Chapter 226
Chapter 226
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 226
Chapter Title: Regret (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Tak Jong-geon's funeral was held according to his own wishes.
Without any formal ceremony.
Only the members of the Tak Family Iron Forge and a few close acquaintances attended. Tak Jong-geon, reduced to a handful of ashes, was scattered into the Sword Pool as he had desired.
Watching the scene together, the Eon siblings each offered a word.
"Bringing one child into the world was so arduous for him, and today we send off one soul. I've gained plenty of experience studying medicine, but this sense of helplessness never gets any easier."
"Sister Ok-gi, but in the end, he passed peacefully, as if falling asleep, didn't he? He even smiled. Isn't that right, Instructor Jeong-hyeon?"
"...Yes. Not just at his deathbed, but his display at the forge still sends shivers down my spine even now. He left without any regrets."
Even Master added his piece.
- He said he wanted to bury his bones in this land, and his wish came true.
'Indeed.'
The stream flowing from the Sword Pool would wind its way down Mount Magan.
He had become part of this land, just as he wished.
I drew Regret.
Sring—
And bowed respectfully toward the departing remains.
After a moment like that.
Sensing a presence, I lifted my eyelids.
Tak Jang-myeong, having handed the urn to another blacksmith, approached me and clasped his hands in salute.
"Thank you. Thanks to you, young master, we were able to send my father off properly."
This bow was hard to accept.
He had been of advanced age with chronic illness, it was true.
But in the end, Tak Jong-geon had expended his remaining strength sharpening Regret anew.
I sheathed Regret.
And voiced the thought crossing my mind without filter.
"No need. It feels like my fault he passed without even holding his grandchild, after sharpening Regret for me."
But Tak Jang-myeong shook his head.
"Not at all. Had you not come, my wife and child wouldn't have survived from the start. We wouldn't have met Physician Dang Ok-gi, nor secured midwives and helpers."
With that opener, Tak Jang-myeong squeezed his eyes shut as if the mere thought was unbearable and continued.
"If my wife had gone into labor while I was alone at the forge as usual... Just imagining it makes me dizzy. You are the benefactor of our family. If you don't accept my gratitude, I'll bash my head against this rock right here."
Tak Jang-myeong looked ready to genuinely smash his forehead into the ground.
'I saw his stubborn streak when he insisted on returning to the elder at the forge.'
Thinking of Tak Jang-myeong, his wife, and the newborn child, his words rang true.
If I didn't accept even as empty words, he seemed the type to follow through. So I nodded.
"Since you put it that way, I'll accept your bow."
Only then did Tak Jang-myeong smile faintly, gazing at the flowing stream with a wistful yet relieved expression.
"I knew my father well. He lived his entire life as a craftsman and died as one. If he hadn't properly sharpened Regret, that knot in his heart would have remained untied. Then we never would have heard his true feelings."
His face hardened with resolve as he spoke.
"I may fall far short of my father."
And he bowed once more.
"Moreover, having left his side midway through sharpening Regret, it's embarrassing to say this... but if you permit it, I—no, the Tak Family Iron Forge—wish to follow you, young master."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ On the way back to the forge district after the funeral.
I asked Tak Jang-myeong,
"You said the Tak Family Iron Forge wishes to follow me. Have you spoken with the other blacksmiths?"
"Yes, more or less. Not everyone will come, though. I got nervous speaking my ambitions before you and phrased it that way."
"I'm not blaming you. I was just curious if the other blacksmiths know the situation with the Dan Kang-gu smiths. We need exact numbers to plan the move."
"One who apprenticed under Father in his youth refuses to leave his cherished land, but he respects the intent... And a few apprentice smiths with their own forges will stay behind. Including me, that's twenty master smiths."
"Twenty. Got it. What about the Dan Kang-gu situation?"
"No time to discuss that far."
"Then gather the smiths for me."
Back at the forge district, Tak Jang-myeong called the smiths together at my request.
I told them everything they needed to know about the Ho Won Pure Iron Forge.
"...And so, while seeking smiths to join, fate brought me to Master Smith Tak Jang-myeong here."
Then a grizzled veteran named Woo-sik raised a question.
"So, you haven't taken over the pure iron forge yet? And you expect pushback from the Dan Kang-gu smiths?"
I answered.
"Yes. However, since Silver Radiance Merchant Group's Radiant Prosperity Hall Leader Yin Xia Lian is pushing it through, takeover is all but certain. If anyone wants to back out now, speak up. I'll settle your wages in silver."
The smith smirked.
"Folks like us who only know hammering metal get looked down on, so thanks for the honesty. But we don't trust names like Silver Radiance Merchant Group."
Silver Radiance's influence reached as far as Jeok-ye in the south, bordering Yecheon.
It was meant to build credibility, but this reaction.
As I pondered my response,
Woo-sik spoke first.
"Not big names. We'll trust the eye of Elder Tak Jong-geon, who took your sword. Bullying happens everywhere... Or does it?"
The other smiths chimed in one by one.
"Right, right. The insecure ones pull that crap. Thought you called us for something big."
"I'll trust Silver Radiance too. Just keep the materials and tools coming! With a solid backer, let's stop scraping by. New Master Smith!"
To those smiths, I gave one final chance.
"No regrets?"
The smiths replied in unison.
"None!"
Watching them, Master said,
- Tsk. He'll make them work like dogs, that Yong-un... Definitely...
'?'
- ?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The Tak Family Iron Forge wrapped up quickly.
It barely qualified as wrapping up.
They had ties to the battlefield forges and piles of debt from nearby forges.
Selling land and houses covered some, and I cleared the rest. Financials settled.
'See, Master?'
- What?
'You always call me harsh on disciples, but I spend when I should.'
The smiths' families were key.
Smiths go first to set up; families join later.
Escorting wives and children to nearby parental homes finished that.
Last was taking the Tak Family Iron Forge signboard.
"Let's go."
I offered a light rite, scattering rice cakes, food, and wine generously.
Then, with Tak Jang-myeong carrying the signboard and the smiths their well-worn tools, we boarded our boat again.
The boat ascending the Yangtze stopped for a day at Wu Lake, the usual rest spot for boats from Jeok-ye to Yecheon.
"Guuueeek!"
"You alright?"
"N-no, not at all. Even off the boat, the ground feels like it's swaying."
Unlike us with our inner energy, the smiths suffered severe seasickness.
So, a day in Wu Lake to recover,
And procure herbs for motion sickness while at it.
The innkeeper, with his potbelly and walrus mustache, welcomed us gleefully.
"Welcome! My, so many! All together? Two-eight... uh."
I told him the count: Eon siblings, smiths, boatmen, and sailors.
"Twenty-eight. Meals, baths, rooms."
"Heavens! Dreamed of pigs all day with no customers—now I know why! Where from? Hammers, tongs... smiths? Anyway, need to prep rooms. Wait a bit, I'll guide you!"
But the inn's atmosphere felt off.
"Something's weird."
"Brother Yong-un? The captain from the Murim Alliance recommended this inn."
"Eon Yong-un, you're too suspicious. Just a normal innkeeper."
"...Dang Ok-gi, don't say that."
"...?"
"Not the inn—the merchants we passed on the way in."
Jeong-hyeon tilted his head, Master puzzled too.
"From my memory, no suspicious behavior."
- No blood scent or averted gazes either?
I shook my head.
"That's why it's weird. Think about the innkeeper's reaction. A horde of smiths, new master smith carrying the signboard. Normal to be curious. Two even dressed as merchants. But no nosiness?"
Conversation ended.
The siblings reached for swords, stepping before the smiths.
I issued orders.
"No answers. Smiths, follow my commands from now."
Smiths gulped and nodded. To Jeong-hyeon:
"Ha-seong and I clear furniture. You and Ok-gi build a barricade around the smiths."
I kicked tables, chairs, inn fixtures toward Jeong-hyeon.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Jeong-hyeon caught them fluidly with Taiji principles.
Dang Ok-gi laid and stacked into a wall around the smiths.
The noise brought the innkeeper rushing out, face fallen.
"...Pig dream! It was a pig dream!"
Realizing we'd caught on?
Bang! Bang!
Bang! Bang! Bang!!!
Doors shattered. Merchants, fishermen, farmers, elders, musicians.
Assassins of every stripe poured in.
Swinging blades.
Swaaaa!
Swaaaaa!
I gripped Regret's hilt, drawing.
Frost-white blade gleamed.
Slightly lighter, it added speed to my strike.
Swaaaa!!
The blade's subtle flexibility deflected the porcupine rush of swords effortlessly.
Clang!
Clangclangclang!!!
Absorbing my redirected energy greedily, it cleaved a gap-showing foe like tofu.
Splash!! Splash!!!
Splurt! Splaash!!!!
'Famed swords live up to their price, as you said. Spot on.'
- Feels more comfortable than before. The unique chilling yin from thousand-year cold iron?
'Natural, moving to a fine home thanks to your respectful disciple.'
- ?
Admiration for Regret, now a true famed sword, ended there.
I reformed the formation hastily.
"Ha-seong, behind me! Jeong-hyeon, Ok-gi—guard the smiths!"
Assassins pressed on.
Swaaaa!
Eun Ha-seong, on orders, flowed with Graceful Thunder Swordsmanship, blocking the blade at my back.
Clang! Clangclang!
Puk!!
Neatly finished.
With crackling sword aura, he took position behind me.
"Brother!"
The growth of this usual white-liar-turned-punching-bag brought a smile amid chaos.
'Not Jeong-hyeon level, but enough to guard my back briefly.'
More assassins charged.
"Here they come again."
"Yeah."
Puk!!
Puk!!!
I stabbed and slashed, probing their origins.
'Master smelled no dried blood—first time killing?'
Yet no hesitation in their strikes.
One assassin group came to mind that trained such killers.
'...Thousand Death Veil?'
One of Central Plains' two great assassin sects. Their specialty: human wave tactics.
'Stronger ones later, depending on the pay.'
This way, no end.
"Change tactics."
"Yes?"
"Ha-seong, can you buy time alone briefly?"
"I'll do—make it happen."
"Good. Don't die."
Worrying to leave him waterside, but entrusted, so trust.
I shook distractions, regripped Regret.
'Sucking in energy like before, chill in hand.'
Black magic and necromancy efficiency multiplied—known since receiving it.
'Quality wand equivalent.'
No wonder Master felt comfy.
With Regret and my energy now,
Beyond raising corpses—infusing power possible.
I channeled lower dantian energy to left hand, drew ritual on floor,
Thrust Regret in.
"Undead, heed the Lord's command." ⟨ Corpse Manipulation Technique ⟩
Ruuuuuumble—
Black mist erupted from Regret, drawn into suitable strewn corpses.
Absorbing it, the corpses' time accelerated.
Skin hardened like leather armor, pooled blood rotted into deadly corpse poison.
Nails and teeth, feeding on inner energy, sharpened beast-like.
Kraaaaa!
Black magic's moulting rebirth.
Ghouls risen from assassins obeyed my command, bodies rising.