Chapter 132

Fifteen days later.

At dawn, in the smithy of the Courtyard of Refined Harvests. At an hour when no one should have been present, the sound of a hammer rang out from the smithy. It was Bu Eunseol, the young blacksmith who had started with odd jobs and come to work at the Courtyard of Refined Harvests.

Clang, clang, clang.

Placing the red-hot iron on the anvil, he began to shape it with his hammer. With every strike of the hand hammer, the iron was repeatedly folded and stretched.

Creak.

At that moment, the old door opened, and a shadow dressed in gray entered the Courtyard of Refined Harvests. It was Yuk Man-ho.

“Grand Blacksmith.”

As Bu Eunseol set down his hammer and bowed his head, Yuk Man-ho raised an eyebrow.

“Why aren’t you in your quarters? What are you doing here?”

“I was trying to make the things I couldn’t finish during the day.”

“What do you mean? You couldn’t finish them?”

At Yuk Man-ho’s question, Bu Eunseol lowered his head.

“Because the other blacksmiths didn’t want me making them…”

“Hmm.”

Despite Grand Blacksmith Yuk Man-ho’s strict order, the blacksmiths of the Courtyard of Refined Harvests still seemed to be preventing Bu Eunseol from making items.

“So, what were you making?”

“I tried making a sickle.”

Yuk Man-ho picked up the sickle lying beside Bu Eunseol. “Hmm, it’s a bit heavier than the sickles made by the existing blacksmiths.” He examined the sickle closely and nodded. “You made the handle short and the tang long, which is why it was heavy. Why did you design it in this shape?”

“Farmers use sickles not only for crops but also for cutting light wood. Making it this way allows it to be used for a long time without damage.”

Yuk Man-ho examined the sickle once more. The uniformity and density were excellent, as if made by a blacksmith who had been making sickles for a long time.

He has talent.

Setting down the sickle, Yuk Man-ho spoke to Bu Eunseol. “Do not come out to the smithy at this hour anymore.”

Before Bu Eunseol could say anything, Yuk Man-ho patted his shoulder and said, “I will speak firmly to my blacksmiths, so from tomorrow, try making tools properly.”

Despite the trust in Yuk Man-ho’s voice, Bu Eunseol simply bowed his head with an expressionless face.

***

Around noon, countless blacksmiths poured out of the smithy inside the Tangshan Iron Clan.

It was lunchtime, and they were moving in lines to eat.

A middle-aged man in brown clothes was watching the scene from a stand where various farming tools were displayed. It was Lee Bok, the Chief Manager of the Tangshan Iron Clan.

“He certainly has talent.”

Looking at the stand placed to one side, he smacked his lips.

Displayed there were farming tools made by Bu Eunseol. Although the shapes were quite crude, many items were missing due to their popularity.

When asked why they bought them, farmers invariably said, ‘The shape is just so-so, but it’s comfortable to use,’ or ‘It fits perfectly in the hand.’

“He removed all the frills and made it solely for practicality.”

Having worked at the Tangshan Iron Clan for a long time, Lee Bok’s discerning eye was no less than any blacksmith’s.

Just as Grand Blacksmith Yuk Man-ho had said, he was certainly a talented young blacksmith.

Nevertheless, he did not like Bu Eunseol’s tools.

“Tools have a beauty inherent in their unique shapes…”

Bu Eunseol had almost no aesthetic sense that a blacksmith should rightfully possess, making tools faithful only to ‘function.’

In short, the tools he made closely resembled his blunt and inflexible personality.

“He won’t become a great blacksmith.”

Just as he clicked his tongue and turned around—

“Is anyone inside?”

At that moment, a man wearing light indigo martial attire entered the Tangshan Iron Clan.

His eyes were very cold and fierce, but Lee Bok greeted him with the utmost politeness, as if seeing a distinguished guest.

“What brings you here, Instructor Yeon?”

The man in martial attire was none other than Yeon Myeong-jin, one of the five instructors teaching disciples at the Zhongnan Sect’s Tangshan Martial Hall.

“I came to repair my sword.”

“Is that so. Please sit this way.”

Even though Yeon Myeong-jin maintained a stiff tone and cold eyes, Lee Bok’s attitude was very polite, as if serving an elder.

It was only natural, as one of the biggest customers of the Tangshan Iron Clan were the disciples training their swords at the Zhongnan Sect’s Tangshan Martial Hall. Since Yeon Myeong-jin held the position of teaching such disciples, his influence could not be ignored.

“Why did you come yourself instead of sending disciples?”

“How could I entrust my sword, which is like my other self, to disciples?”

Although Yeon Myeong-jin was now over thirty, he spoke to Lee Bok, who was well over forty, as if treating a subordinate.

“Perhaps because I injected excessive True Energy, the blade was slightly damaged during practice. I thought it needed some attention.”

The sword arts of the Zhongnan Sect were so fierce that it was common for swords to break or bend while practicing. Because of this, martial artists of the Zhongnan Sect frequently repaired their weapons at the smithy until they could skillfully control the flow of True Energy and the tempo of their sword moves.

“May I see the sword?”

“Handle it carefully.”

“Understood.”

Taking the sword from Yeon Myeong-jin, Lee Bok carefully removed the scabbard and examined it closely.

Although all Nine Great Sects used swords, they each used slightly different forms.

The sword of the Zhongnan Sect was a bit longer and had a thicker blade than those of other sects.

Nevertheless, not only was the edge damaged, but even the sturdy blade was slightly warped.

He abused his sword quite a bit.

There were minute cracks not only on the blade but also on the part connecting the sword to the handle and the rim of the blade body. Although it had been maintained in its own way, the traces of rough use could not be erased.

“It is not difficult to fix it… but it seems it will take some time.”

“Time? How long?”

“Since all the blacksmiths are eating, we will work on it as soon as they finish.”

“How long will it take?”

“We will finish the repairs by tomorrow at the latest and send it to the Martial Hall.”

“It takes that long?”

As Yeon Myeong-jin’s eyebrows shot up, Lee Bok bowed his head and said, “The edge can be sharpened quickly, but due to the force applied laterally, there is damage to the blade and the surrounding parts fixing the sword as well.”

Yeon Myeong-jin spoke with a displeased expression.

“Where is the Grand Blacksmith?”

“The Grand Blacksmith went to Zhejiang… it will be a month before he returns.”

Yeon Myeong-jin spoke with a displeased expression. “Call a blacksmith now and finish it within today. Immediately.”

Lee Bok made a troubled expression.

The blacksmiths of the Courtyard of Iron Armaments had great pride matching their outstanding skills. Even if he begged and explained the situation, there was no one who would throw away their chopsticks mid-meal to come repair a sword.

“They have just started eating… could you wait a little?”

“To come here quickly, I also skipped my meal.”

“I see.”

Lee Bok bowed his head, suppressing his absurdity.

What a temper.

Suppressing his temper inwardly, Lee Bok spoke cautiously, “If it is urgent, how about taking a new sword we have made for now?”

“Do you think I brought my sword personally because our Martial Hall lacks swords?”

“I didn’t mean that, but with the intention of giving Instructor Yeon a good sword for free…”

“Useless talk. Do you think I came to get a new sword?”

“I-I apologize.”

Lee Bok hurriedly bowed his head.

Seeing a man in his forties bowing his head as if to prostrate himself, Yeon Myeong-jin also realized his attitude had been excessive.

“Sorry. My nerves are on edge…” Pausing for a moment, he sighed. “Actually, an important demonstration will be held at our Martial Hall tomorrow. It is an important seat where an Elder of the main sect will also attend. Do you understand what I mean?”

Weapons were like horses; the more they were handled, the more they became tamed to their owner. Especially for a martial artist who had not yet perfected their sword art, the difference between a familiar sword and an unfamiliar one was quite significant.

“I understand the situation well. Then I will try to persuade the blacksmiths…”

Just as Lee Bok rose from his seat to go to the blacksmiths, a shadow wearing gray clothes walked toward them from the opposite side.

It was Bu Eunseol.

“Oh, there is a young blacksmith here.”

Yeon Myeong-jin, spotting Bu Eunseol, looked pleased. “You can just entrust the repair to him immediately.”

“No. H-He is…”

“What excuse are you going to make now? There is no time, so entrust it quickly.”

Lee Bok stammered and then shut his mouth for a moment. Thinking about it, since he made farming tools to a decent standard, repairing a sword edge and blade wouldn’t be a difficult task.

No, still, that won’t do…

No matter what, letting a blacksmith from the Courtyard of Refined Harvests repair a weapon was out of the question. If things went wrong, how would he handle the consequences?

But Yeon Myeong-jin snatched the long sword Lee Bok was holding and thrust it at Bu Eunseol.

“Here! It is an urgent matter, so set aside everything else and repair my sword first.”

Bu Eunseol looked at the sword blankly, then nodded. “Understood.”

This guy?

Lee Bok naturally thought Bu Eunseol would refuse. But seeing him nod shamelessly even after seeing the long sword, he couldn’t help but be dumbfounded.

“Blacksmith Bu. Can you really take responsibility and repair it?”

At Lee Bok’s question, Bu Eunseol glanced down at the long sword in his hand and spoke calmly.

“It seems it will be finished in two shichen (approx. 4 hours).”

“Two shichen?”

Lee Bok was so dumbfounded he burst out laughing.

Repairing the weapon of a martial arts master was a delicate and demanding task.

Even skilled blacksmiths of the Courtyard of Iron Armaments would take a full day, yet a guy who only made farming tools claimed he would handle it in two shichen? Fine. It might be good to fix his habit this time!

“Then will you take responsibility and try it?”

Swallowing his sneer, Lee Bok held out the long sword.

“Instead, if the repair goes wrong, it is all your responsibility.”

A blacksmith must take responsibility for the item they handle. Even if Yuk Man-ho tried to cover for him, this was not something that could be glossed over.

I’ll use this chance to chase you out, you eyesore.

Whether he knew Lee Bok’s intentions or not, Bu Eunseol nodded calmly.

“Understood.”

And as if nothing had happened, he slowly turned toward the smithy.

***

Bu Eunseol entered a small warehouse slightly separated from the Courtyard of Refined Harvests.

Although he was making farming tools through the consideration of Grand Blacksmith Yuk Man-ho, his relationship with the blacksmiths in the Courtyard of Refined Harvests was not very good. Therefore, he was working alone in an old warehouse away from the Courtyard of Refined Harvests.

Click.

But something was strange.

Even if he started work immediately it wouldn’t be enough, yet Bu Eunseol was simply sitting blankly, staring intently at the sword.

“……”

The gaze examining the sword here and there was solemn beyond measure. After laying the sword down and examining the damaged parts of the blade for a long time, his eyes flashed.

Most Orthodox sword arts condense True Energy like dew at the tip of the sword. But he rotated the sword with True Energy spread throughout the blade.

This time, he held the blade up to the light.

He used the entire blade as if sweeping sharp True Energy sideways using rotational force, not the sword point.

In the mind of Bu Eunseol holding the bent long sword, a sword move sweeping the side while rotating furiously unfolded before his eyes.

It is the Emerald Rainfall Sword Art, one of the Mount Zhong Three Great Sword Arts!