Lianhua

As Lianhua arrived at the Castletown of the Kingdom of Avaloria, her eyes widened with awe as she gazed upon the majestic sight of the castle, towering in the center of the kingdom. At 16 years old, Lianhua was a young blacksmith with a fierce determination to hone her craft. Her long black hair was tied back in a simple bun, and her eyes shone with a bright intensity, reflecting the fire of her passion. She wore a simple yet sturdy blacksmith's garb, with a leather apron over her tunic and pants, and carried her trusty hammer at her side. Despite her youth, Lianhua exuded a quiet confidence and determination, ready to face any challenge that lay ahead in this new land of opportunity.

"Lianhua," Liu Yong asked, turning to the young girl beside him. "Are you still feeling alright?"

Lianhua nodded, her eyes filled with wonder as she gazed at the grandeur of the castle standing in the center of the kingdom.

"Yes, Granpa Yong," she replied, a sense of awe in her voice. "I'm just amazed by the sight of the castle. It's even more majestic than I imagined."

Liu Yong smiled warmly at his young companion. "Yes, it is quite a sight to behold," he agreed, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Come, let's make our way towards the castle. We don't want to keep the others waiting."

Liu Yong and Lianhua finally arrived at the castle gates, their eyes wide with wonder at the sight of the grand structure that loomed before them. Liu Yong turned to Lianhua, asking if she was doing alright. She nodded, still amazed by the sheer size and beauty of the castle.

As they made their way toward the castle's interior, they were greeted by a man named Zhang Liang, who had been sent to guide them to the office of Zenki, the emperor of Avaloria. Zhang Liang was a tall, imposing figure with a serious expression on his face. He welcomed them with a bow and began leading them through the castle's winding corridors.

As Zhang Liang led them through the winding halls of the castle, Lianhua couldn't help but marvel at the intricate designs and beautiful artwork adorning the walls. She had never been in a place like this before, and every step was a new adventure for her.

Finally, they arrived at a pair of large doors guarded by two imposing figures. Zhang Liang spoke a few words to the guards before ushering Liu Yong and Lianhua through the doors and into a large, lavish room.

Liu Yong introduced Lianhua to the emperor. "Your Majesty, allow me to introduce Lianhua, my old friend's granddaughter and a skilled Spiritual Blacksmith," Liu Yong said with a bow.

Zenki smiled warmly and stood up to greet them. "Welcome to Castletown, Lianhua. It's an honor to meet such a talented blacksmith at such a young age," Zenki said, extending his hand to shake hers.

Lianhua bowed respectfully and shook his hand. "Thank you for having us, Your Highness. It's an honor to meet you as well," she replied, feeling a bit nervous but also excited to meet the emperor.

Despite his status as emperor, Zenki had a friendly and casual demeanor that put Lianhua at ease. She could see that he genuinely cared about his people and was interested in their talents and skills. It was a stark contrast to what she had heard about some rulers who were more concerned with their own power and wealth.

"So, how was your trip Liu Yong?" asked Zenki

Liu Yong took a deep breath and said, "It was quite a journey, Your Majesty. I searched through multiple kingdoms before I finally found a clue about where my old friend, the Spiritual Blacksmith, was."

Zenki leaned forward in his chair and said, "Tell me more about this old friend of yours."

Liu Yong proceeded to tell Zenki about his long-time friend, who was one of the most skilled Spiritual Blacksmiths in the land. He had been searching for it when he noticed that the kingdom had no spiritual blacksmith available, but it wasn't until recently that he received a tip that his friend was living in the Kingdom of Valkoria.

"Upon my arrival in Valkoria, I searched far and wide until I found his workshop," Liu Yong continued. "I was overjoyed to see him again after so many years. We talked for hours and caught up on old times. He then told me about his granddaughter, Lianhua, who is also a Spiritual Blacksmith. He entrusted her to my care, as he felt that it was time for her to experience the world outside of his influence and learn from other masters of the craft."

Lianhua nodded in agreement as Liu Yong spoke. She had always been curious about the world outside of her grandfather's workshop, and she was grateful for the opportunity to travel with Liu Yong and learn more about the craft of Spiritual Blacksmithing.

Zenki listened intently to Liu Yong's story and said, "It sounds like quite the journey you've had, Liu Yong. I'm glad that you were able to find your old friend and that he entrusted you with the care of his granddaughter. It's important for young practitioners like Lianhua to experience the world and learn from other masters of their craft."

Liu Yong nodded in agreement and said, "Yes, Your Majesty. I hope that Lianhua's journey will not only help her grow as a Spiritual Blacksmith but also help her discover her place in the world."

Zenki smiled and said, "I do not doubt that Lianhua will learn much from her travels. And as for you, Liu Yong, I am grateful for your service to the kingdom. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to assist you in your journey."

Liu Yong bowed respectfully and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty. Your kindness is much appreciated."

With that, Liu Yong and Lianhua took their leave from the office of Zenki, excited for the adventures that lay ahead of them in their journey of discovery and growth in the world of Spiritual Blacksmithing.

After leaving Zenki's office, Liu Yong and Lianhua proceeded to the training hall where the sounds of clanging swords and the scent of sweat filled the air. The hall was filled with warriors and cultivators alike, each training in their own unique way. Liu Yong scanned the room, searching for the familiar faces of his disciples.

As he looked around, he spotted Zhang Yitian, his eldest disciple, training with a spear. Beside him was Mengting, a talented cultivator who had shown great potential in mastering different techniques. Zhen Yi and Mingliang, two other skilled cultivators, were sparring with each other in a corner of the room.

As Liu Yong and Lianhua approached them, Zhang Yitian noticed them and stopped his training. He walked towards them, his spear still in his hand.

"Greetings, Master Liu. Who is this young lady with you?" Zhen Yi asked, giving a respectful bow.

Liu Yong smiled at his disciple and introduced Lianhua. "This is Lianhua, the granddaughter of my old friend and a skilled spiritual blacksmith. She will be joining us in our training from now on."

Zhang Yitian nodded, welcoming Lianhua to the group. The other cultivators in the room also gave their greetings, curious about the new addition to their training group.

At that moment, Yu Mei entered the room with Chen Jing, the second prince of the Kingdom of Frosthold. Zhang Yitian made his way toward Chen Jing, while Yu Mei went to greet Zhen Yi and the others.

"Master Liu, I have brought someone to introduce to you," Zhang Yitian said with a smile.

Liu Yong turned towards him and noticed Chen Jing. "Ah, the second prince of Frosthold. It's a pleasure to meet you," he said, extending his hand.

Chen Jing took Liu Yong's hand and shook it firmly. "The pleasure is mine, Master Liu. I have heard much about you and your disciples' skills in cultivation and warfare."

As Liu Yong was catching up with his disciples and acquaintances, Zhang Yitian, his eldest disciple, took the opportunity to update him on recent events. "Master, while you were away, Yu Mei was kidnapped by a group of assassins," he said, his expression grave. "We managed to track them down to the forest, and after a fierce battle, we were able to rescue her."

Zhang Yitian continued, "In light of what happened, Yu Mei has decided to join us in our cultivation. She wants to be able to defend herself and contribute more to the team."

Liu Yong nodded approvingly. "That's good to hear. We could use all the help we can get."

"Excellent, we welcome her. With all of your combined talents, we will surely be a force to be reckoned with," he said.

Just then, Zhen Yi approached Lianhua, looking as serious and focused as ever. He nodded to Liu Yong, acknowledging his presence, before turning to Lianhua. "So, you're the new blacksmith," he said, eyeing her up and down.

Lianhua nodded, feeling a bit nervous under his intense gaze. "Yes, that's right," she said softly.

Zhen Yi seemed to be sizing her up, assessing her skills and potential. "Well, we could certainly use someone with your expertise," he said finally. "But you'll have to prove yourself first."

Lianhua straightened her back, determined to show them what she was capable of. She had always been a hard worker and was confident in her abilities as a blacksmith. With these words from Zhen Yi, she was even more motivated to excel.

As they all prepared to begin their training, Lianhua felt a sense of excitement and anticipation. She knew that she had a lot to learn and a long way to go, but with these skilled cultivators by her side, she was ready for whatever challenges lay ahead.