Chapter 27: Hundred-Forged Steel Knife (Part 2)

  Although the cost is increased, the knife blank made by high-temperature furnace forging has been improved in both toughness and hardness.

  At noon, Cao Ju specially praised Cao Peng as a reward.

  After all, his son had put in so much thought and effort, and it had indeed been effective. It was not Cao Peng's fault that he himself did not have the ability to make a big workshop, which made his son's efforts go to waste. Cao Jing would not blame him for this, and even felt a little guilty.

  Cao Peng seemed indifferent and had two large bowls of porridge for lunch, plus a big pancake.

  However, he found that Wang Mai's emotions seemed a bit off. During dinner, he was evasive and appeared to have something on his mind.

  "Brother Tiger, what's wrong with you today?"

  "Oh, nothing!"

  "You're still cheating me... You didn't eat more than I did today."

  "Normally your appetite can match two of mine, but today... If you didn't have something on your mind, you definitely wouldn't be like this. Hehe, won't you tell me about it? Maybe I can help you out... By the way, are you secretly in love with someone and too afraid to speak up?"

  The king bought that black face and instantly turned into a purple color.

  "A Fu, don't talk nonsense." He hesitated for a moment, looked around and saw no one, then asked in a low voice: "A Fu, be honest with me, do you like Miss Zhang?"

  "Huh?"

  Cao Peng was taken aback and looked at Wang Mai with a puzzled expression.

  This guy is actually gossiping?

  "Don't spout nonsense, when did you ever hear me say I like Miss Zhang? She helped me out, that's why I let her come and learn martial arts."

  "There is no best."

  "What's wrong with you, why ask this?"

  Wang rubbed his head, "After you left at noon, Deng Fan and I mentioned something... He had seen Miss Zhang before."

  "Oh?"

  "A few days ago... Ah, yes, it was the day you lost your wallet."

  Deng Fan saw Miss Zhang and a general walking together near Jiunü City, holding hands and seemingly very intimate.

  "Nine Girls' Castle?"

  Cao Peng was taken aback for a moment and subconsciously blurted out.

  This nine-girl city, located in the present-day XinYe county Wangzhuang town Meiwai, east of Tanghe river, has three rivers converging, with a beautiful blue sky and water. Legend has it that there were once nine fairy girls living here, building walls and establishing a city. Later on, they also got along well with local villagers, men farming and women weaving.

  Myths are often beautiful, but what about reality?

  Jiunücheng was first built in the late Western Han Dynasty and was established by Wang Mang.

  At that time, Wang Mang usurped the throne and married his youngest ninth princess to this place. The princess was a kind person, who led people to build the city with her husband, and was quite popular in the local area. Even after Liu Xiu ascended to the throne, he did not demolish the Ninth Princess City, which has been preserved until now.

  Deng Fanping was idle and often wandered around, so running to Jiuniu City wasn't anything out of the ordinary.

  "I heard from Deng Fan that a barracks has been newly built on the west hill of Jiunü City."

  "Haven't you seen Old Man Deng lately? He's been nowhere to be found. I heard he ran off to that place... General Deng even sent someone over to make arrangements."

  Jiuniang City, has barracks been built?

  This thing, Cao Peng really hadn't heard of it before.

  Jiuniang City is located between Jiyang and Yuyang, and it belongs to a no-man's land.

  So it's probably that even Deng Jie didn't know about this matter... It seems like I remember that day Zhang Wanjin said she was going to see her older brother when crossing the river.

  "Brother Tiger, don't talk nonsense, didn't Miss Zhang say that she went to see her brother that day?"

  "Fart's brother." Wang Ma coldly smiled and said: "Her surname is Zhang, Deng Fan said that the general he saw that day had the surname Huang. You also know, Deng Fan has a wide range of acquaintances. He even found out that the general was the eldest son of Jiangxia Taishou Huang Zu, named Huang She, who just turned 18 this year and was the Jiangxia Bing Cao Shi. It's said that he gets a salary of 37 hu every month, and Liu Jingzhou also values him highly."

  Huang Zu? Huang She? Jiangxia Bing Cao Shi?

  Yesterday, Deng Jie returned home and didn't say anything.

  He rushed to the government office early this morning and seemed very busy.

  Zhai Zheng suddenly returned earlier, and Huang She, the army historian of Jiangxia County, suddenly appeared in Jiunü City and built a barracks...

  Is Liu Biao going to use military force?

  Cao Peng understood the implication of Wang's words and smiled, "Tiger Head Brother, what are you thinking? I really have no relationship with Miss Zhang."

  "It doesn't matter is the best!"

  Wang said in a low voice, "I haven't told my father about this matter. I've also asked Deng Fan not to tell anyone in his family. Otherwise, your parents will definitely worry. In short, it's best for you to stay away from that Miss Zhang from the Zhang family in Nanyang County; one is surnamed Zhang, and the other is a prominent family in Jiangxia... What kind of relatives could she be to Huang She? You can escape far away after killing Cheng Ji in Zhongyang Town, but even a hundred Cheng Jis are not comparable to one Huang She... Ah Fu, you understand more than I do. I won't say anything else to you. Just be more careful yourself."

  It can be heard from Wang's words that he is very worried.

  Cao Pengqiang smiled and said, "Tiger Head Brother, I know what's what."

  But in her heart, a strange feeling arose... Zhang Wanjin and Huang Shazhen, were they really that kind of relationship?

  ————————————————————————

  The next few days, Cao Peng looked very normal.

  Zhang Wanzhen takes a boat every morning to Taolin, where she follows Cao Peng to learn Tai Chi.

  Her comprehension is very high, and she's also very clever... often Cao Peng just hints at something, and she immediately understands. In just a few short days, Zhang Wanzhen has learned the Tai Chi boxing routine, getting it mostly right. Although not yet thoroughly familiar with it, each move and style still looks quite impressive.

  Cao Peng taught Zhang Yuanting the Nanlengjia Taiji Quan, one of the three branches of Wenxian Taiji Quan.

  In later generations, there is a saying that "learning Tai Chi goes to Wenxian". Wenxian Tai Chi is famous for its three branches: Chenjiagou, Nanlengjia and Zhaobao. Among them, the Nanlengjia Tai Chi fist has a strong traditional flavor, walking on the path of pure internal family boxing, which is most suitable for Zhang Wanzhen to practice. Cao Peng's previous life learned Baiyuan Tongbei, but also studied other boxing techniques. Nanlengjia strictly follows the ancient method, running through the meridians, circulating qi and blood, regulating the five zang organs, stirring up true qi, strengthening muscles and bones, and defending against attacks. Its strengths lie in its ability to use four ounces of force to move a thousand pounds, with a power like twisted silk, continuous and unbroken...

  Diligent practice for two or three years will yield small accomplishments.

  And this boxing road is also the easiest for Zhang Wanjun to understand.

  It's just that every time I teach fist techniques, it can't be avoided that there will be some skin-to-skin contact and physical contact.

  Cao Peng's heart felt increasingly strange.

  At first, Wang Mai talked about Zhang Wanjin and Huang She's affairs, he could still pretend to be nonchalant. But when facing Zhang Wanjin, in his heart...

  There were several times when he wanted to ask, but as soon as the words reached his lips, he didn't know how to open his mouth.

  As time goes on, I feel more and more uncomfortable in my heart.

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

  This idea came up together, and it was unstoppable.

  On the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, Zhang Wan-zhen did not come to practice boxing.

  Cao Peng was listless all morning and after pointing out a few mistakes in Deng Fan's stances, he went home to rest.

  "Hutou, Ah Fu is like this today, it seems a bit off!"

  Wang bought a fist and stood up, taking a deep breath: "It's not just today, something has been off for the past few days."

  "Big guy, I asked you to investigate something, have you investigated? Is it true that the Zhang family in Neyang is related to the Huang family?"

  "No, absolutely not!"

  Deng Fan waved his hand repeatedly, "I may not be good at other things, but this matter is still not difficult for me. Jiangxia Huang's family is a well-known big family in Jingzhou, and it's not inferior to Xiangyang Kuai's family. Although the Zhang family has a reputation in Nanyang County, they can't compare with the Huang family in Jingzhou. There was no connection between the two families before, I dare say that the Zhang family and the Huang family are not relatives... However, I didn't find out about Zhang Wan's affairs.

  I asked several brothers who are more familiar with Neyang, and it seems that none of them have heard of Zhang Wanzhen.

  "Estimated... also a collateral relationship of the Zhang family. Miss Zhang seems like a good person, if it wasn't for Huang Shi, she and Ah Fu would be quite a match."

  You mustn't mention this in front of Ah Fu, or else he might go crazy again.

  "Well, you go ask around about Zhang Wan's situation again. If it doesn't work out, after the New Year, you can make a trip to Neyang? I'm just a bit worried."

  Two and a half little kids whispered to each other for quite a while.

  Cao Peng returned home and as soon as he entered the door, he saw Wang Meng holding a shovel, facing Cao Jin.

  "Old Cao, I'm making my move!"

  "Old Wang, come here..."

  Cao Quan held a steel knife in his arms, full of enthusiasm.

  "Dad, you..."

  Cao Peng was stunned for a moment, and before he could speak, Wang Meng let out a loud shout, lifted his foot and took a step forward. As soon as his foot touched the ground, it made a loud "peng" sound. With this one step, the iron shovel in his hand swung out with a "hula" sound, heavily smashing towards Cao Peng.

  Cao Quan dodged calmly and swiftly, sidestepping with a flash of his body.

  A cold light burst forth, Cao Qu's hand rose and his knife fell, landing right on the iron shovel.

  A thick wooden rod was cut off by a single slash...

  "Good sword!"

  Wang Meng shouted loudly, and Cao Qu's face was also filled with an excited smile.

  Cao Peng stood at the gate and asked in confusion: "Dad, Uncle Wang, what are you doing?"