Forging Immortality: The Undying Blacksmith

Chapter 93: Animal Trap

Giant Rock City, Falling Stone Street.

Amidst the sprawling stone architecture, a new blacksmith shop quietly opened its doors. It drew no fanfare, perfectly blending into the grime of the district.

Clang! Clang!

Sparks danced over the anvil as Li Qing hammered out simple sickles, hoes, and crude weapons, lining them up neatly on the wooden shelves. Settling into a new city meant establishing a low-profile front, and working the forge was an old, comfortable habit.

Miao Qi had secured the storefront for a pittance. Though Giant Rock City was the largest settlement in the Black Wind Region, its population density was surprisingly low. Empty buildings were everywhere, and buying an abandoned shop cost next to nothing.

Stocking the inventory with ordinary tools quietly padded Li Qing’s lifespan by roughly a year and a half. With his cover established and the racks full, he found himself with a rare abundance of free time.

He spent those idle hours methodically grinding his newly acquired Shadow-Seeking Footwork.

The results were immediate. Because he had already mastered the Qingluo Leg Technique, the foundational muscle memory and leg conditioning were perfectly primed. Paired with his absolute control over his vital energy and blood as an Inner Force expert, his progression through the lightness skill advanced at a terrifying pace.

Between training sessions, he passively observed the city’s undercurrents.

Below the two reigning titans—the City Lord’s Manor and the Red Fish Chamber of Commerce—Giant Rock City was carved up by dozens of smaller factions. Falling Stone Street belonged to the Sand Crocodile Gang. Every time the Black Wheat Mushrooms matured, local businesses owed a protection fee of either a portion of their harvest or two money crystals.

Li Qing paid the toll without a second thought. As long as the Sand Crocodile thugs didn’t cross his bottom line, tossing them a few coins was a cheap price for absolute anonymity.

Yet, the city’s overarching peace felt unnerving. It was stagnant. There were no bloody turf wars. The City Lord’s Manor and the Red Fish Chamber of Commerce maintained an oddly harmonious alliance, devoid of any visible friction.

If things stayed this quiet, he really would just end up being a simple blacksmith.

Is the Red Fish Chamber of Commerce truly just a merchant guild? Li Qing mused, leaning against his anvil, his eyes dark and calculating. Then why the massive, public push to capture beasts from the Age of Sunlight?

He didn’t buy the preservation angle for a second. In a starving, apocalyptic world, no one wasted resources on zoological charity. The sudden appearance of the Armored Pig in their markets only deepened the mystery.

A month bled away in this stagnant calm before the waters finally rippled.

A group of young, scarred men swaggered into Li Qing’s forge. He recognized their crude demeanor and arrogant sneers immediately—bottom-feeders of the Sand Crocodile Gang.

He mentally sighed but pasted on a polite, weary expression. “Gentlemen. Thanks to your gang’s protection, I’m scraping by, but I don’t believe it’s collection day yet?”

“Relax, Master Li. We aren’t here for the toll,” the leader smirked, leaning heavily on the counter. “We’re here to do business. The Sand Crocodile Gang wants to commission a batch of ironware.”

Li Qing’s expression remained perfectly placid. “Oh? What kind of ironware, and for what purpose?”

The leader gestured. One of his lackeys stepped forward and dropped a heavy, rusted monstrosity onto the workbench. It was caked in dried mud and decades of grime, its jagged iron teeth fused shut by corrosion.

“Recognize this?” the leader asked, watching Li Qing closely. “It’s an animal trap. Think you can forge a working one?”

Li Qing analyzed the crude spring mechanism and heavy jaws. “The structure is simple enough. I can make them.”

The thugs exchanged satisfied grins. “See? I told you this new guy was better than those useless farmers on the other streets. We need ten of these, Master Li. Give us a good price.”

A good price? Li Qing’s eyes turned cold beneath his calm facade. He felt absolutely no kinship with parasitic extortionists.

“Factoring in the iron, the time, and the cost of trial and error for the spring tension…” Li Qing tapped the counter slowly. “Fifteen money crystals each.”

It was a blatant gouge. One hundred and fifty money crystals was a small fortune—nearly enough to purchase an entire Armored Pig from the Red Fish Chamber of Commerce outright.

The thugs grimaced, muttering among themselves. Finally, the leader slammed his hand on the table. “Fine. That’s the price. But we need them fast. Send word as soon as they’re forged.”

As the thugs marched out of the shop, Li Qing stared at the rusted trap, his mind turning rapidly.

Making traps? They’re going hunting.

Giant Rock City already had a stable, albeit expensive, meat supply in the Armored Pigs. Dropping one hundred and fifty crystals on unproven traps was a massive upfront gamble for a street gang. If they failed to catch anything, they bled capital on rust-prone iron. Conversely, the Red Fish Chamber of Commerce was paying out three to four hundred crystals for live beasts from the Age of Sunlight.

Someone was getting greedy, and the Sand Crocodile Gang was making a risky play.

Before Li Qing could plan his next move, a familiar face ducked into the shop.

Miao Qi scurried inside, his shrewd eyes darting around to ensure they were alone. “Brother Li,” he said, his voice buzzing with excitement. “Our gang leader sent word. I’m officially stationed here in Giant Rock City to coordinate with your operations. Whatever you need done, just give the order.”

Li Qing chuckled. It was like someone handing you a pillow right as you were dozing off.

“Perfect timing,” Li Qing said, his tone shifting from humble blacksmith to the chillingly pragmatic commander he truly was. “The Sand Crocodile Gang just commissioned a batch of animal traps from me. I want you to dig into their operations. Find out exactly what their objective is.”

He fixed Miao Qi with a hard look. “Keep it quiet. Don’t be obvious.”

Miao Qi’s breath hitched. A feverish, manic glint lit up his eyes as he nodded frantically. “Understood. Leave it to me!”

He bowed sharply and hurried out of the forge, his hands trembling with barely contained adrenaline.

Is it happening? Miao Qi thought, his heart hammering against his ribs. He knew exactly what Li Qing was capable of. With a single, blood-soaked stratagem, this man had wiped the Yan family off the map and handed Obsidian City to the Righteousness Gang on a silver platter.

And now, Li Qing was turning his sights on Giant Rock City.

Miao Qi clenched his fists, a vicious grin splitting his face. He was finally part of the grand game.