A formal missive, delivered by a Crimson Forge Sect disciple, arrived at the Golden Shell Guild's residence. It was an invitation for Vice-Guild Leader Zhu and his esteemed guests to meet with an elder of the sect at their convenience. The purpose was unstated, but the implication was clear. The sect was moving to perform damage control.
Fat Pig, a master of such political maneuvering, sent back a polite reply, and an hour later, the elder arrived in person. He was a tall, dignified man with a neatly trimmed gray beard and the powerful, steady hands of a lifelong smith. His robes were of a finer cut than the outer disciples, embroidered with a silver hammer emblem. He carried himself with an air of authority, but his expression was amicable.
"Vice-Guild Leader Zhu," he said with a polite bow as Fat Pig greeted him at the entrance. "I am Elder Jin. I must apologize for not welcoming you to our city sooner. And I must also offer my sincerest apologies on behalf of our sect for the unruly behavior of some of our juniors yesterday. Their actions were a disgrace to our name."
He was led into the main reception hall, where Li Yu, Xylia, and Jian Xuan were waiting. He gave them a polite, appraising glance, his gaze lingering for a moment on the quiet, profound depth he sensed in Jian Xuan.
"Elder Jin, it is an honor," Fat Pig said smoothly, playing the part of the gracious host. "Please, sit. It was a minor incident, not worth an elder's personal attention."
"On the contrary," Elder Jin said, his expression serious. "The Golden Shell Guild is a valued new partner to our sect. Any disrespect shown to you is a matter of great importance to us." He paused, his tone becoming crisp and professional. "Rest assured, the disciples involved have been identified and punished according to sect law. Such behavior will not be tolerated."
Whether any meaningful punishment had actually been administered, or if this was just a face-saving gesture, no one knew. But the apology was made, and the proper etiquette was observed.
With the official business concluded, Elder Jin's demeanor softened slightly. "As a further gesture of our goodwill, and to properly welcome our new friends, I would be honored to give you a personal tour of our sect. It would be our pleasure to show you the heart of our craft."
Fat Pig's eyes lit up. This was the exact opportunity they had been hoping for. "Elder Jin, your generosity is overwhelming! We would be delighted to accept."
The elder smiled, pleased. "Excellent. If you are ready, we can proceed now."
They followed Elder Jin out of the residence and up the great stone road that led to the Crimson Forge Sect. As they walked, the elder proved to be a knowledgeable and proud guide. He pointed out the various outer courtyards where thousands of apprentices went through the grueling process of basic smithing and physical tempering. He spoke of the roaring central forges, the heart of the sect, where the raw ore they purchased from guilds like Fat Pig's was smelted and refined into high-grade spiritual metals.
Finally, they passed through a series of heavily guarded gates and entered the sect's inner sanctum. The air here was cleaner, the noise of the forges a distant, rhythmic hum. This was where the true masters worked, and where the sect's greatest treasures were kept.
Elder Jin led them to a grand, imposing hall built of black obsidian, its great doors inlaid with silver and gold. "This is our Gallery of Blades," he announced with a swell of pride. "A record of our sect's history and a testament to our skill."
He pushed the doors open, revealing a vast, circular chamber. The room was breathtaking. Displayed in illuminated cases and on weapon racks were hundreds of spiritual weapons, each one a masterpiece of the forger's art, each one radiating a potent, unique aura.
The tour began in earnest. Elder Jin was in his element, his voice filled with a passionate reverence as he spoke of the weapons and the masters who had created them. He showed them a massive greatsword with a blade that seemed to be forged from captured moonlight, its edge still humming with a cold, deadly energy. "This is 'Moonfall'," he explained. "Forged three hundred years ago by the fourth Sect Master. It is said he used it to slay a Deep Sea Flood Dragon that threatened the southern coast."
He led them to a set of nine, impossibly thin daggers, each one blacker than the night sky. "The 'Widow's Kiss' set. Each blade is coated in a spirit-venom that can paralyze a Core Formation cultivator with a single scratch. Their creator was a master of both forging and poison arts."
Jian Xuan was completely captivated. He would ask sharp, technical questions about the folding techniques, the quenching process, and the methods used to imbue the weapons with their specific elemental affinities.
Elder Jin, clearly impressed by Jian Xuan's expert knowledge, answered in kind, the two of them often falling into deep, technical discussions that left the others behind. Fat Pig, for his part, would ask about the materials used, their rarity, and their cost, his mind constantly assessing the business side of the craft.
As they neared the end of the tour, they stood before the gallery's central display: a magnificent longsword resting on a pedestal of pure white jade. The blade was simple, elegant, and perfectly forged, but it radiated an aura of such profound sharpness that it felt like it could cut one's soul just by looking at it.
"This is our sect's greatest treasure," Elder Jin said, his voice soft with awe. "'Unbroken,' the personal weapon of our founding ancestor. It is said that in his hands, this blade could cut through mountains and sever the threads of fate itself."
The group stood in silence for a long moment, simply appreciating the sheer, transcendent skill on display. It was Li Yu who finally spoke, his voice thoughtful.
"Elder Jin, your sect's mastery of weapons is truly unparalleled," he said respectfully. "It makes us wonder, are there any masters here who apply their skills to more… unconventional forms? We are collectors of unique artifacts, things like musical instruments, or perhaps even something as unusual as a conch shell?"
The elder stroked his gray beard, considering the question seriously. "A fascinating question, young man. But to my knowledge, no. Our sect's dao has always been the dao of the blade, the axe, the spear. We believe that true mastery requires absolute focus. To divide our attention, to waste our efforts on trinkets and baubles, would be to dilute the purity of our craft. We forge tools of power, of life and death. That is our heritage and our future."
He then offered a new piece of information. "If you are truly seeking such strange and esoteric items, your best chance would be the Golden Tide Clan, down the coast. They have always been… eccentric. They are skilled, I will not deny that, but they lack focus. They dabble in strange materials and create artifacts of peculiar function. They make weapons, of course, but their true passion seems to lie in the bizarre."
Li Yu feigned a look of surprise. "You would recommend a competitor?"
Elder Jin gave a thin, professional smile. "Competitor? On some things, perhaps. We both buy ore and sell blades. But their market is not our market. A man who needs a sword to guard a caravan does not buy a spirit-flute that sings to the moon. There is business enough for everyone on the southern coast." There was a subtle undercurrent of pride in his voice, an unspoken assertion that while the Golden Tide Clan might be clever, the Crimson Forge Sect was the true seat of power and martial craftsmanship.
The tour concluded on a note of polite, professional courtesy. Elder Jin escorted them personally to the grand gates of the sect's inner sanctum, the massive doors of black obsidian closing behind them with a soft, final thud. They exchanged final pleasantries, the elder once again thanking Li Yu for his timely assistance in the forge and the group thanking him for his hospitality and insight.
"If you require anything else during your stay, Vice-Guild Leader Zhu, please do not hesitate to send word," Elder Jin said, his expression once again that of a dignified, powerful official of a great sect.
"You are too kind, Elder Jin," Fat Pig replied with a smooth, practiced bow. "Your sect has been most welcoming."
As they were about to take their leave and begin the walk back down the mountain, their path was suddenly blocked by a pair of inner court disciples who were running up the road, their faces pale and their breathing ragged with panic.
"Elder Jin! Elder Jin!" the lead disciple called out, his voice strained with urgency. He skidded to a halt before the elder, struggling to catch his breath.