Castle of Black Iron

When you got a drop of water; you should repay with a fountain. This was what Zhang Tie’s parents taught him since he was young, not to mention this time when Heavens Fortune Sect really helped Zhang Tie’s family tide over the toughest period. Therefore, Zhang Tie appreciated Heavens Fortune Sect sincerely with such a decisive promise instead of being perfunctory. It was Zhang Tie’s first time to make such a sincere promise.

Although Zhang Tie’s family hadn’t experienced any big trouble during those years when the knight of Heavens Fortune Sect was over there; neither did this knight fight for Zhang family once. Actually, at that critical moment, only by enrolling Zhang Tie’s sons as apprentices and assigning an earth knight to Zhang family could Heavens Fortune Sect frighten those evil forces who wanted to find Zhang family trouble.

It was also out of Zhang Tie’s imagination that Feng Cangwu would like to guarantee that Zhang Tie was innocent with his cultivation base. Like Mountain Lifting Hermit, Feng Cangwu was also Zhang Tie’s bosom brother who would like to sacrifice himself for Zhang Tie at the critical moment.

If it came to that day, Zhang Tie would really fight for Heavens Fortune Sect and such a bosom friend at the cost of his life.

Watching the sincerity and fortitude on Zhang Tie’s enviably young face, Zhou Hongbang was moved. Just like a gentleman, who would never go back on his words, he realized that Zhang Tie’s words were real.

“Elder Mushen, no need to be that polite!” The earth knight of Heavens Fortune Sect cupped his hands towards Zhang Tie with a solemn look as he said, “As Elder Mushen came back to Jinwu City with a powerhouse, I think I should leave Zhang family. As Taixia Country is suffering from the catastrophe of bloody figures as a whole; especially the provinces near Heavens Fortune Sect, all the knight-level powerhouses in my sect have been assigned to those afflicted provinces by turns to exterminate the large units of bloody figures, I have reported to my sect that I would leave Zhang family yesterday. The elders of our sect have already allowed me to return to Heavens Fortune Sect and exterminate all the bloody figures that I met on the way!”

Although Zhang Tie didn’t know what secret method this knight of Heavens Fortune Sect had, he estimated that this earth knight had already known the real battle strength of Zhang Gui. Therefore, he prepared to leave the Zhang family. ‘Now that Heavens Fortune Sect is decisive, I don’t need to keep him or behave affectedly.’

“If Hermit Zhou wants to leave, Zhang Tie will not urge you to stay. I will send a gift to Hermit so as to increase your battle strength and help you kill more demons and bloody figures and protect a region!” Zhang Tie said as he threw a glance at the trivial traces near Zhou Hongbang’s hand wrists and parts between his thumbs and index fingers. Closely after that, a grim long saber that gave out red light appeared in Zhang Tie’s hand in a split second. A burning image of saber-toothed tiger loomed in the light. Additionally, the moment this long saber appeared, the temperature in the parlor increased by a few degrees Celsius. The saber slightly quivered and rang itself as if a fierce tiger was going to break out of the shackle while roaring. As an earth knight, Zhang Tie could clearly sense the strong surging fire strength over this long saber.

‘This is a silver secret item-level treasure saber; definitely a top-class good among silver secret items.’

As he was too close to this treasure saber, Zhou Hongbang’s face turned red while being reflected by the glow of this treasure saber as if he was sitting beside a fireplace.

“No, it’s too expensive!” The earth knight from Heavens Fortune Sect hurriedly declined. Honestly, very few earth knights in Heavens Fortune Sect could present such a top-class silver secret item.

“Does Hermit think that Zhang Tie and Zhang family’s sincerity couldn’t even match such a lifeless object?” Zhang Tie’s face turned solemn at once as he continued, “We’re sincere friends. It’s just a piece of silver secret item. If Hermit doesn’t take it, it means that Hermit and Heavens Fortune Sect look down upon Zhang Tie and feel that Zhang Tie is not even qualified to make friends with you; otherwise, Hermit doesn’t think that Zhang family’s safety could match a piece of silver secret item. Now that, Zhang Tie will pick my sons back from Heavens Fortune Sect tomorrow. From then on, we will not expect to claim ties with Heavens Fortune Sect.”

Zhou Hongbang gazed at Zhang Tie seriously for a few seconds before nodding solemnly and silently and accepting this silver secret treasure saber.

After Zhou Hongbang accepted it, Zhang Tie revealed a smile, “Now that Hermit is going to return to Heavens Fortune Sect, Zhang Tie wonder whether Brother Cangwu is in the base of Heavens Fortune Sect now?”

“Master nephew Cangwu cultivated in the Earth-elements Realm a few years ago. After the catastrophe of bloody figures broke out in Taixia Country, Heavens Fortune Sect called back all the knights from Earth-elements Realm. Master nephew Cangwu might be on the way back to Heavens Fortune Sect!”

“If so, Hermit, please give this item to Brother Cangwu!” Zhang Tie said. At the same time, he moved his hand, giving out a light. This time, a silver secret longsword appeared in his hand. Being different than that treasure saber, this longsword in his hand was like a visional light and shade. Given its look, it could definitely match that treasure saber. It might even carry some special ability.

Even though Zhou Hongbang had rich experience in Heavens Fortune Sect, he still became a bit dumbfounded at this moment. It was already out of his imagination that Zhang Tie could present a silver secret item. He had not imagined that Zhang Tie could present another one without even blinking his eyes.

‘They are silver secret items, silver secret items. They are not rune weapons that could be bought in the market. How could an earth knight casually present two silver secret items to others? What a rich knight!’ The earth knight watched the two silver secret items as if he was dreaming.

However, Zhou Hongbang finally accepted both silver secret items. After that, he took out a finger ring and a small piece of crystal and passed them to Zhang Tie as he said, “With this remote-sensing telecommunications finger ring, you could contact Elder Qingfeng of Heavens Fortune Sect. Elder Mushen’s 3 sons are instructed by Elder Qingfeng!”

The crystal contained the telecommunications code and the secret code that could be used to confirm both identities. It was a purely strong spiritual information. The moment Zhang Tie injected his spiritual energy into the crystal and established connections with the information in the crystal, he had captured the content of the spiritual information automatically. At the same time, the spiritual energy in the crystal disappeared and the crystal also broke into pieces. It seemed to be a secret method of Heavens Fortune Sect. The information in the crystal contained the mark of the spiritual energy wave of the one who injected his spiritual energy into it. After being reviewed once, it would disappear. If another one stealth a glance at it, he would not restore the crystal; neither could he copy the same information. Bloody Soul Sutra contained the similar means; however, this means could only be learned by a shadow knight who had formed his water chakra.

Zhang Tie accepted this remote-sensing finger ring. From then on, he had one more remote-sensing equipment.

…

A few minutes later, after talking with Zhang Tie alone and bidding a farewell to Zhang Tie’s parents and Zhang Yang, this earth knight directly shot into the sky from Zhang Mansion before flying towards the south of Jinwu City in the heavy wind and snow under the gaze of the entire Zhang family.

Not until that grey point gradually disappeared in the sky did Zhang Tie’s family draw back their sights.

Zhang Tie turned around and watched his parents. All of a sudden, he revealed a smile as if he was greedy, “Mom, this weather is suitable for us to have a hot pot. How about eating hotpot today?”

Zhang Tie’s mom became stunned for a second. After exchanging a glance with Zhang Tie’s dad, she revealed an affectionate smile like how she saw her son over 10 years ago in Blackhot City, “You want a hotpot?”

“Yes!” Zhang Tie revealed a bitter smile as he rubbed his belly, “Previously, I thought that I could eat full at home; I’ve not imagined that I would also be hungry at home. Last night, I was not full at all. In the beginning, I had to talk with the old man, my eldest uncle and my youngest uncle; later on, so many cousins and 70-80 children of my cousins proposed toasts to me and called me uncle by turns. I couldn’t ignore them; neither could I just have food. Therefore, I was not full. My belly is still rumbling now. At this moment, when I remembered the hotpot made by mom in Blackhot City in winter; plus the rice brew, I couldn’t help but drool!”

Bai Suxian watched Zhang Tie with an interested look. It was her first time to see Zhang Tie’s idle look at home. When she compared Zhang Tie’s imposing look in the Earth-elements Realm with his current tame look, Bai Suxian felt pretty fresh.

“Right, let’s eat hotpot then!” Zhang Tie’s mom replied as she and Zhang Tie’s elder sisters-in-law and wives burst out into laughter at the same time, “I will make a hotpot for you at home!”

“Coincidentally, I’m at home, Jinwu City have an annual leave, I will help your mom!” Zhang Tie’s dad also said with a smile.

“I will prepare the food ingredients!” Zhang Yang said as he revealed a smile too.

“I will be responsible for firing as usual…” Zhang Tie said with a smile. At the same time, he threw a glance at his eldest sister-in-law before saying, “Eldest sister-in-law is good at making chili sauce and cold dish. I’ve not enjoyed eldest sister-in-law’s food for a long time!”

Wang Huizhen replied with a smile; meanwhile, she threw an appreciative glance at Zhang Tie. Wang Huizhen knew that as long as Zhang Tie called her eldest sister-in-law and remembered what dishes were she good at, the positions of she and her two sons in this family would be indestructible and unshakable.

Among the 3 wives of Zhang Yang, Wang Huizhen had the most average background and look. Additionally, after the new year, Zhang Yang would marry his 4th wife from Zhu Clan in Yanzhou Province. It was the clan of the provincial governor. Now that the 4th wife came from such a major clan, she must have an outstanding look and figure. Therefore, as a woman, Wang Huizhen had a deep sense of crisis at Zhang family. After having more and more wives, even if Zhang Yang wouldn’t live up to Wang Huizhen, Wang Huizhen was clear how to be an influential eldest sister-in-law in Zhang family.

Lu Shiyun and Wang Huayin exchanged a glance with each other before revealing a smile at the same time, “Elder sister Huizhen’s chili sauce and cold dish are yummy. We two will help elder sister Huizhen make them!”

“What about us?” Fiona asked as she pointed at her own nose in an innocent way.

“You…” Zhang Tie looked at Fiona from her head to her toe before saying, “You’re good at eating, Just do that. Linda and Beverly could help mom!”

“Nuisance, I’m not a pig. You’re a foodie!” Fiona blushed as she stomped to the ground.

Everybody burst out into laughter.

“Bai Suxian is good at roasting meat. You should show your talent!” Zhang Tie told Bai Suxian.

Bai Suxian revealed a sweet smile towards Zhang Tie…

This day, Zhang Mansion was filled with cheers and laughter…

…

Since he returned home, Zhang Tie didn’t leave his family members anymore. He just played with his children, accompanied by his parents, walked and chatted with his wives or directly watched the snow-covered landscape by airboat in the wild. Each morning, Zhang Tie would make up various snowmen in his own courtyard with his 3 sons and 2 daughters. In the process of making odd-looking snowmen, Zhang Tie’s kids grew more and more intimate with him and called him papa more and more naturally…

When Zhang Tie returned to Zhang Mansion in Jinwu City and enjoyed the long-awaited slight warmth of his family, the news that Zhang Tie had returned to Jinwu City had spread over Taixia Country and shocked everybody.

Actually, it was not shocking that Zhang Tie returned home. What was really shocking was that the news that Zhang Tie had promoted to an earth knight in only a few years. The more unbelievable news was that Zhang Tie had been rewarded with Fire-Dragon Bounty Territory and the very Cui Li who founded the Iron-Dragon Sect was Zhang Tie’s incarnation.

In only a few days, the entire Jinwu City had been as boisterous as a pot of boiling water. A lot of people arrived at Jinwu City from the other provinces in the Northeast Military Region, even further places every day. They wanted to see Zhang Tie by sending the formal visit requests or lavish gifts; however, Zhang Tie declined them all.

Zhang Mansion almost received over 100 formal visit requests every day from all parties. However, Zhang Tie ignored them all.

During the few days at home, Zhang Tie only met three batches of people: first, Donder; second, Barley’s group from all the others places across Youzhou Province; third, Zhang Tie paid a visit to the parents of Beverly and Fiona in a simple way. After Jinwu City was established, the parents of Beverly and Fiona also moved to Jinwu City and lived wealthy and leisure lives. Besides Zhang family, few people knew the relationship between them and Zhang Tie.

In this way, Zhang Tie welcomed the new year’s eve of the 904th year of Black Iron Calendar at home.

After the new year’s festival, Huaiyuan Palace released the news to the public that they would hold the rotating chakra ceremony for Zhang Tie to celebrate that he had promoted to an earth knight on February 2nd of the lunar calendar.

February 2nd was the best day of the year for holding rotating chakra ceremony…