Chapter 11 : Black Craftsman (黑手匠), Gu Yongyeon

Chapter 11: Black-Handed Craftsman, Gu Yongyeon

An unseasonal storm was sweeping across all of Sichuan Province.

Just a few days ago, the entire region was abuzz with celebration over the joyful news that the youngest disciple of the Murim Alliance Leader had come from the Qingcheng Sect.

But overnight, everything had been turned upside down.

—Tang Sewoon of the Sichuan Tang Clan risked his life and used Innate True Qi to confront Lee Hoseong’s vile act toward the clan’s servant girl.

—And at that moment, the Murim Alliance Leader appeared and punished Lee Hoseong accordingly.

For the Qingcheng Sect, it was like a bolt from the blue on a clear day.

Not only had Lee Hoseong, the centerpiece of their celebration, ended up as a crippled wreck.

But because of the filthy scandal he had caused, the sect's honor had plummeted to the ground.

As a result, Jeok Seongja, also known as the Lone Flying Sword and the leader of the Qingcheng Sect, who was also Lee Hoseong’s master, tried to restore the sect’s name by bringing along all his direct disciples and elders to avenge his disciple.

Unfortunately, they couldn’t even step past the gates of the Qingcheng Sect.

“If the Qingcheng Sect dares attempt revenge for this matter, I will not stand idly by.”

That was because the Sword Emperor Yoo Jinhak had visited the Qingcheng Sect personally and declared war on both the sect and Jeok Seongja.

Yoo Jinhak, who had stepped back from the world to focus on nurturing future generations after the incident ten years ago, was gone.

The Sword Emperor, who had turned countless demonic practitioners into wandering spirits, had returned.

Jeok Seongja, caught off guard by the unexpected fury and overwhelming pressure from the Sword Emperor, had no choice but to retreat.

At the same time, the Sichuan branch of the Murim Alliance distributed a notice throughout Chengdu detailing every part of the incident, completely exposing the disgraceful acts committed by Lee Hoseong.

Because of this, public opinion could no longer be salvaged.

In the end, having lost even their justification, the Qingcheng Sect was left in a pitiful state like a dog that had chased a chicken in vain.

That Qingcheng, which had been a strong contender for the Overlord of Sichuan, had fallen so suddenly.

No one could believe it.

And once the situation began to settle.

People’s attention soon shifted elsewhere.

To the Sichuan Tang Clan and Tang Sewoon, who were at the center of the entire upheaval.

“Sigh, an old tiger is still a tiger after all.”

“Exactly…”

“Huh, who would’ve thought that half-wit from the Tang Clan would catch the Alliance Leader’s eye?”

At an inn in Chengdu, a conversation filled with sighs was unfolding.

Young successors from various mid and small sects in Sichuan, who had attended Lee Hoseong’s gathering, had gathered once more.

“Urgh, does this mean we have to re-align ourselves with the Tang Clan?”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Do you think the Qingcheng Sect will sit quietly after that humiliation?”

“Exactly. In times like this, it’s best to lie low and not get caught in the crossfire.”

“But if the Tang Clan gains power again…”

All of them wore sour expressions as they huddled together, planning their next move.

Their minds were tangled and confused beyond measure.

Because with Lee Hoseong’s fall, they had suddenly become like kites with their strings cut.

“…The wave that every successor in the martial world had hoped for ended up going to the Tang Clan’s fool. Who could’ve predicted that?”

“Sigh, that’s exactly what I mean. I still can’t believe it.”

“I heard the Alliance Leader was moved by his chivalrous spirit in risking his life for a servant girl.”

“But isn’t that too unfair? We’ve done nothing but train diligently in martial arts—what does that make us?!”

“Damn it! If I’d known the Alliance Leader was nearby, I would’ve used my Innate True Qi to protect the servant girl myself!”

What had started as strategic discussion had turned into a backbiting session filled with jealousy toward Sewoon.

They had fled before even the Rear Dragon Guard could appear, let alone witness Yoo Jinhak’s arrival, so they knew nothing of the subsequent events.

That’s why, despite witnessing Lee Hoseong’s arm being severed in real time,

they dismissed Sewoon as someone who simply got lucky to catch the Alliance Leader’s attention, just like some of the public’s negative opinion.

“Seriously, why the hell did that lunatic refuse the position of the Alliance Leader’s disciple?”

“I heard he said, ‘How can the heir of the Tang Clan learn martial arts from another sect?’ or something like that.”

“Hmph, nonsense. He just knew that because of the Heavenly Punishment, his limits would soon be exposed even if he became a disciple, so he tried to save face.”

“Good grief, I can’t believe the Alliance Leader fell for that kind of crap.”

Grumbling and gossiping, their conversation only changed topics much later.

“Qingcheng was ruthless too. I thought they had some affection for him, but they expelled him immediately.”

“Well, he lost his Dantian, and now he’s a one-armed cripple. What can you do?”

“I heard he was sent back half-mad to his family’s merchant group, the Lee Trading Company.”

“Wasn’t the Lee Trading Company one of the top in Gansu?”

“Even with mountains of gold, what’s the point? I heard not even the Divine Physician of Mount Emei could cure him. That means there’s no one in the martial world who can.”

“Tsk tsk. Pitiful, sure. But it’s the price he pays for his own sins.”

Having suffered much under Lee Hoseong in the past, they chuckled as they insulted the now-ruined man.

At that moment, one of the young successors suddenly recalled something and cautiously lowered his voice.

“Oh, by the way—did you hear that the Rear Dragon Guard appeared right after we left?”

“The Rear Dragon Guard?”

“Come on, don’t be ridiculous. Those guys only ever do escort missions. Why would they show up publicly?”

“No, I’m serious. My father said all the Rear Dragon Guard members who were assigned to protect Lee Hoseong received heavy punishments! Especially the Rear Dragon Guard Leader—he’s being exiled to the Xinjiang branch!”

“X-Xinjiang? That remote region?”

“Tsk tsk, being sent to Xinjiang is basically the same as being exiled.”

“Since he got marked by the Alliance Leader, it’s safe to say his career is over.”

Clang!

“Argh!”

Suddenly, with the sound of something shattering, one of the successors grabbed the back of his head.

Something had come flying and struck him.

‘A… wine cup?’

When he touched the throbbing spot, he found shards of a shattered wine cup.

“What the hell!?”

The successor shouted in fury and turned around.

Flinch!

Startled, he instinctively shrank back.

A suspicious man dressed in a black blood-colored robe and pressed-down black bamboo hat sat there—an aura of danger radiating from him.

“Hic!”

Shards of the broken cup lay in the man’s palm.

The moment the man’s eyes, filled with killing intent, locked onto the young successor—

“…Gurgle.”

The successor collapsed on the spot, foaming at the mouth and unconscious.

“W-What!? Are you okay?!”

“H-Hey!”

Amidst the uproar caused by the young successors—

The mysterious man quietly slipped out of the inn like a shadow.

Late at night, under the thick cover of darkness.

“Sigh. This is really bad.”

Jang Il, a servant of the Sichuan Tang Clan, let out a deep sigh.

It was a late hour when one should have already gone to bed.

Yet for some reason, the boy was pacing anxiously far from the main estate of the Tang Clan.

‘I’m waiting just like Young Master told me to…’

Jang Il was waiting for none other than Sewoon.

He was holding a neatly folded set of clothes in his arms.

—Y-You’re sneaking out?

—Yeah. Two days is already a long time to hold back. My body’s so stiff I could die. So, about that…

Tang Muyeol, the Clan Head, had forbidden Sewoon from going outside the estate the moment Yoo Jinhak left.

It wasn’t a punishment.

At that moment, the view of the Tang Clan’s estate entered Jang Il’s gaze.

There seemed to be twice as many gate guards standing watch as usual.

They had been stationed thoroughly to prevent any surprise attack targeting Sewoon.

“…But can Young Master even get out with that kind of tight security?”

“He can, and he did.”

“Eek!”

Jang Il jumped at the sudden voice next to him.

Sewoon was pressing his index finger to his lips.

“Shh.”

“S-Sorry, Young Master.”

“Oh, you brought it just like I asked. Good job.”

“Ah, um. But how did you even get out?”

“Pfft, that’s a secret.”

Sewoon grinned and playfully ruffled Jang Il’s hair.

Soon after, the two of them began descending the mountain path.

Jang Il stole a glance at his master, who was descending while whistling cheerfully.

‘Is he going to a brothel again?’

Though Sewoon wasn’t one to chase after women, it was common for him to come home completely drunk.

‘Well, after going through all that, he deserves a day of rest.’

Normally, he would have tried to stop him out of concern, but this time, Jang Il sided with his master.

Squish.

And then it happened.

While they were walking down for a while, Sewoon suddenly stopped in his tracks.

“Young Master?”

Jang Il tilted his head and asked, but Sewoon said nothing as he stared down from the hill.

‘Ah.’

Looking in the same direction, Jang Il let out a short sigh.

It had once been a thriving village, but now it was filled with grotesque ruins.

Back when the Sichuan Tang Clan was still one of the Seven Great Clans.

This was where members of the Tang bloodline had gathered to live, a place once called Tangkata.

Sewoon's expression had lost its usual smile, now deep in thought.

“……They only stepped outside the family walls because life got busy. I’m sure they’ll all return soon, Young Master.”

Jang Il spoke carefully, looking at him with worried eyes.

That snapped Sewoon out of his daze, and he raised the corners of his lips.

“Looks like I made you worry over nothing.”

“S-Sorry. I overstepped.”

“Not at all. I’m grateful.”

Sewoon once again looked down at the base of the hill.

Then he murmured softly to himself.

“……Yeah. They’ll all return. No, I’ll make sure every last one of them comes back.”

Moved by the weight of Sewoon’s words, Jang Il fell silent without realizing it.

“Well, enough of that sentimental stuff. Shall we head inside now?”

“H-Huh? What?”

Inside? Where?

Wasn’t he heading for a brothel in Chengdu?

As Sewoon turned and walked off, Jang Il followed—and let out a soft sigh.

Only then did Jang Il realize where Sewoon had intended to go.

“Hoo… My hands are itching so bad, I can’t hold it in.”

Sewoon chuckled as he spoke.

A large blacksmith’s forge, weathered with time, appeared before them.

It was one of the five halls of the Tang Clan—Ten Thousand Iron Hall.

While the Inner and Outer Affairs Hall and Heaven’s Medicine Hall were located within the main estate, Ten Thousand Iron Hall was built outside.

It was natural when you thought about it.

How could anyone sleep in peace if there was a forge inside the estate, with constant hammering?

As Sewoon briskly walked toward the forge as if he’d been waiting for this moment, Jang Il suddenly snapped to attention and spoke in haste.

“Y-Young Master. But if you enter Ten Thousand Iron Hall without permission from the Hall Leader, even as the Young Master…”

Creeeak.

“Eek!”

At that moment, the firmly shut door of the forge swung wide open.

What appeared was an old blacksmith with white hair.

His thick eyebrows and tightly closed lips revealed a stubborn nature.

His fierce gaze, reminiscent of a tiger, was fixed on Sewoon.

‘Damn.’

For the first time, Sewoon’s expression showed a hint of panic.

Of all people, it had to be him—the one he absolutely couldn’t meet right now.

One of the only two high-ranking figures in the Tang Clan who didn’t bear the Tang surname.

The master of all blacksmiths within the clan.

And the Hall Leader of Ten Thousand Iron Hall.

It was the Black-Handed Craftsman, Gu Yongyeon.