Chapter 57
Chapter 57
“……What?”
Kang Yongchong, so startled that he asked back, saw Youngho nod as if he understood everything and speak.
“I said I’d entrust the job to you.”
“N-No, that’s…….”
Kang Yongchong glanced at the man he had been speaking with just moments ago and said,
“I don’t think that will wo—”
“I’ll give you an advance first.”
With those words, Youngho took a light step forward and handed One Nyang of Silver to Kang Yongchong in a way that made sure the Black Dragon Branch man could see it.
“This should be more than enough to cover the interest…….”
As Youngho cast a sidelong glance at the man while speaking, Kang Yongchong caught on to his meaning and immediately handed the silver over to the man.
“H-Here is the interest payment.”
At the sight of the silver Kang Yongchong offered, the man’s face twisted fiercely.
“What do you think you’re doing right now?”
The man glared viciously at Youngho as he spoke. And Youngho, in order to make not only the man but Kang Yongchong recognize that he was a customer, said,
“What else? I’m commissioning work from a blacksmith. That makes me this forge’s customer now.”
“Hah!”
The man let out a snort, dumbfounded beyond belief.
“Since when?”
“From the moment I handed over that One Nyang of Silver.”
“Don’t get cocky, brat. If you interfere in adults’ business, you won’t keep your life.”
“Do I look like I’m trying to play the part of some half-baked wandering hero?”
“Wouldn’t be the first.”
“Then why do you think I came all the way here?”
“What?”
The man let a trace of killing intent slip as he glared at Youngho. Though unmistakable murderous intent shot toward him, Youngho waved his hand as if annoyed.
“This is a forge rarely visited by anyone. Did I really come all the way here just to act the hero? Or did I come to commission work from a blacksmith?”
“…….”
Even the man had nothing to say in response to Youngho’s question. Youngho was right. No matter how much one wished to play the hero, one had to be known by people to be called a hero.
But would someone truly come to a forge where not even an ant passed by, simply to play the hero?
“……My apologies. It seems I was mistaken.”
There was no justification. No justification to drive away the brat before him. Moreover, he had just received silver from Kang Yongchong, leaving him even less to say.
He had only come to collect money, and Kang Yongchong had paid the proper amount.
“Well then, you’ve received the money. Would you mind leaving now? I have matters to discuss with the owner.”
The man examined Youngho from head to toe with a measuring gaze before nodding.
“Kang Yongchong. I’ll come again next time.”
After delivering a light warning, the man left the forge.
Feeling the suffocating air finally clear, Kang Yongchong unconsciously let out a sigh of relief.
“That’s a relief…….”
Seeing him like that, Youngho asked in a puzzled voice,
“I thought I heard you mention the Black Dragon Branch just now. For members of the Black Faction, they seemed rather reasonable.”
Kang Yongchong startled and said,
“Please refrain from saying such things. If someone overhears, it will cause great trouble.”
“Why? They’re just some Black Faction rabble.”
At Youngho’s continued dismissive tone toward the Black Dragon Branch, Kang Yongchong struggled to calm his pounding heart.
“Please, do not speak ill of the Black Dragon Branch any further. They say words spoken in the day are heard by birds, and words spoken at night are heard by mice.”
“Hmm…… Fine for now. I think I roughly understand the reason anyway.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re capable.”
“……What?”
“You’re so capable that that Black Faction bastard treats you well. Am I wrong?”
Struck at the heart of the matter, Kang Yongchong fell silent for a moment.
“You don’t have to answer. I can tell. Those Black Faction bastards treat people with nothing like trash. But to someone with ability like you, they approach very kindly.”
“…….”
“You’ve had your skills acknowledged as a blacksmith. Unfortunately, by Black Faction scum.”
“……That is correct.”
There was little point in denying it further. Youngho was convinced, and even if he denied it, it was obvious what Youngho would think. So Kang Yongchong simply spoke the truth.
“As a blacksmith, my skills are considered fairly good. Though at present, due to circumstances, I borrowed money and cannot even repay the interest.”
“I know. Now let’s talk about the job.”
Kang Yongchong widened his eyes and stared at Youngho.
“You won’t ask anything further?”
“Ask what?”
“No, I mean…….”
There was much he wished to say. And he had assumed the other party would have many questions as well.
A blacksmith was, after all, someone who forged weapons meant to kill. For that reason, most blacksmiths had one foot in Jianghu.
Because they could become entangled in the Gratitude and Grudge between martial artists, people usually tried to confirm many things before commissioning a blacksmith.
However, the boy did not ask further. Despite his dismissive tone toward the Black Dragon Branch, it seemed as though he simply wished to pass by quietly.
Come to think of it, that was not the only strange thing. Even earlier, when the Black Dragon Branch man had demanded repayment, he had received help.
To be precise, proper compensation had been paid, but Kang Yongchong was not so foolish as to fail to realize that such reasoning was merely a pretext.
Youngho could have simply commissioned the work. He did not need to pay an advance. Yet by deliberately paying the advance, he removed any justification for the Black Dragon Branch man to cause a scene.
Why had he helped him like this? For what reason?
“You’re thinking too much, Owner.”
Startled back to his senses by Youngho’s words, Kang Yongchong lowered his head.
“My apologies. What commission have you come to entrust?”
“It’s nothing much. I’m planning to forge a Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron Sword.”
“I see. A Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron Sword…… What?”
Kang Yongchong struck the back of his own head hard once, wondering if he had misheard.
“Did you just say Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron?”
“Yes. The purity is top-grade. If you don’t believe me, check it yourself.”
“Y-You possess top-grade Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron?”
“Yes. I wrapped it in a bundle and brought it. If you don’t believe me, take a look.”
At Youngho’s signal, Kang Hosan and Kang Chowon unwrapped the bundle they had been holding. Youngho smiled in satisfaction just at the sight.
“Owner, do you see it? This luster is incredible—ah, you’re already looking.”
Kang Yongchong had already approached right up to the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron. He carefully lifted it, as though even the slightest scratch would be unforgivable.
His hands trembled as he spoke in a quivering voice.
“It’s… it’s real. It’s exactly like what I saw in the books…!”
Overcome with joy at seeing such a precious material in his lifetime as a blacksmith, Kang Yongchong briefly lost himself and shouted in elation.
‘He brought something this precious wrapped in a mere bundle?’
He even cursed slightly at his own customer, Youngho, in his mind.
After staring blankly at the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron for a moment, Kang Yongchong suddenly came to his senses.
“I do not believe I can accept this commission.”
At his firm refusal, Youngho let out a faint chuckle.
“I won’t kill you. So make it.”
I won’t kill you. Hearing those words, Kang Yongchong’s pupils trembled violently, realizing his thoughts had been seen through.
His eyes shook pitifully as though an earthquake had struck, revealing just how flustered he was.
“Surely… I will not have to lose my tongue and eyes…?”
“Not that either. I swear in my name. I will not cause you any harm.”
“B-But that makes no sense….”
Embarrassed even by his own words, Kang Yongchong lowered his head deeply.
A blacksmith was someone with at least one foot in Jianghu. As such, he stood within the range of Gratitude and Grudge and could not entirely avoid being swept into it.
That was why blacksmiths often said, half in jest and half in sincerity:
If you have no backing, do not display your exceptional ability. Kang Yongchong agreed wholeheartedly.
Even now, had he not merely shown a fraction of his true skill, yet attracted a massive pest called the Black Dragon Branch?
If he were to craft a supreme sword from this Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron, one of two things would inevitably occur.
Either the client would attempt to recruit him into his own faction… or…
‘Kill him.’
The reason was simple and cruel. He might forge a weapon of equal caliber for someone else.
If that someone were an ally, it would not matter.
But if a blacksmith forged a supreme blade for an enemy and that blade turned against them, it would be a disaster. Better to prevent such misfortune in advance.
Yet the boy before him was saying he would not do such a thing. It was absurd.
No, in truth, that would be the proper course of action—but it was not something a martial artist twisted within the vortex of Gratitude and Grudge would normally say.
Was it a lie? Or the truth? Just as Kang Yongchong was about to speak, Youngho opened his mouth first.
“If possible, I’d like you to come over to our side. But it’s fine if you don’t. I promise I will not cause even the slightest harm. And the commission fee is Ten Nyang of Gold.”
“Ten Nyang of Gold!”
It was an absurdly large sum. One Nyang of Gold was worth one hundred Nyang of Silver. And one Nyang of Silver could support a household of three or four for a month.
“And.”
Youngho had not finished speaking. Kang Yongchong focused intently, sensing that what followed was the true point.
“Let’s keep friendly terms. Even if we don’t formally retain an outstanding blacksmith, I’d like to maintain a close relationship.”
At those words, Kang Yongchong understood. And he felt reassured.
At this very moment, he became certain that Youngho had no intention of killing him.
It was merely a blacksmith’s instinct. An instinct without preparation or defense.
“It’s almost laughable that someone who isn’t even from the Orthodox Sect says something like that.”
“Pardon?”
“I said it’s laughable.”
“No, before that—what did you say?”
“That I’m not from the Orthodox Sect?”
Blank.
Seeing Kang Yongchong stare at him with a stunned expression, Youngho smirked.
“I’m from the Unorthodox Faction.”
“……Members of the Unorthodox Faction don’t usually help in situations like earlier….”
“You think someone from the Orthodox Sect would?”
“W-Well, of course….”
Kang Yongchong trailed off and finally closed his mouth. He remembered. Why he had come to this wretched place, and why he was in such a state.
“Judging by how your face darkened, you must have your own circumstances. In any case, I want you to forge the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron Sword.”
“Before that, may I ask which affiliation you belong to?”
“The Unorthodox Alliance.”
“……!”
‘Certain!’
The Unorthodox Alliance did not lie. Though they committed evil deeds, they were famous for not speaking falsehoods.
“May I ask your name?”
“It’s not worthy of such formality. I’m called Youngho.”
“Surely… not the one called the Flame Dragon?!”
Kang Yongchong could not contain his shock.
“The Flame Dragon? What’s that?”
Meanwhile, as Youngho looked genuinely puzzled, Horyeung let out a quiet chuckle.
‘He truly has no interest in worldly affairs….’
It was just like Youngho to pay no attention to anything beyond his immediate circle.