Chapter 64

Chapter 64: Provide Weapons: Swords, Spears, Clubs, and Staves!

As soon as she said this,

Someone agreed, "Right! With Ningning's wolf pack, we don't have to fear anyone!"

Uncle Liu, however, said, "We can't rely solely on Ningning; what would that make us look like?"

"With so many able-bodied men in the village, let's form our own patrol teams and take shifts. How about that?"

As soon as he finished, Chen Ye immediately supported the idea, "Uncle Liu's plan is good."

Many villagers expressed their willingness to join.

Eventually, six teams were formed, each comprising nine able-bodied villagers.

Shen Ningning also discussed with the Black Wolf King that in case of danger, they shouldn’t act alone but work together with everyone.

This way, the wolves wouldn't be harmed if they were isolated.

After returning home,

Shen Ningning immediately entered the fairy realm.

She dragged out many swords, spears, clubs, and staves from the armory.

Most of the villagers only had sticks and sickles, with few real weapons.

The little one thought her collection could be really useful!

But carrying them back and forth was exhausting, so she finally brought a basin of spirit spring water. After washing the weapons in it, their edges became as sharp as if they had been newly honed.

Shen Ningning was busily and happily engaged.

"Long swords, broadswords, hatchets... um, let’s take the meteor hammer too!"

She picked up a hammer larger than her own head.

Alas, it was too heavy, and the little girl yelped, "Aiyah!" as she fell backward.

She landed solidly on her little bottom.

The pain brought tears to her sparkling black eyes.

"Ouch..." Shen Ningning whimpered pitifully.

But that wasn't all.

She bumped into a shelf behind her, knocking down a small box of gunpowder that fell into the water, scattering white stones!

A pungent smell wafted through the air.

"Ptooey, ptooey!" The little girl spat, coughing from the fumes.

She hurried to check the gunpowder shelf.

It was neatly arranged, with four small boxes making up one set.

There were labels on them: sulfur, realgar, saltpeter, and honey.

Shen Ningning looked at them puzzled, guessing it was a formula meant to be combined.

The small box she had accidentally knocked down, labeled "saltpeter," was picked up from the water.

She examined the saltpeter curiously, noticing that it sparkled like stars when wet, as if under sunlight.

"Wow~ how magical!" she marveled.

She wasn’t sure yet what gunpowder was used for, but it seemed very powerful!

After all, just the smell alone was overwhelming for her!

Shen Ningning pushed the basin aside and carried the already washed weapons out of the fairy realm.

She placed all the swords, spears, clubs, and staves on the carriage at the door, preparing to take them to the village the next day.

After all this work, the little girl was panting heavily.

Her round face was flushed like rosy clouds, and her dark eyes shone brightly.

The night had grown deep, and Grandma Qin was already asleep.

The Black Wolf King came over to nuzzle Shen Ningning's cheek, urging her to rest.

Instead, the little girl patted the Black Wolf King's head, "I'll just tidy up the fairy realm a bit more, then I'll go to sleep!"

She needed to properly clean up the spilled gunpowder.

However, when Shen Ningning re-entered, she witnessed an incredible sight!

The basin into which the saltpeter had fallen had actually frozen!

She widened her eyes in disbelief, rubbing them hard, unable to believe what she saw.

Shen Ningning quickly stepped forward with small steps and cautiously touched the surface of the water.

"The thin ice cracked at the slightest touch!"

"'It really froze!' The little girl was exceptionally excited."

"'If we can drink iced water, this summer will surely be much more comfortable!'"

"But then..."

"Shen Ningning lowered her head, picking up the ice water to smell it."

"It had an awful odor."

"Drinking this water would surely upset the stomach!"

"The little girl sat down with a plop, chin in hand, pondering."

"'Hmm... what to do...' Her long eyelashes drooped as she looked at the basin, then suddenly her eyes lit up, 'I’ve got it!'"

"She stood up quickly, fetching another small basin from outside the realm."

"Both basins were filled with water, the smaller one placed inside the larger."

"However, Shen Ningning put saltpeter in the larger basin."

"This was because water with saltpeter shouldn't be consumed."

"But if she used it for indirect freezing, the ice water in the smaller basin should be safe!"

Shen Ningning decided to give it a try.

"If the water in the small basin freezes too, we can drink clean ice water!" The little one was particularly excited.

Early the next morning, she opened her eyes and couldn't wait to enter the fairy realm to see the result.

When Shen Ningning saw that the water in her small basin had frozen solid, she jumped up in jubilation.

"It worked! I did it!"

Heaving and puffing, she carried the heavy wooden basin outside.

"Grandma! Grandma, look, I made ice cubes! We can eat and drink them!"

Grandma Qin was washing vegetables and came over with the wolf pack, intrigued by the news.

"It's really ice!" Grandma Qin was astounded. She touched it repeatedly, feeling the chill on her hands.

Shen Ningning placed the wooden basin on the ground, and the wolves crowded around to inspect the ice.

The weather was scorching hot, and waves of heat radiated from the ground.

Yet, the area around the wooden basin was surprisingly cool.

Unable to resist, Wolf Four stretched out its tongue and licked the ice.

Wow! The wolf felt incredibly refreshed!

Seeing this, the Black Wolf King growled at it reproachfully.

"What a disgrace!"

Shen Ningning, her eyes crinkling with laughter like twinkling stars, said, "Lick it, lick it, it’s okay! From now on, we are people who have ice!"

Wanting Grandma Qin and the wolves to enjoy it too,

Shen Ningning took out several boxes of saltpeter.

Following the same method, she used all the basins in the house to make ice, storing them in the cellar.

Wiping the sweat from her forehead with her small hand, she said, "By tonight, they should all turn into ice!"

Grandma Qin smiled and said, "That's wonderful! Ningning, you're amazing."

Just a few days ago, she was worried about the increasing heat; even the wind from the seven-blade fans wasn’t cool enough.

Shen Ningning was terribly hot, and the wolf pack, with their long fur, was suffering even more.

But with ice cubes, everyone would feel much better!

Since Wolf Four had licked the first block of ice in the wooden basin, Grandma Qin poured it out onto the ground.

The wolves, with the Black Wolf King's permission, took turns licking the ice.

So refreshing!

After a busy morning, Shen Ningning had a simple lunch of cold noodles and a couple of chicken meatballs made by Grandma Qin.

Full and satisfied, she didn’t bother with a nap, but instead, with the wolves, harnessed the carriage and headed for Xiangyun Village.

She had to deliver the weapons to the villagers.

Chen Ye was visibly surprised when he saw the weapons in the carriage, his steady gaze showing a hint of astonishment.

"So many sharp swords..." They were even sharpened to a fine edge.

Chen Ye looked at Shen Ningning with admiration and surprise, "Miss, you have gone to great expense!"

He thought Shen Ningning had bought them from the city for their self-defense.

The little girl didn’t correct this beautiful misunderstanding, just smiling sweetly and revealing her dimples.

"Of course, it's my duty to help protect the village; this is my home too!" Shen Ningning entrusted Chen Ye with the task of distributing the weapons.

Having been a soldier and experienced in battle, he knew how to arrange it.

Just as Shen Ningning was about to visit the Mad Scholar, Deng Fugui came running from the village entrance—

"Wolf Sister! Wolf Sister! A noble from the palace is looking for you again!"

  *

Author's note: The method of making ice referenced the ancient practice of using saltpeter. Water soaked in saltpeter should not be consumed directly; it needs to be separated by another container.