Chapter 222
Chapter 222
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 222
Chapter Title: Lake Shore Ironworks (3)
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“Eek?!”
“Guh?!”
The young blacksmith punk and the middle-aged geezer called “Great Man.”
I grabbed both of them by the collar like closing a sliding door and yanked them hard.
Because of that, the two who had been about to share drinks ended up sharing foreheads instead.
Crack!!!!!!
With the sound of rotten wood splintering, the two sprawled left and right.
The young blacksmith side immediately went limp, passed out.
But the one called Great Man wiped the red liquid flowing from his forehead.
“Argh! Blood! Bloooood?!”
He screeched like a madman.
“Assassin! Assassin!!!”
At that, a crashing noise came from the next room.
The two guards he’d brought appeared behind him.
“What are you doing?! You’re supposed to protect me too, hurry!”
The other Lake Shore Ironworks blacksmiths gripped hammers and pickaxes, rising to their feet.
As I got surrounded by his men, the smug middle-aged geezer opened his mouth.
“You dare attack Byeon Kyung-cheol in Dan River Hollow?!”
Byeon Kyung-cheol.
A name I’d seen on the documents needed to take over Lake Shore Ironworks.
‘Owner of the Ten Thousand Ironworks and shops, and vice-chairman of the Dan River Hollow Merchant Association, huh?’
I could roughly guess the root of this incident.
Byeon Kyung-cheol himself was less a blacksmith and more a merchant.
But his father was the toughest old blacksmith in the area.
Riding his father’s reputation and his own business savvy, he’d amassed wealth around Dan River Hollow and become the central figure for the local blacksmith groups.
‘So if that Byeon Kyung-cheol is stirring things up here...’
It meant all the blacksmiths in the area opposed me and Yin Xia Lian taking over the forge.
‘After the old forge master’s family vanished, I wondered what gave these Lake Shore Ironworks punks the guts for this nonsense. Turns out they had backing.’
As I pieced it together.
Byeon Kyung-cheol started pointing at me accusingly.
“Filthy face, shabby clothes. Looks like one of those workers who ruined the mood earlier and soured the drinks. Hey, punk, you picked the wrong guy today!”
At his voice, Master and I snorted inwardly.
- Heh. He says you picked the wrong guy.
‘I did pick well. I thought I’d have to scout around, but learning Byeon Kyung-cheol’s involved cleared up the picture.’
- Fair point.
‘Dang Ok-gi’s makeup skills must be top-notch.’
- Your acting helped too, Yong-un. You can fully suppress your energy but let a bit leak subtly—anyone would see you as a third-rate warrior. Even fooled Song Gil-jun to his face; no wonder these idiots fell for it.
After sneering for a while, Byeon Kyung-cheol raised his voice in command.
“Thinks he’s tough, huh? I’ll have you hung from the gate tower up front as an example. That’ll make sure this never happens again! Get him!”
At Byeon Kyung-cheol’s order, the blacksmiths swung their tools from the front.
“You bastard!!”
From behind, the two guards thrust their swords.
Screee!
Scree!!!
I spun like lightning, grabbing the incoming blades with my left and right hands.
Was this their first time in such a spot, or did they sense the skill gap?
The two guards just stared with rabbit eyes.
“!”
“?!”
I channeled Heaven-Splitting energy and yanked, pulling the warriors toward me.
“Huh?”
“Huh?!”
I smashed a fist into each face.
Thud!
Crack!!
The two barely worthy of being called warriors spat teeth and toppled backward, but there was no time to breathe.
The tools were already descending.
I drew Regret in a flash.
Vmmm-
I wrapped it in qi-sword energy and sliced through the hammer and pickaxe handles in one stroke.
Schwing!
“......”
“?!”
“......!”
“???”
“...H-High... expert.”
The blacksmiths alternated stares between their handle-less tools and me, faces blank.
‘Control the strength. Control the strength.’
Repeating that to myself, I approached the blacksmiths.
I kicked those who needed kicking.
Thump! Thump! Thud thud thump!!
Twisted jaws for those who needed it.
Crack! Crack!!
Then two trembled like aspen leaves, so I slapped their cheeks.
Slap!
Smack!!!!
Now, only I and Byeon Kyung-cheol remained conscious here.
I cracked my neck and stepped toward him.
Byeon Kyung-cheol backed away, palms out.
“D-Do you need more pay? I’ll give double—no, five times!”
“......”
“H-How about ten times? No, let me assign my guards! I’ll give you a house and land!”
“......”
“T-Touch me, and you won’t find work anywhere around here!!”
Come to think of it, I was still wearing the face covering.
I tore it off, revealing my face.
Byeon Kyung-cheol collapsed like he’d seen a ghost, eyes bulging as he named me.
“M-Monster Dragon Eon Yong-un?! Why are you here?”
I smirked at him and took another step.
“And why are you here? But is that important right now?”
Did even he think it wasn’t?
Byeon Kyung-cheol rolled his eyes frantically, scooting back on the floor.
Then, hit with a threat, he pointed accusingly.
“I-If you do this, you won’t get what you want! Touch me and take over Lake Shore Ironworks... Kyaaack!!!”
I grabbed his annoying pointing finger and snapped it.
Then stuffed the face covering into his screeching mouth.
“You were just gonna sabotage anyway, so what? Might chip a tooth if you bite wrong—hold this tight.”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After thoroughly thrashing those who deserved it, I headed to the workers first.
I informed them that, under Blue Bamboo Hall’s lead, wages would be paid and Lake Shore Ironworks normalized.
“Then we’re thrilled!”
“Thought we’d starve—thank you!”
“Since you’re so grateful, could you two head to the Righteous Martial Academy main hall and Dan River Hollow’s top inn? Just deliver these letters.”
To wrap up the incident, I called in people.
From the academy came executive committee professors and the infirmary head.
“Cadet Eon Yong-un fought with Great Man Byeon? What’s going on, Chancellor?”
“...There must be circumstances. We’ll hear them out. Infirmary head, tend to the injured first.”
From Blue Bamboo Hall rushed Brother Kyung Ryong and the Eun siblings.
“Vice Chairman Eon, you okay?”
“Yes. Fine.”
“Chancellor, it’s not him you should worry about—it’s the opponent. Is the opponent okay, Brother Yong-un?”
“...Ha Sung.”
“Yes? Should I shut up?”
“Yes.”
“But Young Master Eon, Ha Sung has a point here? I heard on the way that Great Man Byeon was the one getting schooled?”
“No Great Man. Call him Byeon punk.”
“Anyway. Does this mess up our takeover plan?”
“I’ll explain properly later, but excluding what the Byeon punk did, bottom line: he was the type to do anything to block us taking Lake Shore Ironworks.”
“Hm. That tracks.”
Meanwhile, people gathered from the blacksmiths’ side too.
“Great Man Byeon got beaten? What’s this nonsense?”
This was the moment an impromptu hearing convened to settle the matter.
“I’m Kyung Hye, chancellor of Righteous Martial Academy. To resolve this smoothly, we’ll hold a hearing to hear both sides.”
“Chancellor!”
“You’re the head blacksmith of Bang Hyun Ironworks. Speak.”
“Forgive my impertinence, but everyone in Hebei knows you favor the Monster Dragon.”
“Right! No one doesn’t know Chancellor Kyung Hye backs Eon Yong-un!”
“...Overreach. Though Binni’s ordained, he’s not one to hold back anger.”
“Haha, stay calm, Chancellor. This friend’s close to Great Man Byeon, so he spoke harshly, but to avoid suspicion, how about Professor Chang Ryang of Fragrant Orchid Hall as judge?”
“...Sigh. First, let’s hear from the other side, Cadet Eon Yong-un.”
“Eon Yong-un Cadet?”
Professor Chang Ryang was prideful and rule-strict, but fair.
“No issue.”
I agreed.
Thus, Professor Chang Ryang took the judge’s seat.
“Then, Great Man Byeon, speak first.”
Byeon Kyung-cheol, with swollen face and a friend, responded to Professor Chang Ryang’s question.
“Thith ith a thouthe outrage! He jutht beat up a thimple thubject like me!”
“The scum of the world! Beat a mere commoner like me like this!”
But the gag wasn’t tight enough, apparently.
He claimed he’d come to console the Lake Shore Ironworks blacksmiths and got beaten for no reason, but when I glared, he flinched and looked away.
“......”
Then.
A sharp gaze and transmission came from Professor Chang Ryang.
[...Not even an hour since you promised no force. And you pull this.]
[To be precise, I said I’d be mindful. So not that I’d absolutely avoid force.]
[......]
[Joking.]
[If that’s all, apologize to Great Man Byeon.]
As if that was all.
I stepped forward and spoke.
“There was injustice.”
Starting thus, I recounted Byeon Kyung-cheol’s words and actions.
“...‘Good times are ending.’ Byeon Kyung-cheol—no, the Dan River Hollow blacksmith groups bribed the Lake Shore Ironworks blacksmiths to block Blue Bamboo Hall’s takeover and interfere with Righteous Martial Academy admin.”
“Speculation!”
“I’m not done.”
“Great Man Byeon’s side, stay silent until Cadet Eon Yong-un finishes. Continue, Cadet Eon Yong-un.”
“Such interference is injustice, but understandable as livelihood for blacksmiths and families. However, Byeon Kyung-cheol took the Lake Shore Ironworks workers hostage.”
“......”
“If we don’t punish such a man and right the wrong, why do I hone my martial arts?”
“......”
Sensing the mood shift?
Byeon Kyung-cheol urgently spoke through stiff lips.
“Th-That’th jutht hith claim!”
I sneered at him, raising three fingers.
“Eon Yong-un, eldest son of Pearl Eon Family, swears: if any falsehood in my words, all my endeavors fail, life becomes destitute, and my line ends.”
At my words, Professor Chang Ryang shot up, raising his voice.
“Cadet Eon Yong-un, mind your words.”
Scolding for rash oath, but his eyes showed he’d judged right and wrong.
‘Being restored lets me make such oaths. Handy.’
Worlds apart from disowned scoundrel days.
Still in oath pose, I stared at Byeon Kyung-cheol.
“I can swear because I’m innocent. Try it, Great Man Byeon?”
“......”
Following suit, Byeon Kyung-cheol raised three fingers.
But couldn’t speak.
Meanwhile.
The watching workers spoke up.
“Young Master Eon Yong-un speaks true!”
“Forced us to sign no-bid pledges! Kept us immobile even with sick grandmothers!”
That sealed it.
Professor Chang Ryang spoke firmly.
“Great Man Byeon, you’ll come with us immediately.”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Two days after the ruckus at Lake Shore Ironworks.
I heard Byeon Kyung-cheol would pay massive reparations and lose his business rights.
But investigation ongoing, not finalized.
At Dan River Hollow’s top inn, a guest I awaited arrived.
None other than Senior Ye Hae-su.
“This the inn where Blue Bamboo Hall cadets stay?”
Ye Hae-su.
The one I’d early pegged for PR chief and newsletter editor-in-chief.
“Ah, yes. Senior, you’re here? Long time no see!”
“I’ve heard so much about you, feels recent, but yeah, face-to-face is a while.”
“Welcome. Good call on reenrolling. Oh, but everyone’s out on tasks I assigned.”
“Can greet other officers later.”
Starting thus, Ye Hae-su pulled notebook and brush from her sleeve.
“Heard on the way Blue Bamboo Hall’s ironworks takeover caused an incident, Junior? No delays?”
“Normalization underway. One issue though.”
Wage issue settled Yin Xia Lian’s way.
Lake Shore Ironworks took its first step to normal.
Hence no Eun siblings around.
“What issue?”
“Earned the blacksmiths’ hatred.”
Normalization began.
We’d get the bid, as Yin Xia Lian declared.
Problem: no blacksmiths to hammer iron there.
‘They weren’t cooperative from the start, not just this incident. So how to solve...’
They wouldn’t work even if paid.
Hiring elsewhere?
This era, leaving home for new lands wasn’t common.
Plus, breaking into Dan River Hollow blacksmith clique—one of Central Plains’ top forge groups—was tough.
Pondering thus.
The innkeeper urgently sought me.
“Young Master! Another guest!”
“Who?”
“Professor Chang Ryang’s here?”
I went out; indeed, Professor Chang Ryang.
“Professor, what brings you? Aren’t you busy investigating?”
“Busy. Both busy, so straight to business.”
With that, Professor Chang Ryang handed a letter and token.
“What’s this?”
“Token’s from a Mount Mo blacksmith. Letter’s intro to him.”
Mount Mo: Central Plains’ smith holy land since Spring-Autumn era.
“Not sure if it’ll help...”
Before he finished, I snatched them.
“Of course it will.”
I’d worried he held grudge for breaking promise despite “righteousness.”
Instead, Professor Chang Ryang seemed apologetic for doubting me.
He sighed shortly.
“Force... be mindful using it from now on too.”
Not “don’t use,” but “mindful” still?
Flustered, unsure what to say.
Then Master chimed in.
- ...Now no one at the academy to stop your fists anymore.