The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 132

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 132.
Two weeks later.
In the early dawn, at the Blacksmith Shop of Minong Workshop.
At an hour when no one should have been present, the sound of hammering echoed through the Blacksmith Shop.
It was Bu Eunseol, the young Blacksmith who had come to work at Minong Workshop after performing menial tasks.
Clang, clang, clang.
I placed the glowing red-hot metal on the anvil and began shaping it with my hammer.
With each strike of the hand hammer, the metal folded and stretched repeatedly.
Creak.
At that moment, the old door opened and a shadow in gray robes entered Minong Workshop. It was Yuk Man Ho.
“Master Craftsman.”
As Bu Eunseol set down the hammer and bowed slightly, Yuk Man Ho raised his eyebrows.
“Why are you here instead of returning to your quarters?”
“I was attempting to craft the items I hadn’t been able to complete during the day.”
“What do you mean, unable to complete? Explain yourself.”
At Yuk Man Ho’s question, Bu Eunseol lowered his head.
“The other craftsmen do not wish for me to create items.”
“Hmm.”
Despite Yuk Man Ho’s authoritative command as Master Craftsman, the craftsmen of Minong Workshop still seemed to be preventing Bu Eunseol from making anything.
“I see. What were you making?”
“I was attempting to craft a sickle.”
Yuk Man Ho picked up the sickle placed beside Bu Eunseol.
“Hmm. It’s somewhat heavier than the sickles the existing craftsmen produce.”
He examined the sickle carefully and nodded.
“You made the handle short and the tang portion long. That’s why it’s heavier. Why did you make it in this form?”
“Farmers use sickles not only for grain but also for cutting light wood. Made this way, it can be used for a long time without damage.”
Yuk Man Ho examined the sickle once more.
The uniformity and density were quite excellent, as if crafted by a craftsman who had been making sickles for years.
‘This one has talent.’
Yuk Man Ho set down the sickle and spoke to Bu Eunseol.
“Do not come to the Blacksmith Shop at this hour anymore.”
Before Bu Eunseol could respond, Yuk Man Ho patted his shoulder and continued.
“I will speak firmly to my craftsmen, so starting tomorrow, you will properly craft the tools.”
Despite Yuk Man Ho’s voice brimming with confidence, Bu Eunseol merely bowed with an expressionless face.
Around midday, numerous craftsmen poured out from the Blacksmith Shop within the Dangsan Iron Family.
As lunchtime approached, they moved in lines to eat their meal.
A middle-aged man in brown robes observed them from a display counter where various agricultural tools were arranged. It was Lee Bok, the overseer of the Dangsan Iron Family.
“Indeed, this one has talent.”
He smacked his lips while gazing at the display counter set to one side.
There were displayed the agricultural tools Bu Eunseol had crafted. Though their shapes were quite crude, they were so popular that many items were already sold out.
When asked why they purchased from the farmers, they all gave the same answer: “The shape is nothing special, but it’s convenient to use,” or “It fits perfectly in the hand.”
“He’s stripped away all the unnecessary flourishes and crafted everything purely for practicality.”
Lee Bok, having worked at the Dangsan Iron Family for many years, possessed an eye for craftsmanship that rivaled any master artisan.
By Yuk Man Ho’s account, he was indeed a talented young craftsman.
Yet he found Bu Eunseol’s implements deeply unsatisfying.
“Each implement should possess its own inherent beauty in its form…”
Bu Eunseol possessed almost no aesthetic sensibility—the kind that a true blacksmith ought to have—and crafted only tools devoted entirely to ‘function.’
In short, the implements he created bore the unmistakable imprint of his blunt, inflexible nature.
“He’ll never become a master craftsman.”
Just as he was turning away with a disapproving click of his tongue,
“Is anyone here?”
A man dressed in a pale indigo martial robe entered the Dangsan Iron Family workshop.
Though his gaze was piercingly cold and fierce, Lee Bok greeted him with utmost deference, as though beholding nobility itself.
“Master Yeon, what brings you here?”
The man in the martial robe was none other than Yeon Myeong Jin, one of five masters who instructed disciples at the Jongnam Sect’s Dangsan Martial Training Ground.
“I’ve come to have my sword repaired.”
“Of course. Please, sit here.”
Despite Yeon Myeong Jin’s curt tone and cold gaze, Lee Bok’s demeanor remained exceedingly respectful, as though attending to an elder.
This was understandable—one of the Dangsan Iron Family’s largest clienteles consisted of disciples from the Jongnam Sect’s Dangsan Martial Training Ground who honed their blades there.
As one of the masters instructing these disciples, Yeon Myeong Jin wielded considerable influence that could not be ignored.
“Why have you come personally rather than sending a disciple?”
“How could I entrust a blade that is like an extension of my very soul to mere disciples?”
Though Yeon Myeong Jin had only recently crossed into his thirties, he spoke to Lee Bok—who was well past forty—as one might address a subordinate.
“The blade suffered some damage during practice, likely from excessive infusion of vital energy. It seems the damage requires attention.”
The Jongnam Sect’s swordsmanship was so formidable that it was common for blades to shatter or bend during training.
Because of this, martial artists of the Jongnam Sect frequently visited the blacksmith to repair their weapons until they mastered the precise control of vital energy infusion and sword technique timing.
“May I examine the blade?”
“Handle it with care.”
“Understood.”
Receiving the sword from Yeon Myeong Jin, Lee Bok carefully drew it from its scabbard and examined it closely.
All the Gudaemun Sect sects used swords, but each wielded blades that differed subtly in form.
The Jongnam Sect’s swords were slightly longer and thicker in the blade than those of other sects.
Yet not only was the blade edge damaged, but even the sturdy blade itself was minutely warped.
‘It’s been subjected to considerable abuse.’
Beyond the blade itself, there were hairline fractures along the junction where the blade met the hilt and even along the blade’s edge.
While it had been maintained reasonably well, the marks of heavy use were impossible to conceal.
“Repairing it shouldn’t be difficult, but… it will require some time.”
“Time? How much?”
“The craftsmen are all at their meal now, so I’ll begin work as soon as they return.”
“How long will it take?”
“I will complete the repairs and send it to the Martial Arts Training Hall by tomorrow at the latest.”
“It takes that long?”
As Yeon Myeong Jin’s eyebrows shot up, Lee Bok lowered his head and spoke.
“The blade itself can be straightened quickly, but the lateral force has caused damage to both the blade core and the binding section that secures the sword, you see.”
Yeon Myeong Jin spoke with a displeased expression.
“What of the Master Craftsman?”
“The Master Craftsman has gone to Zhejiang… It will take at least a month before he returns.”
Yeon Myeong Jin spoke with a displeased expression.
“Call the Blacksmith here and have it finished today. Immediately.”
Lee Bok’s face grew troubled.
All the blacksmiths at the Iron Workshop were exceptionally skilled, and their pride was equally formidable.
Even if one begged and pleaded, explaining the situation, not a single one would abandon their meal and come to repair a sword.
“They have only just begun their meal… Would you mind waiting a moment?”
“I skipped my own meal to arrive here quickly.”
“I see.”
Lee Bok suppressed his exasperation and bowed his head.
‘Such a temperament.’
Restraining his inner frustration, Lee Bok spoke carefully.
“If you are in such a hurry, would it not be better to take one of the new swords we have completed?”
“Do you think I brought my own sword because the Martial Arts Training Hall has none?”
“That is not what I meant—I was merely thinking to offer you a fine sword free of charge….”
“Pointless talk. Do you think I came seeking a new sword?”
“I, I apologize.”
Lee Bok quickly lowered his head.
Seeing a man past fifty bow so deferentially before him, Yeon Myeong Jin realized his own manner had been excessive.
“Forgive me. My nerves have been on edge….”
He paused for a moment and sighed.
“The truth is, an important martial demonstration is being held at the Martial Arts Training Hall tomorrow. It is a significant occasion—even the sect elders are coming. Do you understand what I mean?”
A weapon is like a horse; the more a hand touches it, the more it becomes accustomed to its master.
Especially for martial artists who have not yet perfected their sword techniques, the difference between a familiar blade and an unfamiliar one was quite substantial.
“I understand the situation well. Then allow me to persuade the craftsmen….”
Just as Lee Bok rose from his seat to approach the craftsmen, a shadow in gray robes walked toward them from across the way.
It was Bu Eunseol.
“Ah, there is a young craftsman here.”
Upon spotting Bu Eunseol, Yeon Myeong Jin brightened.
“I can entrust the repairs to them right away.”
“No, that person….”
“What excuse will you make now? There is no time—hand it over quickly.”
Lee Bok stammered and then fell silent.
Thinking about it, since they could make agricultural tools to a reasonable standard, repairing a blade and reinforcing the sword core should not be difficult work.
‘No, that still won’t do….’
No matter what, I couldn’t have the night workers of the Minong Workshop repair weapons.
If something went wrong, how would I take responsibility for it?
Yet Yeon Myeong Jin snatched the long sword that Lee Bok was holding and thrust it toward Bu Eunseol.
“Here! Since it’s urgent, set aside your other work and repair my sword first.”
Bu Eunseol stared blankly at the sword before nodding.
“Understood.”
‘This fellow?’
Lee Bok naturally assumed Bu Eunseol would refuse.
Yet when she nodded brazenly even after seeing the long sword, he couldn’t hide his bewilderment.
“Night Worker Bu. Are you truly confident you can take responsibility and repair it?”
At Lee Bok’s question, Bu Eunseol glanced down at the long sword in her hand and spoke matter-of-factly.
“It should be finished in two hours.”
“Two hours?”
Lee Bok couldn’t help but burst into laughter at the absurdity.
Repairing the weapons of Murim masters is delicate and demanding work.
Even the skilled night workers of the Iron Workshops take a full day to complete such tasks, yet this woman who merely crafts farming implements claims she’ll handle it in two hours?
‘Very well. This is a good opportunity to teach her a lesson.’
“Then will you take responsibility and give it a try?”
Lee Bok swallowed his scorn and thrust the long sword forward.
“But if the repair goes wrong, it will be entirely your responsibility.”
A night worker must bear responsibility for the items entrusted to them.
That is not something that can be glossed over, even if Yuk Man Ho were to cover for her.
‘I’ll use this chance to drive out this thorn in my side.’
Whether Bu Eunseol knew Lee Bok’s true intentions or not, she nodded calmly.
“Understood.”
Then, as if nothing had happened, she slowly turned toward the Blacksmith Shop.
* * *
Bu Eunseol entered a small storage shed a short distance from the Minong Workshop.
Though I was crafting farming implements with the consideration of the Master Craftsman Yuk Man Ho, my relations with the other night workers at the Minong Workshop were far from good.
Because of this, I worked alone in this dilapidated shed separated from the Minong Workshop.
Click.
Yet something was strange.
Though I should have begun work immediately, I sat vacant-minded, examining the sword intently.
“….”
My eyes as I inspected the sword from every angle were solemn beyond compare.
After examining the damaged areas of the blade for a long while, my eyes suddenly gleamed.
‘Most Orthodox Sects condense their true energy like dew and concentrate it at the sword’s tip. But this blade was rotated with the true energy spread throughout the entire blade.’
This time I held the blade up to the light to examine it.
‘Not focused on the point—instead, using rotational force to sweep sharp true energy across the entire blade.’
Bu Eunseol, wielding the curved longsword, envisioned the sword technique unfolding before her eyes—a blade that rotated fiercely and swept across the side.
So this is the Drunken Immortal Sword, one of the three supreme techniques of the Jongnam Sect!

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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