Clang!
The artisan hammers the hot, red diamond-shaped ingot, shaping it as he strikes. The feeling of kneading dough fills the air as he slowly elongates the ingot.
Clang! Clang!
He hits again and again. When the heat dissipates and the light fades from the ingot, he places it back in the furnace, reviving the heat through the bellows.
Once more, he strikes the now glowing metal.
It’s easy to say, but the labor is grueling. It’s only been a week since I picked up the hammer. I’m just a complete novice, lacking any real technique or finesse; simply pouring my stamina into bringing the hammer down repeatedly.
If I weren’t a peak expert, I would have collapsed from the labor by now.
A scorching wind blows from the furnace, heating the metal to over a thousand degrees Celsius. The artisan continues his high-intensity workout in front of the furnace and the ingot.
Breathing in, he feels the scorching heat almost burning his lungs while he ignores his screaming arms and brings the hammer down.
“Phew.”
Only after hammering all day does the ingot start to resemble a sword. My whole body is drenched in sweat. I’ve sweated so much that salt crystals have formed on my clothes. The moisture evaporates instantly in the heat, leaving salt behind.
After all that hard work, my master’s evaluation of the sword I made is painfully simple.
“It’s a mess.”
“Ugh.”
Tang So-yeol exhales smoke from his cigarette while looking at the sword I made.
“It’s obvious your technique is terrible since you’ve only just begun, but your aim is a whole other issue.”
“Aim, you say?”
“Yes, your target height is absurdly low.”
My target is low, huh?
“Hmm…”
“My disciple, I don’t expect much from you. I’ve already given up on any hopes of you becoming a great swordsmith after I saw your work at the forge. My expectations for you are as low as they can get. All I hope for is that you attain at least the bare minimum skills to be considered a swordsmith.”
Tang So-yeol’s face bears an unusual expression. Annoyance? Anger?
“But your aiming is the lowest of the low. Hah, I doubt you’ll understand no matter how I explain it… I miss that Black Cat lady already.”
“Indeed.”
The Tang Clan has entered a state of emergency.
One of the Tang Clan members on guard duty was found in a state of unconsciousness, gravely injured. The realization that a peak expert was targeting the Tang Clan has thrown everyone into chaos.
As a result, everyone staying in Tang So-yeol’s workshop moved back to the guest quarters for safety, and with the exception of those with special reasons, no outsiders can freely roam the Tang Clan’s premises.
This has erected a barrier of communication between me and Tang So-yeol once again.
“It’s about time for curfew, so you should head back.”
“Tsk, see you tomorrow, Master.”
“Alright.”
Currently, there is a curfew in place for the Tang Clan. Whether Tang Clan members or outsiders, outside activities are only allowed between 9 AM and 7 PM.
On my way back, I encountered several Tang Clan martial artists patrolling with concealed weapons and ominous expressions, their attention drawn to me.
Their sharp gazes lingered before they drifted away.
“Tsk.”
The reason for their intense stare is because of the Black Rib I’m wearing. They are well aware that there are two Sacheon Outcasts currently staying in the Tang Clan, but given the current state of emergency, it’s only natural that they’d focus on someone like me, who is hiding their face.
Fiddling with the Black Rib, I contemplated.
“Outcasts, huh…”
Although Sacheon City has become a place where individual martial matches thrive…
Sacheon Outcasts will continue to live as Sacheon Outcasts.
The various sects in Sacheon will continue to use the outcasts as a means to maintain their own ranks and undermine their competitors, while the outcasts will fulfill their requests.
It’s just that the stage has shifted from the streets and alleys of Sacheon to the personal martial fields that used to belong to the Hwang Gold Clan.
Now, it’s merely changed to something that no longer inconveniences the people of Sacheon.
The essence hasn’t changed, but the perception of the outcasts has certainly shifted.
I recalled the moment Jaso-gyeong threw off the Black Rib. Despite losing, Jaso-gyeong was recognized as a martial artist.
Outcasts won’t disappear, but this Black Rib might no longer be useful. With each outcast being numbered, what good does it do to hide one’s face?
So perhaps it’s time to toss aside the Black Rib.
I thought briefly, but… for now, I kept my hands on the Black Rib.
Well, it’d be more embarrassing to strip off the well-worn Black Rib just because the state of emergency has been declared…
It’s also possible that my expectations about the outcasts might lead me in another direction.
And well… having lived as a Sacheon Outcast for seven years…
I’m gradually finding less need to cling to this identity, but honestly, I still want to wear this Black Rib.
After all, if it’s just a matter of receiving some sharp gazes for wearing the Black Rib, I could have taken it off ages ago.
Considering the strength of the Tang Clan, the enemy will likely be captured before long.
There will no longer be any reason to bear such warning glares.
I just need to hold out until then.
Thinking this, I moved toward the guest quarters, leaving the gazes of the Tang Clan martial artists behind.
*
The Family Head’s Quarters of the Tang Clan was bustling with people for the first time in a while.
Tang Guanglie looked at the Tang Clan members showing tension and anger and started speaking.
“I’ve called you all here today to discuss the incident with the enemy and the subsequent actions we need to take.”
“We need to form a pursuit team immediately!”
“But we have no leads…”
“Attack is the best defense! Given that the enemy’s martial arts are highly skilled, there are limits to how we can defend against them, so shouldn’t we be proactive in uncovering their identity?”
‘What a headache.’
Tang Guanglie grimaced internally, recalling the report that nothing was stolen.
If theft wasn’t the motive, what could the enemy’s objective be?
‘Diverting attention.’
Tang Guanglie concluded that the enemy’s purpose was to create a diversion.
The fact that a guard was left severely injured adds credibility to this suspicion.
‘They must be targeting something big.’
An enemy would need more than just a few guards to achieve their goal; they are trying to create an opening by stirring up trouble.
The troublesome part is that even if they realize this, they have no choice but to send pursuit teams out.
If they don’t uncover the enemy’s identity by sending pursuers, the enemy will continue to attack until they have drawn enough forces out of the Tang Clan to satisfy them.
Tang Guanglie clenched his fists.
From a national perspective, it was crucial to clarify the enemy’s intentions. To do that, he needed to send out a small pursuit team while reinforcing the guards and observe the enemy’s reactions.
However…
‘If the enemy has similar thoughts as me… the next attack could result in casualties.’
What if the enemy determines that merely injuring a few is not enough to prompt the Tang Clan to act?
The hand behind the scenes will only grow more vicious.
‘We could yield wealth or spiritual medicine.’
Yet, if the enemy’s objective is revenge against the Tang Clan, rather than the hidden weapons or spiritual medicine…
What if they plan to sow chaos while the main forces are away?
“Forming a pursuit team is…!”
“We must prioritize the defenses of the Tang Clan!”
As Tang Guanglie’s worries deepened, the members of the Tang Clan from the Great War were loudly voicing their opinions. The fact that their families had been attacked and left in a state of unconsciousness had stripped them of their cool-headedness.
Bang!
The door to the Family Head’s Quarters burst open with a loud noise. Everyone’s gaze turned in that direction, and astonishment filled the faces of the agitated Tang Clan members.
“There’s no need to worry about Do-yul’s condition. He has overcome the greatest crisis, and as long as we monitor his progress closely, he will recover fine.”
“Whew…!”
“Thank goodness…!”
“Thank you for your hard work, Elder!”
“However, since he was indeed in a critical state between life and death, it might take some time before he regains consciousness.”
With the arrival of the Poison Doctor Tang, silence descended upon the Great War. No one present could match the authority of the Poison Doctor, whether by position or reputation, thus none dared raise their voices.
The Poison Doctor spoke in a tone as if scolding them.
“As soon as I walked in here, your voices pierced my ears. How can the upper echelons of the Tang Clan be so lacking in composure, speaking loudly without making any rational judgments… Tsk!”
“I-I apologize, Elder!”
“I shall also take part in the guard duties until this incident is fully resolved!”
The Poison Doctor’s surprising declaration left everyone wide-eyed.
“I will be responsible for the southern residential area, so keep that in mind!”
Tang Guanglie watched the Poison Doctor yell. Whether he felt the fierce gaze of Tang Guanglie or not, the Poison Doctor turned and exited the Family Head’s Quarters.
‘Thank you, Elder.’
With the Poison Doctor stepping up, Tang Guanglie’s worries were neatly resolved. No matter how skilled the intruder, they couldn’t match the world’s number one poison expert.
“As the head of the family, I command you.”
“Understood!”
“Form an additional pursuit team! We must catch the intruder!”
“Understood!”
The doors to the hidden weapons storage and poison vault of the Tang Clan flung wide open.
Fully armed members of the Tang Clan set out to track down the enemy that had harmed their people.
*
“Things are progressing according to plan.”
The middle-aged person mused as he watched the Tang Clan’s gradually deflated appearance.
The Tang Clan’s response was clear.
They wanted to protect their people.
Having sent pursuit teams in all directions, they had reduced their defensive range. They had significantly cut down on the guards for the western and northern regions, while maintaining meaningful levels of security only in the southern residential area where people lived, and the eastern area where artisans produced hidden weapons.
“How foolish to abandon the most valuable weapons just to protect a handful of people.”
The middle-aged person sneered, deciding he must shake things up a few more times. Perhaps they had been dulled by peace. Even if a few martial artists or even dozens fell, they chose to give up the precious poison in the north.
“Thanks to that, it will be easier for me.”
He pulled out several Inner Dans from the Bombarding Toads hidden in his possessions. These toads possess the bizarre trait of exploding when facing death. Close to ten of these highly explosive Inner Dans can obliterate an entire building.
No matter how well-built their storage was, this level of explosive power could easily wipe out the northern poison vault.
By merely blowing up that vault, the Tang Clan’s strength would drop to less than half. Since the hidden weapons that could quickly incapacitate skilled martial artists only produced mild effects, they would be nothing more than a mere annoyance.
“The Tang Clan’s reputation will soon be a thing of the past.”
With determination, the middle-aged person pressed down on the Black Rib and made his way toward the northern district of the Tang Clan.
