Chapter 441
Putting aside the absolute absurdity of whatever he was trying to say.
“What did you just utter?”
My temper flared at his sheer insolence—casually throwing around words meant to provoke me, and doing so right inside my own master’s residence.
“Let us settle this right now.”
*Flash.*
The moment I initiated the Tae-eul Eighty Thousand God Steps to close the distance between myself and that bastard.
“Hold on! Wait! Calm down!”
Hwa Jeong-san lunged forward, throwing his posture wide to block my path. Immediately after, Il-myeong also stepped in front of me, acting as a human shield.
“Donor So-un. Please, compose yourself.”
“I was just directly threatened.”
As I attempted to wrench myself free from the holds of Hwa Jeong-san and Il-myeong to charge forward once more.
*Woom—*
The Dragon Claw Hand (Yong-jo-su) manifested from Il-myeong’s palm, catching me firmly by the collar yet again.
“His remarks carry no weight whatsoever!”
“…….”
“He… he frequently spouts nonsensical things like that without any real intent.”
Deception was written all over Il-myeong’s face. Whether he was fabricating the claim that the man habitually engaged in such bizarre behavior, or lying about the statements being meaningless, I couldn’t be entirely certain. But it was undeniably a falsehood.
“Is that right?”
I let the tension drain from my muscles. Sensing this, Hwa Jeong-san and Il-myeong gradually loosened their grips.
“Phew… to react so violently over a mere comment…”
And, precisely when the two of them let their guard down.
*Swish—*
Harnessing the explosive momentum of Chuk-ji-seong-chon, I launched myself straight toward Yong So-ah.
“Ah!”
Without wasting a fraction of a second, I unleashed the Invincible Manhwa Fist (Man-hwa-mu-jeok-gwon).
*Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud!*
An instant barrage of dozens of fist shadows rained down across Yong So-ah’s frame. However, a swirling vortex of air resembling a Taiji materialized around him, smoothly redirecting the impact of my strikes. I immediately transitioned into the Hwanyeong-gak, targeting his lethal pressure points. Yong So-ah executed a long-fist form, unerringly intercepting only the true strike hidden within the illusions of the Hwanyeong-gak.
Right at that exact juncture, he spun on his heel with incredible fluidness and drove forward with the Taiji Fist.
“……!”
A sudden wave of dread washed over me.
‘How on earth did he…!’
*Bang!*
“What in the world is the meaning of this uproar!”
Suddenly, a gravelly, piercing shout reverberated from the direction of the Tae-eul Hall.
“Eh?”
Moyong-gang bellowed, his eyes widening at the chaotic spectacle playing out before him.
“Have you brats completely forgotten the basic laws of decorum! A senior who commands the respect of the entire Jianghu is currently holding a vital conference inside, and you dare to engage in a reckless brawl right outside the doors!”
The deafening force of a Lion’s Roar (Saja-hu) struck my ears with physical weight. None of the martial artists present lacked a deep pool of internal energy, yet several individuals visibly winced, their complexions turning pale—likely due to the lingering strain of the recent confrontation.
“If you possess such an insatiable desire to clash, I will gladly erect an arena for you myself! You can slaughter each other there until someone stops breathing!”
A heavy stillness enveloped the courtyard. Yong So-ah maintained his unreadable, deadpan expression, while I kept my senses fully heightened, refusing to break eye contact with him.
It was then.
“We offer our deepest apologies.”
Il-myeong, recovering his composure after clearing his head with a few sharp shakes, pressed his hands together and offered a low bow.
“It appears we let our passions get the better of us after being separated for so long. We shall take our leave immediately.”
“This very moment?”
“Yes. We have clearly overstepped and cast a dark shadow over the Tae-eul Sect’s grand celebration.”
“*Tsk*.”
Moyong-gang let out a sharp click of his tongue, sounding somewhat disappointed by the abrupt departure. Il-myeong firmly grasped Yong So-ah’s shoulder, while Hwa Jeong-san quickly guided the rest of their companions out of the Tae-eul Hall’s front grounds.
“Young blood always running hot… Wait, what?”
Moyong-gang, turning back to re-enter the Tae-eul Hall, suddenly paused and knit his brows.
“Why are you standing there looking like you’ve seen a ghost?”
“……Elder.”
My thoughts were entirely scrambled. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the path where Yong So-ah had just disappeared. A bizarre sense of wrongness gripped me—something I couldn’t logically rationalize.
“Regarding your Gong-myeol-gwon, Elder.”
“Where is this coming from all of a sudden?”
“Yes. Is it possible for someone who has never been exposed to it to anticipate and counter it ahead of time?”
“Ha! What a ridiculous notion! How could anyone prepare against a supreme technique that leaves even those familiar with it utterly defenseless?”
“Exactly, right?”
Considering that even I, during my initial encounter with that technique, had been completely helpless to defend against it. Yes. That was the standard rule of things… no, it was the absolute law of nature.
“Why do you ask? Have you finally resolved to join the Moyong Family and master it yourself?”
But that person, Yong So-ah…
‘He undeniably shifted his stance as if he fully anticipated the incoming Gong-myeol-gwon.’
I walked away from the Tae-eul Hall, my mind tangled in a web of unorganized suspicions. Behind me, a voice far more shrill and grating than before came piercing through the air.
“Fine, I will no longer demand that you marry in and take our name! Just become my son-in-law, and I will personally hand down the secrets of the Gong-myeol-gwon! This is your ultimate opportunity! Are you truly foolish enough to discard an inheritance that will never cross your path again?! I am talking about the Gong-myeol-gwon! The legendary Gong-myeol-gwon!”
With my focus completely consumed by the riddle of Yong So-ah, the frantic shouting merely drifted past my ears like an idle breeze.
A full week sailed past following the grand grand reopening of the Tae-eul Sect. The stream of late-arriving guests responding to old notices finally dried up, and the security forces and attendants from the Wang Family Manor who had been stationed at the sect packed up and returned home. Though a steady trickle of parents still arrived leading their youngsters by the hand, eager to enroll them as formal pupils, the massive crowd thinned out significantly after a prominent declaration was fastened to the main gates.
With the massive assembly departing, the initial anxieties that the local market of So-eum County would plummet proved entirely unfounded; conversely, the financial state of So-eum County remained remarkably robust. The arrival of high-quality taverns and resting houses transformed the area into a popular resting hub where travelers could wash away the dust of the road just before pushing into Hefei. Consequently, a vast number of nomadic merchants who had originally set up temporary stalls chose to plant permanent roots. In comparison to the astronomical real estate fees and inflated costs of living in Hefei, the leases in So-eum County were highly reasonable. The local marketplace expanded exponentially once the established commercial enterprises of the Wang Family Manor established their branches here. Spurred by this momentum, incoming business owners began constructing permanent residential properties, and So-eum County rapidly evolved from a sleepy hamlet into a bustling, mid-sized township.
“Is this truly the net gain generated throughout the reopening festivities?”
“Unbelievable…! You are a miracle worker!”
As a direct result, the treasury of the Tae-eul Sect grew deeper and more secure than it had ever been. Yet, the most welcoming tidings lay elsewhere.
“It has finally materialized…!”
The suffocating financial gridlock that had plagued the Dae-cheon Merchant Group dissolved completely almost the moment the reopening ceremony concluded.
“Delinquent accounts from every province are suddenly being settled in full.”
“We can finally take a proper breath, Master Jin!”
“We have just received a massive repeat order!”
It was as though a dam had broken; patrons who had spent months fabricating excuses to stall their transactions were suddenly scrambling to clear their debts ahead of schedule. One merchant went so far as to sprint to a local draft house, convert his financial notes into solid coin, and personally haul the heavy currency on a wagon directly to the headquarters of the Dae-cheon Merchant Group. Because of this sudden influx, the offices of the Dae-cheon Merchant Group were crowded for days—not with casual buyers, but with a massive line of long-standing corporate associates.
“Please accept our humblest apologies. Our corporate liquidity has been incredibly strained of late…”
“We are deeply indebted to your patience during our financial hardships.”
“We eagerly anticipate maintaining our prosperous alliance for years to come.”
They didn’t just bring the base sums owed; they intentionally calculated and attached substantial interest to compensate for the months of delay. Watching these trading partners smoothly reframe their actions as genuine internal struggles rather than coordinated malice, Jin Tae-san found himself wrestling with a deep sense of cynicism.
Wang Geum-san could only offer a hearty laugh at Jin Tae-san’s moral dilemma.
“Hahahaha! Did you honestly believe the realm of commerce would operate on a higher moral plane than the chaotic Jianghu? If anything, the arena where gold rules is far more brutal and cutthroat.”
“…….”
“That is simply the fundamental nature of existence. The moment you falter, they draw their blades to strike you down; the moment you ascend to power, they fall to their knees in submission. Is that not the universal law governing all human endeavors?”
Jin Tae-san, who had served reliably as the Hall Master of the Outer Hall and steered the Tae-eul Sect through its darkest financial crises, was hardly ignorant of these harsh realities. Moving to the window, he gazed out at the sprawling grounds of the Tae-eul Sect and squeezed his fist until his knuckles turned white.
“We can never allow ourselves to fall into vulnerability again.”
“No, that is entirely the wrong approach.”
Wang Geum-san shook his head with absolute conviction.
“Adopting that mindset merely limits your scope to preserving what you already own.”
“Did you not preach that safeguarding our existing core assets was our absolute highest priority?”
“That strategy was tailored strictly for the period when the Tae-eul Sect was staring into an abyss.”
Wang Geum-san shifted his focus outward as well, matching Jin Tae-san’s gaze.
“Look at us now. Is the Tae-eul Sect not enjoying unprecedented wealth, backed by a formidable reputation that commands absolute respect?”
What relationship did the rising fame of the Tae-eul Sect have with the daily trade operations of the Dae-cheon Merchant Group?
“*Tsk, tsk*. This exact naivety is why rigidly upright men rarely survive the cutthroat world of trade.”
Wang Geum-san was already sighing in exasperation at Jin Tae-san’s slow comprehension. His expression sharpened into something intensely focused.
“Following the triumph of our reopening, the Tae-eul Sect has truly reached a position of **Yeo-ho-cheom-ik**—we have effectively given wings to a tiger. Is this not the ideal window to aggressively push our borders and consolidate our dominance?”
“Is our current influence not closer to **Cha-ho-wi-ho**—merely a clever fox leveraging the terrifying prestige of a tiger?”
“Whether we are talking about **Cha-ho-wi-ho** or **Yeo-ho-cheom-ik**, the undeniable reality is that a terrifying tiger stands before them, does it not?”
Swallowing back the obvious counter-argument that a massive structural gulf separated those two idioms, Jin Tae-san remained quiet. Whenever Wang Geum-san’s eyes began to mirror the glint of coins, challenging his financial vision was a surefire way to invite a verbal lashing. Instead, he phrased his next words with careful deliberation.
“In what manner should we execute this expansion of our influence?”
The eyes of the elderly merchant, etched deeply with the wrinkles of a long life, flared with cold brilliance.
“Remind me, who were the primary instigators attempting to destabilize the Tae-eul Sect and dismantle the foundations of the Dae-cheon Merchant Group?”
“The Wudang and Jeom-chang factions.”
“Their aggressive gambit was shattered. Where do you suppose that resulting shockwave will manifest?”
“……It will ricochet directly back upon their own houses.”
The waves of public condemnation and tactical pressure originally leveled against the Tae-eul Sect would inevitably swing back toward the very factions that launched them. Wang Geum-san sliced his hand through the air, mimicking a predatory raptor closing in on a target.
“Precisely! The tables have turned. Now is our moment to strike at their financial lifelines, exploiting the internal panic tearing through their ranks while they are off-balance!”
“…….”
“I told you before, the Jianghu and the marketplace are cut from the identical cloth. Wealth accumulation obeys the exact same rules. If an adversary believes they can strike without suffering personal ruin, they will exploit your weaknesses the moment you slip. How long do you intend to run this enterprise by constantly turning the other cheek?”
Wang Geum-san’s parting query struck Jin Tae-san with the force of a physical blow.
“Constantly turning the other cheek…….”
Jin Tae-san’s expression hardened into something fierce and uncompromising. Hearing the bright, untroubled laughter of the young pupils drifting through the open window, he clenched his fist once more.
“I will never permit a reality where those children are forced to endure such hardships ever again due to our own weakness.”
“Are you truly resolved to see this through?”
“They will bitterly regret the day they sought the ruin of the Dae-cheon Merchant Group, and they will weep tears of blood for their folly.”
Though the monumental hurdles of the reopening had been successfully surmounted, the lanterns illuminating the desks of Jin Tae-san and Wang Geum-san burned brightly through the night, showing no signs of dimming.
Since my companions, the Geum-Eun-Dong brothers, along with Sa-ryeon, were required to journey back to the headquarters of the Murim Alliance regardless, we opted to align our departure with the traveling party of Hyeok Mu-gang. This granted us a brief window of leisure, and precisely during this interlude, Jang Do-won arrived with the exhilarating news that our third legendary instrument of war was completely finalized. Gathering Sa-ryeon, I quickly navigated our way to Jang Do-won’s workshop.
“It appears you’ve managed to bring the completion forward significantly from your original projections?”
“I felt compelled to prepare a proper tribute in honor of your sect’s grand reopening. Though, to my great frustration, I couldn’t quite finalize it before the actual event concluded.”
“The sheer level of dedication and sweat you poured into its creation is more than enough.”
With a countenance radiating a craftsman’s profound pride, Jang Do-won held out a single massive container alongside two considerably smaller cases.
“Did you actually forge a pair of weapons?”
“The quantity of cold iron delivered to me was sufficient to fashion a single standard blade. Because I chose to bifurcate the material into two separate pieces, one of them remains technically a partial forge, however…….”
Jang Do-won squared his shoulders, puffing out his chest as he punctuated his statement.
“Let me assure you, even if I classify it as a partial forge, it by no means implies that I have produced a substandard piece of work.”
I understood his pride completely. In truth, the legendary fourth creation, the Ascending Saber (Seung-cheon-do), was inherently designed as a mid-tier dimension weapon. I unlatched the storage casing. My pulse quickened instantly. There lay the exact replicas of the Small Flower Sword (So-hwa-geom) and the Ascending Saber that I remembered so vividly from my previous incarnation. Without delay, I presented the So-hwa-geom to Sa-ryeon.
“Ah…….”
The instant Sa-ryeon’s gaze fell upon the So-hwa-geom, she stood completely transfixed by its mesmerizing, elegant aesthetic.
“I-Is this truly intended for me?”
“Indeed. From the very moment I drafted its conception, it was a blade forged entirely with you in mind.”
In my prior life, the So-hwa-geom was renowned as the definitive personal weapon of Abbess Yeo-jeong of the Emei sect. Having claimed the So-hwa-geom through sheer fortune amidst the chaotic turning points of the Great War of Justice and Evil, she refused to part with it until the day she drew her final breath.
*Clink.*
As her fingers wrapped around the hilt, the metal blade draped downward fluidly, appearing almost liquid in its flexibility. Sa-ryeon, momentarily startled by the weapon’s pliant nature:
*Whoosh—*
Quickly grasping the true nature of the unique armament, she channeled a surge of her internal energy directly through the hilt.
*Clang!*
Instantly, the fluid form of the So-hwa-geom snapped taut, transforming into an unyielding, razor-sharp rapier.
“Despite the incorporation of soft iron elements to grant it flexibility, its structural integrity and resilience will easily match or exceed the finest grades of standard cold iron.”
Jang Do-won confidently secured a thick, solid bar of iron to serve as a test target, and Sa-ryeon swung the blade, cleaving through the dense metal without a shred of hesitation.
*Slash—*
Though she applied minimal physical force, the unyielding iron bar was severed cleanly, offering zero resistance. It possessed an apocalyptic cleaving capability that stood in stark contrast to its delicate, alluring design. Sa-ryeon stared blankly, momentarily stunned by the weapon’s terrifying lethality.
Observing her awe, Jang Do-won grinned warmly and proffered an additional accessory.
“Under normal circumstances, you can securely conceal it within this specialized sash and unsheathe it seamlessly whenever a crisis demands.”
Reflecting his foundational background as a master creator of intricate jewelry, the detailed engravings along the leather belt displayed a refined, understated elegance. Sa-ryeon could scarcely conceal her delight at acquiring such a formidable hidden asset, yet the true, hidden legacy of this particular blade operated on an entirely different level.
‘Its true purpose was **Hang-ma**—the binding and subduing of absolute evil.’
While I remained ignorant of the personal sentiments that caused Abbess Yeo-jeong to guard the So-hwa-geom with such fierce devotion, my motivations for placing it in Sa-ryeon’s hands were entirely distinct. The weapon possessed an innate, potent capability to suppress demonic corruption.
Turning my focus, I examined the Seung-cheon-do. It was a mid-sized saber featuring an unconventional, intermediate length—shorter than a traditional longsword yet significantly longer than a standard dagger. This specific, awkward length was a design almost exclusively favored by professional covert operatives and killers. Because of this specialized nature, its true tactical brilliance was historically the slowest to be recognized by common martial artists.
The hidden mechanism governing the weapon was quite specific.
“I believe I shall conduct a brief trial of my own.”
“Proceed as you see fit.”
Grasping the hilt of the Seung-cheon-do, I brought it down in a powerful arc against the remaining segment of the iron bar Sa-ryeon had previously split.
*Slash—*
The Seung-cheon-do didn’t merely slice cleanly through the dense iron; the force carried completely through, splitting the heavy forging anvil beneath it in half. This was the long-shrouded property unique to the Seung-cheon-do. When an individual channels internal energy past a specific threshold into the core of the Seung-cheon-do, its destructive cutting edge amplifies to an unimaginable degree. Confirming that its physical properties and mystical attributes perfectly mirrored the weapon from my past life, I slid the Seung-cheon-do horizontally into the sheath at my waist.
Truly, the craftsmanship of an absolute master belongs in a category of its own. I offered a deep, respectful bow to Jang Do-won to convey my sincere appreciation.
“You have my deepest gratitude…….”
*Thwack!*
Suddenly, a stinging sensation erupted across the back of my skull. As I bolted upright in surprise:
“Y-You absolute menace……!!!”
The blacksmith stood before me, huffing frantically, literal steam practically billowing from his nostrils.
“Whatever did I do wrong to warrant—”
“You reckless fool! Do you have even the faintest conception of how exorbitant the cost of that specialized anvil was?!”
“No, well, the thing is…….”
“You were supposed to govern your internal energy with a shred of moderation!”
In truth, even Jang Do-won was completely oblivious to the legendary tier of weapon he had actually brought into existence. It was understandable, given how completely consumed he had been by the sheer labor of its fabrication. Furthermore, he lacked any martial cultivation or internal energy of his own to test its limits.
*Thwack!*
I promptly swallowed my complaints and offered an apology. The blow from his long tobacco pipe had left my head throbbing intensely.
“Ow! My apologies, I truly am sorry…….”
Regrettably, my tribulations following the acquisition of this new armament did not conclude in the forge.
“……**Dae-sahyeong**, it appears you have managed to secure yet another magnificent weapon?”
“…….”
“Oh, please don’t mind me. I am perfectly content to go on wielding a cheap, mass-produced iron blade until it inevitably shatters at the worst possible moment and leaves me to die horribly.”
Eun-ho refused to cease his bitter stream of self-pity, his gaze burning with profound envy. Given his natural intellect, the sheer eloquence and biting sharpness of his self-deprecation were uniquely agonizing to endure.
“No, truly, I am completely fine……. What necessity do I have for a blade anyway? I can simply rely on my bare hands to wage war. Perhaps I shall distinguish myself as the premier bare-fisted brawler in the history of the Tae-eul Sect, yes? Though, considering I have dedicated my entire existence to mastering swordplay, the mathematical likelihood of me being outmatched by a blade and slaughtered like a dog is exceptionally high. Hahahaha.”
“…….”
“I am completely at peace with this! Truly, perfectly fine!”
I found myself desperately wishing for a sudden turn of fate to present him with an incredible breakthrough.
