He Became the Genius Blacksmith of the Namgung Family - Chapter 140
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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 140
Episode 140
That day was not long after he had restored the vitality of the people of Ilmi Village.
As he had done in other villages, Namgung Cheon-gang was refining Jeongwha Baekryeon Jeonggang-ri at the forge of a blacksmith who had disappeared from Ilmi Village.
Clang clang.
And just as he was about to make around 200 pieces, ‘they’ came to find him.
“Greetings, Master Cheongang. We have come from Hyeolyogyo to deliver good news.”
A ‘person’ wearing red robes with only their eyes visible.
His eyes were first drawn to the outfit that covered the entire body as if performing a ritual, then his ears turned to the respectfully spoken words.
‘I shouldn’t say this, but somehow their appearance is rather…’
Like a cult.
‘Wasn’t Hyeolyogyo originally called Hoyogyo, a folk belief organization in this region?’
But what’s with this.
If he saw this in his previous life, he would have delivered the triple combo of “not buying, not selling, not listening” and gone on his way.
‘Come to think of it, since this is the martial arts world, even if it seems like a cult, people would believe it first.’
It’s a world where making a living is even harder than in his previous life.
If you gently touch and comfort those tender hearts, wouldn’t they believe even in a religion that worships noodles?
Rather, it would be even more likely to flourish.
‘Anyway, since the fish has taken the bait.’
He had to play along.
And also check whether it was certain or not.
“Ah, yes. Nice to meet you. But, do you know me?”
So, Namgung Cheon-gang acted like he knew nothing, like a pure blacksmith with good skills who had just come up from the countryside.
“Ah, it’s nothing special. Recently, rumors have been spreading about Master Cheongang, a truthful and virtuous blacksmith, so we were curious about what kind of person you were and came to find you. I heard that you even received education from the venerable Mak Noya, who spread techniques throughout the martial arts world. Looking at you like this, your eyes are truly kind and your soul appears very pure. Hahaha!”
“Ah, I see. By any chance, aren’t you mistaking me for someone else?”
“Who might you be referring to?”
“Well, there’s also a blacksmith named Namgung Cheon-gang at the Namgung Family. I was wondering if you might have confused me with that person.”
“Ah. I do hear about him occasionally. The one who became a master craftsman at 12 and became Mak Noya’s disciple, you mean. But wouldn’t such a person have no reason to be here?”
“You mean he would be doing more important work?”
“Wouldn’t that be the case? I don’t think he would need to come all the way to Galbok to make farming tools.”
“Hmm, hmm. Well, that’s true.”
Namgung Cheon-gang felt somehow pleased that he seemed to be perceived as a famous and cool person.
“Besides, I heard that he’s seven feet tall (210cm) and as muscular as the Hebei Peng Family. But you’re completely different, aren’t you? Hahaha!”
The pleasant feeling disappeared.
“…”
What?
Seven feet tall with Hebei Peng Family muscles?
‘What on earth does this person think Namgung Cheon-gang is!’
Someone who knows he’s Master’s disciple and knows he became a master-level blacksmith at 12, why does he know his personal information so terribly wrong?
Just looking at what happened in Dongling County and Namman, wouldn’t it be enough to know who he is!
‘Or there’s also Ungongwha!’
The name Namgung Cheon-gang that spread in Galbok is an alias.
Of course, he only removed Namgung, but if you look for the name Cheongang, there’s about one in a thousand.
They can only think of him as a blacksmith with the name Cheongang.
However.
‘Even if the name Namgung was attached, they wouldn’t have a clue!’
He was worried that Hyeolyogyo might recognize him because what he had done was too great and too famous.
He was worried about what would happen if everything went wrong.
It’s frustrating that it was just groundless worry.
Who spread such rumors?
Was it Master Hosiu?
This is why he’s called Assassin!
‘Right, right. Thinking about the plan, this couldn’t be better!’
Not being famous, personal information not being known as much as expected.
He feels relieved that this matter will go well.
‘…’
Strangely so.
“That, that’s true. Right, Namgung Cheon-gang is seven feet tall and muscular. Hahaha… Since the names are similar, I thought you might get confused.”
“Hahaha. What would there be to confuse? There’s absolutely no chance of that. Besides, there are also rumors that Namgung Cheon-gang has very pale skin because he only works within the Namgung Family. But Master Cheongang, you’re properly tanned like a blacksmith, aren’t you? You look just like a natural-born blacksmith. Hahahaha!”
“Ah, ha, hahaha… That’s right. Ha, hahaha.”
The compliment is sad.
“So, what’s the reason you came to find me?”
“Ah right. I talked too much. Let me get to the point. As I mentioned earlier, I came to deliver good news. But it’s not just any ordinary news.”
“Then what is it?”
“It’s this.”
The man in red robes covering his entire body briefly put his hand into his chest and took something out.
An ore stained with the color of blood.
It was a Blood Essence Stone.
Namgung Cheon-gang pretended not to know while knowing, and opened his eyes wide.
“Th-this is!?”
“Do you know what it is?”
“N-no. I was just surprised because it’s an unfamiliar ore. Huh, to think such an ore existed…”
“Hehehe. As expected of someone outstanding enough to perform good deeds as the rumors say, you can tell that the ore I showed you is different from existing ores.”
“Is, is this the message you wanted to deliver?”
“Yes. That’s right. This is a very rare ore that our Hyeolyogyo recently discovered. How do you find it? Do you like it? Don’t you want to try refining new items with this?”
The man’s visible eyes shine wickedly and red.
Red energy also rose like a mirage from the Blood Essence Stone.
And it also faintly rose from all directions, slowly enveloping Namgung Cheon-gang.
Namgung Cheon-gang shows a dreamy gaze as if intoxicated.
“…Yes, yes. I want to refine, I want to refine it. Very properly.”
“Hehe. I knew you would say that. Then, around midnight tonight. I’ll come back to this place, so please wait for me.”
“You’re, you’re not giving it to me now?”
“Yes. This is just for showing you, and there’s a proper ore separately.”
“Ah! So you’re bringing that at midnight!”
“That’s right. It’s a matter of giving a treasure only for our Master Cheongang. Therefore, no one else should come, and only Master Cheongang should come. Do you understand?”
The wicked red eyes and energy become even stronger.
Namgung Cheon-gang answered with even more dreamy eyes and nodded his head.
“Yes, yes. Of course. I’ll wait at midnight.”
Of course, there’s nothing wrong at all.
Just pretending to fall for the opponent’s trick.
He’s only acting.
And thanks to that, he clearly knew that the fish that took the bait was the culprit.
Wicked energy.
No matter what anyone said, it was blood energy.
“Hehehe. Then I’ll see you at midnight. Oh, the fact that you met with me today is something no one knows.”
“Yes. I’ll see you at midnight. Yes. No one will know who came by.”
And so time passed and midnight arrived.
That same man from Hyeolyogyo in red robes who had shown wicked eyes appeared at the forge again.
Naturally, Namgung Cheon-gang was also waiting.
“Hehe. You’re here as expected.”
A voice full of confidence, as if asking where he could possibly go.
Hearing that voice, Namgung Cheon-gang laughed cheerfully.
“Of course, you were here.”
“Hm?”
What?
His vocabulary sounds strange?
“Why do you ask?”
“No, it’s nothing. Well then, are you ready to refine the new ore?”
“Of course. Ah, but there’s one thing I need to do first, if that’s alright?”
“Something to do? What kind of work will you be doing?”
“It’s nothing much. I just wanted to give you this.”
“…??”
Something to give?
What could that be?
The man was puzzled since this was the first time he’d experienced such a thing while working.
Just as he was wondering if they should just get to work.
Rustle rustle.
Namgung Cheon-gang was already rummaging through his front pocket.
“It was here somewhere. Where is it? Ah, found it! This is it!”
And then his hand emerged from his front pocket again.
There was nothing there.
Instead, only his middle finger was raised.
‘What?’
He didn’t understand what it meant.
However, it felt quite unpleasant.
It was as if he’d seen a vulgar curse expressed through action.
So the Blood Cult follower unconsciously raised his voice.
“What the hell are you doing!”
“What do you mean, bastard. I’m asking how your mother is doing.”
“What?”
It didn’t take long for him to realize it was a curse after wondering what he meant.
His eyes turned fierce.
Just before the word “How dare you” could burst out.
“Everyone attack!!!”
Namgung Cheon-gang was one step faster.
After his resounding shout.
Crash!
Namgung Sohye, who had been hiding in the ceiling, attacked the Blood Cult follower, and the Jeonggeom Dan attacked the other ‘ones’ who had been hiding in the ceiling.
* * *
Crash!
The forge door shattered as a man in red robes burst out.
It was the Blood Cult follower who had handed over the Blood Stone, saying he had good words for Namgung Cheon-gang.
“Ugh, damn it!”
He let out a faint groan as he turned around to flee.
However, he couldn’t get far.
Swoosh!
Because of Namgung Sohye who appeared with the sound of cutting through the wind.
Her sword aimed at the neck of the man in red robes.
Cold, sunken eyes glared at the man.
Ready to cut him down with a single stroke if he made any foolish moves.
“….”
The man in red robes silently raised both hands.
Crash!
“Cough!”
“Ugh!”
At the same time, the forge’s roof collapsed.
Then five assassins in red stealth clothing burst out and fell down.
Thud.
Behind them, five men and women in blue martial robes landed gracefully in front of the fallen assassins.
It was the Namgung Jeonggeom Dan.
Clang.
They pointed their swords at all the fallen assassins to prevent them from moving.
Creak.
Pushing aside the debris of the broken door, Namgung Cheon-gang finally revealed himself.
With the enlarged Muktan Hwalin Daesoo casually slung over his shoulder.
“Hehehe.”
His mouth corners turned up wide.
Eyes curved like a crescent moon.
Frivolous laughter spilling out.
“Peep peep peep!”
Baekseol who followed behind was similar.
Laughing frivolously, standing on one leg, swaggering out while holding the Baekseol-exclusive hammer that Namgung Cheon-gang had made for her.
The Namgung Jeonggeom Dan watching.
‘He looks like a villain.’
‘Isn’t he a villain?’
‘Were we villains?’
They all thought the same thing about Namgung Cheon-gang’s laughter and behavior, feeling bewildered.
Still, they didn’t forget their duty.
They pointed their swords even closer to the necks of the subdued assassins so they couldn’t move.
They glared very fiercely at the subdued assassins.
These enemies were capable of launching surprise attacks at the slightest opportunity, so they couldn’t let their guard down.
“Don’t move—”
So they were about to say don’t move, don’t even twitch a finger.
“Don’t move, everyone. Don’t even twitch a finger. Huh? It would be good to breathe moderately too, right? Try any funny business? That very day, all your limbs will just fly off, okay? Hehehe!”
Namgung Cheon-gang beat them to it.
‘Did we point our swords at the wrong person?’
‘Is this right?’
How bad must it be for them to think such thoughts?
Regardless.
Namgung Cheon-gang stood tall in front of the man that Namgung Sohye had subdued.
He bent his swaggering waist deeply.
And thrust his face forward.
“Oh my, what should we do about this? You came to deliver good words, but got caught so nicely? Hehehe!”
His frivolous laughter and villain-like expression became even more pronounced.
Namgung Sohye, who was watching, unconsciously flinched.
Really, how can he look so much like a villain?
“You, you bastard, are you mocking me!”
Even from the perspective of someone who had been watching for a long time, someone who might or might not have feelings, it looked that way, so how must it feel for the one experiencing it?
His insides were boiling with rage.
Unable to contain his boiling anger, he shouted out like that, but,
“Humiliation? Huuuumiliaaation? What humiliation! For a bad guy like you, even humiliation is a luxury, you fooool!”
Namgung Cheon-gang burst into anger, then immediately slapped his cheek.
Slap.
Of course, not hard.
Very lightly.
“!?”
A sudden unexpected attack.
And what’s more, it was like being tapped by a cat’s paw, which was absurd.
But this made him even angrier.
If you’re going to hit, hit properly – what kind of behavior is this!
“Y-You! Pathetic thing! You’re acting cocky because you trust your companions too much!”
“Why, what? Then you should act cocky with trustworthy people too! Your hidden allies are so pathetically weak that things turned out this way, so why blame me!”
Slap.
“!!?”
“Annoying, isn’t it? Makes you angry, doesn’t it?”
Slap.
“But you can’t do anything, can you? You’re completely helpless, aren’t you? Kuku-roping-pong, aren’t you!”
Slap, slap.
‘Ah, ah.’
‘Ugh, I can’t watch this.’
‘If I were in that situation, I’d bite my tongue and die.’
‘I’m not looking.’
The Namgung Jeonggeom Dan fixed their eyes even more on the subdued assassins.
Namgung Sohye squeezed her eyes shut.
“Kraaaah! Kreooooh! Krheoooh!”
An unexpected mental attack.
This was the first time in his life experiencing such humiliation.
He didn’t know what was being said, but his blood pressure shot up.
The Blood Cult follower foamed at the mouth.
Why the hell was this bastard doing this shit to him!
“Want to know?”
The devil’s temptation.
The Blood Cult follower unconsciously nodded his head.
Namgung Cheon-gang brought his face close to the man’s ear.
“I’m not going to tell you though? Pufufup.”
Snap.
Something snapping could be heard in the man’s head.
“Attaaaack! That bastard must dieeeee!”
Exploding blood energy.
A frenzied scream.
The ‘assassins’ who had been waiting on all sides appeared and attacked.
Their number was roughly 30!
“Now!”
Namgung Cheon-gang erased his frivolous villain act and shouted as well.
Simultaneously, two lightning bolts fell from the sky onto the 30 assassins.
Cheonying and Namgung Sua.
They had been hiding at Namgung Cheon-gang’s request, appearing to subdue the enemy’s additional forces.
* * *
Namgung Cheon-gang had become a supreme master.
However, he didn’t know how to use sound transmission.
Because he had never learned it.
Still, since there were only hundred-strike masters around, he learned it quickly.
[When I give the signal, please appear then. Like heroes.]
So he was able to use sound transmission with Namgung Sua and Cheonying.
Namgung Cheon-gang could identify opponents with his ability called Insight.
He thought it was an ability for proper equipment crafting, but it caught hidden people like a ghost.
Because of this, when the Blood Cult person approached him, he could confirm that assassins were hiding nearby.
‘Cultists spewing blood energy. Anyone can see they’re sinister, right? Plus they’re connected to the Blood Cult.’
So he thought there must be something.
Sure enough.
It matched perfectly.
There were more lying in ambush.
Therefore, he could capture the Blood Cult follower he met again at midnight and completely annihilate all the hidden assassins.
In other words,
“T-This can’t be, acting frivolous, pretending to be a villain, making me angry – it was all a scheme to wipe us out completely!”
“That’s right! It was all an operation to capture you and quickly raid your main base!”
“Excellent, Master Namgung Cheon-gang.”
“Amazing. It was really flawless, wasn’t it?”
“You acted like a villain so well that I forgot it was an operation.”
Namgung Sohye and the Namgung Jeonggeom Dan also knew about this complete annihilation plan.
Of course, because Namgung Cheon-gang had told them.
After meeting the Blood Cult follower, there was plenty of time until midnight – what couldn’t he tell them?
“Krgh! Just who are you people to scheme such a thing!”
Now with his energy blocked, bound and even forced to kneel, the Blood Cult follower shouted in frustration.
Even if he didn’t know the Namgung Jeonggeom Dan, just looking at Namgung Sohye and Namgung Jia, he could tell who they were.
Was he blind?
No.
Everyone except Namgung Cheon-gang was wearing blue masks, so their identities were concealed.
It was understandable that he couldn’t recognize them.
“Huhuhuh. If you want to know who we are, it’s only human nature to tell you. I am Namgung Cheon-gang!”
“What!? Namgung Cheon-gang!? T-Then, those people are!”
“That’s right! What you’re thinking is correct. Everyone, please remove your masks!”
Swish! Swish!
At Namgung Cheon-gang’s shout, the group removed their masks.
Only then were their faces revealed.
The Blood Cult follower’s eyes widened enormously.
“A-Anhui’s First Flower! Changcheon Sword Ghost! This can’t be! They were people of the Namgung Family!”
“That’s right! We are the justice of Namgung, the Namgung Family!”
Namgung Cheon-gang shouted proudly.
“H-How is Namgung here!”
“What do you mean how? We came to rescue the kidnapped blacksmith, purify the polluted land, and help the Muyong!”
“Ah, ah.”
He fell into despair.
If he had known, he would have dealt with it somehow.
Because he couldn’t know, he couldn’t deal with it.
As for why he couldn’t know.
‘Master Hosiu said so.’
There were words Hosiu had told them before briefly parting with Namgung Cheon-gang’s group at Sami Village.
‘Right now, Galbok is almost under the control of the Muyong Family and Beggar’s Sect. So the Blood Cult followers can’t operate properly, and there’s severe information disconnection.’
‘Therefore, unless they see directly with their eyes, they won’t know that Namgung’s Second Young Lady and Third Young Lady are here. If you keep this in mind and proceed with your work, it will be much easier.’
And precisely, Hosiu’s words hit the mark.
The Blood Cult follower caught today truly didn’t know that Namgung had come.
‘In other words, it was perfect for digging a trap to subdue the opponent.’
Acting arrogant and mimicking a villain?
It was to draw out the hidden accomplices.
A strategy to make the opponent angry and cause their own downfall.
A scheme prepared because he couldn’t reveal through insight that assassins were hiding everywhere!
Of course, in the case of Namgung Jia and Cheonying, they could find and eliminate the assassins on their own.
The first encounter didn’t have dozens of assassins hiding like this time.
If they had been there from the beginning, they would have been subdued and finished long ago.
‘By making Namgung Jia and Cheonying hide and showing them being subdued in one blow, I also broke the enemy’s morale, achieving two birds with one stone. Heh. Even I think it’s like a well-crafted drama script!’
Of course, it’s not all over yet.
Now the most important part remains.
The reason for devising all these schemes.
“Now, shall we have a serious conversation?”
“Wh-what do you mean!”
“The Blacksmith’s kidnapping, Hyeolyogyo’s purpose, the collusive relationship with the Blood Humans, the reason for using Sima Waidao’s power to contaminate the earth veins. Will you tell me each one?”
“Keke. Do you think I would tell you that? Though I may be captured like this, I cannot betray our Hyeolyogyo! It would be better to kill me!”
“Shall I give you that mental attack from earlier all night long?”
“!?”
The Blood Cult follower still wore clothing that only revealed his eyes.
Yet even so, you could see him turn pale at Namgung Cheon-gang’s previous statement.
Dizzy.
However, evil though he may be, his resolve seemed firm.
The man bit his lips like that.
“…Do, do whatever you want. I will never talk. No, you won’t be able to get anything from me. Why? Because— Ugh!”
“That’s enough.”
Instantly Namgung Jia swiftly approached and shoved her sword sheath into the masked man’s mouth.
Namgung Cheon-gang was startled by the quite violent action and looked at Namgung Jia.
“I prevented him from biting his tongue, Younger Brother. Originally, villains with firm resolve usually commit suicide at times like this. And from here, will you leave it to me? I feel like I’m relying on my younger brother too much, so it doesn’t look good for me as an older sister?”
Namgung Jia spoke with a sensual yet playful smile.
But her smile didn’t seem like just a smile.
Something that looked dangerous.
A murderous aura could also be felt.
Gulp.
He involuntarily swallowed dry saliva.
Moreover, seeing that she had already grabbed the opponent’s neck, it seemed like she was going to do something regardless of whether she heard an answer.
‘If I say no, I feel like she’ll grab my neck too…’
Somehow he felt that way.
Don’t you know that feeling?
When the back of your neck gets chilly.
Something like an inexplicable energy passing through and making you get goosebumps.
Namgung Cheon-gang was feeling exactly that right now.
If there was no answer, would his neck be grabbed immediately?
Namgung Cheon-gang nodded his head vigorously.
“Of, of course. Sister. You can do whatever you want as you wish!”
“Thank you. Then shall we go?”
Waving her hand gently.
Namgung Jia dragging the Blood Cult follower by the neck.
“Ah.”
Then, as if something occurred to her.
She stopped abruptly and turned around.
Her playful smile had grown deeper.
“My younger brother. Tone down that appearance you showed for interrogation a little. Got it?”
Ah.
I see.
Sister Namgung Jia was also upset.
I think I know why the back of my neck got chilly.
“Yes. I’ll tone it down. No, I’ll restrain myself as much as possible!”
“Good younger brother. Then see you later~”
Like that, Namgung Jia disappeared into the darkness.
Afterward,
Aaaaaaaah!
A pitiful scream like a chicken getting its neck wrung pierced through the darkness.
“…”
Namgung Cheon-gang, who had been quietly listening, broke out in cold sweat.
“…Peep.”
Baekseol, who had come out swaggering together, politely folded both wings and placed them on her belly.
Moments later.
“Please tell me anything. I will explain everything I know!”
The Blood Cult follower who had been dragged away shouted with his mask removed, kneeling politely with his eyes sparkling intelligently.
“Excellent. Then I’ll ask kindly.”
Namgung Cheon-gang, who had already become polite, nodded properly and began to speak kindly to ask questions.
“Hmm. Now you finally look like proper people.”
Only now did Namgung Jia’s smile brighten.
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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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