Chapter 406: The Lazy One Investigates (1)
"Isn't it too dark?"
Wi Yeon-ho looked around.
Of course, he wouldn't be hindered by such darkness. No matter how dark it was, his eyes could see things as clearly as in broad daylight.
Wi Yeon-ho's disdain for the darkness was not about visibility, but rather about the ambiance.
Anyone descending these dim stairs would share the same thought. Darkness aside, the atmosphere was too gloomy.
"Wait a moment."
The old man seemed to understand what Wi Yeon-ho was saying and lit a lantern prepared at the bottom of the stairs.
Fwoosh.
As he ignited the wick fixed to one corner of the wall, torches on the wall started to ignite all at once.
"Wow? How did you do that?"
"The Tang Clan has a habit of installing useless mechanisms."
The old man looked at the lanterns attached to the wall with a nuanced gaze.
"If you think they're useless, can't you just remove them?"
"I lack the judgment to determine that. While they may seem unnecessary, such attempts must be repeated for progress. If I were to prematurely consider this unreasonable and remove it, someone who might create something extraordinary could be deterred by my actions."
"Wow…"
Wi Yeon-ho blinked as he looked at the old man.
Certainly, this person was quite different from others he had encountered. Especially…
'He would be completely opposite to my Master.'
Meeting an old man who seems stern yet open, compared to his Master who pretended to be open but was actually rigid, felt like a storm would strike.
"This way."
As the old man strode confidently inside, Wi Yeon-ho silently followed behind him.
Reaching the end of the narrow path, a spacious area appeared.
"Wow…"
Wi Yeon-ho's eyes widened.
Essentially, it was not much different from the armory he had seen earlier. The walls were decorated with numerous weapons as well.
But Wi Yeon-ho could tell.
There was an eerie feeling emanating from the misshapen weapons hanging on the wall.
'This is real, isn't it?'
Wi Yeon-ho's eyes sharpened slightly.
The weapons hanging on that wall were different from the ones displayed in the armory. Even if just one of those was released into the martial world, it would likely cause chaos.
"You seem to recognize them."
"You're making something incredible."
"You wouldn't understand the principles, though?"
"It's like I can feel something ominous? There's a palpable killing intent."
"Hmm…"
The old man smiled subtly, seeming pleased.
"After all, aren't weapons created to efficiently kill people?"
"That's right."
"If it's not for hunting beasts, then it's better for it to be more effective. We are merely practicing that fact."
Wi Yeon-ho nodded.
'There are indeed aspects that align with my Master.'
His Master also emphasized that the concept of the projectile weapon had hindered the evolution of martial arts.
"When monks parade around with their ritual swords and sages wave their swords, it's no wonder the world is in this state. What use is martial arts in understanding the Dharma and practicing the Way? The monks and their so-called living techniques and saving lives, it all leads people to be bewildered by it. Those who cannot even speak before me."
While that last remark could be ignored, his Master's mindset certainly had a practical side.
"Are all these forbidden hidden weapons?"
"Not all of them."
The old man replied decisively.
"Originally, that was their intended use. I intended to store only the forbidden hidden weapons here. But sometimes, things that are not forbidden may arise that cannot be presented to the world. For instance…"
The old man reached out and grabbed a long knife hanging on one wall, then handed it to Wi Yeon-ho.
Without a second thought, Wi Yeon-ho accepted the knife and drew it out.
"Hmm…"
After observing the overall shape of the blade, Wi Yeon-ho frowned. The hand holding the blade felt prickly, as if it were alive, threatening him maliciously.
"This is a demonic sword."
"That's right."
The old man looked at Wi Yeon-ho with a gleam in his eyes.
If it were an ordinary swordsman, the moment they held this blade, they would be enchanted by it. But Wi Yeon-ho…
"I feel like I might just snap it in half. Are you just going to stand there?"
There was no plan.
The old man was startled and raised his leg while keeping the blade down on the ground, trying to stop Wi Yeon-ho.
"Calm down."
"No, it keeps acting up! Where's all this energy coming from? It's not even alive."
As if to show his annoyance, Wi Yeon-ho waved the knife around.
For a moment, it seemed like sweat was appearing from the blade, but that was probably just an illusion. The old man rubbed his eyes, seeing more fantasies.
After shoving the knife back into its sheath, Wi Yeon-ho offered it back to the old man.
"I don't think such a thing should be carelessly made."
"It's not like I made it on purpose. If such a knife could be made at will, there would be no worries in the world. It's bound to happen occasionally, and one cannot simply break it without a thought."
"Hmm."
Wi Yeon-ho looked around with a slightly worried expression.
If all the weapons densely lined against the wall were like that, then this might be the most dangerous place in the world. If weapons like these were released in the martial world, it would drown the world in blood in an instant.
"I thought the Tang Clan was most afraid of poison, but it seems it's not."
The old man smiled, appearing pleased.
"In the end, if the poison does not reach the enemy, it is of no use at all. Poison that cannot be used with weapons bears no value."
"That's certainly true."
Wi Yeon-ho visualized the scene of Tang Clan warriors charging with these weapons in hand. If these weapons were coated abundantly with the Tang Clan's poison?
"That's horrifying."
He trembled slightly.
Of course, neither the Tang Clan's hidden weapons nor poison could threaten Wi Yeon-ho, but for those other than him, they would be utterly defenseless. Just a brush against them could lead to poisoning, and there was no telling what kind of attack might come from such unpredictable weapons…
"I think I understand why people fear the Tang Clan."
"Hmm."
"I underestimated you too much."
Wi Yeon-ho scratched his head.
'I thought you were just a name with no substance.'
In fact, no one but Wi Yeon-ho would dare to disrespect the Tang Clan like this.
Having survived the poison of the Demon King, Wi Yeon-ho could afford to treat the Tang Clan's martial arts as not so great; for others, who had to avoid that poison at all costs, facing the Tang Clan's martial arts was quite troublesome.
That's why the Sichuan Tang clan maintained its status as the most famous family in the world.
"I should apologize to the Demon King."
"That will only provoke more anger."
"But I was taught that if you do something wrong, you should apologize."
"Do as you wish."
The old man chuckled softly and pointed inside.
"Do you see that?"
A large furnace came into view for Wi Yeon-ho.
"That's the Baekno."
"…It doesn't seem white, though?"
"That's just the name; can a furnace that handles fire be white? Who knows, it might have been white when it was first made."
That was something that could no longer be known.
That enormous furnace was so sooty that its original color was entirely untraceable.
"Hmm."
Even Wi Yeon-ho, who knew nothing about furnaces, could tell that the one in front of him was not an ordinary object. However, he had no capacity to pinpoint what made it different.
"Is this furnace a bit special?"
"Nothing special."
"What?"
The old man replied nonchalantly.
"There isn't a great secret. It's simply the furnace that can produce the highest heat among those in the Tang Clan. Certain metals can only be smelted with this furnace."
"And the metals smelted in this furnace are the metals that generally enter the forbidden hidden weapons?"
"You know well."
"Hmm…"
Wi Yeon-ho drew the sword hanging at his waist.
"And this sword can only be refined here too, huh?"
"You're a smart one."
The old man displayed a rare moment of praise in a blunt voice. Naturally, Wi Yeon-ho, who was always starved for compliments, couldn't hide the delight on his face from such obvious praise.
"Hehe, I've often been told I'm clever."
Around five years old.
After that, he couldn't remember anyone who didn't get angry or curse at him; it seemed his golden age of life was around that time.
"Now make your decision."
"What about?"
"Whether to entrust that sword to me."
Wi Yeon-ho tilted his head.
"Is this something to think about?"
"Of course. Refining your weapon again means that the sword will be reborn entirely different. No warrior wants their familiar weapon to change."
"I don't quite understand. How much will it change?"
"It will be completely different."
The old man declared.
"It won't simply become sharper. It will be like being reborn. The very feeling the sword gives will change. That's what refining is. A mere shift in balance can completely alter a sword. Don't think the sword that steps out of the heated furnace will be the same as before."
"Yes."
Wi Yeon-ho, somewhat irritated, offered the sword to the old man.
"…Did you hear me properly?"
"It doesn't matter. Actually, I haven't even swung that sword much."
"Hmm?"
"The Master treasured that sword so much he wouldn't let someone like me use it. So during training, I used a stone-carved sword."
"..."
"And then when it was time for him to ascend, he reluctantly decided he couldn't just let it stay buried. He cherished it so much… if you're going to give it, then give it; if not, then don't. It was taken and given back countless times over three days… sigh."
"Is that so?"
Wi Yeon-ho said as he puffed out his chest.
"Then it really doesn't matter. Just melt it down and make it anew."
"You say it's an heirloom…"
"It's enough to just hold onto it. What's the significance of its appearance?"
"..."
The old man shook his head.
'These kids nowadays are hard to understand.'
Once again, as if to confirm, the old man said.
"I'll ask you one last time. Are you really okay with this?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
With no hint of doubt in his eyes, Wi Yeon-ho stared at the old man.
"No matter how I look at it, I feel I can trust you, Elder. If you thought the sword would be ruined, you wouldn't even bring it up."
"You're quite the bold one."
The old man smiled, seeming pleased.
"Then it's settled. I, Tang Sang-won, the weapon master of the Sichuan Tang Clan, will create a sword that will accompany you for a lifetime. And I will make sure it doesn't lose your master's essence."
"If you can do that, it would be even better."
"Hand me the sword."
Tang Sang-won took the sword offered by Wi Yeon-ho.
Vwooooom.
The sword, which had been silent until now, suddenly burst forth with a sword cry. Wi Yeon-ho was slightly startled, but Tang Sang-won silently placed his hand on the blade.
"Hoohoohoo."
A bizarre heat began to bubble up on the old man's face.
"To meet someone like this in my later years; I wonder if this is a blessing or a curse. No, perhaps it's both."
Seeing the old man increasingly take on the demeanor of a craftsman, Wi Yeon-ho quietly stepped back. Based on experience, it was best not to intrude in such an atmosphere.
'Anyway, there are no normal people in the martial world.'
Wi Yeon-ho was one who did not recognize that he was the most unusual of them all.