He Became the Genius Blacksmith of the Namgung Family - Chapter 117

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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 117

Episode 117

Meeting an old acquaintance who brought big news after a long time, shall we get straight to the point?

Of course not.

First, we should enter the tea house and exchange pleasantries about how we’ve been.

“It really has been a long time, Hosiu. Have you been well?”

“Oh my, thanks to your consideration, Young Master, I’ve been doing well.”

“You look quite robust, so it seems you’ve been well. While someone else was running around frantically until his tail nearly fell off… My, you look quite plump. In the face.”

“Huh, if you say that, this Hosiu feels quite hurt, Young Master! If you knew how busy I was as soon as I arrived in Anhui Province, oh my… you wouldn’t say such things.”

“More than me?”

“Of course— I’d like to say that, but not quite as much as you, Young Master. I heard about some of the affairs in Cheonjam Village and Namman.”

“The affairs in Namman?”

“Well, roughly, that you healed pain?”

“Wow… As expected of Haomun. But how did you find out about that?”

“It’s Haomun, isn’t it? Hahaha! Anyway, even if I wasn’t as busy as you, Young Master, I was about half as busy. So busy that I could write a title for a marketplace romance novel called ‘Hosiu’s Haomun Life Manual’ and still have material left over.”

“Wow, that title is quite… frightening to behold.”

“Of course. Once you open it, you’d read it without noticing time pass, right? You’re curious about the content? Oh my, then I must tell you. So, first, it’s about what happened after I briefly parted from you, Young Master…”

“…”

Even after meeting him again after so long, he was still quite talkative.

No, he seemed to have become even more talkative.

‘How can someone drift from exchanging pleasantries to talking about their own past?’

If that’s a talent, it’s quite a talent indeed.

“Stop! How about we save that for later and gradually move to the main topic.”

Hosiu’s daily life stories from the past, now even more talkative than before.

If I listen to that, I might end up listening not just for a day, but for several days.

I need to cut it short.

There are things to hear.

The incidents involving the brothers and sisters in related industries are more important.

“Understood, Young Master. Honestly, even though I want to tell you right away, there seem to be some missing stories, so I needed to organize things anyway. This works out well. I’ll properly organize and tell you next time, Young Master.”

“…”

Terrifying.

That bag of stories.

I should avoid it for a while.

“Oh right, since my mouth is open and the topic of Namman came up, I’m quite hurt, Young Master? How could you leave us behind and work with Gaebang! Where did our friendship from Dongryang County go!”

“…The Namgung Family is part of the Orthodox Faction, so working with Gaebang is natural, isn’t it? It would be stranger if I kept working with Haomun all the time.”

“Aha!”

What’s with that expression like you’ve realized something!

“That’s right, that makes sense. Besides, considering the person who came from Gaebang… Oh my, of course, of course. You had to work with Gaebang at that time. Still, you know how it is. Even when you know it’s not rational, when a companion you’ve shared memories with works with someone else instead of you, a feeling of loneliness quietly rises…”

“I’ll make a pair of Ungonghwa each for Hoyeol and you, Hosiu, soon. Custom-made, and I’ll process them according to your preferred tastes.”

“Oh my, you don’t need to do that. Hahaha, I’ll gratefully accept them. After all, to eliminate the Blood Cult, information organizations should help each other, shouldn’t they? Without dividing Orthodox and Heterodox Factions. Uhahahaha!”

“Somehow, you always manage to take something away.”

“That’s why it’s Haomun, isn’t it? Of course, would I just take without giving? You have to give as much as you receive to survive in this harsh martial arts world.”

“So, what you’re giving is information. What Aeso mentioned?”

“Yes. That’s right. Well, I was going to tell you even without receiving anything, since it’s you, Young Master.”

“Ah, then I could just make one for Hoyeol?”

“I’ll cry buckets.”

Hosiu’s eyes welled up with tears.

Ugh. I don’t like that.

“Then, tell me quickly. So what exactly is this blacksmith kidnapping incident in the Jiangsu region?”

“It’s happening in fishing villages and small towns near Zaxu Island in Jiefu, which is on the route from Jiangsu to Guangdong. Moreover, there are people connected to you there, Young Master.”

“Me?”

“Yes. The Muyong Family and Hyeorin-gak are there.”

* * *

This martial arts world has many place names similar to the distant history of China from Namgung Cheon-gang’s previous life.

However, looking at each one carefully, the geography was definitely quite different.

Just the fact that Yunnan is below Anhui shows this.

Moreover, geographical features that existed in his previous life sometimes don’t exist in this world.

Like how there’s no Zhejiang or Fujian, but only a region called Jiefu between Jiangsu and Guangdong.

‘So, thinking like in my previous life would be a big mistake.’

Why is a world with the same cultural sphere different?

‘Then what about the previous life? Awakening? Status window?’

There are too many things to question, aren’t there?

Let’s accept it and move on.

“Thinking about the affairs of Cheonjam Village, you’ll understand, Young Master. The martial arts secret from 30 years ago.”

“You knew about that too!?”

Surely everything that happened in Cheonjam Village should be kept confidential.

Most of them belong to Namgung, so their lips are heavy.

But still, you found out?

“It’s Haomun, isn’t it.”

Hosiu smiled gently.

‘It really is the martial arts special intelligence agency.’

Scary.

Haomun.

The plausibility is Haomun.

“Since you’re bringing up that story, I suppose the current blacksmith kidnapping incidents are happening in a place related to that secret.”

“Exactly right. As expected, your insight hasn’t dulled, Young Master. There’s a reason our sister has her eye on you.”

“Oh my, what are you saying. Hosiu, you’re really good at compliments. Hahaha!”

“I’m just stating facts. Hahaha!”

“You’re quite brazen. Oh, right. Is it okay to have such conversations here?”

Currently, Namgung Cheon-gang and Hosiu had entered a private room prepared in the tea house to have a conversation between just the two of them.

That said, it’s not like others absolutely can’t hear.

If they just listen carefully, they can hear enough.

For warriors, it goes without saying.

So, I wonder if it’s okay to just discuss such important matters.

“It’s fine. Since it’s a Haomun branch, there are no listeners around.”

“Wait, Namgung’s security in Anhui Province has been breached? Why are there so many branches of Heterodox Faction information organizations here!?”

“Oh my, it’s not an illegal place. It’s a place that pays taxes and operates legally.”

“Ah.”

It’s like Jingyuelou.

Understanding complete.

“I’d like to have a deeper, more intimate conversation, but we can’t do that while discussing important information.”

“Yes. So what kind of connection is there?”

“At least 30,000.”

“Pardon?”

“The Jiefu I mentioned, specifically near Zaxu Island, is where 30% of those who lost their lives in the martial arts secret 30 years ago are buried.”

“Ah…”

It was said that an estimated 100,000 people died in that martial arts secret.

30% of them would mean at least 30,000 or more.

Hearing that such an incredible number died in just one place, Namgung Cheon-gang was struck speechless.

“It’s currently one of the places in the martial arts world where the scars from the Blood Cult haven’t been erased.”

“The work to purify the contamination from the blood energy must be in full swing.”

“That’s correct. However, whether the resentment and grudges that have seeped into the earth run deep, or the blood energy is terribly strong, it still hasn’t been purified. It’s only being cleansed intermittently with instruments imbued with Elder Mak Noya’s power.”

“Then, the missing blacksmiths?”

“As you’ve guessed. Most of them are those who received teachings from Elder Mak Noya. So, while they may not match the elder, they have skills that can follow to some degree.”

“Those people suddenly disappeared… Then could it be?”

“We have suspicions, but no evidence. Until just a few days ago, that is. In the end, the Muyong found those traces.”

The Muyong Family is one of the Five Great Families and the hegemon of Jiangsu.

Their influence extends all the way to Guangdong.

Guangdong is a place where sects from both the Heterodox and Orthodox Factions are mixed, each taking only their own benefits.

Therefore, it cannot be said that the Five Great Families have no influence there.

Jiefu, caught in between, could be said to be a region under Muyong’s influence in some ways…

So even if blacksmiths were disappearing in Jiefu, Aeso’s words about them disappearing in Jiangsu couldn’t be said to be entirely wrong.

Moreover, the Muyong, one of the Five Great Families, stepped in?

It should have been more than enough to resolve the matter.

However, there’s no word that it was resolved, only that traces were found.

In other words.

“…Something happened that even the Muyong couldn’t resolve. And the reason for that would be the Hyeorin-gak you mentioned earlier… right?”

“Exactly right. As I said before, your insight is truly exceptional.”

“It’s because Lord Hosiu conveyed the information well. When the Muyong and Hyeorin-gak were mentioned, it couldn’t be seen as unrelated.”

‘There are many who don’t understand that, Young Master.’

Even if their qualities are good, how many have insight close to that of ordinary people?

Moreover, at the age of 18.

No matter how many hints are given, it’s an age where most wouldn’t understand.

However, the Namgung young man before him figured it out as if he had received a situation report with just a few words.

How could this not be called exceptional insight?

‘I wonder if the Young Master knows that I’m being truthful, not just speaking empty words.’

It seems like he might know.

But also seems like he might not.

Well, is that important right now?

It would be better to inform the Young Master of the information he wants to know and deepen our relationship further.

More than with the Beggar’s Sect!

“So that’s why Lord Hosiu said that place is connected to me.”

“Yes. Previously at Cheongjeongru, when assassins from the Muyong and Hyeorin-gak clashed, you helped, Young Master.”

“Hmm.”

Hyeorin-gak is one of the Three Great Killer Sects.

If you make enemies with them, it’s such a vicious place that even breathing becomes difficult.

‘That assassin with the annoying smiling eyes was attacking a Muyong young lady with idol-level beauty, and I helped out of sudden fan sentiment and heroic impulse, then regretted it a lot.’

That’s why for a while, even going to the outhouse was nerve-wracking, wasn’t it?

‘Well, fortunately there was no revenge from Hyeorin-gak, so I lived in relief, forgetting about it.’

Since I had interfered with the Muyong and caused trouble at Namgung, wasn’t I as good as dead?

It should be safe enough to go to the outhouse comfortably.

A groan naturally escaped as I remembered that meddling from back then.

‘Huh?’

Wait.

‘Didn’t you say it was connected to me?’

Lord Hosiu, Haomun.

The words of a martial arts special intelligence organization wouldn’t be just idle talk, would they?

‘N-no way!’

With a worried heart, I looked at Hosiu with an anxious face.

“I think I know what you’re worried about. Fortunately, what you’re concerned about won’t happen.”

“Phew, whew. That’s a relief. They still don’t know that I helped…”

“Huh? That’s not it. Hyeorin-gak knows that Young Master Namgung Cheon-gang helped, you know?”

Hosiu’s words, as if asking what kind of talk that was.

Namgung Cheon-gang’s eyes widened as he protested angrily.

“What kind of terrible words are those? If that’s a joke, you’ve gone too far!”

“Oh my, a joke? How could I joke with the Young Master? And I am Hosiu, the March Supervisor of Haomun. I’m in a position where I know more than enough about Hyeorin-gak learning Young Master Namgung Cheon-gang’s information. So I can’t help but know that the reason was because of that incident.”

“Ah.”

T-this can’t be.

Namgung Cheon-gang’s face turned pale.

If the sect had been destroyed by two great families, that would be one thing.

But seeing Hosiu mention it, it doesn’t seem like they were destroyed.

Going to the outhouse became difficult again.

“No, how on earth did they… Ah, well, since Hyeorin-gak is one of the Three Great Killer Sects, they could know the information of someone who interfered with their operations—”

“Haomun sold it. They said they wanted to buy information about the person who interfered with their operations at the time. It was quite a lot of money, so it seems they didn’t refuse. Hahaha!”

“…”

Ah.

There he was, right in front of me.

The one who sold my information.

The Assassin is the mastermind.

Indeed, it was an undeniable truth.

(•◇•): …

Even Baekseol was dumbfounded.

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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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