Chapter 322

At Do Yeon-san’s confident words, Pyo Wol showed an interested expression.

“You’ve inherited the Secret Transmission of the Tang Clan?”

“Yes!”

“Chengdu, where the Tang Clan was, is over four thousand li from here. Do you really mean to say you’ve inherited the Secret Transmission?”

“Our Manor Lord is a direct descendant of the Tang Clan, so he was fortunately able to inherit the Secret Transmission.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes! The Manor Lord said so himself, so it must be true.”

“Then was this item also made with the Tang Clan’s Secret Transmission?”

“Yes! It was made using the method the Manor Lord taught me.”

Do Yeon-san nodded his head.

Pyo Wol looked closely at Do Yeon-san’s face.

He was in his late teens, but his eyes looked overly gloomy. A certain madness could even be felt in his sunken gaze.

That side of Do Yeon-san reminded Pyo Wol of Tang Sochu.

He had felt the same way when he first saw Tang Sochu.

It was the natural expression of the madness of geniuses who were deeply immersed in one field.

Pyo Wol asked Do Yeon-san.

“Can I see more of the items you’ve made?”

“Yes!”

Do Yeon-san brought out a few more items.

There was a variety of them, from swords and sabers to flying daggers. But none of them were as good as the Feather Needles Pyo Wol was holding.

The smaller the object, the more meticulous attention and concentration were required to make it. That was why most artisans found it more difficult to make small objects. But Do Yeon-san was the opposite.

Do Yeon-san’s concentration seemed to increase when he was making small, light objects.

The way he had crafted the Feather Needles also seemed different from the Tang Clan’s Secret Transmission.

Pyo Wol didn’t know much about blacksmithing. But having spent a long time with Tang Sochu, he had a rough idea of the quality of items produced when the Tang Clan’s Secret Transmission was used.

The weapons from the workshop, said to be made with the Tang Clan’s Secret Transmission, did not meet Pyo Wol’s standards. They were similar, but they were all lacking in some way.

On the other hand, the Feather Needles made by Do Yeon-san were different.

With this level of skill, he wasn’t far behind Tang Sochu.

“I’ll buy the Feather Needles.”

“Really? The other items are much better…”

“This is the only thing that meets my standards.”

“Ah!”

At Pyo Wol’s words, Do Yeon-san’s face filled with emotion.

He felt as if his efforts were being rewarded.

It had already been over four years since he joined the Iron Mountain Workshop. During that time, he had handled iron just as he was taught at the Iron Mountain Workshop.

The artisans who taught him how to handle iron praised it as the Tang Clan’s Secret Transmission, but it didn’t satisfy Do Yeon-san.

The more skilled he became at handling iron, the more suspicious he grew.

The Tang Clan’s Secret Transmission he had heard about through rumors was not of this meager level.

The quality of the items from the Tang Clan, which had once swept through the Jianghu with its poisons and hidden weapons, was said to be the world’s best.

In contrast, the items made with the Secret Transmission taught here were only slightly superior to worldly goods, by no means at an overwhelming level.

But since the workshop’s owner and artisans said it was so, he couldn’t reveal his inner thoughts.

It was hard to find a workshop around the Great Lake with as good treatment as the Iron Mountain Workshop. And if he went to another workshop, they probably wouldn’t accept him.

The Iron Mountain Manor, to which the Iron Mountain Workshop belonged, had the largest influence in the Great Lake area. Their power was considered much stronger than that of most sects.

There was no way such an Iron Mountain Workshop would stand by and watch an artisan who had learned their Secret Transmission join another workshop.

No sect would tolerate its secret transmissions leaking to the outside. Even if it was a worthless one.

If Do Yeon-san tried to forcibly leave the Iron Mountain Workshop, they would surely take his life or leave him in a state where he could neither live nor die.

Knowing this, Do Yeon-san hid his doubts and focused solely on the work of handling iron.

Weapons commonly used by martial artists, like swords and sabers, had set specifications and strengths.

These had to be strictly followed, and no matter how skilled Do Yeon-san was, he had to conform to the Iron Mountain Workshop’s standards.

On the other hand, small items like the Feather Needles were different.

Since almost no one in the workshop made them, there were no set specifications.

Thanks to that, he could display his skills to his heart’s content.

The Feather Needles Pyo Wol was now holding were one of the items made that way.

“How much is it?”

“Th-three Silver Tael, sir.”

Do Yeon-san answered in a trembling voice.

Pyo Wol willingly paid the silver.

The Feather Needles were worth that much.

‘The material cost was almost nothing. With three silver, I can make the things I want.’

Do Yeon-san clenched his fists.

No one knew that he had sold the Feather Needles for three Silver Tael. As long as he deposited a reasonable amount, the rest of the money was all his.

“Thank you.”

Do Yeon-san bowed his head in greeting.

Pyo Wol noticed a small symbol drawn on the band tying the Feather Needles. It was a unique symbol of two intersecting circles.

“What is this symbol?”

“That… it’s my mark.”

“Your mark?”

“When I become famous later, I plan to put that mark on all my items.”

Do Yeon-san replied, his face blushing as if embarrassed.

Famous artisans in the Jianghu would sometimes leave a unique trace or mark to prove that they had made an item.

Do Yeon-san had also followed those artisans and created his own mark.

“Is that so?”

“Hehe! It’s a symbol my younger sister likes. So I carved the same symbol on her necklace.”

“That must be nice.”

“Hehe! I don’t know if it’s nice, but my sister likes it.”

Do Yeon-san scratched his head.

“Let me ask one last thing.”

“Yes! Anything.”

“What is the name of the Iron Mountain Workshop’s owner?”

“It’s the same as the workshop’s name. Great Hero Tang Cheolsan. He’s a direct descendant of the Tang Clan.”

“A direct descendant of the Tang Clan? I see.”

Pyo Wol nodded.

Do Yeon-san looked at Pyo Wol with a puzzled expression.

There was no one in the area who didn’t know Tang Cheolsan’s identity.

His surname was ‘Tang,’ and he himself went around boasting that he was a descendant of the Tang Clan.

In Sichuan Province and the surrounding provinces, the Tang Clan was a byword for terror, but here, thousands of li away, it was treated more like a mysterious sect.

Since there was no direct conflict with the Tang Clan, only its good aspects were highlighted. Tang Cheolsan’s family had used that fact to establish themselves here. And by putting forward the fact that they were descendants of the Tang Clan, they had seized control of the local commercial district.

There was no one in the Great Lake area who didn’t know that fact.

‘This person is an outsider.’

Do Yeon-san instantly realized that Pyo Wol was from out of town. But he didn’t find it strange.

The scenery of the Great Lake was unparalleled in all under heaven, and people flocked from all over to see it.

It was then.

“Hey, you beggar bastard!”

A fierce voice suddenly came from inside.

Do Yeon-san flinched and answered.

“Yes!”

“You bastard, what are you doing here? Where’s my sword I told you to polish?”

A man who looked to be in his early to mid-twenties came storming out from inside the workshop.

With upturned eyes and thin lips, the man was reminiscent of a weasel.

Slap!

The man slapped Do Yeon-san across the cheek.

He hit him so hard that Do Yeon-san’s body staggered greatly. His lip burst, blood flowed, and his cheek instantly swelled up.

“Where’s my sword? You bastard!”

“I placed it on the stand in my room.”

“Why did you put it there? I told you to bring it to me.”

“At that time, you definitely told me to put it there…”

“This bastard! Are you saying I lied?”

“No, sir. I must have been mistaken.”

Do Yeon-san quickly shook his head.

“Brought in a beggar-like bastard, fed him, and taught him skills, yet you can’t even do one thing properly…”

“I will work harder, Young Master!”

“Enough, you bastard! Get out of the way!”

The man shoved Do Yeon-san’s shoulder and went back inside.

He acted as he pleased without even a glance at the customer, Pyo Wol, the very picture of arrogance.

Swish!

Only after he had completely disappeared did Do Yeon-san wipe the blood from his mouth.

Red blood stained his sleeve.

His head was still ringing from the shock. Still, Do Yeon-san tried his best to force a smile.

“I’ve shown you an unsightly scene, customer. I’m sorry.”

“He seems to be a person of high status.”

“He is Young Master Tang Ikgi, the Young Master of the Iron Mountain Manor.”

“Young Master? You mean the Manor Lord’s son?”

“Yes! He’s selfish, but he’s not a bad person.”

Do Yeon-san tried to make excuses. But contrary to his words, his eyes shone coldly.

＊＊＊

Pyo Wol left the Iron Mountain Workshop and returned to the inn.

On the streets, now cloaked in darkness, red lanterns were being lit one by one. The shops that had been open during the day were closing, and brothels and inns were taking their place.

As night fell, even more people came out onto the streets.

Suzhou, known as the “City of Sensual Pleasures,” was just a stone’s throw away.

The shores of the Great Lake were as famous for their sensual pleasures as Suzhou.

Enjoying a drinking party with courtesans, with dishes made from fresh fish from the Great Lake as appetizers, was already an essential course that any hedonist had to take.

Today, too, the brothels on the shores of the Great Lake were bustling with hedonists.

“Uahaha! Let’s go to Donghaejeilru today. I heard the new courtesan there is something else.”

“Donghaejeilru? I’d rather go to Xichanglou. That’s what you can call the finest brothel on the Great Lake.”

People who were somewhat drunk were all clamoring that the brothel they knew was the best.

The streets were full of such people.

A city to get drunk on alcohol, and drunk on women.

That was this place.

Amidst it all, Pyo Wol seemed to be the only one walking soberly.

Pyo Wol didn’t even glance elsewhere and headed straight for the inn where he had taken lodging.

The name of the inn where he was staying was Taihu’s Finest Hall.

It was an inn loved by countless drunks because the entire view of the Great Lake could be seen right from the window.

Taihu’s Finest Hall was also bustling with drunks.

There were no empty seats on the first floor.

‘Should I share a table?’

Just as he was thinking that, a waiter came scurrying over.

“Welcome back!”

The waiter smiled brightly at Pyo Wol.

He had a very good memory and knew that Pyo Wol had a room here. No, even if his memory wasn’t good, it would be absurd not to remember a man with such striking looks.

That was how much Pyo Wol’s appearance stood out.

“If you’re worried about there being no empty seats, please go up to the second floor.”

“Are there seats on the second floor?”

“The second floor is for reserved guests only, but it’s an exception for guests staying at our inn. You can see it as a sort of benefit.”

“That’s a relief. Then I’ll go up to the second floor.”

“Oh! There’s a meeting of important guests on the second floor today, so please try not to look in their direction.”

“What kind of meeting is it?”

“It’s a gathering of the young talents of this area. I don’t know why they’re gathering. Hehe!”

The waiter smiled happily, as if just imagining it was pleasant.

Although he was doing menial work at the inn now, the waiter also had ambitions to one day learn martial arts and be recognized by people. To such a waiter, the gathering of renowned talents from the area was a rare spectacle.

The opportunity to see all the renowned talents of Jiangsu Province at once was by no means common, so the waiter’s anticipation was at its peak.

The waiter’s face was full of excitement and anticipation, but Pyo Wol felt no particular emotion.

He had already met more than his fill of renowned talents in the Jianghu. He held no expectations for them.

The waiter suddenly clapped his hands and said.

“Oh! If you’re dining on the second floor, you’ll have to order our inn’s high-grade food. Since we take fewer people, we have no choice but to raise the price to break even.”

“I understand. You can bring me something suitable.”

“And for drinks?”

“That’s fine.”

“Then the steamed carp caught today should be suitable. I’ll place the order with the kitchen, so please go on up first.”

The waiter grinned and ran to the kitchen.

His personality was so friendly and lively that it seemed he would succeed even if he did something other than being a waiter.

Pyo Wol went up to the second floor of the inn.

He saw several tables joined together by the window with the best view on the second floor. It seemed the tables had been put together for the meeting to be held today.

Pyo Wol took a seat in the spot farthest from where the meeting would be held.

Besides Pyo Wol, there were a few other people on the second floor.

They glanced at Pyo Wol for a moment, but when he sat in a seat unrelated to the meeting, they quickly lost interest.

Like the waiter, they also seemed to have come here to watch the gathering of talents today. It meant that the gathering of talents was a major point of interest here.

Pyo Wol sat down and looked at the street scene.

The sight of people staggering under the red lanterns somehow looked alien. He couldn’t know, for now, what it felt like to live so freely intoxicated.

It was then.

“It feels good to be on land after a long time. Is it true that the alcohol here is that delicious?”

“You won’t be disappointed. Of all the alcohol I’ve drunk, this place was by far the best.”

“Hehe! If you’re vouching for it, then it must be true. I’m looking forward to it.”

With a loud noise, two people came up to the second floor.