Chapter 433

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"Well, ah, I saw great-grandfather packing something and heading toward the workshop. That, that ...… I'm sure it’s around here…….”

There was a strong earthquake in Tang Gun-ak's pupils.

"No way?"

He hurriedly looked around.

Come to think of it, he can't even see the Black Metal (현철(玄鐵)), who was decorated on the left side of the Gaju Room. Other than that, some precious metals have disappeared.

Sichuan Tang Family's Gaju Hall is located in the center of the Tang Family. The reason why he did not lock this place was that he believed in the authority of the head of the Sichuan Tang Family, and it was an expression of confidence that no one outside could hide here.

But…….

"The- The enemy inside...….”

Pale-faced Tang Gun-ak started running into the workshop.

"Great Grandfather-niiiiiiim!

Arriving at the workshop, he rushed inside. And he took a breath to break open the door and let out a shout.

"Heup!"

But he couldn't say anything and swallowed his breath.

Kaaang!

The pure sound of a hammer.

It was a sound with a sincere soul that even moved Tang Gun-ak’s soul, who has heard the hammer sound throughout his entire life as a song.

Kaang!

Fireworks danced.

The boiling heat, the shaking air, and the flying sparks evoked indescribable intense emotions.

Tang Gun-ak is the head of the Sichuan Tang Family.

He could not walk the path of a craftsman, but he is someone who can understand the life of a craftsman. So he couldn't say anything at this moment.

Kaaaang!

The best craftsman in the Tang Family, who held the hammer silently in front of the fire for the rest of his life, was now pouring his soul into it.

Tang Gun-ak's gaze shifted from Tang Jo-pyong to Chung Myung in the background. Chung Myung was also watching what Tang Jo-pyong was doing.

At that time, the tightly sealed mouth of Tang Jo-pyong opened.

"Come here, Gaju."

Kaaaang!

Tang Jo-pyong seemed to know that he had come even though he didn't look back.

Tang Gun-ak approached and stood behind him as if possessed.

Kaang!

The hammer struck the elongated iron strongly.

Tang Jo-pyong, who reached out his hand and raised the heat in the furnace, shoved iron through the charcoal with an indifferent gesture.

Then he stared at the furnace with sunken eyes. Tang Gun-ak took advantage of the moment when the hammer stopped.

"Great Grandfather, this is...….”

"Quiet."

“…….”

While looking at the iron in the furnace without saying a word, Tang Jo-pyong took out the heated iron with tongs and put it on the anvil.

Kaang!

His hammer began to dance again without fail.

“I have lived my whole life in the Tang Family.”

“…….”

"Sometimes I made swords, sometimes I made mirrors (비침을), sometimes I made things I shouldn't have."

Despite the loud noise, somehow he felt like he was being sucked into Tang Jo-pyong’s words.

"I create and create. I didn't even think about becoming a great craftsman. I've just made things for my age. And at some point, I was leading the Tang Family’s craftsmen."

The old man's voice reflecting on his past life was just calm.

“But at this age, looking back on my life, suddenly a thought came to my mind. What the hell did I make?”

"……Grandfather."

Tang Jo-pyong continued with his eyes fixed only on the anvil.

“Go take a good look. I am not a warrior and I have nothing to give you. Even if I have something to tell you, I can't express it in words because I’m not a good speaker. All I can show you is this.”

Tang Gun-ak held his breath.

There was no sign of the old man in his mind.

Only Craftsmen who devoted their life to flames and iron were seen.

Kaaang!

The hammer hits the iron bar.

The swordsman wields the sword countless times to follow the Tao at the edge of the sword.

Then, how can there be no Tao at the end of the hammer of a craftsman who has wielded his hammer countless times?

A skill that has been built up over a lifetime.

A belief that has lasted a lifetime.

All of them come together and strike on the iron.

Tang Jo-pyong picked up the Hancheol with tongs and dipped it in a bucket.

Chiiiiish!

White smoke gushed out like clouds.

"Iron …….”

For a moment, Tang Jo-pyong's voice rang quietly in the hazy space.

"You have to heat it, cool it down with water, then strike it, again and again."

His voice resembled the path he had walked.

"In retrospect, the life I've lived is not that different. Sometimes it was fun, sometimes it was hard, and yet I walked and walked constantly."

Kaaang!

Flames began to erupt again on the anvil.

"Do you remember, Sword Saint Elder?"

"…… hmm?"

"I didn't want to be a craftsman. I wanted to be a warrior of the Tang Family who used poison and secret weapons. Yes, just like my grandfather."

“…….”

“Elder said to me when you saw me crying because I didn’t want to deal with things like iron.”

- Hey, you punk!  What's so great about wielding a sword that you can't do so well? Those who live with blood on their hands are the most rotten ones in the world. And if there is no sword maker, shall I fight with a cane? You just have to do your best on your own path. That's enough.

A smile formed around Tang Jo-pyong's mouth.

“I never imagined that the best sword in the world would say such a thing. Thanks to this, I was able to make up my mind and walk my own path.”

Listening to him, Chung Myung closed his eyes quietly.

“Now, I am able to repay you for what you said at the time. I bet my grandfather would say that he is proud of me.”

Chung Myung's lips, which barely opened after hesitating, trembled slightly.

"Old man……. I…….”

"It doesn't matter."

Kaang!

Chung Myung's words were buried in the sincere hammering.

"Whether this sword is used by Plum Blossoms Sword Saint."

Kaaang!

"Or by a young disciple of Mount Hua who will lead Mount Hua again.

Kaang!

“What would be different? Even if the Sword Saint Elder used this sword, it would have been passed down to Mount Hua Sect in the end. The sword of Sword Saint Elder is Mount Hua's sword, so if it's in the hands of the disciple of Mount Hua, it is also the sword of Sword Saint Elder."

Kaaang!

Irons are held together and unfolded again.

It heats up, cools down, and heats up again.

Every time the hammer in his fingertips, which is full of traces of time, moves, the memories of the long past and the living and breathing present melt together.

His small, white hands suddenly became dark and ragged with wrinkles and scars. The black hair has also faded white.

Did he accomplish something in that long, long time?

Tang Jo-pyong, who had been silently striking the iron for a while, shook his head.

No, that doesn't mean anything anymore.

The hammer fell straight onto the iron.

One day, and two days.

The sound of the hammer continued and continued, from three days and nights to nine full days.

The blade (검신(劍身)) was as transparent as ever.

It was so clear that it looked almost white beyond silver.

The sword, which was twice as thin as the average sword, seemed light at first glance, the heavier it was, could not describe it in words.

At the bottom of the sword’s surface (검면(劍面)), which leads to the handle, vivid plum blossoms that seem to be alive were elaborately carved, and at the end of the handle wrapped with quality leather, a green thread containing the color of the Tang Family was gently attached.

"Look."

Tang Jo-pyong, who seemed to have aged for several years, beckoned him. Chung Myung reached out quietly and squeezed the sword.

Then he closed his eyes briefly at the unknown feeling.

The sword seemed to cling to his hand. As if it was part of him from the beginning.

When he lightly hit the sword with his fingertips, the thin sword bent widely and quickly regained its place.

It was soft as a Soft Sword (연검(軟劍)) but as solid as a Tyrant Sword. There was not even a need to mention the sharpness.

"Here."

Tang Jo-pyong held out the scabbard to Chung Myung.

The scabbard, made of black iron, was engraved with red plum blossoms. It was like seeing plum blossoms in full bloom in the dark.

Chung Myung slowly pushed the sword into the scabbard.

"Do you like it?"

“…….”

When asked by Tang Jo-pyong, Chung Myung hesitated for a moment.

What should he say?

Chung Myung glanced at Tang Gun-ak.

Then he smiled as if he was okay and nodded.

"Well, this is..."

Chung Myung scratched his head and spoke carefully.

"I don't think I deserve to say anything about this sword…….”

"Do you like it?"

Chung Myung nodded.

"There's nothing more to ask."

A bright smile spread over Tang Jo-pyong's face.

He felt rewarded for all the hard work with that word just now.

"Then give it a name."

"……Name?"

“The sword that finds its owner must have a name. Give it a suitable name.”

‘Name…….’

‘A name.’

Chung Myung stared at the sword and grabbed the handle again.

Sereureurung.

If the sheath is like a plum blossoming in the dark night, the sword exposed from the sheath is like seeing a plum blossoming in broad daylight.

Chung Myung, who had been looking at the sword for a long time, finally smiled quietly.

The sword was named from the beginning.

"Dark Fragrance Plum Blossom Sword.” (암향매화검(暗香梅花劍))

"… Dark Fragrance."

Tang Jo-pyong followed the sound and closed his eyes slightly.

Tang Gun-ak said in a slightly dissatisfied voice as if he didn't like the name.

"Wouldn't another name be good? Of course, I understand that Mount Hua uses the term "Dark Fragrance" quite a bit, but I don't think it will properly express the beauty of this sword. If you shorten it, it'll be Dark Plum Sword, but it's too rough of a name...….”

"Black Fragrance...….”

However, Tang Jo-pyong, who was quietly staring, opened his eyes and smiled.

Bright as ever. And joyful as ever.

His eyes were wet with tears.

"That's a good name. That's really a great name."

Tang Gun-ak shut up.

He couldn't understand why Tang Jo-pyong even shed tears on the name. However, the name of the sword has now been decided since Tang Jo-pyong, who made the sword, said so.

Chung Myung couldn't take his eyes off the sword.

"Mount Hua's sword, which was made by the Sichuan Tang Family, cannot be attached to anything other than this name.”

"Yes, of course, of course.”

Tang Jo-pyong nodded constantly.

Memories of the past flashed in his eyes.

The night when the moon was shining.

The appearance of the Dark Lord (암존(暗尊)) Tang Bo and the Plum Blossom Sword Saint Chung Myung, sitting opposite each other on the bench, drank a glass of wine.

This sword will be the sword of Plum Blossom Sword Saint and the sword that symbolizes the friendship between the Sichuan Tang Family and Mount Hua.

Just like they did in the past.

"Please write it well."

Chung Myung nodded silently.

The cold chill emanating from the sword was transmitted through the hand holding the handle.

But it wasn't just cold.

What should he say?

It’s a little……….

- Taoist Hyung-nim.

……Yes.

It's a little warm.

Chung Myung pushed the sword into the scabbard on his waist and took a step closer to Tang Jo-pyong. Then he smiled and tapped on the shoulder.

"Thank you."

Tang Jo-pyong smiled instead of saying something.

"That……."

Chung Myung, who was about to say something, eventually turned his head and coughed a few times.

"I have to see what happened to the... uh, other swords. Uh... yes. Let me get out of here."

Chung Myung turned around and quickly opened the door and went out. Tang Jo-pyong smiled quietly.

Tang Gun-ak hesitated a little and opened his mouth.

"Great Grandfather, the truth is...….”

"Gun-ak."

He closed his mouth and opened his eyes wide. How many years has it been since Tang Jo-pyong called him by the name? (Gunak-ah.)

"Yes, Great Grandfather."

"I have something I want to make. Prepare my workshop.”

"You- You mean right away? Shouldn’t you take a break?”

"A craftsman must not let go of his hammer until the day he dies. I've forgotten that for a long time."

Tang Gun-ak quietly looked at Tang Jo-pyong's face.

His face, which had long been lifeless, had a hint of satisfaction. Tang Gun-ak ended up smiling at the face without even realizing it.

"I will."

As he quickly went out, Tang Jo-pyong looked out with deep, deep eyes.

“The scent of plum blossoms… … .”

Then he closed his eyes slowly.

"…It doesn't disappear."

In the deep darkness, the scent of dark plum blossoms deepens (暗香梅花).

The deep scent of plum blossoms, which remained in his long memory, continued to this moment.

For a long time, long time.

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