He Became the Genius Blacksmith of the Namgung Family - Chapter 14

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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 14

Episode 14

Genuine laughter bursting forth with pure joy.

Namgung Cheon-gang cautiously lifted his head to look.

His eyes took in the sight of a man sitting on a chair prepared in the blacksmith’s forge, slapping his knees with ‘thwack thwack’ sounds as he burst into laughter.

A man who had just reached his thirties, naturally exuding an elegant and dignified charm.

Namgung Cheon.

The master of the Namgung Family.

Meeting the clear eyes of Namgung Cheon-gang who was peeking up at him, Namgung Cheon slowly stopped laughing and spoke in a gentle voice.

“Just joking, just joking. My, what an interesting child with such amusing reactions. Hahaha!”

“Ah, ahahaha.”

Namgung Cheon-gang laughed awkwardly.

Family head.

Do you know the saying about a frog dying when hit by a stone thrown out of boredom?

That frog is me.

I was really startled.

It’s not just anyone, but the family head saying this – how could I think it was a joke?

Not being able to express my surging emotions is an eternal regret.

“I see you have the expression of wanting to hit me at least once.”

“Absolutely not, sir!”

Namgung Cheon-gang prostrated himself flat again.

‘Damn it! The family head has learned mind reading too!’

He was reminded of someone who made grenades out of pine cones.

“Hehehe. This is also a joke.”

“…”

Ah.

Why won’t my heart stop beating right now?

“I see that this old man has startled a young person’s heart countless times. My, I’m sorry.”

“…No, family head. If I was able to bring you joy, that alone is enough to satisfy me.”

“Hoho. Thank you for thinking that way. Lately, I’ve been hearing the name Namgung Cheon-gang quite often. Of course, it’s a name I heard before too, so I remember it.”

A genius who became a night forger at Cheongeumjeong at age 12, something even renowned blacksmiths find difficult to achieve.

A blacksmith whose every creation is of superior quality.

A young man who, now at 18, created new Baekryeonjeonggang and amazed ‘Mak Noya’.

“The Vice Captain of the Namgung Inspection Unit told me this. A blacksmith from the direct line who possesses remarkably pure internal energy. Moreover, his fire energy has been converted into internal energy?”

“…Those rumors are too exaggerated. I’m not a genius, I just worked a little harder than others. Besides, since I learned the Namgung Family’s internal energy cultivation method, obtaining pure internal energy is natural, and among Cheongeumjeong’s blacksmiths, there must be others who can convert fire energy into internal energy.”

Was the Vice Captain of the Namgung Inspection Unit’s mouth always this loose?

Is it really okay to report the lies I told back then directly to the family head like this!

That Vice Captain of the Namgung Inspection Unit with a mouth as light as a feather is truly resentful!

‘…Come to think of it. If it’s the Namgung Inspection Unit, they would have to report to the family head, right!?’

It wasn’t that his mouth was light as a feather, but that he was faithful to his duties.

“Hoho. You’re even modest. Looking at you like this, your build seems quite good too.”

“All of this was given to me by my parents. I’m grateful to my parents who gave me such talent, and I’m simply thankful to the family head who recognized me, only worrying whether I might have disappointed your eyes.”

“You speak well too. But don’t speak too humbly. As they say, excess is worse than deficiency. Sometimes it’s fine to praise yourself when the situation calls for it.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“Good, good. You’re a clever child, so you must have fully understood this old man’s words.”

Creak.

Namgung Cheon rose from his seat.

“Stand up.”

Namgung Cheon-gang hurriedly got to his feet.

Then he respectfully clasped his hands together and bowed his head deeply.

“Raise your head too. How can a man of the Namgung Family keep his head bowed so low?”

Snap.

Good response.

As if satisfied with that vigorous head-raising gesture.

Namgung Cheon’s eyes curved gently.

“You’re handsome, boy.”

“I seem handsome because Namgung Family blood flows through me.”

“What? Hahaha. This boy, really. You truly speak well.”

Namgung Cheon laughed heartily again, then walked over lightly and patted Namgung Cheon-gang’s shoulder.

“Let me say this again, I simply came because I’ve long heard praise for Cheongeumjeong’s blacksmith and was curious after the Vice Captain of the Namgung Inspection Unit’s praise – I couldn’t contain my curiosity. It’s this old man’s inquisitiveness. Ah, and. Since you gifted me five famous swords recently, I also came to express my gratitude.”

“I…I’m just relieved if I didn’t disappoint you, family head.”

“Disappoint? Quite the opposite. Learning that the rumors fell short of reality puts me in a good mood. You’re certainly remarkable. I have high expectations for the future. This old man is simply delighted that the Namgung Family’s future is bright.”

“Just being able to bring joy to the family head’s heart makes me feel like I’ve truly fulfilled my duty.”

“Hahaha. This boy, really.”

Pat pat.

“Well then. Now this old man will take his leave. I cannot steal time from a busy young person.”

“Your visit alone is an honor for me, family head. Therefore, please feel free to visit anytime.”

Of course, his true feelings were different.

‘Oh, please. Just focus on the direct line and don’t come here. It shortens my lifespan.’

I want to live long.

I want to see my sons and daughters, and I want to give my parents grandchildren and a daughter-in-law.

“Haha. Thank you for saying that. Next time, let’s have a cup of tea together.”

“If you would invite me, it would be an honor for the family.”

Namgung Cheon-gang bent his waist in half.

A greeting containing both sincere honor and the wish for him to leave quickly.

As if Namgung Cheon understood all the hidden meaning.

He smiled mysteriously, passed by Namgung Cheon-gang, and walked out through the forge’s door.

However, just before completely leaving.

“Ah, come to think of it, there’s one thing I forgot.”

Namgung Cheon continued speaking without turning around.

“It’s nothing major. But somehow, I can sense the power of the ‘Thunder Emperor Divine Art’ from a branch family member’s body. I can’t seem to take another step without resolving this curiosity.”

“…!?”

“Now, may I go find what I forgot?”

‘Ah. Today was my memorial day.’

Well damn, this is screwed.

* * *

‘He’s gone, right?’

Namgung Cheon-gang swallowed dry saliva as he stared at the main gate.

No one was there.

Wondering if he might come back in, he became like a faithful wife’s stone, waiting endlessly.

Even as time passed, he didn’t return.

Certainly, truly, he had left.

The master of the Namgung Family!

“Whooooo! I thought I was going to die.”

A deep, deep sigh of relief came out naturally.

I thought I was going to die from the tension.

“What kind of surprise event is this?”

And it’s not even an ordinary event.

A heart-stopping, liver-dropping, absolutely spine-chilling event.

‘Instead of this kind of thing, give me double experience, double items. Not an event where the game company chairman appears asking “Let’s see if anyone’s using hacks here” for inspection!’

Really, when I was caught having learned the Thunder Emperor Divine Art, my heart hurt so much.

Fortunately, my mind worked quickly at that moment and I cleverly overcame the serious crisis.

‘I’m really glad I racked my brain for that soul-filled lie earlier.’

That same brain worked tirelessly again to help me escape the crisis.

Thank you, Master Pyeong.

You truly are the greatest gambler.

“Phew… Even though it’s better than before, my heart is still pounding. This seems like it’ll last a while?”

Since my excitement reached its peak, even though it’s subsided, there seems to be some energy left.

“There’s one good thing for times like this.”

Work.

If I focus while hammering away, my excited heart will calm down too.

‘Somehow, it seems like the blood of my past life as a Korean hasn’t disappeared, which is strange…’

What can I do.

I have to accept it.

Namgung Cheon-gang picked up his hammer and refined ore to calm his excited heart.

Clang! Clang! Claaang!

* * *

Clang! Clang! Claaang!

The clear sound of hammering reached Namgung Cheon’s ears as he walked down the well-maintained path.

Since Cheongeumjeong was behind him, the pure hammering sounds of the master-level blacksmiths would never cease.

However, the hammering sound Namgung Cheon was hearing wasn’t coming from all of Cheongeumjeong.

It was a sound coming from only one place.

That place he had just left.

A place where particularly clear sounds could be heard, more than anywhere else.

“Hey, you rascal. I can hear your sighing.”

Despite his grumbling words, a faint smile crossed Namgung Cheon’s face.

“What an interesting child indeed.”

The owner of this hammering sound.

And the owner of the sighing sound.

Just a moment ago.

When he thought of that young blacksmith from Cheongeumjeong who had earnestly conversed with him, he couldn’t help but smile.

“When I asked because I felt the energy of the Thunder Emperor Divine Art, he would say such things. Hahaha.”

Suddenly, he seemed to see the face of the Cheongeumjeong craftsman he had just observed.

The face of that child who immediately opened his mouth when asked how the energy of the Thunder Emperor Divine Art could be felt.

“Let’s see, what did he say.”

Ah.

Right.

He said this.

‘The Thunder Emperor Divine Art, you say? I am merely a blacksmith of Cheongeumjeong, and a branch family member at that. Without the family head’s permission, how could I learn the Namgung Family’s divine art that even direct descendants cannot learn?’

Then when asked how he possessed the energy that one who learned the Thunder Emperor Divine Art would have.

‘Well, the other thing isn’t much. I am a blacksmith, am I not? So while I was pondering if there was a way to develop further as a blacksmith, ah, that’s it! Let’s increase the heat! Such an idea, no, such a good thought suddenly came to me.’

And then?

‘While thinking about what could be stronger than the forge’s fire, I suddenly remembered the thunder I saw on that stormy night a few days ago. The moment I thought of it, as if possessed by something, I lit the furnace and swung my hammer like mad, and at some point, I began to feel a heat fiercer than usual.’

‘That is the energy you currently possess?’

‘Yes. That’s right. Thanks to this, I was able to modify Baekryeonjeonggang and make it a little faster than others. So, absolutely!’

‘It has no connection to the Thunder Emperor Divine Art?’

‘That’s right, Family Head. As I already told the Vice-Captain of the Inspection Team, isn’t my body one that accumulates internal energy from the forge’s heat? Perhaps that internal energy, added to my enlightenment, made the heat flow like thunder.’

‘To summarize, it was a coincidence?’

‘Yes, yes. That’s right. This is, well, what they call in the Martial Arts World…’

“All paths lead to one, he said.”

No matter how many paths there are, in the end they all lead to one path.

Namgung Cheon quietly recited the meaning of “all paths lead to one” and chuckled.

“That rascal really. He’s damn good at making excuses. Or is he?”

Namgung Cheon said while looking at the sky.

Only clouds hung in the clear sky.

It seemed as if he threw out the question hoping the clouds would answer.

“…He was certainly a child with a quick mind. Family Head.”

Strangely, an answer came from the sky.

The space between the cloud-filled sky and Namgung Cheon’s gaze wavered for a moment.

Then, something dropped down with a thud.

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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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