Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: I'm Thinking of Making a Sword
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“Won’t the forge… Ah! Are you finally going to seriously start learning hidden weapon techniques?”
A flicker of confusion crossed Dang Gon’s face before it brightened.
Every member of the Tang Clan naturally had one or two personal blacksmiths they were close with—dedicated master craftsmen.
Hidden weapons came in so many varieties as tools, and since they required such small, intricate processes with adjustments tailored to each individual, that was the reason.
So Dang Gon seemed delighted now that he thought I might finally discard those utterly useless eighteen standard weapons (from the Tang Clan’s perspective, anyway) and take up hidden weapons.
He himself specialized in hidden weapon techniques using the Wild Wind Dance, so he probably figured he had plenty to teach me. How awkward.
“No, not that.”
“…Then what are you planning to make?”
“You’ll be disappointed if I tell you.”
“Fine, then. I won’t ask.”
He tried his best not to show it, but his shoulders slumped ever so slightly.
Had genuine affection really built up between us over time? Dang Gon now truly saw me as a named disciple.
“Hm, there is one blacksmith I know.”
“But?”
“There’s a bit of a problem.”
“Lives far away?”
“No. Right here in Nine Dragons County. Know Nobanya Forge?”
“Who doesn’t?”
“He’s the owner.”
Anyone from the Nine Dragons Branch Family—no, anyone living in Nine Dragons County—had probably used Nobanya Forge at least once.
It was that massive.
But what had stuck with me was the name.
Nobanya.
The birth name of Lu Ban, the Sage Craftsman, divine patron of Daoist architecture, engineering, and craftsmanship.
The owner must have incredible confidence in his skills to name it that—and he knew Dang Gon?
“Nobanya, huh. Sounds like the skills live up to the name. But I thought they didn’t handle weapons.”
“With all the blacksmiths in the branch family, why bother going there? Truth is, the owner doesn’t care much for us Tangs either. He was always griping that hidden weapons like ours didn’t bring in enough profit.”
Somehow, that made perfect sense.
Hidden weapons broke all the time, weapons were defective and cost fights, and from my view, Tang clansmen were top-tier troublemakers who threw tantrums constantly. No wonder he’d want to avoid them.
“So now he only does minor repairs for old connections. I hear even the Branch Leader’s weapon is in his care.”
“The Branch Leader’s weapon too?”
That caught me off guard; my eyes widened involuntarily.
“No way he’s from Wild Wind Squad?”
“Something like that.”
「A blacksmith from Wild Wind Squad? I’d always wondered in secret, since it was kept under wraps—」
「Who the hell makes their elusive hidden weapons and gunpowder arms? Mystery solved!」
Even the lingering spirits were buzzing, so his skills must be the real deal.
Perfect.
The sword I wanted to make was pretty unusual, after all.
“Anyway, he’s… well, extremely arrogant and won’t listen to a word anyone says, but if I recommend you, he’ll help.”
“Thanks.”
“But.”
“?”
“Don’t blame me if he pulls some stunt on you.”
“???”
Now I was curious.
What kind of guy was this?
* * *
The Dark Lord’s visit was now just twenty days away.
The Nine Dragons Branch Family teemed with people.
Tang bloodkin returning from missions in the jianghu after receiving the summons, maternal clan warriors, branch family key figures.
Even crowds of commoners flocking just for a distant glimpse of the Dark Lord’s visage.
Nine Dragons County was packed to the brim.
Mixed in were envoys from western martial sects like Sichuan, Gansu, Qinghai, Yunnan, and Guizhou.
“…Ah, maybe I shouldn’t have asked for an introduction.”
I stared at the market streets clogged with people, a queasy look in my eyes.
No gap to slip through anywhere.
I’d pulled my hat low in case someone recognized me.
But even without that, passersby had no attention to spare.
「Too many people. Why not wait until the Dark Lord’s visit is over to do the forging?」
‘No. Too late.’
Soon, Black Bone Ghost Valley and the other demon beasts would swarm the Nine Dragons Branch Family.
I wanted maximum preparations ready by then.
Plus, I’d come this far already—might as well go see, I thought, following the map Dang Gon had sketched.
Clank, clank!
Every step made the awkwardly strapped sword on my back rattle noisily.
「Planning to refine the Black Sword after all?」
The lingering spirits hovered above it, asking.
Sure, I’d never even jokingly touched a sword before, so of course they’d be puzzled that I wanted to make one now.
‘Yeah. For starters.’
「Then it needs to function not just as a weapon, but as a demonic tool… Won’t be easy.」
‘Places that can make demonic tools aren’t common to begin with.’
Demonic tools were far trickier to craft than standard ritual implements.
If it were easy, I’d have made one myself ages ago.
「As expected of Young Master, you must have some brilliant plan we haven’t considered. Still, this fool worries that while the Sichuan Tangs excel at forging, demonic tools might be beyond them.」
Fifteen Ghosts cautiously offered his opinion, fretting over his old possession getting botched.
‘What’s that supposed to mean.’
「Oh, so the Sichuan Tangs’ skills outshine even what’s known in Tianshan—」
‘Obviously not okay.’
「…….」
Silence rippled through the lingering spirits.
「Then…?」
‘But I can guide the refinements my way, right? Their precision work is unrivaled in the world.’
「Ah!」
Considering the demonic tool I favored in my past life was the Demon Dragon Sword, even the Iron Horse Forge—famous for demonic tools—couldn’t match what I wanted.
Not even if their world-renowned master, Iron Demon himself, took the job.
So I’d have to micromanage every step for a custom job, tailoring it as close as possible.
「As expected, Young Master has it all planned! Impressive!!」
「Such keen insight—」
Tuning out the sycophancy I was sick of, I arrived at the enormous forge.
Heat blasted from outside the doors.
“You lot, move it! Faster!”
“Even pounding a slug would hammer faster than you slowpokes!”
“Hey, hey! The molten iron’s spilling out of that mold! Do it right or we’re all dead?!”
Inside Nobanya Forge, artisans sweated buckets, scurrying under the old man’s shrill barking.
Short at just over five feet, but his bronze skin and muscles suggested he could topple one or two grown men with ease.
Half his face was a gruesome burn scar.
Yet his sheer presence commanded the entire forge—a sight to behold.
「Not just presence; his cultivation’s no small thing either.」
「Skills seem top-notch too. How’s someone like that stayed unknown?」
「The Tangs have always been reclusive, hoarding talent from the world. Probably one of their hidden masters. Though… he looks kinda familiar up close—」
“Pardon the intrusion.”
Seemed like he wouldn’t notice us till sunset if we waited, so I shouted.
“Who’re you?”
“Are you Master Noban, Tang Chukyung of the forge ‘Axe-Fusion’?”
The forge name was bold, but his name was bolder.
Chukyung—Fire God.
Even as an alias, that was peak narcissism.
“Yeah, that’s me.”
“Greetings. I’m Tang Unhwi, second son of the Nine Dragons Branch Family.”
The elder, Tang Chukyung, eyed me up and down with narrowed gaze, then barked a laugh.
“You the sly fox that pony here yapped about?”
Pony? Sly fox?
Dang Gon, you old gossip—talking behind my back everywhere, huh?
Pony suited Dang Gon Uncle well enough, though.
“Heard the blockhead’s son might be another stiff, but… you look way more human than your old man. So, what brings you? Weapon forging, like the pony said?”
He spoke casually of Father Tang Hosan too.
Probably the only one in Nine Dragons County who could.
“Yes. I have a personal weapon I want made.”
“What?”
“I’m thinking of making a sword.”
“A sword?”
Tang Chukyung’s brow arched in surprise.
“Yes.”
“Turning Blue Peak fangirl like your sister?”
“I’m not the type to hole up in some mountain valley meditating in silence.”
“Then why’s a Tang needing a sword?”
“I have a use for it.”
“Don’t wanna say, huh.”
“I’ll provide all the specs needed for crafting.”
“Whatever. You’d just bullshit anyway.”
A few exchanges, and Tang Chukyung’s sharpness was clear.
“As you see, we’re swamped. Customers everywhere. Even if you’re branch family young master, no special treatment. Okay with that?”
With the Dark Lord’s test looming, every Tang bloodkin was checking weapons nonstop. I’d expected as much.
Grateful they were taking orders at all.
If not for his tie to Dang Gon, he might’ve turned me away flat.
“Fine by me. But my order’s conditions might be extremely demanding. Assign your best blacksmiths. Even better if you assist, Master.”
“Your dad begs on his knees and maybe; you’re centuries early for hidden weapons from me, kid.”
“I wouldn’t dare ask that much. But as I said, the weapon’s specs are tricky. Need the best talent for it.”
“Hmph! No Tang’s ever been picky.”
Tang Chukyung snorted, arms crossed.
I just smiled.
Big talk now, but he’d regret it later.
“I did warn you.”
“I warned you too. This forge runs on my title. Think it’ll fail? Never had a dissatisfied Tang customer yet.”
Tang Chukyung didn’t even glance my way now.
“Got blueprints? Hand ’em over. I’ll pick the right guy.”
He took the plans with a ‘kid’s drawings can’t be that hard’ smirk, scanned them, and tilted his head.
“Huh?”
「Huh?」
「Young Master, this is—」
Even the spirits seeing them first were stunned.
“Didn’t you want a sword?”
“Yes. Thinking of refining this.”
I unstrapped and showed the Black Sword.
Tang Chukyung’s face turned baffled.
“Wrong plans?”
“No. Gave you the right ones.”
“Doesn’t make sense! This is clearly a folding fan—how’s it a sword?!”
That’s because it’s no ordinary sword.
The blueprint showed a folding fan, not a sword.