Demon King: Hero, don’t run away!

The sun gradually set in the west, casting an orange-red glow over the town.

Before nightfall, the sound of ”ping-pong” emerging from the Dwarf settlement in Makuder was gradually replaced by cheerful laughter.

The phenomenon of a single race congregating in one area was not uncommon in Makuder.

Compared to other races, it’s indeed more comfortable to live with people who look similar to oneself.

Thus, different races in Makuder formed individual ”settlements” within the city.

These city ”settlements” mostly maintained intramarital relations but did not refuse intermarriage with other Sub-human races.

It’s just... couples between different races would face quite a few troubles.

This is especially evident among the Dwarves.

In this world, the depiction of Dwarves is similar to their depiction in most games, a short race with an average height of about one meter twenty-three.

They are short and strong, possessing robust muscles.

Even the women are as robust as the men.

Only a few races whose aesthetic matches that of the Dwarves would accept them.

To appreciate Dwarven males, one must learn to admire beards, forging techniques, and fine wine.

Due to the Dwarves’ expertise in forging, many come for their fame, and the Dwarf settlement in Makuder is never short of business.

During the day, they forge non-stop, and at night they drink until they’re dead drunk, often sleeping until noon.

Of course, not all Dwarves indulge in wine.

Some Dwarves, who aspire to craft exceptional Equipment and achieve self-transcendence, often forge through the night.

These Dwarves are the most likely to possess exquisite forging skills.

It’s not that they don’t like drinking, but they understand that to create a unique masterpiece, they must concentrate fully and complete it in one go.

They’ll only have a small sip after finishing their proud creation.

Visitors who know this secret often follow the hammering sounds in the night to choose a satisfactory Forging Master.

Yang Yu wouldn’t use such unreliable methods; his goal had been clear from the start.

In the All Things Library, he found several Dwarven Forging Masters whose skills are universally recognized; some have indeed forged Epic Equipment, and those who haven’t are still considered potential candidates.

Along the way, Yang Yu learned that many master craftsmen, after forging several pieces of Epic Equipment, would retire gracefully.

When someone wants to invite them back, they tactfully decline, letting their Disciples greet the guests.

It’s incredibly difficult to get a meeting with them.

Unless one presents fine wine, they won’t meet the visitor.

As luck would have it, Yang Yu managed to acquire some rare Baihua Wine from Baihua City, and he also has a large stock of Moutai and Lao Baigan in the System.

Meeting a forging master shouldn’t be too difficult.

Soon, Yang Yu found the first master willing to meet him.

The Forging Master’s name was Brian Redbeard.

With Brian Redbeard’s disciple leading the way, Yang Yu and his companions braved the heat, passing rows of fiery forges and then crossing a cluttered mineral storage room, and finally met Brian Redbeard in a small, messy room.

He was an even shorter and stockier old man with a red beard than the average Dwarf.

Due to neglect, his hair and beard appeared messy, his eyes sunken, and he seemed to be in poor spirits, looking nothing like the spirited Dwarf with braided beard recorded in the All Things Library.

Upon opening a wine jug and smelling the aroma, Brian Redbeard finally climbed down from his hammock and dragged his burly body to Yang Yu, letting out a cold snort.

Seeing that Brian Redbeard was in a bad mood, Yang Yu did not back down but methodically presented the fine wine,

”Mr. Brian Redbeard, my name is Yang Yu. I specially brought this Baihua Wine from Baihua City for you to taste.”

With no expression on his face, Brian Redbeard did not respond, as his disciple poured a wooden beer mug full of wine and handed it to Brian Redbeard.

Taking the mug, Brian Redbeard sniffed hard, detecting the faint floral fragrance from the wine, and then gulped it down.

After drinking, Brian Redbeard returned to his hammock...

Yang Yu was speechless, ”If you’re not doing business, why drink my wine? How am I supposed to visit other forging masters?”

Hearing Yang Yu say this, Brian Redbeard finally spoke in a low voice,

”If you’re specifically visiting those renowned Forging Masters, hoping they’ll forge Epic Equipment for you, I advise you to abandon that notion.”

”Why do you say that?”

Brian Redbeard did not respond to Yang Yu but merely raised his hand and waved, signaling his disciple to escort the guest out.

After all, being on their turf, even if Yang Yu had complaints, he could only temporarily leave and visit other forging masters.

And as Brian Redbeard said, even though Yang Yu had plenty of fine wine, the masters avoided him.

Even if Yang Yu mentioned that payment wasn’t an issue, and he was merely seeking a handy weapon, few were willing to exchange even a few words, refusing his forging requests.

The best response Yang Yu received was from a forging master who, seeing the materials Yang Yu wanted to forge with, shook his head and bid farewell.

This situation was far beyond Yang Yu’s expectations.

It’s more accurate to say they aren’t unwilling to forge than to say they are afraid to forge.

After contemplating, Yang Yu found Brian Redbeard’s disciple again, claiming to have a type of wine Brian Redbeard had never tasted, hoping for Brian Redbeard to try it, and thus successfully met with Brian Redbeard once more.

Brian Redbeard rose from the hammock as Yang Yu pulled out a goblet and poured Brian a glass of ’82 Lafite.

This was the most expensive wine Yang Yu could produce, and there was only that one bottle.

Smelling the scent richer than that of Baihua Wine, Brian Redbeard’s stern face slightly relaxed. After drinking, he finally asked Yang Yu to show him what needed forging.

Yang Yu laid out the Heavenly Stone and Qi Li Ore on the table, and after examining the raw materials, Brian Redbeard shook his head and returned them to the table, saying,

”Sorry, I can’t handle this. Can I have another cup of that wine I just drank?”

Yang Yu had never seen someone so shameless; claiming he couldn’t do it while blatantly asking for more wine.

Pressing down on the bottle, without retrieving it into the System, Yang Yu spoke,

”When you say you can’t do it, you’re actually afraid of forging, aren’t you?”

Brian Redbeard let out a long sigh, placing the wine glass down, ”My master once told me, even if one day I have the ability to forge Epic Equipment, I should never forge it. I never understood those words before.

Until I actually forged Epic Equipment myself, I gradually understood what he meant back then.....”