Chapter 354
Chapter 354
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 363
Chapter Title: Paths Cross at Iron Heart Gate
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Hyunwonja, one of Wudang Sect's Three Great Disciples and Pavilion Master of the Jade Balance Pavilion, ascended the path toward Iron Heart Gate.
Two Azure disciples from the Jade Balance Pavilion followed behind him.
Iron Heart Gate was a smithy that had traded with Wudang Sect for many years, and Hyunwonja had taken on the mission of receiving the Songmun Fine Swords on behalf of the pavilion.
"Wow! So this is Iron Heart Gate! It really lives up to the name!"
Cheongwoo gazed at Iron Heart Gate with an excited expression.
As the youngest of the Azure disciples and someone who had just joined the Jade Balance Pavilion for his first trip to receive the Songmun Fine Swords, everything felt novel to him.
His senior brother, the other Azure disciple Cheongsong, smiled faintly.
"You haven't even seen inside yet—how do you know?"
"It looks extraordinary just from the outside, doesn't it? The title of the world's greatest smithy doesn't seem undeserved at all."
"Haha! Your eyesight must pierce nine thousand li."
"Aw, not quite that good yet."
Cheongsong laughed again at Cheongwoo's playful banter.
Cheongwoo asked in a cheerful voice.
"They say inside Iron Heart Gate, divine and famed swords pile up like mountains—is that true? And that these Songmun Fine Swords are stuck straight into the walls?"
"Hah! Why are you so worked up?"
"Because I heard there are even better swords everywhere."
"Our sect's Songmun Fine Swords are famed swords in their own right."
The Songmun Fine Swords supplied by Iron Heart Gate to Wudang Sect were more than worthy of the title.
Though they were standard-issue blades, Iron Heart Gate's craftsmanship elevated even these to the level of famed swords.
In fact, ever since the trade began, the Songmun Fine Swords had been rated far superior to the signature blades of Mount Hua, Jongnam, or Cheongseong.
"That's exactly why I'm curious about even better ones."
"A Daoist's greed for material things isn't becoming."
"Aw, I just want to look around."
"First, wipe that greed from your eyes, you rascal."
"Oh, is it that obvious?"
Hyunwonja spoke softly as he watched the two giggling excitedly.
"I understand your excitement, but be especially mindful of your conduct inside Iron Heart Gate. We're here representing the sect, after all."
"Yes!"
"Iron Heart Gate has exchanged with our sect for a long time. Don't forget propriety, especially when dealing with smiths."
The Azure disciples would surely know better, but Hyunwonja reminded them anyway.
Iron Heart Gate held an important position even for Wudang Sect when it came to weapons, so he emphasized it repeatedly.
The two senior brothers nodded vigorously.
Hyunwonja continued.
"The moment we arrive, we'll inspect the Songmun Fine Swords and head straight back to the main peak."
"Uncle Master, but doesn't Iron Heart Gate handle any swords besides the Songmun Fine Swords?"
"Receiving the Songmun Fine Swords on a regular basis is more than enough. Seeking more would be greed, and a tool is merely a tool. On the path to the Dao, there's no distinction between famed sword and iron sword."
The two nodded deeply at Hyunwonja's words, brimming with Daoist spirit.
Soon, Hyunwonja, Cheongsong, and Cheongwoo arrived at Iron Heart Gate.
"Welcome, Daoist!"
The steward bowed deeply in greeting.
Hyunwonja nodded.
"Good to see you, steward. I trust you've been well?"
"Oh, of course. True Person Hyunwon seems to grow younger with each passing day."
"Haha! What a jest!"
Hyunwonja let out a hearty laugh as he looked around.
He found it odd that Iron Heart Gate's Lord Ban Hojung, who would normally come out to greet them, was absent.
"But it seems the Gate Lord is quite busy?"
"Ah, yes! Don't even ask. Lately, we've had this headache of a problem item, and he's been tearing his hair out over it."
"A headache?"
"Haha, a sword. A sword."
"Hoo! A sword that troubles even the Gate Lord must be no ordinary blade."
Hyunwonja showed interest.
Curiosity stirred at the thought of Ban Hojung, hailed as an iron master, struggling with a sword.
"Sigh, it's the sword, but also those drunken louts—no, esteemed guests—who've caused all sorts of chaos."
"What happened?"
"Oh dear, I'd need three days and nights to tell it all."
"So the gate's in disarray for a reason."
"As expected, can't fool a true person's eyes."
The steward joked lightly with a chuckle.
"Still, we've prepared the full batch of Songmun Fine Swords for Wudang Sect perfectly. No need to worry."
"Haha! As if a day or two's delay would matter? Working iron and cultivating the Dao aren't so different, after all!"
Hyunwonja smiled in satisfaction.
Even amid the chaos, they'd completed the swords for Wudang—how could he not feel pleased?
Iron Heart Gate had never delayed a delivery date, after all.
"Before inspecting the swords, I'd like to pay my respects to the Gate Lord."
"He's in the workshop right now. It's a humble place—will that be all right? The Gate Lord dislikes having贵 guests enter, too."
"Hahaha! Is there any place in the world that's truly humble? We can inspect the Songmun Fine Swords on the way—killing two birds with one stone, no?"
"Oh, we're grateful for your understanding."
The steward bowed repeatedly.
It bordered on excessive, but he paid it no mind.
His guests were Daoists from Wudang Sect.
The core of the Orthodox Heaven Alliance and one of the murim's twin peaks.
He had no choice but to treat them with utmost care.
The steward started walking.
"This way, please!"
Hyunwonja, Cheongsong, and Cheongwoo followed.
"Hm?"
As they walked through Iron Heart Gate's grounds, a group approached from the side.
Hyunwonja tilted his head, and a troubled look crossed the steward's face.
"Th-those are..."
Hyunwonja quietly observed the approaching group.
His gaze settled on the young man leading them.
Flanked by dragon-and-tiger-like juniors, it was the oddly swaggering youth at the front who caught the eye.
Clutching a liquor bottle in one hand and gnawing jerky with the other, he sauntered crookedly—impossible to ignore.
He stuck out so starkly amid the proper-looking young swordsmen behind him.
"Uncle Master! That's the Nangong Clan."
Cheongsong whispered softly to Hyunwonja from behind.
Hyunwonja nodded.
He had recognized them as Nangong Clan at a glance.
And he realized these were the Nangong Clan's juniors who stirred storms across the jianghu.
"Radiant Dragon and Sword Dragon."
At his words, Cheongsong and Cheongwoo widened their eyes.
"Ra-Radiant Dragon?"
"That guy's the Radiant Dragon?!"
Their gazes snapped to the man with the jade-like face at the mention of Radiant Dragon.
But they soon shook their heads.
'No, that's the Thunder Jade Sword...'
'The Radiant Dragon wouldn't be that upright.'
Their eyes slowly shifted to the one chewing jerky and holding the liquor bottle.
And they were stunned.
"Th-that guy's the Radiant Dragon?"
"No way those guests were the Nangong Clan's Radiant Dragon?"
"That slob took down Senior Brother Cheongin?!"
Namgung Hyeok, who had crushed Wudang's Divine Prodigy and won the sparring tournament to earn the title Radiant Dragon, was a shocking sight.
No, they'd thought the rumors exaggerated, but if anything, they fell short.
Who wanders another sect's grounds clutching a liquor bottle?!
Cheongsong and Cheongwoo scowled in displeasure.
They couldn't feel fondness for the man who had defeated their senior brother, the Wudang Divine Prodigy Cheongin.
Hadn't Wudang's reputation taken a massive hit because of it?
And there had been several other incidents where Wudang had lost face due to entanglements with the Nangong Clan—no goodwill could form.
Iron Heart Gate's steward fidgeted anxiously.
He well knew Wudang held a grudge against the Nangong Clan.
As the steward hemmed and hawed over what to say,
Hyunwonja gauged his reaction and spoke quietly.
"Enough. It was a sparring tournament, wasn't it?"
"But Uncle Master..."
"Do you think I don't know how you feel about Cheongin? But a match is a match."
Hyunwonja cut him off and turned to the steward.
"The boys are still hot-blooded and sometimes get carried away thinking of their senior brothers. I ask the steward's understanding."
"Oh, no, not at all! Of course! Senior brothers would feel that way. I understand completely. Haha!"
"And Iron Heart Gate's fame is impressive indeed. Even the Nangong Clan comes all the way to these remote Yungjung Mountains for your swords!"
"Oh, no, not at all!"
The steward wiped cold sweat and shook his head.
Hyunwonja smiled faintly.
He then quietly regarded Cheongsong and Cheongwoo.
Realizing their blunder, they bowed their heads deeply.
Had Hyunwonja not intervened, not only they but all of Wudang would have looked foolish.
Wouldn't onlookers think Wudang was still sulking over the tournament and making a scene?
Namgung Hyeok, approaching from the opposite direction, tilted his head.
"What's that? Nosy bunch?"
"Oh dear, young master. They can hear you."
"Nosy is nosy. But why are they glaring like that?"
"They're Wudang Daoists."
"So? What do I have to do with them?"
"...Too much to list."
"That much?"
Namgung Hyeok widened his eyes and scratched his head.
"Dunno, probably just passing by."
Or maybe brushed past without a thought.
He vaguely recalled one recent encounter.
Namgung Hyeok, who didn't even remember the Wudang Divine Prodigy incident,
"No guilt means nothing to hide from."
He grinned while munching jerky.
"Anyway. Is my sword done yet?"
"They say it's ready, more or less."
"Why the vagueness?"
"No idea. Didn't that Ban dwarf say so?"
Namgung Hyeok shook his head at the swordsmith woman walking slantwise beside Namgung Ryong—Ban Haryeong.
"She's nuts, right?"
"Aw."
"Right?"
"She doesn't seem entirely sane."
"See?"
Namgung Hyeok shrugged it off.
"Whatever. Let's go check."
He and his group swiftly passed the Wudang disciples.
Hyunwonja furrowed his brow, while Cheongwoo and Cheongsong's faces hardened.
Even under their piercing glares, Namgung Hyeok paid it no heed.
Paeng Jung-hyeok and the others trailing him glanced back briefly before moving on.
It was clean dismissal.
Like glancing at a stray dog pissing on the wall and walking away.
Cheongsong let out a groan.
"I'd heard they were reckless, but..."
He was flustered seeing Nangong Clan warriors act without reservation even upon spotting them.
He'd expected some awkwardness upon meeting Wudang, but they barely spared them a proper glance.
'And... what kind of spectacle is that?'
Namgung Hyeok aside, the others were no slouches either.
Paeng Yeonhwa lugging a bundle half her size, or Ban Haryeong waddling sideways next to Namgung Ryong.
And the crowning absurdity: Hwangbo Chung endlessly scraping at tree branches— was he in his right mind?
Hyunwonja spoke softly.
"No need to mind them. We do our duty, that's all."
"..."
"What good comes of starting trouble? They're here for swords too. Iron Heart Gate isn't our sect's property, is it?"
Cheongsong lowered his head at Hyunwonja's words.
Hyunwonja slowly resumed walking.
But after some distance, Hyunwonja's expression grew subtly odd.
"...Uncle Master."
"..."
"We're on the same path."
"Sigh."
Hyunwonja sighed.
They were simply walking the same road, yet it looked like they were chasing the Nangong Clan's heels.
And that bearish Paeng Jung-hyeok kept glancing back, which irked him in a strange way.
He stifled a groan but said nothing.