Chapter 60
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Nine Snake Divine Whip
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Among the experts Seol Hwa-un had encountered since entering the Central Plains, the heads of the Eight Great Families stood out the most. There were differences in skill among them individually, but the gaps weren't all that large.
Of course, the Hwangbo Family's Grand Elder or Hwangbo Tae-seong were strong as well, but they fell short when compared to the family heads—especially against the Blood Yin Four Armies.
Yet this unassuming old man he met in this shabby forge was on a level where even gauging his realm was difficult.
One thing was certain: he was stronger than the Blood Yin Four Armies.
‘He might even be a Heavenly Martial Realm expert.’
The old man's gaze turned toward Seol Hwa-un. Their eyes soon met.
Seol Hwa-un felt a sharp sting in that instant. He realized the old man had read him in a flash.
“…….”
The old man silently stared at Seol Hwa-un before finally speaking.
“You've brought a guest, I see.”
“Yes, Grandfather. This is Brother Seol. Don't be surprised. He's the young lord of the North Sea Ice Palace, no less.”
A glint appeared in the old man's eyes.
“Is that so?”
Seol Hwa-un approached slowly and cupped his hands in salute.
“I am Seol Hwa-un.”
“Pleased to meet you. Just call me Iron Elder. As you can see, I'm an old man working in the forge.”
Iron Elder had white hair and a white beard, making him appear quite advanced in age, but surprisingly, he had few wrinkles, and his build was sturdy.
His piercing eyes, in particular, were so intense it was hard to believe they belonged to an elder. Strangely, those eyes conveyed the depth of years.
‘Why is someone like this here?’
Seol Hwa-un was curious about his identity but doubted the old man would reveal it easily even if asked.
“May I take a look around, then?”
Iron Elder nodded readily.
“Since you've come in here, you must have permission from the main family. Feel free to browse as much as you'd like.”
“Thank you.”
While Seol Hwa-un looked around the forge, Dang So-gyo and Iron Elder conversed.
“What do you think, Grandfather?”
“Hm? What do you mean?”
“About Brother Seol. How is he as a prospective grandson-in-law?”
The old man's pupils trembled slightly.
“G-grandson-in-law?”
“He's great, isn't he?”
“Heh heh heh, you rascal! There's nothing a young thing like you won't say.”
“Young? I'm already eleven years old! Call me a lady!”
“I see. This old man misspoke.”
“Hmph.”
She turned her head away as if sulking. After a moment's thought, Iron Elder asked,
“……You like that young man that much?”
Dang So-gyo nodded vigorously, as if she hadn't been upset at all.
“Yeah! His martial arts are strong, and he's handsome too. He treats women well.”
“I see.”
He thought of countless things to say: that it wouldn't be easy since the other was from the Outer Realm, and even if marriage were permitted, it would require the young lord of the North Sea Ice Palace to become a live-in son-in-law, which was impossible.
But he held his tongue.
‘She's still young…….’
Meanwhile, Seol Hwa-un was inwardly filled with great admiration as he examined Iron Elder's forge.
‘Incredible!’
The forge was filled mostly with weapons, and their craftsmanship was exceptional.
The forging quality was incomparable to other smithies.
‘A master artisan…… no, worthy of being called a grand craftsman.’
Even the smiths of the North Sea Ice Palace couldn't match this.
Seol Hwa-un's eyes gleamed.
‘This is someone worth entrusting it to.’
He turned his steps back toward Iron Elder.
“Hm?”
“Elder.”
Iron Elder furrowed his brow.
“Calling me 'Elder' so suddenly feels a bit awkward. Just Iron Elder will do.”
Seol Hwa-un, who had already guessed Iron Elder's identity, couldn't do that.
“No, this feels right to me.”
“…….”
Noticing the shift in Seol Hwa-un's tone, Iron Elder raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
“The truth is, I came to the Tang Family forge for a reason.”
“A reason, eh? What might that be?”
“I'd like to commission a special item.”
“Is that so? Unfortunately, our family forge doesn't take outside commissions.”
“You're refusing without even hearing me out?”
“Not particularly curious.”
Seol Hwa-un smiled faintly and took a small stone from his bosom.
It was about the size of a child's palm, pitch black in color, and upon closer inspection, white smoke was rising from it. Astonishingly, the stone emanated chilling energy.
“Do you recognize what this is?”
“……!”
Iron Elder had been unable to tear his eyes away from the stone since Seol Hwa-un pulled it out.
“…….”
He stared at the stone without easily opening his mouth. In the strange silence, Seol Hwa-un calmly waited for him to speak.
“……?”
Dang So-gyo, standing beside them, blinked in confusion with wide eyes but, sensing the atmosphere, said nothing and just watched.
She was quick on the uptake in moments like this.
Only after a long while did Iron Elder let out a deep sigh.
“Whew! To think I'd lay eyes on something like this.”
“As expected, you recognize it.”
“Ink Soft Cold Iron. How on earth did you obtain it?”
Among common metals, Millennial Cold Iron was considered the finest by far.
It boasted strength enough to cut diamond while being lighter than ordinary iron.
Its drawbacks were that it was difficult to work with and extremely hard to acquire. Even in the North Sea, its main source, only tiny amounts were produced.
But even rarer than Millennial Cold Iron was Ink Soft Cold Iron. There had been centuries when not a single piece surfaced.
‘A chunk this big is a first for me!’
Ink Soft Cold Iron was precious, but it wasn't harder or lighter than Millennial Cold Iron.
Instead, it possessed an elasticity no other metal had.
If flexible weapons like a soft sword, iron whip, or iron strip were forged from this Ink Soft Cold Iron, they would become divine weapons, priceless treasures.
Seol Hwa-un said,
“It's an heirloom passed down through generations in our palace. We call it the ‘Black Ice Jade’ in the palace.”
Ink Soft Cold Iron contained far stronger yin cold energy than Millennial Cold Iron, aiding in the cultivation of the North Sea Ice Palace's divine arts.
Thus, the Black Ice Jade had always been possessed by the palace lords. Seol Wi-myeong had passed it to Seol Hwa-un for this Central Plains journey.
It was a reminder not to neglect cultivating his divine art even in the warm climate of the Central Plains.
Iron Elder nodded.
“I see. Quite the marvel.”
While Ink Soft Cold Iron and Millennial Cold Iron shared similar properties, they were in fact entirely different metals.
In other words, just because the North Sea produced Millennial Cold Iron didn't mean Ink Soft Cold Iron would be found there.
Iron Elder asked,
“Surely the item you want commissioned is made from this Ink Soft Cold Iron?”
“That is correct.”
His eyes changed.
“……It certainly piques my interest.”
Iron Elder turned to Dang So-gyo and said,
“So-gyo, this old man has important business to discuss with this friend. Could you give us the room?”
“Huh?”
Dang So-gyo, about to furrow her brow in annoyance, held back upon seeing his serious expression.
“……Okay. Brother Seol, I'll wait at the forge entrance.”
“Alright.”
Once she left, Iron Elder asked,
“What do you want made from this?”
“I'd like you to make protective armor. Something to cover the chest should suffice.”
Seol Hwa-un had recognized the Black Ice Jade as Ink Soft Cold Iron the moment he first saw it.
‘Rather than holding it in hand, what if it were shaped into armor?’
With its elasticity, Ink Soft Cold Iron was perfect for body armor with a feel similar to ordinary clothes.
If successful, it would be killing two birds with one stone. He could continue aiding his yin cold art cultivation while gaining top-tier defense.
However, the North Sea Ice Palace smiths unfortunately lacked the skill to handle Ink Soft Cold Iron.
Thus, he had resolved to commission it to an exceptional artisan when he found one.
“What if this old man says he lacks the confidence?”
“Do you truly lack it? I thought you might manage, Elder.”
Iron Elder's curiosity was piqued.
“Why think that?”
“I saw the items made in your forge. Every one was top quality.”
“Just from that?”
“Plus, I figured the Nine Snake Divine Whip, wielder of the world's fiercest whip arts, could surely handle it.”
Iron Elder looked as if his weak spot had been struck.
“So you knew who I was.”
“I didn't at first. Realized it late.”
Iron Elder's true identity was Dang Cheol-yeong, former head of the Sichuan Tang Family and the Nine Snake Divine Whip.
‘To meet him this soon. Lucky break.’
Seol Hwa-un cupped his hands politely once more.
“Allow me to greet you properly, Supreme Family Head.”
Until now, Seol Hwa-un had treated even high-status Central Plains folk with casual equality.
But Dang Cheol-yeong's age surpassed his own even counting his past life, his status was no low thing, and above all, this was out of respect for his overwhelming martial prowess.
“How did you know?”
“I inferred from your extraordinary presence, age, and skill as a smith.”
“From just that?”
“Isn't it fairly well-known that the Nine Snake Divine Whip stepped down as family head to become a smith?”
“Heh heh, so someone still remembers that tale.”
It had been over forty years. It was surprising that Seol Hwa-un, an Outer Realmer, knew of it.
“I even know why the Supreme Family Head wanted to become a smith.”
“……!”
Dang Cheol-yeong's moniker was Nine Snake Divine Whip, a rare master of whip arts. The poison- and hidden weapons-renowned Sichuan Tang Family surprisingly boasted high-level whip techniques as well.
His signature ultimate technique was the Coiling Strike Soft Whip Thirteen Forms, the most powerful among the family's whip arts.
But it had a fatal flaw: no whip could withstand it at full power.
Dissatisfied, Dang Cheol-yeong had tried various materials over the years.
From the world's toughest thread, Heavenly Silkworm Silk, to whale sinew, White Lotus Pure Steel, Black Steel Wire, and even Millennial Cold Iron—he forged them into whips.
Yet none could properly execute the Coiling Strike Soft Whip Thirteen Forms. If strong enough, they lacked flexibility; if flexible, they fell short in strength or weight.
In the end, Dang Cheol-yeong decided to become a smith himself to craft a whip worthy of his art. No easy task.
After decades of research, his conclusion was Ink Soft Cold Iron. But it was so rare that money alone couldn't procure it.
After that, his persistent searches had yielded only a piece the size of a coin.
“I have a personal interest in the Sichuan Tang Family.”
This was a white lie simply to gain Dang Cheol-yeong's favor.
In truth, while staying at the Hwangbo Family, Seol Hwa-un had secretly commissioned the Hao Clan network about artisans capable of handling Ink Soft Cold Iron.
Such artisans were exceedingly rare and hard to find. Among those mentioned was Dang Cheol-yeong.
Word was he had long sought Ink Soft Cold Iron, so he could wield it.
However, even the Hao Clan didn't know Dang Cheol-yeong's exact whereabouts. He was said to have relinquished the family head position and vanished from the Tang Family.
‘Came to the forge on a hunch, but to think he'd be here. The Hao Clan isn't much after all.’
Branch Chief Jo Il-pyeong would feel wronged if he heard. Only a handful in the Tang Family even knew Dang Cheol-yeong was at the forge.
Even Dang So-gyo didn't know his exact identity. She just thought of him as some collateral branch grandfather.
This was Dang Cheol-yeong's will to focus on forge work undisturbed.
“Allow me to ask again. Can you handle this Ink Soft Cold Iron, Supreme Family Head?”
Dang Cheol-yeong nodded slowly.
“……Yes. But is it alright to destroy a North Sea Ice Palace treasure?”
“No issue. Once the protective armor from this Ink Soft Cold Iron is complete, it will become the palace's new sacred relic.”
“You must know handling Ink Soft Cold Iron is extremely tricky. If this old man makes your armor, what will you offer in return?”
As if he had anticipated it, Seol Hwa-un replied,
“I'll give you whatever Ink Soft Cold Iron remains after the armor is made.”