Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Thousand Martial Armory
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"Let's head inside."
The ones who entered the room were, as expected, Namgung Jincheon and Namgung Myeong.
Namgung Jincheon wore his usual cool expression, but Namgung Myeong looked even more tense than he had at the banquet hall.
'Why's he so scared?'
Namgung Jincheon took control of the atmosphere as if it were the most natural thing in the world and began speaking.
"First off, I owe you an apology. My foolish son has committed a grave mistake."
Namgung Jincheon stared straight ahead without so much as glancing at Namgung Myeong.
There was no intent to intimidate, but Dang Mujin tensed up anyway. Those with overwhelming power had a way of crushing others even without meaning to.
"When I first heard the story, I thought this fool had simply gotten lucky and obtained a sword. But when I pressed him, he confessed the truth. He stole the sword and ran off with it."
There had been two reasons Dang Mujin hadn't told the full story of Namgung Myeong's actions straight away.
To avoid tarnishing the Namgung family's honor and thus incurring their grudge.
And second, because he hoped Namgung Myeong wouldn't face excessive punishment.
The first goal had been achieved successfully, but the second had failed. Not that it was Dang Mujin's fault—Namgung Myeong had confessed to his father himself.
Still, it wasn't hard to understand why.
Dang Mujin stole a quick glance at Namgung Jincheon. Just meeting his eyes made his skin prickle.
If he'd been cornered in a one-on-one interrogation by someone like that, Dang Mujin doubted he could've kept a secret either.
"First, we must atone for his thieving habits. Myeong. Answer me. What punishment did the maid who stole a silver ring two years ago receive?"
"...Her hand was cut off."
Namgung Myeong's voice trembled. Wait—this couldn't be.
Namgung Jincheon's shoulder twitched slightly.
Dang Mujin thrust the sword at his waist—the Single Soul Sword—toward Namgung Myeong's wrist. He didn't even have time to draw it from its sheath.
Clang—
The blade rushing toward Namgung Myeong's wrist was blocked by Dang Mujin's sheathed sword.
It wasn't because Dang Mujin had achieved some profound enlightenment to parry the strike of the Sword Ghost Namgung Jincheon. It was simply that the power and speed Namgung Jincheon had put into the swing were within what Dang Mujin could handle.
Yet that strike hadn't been mere show. In Dang Mujin's eyes, Namgung Jincheon had absolutely meant to sever Namgung Myeong's wrist.
In other words, Namgung Jincheon had handed decision-making power in this moment over to Dang Mujin. Proof of that was how the cloaked figure stood there, arms crossed, watching silently.
"Why did you block the sword? A hand's misdeeds should be repaid with the hand, no?"
If he'd heard that back when the sword first vanished, he might have agreed. But the timing now was all wrong.
"Stealing the sword was wrong, yes. But punishing him now, after the issue has been resolved, would look like dredging up old matters. Besides, in the end, I didn't suffer any significant loss, so I believe giving him one chance wouldn't hurt."
"By showing mercy and sparing the wrist of the heir, you've granted the Namgung family your first favor."
Namgung Jincheon smoothly picked up the thread of conversation. It seemed this was the resolution he'd wanted too.
Namgung Myeong's shoulders relaxed a fraction. Some of the tension had eased.
"You spared us humiliation in front of others, avoiding any stain on the Namgung name—that's your second favor. And even in those circumstances, you gifted us a precious sword—that makes three. Now, tell me. How should I repay these three favors?"
"Uhmm."
Dang Mujin hesitated, unable to respond right away.
He'd figured that navigating this well might earn him some future grace from the Namgung family, but he hadn't expected such a direct proposition.
Moreover, he had no idea what he could ask for from them or how far he could push.
Just then, the cloaked figure's voice whispered in his ear.
—Demand a stake as a business partner.
Was this sound transmission?
He'd heard tales of such techniques before, but this was his first time experiencing one.
Of course, in conversation, it was the content that mattered, not the method. Dang Mujin had no intention of entertaining the cloaked figure's nonsense.
He shook his head slightly, but the transmission came again.
—You don't even know what to ask for anyway. Better to take my help than spout something ridiculous. Plus, I played cheerleader pretty well, didn't I? I deserve a share.
"Uhmm..."
—It's something that'll benefit you too, so don't worry.
In the end, Dang Mujin nodded.
Namgung Jincheon watched the two with an intrigued expression.
"Young Master Dang can't use sound transmission, so why not just speak freely?"
"True enough. But caution never hurts."
"Fair point. What do you need?"
"First, I want to enter the Thousand Martial Armory."
"Permission granted. But you'll be accompanied by one Namgung family retainer, and you may take only one book that you can read. You didn't expect more, did you?"
"Of course not."
An unfamiliar term right off the bat. Dang Mujin nudged the cloaked figure's side.
"Why?"
"What's the Thousand Martial Armory?"
"It's a library where the Namgung family has gathered martial arts manuals collected from across the Central Plains."
"...We can just go in there?"
Dang Mujin wasn't clueless. Martial clans guarded their techniques like their own lives.
Wasn't that why fights to the death erupted over someone peeking at their training?
"That's why they assign a family member to escort you. Besides, the family's signature techniques probably aren't even in there. They might not be passed down in manual form at all."
Having finished his explanation, the cloaked figure stated the second demand.
"Second, I want spiritual herbs."
"Spiritual medicines? We don't have anything noteworthy. The Namgung family doesn't rely heavily on them."
"No. Not spiritual medicines—regular herbs and poisons. You're not physicians, but you must have some gathered from here and there."
"We have some, yeah. No real use for them, so you can have it all. What's your final request?"
"A spar with the family head."
"A spar? Even if Young Master Dang spars with me, it's unlikely he'd gain much from it."
Dang Mujin startled at the words. What nonsense was the cloaked figure spouting now?
Call it a spar, but it'd be over in an instant with Dang Mujin passing out cold.
He had no intention of wasting a precious opportunity on such a miserable memory.
Before Dang Mujin could protest, the cloaked figure spoke up.
"Naturally not. I meant a spar with me."
This time, the surprise came from a different angle.
This old coot had sweet-talked him just to pursue his own interests. Well, he'd demanded a share, so maybe.
But Namgung Jincheon grasped the cloaked figure's true intent.
"You mean to demonstrate for Young Master Dang's benefit? No reason not to, but will he gain any insight from watching?"
"That's for him to figure out. If he can't comprehend it, that's on his ability."
"I see. Someone to guide you to the Thousand Martial Armory will arrive tomorrow morning. Rest a few more days."
Namgung Jincheon rose and left the room.
Namgung Myeong started to follow but turned back to face Dang Mujin.
Was he about to say something? Instead, Namgung Myeong took action.
Making a mockery of his title as the Namgung heir, he dropped to his knees on the spot. Then, slowly, he bowed deeply until his forehead touched the floor.
The cloaked figure's eyes sparkled, as if this interested him more than the three rewards Namgung Jincheon had offered, while Dang Mujin panicked.
No need to delve into the ways of the martial world—even ordinary Central Plains folk rarely bent their bodies. A slightly prolonged clasped-hands salute was the norm for gratitude.
A deeper waist bow or head dip came for special thanks, but a full prostration? Exceedingly rare. Even between parent and child.
'Did Namgung Jincheon force him into this?'
Dang Mujin's worry evaporated quickly.
There was no resentment or wounded pride on Namgung Myeong's face as he lifted his head. It brimmed only with pure gratitude and goodwill.
"I will repay this grace one day."
With that, Namgung Myeong rose slowly, closed the door, and left.
*
The next morning, Division Head Namgung Hwan of the Entry Hall arrived to guide them.
It was a bit trivial for a division head to handle personally, but Namgung Jincheon had ordered full sincerity toward the pair, so at minimum, a division or hall head had to escort them.
Namgung Hwan had volunteered for the task as well.
"Shall we head to the Thousand Martial Armory right away?"
"Yes."
As they made their way, Namgung Hwan kept stealing glances at Dang Mujin nonstop. When it started getting annoying, he finally spoke.
"I had my suspicions. Did you really forge that sword in just five days?"
Dang Mujin pondered how to reply, but Namgung Hwan let out a hearty laugh.
"No need to hide it from Namgung retainers—we're not outsiders. The family head's wrapped things up, so no one will gossip about this. It won't even become a rumor."
Dang Mujin nodded and asked back.
"How did you know?"
"You holed up in the forge for days, so that's the obvious conclusion. The question is whether a young man could craft two famed swords in a mere five days."
Namgung Hwan shook his head and continued.
"Like everyone else, I thought it impossible at first. But your scorched, torn palms and nails crusted with rust, plus that faint scent of charred firewood—they tell a different story. The world's vast, full of extraordinary folk."
Extraordinary folk. The term felt strangely foreign.
A few months ago, he'd been the type to perk up at street tales of such marvels.
Now, somehow, he'd become one himself, on display for other extraordinary folk. Would his past self have believed it?
"There were a few onlookers doubting your handiwork was that incredible. They got an earful of sarcasm about knowing nothing of metal, though."
"I see."
"Just meddling, but Shaolin Temple might be eagerly awaiting you. Visit if you get the chance."
"Pardon? Shaolin?"
"Yep. Since I was a boy, they've been scouting the Central Plains for the finest craftsmen. Something about an intractable mechanism they can't fix."
"Mechanism?"
The answer came from the cloaked figure.
"He means the Wooden Man Alley."
"What's that?"
"A peculiar mechanical array... I've only heard rumors, so I'm not sure of the details. Shaolin's on the way to Luoyang, so let's check it out if the opportunity arises."
As the three chatted idly, they arrived at the Thousand Martial Armory.
It was a single-story hall, but unlike the other buildings, it showed signs of wear here and there. A lone warrior guarding the front stepped aside upon seeing Namgung Hwan's face.
Inside, several bookshelves crammed with yellowed books lined the space, with faint dust layering the gaps between them. Namgung Hwan spoke awkwardly.
"Not many seek out the Thousand Martial Armory. Young folks come out of curiosity at first, but they soon get too busy training in Namgung techniques to return."
"I see."
"But for outsiders like you, there might be something useful. It's far removed from Namgung arts, and we don't even include worthless street manuals."
"Understood."
Dang Mujin looked to the cloaked figure.
He was the one who'd demanded access, so he must have a specific manual in mind.
The cloaked figure strode confidently between the shelves.
The first held manuals on weapons of all kinds.
Swords and sabers dominated, followed by spears and axes used occasionally, then oddities like chain whips or meteor hammers, and even techniques for unseen weapons like iron brushes or monk's spades. He ignored them all.
The second shelf covered internal arts, the third movement and footwork. The fourth had fist, palm, leg, and kicking techniques. None caught his interest.
'Hasn't everything worthwhile already been covered?'
Moments later, the cloaked figure halted before the rearmost shelf.
It didn't seem to hold the most valuable techniques—dust piled thicker here than anywhere else.
He blew the dust from a label on the shelf.
As it settled, the characters for "Miscellaneous Skills" appeared.