Married to Ke Qing

Chapter 4

Unlike the bank, we had to walk almost half the city to the smithy, and the longer we walked, the more often I began to notice people looking at us and whispering about something, and Ke Qing looked worried, although along the way we also met kind people who sincerely congratulated us.

- Oh, Miss Ke Qing did not expect to see you soon. - the blacksmith greeted us with a sincere smile. - And this gentleman?

- I am Yun Che, her husband. - I introduced myself.

- Nice to meet you, I am sure that Miss Ke Qing's chosen one cannot be a bad person. - the blacksmith said cheerfully. - My name is Zhang Xianzhong, I am the owner of this smithy.

- Master Zhang, let's get down to business, we are in a bit of a hurry. - Ke Qing decided to intervene.

- Of course, madam. So what did you want?

- We need to pick out a sword for my husband, as well as a couple of training blades.

- And also a catalyst, - I decided to add.

- A catalyst? - the girl looked at me questioningly.

- Yes, I think, considering the space of the eye of God, it would not be superfluous to have it with you. - I explained my decision.

- As you wish. - Ke Qing shook her head.

- Well, I have a large selection of products, I am sure we can pick out something for you. However, to speed up the process, I would like to clarify how much money you have. - the blacksmith began to speak.

- 10 million. And I think I want to immediately clarify whether you have the Steel Sting rapier in your assortment.

- Yes, of course, in fact, this weapon is very popular among the owners of the eyes of God, who prefer to work in pairs, to enhance elemental reactions. - Saying this, he entered a small extension that was located close to the forge, and a minute later returned with a pair of blades sheathed. They both had a similar shape, vaguely reminiscent of a needle, but at the same time had a double-sharp cutting edge, and the difference was most noticeable in appearance, although the difference in characteristics would be even greater, because I remembered perfectly well. That the unimproved sword was exactly the one that was standard gray, and a cold white glow emanated from the guard, but the improved steel sting was more white, and golden patterns ran along the blade, which together with the guard shone with a golden light.

- I have several copies of the most basic Steel Sting, and they are sold for only 50 thousand - the blacksmith pointed to the regular version of the sword, and then picked up a more expensive one. - But the copy that went through all 8 stages of hardening and 5 stages of fusion, I would usually offer it for 4.5 million, but I am ready to drop this price to 3 million as a gift.

- I appreciate your intentions, Master Zhang, but money is not something I feel a lack of, and the best gift for me and any warrior of Li Yue would be if your forge prospers and you reach ever greater heights. - I politely declined, while trying not to think about why instead of 6 as in the game there are 8 stages of ascension, if of course I understood correctly what was meant by tempering.

- Ha-ha, what are you saying, Master Yun, I am sure that friendship with a person like you will bring me much more joy than these one and a half million moras.

- In that case, who am I to refuse. - I accepted with a smile, after all, if my first refusal was perceived as politeness and adherence to etiquette, then the second refusal could already be offensive.

- Please, Master, you can try out the purchase on this mannequin. - the blacksmith pointed to a wooden doll standing nearby.

- There is no need for that. - Ke Qing intervened. - Your honesty and the quality of your blades are known throughout Li Yue, so we can skip this step. Master Zhang, show him what catalysts you have.

- It is a great honor for me that you trust me so much, madam. - the blacksmith bowed. - Please follow me.

This time, the man invited us to his weapons warehouse, and sighs of disappointment were heard from passersby who were thirsty for spectacles.

To be honest, I began to be increasingly worried about Ke Qing's wariness, as if I was missing something important, but in my defense I can say that I still have not been able to fully sort out even my own thoughts. For me, everything constantly seems new and familiar at the same time, and the admiration for Ke Qing from her past life, in this one, when I am also her fictitious husband, has begun to grow so much that it is on the verge of obsession, when I am ready to do anything for her. And yes, I don't regret giving her access to most of my money, I just can't imagine a situation in which she would betray me and act like a cheapskate who doesn't care about her reputation and only cares about money.

- Yun Che, are you okay? - I was pulled out of my thoughts by Ke Qing's worried voice, who put her hand on my shoulder.

- Sorry, I got a little lost in my thoughts. - I apologized, and then focused my attention on the catalysts laid out in front of me.

- I admit honestly, catalysts are not exactly my area, but I have specimens from all over Taivat. - Seeing that I paid attention to him, the blacksmith began to broadcast.

- For example, this Favonius codex was made in the glorious land of freedom and winds, Mondstadt, forgive me these good people, but pronouncing the name of their country is a real challenge, but the line of Favonius weapons they released is worthy of respect. There is probably no weapon that would help restore energy to users of the eye of God better than this.

- And here, probably, is one of the most popular catalysts and also comes from Mondstadt, the wanderer's song. - the blacksmith immediately began to praise the next catalyst in the form of a book. - Not only is it able to enhance the special effect of artifacts, which allows you to increase the power of attacks with some chance, but it also emits a wonderful melody that strengthens the owner.

- Critical damage? - I blurted out in slight confusion without thinking.

- As you said. - the blacksmith asked again.

- Ahem, if I understood correctly what you are talking about, then this is an effect that I prefer to call critical damage, and there are two properties for it: the chance of this very critical hit, which increases the chance of this effect to trigger, and the critical hit boost, which increases the percentage by which the attack will be boosted. - I decided to try to pass off my slip of the tongue as something clever.

- Hmm. You know, I like the sound of it, I think I'll borrow your definition. - The blacksmith said after thinking for a bit.

- I have nothing against it. - I answered, and then looking at the catalysts laid out, one thought came to me and, casting a fleeting glance at Ke Qing, I asked. - Tell me, Master Zhang, do you by any chance have a catalyst from Inazuma called the Hakushin Ring?

- Actually, there is, but why do you need it, you have the eye of the god Dendro, not Electro... - the blacksmith began to speak with bewilderment on his face, but remembering the Element of Ke Qing, he understood everything. - Oh yeah, somehow I didn't think about it right away, but really, Electro and Dendro are literally made for each other.

- How is the Hakushin Ring connected with the element of Electro? - Ke Qing asked.

- The thing is that the special property of this catalyst is revealed only when a reaction of the elements associated with the element of Electro occurs, and this property consists in strengthening the elements involved in the reaction in the wearer and his allies. - Having received the explanation, Ke Qing began to stare at me intently, but I tried not to pay attention to it.

- So, do you have this catalyst that has gone through all the stages of hardening and fusion?

- Yes, in fact, it is not very popular in our area, so I am ready to give it away for 2 million mora.

- Great, that suits me perfectly. – I said before taking out 5 rather heavy bags filled with mora one by one.