There is something amiss with Liu Dudu who governs Jizhou.
Of course, Du Chengfeng was not just referring to his mind, but also to his actions. Killing Wang Gaoceng with a single sword stroke may have relieved grievances, but it also meant that a tremendous rift had formed between the Jizhou Dudu's mansion and the Chen Dynasty's court.
"Could it be that I'm actually staying in a den of rebels?"
Du Chengfeng had once harbored such doubts.
However, in their subsequent conversation, Du Chengfeng realized that Liu Dudu's thoughts might be even crazier than he had anticipated.
"If the barbarians can come south, why can't we go north?"
This was the stance Liu Dudu exhibited during that conversation, and it was also the reason why Wang Gaoceng, the master craftsman who followed the army, had to die—originally, Liu Dudu intended to prepare everything in secret, because provoking the borders could attract the attention of the court to Jizhou. However, if something significant was indeed achieved and the benefits were in hand, reporting military achievements to the court would only force them to reluctantly acknowledge it.
Yet the problem stuck here, Wang Gaoceng did nothing after his arrival, boasting philosophical theories all day long, not only delaying the preparations of the Jizhou Dudu's mansion, but also once made Liu Dudu think that his scheme had been exposed and the court was ready to deal with him.
But now, knowing that Wang Gaoceng was simply foolish, Liu Dudu felt much more at ease.
However, before Liu Dudu left, Du Chengfeng asked another question that he was quite concerned about.
"Do you really believe in what I say? Do you truly believe I can see memories through the knife sharpening process?"
Indeed, this question had lingered in Du Chengfeng's mind since he began sharpening the Broken Horse Long Saber. And while honing the Imperial Sword, feeling Wang Gaoceng's memories, this doubt grew even stronger.
No matter how slow he might seem, Du Chengfeng had realized that his method of sharpening was vastly different from the mainstream techniques prevalent in the current Chen Dynasty, with their approaches fundamentally diverging from the start.
In an environment where everyone thought about how to "suppress evil qi," his way of merging with the evil qi was simply an unorthodox practice.
Of course, he didn't see anything wrong with it, and in fact, felt his method was more convenient and effective. But when it came to communicating with outsiders...
Would anyone truly believe in the intelligence he gained from the weapon's memories?
"Does it matter if I believe or not?"
Faced with Du Chengfeng's question, Liu Dudu counter-asked in return.
"Anyway, the barbarians will surely attack, and someone like Wang Gaoceng would be useless in warfare... Indeed, you provided the information, but the decision-making was my part."
Upon hearing this, Du Chengfeng couldn't help but raise his estimation of Liu Dudu.
Initially, he had judged Liu Dudu and the Jizhou Dudu's mansion as negligible. After witnessing part of Wang Gaoceng's experiences and Liu Dudu's performance, he upgraded his opinion, considering him a competent yet mentally unstable individual.
But now, based solely on this aura, Du Chengfeng faintly felt.
If He Xiqing really came over, Liu Dudu might actually become an asset in that battle.
However, whether an asset or not, in the end, one still had to rely on himself when it came to action.
Fortunately, this time, he finally had sufficient resources.
"The entire armament of the Jizhou Dudu's mansion... Can I really sharpen them all?"
Just thinking about the arsenal filled with weapons gave Du Chengfeng a sense of security.
These were old blades that had once been wielded on the battlefield, who knows what kind of skills they carried.
So, after practicing a few sets of dragon and tiger techniques and running a few laps with a wooden beam, Du Chengfeng took a shower and fell into a deep sleep.
To fully experience the weapon's history, one must stay energized. Before unlocking the Jizhou armory, Du Chengfeng planned to adjust himself to the best state.
This pre-sleep workout also helped him sleep more soundly.
On this day, Du Chengfeng rarely adjusted his schedule, changing to sleep at night.
However, while Du Chengfeng slept soundly.
The Yang family members in Dock Fortress couldn't fall asleep.
"How could this happen..."
"How can this be..."
When Yang Xuan returned to Dock Fortress in a daze, those of the Yang clan were still unaware of what had happened. But as Yang Xuan explained the situation, they all realized the gravity of the matter.
That Du Chengfeng unexpectedly made contact with Liu Dudu of Jizhou.
According to the plan, they initially wanted to keep Du Chengfeng at the Yang family fort, then spread the word about his identity as a master craftsman, so that swordsmen from all over would gather here, and the Yang family fort would soon thrive—however, with the involvement of Liu Dudu, this powerful outsider, everything changed.
As Du Chengfeng had agreed to the outsourcing work from the Dudu's mansion, he would naturally go to the Jizhou armory to sharpen blades. The Dudu's mansion needed it, and Du Chengfeng wanted to sharpen blades; they seemed like a match made in heaven.
So, where did the Yang family come into play in all this?
"This..."
The Yang clan disciples who initially wanted to benefit from this now hung their heads.
To them, Du Chengfeng was already akin to a living ancestor, and Liu Dudu was an even more significant figure whom the Yang family fort couldn't afford to offend. Now that the two had joined forces, they were utterly out of options.
"So why do we have to find a solution?"
As the group in the ancestral hall sighed in despair, a voice came from the door.
"Why must you rely on an outsider?"
"...Sanlang is speaking nonsense again, quickly bring him back."
Without needing to look up, Yang Xuan already knew it was Yang Sanlang.
A few Yang clan disciples stood and moved to take Yang Sanlang away; after all, by this time, everyone was accustomed to Yang Sanlang's madness.
However, this time, Yang Sanlang struggled fiercely, refusing to move an inch.
"I'm not crazy! I've always been clear-headed!"
Clutching the doorframe of the ancestral hall with all his might, Yang Sanlang shouted.
"Relying on an outsider who comes and goes as he pleases for the safety and future of the entire Yang family fort, you're the ones truly insane! Now that the outsider is leaving, taking our ancestral treasure knife with him, what will you do? What can you do?"
"We... uh?"
Only then did the Yang clan members realize that if Du Chengfeng truly made contact with Liu Dudu and went to the Jizhou Dudu's mansion, the Yang family's ancestral knife would undoubtedly be taken away too.
Then what would the Yang family fort gain?
It seemed like nothing, not only nothing was gained, but they also gave away their treasured ancestral knife.
Thinking about it this way... perhaps what Yang Sanlang said was the most sensible?
"Then what can you do?"
Yang Xuan couldn't help but frown, staring at Yang Sanlang.
"The knife is in his hand, can you get it back?"
"Uncle, it's not a matter of can or can't, it's a matter of must."
Taking a deep breath, Yang Sanlang gritted his teeth.
"Whether through stealing, deceiving, robbing, or by bowing my head and admitting mistakes, making amends, kneeling if necessary, or even at the cost of my life."
"That is the ancestral knife of the Yang family of Jizhou, it must stay at the Yang family fort."