Liu Bei POV

But what is Chen Dao doing here? Shouldn’t she be in the training grounds? And what was that about a blacksmith?

Un… I could not figure out what Chen Dao was going to do but I figured I might as well follow her since I have nothing to do right now. The time is… Alright, I should be able to make it. As I thought so, I began to take a deep breath as I tailed her.

… Speaking of which, why did I not go up to her in the first place? Though I asked myself as such, I still kept some distance between us and disregarded that boring alternative. It’s a lot more fun to treat this as a mission/game where I would lose if I got found out.

*Jii*… But my suspicious actions attracted the stares of pa.s.sers-by. Firstly, I was wearing Nanman garb, secondly, I was skulking around. This was truly attention-grabbing and unbecoming behaviour. If I think about it, it really seems very chuuni of me.

“Boss!” Chen Dao roared just as I was about to give up on my little game. She might not think of it as much but it was really, really loud when she yelled.

I looked over and saw Chen Dao sauntering into a shop that looked like a blacksmithery. By the way, it needs to ne made clear that this is not like the RPG games. Not every village has the quintessential merchant and blacksmith. For a small city like Xinye, it’s already fortunate that there exists a blacksmith or 2.

For smaller villages to the north for example, they could only purchase goods if wandering merchants pa.s.sed through their villages. Not every place has a regular market or sufficient currency too so barter trade is still rather common.

As I engaged in these meaningless thoughts, I cleared my throat and got up as I entered the blacksmithery, taking a look around as I did so. There were soup stalls like the one we ate in the village before Xinye but they were still rather austere and simple. Unlike the shows I watched, there were no big, multi-storey inns that had large restaurants in the first floor.

However, I did not see any of these even in Xuchang. There were only slightly larger food and pastry stalls around. As expected, the quality of life is much lower in this era huh.

When I made my way to the blacksmithery, I found that it had no steps and I parted the curtains and went in.

*Dang*! *Dang*! *Dang*!

An intense heat wave a.s.saulted me the moment I stepped in as a continuous beating of metal sounded from within. I poked my head in and saw 2 people near anvils, engrossed in creating something. Nearer to the exit where I was, the walls were covered with metallic objects of all sorts.

There were many items but most were items for daily everyday use or farming equipment. On the side were 2 full sets of plate armour. I am no expert but the black metal looks very beautiful.

“Un…” I looked to the right and saw Chen Dao standing there and she was frowning. When I took a closer look, I saw that she was holding something that looked like a metal biscuit that had chains at the circ.u.mference.

Hmmm, it’s about time I told her about me.

“Yo, Chen Dao, you’re here–”

“Ah!!!”

“Waaah!”

When I called out to her, she gave a terrifying scream that made me scream and step back as well.

“Argh! It’s so hot!”

“Wah! Ah! It hurts!”

And it seems like the 2 people who were working with the anvil got a shock as well. 1 of them pressed his hand onto a red-hot piece of metal while the other got his finger hit by a hammer. This is not a gag manga… And because it is not, those injuries are not a joke

and are rather serious.

“Ah! Sorry! I’m really sorry!” Chen Dao immediately apologised to the 2 of them when she realised how much trouble her scream had caused.

By the way, is my hat really that terrifying? I reached out to flatten the leaves that were sent flying and saw Chen Dao walk over despondently. Looks like she got scolded but they should have forgiven her.

“Umm, I’m really sorry to you too. I shouldn’t have caused such a ruckus.”

“Chen Dao, you wouldn’t have forgotten this hat, did you? It’s me, me.” I said as I pulled up the front leaves slightly and revealed my face. I did not know if she got shocked because of the hat or because someone called out to her but I have to get her to calm down and recognise me.

“Eh? My… Ah…” She was about to call out to me when she realised what we just said and tried to recall the name Zhou Cang had given me, “Ah… Shalifei?”

“Shamoke.” I frowned, and could not even smile at how sad it was, “There just 3 syllables and you actually forgot 2 of them.”

“Ah, sorry. Ah… Lord Shamoke!”

“Never mind, Lord Chen Dao. I hope you remember that we are colleagues and not superior and subordinate.” I said as I sighed before going to her side and looking ay what she was looking at before, “This is… Ah, a protective chest piece huh?”

“Ah yes, I remember now.” I said as I clapped my hands together, “Lord Chen Dao’s protective chest piece got broken right?”

“Ah, un.” Chen Dao nodded and calmly picked up another piece, “I can’t use it anymore as it has shattered so I’m here to buy a new one.”

“Un…” I said as I picked up another and felt that the area of protection this sort of armour afforded was too little, “Lord Chen Dao, why don’t you buy a full set of plate armour? Like the one at the back. It’s good and secure.”

When she heard what I said, Chen Dao immediately put down the piece she held and shook her head, “No no no, I’m just a lieutenant, how could I use such good quality plate?”

Is that plate… Considered very good? I turned back to take a look again and found that it did indeed seem like good quality armour. But since it’s being displayed here, that should imply that anyone can buy it regardless of rank and status.

“Chen Dao, you’re actually…”

“My… Lord Shamoke need not say any further. I am already very grateful to Lord Zhao Yun for breaking the rules and promoting me.” Chen Dao interrupted me. Seems like she feels that she is not worthy of wearing that plate.

She’s underestimating her worth. And it would not be worth it to lose her life if she happened to get any injuries. Chen Dao is 1 of my strongest generals too. But it’s not like I can say anything to persuade her. If I do so, she might get frantic again.

“Un?” Just then, a particular piece caught my eye and I picked it up, “What’s with this protective chest piece?”

There was an engraving of a feather on this piece and it was done rather well. From my impression, I have never seen this sort of engraving before.

“That’s…” Chen Dao’s interest was piqued and she came over and took it from me before comparing it with her current one, “It seems to fit well.”

“Then that one it is. I’ll buy it for you.” I said as I took out my money pouch. This contained the month’s salary which was determined by Zi Zhong and Yun Chang. I called it a salary but it’s more like an allowance. That said, it should still be sufficient for a single protective chest piece.

“R-really?”

“Don’t be so modest with me, Lord Chen Dao.” I said as I picked out a few coins from my pouch, “Boss, how many coins for this?”

“Just a protective chest piece?” The shopowner seemed surprised.

“Just a protective chest piece.” I nodded.

The shopowner looked over at the piece I held and turned back, “That’s more expensive, 10 coils (of coins).”

“So expensive!” Chen Dao roared. Judging from her reaction, and the fact that there are other places which sell weaponry and armour, this should really be expensive. But 10 coils? I really have no sense of monetary value here.

“Un… Ah, I have enough.” I said after rummaging about in my pouch. I was wondering why it was so heavy but it was because there were 13 coils in there,

“It’s fine, my lord.” Chen Dao said and seemed at a loss as to what to do, “I’ll just use something that’s 3-4 coils.”

“I already said that I’m going to buy it for you so just take it. Think of it as a reward for your hard work.” I said as I placed the money on the table, “Ah yes, and you addressed me wrongly just now.”

“Ah,” Chen Dao seemed to just realise this and covered her mouth. However, this action is of no use now that she already said it. What can I say? This really seems like Chen Dao.

“In any case, my will is set so don’t say any further.” I said as I picked up the protective chest piece and kept my pouch, “Boss, I’m leaving the money here.”

I then pa.s.sed it to Chen Dao, “Here.”

“Ah! Yes!” Chen Dao replied as she carefully received it and stared at it for a long while.