The name of this forge was Steel Evolution Smithy, which seemed to mean a place where iron transforms. Steel Evolution Smithy was the largest forge in the village, not only producing various agricultural tools but also serving as an armory that manufactured weapons.
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Steel Evolution Smithy specialized in making swords and, as the owner, Master Jang, was a renowned swordsmith, it attracted a considerable number of martial artists. Swords have high added value, so Steel Evolution Smithy was earning a substantial income. The monthly pay of three silver coins given to me was a pittance in comparison.
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The main customers of Steel Evolution Smithy were from a relatively large sect located in the mountains behind our huts and a courier service run by a lay disciple (outer disciple) of that sect. These were Steel Evolution Smithy's top patrons, essentially holding the lifeline of the forge. The name of the sect was Emei Sect, derived from the name of the mountain, Mountain Emei. I had heard from my master that it was a considerably large sect.
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What piqued my interest even more was the fact that almost all the disciples of this sect were women. The part about there being many beauties was especially hard to ignore. However, my excitement was dampened upon learning that many of these women were either temperamental middle-aged women or elderly ladies, and most of them were nuns. Master's consolation that there might be some fresh outer disciples didn't do much to lift my spirits.
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The Emei Sect primarily used swords, so it seemed they sourced a significant number of swords from here. The same was true for the courier service run by an outer disciple of the Emei Sect. It appeared that this village was under the protection of the Emei Sect. It was natural for a village situated beneath a mountain with a large sect. The villagers couldn't even imagine life without the Emei Sect; it was an integral, if not the sole, part of their lives.
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On my first day at Steel Evolution Smithy, I learned the basics of the job. The hammer used to strike iron weighed a hefty 50 geun. It was a special hammer prepared just for me, following a request from my master, who was close to me. Of course, I was not at all grateful.
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However, to everyone's surprise, I handled the heavy hammer with ease, almost as if mocking the scoffing that such a task was too much for a child. My body, trained with a 50-kilogram steel laundry beater, faced no significant difficulties. After learning the basic tasks, I headed home, unaware of the hardships and misfortunes that awaited me.
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Upon returning home from Steel Evolution Smithy with my exhausted body, what awaited me was my master's cruel smile – at least that's how it appeared to me – and a bag containing beads. The beads came in various colors, and each had a tiny hole in its center. Inside the bag were seven beautifully colored beads in the colors of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. Although they weren't expensive jewels, they seemed to have been made by some special method, which gave them exceptionally vibrant and beautiful colors.
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"Master, what are these beads all about?"
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Driven by curiosity, I asked my master insistently.
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"They're beads, as you can see. Haven't I already told you? I have prepared ways to prevent your hands from becoming dull. These beads are part of those methods."
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'Part of those methods!' This implied there were more to come. Suddenly, I began to shiver with dread.
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"What exactly can I do with these beads? As your incompetent and unfortunate disciple, I really can't figure it out. Please teach me."
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Hearing this, Master chuckled and said, "I'll show you a demonstration," as he picked up a red bead. Then he pulled out something thin and long from his sleeve. It was a fine silver needle, as long as an adult's forearm, with a thin thread tied to its end.
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Master, holding the silver needle in his right hand, tossed the bead he held in his left hand towards the ceiling. The bead spun in the air. In that instant, the silver needle in Master's right hand flashed. It wasn't an illusion or a trick of the eye. The needle moved swiftly and precisely in a split second. When Master stopped, amazingly, the red bead that had been thrown into the air was now skewered on the needle, gleaming brightly. The needle's tip had precisely pierced the tiny hole in the center of the spinning bead.
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It was an incredible feat. I stared at Master, eyes as wide as lanterns, utterly dumbfounded. Even though Master was an exploiter of children, this was undeniably impressive.
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Then, with a nasty smile, Master took seven beads in his right hand and the needle in his left. He threw all seven beads toward the ceiling and moved the needle in his left hand like lightning. Soon, the needle stopped with all seven beads neatly skewered on it. Not a single one was missed. Master had easily performed this feat with just his left hand.
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Next, he demonstrated the same with ten beads, then twenty. Finally, he took 14 beads – two of each color: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet – and threw them into the air. Using the needle, he skewered all of them in order, creating a sequence of rainbow colors. Throughout the demonstration, Master didn't make a single mistake, and all this was done with just his left hand. That day, not only did I miss the chance to mock my master to my heart's content, but I actually found him incredibly impressive.
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'Heh, incredible. He could make a living as an acrobat with those skills.'
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"This training maximizes your eyesight and, along with it, enhances the accuracy and speed of your hands. And the most important thing is the finishing. This is very crucial."
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Then, releasing the silver needle from his left hand and holding its end with his right, Master let the beads slide down the thread. At the end of the thread was a finger-sized wooden stick, preventing the beads from falling off. He then cut the thread at a point where there were about 30 beads and tied both ends together. The skill in tying the thread was so clever that there was no space between the beads. Thus, a necklace was born.
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"Did you see that? There are 30 beads in a necklace. Not more, not less. And when tying the knot, make sure it's tight and secure, so there's no gap! Let's start with a daily quota of 100 necklaces. Work hard!"
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As soon as Master finished speaking, I felt a strange sensation. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being deceived.
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'Work hard? Wasn't this supposed to be part of the training?'
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I hadn't noticed at the time, being amazed by my master's skill, but this 'bead stringing and necklace making' was hiding a massive scam and conspiracy. My master was selling these necklaces to the local general store for two coins each. Or, to be precise, he was getting two coins for each necklace he made with beads supplied by the store. In simple terms, it was a kind of side job.
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The profit from this side job amounted to 200 coins per day or 6,000 coins per month. Since 1,000 coins were equivalent to one silver coin, it meant a monthly income of six silver coins. This was more than my monthly salary. My master, driven by greed, had not only exploited my wages but also plunged his only disciple into the abyss of this side job.
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But damn it, that wasn't all. There was a 'to be continued.' After finishing the necklace-making demonstration, Master handed me a piece of wood and an ordinary flying knife, something you could find anywhere. He then instructed me to carve statues with this knife. Not just statues, but also woodworking crafts such as small wooden Buddhas, combs, ornaments, and personal adornments… All things that would sell for money.
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Initially, Master said to start by carving one piece per day. Importantly, he emphasized the need to be able to carve with the left hand as well.
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"This too will greatly help in developing the hand's precision and delicate sensitivity. It can fully compensate for any coarseness or dullness caused by the work at the forge. True, indeed," Master said. He was indeed a person who knew how to speak convincingly. Now I understood why Master had brought me along. It was clear he had seen my carving skills at my parents' graves and intended to exploit them. The carved works I created – which were worthy of being called art pieces – were traded at the general store. Small ones fetched 15 coins, while larger and more intricate ones – taking 3-4 days to carve – were sold for 200 coins. This was another side job apart from the necklaces. Master undoubtedly planned to exploit me until he couldn't squeeze out another drop.
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He was the type of person who wouldn't have a word in his defense if reported for child abuse and labor law violations. Nobody would defend Master. Me? If I were to take a stand, it would be as the accuser, never as a defender of Master.
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Thus, I found myself with one main occupation and two side jobs, completely against my will. This marked the beginning of my unfortunate and arduous journey through life.
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***
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A Doll Sent from Heaven
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By taking on these jobs, my fate was sealed into a relentless and endless path of misfortune. It was truly a tightly woven, unfortunate destiny. I had to wake up at dawn to train, hunt, gather herbs, cook, do laundry, and then head to the forge in the afternoon to work until sunset. Dealing with heavy, rough iron all day was already enough to make my body scream in exhaustion.
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However, returning home exhausted from the forge, I was not greeted by a warm and comfortable rest. Instead, I was met with a mountain of side jobs. Of course, I was not at all happy. As soon as I finished the day's assigned task of stringing beads, I had to immediately start carving wood, without any break. The initial daily quota for bead necklaces was 100, but as I became more skilled, the number cruelly increased. After three years, it finally reached 500. The same was true for the carvings. My skills improved day by day, and I reached a point where I could carve about three simple woodworking crafts a day. My craftsmanship gained recognition, and the payment increased. My works became popular items in the department store.
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Yet, to me, all these tasks meant nothing more than just an increase in workload. Of course, my master was delighted, dancing with joy as the income increased.
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I wondered why I was so unfortunate. I resented the heavens while looking up at the sky, tears blurring my vision. This period was the darkest time of my life, spent crying through the nights, enduring extremely difficult days. Thus, three years passed.
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Had it not been for the fortune of that day, I would have undoubtedly died of overwork, buried in an unnamed field with wild grass as my companion. That day was when white clouds enveloped the sun, emitting golden fragments, and a clear blue-white wind wrapped around the mountains. It was also the one day in the week when the forge was closed.
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Even on the rare sweet day of rest that came only once a week, like honey, I couldn't relax. I had to roam the mountains and fields, gathering herbs and hunting. The life of an unfortunate, beautiful boy caught in the evil clutches of a demonic hand was truly miserable.
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When I first discovered it, it was blooming delicately under the shade of a tree. It was a flower with a mysterious and clear fragrance that soothed the mind, embodying pure and noble qualities. Suddenly, my brain began to issue a fierce warning.
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'This is definitely going to make money! It's a sure shot!'
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A flower with such fragrance and dignity was bound to sell for a high price. Just look at this intoxicating aroma and elegant appearance. Doesn't it seem to possess incredible value at first glance?
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I carefully started to dig around the flower, ensuring not to harm even a single root. Damaging the roots would decrease its value, so I had to be as gentle as if handling a lover. While carefully digging, I was suddenly startled. Buried in the ground was a dazzling naked female body, the size of an adult's palm, curled up with its face buried between its knees and legs hugged up to the chest. The shining naked figure radiated beautiful and noble energy.
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"Gulp!"
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The sound of swallowing saliva loudly echoed in my throat. I stared at the naked female figure as if entranced. Facing such a sudden, bizarre, and mystical experience, I had no idea what to do.
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A clear fragrance wafted into my nose, bringing me back to my senses. Momentarily, I was jolted awake and doubted my state of mind and my wide, sparkling eyes. My rationality commanded me.
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"This can't be happening. How can there be a woman as small as a palm? No matter how absurd the world is, this is impossible. If such a woman really existed, I'd bet my ten fingers on it. I must have been momentarily bewitched by something. Snap out of it, Bi Ryu-yeon! Calm down, stay cool!"
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I rubbed my eyes, which I suspected were failing me, until my eyelids almost peeled off, and then cautiously looked at the naked female figure I had unearthed. However, to my astonishment, the dazzling naked figure was gone, and in its place lay a root of ginseng.
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Since it had taken on the form of a person and bewitched me, I thought it might be the legendary celestial elixir, a human-shaped snow ginseng, often mentioned in tales. My guess was undoubtedly correct! Given its ability to deceive my eyes, it was certainly an ancient and significant object.
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I felt as if I had caught a phoenix. I even briefly considered selling it for profit. However, I soon corrected this thought. Money doesn't always come first. I desperately needed to nourish my health, especially due to the physical toll of the hard labor I had been enduring. Moreover, wasn't my ultimate goal under the torturous training of my detestable master to become the world's greatest unparalleled expert? I decided to resist the fleeting temptation of money and consume the human-shaped snow ginseng myself, with a resolve as strong as steel.
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Of course, consuming such an elixir required significant caution, so I exercised utmost care. Before taking the human-shaped snow ginseng, I meticulously reviewed the precautions for consuming spiritual medicine taught by my master. There have been numerous cases where people became fools or even died because they ignored these precautions and carelessly consumed the elixir. An elixir taken recklessly could turn into poison.
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Even if it didn't lead to the worst-case scenario, there were often ridiculous incidents where the elixir's energy didn't fully dissolve and remained as potential energy in the body, or it seeped into the marrow, endowing tremendous latent potential. There were claims that once this potential was unleashed, one could possess immense internal energy, making them the most powerful in the world.
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However, the potential is merely potential. In the real world, it's an unknown force that is not very useful. The potential is just a possibility; it can't help in reality. Relying on unstable power that can't be utilized immediately when needed is nothing more than a fanciful illusion. If a power can't be deployed immediately when necessary, what else is there to do but die? Hoping for the potential to manifest at the brink of death is nothing but a foolish and irresponsible attitude, depending on luck.
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Relying on such uncertain and unreliable power is perilously dangerous for someone living in the ruthless world of martial arts. To avoid these risky and ludicrous situations, it's better to carefully consume the elixir only after fully understanding the precautions. Only then can one assimilate all the energy of the elixir and make it their own. The precautions are as follows.