"Following the right Master… really is too important."
Lin Xia gently stroked the leather-textured cover of the book in his hands, then glanced once more at the two irresistibly tempting "mountains" inside the spatial ring. He couldn't help but sigh from the bottom of his heart.
Lou Gao hadn't just given him resources and protection—he had given him a key. A key to a far broader stage in the future.
This was nothing like Yu Xiaogang, who talked endlessly about taking him as a disciple, yet offered nothing but hollow theories without any practical guidance.
"Knock, knock, knock—"
Just then, a slightly hurried yet restrained knocking sound broke the silence of the room.
Larvitar instantly raised its little head in alertness, red eyes locking onto the door.
Lin Xia snapped back to his senses, set the book aside, walked over, and opened the door.
Most of the light at the entrance was immediately blocked by four towering figures.
All four men were over 1.9 meters tall, like slabs of fine steel tempered in blazing fire. Their muscles bulged beneath leather aprons stained with oil and scorched by sparks.
Their skin was bronzed from years spent beside the furnace. Their arms were as thick as Lin Xia's thighs, their hands covered in thick calluses and tiny burn scars. A powerful masculine aura—of sweat, metal, and coal—rolled off them.
The one in front looked the oldest, around thirty. He had a square face, thick eyebrows, and large eyes, his gaze steady and reassuring.
Beside him stood a slightly younger man with a buzz cut, sharp eyes, and an open, hearty smile.
The third looked the most impatient, standing on tiptoe and craning his neck to peer inside, curiosity written all over his face.
The last was the most imposing of all, standing silently at the back like a small mountain.
Four pairs of eyes—eight gazes—fell on Lin Xia at once, filled with pure curiosity and friendly interest.
After a brief, almost frozen pause, the four of them seemed to move in perfect sync. Huge, somewhat naive grins spread across their faces, and their voices boomed like hammer strikes as they shouted together:
"Dao!"
"Are you our Junior Brother?"
The sound echoed through the quiet corridor, making Lin Xia's ears ring.
Seeing the stunned expressions on both Lin Xia and the unfamiliar little beast at his feet, the four finally realized how abrupt—and loud—they'd been.
The square-faced man in front immediately looked embarrassed, scratching the back of his head with a palm as big as a fan.
"Ah—sorry about that! Look at how loud we are!"
He quickly lowered his voice, clearly annoyed with himself.
"Did we scare you, Junior Brother? And this little fellow too? That's our fault. I'm one of Master's disciples—ranked by seniority. My name is Si Long, the Eldest Senior Brother." He patted his broad chest proudly.
The buzz-cut man beside him grinned and added, "Second Senior Brother here—Si Di."
The impatient one couldn't hold back any longer. He leaned forward eagerly and spoke at high speed, "Third Senior Brother! Hehe, Junior Brother, your Spirit Beast is really rare!" His eyes were glued to Larvitar, full of amazement.
The burliest man at the back simply nodded once, his voice low and concise. "Fourth Senior Brother."
After the introductions, all four of them focused their attention on Lin Xia and the gray-green little dragon at his feet, their goodwill and curiosity nearly spilling over.
Lin Xia steadied himself, pushing down the lingering dizziness from the earlier "sonic attack." Then, leading Larvitar with him, he clasped his hands and bowed deeply in a proper salute, every movement respectful and precise.
"Lin Xia greets the four Senior Brothers."
His voice was clear and spirited, brimming with youthful vitality.
Larvitar seemed to sense the seriousness of the moment. It clumsily brought its short front paws together and bowed as well, letting out a soft "yu ji" as it did—earnest and adorable.
"Oof!"
"Oh my god!"
"This little guy… he even knows etiquette?!"
"That's… that's too cute!"
Four burly, iron-forged men were instantly struck right in the softest part of their hearts.
The Third Senior Brother's eyes went wide. Si Di grinned so hard his eyes nearly disappeared. Even the usually steady Si Long and the taciturn Fourth Senior Brother showed rare, gentle smiles.
"Junior Brother!" Si Long thumped his chest, producing a dull thud. "From now on, in Gengjin City—and in the Blacksmith Association—if anything happens, just say our names!"
"If anyone dares to bully you, or if you run into trouble, come to us! We've got your back!"
"That's right!" Si Di nodded vigorously. "If you need anything—or want to test your strength on something handy—just say the word!"
"Exactly!" the Third Senior Brother chimed in loudly. "If anyone gives you grief, Third Senior Brother will step in!"
The Fourth Senior Brother didn't speak, but nodded firmly, his eyes resolute.
Feeling the sincerity and protectiveness radiating from them, a warm surge rose in Lin Xia's chest, and a genuine smile appeared on his face.
"Thank you all so much, Senior Brothers." He stepped aside and gestured politely. "Please, come in and have a seat?"
"No, no!"
Si Long waved his hand quickly, looking a little awkward.
"We just slipped over during the break after Master finished giving instructions. There are still several crucial batches of alloy waiting to be cast in the workshop—we can't delay them. Another day! We'll have a proper chat then!"
"Right, work comes first!"
Si Di and the Third Senior Brother echoed him at once.
As he spoke, Si Long swiped his large hand across a plain leather storage pouch at his waist. With a brief flash of light, a pile of brand-new household items appeared in his palm.
Thick, soft cotton quilts. Clean sheets and pillowcases. Towels. Even a large bundle of clothes carrying the fresh scent of soap.
"Junior Brother, you're definitely short on these since you've just arrived," Si Long said with a smile, handing them over.
"They're all new. We blacksmiths aren't afraid of getting dirty—but we still need to live comfortably."
Lin Xia immediately noticed that the quilt was thick and warm, and the clothes were far better quality than the coarse garments he was currently wearing. It was obvious the Senior Brothers had prepared this thoughtfully.
Deeply moved, Lin Xia accepted the bundle with both hands.
"Thank you so much, Senior Brothers. Lin Xia is truly grateful!"
"Haha, it's nothing!"
Seeing Lin Xia's impeccable manners, Si Long felt even more pleased. Looking at the polite, handsome young man before him—and the equally "well-mannered" little dragon at his side—his smile only grew wider.
He reached out with his rough, oversized hand, intending to pat Lin Xia's shoulder. Then, worried he might startle him, he simply pressed lightly against Lin Xia's arm instead.
"Alright, we're heading back to work! Get settled here, and if you need anything at all, don't hesitate to contact us!"
"See you later, Junior Brother!"
Si Di and the Third Senior Brother waved cheerfully.
The Fourth Senior Brother gave one final, silent nod.