Danggye Jeyeom, as the third son of the Danggye Clan, had made a name for himself as a rising star in Shandong.

However, his fame did not stem from his skills or abilities.

Of course, his skills were also outstanding. He had a certain talent and had reached the first-rate realm at an age slightly over twenty.

But what had spread his fame throughout Shandong Province was his personality, which was worse than his skills.

Danggye Jeyeom, who had a strong impression of being violent due to his eyes that shot up to the sky, nudged the guard who was following him with his elbow with a very annoyed voice.

“Old man Gu. I’m here. Huh? I’m definitely going to find a weapon made by the owner. I have enough money, so old man Gu, you should look for it well.”

“…Yes, Young Master.”

“If you can’t find it, you’re on your own. You know that the salary old man Gu receives is bigger than that of an ordinary guard, right? Our clan is also paying for your granddaughter’s medical treatment, right? We’re also turning a blind eye to your private loans. You have to repay the favor. Do it properly.”

It was a violent tone of voice, to the extent that one would not think it was said to an old man.

But the old man next to him just bowed his head with a firm face.

The Danggye Clan had built its family fortune not as a martial arts family, but through high-interest loans, a kind of private loan business.

Old man Gu had also borrowed a considerable amount of money from the Danggye Clan. To treat his granddaughter’s illness.

As is the case with private loan businesses, once you fall in, it’s like falling into a swamp.

Even old man Gu, a mature old martial artist who had reached the peak, could not help but be in the hands of the Danggye Clan as if he had fallen into a swamp.

“You’re not old for nothing, are you, old man? You’re an old martial artist, so you have experience, and you have a better eye for swords than I do. Let’s do a good job.”

Despite the frivolous tone, old man Gu bowed his head without even frowning.

Old man Gu faithfully followed Danggye Jeyeom’s orders.

“It’s a good sword, Young Master.”

“This?”

The sword that old man Gu had chosen looked quite plausible even to Danggye Jeyeom, who did not know much.

From the faint luster flowing on the sword body to the sharp edge that seemed like it would cut even if you just touched it.

But Danggye Jeyeom was still not satisfied.

“It looks good. Is this the best? Old man? Or will the debt the old man has to repay increase?”

“…It is a good sword. But if the Young Master wants a sword made by the owner, I cannot assure you that this is the one.”

“Tsk. Then find a sword that you’re sure of. Let’s put this one on hold for now.”

Danggye Jeyeom said so and looked around the Yukga Ironworks.

“My goodness. The guys who just hammer iron have spent all the money they could.”

He had heard the rumors and knew it was great, but now that he had come in person, to be honest, it was a place that was more than just impressive.

No matter how little an eye Danggye Jeyeom had for swords, he could tell that all the weapons placed here and there were great.

It was not just the weapons that were great.

Even the small decorations that decorated the inside of the ironworks were full of masterpieces that were clearly made by craftsmen.

Somehow, it felt as if he had witnessed a greater prestige than the Danggye Clan, and Danggye Jeyeom became sullen.

“Just a bunch of insignificant ironworkers who just hammer, they’re living with prestige because they stuck to the Orthodox Path side during the Righteous-Demonic War. Tsk tsk.”

As he was looking around with a displeased look, clicking his tongue, someone came into his view.

“Hoo. The young one is quite beautiful…”

Danggye Jeyeom’s eyes sparkled.

A female swordsman with a small build, holding a sword that was similar to her own size. It was Yu Seoryeong.

Although she had a youthful face that anyone could see, her exotic features, as if she had mixed blood from the Western Regions, immediately drew attention.

But what had caught Danggye Jeyeom’s attention was not just her appearance.

“Huh?”

A moment ago, she had approached the sword that old man Gu had evaluated as a good sword.

“Hah. Even though she’s just holding a sword, she seems to know a thing or two about swords?”

Danggye Jeyeom snorted. He didn’t even think that he wouldn’t have had the eye to choose such a sword if old man Gu hadn’t told him.

But the scene that followed was unexpected. Didn’t Yu Seoryeong look at it for a long time, sigh, shake her head, and then move to another place?

It was an expression as if this much was not enough for her.

Danggye Jeyeom, who had become curious, watched for a long time.

After looking at a few more swords, she passed by, shaking her head in the same way.

“Hey, old man Gu.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“How about this one?”

Danggye Jeyeom pointed to the sword that Yu Seoryeong had shaken her head at and passed by.

Surprise spread across old man Gu’s face as he was examining the sword with an indifferent face.

He looked at Danggye Jeyeom with wide eyes, as if he were surprised.

“It’s better than the sword I saw at first. The edge is sharp, and looking at the wave pattern engraved on the sword body, you can see how well it was tempered. If the Young Master’s eye is this good, it’s better than mine…”

“No, that’s enough. Then what about this one and that one?”

Danggye Jeyeom successively pointed to the swords that Yu Seoryeong had looked at and passed by, and each time, old man Gu expressed his surprise.

Danggye Jeyeom let out a hollow laugh.

“What is it. That girl. Her eye for swords is this good?”

To think that she had a better eye than old man Gu, a mature old martial artist who had reached the peak and had accumulated a lot of experience.

At that moment, a thought flashed in Danggye Jeyeom’s mind.

“Old man Gu. Don’t go anywhere. Let’s just follow that girl carefully.”

“What?”

“Hehe. If I get a sword made by the owner, my father will also see me differently.”

Danggye Jeyeom, who was letting out a greedy laugh, secretly followed behind Yu Seoryeong.

And finally, the sight of Yu Seoryeong carefully examining a certain sword, and then smiling broadly in surprise, was reflected in his eyes.

Danggye Jeyeom immediately took action.

He found a nearby employee. The sale of weapons was not done by the craftsmen themselves, but by people from the merchant group that had a deal with the Yukga Ironworks.

“That sword, I want to buy it.”

At that, the employee looked at the place he was pointing to and tilted his head.

“Are you with that lady?”

“No. It’s a sword that I saw first.”

“I’m sorry, but even if you saw the sword first, no one can claim ownership until a transaction is made. If the lady also wants to buy the sword, she can buy it through a proper procedure.”

Danggye Jeyeom’s face contorted for a moment.

He wanted to draw his sword, but the merchant group that was linked to the Yukga Ironworks must be a merchant group that the Danggye Clan could not even dream of.

Danggye Jeyeom used his head and changed his direction.

“Hey, Young Lady.”

“…Are you talking to me?”

Yu Seoryeong made a wary expression.

“That sword, I saw it first. Take your hands off.”

“I heard everything. No one can claim ownership until the sword is purchased. I also intend to buy this sword.”

Danggye Jeyeom’s face contorted. He gritted his teeth. He didn’t like it. He was even exuding a subtle momentum and pressing her, but her expression did not change.

Although she was clearly younger than him, since she did not show any sign of being pushed back, Danggye Jeyeom’s insides were turned upside down.

“Hmph. Do you have the money to buy it?”

“…The price of the sword is not much. The Yukga Ironworks gives a chance to anyone who recognizes the value of the sword.”

Danggye Jeyeom sneered and asked the employee.

“Hey. What happens if several people who want to buy the same sword appear? Aren’t all those people saying they’ll buy it because they recognize the value of the sword?”

Yu Seoryeong’s fine brow wrinkled.

“Hey, you! You recognize the value of the sword? Did you think I wouldn’t know that you were just following me? You don’t even have an eye for swords!”

“What are you talking about? Do you have proof?”

“That…!”

At Danggye Jeyeom’s shameless response, Yu Seoryeong was at a loss for words. How could there be proof?

The employee, who was watching their nerve-wracking battle, said calmly.

“If there are several people who have recognized the value of the weapon and have expressed their intention to buy it, it will be sold at a high price.”

At those words, Danggye Jeyeom snorted.

“Hmph! See. In the end, it’s money, isn’t it? What’s all this about a grand craftsman’s spirit, or the craftsmen’s soul. You just have to give them a lot of money, right? Tsk. The ironworkers only talk big. Hey, Young Lady. Do you know who I am?”

“…”

The employee answered instead.

“Aren’t you a child of the Danggye Clan?”

“That’s right. Then wouldn’t it be right for me to take this sword? No matter how much that girl offers, I will offer twice as much.”

The employee glanced at Yu Seoryeong.

There was a difference in the appearance of the two.

Perhaps Yu Seoryeong could not offer a high price.

In fact, in times like this, selling the weapon to the person who paid a better price was the fairest course of action.

In any case, a good sword was bound to attract several people with a good eye.

Since all the people who wanted to buy it had noticed the value of the sword, they were qualified to buy it.

When a competitor appeared like this, the fairest and cleanest method was to sell it to the person who paid more. It was the method that would cause the least trouble.

The employee responded according to the set rules, but he felt sorry for Yu Seoryeong, who was biting her lip and clenching her fists.

On the other hand, Danggye Jeyeom taunted her with a face full of sneers.

“You don’t have money, do you? Shall I teach you how to make money? Hmm. Your face is quite pretty, and there are people who like the unique exotic appearance of the Western barbarians, so…”

In an instant, the surroundings fell silent.

The people who had been subtly drawn to the commotion all opened their mouths.

Although Danggye Jeyeom had trailed off, there was no one who did not know the meaning. Everyone around was astonished.

This was Shandong.

It was a place where Confucian ideas were the basis due to the influence of the Kong Family Mansion. But such a taunt!

Yu Seoryeong, whose face had turned red, was about to draw her sword, but she remembered the rule that you could not fight inside the Yukga Ironworks, and she just grabbed the hilt of her sword and trembled.

“…”

“Hehe. Well. Hand over the sword. I’ll pay the price.”

At that, the employee said in a calm tone.

“But there is another rule. Even if you have an eye to recognize the value of the sword, and even if you have the financial means to pay a reasonable price. If you are a person who is not qualified to own it, the ironworks will not sell the weapon.”

Danggye Jeyeom’s cheekbones twitched. His cheek muscles trembled. A sense of displeasure welled up from below. He didn’t like the way the employee was looking at him straight in the eye and talking.

“Are you saying that I’m not qualified? That I’m lacking?”

As his momentum changed, the employee made a troubled expression.

In fact, anyone could see that he was not qualified.

One of the regulations of the Yukga Ironworks was that the person who used the sword should at least not be a villain.

But wasn’t he acting like a villain right now?

“That’s…”

“What are you to dare to discuss my qualifications?”

A sword-like momentum rose from Danggye Jeyeom’s whole body.

The end of the first-rate.

Although he was violent and hasty, when it was contained in his martial arts, it became sharper and more powerful.

It was not a momentum that an ordinary employee from a merchant group could handle. The employee’s face turned pale.

“Qualification? Are you saying I’m not qualified?”

Danggye Jeyeom’s pupils burned fiercely. His contorted face was as grotesque as a demon. Hot breath was constantly exhaled from his flaring nostrils.

It was a sore spot.

Although he was called a rising star, he had lived hearing that he was not qualified to be the official heir of the clan just because he was the third son.

But to discuss qualifications just for selling a sword.

A sense of inferiority welled up in him.

“Why am I not qualified! I have money! I handle a sword! There is no rising star like me in Shandong! But you say I’m not qualified? Who! Who dares to evaluate me as not qualified!”

At that time, a person came out from the workshop.

“Even the passing Neung-heo would know that you’re not qualified. You bastard.”

“No, why am I coming out? Isn’t the correct expression usually that even a passing dog would know?”

“What’s the difference?”

“What the hell.”

Danggye Jeyeom’s head turned as if it would break. A strange light spread across his face, and then a sneer appeared.

A young man who looked like a rich family’s young master who had been raised delicately, with no internal energy felt, although he was holding a sword in his hand.

Danggye Jeyeom let out a rough gaze.

“You, you bastard. Don’t you know that if you don’t have the eye to pick out who to mess with in the martial world, you’ll die?”

Cheon Mubaeck laughed as if he were dumbfounded.

“Thank you for saying what I wanted to say.”

(End of Chapter)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep