Chapter 62
Chapter 62
“Wow…….”
Kang Chowon spoke in admiration as she looked at the beautiful sight before her.
“Oppa, congratulations!”
At the loud voice, Kang Hosan finally realized what he had created and flinched in surprise, flustered.
“Huh? Oh! Oh!!”
After that, it was nothing but a string of joy. Kang Hosan clenched his fist tightly as if he had finally achieved it, Kang Chowon clapped, and Horyeung wore a satisfied smile.
As Kang Hosan basked in his happiness, Youngho spoke.
“Congratulations, Hosan.”
“Young Master…!”
“I know. You must be happy. But you must not become conceited. There are countless masters in the world who can wield Sword Qi freely, and among them, you are at the very bottom.”
It was true, but Kang Hosan looked at Youngho with an exasperated expression.
“No, Young Master, I understand you’re saying that in case I become conceited, but…….”
He had not even gotten to the main point, yet Horyeung and Kang Chowon were already nodding as if they agreed with Youngho’s words.
‘What? Why are they looking at me like that?’
He had a lot he wanted to say, but Youngho decided to listen to Kang Hosan first.
“Would I really become conceited?”
“Yes.”
At Youngho’s confident tone, Kang Hosan let out a groan.
“Young Master is right next to me, you know?”
Even Youngho could not carelessly open his mouth at that remark. Soon, he gave an awkward smile.
‘Right. I was eighteen.’
Noticing that Youngho had realized his point, Kang Hosan began to speak passionately.
“No, with someone next to me who hasn’t even come of age yet and has already reached not only Sword Qi but even the level of harming others with Sword Qi, how could I possibly become conceited? If anything, I’d be lucky not to develop an inferiority complex.”
“Uh…….”
As Youngho opened and closed his mouth without saying anything, Kang Hosan seized the opportunity and poured out everything he had been thinking until now.
“Honestly, if I trained this insanely hard, I should at least become a Master Level! I endured bone-shaving and organ-grinding pain for about three years! If I don’t even reach Master Level, I’d die of resentment!”
His gestures seemed a bit excessive, but to Horyeung and Kang Chowon, Kang Hosan’s words sounded reasonable.
However, at Youngho’s words that flew like a dagger, Kang Hosan’s mouth shut.
“But compared to me, you barely trained.”
“…….”
“You’re rewarded in proportion to your effort. So everyone, work reeeally hard.”
As if he found his own words refreshing, Youngho chuckled and left. Watching his retreating back, Kang Hosan muttered unconsciously.
“……Fuck.”
Since it was true, he could not even argue.
And so a day passed.
“Ha, hahat!”
Kang Yongchong laughed excitedly and shouted without realizing it.
“I did ittttt!”
At the thunderous roar akin to a lion’s roar, Youngho’s group was startled and hurried into the forge.
They could only stare blankly at the sword in Kang Yongchong’s hand.
Until now, every sword Kang Yongchong had forged carried its own subtle charm. But this one was on a different level.
A sword forged from the highest grade of Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron boasted tremendous Blade Aura.
Yet even Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron had to meet the right master to become a fine sword.
Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron had met a worthy master in Kang Yongchong and had become a divine weapon that could not be fully described by the mere term “famed blade.”
It would not be an exaggeration to say it was the finest among all the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron Swords he had forged so far.
The transparent and beautiful sword, reflecting the images of Kang Yongchong and Youngho’s group, was soon placed into a plain scabbard devoid of any decoration or pattern.
Kang Yongchong hurriedly handed the sword to its owner, Youngho, and said,
“This is the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron Sword you requested. It is my greatest masterpiece. I sincerely hope it meets your expectations.”
There was not a trace of anxiety in Kang Yongchong’s voice. He knew as well—what he had created, and how extraordinary it was.
That was why he could speak with such certainty. It was his greatest masterpiece, a sword that only he in the entire world could forge.
Youngho emotionlessly drew the sword from its scabbard.
From the unadorned, simple scabbard emerged a beautiful blade so stunning that it was hard to believe it had come from something so plain.
To a Martial Artist, a weapon was their life. Who would not rejoice that their life had become tougher and more unyielding?
Thus, Youngho smiled as well. It was a remarkable sword—so complete that it was hard to believe it had been forged by the current Kang Yongchong.
Kang Yongchong had already become one of the top three blacksmiths in the world.
After finishing his appraisal, Youngho sheathed the sword again and bowed his head to Kang Yongchong.
“Thank you, innkeeper.”
It was a simple expression of gratitude. There was no flourish in Youngho’s words, nor any Daoist aura one might expect from a recluse.
What could be felt from Youngho was nothing more and nothing less than sincere gratitude.
Everyone in Youngho’s group, except Hyeon-gang, also bowed their heads and said,
“Thank you.”
That single phrase contained everything—the value of the sword, their gratitude, and even their resolve to never bring shame upon the one who had forged it.
Kang Yongchong seemed to have sensed his thoughts. With tears in his eyes, he said,
“I should be the one thanking you. For recognizing my worth, and for allowing me to forge swords.”
But that touching scene did not last.
Youngho’s Qi Sense detected the presence of uninvited guests. In an instant, he pressed gold into Kang Yongchong’s hand and said,
“It’s your labor fee. I added five nyang more—just accept it. It’s merely a token of my goodwill.”
“I am in no position to refuse at the moment, so I will gratefully accept it. But I will certainly repay this kindness someday.”
“It would be better to prepare yourself mentally a little.”
“Pardon?”
“I hope things work out well.”
Youngho immediately led his group away. Just as Kang Yongchong wondered what this was about and stepped outside—
He saw three figures approaching from afar. And instinctively, he understood why Youngho had told him to prepare himself.
“Young Master, will you be alright?”
At Horyeung’s question, Kang Hosan and Kang Chowon also spoke to Youngho with faintly anxious expressions.
“That’s right, Young Master. If they unconsciously release even a bit of their Martial Presence……”
“That won’t happen.”
At Youngho’s firm response, Kang Hosan groaned.
“Just what makes you so certain?”
“Because Hwangbo Nyeong is there.”
At Youngho’s confident tone, no one could easily refute him. They all knew that most of Youngho’s predictions were correct.
“Maybe not the other bastards, but Hwangbo Nyeong is trustworthy. It seems she’s broken through her wall now, so her authority within the clan must be considerable.”
“That means!”
Horyeung looked startled, and Youngho grinned.
“Yes. She’s reached the Transcendent Peak Master Realm.”
“That is quite fascinating. To grow so quickly…… it seems the future of the Orthodox Sect’s junior disciples is bright indeed.”
“Then I suppose we’ll have to expand the Asura Squad a bit more. That aside…… I didn’t expect the Clan Head to come personally. Though it’s not particularly strange.”
“Pardon?”
Hyeon-gang jumped in surprise, and Youngho tilted his head as if wondering what was so shocking.
“What is it?”
“N-No, I just never imagined the Clan Head would personally come over a mere blacksmith.”
Kang Hosan and Kang Chowon nodded in agreement. Only Horyeung showed no reaction.
“Think about it. Who was the former Clan Head of the Hwangbo Clan’s son?”
“The current Hwangbo Clan Head.”
“Then as a son, isn’t it only natural for him to come personally and apologize?”
“Ah…….”
Everyone except Youngho and Horyeung let out sounds of realization.
“That makes sense.”
“Right. If you understand, let’s go.”
“What? We’re just leaving?”
“Hyeon-gang, I’ll say it again. There’s no place for us in that matter. It’s something the involved parties must resolve themselves.”
“Ugh…… I’m still worried.”
His concern was not unreasonable. Hyeon-gang had personally experienced the injustices that occurred within a clan.
It was not strange to imagine something happening there.
“It’s fine. Any further interference would be excessive. They’ll start noticing us soon, so let’s leave.”
When Youngho began walking, the others reluctantly followed.
“By the way, where are we going now?”
“I told you. To the mountain in Hebei.”
“Yes, but which one exactly?”
“Before that, I’ll teach you some martial arts.”
“I told you, I’m fine…….”
“It’s fine. Just circulate your Qi once. I won’t turn your Internal Energy into filthy sewage-like sludge. On the contrary, it’ll become extremely refined.”
“Good grief…… Fine. No reason to refuse something being given. But if it harms me even slightly, we stop immediately, understood?”
“Alright, alright.”
Before they knew it, they had arrived at the inn where they had left their horses. Just before entering, Youngho spoke casually to Horyeung.
“Horyeung, it seems you have some business.”
At Youngho’s innocent tone, Horyeung let out a faint chuckle.
“Yes. It seems something important has come up.”
“Go on. We’ll wait at the stables.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
Kang Hosan and Kang Chowon looked at Horyeung curiously, but his gentle smile revealed nothing.
After watching Youngho walk away for a moment, Horyeung chuckled again.
“Your acting truly is superb. So natural.”
He then turned back into the alley and said,
“Since you’ve already been discovered, why not come out and talk?”
Speaking to empty air was certainly an unsettling sight.
Anyone else seeing him might have thought him mad, but this was different.
“If you won’t come out, I’ll take that as you having no intention of speaking.”
“…….”
There was still no reply, but Horyeung drew his sword from its scabbard.
“Good. That’s better. I had no desire to talk either.”
Slash!
In the silent alley, a chilling sound suddenly echoed. Horyeung had swung his sword through empty air.
It was far too vicious a sound to have merely cut the wind. Soon, a single figure materialized from the air and collapsed to the ground.
Shaking the blood from his blade, Horyeung thought,
‘Is this the Slaughter Heaven Sect the Young Master mentioned before?’
That seemed highly likely. They were the only assassin organization targeting Youngho.
He had heard that members of the Slaughter Heaven Sect bore a special tattoo unique to them.
And only Youngho had been able to confirm such a mark. Yet seeing that Youngho had not personally stepped in this time, it seemed he no longer paid much attention to assassins.
‘He truly is bold.’
It was a scene no ordinary junior disciple could have imagined.
Horyeung incinerated the corpse with Samadhi True Fire and then went after Youngho once more.