“As a lieutenant, my team members don’t even have ranked weapons. Isn’t that embarrassing? If it’s embarrassing for me, wouldn’t it implicate you as well?”

“Get lost!” Zhou Shu said bluntly.

“Don’t.” Sun Gongping’s biggest advantage was his thick skin. He didn’t get angry. He licked his lips and said, “I’ll pay. You have to take on jobs anyway, don’t you?”

“Sure. Cash on delivery. No credit,” Zhou Shu said.

“With our relationship, are you afraid that I’ll go back on my word?” Sun Gongping exclaimed.

“Yes,” Zhou Shu said calmly.

Sun Gongping: “…”

Even with his thick skin, he didn’t know what to say for a moment.

“You want weapons?” Zhou Shu smiled at his dispirited appearance. How dare you mock me?

I don’t lack weapons, but what I give you is yours. If I don’t give one to you, no matter who you are, don’t even think about taking it from me.

Playing the relationship card with me, sorry, but you’re not qualified.

“Yes, I do,” Sun Gongping said dejectedly.

He was already going all out. If he couldn’t get his hands on some weapons, they would laugh at him later.

“Sure. If you follow me, I guarantee that all of you will have ranked weapons to use.” Zhou Shu chuckled.

“Follow you?” Sun Gongping looked at him doubtfully. “You’re a Forging Master. Even if you go to the Ten Nations Martial Arts Tournament, you’ll only be a logistics support personnel. You don’t need to lead troops to war. What can I do if I follow you? I don’t know how to forge!”

“It’s not like that. You can be my guard,” Zhou Shu said. “No matter what, I’m Great Xia’s King of the South. How can I not have some ostentation? If you lead your team to protect me, I naturally won’t treat you badly.”

“I’m not doing it,” Sun Gongping said. “We’re going to the Ten Nations Martial Arts Tournament to kill enemies and contribute. What’s the point of protecting you? Besides, do you need protection?”

Sun Gongping wasn’t in a good mood. Who doesn’t know that you fought the Qin emperor to a draw?

Do you need protection with your strength?

At that time, it’s not certain who will protect who.

“If you don’t want to do it, then get lost. I don’t have any weapons for you.” Zhou Shu didn’t stand on ceremony with his nephew.

“Is there really no room for discussion?” Sun Gongping refused to give up. “Old Zhou, no matter what, we’re related—”

“Stop. I’ll give you another chance,” Zhou Shu said, “I have some Spring Embroidered Sabers, Autumn Anatidae Plume Sabers, and Eight-Sided Han Swords. They can each take one.”

“Those are standard weapons,” Sun Gongping said.

“You don’t want the chance anymore, do you?” Zhou Shu glared.

“Yes, go on.” Sun Gongping admitted defeat.

“Have your men each take a standard weapon from me,” Zhou Shu continued. “Then use the standard weapons they obtain to kill enemies. As long as they kill enough enemies in the Ten Nations Martial Arts Tournament, let them come to my Huaxia Pavilion to obtain ranked weapons.”

Some of the standard weapons that Zhou Shu had handed out had already been destroyed.

Forget about the Huben Sabers and the Horse Slaying Saber. The Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique and Golden Bell Shield Technique had already reached perfection.

However, the Visualization of the Five Mountains’ True Form from the Spring Embroidered Saber was still far from perfection.

It was the same with the Riding on Cloud and Wind Technique from the Eight-Sided Han Sword.

As for the Breakthrough Pills given by the Autumn Anatidae Plume Saber, the more the better.

Zhou Shu had originally planned to give out these standard weapons to the Great Xia army. Now that Sun Gongping had come knocking on his door, it wasn’t a bad idea to have them work for him.

“In exchange for killing enemies? Are you still charging for them then?” Sun Gongping’s eyes lit up.

“Stop dreaming. Of course I’m charging for them!” Zhou Shu said. “But for your sake, I’ll give you a discount.”

“That’s better!” Then Sun Gongping chose a few standard weapons and left in satisfaction.

After sending Sun Gongping out of the mansion, Zhou Shu realized that Chen Ji was still waiting in the courtyard.

“General Chen, you haven’t left yet. Is there anything else?” Zhou Shu asked.

“Your Highness, I was ordered to protect you during the Ten Nations Martial Arts Tournament, so I made some arrangements to confirm with you,” Chen Ji said.

Zhou Shu had just attempted to trick Sun Gongping into becoming his guard. He didn’t expect Great Xia to really arrange guards for him.

“Do all forgers have them?” Zhou Shu asked. “I mean guards.”

“The other forgers travel with the army in workshops. When they enter the Ten Nations Martial Arts Tournament, they are soldiers, and they are generally like the squad leaders,” Chen Ji said. “Your Highness, your status is different—”

“There’s no difference.” Zhou Shu waved his hand.

I’m participating in the Ten Nations Martial Arts Tournament. I’m not there to sightsee.

If a group of people protect me from battle, how will I recruit workers?

“I’m participating in the Ten Nations Martial Arts Tournament to help the Great Xia army, not to cause trouble for them.

“Other forgers can follow the army. Naturally, so can I.”

“I knew you would say that, Your Highness.” Chen Ji smiled bitterly. “The great general told me that if you reject me as your guard, then I should inform you that you can follow the army.”

“Which army does the great general want me to follow?” Zhou Shu had never made up his mind. He wanted to hear Meng Bai’s arrangements.

“The great general says that if you have no specific requirements, you should follow the central army,” Chen Ji said.

He explained that the central army, led by Meng Bai, was also the main force of the war.

Zhou Shu had no objections to this arrangement.

In any case, with his current identity, he could completely act according to the circumstances.

If there were not many opportunities in the central army’s camp, he could totally change locations again.

“Okay, I got it.” Zhou Shu nodded. “When will the central army gather?”

“The army participating in the martial arts tournament is prepared,” Chen Ji said. “In three days, the Ten Nations Martial Arts Tournament will officially begin. At that time, please head to Sanhuang Mountain outside the city.”

“Alright, I understand,” Zhou Shu said, “General Chen, do you need standard weapons for the troops you’re leading?

“I happen to have some standard weapons. Do you want them?”

“Your Highness, it is not my duty to procure munitions…” Chen Ji hesitated.

“Don’t worry about that. Just tell me if you want them.”

“Yes, of course,” Chen Ji said.

“That’ll do. Take the weapons. I’ll settle the money with the great general later.” Zhou Shu waved his hand.

“Old Shi, Old Shi!” Zhou Shu shouted.

Shi Songtao ran in from outside.

“What is it?” Shi Songtao snapped.

“Hand over the standard weapons in the Huaxia Pavilion’s storeroom to General Chen.”

“How much are you charging?” Shi Songtao asked.

“Go to Great General Meng and ask him to pay the Forging Division normally.”

“Why should I go?” Shi Songtao said angrily.

“Should I go personally, then?” Zhou Shu said. “Old Shi, you’re the deputy master of our Huaxia Pavilion. We’re still in the beginning stages. We don’t have much manpower, so you will have to do more.”

“Later, I’ll ask for a few of those Forging Apprentices from the 0th Workshop. Then you’ll have help.”

Zhou Shu patted Shi Songtao’s shoulder. “After this period of time, I’ll teach you the star positioning technique.”

Hearing Zhou Shu say this, Shi Songtao perked up. “You said it.”

“Don’t worry. When have I ever gone back on my word?”

Zhou Shu smiled. “You’re the deputy master of our Huaxia Pavilion. If your forging skills become stronger, it will only be beneficial to our Huaxia Pavilion.”

Shi Songtao nodded and brought Chen Ji to get the standard weapons.

Zhou Shu looked up at the night sky. The Ten Nations Martial Arts Tournament was finally coming.

Three years. He couldn’t waste the three years of the Ten Nations Martial Arts Tournament. He didn’t know how much he would gain after three years.

At the very least, I have to become a High-level Forging Master.

I have to be stronger in the Martial Dao. That fellow the Qin emperor is unreliable. If the Great Qin’s imperial cauldron shatters, the Demon Realm will invade. With my current strength, it’s really not that safe…