to him by Blacksmith Huang.

Blacksmith Huang's eyes gleamed with excitement when he heard that he would be taught something new.

He hurriedly followed Heero up to the seventh floor.

*** ***

On the street, at the intersection of the main district of Xing and the Academy. A man in a black coat stood next to Yun Xia Publisher.

The man's face was covered by a large hat. He was holding a cup of coffee with a straw in it.

Although his face was covered, he was standing in front of a building, the Huang Forge. His gaze was fixed on the front door. After staring at the door for five minutes, the man unlocked a smartwatch and called out an id, Leader.

"The target has entered the forge. You have about ten to fifteen minutes, Leader!"

"Mnn, that's more than enough," a soft voice came through the smartwatch.

Having heard the answer, the man in the black coat ended the call and turned around. He then left the district.

*** ***

"Fyuahh!"

An old man dressed in casual clothes came out of the Xing Hotpot. He heaved a satisfied sigh and said, "I never expected this district to have this kind of meat! This is a worthwhile trip even if we are not on a mission, right Keiji?"

"You're right, Leader. The hotpot was delicious. Even if this old man does not like the hotpot, this old man has to admit that this hotpot is amazing," Hanzo agreed with Keiji and praised the hotpot he had just eaten.

"Then we should come here often, my friend," Ryong Chong-Shik smiled happily in return.

The two old men exchanged light banter as they walked towards the academy. Unknown to those around them, the two gentle-looking old men were about to make a big splash in this peaceful neighbourhood.