Chapter 116 : Nine Heavens Immortal Maiden (2)

Chapter 116: Nine Heavens Immortal Maiden (2)

"It is truly regrettable to have kept the Shrine Maiden Sect Leader waiting like this."

"Not at all. You're a guest who arrived without prior contact from the Alliance—waiting is only proper. Please, pay me no mind and tend to your matters."

"Thank you for saying that first. I shall ensure the message of your arrival reaches the appropriate parties immediately, so please wait just a little longer."

"Very well, thank you."

When Hwa Wolyung spoke as if she truly didn’t mind, Son Geon, the General Administrator of the Sichuan Tang Clan, bowed respectfully to her and then departed.

She had just finished the purification of the sorcery's aftermath from the Kaifeng Blood Massacre.

Originally, she had intended to return to the Shrine Maiden Sect, but had diverted to the Sichuan Tang Clan instead.

That very day, the Alliance had decided to provide the Celestial Flame Furnace to the Sichuan Tang Clan, and it was said her help would be needed.

Upon arriving at the Tang Clan, Hwa Wolyung had been guided to the guest hall and was now waiting for the Clan Head.

Had it been another sect, things might have gone differently.

The Shrine Maiden Sect did not belong to the Nine Sects One Gang or the Seven Great Clans, yet it was still considered a prestigious sect on par with them.

For such a sect’s leader to visit personally—any other sect would have pushed aside all other guests and duties to greet her first.

But the Sichuan Tang Clan did not give her any special treatment. They treated her equally to others.

However, as previously mentioned, Hwa Wolyung did not take offense or feel slighted.

After all, she herself had arrived without so much as a letter from the Alliance.

“How long are we supposed to wait, exactly?!”

“I apologize, but there are simply too many guests waiting to meet the Clan Head. There’s nothing we can do.”

“Hmm, unless… Is there something else you require? If you just move me up the list, I’ll make sure you’re well compensated…”

“Are you trying to bribe a Tang Clan warrior?”

“N-no, that’s not what I meant. I… I apologize. I’ll wait quietly.”

Such outbursts were common, given how absurdly many were waiting for an audience with the Clan Head.

Voices from the adjacent room carried through the guest hall’s walls.

Conversations between impatient guests and Tang Clan warriors mostly sounded like that.

‘They say the Tang Clan's power these days pierces the heavens... and I see it’s true.’

Hwa Wolyung, while sitting beside her disciple who blinked quietly, was secretly full of admiration.

She had spent years in seclusion, cutting ties with the mundane world for deep cultivation in the mountains—and now that she had descended, the Tang Clan had fully regained its former glory.

In fact, the reality seemed to surpass the rumors.

Time passed quietly as she waited.

Knock knock.

Son Geon reappeared, knocking on the door.

“Shrine Maiden Sect Leader, the Clan Head said he’ll be done within a moment. If you don’t mind, he’s asked if you’d be willing to come to him directly.”

“Hm, what do you think, Master?”

Hwa Wolyung answered without hesitation.

“I’ve just finished the tea I was served. Let’s go to the Clan Head now.”

“Yes, understood. I’ll lead the way.”

Son Geon began to guide them.

They exited the outer guest hall and headed toward the inner quarters.

Yet, even after walking for quite a while, the inner quarters had yet to appear.

It was said that the Sichuan Tang Clan had recently undergone major expansion—and it showed. It seemed on par even with the residences of the Namgung Clan.

Still, it didn’t feel like the garish estate of a nouveau riche.

The clan had avoided ostentatious decoration inside and out, favoring practicality and elegance steeped in tradition.

“Keep your minds sharp! How can you protect the Clan Head otherwise?!”

“Apologies, Chief Instructor!!”

‘Hm?’

Just then, shouts from martial artists rang out.

Naturally turning her head, Hwa Wolyung saw Tang Clan warriors drenched in sweat, deep in intensive training within the Grand Martial Training Hall.

Cha-chang!

Chwaaah!

‘What?!’

A look of surprise crossed her face.

Even from a glimpse, it was obvious—the Tang Clan warriors’ skills were far from ordinary.

Their harsh sparring, bordering on actual combat, and their use of poison techniques and hidden weapons could rival even the elite inner court warriors of the Murim Alliance.

No wonder the Tang Clan’s escort missions had such a high success rate.

It was now easy to understand why.

‘Wait, what is that?’

Hwa Wolyung’s eyes widened again.

She was observing the hidden weapons being thrown and the various weapons being wielded by the warriors.

…They were equipping ordinary warriors with Treasure Weapons?

Indeed. These weren’t elite Alliance troops—but the weapons being used by even the standard warriors were all at least low-grade Treasure Weapons.

There wasn’t a single faction in the entire Murim that had such a force.

This wasn’t simply a matter of wealth.

Weapons of such quantity and quality couldn’t be bought with money alone.

Just as she was repeatedly checking to see if she’d misjudged—

“Shrine Maiden Sect Leader?”

Son Geon tilted his head at her.

She realized her mistake.

To watch another’s martial training so openly was a great discourtesy.

‘Ah—I was so absorbed, I didn’t even notice!’

Her face flushed with embarrassment.

“My apologies. It was such a rare sight, I couldn’t help myself…”

“No worries. It’s quite common for guests to pause when passing through here.”

“I-is that so?”

“Yes, please head inside now.”

“Very well. Thank you for guiding us.”

She entered, accompanied by Surin.

She had expected to be led into the inner hall where the Clan Head’s office or meeting chamber would be located—but that was not the case.

Mancheon Iron Guild (滿天鐵幇).

An unfinished signboard bearing the name lay on the ground.

‘…What is this place?’

Behind a vast courtyard stood an unfinished hall, with its internal framework still exposed.

Kaang!

Kakang!

And from within, the rhythmic sound of hammering echoed.

‘That man!’

‘That’s…!!’

They were both surprised—though for different reasons.

Surin was startled by the person she saw.

It was her first time meeting him, yet he felt strangely familiar.

Tang Sewoon…!

Do Yecheon, Peng Daeho, Jang Sopyeong—

Her fellow Jecheon Unit members had spoken endlessly about him.

Unlike themselves, who were part of the combat squad, Tang Sewoon had been the only one assigned to the support unit. Now, he was standing right before her eyes.

Surin’s eyes, which had been dazedly staring at his hammering, grew even more vacant.

…Why was someone like him assigned to the support unit?

She was a martial artist before being a sorcerer.

There was no way she could miss the profound martial knowledge flowing through his graceful strikes.

In contrast, Hwa Wolyung was shocked by the object that Tang Sewoon was hammering.

The Young Master of the Sichuan Tang Clan was working alone on a massive iron structure.

Celestial Flame Furnace.

She recognized what kind of equipment it was at a glance.

…No, it’s not the Celestial Flame Furnace.

Yet Hwa Wolyung quickly denied her own assessment.

The more she looked at the unfinished furnace being built, the more she realized it was completely different from the Murim Alliance’s Celestial Flame Furnace.

The exterior may have looked the same, but the interior was entirely different.

He added his own interpretation to the spell formation inscribed inside the furnace…??

There was an unfamiliar type of sorcery design layered onto it—something she had never seen before.

It was clear that his understanding of spell formations was at an exceptionally high level.

Once completed, that unknown furnace might produce results at least twice as effective as the Alliance’s Celestial Flame Furnace.

Realizing this, Hwa Wolyung was gripped by fear.

Had she not confirmed the Tang Clan’s power firsthand on her way here?

And even now, their martial strength was overwhelming.

If they were to acquire this new Celestial Flame Furnace...

Would it not result in the rise of an unprecedented force in Jianghu, with explosive might unlike anything in history?

Whenever overwhelming power had fallen into unworthy hands, great calamities had always followed.

…The Alliance Leader did say that the Sichuan Tang Clan would never let such a thing happen, but still.

As Hwa Wolyung’s expression darkened—

KANG!

Finally, the sound of hammering stopped.

Only then did Sewoon notice the two visitors and his eyes lit up.

Swoosh!

Leaping forward with swift motion, Sewoon gave a formal bow and greeted them.

"I greet the Shrine Maiden Sect Leader. I am Sewoon of the Tang Clan."

"Yes, pleased to meet you. I am Hwa Wolyung, leader of the Shrine Maiden Sect."

"It’s an honor to meet you, Shrine Maiden Sect Leader."

"…This is our first meeting. I’m Seo Surin, my master’s disciple."

"Yes, it’s a pleasure, Miss Seo."

After exchanging greetings, there was no time to enjoy a relaxed conversation—

Hwa Wolyung couldn’t suppress her curiosity and asked:

"Did the Alliance send master craftsmen along with the schematics for the Celestial Flame Furnace? The construction progress seems extremely fast."

"No, I didn’t receive any support. Because of that, I’ve only just completed about eighty percent. It’s been slow, having to do everything alone."

"You… you mean… you built this all by yourself?"

"Yes."

Sewoon spoke as if it were nothing, making Hwa Wolyung question her own reaction.

But by the standards of Jianghu, this was beyond absurd.

When the Murim Alliance constructed their own Celestial Flame Furnace, it had taken dozens of top-tier blacksmiths working for months.

Clicking her tongue in disbelief, she spoke:

"Everyone kept saying you’d become a Divine Craftsman before long, and I see now the rumors were true."

"Hmm, I’m just embarrassed by such praise."

"No, I say this sincerely. The spell formations carved inside, and the way you’ve blended various fields of study into your smithing—it's truly remarkable."

"I’m simply glad it’s recognized."

Ah—hold on.

Just then, Hwa Wolyung suddenly remembered something and looked around.

She had been so focused on the Celestial Flame Furnace that she’d momentarily forgotten her original purpose. She hadn’t come here to see Sewoon—she came to see Tang Muyeol, the Clan Head of the Sichuan Tang Clan.

"Wait, it seems there’s been some mix-up. I had requested an audience with the Clan Head."

"You’re in the right place."

"Hm? What do you mean by…!!"

Wait—surely not?

Just as the thought occurred to her—

Swoosh!

Sewoon bowed again with a clasped-hands salute.

"Allow me to reintroduce myself. I am Tang Sewoon, Clan Head of the Sichuan Tang Clan."