Blacksmith Shop

The paper crane flew up from Liu Xu's palm and flapped its wings, flying up and down around Liu Xu.

Surrounded by the paper crane, Liu Xu, who was dressed in white, looked like an immortal from the heavens. Her otherworldly temperament was infinitely magnified.

Especially the white veil on her face, which made her look even more mysterious.

The paper crane flew for a while before landing in Liu Xu's palm again.

Liu Xu tapped the crane's head with her fair index finger and said with a smile, "Go, little guy, look for clues."

The Essentials of Paper-Stripping - Paper Crane Searching Technique.

This was a secret technique from the Essentials of Paper-Tapling, but not entirely so.

Paper Crane Searching Technique's tracing was guided by spirit, while Liu Xu used her godly essence as a brush and the Great Qi as a guide.

This was the difference between Liu Xu and other scholars.

She was a scholar, but after reading the <The Essentials of Paper-Stripping>, she comprehended strange things.

For example, Paper Crane Searching Technique. This was supposed to be the Paper Puppeteer's unique skill, but she could use it in a different way.

In fact, Liu Xu couldn't use everything in the <The Essentials of Paper-Stripping>. What she could use was only those she had magically modified.

Some things could not be magically modified, so she could not use them.

For example, she could not replace the simplest paper effigy with godly essence.

However, she was already much better than ordinary scholars.

After the paper crane left, Liu Xu did not just sit there.

She dug out another piece of paper from the cabinet and laid it flat on the table.

She lifted the brush and held it on the paper.

Her starry eyes were tightly shut. After about two breaths, the brush finally moved.

Throughout the entire process, Liu Xu kept her eyes closed and allowed herself to write and draw on the paper.

She did not write. What was outlined on the paper were thin lines.

From a distance, it looked more like a map.

A moment later, Liu Xu stopped.

She put the brush aside, and there were already many fine lines on the paper.

"Found it." Liu Xu did not think too much about it. She picked up the piece of paper and pushed open the door.

Outside the house, a few maid servants were watering the flowers when the door was suddenly pushed open, scaring them.

One of the maids looked puzzled.

Shouldn't the Second Miss be staying in the room at this time? Why did she suddenly run out?

The maidservant only thought about it and prepared to go forward.

Liu Xu gestured for the maidservant to stop and said, "I want to go out for a walk."

With that, she took the white paper and strode away.

As the white veil fluttered, Liu Xu had already left, leaving behind a few dumbfounded maidservants.

…

According to what was written on the white paper, Liu Xu rushed all the way and finally stopped in front of a house.

Looking at the old plaque, Liu Xu's frown deepened.

Under the white veil, she bit her red lips lightly.

"Why is it a blacksmith shop?"

The shabby plaque, the occasional heat waves, and the clanking sounds of the hammers… This was undoubtedly a blacksmith shop.

There was a pile of ashes on the ground left behind by the paper crane's burning. This proved that this was the paper crane's destination.

Although Liu Xu had doubts in her heart, she still considered the guidance of the paper crane and walked in.

As soon as she entered, a heat wave hit her.

"Miss, what can I get you?" The lady boss, who was in her forties, walked forward with a smile on her face.

Liu Xu came back to her senses and looked at the smiling Lady Boss. A thought flashed through her mind.

The victim had a saber wound and a round wound the size of a peanut. It had to be a concealed weapon.

The paper crane brought her here. Then… could someone have forged hidden weapons here?

At the thought of this, Liu Xu asked, "Have there been any strange people asking you to forge anything strange recently?"

Her question was abrupt. She took out a piece of silver and handed it to the lady boss.

The lady boss took it with a smile and put it away. She shook her head and said, "No, I usually only make farming tools here. No one has ever made anything other than farming tools."

"Are you sure?" Liu Xu asked again.

The lady boss thought about it carefully again and said, "Miss, we've always been forging farming tools. If someone suddenly wants to farm something else, they'll definitely leave a deep impression. We're absolutely sure about this."

Liu Xu fell into deep thought.

While Liu Xu was deep in thought, the lady boss placed one hand behind her back and clenched it into a fist.

After a while, the lady boss saw that Liu Xu was still standing in the room. She could not help but ask, "Miss, do you want to place an order?"

Liu Xu came back to her senses and said that there was no need.

This was strange. The paper crane clearly brought her here. Why were there no clues?

The lady boss was right. If someone placed an order for something other than farming tools, they would definitely leave a deep impression.

Then why wasn't there anything notable?

Liu Xu felt a headache coming on. She planned to leave first.

After leaving the blacksmith shop, she went straight to the Liu residence.

She saw that it was already late. She had to go back and sort out her thoughts.

…

After Liu Xu left, a person walked out of the house.

He was muscular and held a hammer in his hand. He was the blacksmith of the blacksmith shop and the husband of the lady boss.

"A scholar from Nanhua Dao," the blacksmith said in a dull voice.

"Yes, she's a scholar from Nanhua Dao. It seems that the person who forged the beads here is not simple either. The recent murder might be related to him." The lady boss walked to the counter and poured a glass of water to drink.

"What do you want to do?" the blacksmith asked.

The room fell silent.

The lady boss put down the cup. After a long while, she spoke slowly.

"The government is still looking for us. We haven't been able to do that kind of businesses recently. With the work that you currently have, we won't earn much money. Since this person has secrets, why don't we make a profit?"

"Don't fail miserably. If I'm not wrong, that person has killed more than ten people," the blacksmith said in a low voice.

"The government has issued an arrest warrant. You can't look for newborn babies. Without money, the human traffickers won't sell you anything. You need blood to make the evil device, and I need flesh to make Yin food." The lady boss walked to the corner of the wall and gently knocked on it.

There was a secret compartment behind the wall. As the lady boss knocked on it, the wall opened.

Inside, there were piles of white bones, making one feel a chill.

From the size of the bones, they all seemed to be newborn babies.

The lady boss pointed at the bones inside and turned around. "These things can't be bought without money. The government is watching them closely. Can they be conjured out of thin air?"

The blacksmith fell silent. After a long time, he finally said, "No matter what, be careful. Also, don't extort that scholar. It's not a small matter to anger the Qingyun Academy."

"I naturally have my ways. Just cooperate with me." The lady boss smiled.

The secret compartment was closed and the room returned to normal.

…

The next day.

Xu Bai woke up early and looked at the progress bar that had increased by a small portion. His face was filled with joy.

Today was another happy day, especially when the progress bar increased.

It would be great if he could get a progress bar while sitting.

Xu Bai thought.

"Let's eat and continue to work!"

After thinking for a while, he shook off his unrealistic thoughts.

After washing up, Xu Bai pushed open the door and let the sunlight in.

The sun was shining brightly and the weather was clear.

He was about to leave when he stopped halfway.

There was a letter at his feet.