Chapter 120

Chapter 120

Generally, people cite three things as necessary conditions for a ‘good weapon’: materials, compatibility, and the craftsman.

A weapon made from materials that are hard to obtain and strong, like Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron, Mysterious Iron, or Heavenly Silkworm Thread, has a high probability of becoming a famous weapon. Even without going that far, the difference in strength between high-quality iron and poor-quality iron is said to be tremendous.

Then, is it enough if the materials are good?

Of course not.

The weapon’s form and center of balance change depending on the user’s weight, body type, constitution, and the martial arts they use. The more this suits the user, the more they can draw out extreme power.

In the martial world, there’s a saying that a reed leaf that fits the hand is better than a blade that isn’t familiar to the hand.

Like this, compatibility between materials and the user is an important element that cannot be left out when it comes to weapons. Such things cannot be missing when referring to renowned divine weapons.

[A clue to a new business connection has been detected.]

[Detection complete.]

If you ask people what’s most important in making weapons, they all say in unison.

[The target’s grade is ‘Grade 1’.]

It’s the skill of the person making it.

After maintaining silence, I glanced to the side to look at the children standing there. The children blinking their eyes and keeping their mouths shut, looking like they don’t quite understand the situation.

Looking at their bewildered appearance, I let out a deep sigh and turned my gaze forward. An elderly man with advanced years was glaring at me with fierce eyes.

“Why won’t you do it?”

“You’re asking because you don’t know, you fool!”

“I’m asking because I don’t know. Master Cheon. You made one for me without trouble before. At a cheap price.”

“Even so, you fool!”

At my question, Master Cheon, who burst out with an angry shout, put down his hammer on the anvil beside him and frowned. The scolding that followed.

“You fool. Baek Riyun. What do you think I am?”

“Well, I see you as Master Cheon, the number one blacksmith of Sangsan.”

“You fool. I’m not Sangsan’s number one, I’m the Central Plains’ number one! But well, that part isn’t important. Even if they’re not quite at my level, there are a few guys who follow at my heels at least.”

Master Cheon, who tapped his own chest, picked up the hammer from the anvil and pointed it at the children.

“Why did you come here? You came to ask me to make weapons for those snot-nosed brats, didn’t you?”

“That’s right.”

“Why should I?”

“Pardon?”

“I’m asking why I should make weapons for those greenhorn fools!”

Looking at Master Cheon bringing up a troublesome subject, I scratched the back of my neck. Because there really was no such reason.

Master Cheon, the number one blacksmith of Sangsan, doesn’t make weapons for just anyone.

I know such stories. Even if someone offers him vast amounts of gold, even if they build a tower of gold ingots and hand it over, Master Cheon doesn’t accept weapon crafting commissions. Because it goes against his will.

A proud master craftsman.

Everyone in the world knows that’s what describes Master Cheon. He only makes weapons for those who will achieve great mastery. The saying that those who receive weapons from Master Cheon inevitably become masters proves that. However…….

If that’s the standard, these three should be able to pass.

“It’s not because they’re my disciples, but they’re children with outstanding talent. Please make something for them.”

“So what if they’re talented?”

“Didn’t you make one for me right away?”

“Do you think you received a sword from me because you’re a genius?”

“Wasn’t it?”

“Not even close to half a penny’s worth.”

At my words, Master Cheon snorted and lightly tapped the anvil with his hammer, making clang clang metallic sounds, then continued speaking.

“I don’t know how the rumors got twisted, but there’s one condition for receiving my weapons. It’s karma.”

“Karma?”

“Yes. Karma. Also called karmic retribution. You’re well-versed in Buddhist martial arts, so you know roughly what it is, don’t you?”

“Yes…… well.”

Karma.

The karma commonly referred to in Buddhism is literally no different from saying the life that humans live.

What one thinks, what one says, what one does—everything is stored as karma, and someday returns to oneself to bear fruit. That’s the story about karma that Buddhism advocates.

Like this, karma is a concept that’s complex and subtle yet surprisingly simple. The theory of cause and effect, which says where there’s a cause there’s an effect, is also an extension of the concept of karma.

But what does that have to do with this?

“Since you’re a blockhead, you don’t seem to understand, so I’ll give you an example.”

Looking at my expression, Master Cheon frowned and pointed his hammer at me.

“This fool has a lot of karma.”

“I do have many sins.”

“You do look that way, but that’s not what I want to say. I mean you have a lot of karma itself, whether it’s good karma, bad karma, or neutral karma.”

“A lot of karma itself?”

“Yes. Haven’t there been many incidents in your life?”

Master Cheon gestured with his hammer and continued speaking.

“Simply put, karma has ups and downs.”

“The more turning points in one’s life, the larger the size of karma becomes and the more characteristic its shape becomes. The karma of those who live ordinarily and end their lives ordinarily remains in just ordinary shapes, but the karma of those who’ve lived their lives intensely becomes very peculiar yet characteristic.”

“Is that so?”

“It is, you fool. So when I receive commissions, I look at the client’s karma. How large the karma is. How characteristic it is.”

“You can see that?”

“I can’t say I see it, but I do feel it. It’s like a craftsman’s intuition. There should be quite a few besides me who can see it.”

Master Cheon snorted and gestured his hammer toward me. A voice flowing out low.

“Making a weapon for a martial artist is like making a friend who’ll be with them for life. It’s making a close friend who’ll understand my life.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. In your case, I don’t know how you’ve lived, but your karma was so characteristic that it was clearly visible what I should make.”

After pausing for a moment, Master Cheon frowned deeply.

“But those blood clots standing there blankly haven’t even properly formed their karma yet, so what do you want me to make?”

“What you’re saying now is like asking me to introduce someone who can understand each other for life without even telling me how old they are, what they do, or what their personality is like. You damned fool. Does that make sense?”

It certainly doesn’t seem to make sense.

As I was nodding at the understandable reason, Master Cheon, who had been making an irritated expression, blew his nose pwaeng and glared at me.

“If you want to ask me to make weapons, come back after accumulating more karma for those blood clots. I have no desire to make weapons looking at such lukewarm karma. That guy at the very end looks like if he accumulates just a bit more, I might see something.”

“Where do they accumulate karma?”

“How would I know? You have to figure it out. Now get lost if you understand!”

Looking at Master Cheon going inside the smithy while raging, I closed my mouth awkwardly. It might be my imagination, but I feel a piercing gaze from behind.

“We’re fine. Sect Master. Actually, our martial arts aren’t outstanding enough to receive signature weapons anyway. Hehe…….”

“That’s right. Sect Master. It’s because we’re lacking that we can’t receive them. You don’t need to feel down.”

“……Thank you.”

“Since it turned out this way, shall we buy something else? I heard there are many other iron shops around here.”

Looking at Seohwa and Wangpal comforting me, I wore a bitter smile and nodded. Anyway, since we came out boldly, wouldn’t it be good to buy something?

“Let’s do that. Gang-a. I’ll buy you something as an entrance gift too. Don’t you need anything?”

“What? How could I when you’re leaving out my senior martial sister and senior martial brother?”

“Don’t hesitate and tell me. I’ll buy it.”

“Then, I’d like a new sword sheath, protective armor, poison-repelling liquor, some elixirs too…….”

“Do you want to be expelled?”

“Just a sword sheath is fine. Yes.”

Looking at Seonwoo Gang joking around, I was stroking the itching sword handle with my fingers when.

[Quest Generated!]

[Cause and Effect]

At the window appearing before my eyes after such a long time, I blinked.

What’s this……?

Hwayonghyeon, Haun Merchant Company. The Company Head’s office.

“Master. Did you hear the report?”

“What report do you mean?”

At Gayeom’s question, Yi Ryang, who had been enjoying the deep tea fragrance in the leisure he had for a long time, slightly opened his closed eyes and asked back. Then Gayeom immediately answered.

“You know everything and you’re doing this? I’m talking about Uicheonmun. Uicheonmun.”

“Uicheonmun…….”

“Yes. News from the Murim Alliance headquarters just arrived. Just now.”

“Ah, you mean that story.”

At Gayeom’s story, Yi Ryang, who nodded, put down his teacup.

“I heard roughly even before it arrived by messenger. It came through the Black Market. I heard the Sect Master had great success.”

“Yes. The Muryeongwando led by Uicheonmunju Baek Riyun completely crushed the Mujeongwando. Not only that, but he apparently accepted Seonwoo Gang, the most outstanding among them, as a disciple.”

“Mm.”

Not bad.

Yi Ryang, who wore a small smile, tapped the brush placed on the inkstone with his finger and spoke.

“It’s a good situation. Because we have investments placed in Uicheonmun.”

“A good situation? Isn’t it possible he unnecessarily drew attention?”

“It’s fine. Because it was something I expected to some degree.”

Yi Ryang, who shook his head, continued speaking.

“Gayeom. Do you know why I invested in Sect Master Baek Ri?”

“Well…… Wasn’t it because you saw great growth potential?”

“Correct. It was because I saw great growth potential in Sect Master Baek Riyun himself. Not in Uicheonmun.”

Baek Riyun is strong. Strong and even clever.

Having several points of contact with Baek Riyun, Yi Ryang became certain. That this person is an awl in a pocket, a talent who will pierce through the pocket someday.

He proceeded with investment thinking he wouldn’t lose if he invested. He didn’t spare cooperation and advice, maintained friendly relations, and built up much familiarity too.

But what about now?

“It’s changed.”

“Not in a bad way. In a good way. Not just the value of the Sect Master himself, but the value of Uicheonmun itself has greatly jumped.”

Many things happened.

As matters progressed, it became enough that he had to seriously consider investing not just in Baek Riyun himself but also in Uicheonmun, which had been a side branch.

It feels like intending to use something as a self-defense silver dagger only to realize it’s actually a famous sword that can break the enemy’s treasured weapon.

“I’m thinking of having a conversation.”

“A conversation, you mean?”

“He seems to have vaguely noticed my identity, so I’m thinking of revealing that part. Hoho.”

Probably even Baek Riyun will be quite surprised. Because the identity he’d kept hidden until now wasn’t that simple.

“They say when one is flustered, weaknesses are revealed.”

That’s the opportunity. Even if you’re companions walking the same path, appropriate push and pull is necessary.

Yi Ryang, who smiled broadly, lifted his teacup.

“I’m looking forward to that time.”

The moment Yi Ryang, who savored the deep tea fragrance, put his lips to the hot teacup.

Kwaaang!

“Haun Company Head. I have an urgent request.”

At the appearance of Baek Riyun, who instantly burst through the door, Yi Ryang looked at Baek Riyun with a dumbfounded expression. Tea water flowing down from his mouth in streams.

“I want to receive a quest from the sect you belong to.”

“……Pardon?”

“I’m saying I want to receive a quest from Haomun. You’re affiliated with Haomun, aren’t you?”

“What? Huh? What?”

No.

I can’t let him find that out already.