Jeok Ripae considered his elder brother's words for a moment, then gave a dismissive chuckle.
“Having fun making a fool of your little brother now that he's finally come out of seclusion? Enough already. Do you really think I'd fall for something like that?”
Jeok Mugun turned his attention to Jeok Wisin.
Wigang's figure quietly vanished.
“Get away from my son this instant...”
Wisin nodded at Jeok Mugun's words.
“W-what do you think you're doing?!”
SMACK!
He couldn't find anything wrong.
Yet he hadn't sensed this person's presence in the slightest.
“Ha ha ha. But you came to see me?”
“Have you been well? Have your skills improved much?”
WHOOSH!
Seeing his son's swollen face, Riho felt anger surge through him.
“No. Nobody knows yet. I'm planning to keep a low profile until the trials begin.”
“Ha ha ha! I've been having the time of my life teaching this rascal.”
“I'd rather not let anyone know we're acquainted.”
“Father, we'll take our leave now.”
“O-oh! I see. It's good to meet you. I'm Jeok Riho, the third son. But... why were you hiding?”
The remark brought a faint smile to Ripae's lips.
“I have some business at Heavenly Martial Castle.”
“Do you really need to go through the succession trials? It's obvious you're going to be the next Lord anyway. I'll support you, the Eight Stars of Heavenly Martial Castle will support you, and so will every department head. At this point, the whole thing is practically a formality.”
Before Riho could stop him, Wigang slapped the young man hard across the face.
“Who is that boy?”
“Hmm... His pulse is normal.”
“You rascal! I told you to hit it harder!”
“That's your third uncle. You haven't met him yet, have you?”
It certainly didn't seem like a joke anymore.
“Not bad at all. Well, well. There doesn't seem to be much difference between you and Wihwang.”
“Pardon?”
“What exactly do you mean by a different person?”
Riho looked at Wigang.
“Master Smith Cheon, are you here?”
“Then the problem must lie elsewhere. Shall we try waking him up first?”
“That's good to hear. I'd been feeling rather sorry for the youngest. I'm sure he'd be pleased to know he's being given a chance, too.”
“No. I don't want it. The reason I've pushed so hard is... it's Wigun's dream. I know perfectly well that it's a dream he can never achieve. But I couldn't bring myself to tell him to give up without even trying.”
“You've made considerable progress yourself.”
Just then, a voice reached them.
“Something's wrong, isn't it?”
Never.
“Heh heh heh. I see. So you've finally given in and changed your mind?”
As Ripae answered, Jeok Wisin's gaze remained fixed on someone else.
Not even his grandchildren.
“Do the others know you've arrived?”
“What? How?”
They had made a fair amount of noise coming in, yet the young man showed no sign of waking.
“Yes. Shouldn't all you brothers be given a fair opportunity?”
“Very well... Follow me.”
Not even his children.
The Heavenly Forge.
Master Smith Cheon looked at Wigang.
“There's no one who can help. I've tried everything myself, but nothing has worked. And I can't ask Father for help, either. He would undoubtedly say that Wigun's mind is too weak and disqualify him from the succession trials...”
Was there really someone in the entire Central Plains who could work iron better than Master Smith Cheon?
Wait a minute. Isn't this Father's room? Has Father ever allowed anyone to sit beside him like that in his own room?
Master Smith Cheon smiled in satisfaction as he watched Yeomhwa swing the hammer.
“Let me examine him first.”
“He acts as though something has possessed him. Sometimes he comes to his senses and behaves perfectly normally, only to start acting as though an evil spirit has taken hold of him again.”
And on closer inspection...
“I'll have to examine your son before I can tell you anything.”
“Well, what brings you here? It's not like you to come looking for me.”
Wigang approached slowly and took the young man's hand.
Once he became conscious of the difference and looked more closely, it was impossible to miss.
“Yes. He's going to participate in the succession trials, and there's little I can do for him as his father. I thought I might at least give him a fine sword.”
“No.”
“That's what everyone said. That there was nothing wrong with him. That they couldn't treat him because there was nothing physically wrong with him.”
Master Smith Cheon nodded, then suddenly called toward the wall.
“Argh! You're impossible! The whole reason I came out here to meet you was to talk about this. I'm serious! There's something unusual about that boy.”
“For now, take him with you. Whatever the problem is, I'm certain he'll find a way to solve it. You have my word.”
“Ha ha ha ha!”
Then something struck him as odd.
“The sword you gave him... was thrown into the lake. I'm sorry.”
“I'll use a little force, then.”
“I don't know. He's become a different person.”
He was desperate enough to try anything that might offer even the slightest hope.
“I'm sorry. I'll treat the swelling separately.”
“Yes, good to meet you. From what I've heard, this boy is also a candidate for succession... Is that true?”
“I told him to hide. It wouldn't look very good if people found out we were close during the succession trials, would it?”
Nothing about the atmosphere suggested that was the case.
“I trained him as far away from prying eyes as possible, hoping he wouldn't become discouraged by seeing Wihwang and Wisin. But... this is entirely my fault.”
Riho might not be as powerful as his elder brothers or the Eight Stars of Heavenly Martial Castle, but he had still reached the early Profound Realm.
Had the slap really woken him?
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
There really is something unusual about that boy, just as he said.
“Indeed.”
“I fear I've let my ambition get the better of me.”
Riho looked puzzled as Master Smith Cheon addressed an apparently empty wall.
Both men turned toward the familiar, welcome voice.
Yet Jeok Wigang was an exception.
Riho nodded at Wigang's assessment.
“Things just worked out that way.”
“I'm sorry, Master. I should have visited more often, but I've been so busy looking after my only son...”
“It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Jeok Wigang.”
“Wigun! You're awake?”
“He's lost his mind.”
Master Smith Cheon answered in Wigang's place.
“Fancy that rascal coming to see me. How unusual.”
“Everyone in Heavenly Martial Castle knows how devoted you are to that son of yours. Let me guess. You've come to ask for a weapon to give W igun, haven't you?”
Wigang was sitting perfectly at ease in front of Jeok Mugun.
Wigang's matter-of-fact response put Master Smith Cheon in such a good mood that he burst into hearty laughter.
“Of course I did.”
“Really? The swords I forge are filled with vital energy, so they can ward off malignant influences. Are you saying you need a sword with even stronger energy?”
“Your servant Yeomhwa pays his respects, my lord!”
“Strangely enough... whenever he's holding the sword you gave him as a gift, his mind returns to normal.”
“Do you want the position of Lord of Heavenly Martial Castle that badly?”
Was Elder Brother telling the truth?
With his elder brother insisting so vehemently, Ripae began to wonder if he might actually be telling the truth.
Riho could hardly believe what he was hearing.
“I'll hide for now.”
I don't see anything particularly unusual about him, just as Elder Brother said... But Father supposedly doesn't know what to do with himself around this boy?
“Rihyeon's eldest son. Say hello. And this is your second uncle,” Jeok Mugun added to Wigang.
“Enough. I should go pay my respects to Father.”
“By the way, why haven't I seen hide or hair of my third son? Is he in seclusion, too?”
“You heard all that, didn't you? Come on out.”
“He's not waking up.”
“Is what he says true?”
He examined him from head to toe.
“I still have a long way to go.”
“Does he ever! He's got what it takes to surpass even me.”
Riho nodded.
Wisin continued to study Jeok Wigang.
Jeok Wigun's face immediately began to swell.
“All right.”
As they continued talking, another voice called out.
“There doesn't seem to be anything unusual.”
“Yes.”
Before Riho could finish speaking, Wigun suddenly shot upright in bed.
“Hmm. From the sound of it, a sword isn't going to solve your problem. We need to find someone who can help you.”
Wigang shook his head.
“How many times do I have to tell you? We aren't getting anywhere talking about it here. Go see for yourself, and we'll discuss it again this evening.”
Riho's eyes widened in surprise.
They were Master Smith Cheon and Yeomhwa.
“Yes, Father!”
“He's Jeok Rihyeon's eldest son.”
“I understand your circumstances now.”
What was that supposed to mean?
How is that even possible?
“Hmm. Well, go hide over there in the corner, then.”
“I still have a long way to go, Father.”
“It looks like someone has completely sealed off his consciousness.”
Ripae decided he needed to meet with Rigeuk as soon as possible.
“Of course. That rascal is even better at working iron than I am.”
The sound of hammering iron rang through the forge.
There was still no reaction.
“I hadn't intended to introduce myself like this... It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Jeok Wigang.”
Yeomhwa threw down the hammer, rushed over, and prostrated himself.
“So, what brings you here?”
“A sword, you say... Giving him one wouldn't be difficult, but I don't hand out swords indiscriminately. If he wants a sword from me, Wigun will have to come here himself.”
“Jeok Wigang?”
“I'm sorry, Father. I'll look into it.”
“My lord!”
“Why?”
“Very well. The succession trials will begin soon, so make sure you're properly prepared.”
“You two are close?”
“How is he? Does he have talent?”
“Huh? You...”
After running for quite some time, they arrived halfway up a mountain overlooking an enormous lake.
He hadn't seen Jeok Wihwang yet, and the uncertainty had been troubling him. But a single comment from Jeok Mugun was enough to put his worries to rest.
“Hmm.”
Master Smith Cheon smiled.
“Come inside.”
“Huh?”
“He practices medicine, too?”
“What kind of elder brothers are you? Your younger brother goes missing, and neither of you even bothers to check on him?”
“Have you been well, Master?”
“Are you serious?”
An old man barked orders while a shirtless young man, his body drenched in sweat, hammered away at a piece of iron.
“Unlike your elder brother, you're as modest as ever.”
“That's enough. If you're going to trick someone, at least come up with a believable story. Who would fall for something that ridiculous? Isn't that right, Wisin?”
Riho nodded.
There weren't many people in Heavenly Martial Castle who could visit Master Smith Cheon in person.
“You little...”
Wigang merely smiled.
Wigang waved a finger back and forth in front of his face, but his pupils didn't move.
“Would that business happen to be the succession trials?”
Jeok Wigang smiled and turned his attention to Master Smith Cheon.
“He won't wake up.”
At Master Smith Cheon's confident declaration, Yeomhwa blushed and scratched his head in embarrassment.
“Huh? Now that you mention it, I haven't seen him at all lately.”
Yet he had never heard this voice before.
“That rascal can do just about anything. Medicine, blacksmithing, sorcery, formations. You name it.”
Riho hesitated, but there was really only one answer.
Wigang entered a shabby hut and found a young man lying on a bed.
Riho gave a bitter smile at Master Smith Cheon's words.
“Yes.”
“Yes.”
“Looks like you're doing well.”
Riho shook his head.
“That's it! Now you're doing it properly. Ha ha!”
“Yes, Master!”
Master Smith Cheon opened the door.
“I'm telling you, it's true!”
“Why? Has he suffered a qi deviation?”
But something was wrong. His eyes were completely unfocused.
“Once he falls asleep, there's simply no waking him.”
Just then, the wall began to ripple. A human shape emerged from its surface, gradually taking form until a person stood there in full.
Ripae himself was still so tense that his entire body felt stiff.
Wigang had already met every one of the people who had that privilege.
“When you get there, the boy will probably be sitting right beside him. Take a good look for yourself.”
Master Smith Cheon explained.
“W-what do you mean? Sealed off his consciousness? Is that even possible?”
“That boy is also quite good at treating people. I'm sure he'll be able to help you.”
At the mention of bringing his son in person, Jeok Riho's expression darkened.
“Then why do you need a sword from me?”
“It is, if someone uses witchcraft or sorcery.”

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