v7c15: Master of Iron

Tie Delan, Sectmaster of the Hermetic Iron Sect, hammered upon the red hot metal on his anvil. He held it still with his bare hand so that he could feel the heat; and each driving blow from his hammer kept the metal at that perfect temperature as it was being shaped.

It was a soothing action he had done many thousands of times; here, in the forge, all his worries faded away, and all that was left was the song of steel and the shower of sparks.

He was forging a simple thing; a chisel, specifically for stone working. He was too unbalanced to give the arts of his forebears the attention they deserved; so he went back to the thing he knew, and it made everything else wash away.

And besides, this was necessary anyway.

The Hermetic Iron Sect, for the first time in centuries, was growing.

They had fallen far from what Delan had witnessed in the memory crystal given to them by Cai Xiulan. Once, their ancestors had boasted thousands of cultivators in the Sect. They were the artisans and masons that had built the foundations of the entire Azure Hills.

The cataclysm that had rocked the land and changed the ground to metal had decimated their numbers, and the turning of the land had consigned them to a slow death.

It had reduced them to one family, a handful of disciples, and some mortals to keep it all running, who lived in perhaps the harshest place in the Azure Hills.

It was a constant worry about their numbers… even if they had carved out a niche for themselves. They made the best blades in the Hills, and their land, while full of valuable resources, was considered too harsh to take by others.

So they had survived. Clinging on, generation by slowly dwindling generation, preserving the ways of their ancestors. Some had left, but many more had died. Their Sect was the closest to the Howling Fang Mountains and, as a result, they were the ones who had to deal with any Spirit Beasts that fell onto their side of the border. That netted them useful resources… but the fall and lack of Qi tended to throw the beasts into such a frenzy they destroyed their own cores. One practically needed to be a smith to get any use out of them.

A land of scarce resources and battles with little reward was their prize; but it was their home. Delan’s ancestors had sworn to keep the land and defend the mortals to some ancient lord that Delan now knew to be Lord Xiaoshi. And in doing so, they were one of the few sects to have actually preserved most of their true traditions. Out of every sect, despite the shift to iron, they were the closest to their ancestors. Creators first, rather than warriors.

That had been noticed. Well, mostly the excellence of Delan’s son had been noticed. The Head Mason for the Restoration of the Azure Hills was a title that filled Delan’s breast with fierce pride whenever he heard it spoken. His work restoring the Dueling Peaks was already entering legend, and that meant the name of the Hermetic Iron Sect resounded throughout the land.

For the first time in a long, long time, they had recruits coming in from outside the Ironfields. The sectless, who witnessed his son’s repairs of the Azure Hills, journeyed to Delan to beg that they be taught the ways of stone and steel.

They saw the revitalization of the Azure Hills, and wished to contribute to it.

He had thought long and hard before accepting them… but in the end, accept them he did.

If they wished to reclaim their former glory, they would need all the hands they could get.

And that was before the sudden ignitions that had happened on the solstice. Nine children of the Ironfields had ignited their dantian during the solstice, when Qi had erupted throughout the land; it had happened right in the middle of the traditional solstice dance.

Four of them had already been assistants and the others were pleased to join the ranks of the Sect, those who had defended their families for thousands of years.

Once more, the Hermetic Iron Sect would lay the foundation of the new order, and craft wonders that would last for ten thousand years.

It was a soothing thought, and one that brought him great joy.

But nothing could last forever.

There was a knock on the door frame, and Delan turned to look at who had interrupted him. His wife, Liquin, smiled at him. Her dress hid well the growing bump of her belly. It was an era of growth, and there would be no better time. Liquin had also been most convincing.

His son was very pleased with the decision, and there had been a great celebration in Iron Town when the news had reached them. Delan hoped this birth would be easier on her than their son’s.

“Is it time?” Delan asked.

Delan still remembered the shock at the Dueling Peaks, when the Grand Marshal had returned with Master Jin’s rough itinerary.

“He plans to visit the Hermetic Iron Sect first?” the Master of the Azure Horizon Sect had asked, a brow raised.

There had been several other murmurs. Some whispered that Master Jin should see a more impressive sect first, rather than one so small.

The Grand Marshal had simply raised one delicate eyebrow.

“Tie Delun shed his blood in the defence of Master Jin’s home. Out of all of us, I would say the Hermetic Iron Sect has the most qualifications to have the honour of receiving him first,” she had declared.

The reason had silenced all others; and so Delan found himself and his Sect given great face. The first to be visited by the Hidden Master of the Azure Hills, who had saved them all from a demonic invasion.

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His son had told Delan much about the vicious battle, and of the feeling of Qi so far beyond his own. His boy had been shaken by the knowledge of just how high the heavens were—but resolute in his march forwards.

What a man, his son, who stared into the face of the Great Enemy and broke it with his hammer. It brought a smile to his face each time he remembered it. Heavens above, he was so proud of the person Delun had grown into. A true man!

Still, it was unnerving that he would be playing host to such a power. A power whose daughter Delan’s son was courting.

…his lad was a good sort! Master Jin surely saw that as well!

“Master Jin has stopped in Iron Town. His messenger should be along shortly,” Liquin replied.

The Grand Marshal had also informed them of the face that would be given to all sects that Master Jin would be visiting; for Master Jin was following the most courteous of ways. Announcing himself, and waiting to be granted entry.

To even be given the option of turning away such a powerful Expert was more than the Azure Hills deserved, but Master Jin was a Spiritual Herb Master from the Cloudy Sword Sect—a sect legendary for their respect for tradition.

“Inform the disciples please, my dear. I’ll be along shortly,” he requested, and his wife nodded, leaving him to it.