Blacksmith Association.
Inside the assessment room.
Her ponytail tied up high, Mu Xi had changed into a clean and sharp outfit.
Skillfully placing the metal onto the forging table, she operated calmly, performing submersion, scorching, heating, and other procedures.
Following this, Mu Xi took out her Forging Hammer and began to forge.
She swung the Forging Hammer like a raging storm; every strike landed precisely on the metal, creating a deafening roar.
Under her forging, the metal visibly shrank, the Impurities were gradually removed, and the interior was constantly undergoing Fusion.
Arthur and Mu Chen were watching from the side.
"It's almost done." Arthur knew very well that as long as Mu Xi maintained her rhythm, she could easily complete the Thousand Forging.
"Indeed." Mu Chen, as her father, was filled with emotion and fell into reminiscence, a flash of Mu Xi's stubborn little figure from her childhood crossing his mind.
Even when he didn't approve, she still insisted on practicing forging.
"Mu Xi has come so far now..."
"However."
Grabbing Arthur's head and pressing it down, Mu Chen's tone was unfriendly: "If I recall correctly, not long ago Mu Xi was clearly lacking in strength."
"I didn't expect such rapid progress in such a short time, Little Arthur, do you have any idea why?"
Arthur looked surprised, not seeming to fake it: "Oh? That happened? I had no idea."
"Is that so?" Mu Chen narrowed his eyes slightly. The brat is pretending quite well.
Mu Xi recently secretly purchased some Whale Gel. He remembered telling Mu Xi not to use that item yet.
So who could have convinced Mu Xi to disregard her father's advice?
It's so hard to guess.
In the end, Mu Chen still didn't expose them. Whale Gel was indeed a good thing, but the side effects were not good for children.
Moreover, when teaching forging, he emphasized the fundamentals, focusing on accumulating strength for a major breakthrough. It wouldn't be too late to use a treasure like Whale Gel after building a solid foundation.
But since Mu Xi has already used it, so be it. She is almost old enough anyway.
"Bang!"
As Mu Xi's final hammer strike fell.
Thousand Forging, complete.
The echoes still reverberated in the room.
"I succeeded!" Wiping the sweat from her forehead, Mu Xi jumped up and cheered excitedly.
She did it!
She had put in so much effort, practicing forging day and night. A Third-Rank Blacksmith at thirteen years old was extremely rare throughout the entire Federation.
She rushed toward her father impatiently, wanting to share her joy.
Mu Chen happily opened his arms, waiting for the girl to rush into his embrace.
But the next moment, he couldn't smile anymore.
Mu Xi went straight past him and hugged Arthur, who was standing behind him.
"Did you see it, Arthur, I did it!" Mu Xi hugged Arthur tightly, her overflowing happiness filling the entire room.
"Thank you!" she said gratefully. "If it weren't for you, I don't know how much longer it would take me to complete the Thousand Forging."
Don't thank me!
Arthur's eyes showed panic, and he frantically signaled Mu Xi: "Ha... This is all because you're amazing, Mu Xi. It has nothing to do with me."
Hearing this, Mu Xi suddenly realized her father was still standing there and immediately let go of Arthur. "Haha, I was thanking you for your company. Thank you for your encouragement all this time."
Mu Chen's face darkened as he watched the two putting on an act. He had originally decided not to pursue the matter of Arthur instigating Mu Xi to use the Whale Gel. After all, there really wasn't much harm in it.
But Mu Xi's first instinct was to hug this Little Yellow Hair instead of him, her father.
Mu Chen, feeling resentful, developed an increasingly dangerous look in his eyes.
"Well... I have things to do. Since the assessment is over, I'll be leaving first." Arthur saw the danger and decisively slipped away. "Teacher, Mu Xi, goodbye!"
Mu Xi didn't try to keep him, instead turning to rush into Mu Chen's arms, trying to change the subject: "Daddy..."
However, after completing the Thousand Forging, she really did have a lot to say to her father... Walking out of the Blacksmith Association, Arthur saw a girl standing by the street.
Gu Yue had changed her look again today, tying her hair into Twin Tails, wearing a cool outfit—a white short sleeve shirt paired with denim shorts—accentuating her slender figure.
"Huh? Arthur, what a coincidence." Gu Yue said in surprise.
"You're here too."
Arthur certainly didn't believe this was a coincidence; Gu Yue was definitely doing it on purpose, but he couldn't expose her.
He really didn't know what Gu Yue was planning.
Was she trying to build a good relationship with him?
That didn't seem right either.
Arthur had never seen this way of making friends.
"Uh, it is quite a coincidence." Arthur scratched his head.
"Oh, Arthur." Gu Yue seemed to remember something, patted her head, and pulled two Movie Tickets from her pocket. She tilted her head cutely and said, "I was originally planning to see a movie, and I thought it might be a bit boring alone. Since we're so destined, and I happen to have an extra ticket, let's go together!"
Arthur couldn't believe what he was hearing: "Huh? What did you say?"
The Silver Dragon King is inviting me to watch a movie? Why am I having this dream?
"I said, let's go watch a movie together." Gu Yue leaned closer and hugged Arthur's arm. "It's the weekend today, let's hang out."
"O-okay... okay." Arthur's brain was smoking from trying to figure out Gu Yue's angle, and he was vaguely dragged by Gu Yue toward the Cinema.
Along the way, Arthur couldn't help but frequently glance at Gu Yue. He truly couldn't figure out what Gu Yue was up to.
Gu Yue, sensing Arthur's gaze, admired her own wisdom in her heart.
After several days of experimentation, Gu Yue had tested Arthur's preferences using various hairstyles and outfits.
She found that whenever she wore cooler clothing, the frequency of Arthur's glances increased significantly.
Most importantly, Gu Yue, utilizing her Astonishing Wisdom and having consulted countless books, devised a plan, intending to capture Arthur's heart today!
Walking down the street.
Gu Yue walked ahead, while Arthur pondered behind her.
Suddenly, a wind picked up. This wind was too magical.
The back of Gu Yue's white short-sleeved shirt was lifted slightly by the breeze.
Sunlight shone down, and the lines of her legs outlined by the denim shorts swayed ahead, making Arthur dizzy.
Although Gu Yue had delicate features, her temperament was too extraordinary, always giving people a sense of detachment, as if she didn't belong to the mortal world.
Just right, her Twin Tails were lifted by the wind, brushing past Arthur's nose, tickling him.
Arthur stared at her swaying Twin Tails, suddenly feeling the residual warmth on his fingertips from when she had hugged his arm moments ago.
The sensation was too vivid, making it impossible for Arthur to clearly figure out "what Gu Yue was trying to do."
Suddenly passing a Dessert Shop, Gu Yue paused, and when she turned her eyes were shining: "Arthur, wait for me!"
Before Arthur could respond, she had already quickly run into the roadside shop, standing on her toes to gesture to the owner. Her Twin Tails swung side to side with her movements, like an excited little beast.
Arthur stood rooted to the spot, watching her back as she bent over to choose desserts, suddenly remembering Gu Yue's constantly changing attire over the past few days.
A woman adorns herself for the one who pleases her.
Could it be that she dressed up for me?
She likes me?
No.
Arthur frowned; he knew his place. Unless the Silver Dragon King had not separated Na'er, this was absolutely impossible.