Chapter 027: The Tempered Steel Blade (Part Two)

Although the expenses had increased, the blades forged in the high-temperature furnace showed marked improvements in both toughness and hardness.

At lunchtime, Cao Ji went out of his way to praise Cao Peng, counting it as a reward. After all, his son had invested so much effort and it had truly paid off. The fault lay with himself for lacking a large workshop, causing his son’s ingenuity to go to waste. It was not Cao Peng’s fault, and naturally, Cao Ji would not blame him; in fact, he felt a tinge of guilt.

Cao Peng, meanwhile, seemed unconcerned, finishing two large bowls of porridge and a thick pancake for lunch. Yet, he noticed that Wang Mai’s mood seemed off. During the meal, Wang Mai was evasive, as if something weighed on his mind.

“Tiger Head, what’s wrong with you today?”

“Ah, nothing at all!”

“Still trying to fool me… You ate less than I did today. Usually, you can out-eat two of me, so why today… If it’s not something troubling you, you wouldn’t be like this. Ha, why don’t you share it with me? Maybe I can help… Wait, is it that you’ve taken a liking to someone and don’t dare to confess?”

Wang Mai’s dark face flushed a deep purple.

“Afu, stop talking nonsense.” He hesitated, glanced around to ensure no one was nearby, and then asked in a low voice, “Afu, tell me honestly, do you like Miss Zhang?”

“Huh?”

Cao Peng was momentarily stunned, looking at Wang Mai in confusion. This guy, gossiping?

“Don’t be ridiculous. When have you ever heard me say I liked Miss Zhang? She helped me, so I allowed her to come learn martial arts.”

“That’s for the best.”

“So why are you suddenly asking about this?”

Wang Mai scratched his head. “After you both left at noon, Deng Fan mentioned something to me… He’s seen Miss Zhang before.”

“Oh?”

“A few days ago… Right, the day you lost your leather pouch. Deng Fan was near Nine Maidens City and saw Miss Zhang walking with a general. They were holding hands, looking very close.”

“Nine Maidens City?”

Cao Peng blurted out instinctively. Nine Maidens City was located at Mei Bay in Wangzhuang Town, Xinye County, east of the Tang River, where three streams converge—a place famed for its azure waters. Legend had it that nine fairy maidens once lived here, built walls and founded a city, and later lived in harmony with the local villagers, the men tilling and the women weaving.

Myths are often beautiful, but what of reality?

Nine Maidens City was established at the end of the Western Han, by Wang Mang. After seizing the throne, Wang Mang sent his youngest princess to marry here to win favor. The princess was indeed charming, and together with her consort, led the construction of the city, earning much praise locally. Even after Liu Xiu ascended the throne, he did not demolish Nine Maidens City, preserving it to this day.

Deng Fan, idle by nature, often wandered to Nine Maidens City—hardly unusual.

“I heard from Deng Fan that a military camp has recently been built at the western ridge of Nine Maidens City. Haven’t you noticed Old Deng has disappeared lately? It’s said he went over there… General Deng even sent someone to inform him.”

Nine Maidens City, a new military camp built?

Cao Peng truly hadn’t heard of this. The city lay between Jiyang and Yuyang—essentially a no-man’s land. Likely even Deng Ji didn’t know about this… He vaguely recalled Miss Zhang saying she crossed the river to see her brother that day.

“Tiger Head, don’t make wild guesses. Didn’t Miss Zhang say she went to see her brother that day?”

“Brother, my foot,” Wang Mai sneered. “Her surname is Zhang, but Deng Fan says the general he saw that day was surnamed Huang. You know how Deng Fan is—he knows everyone. He even found out that the general is the eldest son of Huang Zu, the Prefect of Jiangxia, named Huang She, just turned eighteen, serving as the Military Registrar of Jiangxia. I heard he gets a monthly salary of thirty-seven bushels, and Governor Liu values him highly.”

Huang Zu? Huang She? Military Registrar of Jiangxia?

Yesterday, after Deng Ji returned home, he said nothing. Yet early this morning, he rushed to the office, seemingly very busy. Then there’s the abrupt return of Kuai Zheng, and the sudden appearance of Huang She at Nine Maidens City, along with the new military camp…

Could it be that Liu Biao was preparing for war?

Cao Peng caught the implication in Wang Mai’s words and laughed, “Tiger Head, you’re overthinking. There’s truly nothing between me and Miss Zhang.”

“That’s best!”

Wang Mai whispered, “I haven’t told my father, and I told Deng Fan not to mention it to his family either, or your parents would worry. Anyway, you’d best keep your distance from Miss Zhang—a Zhang in Nanyang, a Huang from the gentry of Jiangxia… What kinship could she possibly have with Huang She? You killed Cheng Ji in Zhongyang Town and could flee far away, but a hundred Cheng Jis can’t compare to one Huang She… Afu, you know more than I do, so I won’t say more. Just… be careful.”

His concern was clear in his words.

Cao Peng forced a smile. “Tiger Head, I know my limits.”

Yet inside, an odd feeling was rising… Could Zhang Wanzhen and Huang She really be involved?

――――――――――――――――――――――――

The next few days, Cao Peng appeared perfectly normal.

Every morning, Zhang Wanzhen arrived by boat at Taolin, following Cao Peng to learn Tai Chi. Her aptitude was high, and she was clever—often grasping the essence with just a hint from Cao Peng. In just a few days, she had learned most of the Tai Chi forms; though not yet fully proficient, her movements already showed promise.

Cao Peng taught her one of the three branches of Wen County Tai Chi, the Nanleng Routine.

In later times, it was said, “To learn Tai Chi, go to Wen County.” Wen County Tai Chi was renowned for three styles: Chenjiagou, Nanleng, and Zhaobao. The Nanleng Routine was steeped in tradition, following the orthodox internal school, making it ideal for Zhang Wanzhen. In his previous life, Cao Peng had studied White Ape Tongbei, but also learned other boxing styles. Nanleng strictly followed ancient methods: working the meridians, circulating qi and blood, harmonizing the organs, stirring true energy, strengthening sinew and bone, combining offense and defense. It excelled in moving four ounces to shift a thousand pounds, its force like entwined silk, continuous and unending…

With two or three years of diligent training, one could reach a minor level of mastery.

For Zhang Wanzhen, this routine was the easiest to comprehend.

Yet each lesson inevitably involved some contact—skin meeting skin, bodies touching.

Cao Peng’s feelings grew increasingly strange. At first, when Wang Mai spoke of Zhang Wanzhen and Huang She, he could feign indifference. But in Zhang Wanzhen’s presence…

Several times, he wanted to ask her, but when the words reached his lips, he didn’t know how to begin.

As days passed, the discomfort in his heart only intensified.

Could it be that I’ve fallen in love with her?

Once the thought arose, it became uncontrollable.

On the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, Zhang Wanzhen did not come for her lesson.

Cao Peng was listless all afternoon, gave Deng Fan a few pointers on stance training, then went home to rest.

“Tiger Head, Afu seems off today, doesn’t he?”

Wang Mai finished his practice, exhaling deeply. “Not just today—he’s been off for days now. Big Guy, did you find out what I asked? Is the Zhang family of Nieyang really related to the Huang family?”

“No, absolutely not!” Deng Fan waved his hands. “I’m useless at most things, but not at this. The Huang clan of Jiangxia is a famous gentry in Jingzhou, on par with the Kuai family of Xiangyang. The Zhangs are respected in Nanyang, but in Jingzhou, they can’t compare to the Huangs. The two families had no previous contact; I’m sure they’re not relatives… But as for Zhang Wanzhen, I haven’t found out much. I asked a few friends who know Nieyang well, but none had heard of her. I suppose she’s a distant branch. Miss Zhang seems nice—if it weren’t for Huang She, she and Afu would be a good match.”

“Don’t let Afu hear you say that or he might go crazy. Anyway, keep looking into Zhang Wanzhen. If you can’t find anything, go to Nieyang after the new year? I’m worried.”

The two youths whispered together for a long while.

Meanwhile, when Cao Peng returned home, he found Wang Meng holding a shovel, facing off against Cao Ji.

“Old Cao, I’m ready!”

“Old Wang, go ahead…”

Cao Ji cradled a steel blade, his spirits high.

“Father, Uncle Wang, what are you…”

Cao Peng was taken aback. Before he could speak, Wang Meng shouted and stepped forward, his foot striking the ground with a thud. As he crossed the threshold, his iron shovel swung through the air, coming down hard on Cao Ji.

Cao Ji calmly sidestepped.

A flash of cold light—Cao Ji raised his blade and brought it down squarely on the shovel.

The thick wooden handle was cleaved clean through.

“What a blade!” Wang Meng shouted. Cao Ji’s face lit up with an excited smile.

Cao Peng stood at the doorway, puzzled. “Father, Uncle Wang, what are you doing?”