When Qin Yi heard Wang the carpenter dismiss his own craft, he immediately protested in the earnest way of a child: woodworking and crafting were not just practical—they were magical, turning trees into tools and furniture. Wang, however, shook his head. He knew that such "lowly" skills, no matter how useful, would be frowned upon by the master behind Qin Yi (the young swordbearer).
Despite Qin Yi's insistence, Wang refused to teach the child woodworking. Frustrated, Qin Yi asked to learn woodcarving instead. Wang, modest and self-effacing, said he had never formally studied carving; he had learned it from playing as a child and from adapting his carpentry skills.
This sparked a sudden flash of insight in Qin Yi's mind. Though he could not fully grasp it at that moment, he sensed that this idea was extremely important for his own learning. Inspired, he asked Wang to craft a bow for him instead, which Wang agreed to wholeheartedly, seeing it as an opportunity to bond with Qin Yi and, indirectly, with the master behind him.
Meanwhile, Wang Gensheng felt hurt that his father had denied Qin Yi woodworking lessons, misunderstanding the reason. Wang the carpenter could not openly explain that his actions were meant to avoid offending the master, so he simply reassured his son that Qin Yi would understand. Though disappointed, Gensheng slowly accepted it.
Walking home, Qin Yi's mind raced over Wang's words. Suddenly, inspiration struck: skills could be self-taught, without observation or guidance from others. If Wang the carpenter could have his craft recognized by the system, why couldn't he do the same?
Excited, Qin Yi rushed home and began experimenting with mud modeling in the yard. He shaped a crude human figure and waited for the system to recognize the skill—but nothing happened.
He reflected: even though he tried actively, some skills, like fighting or crafting, were not immediately recognized. Yet the seed of understanding had been planted.
(End of Chapter)