He Became the Genius Blacksmith of the Namgung Family - Chapter 105
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 105
Episode 105
When sincerity reaches its peak, even metal and stone will open.
“They say that where sincerity reaches, even gold and stone will open. From what I hear, the young man from Namgung has shown us complete sincerity, so what is our Nanman Beast Palace doing?”
Sending off our daughter in marriage, you say?
Then doesn’t that mean we’re becoming family?
“Is just pairing them up and hoping they’ll get together what you call sincerity? Or are we only family in words?”
That’s not right, is it?
“Then we should show that sincerity by truly becoming family.”
How?
“If he’s a blacksmith who can create miraculous items as easily as breathing, he can resolve Father’s grievance. Why shouldn’t he? Because it’s something the Nanman Beast Palace must handle, making it difficult to show to outsiders? If we call him family but still treat him like an outsider in our actions, who will recognize our sincerity?”
Ah.
“Is the intention that might be revealed by resolving his resentment something belonging to the Nanman Beast Palace? The Nanman Beast Palace is a world of warriors. If we fix grievances and resentments, restoring things to their original state, we should honor him as a benefactor and tell him to stay. That’s what the Nanman Beast Palace is.”
One who knows gratitude, receives favor, and thus repays that favor twofold to fulfill propriety.
That is a warrior of the Nanman Beast Palace.
I had forgotten this.
I had overlooked this.
My mind has grown dull with age.
Blood rushed to my head in youth.
I became intoxicated with power as a lord.
I made great mistakes and became blind.
“If you understand, then repent. So, sincerely ask for help. A man will sacrifice his life for one who recognizes him.”
A scholar dies for one who understands him.
“A woman will adorn her face for one who pleases her.”
A woman beautifies herself for one who delights in her.
“Therefore, if these two, man and woman, work together for Father’s grievance and the Nanman Beast Palace’s resentment, it will inevitably be accomplished.”
Even without forcing a marriage.
Romance will naturally develop for the future.
“Do you understand?”
Yes, Mother.
Truly magnificent, my child!
As expected of my wife!
“Then what are you doing! Hurry up and move! If you’re going to send him off, think of it as the last time and act!”
“Yes, yes!!”
At the mother otter’s stern command, the grandfather tigers moved hastily.
* * *
“…And so, I have a favor to ask of you, younger brother.”
Thus, the grandson and son stepped forward first to meet the man and speak.
The man, Namgung Cheon-gang, nodded at the words of his grandson and son, Yahwel.
“I wondered why Elder Yamu seemed so troubled lately, and there was such a reason.”
“That’s right. It seems he’s been deeply contemplating that matter of atonement I mentioned before. As his grandson, I’ve had a knot in my heart for not being able to resolve it for him, younger brother.”
“After much deliberation, he finally spoke to me about it.”
“Exactly. As far as I know, there’s no blacksmith as skilled as you, younger brother… I’m sorry for bringing this up just as your departure approaches, younger brother.”
“Oh my, why worry so much and apologize, elder brother? It was a family treasure, so it must have been difficult to mention. I fully understand that feeling, so you don’t need to apologize, elder brother.”
“…Thank you. You truly have a generous heart, younger brother. So, how will you help with my request?”
“Of course. If it’s about ‘repair,’ then I, as a blacksmith, should handle it. Please tell me about such things anytime. So, are we going right now?”
“Y-yes! Right away. Father, no, the Palace Lord said to bring you immediately if you agreed, so let’s go right now.”
“Yes!”
And so they headed to the Nanman Beast Palace.
The Nanman Beast Palace is a massive city the size of Anhui Province.
At its center stands the Beast Palace.
Namgung Cheon-gang had seen that palace when he went to deliver the Cloud Walking Shoes about a week ago.
‘So that was about a week ago?’
It was around then that the Palace Lord had politely knocked ‘tap tap tap’ on the blacksmith’s forge door, carefully handed over spiritual beast leather, and asked ‘Could you make some Cloud Walking Shoes~?’
‘I made a pair for Elder Yamu too since there was enough material.’
He was flying around wearing the Cloud Walking Shoes.
The elder seemed rejuvenated, and the Palace Lord appeared to have reached a new level?
Anyway, seeing the palace again like this brought back memories.
‘I thought the Beast Palace would be a barbaric castle made from the bones and stones of massive tigers, lions, and other fierce beasts.’
He was surprised to find it was more nature-friendly and neat than expected.
‘Come to think of it, looking at the houses built in the Nanman Beast Palace, they’re more like refined medieval martial arts world houses than the jungle tribe huts I saw in my previous life.’
The only difference was being nature-friendly.
‘I guess I had too narrow-minded preconceptions.’
If they were truly a primitive tribe, I wouldn’t still be welcomed like this, right?
“Oh? Cheongang! What brings you here!”
“Ah, Uncle Doldol! It’s nothing special, the Palace Lord called for me so I’m heading there!”
“Aha! Have a good trip! Let’s work the fields together and have a drink next time!”
“Yes!”
“Oh? Where are you going, young man Cheongang~”
“Oh my, Sister Nyunyu! How have you been? The Palace Lord called for me so I’m going to the palace. How’s your back pain!?”
“Thanks to the clothes young man Cheongang made, I’ve been flying around everywhere lately! I don’t know if farm work should be this easy~”
“That’s because you’re so good at your work, sister. How could it be because of the clothes? Your healthy beauty is something my clothes can’t match.”
“Hohoho! You really know how to talk. If I were just 10 years younger. Oh my.”
Namgung Cheon-gang was welcomed everywhere he went.
All of this had happened within just over a month and a week.
Watching this, Yahwel was astounded to the point of bewilderment.
‘Not just in appearance, he’s completely become a Beast Palace person!?’
Anyone would think he was really a younger brother born and raised here.
Well, that made sense.
Considering what Namgung Cheon-gang had done, he was practically a benefactor to the Nanman Beast Palace.
Moreover, whenever he worked, didn’t he approach the warriors and people with genuine sincerity, leading by example?
That incredible sociability he showed when they first met was displayed everywhere.
‘That’s Cheongang’s personality and heart.’
A heart that always approaches anyone with sincerity.
Yes.
Then, they too should respond with sincerity.
Mother’s words were completely right.
‘And perhaps, truly…’
The thought that Namgung Cheongang’s power might truly end grandfather’s atonement bloomed in Yahwel’s heart.
* * *
After entering the Nanman Beast Palace, everything seemed to proceed swiftly.
He met the Palace Lord without any particular restrictions.
Palace Lord Yaggang said similar words to Namgung Cheon-gang as Yahwel had.
Then they moved deep into the palace, to a secret chamber that only the Palace Lord of the Nanman Beast Palace and his blood relatives could enter.
There, Yaggang showed him torn gloves and said this was the atonement for his father, Yamu’s sins.
So from Namgung Cheon-gang’s perspective, it naturally felt like everything was proceeding swiftly.
However, that didn’t mean he would view the gloves shown to him as just ordinary gloves.
“So, inside these gloves…”
“Contains the perfect true meaning of the Beast God Technique, the divine art of our Nanman Beast Palace, and the one martial art that can be performed with that true meaning. It’s a treasure of the palace that only the Palace Lord of the Nanman Beast Palace and his permitted family members can see.”
A treasure containing the meaning of a divine technique.
How could one simply regard such gloves as ordinary?
‘So this is why Brother Yahwel had no choice but to agonize over and over again.’
Truly, it was a price for sins that should never have been carelessly uncovered.
* * *
Wild Nature Face Gloves.
The palace treasure that Yaggang, Lord of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace, showed to Namgung Cheon-gang.
Calling it a palace treasure meant it was not a treasure of the Tiger King Clan, the tribe of Yahwel, Yaggang, and Yamu.
“The early lords of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace were indeed from our Tiger King Clan, but they were not the owners of these gloves. This is a treasure that has been passed down in Namman since ancient times.”
From what he heard, it belonged to the first king who subdued all the beasts of Namman in the distant past.
“I don’t know the exact details. That’s all the records say. In any case, I believe it was used by a king because, strangely enough, it’s a divine artifact that the blood relatives of the King of Namman—now the Palace Lord—can naturally obtain, so I’m confident about that.”
“Ah, so that’s why you said it’s a palace treasure and gloves that only ‘those who became Palace Lords and their permitted family members’ can see and understand.”
“Correct. Of course, that doesn’t mean just anyone can do it.”
Even among the Palace Lord’s blood relatives, only those permitted by the Wild Nature Face Gloves were possible.
Those whom the king dwelling within had looked upon favorably.
“Those who were permitted were invited to the spiritual realm to learn divine techniques and the true meaning of martial arts. However, now it’s become impossible to be invited to the spiritual realm for enlightenment, and only partial knowledge is possible through oral transmission from previous generations.”
“Is it because they were torn?”
Yaggang nodded.
The Wild Nature Face Gloves were clearly torn lengthwise through the middle section.
As if someone had bitten and torn them.
Namgung Cheon-gang was familiar with that bitten appearance, and one animal immediately came to mind.
Rat.
“Don’t tell me, was it the Nammantae Daehyeolseo from 30 years ago?”
When he asked just in case.
“Exactly right.”
As expected.
It was indeed the doing of the Blood Rat Demon, the suitable candidate for the Bloodletting Flute Technique who controlled the Nammantae Daehyeolseo that caused the martial arts world’s secret incident.
“You must have heard through Yahwel that the family affection in Namman runs deep.”
“Yes, Palace Lord.”
“That affection was the problem. Especially, Father’s affection was even stronger.”
The reason for this, he said, was the dying wishes of both mothers.
“The dying wish of the grandmother who gave birth to the younger brother who became the Blood Rat Demon transformed into misguided affection that Father couldn’t cast him out.”
Because of this, he made the mistake of allowing him to wear the Wild Nature Face Gloves, which only Palace Lords could wear, and even permitted family members could only look at.
“That incident ultimately resulted in that bastard tearing apart the gloves, preventing the martial arts of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace from being passed down.”
What happened afterward was the same as what Namgung Cheon-gang had heard.
The traitor ran wild, turned part of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace’s land into blood soil, and later caused the martial arts world’s secret incident.
“To atone for that sin, Father voluntarily stepped down from the Palace Lord position and lived his entire life as a blacksmith. Somehow, trying to make up for the mistake he had made.”
“…”
“As a son, how could I just stand by and watch my father’s sin? Since that sin occurred unwillingly, I couldn’t bear to watch it even more, so I hoped that shame wouldn’t be revealed.”
Thus, he defeated everyone in the Palace Lord competition that began and ultimately became the next Lord of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace.
Afterward, he searched everywhere to somehow repair the Wild Nature Face Gloves for the next generation.
“Serving Elder Mak Noya was also for that reason, and furthermore, this was why we couldn’t bring many warriors even for my cousin’s crimes.”
“Ah, so that’s why the numbers were small.”
Nod.
Namgung Cheon-gang finally understood.
Why there were so few pursuers when the traitor of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace and suitable candidate for the Bloodletting Flute Technique had escaped like that.
‘Of course, looking at Brother Yahwel’s realm and martial prowess, he’s comparable to the Hundred Great Masters, so he could have quickly defeated and had plenty left over against any ordinary demon leader.’
Furthermore, the nine warriors who came with him were also excellent peak-level advanced martial artists, living up to their reputation as elite warriors.
Just looking at Brother Gyarong, he was skilled enough to establish a small martial sect on his own.
This was something Hwanggyeon had told him directly, so it was undoubtedly true.
‘But even so, it was beyond their capabilities.’
If the Beggar’s Sect and Namgung hadn’t collaborated to corner him, victory couldn’t have been guaranteed with just Yahwel and the nine elite warriors’ strength.
The power of the Nammantae Daehyeolseo, and furthermore the power Seo-heung possessed, was surprisingly strong.
‘The reason they couldn’t increase their numbers was probably fear that the treasure’s shame might be revealed.’
Therefore, they had no choice but to trust those they could rely on, entrusting it to their own blood relatives.
Furthermore, it was the best measure to prevent chaos in the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace.
“…It must have been difficult.”
A vague comment that came out after hearing the story.
“Difficult…”
Yaggang mulled over those words.
Then slowly asked.
“Don’t you have anything else to say? For instance, whether that’s what a Palace Lord should do, or that it was foolish, or stupid…”
It would be natural for resentment to pour out from others.
It would be understandable to receive curses.
But to think that words of comfort for wounds would come out instead of hurtful words.
It was an unexpected comment he couldn’t have anticipated, so he couldn’t help but ask out of curiosity.
To this, Namgung Cheon-gang replied.
“What good would it do for me to dwell on past mistakes? Of course, I’m not saying Elder Yamu did well, but that was due to the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace’s characteristic affection, not Elder’s sin alone. Furthermore, when you’re burning yourself trying to fix it, why would I curse, hurt, and insult you?”
Where was it only the elder?
His son too, and his grandson too.
They were doing their best to eliminate their grandfather’s and father’s sins.
Even without words, hadn’t they shown it through their actions?
Farming together, tilling the land.
Furthermore, personally dealing with plants and animals poisoned by blood energy.
Just looking at how they didn’t capture the people of Namman but gave them freedom and treated them as equals, he knew their character.
‘If they had pressed forward with strong force and ruled independently, Brother Gyarong and the people of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace wouldn’t have treated the Palace Lord and Brother Yahwel so easily.’
Unrepentant sins must be punished without mercy.
But repentant actions can be met with forgiveness.
Unrepentant sins must be punished without forgiveness.
But repentant reform can be met with forgiveness.
Dictatorial strength is difficult to maintain and govern.
But peaceful governance brings prosperity for ten thousand generations.
Solitary wielding of strength makes it hard to defend and govern the castle.
But governing through peace brings prosperity for ten thousand generations.
The place that allowed him to see and experience all of this was here, this Southern Barbarian Beast Palace.
Therefore, the words that came out were.
“Being comforted is only natural.”
“…Is that so.”
“Also, I won’t just end it with comfort.”
“Then?”
“Yes. That’s right. It can be fixed. It will require quite a lot of materials, but I can do it.”
Just as the blood energy that had accumulated in the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace’s land for 30 years was instantly resolved when Namgung Cheon-gang came.
“It can be fixed… then, you can repair it…”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“If I’m Brother Yahwel’s younger brother, then Palace Lord would be like an adoptive father or uncle, and Elder Yamu would be like a grandfather. Well, even if that weren’t the case, since Namgung and Namman are in-laws, we’re family, aren’t we? Family should help each other.”
“Ha, haha. Yes, family. That’s right, we were family. Ha, hahaha!”
The moment when the 30-year accumulated resentment of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace Lord, whose best efforts as both son and father had been minimal, was about to be resolved.
Tears of joy that couldn’t be hidden formed in the giant tiger’s eyes.
‘The king of beasts wasn’t me, but the man standing before my eyes.’
What a true beast really was, what the king of beasts really was.
Enlightenment came flooding in as he realized that martial force could be controlled not through strength, but through virtue and heart.
Also, how foolish it had been to try to force a family together.
Only now did he realize.
There was already someone he considered family.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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