Episode 209: Wuchang

With only three days left until the next martial arts competition, it was no time to waste, even if Jung Taeryeong had injured his leg.

Hyeongong, Namgung Myung, and Hong Geolgae were busy training Jung Taeryeong, Jung Okryeong, and Wang Jincheong, ensuring that Taeryeong didn’t overexert his leg.

“Hold on. You can’t respond like that in this situation.”

“Why not?”

“You must always consider which direction your opponent’s move might lead. If you block like that when the sword path is open to the right, you’ll lose your balance, and losing balance leads straight to defeat.”

“Ah, I see.”

Hyeongong’s prowess was particularly notable. Both he and Taeryeong had mastered defensive sword techniques, but Hyeongong’s strategic mind was far superior.

Of course, while Hyeongong stood out, Hong Geolgae and Namgung Myung were also exceptional teachers, not falling short of the average.

In Bowonmun, where Taeryeong and Okryeong belonged, there wasn’t a single master of the highest level. Thus, being trained by three masters, including two of the highest caliber, was an extraordinary opportunity.

Even in schools with multiple top-tier masters, such focused training was rare. Masters, too, needed to dedicate time to their own advancement and couldn’t always afford to invest heavily in mentoring juniors.

While others were engrossed in training, Dang Mujin sat at a corner table in the inn, tapping his toes.

‘What should I create?’

The first thought, as always, was to craft a sharp, precise sword. That alone could somewhat compensate for Taeryeong’s leg injury.

But Dang Mujin shook his head.

‘A sword helps, but it’s not enough. If the opponent distances themselves like last time, the same weakness will be exposed.’

What about making metal shoes?

That would easily counter any hidden weapons on the ground.

People might look at metal shoes strangely, but their opinions didn’t matter to Dang Mujin. After all, it would be Taeryeong wearing them, not him.

‘No, that would still restrict movement.’

The essence of footwork lies in three main aspects: the flow of internal energy, the placement of the foot, and the distribution of weight using the ball, heel, and toes.

Covering the feet with metal armor would hinder flexibility and severely affect weight distribution. It would be like restricting footwork to avoid restricting footwork.

‘I need another solution.’

Dang Mujin’s thoughts turned to a more proactive approach. Weapons like the ones Dansulyeong had crafted, such as the Heavenly Needle Tube.

He pondered deeply.

’…Is it even allowed in the competition?’

Though not one to be bound by conventions, showcasing such items in public required careful consideration.

Swords and hidden weapons were already unconventional, but the other weapons Dansulyeong had created were too radical to dismiss as mere novelties.

It was like bringing a spurred eagle to a cockfight and insisting it was just another chicken.

After a moment of contemplation, Dang Mujin made up his mind.

‘Well, what can they do? They won’t change the rules mid-competition.’

Even if issues arose, it was a strategy devised for a losing situation. Plus, he was curious to see the surprised faces of the spectators.

Returning to his room, Dang Mujin unpacked his belongings. It was filled with items crafted by Dansulyeong.

When he left for the north with Hong Geolgae, Dansulyeong had packed plenty, anticipating trouble.

Each item bore Dansulyeong’s touch and care, filling Dang Mujin with a cloud-like sense of contentment.

The first item that caught his eye was the Odokshinsa, which had proven useful recently. It was a creation born from Dansulyeong’s idea and Dang Mujin’s craftsmanship.

‘This one is out of the question.’

It was too lethal for a martial arts competition. The Odokshinsa was soaked in five deadly poisons, and changing the poison wasn’t an option. Using it would almost certainly result in the opponent’s death, which would lead to disqualification.

There was also the risk of Taeryeong poisoning himself while attempting to use it. In the worst case, both Taeryeong and his opponent could end up dead.

Next, he noticed the improved version of the Heavenly Needle Tube, the Stormy Pear Blossom Needle. It looked almost identical to the original but had been enhanced in several ways.

It held thirty needles, more than the original, and fired them in a concentrated direction rather than randomly. The firing speed was faster, and it was small enough to be easily held in a woman’s palm.

‘This seems like the best option.’

Dang Mujin carefully disassembled the Stormy Pear Blossom Needle to inspect it.

It had been over a year since its creation, and exposure to rain and drying had likely caused issues.

‘As expected.’

Some parts were problematic. The once-flexible leather straps had stiffened, and the wooden components had developed faint cracks.

If time were tight, it would be troublesome, but with time on his side, it was manageable.

‘I can’t develop weapons like Dansulyeong, but I can replicate them.’

Dang Mujin set out to find replacement materials.

Dang Mujin strolled through the bustling heart of Wuchang, where merchants gathered.

Voices of all kinds filled the air. Merchants with the Zhejiang accent, those with the Fujian intonation, and others dressed in Hebei attire.

There were many foreign traders, and some whose origins were hard to guess. The atmosphere was far more vibrant and chaotic than Luoyang.

Wuchang was the commercial hub of the Central Plains.

While cities like Luoyang and Chang’an were larger, Wuchang’s trade volume was unmatched.

Situated along the Yangtze River and at a strategic point accessible to almost all regions of the Central Plains by land, Wuchang thrived.

Though not as cheap as mountain regions, Wuchang offered the widest variety of goods.

From sea fish to mountain herbs, and even items from the Western Regions. With enough money, one could acquire anything in Wuchang.

Dang Mujin scanned his surroundings.

Initially, he planned to work with suitable horsehide and well-dried wood, but the array of goods sparked his ambition. If he was going to make something, he wanted to use the best materials—a craftsman’s desire.

As he wandered among the merchants, their eyes subtly turned to him.

Dang Mujin’s demeanor and attire made him look like an easy target to swindle.

A merchant called out to him.

“What are you looking for, wandering around like that?”

“I’m searching for quality materials.”

“Quality materials, you say. What exactly do you mean?”

After a moment’s thought, Dang Mujin replied.

“Sturdy materials. Something that stretches well without breaking and snaps back instantly. Or anything with a distinct advantage.”

Visits to Wuchang were rare for Dang Mujin. This might be his last chance.

He intended to buy rare materials and stockpile them back home.

However, the merchant found Dang Mujin’s request both specific and vague. Anything good would do? It seemed naive, like someone unfamiliar with the world.

The merchant examined Dang Mujin’s hands. They weren’t the hands of a craftsman. There were some calluses, but no burn marks or traces of rust under the nails.

‘A rich young master dreaming of a fortuitous encounter. Planning to make a sword with expensive materials, perhaps?’

Feigning a friendly smile, the merchant spoke.

“In that case, would you like to see the meteoric iron I have?”

Meteoric iron varied greatly. Some were extremely rare, while others were barely distinguishable from ordinary metal.

Suddenly, Dang Mujin remembered the meteoric iron he had taken from a group selling fake black stones. He had stashed it away at home, having forgotten about it.

Regardless, meteoric iron wasn’t easy to come by, so acquiring more would be beneficial. Dang Mujin agreed readily.

“Sure.”

“Here, take a look. It’s a precious item, more valuable than gold of the same weight.”

The merchant presented a palm-sized, round metal lump. It was indeed a different color from ordinary iron.

“May I touch it?”

“Go ahead.”

The merchant struggled to suppress his laughter. The idea of judging metal quality by touch seemed absurd.

Dang Mujin carefully examined the surface, gauged its weight by gently shaking it, and flicked the edges a couple of times.

Contrary to the merchant’s expectations, Dang Mujin frowned.

“This isn’t meteoric iron. It seems like a mix of ordinary iron and other materials.”

“First time seeing meteoric iron, is it? No need to be embarrassed. This is meteoric iron from the Fujian region.”

“Nonsense.”

With his eyes closed, Dang Mujin flicked the metal again.

His ears blocked out all surrounding noise, focusing solely on the sound the metal made, while his fingertips absorbed the sensation completely.

After rubbing the surface a few more times with his thumb, he was certain.

“Did they mix white copper with Osu? And there’s a bit of other junk in there too… If they had just used white copper, it might have been fine, but adding Osu ruined it. It’s worse than ordinary iron, that’s for sure. I wonder what they were thinking when they smelted this.”

The merchant’s eyes widened in surprise.

Even a skilled blacksmith couldn’t determine the composition of metal like that. They might judge its quality, but identifying the exact mix was another matter.

Normally, he would have scolded the man for pretending to know more than he did, but the fact that he accurately identified the white copper and Osu made him pause.

As the merchant hesitated, unsure of how to respond, Dang Mujin spoke with a hint of indifference.

“It seems you sold something to the customer before me as well. I should probably check if they were scammed too.”

The merchant, realizing he was about to lose a potential mark, hurriedly interjected.

“Wait!”

“What? Do you have another piece of meteorite iron?”

“I’m sorry for trying to deceive you. I can connect you with someone who has items you might like. Could you overlook this just once?”

Dang Mujin smirked at the merchant’s desperate plea.

“We’ll see.”

The merchant sighed in relief and replied, “Go to the Yo-un Inn. There’s an old man named Tae staying there. He loves collecting all sorts of strange things, so you might find something of interest.”

“Hmm.”

Dang Mujin chuckled and handed the metal back to the merchant, who breathed a sigh of relief and looked around, determined to find a real sucker this time.

---

Dang Mujin entered the Yo-un Inn.

He didn’t need to ask around; he immediately recognized the old man, Tae.

The old man was sitting in a corner, organizing items in a wooden box with several drawers. The box had two straps on one side, suggesting he usually carried it over his shoulder.

Dang Mujin sat across from the old man and asked, “Are you Mr. Tae?”

The old man didn’t respond verbally, just glanced at Dang Mujin. Sometimes silence is affirmation.

Dang Mujin stared intently at the items in the box.

Two of the drawers were filled with rather intricate jewelry, while the lower drawer contained a jumble of unidentifiable odds and ends. Even Dang Mujin couldn’t recognize more than half of them.

“Are these for sale?”

“Some are, some aren’t.”

“May I take a look?”

“As long as you put them back where they belong.”

Dang Mujin carefully examined each item.

Though the old man seemed disinterested, he occasionally glanced over to see what Dang Mujin was looking at.

Soon, a glint of interest appeared in the old man’s eyes. Dang Mujin was ignoring the flashy jewelry and instead focusing on the seemingly worthless trinkets.

Dang Mujin picked up two of the most peculiar items. One resembled a large, dark stalactite, and the other looked like a twisted, ashen rope.

He murmured to himself, “These seem to be the most valuable.”

“What makes you think that? The hairpin and comb next to them are worth more than their weight in gold.”

“Those can be made with the right materials and time. But rare materials can’t be crafted, no matter how skilled the artisan.”

The old man chuckled, amused.

“Just materials and time? An ordinary craftsman couldn’t make anything like those even if they worked all year.”

“That’s a story for those who only have ordinary craftsmen around. It doesn’t concern me.”

Sensing that Dang Mujin wasn’t bluffing, the old man stopped organizing his box and focused on him.

Dang Mujin asked again, “Anyway, what are these?”

“The black one is a whale’s baleen, and the rope-like one is a whale’s tendon. If you hang a whale’s tendon on a willow branch and dry it for a year, it turns out like that. If not properly managed, wild animals might carry it off.”

Dang Mujin had heard of whales but had never seen one.

They were said to be several times larger than the biggest ships, and even ten houses combined couldn’t match the size of a single whale. Whether these tales were true or not, he couldn’t say.

While the tendon was intriguing, the baleen was even more so.

It didn’t look like any kind of hair. If someone had told him it was a plant, he might have believed it—a giant bamboo shoot, perhaps.

“This is a baleen?”

“Yes. Unlike humans, whales have it inside their mouths, not on their chins or noses. Since whales are such large creatures, their baleen is equally massive.”

“How do they catch such large fish? You can’t even fit them on a boat.”

“I don’t know about smaller whales, but you can’t get your hands on a big one unless its carcass washes ashore.”

“Mind if I handle it a bit more firmly?”

“Go ahead.”

Surprisingly, permission was granted easily.

Dang Mujin handled the whale’s baleen and tendon more boldly.

The baleen was firm yet elastic, and the tendon was soft yet seemed unbreakably strong. As he examined the materials, Dang Mujin’s mouth fell open in awe.

“Truly remarkable. I’m no merchant, but these are worth ten times the finest jade.”

A satisfied smile appeared on the old man’s face. Few could recognize the value of such unknown items.

“I must have these. How much are they?”

“They don’t have a set price. I got them by chance, and I’ve never seen anyone buy or sell them.”

Dang Mujin pressed on eagerly.

“Name your price. I’ll buy them right now.”

“You’re willing to buy without knowing how much I’ll ask?”

“They’re worth it.”

The old man burst into laughter.

In all his years as a merchant, he’d never met someone who cared so little for price or market value, focusing solely on intrinsic worth.

Nor had he encountered anyone so straightforward in their dealings.

“Why are you laughing?”

“People always focus on flashy jewelry. Even those with a keen eye are only interested in metal. I’ve carried that baleen and tendon for over ten years, and you’re the first to recognize their value.”

But Dang Mujin was only half-listening. Where else would he find such items? His urgency was palpable.

“Anyway, how much?”

Just then, a server arrived with steaming noodles and stood by the table. The old man pushed his items aside slightly.

He must have been organizing his things while waiting for his meal.

The old man asked the server, “Was it five coins for the noodles, or six?”

“Five coins. Would you like another bowl?”

“No, that’s enough.”

The server placed the bowl down and left, and the old man turned to Dang Mujin.

“Just five coins.”

“What?”

“The price doesn’t matter. Items should go to those who recognize their value.”

Dang Mujin hesitated, then pulled out five gold pieces. But the old man shook his head.

“Not five gold pieces, five coins.”

“But…”

“The seller sets the price.”

With that, the old man picked up his chopsticks, signaling the end of the conversation.

Dang Mujin placed five coins on the table, gathered the whale’s baleen and dried tendon, and bowed slightly to the old man before heading out of the inn.

The old man paused, watching Dang Mujin’s retreating figure, and murmured to himself.

“We’ll meet again soon.”

Then, as if nothing had happened, he resumed eating.