The scale of Guyajang is smaller than people think.
The facilities occupy about one-fifth of Gyeonghyeon, employing many locals for various tasks, but the core of Guyajang, the swordsmiths, number only seven in total.
If you include apprentices and disciples who aren’t officially recognized as swordsmiths, the number increases significantly. However, all requests are based on the swordsmiths. This means that for the Four Seasons Brew event, only seven orders are accepted.
Moreover, all requests are by nomination. Clients submit requests to the swordsmiths, and each swordsmith chooses one request from those addressed to them.
This leads to intense competition among those submitting requests.
It’s like a war for a spot during the holiday train ticket rush!
“I plan to submit to Master Bokmo this time.”
“You too? Hmm, then maybe I should switch to Master Yumyeon. They’re both similar, though…”
“Bokmo? Yumyeon? Don’t make me laugh. Their names lack substance. I’ll entrust mine to Master Cheoldanwoo. Doesn’t his name alone exude the aura of a swordsmith?”
“Fools. The position of Guyajang’s master isn’t hereditary; it’s based on skill. You must submit to the master!”
While Gyeonghyeon buzzed with the voices and tension of visitors, Guyajang, the center of the commotion, grew quieter as the sound of hammering decreased.
Do they know how fiercely people are competing outside? They probably know but don’t care much.
Because they’re too busy preparing for the evaluations to even hold a hammer.
Except for one person.
“Who has come this time?”
Hwa Yeok-pil, the master of Guyajang. A veteran who ascended to the position at thirty and has held it firmly for half his life.
Ju Yang-hong, Hwa Yeok-pil’s disciple and one of the six remaining swordsmiths, answered.
“Similar to usual. The Hwang Mountain Sect from nearby has come, as well as the Shin Eung Bang under the Nine Dragons Association. Others include the Hoyang Gate, Geumjeongjang, Jamseong Gate, Gwangseong Gate, Hwansun Sect, Danmok Family, Buksan Association, Bimagak, Hongmae Palace, Cheongsu Gate…”
Hwa Yeok-pil interrupted Ju Yang-hong, who was reciting the list of participating sects without even looking at anything.
“When did I ask for such trivial details? If you want to expand the business, think about it after becoming the master.”
“This is all for the sake of Guyajang.”
“Enough. Just pick from the ones submitted to me.”
“First, Geumjeongjang promised ten gold nyang and sent Cheongryeonggang.”
“Oh, Cheongryeonggang? Quite a precious metal. But offering money first is typical of the nouveau riche.”
“Shin Eung Bang also submitted. They caught Cheolgonokma and are entrusting the iron.”
“Quite a rare find from Cheongsaek, but… it’s something even Poha could handle.”
“There’s also the Danmok Family. They offer Baekjunggeum.”
“Enough. The Danmok Family follows the Imperial Family. Tell them to ask the Imperial Family.”
Hwa Yeok-pil clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction.
The Nine Sects and One Gang usually don’t care about such matters.
Normally, the Seven Great Families or the Seven Gates of the Black Martial Alliance bring decent items, but this time, nothing seems satisfactory.
“Didn’t the Jegal Family come? I heard they were bringing something extraordinary.”
“That’s right. Something must have happened; their communication was abruptly cut off.”
“Tsk tsk. Unavoidable. It seems there was no connection.”
No connection.
That succinctly sums up Guyajang’s policy.
We don’t interfere. If they can’t come, it’s simply because there was no connection.
“I understand you’re pondering how to convey the rejection to them, but now, bring out the real deal.”
Even though his true intentions were read, Ju Yang-hong calmly replied as if he expected it.
“There are three.”
“Three.”
A glimmer of anticipation flashed in Hwa Yeok-pil’s eyes. He entrusts this task to Ju Yang-hong despite the annoyance because he recognizes Ju Yang-hong’s discernment.
The three requests Ju Yang-hong selected must be enough to sway Hwa Yeok-pil’s heart.
“First, Cheongsu Gate. They’ve obtained Dragon Eye Wood.”
“Dragon Eye Wood? That’s a bit disappointing.”
Dragon Eye Wood is a lightning-struck persimmon tree. The lightning-struck part resembles a dragon’s eye, hence the name. Also known as Longevity Wood, it contains the energy of Pasa Hyunjeong, making it highly valued in both Buddhist and Taoist circles.
However, its size is usually small, often used to make canes. That’s typical Dragon Eye Wood.
“This one is extraordinary. It’s quite large. While typical Dragon Eye Wood doesn’t exceed four chi in thickness, this one is at least double that. It’s imbued with spiritual energy from birth.”
“Oh ho! That’s good.”
Wooden swords are also excellent weapons.
Some Taoists from the Nine Sects advocate non-killing and exclusively wield wooden swords.
But does that mean wooden swords lack lethality? Not at all. Hwa Yeok-pil was confident he could create a wooden sword surpassing iron swords.
“Alright, what’s next?”
“The Dokgo Family.”
“The Dokgo Family?”
Hwa Yeok-pil repeated the name, genuinely surprised.
“The Dokgo Family… it’s been a long time since I’ve heard that name. So, what did they bring?”
“Kunwu Iron.”
The most precious metal in the world is undoubtedly meteoric iron, Mystic Iron.
However, the hardest metal in the world is something else.
It’s the extremely rare mineral found in the deepest mines of the southern barbarians, Kunwu Iron.
“Kunwu Iron… it’s been years since I’ve heard that name. Just imagining it makes my heart race.”
From the moment Kunwu Iron was mentioned, Hwa Yeok-pil forgot about the Dragon Eye Wood brought by Cheongsu Gate.
No matter how good the wood is for making swords, it can’t compare to metal.
But there’s still more to surprise. Ju Yang-hong, eager to astonish his master, revealed his final trump card.
“Lastly, there’s the Changcheon Pavilion, a group of wanderers.”
“Was there such a group?”
Hwa Yeok-pil had a good memory. He never forgot what he heard once. He disliked Ju Yang-hong’s lengthy recitations because he already remembered everything and didn’t need to hear it again.
But the name Changcheon Pavilion was new. So, the evaluation was mixed. Either they’re insignificant, or they’re part of a new era.
“They’re a new group.”
“Hmm, so?”
“The client is their leader, a man named Nam Woo, and the material is…”
Ju Yang-hong paused. Hwa Yeok-pil frowned.
“You rascal, if you’re going to say it, finish it…!”
“The horn of the Netherworld Horn.”
“…What? The Netherworld Horn?”
Hwa Yeok-pil’s tone suggested he was asking if it was the one he knew.
Ju Yang-hong nodded.
“Yes. The one that emerged from the Black Ghost Gate, which turned Beijing upside down and ultimately led to the death of Commander Gwak Dan of the Imperial Guards.”
“Hoho, I heard the Blade Sovereign was involved, so I thought the Paeng Family took it, but it seems it had another owner.”
“Perhaps the Paeng Family gifted it to someone. There’s a famous rumor that the Paeng Family treated a guest from their main house in Tianjin with utmost respect.”
“That could be.”
As if such details were unimportant, Hwa Yeok-pil brushed them off.
For Hwa Yeok-pil, the important thing was the opportunity to work with the horn of the Netherworld Horn.
“But Kunwu Iron is also an excellent material…”
Hwa Yeok-pil stroked his graying beard, deep in thought.
Kunwu Iron was a material he had only handled once in his life. Back then, Hwa Yeok-pil wasn’t the master of Guyajang.
The difference in skill between then and now was stark. The idea of surpassing his past self with the same material was also appealing.
“Summon both. I need to see them in person to decide.”
The day after the Four Seasons Brew event ended, two apprentices emerged from Guyajang, heading in opposite directions.
§
“Just me?”
“Yes, the master has requested to see the client personally.”
Alone.
Namgung Woo looked around at the group gathered nearby.
Paeng Ha-ryeong, the Yang Brothers, and people from Cheongsu Gate were also present.
The most experienced among them, Yi Gongseo, spoke.
“It’s probably to decide which request to accept. Usually, they filter through the applications first, then meet the candidates in person to finalize the request.”
If submitting the request was the first round of paperwork, then this was like a second-round interview.
“I’ll be back shortly.”
“I’ll accompany you to Guyajang.”
As Namgung Woo stood up, Paeng Ha-ryeong followed.
“Ahem, a bit late. Leader, we’ll follow too.”
“Of course.”
As the Yang Brothers also stood up, the atmosphere prompted Wi Ji-ryang to quietly rise from his seat.
“Since it’s come to this, let’s all go together.”
And so, the group set off for Guyajang.
Walking side by side on the road, Paeng Ha-ryeong spoke with curiosity.
“I thought if you brought something, it would surely be accepted. It seems there’s something even more impressive.”
“Right. I thought it was a sure win, but we can’t let our guard down.”
Since Gyeonghyeon itself isn’t large, they reached Guyajang quickly.
Upon arriving at the entrance, the apprentice guiding them turned to Namgung Woo’s group.
“Your companions should wait here…”
“It’s fine. The master has ordered to bring all companions inside.”
“Huh?”
Ignoring the apprentice’s confusion, Ju Yang-hong gestured with a polite bow towards the inside of Guyajang.
“From here, I’ll guide you. Please follow.”
As they entered Guyajang, people’s eyes darted around.
“Ah, maintain some decorum, brother.”
“You were also looking around.”
“Now, now, don’t argue. Take a look around. Visiting the inner courtyard of Guyajang is a rare experience. When else would you get such an opportunity?”
While the Cheongsu Gate members bickered among themselves, Namgung Woo observed the two figures waiting for him inside.
‘Two people.’
The auras of the two in the inner courtyard were entirely different. One, similar to Ju Yang-hong, was likely the master of Guyajang, while the other, like Namgung Woo, was a client summoned by Guyajang.
But unlike Namgung Woo, who brought six companions, the other party seemed to have come alone. With this curiosity, Namgung Woo stepped over the threshold of the inner courtyard.
“Welcome.”
The master’s words.
Namgung Woo greeted him with proper etiquette.
Then, he glanced at the person beside him.
A woman who would be hard to forget after just one glance.
Her aura was incredibly refined and sharp, like a blade. Despite her delicate appearance, there was an unshakable firmness.
She resembled a sturdy, dry tree standing resiliently in a snowy winter, burning with strong vitality.
Her presence was undeniably superior, even to Paeng Ha-ryeong, who seemed a couple of years younger.
‘This woman…’
She was a Supreme Peak Master.
Perhaps sensing Namgung Woo’s gaze, the woman turned her head towards him.
When her face came into view, Namgung Woo almost blurted out.
‘Glasses? And those are…’
The round frames of her glasses, with their dark lenses, reflected Namgung Woo’s face.
‘Sunglasses?’