Golden Light
Jeong Gwang inwardly marveled as he followed the messenger from Iron Blood Manor.
'They gathered all that Xuan-iron in just half a month and figured out the refining method? What an incredible blacksmith.'
Iron Blood Manor's wealth was impressive, sure, but their lord's skill was on another level.
Even Yeokcheon Majang, the only blacksmith Jeong Gwang had ever truly respected, had needed countless trials and errors to perfect his technique.
'Iron Blood Manor lives up to the name.'
He glanced at the two men collapsed on the floor, twitching in spasms.
"Junior brother, Jao. Take a breather. I'll be right back."
"……!"
"……!"
Flowers seemed to bloom on their dazed faces—no, it was a whole vibrant field of blossoms.
But then his next words withered it all to dust.
"Wait, where's the time for rest? Loosen up with the calisthenics method. I'll be quick."
"……."
"……."
Jeong Gwang stepped out, following the man who'd come to fetch him.
Cries echoed from behind, but he had no time to spare.
Why? Because he was about to claim the world's greatest sword!
Inside the familiar modest forge, the Iron Blood Manor Lord and Cheol Jin-gi awaited.
The difference this time? Their faces were beyond weary—positively haggard.
'No wonder, after all that effort.'
This was no ordinary blade. It was the world's greatest sword!
Ma-hon might technically qualify, but what did it matter? The one in Jeong Gwang's hands would be the true supreme blade.
A twinge of gratitude stirred as he saw the father-son duo who'd toiled through sleepless nights for its birth.
"You've both worked hard. Where's my sword?"
Jeong Gwang scanned the room, and Cheol Jin-gi's face twisted.
"Ah, right. You must've burned through a fortune sourcing Xuan-iron and testing it. I'll cover a quarter of the cost."
It was a magnanimous offer from Jeong Gwang's perspective.
But Cheol Jin-gi just looked to his father without a word.
The Iron Blood Manor Lord's head twitched ever so slightly—a faint nod.
Cheol Jin-gi turned back to Jeong Gwang, opening his mouth with visible effort.
"Aside from Red Soft Iron and Cobalt Stone... that third material. It was devilishly hard to pin down."
"Of course. That's why masters like you two tracked it down."
Cheol Jin-gi's lips twitched like they were spasming at the praise.
"......So, could you give us a hint?"
"Pardon?"
"......Even the tiniest clue. Tell us, and I promise we'll make it."
Jeong Gwang chuckled.
He'd pegged them as rigid artisans, but they had a fun side after all.
"Haha, good one."
"......"
"You're joking, right?"
"......"
Cheol Jin-gi's head drooped toward the floor.
Jeong Gwang glanced at the Iron Blood Manor Lord, who was tilting his head away in evasion!
He was dumbfounded.
"Didn't you say half a month would do it?"
"......Just a thread of a clue, and we'll definitely—"
Cheol Jin-gi trailed off, sounding pathetic even to himself as he parroted his father's excuse.
Jeong Gwang shook his head pityingly.
'Poor guy. The real culprit's someone else.'
His gaze sharpened on the Iron Blood Manor Lord. The man's white beard quivered faintly.
Yet he still wouldn't utter a word.
'He must've trained for days like this—speechless as always.'
Whatever. It was a bust.
No early supreme weapon in this life.
'Come back in twenty years, maybe?'
He'd half-expected as much, but their bold promise crumbling now? Hard to trust.
'Fine, give them a hint. If they still fail, I'll clean out Iron Blood Manor.'
Jeong Gwang recalled everything from his time with Yeokcheon Majang.
'Nope. Nothing there.'
He shifted to memories of Ma-hon.
Even he, who'd pierced the world's secrets in his past life, didn't know its exact composition.
Just its appearance floated up.
'Still better than a thread.'
He spoke generously to Cheol Jin-gi.
"I'll give you a clue."
Cheol Jin-gi's head snapped up.
The Iron Blood Manor Lord flinched too.
"Th-thank you! Out with it!"
"A pure Xuan-iron sword comes out black, right?"
"Yes!"
"But mix in Red Soft Iron, Cobalt Stone, and that last one... and it turns sword-red."
Wrinkles creased Cheol Jin-gi's brow.
The Iron Blood Manor Lord's did too, subtly.
"Huh? What's wrong?"
Cheol Jin-gi sighed reproachfully, glaring.
"You're too much."
"Huh?"
"Red Soft Iron makes the edge dark red. Even a tiny bit does that—it's the nature of the metal."
Jeong Gwang was baffled.
'Red Soft Iron's "red" is literal? That's why it turned red?'
Gauging his reaction, Cheol Jin-gi spoke cautiously.
"I cut you off in my haste. Sorry. Bear with me."
What was there to bear? He'd learned something new.
Jeong Gwang waved it off.
"No worries."
"Thanks. Go on."
But he had nothing left but one more vague bit.
Scouring his memories turned up zilch else.
'This one's about color too, like Red Soft Iron.'
Oh well.
He described the past-life memory.
"Infuse true qi into a sword refined with it, and it glows. A brilliant golden light."
"Golden light......"
Cheol Jin-gi sank into thought.
His father did the same.
After a long silence, Cheol Jin-gi looked to him.
"No metal I know glows gold when infused with inner power. You, Father?"
"......"
"Hm. First time for you too."
"......!"
"No, Father! What is it? Something clicked?"
"......"
"Huh? Come on, that's......"
"......"
"Whoa. Fair enough."
Jeong Gwang watched the father-son exchange in awe.
'No qi fluctuations, so not transmission. Impressive.'
He meant Cheol Jin-gi, not the lord.
How much hardship from a silent father to read minds through glances?
After their bizarre silent talk, Cheol Jin-gi spoke gravely.
"......Father. Let's go with that."
He turned to Jeong Gwang, eyes burning with steely resolve—a true man's gaze.
"Listen, Jade Dragon."
"Yes?"
"Four days—no, three. Wait that long. I'll test it as a dagger."
Jeong Gwang was mildly surprised.
"You figured it out?"
"Not certain, but worth trying. All right?"
No downside, no difficulty.
And with that fire in his eyes? Refusing would humiliate him.
Jeong Gwang was curious about his face either way, but nodded.
'Failure means an even funnier expression.'
Success was a hundred times better, of course.
"Deal."
He headed back to his lodgings.
No real expectations, though.
He'd given scant clues, after all.
'If they pull it off, they might surpass Yeokcheon Majang.'
Back at the inn, Baek Seung-mu and Jao were limbering up with calisthenics.
Jeong Gwang felt a swell of pride.
'Good kids. Maybe give 'em a hand.'
Three more days passed amid their groans.
The promised day had arrived.
Jeong Gwang stared at the item in his hand.
A hefty dagger, dull gray-black with a reddish sheen.
Rushed work left the edge blunt, wrapped in leather for a grip, but he liked it.
Its color matched his memory of Ma-hon perfectly.
'Looks promising.'
Appearance alone wouldn't cut it, though.
He flicked the tip hard with a finger.
Ting—
A clear ring, and the short blade vibrated fiercely side to side.
When the tremor faded, a smile lit Jeong Gwang's face.
Cheol Jin-gi, watching intently, asked.
"Well?"
"Not bad."
"Knew it. Now test it properly."
"Sure."
Truth be told, that resonance alone was proof enough.
Golden light mattered more than tone.
But for a longsword? Better check just in case.
Jeong Gwang circulated the Three Pure Ones United Divine Art, drawing up his inner power.
The dagger quivered as if devouring it, then erupted in brilliant light.
A mesmerizing golden light.
"Haha. That's it. Perfect."
Cheol Jin-gi stared blankly before asking incredulously.
"......How vast is your inner power, exactly?"
"Huh? Why?"
"I tested it first. Got a faint gold tint, nothing like that."
He shook his head with a faint smile.
"Anyway, thanks. You've given me new insight."
Jeong Gwang looked puzzled, but Cheol Jin-gi, eyes closed in contemplation, didn't notice.
"Gold in a sword refinement. In a Xuan-iron blade, no less... Heh."
"......!"
Jeong Gwang was genuinely shocked.
'The third was gold?'
Cheol Jin-gi met his eyes, gaze warmer than usual.
"I've gold-leafed blades for rich scholars, sure. But adding it during refinement? Never crossed my mind. Who'd imagine mixing it with Xuan-iron, Red Soft Iron, and Cobalt Stone yields this? Resonance and light."
Exactly.
Cheol Jin-gi clasped his hands politely.
"First, my apologies. I'm sorry."
"Huh?"
"Haha, no use pretending. Should've realized when you mentioned Red Soft Iron."
Lost in his own deduction, he pressed on.
"Xuan-iron blade gets a red sheen from Red Soft Iron, right? You said golden light on infusion. Had to be gold."
Jeong Gwang was stunned anew.
'He twisted it into that and added gold? Spot on, too.'
He was baffled, but their logic held water.
"Gold's soft, malleable—great for leafing. Not for weapons."
Weapons demanded hardness. Gold lacked it, and its value made it impractical.
"But it's friction-resistant, corrosion-proof. Unique merits. Father guessed it'd birth new traits with other metals."
"......So you tried it."
"Yes. Wasted heaps of Xuan-iron finding the ratio. Glad it worked."
Cheol Jin-gi's smile faded to gloom.
"Tried it in steel too, just in case. Worse than none. Refining's a vast, deep world. I'm still so far......"
"......Keep at it."
"Haha. Thanks."
A faint smile, then his face hardened, voice gaining strength.
"You've opened my eyes to metals anew. Time for bold trials! I'll forge an alloy surpassing Twin-Horned Dragon scales!"
A thrilling ambition, but Jeong Gwang let it slide past one ear.
"When for the longsword?"
"......"
"Take long?"
Cheol Jin-gi deflated.
"......Making it perfect. Come in half a month. Father's already started—should be enough."
"Already?"
"You said you'd be satisfied. And you were."
He added,
"The longsword will be too."
"Looking forward. Later."
Jeong Gwang halted after a few steps.
"Wait. Why take the dagger?"
"Huh? When'd it slip into my sleeve?"
Cheol Jin-gi sighed, hand out.
"Hand it over. Needs sharpening, finishing."
"For free?"
"......"
Jeong Gwang grinned innocently at his exasperated look.
"Thanks."
Baek Seung-mu was utterly exhausted—tormented, even—by Jeong Gwang's brutal training.
"Heh heh heh."
But today was different.
He grinned ear to ear.
How could he not? He'd finally get the sword he'd longed for.
'The blade was done ages ago......'
Cheol Jin-gi and his skilled smiths had prioritized Jeong Gwang's, delaying his.
Now both were complete—time to claim it.
"Senior brother, let's go!"
"Yeah."
Moments later, in a small forge, they met the haggard father-son duo.
Baek Seung-mu's eyes widened.
'They're wrecks......'
Worse than him after half a month under Jeong Gwang.
Greetings exchanged, Cheol Jin-gi offered a sword.
Its hilt and scabbard were stately black, etched with antique patterns.
"Young hero Baek. Yours."
"......!"
Baek Seung-mu took it with trembling hands.
Weight and shape mirrored his old blade.
"Draw it."
"......Yes!"
Shing—
A chilling ring cleared his chest as the blade emerged.
"Ah!"
He couldn't hide his awe.
The subtly black-tinted steel exuded grandeur, its edge radiating piercing sharpness that prickled his skin.
"......Magnificent."
"I think so too. Turned out well."
"......Beyond well."
It was a masterpiece: two taels of Xuan-iron, excess trimmed ruthlessly.
Tailored solely for him—unique in the world.
'Took elite smiths, including the lord, to refine.'
And his own sweat—from bellows to errands—mingled in.
"......It's perfect."
"Looks aren't enough. Test it."
"Yes!"
Baek Seung-mu swung into basic forms.
The sword obeyed his will like a lifelong companion.
"Hahaha!"
Cheol Jin-gi watched him sheathe it laughing, then asked.
"How's it feel?"
"......My chest's full. Words fail."
Cheol Jin-gi nodded understandingly, then grew solemn.
"Cherish it, but don't obsess. You helped forge it—take the lesson to heart."
Baek Seung-mu sheathed the sword, straightened his robes, and bowed deeply to father and son.
"My deepest thanks. Kunlun disciple Baek Seung-mu will never forget Iron Blood Manor's grace."
"Not for thanks, but good. The Golden Sword Hero lives up to the name."
"......Pardon? G-Golden Sword Hero?"
"Word's been spreading. Heroic deeds from Henan to here. I didn't misjudge you."
Baek Seung-mu's face paled.
He hadn't dreamed Jeong Gwang's joking nickname would spread.
"......Senior brother!"
Glare turning to shock.
'......He's smiling?'
Not his usual smirk—one corner up.
A balanced, genuine smile from both sides.
'He's truly happy!'
Rare, even after ages together.
'Why? Ah!'
Jeong Gwang stared at the Iron Blood Manor Lord.
Precisely, the long wooden box in his hands.
Baek Seung-mu swallowed hard.
'Is senior brother's sword in there?'