Chapter 404: The Loafer is Bored (4)

A blinding white light.

When the old man drew the sword, a brilliant white light filled the room. It was a light so bright it could blind, but the old man didn’t close his eyes.

As the white light slowly faded, a sword with a white blade appeared.

The old man’s pupils trembled as if in an earthquake.

Shock.

After looking at the sword for a while, the old man looked at Wei Yanho with bright eyes:

«Where did you get that sword?»

«It was from my master, he told me to keep it.»

«…Ha.»

The old man shook his head:

«You said you didn’t use weapons!»

«That sword is no good.»

«It’s no good?»

«No. I can’t even peel fruit with it.»

«Haha…»

The old man laughed in disbelief. Then, he rubbed the blade with his finger:

«I see. It has no edge.»

«It’s no good and it’s heavy, it’s very annoying. But I can’t throw it away.»

«If you want to throw it away, give it to me.»

«Well, but…»

«No, sell it to me. I’ll give you any price you want.»

«It’s a relic from my master. Well, I don’t know if it’s a relic, but I won’t sell it.»

«I can give you enough money to buy a city.»

«Huh…?»

Wei Yanho’s eyes widened like coins.

«That city I know?»

«I’ll give you enough money to buy all the land and buildings in Chengdu.»

Anguish appeared on Wei Yanho’s face.

His master’s relic, Baek Muhan’s relic…

‘But isn’t the real relic of my master the core in my stomach?’

His master had always warned him about material possessions. He probably wouldn’t want him to cling to a sword…

‘What am I thinking?’

His master was inconsistent.

He said that appearance was useless, but he always wore silk clothes and fixed his beard for an hour a day.

He said that material possessions were useless, but he had accumulated a great fortune and built a magnificent building.

«You’re lying…»

«Hmm?»

«N… no, nothing.»

Wei Yanho waved his hand.

He couldn’t react normally when he thought about his master.

«Not even if you gave me money to buy a country, I wouldn’t sell it.»

«Why not? Sell it to me.»

«Would you sell your father’s grave for money?»

«…»

When the old man didn’t answer, Wei Yanho nodded:

«That’s right.»

«Hmm…»

The old man nodded. If he felt that way, he wouldn’t sell it.

But he couldn’t help but feel attached.

«I’ll ask you something…»

«Huh?»

The old man’s face turned stern. Wei Yanho shuddered at the sudden aura.

It wasn’t martial skill.

It was the aura of an artisan. Only someone who has dedicated their life to a single thing can have that aura.

«Are you worthy of possessing this sword?»

Wei Yanho looked at the old man seriously at his question.

Their gazes met.

«There is no one in the world more worthy than me.»

«…I see.»

A calm, but firm answer.

A faint smile appeared on the old man’s lips:

«Okay. I’ll sharpen the blade.»

«No.»

«Why not?»

«I tried to sharpen it, but… it doesn’t sharpen. Don’t waste your energy.»

The old man didn’t stop smiling:

«Right. Sharpening the blade of this sword is not easy.»

The old man looked at the sword:

A brilliant white light.

Ordinary people would only see a shiny sword. But the old man, who had worked with metal all his life, saw something different.

‘It’s incredible craftsmanship.’

If the word «divine sword» existed, it would be for this sword. It was a sword that could change the perspective of the old man, who had only created sharper and more powerful swords.

If a low-level warrior used it, it would be worse than a market knife.

If a mid-level warrior used it, it could cut wood. A high-level warrior could use it as a common sword.

But if a top-level expert used it, it would become an invincible weapon.

Even in its current state, it was an exceptional sword.

But…

‘Something is wrong.’

He didn’t know if it had always been like that, or if it had deteriorated over time, but he felt that something was missing to complete the sword.

The desire to complete this sword began to grow in his heart.

«You won’t sell it…»

The old man’s eyes cooled.

Wei Yanho shuddered at the sight:

‘This old man!’

The old man felt a pure desire. Wei Yanho, who thought he might lose the sword, was about to speak, but the old man spoke first:

«Then there’s no other option. I can’t take it from you by force.»

The old man left the sword on the table.

‘Huh?’

Wei Yanho was surprised by his logical words.

The old man was a fanatic. Those who dedicate themselves to a single thing tend to be like that. But he retreated cleanly…

«But I am an artisan. I have the pride of an artisan, so I can’t let it go.»

Sure.

Wei Yanho sighed.

But the following words were unexpected:

«Give me the opportunity to complete this sword.»

«Huh?»

At Wei Yanho’s confused expression, the old man reached out and touched the blade:

«This sword is useless.»

«…Huh?»

Wei Yanho tilted his head. Hadn’t the old man been fascinated with the sword? Why did he change his mind?

Underestimating something to lower the price is common, but it didn’t seem like the old man would do it. Artisans are not merchants.

«Why? Is it in such bad shape?»

«This is a divine sword.»

«…»

«But it is also trash that cannot even be called a sword.»

Wei Yanho gave up on understanding.

He could only wait for the old man to explain.

«This sword was not made by an artisan.»

«Right.»

My master made it.

His master believed that someone who had reached a high level in martial arts could excel in other areas without knowledge. This sword was an example.

«Look. I, who created a sword that no artisan could create. That proves my skill.»

«It was created by someone who boasts of himself.»

«Hmm?»

«N… no, nothing.»

Wei Yanho began to take an interest in the old man’s words. The old man’s words and his master’s words coincided.

«So this sword is incomplete?»

«Rather, it was made incorrectly from the beginning.»

«…That is very convincing. I understand it without explanation.»

That’s how his master was.

«This sword is perfect. But perfectly imperfect.»

«What do you mean?»

«It has the perfect shape of a sword. This is the ideal form of a sword. But a sword must be used by a human to have value.»

Wei Yanho nodded involuntarily at the old man’s powerful words:

«Right.»

«The ideal is always different from reality. This sword is a fantastic sword that can only be seen in dreams, but a dream sword cannot be used in reality. A sword is not good just because it is powerful and sharp. A sword is an extension of the hand. A sword that fits perfectly in the hand is the best sword.»

«E…»

Wei Yanho asked:

«So what should we do?»

«It’s simple.»

The old man rang the tip of the sword with his finger. A clear, resonant sound echoed.

«If it’s wrong, fix it. Leave it to me. I will make this sword reborn.»

A slight doubt appeared in Wei Yanho’s eyes:

«I’m sorry, but why should I trust this to you? You could ruin the sword.»

The old man silently sheathed the sword. Then, he threw the sword at Wei Yanho.

‘Is he offended?’

He thought he would say to give up, but the old man’s reaction was unexpected.

«Follow me.»

The old man got up and walked forward without checking if Wei Yanho was following him.

«I… I’m going.»

Wei Yanho also got up and started following the old man.

Not knowing why he was following him.

«Where are we going?»

«You’ll know when we get there.»

«But at least…»

The old man frowned slightly:

«You are impatient.»

«It’s better than being slow. If you do things quickly, you’ll have more time to rest.»

«There.»

The old man pointed forward, ignoring Wei Yanho’s answer.

«Huh?»

Wei Yanho saw a large building with a bright light.

«What is that?»

«In your words, it is a forge. In the Tang Family, it is called Yongso (Dragon Pond).»

«It’s a strange name.»

«I think so too.»

At that moment, someone blocked their path.

«Elder.»

The Tang Family guards looked at Wei Yanho seriously:

«As you know, strangers cannot enter…»

«Step aside.»

«Elder, this is the law of the clan.»

«I know, step aside.»

«…»

«Or should I tell the leader?»

The guards’ eyes trembled at the word «leader»:

«…Enter. But we must report this.»

«Do what you want.»

The old man waved his hand indifferently. The guards bowed and stepped aside.

‘It seems that he is someone important.’

Being able to bring a stranger to a forbidden place means that he has the power of a leader.

Wei Yanho wondered who the old man was, but the old man entered without showing interest. Wei Yanho also entered behind him.

As soon as they entered, they felt an intense heat.

Wei Yanho stepped back from the heat, but the old man entered without hesitation. Upon entering, they saw a different world.

Furnaces spitting fire.

Many furnaces were spitting fire, and molten metal flowed like a river between them.

The shirtless men were hammering the metal with sweat.

The men, who saw the old man, shouted without stopping:

«Greetings to the Elder!»

The greeting resonated with the heat, making Wei Yanho’s heart beat.