God Of Forges Chapter 3: Promise

From then onward, Xiao Xun had become a frequent visitor to his forge.

“Since the necklace was so brilliant, I wish to make another request.”

“Okay… what do you wish for now?”

“A bracelet. I heard items with wood attribute monster cores aid in Dou QI training, so I was wondering if you could make one for me.”

“Sounds like a good investment on your part. Sure, I'll give it my best effort. Though, is there any particular design you have in mind?”

“I trust Brother Xiao Jian to make the best choice in design. As before, I'll pay for the materials and your work.”

“I'll get right to work.”

…

“Brother Xiao Jian, can I touch your skin?”

“My what?-” He raised an eyebrow.

“I'm curious about the texture.”

“... It's like normal skin.”

“I won't believe it until I feel it.”

“Fine.” Xiao Jian presented his right arm, which was growing quite muscular. 

“Hum… you're right. It's a bit on the rough side, but nothing extraordinary. Have you noticed anything strange about it?”

“It's hard to get burns.” Xiao Jian shrugged. “Even when I do, they're barely visible, don't really hurt and fade away quickly.”

“Soooo what Brother Xiao Jian is telling me is that he has a natural resistance and affinity to fire?”

“Something like that, I guess.”

“And people were telling Xun Er that your skin was a curse of sorts when it really is just a blessing. If they knew the truth, they'd be jealous and seek to trade theirs for yours.”

“Maybe.” He chuckled. “You’re the only one who knows so don’t go around spreading the word.”

“I won’t. Your secret is safe with me.”

…

“I brought you some fruits, meat and cold water, Brother Xiao Jian. I know when you start smithing, you get tunnel vision and see nothing else… but your health is really important! How do you expect to smith without any strength?”

“I’ll do that… later. ” Xiao Jian remained focused. “But thank you.”

“When is later, exactly?” Xiao Xun raised an eyebrow. “No, you need a break. You're just trying to look tough while forgetting about your body.”

“Alright, fine.” He put down what he was cooking, letting it cool. “I’ll have a taste.”

He came over and started munching on everything she brought him - very swiftly, as if he hadn’t eaten for days. 

“Well, how is it?”

“Gud, bery good…” Xiao Jian nodded, his mouth full of food. “Thonk you…”

“You shouldn’t talk with your mouth full.” She chuckled.

He finished eating and chugged down a litre of water in one go. 

“Sorry… I don’t have the best manners. Thank you, though. I appreciate you coming here with so much tasty food.” Xiao Jian smiled.

…

The fall of that came was slow, yet gradual… four years would go by like the wind.

“Xiao Jian… three-star Dou Disciple - low!”

While Xiao Jian did the same routine that led to his great success - his Dou Qi dipped and dipped. He fell to three-star, two-star, one-star… eventually losing his position as Dou Practitioner. By the time he was fifteen, he had dropped to a three-star Dou Disciple. His smithing had fallen off as a result of this, but not by much as he kept relentlessly working.

A year from the coming-of-age ceremony, his fate seemed all but sealed. The schools and sects that offered him places withdrew their offers, the Xiao Clan swiftly began to openly mock him once more, and he’d even lose the qualifications to stay there.  If he couldn’t reach Dou Disciple 7, he’d be exiled to the Clan’s properties as a worker.

Obviously, he’d perfectly fit as a smith for the clan… but the life of freedom he had dreamed of would have slipped away from his grasp.

This entire time, he didn’t give up on his dream, and kept working… hoping that he could elevate himself right back up again.

Alas, that day never came, and it had affected him deeply. His temper was quicker to light than usual, which he noticed. To counter this, he stayed up in his forge all day and tried to find happiness in his work. Where comfort eaters would eat a mountain of food, he’d forge a mountain of weapons.

Because of this habit, he was absolutely built - muscled like a bull. His physique towered over everyone in the Xiao Clan, even the men, both in height and width.

So… after being dragged out for the Dou Qi assessment, he strolled back into his forge and got to it. 

“Trash… trash… trash…” He struck his hammer against a monster core he bought, though his blows lacked the strength to change the shape. If anything, the backlash from his blows was harming his arm. “So… TRASH!!!”

His arm gave out on the final blow, and he slapped away the monster core in his anger. He tossed away the hammer to, smashing it against his comfort mountain.

“Damn it…”

He let himself fall right to the ground. His long black hair veiled his eyes as he dreaded the life he lived. He didn’t want to be any kind of genius; he just wanted to see himself improve. To see his efforts bear some fruits… but, no, instead, he kept gradually becoming weaker and weaker.

“I’m so trash…”

He almost wanted to cry… that’s how crushing it all was for him. The one thing he cared about, above all else, was fading before his very eyes, and there wasn’t a thing he could do to stop it. Even worse, there was no explanation for his decline. He was helpless…

He looked to the side and saw his Dragonheart v2, presented in a glass case. It was countless times sharper than the original he made in his first life, yet it maintained its essence with some improvements. Its blade was black and so was most of the sword itself. Parts of it were decorated with gold and at the centre of the guard was a ruby resembling a dragon’s eye. This ruby sphere was, in fact, a level one monster core of the fire attribute harvested from a maturing fire serpent.

He gathered the strength to raise himself up and remove the sword from its case. He then drew it it from its scabbard.

He’d wear the sword everywhere, even sleeping with it. Only when he was smithing would he put it in the case.

It was effectively his child - if he ever had one.

“Is a life like this worth living? If I can never reach the level I was at fucking eleven…” He questioned himself. ‘Father… what would you do?’

He swiftly lowered the sword as the door to his workshop opened.

“Brother Xiao Jian?”

His eye warmed at the sight. 

“You need to learn to knock.” He remarked.

“What were you doing?”

“... I was thinking.” He admitted, looking at the blade which showed no reflection. “Smithing has been my life’s sole goal. Yes, I can still do it, the way I am… but I got a glimpse of the great things I could do with Dou Qi. I saw the world open up. With this fall… it feels like I'll never be able to be the great smith I've dreamt of being.”

“If I can't reach for my dream, then what's the point of it all?”

He wasn't someone who could settle for ordinary, not after seeing the heights he could teach.

“You don't mean it in that way, do you?” Xiao Xun questioned, stepping forward.

“I meant it that way.” Xiao Jian didn't mince his words. “A swift death would've been more painless than this endless struggle for nothing-”

Slap.

She hit him, really hard. Right across the face. He had to tilt his head to the side from the force, feeling it sting.

“So, the only thing that matters to you is smithing?” She questioned, raising an eyebrow. “Nothing else is worth thinking about?”

“I… well.” He looked away, feeling ashamed. “It’s a selfish thought, yeah… but what good would I be to anyone if I couldn't pass the coming-of-age ceremony?”

“And who says you won’t? Even if you don't, there's so much more to live for.”

“Is there?” Xiao Joan scoffed. “The life of a caged bird? I don't want it.”

“The Xiao Jian I knew didn’t throw his hands up and say he can't do it.”

“He wasn't working like I am now. He wasn't working himself to the bone, hoping and praying not to fall down another step.” Xiao Jian turned away. “I try, I truly do… but sometimes it's just so…”

She wrapped her arms around him and pressed her head against his back.

“It will get better.” She said, making him stop mid-sentence. “Just keep trying a little longer for me, alright? One day, all of your hard work will show, and you will be a greater genius than you were ever before.”

“I promise you will.”

Those four words gave him a world of hope. 

He remained still, taking a deep breath.

“It was just a thought, you know.” He took her hands away and freed himself, turning to face her with an eye full of fire. “A really stupid thought… but not one you had to slap me so hard for.”

“It was totally deserved.” She crossed her arms, pouting slightly. “Xiao Jian ge-ge had lost his mind.”

“I can be crazy… sometimes.” He smiled confidently, patting her head. “I really am lucky to have someone like Xun Er by my side to keep me in check, though.”

“Mhm.” She nodded, her eyes looking into his. There was that fire again, rekindled.

“You know, four years ago, when I said that I didn’t see myself getting married…” He glanced to the side, feeling strangely bashful. “My perspective has changed on the matter.”

“Has it?” She gave a slight smile, stroking her chin in curious thought. “What would your wife be like?”

“Uh…” He made a clueless smile. “Gentle, caring, loving and understanding. If I could have someone like that for the rest of my life, I wouldn’t need anyone else.”

He didn’t want to push his feelings onto her, knowing that he was nowhere near her league. But, since she pressed the matter, he decided to dance around the matter a little. Alas, Xiao Xun Er was a bit too smart for that. She knew precisely what he was hinting at… but she didn’t want to be too greedy, either.

“That person might be closer than Brother Xiao Jian thinks.”

“...” He made the slightest of nods, unable to hide his smile. He made himself make a more serious expression before looking at Xiao Xun Er. “It’s easy to think of what you want in life, but much harder to actually be worthy of it. People want to be rich, they want to be strong and respected, they want love… but rarely do they put the effort forward to attain their goals.”

“If that person stood before me, would I be worthy? Would I be strong enough to keep her?” He spoke his thoughts rather openly, looking away. He took Dragonhearts sheath and returned the sword to it, strapping it to his belt. “I think not.”

“...” Xun Er watched with a conflicted expression as he walked away. “Where are you going?”

“My legs need some work.” He glanced back. “After that, I’ll try to absorb Dou Qi again… and again. I’ll keep trying until it works, even if it takes me to my grave. That’s my promise to you.”

She smiled, believing in him wholeheartedly.

~

As Xiao Jian kept his training regiment with a newfound purpose, he didn’t see any progress. Everything he’d absorb would just dissipate. Even so, he didn’t waver and kept fighting the seemingly hopeless battle. 

Before long, the Nalan Family would visit… or, more precisely, Nalan Yanran and elder Ge Ye. Her father and grandfather were nowhere to be seen. 

When he heard of this, Xiao Jian’s grin was not one he tried to hide at all.