Chapter 123: 123 Even the Master Artisan Flustered

Chapter 123: The Master Craftsman Is Flustered

Shanlin Town.

Over the past two days, Luo Ning had convened a rallying meeting for the craftsmen from Shanlin Town, clarifying their respective roles.

Blacksmiths and their apprentices labored tirelessly forging plowshares and farm tools, while also instructing masons in the construction of a new forge.

Carpenters were split: some tasked with crafting the curved plow beams, others assigned to the ironwood workshop to fulfill orders from Wushan Fortress.

Masons plunged into building new homes.

Meanwhile, to ensure the townsfolk could survive the coming winter safely, Luo Ning granted all subjects the right to cut trees along the southern route out of Shanlin Town, the northern path toward Qingzhu Village, and the ironwood forest.

All branches, trunks, and even leaves gathered belonged solely to the cutters—no longer required to purchase felling rights from the lord as before.

Suddenly, Shanlin Town plunged into an era of grand construction.

“My lord, I visited Carles’s forge these past two days. Your windbell design is most intriguing.”

Master Dan followed behind Luo Ning as they traversed the outer bailey of Shanlin Fortress, unsure where he was being led.

But it didn’t matter. Yesterday, he’d studied the windbell closely. Its structure was simple, yet its design held subtle brilliance. His curiosity toward Luo Ning deepened—this young noble possessed extraordinary ideas!

“Merely a trifle,” Luo Ning said dismissively, though inwardly he swelled with quiet pride—after all, the invention was entirely his own.

“Master Dan, what I ask of you today is immensely difficult. But if accomplished, it will mark an unprecedented advancement!”

Luo Ning turned to face him, emphasizing each word: “If you truly bring it to life, the world will honor you as Grand Master.”

The title “Grand Master” struck Dan like lightning. His entire life had been a quiet pursuit—this was the only thing left worth chasing.

Hearing Luo Ning speak with such gravity, Dan’s heart raced like an ant on a hot pan. He burned to know what task lay ahead.

Yet he held his composure, refusing to show impatience.

“My lord, please don’t treat me with such courtesy. I am no different from any other craftsman—we came to Shanlin Town to serve you. Give me your orders; state your demands. I shall give my all!”

As they walked and spoke, they soon arrived at a house on the inner western side of the outer bailey.

Here lived and worked Lady Liya, Tom’s mother—a seamstress’s workshop.

The three apprentice seamstresses from Wushan City had been assigned here.

“My lord! You’ve come!”

Lady Liya hurried out to greet them, visibly nervous. She knew her son was alive—transformed into Tom, he remained by the lord’s side.

Though mother and son had once trembled with dread over Luo Ning’s intentions, spending each day in anxious uncertainty, their fears had vanished after Tom was officially appointed following their return from Muma City. Now, their dread had turned to profound reverence and gratitude.

Thus, Lady Liya took every instruction from Luo Ning with utmost seriousness.

“Lady Liya, how have you progressed with the silkworm cocoons I left you before my departure?”

Last month, when Luo Ning had departed for Wushan Fortress, he had entrusted her with a hand-cranked spinning wheel and several large baskets of cocoons, teaching her how to reel silk and card cotton.

“My lord, it is finished!”

Lady Liya led Luo Ning into the inner chamber. He gestured for Dan to follow.

Inside, she produced several skeins of spun silk. “My lord, these are the threads made according to your method.”

“What is this?”

Master Dan’s eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the large coil of thread Luo Ning held.

“Wool thread?”

He instinctively guessed, then shook his head violently. “No—it’s not wool! Wool isn’t this fine, nor this luminously white!”

His gaze turned to Luo Ning, brimming with confusion, desperate for an answer.

Luo Ning held the thread before his eyes, studying it long and carefully, then nodded. “Lady Liya, you are truly the finest seamstress in town—delicate hands, meticulous mind. These skeins please me immensely.”

Here, seamstresses did not merely cut and sew garments—they spun flax, carded wool, dyed fabrics. That was why Luo Ning entrusted the silk project to her.

“Thank you, my lord, for your praise!”

Luo Ning turned to Dan, holding the skein aloft. Dan straightened his posture instantly, listening with rapt attention.

“Master Dan, this is a special thread I have discovered. Before its public revelation, I ask you to keep it secret.”

Dan’s heart trembled. This young lord grew ever more enigmatic.

“My lord, I swear—I will not utter a single word to anyone.”

Luo Ning slowly nodded, then revealed why he had summoned him.

“Our current looms are either heavy-hammer looms or waist looms—but both are far too slow for my needs. I require you to design a loom that dramatically increases weaving efficiency.”

What?

Dan blinked, stunned. He had never imagined this was why Luo Ning had called him.

“A loom?”

He hesitated. “My lord… what exactly… is this loom you speak of?”

He was utterly lost. The concept meant nothing to him.

“Weaving is the interlacing of warp and weft threads to create fabric. Whether it’s a heavy-hammer loom, a waist loom, or the one I describe—it is all the same principle.”

Luo Ning began to explain. “But the first two produce coarse cloth. Especially the heavy-hammer loom—it cannot handle delicate silk threads.”

“Later, let Lady Liya show you how the waist loom operates. What I need is a frame that lifts the wooden rods of the waist loom, with foot pedals to open the warp threads—so weavers need only focus on passing the weft and beating it into place.”

“Thus, weaving efficiency will soar. And with mechanical control, the fineness and quality of the fabric will improve dramatically.”

Dan was a renowned master craftsman, yet as Luo Ning spoke, panic flickered in his eyes.

Now he understood why Luo Ning had said this invention could make him a Grand Master.

“My lord, forgive my dullness—I… I cannot quite grasp what you are saying.”

Luo Ning scratched his head and pulled out a sketch of the loom.

Alas, it was too complex—not as simple as the windbell. He had never seen one with his own eyes, so he could only draw a side profile, merely a rough outline.

“See here—this is the pedal. The weaver steps on it to raise and lower the warp threads. This is the reed, guiding the warp. I propose a standard of eight hundred reeds, four threads per reed—totaling three thousand two hundred warp threads…”

He spoke for half the day. Lady Liya brought him a cup of water midway.

The more Dan listened, the more his mind spun. Sweat beaded on his brow. The sheer volume of new information was overwhelming—his skull throbbed.

Yet by the end, he grasped, at least vaguely, what the lord desired.

At least the frame’s general shape—he could picture it.

“My lord… you are a genius!”

Dan wiped his brow, unable to suppress his admiration.

Luo Ning handed him the parchment. “I’ve only sketched the idea. The true design—you must create.”

Dan accepted the parchment solemnly, carefully tucking it into his robe, his eyes alight with determination.

“My lord, grant me time. First, I shall learn the workings of the waist loom from Lady Liya. Then I shall study your loom.”

Luo Ning nodded solemnly and clapped the man on the shoulder. “I have faith in your skill, Master Dann. I hope that before long, Shanlin Town will possess a loom just like this one!”

Dann’s heart felt heavy, yet he gave a firm, deep “Mm.”

Indeed, coming to Shanlin Town was right—he had finally found his purpose!

“Mrs. Liya, I have another task for you.”

“I am honored to serve you, my lord,” Liya replied, listening intently.

Luo Ning said, “Though the waist loom is slow, it can still weave silk. I need you to weave me a scarf from these silk threads.”

“The last day of next month is Lord Rulans’s birthday. I intend to present this scarf as my gift.”

At the first sentence, Liya felt the weight—silk thread was something she had never handled before, and it was terribly difficult to control.

At the second, the pressure became crushing.

Good heavens—she was to weave a scarf for Lord Rulans himself!

“My lord, I fear—”

Luo Ning reassured her, “Don’t worry. Do your best. Even if it isn’t finished by then, I’ll prepare another gift.”

Lord Rulans had done Luo Ning a great kindness; on his birthday, Luo Ning could not possibly arrive empty-handed.

A scarf woven from silk was merely one of his gifts—he had others prepared as well. For instance, the hide of a Storm Demon Wolf could be fashioned into a greatcoat.

The pelt of a fourth-rank demon beast was a precious material; to present it would never be a loss of face.

(End of Chapter)