Chapter 73
Chapter 73: Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven
In approximately a decade’s time, the world would bear witness to a metalworker of peerless genius, celebrated far and wide as the reincarnation of Gu Yezi, the mythic artisan of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States eras.
That man was Hwan Yeja Baek Cheol.
Yet in the present moment, he was merely an anxious, meek youth standing directly before Yanghwi.
In his prior lifetime, Yanghwi had known him as a hardened, weathered figure etched with the scars of boundless suffering. Right now, however, the young man appeared utterly guileless—or more accurately, extraordinarily faint-hearted.
Who could possibly fathom the peerless, heaven-defying gift slumbering within such a quiet soul?
Originally, Hwan Yeja Baek Cheol was destined to endure unending torment under the cruel yoke of the Black Wolf Escort Service before falling into the hands of other dark-path factions. Only years later would he be serendipitously rescued by the noble Namgung clan. To repay that profound debt, he would spend an entire decade shaping a single, sacred edge: the Azure Sky Divine Sword. That very weapon would eventually become the supreme hereditary treasure passed down through the patriarchs of the Namgung clan.
The Azure Sky Divine Sword. A celestial blade reputed to harbor the vast heavens within its steel.
A true divine weapon was defined by an indwelling holy presence, a relic capable of manifesting miracles on the battlefield. To forge such a wondrous creation, its maker could not be a normal mortal. Hwan Yeja Baek Cheol was an artisan who genuinely merited the mantle of divine smith. Provided his gifts were properly nurtured, his innate talent could brush the very firmament.
And now, that very Baek Cheol stood within reach of the Baek family.
To be precise, Yanghwi had not formally bound him to the estate just yet. But if he failed to charm and recruit someone under circumstances as favorable as these, he would never have deserved his past life’s ironic moniker: the Greatest Tongue Among Wanderers.
“Brother Baek. I am Baek Yanghwi of the Baek Estate in Ak’an County. Outraged by the atrocities committed by the Black Wolf Escort Service, I came to liberate those languishing under their tyranny. You are no longer their captive, so please, put your heart at ease.”
From that moment forward, Yanghwi deployed his silver-tongued charm, smoothly dispelling Baek Cheol’s reservations and addressing every lingering concern. As they conversed, he guided the young smith around the premises, helping him gather essential possessions while quietly scouring the compound for other gifted laborers who might enrich the clan.
“Tell me, Brother Baek. Do you have kin or loved ones remaining here? Even if they are confined elsewhere, I swear to secure their freedom.”
Baek Cheol paused, his tone faltering with uncertainty.
“Well… my father…”
“Your father still lives? Where have they placed him?”
“He is being kept… as a hostage within the stronghold of the Black Wolf Escort Service…”
“Then rest easy. Our forces have already liberated every prisoner detained within their main fort.”
A sudden wave of relief washed over Baek Cheol, his expression brightening instantly.
Deeply devoted to his father. An admirable trait to remember.
Yanghwi mentally filed the detail away; it would serve as an excellent lever for earning the youth’s steadfast loyalty later on.
“Follow me, if you will.”
Guiding Baek Cheol alongside the other freed captives, Yanghwi returned to the heart of the Black Wolf Escort Service. Right on schedule, Zhuge Seon and his martial escorts were pasting public placards across the walls after forcing the surviving ruffians to their knees. The notices proclaimed that the Black Wolf Escort Service had been dismantled, inviting any commoners harmed by their extortion to come and claim their fair portion of the accumulated spoils.
Surrendering a share of the silver stung slightly, but when one marches beneath the banner of righteousness, such concessions are unavoidable.
In truth, Yanghwi considered it a trivial price to pay. Not only had he claimed the grandest prize of all in Baek Cheol, but whenever he dismantled wicked syndicates under the mantle of chivalry, it was his longstanding rule to leave roughly half the plunder behind for the public.
“Uncle. We have successfully rescued all the innocents who were suffering under the Black Wolf Escort Service’s abuse.”
“Splendid work. It feels truly invigorating to stretch these old bones after being idle for so long.”
Zhuge Seon’s countenance was indeed bathed in the deep glow of clean satisfaction.
“What shall become of the freed captives, however? Lacking relatives or ties here in Jiangxi, their plight remains rather difficult.”
“Worry not on that account. I have already conferred with my father; our household will gladly take in anyone left without a refuge.”
“You have? Such foresight and benevolence, haha!”
With that, the Black Wolf Escort Service—a hostile border faction and the uncontested ruler of Muju—was eradicated between dusk and dawn. It was an exquisite demonstration of borrowing another’s blade to cut down a foe and leveraging external prestige to achieve one’s aims.
Nothing felt quite as gratifying as clearing one’s obstacles with someone else’s hands.
With their tasks concluded, Zhuge Seon safely escorted Yanghwi and the liberated refugees to the Baek Estate. Following a courteous departure, he set out for the lands of the Zhuge clan. The instant Yanghwi stepped onto family grounds, he summoned an emergency clan council to present the spoils earned from pillaging—or rather, chivalrously liberating—the Black Wolf Escort Service.
“We have recovered fifty thousand nyang of silver and brought home twenty-one individuals. The group includes several skilled artisans as well as twelve orphaned youths.”
“To drive honest folk into destitution through unrelenting cruelty… What irredeemable beasts! You have shouldered an immense burden on our behalf, Young Master Hwi!”
Steward Han practically radiated warmth and adoration as he spoke. Yet Yanghwi could tell the steward’s glowing praise owed far more to the fifty thousand nyang of cold coin than to any heroic virtue.
Steward Han is growing remarkably brazen with his affections.
Still, it brought a wry smile to Yanghwi’s lips. Watching him beam over overflowing coffers was infinitely preferable to seeing him weep over an empty ledger as he had in the previous life. Tucking that thought away, Yanghwi spoke up.
“Father, might we assist the independent tradesmen in establishing their own workshops, while welcoming the parentless children into our household as family retainers?”
“An excellent proposal. Abandoned youths have nowhere to turn; pressing coin into their palms only to cast them into the streets would merely invite tragedy.”
Furthermore, they resolved to shelter any craftsmen who wished to pledge their loyalty to the Baek Estate. Among those who stepped forward were Baek Cheol and his aging father.
“Indeed? Even after receiving sufficient funds to start anew, they chose to remain in our service?”
“They did, Father. They expressed an earnest desire to repay our clan’s kindness.”
Baek Muryang beamed with genuine pride. A man fiercely devoted to honor and righteous conduct could never turn away those who sought to reciprocate goodwill.
“So be it. Our treasury is no longer strained, so let us provide a home for every single one of them.”
Splendid. Baek Cheol’s allegiance was now firmly in hand.
Though his legendary craftsmanship had yet to fully awaken, the youth’s foundational genius was beyond question. His gifts would unveil themselves incrementally through steady training; establishing this foundation was more than enough for the time being.
Now, regarding the subsequent matter…
As Yanghwi considered his plans, the council turned to the next item of business: the arrival of the branch from the Tang Clan.
“In accordance with our prior accord, we have partitioned a section of the estate grounds for the Tang Clan’s upcoming branch. Their envoys should reach our gates within the month.”
“The residential quarters have already been arranged. Designating three courtyard pavilions should accommodate them comfortably.”
Each piece was sliding into its proper place.
A distinct sense of accomplishment stirred in Yanghwi’s chest. Merely eighteen months prior, the Baek Estate had been the very embodiment of a degraded, third-rate martial clan. To think they had engineered such a dramatic resurgence in so brief an interval.
Yet it was far too early for complacency. The summit remained distant.
A vast, grand avenue was unfurling before them. To charge along that road without stumbling, extensive preparations were still required.
“Brother, can this truly be real?”
Traversing the long mountain roads connecting Sichuan to the Baek Estate in Jiangxi Province, Tang Gun let out an exhausted breath. His younger sibling, Tang Yeon, was repeating the identical query for the fifth time.
“It is entirely true. The Baek Estate is the cradle where a fledgling viper—no, a hidden dragon—is quietly rising.”
Tang Yeon, scarcely a year his junior, let out a melodic chuckle. All the while, she casually tossed an intricate metallic dart into the air, snatching it back with effortless dexterity.
“Take care with that. If it slips from your fingers while riding, it will be a headache to retrieve. Worse still if a trailing steed steps on the point.”
“Oh, please, Brother. I have tossed concealed weapons around in place of baby rattles since I was three summers old. Do you honestly think my fingers would falter?”
Flashing a bright grin, Tang Yeon pressed on.
“I find it utterly astonishing. To think there exists a boy whom my formidable brother would acknowledge as a true hidden dragon.”
Throughout her upbringing, Tang Yeon had never encountered a single contemporary who surpassed Tang Gun. Seeing him speak with such sincere reverence about someone even younger naturally stirred her fascination.
“Keep your fascination strictly academic. You are not to provoke or challenge him.”
“I am no longer the wild little troublemaker of our younger days, Brother.”
“Naturally, naturally.”
The Tang siblings continued their lighthearted banter along the trail. On an expedition of such vast distance, idle chatter was the sole defense against crushing monotony. Moreover, they had practical matters to settle.
“That reminds me: we have yet to decide on an appropriate arrival gift for the Baek family. It is quite a vexing puzzle.”
“Is the Baek Estate not merely providing territory to our Tang Clan in exchange for sheltering under our family’s prestige? I fail to see why we must burden ourselves with lavish offerings.”
“There may be some truth to that arrangement. Nevertheless… your brother intends to honor the Baek house with the highest level of propriety.”
Tang Yeon pondered briefly, then lightly tapped her palms together.
“You mentioned we already concocted precious elixirs on their behalf. In that case, why not present a mastercrafted blade to each member of the Baek direct line?”
“A blade, you say?”
Tang Gun cast his mind back several months. It was true that the retainers of the Baek house—and even the Lord of the House himself—carried weapons of rather modest quality.
“A marvelous suggestion. Our Tang Clan’s metallurgical heritage yields to no one under heaven. They will certainly treasure such pieces.”
Just as poisons and medicine walked hand in hand, the art of concealed weapons was fundamentally tethered to metallurgy. Crafting minuscule, lethal mechanisms inevitably demanded artisans of extraordinary caliber.
“We have already resolved to expand our branch’s local footprint through both an apothecary and a blacksmith forge, so the gesture aligns seamlessly with our plans.”
“Precisely. And should the Lord of the Baek house, who now commands regional authority, bear a Tang-forged blade at his waist, it would serve as magnificent promotion for our smithy.”
A day elapsed, then two.
Ten days stretched into an entire month.
The grueling trek spanning thousands of li from Sichuan to Jiangxi finally neared its conclusion. The party at last arrived in Jiangxi Province, stepping directly into Ak’an County where the Baek Estate held sway.
“Yeon, gaze over there.”
“I see it, Brother.”
The Baek Estate occupied the exact center of Ak’an County. Directly opposite the main entrance—adorning the rear gate facing west toward Sichuan—a newly carved placard hung with distinction.
[Branch of the Great Tang Clan]
“They hung the plaque before our arrival.”
“It demonstrates, without question, that the Baek Estate welcomes us with complete sincerity.”
A concurrent surge of warmth touched both Tang siblings. For decades, the orthodox factions of the martial world had looked down upon their lineage with subtle contempt, dismissing their poison arts and concealed weapons as treacherous trickery. From the dawn of their clan, authentic hospitality had been a rarity. To receive such unreserved deference would stir genuine warmth in anyone bearing the Tang name.
“Brother, we must instruct our artisans to pour their absolute highest mastery into these gifts.”
“I am of the same mind. While they may not rival legendary artifacts, we shall ensure they receive blades worthy of being called clan treasures.”
Before crossing the threshold of the Baek Estate, they dispatched an advance herald to declare their arrival—a necessary courtesy for a substantial body of armed cultivators. Moments later, a martial artist led by the messenger walked out to greet the Tang delegation.
“A warm welcome to you all! I am Gwak Mun, Master of the Hall of Discipline for the Baek house. Please, follow me inside.”
Crossing beneath the grand archway, they discovered Baek Muryang waiting alongside the assembled retainers of the estate. Tang Gun promptly dismounted and clasped his hands in a formal salute.
“It has been far too long, Lord of the House.”
Baek Muryang returned the greeting with the dignity suited to an esteemed young scion of a noble clan, setting aside their difference in generations.
“It brings me great joy to see you once more, Young Lord. Hahaha.”
Yet even as pleasantries were being exchanged in an amicable atmosphere, Tang Gun’s gaze locked onto something, his eyes snapping wide.
“Wait!”
“Is something amiss, Young Lord?”
“Th-That weapon at your hip… It is not the blade you bore previously…!”
“Ah. The Young Lord possesses a discerning eye. This sword was crafted by our clan’s resident blacksmith.”
Radiating undisguised pride, Baek Muryang smoothly unsheathed the weapon from its scabbard.
Never before had Yanghwi seen his father look so thoroughly delighted while displaying a possession.
To a dedicated swordsman, a treasured blade was closer than family. The weapon Baek Cheol had forged and presented out of heartfelt devotion bore such magnificent artistry that it had utterly stolen Baek Muryang’s heart. What was more, even to Tang Gun—the heir to an ancient clan whose forging heritage yielded to none under heaven—the drawn edge was an astonishing masterwork.
“Wh-What caliber of master smith could have produced a creation of this magnitude?”
From within the ranks of the gathered Baek retainers, a hand lifted with profound hesitation.
“I… I made it…?”
Turning toward Baek Cheol, who had spoken with a timid squeak, Tang Gun’s eyes widened nearly out of their sockets. He darted his gaze between the radiant steel resting in Baek Muryang’s grip and the trembling young artisan.
Such peerless metallurgical mastery, wrought by someone so young…!
Though Baek Cheol appeared slightly older than Tang Gun himself, he was still undeniably a youth. And in many respects, mastering the forge demanded far more decades of agonizing patience than cultivating martial arts.
“Forgive my forwardness, but I must know. By what heavenly craft did you forge such an exquisite blade?”
“Th-That is…”
Finding the undivided attention of every cultivator focused entirely upon him, Baek Cheol broke into a nervous sweat and began to stutter.
“I simply… applied myself…”
Merely applying oneself explained nothing. Who in the martial world did not work hard? Diligence was a virtue anyone could offer. But bringing forth an awe-inspiring masterpiece was an accomplishment granted to the select few. Thus, Tang Gun could only arrive at one rational conclusion.
“I understand. You must have tempered metal at the anvil since your earliest youth. Carrying the Baek surname, you are undoubtedly an artisan of the Baek bloodline. Truly magnificent.”
The distress across Baek Cheol’s features only intensified.
“Um… My family name was merely bestowed upon my father by the master of our previous residence… We share no kinship with the Baek Estate… And in fact, it has only been a single month since I first took up the forging of swords…”
“One month? You mean to tell me you began crafting blades a mere thirty days ago?”
“Y-Yes…”
Completely dumbfounded, Tang Gun discarded his customary noble composure and practically shouted,
“How could that be possible?”
“I only… performed each step precisely as the eldest young lord instructed me…”
The eldest young lord of the Baek house. There was no need to question who that was.
“Brother Hwi! What in the heavens is the meaning of this?!”
Watching Tang Gun demand an answer with ferocious, disbelieving intensity, Yanghwi let a quiet, triumphant smirk curl behind his eyes.
Perfect. The fish had swallowed the bait whole.
He had always known that the scions of the Tang Clan, overflowing with absolute pride in their family’s forging heritage, would never be able to look away from such a phenomenon. Yanghwi cast his thoughts back over everything he had orchestrated throughout the past month since bringing Baek Cheol beneath their roof.
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