Poison God's Heritage Chapter 3 Bricks

Waking to the aroma of food, I found that sustenance had, once more, been placed by my door. After satisfying my hunger, I made my way to the shop owner.

Upon arrival, the man's face was etched with anger. "Kid, you took those tools yesterday. I assumed you were from the Xuan Fu temple, but it seems you've been expelled. I won't demand their return, but don't think of scamming me for more of my wares."

He must have heard the news from the Village Head, I surmised. Regardless, I was fortunate to have discovered a purse tucked within my robes the previous day. Though it failed to jingle due to the cotton lining, it contained a considerable sum of silver and gold coins.

"I apologize; I had no intention of taking anything without payment, but you offered them before I could pay. What is the worth of those tools?" I inquired.

"Two Bronze Jins."

"Understood," I acknowledged, retrieving the exact sum and presenting it to him. The shop owner's scowl instantly softened into a smile, and he became most accommodating. Indeed, money reigns supreme, a deity universally adored.

"I require additional items," I stated.

"Such as?" he asked.

"An anvil would be necessary, along with more hammers – the larger, the better. Shovels and pickaxes are also needed."

"I possess only one of each," the proprietor replied. "As for an anvil, I have none. You won't find one in this vicinity. However, I do have a substantial iron slab you could utilize. Are you intending to establish a forge?"

"For personal use, at present," I answered, awaiting the man as he gathered the items.

"Furthermore, do you have any iron ingots?"

"Iron Ingots? What are those?" he questioned, perplexed.

I shook my head. "Do you have any items containing iron that you no longer need? Even iron ore would suffice."

"Well, currently, I have some rusted, broken axes and shovels that are beyond repair. As for iron ore, you would need to await the City Messenger. You can provide him with a letter and advance payment, and he will arrange for delivery."

"Is he reliable?" I queried.

"Absolutely, he is appointed by the City Lord. I can draft your letter. How much do you require?"

"At least two hundred pounds to begin."

"Pound? I have not heard of such a unit, Young Master. What precisely is a pound?"

Glancing around, I spotted a rather large and hefty potato. I lifted it, demonstrating its weight in my hand. "Approximately this much."

"Ah, that is nearly half a Kilogram. So, you require about one hundred Kilograms?"

"Uh, yes," I confirmed.

"If my memory serves, fifty kilograms of iron cost one silver. That would be two silvers for you."

"Here, and this is for your trouble," I said, adding a few bronze coins. The total came to two silvers and ten bronze Jins – five for the tools and five for the merchant. He seemed quite pleased.

I collected the tools and returned them to my shed, then came back for the iron slab delivered by the shop owner. Fortunately, its dimensions were adequate, with a few edges appearing as if they'd been struck by a sword.

Lifting the slab, I found it heavy but manageable for my strength. I transported all the procured items back to my dwelling and commenced planning my endeavors.

Firstly, to craft durable tools, a furnace is essential. The most suitable type for this purpose is a blast furnace. Regrettably, constructing one is time-consuming and requires substantial clay. However, I believe I can manage, as I am familiar with the necessary methods and principles.

Secondly, an abundant supply of firewood will be imperative. While the nearby forest can suffice, I also need to produce charcoal. This necessitates a container for burning wood, made of iron – hence the acquisition of the anvil.

Examining the tools I possessed, I determined there was sufficient iron to fashion a small barrel, and the river provided ample clay for crucibles.

I gathered a generous amount of clay from the riverbank and began shaping it into pots. While they lacked the refinement of those made with a potter's wheel, they were adequate for holding materials. I crafted five such vessels. The clay's impurity posed a risk of the pots fracturing under high heat.

I placed the collected clay on a large plank, equipping it with sliding supports to facilitate movement – wheels were beyond my current capabilities or inclination.

Once sufficient clay was brought near my shed, I started by molding it into a pyramid shape, leaving an opening at the top and a smaller aperture for fuel insertion. I then added wood to ignite the clay furnace and, after a considerable period, it hardened and became operational. Thankfully, it did not erupt due to the intense heat.

I now have a furnace; while not a blast furnace, it serves its purpose for the time being.

I proceeded to place the clay pots within the furnace and added more firewood.

Mealtime arrived, and a glance downward revealed my attire was quite soiled; acquiring cleaner garments became a necessity.

Having finished my meal, I saw a young man approaching. He was taller than me, with tanned skin, a muscular build, and a wide grin plastered on his face.

"Hello, my name is Wu Fan. Could you tell me what you're engaged in here?" he inquired.

"I'm Shen Bao, and I'm crafting things," I replied. Surprisingly, my name, or rather the name of this body, flowed from my lips as if I'd used it my entire existence.

"I can see that quite clearly, but what sort of things are you making? It looks rather interesting," Wu Fan commented.

"I'm constructing a crucible, intended for melting iron."

"What? You're going to melt iron into a dirt jar? Have you lost your mind?" the boy chuckled.

I saw no need to retort. He was the first individual brave enough to approach and converse with me. As I'd observed, most of the other children in the village, much like the elders, were plainly terrified of me.

"You shall witness," I stated.

After a brief interval, the initial pot shattered, followed by the second. However, the remaining three vessels held strong until the completion of the process.

"Excellent," I declared.

Next, I gathered more clay and fashioned a large, rectangular mold suitable for pouring molten steel. I placed this mold into the furnace, awaiting its hardening.

The boy remained oblivious to my objective, yet his curiosity was piqued enough for him to fetch me firewood. He even undertook the chore of chopping down trees to produce more fuel, while I tirelessly transported clay back and forth to create additional molds for various items, even starting to craft bricks.

Nightfall descended swiftly, necessitating Wu Fan's departure to his home. Feeling neither fatigue nor drowsiness, I continued fashioning bricks and feeding them into the fire.

By the following morning, I was coated in soot. I needed to procure more clothing from the shop, and after doing so, I indulged in a refreshing dip in the river.

The majority of the villagers regarded me as an odd, perhaps deranged, individual. Their perception bothered me little, as I had a plan in motion.

Once cleaned, I donned clothing specifically made for labor – coarse wool that I wouldn't mind getting dirty. I persisted in making bricks, arranging them separately, as I required more to construct a proper furnace.

Wu Fan reappeared, now possessing a rudimentary understanding of my actions, though not their ultimate purpose. He assisted in shaping bricks and heating them in the furnace. Meanwhile, I was occupied with cutting wood and preparing more planks. Our budding enterprise attracted the attention of numerous villagers, intrigued by this novel 'brick' concept. They pressed me with questions about their use, and I readily shared; bricks were hardly a guarded secret, and anyone with basic sense could figure them out. It seemed prudent to maintain a cordial relationship with these individuals and share some of these 'secrets,' hoping for future reciprocation.

Soon, the time came to construct the barrel. I took the crucible, a ceramic pot, and filled it with iron. Broken axe heads, twisted nails – anything that could be melted.

My primary concern was the crucible fracturing before the iron could liquefy. Typically, a robust crucible requires a blend of clay and cobalt; lacking the latter, I would have to rely on the lower quality of this iron to melt faster, possessing a lower melting point than the clay.

Thankfully, my calculated risk paid off, and the iron began pooling within the pot after an hour. The current clay furnace lacked sufficient heat retention, which is precisely why I was fabricating bricks – they would soon be utilized to construct a superior furnace.

After the iron melted, I used a damp cloth to swiftly retrieve the pot and pour its contents into the mold. The iron cooled rapidly, particularly after I doused it with water to facilitate bending. Before long, I possessed a rectangular iron plank.

Subsequently, I poured the remaining molten iron into circular molds, which would serve as the base and top of the barrel once I shaped the iron plank. Though not large, it was sufficient for charcoal production.

After sealing the crudely fashioned barrel, I filled it with wood and secured it shut. I lacked specialized sealing materials, but clay served admirably, easily conforming to the seams and closing the barrel. The heat from the fire beneath the barrel was adequate to transform the wood into charcoal within a few hours.

Having instructed Wu Fan in the art of charcoal-making, I commenced the construction of the actual furnace. Utilizing the pre-heated bricks, I stacked them to form a small, open-topped square chamber. It surpassed the clay furnace in size and promised superior heat containment, especially once enclosed.

I rewarded Wu Fan with a bronze coin, a gesture that visibly delighted him. He offered profuse thanks before departing for his home – a truly joyful young boy.

Nightfall arrived once more, finding me with a substantial quantity of ready charcoal and my newly constructed furnace prepared for operation.