Episode 124: The Prosthetic

“We can’t end the day like this!”

“Let’s drink until we can’t walk straight!”

The martial artists of the Jeomchang Sect rushed to an inn on the outskirts of Luoyang, renting it out for the night, including the innkeeper’s services. They chose a modest inn over an expensive tavern not just because their numbers were small, but also because frugality was second nature to them.

Even though they had received a hefty sum of gold from Chief Seo and no one would criticize them for spending it all in one night, their indulgence never crossed a certain line.

The cost of their night of revelry was about fifty silver coins. It was a stark contrast to the wealthy who would spend several gold coins in a single night, but that didn’t mean the Jeomchang Sect’s martial artists had any less fun.

Yoo Jin-gwang mingled with the others, laughing and chatting, but eventually found himself sitting alone in a corner, watching the others cry, laugh, and shout. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. What if he had made a different choice in front of the Golden Pavilion Master? How would these people be spending their time now?

No one would have been angry. They would have put on brave faces instead.

Wei Hwan would have been the first to approach with a grin.

“Isn’t it a bit shameless to try and clear all that debt at once?”

The others would have chimed in with exaggerated agreement.

“That’s gambling for you. It’s not always about winning.”

Then they would have returned to Jiangxi, quietly letting time pass, harboring a small regret in their hearts.

Yoo Jin-gwang thought to himself, “I know my choice wasn’t the right one, but it wasn’t wrong either.”

Yet, one question remained unresolved: Why did the Golden Pavilion Master act the way he did?

Yoo Jin-gwang pondered this for a long time but couldn’t find an answer. He decided he would have to confront the Golden Pavilion Master directly and ask him.

The next day, two Jeomchang Sect martial artists who lost in a draw set off for Jiangxi. They planned to bring everyone from Jiangxi to Luoyang and then move together to Yunnan.

They decided not to send a message to the main Jeomchang Sect. They wanted to return with the good news themselves and witness the surprise on everyone’s faces.

Most of the group stayed in Luoyang. They would need to remain in Yunnan for at least ten more days.

There were many who needed to heal from their injuries before embarking on the long journey to Yunnan, so it wasn’t a waste of time.

Among the injured was Namgung Myung from Tang Mujin’s group. His left arm would take a long time to heal, yet he was impatiently urging Tang Mujin and Dan Seol-young.

“When are you going to make my prosthetic?”

“Shouldn’t you heal first?”

“It’s not like you can make it in a day. We should start preparing early.”

Tang Mujin glanced at Namgung Myung’s left arm, still looking painfully injured. It would take months to heal.

Fortunately, Namgung Myung could press his own acupoints to numb the pain.

“If you attach a prosthetic to that arm, even if you numb the pain with acupressure, it might be hard to ignore the discomfort.”

“It doesn’t have to touch directly, does it?”

He wasn’t wrong. In fact, it seemed better for the prosthetic not to touch the injured part. Both as a physician and as the one making the prosthetic, Tang Mujin thought so.

Moreover, Tang Mujin wasn’t in a position to refuse Namgung Myung’s request.

“Alright, let’s start early. Seol-young, can we use the workshop you used to work at for a day?”

“It should be fine. Follow me.”

Tang Mujin and Namgung Myung followed Dan Seol-young. Fortunately, the workshop wasn’t far from the inn.

As they entered the workshop, a bearded carpenter was surprised to see Dan Seol-young.

“Dan Seol-young? Weren’t you supposed to be far away?”

“I came back for some business.”

“Really? It’s good to see you again. Is the man with you the husband you mentioned?”

Dan Seol-young blushed, having been caught talking about Tang Mujin as a potential husband for the past year.

Tang Mujin, not minding the comment, confidently held Dan Seol-young’s hand, feeling a pleasant flutter in his chest.

Of course, Namgung Myung, standing a step behind, looked at them with a hint of annoyance.

The carpenter clapped his hands and approached Tang Mujin.

“A fine young man. Seol-young said you were quite skilled.”

“I can manage to do my part.”

“If it were just that, Seol-young wouldn’t have made such a fuss. Anyway, Seol-young, what brings you here? Just to say hello?”

“Partly, but I also need to borrow some space. Can we use the small workshop downstairs?”

“No problem. There are some good quality woods in there, so feel free to use them.”

The well-dried woods used by a skilled carpenter were not cheap, but the carpenter seemed fond of Dan Seol-young and didn’t mention any compensation.

“So, what are you planning to make that you need the space?”

“A prosthetic.”

The carpenter’s gaze shifted to Namgung Myung’s left arm, wrapped in black cloth.

“Hmm. I’ve heard of people getting prosthetics, but it’s my first time seeing it. If you need help, just let me know… Actually, I’m not busy, so why don’t I join you?”

The carpenter led them to a small workshop a little away from the main one.

As they opened the door, the rich scent of wood filled the air. In one corner of the small workshop, stacks of well-dried oak and paulownia wood awaited.

Dan Seol-young naturally took her place, drawing on a wooden frame filled with fine sand as she began to explain.

“We’ll make it so it wraps around the shoulder and is secured with leather straps on the upper arm. That way, the prosthetic won’t touch the wound. The rest will be shaped like a normal arm.”

Since it wouldn’t move, it just needed to be sturdy and look natural enough to others.

Aside from the shape, the weight was important. It should be similar to the right arm to maintain balance.

Perhaps Namgung Myung requested the prosthetic more for balance than appearance.

“It won’t take long to make. Let’s make one first, see how it works for a few days, and then refine it.”

As Tang Mujin and Dan Seol-young were about to start, Namgung Myung interjected with his own requirements.

“Everything’s fine, but I’d like you to pay attention to the joints.”

“Joints? It can’t move anyway, so why do you need joints?”

“Of course, and make sure the joints can move as flexibly as possible. Not just like a normal person’s, but even more.”

It was an odd request, but not impossible. Tang Mujin asked again.

“More than that, how much more?”

“Enough to do things a normal person can’t. Like if the wrist or elbow could spin around completely, that would be great.”

“Why on earth would you need that… Never mind, let’s just make it.”

Tang Mujin shrugged it off, but Dan Seol-young’s expression soured slightly. Unlike Tang Mujin, who just had to make it, Dan Seol-young had to rethink the design with each new condition.

She held her head, scribbling on the sand frame before starting her explanation.

“Alright, let’s start. We’ll make it piece by piece, starting with the shoulder. This part should be three inches, and carve the inside with the smoothest curve possible. It might be good to put a wooden peg here.”

“Hmm.”

“And make three spheres with a diameter of two and a half inches. We’ll need one for the shoulder, elbow, and wrist. Make sure there are no knots or cracks.”

“Got it.”

Tang Mujin and Dan Seol-young worked seamlessly together on the prosthetic. Since the Wooden Man Project, they hadn’t collaborated on creating something, and it brought back fond memories.

The parts Dan Seol-young requested were hard to guess in isolation.

Namgung Myung, Tang Mujin, and even the carpenter were in the dark. The full picture was only in Dan Seol-young’s mind, and they’d only see the result once it was assembled.

The carpenter stood next to Namgung Myung, watching the two work intently.

He had seen Dan Seol-young create strange things from unknown parts many times. He admired her dedication and was curious about the outcome, often helping her with her projects.

The carpenter specialized in making relatively small and intricate items like furniture and ornaments, rather than large, rough items like carts or farm tools, so he had the skills to meet Dan Seol-young’s requests.

He was quite proud, believing it would be hard to find a carpenter better than him anywhere.

But watching Tang Mujin work, he couldn’t help but feel humble.

With just a carving knife, Tang Mujin skillfully followed the grain of the hard oak, carving it smoothly.

His speed was faster than most carpenters, the results were excellent, and he didn’t waste any wood despite the pace.

“He’s young, but his skills are impressive. There’s something to learn here.”

The carpenter decided to take the day off, given the circumstances. He stepped outside, locked the door, and quickly tidied up his workshop. It barely took enough time to enjoy a cup of tea.

Yet, in that brief moment, something unfamiliar appeared—a finely crafted wooden bead.

Instinctively, the carpenter reached out and picked up the bead. Its texture was peculiar.

It felt like wood, yet it was unlike any woodwork he had ever encountered. It was a subtle difference he had never considered before.

Woodworking involves shaping wood to create objects with intersecting surfaces. When carving something round, sharp edges are inevitable.

However, this bead had no discernible edges. Or if it did, they were so minuscule that even the carpenter’s sensitive fingers couldn’t detect them. He was quietly impressed.

“Was this pre-made? It must have taken a lot of effort… Or perhaps, like a swordsmith honing a blade, someone meticulously polished the surface.”

As he pondered this and set the bead down, another identical bead appeared beside it. It was the same size as the first. He picked it up; it felt exactly the same.

“What…?”

Curious, the carpenter glanced over at Dang Mujin, who was in the process of crafting a third bead.

With deft movements, Mujin shaved the edges off a block of wood, then smoothly carved it as if it were clay. The wood peeled away like fruit skin, revealing a soft sphere.

Mujin then used his left hand to feel the bead, making tiny adjustments where needed. The shavings were so fine that calling them sawdust seemed too crude.

The carpenter’s mouth fell open in awe. This wasn’t just a matter of skill; it was a spectacle that defied the boundaries of possibility.

In that moment, the carpenter decided to accept what he was witnessing.

Instead of questioning, “How is this possible?” he thought, “This young man can do such things!”

The work continued at an astonishing pace. Whenever Dan Seol-young sketched on the sand and explained, the results materialized almost instantly.

Finally, the carpenter understood why Seol-young always seemed grateful yet unsatisfied when he helped.

“She’s found herself quite the husband,” he chuckled silently, unable to suppress his amusement.

The work that began in the early morning concluded only as dusk settled.

When they fitted Namgung Myung with the prosthetic arm, it looked quite convincing, though it still wobbled a bit.

The carpenter seized the moment to ask, “You mentioned making a new prosthetic later. Is this just a prototype?”

“Yes, it’s impossible to create a perfect piece in one go.”

“Then you’ll need the workshop again.”

“Yes, could I borrow it for another day in the future?”

The carpenter thought to himself. He had lived an honest life, but now was the time to be a bit bold.

“Of course, you can use it. But there’s a condition.”

“What is it?”

“Could you give me this prototype when you’re done with it?”

“Of course, that’s fine.”

The carpenter quietly clenched his fist in joy.

Late at night, the group returned to the inn.

The martial artists from the Jeomchang sect and Choo Sam were already asleep in their rooms. Hong Geolgae, who was still awake, approached with interest to examine Namgung Myung’s prosthetic.

“Wow, it looks just like a real arm. But why put so much effort into a prosthetic that can’t even move?”

“Now comes the practice.”

“Huh?”

As Namgung Myung took a deep breath, the prosthetic arm moved ever so slowly. It was an unexpected sight.

“What? How did you do that?”

Dan Seol-young was wide-eyed with confusion, but Dang Mujin and Hong Geolgae understood. He was using the art of manipulating objects in the air to lift the arm.

“Did you ask for the prosthetic to practice moving it like that?”

“It won’t be easy.”

As Mujin and Geolgae reacted skeptically, Namgung Myung nodded.

“It’ll be tough to master right away, but it’ll help with training.”

He attempted to lift a small bundle on the table with the prosthetic.

Placing the hand on the bundle was easy enough, but grasping the knot was a failure. It was more of a twitch than a grip.

For an ordinary person, lifting an object is simple. But for Namgung Myung, using his left hand required a complex process.

He had to simultaneously control the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and all five fingers with the air manipulation technique. Mastery of this skill, maintaining balance, and control was a distant goal, not achievable in mere days or weeks.

“What’s the point of moving your left arm like that? Wouldn’t it be more effective to train your right arm?”

“Well, by practicing this technique, I might gain some profound insight. Isn’t the legendary sword control technique an extension of this?”

“Dream big. Anyway, keep at it.”

As Dang Mujin stretched and prepared to leave, Namgung Myung spoke up.

“Of course, there’s another use for it.”

“What is it?”

When Namgung Myung raised his left hand, the wrist began to spin like a top. It was slow but continuous, a much simpler trick than moving the fingers.

Dang Mujin, Dan Seol-young, and Hong Geolgae all stared blankly at the odd display before snapping back to reality.

“And what’s that supposed to do?”

“Oh, this… it’s a trick to distract others.”

“Distract?”

“Yeah. Doesn’t something feel missing?”

Namgung Myung raised his right hand with a sly grin. In it was Dang Mujin’s sword.