Chapter 190
Chapter 190
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 190
Chapter Title: Clue (4)
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People often summarize the essentials of life as clothing, food, and shelter.
But for martial artists, weapons had to be added to that list.
Weapons favored by martial artists of a certain caliber were mainly made from Cold Iron and Darksteel.
If they had the means, they'd use Millennium Cold Iron and Darksteel. If not, they'd settle for White Lotus Puresteel weapons.
Here, "means" encompassed not just financial resources but also one's own martial prowess.
After all, if someone unworthy carried a fine weapon, they'd become a target for those eyeing it.
Among the materials used to forge such weapons, Darksteel and Fire Essence were sourced from the great deserts in the west and the southern wilds, respectively.
Cold Iron and Ice Essence, however, came solely from the North Sea Ice Palace region.
The paths for North Sea Ice Palace goods to reach the Central Plains were through the Shanxi region or Liaodong.
With Shanxi in turmoil and one route half-blocked,
the entrenched powers in Liaodong, the Mo Yong Family, had started throwing their weight around.
What was it they said? Something about the chaotic times forcing the Mo Yong Family to tighten sword checks at the passes for safety?
It sounded plausible enough, but it was just a fancy excuse.
In truth, they were seizing the opportunity to make a killing.
North Sea Ice Palace merchants traded Cold Iron and Ice Essence for grain and cloth.
Weapons, essential for martial artists, might just see a price hike if supply lagged.
But clothing and food were true matters of life and death.
Ice Palace merchants had no choice but to trade in Liaodong.
Thus, profiting from hoarding Ice Essence and Cold Iron while conveniently taming the martial families of Huguang.
Setting aside the Mo Yong Family's shamelessness in exploiting the demonic cult's emergence for personal gain,
the result was that prices for Ice Essence and Cold Iron had soared in Huguang, home to the Righteous Martial Academy.
And they offer repairs at this price? Subtract material and labor costs, and there's nothing left.
The moment that suspicion crossed my mind, I sought out Yin Xia Lian.
"Miss Yin?"
"Yes, Young Master Eon? What is it?"
"This 'Ho Yuan Forge' where we're entrusting the White Lotus Sword for repairs."
At my words, Yin Xia Lian tilted her head.
"Didn't we discuss that already? I told you the master smith retired due to old age, so they passed jobs to other forges, and the son and his wife lowered prices. The quality's fine."
"But the prices of Cold Iron and Ice Essence have risen a lot since then."
"True, but merchants often take short-term losses to secure long-term patrons. That's how I grew the Silver Radiance Merchant Group. This chaos is the perfect time for it."
"Wasn't that a tactic you used when backed by the unshakeable Silver Radiance Merchant Group?"
"Ah?"
"To me, this doesn't seem like ordinary blacksmith thinking. How can they be so bold when they don't know when the Ice Palace supply issues will resolve?"
Yin Xia Lian furrowed her brow and spoke.
"Are you suspecting demonic cult involvement?"
"Think about it—they have decent forging skills. The sword on Guo Sa-hong, and the Cold Iron on that medicine warehouse door I found recently."
"But doing business around Dan Gang-gu requires rigorous vetting."
She had a point.
Dan Gang-gu, cradle of orthodox martial arts, subjected even shops to thorough checks.
They had their own cliques, too.
But that made it the perfect spot under the lamp's dim light.
"Exactly."
"Exactly?"
"It's too convenient to overlook. Even you brushed it off at first."
"Ah! Wait—does that mean I've been funneling work to the demonic cult all this time?!"
"We'll find out from now on. It's nagging at me, so let's check."
"Ah, yes."
"I'll have the beggars discreetly gather local rumors. You rally the Eon siblings and collect how Ho Yuan Forge passed the academy and Baekbon Society verifications, plus other details."
"Got it!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I sent the three Solger beggars to collect talk around the weapon shops near Ho Yuan Forge,
then returned to the meeting room attached to the lab.
Our Ma Bang Yeon meetings had involved reviewing and organizing data, so the Ho Yuan Forge investigation was already systematic.
"Sisters, here."
"Here too!"
Ha Seong and So Reung brought files to Yin Xia Lian and Jeon Gal Seol-ji's desks.
"Hey, Ha Seong. This goes to Young Master Eon's desk."
"Miss So Reung, deliver this to the scribes."
"Yes!"
Yin Xia Lian and Jeon Gal Seol-ji quickly reviewed the files.
Those needing judgment went to my desk.
Factual listings went to Dang Ok-gi and Namgung Yun handling scribe duties.
"Ugh! Namgung Yun! When will you finish?! Why write reports in regular script?!"
"Dang Ok-gi, they say handwriting is the mirror of the soul."
"I've heard that too."
"Kyaaak!"
A bottleneck formed at the scribes due to Namgung Yun meticulously writing in regular script and Jeong Hyeon egging him on beside her.
"Quit the soul-mirror nonsense. I made you scribe for your neat handwriting, but it's not working. Namgung Yun, switch seats with Jeong Hyeon."
I scolded Namgung Yun first,
then...
"......"
"Jeong Hyeon, just make it legible and fast."
"Understood!"
I swapped one scribe to boost efficiency.
Then I started reviewing files on my desk.
"...Hmm."
With demonic cult ties and my emphasis on speed, plus a five-year scope,
neat summaries soon piled up, one per Eon sibling.
Re: Ho Yuan Forge and Weapon Shops.
Master smith Won Ryong retired due to illness; son Won Hong re-passed academy and Baekbon Society verification last year (renewed every five years).
Won family then took in a daughter-in-law.
Pre-marriage, Won Hong left forge work to his father and indulged in drinking, women, and gambling.
Post-marriage and father's illness, Won Hong earned praise for diligence; people around noted a change.
Ho Yuan Forge does not isolate operations.
Hires local laborers; they return properly.
Seeing this, my head tilted instinctively.
"Ambiguous."
Then Master's voice came from my waist.
- Ambiguous? Hearing about Won Ryong's illness reminds me of your great-uncle, Yong-un. If the daughter-in-law is a demonic cult woman, it fits perfectly, no?
Master's perceptive on human affairs once focused. But marriage often changes people.
- Hm.
Blacksmithing wears eyes, shoulders, knees simultaneously before the forge, bellows, and hammer. Older masters live by 'today's different'; ailments hit suddenly. They hire outsiders occasionally too. Given this, we must proceed cautiously.
- So, probably not?
Not that—need more digging. Too iffy to dismiss.
We couldn't rush in rashly.
If wrong, local smiths might retaliate collectively.
Weapons are dearer than clothing, food, shelter to warriors.
In this era, it'd create academy chaos the demonic cult craved.
Anyway, thoughts there.
I spoke up.
"We need a proper investigation."
"Proper how?"
"Infiltrate as a laborer at Ho Yuan Forge. I'll get permission from the Chief. Miss Jeon Gal?"
"Yes, Yong-un?"
"Borrow a plausible identity from a nearby sega or Professor Jeon Gal-min."
"On it!"
"Dang Ok-gi, explain to the chief professor and prep my disguise. Rest, under Miss Yin: originals back, summaries burned. One copy suffices."
I reassigned tasks, grabbed the summary, and headed to the chief's office to explain my reasoning.
"...That's why I investigated. Even summarized, it's ambiguous."
Dean Kyung Hye nodded, stroking her chin.
"Looks iffy to me too. But Chief Strategist warned not to slack, so I had Security search Dan Gang-gu, including weapon shops and forges. Nothing odd."
"Pardon, but did they specifically check Ho Yuan Forge?"
"Broad search, not pinpoint... Ah? You mean rumors of investigation let them hide traces?"
"Yes."
"Makes sense. What do you propose?"
"Forges hire outsiders for menial tasks like mining ore. Data shows Ho Yuan does too. I'll infiltrate."
Dean Kyung Hye frowned.
"If you're right, too dangerous. Me or other professors..."
"Professors would stand out. You've not mingled with laborers."
"...No retort. We preach for the people, chivalry, yet never lived their lives. Did your scoundrel days teach you that?"
Not scoundrel days—early past-life labor. But no need to correct; I just smiled.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ To be safe, with Professor No Sam on standby nearby, Dean Kyung Hye approved my undercover op.
Professor No Sam grumbled as he walked with me to Ma Bang Yeon.
"A student making a professor wait? Right way of things?"
"You reek too much of beggar."
"...?"
"Last time, sloppy acupoint release undid your disguise."
"......"
Returning, Dang Ok-gi and others greeted me grinning excitedly.
"You're here!"
"Welcome back!"
"What's with the sudden energy?"
"Quick, change clothes. Urgent, right? Time to nag when you prepped?"
My head tilted, but busy indeed. I shed Righteous Martial Academy uniform for faded hemp clothes.
Dang Ok-gi and Yin Ha-seong laid disguise items on the table, sat me opposite, and started.
"Oh, Seol-ji sis got your identity."
"Oh? Yeah?"
"Yes. Yong-gu?"
They burst laughing, clutching bellies.
"Yong-gu. Pfft. Yong-guuu hehe. Ahaha."
Killing intent surged in my chest.
"You die..."
But Dang Ok-gi, staining his neck with fake grime, tsked.
"Tsk, Yong-gu. Immerse yourself."
"What're you..."
"I called you Young Master straight during the tough act? Not 'you', say 'miss'?"
Master, shall I wipe them out and head to hell?
- Think hell accepts?
?
- ?
???
After twists and turns,
reborn as Yong-gu from Dangyang County, Huguang Province, I burned for revenge against the demonic cult behind this humiliation and set off for Ho Yuan Forge.