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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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The Guya Workshop was smaller than most people imagined.
While its facilities occupied a fifth of Jing County and employed many of its residents, the core of the workshop, the swordsmiths, numbered only seven.
Including apprentices and trainees who weren’t yet recognized as full swordsmiths, the number would more than double.
However, commissions were based on the master smiths.
This meant that only seven orders were accepted during the Four Seasons Gathering.
Furthermore, all commissions were by nomination.
Clients submitted requests to specific swordsmiths, and each smith chose one commission from those submitted to them.
This led to intense competition among the clients.
It was a veritable war for commissions, like securing train tickets during a holiday rush!
“I’m planning to submit my request to Master Bok-mo this time.”
“You too? Hmm, then perhaps I should switch to Master Yu-myeon. They’re both quite similar…”
“Bok-mo? Yu-myeon? Don’t be ridiculous. Their names lack gravitas. I’ll submit mine to Master Cheol Dan-woo. His name embodies the spirit of a true swordsmith.”
“Fools. The position of Guya Workshop Master isn’t hereditary; it’s based on skill. You have to submit your request to the Master!”
While Jing County buzzed with the voices and anxieties of visitors, the Guya Workshop itself was unusually quiet with the clang of hammers diminished.
Did they know how fiercely people were competing outside?
Even if they did, they likely didn’t care.
They were too busy preparing for the evaluations.
Except for one person.
“What kind of people have come this time?”
Hwa Yeok-pil, the Guya Workshop Master.
He had become Master at thirty and held the position for over thirty years, a veteran artisan of sixty.
Ju Yang-hong, one of the six other swordsmiths and Hwa Yeok-pil’s disciple, answered.
“The usual crowd. The Hwangsan Sect from nearby, of course. The Shin-Eung Clan, a branch of the Nine Dragons Society. Also, the Hoyang Gate, the Geumjeong Workshop, the Jamsung Gate, the Gwangsung Gate, the Hwansun Sect, the Danmok Family, the Buksan Society, the Bimagak, the Hongmaegung, the Clear Water Sect…”
Hwa Yeok-pil interrupted Ju Yang-hong, who had recited the list of participating factions from memory, without consulting any notes.
“Did I ask for such trivial details? I told you to focus on becoming Master first if you want to expand the business.”
“This is for the benefit of the Guya Workshop.”
“Enough. Just tell me about the requests submitted to me.”
“First, the Geumjeong Workshop offered ten taels of gold and sent some Blue Lotus Steel.”
“Oh, Blue Lotus Steel? A decent offering. But offering money first… typical nouveau riche behavior.”
“The Shin-Eung Clan also submitted a request. They offered the bones of a Steelbone Green Demon Horse.”
“A rare material, even among the Blue grade… but Po-ha could handle that.”
“The Danmok Family also submitted a request. They offered White Sun Gold.”
“Forget them. The Danmok Family serves the Imperial Family. Tell them to ask the Emperor.”
Hwa Yeok-pil clicked his tongue in disapproval.
The Nine Great Sects weren’t interested in such matters, which was understandable.
Usually, the Seven Great Families or the Seven Gates of the Black Blood Alliance would bring something worthwhile, but this time, the offerings were disappointing.
“Didn’t the Zhuge Family come? I heard they had acquired something remarkable.”
“That’s what I heard too. But we lost contact with them. Something must have happened along the way.”
“Tsk, tsk. Such is fate. It wasn’t meant to be.”
Not meant to be.
Those words perfectly encapsulated the Guya Workshop’s philosophy.
They didn’t involve themselves in outside matters. If someone couldn’t make it, it simply wasn’t meant to be.
“I know you’re trying to figure out how to politely decline these requests, but just tell me about the real contenders.”
Despite having his thoughts read, Ju Yang-hong replied calmly, as if he’d expected it.
“There are three.”
“Three.”
A glimmer of anticipation flickered in Hwa Yeok-pil’s eyes.
He entrusted this task to Ju Yang-hong because he valued his disciple’s discerning eye.
The three commissions he had selected would likely be worthy of his consideration.
“First, the Clear Water Sect. They’ve acquired a Dragon Eye Orb.”
“A Dragon Eye Orb? That’s not enough.”
A Dragon Eye Orb was a piece of camphor wood struck by lightning.
The name came from the resemblance of the scorched area to a dragon’s eye.
It was also called the “Longevity Wood” and was highly valued by Buddhist and Daoist sects for its purifying properties.
However, they were usually small and mostly used for making canes.
But that was the case for ordinary Dragon Eye Orbs.
“This one is different. It’s quite large. Normal Dragon Eye Orbs rarely exceed four inches in diameter, but this one is twice as thick. It must have absorbed spiritual energy from its surroundings as it grew.”
“Oh! That’s good.”
Wooden swords were excellent weapons in their own right.
Some Daoists, advocating non-violence, only used wooden swords.
But did that mean wooden swords were non-lethal? Certainly not.
Hwa Yeok-pil was confident he could craft a wooden sword that surpassed even steel.
“Alright, what’s next?”
“The Dugu Family.”
“The Dugu Family?”
This time, Hwa Yeok-pil seemed genuinely surprised.
“The Dugu Family… I haven’t heard that name in a long time. What did they bring?”
“Kunwu Iron.”
The most precious metal in the world was undoubtedly meteoric iron.
But the hardest metal was something else.
Kunwu Iron, an extremely rare mineral found only in the deepest mines of Southern Manchuria.
“Kunwu Iron… it’s been years since I last heard that name. Just the thought of it makes my heart race.”
The mention of Kunwu Iron made him forget about the spiritually imbued Dragon Eye Orb from the Clear Water Sect.
While wood could be used to craft excellent swords, it couldn’t compare to metal.
But it was too early to be surprised.
Ju Yang-hong, eager to impress his master, revealed his final trump card.
“The last one is from a mercenary group called the Azure Sky Group.”
“There’s a mercenary group with that name?”
Hwa Yeok-pil had an excellent memory. He never forgot anything he heard.
His dislike for Ju Yang-hong’s long-winded explanations stemmed from the fact that he already remembered everything.
But this was the first time he’d heard of the Azure Sky Group. That meant they were either insignificant or a rising force.
“They’re new.”
“Hmm, and?”
“The client is their leader, a man named Nam Woo. The material is…”
Ju Yang-hong paused, and Hwa Yeok-pil frowned.
“Boy, finish your sentence…!”
“The horn of the Sky-Gazing Howler.”
“…What? The Sky-Gazing Howler?”
Hwa Yeok-pil’s tone suggested disbelief.
Ju Yang-hong nodded.
“Yes. The Sky-Gazing Howler, the yokai that wreaked havoc in Beijing and ultimately killed Commander Guo Duan of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.”
“Haha, I heard there was another Dao Lord too. I assumed the Peng Family took it, but it seems it had another owner.”
“Perhaps the Peng Family gifted it to someone. There are rumors of them treating a guest with utmost respect at their main residence in Tianjin.”
“That’s possible.”
Dismissing it as unimportant, Hwa Yeok-pil continued.
All that mattered to him was the opportunity to work with the Sky-Gazing Howler’s horn.
“But that Kunwu Iron is also a fine material…”
Hwa Yeok-pil stroked his white beard, lost in thought.
He had only worked with Kunwu Iron once in his life, and that was before he became the Guya Workshop Master.
His skills had greatly improved since then.
The chance to surpass his past self, to demonstrate his growth by working with the same material again, was also tempting.
“Summon both parties. I’ll decide after meeting them.”
The day after the Beginning of Winter gathering, two trainees from the Guya Workshop emerged, each heading in a different direction.
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“Only me?”
“Yes, the Master wishes to speak with you privately.”
Alone.
Namgung-Woo glanced at his companions.
Peng Ha-ryeong, the Yang brothers, and the Clear Water Sect disciples were all present.
Lee Gong-seo, the most experienced among them, spoke.
“He’s probably deciding which commission to accept. They usually narrow it down based on the applications, then meet with the clients in person to make the final decision.”
It seemed like the written requests were the initial screening, followed by a face-to-face interview.
“I’ll be back shortly.”
“I’ll accompany you, at least to the Guya Workshop.”
As Namgung-Woo stood, Peng Ha-ryeong rose with him.
“Ahem, we’re coming too, Boss.”
“Of course.”
The Yang brothers followed suit, and perhaps influenced by the atmosphere, Wi Ji-ryang also rose from his seat.
“Since we’re all here, let’s go together.”
And so, they set off for the Guya Workshop.
Walking side-by-side, Peng Ha-ryeong spoke with a hint of wonder.
“I thought it was a sure thing with what Oppa brought, but it seems there are other impressive offerings.”
“Indeed. I thought it would be an easy win, but we can’t be complacent.”
Since Jing County was small, they reached the Guya Workshop quickly.
At the entrance, the trainee who had guided them turned to Namgung-Woo and his group.
“You’ll have to wait here…”
“That won’t be necessary. The Master instructed me to bring everyone inside.”
“Pardon?”
Ignoring the trainee’s confusion, Ju Yang-hong gestured towards the workshop with a brief, formal bow.
“I’ll be your guide from here. Please, follow me.”
As they entered the Guya Workshop, people’s eyes darted around curiously.
“Brother, have some decorum.”
“You were looking too.”
“Now, now, please, look around. It’s a rare opportunity to see the inner courtyard of the Guya Workshop. When will you ever have this chance again?”
While the Clear Water Sect disciples bickered amongst themselves, Namgung-Woo focused on the people waiting for him inside.
‘Two.’
The two presences within the inner courtyard were distinct. One was similar to Ju Yang-hong’s, likely the Guya Workshop Master.
The other, then, must be the other client.
Unlike Namgung-Woo, who had brought five companions, the other client seemed to be alone.
With a sense of curiosity, he crossed the threshold into the inner courtyard.
“Welcome.”
The Guya Workshop Master greeted him.
Namgung-Woo returned the greeting with a formal bow.
Then, he looked at the other person.
She was a woman, striking and memorable.
Her Qi was incredibly refined and still, sharp as a blade. Despite her slender frame, she exuded an unshakeable strength.
She reminded him of a withered tree, standing tall and defiant amidst a snow-covered winter landscape, its life force burning brightly.
Her presence was awe-inspiring.
She looked a few years younger than Peng Ha-ryeong, but her cultivation was clearly superior.
‘This woman…’
She was a Transcendent Realm expert.
Did his gaze disturb her delicate focus?
The woman turned towards him as he approached.
And when he saw her face, he almost blurted out something he shouldn’t have.
‘Glasses? And…’
His own reflection stared back at him from the dark lenses set in round frames.
‘Are those… sunglasses?’
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