Chapter 616: Brief Warmth

"Kid, are you trying to murder this old man?!"

The Craftsman Emperor's beard bristled as he glared, absolutely livid. Ye Wushuang was giving him an impossible task—completing one hundred thousand sets of Half-Saint Armor within a year. With his skills alone, it was utterly impossible.

Besides, the sheer volume of materials required for one hundred thousand sets of Half-Saint Armor was something not even an Overlord power could necessarily provide.

At this thought, the Craftsman Emperor grew even more dejected. This kid was just trying to scam him. "Kid, I don't want that thing anymore. And you can have your wine back."

"Grandpa, Junior Brother Ye must have his reasons. Why don't you hear him out first?" Qianling stepped forward, holding the Dragon Cat, and tried to placate him.

Pfft!

The Craftsman Emperor felt like he was about to cough up blood. He shot Qianling a look. "Girl, I'm your grandfather! Even if you're fond of this kid, you can't just team up with him to swindle your own grandpa!"

"Grandpa, what are you talking about!"

Hearing this, a faint blush crept onto Qianling's face.

"Old man, you've got to control your emotions at your age. Get too worked up and you might just kick the bucket. Then it'll be too late for tears."

The Dragon Cat seized the opportunity to stir up more trouble, nearly infuriating the Craftsman Emperor to death.

"Shut up!"

Ye Wushuang's expression darkened. He spun around, grabbed the Dragon Cat by its ear, and lifted it into the air.

"Beautiful Qianling, this kid's bullying Lord Cat again! You have to... OW! Lord Cat's ear! It hurts, it hurts..."

The Dragon Cat shrieked, baring its fangs and begging Qianling for help. This time, however, Qianling didn't intervene. 'That wretched cat deserves a lesson.'

AARGH!

With a miserable shriek, Ye Wushuang flicked his wrist and tossed the cat out of the room.

He then stepped forward as if nothing had happened and said with a faint smile, "Senior, it's only one hundred thousand sets of Half-Saint Armor. Is there really a need to be so surprised?"

"You make it sound so easy, kid. Forging a weapon requires casting a blank and then shaping it. After it's formed, it has to be engraved with all sorts of complex Inscriptions. It's not as simple as you make it out to be! Forget one year—even if I worked day and night for ten years, I might not be able to finish."

The Craftsman Emperor retorted without hesitation. 'I have to make this kid understand how difficult this is!'

But Ye Wushuang's expression remained unchanged. He simply smiled faintly and asked, "What if you only had to complete the final step, the engraving? Would you be confident you could finish within a year, Senior?"

"If I'm only doing the final step, then... I might be able to finish in a year."

The Craftsman Emperor answered without hesitation.

But then he sensed something was off. He stared at Ye Wushuang. "Why do you ask that, kid? And what do you plan to do with one hundred thousand sets of Half-Saint Armor?"

It was finally dawning on the Craftsman Emperor. A single set of Half-Saint Armor was incomparably precious, a treasure in any setting.

And now, Ye Wushuang wanted to forge one hundred thousand of them. What on earth was he planning?

Qianling was also puzzled. 'Forging Battle Armor requires casting the blanks and the smithing process. How could Ye Wushuang possibly handle all that?'

"Since you can do it, Senior, I implore you to help me. As for the rest, you will understand soon enough."

Ye Wushuang cupped his fists in a bow, deliberately leaving them in suspense.

He didn't tell the Craftsman Emperor that there was a complete system for forging Battle Armor inside the War Fortress.

With this system, along with the Profound Wood Black Gold and other resources stored within the War Fortress, they could mass-produce Battle Armor. Once the Craftsman Emperor engraved the Inscriptions, they would become Half-Saint Armor.

'An army of one hundred thousand soldiers, each equipped with a set of Half-Saint Armor... one can only imagine how powerful that would be!'

And all of it depended on the activation of the War Fortress.

The War Fortress was the ultimate key!

"I hope you will consider it, Senior. I don't have much time left."

Ye Wushuang added abruptly.

Even Qianling could sense the gravity in his tone. 'I don't have much time left... what is Junior Brother Ye doing?'

One year!

The Craftsman Emperor fell silent as well. He glanced up at Qianling, clearly hesitating.

Qianling knew what her grandfather was hesitating about. A conflicted expression appeared on her beautiful face as she stepped forward. "Grandpa, please help him. It's only for a year. It won't cause a delay!"

"You two go on ahead. Let me think about it."

The Craftsman Emperor turned away, as if there was some secret between the grandfather and his granddaughter.

"Junior Brother Ye, let's step outside for now." Qianling glanced at the Craftsman Emperor, then pulled Ye Wushuang out of the room.

Once they were outside Juwang Valley, Qianling smiled. "Don't worry, Junior Brother Ye. My grandfather will help you."

"Are you and your grandfather leaving the Ancient Spirit Sect?"

Ye Wushuang asked, uncertain. He had faintly gleaned something from their conversation.

At his words, Qianling's smile froze. She hadn't expected him to figure it out so quickly.

Qianling quickly composed herself, her gaze fixed on Ye Wushuang as she asked in all seriousness, "Junior Brother Ye, if—and this is just a hypothetical—if I were to leave and not return to the Ancient Spirit Sect, would you come looking for me?"

"I would."

Ye Wushuang replied. He had a faint premonition that once the matters in the Grand Emperor Domain were resolved, he wouldn't be staying there for much longer either.

"Really?"

Hearing his answer, Qianling's face blossomed into a radiant, indescribably beautiful smile.

Ye Wushuang nodded.

"Then you'd better remember that!"

Qianling stared at him intently and spoke, then, as if she'd made a momentous decision, she stepped forward, rose onto her tiptoes, and gave him a light, fleeting peck on the cheek.

Ye Wushuang froze for a second, not quite processing what had happened as he stared at Qianling.

Instantly, Qianling's face flushed red. She quickly spun around and hurried back into Juwang Valley, moving like a graceful elf caught in the wind.

Ye Wushuang touched his cheek. A trace of warmth lingered there, and a faint, sweet fragrance still hung in the air.

'Forget it. This isn't the time for romance. I'll put it aside for now.'

Ye Wushuang pushed the thought aside, refusing to dwell on it. He turned and left Juwang Valley.

「Three days later.」

The Craftsman Emperor agreed to Ye Wushuang's request.

Ye Wushuang arranged for Jian Bufan and Qiu Mo to escort the Craftsman Emperor and Qianling to Barbarian King City. He also had Star Elder go with them.

After all, Star Elder was a master of the Inference Technique, making him the perfect strategist. This had all been part of Ye Wushuang's plan.

"Sister!"

At the foot of Zixia Peak, Ye Wushuang called out to Ye Rou as she descended.

Her figure was slender and graceful as she approached, her dark hair tied up in a bun and draped over her shoulder, making her look even more beautiful and enchanting.

"Xiaoshuang!"

Ye Rou flew straight down and threw herself into Ye Wushuang's arms, her sweet fragrance enveloping him.

However.

Ye Wushuang's heart was free of any impure thoughts. He simply held her tightly, cherishing this brief, warm moment.

Only after a long while did the two of them finally part.

"You've gotten even more beautiful, Sister."

Ye Wushuang said with a teasing smile, his eyes fixed on Ye Rou.

"Don't be silly."

Ye Rou chided him, but inwardly, she was delighted.

"Hehe!" Ye Wushuang scratched the back of his head. If anyone else saw Ye the Godslayer acting this way, their jaws would surely drop.

"Sister, come with me to the Endless Wilderness."

Ye Wushuang said. 'It's time to pay a visit to the Giant Spirit Race.'

"Okay!" Ye Rou agreed without the slightest hesitation, not even asking why. 'As long as I can spend time with Xiaoshuang, is there anything I wouldn't agree to?'

"Then let's go!"

Seeing her agree, Ye Wushuang wrapped an arm around her slender waist and leaped into the void.

'Then, Sister, just wait to be my bride!'

Ye Rou's gaze was lost in thought, his firm words seeming to echo in her ears. 'I wonder if he still remembers that vow he made back then.'