Chapter 131
Chapter 131
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 131
Chapter Title: The Blacksmith's Ploy
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A surprising name left Bu Eun-seol's lips.
The Dark King.
The one among the Seven Kings of Death known as ‘the King Who Rules the Darkness’.
He was an absolute master, known to be able to completely conceal his presence as long as a sliver of darkness existed, and to be unrivaled within the shadows.
“The Dark King, you say.”
The old man asked, his face expressionless.
“Why do you think this old man is the Dark King?”
At the old man's question, Bu Eun-seol respectfully clasped his hands.
“My Pavilion has a secret art that expands one's senses through sound and vibrations. Yet, to be able to make only the faintest sound without having one's presence detected... I believed that the only master in the world with such an ability is the venerable Dark King.”
Bu Eun-seol's answer was exquisite, simultaneously taking pride in Nang-ya-gak's martial arts while praising the Dark King's excellence.
“Hahaha. Your silver tongue has made this old man laugh twice now.”
Nodding, the old man lightly brushed his sleeve.
“That is correct. I am Yeop Hyo-cheon, the Grand Commander of the Main Hall.”
The Dark King, Yeop Hyo-cheon.
He was originally the Lord of the Dancing Night, who followed the Heavenly Demon like a shadow.
However, to fill the position of Vice Hall Master, which had been vacant for twenty years, the Heavenly Demon granted him the title of Grand Commander five years ago.
While the Heavenly Demon was in seclusion, he adjusted the balance between the Hall of Elders and the Ten Demonic Sects... It was no exaggeration to call him the second-in-command of the Demonic Hall.
Bu Eun-seol immediately bowed his head deeply.
“Bu Eun-seol, disciple of Nang-ya-gak, greets the Grand Commander.”
Looking at Bu Eun-seol, Yeop Hyo-cheon said with a sigh.
“To be honest, this old man was against the Ten Demonic Scions plan.”
After shaking his head for a moment, he spoke in a low voice.
“But having produced someone like you, I suppose it can be considered a partial success.”
A mumble that seemed to hold some hidden story.
As Bu Eun-seol kept his head bowed in a respectful posture, Yeop Hyo-cheon soon erased his stern expression and smiled warmly.
“Yes. As you said, this old man summoned the Ten Demonic Scions here to see you all for myself.”
“I see.”
Yeop Hyo-cheon looked up at the ceiling of the grand hall with deep eyes and said.
“To be more precise, there was a request from the Ten Demonic Sects. They asked me to identify the temperaments and martial arts of the Ten Demonic Scions and assign them a Great Righteous Master who would be their perfect counter.”
This time, even Bu Eun-seol couldn't hide his surprised expression.
He had thought they would assign opponents after considering his martial arts and temperament to increase his chances of victory... but it was actually to ensure his defeat?
“But this old man refused. Not only would it be a waste of your talents, but frankly, the probability of losing even in a straight fight is far too high.”
Bu Eun-seol's expression darkened.
If not only the Master of Myeol-hon-dae but also Yeop Hyo-cheon, the second-in-command of the Demonic Hall, judged it so, then it must be an undeniable fact.
“In any case, since you recognized this old man, I should give you a fitting reward.”
Yeop Hyo-cheon's eyes narrowed as he spoke.
“To take down the Great Righteous Masters, you'll need to know where and how they are. I'll speak to the Bi-yeong-gak, so go and receive the information.”
Nang-ya-gak also has an outstanding intelligence organization called the Pung-un-dae.
But it would take a considerable amount of time to investigate the Righteous Faction's Great Righteous Masters. In contrast, the Demonic Hall, which kept a close watch on the movements of the Orthodox Murim, would find out in no time.
‘There's no reason to refuse this reward.’
Having finished his thought, Bu Eun-seol clasped his hands.
“Thank you.”
“Now, go.”
At Yeop Hyo-cheon's words, Bu Eun-seol bowed respectfully and turned away.
Watching him leave, Yeop Hyo-cheon shook his head with a somber expression.
“Astonishing. The world is indeed vast, and extraordinary people are as numerous as grains of sand.”
He watched Bu Eun-seol's retreating back and said in a low voice.
“To think there's another who so perfectly resembles him in both talent and disposition...”
***
Bu Eun-seol left the Demonic Hall and was returning to Nang-ya-gak by carriage.
*Clatter, clatter.*
As it entered the mountain path, the carriage swayed back and forth like a ship in a storm.
Inside the carriage, Bu Eun-seol sat properly with his eyes closed, mulling over the information he had obtained from Bi-yeong-gak.
‘The Great Righteous Master of the Jongnam Sect.’
Bi-yeong-gak had given Bu Eun-seol various pieces of information about Yeo Hwan-jin, the Great Righteous Master of the Jongnam Sect.
Since becoming a Great Righteous Master, he had remained hidden like a divine dragon in the clouds.
But the Demonic Hall had already thoroughly grasped his whereabouts.
He was staying in Jangsanhyeop of Dangsan and would occasionally visit the Jongnam Sect's Dangsan Martial Academy to teach disciples.
‘This is troublesome. If it's Dangsan...’
The Dangsan area was practically the Jongnam Sect's sphere of influence.
Having operated a martial academy in Dangsan for a long time, everyone from the local martial officials, bankers, and escorts, to the regional administrators and martial artists, were all disciples from the Jongnam Sect.
‘This is difficult.’
If he were to fight Yeo Hwan-jin in a place like this? Even if he won the duel, he would never be able to escape safely.
‘In that case...’
Bu Eun-seol pondered deeply.
This was not something that could be finished in a short time.
Moreover, since his opponent was assessed to be a level above him in skill, he had to make various preparations to fight him.
‘Jongnam, the Jongnam Sect...’
Bu Eun-seol had learned outstanding demonic martial arts, but in truth, he didn't know much about the martial arts of the Righteous Faction.
However, with the help of Bi-yeong-gak, he was able to get a general grasp of not only the history of the Jongnam Sect but also information about their martial arts.
‘The Three Great Sword Arts of the Jongnam Sect: Pyopung, Chwiu, and Yuun.’
The Jongnam Sect's arts, unlike typical Taoist martial arts, contained fierce and heavy power. It was said that because of this, it was common for swords to break and bend during training.
‘Is it like my Mu-sang-cheon-ryu, where various techniques are mixed to increase power?’
Having learned the practical martial arts of Nang-ya-gak, Bu Eun-seol could analyze his opponent's techniques even while fighting.
But against a formidable enemy who was on a higher level, trying such a thing would get his head cut off before he could even display his true abilities.
‘Then, I suppose there's only that one way.’
During the four-day carriage ride, Bu Eun-seol had constantly mulled it over and had already formulated a plan.
“We have arrived.”
In that time, the carriage that had departed from the Demonic Hall had reached the vicinity of Geommi Mountain.
“Thank you.”
After getting out of the carriage, Bu Eun-seol immediately ascended Geommi Mountain.
He quickly entered Nang-ya-gak and, without delay, sought out Master Smith Wang Geol, who was standing in the forge.
“You're back already?”
Inside the forge's workshop, Wang Geol looked at Bu Eun-seol while holding a dagger in his hand.
It seemed he was examining a newly completed dagger.
“I heard you have to face a Great Righteous Master from now on...”
“That is correct.”
“I'm worried.”
Bu Eun-seol stared intently at Wang Geol, who was nonchalantly handling the dagger, before speaking.
“Please teach me.”
“What?”
Wang Geol turned his gaze to Bu Eun-seol and furrowed his brow deeply.
“There are many in this Pavilion with outstanding martial arts. Go learn from someone else.”
“That's not it. Please teach me metallurgy.”
Metallurgy. A term that collectively refers to all the skills a blacksmith uses to handle metal.
“Metallurgy?”
“Yes. To be precise, the methods for repairing swords.”
“Methods for repairing swords?”
“Yes. I want to focus on learning how to repair swords.”
Wang Geol narrowed his eyes and stared at Bu Eun-seol.
“What on earth are you thinking?”
“I heard the Jongnam Sect's sword arts are so fierce that swords often get damaged during training.”
“And?”
“As it happens, the place where the Great Righteous Master of Jongnam is staying is said to be near the Dangsan Forge.”
“Hmm.”
Wang Geol nodded as if he had seen through Bu Eun-seol's plan.
“That is a good method... but it will take a lot of time to master the art of sword repair. You could end up wasting the time you have left.”
“Do you also know that the Demonic Hall has set a time limit?”
Wang Geol said with a casual expression.
“As if the Ten Demonic Sects, who are itching to make you fight the Great Righteous Masters, wouldn't set a time limit.”
“I see.”
“Just find another way.”
Wang Geol shook his head.
“It would be better to spend the remaining time honing your martial arts instead.”
“No. Please teach me metallurgy.”
Bu Eun-seol looked at Wang Geol with eyes full of conviction.
“I believe this is the best way.”
“And if you just waste your time?”
“I will simply do my best.”
Wang Geol stared at Bu Eun-seol.
After a moment of silence, he pointed inside the forge.
“Then let's start at once.”
***
Henan, the Dangsan Forge.
It was the largest forge in Dangsan, with over thirty smiths.
With many skilled smiths, it practically monopolized the Dangsan region, so young smiths often came here to learn the trade.
*Clang, clang, clang.*
A day at the forge began with lighting the furnace.
Then, the temperature was controlled with a bellows to heat the iron.
This was followed by repeated hammering to shape the metal and quenching to cool it.
Hammering—striking, stretching, and sharpening the iron—seemed simple but was a grueling task.
Working the bellows, one would frequently get burned by flying sparks.
*Whoosh.*
There was a young man continuously feeding charcoal into the blazing furnace.
He was quite tall, but his face was plain, the kind you could see anywhere.
However, his expressionless face, as if wearing a mask, was unique. Added to that, his movements were so steady that from a distance, he looked like a human-shaped machine moving with perfect regularity.
“He's good.”
An old man, Yuk Man-ho, who was watching the young man diligently working the bellows inside the forge, nodded in approval.
He was the Master Smith, who led all the craftsmen of the Dangsan Forge.
“His name was Bu Eun-seol, wasn't it?”
At Yuk Man-ho's mumble, the manager, Yi Bok, who was standing behind him, nodded.
“Yes, sir. He came with a recommendation from the Third Master of the Hwang Family Forge.”
“I heard he had some experience with iron before.”
“That's right. They say he did odd jobs in a forge ever since he was a child.”
“Hmm.”
The heat radiating from the bellows with each pump scorched the forge as if to swallow it whole.
That's why even in the cool spring like now, it was common for even experienced smiths to collapse while working the bellows.
Not only that, but the constant sparks flying from the furnace left their arms covered in burn marks.
But the young man, Bu Eun-seol, silently carried out any difficult task.
And his consistently diligent work had finally caught Yuk Man-ho's eye.
“I suppose we can give him a real task.”
“Already, sir? It's only been a month since he arrived.”
To become a smith, one had to do menial labor for a long time.
In fact, those who were clumsy or slow would often spend a whole year stoking the furnace or doing odd jobs without ever getting to hold a hammer.
“Didn't they say he'd worked in a forge before? It should be fine to give him a try.”
At Yuk Man-ho's words, Yi Bok scratched his head.
“Actually, there's a lot of discontent among the smiths.”
“Discontent?”
“Yes, sir. He's not only unfriendly and quiet... and even though he came with the Third Master's recommendation, isn't he just a wandering smith with no background?”
“Hah.”
Yuk Man-ho clicked his tongue and said.
“Since when does a smith need a background? And why does he need to be friendly?”
“A forge is still a place where people work, isn't it? Besides, our Dangsan Forge is...”
“Listen here, Manager Yi.”
Yuk Man-ho rebuked him in a low, angry voice.
“It's because the smiths are making things with that rotten mentality... that we're hearing talk of declining quality in our recent products.”
Then he spoke again in a stern voice.
“Starting tomorrow, send that boy up to the Minongwon.”