Chapter 88: A Strange Fate
Fire...?
Why was the character for fire, 火, engraved on the hilt?
It didn't seem to represent True Immortal Cheongun's name.
Nor did it look like any mark related to Kunlun.
...Does it have some other important meaning?
The thought crossed my mind...
but I soon shook my head.
There was no point thinking about it right now.
What could I possibly figure out from a single character?
If I'm meant to learn the answer someday, I'm sure I will.
I put the matter aside and properly gripped the sword.
Whoosh.
I lightly turned my wrist and gave it a swing.
The balance was perfect.
...It fits my hand perfectly.
It felt incredibly familiar.
Almost as if I'd been using this sword for years.
Seeing the satisfied look on my face, the craftsman standing opposite me spoke brightly.
“Taoist, the sword you entrusted to me is truly an exceptional blade.”
“A famous blade?”
“Yes. Try this.”
He suddenly turned around and dragged over a chunk of metal from one side of the smithy.
He placed it in front of me.
“Try cutting this.”
The craftsman pointed toward the middle of the metal block.
“...You want me to cut that?”
I hesitated.
I was worried I might damage the blade.
But the craftsman spoke with complete confidence.
“Trust me and use the sword.”
“What you're worried about will not happen.”
“Hmm... all right.”
I took a breath.
Then brought the sword down on the metal.
CLANG!
The sound of metal striking metal rang loudly through the smithy.
And what I saw next was...
...No way.
The chunk of metal had been split cleanly in half.
The point where the sword had passed through was smooth.
I immediately checked the blade.
...Not a scratch.
There wasn't even the slightest nick.
If anything...
the edge looked even sharper than before.
The craftsman smiled confidently.
“See? I told you.”
He pointed toward the severed metal.
“That piece is low-quality iron, of course.”
“But even so, it isn't something any ordinary sword can split so easily.”
Still amazed, I asked him,
“Can a sword made from Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron normally cut through metal like this?”
The craftsman shook his head.
“No.”
“Even Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron wouldn't produce something like this.”
His expression became serious.
“This sword was forged from material far superior to that.”
I frowned.
“Then what was it made from?”
“I don't know.”
The craftsman's eyes narrowed.
“I've been hammering metal for more than fifty years.”
He looked at the blade.
“But I swear I've never seen a sword this hard and sharp.”
"..."
“It seems to have been forged a very long time ago.”
He continued,
“Its original owner must have been an extraordinary master.”
At the words extraordinary master...
one name immediately came to mind.
...True Immortal Cheongun.
I tightened my grip around the hilt while repeating his name inwardly.
After studying the entire sword once more, I asked the craftsman,
“Could you prepare a new sheath for it?”
He nodded immediately.
“Of course.”
“Please wait a moment.”
The craftsman soon returned with a new sheath.
I slid True Immortal Cheongun's sword inside.
Then I removed the old sword I'd been carrying at my waist.
I fastened the new sheath containing Cheongun's sword in its place.
After thanking the craftsman...
I returned to the Event Hall.
Once there, I picked up the bundle I'd already packed.
Then headed straight toward the Abandoned Martial Hall.
I used my movement technique without stopping until I reached the Abandoned Martial Hall.
It was as quiet as ever.
I deliberately raised my voice.
“Master! Your disciple has returned!”
A booming voice immediately came from inside.
“I'm not deaf, brat! Why are you screaming your lungs out?!”
Jin Gwangung appeared.
Judging by his messy hair...
he'd probably been sleeping inside.
I smiled and held out a sword with both hands.
He looked at it.
“What's that?”
“I've obtained a sword of my own.”
I continued,
“So I'd like to return the one you lent me.”
It was the sword Jin Gwangung had given me during the Elders' Lecture Gathering.
I'd been using it ever since.
Jin Gwangung's eyes shifted toward my waist.
“You got your own sword?”
Then he frowned.
“Don't tell me you're really going to use that scrap sword.”
“Fortunately, the blade itself was perfectly fine.”
“They said there would be no problem using it.”
“Hmm.”
Jin Gwangung looked suspicious for a moment...
then relaxed.
“Fine.”
“I suppose you've made your own decision.”
He accepted the sword from me.
Then glanced at the bundle on my back.
“What's that?”
“Why did you drag all that stuff here?”
I lowered the bundle to the floor and opened it.
Alcohol.
Meat.
Various dried snacks.
Everything a heavy drinker would enjoy.
Jin Gwangung's eyes immediately lit up.
“What's all this?”
I smiled.
“Thanks to you, Master, I was able to use a good sword all this time.”
“I never properly thanked you.”
I gestured toward the food and liquor.
“So even if it's late, I thought I'd buy you a drink.”
The corner of Jin Gwangung's mouth rose.
“So you've finally learned to appreciate your master.”
“I've always carried my gratitude in my heart.”
“Heh. You've always had a talent for making your words sound good.”
Jin Gwangung dropped down onto the bare ground.
“Sit.”
