Chapter 117
Chapter 117
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: The Insolent Heir
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The Sword King stared silently at Mo Yong-deok for a long moment before quietly opening his mouth.
"How about you just head out now?"
"W-what the hell is this? I'm from the Mo Yong Clan. My grandfather is the Azure Dragon Sword!"
Mo Yong-deok spoke in a voice tinged with fear. There was a hint of threat in his words, but it carried no weight whatsoever. Ever since he'd fallen into lust for women, he'd lost all his former spirit.
"Oh? Your grandfather is the Azure Dragon Sword?"
Mo Yong-deok gained some courage from the Sword King's mildly surprised tone and shouted loudly.
"That's right! He's my grandfather! Now do you get how badly you've messed up?"
The Sword King snorted at Mo Yong-deok's words.
"Then go fetch your grandfather and we'll talk. I just can't believe the Azure Dragon Sword has a grandson like you. Hah, what a joke."
Mo Yong-deok's face flushed red and then pale by turns at the Sword King's words. But he couldn't withstand the man's overwhelming presence.
"Tch! You'll regret this!"
Mo Yong-deok spat those words and fled like a beaten dog. He didn't forget to glance back at Umun Hye before descending the stairs.
"Hah, what a weirdo."
Jegal Rin spoke up at the Sword King's mutter.
"He's probably telling the truth about being from the Mo Yong Clan."
"Yeah?"
The Sword King didn't think much of it. But Jegal Rin was different.
"And his grandfather really being the Azure Dragon Sword sounds right too. I've heard there's a wastrel in the Mo Yong Clan."
"That guy's the wastrel, then."
"Probably."
"Well, the Azure Dragon Sword won't step up for a grandson like that. It'd ruin his reputation."
"True enough. But he'll still be pissed. The story's bound to get twisted. We'll end up looking like we're the ones disrespecting the Azure Dragon Sword."
"What's there to worry about? It's not like we'll ever cross paths."
Only then did Jegal Rin nod. Seeing this, the Sword King realized his mistake. If they weren't going to meet again, they shouldn't be coming back to this inn either.
Mo Yong-deok would surely keep showing up at the inn. He seemed utterly smitten with Umun Hye.
"Ugh, fine. We'll take our meals in the annex from now on."
With that, the Sword King sat down and resumed his meal. Knowing this was his last feast in this prime spot made the food taste even better.
"You fool. You just walked away after hearing that?"
Mo Yong Young-hwan bellowed, and Mo Yong-deok hung his head low. He'd wanted to speak to his grandfather directly, but he hadn't been able to.
Mo Yong Young-hwan sighed as he looked at his grandson.
'How did such a bright kid end up like this...'
"B-but Grandfather..."
As Mo Yong-deok tried to bring up his grandfather again, Mo Yong Young-hwan glared at him. Mo Yong-deok hurriedly bowed his head. Mo Yong Young-hwan sighed once more.
"Sigh... He's at the forge."
At the mention of the forge, Mo Yong-deok tilted his head in confusion. He had no idea what place that referred to.
"You wouldn't know. Just wait a bit—he'll be back soon. Do what you want."
With those words, Mo Yong Young-hwan turned and left. Mo Yong-deok finally breathed a sigh of relief.
As he stepped outside, Mo Yong Young-hwan fell deep into thought.
'Why does he go to the forge so often? Is he forging a weapon to replace the Azure Dragon Sword?'
But that seemed unlikely. What sword in the world could surpass one forged from Han-eum Black Iron? Especially one made by the finest craftsman.
And that craftsman was still diligently forging swords for the Mo Yong Clan. Mo Yong Young-hwan patted the sword at his waist.
This one was also made by Cheol Mak-sim. When he'd received it, Mo Yong Young-hwan had showered it with praise as the pinnacle of perfection.
Thinking of Cheol Mak-sim lifted his spirits a bit. He was an indispensable talent for the Mo Yong Clan's future rise.
"Come to think of it, Father told me to find him a woman. Yeah, it's about time he forgot his old flame and had a kid."
Mo Yong Young-hwan muttered to himself, picturing countless women in his mind. The Mo Yong Clan had plenty of suitable matches for Cheol Mak-sim, given its size and the number of people working there.
Before long, all thoughts of Mo Yong-deok had vanished from his mind.
Mo Yong Cheon stood in the forge, frowning deeply. At first, the forge had been filled with an overwhelming sword intent that made it hard to breathe. But now, that intent was steadily fading.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
With each strike of the hammer, the sword intent diminished a little more. Mo Yong Cheon stared at Cheol Mak-sim in utter disbelief.
'Is this bastard defying me?'
Mo Yong Cheon glared at him with fierce eyes. But he refrained from unleashing his killing intent recklessly. Maybe he was forging the sword properly. Hasty energy would only hinder the process.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The hammering continued to echo through the forge, and with each blow, the sword intent waned. It was as if he were turning a peerless blade into an ordinary sword.
Unable to bear it any longer, Mo Yong Cheon stormed out of the forge. Watching any more would make his chest explode.
Once outside, Mo Yong Cheon muttered under his breath.
"If you screw this up, I won't let it slide."
Even as he said it, he trusted Cheol Mak-sim deep down. The man was a consummate craftsman who never let personal feelings taint his work.
That faith was what allowed him to shake off his unease.
A scene from a few days ago flashed in Mo Yong Cheon's mind. He could never forget that piercing sword intent, sharp enough to cleave his heart. If he wielded the sword Cheol Mak-sim was forging now, claiming the top spot among the Ten Great Masters would be no dream.
A smile crept across Mo Yong Cheon's lips.
On days like this, he needed to dance the sword dance all day or down a drink. He couldn't just let this feeling pass.
Mo Yong Cheon chose liquor. He'd save the sword dance for the new blade. It was best not to grow too attached to the Azure Dragon Sword. Its master would soon pass to Mo Yong Young-hwan.
Mo Yong Cheon's steps led him out of the clan. To savor fine liquor in high spirits, a fine view was essential.
Not far from the clan grounds stood the Moonlit Tower, a cozy little tavern he frequented for its charm.
"Perfect."
Expressing his elation thus, Mo Yong Cheon walked slowly. He planned to get thoroughly drunk today.
About an hour after Mo Yong Cheon left, Mo Yong-deok arrived at the forge.
"Hmm, I never knew our clan had a forge attached like this."
Mo Yong-deok cocked his head. Though it was outside the clan proper, the gate connecting it directly to the clan made it clear the Mo Yong Clan operated it.
At any rate, Grandfather Mo Yong Cheon was definitely here.
"Hmph, those bastards dared to look down on me?"
The Sword King's mocking sneer flashed through Mo Yong-deok's mind. But it was quickly overshadowed by Umun Hye's stunning beauty. A lecherous smile spread across his face.
"It's time I settled on one woman. She's more than worthy. Prettier than anyone under heaven."
Mo Yong-deok's tastes ran high. After all, didn't the Mo Yong Clan have the Ice Orchid? Seeing his sister's ravishing face every day had naturally raised his standards.
He'd never laid eyes on the Three Peaks and Three Flowers of the martial world. But he figured they were about on par with his sister.
"Hmm, maybe she's one of the Three Peaks and Three Flowers."
That thought made the other women with her seem extraordinary too. Umun Hye's beauty had distracted him, but they were no ordinary beauties either.
They held their own against his sister.
Mo Yong-deok's eyes gleamed.
"Oh? So the rest of the Three Peaks and Flowers came to play all at once?"
It seemed likely. In truth, it was only White Peak, Flying Peak, and Flower Among Flowers, but Mo Yong-deok jumped to conclusions.
"Hmm, a hero like me doesn't need to settle for just one. If Grandfather steps in, I could have them all."
With that in mind, Mo Yong-deok stepped into the forge.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The hammering rang in his ears. Mo Yong-deok grimaced momentarily and looked at the blacksmith. Even after he entered, the man kept hammering away without a glance.
Mo Yong-deok scowled and scanned the room. No sign of Mo Yong Cheon.
"Hey, are you here alone?"
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Mo Yong-deok's face twisted.
"Ignoring me, are you?"
He approached Cheol Mak-sim. But the blacksmith remained focused solely on his hammering. It wasn't defiance—he simply hadn't heard. All his senses were on the work. Even earlier with Mo Yong Cheon there, he'd paid him no mind.
But Mo Yong-deok took it as an insult. And he wasn't the patient, good-natured type to tolerate it. He struck Cheol Mak-sim's back with a palm laced with qi.
Bam!
"Gah!"
His organs churned from the blow, and he spat blood. Only then did Cheol Mak-sim stop hammering. His head turned toward Mo Yong-deok.
Mo Yong-deok flinched at the man's impassive gaze but soon snarled.
"You wanna go? Should I chop off your arms so you can never hammer again?"
His voice grew icy.
"Cough."
Blood trickled from Cheol Mak-sim's mouth again. Mo Yong-deok smirked and lifted his foot.
Thud!
His toes slammed into Cheol Mak-sim's gut.
"Urk."
A groan escaped Cheol Mak-sim as agony like his guts were rupturing surged through him.
"You ignored me because of that crappy sword?"
Mo Yong-deok glanced at the blade on the anvil. It wasn't even finished, but he could tell it was nothing special. A blacksmith of this skill wouldn't matter much to the clan, he figured.
"Hmph. I'll ask again. You alone here?"
Cheol Mak-sim nodded. There was no reason not to answer. His body ached like it was shattering, but he had to finish the sword.
No time left. Less than a day until the promised deadline. He had to complete it by dawn tomorrow, no matter what.
"Has Grandfather been here?"
At "Grandfather," Cheol Mak-sim looked puzzled. Mo Yong-deok scoffed.
"Hah, as if he'd come to a dump like this."
Mo Yong-deok eyed the slumped blacksmith and flicked his hand. Massive qi poured from his palm.
No matter how tarnished his reputation, he'd once been the Mo Yong Clan's top prodigy. The energy from his hand was far from ordinary.
Krunch!
The qi slammed into Cheol Mak-sim's body full force. The excess rippled to the sword on the anvil.
Clang!
The blade flew off and clattered to the floor. Mo Yong-deok smirked at the sight, then turned and left the forge.
"Can't find him. Guess I'll wait."
As Mo Yong-deok vanished, Cheol Mak-sim forced himself upright. His trembling hands groped for the hammer, but he had no strength to grip it. No matter how he tried, his fingers wouldn't close.
"I... have to finish the sword..."
With that final thought, he collapsed limply to the floor. Blood oozed from his mouth. Mo Yong-deok's parting burst of force had ravaged his internals.
The forge floor slowly stained red with blood.
Dan Hyeong-u woke before dawn. Unable to lie down comfortably, he'd stood with eyes closed again last night.
Upon opening his eyes, he frowned slightly. He sensed his companions' presences scattered nearby. They were all awake—and milling about near his room.
The door was ajar, as if they were determined to follow him this time no matter what.
Confirming Dan Hyeong-u was awake, the Sword King flung the door open. The others appeared behind him one by one.
Jo Seol-yeon smiled faintly and spoke.
"Don't go alone today. I want to meet them too."
Whoever it was, she meant it sincerely. She wanted to know the people Dan Hyeong-u knew. She wanted to show herself to them.