NOVEL NEXT Ch 3
‘Hmm… Suddenly, being told to put on formal attire… What could this be about?’
Jo Hwi had greeted his father in Sosangak Hall, only for his father to leave abruptly after telling him to dress formally and wait in his quarters.
He had already been waiting for two hours.
All Jo Hwi could do was fight off sleep and continue waiting, although he had no idea why.
Finally, after another fifteen minutes, he heard footsteps. Judging by the powerful sound of the steps, it had to be his father.
*Slide*
Jo Soon entered, opening the sliding door to the room, carrying something that looked like a small chest in both hands.
“Father.”
Jo Soon gestured for his son to stay seated when Jo Hwi rose to greet him.
“Stay as you are.”
“Yes.”
Jo Soon walked over, kneeled across from his son, and sat down.
“Why this all of a sudden? What’s going on?” Jo Hwi asked as he knelt across from his father.
Jo Soon’s face was filled with solemnity and determination.
“I don’t know how long this item has been passed down through our family. Some suspect it may have been a personal belonging of Jo Maeng-deok, our ancestor, but even that is merely speculation. All I know is that our forefathers left instructions to pass this to the rightful heir of the family in each generation. Today, I have decided to pass it on to you.”
Jo Soon respectfully placed the chest in front of Jo Hwi with both hands.
“No matter what anyone says, it is you who has raised this family. You are the one best suited to lead this generation.”
“Father, what are you saying? We’ve come this far only because of you…”
Jo Soon cut him off firmly.
“I, Jo Soon, the twenty-second generation of the Jo family, hereby pass this down! Jo Hwi, as the family’s representative, take up the Uicheon Blood Jade!”
Wait a second.
Isn’t this a scene he’d seen somewhere before?
Of course, without such grand statements, but he had certainly experienced a similar moment back in South Korea.
Kneeling in their formal attire, his father had placed a ruby necklace on him.
Jo Hwi looked at the solemn face of Jo Soon, then carefully opened the chest.
“Ah!”
A ruby, red as blood.
Though it wasn’t in the form of a necklace, he recognized it as the same ruby he used to wear.
Since he had never taken it off, starting in his early twenties, it was unmistakable.
“Until the time comes to pass it on to the next heir, always keep it with you. That is the duty of the family heir bearing the Uicheon Blood Jade.”
“…”
Jo Hwi couldn’t believe it.
‘So, this Uicheon Blood Jade is like a family heirloom of the Jo clan… If this is truly our family’s treasure… then have I come into the body of a distant ancestor?’
It was then.
—Hmm? Is this…? This lad seems to have already experienced the ordeal of Uicheon. Isn’t that right, Grandfather?
—The energy of Uicheon is unmistakable. With this level of energy, he’s already a *Jonza*, isn’t he?
—Indeed! He’s a Jonza! There’s no doubt about it!
—Oh! What an extraordinary thing!
—Is this even possible? How can a Jonza exist in the current life? One who has endured the Uicheon ordeal should surely be confined to the Blood Jade!
Suddenly, voices came from the direction of the Blood Jade, startling Jo Hwi.
“M-Mother!”
Jo Soon looked at him, puzzled.
“What’s the matter?”
Jo Hwi pointed at the ruby and took a step back.
“T-The ruby… it’s talking!”
—Huh? He can hear us?
—Can he sense us?
—How is this possible? Does this mean we can converse with this young heir?
—Haha! Remarkable. Truly remarkable.
It wasn’t a mere hallucination.
It wasn’t actual soundwaves he was hearing, but he could definitely hear voices in his mind.
“…I once had a strange dream while looking at the ruby. It’s no ordinary item, so keep your mind clear when handling it.”
“Y-Yes, sir.”
His father quietly left the room.
Jo Hwi, still in disbelief, stared at the ruby in a daze. After a moment, he heard the voices again.
But this time, it was different from the voices he had heard before.
—Silence.
A presence so intense it seemed to shake his soul.
With that single word, all the murmuring ceased.
—What is your name?
This was neither a hallucination nor a trick of the mind.
As absurd as the situation was, he had no choice but to accept it.
Jo Hwi swallowed nervously and replied.
“My name is Jo Hwi.”
—…
For a moment, there was silence from the Uicheon Blood Jade.
He hoped they would say something more, but when there was no response, he broke the silence himself.
“Um… Please, feel free to speak openly.”
—…
After a long silence, the voice from the Uicheon Blood Jade spoke again.
—The fact that you can hear our voices means that your soul’s *caliber* rivals that of us Jonza. But why do I not see a tether on you?
Soul caliber? Jonza? Jo Hwi was hearing terms he had never encountered before.
“A tether? What do you mean by that…?”
—Anyone blessed by the Uicheon Blood Jade is granted a power worthy of that blessing and, in return, is bound by a tether, a connection to the Blood Jade. When their life ultimately ends, their soul is drawn back to the Blood Jade by that tether. Yet, with you, no such tether is visible.
“A blessing of the Blood Jade? I’m granted a power?”
—Yes. It should have bestowed some power upon you. There’s no other explanation for your soul having a Jonza-level *caliber*.
Huh?
He had worn the ruby constantly, but did he ever receive a power worthy of being called a “great power”? Definitely not.
“What kind of power are we talking about here?”
“What you would have received would depend on what you desired. If you had sought martial skill, you would have gained a body in perfect harmony with the heavens. If you pursued knowledge, you would have obtained a ‘Heavenly Brain’ to focus your mind on the upper dantian. Dreamed of becoming a ruler? Then you would have gained ‘Heart’s Eye’ to read the hearts of all under heaven. Or, if you had been a seeker of enlightenment, you would have been struck with the bolt of sudden enlightenment and become a great sage.”
Heavenly Brain, Heart’s Eye, the Bolt of Enlightenment.
These all sounded like mythical powers out of ancient lore or storybooks. If he had truly been blessed with any of these powers, he wouldn’t have struggled so much in his previous life.
Jo Hwi couldn’t help but feel a little exasperated.
“…I can honestly say I have never received any such blessing.”
—What did you say?
Although he had never received anything he’d consider a power, there was one strange thing that had happened to him.
He had ended up in the past, living someone else’s life. However, he felt strangely reluctant to mention this.
He didn’t know why, but he simply felt uneasy speaking about it.
Was it a vague fear of this unknown entity?
After all, he couldn’t yet tell if they were friendly or hostile towards him.
The voice from the Uicheon Blood Jade echoed again.
—Speak honestly! You must have gained something from the Uicheon Blood Jade! Otherwise, there’s no way to explain the level of your soul!
“…”
If his reincarnation was indeed due to the necklace his father had given him, then this voice might be correct.
But he couldn’t be certain.
He simply woke up as Jo Hwi.
Was his rebirth because of the necklace?
He had his doubts.
A necklace filled with countless souls? That alone seemed beyond belief, yet something about their words held a ring of truth.
The question was whether he could reveal the full truth of his reincarnation to them.
Jo Hwi decided to take a small risk.
“To be honest, I did experience something strange. But I can’t say for certain it was due to the Uicheon Blood Jade. Besides, it’s my life’s secret… I’m simply afraid.”
A cautious approach.
Surprisingly, the Uicheon Blood Jade responded quickly.
—You don’t trust me, or us, it seems. But we are your distant ancestors. To us, you are simply a beloved descendant, nothing more or less. Besides, we exist only as souls and have neither the ability nor the will to affect the material world. What harm could we possibly cause you?
The voice had a warm and benevolent aura.
Jo Hwi felt an unexpected surge of emotion well up from deep within his chest.
“…Are you truly my ancestors?”
—Indeed. The Uicheon Blood Jade is passed down only to the direct descendants of the Jo family. You are the rightful heir of your generation. Why would we have any ill will toward you…?
After much hesitation, Jo Hwi finally bowed his head in resignation.
“I was… reincarnated…”
—Reincarnated?
—How could that be?
—Ancestor…!
The souls murmured in shock.
Reincarnation.
Or was it a return to the past?
It was not something an ordinary descendant would experience.
Moreover, this touched upon the true secret behind their entrapment in the Uicheon Blood Jade.
—How could you…!
Once again, the soul with the most intense presence spoke.
—Ha! Hahaha…!
It was a laughter that seemed to wring out every last emotion.
Jo Hwi could feel the emotions so vividly that they even caused him pain.
Shock, disbelief, frustration, anger!
—In the end, Heaven has denied me my revenge! I am destined to remain a mere schemer for eternity… Ha! Sima! This is your victory! Hahaha!
The intense emotions conveyed to him left Jo Hwi clutching his head, enduring the pain for a long time.
After what felt like an eternity, the pain subsided, and he heard no more voices.
“Uh… Ancestors?”
When only silence greeted his calls, Jo Hwi wiped the cold sweat from his brow and tucked the Uicheon Blood Jade into his chest.
“Whew… What a day…”
Jo Hwi instinctively understood that the random flashes of knowledge he had been experiencing were likely related to them.
For some reason, he felt he wouldn’t be getting much sleep tonight.
*Slide!*
“What? You’re going to the Namgung clan?”
Jo Hyuk burst into Jo Hwi’s office, his face flushed with excitement.
In his haste, he hadn’t even dressed properly and was still barefoot.
As if he’d expected this, Jo Hwi sighed and spoke up.
“Yes. And no, you can’t come.”
“Younger brother!”
Jo Hyuk’s eyes sparkled, as if he was ready to kneel and beg.
Jo Hwi remained unflinching.
“Hyung, I’m not going there to play.”
Jo Hyuk clenched his fists in determination.
“I won’t say a word! I’ll simply stay by your side! It’s not like letting me come along would be difficult…”
“No.”
“Brother! Or should I say… Elder brother!”
As if he was ready to cling to Jo Hwi’s leg.
In the end, Jowi played his trump card.
“I’ll ask Father to make you a real sword.”
“What? A real sword?”
Jo Hyuk’s eyes wavered for a moment, but he quickly returned to his resolute expression.
“Even if you offered me ten real swords, I wouldn’t waver! Please, the Namgung clan! Huh? Come on?”
“I said no.”
“Oh…!”
Jo Hyuk looked as if he was about to cry.
At that moment, a deep voice came from their father.
“Jowi, he’s saying he’ll go as an attendant without saying a word, isn’t he?”
“Father, why are you siding with him?”
Their father usually didn’t get involved in things like this.
Moreover, he had already explained how important it was to establish ties with the Namgung clan.
“You two are brothers. Don’t try to handle everything on your own. Besides, Jo Hyuk is still your older brother.”
But Father, you know he’s hopeless. He can’t even act properly!
Ignoring Jowi’s incredulous look, Jo Soon spoke with a serious tone.
No matter what anyone said, the eldest son of the Jo family was still Jo Hyuk.
However, just yesterday, he had handed down the position of heir and the family’s treasure to his younger son. As a father, he couldn’t possibly feel at ease.
“I won’t make a request like this again. Just yield this time.”
“Ugh…”
Taking Jo Hyuk to the Namgung clan’s meeting with potential allies was nothing short of risky. A single wrong word or action could ruin everything.
“Can you really keep your mouth shut?”
Jo Hyuk’s face instantly lit up.
“Of course! The fundamental trait of a warrior is stoic determination! Being taciturn is my specialty!”
“Hah…”
In the end, Jowi decided to trust his brother.
—
Before departing for Habee, Jowi was inspecting the workshop when one of the workers from Sosan Pavilion ran up to him, panting heavily.
“Master! We’re in trouble!”
Jowi looked at the worker’s disheveled appearance and expression turned grim.
His hair was a mess, and his work clothes were torn, as if he’d been attacked.
“What happened?”
The worker caught his breath and looked toward the iron gate with a fearful expression.
“A large crowd has gathered! And they’re armed!”
Jowi’s face paled.
“…Armed?”
“Well, it’s not exactly weapons…”
*Bang!*
With a loud crash, the iron gate burst open.
Dozens of rough-looking men stormed in with grim faces, wielding hoes, sickles, and pitchforks, exuding a menacing aura.
“You bastards! We’ll kill you all!”
“Wipe out the Jo Clan Ironworks!”
Jowi steadied his rapidly beating heart and looked them over.
From their worn work clothes, thick, calloused hands, and the variety of tools they held, they were unmistakably blacksmiths.
“…So they’ve finally come.”
Jowi’s eyes grew cold and calm.
Today’s events were inevitable from the moment he began selling iron goods at a discount.
He boldly stepped forward and respectfully cupped his hands.
“I am Jowi, the master of Jo Clan Ironworks!”
The craftsmen’s faces twisted even more viciously.
“Oh, so it’s you! I’m going to smash that smug face of yours!”
“So, you’re the one who doesn’t understand the rules of business?”
“You bastard! Acting polite now? How shameless!”
They hurled insults and curses at him.
Keeping a blank expression, Jowi listened calmly to their angry words, then lowered his hands and deliberately puffed out his chest.
“What exactly did I do wrong to you?”
Jo Soon, who had been watching anxiously, was horrified.
“Jowi, stop!”
Throwing fuel on the fire?
But Jowi didn’t seem to have any intention of stopping.
“Come on, Father, what have we done wrong here?”
The craftsmen were so stunned that their anger was beginning to ebb.
One of the men, who seemed to be the leader, finally stepped forward.
“Hmph! There are rules to doing business!”
Jowi smirked and pouted his lips mockingly.
“Rules, you say?”
“This bastard!”
Jowi strolled calmly among the craftsmen, meeting each one’s gaze.
“Just answer me one thing. Even if we at Jo Clan Ironworks sell cheaper but still make a profit—would you still refuse to lower your prices and insist on following the so-called ‘rules’?”
“…”
“…”
Currently, Jo Clan Ironworks does not sell weapons.
Naturally, the master blacksmiths who specialized in weapon sales weren’t here.
Under the Ironworks sign hung a badge of honor, signifying the quality of their weapons, something only prestigious ironworks could display.
Most of those who came to confront Jo Clan were from small, struggling workshops.
They had families to feed. If they could make a profit by selling cheaper, they would do it in a heartbeat.
And so, no one dared to argue with Jowi’s words.
“Follow me. Let me show you around our ironworks!”
Without waiting for their response, Jowi turned and walked toward the workshop.
Some of the craftsmen hesitantly exchanged glances before following him, curiosity piqued.
They had come, riled up by anger, but now they were being offered an inside look at the Jo Clan Ironworks. And truthfully, they were intrigued.
To run such a massive ironworks, even while selling goods at low prices, was a mystery to them.
A short while later, the craftsmen entered the Jo Clan Ironworks workshop behind Jowi and found themselves gaping in astonishment.
“Heavens… How many anvils are there?”
“Are all these people actually craftsmen?”
Jowi simply stood back, arms crossed, allowing them to take in the scene.
For the blacksmiths, the entire setup was astonishing. Like cogs in a machine, over a hundred workers collaborated perfectly to produce items.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The rhythmic pounding of hammers.
A giant iron plow was quickly completed and carried to the display area by the foundry workers, joining a hundred more steaming iron plows on display.
One of the craftsmen shook his head in disbelief.
“Th-this is insane!”
Even after watching every step of the process, from molten iron to finished plow, he couldn’t believe it.
If it took him ten days to make a large plow, how could they produce so many so quickly?
“Do you think you could compete with us?”
Even the most steadfast artisan could hardly keep their composure in the face of such an overwhelming sight.
An undeniable sense of defeat!
As all the artisans stood frozen in stunned silence, Jowhi seized the opportunity to play his trump card.
“How long do you all intend to stay stifled under Sichuan’s thumb?”
The Sichuan region, blessed with rich iron ore deposits, produced over 70% of all iron goods in Zhongyuan, Central China! Nearly all the weapons wielded by the imperial army originated from Sichuan.
“Why is it that, despite Anhui’s famous Daehwahuk Ironworks and Master Mosukgeuk earning the title of ‘World’s Greatest Artisan,’ we in Anhui remain overshadowed, eternally stuck in second place?”
Soon, murmurs of agreement echoed among the crowd.
“Right! Exactly!”
“Absolutely!”
There was no better method for unifying a group than rallying them around a common adversary. Jowhi was employing this strategy to a masterful degree.
“In the past century, has Anhui ever once secured a contract with the Imperial Court? Despite the endless wars, the Empire only drafts soldiers from our Anhui, while entirely neglecting our artisans! Is that not true?”
Over and over, Jowhi repeated “our Anhui” like a mantra.
“More than that, who produced our greatest works? Who crafted the Celestial Dragon Blade and the Six Veins Divine Sword?”
Two hundred years ago, a legendary artisan, Mok Goyuel, was born in Anhui. A craftsman on par with the mythical Kuyaja of the Five Kingdoms era. His crowning achievements: the Celestial Dragon Blade and the Six Veins Divine Sword.
“Exactly! We’re the proud heirs of a Celestial Handed Master!”
“If we’re talking skill, Anhui’s artisans are far superior!”
“Indeed! Sichuan’s only advantage is its raw ore!”
“Certainly, His Majesty is at fault here!”
Once the pride of home swelled to a peak among the artisans, Jowhi respectfully bowed to them.
“Please help me realize my dream!”
A brief silence.
“…Help you achieve your dream? What do you mean by that?”
Jowhi raised his voice, his tone more powerful.
“To surpass Sichuan, Anhui must have an overwhelming advantage in output! We need to flood the market with Anhui-made iron goods! Do you think we can beat Sichuan if we all operate as separate ironworks? Only united can we survive!”
He pointed toward the workers of Daesangak and Sosangak.
“Guide them! I value your experience highly! You won’t need to work the forges anymore! Father! Please, come here!”
Jowhi’s father, Josun, approached, still looking bewildered.
“This is Josun, the Master Overseer of our forge! He has personally managed all training! I want each of you to become overseers as well!”
Jowhi looked back at the artisans.
“As overseers, you’ll receive a monthly salary of ten silver liang! Plus, various allowances! Naturally, I’ll also buy all your remaining stock and tools at a premium!”
From his robe, Jowhi produced a thick stack of documents and held them up.
“Will you help me, good artisans?”
The artisans murmured amongst themselves.
Earning ten silver liang from a month’s worth of hammering was not an easy feat.
But here, they wouldn’t even need to toil at the forges. They would only need to pass on their skills to the next generation and still receive ten silver liang a month!
Yet, some were still hesitant.
Jowhi finally reached the pinnacle of persuasion.
He looked resolutely at the sign above.
“The Anhui Ironworks! That will be its new name once you all join us!”
That day, Jowhi gained twenty-seven master overseers.
By offering iron goods at reduced prices, he had essentially staged a hostile takeover of all small ironworks in Anhui.
—
The journey to Hefei was delayed by this unexpected turn of events.
To fully utilize the twenty-seven new master overseers, Jowhi found it necessary to expand the forge.
He divided Daesangak, the largest division, into three groups and Sosangak into two. Both divisions already had enough experienced workers to manage a blend of old and new hands, so dividing them was easy.
However, the mostly novice Gisangak couldn’t be split, as it urgently needed to boost its capabilities.
Gisangak, which received the largest number of overseers, would be the first division to begin producing carriages.
Three months ago, Jowhi had purchased a carriage, but it was impossible to ride on anything other than the official roads.
In this world, carriages lacked a suspension system.
The rough terrain would transfer all its shocks directly to the carriage interior, and after just half an hour, the jolts left one’s back sore to the point of breaking.
Thus, Jowhi ordered the development of a leaf suspension from the Gisangak division.
He had seen leaf suspensions in a documentary on automobiles during his previous modern life.
Initially, he attempted to create a spring suspension, but the advanced molding techniques required were beyond reach in Zhongyuan.
While he understood the “shape” of a spring, he lacked the alloy knowledge necessary for creating a durable spring.
He had attempted to coil a long metal casting to create a spring, but it broke as soon as a heavy load was placed on it.
Abandoning the spring suspension, he opted for a leaf suspension instead.
The multi-layered leaf spring system, composed of metal plates of varying lengths stacked and fixed together, is a technology still used in modern times for large commercial vehicles like buses and dump trucks.
Above all, it was much easier to make than a spring.
Though it still bent or broke under heavy loads, recent trials adjusting the ratio of soft iron had begun to yield promising results.
Jowhi hoped a practical suspension system might be complete by year’s end.
Releasing a carriage with leaf suspension would undoubtedly be revolutionary. The boost in ironworks’ revenue alone was exhilarating to imagine.
The Jo Family Ironworks—now Anhui Ironworks—bustled with a workforce of over three hundred.
Jowhi had invested all the gold he’d saved into this restructuring.
It was hard to predict how much revenue would grow in the coming months.
‘Heh heh…’
Jowhi watched the bustling workers with satisfaction.
The introduction of various bonuses had been a stroke of genius.
Most workers were now fiercely committed, driven by incentives for productivity and overtime.
Though the bonuses were generous, Jowhi—who had endured years of low-wage jobs in his modern life and understood the harshness of that reality—found a kind of personal satisfaction in his decision.
Now, the remaining task was to solve the ore problem and establish a specialized forge for producing metal ingots.
Establishing such a forge would no doubt multiply profits several times over.
This was Jowhi’s primary goal. Now it was time to think about the next step.
‘I must expand into Hefei.’
With a population comparable to dozens of ordinary counties combined, Hefei, the capital of Anhui province, boasted an abundance of human resources, materials, and trading connections.
‘And information!’
The hierarchy of martial clans, profiles of influential figures, recent moves of officials and large merchants—such intelligence is only accessible in a large city.
The information coming from Bongtaehyeon was too slow, often arriving only after events had become irrelevant.
Jowhi had keenly felt this limitation.
If it hadn’t been for the intelligence provided by Sangkwanbi, the third son of the Hwayong Merchant Guild, Jo Family Ironworks might have gone under several times by now.
A patron was essential for entering Hefei.
While it was relatively easy to operate in Bongtaehyeon—a place overlooked by most officials and interest groups—Hefei was a different story.
The market in Hefei was already saturated to the point that not a needle could be wedged in.
As soon as he began business there, conflicts with various interest groups would inevitably arise.
The most intimidating prospect, however, was dealing with Jianghu. After experiencing firsthand the might of the martial world outside Tianyero, Jowhi couldn’t ignore the threat.
“Director Yi.”
Hearing Jowhi’s call, Director Yi, who was checking on the workers, approached.
“Yes, Master.”
“We will depart for Hefei. Please make the preparations.”
Director Yi looked at the stables with a warm smile.
“I’ve already made all the arrangements.”
Jowhi followed him to the stables, where two horses were ready along with twenty bags of dried food, a water skin, a travel sack filled with a change of clothes, and other provisions.
Jowhi was impressed by the thoroughness of the preparations.
“Then, I’ll be off. Though my father is here, he has little interest in matters beyond handling iron. I’ll entrust you with the full operation of the ironworks.”
“May I ask how long you’ll be away?”
After a moment’s thought, Jowhi shook his head.
“I cannot guarantee a date. I won’t be returning until I accomplish my goals. I’m sorry, but it will be a journey without a set end.”
“Then we won’t be able to delay important decisions until you return.”
Jowhi glanced at his office.
“I’ve left a booklet with guidelines for expected situations. You can refer to it as needed.”
“I will follow your instructions.”
Jowhi smiled warmly.
He thought it was indeed a good decision to recruit him.
* * *
Clip-clop, clip-clop.
Riding a horse has a peculiar feeling to it.
If you think of it as “riding something,” you’re likely to fall off.
You have to let your whole body move in sync with the rhythm of the horse.
Jowhi found himself smoothly swaying with the horse’s steps now, remembering back to his early days of riding.
‘Ha… I fell off so many times.’
Scars still marked his lower body. One particularly deep scar on his shin had even exposed bone after being struck by a rock.
Jowhi glanced at his brother, Johyuk.
Johyuk was reading a book while riding, his focus almost supernatural.
After the family’s fortunes improved, Johyuk was able to go to school and the first book he bought was that expensive *Records of the Jianghu Legends* series.
A massive, twenty-four-volume collection.
This famous work by Wanbakja Jegalyuun chronicles a thousand years of the martial arts world’s history by era and is hugely popular in its genre.
However, it’s also controversial for exaggerating legends or unfairly discrediting certain figures.
Apparently, it even sparks disputes among martial sects.
Johyuk read *Jianghu Legends* with the utmost seriousness.
The book was so worn from being read that it was falling apart.
“…Is it really that good?”
Johyuk answered absently to Jowhi’s question.
“Yeah.”
Jowhi was left speechless.
“Ha…”
Oh, dear.
Please, God, do something about this martial arts fanatic.
Johyuk suddenly closed his book and looked at Jowhi with a piercing gaze.
“Did you just insult me in your head?”
Jowhi, taken aback, averted his gaze, and Johyuk’s face grew stern.
“I know I haven’t done much for you as your older brother… I’m aware I haven’t shown you a very brotherly side of myself.”
Johyuk’s gaze suddenly sharpened.
“To be honest, it’s still hard to believe that you’re my younger brother, Jowhi. You were always smart, but not like this.”
“…”
“When I saw you persuading the elders at the ironworks, it felt like you came from another world. I’ve never met anyone who speaks so well. But…”
Johyuk’s expression became fierce.
“Just because you’re brilliant doesn’t mean my life isn’t serious.”
Jowhi’s heart skipped a beat.
What was this sudden strict, solemn, and serious mode?
Only now did Jowhi begin to see his brother for who he truly was.
The calloused hands from all the sword practice, the deep scars covering his exposed skin.
The powerful thighs and defined muscles all over his body, almost like a bodybuilder.
Jowhi realized the serious side of his brother he had never seen.
All those times Johyuk whistled and swung his wooden sword playfully on his way home—it was probably just a gesture to ease their parents’ worries.
It’s easy to forget that every man has his own serious side and that passion is a part of any man’s heart. Jowhi reevaluated his brother.
“…You’ve trained incredibly hard.”
Johyuk let out a slight chuckle.
“There’s a lot you can forget when you’re swinging a sword.”
Only then did Jowhi understand his brother’s actions. He hadn’t been ignoring the family’s situation but had thrown himself into sword practice to escape the painful reality of their circumstances.
“Do you remember Gawongchae?”
Jowhi nodded silently at his brother’s question.
Seven years ago, there had been a devastating famine in Anhui, and the government distributed relief rice.
At that time, the bandits from Mount Gawong had brazenly attacked Bongtaehyeon to steal that rice. Of course, they were eventually eliminated.
“When I saw Father being beaten by those Gawongchae bandits, do you know what I thought?”
Jowhi didn’t need to hear it; he already knew.
“I wanted to protect him. To protect Father… and my younger siblings. I will never let anyone beat them again.”
Jowhi smiled warmly and guided his horse alongside Johyuk’s.
“You’ll do great.”
He placed a hand on Johyuk’s shoulder.
Johyuk looked visibly uncomfortable.
“G-get off me, idiot!”
“Haha!”
A beautiful sunset cast a soft glow over the pine forest, making for a breathtaking scene.
* * *
Eight days after they left Bongtaehyeon and headed toward Anhui, Jowhi heard the voice again from Eui Cheon Blood Jade.
“A man who could sell the waters of the Yangtze with his silver tongue.”
“Heh heh…”
The laughter felt mocking, and Jowhi’s brows furrowed.
He had many questions for them, but anyone watching would think he was talking to himself. With his brother beside him, he couldn’t respond.
“To think that the great descendant of the Jo family is struggling to run a mere ironworks… sigh… it’s exhausting to watch.”
“Well, he’s still better than his father. Just thinking about that guy makes my blood boil.”
“True, that’s fair.”
“Yeah, he’s a hundred, a thousand times better than that guy.”
Though they were ancestors, hearing them openly insult his father made Jowhi uncomfortable.
Jowhi muttered to himself.
‘All they left us was a single gemstone, but they sure act grand.’
“What’s this ‘act grand’ business?”
“It sounds like an insult, given the word ‘grand.’”
“Oh, this cheeky boy! Just a gemstone? Do you have any idea how extraordinary the Eui Cheon Blood Jade is?”
‘Gah!’
Chills ran down Jowhi’s spine.
His eyes widened in shock.
‘Can they even read my thoughts…?’
“Of course! Your spirit is already within the realm of the sages. Although you’re not directly connected to the Blood Jade, we’ve recently discovered that your soul is tied to us through the Wheel of Eui Cheon. So a spiritual link is only natural.”
“…”
The thought that they had been reading his mind all along made Jowhi’s skin crawl.
Jowhi calmed himself and composed his thoughts.
‘…There are eight of you, aren’t there?’
“That kid… truly has a sharp mind. Has he already discerned all of our voices?”
Why would they say I’m smart just for that?
The voices are all so distinct from each other; anyone would pick up on it after a few times, right?
“You don’t seem to realize how brilliant you actually are.”
Am I smart?
Hmm…
I’ve heard people say I’m good with words or have a good memory, but I don’t think anyone’s ever called me brilliant.
If I were really that smart, I’d have passed the civil service exam in one go.
Or even gotten into Seoul National University first.
“Does it sound absurd to hear your soul has been elevated?”
“Heh… but we can’t attribute all his wit to mere spiritual rank. It must be a unique trait of someone who has reincarnated.”
“Yes. Even the division of labor he’s applied to the ironworks isn’t something from our world.”
“Indeed.”
“I agree, it’s remarkable.”
The most powerful voice among the ancestors, who had been quietly listening, finally broke the silence.
“Humph! He’s not material to inherit the legacy of a conqueror like Maengdeok.”
Maengdeok?
Could they mean that famous Cao Cao from *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*?
The founder of our Jo family?
I’d suspected it, but really, Cao Cao?
“Calling me the founder is absurd. The Jo family began long before. My father, who was adopted by a eunuch, simply gave me a new start.”
The Jo family has always honored Cao Cao as the founding ancestor due to his achievements, but in truth, the lineage goes back even further to Cho Cham, a founding hero of the Han Empire.
“A conqueror…”
Jowhi didn’t aspire to be a king.
But he did want enough power to protect his family from the government and the martial world, the most powerful forces in this land.
He had no intention of living a miserable life, as he did in his modern days.
“Well, he’s still better than the other descendants we’ve had.”
“Hmph! He’s someone who only knows how to manage people with silver coins. How could he be kingly material?”
Well, how else am I supposed to employ people? Should I use slaves? Or hypnotize them or something?
“What kind of insolent tone is that to use with your ancestor?”
Hey, it’s not like I said anything wrong…
“Silence!”
“You impudent brat!”
Their stern voices rang out, these ancestors who rarely offered any help but were always eager to scold, and it was starting to annoy me.
Just then, I heard my brother’s voice.
“Gah! Seriously! This ‘Sword God’ guy…!”
Jowhi knew well of the Sword God’s legendary life.
In the history of the martial world, only three warriors had the character for “god” in their titles.
Solitary and unmatched across the land.
The great legend of the sword, known to everyone in the martial world.
“…Why?”
“No, it’s just insane… He defeated all eight high priests of the Dark Demon Cult single-handedly, and then he cut off the cult leader’s head in six moves.”
“The Dark Demon Cult?”
“They’re the ancestors of the current Heavenly Demon Sect.”
“Oh…”
In the righteous sects, there were the Nine Great Schools and Five Great Families, while the dark sects had the Three Heavenly Powers.
The Heavenly Demon Sect, the Black Lotus Union, and the Evil Sky Alliance.
Of these, the Heavenly Demon Sect was the strongest.
If he wiped out the founders of such a powerful group alone… could that really be possible?
Even Jowhi, who didn’t know much about the martial world, was skeptical.
“…Even though he accomplished such incredible feats, there are barely any records about him. We don’t even know his name, only the title ‘Sword God.’ We have no idea if he had a family or how his life ended—it’s all just vague legends.”
Johyuk flicked through the pages of the book.
“Look at this. The God of War, Sima Cheonse, has two whole volumes dedicated to him, but the Sword God only has three pages. Does that make any sense?”
At that moment, the familiar voice spoke up again.
“Child, have you never wondered?”
“…About what?”
“Why the descendants of the conqueror known as Maengdeok have been living as mere peasants?”
Well…
They say no wealthy family lasts more than three generations, so why should royalty be any different?
“Don’t underestimate the achievements of Maengdeok. The wealth I left behind was worth a hundred thousand gold coins. But how much of the Jo family’s history has survived in the world since Maengdeok?”
“A-a hundred thousand gold?”
“An immense amount of gold, indeed!
A hundred thousand *gwan* would be 375 tons by modern weight standards.
Considering that the United States holds over 8,000 tons of gold today, it’s not an unfathomable amount. After all, Wei during the Three Kingdoms period was one of the world’s superpowers.
“Would you like to make a deal with me?”
“A deal? What do you mean, all of a sudden?”
“They are still strong. However, with our support, you may have a chance to compete with them.”
“Who exactly are you referring to?”
“What I, Maengdeok, desire is the downfall of the Sima family.”
So this was the reason I felt such a strong hostility whenever the name *Sima* appeared in my mind?
It’s almost certain now that my reincarnation happened through the power of the Heavenly Jade Bloodstone.
Jowhi’s face turned pale.
In the past, he wouldn’t have known, but now he did.
There’s only one renowned Sima family: the Sima Clan, one of the Five Great Families.
If the Namgung Clan exerted their power through politics and influence, the Sima Clan was a group shrouded in mystery.
Many in the martial world even considered them the greatest family under the heavens.
Even though over two hundred years had passed since the death of the Warrior God, Sima Cheonse, his influence remained immense.
Jowhi shook his head in disbelief.
“No, please be reasonable. This is the greatest family under the heavens. We’re talking about the descendants of a Warrior God. How could someone like me, the head of a mere ironworks, possibly challenge them…?”
“Cheona.”
“Yes, Ancestor?”
“Would you be able to pass down martial arts to this child?”
“If the ancestor commands, I will make him competent.”
“Huh? Who…?”
“This is Jocheon, the Sword God, and the sole successor of the *Sword Mound*.”
“….”
The revelation was so overwhelming that Jowhi was left speechless.
I’d figured they’d led incredible lives if they exchanged their spirits for immense powers, but this was too much… One of the three warriors in martial history to bear the title of “God,” and the strongest among them—the Sword God…!
And that wasn’t even the end of it.
“Ganga.”
“Yes, Ancestor.”
“Can you pass down your secret lineage to this child?”
“If my descendants have not yet fallen prey to the dark merchants, it should be possible.”
“Good.”
*Secret lineage? Dark merchants?*
I don’t understand what he means, but it sounds like something tremendous.
“I have occasionally glimpsed that world you nostalgically think of. The knowledge and culture of that place are astonishing… it’s truly unimaginable.”
Damn, he even peeked at that?
This is almost like having a stalker.
“With your new knowledge and the power we possess, there’s a chance we could stand against them. So, are you willing to make a deal now?”
While I don’t fully understand the implications of the latter part, we are talking about the Sword God here—the martial artist who singlehandedly defeated the Dark Demon Cult.
There’s no need to think any further.
“I’ll make the deal!”