The Ageless Dream

7.2 A Reason to Claim (27)

"How many weapons can be forged in a day?" Huang Zhao asked the weaponsmith standing outside the smithy.

"Probably five to seven hundred. The only problem is, there is not enough materials for the whole army." the blacksmith answered whilst stroking his fu-manchu beard. He stated at the sketch of cross bow and dagger spears in awe. It was in detail and the parts can be removed or replaced manually in an easy way. "This is a good weapon. Whoever created this is quite smart."

"Smart? I rather say that person is dumb too." Huang Zhao whispered but Dong Li Hua who is standing beside him and enjoying the praise heard his disagreement. She formed a freezing smile then pinched his waist. "You!" he hissed in pain, glaring intently to Dong Li Hua. The blacksmith noticed their actions, he can't help but heave a sigh.

"You two make me recall my late wife." he muttered, folding the blueprints. His comment made Dong Li Hua step back and keep a distance between Huang Zhao and her as if he is some sort of deadly plague but the young man caught her hand, squeezing it to silence her protest. "Youngsters, ah." the blacksmith saw their little actions.

"Sir General, please hurry. I haven't eaten lunch yet." Dong Li Hua loathed while pulling her hand but he wont even budge. She gave up and decided to let him hold her. Its just a deception anyway so she has to act with him then.

"Mister Wen, can you please estimate how much it'll cost to give enough weapon for a hundred thousand soldier." Huang Zhao pulled out a forced smile. What Dong Li Hua said made him look like a man who won't feed his little wife. That is how the blacksmith is looking at him.

"A thousand silver ingot."

"Then make a batch of 240,000 dagger spears and 120,000 crossbows. We will give ten golden ingots first. The next twenty will arrive after finishing all what we needed." he glanced to his side as a soldier stepped forward, holding a tray of golden ingots. The blacksmith's eyes went wide and his mouth gaped in disbelief. Ten gold ingots are equivalent to a thousand silver ingot. One of it can allow five families of ten generations to live for a lifetime! He will really quit his job after this!

"Great! Now let's go eat!" Dong Li Hua impatiently pulled her hand as Huang Zhao was forced to move beside her. He pinched his nose bridge because of her childishness.

"You." Huang Zhao pointed at one of the dozen soldier accompanying them. "Guide us to a restaurant."

"Yes, Sir." the soldier complied and led a way. While they are heading to an inn, Dong Li Hua kept glancing towards the stalls of fruit and her favorite candies. She wanted to grab a sack of candy to take with her since she is feeling melancholic today. Huang Zhao saw her stare at the stall of candy, he felt something is amiss and a sense of familiarity welled up. He suppressed that feeling and continued to walk, holding her hand tightly as they neared a restaurant by the lake.

"Wah~. It's so refreshing here." Dong Li Hua gazed at her surroundings. The restaurant was built on a waterside of a lake with couple of boats, wooden sheds and bridges that has fluttery white curtains. The lake was filled with pink lotuses while the waterside has rows and rows of crabapple trees. Its tranquility and fairy-like realm made her feel comfortable that she started showing a genuine smile.

"Watch out!" Huang Zhao bellowed, pulling her to his embrace as his arm wrapped around her waist. Dong Li Hua was pressed on a flat sturdy chest, she glanced to the place where she is previously standing and an arrow was shot there.

"Oops! My bad." a feminine voice resounded. They looked up to the inn's third floor by the balcony. A young woman in her twentieth age is standing there with Meng Tian. He snatched the bow from the young woman's hand, clearly unhappy of what she did.

"Senior Meng, please restrain your cousin." Huang Zhao pushed Dong Li Hua which made her stomp a foot.

"His cousin?" she asked Huang Zhao once he held her hand again as if he didn't do anything mean just a while ago. That arrow could have pierced her head, how ruthless Meng Tian's cousin is! "What's her problem?!"

"Mn. Ignore her. She's just jealous of you." he guided Dong Li Hua into the inn. Huang Zhao went to the front desk where the manager is. "I have a reservation with General Meng Tian."

"Please wait here, Sir." the manager sent a staff to claim confirmation. It was not long when the staff came back. "Oh, General Huang. We are sorry for the delay. Please follow me." he immediately brought Huang Zhao and Dong Li Hua to the final storey of the building.

"Senior Meng." once the door opened, Huang Zhao gave out his greetings to see Meng Tian.

"Come in. I thought you won't join me here." Meng Tian faintly smiled; he lowered his gaze to see Huang Zhao holding his 'lover's' hand.

"There is a change in the plan." Huang Zhao quickly saw through Meng Tian's thought. Suddenly, he felt his hand being squeezed tightly by Dong Li Hua. The young girl.is truly nervous since Meng Tian's cousin is ominously staring at her as if she had the idea of burying Dong Li Hua alive.

"Oh, its understandable." Meng Tian calmly answered and led them to have a seat. However, once Huang Zhao sat beside Meng Tian, Dong Li Hua remained attached to him by standing on his side and refusing to let go of his hand.

Huang Zhao! She's going to kill me, Im telling you!  Dong Li Hua thought, looking straight to his eyes. She doesn't want to risk her life and sit beside Meng Tian's cousin after what happened down there!

"Ah Li." Huang Zhao called out as if giving her a warning. She furrowed her brows hearing him call her intimately.

"Uhm... Can't we eat in another room?" Dong Li Hua meekly asked, lowering her gaze while her eyelashes brushed against her cheeks. She is trying to trap him again in order to leave this dangerous place, ah.