Chapter 138. Restoration (6)

Dang Sopyeong gazed intently at Yeo Yun.

In truth, he had not followed Yeo Yun to ask her to craft hidden weapons.

It was because, watching her at the forge, he had felt a strange sense of kinship.

It wasn’t just the story of his maternal grandfather and grandmother.

Dang Sopyeong was most bothered by what Great Jade Yeo had said to Yeo Yun.

Since you’re a woman, it’s meaningless to learn metallurgy anyway.

It was similar to what he had experienced at the Sichuan Sword Clan.

Since you’re an illegitimate son, you can’t gain the family’s recognition even if you learn martial arts.

Of course, he no longer had any intention of seeking the recognition of the Sichuan Sword Clan.

The reason he learned martial arts was solely for his mother’s revenge.

But because he had experienced something similar, he really disliked it.

The kind of talk that said one didn’t even have the right to start, just because they were an illegitimate son or a woman.

At Dang Sopyeong’s bold proposal, after blinking for a moment, Yeo Yun let out a faint laugh.

“Hahaha. That sounds less like I’m using you, Young Master Tang, and more like you’re using me.”

“Ahem. I wasn’t asking you to craft the hidden weapons for free.”

Dang Sopyeong, who had been acting boldly until just a moment ago, moved his lips with an awkward expression.

“And it would be better for you, Miss Yeo, to entrust them to me rather than to others. Ahem.”

Yeo Yun, maintaining her smile, asked back.

“Is it because your skills are outstanding, Young Master Tang?”

“It’s the opposite.”

Wondering what this meant, Yeo Yun made an expression of piqued interest.

“In a fight between martial artists of similar skill, isn’t it the power of the weapon that shines?”

“That is true.”

“But if someone with lesser skill wins with the power of a weapon, then the performance of the weapon, not the skill of the martial artist, will be the main topic of discussion.”

“Hearing it like that, it makes sense.”

“In that sense, if a master is killed with an outstanding hidden weapon, wouldn’t people focus on the hidden weapon itself rather than the martial art of the one who wielded it?”

Yeo Yun, who had been listening quietly to Dang Sopyeong’s logic, blinked a few times and asked.

“But if that happens, won’t you be pointed at, Young Master Tang?”

At this, Dang Sopyeong shrugged his shoulders and replied.

“It doesn’t matter. I have no intention of making a name for myself with martial arts in the first place. The reason I learned martial arts is simply for the sake of revenge for my deceased maternal grandfather and grandmother.”

Dang Sopyeong was no longer the person he was when he used to strive for his family’s recognition.

“So, it doesn’t matter at all if the name of the hidden weapon becomes more renowned than my skills. To me, martial arts are merely a means to protect my family and friends.”

“You truly cherish your family and friends.”

At Yeo Yun’s words, Dang Sopyeong coughed awkwardly as if embarrassed.

Then, as if something suddenly occurred to him, Dang Sopyeong opened his mouth.

“Ah! Speaking of martial arts, how about you learn martial arts as well, Miss Yeo?”

“……Are you saying I should fight myself with the weapons I’ve crafted?”

Dang Sopyeong, startled, waved his hands in denial.

“Th-that’s not what I meant! I meant you should learn it for the sake of metallurgy.”

“For metallurgy?”

“That’s right. Wasn’t the reason your esteemed father objected also because of your lack of muscular strength? But if you learn martial arts, you will be able to supplement your lacking strength with internal energy.”

“Ah!”

Yeo Yun, who had let out an exclamation of surprise, muttered as if she had made a decision.

“I’ll have to find a martial art somehow.”

“There’s no need to go looking for one. In exchange for you crafting the hidden weapons, I will teach you martial arts.”

If she were trying to become a martial arts master, it might be a different story, but if it was just martial arts for metallurgy, it wouldn’t be difficult.

All he had to do was create a few principles to match the hammering motion, in addition to a basic internal energy divine art.

At Dang Sopyeong’s proposal, Yeo Yun showed a troubled expression.

“I may be completely ignorant of martial arts, but I know that it’s not something you teach to just anyone. I feel that it’s too much in return for crafting hidden weapons.”

“Hahaha. In that case, wouldn’t it be fine if you use that martial art to truly craft the greatest hidden weapons under heaven?”

At Dang Sopyeong’s words, Yeo Yun lowered her head and muttered to herself in a small voice.

“The greatest hidden weapons under heaven……”

Then she lifted her head, gazed intently at Dang Sopyeong, and asked.

“What do you think is the greatest hidden weapon under heaven, Young Master Tang?”

Was it because the topic of metallurgy had come up?

Yeo Yun’s eyes were shining brightly.

The conversation between the petty man and the heroine reached me from here.

“Hmm?”

It was an unexpected conversation.

They were discussing together what constituted a great hidden weapon.

“Since a hidden weapon must deceive the opponent, shouldn’t it be as small and stealthy as possible?”

“But if it’s too small, won’t its killing power decrease?”

“People die more easily than you think. Even a tiny needle can cause instant death if it can be accurately inserted into a vital acupoint. Also, I am practicing the Poison Art. Even if it’s not a vital acupoint, it is dangerous if it is coated with a potent poison.”

“As the size decreases, it becomes lighter. No matter how hard you throw a feather, it will be difficult to pierce the skin.”

“It’s fine. Since I’ve learned martial arts, I can generate enough power to pierce human skin.”

I couldn’t even begin to guess how the conversation had flowed in such a direction.

While I was observing the scene for a moment, Dang Sopyeong, who had belatedly noticed our approach, looked at us.

To grasp the situation, I approached them.

Even as we approached, Yeo Yun continued to mutter about hidden weapons to herself.

“Poison……. poison……. If it’s a hidden weapon that’s good to use with poison, it would have to be……”

Even while the Tang Clan bastard was looking at us with an awkward smile.

It seemed she was the type of person who couldn’t see her surroundings when she focused on one thing.

Only after we arrived right next to her did Miss Yeo blink a few times and come to her senses.

“I’m sorry. I think I’ve made a scene.”

I couldn’t tell if she was talking about the argument with her father or the fact that she had been muttering to herself just a moment ago.

Either way, it didn’t really matter, so I shook my head.

“We are fine. More importantly, the sun will set soon, so how about you head home now?”

“Yes. I suppose I should.”

At Miss Yeo’s answer, the Tang Clan bastard made a worried expression.

“Will you be alright?”

“Don’t worry. I plan to have a proper showdown with my father.”

She answered boldly as expected and clasped her hands in a salute to us.

“Then I will be on my way.”

“Please go safely.”

The back of Miss Yeo, who was returning with a bold stride.

And for some reason, the sight of the Tang Clan bastard looking at her with eyes full of worry seemed truly contrasting.

“Are you planning to get involved in a fight between a father and daughter?”

“Haaah……. That’s not it. More importantly, what are you going to do now?”

“We have to get the Restoring Name Sword back anyway, so we plan to stay the night in this area for today.”

We began to walk to find an inn.

For some reason, I had a feeling that I had forgotten something.

Soon, I realized what I had forgotten.

Because I felt a stealthy presence from behind.

“Junior Sister Choyeon. It’s alright to come out now.”

A moment after my shout ended, Junior Sister Choyeon emerged from between the long shadows of the buildings cast by the setting sun.

I had entrusted her with pursuit and surveillance, and even after we had joined up, she had continued to hide and watch the Tang Clan bastard.

“……Why was Miss Cho hiding?”

I shrugged at the Tang Clan bastard’s question.

“Just in case.”

***

The next morning, we visited Yeo’s Forge again.

It wasn’t because I was curious about the outcome of the father-daughter fight.

It was to retrieve the Restoring Name Sword that I had left for repairs.

On the way to Yeo’s Forge.

“Hmm.”

I was beginning to get a sense of how the fight between the father and daughter had turned out.

The sound of iron being hammered could be heard.

And two sounds, at that, alternating.

When we arrived near Yeo’s Forge, the scene I had expected unfolded.

Beyond the unrepaired door, the father and daughter were swinging iron hammers together.

After watching the scene for a moment, Yeo Yun, who seemed to have sensed our presence, spoke first.

“Please wait just a moment! Heated iron needs to be struck in time!”

I willingly stopped and watched them work.

The father and daughter were working at the same time, but not together.

Blacksmith Yeo was forging a sword, while Miss Yeo was meticulously handling some small piece of iron.

It seemed she was making the hidden weapon they had discussed yesterday.

After about a quarter of an hour, the father and daughter finally put down their hammers and got up.

“Have you decided to work together?”

At my question, Blacksmith Yeo sighed, looked at Miss Yeo, and answered.

“Haaah. It went just as you said. No matter what I said, she wouldn’t listen. When I told her she had no talent, she said she would make some hidden weapon. And when I said I would close this place, she said she would just leave and go to another forge.”

At the sight of her father shaking his head, Miss Yeo smiled brightly and said.

“Who do you think I take after, Father? You can’t deny your own blood, can you?”

As they say, no parent can win against their child.

Just by looking at the two of them, I could tell how many arguments had passed between the father and daughter last night.

As if frustrated, Blacksmith Yeo let out another deep sigh.

“Haaah. If only she couldn’t talk.”

Although he was sighing, his eyes, as he looked at his daughter, were faintly mixed with pride.

Soon, Blacksmith Yeo turned his head and looked at me again.

“Since she won’t listen to me anyway, I plan to at least teach her the trade properly so she doesn’t starve somewhere.”

“That’s a good thought.”

“I will learn diligently, Father!”

Blacksmith Yeo, who had been shaking his head and smiling at Yeo Yun’s answer, soon made a serious expression and said.

“But work is work, and my daughter’s safety is safety, isn’t it? So I have one thing I would like to ask you, Great Hero Jin.”

“Please ask.”

“By any chance, could you introduce me to a trustworthy clan or gang? I am thinking of entrusting Yun-i and myself to them.”

Four places came to mind at once.

The Mount Heng Sect, the Beggar’s Gang, and finally, the Seomoon Clan and the Pyo Clan.

And in my mind, I erased Mount Heng and the Beggar’s Gang.

The Mount Heng Sect were people who secluded themselves in the mountains to cultivate the Dao, so it would be difficult for them to continue their forge work.

Unless they were thinking of secluding themselves in the mountains and cultivating the Dao as well.

The Beggar’s Gang was busy protecting beggars, so it was also not possible.

“There are about two places.”

“Then, by any chance, could you write a letter of introduction? Ah, I am not trying to shamelessly ask for a favor.”

Saying so, Blacksmith Yeo rummaged through the forge and appeared with a piece of black iron.

It was clearly the black iron he was going to use to craft Sura Blood Blade’s blade.

“This is now an ownerless item, so I will use it to forge a sword for you, Great Hero Jin. In addition to that, I will also repair or forge new weapons for the others.”

I shook my head at Blacksmith Yeo’s proposal.

“That seems excessive for just writing one letter of introduction.”

But that didn’t mean I was going to give up on the weapon repairs or purchase.

“You will need travel expenses to get there anyway, so I will pay a suitable price for it, separate from the letter of introduction.”

Blacksmith Yeo shook his head and threw an unexpected question.

“I happened to overhear that the name of that sword is the Restoring Name Sword.”

“I didn’t hear its name, so I named it that for the time being. If you tell me its original name, I will call it by that name.”

He shook his head and said.

“The name given by the user is more important than the name given by the maker.”

Saying so, Blacksmith Yeo added a question.

“May I know the reason you named that sword the Restoring Name Sword?”

“I named it so because of the story of the head of the Pung’un Merchant Group, who had to hide his real name while being pursued by Sura Blood Blade.”

“So it is a sword meant to restore the name of the head of the Pung’un Merchant Group.”

“That is correct.”

“That is enough for me as well.”

Wondering what this meant, I just stared at Blacksmith Yeo.

“It’s the same for the sword to be made from that black iron, and the swords I will give to you or repair for you. I will ask for one favor as payment. If you ever get the chance, please punish those who have committed evil deeds with my weapons.”

Saying so, Blacksmith Yeo turned his head and looked at Dang Sopyeong.

“This is something that man promised my daughter, but I’m a little hesitant to leave it all to him.”

For some reason, the way Blacksmith Yeo looked at Dang Sopyeong didn’t seem very favorable.

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