Chapter 22: The Gray Sword

Xia Nan did not refuse Barn’s kind offer. Since he had not yet made a decision, it would be good to look around a bit more.

"Don't worry, even though these are all second-hand, since I dare to put them up for sale, the quality is definitely up to standard—they're durable!"

His thick, gravelly voice echoed through the shop as Barn patted his chest in assurance.

Before Xia Nan lay many weapons with weathered appearances. They did not have their own dedicated shelves; they were simply stacked together, clearly not held in high regard by the shopkeeper. However, judging by the metallic luster radiating from their surfaces and the occasional cold glint that flashed as one’s line of sight shifted, it was clear that Barn’s claims were not empty words. They were undoubtedly second-hand, but they had been well maintained.

Xia Nan squatted down, patiently pulling them out from the pile one by one to examine them closely, while asking, "Do high-level adventurers also use weapons like these? I don't mean this kind of second-hand gear, but the 'plain' ones—uh, non-magical items, you know what I mean."

Barn stroked his beard and replied in his gruff voice, "Often, 'green' adventurers like you—no offense intended—always have many fantasies about those veterans with professional ranks. But in reality, they are human, too. They need to spend money to eat, they turn against each other over the ownership of loot, and they will save up half a year's income just for a house in an excellent location."

"Magical items certainly appear more frequently in the hands of high-level professionals, but those wealthy enough to be fully equipped with them are very few and far between."

"What about our shop, then?" Xia Nan asked in a flat tone, as if making casual conversation while picking through the weapons. "Do we have any of those legendary magical items for sale?"

Barn did not answer, merely offering a mysterious smile.

Having obtained the key information, Xia Nan stopped wasting time. He brushed the dust off his hands and stood up slowly. It turned out that second-hand goods were indeed just second-hand goods; he had gone through the lot and found nothing suitable. With a net worth of over a hundred gold coins, while not a fortune, it was roughly enough to buy a brand-new, non-magical weapon. If possible, that was naturally his preference.

*Hum—*

In the corner of his eye, a flash of gray light quietly flickered. Xia Nan’s gaze reflexively followed it. Within a few breaths, he paused, stared, frowned, and then returned to a calm expression. The semi-transparent panel before him faded and vanished as his focus shifted.

...

[Sturdy Decapitator Longsword]

Type: Two-handed Sword
Rank: Common (White)
Effect: Durability +50%, Decapitation Damage +5%
Description: A fine piece from the "Rockhammer" smithy. A small accident during forging seems to have caused this longsword to undergo some peculiar changes.
Note: "One, two, three... wait, how many times did I hit it with the hammer?"
——Barn Steelbeard, 105th place, 492nd Forging Competition of the "Rockhammer" Steelbeard Clan

...

This was a two-handed longsword half a person's height. The hilt was about nine inches long, with a spiral metal texture and protruding rivets that not only increased the grip between the palm and the handle but also provided a satisfying tactile feel. The steel-forged crossguard did not extend very far on either side, shrinking neatly just half a finger's width past the blade, appearing exceptionally streamlined. The blade was about four feet long, three fingers wide, thin, with smooth lines and sharp edges.

The minimalist and capable style was consistent throughout; there were no patterns on the surface of the blade, only the occasional flash of sharp, cold light serving as decoration. Unlike the other weapons in the shop, this longsword was an extremely odd iron-gray, as if the blade were covered in a thin mist, making it look far less conspicuous than the others.

Xia Nan appeared calm on the surface, but his heart was surging with waves. He feigned indifference and said casually, "Why is the color of this sword so strange? Is it a defective product?"

Upon hearing this, Barn showed a slightly embarrassed expression and scratched his head sheepishly. "Heh, I was planning to forge a two-handed sword a couple of days ago, but I got distracted while sharpening the edge..."

*!*

No, I was just saying that casually—was it actually being sold as a defective product!?

Xia Nan pursed his lips, forcing his expression to remain firm. Barn, not noticing his reaction, continued to mutter: "Sigh, it's a pity about those dozen pounds of gray steel. It was sent to me by my cousin back in the clan, who said it was from a new pit they opened at Flameforge Peak for me to test out. I don't know how I'm going to explain this when they ask."

"Oh?" Xia Nan raised an eyebrow, picking up on the other man's thread. "The sword only looks a bit strange in color. Where is the flaw?"

Barn, still oblivious to the subtle shift in his tone, remained immersed in his regret. He stepped forward, picked up the two-handed sword, and pointed at the blade.

"Normally, equipment forged from gray steel should be a light gray, like quicklime. See? This sword is a bit darker. That’s because I was distracted and hammered it a few extra times while casting the blade, which threw off the entire process."

As he spoke, Barn wore a look of regret. "Don't look at how it seems no different from other weapons on the surface; in reality, there might be a problem somewhere in the blade. It might suddenly snap during a fight—that’s not something you can test for. You know, equipment from our 'Rockhammer' shop is always known for its toughness and durability. I naturally won't sell a piece where I can't precisely control the quality due to a forging error. I can't trade my reputation for a few dozen gold in profit; the clan told everyone that before we left."

At this moment, Xia Nan finally felt the convenience of his "golden finger" once again. An information gap!

Barn’s mistake during the forging process meant he couldn't guarantee the quality, and he feared potential issues would damage the "Rockhammer" reputation. But Xia Nan, possessing the attribute panel, knew clearly that the small mistake had not lowered the quality of the sword at all—on the contrary, it had made the blade sturdier and more durable, and even granted it some additional traits.

*Must have it!* he thought to himself.

Since the other party had already explained why the sword was being treated as a defective item, Xia Nan stopped masking his intent and went straight to the point.

"I want this sword. How much?"

"Did I not make myself clear just now?" Barn was stunned, then asked in surprise, "Something went wrong when this sword was forged; the quality isn't guaranteed."

"I think it suits me perfectly. I'll take it!"

Seeing Xia Nan’s firm attitude, Barn stopped talking and looked at him for several seconds. Then, he said helplessly, "Let's get this straight: if something goes wrong later, don't come looking for me, and don't tell anyone outside that you bought this sword from me. You understand what I mean, right?"

"Of course!" Xia Nan nodded sincerely. "I found this sword in a goblin cave."

"35 gold. Cost price."