Chapter 50

Namgung Woo’s psychological resistance to the Jeseon Scripture had significantly decreased.

Namgung Woo did not reject the Five Tigers Token.

The Five Tigers Token, embodying the essence of the Paeng Family, was made of iron, not precious gems or jade.

Paeng Hu-sang, pleased that Namgung Woo accepted the token without hesitation, finally answered the question Namgung Woo had asked earlier, albeit very late.

“Are you looking for a place to process the Netherworld Horn?”

“Ah, yes. That’s correct.”

“A few places come to mind. The closest would be the Imperial Family. The blacksmiths and sorcerers employed by the Imperial Family could handle the Netherworld Horn without issue. But I assume you’d want to avoid that.”

Han Gyeran, the Grand Empress Dowager, wanted to make Namgung Woo her son-in-law.

For Namgung Woo, who still found marriage burdensome, this was a place he wanted to avoid. Paeng Hu-sang felt the same.

“Then there are two other options. One is the Tang Family in Sichuan. They are skilled in poison and metallurgy, so they might be able to process the Netherworld Horn. The problem is that their skills as swordsmiths are relatively lacking.”

The Tang Family of Sichuan was famous for their poison techniques and hidden weapons.

If they were entrusted with the Netherworld Horn, perhaps the horn’s magical toxicity could be extracted, and the remaining horn could be turned into hidden weapons or daggers.

“The last option is Guyajang, located in the Southern Directly Administered Region.”

Guyajang (歐冶莊).

A sacred place for swordsmiths who deal exclusively with swords.

Martial artists and people from all over the world call it the greatest swordsmith workshop in the world.

“Since ancient times, many famous swords have been made in Jiangnan. The famous swords made during the Warring States period by the Wu and Yue states are still considered the epitome of famous swords because the natural environment there is perfect for sword-making. Guyajang is the foremost among the forges of Jiangnan.”

Guyajang, named after the legendary swordsmith Ou Yezi, was on a different level compared to other forges.

The arrogant name, claiming to be the successor of Ou Yezi, the ancestor of swordsmiths.

Yet, despite the audacious name, they have steadfastly maintained their position for a long time, proving that their pride is justified.

“Guyajang is located in Gyeonghyeon, at the foot of Zishan Mountain, where Ou Yezi made Longyuan, Gongbu, and Tai’a. It’s quite far, but there’s no more reliable place than that.”

“But the Netherworld Horn isn’t metal. Will that be okay?”

“Guyajang doesn’t discriminate based on materials as long as they can be used to make swords. They use not only metal but also stone, wood, bone, and even the byproducts of magical creatures. If you want to turn the Netherworld Horn into a sword, Guyajang is more suitable than the Imperial Family.”

Paeng Hu-sang’s treasured sword, Shingyeol, was also a product of Guyajang.

The name Shingyeol, derived from one of the famous swords made by Ou Yezi, was like a badge proving its origin from Guyajang.

“But, Family Head, Guyajang doesn’t make swords for just anyone, right?”

The sparring between Namgung Woo and Paeng Hu-sang, two peerless masters.

A sight that even money can’t buy, a rare opportunity for martial artists.

Thus, with Namgung Woo’s permission, Paeng Hu-sang allowed members of the Hapbuk Paeng Family to observe.

Direct descendants like Paeng Ja-ryeong, Paeng Ha-ryeong, and Paeng Ye-ryeong, as well as Paeng Mu-ho, who had just spoken, were among the observers.

“I know. They are skilled but also very arrogant.”

Guyajang had once firmly refused a request from Zhu Jiantai, the younger brother of the current emperor and the Prince of Chong, to make a sword for him.

They couldn’t be compelled by the name of a prince, only by the emperor himself.

They took great pride in the swords they made and had the backing to stand by that pride.

Even Paeng Hu-sang, standing right in front of Namgung Woo, used weapons from Guyajang. Heonwon Kang, the family head of the Heonwon Family, known as the best in the White Path, also treasured weapons from Guyajang.

If Guyajang were disturbed, the martial world would move. Conversely, if a martial faction tried to meddle with Guyajang, the authorities would immediately exercise their power.

Guyajang was a place that created divine weapons beyond mere arms. With the Ghost Gate already causing trouble, if the martial world decided to produce divine weapons and expand their influence, how would the Imperial Family view that?

Due to these tensions, Guyajang became a neutral zone, a quasi-demilitarized area where neither the martial world nor the authorities could easily interfere.

The martial world was also divided into orthodox and unorthodox factions, so Guyajang found a delicate balance in the midst of this three-way struggle.

“They wouldn’t budge even if you showed them the Five Tigers Token. But, have you forgotten? Four times a year, they open their doors wide to the world.”

“…The Four Seasons Brew.”

Paeng Mu-ho muttered as if he had just remembered.

Seeing Namgung Woo puzzled due to his lack of knowledge about Guyajang, Paeng Ha-ryeong whispered in his ear.

“Guyajang opens its doors to external guests four times a year, corresponding to the start of each season. What Uncle mentioned, the Four Seasons Brew, refers to that. During that time, a huge crowd gathers. Normally, they don’t take custom orders and only sell the swords they’ve made to those they choose, but during this time, they accept orders from outsiders.”

In short, it was like a nationwide course registration.

The seasonal timing reminded one of booking transportation to go home for the holidays or reserving a table at a famous restaurant.

“Hmph. My Shingyeol was received directly, not through the Four Seasons Brew.”

Paeng Hu-sang proudly puffed out his chest as he spoke.

This time, Paeng Ye-ryeong chimed in from the other side.

“They gave it to all the Three Poles and Twelve Honored Ones. It’s Guyajang’s survival strategy for building connections.”

“Hey! Ye-ryeong. The master of Guyajang was so impressed by my Five Tigers Severing Gate Blade that he sent it as a gift out of gratitude for the inspiration.”

Ignoring Paeng Hu-sang’s protest, Namgung Woo calculated the dates.

It was the end of July. August was approaching. The start of autumn hadn’t arrived yet, but it was absolutely impossible to make it in time for that.

Then it would be the start of winter, but there wasn’t much time left for that either.

Reading Namgung Woo’s concern, Paeng Hu-sang stopped his long-winded story about how he received Shingyeol and spoke plainly.

“Why worry? Our Paeng Family is here for our benefactor.”

“We can take the Grand Canal.”

Paeng Ja-ryeong, who was in charge of the practical operations of the Paeng Family, provided clear numbers.

“Taking the Grand Canal from Tianjin to Zhenjiang would take 30 days at the fastest, 40 days at the slowest. It takes an average of 40 days from Beijing to Nanjing, so it’s about the same. From Zhenjiang to Gyeonghyeon, if we ride horses, it would take about 10 days. All together, it wouldn’t take more than two months, so we should be able to reach Gyeonghyeon before the start of winter in October.”

Paeng Ja-ryeong smiled with a confidence reminiscent of Paeng Hu-sang.

“Don’t worry about the boat. There are few merchant groups in Tianjin that the Paeng Family doesn’t have a hand in.”

It was reassuring.

The Hapbuk Paeng Family… truly an unshakable comfort.

“Thank you for your help.”

As Namgung Woo clasped his hands and bowed, Paeng Ja-ryeong bowed even deeper.

“The Paeng Family has received greater favors, so it’s still too early to accept such words.”

Amid the warm exchange of bows and polite words between the two, Paeng Ha-ryeong’s voice interjected.

“Since we’re on the topic…!”

§

“Don’t regret it?”

In response to Namgung Woo’s question, Paeng Ha-ryeong smiled brightly and asked back.

“Regret what?”

“Well… various things.”

Seeing Namgung Woo awkwardly evade the question, Paeng Ha-ryeong smiled softly. The river breeze passing over the deck ruffled her hair.

It was a first.

Being without any Paeng Family members around, boarding a boat on the Grand Canal, and wanting to be with someone other than family.

“Benefactor. I’ve always been in Hapbuk.”

Because if she went too far, the time she could spend with Paeng Ye-ryeong would decrease.

Paeng Ha-ryeong only left Tianjin when the Ghost Gate opened in Hapbuk.

“Spending time with a healthy Ye-ryeong would be nice too. Yes. That’s really a dream-like story. It’s a moment I’ve always wished for. But I guess I secretly wished for this too.”

To freely venture out into the world without any worries, anxieties, or guilt.

“And I’ve never brought maids with me before. Our Paeng Family is more liberal with rules compared to other families, but we also demand corresponding responsibilities.”

Even when she went to Muan County, Paeng Ha-ryeong went without maids, accompanied only by the Northern Sky Unit martial artists.

“So don’t worry. I won’t be a burden.”

“I never thought of you as a burden.”

Namgung Woo turned his head away from Paeng Ha-ryeong and took in the passing scenery. But the scenery didn’t really stick in his mind.

The group that left Tianjin and boarded the boat on the Grand Canal consisted of four people.

Namgung Woo. Yang Kwae. Yang Jeong. And Paeng Ha-ryeong.

After the spar with Paeng Hu-sang, Paeng Ha-ryeong expressed her desire to go with Namgung Woo in front of the Paeng Family members.

There was no opposition. Instead, Paeng Hu-sang encouraged her, telling her to see the world. Even her mother, Moyong Hye, agreed.

Later, Paeng Ye-ryeong also declared she would follow her senior, but the reaction was quite different.

Moyong Hye objected, and Paeng Hu-sang refused. Paeng Ye-ryeong’s talent was immense, but her physical condition hindered her from properly learning martial arts. In other words, Paeng Ye-ryeong lacked the strength to protect herself.

Even if Namgung Woo and Paeng Ha-ryeong were together, they couldn’t be with her 24 hours a day.

Paeng Ye-ryeong was still too weak to venture into the martial world.

If it were just moving around within Hapbuk, the Paeng Family might have pitied Paeng Ye-ryeong, who had grown up confined to the Paeng Family’s villa, and allowed it, but Jiangnan was out of the question.

The south was the land of the Black Path unorthodox factions.

Just as the north, dominated by orthodox martial arts, wasn’t without unorthodox factions, the south wasn’t without orthodox martial arts sects.

However, in terms of influence, the power of the Black Path was stronger south of the Huai River.

A chaotic martial world where anything could happen.

How would Paeng Ye-ryeong, with her immense talent but current lack of strength, be viewed there?

Even Namgung Woo thought Paeng Hu-sang’s judgment was correct.

“Ah, right.”

Namgung Woo stopped ruminating and spoke to Paeng Ha-ryeong.

“How about we stop using the title ‘Benefactor’ now?”

“Hmm, I guess. It would be too unnatural to keep using it outside the Paeng Family. Then what should I call you?”

“Since you’ve temporarily joined Changcheon Pavilion, ‘Commander’ would be appropriate, right?”

“I don’t like that.”

Paeng Ha-ryeong answered immediately.

With a pouty expression, Paeng Ha-ryeong revealed the title she had decided on in her heart.

“…Gege (哥哥). I’ll call you Gege. And Benefactor, no, Gege, will you call me by my name?”