Becoming an immortal against the will of heaven

"Oh, didn't you ask me last time to check the ancestral hall for anything your relatives might have left you? I took some time this morning to look, and wouldn't you know it, there was a box. So, I brought it over to you."

As he spoke, Erwa's father handed Chen Tian a dusty wooden box.

It turned out that Chen Tian had inadvertently learned during a casual conversation with Erwa's father that there was a tradition in Cai Lan Village: the deceased elders would hide some items in the village's ancestral hall for their descendants.

These descendants could only enter the ancestral hall to search for them two years after the elders' death.

When Chen Tian first heard about this, his keen mind immediately realized that the eccentric old man might have also left him something in the ancestral hall.

However, since Chen Tian was an outsider, it wasn't appropriate for him to enter the ancestral hall to inquire. So, he asked Erwa's father to check on his behalf when he had the time.

Several days had passed, and Chen Tian had gradually forgotten about it. Unexpectedly, Erwa's father suddenly came to his door and told Chen Tian that the old man really had left something for him.

This instantly filled Chen Tian with joy. He eagerly took the wooden box and examined it closely.

Just as Chen Tian was about to open it, he suddenly seemed to remember something. He paused, casually placed the wooden box aside, and said with cupped hands, "Thank you for your help, Brother Zhang. I am deeply grateful."

"Hey, Brother Chen, what are you saying? Didn't you also help me look after my little rascal? How could I not help with such a small favor?" Erwa's father waved his hand generously.

Erwa, who was standing beside him, curled his lip dismissively upon hearing this.

Chen Tian smiled slightly and then said, "Coincidentally, Brother Zhang, take a look around. If there's anything here that your family needs, feel free to take it."

Chen Tian had been running this blacksmith shop for some time and had produced some daily-use items.

However, after Erwa's father glanced over Chen Tian's 'creations,' his brow furrowed involuntarily. "Brother Chen, I don't mean to criticize, but you've been blacksmithing for so long. Why haven't you made anything decent yet?"

Erwa's father was indeed a bit frustrated because all the daily necessities that Chen Tian showed him were flawed and incomplete.

For example, the kitchen knife didn't look like a kitchen knife. The back was thin, and the blade was wide, making it difficult to use for chopping vegetables and easily broken when chopping firewood. Another example was the five-toothed rake, with three tines long and two tines short. How could it be used for raking grass?

In short, Chen Tian didn't have anything he could use.

Seeing this, Erwa's father couldn't help but feel anxious. He was worried about Chen Tian because, with such skills, how could he survive?

"Brother, if you don't have enough money, you must tell me. No matter how much, as long as I have it, I will lend it to you. Don't try to tough it out."

The villagers of Cai Lan Village were simple and honest. Erwa's father, despite his seemingly loud and boisterous personality, was also a kind-hearted person. He felt that Chen Tian might be facing difficulties and wanted to help him as much as possible.

Chen Tian naturally sensed this kindness and was deeply moved. He nodded and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Brother Zhang. I can still manage for now. Besides, I can't always have such poor skills. Once I figure things out, I will naturally be able to forge good iron."

"Alas, Brother Chen, every time I ask you, you say you're thinking about something. But what exactly are you thinking about?" Erwa's father asked, puzzled. He had heard Chen Tian say this several times.

Chen Tian sighed and shook his head. "I don't know yet, but one day, I will figure it out."

"Alas, alright, then you can think about it slowly." Erwa's father sighed. Then, his expression turned stern as he shouted at Erwa, "Little rascal, come home with me. Don't disturb your Uncle Chen's blacksmithing."

Although Erwa wanted to stay by Chen Tian's side, he had no choice but to reluctantly stand up and follow his father home after seeing his father's frightening face.

But after taking only a few steps, Erwa's father seemed to remember something. He immediately stopped and threw something towards Chen Tian.

Chen Tian hurriedly caught it. Upon closer inspection, he found that Erwa's father had thrown him a piece of dried cured meat.

"My wife made it. She said to thank you, Brother Chen, for helping us take care of Erwa. She insisted that I bring it to you to try." Erwa's father gave Chen Tian an honest smile.

Faced with this smile, Chen Tian's heart was filled with a warm current. "Okay, help me thank your wife."

Erwa's father nodded, then took Erwa's little hand and disappeared from Chen Tian's sight.

After they had both walked far away, Chen Tian turned his attention back and continued to repeatedly hammer the 'kitchen knife blank' on the stone platform.

The sun set, the sky darkened, and the households in Cai Lan Village lit oil lamps one by one as night fell.

But this couldn't be blamed on Chen Tian either. After all, when he was an apprentice, he was only responsible for carrying firewood and lighting the fire, and he didn't really learn blacksmithing skills.

Chen Tian was imitating the blacksmithing process entirely based on his imagination.

Although Chen Tian had failed countless times, through these experiences and lessons, Chen Tian had gradually gained insights, which had greatly improved his blacksmithing skills.

But at this time, Chen Tian had put all of this aside. All his attention was focused on the wooden box that Erwa's father had brought over.

Chen Tian had only mentioned it casually and didn't have high hopes for it. However, the result greatly exceeded his expectations. The old man had actually left him this thing behind the ancestral hall.

'What exactly is inside?'

Looking at this extremely ordinary wooden box, Chen Tian couldn't help but ponder.