Episode 4: The Forge

Seok Ji-seung tapped his foot, a seemingly innocuous gesture that carried a hint of malice.

“Why are you just standing there? Shouldn’t you be inspecting it?”

Dang Mu-jin glanced at Seok Ji-seung, then instead of examining the items Seok had brought, he stepped outside the forge to sift through the items displayed outside.

Swords with bright red tassels and intricately engraved hilts vied for attention. But Dang Mu-jin wasn’t interested in flashy decorations.

He selected four items: two plain practice swords, a dusty sword with a layer of grime between the guard and blade, and a broken spear.

Dang Mu-jin leaned the four weapons against the wall.

“I lack the discerning eye to tell which of these are your creations, Master Seok. But among the items outside, these four seemed the most exceptional.”

The reason Dang Mu-jin had gone outside was simple.

All twenty swords Seok Ji-seung had initially brought were his own creations.

If Dang Mu-jin lacked discernment, he would have picked one of Seok’s indistinguishable swords, and Seok would have mocked him for it.

It was a trap that was hard to avoid.

But there was one variable: Dang Mu-jin’s eye for quality surpassed Seok’s expectations.

‘Now I’m sure.’

When he first arrived at the forge, he doubted his own judgment.

His instincts told him to trust himself, but his rational mind held him back. ‘Think logically. Learning blacksmithing through dreams? That’s absurd.’

Yet, after comparing numerous items at the forge, it became clear. Not only could he identify well-crafted items, but he could also pinpoint where flawed ones went wrong.

Items that weren’t heated enough during the forging process, those not hammered sufficiently, or those quenched too briefly.

He didn’t need to scrutinize them closely. A quick glance and a tap on the blade to hear its sound were enough. It felt like guiding a novice apprentice.

“The items you brought were too similar to distinguish. But these seemed different, as if made by another hand. I hope one of these is your creation, Master Seok.”

His words were humble, but his expression exuded confidence. Dang Mu-jin looked at Seok Ji-seung with a relaxed demeanor.

In contrast, Seok Ji-seung’s smile had vanished.

Among the items displayed outside, those four were the only ones crafted by Seok’s predecessor.

‘How on earth?’

Since his father’s retirement, many had visited the forge. Yet, those items, with their unassuming appearance, had been overlooked by everyone.

If Dang Mu-jin had picked just one, it could have been luck. Two would have suggested a keen eye.

But he had chosen all four of Seok’s father’s works, as if they bore his name.

This went beyond mere recognition. Seok Ji-seung clenched his teeth.

‘Is there really such a vast difference? Can someone who’s only ever seen scrap metal identify them so easily?’

No, it was impossible.

Even after twenty years in the forge, Seok Ji-seung couldn’t have picked out those four so precisely.

While each craftsman might have slight variations, there’s a fundamental framework they all follow.

‘Are you claiming to be the legendary Ou Yezi of Yue?’

There was no room for argument. Dang Mu-jin, at least in terms of discernment, was exceptional.

But Seok Ji-seung wasn’t ready to concede defeat. Whether it was pride or folly, he couldn’t say.

”…Alright. I see you have an eye for this. You might even surpass me.”

“Hmm, so it seems some of the master’s works were among them.”

“Not just among them. All four are my father’s works. Your eye is remarkable.”

“It was just luck.”

Dang Mu-jin intended to wrap up the situation with modesty.

But Seok Ji-seung wasn’t finished.

“With talent like yours, it would be absurd for me to wield the hammer. Even if I exhaust all my skills, I won’t craft something that meets your standards. No blacksmith in Sichuan could.”

Dang Mu-jin agreed with that sentiment.

Even if he scoured the region, he’d only find slightly less flawed items, not something truly satisfying. His standards had become exceedingly high.

Of course, Seok Ji-seung’s point wasn’t just to praise Dang Mu-jin’s discernment. He went to a corner of the forge, retrieved a heavy hammer, and handed it to Dang Mu-jin.

“In that case, there’s only one way to make something that meets your standards. You have to make it yourself.”

Dang Mu-jin chuckled.

It was like a doctor telling a patient to diagnose themselves, administer their own treatment, and brew their own medicine.

‘He really wants to see me struggle.’

Some people are born with a keen eye.

Many can offer a few pointers using that natural talent. Even a street blacksmith could give a legendary smith like Ou Yezi a tip or two.

But wielding the hammer is a different matter entirely. Without experience, it’s impossible.

Yet Dang Mu-jin didn’t intend to refuse Seok Ji-seung’s challenge. He was curious about his own capabilities and wanted to feel the hammer in his hand.

‘Besides, there’s no shame in failing, right?’

Dang Mu-jin reached out and took the hammer. The weight made his arm dip slightly. Seok Ji-seung’s expression noticeably brightened.

“Feels heavy, doesn’t it?”

“It’s hefty.”

“That’s how it is at first. If it’s too much, you can stop. I’ll put more effort into making another needle. It won’t be perfect, but it’ll be better than the last one, right?”

“It’s fine. How many chances will I have to play blacksmith in my life? It’s an opportunity, if nothing else.”

“Is that so.”

Dang Mu-jin crossed his arms and surveyed the forge. Where should he start? Pre-processing the iron? Refining?

But Seok Ji-seung wasn’t interested in dragging things out.

“Since you’ve got the hammer, let’s start with forging.”

His goal was to see Dang Mu-jin fumble and make mistakes.

He had no intention of wasting time teaching the slow, meticulous process of shaping. Watching the dynamic mistakes during forging would suffice.

After a few swings of the hammer, Dang Mu-jin would realize how presumptuous his words had been.

Dang Mu-jin nodded, accepting Seok Ji-seung’s proposal.

“Alright, let’s do that.”

He added logs to the still-burning forge and placed a pre-cut piece of metal inside.

“That seems like a lot for making a needle. Are you sure?”

“This should be just right.”

Dang Mu-jin looked at the small hand bellows below the forge.

Though cumbersome, hand bellows had their charm. As he began to pump them with a steady rhythm, the flames in the forge intensified.

Controlling the forge’s temperature is more challenging than it seems. If it’s too low, the metal won’t heat properly; too high, and it will warp during forging.

To Seok Ji-seung, the forge’s temperature seemed a bit high, as if for a different purpose.

When the metal glowed a bright yellow, Dang Mu-jin used tongs to retrieve it.

“Could you hold the tongs for me?”

Seok Ji-seung took the tongs, securing the metal, while Dang Mu-jin used a chisel and hammer to split it in the middle. It was an unexpected move, but his hands were deft and natural.

“Why all of a sudden?”

“I’m just planning to practice with a single piece.”

Dang Mu-jin took the tongs, holding the metal with his left hand, and swung the hammer with his right.

Clang!

The first strike is always dramatic. Impurities from the forge burst out like fireworks.

It’s an intimidating and hot spectacle, enough to make a novice step back in fear.

But Dang Mu-jin continued to swing the hammer undeterred. Sparks flew several times before subsiding.

After only a few swings, his shoulders felt heavy, and his grip ached.

Dang Mu-jin had the memory and knowledge of a blacksmith, but his body couldn’t keep up.

Clang, clang!

Still, he pressed on. A blacksmith mustn’t miss the moment when the metal is hottest.

While Dang Mu-jin was engrossed in his work, Seok Ji-seung watched from a step back, entranced.

The moment the hammer first struck the metal, any thought of mocking Dang Mu-jin vanished.

There wasn’t a single awkward movement. It was as natural as watching Seok Ji-seung’s father at work.

With his left arm holding the tongs firmly against his waist, the metal was secured in place, while his right arm swung the hammer in a smooth arc, striking the metal with precision. He looked more like a lifelong blacksmith than a doctor.

And that wasn’t all.

“The sound is different.”

Instead of the ear-piercing noise typical of a blacksmith’s hammering, it was more like the sound of a musical instrument being played.

The rhythm and volume of the sound were consistent. If it were any clearer, it might have resembled the sound of a bianqing.

Seok Ji-seung recalled his first attempt at hammering.

He had instinctively dodged the sparks, dropping the metal. Distracted by the hammer, he lost grip of the tongs with his left hand.

He couldn’t keep the hammer level. The uneven blows left dents in the metal. Sometimes, he missed the metal entirely and struck the anvil instead.

Yet, his father had been pleased. Seok Ji-seung’s earnest attitude and quick learning set him apart from other children.

“I wasn’t nearly as good.”

As if unaware of the concept of trial and error, Dang Moo-jin hammered the metal with mechanical precision.

To shape the metal alone, one would typically need to heat it in the forge three or four times.

But the metal in Dang Moo-jin’s tongs was already taking the shape of a dagger. His strength might not have been overwhelming, but his movements were precise and without a single wasted motion.

Blood flowed from a deep cut in Dang Moo-jin’s right hand, dripping down his arm and off his elbow. It must have been excruciatingly painful.

Yet, with eyes blazing, he stared at the metal as if oblivious to the pain. His expression showed not agony, but pure enjoyment.

However, his shoulder movements were noticeably slowing.

Yes, even that level of hammering was a struggle for him. It was clear to anyone that he had never worked as a blacksmith before.

“How is he doing that?”

Before long, Dang Moo-jin plunged the blade into a water bucket. With a hiss, droplets splashed, and steam rose in a thick cloud. When he pulled the blade out again, it revealed a dark, blunt dagger.

There was no need to touch it. Having watched the process, Seok Ji-seung knew.

The shape was perfect, and the balance was impeccable.

Seok Ji-seung held his breath, watching Dang Moo-jin’s fingertips.

His heart raced. Show me the next step.

Show me how you hammer it a few more times, quench it, temper it, and sharpen the edge. Will you make the blade octagonal or square?

Show me how you craft the handle and the sheath.

At this moment, pride meant nothing to Seok Ji-seung.

Before being a proud young man, he was a blacksmith eager to advance even a single step further.

But contrary to Seok Ji-seung’s hopes, Dang Moo-jin did not put the blade back into the forge.

“Seok.”

“Huh? Oh, yes.”

“Please melt this down again.”

“Melt it?”

“Yes. It’s just for practice. We can’t waste precious metal.”

Seok Ji-seung couldn’t bring himself to respond. He felt a sense of injustice.

Throw it away? Was that process meant to create something disposable?

No, that can’t be right. Once you start, you should see it through to the end. Show me what you’re making. Show me the finished product you have in mind.

But Dang Moo-jin couldn’t possibly know what Seok Ji-seung was thinking. He casually set the dagger blade aside. Seok Ji-seung was too disappointed to speak.

“Should I ask him to finish it? No, he might laugh at me. But if I don’t ask now, I might never get another chance…”

While Seok Ji-seung was lost in thought, Dang Moo-jin began working the bellows again. As the bellows exhaled air, the forge’s flames roared back to life.

Dang Moo-jin picked up the other half of the metal he had cut earlier and placed it into the forge with the tongs.

Only then did Seok Ji-seung snap back to reality.

”…What are you planning to make now?”

“Now that my shoulder’s warmed up, it’s time to make a needle.”