Chapter 397

The people wandering the streets of Cheolbang were the only ones to strike it rich from this unexpected spectacle.

Unlike Qing’s hometown, where one can always catch the antics of a clown on a tiny screen, such entertainment was a rarity in this primitive ancient time.

Thus, the sounds of the light hammering echoed up and down.

So did the people’s glances.

People in this era were much friendlier than modern folks; hence, newcomers often questioned those already there.

“Hey, this is quite the business! What are you selling? I’ve got to grab a bottle since things have been dry lately!”

“It’s not medicine; she’s the Civil Engineering Fairy, they say.”

“Civil Engineering Fairy? Oh, are you going to build a house or something? Oh, you really are building a house! Man, with hammer skills like that, you must build quite well.”

“Is that for real? Is she trying to sell medicine with an empty hammer and wooden nails?”

“The sound and weight are different, you know. And it’s not selling medicine; she’s accompanied by the Master Carpenter, so if you’re suspicious, just watch her.”

“The Master Carpenter would be shocked, that’s for sure.”

“What kind of medicine seller does this? Wow, look at her chest. That must be a good ten pounds! Are you selling something for a bigger bust? Get me some!”

“I’m not a medicine seller; I’m the Civil Engineering Fairy, First Carpenter of Hunan! Ugh, why is everyone asking me questions? Why is it that when I say I’m not a medicine seller, no one seems to listen?!”

Well, with such an approachable look, people kept coming over to ask.

Then, Qing strikes the steel rod hard.

The steel rod flies straight up to the sky.

And then Qing lifts an eight-pound hammer high and slams it down.

Boom!

With a heavy vibration felt underfoot, the steel rod burrows deep into the frozen winter ground, leaving only the round top peeking out.

The onlookers’ eyes bulged as they collectively questioned what they just witnessed, craning their necks to see if this was a feat a mere human could accomplish.

Qing gazed at the steel rod and said,

“Tsk. I’ve brought a substitute, so I guess I was quite well-respected as the First Carpenter of Hunan. Still doubting? Don’t you know suspicion is just a form of madness? If disaster comes, I won’t be responsible anymore?”

Cheoljang, having dashed forward, groped at the steel rod now embedded deep into the ground, which resembled the round shape of the hammer.

Poor Cheoljang was quaking in his boots.

“Oh dear, oh dear, I couldn’t recognize this divine person due to my blindness. Please don’t be mad.”

“Hmm. No, it’s not that. The divine one says you can stop trembling now. It’s not like your shaking will start an earthquake or something.”

“Oh my goodness, thank you, thank you!”

Cheoljang promptly bows and grovels.

Hmm. I feel a bit bad.

Qing felt a pang of conscience, realizing that scolding someone for not recognizing him was a bit much.

“Alright, then. Ah! General! Yes, do you like it? Yes. Yes. Then I’ll pay you. Yes. Twenty silver pieces? For something like this? Ah, yes.”

Qing rattled on, mumbling questions and answers to himself, then pulled a single piece of gold from his money bag.

“Since you said the divine one liked it, I must pay. Is it enough?”

“Oh no! How could I accept money from the divine one? I’ll offer it as a tribute!”

“Hey! The divine one is not a bandit! If the Lord of Kings says twenty, it’s twenty! Who gives you the guts to argue? If the divine one offers, just say thanks and accept it!”

“Oh, I see! I was thinking too little. Please forgive my offense.”

Without answering, Qing dragged the hammer along as he walked away.

The crowd soon swarmed Cheoljang, specifically to the spot where the hammer had struck, checking it out for themselves.

Whoa, that’s lodged in there pretty good. Can’t even pull it out with that grip!

First Carpenter of Hunan? You need to pull off something like that to earn that title? Can’t the Guangdong carpenters do this?

Isn’t she a Shaman accompanied by the Master Carpenter? They say she can lift mountains and move rivers, and she swings that heavy eight-pound hammer like it’s nothing but chopsticks.

This was sufficient to achieve her goal.

Feeling bad for making Cheoljang kneel, but hey, she paid double what he earned from kneeling, so it’s fair, right?

Qing left, dragging the hammer head along the ground.

And with her colorful outfit and talismans, not to mention the noise from dragging that hammer, how could she not draw attention?

Perhaps some more entertainment awaited? Common folk without much to do during the winter followed behind her like chicks to their mother hen.

Her destination, with a crowd trailing her, was a construction site where wooden frameworks were being erected.

It wasn’t that she had planned to go there, but her otherworldly hearing allowed her to hone in on the sound of hammering and saws, following along rhythmically.

Seeing the throng, the carpenters wondered what the fuss was about, and why a fake Shaman showed up brandishing a hammer.

Qing then casually twirled the hammer before slamming it down with a firm smack.

“Hey you! Are you running short on hands? I’m the Civil Engineering Fairy, First Carpenter of Hunan, and I came to learn from the talented Guangdong carpenters.”

“A carpenter? From the way you handle that hammer, you don’t seem like a novice. But what’s with that outfit?”

“I’m a carpenter, but I’m also a divine maiden. Learning all about civil engineering is my mission!”

“What’s the connection between being a carpenter and a divine maiden?”

“Oh please! Didn’t I say civil engineering? It’s about connecting earth and wood. A carpenter links the two to create… um, shelter? So, it’s all about benefiting everyone, you see, right? Oh, right, I plan to build a grand temple for the ruler of all soon!”

Wasn’t that a bit desperate just now?

The carpenters tilted their heads in confusion.

What on earth was this nonsense? Are they risking a curse by just building a house?

But they couldn’t kick her out; after all, who knew if kicking a Shaman from their site would invite trouble from the spirits?

Qing added, “I don’t need any pay; I just want to learn.”

This was practically a miracle! Free labor!

The carpenters nodded in agreement all at once.

—-

The Zhengpai and Sapa sects had differing names from the get-go.

While Zhengpai represent regions or famous mountains, or just good old characters, the Sapa chose quite the ominous names.

It’s not that all the delinquent groups came together in some delayed puberty.

Gang groups tend to come up with names that make them sound tough, and these thugs, while swooping into someone else’s turf, become a problem that spawned an entirely new organization.

So, the suspicious and eerie names they sport actually serve as badges of honor among the Sapa.

Wouldn’t you think something named that couldn’t be too reputable?

Of course, the ‘pai’ used in the Sapa context differs from that in Zhengpai.

Zhengpai’s ‘pai’ relates to traditional sects like Hwasan, Zhongnan, and Wudang, while Sapa’s ‘pai’ just means ‘our gang’.

Anyway, while Gwangju was under the powerful influence of the Gwangdong Jin Family, it turns out the Jins were completely absent from Gwangju for three months during the Martial World Tournament.

So, suddenly, a nationwide era for the delinquent groups opened up, currently dominated by three factions in the area: the Salwold Sect, Gwangju Seonbang, and the Gold Robbery Guild.

Even after returning, managing the state of affairs didn’t help, so the Sapa were keen on tightening their grip on Gwangju in this chaotic time.

The target of their stares? Of course, the suddenly appeared mysterious carpenter and Shaman—the Civil Engineering Fairy.

Even Lee Wang-chul, the leader of the Salwold Sect, was keeping tabs on her.

“What is that Civil Engineering Fairy up to? I doubt she’s doing any construction for the Jin Family?”

“Well, I heard she’s going around the Gwangju construction sites, offering her help for free.”

This left Lee Wang-chul looking utterly bewildered.

“Free? Why?”

—-

Qing seems to excel at anything involving physical work.

Whether it’s innate talent, strength, balance, or a keen sense of perception, there’s something otherworldly about her body.

“Hey, Kim! Stand this straight, would ya? What kind of man can’t even do that right? Look at that divine maiden! The second she grabs hold, she’s upright instantly!”

“Well, she’s a woman, so of course she can do it better than a man.”

Laughter erupted.

Qing chuckled and said, “Such a wide-open mouth, spouting whatever comes to your mind. What do you mean by standing straight? Sounds like you want me to shove something up there? I saw a post the size of my arm just lying around.”

“If you only looked after the toilet, you should give it a shot.”

“If I do, I’ll nail it to the front post. Why worry about the toilet? Just pack it up thick with fabric and swap it out twice a day, that’s all that’s needed.”

The face of Master Jang, Yeom, twisted up.

Laughter burst forth again, and poor Yeom, caught without words, started grumbling.

“She’s supposedly a divine maiden, but hasn’t said a single word yet.”

“Well, with a face like that, highly unlikely. You’ve got to have the looks for teasing.”

Once more, laughter spread.

The Civil Engineering Fairy, with her excellent skills and sharp tongue, had taken control of the Gwangju construction sites in just five days.

She wasn’t just doing her job well—she was completing the workloads of ten people by doing everything alone.

This wasn’t just about efficiency; this meant a drastic increase in speed and productivity.

Getting just one pillar up usually involved ten people, and that takes time for everyone to align and manage their tempo.

Meanwhile, those folks would be occupied with their tasks, and if someone got tired or took a break halfway through…

With her single initiative as a skillful master, the completion of constructions got trimmed down massively.

Thus, aiding just one day could hasten the entire project to wrap up a good ten days sooner.

Before long, the news spread like wildfire that the Civil Engineering Fairy was in action, summoning the entire construction site to run to her side, practically begging her to work on their foundations and take their silver away.

“Alright, do we have any rooftops to raise today? I want to learn a bit about the circular assembly.”

“Divine Maiden, we’re raising a roof today! In the afternoon, we’ll hand over an entire house for you to work with!”

“Oh! Great! Which place? Bangseonga? Got it!”

Lately, Qing had been wondering whether her passion for carpentry was instinctual.

The techniques she learned in Nagnyeong differed drastically from how they assembled structures based on local customs due to the vast expanse of land.

“What’s this? Are you putting the wood in like that? Isn’t it going to wobble later?”

“Since there’s solid stone walls at the front and back, it’s not an issue. Why? How does Hunan do it?”

“Like this?”

“Oooh! What’s this? Incredible!”

The Hunan method, relying almost entirely on wood without much metal, was a revelation for the Guangdong carpenters, who mostly used large nails for their constructions.

When Qing demonstrated Hunan’s techniques, the Guangdong carpenters were left amazed.

“I haven’t even shown this to my kid yet; there’s a place to glue it down…”

“Here, the pressure stone thickens the mud and goes deep to hold it. Since it floods here, this ensures a stable structure later.”

“Are you going for the pillars? Oh no, you’ll have to disassemble all the bricks then. It’d be better to approach it this way. Just hold it temporarily and chisel it quite flush.”

“Oh, so do I reverse the flooring?”

“You gotta decide if you want it to level with the other stones or not.”

As Qing questioned the master carpenters about techniques to take materials without tearing down houses, they crafted ideas whirling with inspiration and creativity, giving birth to innovative solutions.

Things seem to be falling into place.