118
Chapter 118
“What kind of sword do you wish for the Hwasan Sword Saint’s blade to be, one that will be passed down through generations?”
Upon hearing Seong Ju-tae’s question, Mu Hwi was momentarily at a loss for words. Wasn’t a sword simply supposed to be unbreakable and sharp?
“What do you mean by ‘what kind of sword’?”
At Mu Hwi’s bewildered question, Seong Ju-tae smiled.
“The will or aspiration imbued within the sword. The sword intent (劍意). In martial terms, you could call it the ‘Intent.’ Blacksmiths embed this intent into their hammer strikes as they forge the steel.”
Seong Ju-tae glanced at the Plum Blossom Sword hanging at Mu Hwi’s waist.
“When I forged the Plum Blossom Sword, I hammered it with three intents: that the Plum Blossom Sword would protect the disciples of Hwasan Sect, that the disciples of Hwasan Sect would wield the Plum Blossom Sword to uphold righteousness, and that the names of Hwasan Sect and the Plum Blossom Sword would resound across the world. You may not realize it, but this Sword Intent is incredibly important in the making of a sword.”
Seong Ju-tae looked at Mu Hwi with a proud expression and continued.
“And the disciples of the Hwasan Sect who wielded the Plum Blossom Sword have never once betrayed their intent.”
Mu Hwi fell silent upon hearing Seong Ju-tae’s words. His brows lowered slightly.
The Sword Intent to be embedded in the Hwasan Sword Saint’s blade...
Since Mu Hwi had already given it some thought, he quickly found his answer.
“To be remembered for eternity.”
“Oh?”
Seong Ju-tae let out a short exclamation instead of responding immediately. He had expected Mu Hwi to say something about elevating Hwasan Sect to the pinnacle of the world or protecting the sect, as was only natural for the sword of the Hwasan Sword Saint.
“I’d like to hear more details.”
Seong Ju-tae stared at Mu Hwi intently.
Mu Hwi stroked the scabbard of the Plum Blossom Sword.
The idea of eternal remembrance held multiple meanings for him.
“The sword intent I speak of...”
Now, the Hwasan Sword Saint was no longer just the supreme master representing Hwasan Sect, as in the past.
Mu Hwi had established the Meihui Pavilion, and from now on, the Hwasan Sword Saint would simultaneously hold the titles of Plum Blossom Lord and Meihui Pavilion Master.
While bearing the responsibility for Hwasan Sect’s martial might, the Sword Saint would also lead the Meihui Pavilion, ensuring that the sect’s martial arts never stagnated or regressed, constantly pushing for progress.
Hyeon Jo was also worried about Hwasan Sect until his dying breath.
The will of Hyeon Jo, who sought to revive the declining Hwasan Sect and reform its stagnant martial arts.
Mu Hwi wished for that will and aspiration to be embedded within the sword, to be passed down to future generations of Hwasan Sword Saints.
So that the blooming and withering of Hwasan’s plum blossoms would never cease for generations to come.
‘That’s why I wanted to mix in the Black Iron.’
The Black Iron used in the Sword Devil’s Black Iron Greatsword had been something Hyeon Jo, who already possessed the Plum Blossom Sword, deemed unnecessary and thus readily gave to the Sword Devil.
The Hwasan Sword Saint, whose meaning and role had shifted from Hyeon Jo to Mu Hwi, would now wield a sword forged with Black Iron touched by the hands of both Hyeon Jo and the Sword Devil.
‘And... Purple Sunset.’
Purple Sunset, the realization gained while creating the Purple Sunset Divine Technique.
A new bond formed at the beginning of his second life—a bond that became an entire world, supporting and embracing Mu Hwi as the Purple Sunset.
He wanted to embed within the sword his personal vow to never forget and to always remember the purple sunset.
“I see. That makes it even more meaningful. A fine Sword Intent.”
Mu Hwi had chosen words that Seong Ju-tae would find no issue with, and the blacksmith nodded in approval.
“There is a phrase I’d like engraved at the base of the blade.”
“Speak.”
“Jaha Sim-myeong.”
Jaha Sim-myeong (紫霞心銘).
To engrave it in one’s heart.
Jaha (Purple Sunset) represented the will of Hyeon Jo and Mu Hwi, as well as Mu Hwi’s enlightenment, while Sim-myeong signified the vow to engrave it in one’s heart and pass it down through generations, ensuring it would never be forgotten.
“Jaha Sim-myeong... It could even serve as the sword’s name right away.”
At Seong Ju-tae’s murmur, Mu Hwi also nodded.
“I intend to name this sword the Sim-myeong Sword. Though its name may change in the future.”
“It surely will.”
Seong Ju-tae nodded as if he understood Mu Hwi’s meaning.
When the Sim-myeong Sword, after centuries of communing and resonating with countless Hwasan Sword Saints, finally transforms into a Divine Weapon...
It shall be called the Purple Sunset Divine Sword.
***
Lake of the Ten-Thousand-Year Golden Tortoise.
Near the originally serene lake, the heavy clanging of metal rang out repeatedly.
“Ooooh.”
The Ten-Thousand-Year Golden Tortoise, letting out low groans, watched the humans each engrossed in their own activities.
Though it was a bit noisy, since they hadn’t seen humans in hundreds of years, simply observing them was entertaining enough.
Kka-ga-kang!
Dokgo Yul twisted his waist sharply, unleashing a mighty strike with his heavy sword. The terrifying force of the blade tore through the wind.
Yet Mu Hwi merely bent and straightened his knees slightly, lightly raising the Plum Blossom Sword to meet it.
Kku-ang!
A crushing sound erupted as Dokgo Yul was sent flying backward. Even as he lowered his stance, shifting his hips back to disperse the impact, his feet left deep furrows in the ground.
In that instant, Mu Hwi, with his hands behind his back, closed the distance in a single breath and swung the Plum Blossom Sword vertically.
“Ghk!”
Dokgo Yul barely managed to block with his heavy sword, but Mu Hwi’s strike was overwhelmingly heavy, as if the sky itself were falling along with the blade.
Dokgo Yul, his thighs bulging, gritted his teeth and tried to endure, but the Plum Blossom Sword pressed down smoothly, forcing him to one knee.
Crack!
As fissures split the ground beneath Dokgo Yul’s feet, the power imbued in the Plum Blossom Sword dissipated in an instant.
“That’s enough.”
“Huff...!”
As Mu Hwi sheathed his sword, the oppressive pressure weighing down on Dokgo Yul vanished. The man exhaled roughly and collapsed backward, sitting heavily on the ground.
“I told you, didn’t I? It’s not just about making the sword heavier.”
“Ugh...”
Dokgo Yul flinched at Mu Hwi’s low voice, shrinking his shoulders and remaining silent.
Mu Hwi had been training Dokgo Yul while sparring with him using the Iron Plum Sword Technique.
Though he couldn’t openly teach him the Dokgo Sword Technique, he wove in useful advice while intertwining it with the Iron Plum Sword Technique.
“But expecting me to read and exploit the flow of movements just by observing limbs... Isn’t it too difficult to penetrate the movements of a martial artist stronger than me?”
In truth, Dokgo Yul had tried to predict Mu Hwi’s movements by observing them, but it only left him feeling disoriented.
“The higher the realm, the more refined the techniques become. But the fundamental flow remains unchanged. Now, you must develop the eyes to see that flow. Do you remember what I told you at the beginning?”
“Grasping everything through one principle.”
Grasping everything through one principle
To pierce all things with a single principle. This was the core of what Mu Hwi sought to teach Dokgo Yul.
If he trained his perception to the point of instantly piercing through the techniques and movements of masters, then the Dokgo Sword Technique, which revolved around endless forward assault to disrupt the opponent’s flow, would truly shine.
As Dokgo Yul pondered the riddle Mu Hwi had posed, he suddenly recalled something and asked,
“Back when you shattered the Hundred-Faced Old Demon’s Black Iron Greatsword... Even then, it seemed like you predicted his movements and struck accordingly.”
Mu Hwi’s movements at that time had been incomprehensible, as if he had skipped several steps ahead in the exchange.
Seeing Dokgo Yul lost in thought, Mu Hwi casually remarked,
“According to my master’s words, the Sword Devil once left sword marks on Hwasan while training with him. He said the Sword Devil was contemplating a new sword technique.”
Dokgo Yul’s head snapped up in surprise.
“Really?”
“Yes. Even this Iron Plum Sword Technique was inspired by the Sword Devil and created through their joint training.”
“Those sword marks... Can I see them?”
“Unfortunately, I haven’t seen them myself yet. If I find them later, I’ll let you see them.”
Dokgo Yul’s eyebrows, which had shot up in excitement, drooped.
“Tch. What a shame.”
While it was true that the Sword Saint and the Sword Devil had trained together, the part about the Sword Devil leaving marks on Hwasan was a lie.
‘It’ll be easier to pass it on later.’
Having laid the groundwork like this, Mu Hwi figured it would be simpler to impart the new Dokgo Sword Technique to Dokgo Yul when the time came.
‘Of course, the easiest way would be to reveal that I’m the Sword Devil.’
But Mu Hwi hadn’t yet decided whether to tell Dokgo Yul that he had been Dokgo Heon in his past life.
Though he thought it would be simplest to just say it outright, the words wouldn’t come easily. It seemed he needed to deliberate further.
‘There might be a more appropriate time to tell him later.’
Seeing Dokgo Yul lost in meditation, Mu Hwi quietly stepped back.
***
“Haaahp!”
Elsewhere, Mu-hwa let out a spirited shout as he scaled the cliff. Unlike usual, he wasn’t using his hands and feet to climb—only his legs.
Running vertically up the cliff using the Dark Scent Flutter, Mu-hwa’s body gradually tilted before he eventually plummeted.
Mu-cheol, waiting below, caught him.
“You alright?”
“Yes, Senior Disciple Mu-cheol.”
Hopping down from Mu-cheol’s arms, Mu-hwa licked her lips and stared back up the cliff.
“Still, I think I got higher than before.”
“You took twenty steps this time. That’s a big improvement.”
At Mujin’s words, Mu-hwa nodded in satisfaction. After all, she hadn’t even managed to take five steps at first.
“But how does Senior Disciple Mu Hwi just zip up to the top of the cliff with just the Dark Scent Flutter, without even using his hands?”
“Because he’s the Senior Disciple.”
Mu-hwa nodded in understanding at Mu-cheol’s blunt reply.
“This time, I’ll try.”
Mujin, who had been waiting his turn, kicked off the ground and launched himself at the cliff.
Like Mu-hwa, he attempted to run up using the Dark Scent Flutter, but it wasn’t long before he, too, fell. Then it was Mu-cheol’s turn to fling himself at the cliff.
Mu Hwi silently watched his disciples repeat their training from behind.
During their stay at the Three Great Iron Workshop, Mu Hwi’s group descended the cliff daily to train at its base.
The area around the Lake of the Ten-Thousand-Year Golden Tortoise was exceptionally rich in spiritual and natural energy compared to other places, making training far more efficient.
Thus, Mu Hwi had brought Dokgo Yul and his disciples to the base of the cliff, forcing them to train and climb it every day.
Of course, they all groaned in protest, but Mu Hwi paid them no mind. Their climbing speed was gradually increasing, after all.
‘He said it’d take about half a month.’
Since the Three Great Iron Workshop had already begun forging the Hancheol Plum Blossom Sword long ago, crafting the Sim-myeong Sword wouldn’t take too much additional time.
All that remained was to adjust the formula for the new materials Mu Hwi had procured.
‘I wish half a month would pass quickly.’
Hoping for the day the Sim-myeong Sword would be completed, Mu Hwi began circulating his energy.
***
Whoosh!
Clang! Clang!
Inside the Three Great Iron Workshop’s largest furnace, massive flames roared and surged.
Within the enormous furnace—the size of a two-story pavilion—blue and white flames danced alternately, causing the surrounding craftsmen to sweat profusely.
“The fire is weakening. Reduce the Yeokcheong charcoal and add more Hongbaek charcoal.”
“Understood, Forge Master!”
While monitoring the flames, Seong Ju-tae twitched his ears, listening intently to the sound of hammer strikes.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
By now, he could tell whether the sword was being properly forged just by the sound of the hammer, without even looking.
Even as sweat dripped into his eyes, stinging them, Seong Ju-tae didn’t so much as blink, keeping his gaze fixed on the furnace.
Then, the sound he had been waiting for came from behind.
“Father, I’ve brought it.”
Turning around, Seong Ju-tae saw his son, Seong Seok-jong, along with the other craftsmen of the Three Great Iron Workshop, each carrying a wooden box as they entered the workshop.
“Condition?”
“Perfectly refined. The fragrance is stronger than ever.”
At his son’s words, Seong Ju-tae strode over and opened the long container’s lid.
Inside was a pink-hued liquid—the Plum Blossom Hand (梅花手).
The Plum Blossom handmade from the spring water Mu Hwi had brought from the lake boasted a richer plum blossom fragrance than any other batch the Three Great Iron Workshop had ever produced.
The rapidly spreading, subtle plum blossom scent was so refreshing that even the craftsmen, struggling to breathe in the furnace’s oppressive heat, felt their lungs clear.
“Excellent!”
Seong Ju-tae immediately inspected the other materials.
From Jajinsa (紫金沙) to the rare ingredients the Three Great Iron Workshop had collected over generations, he meticulously checked each of the dozen or so items before finally examining the most recent addition.
A blue powder.
The powder sparkled as if ground from gemstones, each particle emitting a mysterious blue glow.
It was the powdered horn of the Horned Fire Python.
Having confirmed the horn powder, Seong Ju-tae turned his gaze back to the furnace.
The flames, which had been shifting between blue and white, now billowed in a pure white, mist-like glow.
Inside, metals such as Hancheol, Baekryeon Jeonggang (百鍊精鋼), and Jeonggeum (精金)—combined according to the Three Great Iron Workshop’s secret formula—were melting.
“All preparations for the materials are complete.”
Seong Ju-tae’s voice trembled slightly as he gripped his hammer and stroked the anvil beneath it.
The hammer and anvil were passed down through generations of the Three Great Iron Workshop.
How many Plum Blossom Swords had been born from these tools?
Now, beyond countless Plum Blossom Swords, the time had come to forge a single divine sword for the Hwasan Sword Saint.
“Jaha Sim-myeong...”
Seong Ju-tae muttered the words Mu Hwi had spoken, engraving the sword intent within his heart.
Only then, when he hammered in a state of no-mind, would the intent embedded in his heart naturally flow into the sword through the hammer.
“Let us begin!”
At Seong Ju-tae’s command, the craftsmen moved in perfect unison.
Clang!
The crisp sound of hammering began to echo through the workshop.
‘I will pour my entire life as a blacksmith into this sword.’
As Seong Ju-tae hammered, heat surged from his body like flames, and his hair slowly began to rise.
Seong Seok-jong and the other craftsmen could only watch in awe as the old blacksmith burned himself alive in his craft.
***
“Go ahead, open it.”
At Seong Ju-tae’s words, Mu Hwi examined the long wooden case before him.
The case, clearly meant to hold a sword, was engraved with two words: Sim-myeong (心銘).
< I will pour my entire life as a blacksmith into this sword. >
< How could such a sword have been forged? >