Transmigrated into a Total Shou Novel as a Cannon Fodder, but Ended Up 1v1-ing the Male Lead | Chapter 155 | The Mountain Villa Workshop | Novela.app

Chapter 155 - The Mountain Villa Workshop The territory of the Tiger Tribe was considerably more expansive than Nie Shiyun had initially envisioned. Given Hong Lang’s group’s bandit-like behavior the previous day, he had assumed they lived in a crude mountain fortress or a makeshift camp. However, as he followed Hong Lang deeper into the territory under the clear light of day, he realized the environment was more akin to a sprawling mountain villa, nestled comfortably within the rugged terrain. At the heart of the villa, Nie Shiyun was introduced to the man Hong Lang referred to as the Clan Leader. "How should I address you, Senior?" Nie Shiyun asked politely. He could sense that the man’s cultivation base was superior to his own, prompting him to take the initiative in showing respect. He harbored a slight stereotype regarding the Tiger Tribe; he had expected a burly, rough-hewn giant covered in scars and muscle. Instead, the man standing before him was a middle-aged gentleman who appeared only slightly more robust than an average cultivator. In fact, he looked somewhat more refined and scholarly than the boisterous Hong Lang. "You may call me Fellow Daoist Hu," the leader replied with practiced courtesy. "Though Fellow Daoist Nie is still at the Deity Transformation stage, your aura suggests you are already indistinguishable from a Void Refinement cultivator, is that not so?" Hong Lang stood to the side, his heart skipping a beat. No wonder the four of them had struggled so much to contend with a single man the day before. It turned out Nie Shiyun’s prowess was already on par with those in the Void Refinement realm; he simply hadn't made the formal breakthrough yet. Nie Shiyun did not attempt to hide his strength. He nodded in acknowledgment, candidly explaining that he wished to make more thorough preparations before advancing his realm, which was why he remained at the peak of Deity Transformation. Clan Leader Hu had already received Hong Lang’s report and considered this arrangement a stroke of good fortune. Today’s meeting was merely to discern whether this human was reliable. In the past, the tribe had ventured into human cities to commission rogue refiners, only to be exploited. On more than one occasion, when the time came to collect their goods, the refiners had vanished with the deposit, leaving the Tiger Tribe in a state of collective fury. Seeing Nie Shiyun’s sincere attitude and his willingness to answer every question directly, the Clan Leader’s anxieties began to dissipate. He stopped putting on airs and spoke plainly about the tribe’s predicament. Their supply of Dharma treasures was woefully inadequate; many of the younger generation were forced to use mismatched, second-hand equipment passed down from their elders. While such gear sufficed for hunting in the local woods, it left them dangerously vulnerable when exploring more perilous regions or engaging in conflicts with rival tribes. "Would Fellow Daoist Nie be willing to operate on a 'payment upon delivery' basis?" The Clan Leader risked the possibility of offending Nie Shiyun by testing him. Refiners were notoriously temperamental, but the young man before him seemed remarkably easy to talk to. "That is no problem at all," Nie Shiyun agreed immediately. He wasn't worried about being stood up. The Tiger Tribe’s need was so desperate it was practically visible to the naked eye. Even in the worst-case scenario where a deal fell through, he could still sell the finished artifacts to a professional guild. At most, he would face a slight price reduction and a twenty-percent commission fee. One way or another, he wouldn't lose money. The Clan Leader was overjoyed. He followed up by asking if Nie Shiyun would be willing to reside within their villa for the time being. He had heard that Nie Shiyun was currently a traveler with no fixed abode, intent on reaching Jiuyun City to catch a celestial ship. However, those ships did not dock every day; the next one wasn't scheduled to arrive for nearly six months. If Nie Shiyun were willing to dedicate that time to providing artifacts for the Tiger Tribe, it would be the best possible outcome for everyone. Nie Shiyun, who had been mentally nursing the sting of paying a hundred Immortal Crystals a day for an inn, found this proposal perfect. Not only would he save on lodging, but he could likely source food and spiritual herbs locally as well. The meeting concluded with both parties highly satisfied. Under Hong Lang’s arrangement, Nie Shiyun moved into a courtyard designated for the tribe’s refiners. He was surprised to learn the Tiger Tribe even had their own refiners, but upon inspection, he found only a handful of apprentices. Only one among them could actually produce finished goods, and he was clearly a man driven by necessity rather than talent. Having taught himself for over a century, he could barely manage basic Dharma tools, and only through sheer luck had he ever successfully forged a low-grade Treasure Tool—items of the same caliber Nie Shiyun had recently offloaded in bulk for a mere four hundred crystals. "Because practicing consumes too many materials, he hasn't made any progress in decades. The tribe simply can't afford to supply him anymore... Now, he mostly handles repairs for the clansmen," Hong Lang whispered to Nie Shiyun after leading him to a vacant room, keeping his voice low so as not to hurt the other man's feelings. It was a harsh truth, but a truth nonetheless. Nie Shiyun nodded understandingly. Talent was an innate trait tied to one's bloodline. Any demon who could achieve success in artifact refining was treated like a rare, precious specimen by their kin. He actually knew one such person—Du Zhi, the half-demon he had recruited for Yunqing Pavilion, was a prime example of someone who defied these natural odds. "We visited the smithy just now. It’s a bit primitive, but with some repairs, it should be functional. If you need anything, just let me know. I live in the courtyard at the end of the path after you turn right out the door. I won't disturb your rest any further," Hong Lang said, preparing to leave. "Oh, wait a moment," Nie Shiyun suddenly remembered something. Hong Lang tensed up. When they had visited the smithy, Nie Shiyun had remained expressionless. Hong Lang feared the human was dissatisfied with the facilities. Having finally convinced him to stay, he worried Nie Shiyun might find it too troublesome to travel back to the city to use a proper earth-fire chamber and decide to call the whole thing off. His worries were entirely misplaced. Nie Shiyun did think the smithy was a wreck, but since he planned to do his actual refining inside his Jade Pendant Space, the external environment was merely for show. Nie Shiyun had simply forgotten that the morning meeting had gone so smoothly he hadn't had a chance to present the gift he'd prepared. He found Hong Lang to be a straightforward person, and the demon’s physique and cultivation were a perfect match for the weapon he had forged in his space a few days prior. He pulled out a heavy battle axe and handed it over. "This..." "I forged this a while ago, but it doesn't quite suit my style. I intended to give it to your Clan Leader this morning as a gesture of sincerity, but it slipped my mind. You should take it; consider it a gift," Nie Shiyun said. Hong Lang was so moved that tears nearly welled in his eyes. He ran his hands over the weapon, unable to put it down. However, after the initial wave of emotion, he regained his composure. "Thank you! I will show this to the Clan Leader and let him decide its distribution. I am truly sorry for our attack on you yesterday! If you need anything at all in the future, just say the word..." Hong Lang’s apologies became so repetitive that Nie Shiyun eventually grew tired of hearing them. He finally managed to usher the demon out by suggesting he go report the gift to the Clan Leader immediately. Nie Shiyun sighed softly; it seemed Hong Lang was the type to take things very seriously once his loyalty was earned. Once Hong Lang was gone, Nie Shiyun finally had the chance to survey his new quarters. It was similar to the room he had stayed in the night before—clean and tidy, though the furniture was somewhat aged. Knowing he would be living here for several months, he decided to spruce things up. He retrieved several pieces of furniture he had crafted himself from the Jade Pendant Space, arranging them until the room felt lived-in and comfortable. He had previously inquired about the cost of traveling to the Middle Layer and learned that a ship ticket cost two hundred thousand Immortal Crystals. The figure had nearly given him internal injuries. Apparently, the operation and maintenance of the celestial ships required a staggering amount of energy, and the industry was tightly controlled by a powerful family in the Upper Layer. Nie Shiyun understood the logic—anyone would be a fool not to capitalize on such a monopoly. He counted the remaining crystals in his pouch, hoping the Tiger Tribe’s demand would be high and their budget sufficient. If he missed the autumn ship, he would have to wait nearly a year for another chance to ascend. After tidying his room, Nie Shiyun took a quick lap around the adjacent smithy. He could hear a growing commotion outside the courtyard walls. Curious if something was wrong, he stepped out to look, only to startle a large crowd of onlookers who had gathered to catch a glimpse of him. They scattered momentarily, like startled birds. A few of the bolder ones, seeing that Nie Shiyun’s cultivation wasn't overwhelmingly high, stopped pretending to just be passing by and began shouting questions all at once. "So you're the human refiner the Clan Leader and Hong Lang brought in!" "I heard you only charge seventy percent of what the city refiners ask. Is that true? You're not tricking us, are you?" "Yeah, if you're that good, why aren't you in a big sect? Why come to a place like this?" "The Clan Leader said he's reliable, so shut your traps! Move aside! Hey, human, can you forge a hammer?" "I can..." Nie Shiyun started to answer, but his voice was drowned out by the boisterous roar of the Tiger Tribe members. "Why are you asking first? I was here before you!" "If you're so worried, then go home! We'll be the ones to test him out." "I saw Hong Lang’s axe. It’s incredible. I want one just like it..." The noise was deafening; Nie Shiyun felt as though he had been dropped into the middle of a chaotic wet market. It seemed that after Hong Lang reported to the leader, the axe had indeed been granted to him, and he had wasted no time showing it off to the rest of the tribe. "Everyone, please, one at a time. I can't hear a word you're saying," Nie Shiyun said helplessly. "Hey! Didn't I tell you all to let Fellow Daoist Nie rest for a few days? We'll talk about refining later!" Hong Lang had apparently heard about the gathering and came rushing back. He began shoving his way through the layers of people. The other tigers were indignant. "You already got your hands on something good, of course you're not in a hurry! We have to go hunting tonight!" Hong Lang looked embarrassed as he saw Nie Shiyun surrounded, unable to get a word in edgewise. He blamed himself; he had been so proud of his new weapon that he couldn't help but brag, which had drawn the entire tribe to the courtyard. "It’s fine, I don't need rest. But this is too chaotic. Please, write down your requirements, decide on an order among yourselves, and come in one by one. I will wait for you in the courtyard," Nie Shiyun said decisively. Rest? He was in a hurry to make money. He could rest inside the Jade Pendant Space whenever he wanted. Hong Lang gave him a grateful look and told the crowd that since the refiner had spoken, they had better follow instructions. He invited Nie Shiyun to sit in the courtyard while he organized the line outside. The crowd dispersed quickly, everyone rushing home to find paper and ink. Many of the Tiger Tribe members had never learned to write and were frantically scratching their ears in frustration, begging their more literate kin for help. Soon, a long, impressive queue formed outside Nie Shiyun’s courtyard. Nie Shiyun sat at a stone table in the yard, opening a ledger to take notes. "What do you want to forge?" "A hammer!" Nie Shiyun looked up, recognizing the tiger who had been shouting the loudest earlier. "Can you be more specific?" "Uh... something that feels powerful when I swing it?" Seeing the confusion on the demon's face, Nie Shiyun felt a headache coming on. No wonder human refiners loved to cheat these mountain-dwelling demons; they were incredibly easy to fool. Having been in this business for years, he knew that the most knowledgeable human cultivators usually had a clear vision of the artifact they wanted. They would bring the primary and auxiliary materials with them, knowing exactly what suited their style. They just needed a refiner to bring their blueprint to life. The second tier of clients at least knew the type of weapon they wanted and what the main material should be, leaving the finer details to the refiner. Then there were those who had no idea what suited them and let the refiner make all the decisions. These people were the ones who usually spent far more than necessary, as "ignorance" was synonymous with "being a mark." The Tiger Tribe member before him was a textbook example of the latter. "Wait, we have to bring our own materials?" Nie Shiyun’s headache intensified. "Yes. It’s best to use materials you can find locally or buy easily, so repairs won't be a hassle later. Oh, and since I'm new to this region, there might be local materials I'm unfamiliar with that would work well. If you have something you think is useful, bring it for me to see." "Got it!" Although the tiger was still a bit confused, he grasped the key takeaway: this human asked a lot of annoying questions, but he was far more thorough than the refiners they had dealt with before. That alone was enough to earn their respect. As Nie Shiyun’s requirements spread through the line, many of the tigers were stumped. Only a few who knew exactly what they wanted were able to move to the front, much to the envy of their peers. As the Tiger Tribe members cycled in and out, leaving with lists of required materials after their consultations, a young man cautiously poked his head out from a room on the other side of the courtyard. "Using this material with Gold and Fire spiritual roots might not yield the best results. You say your strength is your advantage, but you can't rely on brute force alone. If that were the case, why not just buy a solid iron mallet? You need to integrate your spells..." "A defensive artifact is useless? That’s where you're wrong. Cultivators who excel in offense are the ones who need defensive tools the most to cover their openings..." "Of course I can forge storage artifacts. Huh? You want something small but think rings are too feminine? That’s just a prejudice..." Nie Shiyun talked until his throat was dry, sipping tea between sessions. He felt less like a master refiner and more like a primary school teacher, explaining the basic principles of Dharma treasures to a group of beginners. He had sensed a gaze on him for a while now. Taking advantage of a brief gap between clients, he turned his head to look. It was the tribe’s original refiner. Caught staring, the man looked nervous, unable to hide the mixture of admiration and poorly concealed jealousy in his eyes. "Are you interested as well? Why not come over and join us? Isn't it tiring to stand there?" "I... I'll pass," the man replied, his voice tinged with dejection. It was understandable, Nie Shiyun thought. As the best refiner among a group of amateurs, the man had studied for decades without progress. Now, a human had arrived and was holding court in his own yard, speaking eloquently to his kin. It was only natural for him to feel a complex swirl of emotions. "Come over. I'm just passing through for a short stay. In the future, they'll still be relying on you to maintain these artifacts," Nie Shiyun said, proactively bringing out another wooden chair from his room. "Wait, that’s not one of the chairs that was in the room..." Nie Shiyun paused, then smiled. "You have a sharp eye. I made this myself. I'm used to sitting in it, so I carry it with me when I travel." He hadn't just brought the chair; he had packed most of the furniture from his cave dwelling before leaving. "Oh, so you like making these things too!" The dejected refiner’s tone brightened slightly. He stepped out from the shadows and curiously touched the finely crafted wooden chair. "I actually preferred making things like this originally..." he whispered sadly. "But the tribe saw how handy I was and insisted I learn refining. But it’s just not the same thing at all..." Before he could say more, the next tiger in line burst in. "It’s my turn! Quick, look at this, will it work?" The apprentice refiner went quiet, signaling for Nie Shiyun not to mind him as he slowly sat down in the wooden chair. Nie Shiyun glanced at him, already making a mental plan. Once the current rush was over, he would have a proper chat with this fellow craftsman. Since they shared an interest and would be neighbors for a while, it was better to build a bridge than a wall.