C15 Thunder Rumbling

"Aotian, hold on a moment and tidy up!"

As Aotian was about to start cleaning his room, Zhang Lin called out to him.

"Uncle Zhang, what can I do for you?"

Aotian inquired with curiosity.

"Oh, it's nothing major! Now that you're all signed up, I need to head back and report to the master. Be careful around here, okay? This afternoon, why don't you go see Loong Qian? If you ever need assistance, she's the one to ask. Your brothers are over at the advanced academy too. Try to visit them if you get a chance," Zhang Lin advised, giving Aotian a meaningful look.

"Sure, I'll do that. Thanks, Uncle Zhang," Aotian responded, though his tone betrayed a hint of reluctance. Internally, he scoffed at the idea. 'Seek them out? As if. My relationship with them is barely better than with strangers. Why bother? Besides, other than a few words exchanged with my sister Loong Qian, I can't recall any real interaction with my brothers. And I certainly don't need to trouble them with anything,' Aotian thought, dismissing the notion of seeking them out.

"Well, that settles it then. I'm off. Oh, and the master instructed me to give you this money after you finished signing up. Your tuition has been taken care of, and this is for your personal expenses for the year," Zhang Lin explained, handing over a small pouch to Aotian.

"Nothing else for now, so I'll be on my way," Zhang Lin said, turning to leave. Aotian watched him go, sighing to himself and wondering what was on Zhang Lin's mind.

Glancing into the pouch, Aotian counted 60 gold coins – his allowance for the year. It was the perfect amount to buy a suitable gun that afternoon. Carefully pocketing the money, he set about organizing his room.

By the time Aotian had finished his chores, it was nearly noon. He headed to the academy's cafeteria, presented his student card, and after verification by the cafeteria owner, received his meal card for the year. With that, he sat down to enjoy his very first meal at the academy.

After quickly finishing his meal, Aotian seized the afternoon to dash out of the academy. The academy was open only one day a week, with guards posted the rest of the time, making it difficult for students to leave. Aotian knew he had to make the most of the afternoon's freedom!

Since the school was located on the outskirts of the city, Aotian, upon exiting the gates and noticing the coast was clear, broke into a sprint toward the city. He moved so swiftly that he left behind nothing but a blur. His speed was now comparable to that of a swordman, a Level-5 expert who could only match Aotian's pace with the aid of combat qi! Moreover, Aotian had the upper hand with his stamina; he could maintain this pace for a full hour, while a swordman would be depleted of battle energy after just half that time.

After a fifteen-minute run, Aotian slowed down as the city gates came into view. Wiping the sweat from his brow, he strolled into the city at a leisurely pace.

Walking along the bustling streets, he soaked in the lively atmosphere and observed everything with curiosity. His last visit was two years ago with Aunt Maria, when he had outgrown his clothes and she had taken him to get new ones. Now, Aotian was eager to explore and take in the sights.

Eventually, Aotian stumbled upon a weapon shop. Excited, he entered, hoping to find the gun he was looking for. But to his dismay, the shop was filled mostly with longswords and sabers, with only two unremarkable spears that seemed like second-rate items. Disappointed, he sighed and was about to leave in search of another shop.

Noticing his departing customer, the shopkeeper quickly approached and inquired, "Young master, is there something specific you're looking for? Our shop is the finest in the Imperial City, boasting top-tier weapons. I assure you, any purchase here will be one you won't regret!"

Upon seeing Aotian's attire, it was clear he was a scion of wealth, and he certainly didn't want to jeopardize the deal that was nearly in his grasp!

"I'm in the market for a gun, but from what I've seen, you only have two, and frankly, they're not very impressive," Aotian stated upon the shopkeeper's inquiry.

"My dear sir, you jest! Our armory boasts only the finest weapons. Surely, you refer to these two guns? While they may not be the finest we've ever offered, they are of commendable quality! Might you take a closer look?" the shopkeeper responded, a hint of surprise in his voice.

The boss was momentarily taken aback by Aotian's comment. The demand for guns had dwindled, and his shop had ceased crafting them for regular sale. Only two rather mundane guns, relics of a bygone era, remained on display.

"No, I've examined them already. Surely you have something superior?" Aotian pressed.

"Alas, that's all we have. As you're likely aware, gun enthusiasts are rare these days, and sales are sluggish. Few weapon shops bother with their manufacture unless fulfilling military contracts. These two are among the best available, and if they don't meet your standards, I doubt you'll find better elsewhere," the shopkeeper explained, his tone laced with regret.

"Please, take another look. There must be something of higher caliber," Aotian implored earnestly.

The shopkeeper paused, then a thought struck him. "Ah, there is one more in the warehouse, but it's exceedingly heavy—100 kilograms! It's been unsold for ages due to its weight. I'll fetch it for your inspection. But I must forewarn you, it's a pricey piece, crafted by my grandfather. Its heft has kept it on the shelf, but its value is considerable."

With that, the shopkeeper turned and made his way to the back.

Soon after, Aotian watched as the shopkeeper and an assistant laboriously carried out the gun. It was a pristine white, roughly 2.1 meters in length, with spiral threading beneath the muzzle and a granulated grip, likely designed for enhanced control. Aotian approached with enthusiasm, firmly grasped the gun, and hoisted it with ease. He balanced it in his hands, feeling the cool metal and the power it exuded as he swung it with a flourish. Clutching the gun, he couldn't help but declare, "This is the one!"

"Boss, how much for this gun?" Aotian inquired with a hint of anxiety.

"The gun, named Thundercry, goes for 230 gold coins. It's heavy because it's forged entirely from cold iron. The cold iron alone is nearly worth the price," the boss explained, recovering from his initial surprise. He hadn't anticipated that Aotian, with his slight frame, could wield the hefty weapon with such ease. Many warriors had tried and failed, deeming it too cumbersome to handle. Aotian's effortless handling was astonishing indeed.

"230 gold coins? Any chance you could lower the price? How about 200 gold coins?" Aotian asked after pulling out all 220 gold coins he had to his name.

"Not a penny less. At 230 gold coins, it's a steal. The craftsmanship, the materials—if it weren't so heavy, I wouldn't part with it for less than 500 gold coins. It's already half off; I can't reduce it further."

"Could you make an exception? I've only got 220 gold coins. That's all I have. Can we settle on 220?"

Aotian pleaded.

"I can't reduce the price any further. If you're not interested, I'll put it away," the boss responded, preparing to stow the gun as Aotian continued to bargain.

"Wait, wait, boss! I really only have 220 gold coins. That's five years of saving, including this year's allowance!" Aotian interjected, desperate to keep the boss from putting the gun away.

"Here's what I propose: I give you the 220 gold coins now, and you let me take the gun. I promise to bring you the remaining ten as soon as I can," Aotian suggested, hoping to strike a deal.

"I can't do that. I don't know you, and if you walk away with the gun, who's to say you'll ever return? I'd have no one to turn to for the money," the boss said, firmly denying Aotian's offer after a moment's thought.

"Rest assured, boss. Here's my student ID from the Black Tortoise Academy. I promise I'm not trying to deceive you. Please, just give me a chance!"

When the boss remained unconvinced, Aotian reluctantly produced his student ID for inspection.

"I'll cover those ten gold coins!"

Out of nowhere, a man's voice emerged from behind them!