“Is the Black Sky Sword Sect’s sword really that good?”

Lying on the bed, I was carefully inspecting my new sword when Seorin, standing with her hands on her hips, puffed out her cheeks in mild annoyance.

Suppressing the urge to poke her slightly puffed cheeks, I lifted the newly acquired sword for her to see.

“Look at this. Not only the blade but even the hilt and guard are entirely made of black iron. Except for the leather wrapped around the grip, it’s essentially a single solid chunk of metal.”

“Is that really such a big deal?”

“There are many swords that maintain structural integrity whether through interlocking designs or other methods. However, one forged entirely from solid black iron like this is probably the only one in existence.”

“I don’t even understand why black iron swords are supposed to be so special in the first place.”

“Huu. This is why martial artists…”

“What was that?!”

“First of all, black iron is magnificent by nature. High-purity black iron absorbs all light, giving it a pure, jet-black appearance, yet when polished, it can shine like a mirror, reflecting one's face. Isn’t that already impressive?”

“...I-I suppose, but...”

Seorin wavered as if she had accidentally stirred a hornet’s nest and was now terrified by the swarm rushing out at her.

Poor thing.

For someone who doesn’t understand the greatness of black iron swords, I figured I should explain further. But first, I made sure she couldn’t escape by firmly gripping her wrist.

“Huaah?!“

“And that’s not all. Black iron is much heavier than other metals, but in return, it’s far more durable. –For someone who hasn’t fully mastered both external and internal cultivation, it might seem cumbersome. But once one reaches the Peak Stage, a black iron sword undergoes a complete transformation.”

“H-However, aren’t weapons made of cold iron generally considered superior? I just don’t understand why you’re so excited about this, Cheon Hwi-da, especially when it’s a weapon from an enemy sect…!”

A surge of heat boiled deep in my stomach.

I could no longer hold back.

The moment I spoke, Seorin jumped in place, startled like a cat that had its tail stepped on.

Her expression was a mixture of shock and indignation, and I couldn't help but put on a stern tone.

“Senior Seorin. Have you never encountered bandits while traveling, defeated them, and looted their corpses for valuables?”

“T-This One has never done such a thing.”

Well, that was expected.

Unlike the Five Supreme Clans or the Nine Great Sects, Seorin didn’t wield overwhelming influence. However, if she wished, she could have easily dominated an entire region.

Even if she hadn’t, simply defeating sects like the Black Sky Sword Sect and other unorthodox factions and looting their wealth could have made her family rich for three generations.

But Seorin never did.

She only took what she needed, her sole focus being revenge, with no interest beyond that.

The only thing she took entirely for herself was the martial arts of the Seo Mun Clan.

A single-minded obsession. Perhaps that was what had allowed her to reach her current level.

Well, that was that, and this was this.

“If you don’t understand, just accept it. Normally, people take what they can use. It’s not the object that is guilty, but the person who misuses it.”

“That… is true.”

Seorin gave a small nod.

Good. At least I had managed to get her to accept that much.

Lightly pulling on her wrist, which I was still holding, I continued.

“Now, let’s get back to the point. The world considers swords made of ten-thousand-year cold iron to be the best. I agree. Other than its extreme rarity, it has nothing but advantages.”

A sword made from ten-thousand-year cold iron was so durable that it could withstand sword energy without breaking.

It wouldn’t be completely impervious—eventually, it would get chipped or bent—but the fact that it could endure such power was already remarkable.

Moreover, it had the ability to amplify internal energy, allowing one to unleash stronger sword qi or sword energy with the same amount of force.

In Murim, the only known sword made of ten-thousand-year cold iron was the Righteous Heaven Sword, a symbol of the Murim Alliance and an heirloom passed down among its successive leaders.

Since that was the extent of publicly available information, the sword might be even more extraordinary than people realized.

“But since ten-thousand-year cold iron is so rare, in reality, famed swords are usually made of either cold iron or black iron. I already explained about black iron, so let’s move on. How much do you know about cold iron?”

“Its defining traits are that it retains Yin energy, always feels cold to the touch, is resistant to rust, and shines with a silver hue. It’s also lightweight yet durable. Those should be its main characteristics.”

“Other than its resistance to rust, I consider all of those traits inferior to black iron.”

“...Huh?”

Seorin tilted her head in confusion, as if asking what nonsense I was spouting.

Seeing that, I began explaining in more detail, keeping my voice calm.

“Being lightweight is an advantage, but once a martial artist gains strength through external training and supports it with accumulated internal energy, all swords become relatively easy to handle. If you can wield your sword comfortably with one hand, any further reduction in weight becomes meaningless. On the other hand, heaviness is different.”

“That makes sense. As long as one can handle it, a heavier weapon can be an advantage. For swift swords, a lighter weapon is obviously beneficial, but as you said, beyond a certain point, weight ceases to matter.”

“Exactly. The essence of speed lies in how explosively one can concentrate power in a short moment. Of course, things change when considering flexible swords or illusionary sword techniques that rely on the blade’s elasticity.”

“But those weapons have specific purposes and are often custom-made, so we can set them aside. What about durability?”

“There’s no need to explain. The reason they use black iron blocks instead of cold iron blocks in the Dragon and Phoenix Meeting preliminaries is because black iron is stronger. That’s all there is to it. More importantly, black iron is capable of withstanding even rough internal energy use without issues.”

“Hah. When you put it that way, it does sound convincing.”

Right now, I was using the White Lotus Steel Sword that had been crafted for me by the Tang Clan, so I had no issues.

But before my regression, there were times when I had no money or couldn’t find a decent craftsman, forcing me to use cheap swords.

The heart-dropping moment when my sword suddenly snapped in battle…

Anyone who had experienced that would naturally become obsessed with obtaining a good sword.

After listening to my explanation, Seorin let out a deep sigh.

“Huu. I understand now. If a black iron sword is that important to you, then even if it belonged to an enemy, it’s only right that you continue using it…”

Seorin gazed at the black sword in my hand with a slightly regretful expression. At that moment, I realized—there was a misunderstanding.

“Senior Seorin, I need to correct one thing.”

“What do you mean?”

“I do plan to make use of this sword, but I won’t be using it as it is.”

“…Huh???”

Seorin blinked in confusion, her face blank. I chuckled at her reaction and continued.

“It’s a solid piece of black iron, isn’t it? That means if I melt it down, I’ll have this much black iron to work with. I plan to take it to the Tang Clan, have it reforged, and request a new sword to be made.”

“C-Can you really do that?”

“It seems like it was crafted by a skilled blacksmith… but I’d say the Tang Clan’s artisans are a step ahead.”

Just as martial arts evolve over time, so too does the art of blacksmithing.

And the Tang Clan was a family where the most talented blacksmiths gathered. Given the exchange of techniques among them, it was only natural that their craftsmanship had progressed.

If this sword had been made by a truly legendary blacksmith, then perhaps age wouldn’t matter, but… I didn’t get the impression that this was such a masterpiece.

Hearing this, Seorin, who had been slightly downcast, immediately brightened and began nodding enthusiastically.

“Hm, hm! In that case, This One has no objections. No—This One wholeheartedly supports it! Do as you wish.”

“I planned to.”

Seorin and I exchanged amused smiles.

But our lighthearted moment was short-lived, as she quickly shifted to a more serious topic.

“By the way, how is your body? It seems you’ve taken half of the Golden Boar Physician’s medicine… Is it working well?”

“Yes. Haven’t I been bedridden for a week now? Most of my external wounds have healed, and the internal injuries—some of the torn meridians—have started to mend.”

The medicine was remarkably effective.

Originally, I had expected my recovery to take three months, but at this rate, it would be reduced to just one.

Of course, I was still far from a full recovery. But once I did heal completely, I would undoubtedly be much stronger than before.

Though it had been reckless, I had wielded an insight that touched the realm of the Transcendent Peak—it was only natural that my body would evolve.

At this point, my condition was practically halfway into the Transcendent Peak Stage.

By achieving Sword-Heart Unity, I had merged my qi and spirit, two of the three fundamental energies—jing, qi, and shen. Now, the only thing left was to cultivate more internal energy to reach full mastery.

…Though, to be honest, the amount of qi I needed to accumulate was quite a lot.

Still, expanding one’s vessel was always harder than filling it.

This time had been a bit risky, and perhaps a bit too aggressive, but in the long run, it would certainly prove beneficial.

As I nodded to myself in thought, I noticed Seorin watching me with a firm expression.

Sensing that she had something important to say, I straightened my posture.

Her delicate lips parted slowly.

“This One has been thinking.”

“About what?”

“You claim that this happened as a result of your own choices, but to This One… it seems as though you were injured because of This One.”

“…Now, that’s quite the narcissistic assumption. I do feel a sense of kinship with you, Senior Seorin, and I do wish for your success, but it’s not to the extent that I—mmph!”

Suddenly, a soft, warm sensation pressed against my lips.

Seorin, her brows slightly furrowed, had clamped her small palm over my mouth.

“Shhh. If This One says so, then it is so. Be quiet and just nod.”

Nod, nod.

As I slowly bobbed my head, Seorin finally flashed a faint smile, seemingly satisfied.

Satisfied she might be, but… she still wasn’t letting go of my mouth.

“Regardless, after much thought, This One believes that This One bears significant responsibility for your injuries.”

If—

If Seorin had carried out her revenge thoroughly and left no loose ends.

If Seorin had listened to my words and refrained from participating in the Dragon and Phoenix Meeting.

If Seorin had not wavered at Sangwan Geuk’s words and had stayed true to her path from the beginning.

As I quietly listened to the countless “ifs” she muttered, our gazes met.

Gulp.

For some reason, Seorin swallowed once before resolutely patting the bed beside her.

“L-Lie down. This One will personally use Qi Circulation Acupoint Therapy to aid your recovery.”

“…?”

Was it just my imagination…

Or did the way she said Qi Circulation Acupoint Therapy sound just a little bit… sinister?