He Became the Genius Blacksmith of the Namgung Family - Chapter 11

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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 11

Episode 11

“I agree with Young Master Peng’s words. Like the meaning of ‘all paths lead to one’ – when one becomes a master in one field, one can handle all things with ease.”

A calm voice echoed through the blacksmith’s forge.

“However, I’m just as curious as Young Master Peng. So, could you show us that ability to see the grain? I think Young Master Peng would also like to see it once. ‘Even the will left by the deceased is still honored, how much more so the living?’ Since we even honor the wishes left by the dead, how could we ignore the living? So, wouldn’t it not be too difficult to fulfill Young Master Peng’s wish by demonstrating your ability to see the grain?”

It was someone from the Jegal Clan.

Jegal Hojun.

Perhaps feeling that he had spoken quite well.

He smiled gently.

Well, being from a family full of scholars, he had reason to feel proud of speaking well once.

Understandable.

But…

“Um, does that saying fit this situation?”

Namgung Cheon-gang was currently lying flat on his stomach.

Because it felt like his back would snap in half.

Muyong Sohwa was massaging Namgung Cheon-gang’s back using her internal energy.

Peng Duohui was restlessly stamping his feet beside them.

He reached out to help, but quickly withdrew his hand when Muyong Sohwa glared at him sharply.

Who was the culprit who had tried to split Namgung Cheon-gang’s back in half?

Who was the culprit who created this current situation?

It was Peng Duohui.

How much more did he want to break it(?)?

Huff, huff.

‘My back, my back!’

Fortunately, it didn’t break.

‘This damn bastard! Trying to break my back that I haven’t even used yet? Ugh, my back!’

Would it kill you to signal before coming in to hug someone’s back?

Shocked that his unused back in his martial arts life had almost been split in half due to carelessness.

Lying there resentfully, he shot a fierce glare!

The bear shrank back a little more.

But in this situation, what?

See what and do what?

Namgung Cheon-gang’s fierce gaze turned toward Jegal.

“…”

Jegal flinched in surprise and cleared his throat awkwardly.

Seeing that he looked apologetic, he seemed to know he was in the wrong.

‘What a fox-like person.’

Seeing how he expressed his disbelief so politely and used Peng Duohui as bait for his words, he was definitely fox-like.

Well, if you look at martial arts novels, people from the Jegal Family are fox-like and good with words, so you can’t say it’s completely wrong, right?

-I’m sorry, Young Master. Originally, I came just to greet you, but these two heard about what happened to me and Young Master Namgung Cheon-gang’s story, and couldn’t contain their curiosity, so they followed me here…

Another telepathic message from Muyong Sohwa.

She seemed very sorry that things had become troublesome.

At times like this, it’s proper etiquette toward a beauty to smile and say it’s okay.

And it’s the dignity of a real man to make myself memorable.

Moreover, thanks to Peng Duohui, I even received her gentle touch, so even if there was wrongdoing, I should forgive it, right?

“Ugh.”

Namgung Cheon-gang straightened his body from the lying position.

A groan escaped naturally.

Muyong Sohwa was surprised and said he could stay lying down, but Namgung Cheon-gang shook his head.

“It’s okay. Thanks to you, it’s much better. And I can’t just lie down to receive guests. Besides, the guests have something they’re curious about.”

“But…”

Muyong Sohwa hesitated for a moment.

She really has a kind heart.

He nodded once more, saying it was okay.

At Namgung Cheon-gang’s repeated refusal, Muyong Sohwa finally stepped back.

She too seemed a little curious about ‘seeing the grain.’

Her retreating face showed an expression of barely contained curiosity.

Seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times.

If I show them directly, the fox will be satisfied, and the beauty’s curiosity will be resolved.

Moreover, as a night forger of the Namgung Family and Cheongeumjeong, challenges that come my way cannot be avoided.

“Seeing the grain ultimately means seeing the flaws in metal, so let’s see.”

That said, I’m not the type to just overlook troublesome behavior.

‘It’s not exactly picking a fight, but I don’t have such a good personality that I’d let slide words of disbelief.’

Do you think becoming a master-level night forger at Cheongeumjeong at age 12 was easy?

To survive among those stubborn middle-aged and elderly craftsmen, you can’t just take it lying down.

Moreover, even counting my past life, I’ve lived decades longer than this fox.

When I can see right through the fox’s intentions, should I just show off my skills?

Therefore, I’ll put on an interesting show, so open your eyes wide and watch, fox of the Jegal Clan.

“Jegal Hojun.”

“Yes?”

“Could you show me the sword at your waist?”

“My sword? While it would be rude for one warrior to ask another to show their sword, it’s different for a blacksmith.”

Jegal Hojun drew his sword.

Namgung Cheon-gang quickly looked over Jegal Hojun’s smoothly drawn sword, then nodded and said.

“That sword. It has a flaw.”

“A flaw.”

Jegal Hojun’s smile deepened.

“This is a sword made from Baekryeonjeonggang. Moreover, though I don’t mean to boast, it was made by a master-level night forger from our family. As a night forger of Cheongeumjeong, don’t you know well that swords made from Baekryeonjeonggang by masters usually have no flaws?”

“Hmm. I wonder about that.”

Whether that blacksmith is a master, makes masterpieces, or whatever. What can I do when I see a flaw with my own eyes?

I told Muyong Sohwa that I could see the grain, but it’s not completely false.

These blacksmith’s eyes, honed from my previous life, are trained enough to see the grain of metal.

Even when bluffing, you need to include truthful lies to bluff well.

‘So, I can see weaknesses well enough. If I aim properly with a hammer, it would shatter in one blow.’

But it would be a waste to just break it.

“Shall we make a bet?”

“…A bet?”

“If I break that sword in one blow, you grant me one wish. If I can’t break it, I’ll grant you one wish, Jegal Hojun. How about it? Deal? Or are you chicken?”

“…You’re using Westerner terminology.”

“Well, it’s a word I happened to learn. Anyway, deal? Or chicken?”

“…Deal.”

Jegal Hojun spoke decisively.

Indeed, even as times change, men can’t stand being called chicken.

The bet that started this way ended in less than a moment.

Clang!

“Wh-what is this!”

Jegal Hojun’s face was colored with bewilderment.

“I told you, didn’t I? That it had a flaw. Night forgers of Cheongeumjeong don’t lie.”

Geez, can’t even trust what people say.

This is why those full of book learning are no good.

Tsk tsk.

Well, I’m happy since I got a wish out of it.

‘What wish should I make? Hehe.’

* * *

Clang! With that sound, the sword on the anvil split in two.

“Wh-what, how is this, why?”

Jie Hejun couldn’t believe what had happened before his eyes.

Namgung Cheon-gang fully understood his feelings.

‘Well, he did say it was a sword made from Baekryeonjeonggang, right? The blade wasn’t bad either, and it was well-maintained.’

Something of that quality could easily be considered a superior product capable of cutting through rocks.

Superior swords are expensive.

At least 1 tael of gold.

If a typical family of four in the martial arts world spends 10 taels of silver on food per month, that’s at least a year’s worth of food expenses.

If it had been left alone, there would have been no reason for a family of four’s yearly food expenses to be split in half.

So really, who told them to provoke me?

‘Well, I should still explain why the defect occurred.’

The opponent is from the Jegal Family.

If they start nitpicking methodically, it’ll give me a headache, so I need to prevent that in advance.

“Baekryeonjeonggang, as you know, is steel created after 100 rounds of forging. Of course, it’s not unconditionally 100 times. One hundred strikes with all one’s heart and soul could be 10 strikes for someone, or 101 strikes for another.”

“…You’re saying that putting all one’s heart and soul into it also varies depending on the person.”

As expected of the Jegal Family.

Even though he looks dazed, he understands perfectly and grasps things well.

‘What a frightening mind.’

What could his IQ be?

“Yes. That’s correct. Your sword is definitely made of Baekryeonjeonggang, but it seems those wholehearted 100 strikes went astray at some point. Looking at the number 100, you could say it’s an 80-point Baekryeonjeonggang sword.”

“…”

“So, targeting the visible defect with a small amount of internal energy and just one strike makes this kind of result easy. Of course, this also has the prerequisite that one must be a master-level blacksmith or above, or a blacksmith with exceptionally keen eyes.”

“…And that would be Young Master Namgung Cheon-gang.”

“Yes. It seems like I was bragging about myself, but I do have some pride in becoming a night forger at the Namgung Family’s Cheongeumjeong before reaching the age of wisdom. That’s how I was able to help Miss Muyong.”

Seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times.

Just as those words mean.

Rather than a hundred words, Namgung Cheon-gang’s ability shown through one action.

The moment his eye for seeing defects became clear was truly amazing, bringing silence to the Muyong, Jegal, and Peng families.

However, the silence of amazement was brief.

Because Jie Hejun cupped his hands, bowed his head, and apologized.

“I lost, Young Master Namgung Cheon-gang. And I’m sorry. As I mentioned at first, I’m also someone with as much curiosity as Young Master Peng, so I couldn’t just let it pass. Please think of me as narrow-minded and forgive me.”

A sincere apology.

Namgung Cheon-gang waved his hands dismissively.

“What is there to forgive? If you have curiosity, it’s natural to resolve it. So don’t worry about it. Oh right, you will grant my wish, right? This is no take-backs?”

“Pardon?”

Namgung Cheon-gang’s serious expression.

Jie Hejun looked dazed for a moment, then soon burst into refreshing laughter.

“Hahaha. Yes. That’s right. Since I lost the bet, that’s naturally how it should be.”

“Uhaha! Young Master Cheon-gang! How manly of you! Yes. A man should indeed be like this! Hahaha!”

It wasn’t only Jie Hejun who burst into refreshing laughter.

Peng Duohui also laughed heartily, then suddenly approached Namgung Cheon-gang and patted his back with pang pang pang sounds.

“Gasp!!”

The problem was that Peng Duohui failed to control his strength.

Namgung Cheon-gang let out a death-like scream, went ‘whoosh’ flying through the air, and crashed into a corner of the blacksmith’s forge with a ‘crash’.

“Kyaaah! Young Master Namgung!!”

“Young Master Namgung!”

Muyong Sohwa ran over in surprise.

Jie Hejun also hurriedly followed behind her in shock.

“Ah?”

Peng Duohui had caused another accident.

* * *

Bears tear people apart.

But martial arts bears shatter waists.

“Ugh… If you pat my back three more times while feeling good, you’ll kill someone…”

“A-are you okay?”

“Are you alright?”

Muyong Sohwa and Jie Hejun supported him with concern.

I’d like to curse up a storm.

However, just moments ago, I spoke coolly like an expert.

If I curse, the expert image I’ve built up will crumble, so I need to endure it.

Sigh.

“Yes, yes. Well, it’s nothing serious. Working at a blacksmith’s forge makes your body somewhat sturdy. But really, what incredible strength. How do you send someone flying in one hit like that?”

“I-I’m sorry. Even when I try to control my strength, due to my family’s constitution, this is really…”

Peng Duohui’s mountain-like frame shrank endlessly.

He seems very sorry.

Yes, you should be sorry.

You nearly broke someone’s waist twice, so if you’re not sorry, are you even human? You’d be a beast!

‘Oh right. He’s a bear, isn’t he?’

Come to think of it, he is closer to the beast side.

And it’s not like he did it on purpose, right?

Seeing someone with such a mountain-like frame shrinking like that makes me feel somewhat pitiful.

His expression is full of regret too, so maybe that’s why he looks innocent.

My truly good nature is making me endure this, endure.

They say being kind makes you lose out, really.

“Well, since I wasn’t hurt, it’s fine. So straighten your shoulders, Young Master Peng.”

“B-but still…”

“If you really feel sorry, grant me a wish later like Mr. Jie Hejun. Not now, of course.”

“Ah!”

The dejected bear straightened his shoulders and smiled brightly.

“Of course I will! Just say anything. I’ll grant you everything!”

“Even bad things?”

“Huh?”

Teasing him is really quite fun.

“I’m joking. Anyway, I’ve kept one wish.”

“Keep? What is that?”

“It’s a Western Region word meaning I’ve accumulated one wish.”

“Ah! What a good meaning! Keep. I should use that later. Haha!”

“Well, do as you please with that.”

“Um, Young Master Namgung.”

“Yes?”

“Would you also give me the opportunity to grant you a wish? There’s the matter of repaying a debt, and also, since I can’t say I didn’t contribute to what happened here, I don’t think I’d feel comfortable if we just let this pass.”

Muyong Sohwa is offering to grant me a wish on her own.

What a windfall this is!

Of course, if I show too much excitement outwardly, I might be seen as a frivolous person.

With beauties, heavy and serious men tend to be more appealing.

Namgung Cheon-gang nodded with a deliberately heavy expression.

“If that would put Miss Muyong’s heart at ease… Yes. Very well.”

But he couldn’t just keep acting all serious forever.

Junghahameun , as they say.

Doesn’t it mean to harbor gratitude within a heavy burden?

If you express that you still know gratitude even in heavy circumstances, it makes the giver’s heart joyful too.

…Was that the right four-character idiom to use here?

Well, it can be a nose ring if hung on the nose, an earring if hung on the ear.

“If you would do that for me, I would be grateful and honored, Miss Muyong.”

“Young Master Namgung…”

Muyong Sohwa was moved when he said it would be an honor, even though she had offered to compensate him for her mistake.

“May I make my wish later rather than now? I don’t have any particular wish I want to make at the moment.”

“Of course! I, Peng Duohui, will grant it anytime!”

“I feel the same way, Young Master Namgung.”

“It would be strange if I were left out of this atmosphere. Yes. I’ll do the same.”

Following Peng Duohui’s answer, Muyong Sohwa and Jie Hejun responded in turn.

With this, he had obtained wish tokens to make three wishes each from people belonging to three of the Five Great Families: the Habuk Peng Family, Muyong Family, and Jegal Family.

Wow.

In modern terms, this was like getting blank checks from the direct heirs of three of our country’s top five corporations, wasn’t it?

Indeed, people should live virtuously and see what happens.

Of course, verbal promises could always be forgotten.

While a martial artist’s verbal promise was made on their honor and couldn’t be forgotten, still, what needed to be made certain should be made certain.

“Well then, shall we write up a contract to make things clear? I get anxious without a contract… Ah, this isn’t because I don’t trust you all, but it’s a habit I developed from living as a blacksmith. I apologize if this was rude.”

“Not at all! A martial artist must repay what they promise! Let’s write it up right now, Young Master Namgung!”

Once again, Peng Duohui stepped forward.

After him, Muyong Sohwa and Jie Hejun nodded their heads.

Afterwards, Namgung Cheon-gang definitively obtained three wish tokens each from the Muyong, Peng, and Jegal families.

‘Hehe. Now this is a genie, what else could be a genie?’

Martial Arts World genie, grant me three wishes!

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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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