Carefully Forged Crimson Longsword

Xiong Ji took a deep breath, suddenly pulled a primitive copper key from his pocket, and handed it solemnly to Cheng Shuili: "This is... the key to the hospital's underground warehouse. Inside are some... medicinal herbs and equipment passed down through generations of our bear-race. Although they may not compare to your methods... but..."

He paused, his eyes resolute: "Please, accept it. This is the most precious thing I have to offer."

Cheng Shuili was about to speak, but Xiong Ji suddenly added: "And... in the future, in this city, whatever help you may need..."

He looked around at his clansmen, his voice suddenly rising, "The entire bear-race will stand by your side!"

"Yes!"

"Count me in!"

"From now on, the human lady's business is our business!"

The surrounding bear-race beastmen immediately responded in a chorus of voices. A few of the younger ones even excitedly pounded their chests, emitting dull thuds.

Xiong Ji watched this scene, finally revealing the first genuine smile he had shown in days. He patted Cheng Shuili on the shoulder and said softly: "You saved this hospital... you saved the hope of us all."

"This kindness... the bear-race will never forget."

It really did not need to be said on such a grand scale.

Cheng Shuili felt a bit guilty, not because she felt she didn't deserve such gratitude, but because she had actually used the heart of a small person to speculate about this bear director.

She had truly thought there would be an argument over the ownership of the vial.

However... perhaps it was also because Xiong Ji did not know the current use of this vial?

That was a good thing, too.

This time, Cheng Shuili did not need to test human nature.

Cheng Shuili smiled slightly and accepted the gift given by Director Xiong.

She should have gone to the underground warehouse to take a look right now, but there was only half an hour left of the two hours, and Cheng Shuili still wanted to go to the weapons shop to see if there were any new treasures, so she could only bid a regretful farewell.

Lang Yu was squatting in the corner, idly drawing circles on the ground with his claws, creating a series of unpleasant noises.

Hearing that Cheng Shuili was leaving, he jumped up with a start, only to bump his head on the ceiling with a "thud."

This scene made Su Rui's eyes widen in surprise. It turned out the cartoons were not lying; the beastmen really did have that kind of jumping ability.

"Awoo!" He clutched his head and squatted down, looking up with teary eyes: "My King!! You're leaving already? That... that..."

He fumbled around his body in a panic, suddenly pulling out a pitch-black, charred-looking piece of jerky from his tail fur, "Do you want to taste my special... hey, hey, don't throw it away!"

Cheng Shuili expressionlessly slapped the suspicious object onto the ground.

Lang Yu scratched his head sheepishly, then his eyes suddenly lit up: "Right, right! The weapons shop! King, aren't you going to the weapons shop?"

Before he could finish his sentence, his foot slipped, and he fell flat on his back with a slap.

The surrounding bear-race beastmen walked around him as if it were nothing unusual, and a young bear-race even kindly helped him up.

So embarrassing.

Really.

Lang Yu climbed up in a sorry state and trotted after Cheng Shuili: "King, let me tell you, that lioness is fierce! Last time I tried to swipe a dagger, she chased me for three streets..."

Doing what?

Swipe a dagger?

Cheng Shuili glanced at him.

Lang Yu immediately straightened his back and put on a "I'm super reliable" expression, if one ignored the tuft of hair on top of his head that was sticking up from the collision with the ceiling.

Sure enough, the less people had, the more they cared about it, and beastmen were no exception.

But... a lioness? So, it really did change personnel, right?

It seems there is a great hope of seeing a new treasure of the shop on this trip.

"That... King..." Lang Yu rubbed his hands, his tail wagging unconsciously, "Do you want me to lead the way? Although I was chased and beaten last time... but! For the King! I am willing!"

Cheng Shuili was about to refuse when Xiong Ji, standing to the side, coughed twice.

"Doctor Lang, are you planning to resign?"

A kind-hearted gray bear nurse reminded him. But Lang Yu clearly did not grasp the other's good intentions.

Cheng Shuili did not want this subordinate to actually lose his job, so she quickly spoke up to say goodbye.

Although Lang Yu was reluctant, he could only watch eagerly as Cheng Shuili and the other walked away.

After walking out of the hospital, the two finally escaped the fate of asking for directions everywhere.

Although Cheng Shuili had only been there once, she remembered the way here with unexpected accuracy.

Perhaps it was because what happened that time was too unique?

She led Su Rui through several winding alleys, gradually being able to smell the scent of rust and charcoal drifting in the air. The further they went, the clearer the clanging sound of forging became.

Turning the last street corner, the scene before them made both of them stop at the same time.

Tiger Brother's simple sign was gone, and the primitive shop was gone as well.

In its place was a metal building with a peculiar design.

The entire house looked as if it had been pieced together from countless weapons.

The eaves made of swords glinted coldly in the sunlight, the fence welded from spears stood menacingly, and even the door handle was a pair of crossed halberds.

Most eye-catching of all was a wooden board nailed to the side, on which human text was scrawled in a messy graffiti: "New shop opening, welcome to snatch (crossed out) purchase!"

The characters were also written in a crooked manner, clearly showing a lack of understanding of human culture...

Squatting at the shop entrance was a majestic lion-race beastman, who was lazily polishing a curved blade.

Hearing footsteps, the lioness didn't even lift her head and said: "Line up to buy weapons, limited supply today. If you want to steal... I'll let you taste some freshly stir-fried wolf meat!"

Stir-fried wolf meat...

Cheng Shuili didn't even know what to say. The targeting was too strong. She coughed and asked politely: "Here to buy weapons, where is the line?"

"Oh?" Lion Nian lifted her head immediately, her eyes shining brightly, "No need to line up, no need to line up! Many beastmen are just here to join in the fun because they heard a new shop opened! Are you here to buy weapons properly? Welcome, rare guests, welcome!"

It made Cheng Shuili start to suspect whether this fellow hadn't had any business for a long time.

Lion Nian was completely oblivious. She stood up, picked up the wet towel left on the side, wiped her hands, and then greeted them to enter the shop.

Cheng Shuili followed behind her, and Su Rui followed behind Cheng Shuili. The two of them were like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden for the first time.

"How is it? Impressive enough, right?" Lion Nian proudly flicked her mane and waved her claws, introducing: "This is the regular section, that is the custom section, and the very back is... uh..."

She suddenly lowered her voice, clearly feeling guilty.

"It's the defective product processing area, I suggest you don't go there."

The entire interior of the shop was even more exaggerated than the exterior.

The walls were densely packed with all kinds of weapons, from hidden weapons the size of a palm to giant axes taller than a person.

Dozens of longswords hung from iron chains dangling from the ceiling, casting cold shadows in the firelight.

Most eye-catching was a roaring furnace in the center, inside which eerie blue flames were rolling.

"This is fueled by the saliva of a volcanic lizard." Lion Nian patted the furnace, splashing a few sparks, "The temperature is three times higher than a normal flame, so... the weapons I forge here are better than those in ordinary places."

"Let me show you!"

As she spoke, she suddenly pulled a crimson longsword from the rack and slashed it violently at the iron anvil next to it.

With a crisp "clang," the anvil split in two, while the blade remained undamaged.

It was indeed very strong.

However...

As a shop, this place was definitely unqualified.

It was more like an exhibition hall for a weapons master, one with its own unique style of decoration.

Cheng Shuili took the longsword and directly checked the item details.

【Carefully Forged Crimson Longsword】

【Description: From a top master of the lion-race! When used, you can gain a three-point strength attribute bonus! At the same time, this weapon has the sturdy characteristic, and compared to ordinary weapons, this one is even harder!】

This was just a casual display by this lioness shopkeeper, and it was already so special. Cheng Shuili raised her eyebrows slightly, looking forward to the shop's treasure even more.

She coughed, stopped beating around the bush, and stated her request directly: "I want to see your shop's treasure."

Lion Nian's pupils trembled, and she said vigilantly: "The treasure? I do have one, but... I don't sell it to ordinary people."

Cheng Shuili was not in a hurry. Just by looking at the design of this shop, she knew that this shopkeeper was someone who pursued her own art.

And for such a person, having some strange requirements was normal.

Cheng Shuili had long been mentally prepared for this. Now that she heard this, she just asked in return: "How do you know I'm an ordinary person?"

Lion Nian looked Cheng Shuili up and down without any reservation, while Cheng Shuili stood there calmly, waiting for her to reach a conclusion.

Perhaps it was this composure that bluffed this strange shopkeeper, or perhaps this somewhat eerie weapons shop really hadn't been open for business in a long time.

In short, Lion Nian suddenly changed her tune: "You are indeed somewhat special."

She didn't say anything more, but signaled for the two to follow her.

Lion Nian flicked her fluffy mane and turned to walk toward the back of the shop. Her metal claws tapped crisply on the floor. "Follow me, I'll take you to see a true divine weapon! But let me say this first,"

She suddenly looked back, her golden vertical pupils shining in the dim shop, filled with obvious passion: "Don't blame me if you get scared."

Cheng Shuili and Su Rui followed her through an archway made of crossed spears, and the temperature suddenly rose.

The air was filled with the smell of some kind of burnt beast fur, mixed with the strange aroma of medicinal herbs.

On the wall of the innermost room hung a curtain made of animal skin, on which eerie runes were painted with dark red pigment.

"This is..." Su Rui was about to reach out and touch it, but was slapped away by the lion-race beastman.

"Don't touch it randomly!" She bared her sharp fangs, "You humans might not believe in this, but please respect our beastman faith."

That was absolutely correct.

Su Rui felt a bit embarrassed and raised his hand to scratch the back of his head.

And this lion-race beastman elegantly rolled up a corner of the curtain with the tip of her tail, revealing a pitch-black passage behind it.