He Became the Genius Blacksmith of the Namgung Family - Chapter 139

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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 139

Episode 139

“Currently, there are a total of 9 villages where the blacksmiths have disappeared. As you’ve seen with names like Sammi, Imi, Sami, and Omi, they all have names with tails and numbers attached.”

“Then the remaining villages would be Il, Yuk, Chil, Pal, and Gu – a total of five villages.”

“That’s correct, Master.”

Now that I think about it, the village blacksmiths’ names wouldn’t be strange even if they were adopted as main character names.

If they had been bullied or ostracized, the full story of the disappearance incidents would have come out quickly.

They would have become like Akatsuki and come to destroy the villages.

“Anyway, it’s not about main character power.”

“Excuse me? Main character power?”

At Namgung Cheon-gang’s muttering, Hosiu looked at him with an expression asking what he meant.

Namgung Cheon-gang shook his head.

“It’s nothing. But why were they given such names?”

Could it be like a former Naruto village?

“Ah, yes. Well, it’s nothing special. Long ago, there was a legend that a nine-tailed fox appeared here and exerted its influence, so they were named that way.”

Hosiu added that since that influence extended exactly from Ilmi Village to Gumi Village, the village names had been like that since ancient times.

‘So there was a legend of the nine-tails.’

Well, if all eight tails were present, the genre would become strange.

It wouldn’t be about rescuing blacksmiths, but about main character power battles.

“Hmm~ So there must have been fox shrines.”

At Namgung Jia’s subtly probing words, Namgung Cheon-gang turned his head with a tilt.

“Oh, were there such things, sister?”

“Yes. After looking through Sammi, Imi, Sami Village, and even Omi Village today, there was definitely one fox shrine in each. Most were in the center of the villages.”

“Why didn’t I know about this?”

“Because you didn’t go that far and didn’t ask?”

“Ah.”

That’s right.

Namgung Cheon-gang had only gone to the blacksmith forges, never to the village centers.

Even in Sammi Village, he had only entered slightly from the entrance and met Samgo, the village chief.

Since he hadn’t asked, there was no reason to hear an answer.

“I really had no way of knowing.”

“Right?”

“Now what’s important isn’t the origin of the fox shrines and village names, but our future schedule.”

Namgung Sohye spoke seriously.

Currently, Namgung Cheon-gang and his companions were camping after leaving Sami Village with Hosiu.

Sizzle.

Under the night where darkness had fallen, a cozy campfire while sleeping outdoors.

A pot lid on top of it.

Namgung Sohye was grilling meat.

Beside her, Cheonying had revealed herself and was sitting demurely, waiting for the meat to cook.

“…”

At the serious voice and the scene so far removed from that seriousness, Namgung Cheon-gang found himself staring intently without realizing it.

“Why, why?”

Suddenly, perhaps sensing his gaze.

Namgung Sohye looked at Namgung Cheon-gang and asked with a trembling voice and eyes.

She seemed to wonder if she had done something wrong.

Namgung Cheon-gang shook his head.

“Oh, no. It’s just that you seem to grill meat very well.”

“Ah. That’s right, isn’t it? This is all thanks to you, Master.”

He praised me for grilling meat well.

I hadn’t done anything wrong.

Namgung Sohye felt inexplicably happy.

“Thanks to you, I can eat meat like this and learned how to grill it. As expected, when I’m with you, Master, I feel like I learn everything.”

Feeling happy, Namgung Sohye said this and smiled brightly.

Namgung Cheon-gang smiled along with her.

‘…Lady Sohye has a natural innocence that’s quite different from her appearance.’

That seems to be part of her charm too.

‘Well, it shows how much she’s fallen for pot lid meat.’

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have stepped forward to grill it herself like this.

‘She wouldn’t have even suggested eating meat.’

It was Namgung Sohye who had suggested eating pot lid pork barbecue under the night view.

‘Good things are good things.’

It feels really good that a good culture has taken root.

I can’t help but smile.

“Come to think of it, you didn’t give the pot lid and pot to the village people, Master. Is there a particular reason?”

A curiosity that arose while grilling meat with the pot lid.

As Namgung Sohye said, Namgung Cheon-gang hadn’t given away the Purified Iron Cauldron to the village people.

Why?

“Since this cauldron isn’t an ordinary cauldron, if I left just one behind, it seems like something would happen.”

When you cook soup or rice with the Purified Iron Cauldron, it becomes close to a spiritual medicine.

Right now everyone would work together since they all had hard times, but what about later when the village is rebuilt?

There’s no law saying they won’t go crazy over the cauldron and cause another tragedy.

Even aside from that, a cauldron that makes spiritual medicine is dangerous.

Martial artists could attack and ruthlessly trample the village.

“To prevent such things in advance, I’m carrying it around. In the case of Jeongwha Baekryeon Jeonggang-ri, it’s fine since it goes to everyone.”

“Ah. Unlike making something common by expanding demand, you eliminated the potential for conflict by removing the preciousness of something that would be unique, Master. You’re truly wise.”

“Hehehe, oh my, wise? It’s just common thinking. Hehehe.”

Even though he said that, it feels really good to be praised.

‘Moreover, when a beauty like Lady Namgung Sohye says it, this is quite embarrassing indeed.’

He was so embarrassed that a silly smile came out naturally.

Seeing such an innocent side of Namgung Cheon-gang.

Namgung Sohye also formed a gentle smile.

Namgung Jia, who had been quietly watching.

“Hmm. How about we stop the lovers’ exchange of smiles and discuss what we should do next?”

She said this with a sly smile.

“Wh-wh-what are you saying, sister!”

“Wh-wh-what are you saying, sister!”

Both Namgung Cheon-gang and Namgung Sohye jumped in surprise.

‘H-how can she say such things so boldly! Sister really!’

‘With my age from both lives combined, how could I with Lady Namgung Sohye! This is serious, sister!’

‘I should probably change the subject quickly.’

‘I should probably change the su-subject quickly!’

They’re surprisingly well-matched.

* * *

Namgung Cheon-gang’s next destination was Yukmi Village.

Originally it was supposed to be Omi Village.

But since the people from Omi Village were in Sami Village, there was no need to go there.

The same went for solving the earth vein contamination.

He had personally purified Sami Village’s farmland and taught them the method.

Moreover, the people from Omi Village said they would step forward to do it themselves, and the people from Sami Village said they would help.

Since the monster pig that was the culprit behind the devastation has also been eliminated, there are no major problems left.

In that case, is there really a need to help?

We should move on to the next place.

Rather, the problem lies with Namgung Cheon-gang’s purpose.

Specifically, his ‘destination’ heading toward Yukmi Village.

“The common points of the villages we’ve visited so far are contaminated earth veins and the discovery of blood stones. Other than that, there’s the contact between the blacksmith and the people from Hoyogyo, no, Hyeolyogyo that Master Hosiu told us about, and the refining of blood stones. I wonder if we’ll find any other traces in different villages.”

Namgung Sohye’s accurate observation.

If it’s the same as the villages we’ve visited so far, we’ll only be wasting time.

In that case, we could just directly raid Hyeolyogyo to find out, but we can’t do that.

Because it’s a folk belief organization.

Martial artists cannot arbitrarily raid and overturn civilian organizations.

Only the government office can handle matters related to civilians.

If we make a mistake, the government could get involved, so we had to be careful.

Even though the Muyong Family found that the Blood Cult is connected to Hyeolyogyo, isn’t this exactly why they can’t act rashly right now?

“That said, we can’t just not go to other villages right now.”

Why is that?

“Because everyone must be struggling like the villages we’ve visited.”

We’ve seen and experienced it.

How could we not help?

“Therefore, even if there’s no significant gain, going to help them right now is the right thing to do. As the Orthodox Faction, as Namgung, this is something we cannot overlook.”

Everyone nodded.

That’s right.

We have to go.

When there are people who need help, how can we refuse?

The path pursued by the Orthodox Faction is practicing righteousness.

If we don’t practice that righteousness and chivalry at times like this, when will we ever practice it?

“Absolutely magnificent, Lady Namgung Sohye. Your overflowing chivalrous spirit is dazzling! Keu! I’m so excellent for forming a connection with such a person, and I’m so happy to be a Namgung.”

Namgung Cheon-gang stood up and clapped, praising Namgung Sohye for her determination to realize justice.

“I, I didn’t say it to receive praise. I just, since it’s natural, I only spoke my heart.”

At Namgung Cheon-gang’s genuine praise that came from his sincere heart without pretense, Namgung Sohye seemed embarrassed and blushed slightly.

“Our younger sister speaks well~”

“Excellent, Second Young Lady!”

“As expected of one of the Ten Beauties of the Martial Arts World, the First Flower of Anhui! Wheeeet!”

Praise upon praise was added.

Hosiu even whistled.

“….”

Clap clap clap!

Cheonying, who had appeared at some point, was also clapping beside them.

“Well….”

Namgung Sohye lowered her head further in embarrassment.

She didn’t say it to receive praise, but.

She felt good.

Hehe.

“Now then. Since we’re doing this, let’s do it more thoroughly and properly.”

Clap.

After the praise, Namgung Cheon-gang clapped his hands again and gathered everyone’s attention.

What does he mean by doing it more thoroughly?

I’m curious.

“Fortunately, the incident at Sami Village wasn’t completely without gain.”

The contact between the blacksmith and Hyeolyogyo before the blacksmith disappeared, as Hosiu had told them.

They learned that it was a temptation to refine blood stones.

“Refining new ore. This is an absolutely irresistible temptation for any blacksmith.”

That’s right.

For a blacksmith to ignore new ore would be like a cook seeing new cooking ingredients and saying ‘What’s this?’ and throwing them away.

It would be like a seamstress seeing Baekseol’s silk thread and saying, ‘Ah, it’s just spider web,’ and throwing it away.

“Whether the reason for burying blood stones in the ground to contaminate the earth veins is simply to corrupt animals, or to make people powerless to create sacrifices or something, we have no way of knowing!”

There is a way to find out.

What is it?

“They say you cannot obtain tiger cubs without entering the tiger’s den! We’ll put that into practice.”

It means you cannot get tiger cubs without entering the tiger’s lair.

“You mean to directly enter Hyeolyogyo to find out the cause of the current situation, Master!”

“Keu! As expected, excellent insight! Yes, that’s right. If pondering over what we don’t know won’t give us answers, we must enter the den of those who know the answers.”

Then, how?

“By letting them know that there’s a blacksmith who can’t resist the temptation of these blood stones, we’ll make them reveal their identity themselves.”

In other words.

“I’ll become the bait.”

“…!?”

A disciple of Mak Noya.

A master craftsman at 12 years old.

Surely those who are serious about kidnapping blacksmiths couldn’t resist such bait, right?

* * *

It was a brilliant move.

Namgung Cheon-gang’s desperate plan to become bait himself was recognized as such by anyone who heard it.

But was there really a need to drive himself into danger to draw out the enemy?

“We have to do it. These are guys who torment common people while hiding carefully among civilians, so how vicious must they be? Moreover, this incident has made it clear that they’re connected to Sima Waidao, so we must draw them out even more.”

So, he’s going to do it.

“Also, because only I can do it.”

Indeed, among the people gathered here, everyone except Namgung Cheon-gang was a warrior.

Since there was only one blacksmith, the desperate plan he thought of could certainly only be carried out by Namgung Cheon-gang.

‘Still, it’s not something one can readily agree to do.’

He explained his reasons, and while I understand his heart, not just anyone has the courage to step forward so readily.

Even those who know righteousness and chivalry would hesitate to enter an enemy camp alone, not knowing who might be there or what might happen.

‘As expected, Master is….’

Amazing.

‘He’s truly a virtuous person.’

Sanyue of Haomun.

Being in that position, he inevitably knew others better than anyone else.

You need the skill to understand people’s nature to make a living in intelligence for a long time.

‘Although, he sometimes makes unreasonable demands….’

No, he does that every time I see him.

So I feel wronged and resentful.

Come to think of it, is he really virtuous?

‘…Is he only evil to me!?’

No, why?

This is really unfair—

‘No, this isn’t what’s important right now.’

What’s important now is helping Master, who wants to use the influence of that virtue to catch the enemy.

As for my own matters….

‘I, I’ll have to talk seriously later and beg him to please treat me a little more kindly.’

Sister said the same thing.

to get along well with Master.

Not only does the power of the martial arts he learned not work, but he must have also seen such goodness.

Sister’s abilities are superior to what he possesses.

‘Well then, I should help.’

Master.

How?

“So, we need Hosiu-nim’s power.”

“Through Haowen, you want to spread Master’s rumors throughout all of Galbok?”

“Exactly!”

By spreading rumors.

Isn’t that Haowen’s specialty?

They can do it with their eyes closed.

Were they trying to get help from Namgung?

Is there any better help than Master Namgung Cheon-gang currently acting as bait and entering the tiger’s den?

There isn’t.

Let’s go with this!

“Leave it to me. I’ll add to the existing facts and spread rumors that he’s the best blacksmith sent by Namgung to solve the difficulties of Galbok’s common people! To the point where they won’t be able to resist kidnapping Master. Hehehe!”

“As expected, you were thinking of selling me out! Tsk, this is why you’re called Assassin!”

“…”

What rhythm am I supposed to follow, really…

* * *

Yukmi Village, Chilmi Village, Palmi Village, and then Gumi Village.

Namgung Cheon-gang and his party did the same as they had done in Sammi Village, Imi Village, Sami Village, and Omichon.

They distributed beginner ginseng chicken soup and cultivated the land with Jeongwha Baekryeon Jeonggang-ri.

They dug up and collected blood demon stones for storage.

Afterwards, they let Namgung’s work songs echo through the sky, finishing with pot lid pork barbecue.

“Please go safely!”

“You are the benefactors of our village!”

“Next time you come, we’ll show you completely purified land!”

So, all the village people came out and shed tears.

It was natural for them to bow their heads and feel sad about parting with Namgung Cheon-gang’s party.

“Take care! I’ll come again next time!”

In each village, the farmland seemed contaminated, and blood demon stones seemed to be embedded.

Only the contaminated animals were diverse.

Cows, pigs, chickens, dogs, wild beasts, and so on.

‘It was fortunate there were no rats. Phew.’

Thinking about Namman’s situation, rats give me another headache.

‘Now the remaining place is Ilmi Village?’

They moved diligently.

While Namgung Cheon-gang and his party were turning four villages upside down to make them overflow with vitality, Hosiu also worked hard.

“Flying report! Flying report!”

Through Haowen disciples in every village of Galbok, he spread word of Namgung Cheon-gang’s good deeds.

“What’s this? Who put a letter in my pocket?”

“Huh? Oh my. All this really happened!?”

Through pickpocket children, he slipped letters describing good deeds into sleeves.

“Do you know, my lord?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Ah, well. I’m talking about how a blacksmith who performed great good deeds appeared in every village that Galbok’s old nine-tailed fox visited.”

“Oh?”

At every inn, he told guests stories of abundant good deeds along with food.

“Ah, so—”

“Oh my, such a thing happened?”

“I haven’t even said anything yet?”

He met people on every street, warmly sharing the stories.

Throughout the cities of Galbok, through Haowen’s power, the good deeds of Namgung Cheon-gang and his party spread far and wide.

So, by the time Namgung Cheon-gang arrived at Ilmi Village.

There was almost no one in Galbok who didn’t know about Namgung Cheon-gang’s work.

With such bait thrown, catching fish was.

“Nice to meet you, Cheongang-nim. I’ve come from Hyeolyogyo to deliver good words.”

Like a scripted scenario.

Flap flap.

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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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