Iron Blood Manor
The manor was enormous, and as many people came and went as its size suggested.
One moment, officials led horses and wagons through the gates; the next, wealthy scholars in fine robes strolled about with gleaming swords, grinning ear to ear.
Baek Seung-mu let out a quiet sigh of admiration.
“I heard they were stubborn artisans. Didn't expect them to be so savvy at business.”
“They have no choice. Making proper weapons requires a ton of materials.”
Baek Seung-mu nodded at Jeong Gwang's words.
Maintain good relations by supplying the government.
Sell to the rich for a tidy profit.
Those were must-dos for any business.
“But, saje,” Baek Seung-mu ventured, “did you come to Iron Blood Manor for a sword?”
“Yeah.”
“I hear it's incredibly hard to get one of their properly forged weapons...”
Baek Seung-mu's face darkened considerably.
He feared his senior brother might barge in demanding a sword outright and cause a scene.
“There's ways around it.”
Jeong Gwang strode toward the main gate. Baek Seung-mu followed with an anxious expression.
One of the sturdy guards at the gate bowed in greeting.
“Welcome to Iron Blood Manor. What brings you here?”
“To get a sword.”
“Have you done business with our manor before?”
“No.”
The guard nodded knowingly.
He pegged Jeong Gwang as some naive rich kid drawn by the manor's fame.
“Ready-made or custom order?”
“Custom.”
The guard smiled faintly.
Custom orders were always pricier than off-the-shelf stock made to standard specs.
“Any particular smith you have in mind?”
“Yes.”
“Name him, and I'll notify him and escort you.”
The guard's smile froze at Jeong Gwang's next words.
“The manor lord.”
“...Pardon?”
“He's the best, isn't he?”
“...Well, yes, but...”
“Exactly. So he has to make it. It's for me.”
“...!”
Before the guard could respond, Baek Seung-mu jumped in.
“Saje! You're such a joker! Haha! That was hilarious!”
“Not joking.”
“...You are! Say you are!”
Jeong Gwang was baffled.
Why on earth would he waste time on something so pointless?
He turned back to the guard and stated firmly.
“Tell the manor lord right away, please.”
“...The manor lord doesn't forge weapons for just anyone!”
“Of course not. He's the manor lord.”
The guard's anger faltered into confusion at Jeong Gwang's agreement.
“What the...”
“Here, take this.”
Jeong Gwang pulled a jade plaque gleaming with turquoise from his robes and handed it over.
The guard eyed it suspiciously at first, then gaped.
“A jade kylin? Young Master Hu Wei-jin?”
“Yeah. You know it well.”
Up close, the plaque was unmistakably genuine.
Now the guard understood.
Jeong Gwang wasn't here to pick a fight—he had the credentials.
But another question arose.
“Wh-what's your relation to him?”
Jeong Gwang recalled Hu Wei-jin's punchable face.
'Tell them you're close friends.'
Close friends with that guy?
Still, he'd said it was the way to score a top weapon, so no choice.
Jeong Gwang was a man who knew when to compromise with reality.
“Close friends.”
“...!”
“Why the face?”
The guard, staring in shock, blurted out.
“I just can't believe he has a close friend... Ack!”
He clapped a hand over his mouth, but the words were out.
Jeong Gwang got the picture.
They don't think much of that guy either...
Who would?
He voiced what he'd been thinking, toned way down.
“Hu Wei-jin's a real pain in the ass, huh?”
“Gasp!”
“Nah, it's not his personality. That's a disease. Incurable. Poor guy.”
The guard nodded instinctively, then flinched.
Hu Wei-jin was the manor lord's grandson.
How could a mere guard on the payroll badmouth him?
Or was Jeong Gwang testing him? Worry overrode everything.
“N-no, it's not a disease. Young Master Hu is a fine man.”
“Ah, got it.”
“I mean it!”
Jeong Gwang patted the guard's shoulder reassuringly, channeling pure Kunlun inner energy that warmed and relaxed his body.
And his words were kind, too...
“A good smack should set him straight. It'll get better. Hang in there.”
The guard's opinion of Jeong Gwang flipped completely.
'You never know till you meet someone!'
Jeong Gwang's first impression hadn't been great, either.
Bluntly demanding the manor lord forge his sword because “it's for me”—who'd take that well?
'But compared to Hu Wei-jin, he's a saint.'
Just two meetings, and Hu Wei-jin had been utterly insufferable.
The fact that Jeong Gwang had beaten him...
'Even if it's just words, thanks.'
Hu Wei-jin, tied to Sima Lian, hadn't made the righteous Nine Dragons Eight Phoenixes, but his fame was immense.
Whispers said he'd long surpassed the younger generation's peak.
Jeong Gwang claimed to have thrashed him, but Hu Wei-jin wouldn't take that lying down.
It proved their bond indirectly.
“You two must be close. Giving you his token and all.”
“Not really. Our personalities and values clash too much.”
Jeong Gwang was just being honest.
But the guard bought it fully.
'Yeah, opposites attract—that's brotherhood.'
Those bonds lasted, even through life and death. True friends.
“I'll relay the message right away. Please wait.”
The guard bowed deeply and vanished into the manor.
Baek Seung-mu stood dazed before sending a transmission.
-Hu Wei-jin is your close friend, saje? Sima Lian Lord's youngest disciple?
-Not a friend.
-But you just said...
-Lie.
-...Classic saje.
-That sounds off.
-...So what's the real deal? You have his token. You've never left Kunlun—how?
Baek Seung-mu bombarded him with transmissions. Jeong Gwang turned away.
-Saje. Avoiding my eyes?
Jeong Gwang stared at one spot without answering.
Baek Seung-mu's gaze followed.
A young man approached with several warriors. His attire was bizarrely flashy.
'Insanely gaudy clothes.'
Baek Seung-mu came from money, but he'd never seen anyone so ostentatiously dressed—save maybe the Qinghai governor.
And even the governor pulled it off with his dignified looks and build...
'...Man or pig?'
The body, the face—everything.
He'd fit right in a pigsty, hooves on the ground.
As Baek Seung-mu gawked, Jeong Gwang took interest.
'Well, now.'
Not the looks.
The young man's aura was peculiar.
'Nasty evil qi. Worse than Hu Wei-jin's.'
Clearly not even twenty.
That strong at his age...
'Probably Hu Wei-jin's senior brother.'
Sapa had numbers, but young masters weren't common.
Spot on.
But why here?
Then the waddling youth spotted Jeong Gwang and widened his eyes in shock.
And that wasn't all.
'Oh ho. Raising his qi?'
A sinister energy rose like heat haze from the youth.
Subtle enough only Jeong Gwang noticed.
'Mad at my face?'
Reasonable guess, but no.
'Right, I'm disguised. Not that.'
His current face was fine, but no match for his real one.
'Then what? Don't tell me...'
Unbelievable, but.
A transmission slithered into his ear—thin, oily, unmistakably porcine.
-A noble from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult graces us.
-...
Jeong Gwang was impressed.
His Thousand Transformations Disguise Bone Shrink Demonic Art leaked some demonic qi, true.
But detecting it up close still required Ten Supremes-level skill.
The youth wasn't there yet, by Jeong Gwang's gauge.
Only one explanation.
'Freakishly sharp senses.'
Some were born gamblers with that trait.
This guy was one.
-No reply?
-Stunned.
-Same here. You've been staring... Did you descend from the Ten Thousand Great Mountains to take me on?
Jeong Gwang was certain.
The youth was Hu Wei-jin's senior brother.
That level of crazy was rare.
-No.
-...Then why?
-Just came down for fun.
-...Believe that?
-Yep. And not from the Ten Thousand Great Mountains—some other range.
The youth's eyes flashed wickedly, then calmed.
-Hurt I didn't reveal myself?
-Nah. You're Sima Lian Lord's disciple, right?
-...!
-What brings you here? Ah, stocking up on weapons.
He'd spotted the long wooden case a warrior carried.
-How is it? Usable?
-...Not bad.
-Good. Take care.
-...How did you know who I am?
-Drop the transmission. You're passing me already.
The youth walked by with a baffled look.
Just stop walking— what was that supposed to mean?
-Can't leave it like this. How you knew me, and...
The guard returned from inside, interrupting.
“Young hero, come in. The young lord will see you.”
“Young lord? Manor lord's son?”
“Yes. The manor lord is away, so I informed the young lord.”
No choice if he was out.
Jeong Gwang decided to go in.
“Thanks. Let's go.”
He followed the guard with Baek Seung-mu.
The youth, watching blankly, ground his teeth.
When had a man of his noble status endured such humiliation?
'I spoke first to preempt a threat to the grand plan. Even a Heavenly Demon Cultist dares treat me this way!'
He transmitted to one of his warriors.
-Demonic spawn. Find out why he's in the Central Plains.
The warrior flinched at “demonic,” then steeled himself.
-Yes, Young Lord!
-Search every inch!
-Understood!
Killing intent faded from the youth's eyes.
But it swelled in his heart.
'Next time, hell awaits.'
He was Sima Lian Lord's second disciple, Sang So-un, the infamous Evil Elephant.
Iron Blood Manor's young lord was short and stocky with rippling muscles.
He looked over fifty, his hands and face scarred with burns.
His voice matched his build—deep and gravelly.
“Hu Wei-jin's friend. Welcome.”
“Hello.”
“And you are?”
Before Jeong Gwang could answer, the young lord held up a hand.
“Never mind. What for?”
“...?”
“Need a sword? From my father himself?”
Jeong Gwang sensed the young lord's dislike for Hu Wei-jin.
'Can't blame him.'
A nephew should be lovable, not a rude, diseased brat. No uncle would like that.
“Yes.”
“Too bad—he's away. I'll do it instead.”
“Uh? No, that won't work.”
“...What?”
“Your father makes the best ones.”
“...My skill's no slouch.”
“Hm. Still a problem.”
The young lord bristled at Jeong Gwang's mutter.
“That Sang fella from Sima Lian was just here. Satisfied with my work—a ready-made, no less. I'll custom-forge yours. What's the issue?”
“Can I see a sample?”
“...You want to test my skill now?”
Jeong Gwang opened his mouth, but Baek Seung-mu yelled desperately.
“My saje means it'd be an honor to appraise your work! He's no good with words—forgive him!”
“Junior brother, I...”
“Yes! Exactly! Even saje agrees!”
The young lord sighed at Jeong Gwang's bewildered look.
The junior's frantic defense painted a picture of Jeong Gwang's character.
“Not friends for nothing.”
“Pardon?”
“Nothing. Follow me.”
He led the pair to a small hall.
Weapons lined the walls, each radiating extraordinary energy.
The young lord handed Jeong Gwang a longsword.
“One of this year's better ones. Take a look.”
Jeong Gwang gripped it and held it up.
A chilling frost emanated—not ordinary.
'Impressive.'
Ting—ting—ting—
Flicking the blade, it bent with a clear ring.
Whoosh—swish—
Swinging and thrusting, the balance was perfect.
“Not bad.”
“...If I say it's good, and you agree, what does that make it? Rivals any sword in the jianghu.”
“Looks that way...”
“...And?”
“Can I test the tensile strength?”
A vein throbbed on the young lord's temple.
'Test my work's durability?'
He wanted to eject them, but no.
Endure a bit, reclaim Hu Wei-jin's token.
“...Hoo. Go ahead.”
“Okay.”
Jeong Gwang raised the sword high in his right hand.
Then extended his left arm gracefully.
The young lord watched suspiciously.
'He knows swords from the test. What's this now?'
He soon found out.
Jeong Gwang brought the sword down on his own left arm!
Shrieeek—
“Ack!”
“Saje!”
The young lord and Baek Seung-mu gasped, but the blade met flesh.
Crack!
It snapped clean.
“Eh. Too weak.”
“...”
“...”
“Young lord, I'll wait for the manor lord. Okay?”
Baek Seung-mu was dumbfounded.
But the young lord stared piercingly at Jeong Gwang's left arm.
“Th-that's!”
Through the torn sleeve gleamed yellowish scales.
From the twin-horned dragon turned fangless—Jeong Gwang's term: lizard scales—woven into undergarments.
Iron Blood Invincible Dragon Armor.