Chapter 50: One Weapon Becomes Two (Part Four)

Wang Ling held the exquisitely crafted Coiling Dragon Spear and sighed. This weapon boasted high attack and severe damage, a formidable killing tool, yet its usage requirements were daunting: Strength at 25 points, Stamina at 28, and a base Endurance of level 4!

"If only the requirements were lower, I'd be truly tempted by this weapon. Unfortunately, I can't use it…"

It wasn't entirely unusable—he could hold it and thrust—but none of the weapon's abilities would activate. There was another problem: its sheer weight. At sixty-two pounds, even an ordinary person would struggle to lift it. Wang Ling's strength was far above average, yet wielding a twenty-pound weapon was already his limit; anything heavier would strain his arms unbearably and drain his stamina rapidly!

"Spear and staff are similar in shape; perhaps Wang Long could use this spear. I recall his strength is eighteen, not enough to meet the requirements, but the Coiling Dragon Spear itself grants +8 strength."

He hadn't obtained the iron staff he had hoped for, but a steel spear—an item of grade D, blue rarity—was an unexpected delight. Carrying the spear, Wang Ling left the inner room and saw the old man rinsing a teapot in the courtyard, busy preparing tea. Seeing this slender youth easily handle the all-steel Coiling Dragon Spear, apparently without effort, the old man couldn't help but show a trace of astonishment on his face.

Wang Ling approached, bowed, and, noticing the house's dilapidated interior, pulled out a bundle of US dollars from his pocket—one hundred bills of a hundred dollars each, amounting to ten thousand. He placed the money on the table and said, "This weapon is excellent; this is my additional thanks."

A grade D, triple-attribute, blue weapon could fetch ten thousand currency points in the Dreamspace's free market! Acquiring such a weapon for ten thousand dollars was a tremendous deal. After setting down the money, Wang Ling turned to leave the courtyard, but as he reached the door, the old man called out, "Wait!"

Wang Ling looked back in surprise. The blacksmith set down the teapot, walked to the wooden table, opened a drawer, and took out a small wooden box. He handed it over, saying, "This is some leftover meteorite powder. Take it—find a skilled blacksmith to use it, don't let it go to waste!"

Wang Ling opened the box and found about half a teacup's worth of dark red powder. Its description was brief:

"Meteorite powder: material-type item. When added during weapon forging, it enhances weapon power."

After stowing the box, Wang Ling nodded, "Thank you. I'll remember this."

Leaving the old blacksmith's home, Wang Ling hailed a taxi back to the restaurant. Entering, he cradled the Coiling Dragon Spear in his arms. He saw that Wang Long and Cheng Fu were already awake, sitting at a table, conversing and sipping tea.

Seeing Wang Ling return with the spear, both Wang Long and Cheng Fu stood and exclaimed, "What a fine spear!"

Having just recovered from drunkenness, Cheng Fu's intoxication had vanished. He stepped forward, took the Coiling Dragon Spear, swung it twice, and marveled, "So heavy!"

Wang Long took his turn. As the spear moved, it traced streaks of dark blue light. Wang Ling felt a powerful gust and quickly stepped back—a weapon like this, if swung at a person, would surely break bones and send them flying, blood spatters included.

"Well? Is it handy? I found this weapon especially for you. Your wooden staff is too weak; in a battle against a strong opponent, it could easily break."

Wang Long grimaced. "I can use both wooden and iron staffs. Iron isn't as flexible as wood; techniques like brushing, sticking, and winding from the Twenty-Four Staff Forms can't be performed, but methods like covering, cleaving, and sweeping will have much greater power! If you'd found an iron staff, that would be ideal. But this is an iron spear—I can't use a spear at all!"

Wang Ling was silent for a moment. "Isn't a spear just a staff with a pointed end? Use it as a staff."

"I can't. A spear feels awkward in my hands, just doesn't suit me." Wang Long shook his head repeatedly. His vocation was Staff Master; wielding a staff, he could unleash tremendous power, but with a spear, all the hidden profession bonuses would vanish.

Cheng Fu interjected, "Remove the spearhead and it'll become an iron staff. The junction between the spearhead and shaft is likely welded, with a concealed seam—shouldn't be hard to detach. Try the local weapons shop; they've got the tools."

The restaurant had quieted down, so the owner took Wang Long to have the Coiling Dragon Spear modified. Wang Ling barely resisted the urge to protest—removing the meteorite-infused, crucial spearhead would greatly diminish the power of this grade D, blue weapon.

Yet, with the impending confrontation against A**, getting Wang Long a suitable weapon to boost his combat strength was paramount. As long as they could take down that terrifying black man, even sacrificing the weapon entirely would be acceptable.

After the two left, Wang Ling sensed it was a good time to win Cheng Fu over, but wasn't sure what to say. After some thought, he decided not to deceive the man and spoke honestly, "I'm in grave danger lately, hunted by one of the Dark Fighters' commanders, A**, and fled to the New York harbor. Unexpectedly, I met you in the restaurant. Seeing your martial skill, I want to invite you to help me fight the enemy. Would you be willing?"

"The Dark Fighters are the evil force ruling New York. I know Commander A**; he's a cold-blooded killing machine, strengthened and mutated. I'm not confident I can handle him," Cheng Fu replied, pausing a few seconds, then drained his tea and continued, "But martial artists value loyalty over life and death! You've treated me with fine food and drink and played that song, giving me new insights into Drunken Fist. You have done me a favor. I'll help you deal with A**, but only this once—I won't get involved in your other battles against the Dark Fighters."

"This is a superpower, after all. I don't want to drag all the Chinese in this harbor into trouble. The Dark Fighters are beyond the sailors, fishermen, and hawkers here."

Wang Ling studied Cheng Fu's calm face; gone was any trace of drunkenness. He seemed perpetually intoxicated, but it was only a mask—his mind was clear and sharp.

"If I tried to deceive him, he'd probably see right through it…" Wang Ling realized. He said earnestly, "I'm already grateful you're willing to help!"

After all, A** was no easy foe; in the clash, Cheng Fu might even die. That he would assist for the sake of a meal and a song proved him a true martial artist, valuing loyalty above life.

Wang Ling reached into his trouser leg and produced two gold bars, placing them on the table. "No matter what, I can't let you help for nothing. Consider this your reward."

He had found eight gold bars in the disco's safe—items useless to Dreamers and not transferable out of the story world. He kept six in reserve, as he would remain in this world for eleven more days and feared unforeseen expenses. Otherwise, he might have given them all to Cheng Fu.

As for why he hadn't given gold bars to the old blacksmith, only ten thousand dollars, it was because gold required exchange. An old man venturing out to trade gold bars would be in grave danger.

Wang Ling had expected that such a loyal martial artist would politely refuse the gold, but to his surprise, Cheng Fu grinned, pocketed the bars, and saluted, "Then I won't be shy! Ha, I'll never lack money for wine again…"

After a brief conversation, Wang Long returned, beaming, carrying what was now a weapon. The original two-meter-long Coiling Dragon Spear had its spearhead removed, leaving a staff of about one point seven meters.

"Now the weapon feels right!"

Wang Ling looked at the staff with some regret. At that moment, the restaurant owner walked in, placed the spearhead before him, and said, "This spearhead is formidable! At the weapons shop, it shattered a foot-thick test brick with a single thrust! The owner wanted to buy it at a high price, but I refused. If you wish to sell, you can go back."

Picking up the spearhead, Wang Ling found it was also a weapon:

"Meteorite Spearhead: Type: Weapon; Grade: E; Attribute: Blue equipment; Attack: 11–31; Ability: Damage +4%; wounds caused are slow to heal. Requirements: Strength: 11."

"Description: A spearhead forged with meteorite powder, razor sharp, originally part of the Coiling Dragon Spear."

"A blue-grade weapon, now lowered by one rank?" Wang Ling was mildly surprised, then said to Wang Long, "Let me see your staff."

Taking the staff, Wang Ling weighed it and found it noticeably lighter. The owner remarked, "At the weapons shop, it weighed exactly fifty-five pounds!"

"Coiling Dragon Staff: Type: Weapon; Grade: E; Attribute: Blue equipment; Attack: 22–28; Ability: Strength +8. Requirements: Strength: 18; Stamina: 25; Base Endurance: Level 3."

"Description: A cold weapon forged from refined steel and black iron powder, originally part of the Coiling Dragon Spear."

After reviewing the data for both weapons, Wang Ling shook his head, uncertain whether to be pleased or disappointed—a grade D weapon had become two grade E weapons.

He spent the remainder of the day in that Chinese restaurant. By dawn the next morning, fearing the Dark Fighters would track him there and bring trouble to the kindly Chinese owner, he left with Wang Long and Cheng Fu, prepared to find a new place to await the arrival of the Dark Fighters and A**.