Chapter 20. Moon Fang (5)
At first, he never imagined he could handle the iron so deftly. But the way the molten metal melted and poured into the mold was anything but ordinary.
That awe lasted only a moment. Now, he wielded the hammer like a master smith of decades.
His strikes fell forward and back without pause, so precise that even a veteran artisan would seem believable.
Jeong Soyeon, watching Jeong Cheolmin's expression, asked,
"Grandpa, what's wrong?"
"I'm just surprised at how well he's handling the iron."
"Is that big brother really that amazing?"
"Looking at that speed, I finally understand what this family secret manual means. Heh heh."
Jeong Cheolmin chuckled, pointing at the manual on smithing techniques.
"Then help him out, Grandpa."
"No need for that, I think. Even if I wanted to help..."
Jeong Cheolmin trailed off.
He wanted to help, but he couldn't.
He couldn't keep up with Han Bin's speed.
Could he catch up given time?
No, that was impossible. Jeong Cheolmin knew his body would only weaken further as time passed.
So what was the solution?
That was when it happened.
A strange flow caught his smith's intuition.
Faint, but it felt like Han Bin and the iron lump were exchanging something.
'Communing with the iron? Imbuing it with soul.'
The word 'soul' swirled in Jeong Cheolmin's mind.
'Imbuing soul. Imbuing soul...'
Without realizing it, Jeong Cheolmin sat cross-legged on the spot.
Startled by his unnatural demeanor, Jeong Soyeon cried out.
"Grandpa!"
Sim Miho grabbed Jeong Soyeon as she tried to rush to him.
"Little one. Hold on a moment."
"W-Why?"
Matching her eye level, Sim Miho explained to the surprised girl.
"Looks like he's entered a trance."
"A trance? I've heard of that. But isn't that only for martial artists?"
"I've never heard of a blacksmith attaining enlightenment either, but it's happening right now, isn't it?"
Sim Miho nodded toward Jeong Cheolmin.
Jeong Soyeon just blinked in surprise.
Sim Miho took her sleeve and led her away from Jeong Cheolmin.
It was common knowledge in the jianghu: one must not disturb someone in a trance.
That was when it happened.
Clang! Clang!
As the forge fell quiet, Han Bin's hammering echoed even louder.
'Should I stop him?'
Sim Miho pondered, then tilted her head.
Clang! Clang!
The impossibly rapid hammer strikes rang out in perfect rhythm, strangely soothing.
Listening closely, it calmed the mind.
It evoked the sound of a wooden fish struck by a high monk.
Shaking off her unease, Sim Miho silently watched Jeong Cheolmin.
How much time passed?
Jeong Cheolmin's eyes snapped open.
A fierce glint swirled within, then receded.
Composing himself, he rose. Jeong Soyeon scampered over.
"Grandpa."
"Yes, child."
"Are you okay?"
"This old man's fine."
Glancing around, Jeong Cheolmin offered a respectful cupped-hand salute to everyone watching breathlessly.
Unaware of the commotion outside, Han Bin focused solely on his hammering.
Even during the two shichen Jeong Cheolmin spent in enlightenment, Han Bin's strikes only grew faster.
But crisis struck Han Bin too.
Once ten speed (The Ghost Strike) formulas gathered, no more appeared—the yellow points accelerated instead.
He gritted his teeth and hammered on.
Forcing his hands faster than his limits, beyond his visual perception.
Success came to the struggling Han Bin.
Yongrin Sword Art Basic Chapter: Form (Adamantine) acquired.
Yongrin Sword Art Basic Chapter: Form (Mastery) acquired.
Now ten speed (Infinite Mass) and five form (Absolute Friction).
Relentlessly, Han Bin kept acquiring formulas.
That was when it happened.
Clang!
A red-hot iron shard flew, scorching Han Bin's forearm.
Sizzle.
The smell of burning flesh rose from his arm.
No light burn.
But he couldn't stop. Only one yellow point remained on the iron lump.
He had to absorb it, then heal.
Clang!
Success. Han Bin's eyes widened.
Confirming formula with Dragon Eye (Longan).
Yongrin Sword Art Basic Chapter: Recovery (Healer) acquired.
A new formula.
'Recovery (Healer)?'
As curiosity tilted his head, the burn itched strangely.
Realizing its meaning from the sensation, Han Bin understood.
It was recovery power.
His scorched skin stabilized.
[Speed (Swiftness), speed (God-Speed), speed (Hyper-Speed), speed (Instantaneity), speed (God-Speed)......]
[Form (Absolute Physique), form (Grandmaster’s Physique), form (Indestructible God-Body), form (Eternal Body), form (Physique)]
[Strength (Super-Strength), strength (power), strength (System)]
[Merit (Internal Power), merit (Gong)]
[Recovery (System)]
Confirming all characters, Han Bin felt dizzy.
Then the manual displayed a message as if speaking.
Exceeded daily formula acquisition limit. Rest required.
'What's this now?'
Before doubt could linger, his body crumbled.
"Y-Young master!"
Cheolno's voice stretched like taffy in his ears.
Other voices followed.
"My lord."
"Big brother!"
"You alright there?"
The voices muddled his ears, but his closed eyes felt like thousand-jin iron gates, impossible to lift.
Yet the manual remained crystal clear in his vision.
It rippled as if ready to answer his questions.
Seizing the chance, Han Bin asked.
'How long to finish the basic chapter?'
Twenty years.
It answered like a living person.
'Twenty years? Then after the basic chapter?'
This time, the manual vanished without reply.
He might never finish even in death.
This was the divine Yongrin Sword Art. If it were easy, it wouldn't be divine!
Worries later—complete the formulas now.
As sensation faded, Han Bin heard hammering.
Ting! Ting!
A clear chime by his ear.
Lulling him like a lullaby, Han Bin slept.
Han Bin snapped awake, tilting his head.
A neatly furnished bedroom.
"Where the hell...?"
As he trailed off, scanning around, the door opened. A familiar face rushed in.
"Young master! Are you alright?"
Cheolno set a bowl on the side table.
Seeing his strangely excited state, Han Bin asked,
"What's got you like this, Cheolno?"
"Don't you remember, young master?"
"What? Collapsing mid-hammering?"
"Glad you remember."
"Sorry for the pathetic show. This weak body of mine..."
"It's not your weakness, young master. No body holds up hammering iron nonstop for five shichen."
"Five...? You said five shichen?"
Han Bin bolted up, urging Cheolno for confirmation.
"Yes, just over five shichen exactly."
"Holy shit!"
As Han Bin stared at the ceiling, Jeong Cheolmin interjected from the doorway.
"Awake, are you? Your hammering was no ordinary sight, so I let it be."
"No ordinary?"
"Striking in a trance-like void of mind—it was almost reverent."
"Ahem."
Han Bin cleared his throat awkwardly. They'd mistaken his formula-hunting for enlightenment.
That's why no one stopped his marathon forging.
No need to correct the misunderstanding, though.
But Jeong Cheolmin's piercing gaze was a bit much.
Suddenly beaming, he clapped.
Clap!
"Ever thought of succeeding me?"
Han Bin grinned.
"I'll consider it, sir."
"Hoho, even the words are appreciated."
"Not at all."
As Han Bin dipped his head slightly, someone poked his side.
Turning, Jeong Soyeon held out candy with sparkling eyes.
"Big brother, have some."
"Sure."
Gazing at the candy, Han Bin recalled old memories.
'Candy, huh?'
It didn't suit his life, past or present.
More bitter than sweet.
"Sweet things are nice sometimes."
Grinning, he bit into it.
Then looked around.
Everyone worried for him.
Smiling faintly at the changed atmosphere from his past life, Sim Miho entered with a long box, setting it on the table.
"Master smith, here?"
"Yes, perfect."
Jeong Cheolmin nodded, and everyone filed out as if planned.
Alone with Han Bin, he asked,
"Something to tell me, sir?"
"Would you believe I gained enlightenment thanks to you?"
"Enlightenment?"
Han Bin widened his eyes in feigned shock.
Not truly surprising. He knew the first fruit of that enlightenment would be the world's finest sword, Moon-Fang Dagger.
What amazed him was Han Bin as the cause.
In his past life, it came from watching Sword Saint Seomun Mugeuk's sword dance.
This bond justified a master sword.
Eyes full of anticipation, he watched.
Jeong Cheolmin continued with a grin.
"Embarrassing to say myself, but perhaps the first for a smith. Haha."
"Congratulations."
Han Bin offered a deep salute. Jeong Cheolmin waved frantically.
"All thanks to you. You let me pass on our family secret."
"Family secret...? Ah, sorry."
"No need. Ask away—this is my gift."
Jeong Cheolmin opened the box.
A plain scabbard held a simple sword, unadorned.
He handed it to Han Bin.
"Draw it. My first sword of soul iron."
"Pardon?"
Han Bin's eyes bulged.
Soul iron—the rare metal in Jeong Cheolmin's masterpieces.
Five times denser than dark iron. Priceless beyond gold. Even in his past life as Gwanggwi, its source and use remained mysteries.
Rising, Han Bin slowly drew it.
Shing!
The blade breathed menace, sharp enough to cut breath.
A master sword!
No—'master sword' fell short. As Han Bin's eyes gleamed, Jeong Cheolmin beamed.
"Haha. Used the blade you forged, added our secret technique. Cost me an all-nighter."
No lie.
Jeong Cheolmin's whites were bloodshot.
Han Bin bowed.
"Thank you, sir."
"Think nothing of it. Mere token compared to your grace."
Han Bin smiled awkwardly, eyeing the sword again.
From the first grip, its aura felt familiar.
Drawing it once more.
Instantly.
'Moon Fang!'
Undeniably the famed supreme sword, Moon-Fang Dagger.
And now in his hands?
No identical sword might ever appear, but Jeong Cheolmin's lifetime masterpiece was Han Bin's.