Chapter 58
Chapter 58
“……So I’m being called the Flame Dragon right now?”
“More precisely, you are being called one of the Three Dragons.”
As Horyeung let out a hearty laugh and answered, Youngho tilted his head as if he could not understand.
“There should be plenty of bastards with dragon epithets besides Namgung Cheon and Cheon Muback, shouldn’t there?”
It was a reasonable question and an entirely fair statement. In truth, there were more than just three who bore dragon epithets.
“And now they’re suddenly grouping us as the Three Dragons?”
It was strange—far too strange.
“It is likely an epithet given to the Junior Disciples who sparred with you and the other two dragons, Young Master. You displayed such overwhelming prowess compared to the others that they may have started calling you that.”
“Then what are that bastard Cheon Muback and Namgung Cheon called?”
“They are being referred to as the Demon Dragon and the Orthodox Dragon, respectively.”
“Then shouldn’t I normally be called the Unorthodox Dragon?”
“It seems many were deeply impressed by the distinctive Black Flames of the martial arts you use, Young Master.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Originally, there were people who wanted to call you the Black Flame Dragon, but strangely enough, they said they felt embarrassed every time they tried to say that epithet aloud. So they simply call you the Flame Dragon instead.”
“I don’t really like Black Flame Dragon either.”
The moment Youngho said Black Flame Dragon, goosebumps spread across his entire body. Shaking off the strange chill, he turned toward Kang Yongchong and spoke.
“So, can you make it, Master?”
“……It is possible. However, I have only studied the theory. This will be my first time forging it in practice, so I will need to rehearse once—”
“Once is enough?”
“Yes. But a blacksmith always forges as though it were a real battle. I assure you that even the result of that one attempt will not disappoint you.”
“That’s a good attitude. Then I’ll trouble you for a while here.”
“Of course.”
Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron alone was worth more than a thousand pieces of gold. Naturally, it was not something a mere blacksmith with no backing could handle alone.
That was why Youngho had said he would guard this place, and Kang Yongchong had accepted as though it were only natural.
Seeing that things seemed likely to proceed more smoothly than expected, Youngho nodded.
“Alright. Will you need any other materials?”
“You only need to decide what color you would like for the sword’s hilt and sheath.”
“Black. No decorations. No patterns.”
“You do not favor anything flashy.”
“If you move in the darkness, anything flashy is a hindrance.”
“I see…… I will begin at once.”
“You’re quick.”
“There were no customers anyway. And the Flame Dragon is the first customer to visit since I established this forge.”
“Hmm? That’s quite the honor.”
“The honor is mine. To think my first customer would be the Flame Dragon…… I will do my utmost not to disappoint you.”
The solemn resolve visible even in his eyes made Kang Yongchong’s movements swift and precise.
Soon, Kang Yongchong carried the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron and disappeared into the inner workshop.
‘He must be extremely excited.’
Youngho let out a faint chuckle at the sight of Kang Yongchong’s present self, so different from the future he remembered.
For a blacksmith, Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron was a material one would dream of touching at least once in a lifetime—something to use when crafting one’s personal masterpiece.
Compared to the future Kang Yongchong, whose sensibilities had dulled after handling every rare material imaginable through countless hardships, this version of him was distinctly different. That difference left Youngho in a slightly better mood.
“Better than looking so destitute.”
Muttering so softly that no one could hear, Youngho immediately sat down and assumed a Cross-Legged Meditation Posture. Entering meditation at once, he recalled—
That horrific calamity. That natural disaster.
Looking at the Heavenly Demon that manifested within his mindscape, Youngho spoke.
“It’s been a while, you son of a bitch.”
At once, within his mental realm, he began a storm-like battle against the Heavenly Demon he himself had created.
Of course, to others, it merely appeared as though he were engaged in ordinary meditation.
***
“What do you think?”
At Hwangbo Pyeong’s puzzled tone, Hwangbo Pungcheon also wore a bewildered expression.
“Indeed. Why in the world did the Young Miss tell us to keep watch on the Flame Dragon?”
“Other than his martial arts being unusual, I don’t see anything particularly strange.”
“Still, it is an order from the Young Miss. She would not have given it without reason.”
“Really?”
“……Sorry. I take that back.”
Recalling Hwangbo Nyeong’s usual behavior—how she would disregard everything once angered—Hwangbo Pungcheon wiped sweat from his temple.
“And there’s someone who concerns me far more than the Flame Dragon…….”
In an instant, Hwangbo Pyeong’s cold gaze pierced toward a certain man.
“I can’t understand why a bastard from the Black Dragon Branch is here…….”
Hwangbo Pungcheon also shifted his gaze, now different from before, toward the Black Dragon Branch swordsman.
“For an expert at least at Master Level to appear in such a remote place…… this is no ordinary matter.”
It had been a while since Youngho had left their thoughts. Right now, the Black Dragon Branch before them took priority over the Flame Dragon.
“The Black Dragon Branch was closely aligned with the Unorthodox Alliance, wasn’t it?”
At Hwangbo Pyeong’s question, Hwangbo Pungcheon nodded lightly.
“Yes. But there has been quite a bit of talk about that lately.”
“Talk? What do you mean?”
“Well, it wouldn’t matter if I told you…… no, I’ll just say it. You’re not the type to flap your mouth about.”
“Please tell me quickly.”
“You brat… Anyway, I heard there has been friction recently between the Unorthodox Alliance and the Black Dragon Branch.”
“Friction?”
“Yes. I don’t know what happened, but something definitely occurred.”
“Still, the Black Dragon Branch must hold a fairly high position within the Unorthodox Alliance…….”
“True. There are even rumors that the Black Dragon Branch Leader is on the verge of reaching the Transformation Realm.”
“In that situation, for someone from the Black Dragon Branch to encounter a disciple of the Lord of the Unorthodox Alliance…… it feels like something is about to happen.”
“I think so too. Take two or three subordinates and keep an eye on that Black Dragon Branch bastard. I’ll handle the Flame Dragon.”
“What? Will you be alright alone?”
“It’s fine. Even if he’s called a dragon, he’s still just a Junior Disciple. He can’t defeat me yet.”
“That’s true…… The only troublesome one I saw was that old man.”
“Then hurry up and go. I still have a few subordinates left to assist me.”
“Alright. Listen to the way you talk.”
After grumbling briefly, Hwangbo Pyeong left with two subordinates.
Thinking of Youngho and his group, who still had not emerged from the forge, Hwangbo Pungcheon muttered,
“I have no idea what they’re up to.”
***
Five days passed like that.
With a satisfied smile, Youngho looked at the sword Kang Yongchong handed to him.
“The sharpness of the blade is no joke. And it’s incredibly light? As expected, even among Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron, this must belong to the highest grade.”
Youngho, wearing a satisfied smile similar to Youngho’s own, let out a hearty laugh and said,
“With this size, it will fit Chowon perfectly.”
“Indeed. Chowon, this is your sword. If your body grows and it no longer suits you, I’ll make you another one then. For now, use this.”
“Thank you, Young Master!”
Kang Chowon beamed brightly, clearly overjoyed, as she took hold of the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron Sword that Youngho handed to her.
Though she was still a child, she was a Martial Artist, and she understood the value of Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron. To possess a Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron Sword that could not be obtained even with a thousand pieces of gold……
For an ordinary person, it would be a fortunate encounter that might not come even after three lifetimes. Suppressing her racing heart as best she could, Kang Chowon slowly examined the sword as a Swordsman.
It was light and sharp. The heavy and crude raw material had transformed into a blade as light as a feather, yet possessing a Blade Aura capable of slicing through steel with ease.
She felt so exhilarated that she wanted to turn cartwheels in the air.
Perhaps sensing her feelings, Youngho let out a faint chuckle.
“You like it that much?”
“Of course! I now have a Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron Sword! And you even promised to make me another one when my arms and legs grow longer!”
“As long as you’re happy.”
Youngho snickered, then turned to Kang Yongchong.
“Well? Do you have a better grasp now on how to handle Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron?”
Kang Yongchong nodded vigorously, his voice trembling slightly with excitement.
“This is the first time I’ve handled such hardened iron! It was difficult to work with because it also possessed incredible flexibility, but next time I will forge it properly!”
It was no different from calling the sword he had just made a failure, yet Kang Chowon seemed to hear nothing at all, simply grinning as she gazed at her sword.
“Good. Then next, you can forge swords for these two.”
Kang Hosan smiled brightly in delight, while Horyeung looked at Youngho with a flustered expression.
“You will give me a sword as well?”
“Of course. Why? Did you think I saw you as the setting sun?”
“……That is not it. Still, it seems far too excessive for an old man like me to receive…….”
“So you don’t want it?”
“……I will gratefully accept it.”
It seemed Horyeung himself did not notice, but everyone except him saw it—the corners of his mouth were raised so high they nearly reached his ears.
Thus, ten days passed.
“Haa…….”
Horyeung stared at the sword Youngho handed him with eyes that could hardly believe it.
“Chowon’s sword was already remarkable, but this one feels different.”
“Lighter?”
“I do not think that is it. How should I put it…….”
Horyeung let out a troubled murmur before speaking.
“It is heavy.”
“What?”
Kang Yongchong’s face turned pale blue, and Horyeung let out a hearty laugh.
“There is no cause for alarm, Master. The sword itself is unbelievably light and sharp.”
Kang Yongchong sighed in relief, yet he still wondered whether he had forged it incorrectly, and so he focused intently on Horyeung’s words.
“Yet when I hold this sword, my heart feels unbearably heavy.”
At Horyeung’s simple remark, Youngho patted his shoulder lightly.
“It’s fine. For you, that is only natural.”
“What do you mean?”
“I do not see you as a setting sun. And you know that as well.”
“……Your words are always too generous. They return to me as shackles.”
“Is that so? To me, it seems your way of thinking is the shackle binding you.”
“……?”
Horyeung looked at his lord with puzzled eyes. Youngho pointed at him with a finger and said,
“The problem is that you think of yourself as a setting sun.”
“……!”
“Growing old does not mean you can no longer dream as you once did. More precisely, you choose not to. You call it foolishness, or say it was merely the hot-bloodedness of youth, and deliberately try to forget your own dream.”
“…….”
It was true. No matter how old he had grown, Horyeung’s dream remained the same. He had merely hidden it for now.
“Horyeung. You are not some old man cast into a back room. You have two disciples who support you, and you have me as well. Unfold your dream.”
Horyeung involuntarily flinched at Youngho’s words, which pierced through thoughts he himself had not even acknowledged—no, thoughts he had deliberately avoided.
He glanced subtly toward his two disciples. There stood Kang Hosan and Kang Chowon, upright and steadfast as ever, as though declaring they would always stand behind their master.
Like Ancient Trees that remained standing even after a typhoon, the sight of the two made Horyeung let out a soft laugh.
“It seems this old man has grown more prone to tears.”
He quietly wiped away the moisture gathering at the corners of his eyes and said,
“Young Master, thank you.”
Hearing Horyeung speak as though he had realized something, Youngho smiled back at him.
“I know.”
“…….”
Ah, he was truly insufferable.