Chapter 36: I Want to See How Far the Grand Duke Will Go
The box was elongated in shape.
Given the Iron Gold Guild Leader standing before me, it wasn’t hard to guess its contents based on appearance alone.
‘But three swords seem excessive.’
Having witnessed his swordsmanship, swords were undoubtedly inside. Yet even the Seomun Family had only gifted five blades to their leader and key figures. The presence of three here made me tilt my head in confusion.
Noticing my puzzled expression, the Iron Gold Guild Leader chuckled.
“Swords are the cure-all, but their length, shape, and elasticity differ based on one’s swordsmanship. Just as Mount Hua and Cheongseong seek different things, I prepared three for you to choose according to your taste.”
Though I understood, my mood grew peculiar.
‘Is this how fate binds us?’
Long ago, the Guild Leader had sent a letter to the alliance offering a sword. Back then, as Hou Gong, I’d laughed it off—yet here we stood face-to-face.
At his signal, Dan Gang-mu opened the left box and presented a longsword.
I accepted it and examined it closely.
The scabbard was opulent. Drawing the blade revealed a fierce blue aura, its sharpness beyond words.
Ting.
A clear ring echoed when I flicked the blade. The high-pitched vibration remained steady, showcasing flawless forging. It surpassed even the legendary swords Mount Hua had procured from the guild at great cost.
I nodded involuntarily.
“Well? As a Tianhua Academy scholar versed in relics, your eye must be exceptional,” the Guild Leader remarked.
Dan Gang-mu beside him glanced at his father in surprise.
‘Is Father actually seeking praise?’
The proud smith I knew disdained evaluations, his attitude akin to You should be grateful I’m giving you anything. Yet today, he seemed almost eager—unheard of, even considering Tianhua’s reputation.
“The forging uniformity is miraculous. Flawless. The weight distribution excels—70% at the hilt, tapering to 50% upward, balancing midway at the tip. A sword anyone would covet.”
“Haha! You gild this old man’s face with gold,” he laughed, clearly pleased.
The second sword was presented—similar in length but with a silver sheen.
I nodded again.
The thin blade possessed remarkable elasticity. Channeling a wisp of energy heightened its flexibility further.
“Your thoughts?” The Guild Leader leaned forward anxiously, making Dan Gang-mu frown.
“Rare is the blade harmonizing softness and hardness so perfectly. Its elasticity shifts instantly with energy flow—ideal for defensive techniques and enhancing flamboyant styles. A masterpiece to tempt any swordsman.”
“Is that so?” The Guild Leader stroked his chin, half-embarrassed, half-proud.
Dan Gang-mu’s eyes widened. His father’s bashful pride was unprecedented. Of course, the Grand Duke’s ability to discern a sword’s essence at a glance was equally astounding.
“My expectations grow,” the Guild Leader declared, handing me the third sword.
‘Hm?’
The scabbard and hilt were weathered, bearing clear signs of long use. Had he gifted his personal blade?
Doubting, I activated my art—Purple Spirit Eye (紫靈眼). It revealed invisibility, concealed truths, and magnified objects dozens of times.
Then—
‘Ah!’ I nearly missed it. Only after prolonged scrutiny did I realize: the wear was artificial! Each mark had been meticulously carved to mimic natural aging.
“You understand aesthetics, Guild Leader.”
“Impressive. You saw through it.”
“I almost didn’t.”
Drawing the blade released a heavy aura instead of sharpness. Scratches and dents covered it—all deliberately engraved. The edge was blunt, the surface uneven. A dull resonance echoed when I flicked it.
The Guild Leader’s eyes gleamed with anticipation.
I sheathed the sword.
“A stylish blade I’d be honored to own.”
“...That’s all?” Disappointment flashed across his face before he continued, “Which do you want?”
“All are beyond my worth, but if permitted, the first sword.”
“The FIRST?!” His shout echoed. Baffled and crestfallen, he sank into deep thought.
‘Did I misjudge him?’
That night when the Seomun Family leader ran amok—
The Grand Duke he’d witnessed had touched the realm of Sword Zenith, exuding an aura only lifelong masters emit. Not revering swords nor looking down on them, but becoming one with the blade upon contact.
Each praise had delighted him as much as Mount Hua’s legendary smith’s admiration. Yet now, failing to recognize the third sword made him question his own judgment.
‘But when he gripped it, he radiated unity with the blade...’
“May I ask your reason?”
“All are superb.”
“Yet you chose the first. Why?”
“It suits me better than the second.”
“And the third?”
I smiled.
“That is the masterpiece you dedicated your life to forge.”
“Wha—?”
“Accepting it due to a trivial favor would be improper. Find its destined wielder or keep it as an heirloom.”
The Guild Leader’s eyes bulged. Dan Gang-mu, aware of the sword’s significance, mirrored his shock.
“Grand Duke, I believed you’d discern its truth! Explain in detail, I beg you!”
I sighed. The Guild Leader looked ready to weep—a scholar’s longing for recognition burning in his eyes. Slowly, I began...
On their return journey, Dan Gang-mu ventured cautiously in the carriage:
“Father, do you regret it?”
He knew what the third sword meant—his father’s magnum opus, destined for one man from its inception.
“What about you?”
“Huh?”
Iron Gold Guild Leader Dan Yeon-cheong smirked.
“Could you, upon first sight, have spoken like the Grand Duke?”
“No.” Dan Gang-mu admitted freely.
The Grand Duke had dissected the sword’s essence as if he’d forged it himself—a shock beyond words.
- From the artificial weathering masking its grandeur to the strategic Hyeoncheol alloy layers enhancing strength and elasticity without sacrificing flexibility...
- The mineral’s scarcity meant partial use, arranged like battle formations to amplify sword energy and destructive force...
Dan Gang-mu’s jaw hung open. Even watching the forging process, he couldn’t have explained it so fluidly. The Grand Duke’s insight was terrifying.
“Swords choose masters. I forged this for Hou Gong—the ‘Supreme Sword Sovereign’—but he died unexpectedly.” Sorrow tinged the Guild Leader’s voice.
“I feared rejection... that my life’s work would be called mediocre, left unaccepted...”
“...”
“Yet now, Tianhua’s Grand Duke becomes its master. My savior... a true sword connoisseur. Though he’s just begun, perhaps he’ll reach the pinnacle.”
“To that extent?”
Dan Gang-mu respected the Duke but balked at his father’s comparison to legends.
“Didn’t you say his touch during the Seomun banquet made you feel transcendent, as if wings sprouted?”
“Yes. His understanding of meridians is... unfathomable.”
“Then shouldn’t we surmise why that Seomun brate collapsed?”
“Surely not...”
“He who grants wings can also clip them. This old man is pleased.”
“...?”
“Watching how far the Grand Duke ascends will be enjoyable. I anticipate how my blade will unfold in his hands. Unless he drowns in academia...” He chuckled. “Then I’ll be disappointed.”
**
The Blue Moon Sect Leader also yearned to visit Tianhua Academy. Its formations remained awe-inspiring, and the Grand Duke grew more remarkable upon closer study—relations must be strengthened.
With other clans already visiting, he couldn’t delay.
Summoning his beloved daughter, he declared:
“Gyo-in, we’re going to Tianhua.”
“Why, Father?”
“We’ll invent a reason.”
“But empty-handed...”
“The gift is ready.”
Ban Gyo-in nearly leapt in joy.
“Really? What is it?”
“You.”
“...”
“I must bind you to the Grand Duke—”
SLAM! The door shut violently as his daughter vanished. Ban Gwang scratched his head, grumbling:
“Must court future sons-in-law slowly...”
