Chapter 50: Accepting Tasks

Tang Wulin stared.

Cen Yue stared.

Yun Xiaoling stared.

Mu Chen stared.

Mu Xi jaw dropped and unknowingly took a step back, she was shocked at the refusal she received! This was the first time that she's been rejected by someone!

"W-What? What do you mean you refuse?!" Mu Xi shouted with a demanding tone of voice as she took a couple steps forward and slightly towered over Xiu Ye, showing their age and height difference.

Mu Xi was dressed in some casual wear, her long, golden hair done up in a ponytail. Girls matured early, and she was already half a head taller than Xiu Ye. She had a charming figure, tall and thin. Although she hadn't finished maturing yet, she still had a bit of the scent of a young woman.

Xiu Ye is still a nine year old boy, no matter how taller he is compared to his peers, he still comes short to the thirteen year old Mu Xi.

Xiu Ye tilted his head up, his expression nonchalant, and said, "My refusal means that I do not agree to–"

Mu Xi interrupted him, "Yes, I know what refusal means! What I want to know is why! Why are you refusing to help me?"

Xiu Ye shook his head and raised his index finger up, "One simple reason really. It's because I'm just a nine year old kid, who's just really talented in blacksmithing, so I just can't really help you with my short experience to improve your blacksmithing skills."

'Truthfully however, it's just a pain in the ass.' Xiu Ye had bluntly lied towards Mu Xi and the rest with a straight face. He has a lot of free time, due to his get out of free card from school with the help of Cen Yue, but that doesn't mean he'll use all that time up to improve Mu Xi's blacksmithing. He could use that time

"Heck, shouldn't you ask your dad this for help than me? He's a Saint Craftsman after all, and your father." Xiu Ye turned towards Mu Chen, whose lips are twitching from watching the entire situation.

'He has the point my little sun! Why won't you ask for my help?! Is papa that useless?', he inwardly cried.

Mu Xi shook her head strongly, "Daddy's busy most of the days and the days when he isn't, I'm busy with school. So he can't really help me much except improving my theoretical knowledge about blacksmithing. But I heard that you're very independent in school, never having to attend classes except for school events, so you're perfect to help me."

Mu Chen clicked his tongue and nodded in agreement, he is busy most of the time due to the numerous commissions issued by a lot of people.

Some people thought that being a high ranking blacksmith, or any other profession, could grant them more freedom but no. They were totally wrong. When you're one of the most rare high ranking blacksmiths in the world, and can forge them high tier metals, a lot of people would put in requests that would sometimes takes years to finish them all.

Xiu Ye then added, "Oh, well then, what about grandmaster Cen Yue? He's a rank 6 blacksmith right? Surely he could help your blacksmithing problems..." Cen Yue shook his head.

"Sorry but no, I have the same problem as the president and worse. I still have to pay off the huge debt I have for purchasing some metals use for forging. I'm sorry that I couldn't help you Xi Xi."

Mu Xi shook her head. "No, it's alright. I get it uncle Cen, everyone has some important things to do in their lives. How could I be so selfish as to take their time away to do them?" She then turned towards Xiu Ye. "I'm sorry for asking and taking your time," she then turned around and walked back to her previous location.

Xiu Ye watched all this with a indifferent expression.

'I don't even need Genryūsai Yamamoto's memories to tell that she's acting. I had seen too much TV shows and movies that features this types of guilt tactic scenarios, I won't fall for it.'

Mu Xi's shoulders sagged and trembled, as if she was about to cry.

'I won't fall for it.'

A sniffle sounded across the room, which everyone obviously heard.

Tang Wulin couldn't seem to handle the weird atmosphere as he started elbowing Xiu Ye's arm, but the latter stood still like a mountain.

Mu Xi's head slightly tilted upward and shook around, trying to prevent her tears from falling down.

Now even Cen Yue and her own father Mu Chen looked uncomfortable from the entire situation, the latter himself even started glaring at Xiu Ye and pointed at Mu Xi while communicating at the boy with his mouth saying, "Fucking agree and I'll do you one favor, anything that I am capable of but within reason."

Xiu Ye's face finally cracked, twitching into an ugly expression.

'Fuck my bleeding heart, and you too Mu Chen.' Having a favor from a Saint Craftsman Blacksmith is priceless, especially if he could use it for getting branch head of the Eastsea City's Spirit Pagoda, Hua Wei, off his back.

He could have used this free time of his to start developing plans for making a mecha or battle armor. But it looks like he'll be babysitting for now, great.

Xiu Ye let out a resigned sigh, "Mu Xi, wait. I, I'll help you improve your blacksmithing skills. But! You have to agree to follow my every instructions to the letter, without any complaints or I won't help you."

Mu Xi turned around, a huge smile on her face, her expression bright and cheery, and there was no signs that she was about to cry a river.

"Really?! Oh thank you Xiu Ye! And of course, I'll follow what every word you say."

Xiu Ye, Tang Wulin and Cen Yue's lips twitched as they see the complete 180 change of her emotions.

'Two face, this girl's a real two face and she's not even hiding it!'

Mu Chen laughed out loud as he watched the entire play in front of him, he patted his daughter's shoulder proudly. He raised his little girl good, she had really gotten most of her personality and looks from him but her wits certainly came from her mother.

Mu Xi brought her fingers up into a V, her twisted into a grin. Her reasons for asking Xiu Ye was true, her dad and most of the workers here in the association is almost always busy, so the latter being a 4th rank blacksmith, no matter how young he is, can probably help her improve her skills.

Her dream was to become the next Divine Craftsman Blacksmith, which is next to impossible seeing the two prodigies in front of her, but that doesn't mean she can't be the first ever female eight rank Saint Craftsman Blacksmith right? The highest female blacksmith rank that was ever achieved was the seventh rank, she has the possibility of reaching the eight rank if she continued on with her determination and ambition at least.

"Alright, enough with all that drama, I think you both want to already get your tasks. Brother Cen, can bring you there. You are now a part of our Association's large family after having passed the test successfully. If you meet with any difficulties in future, you can apply for assistance from the association. Though our Blacksmith's Association is not the strongest association around, it surely is the most united one."

Xiu Ye and Tang Wulin both nodded and soon followed after Cen Yue down towards the soul elevator.

Xiu Ye stopped before the doors of the elevator and turned towards Mu Xi.

"When you want my help, just go to my father's workshop in the afternoon, I'm always there until evening for me to return back at the dorm."

Mu Xi nodded in agreement.

Xiu Ye glanced at Mu Chen and narrowed his eyes before entering the elevator. The latter merely smirked in return and nodded, understanding the gesture.

.....

The Task Acceptance Hall was located on the 2nd floor of the Blacksmith's Association, with the whole of the 2nd floor filled with round counters. Each of these counters had task rank sign, that looked similar to the badges of the association. A blacksmith could only collect tasks within their rank or ones of lower ranks. They were unable to collect tasks that required rank higher than theirs.

Within this blacksmithing trade, materials were all provided by the entrustors. Because of this, the association would try their absolute best in order to maintain the quality of the end product prior to collection. This was to avoid the association from needing to compensate.

"Alright boys, here we are." Cen Yue said. "You can pick any tasks you see here that entails to your current rank and below, but I do want to remind you both that all tasks from the association must be completed and you cannot fail them. Once you fail, you must compensate for the ruined materials. That counter in the center, facing the front, is where you collect your tasks. The left counter is where you report and place completed products while the right is where you are allowed to purchase all kinds of metals. Our association has, ideally, every kind of rare metal that exist in the market. However, due to an individual's blacksmithing rank, the quantity they can purchase each month varies differently. If you need to, you can get your metals there. Then there's the 4th floor and 5th floor. That's where the forged products are sold. You can go have a look up there as there's a lot to look at."

Both of the boys nodded, Xiu Ye was especially curious to see what kind of metals are available there for him to purchase and use to forge another soul tool weapon or parts of a mecha.

Cen Yue brought the boys to the front of the two star counter. Behind the counter was a staff member and in front of the counter were ten soul screens. One could collect a task with a mere swipe of the screens. The staff present were to answer on any questions one might have.

Following Cen Yue's directions, Xiu Ye and Tang Wulin touched one of the soul screens of their own. A list of available tasks popped up.

At the front was a summary of the task, followed by the quantity and payments.

"The association will take 10% of the payment while the rest will go to you."

Task 1 – Refine the rare Sky Dragon Iron. Requirements – Thousand Refined. Time – 30 days. Quantity – 5. Payment – A unit price of 200,000 federation coins.

So, one would earn a total of 1,000,000 federation coins when they successfully refined 5 pieces of Sky Dragon Iron.

To anyone else, this might seem a big amount of money to them but to Xiu Ye? It was merely pocket money. Though Tang Wulin would certainly not see it as pocket money, seeing as he drooled the instant he saw the rewards for it and unhesitatingly picked it.

Xiu Ye nonchalantly scrolled down further to find any other interesting tasks, which he did after a minute of scrolling.

Task 25: – Refine the rare Velvet Chill Diamond. Requirements – First Grade Thousand Refined. Time – 40 days. Quantity – 20. Payment – A unit price of 800,000 federation coins.

800,000 multiply by 20 equals to 16,000,000 million federation coins. If he does this task, it doubles the money Xiu Ye currently has in his bank account!

Xiu Ye unhesitatingly accepted the task and licked his lips, more money for me.

Ding!

"Congratulations, third rank blacksmith Tang Wulin. You have successfully accepted the third rank forging task of refining Sky Dragon Iron. The materials will be sent to your indicated location within three days."

"Congratulations, fourth rank blacksmith Xiu Ye. You have successfully accepted the fourth rank forging task of refining Velvet Chill Diamond. The materials will be sent to your indicated location within three days."

"Is that it?" Xiu Ye raised his head towards Cen Yue.

Cen Yue nodded. "Isn't it simple? However, I have to remind you two that this is your first task, you both have to be very careful. Though the stated payment is quite a hefty sum, many blacksmiths don't have a high pay as they were unable to complete every task flawlessly. If there's a flaw in the product, the blacksmith would have to dig into his own pocket for the amount acquired to purchase the new materials, which is usually a big sum."

Xiu Ye and Tang Wulin nodded, the latter was especially serious in hearing his advice.

"Do you two have a communicator number?" Cen Yue asked.

Xiu Ye nodded, "I have one, it's 0******"

Tang Wulin shook his head and blushed. How would he have the sufficient money to purchase a soul communicator?

Cen Yue broke into a grin. "Then, here's some gifts for you two."

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