He Became the Genius Blacksmith of the Namgung Family - Chapter 18

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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 18

Episode 18

“The essence of a blacksmith…”

Mak Noya mulled over Namgung Cheon-gang’s words.

“Hehe. That boy. He certainly has a way with words.”

If he fell into water, his mouth would float well.

Hehe.

It wasn’t sarcasm.

It was just the cantankerous admiration of an old blacksmith watching a young blacksmith’s excellent mindset.

“He’s different from those kids blinded by the exam. Hehe. Well, he was a child with different potential from the start.”

At 10, didn’t he run out of Namgung Baekryeon Hall saying he wanted to be a blacksmith!

Then at 12, didn’t he become a master blacksmith of Cheongeumjeong!

Each item he makes is superior to most skilled blacksmiths!

And now he’s even created a new steel called Shinbaekryeonjeonggang!

Come to think of it, haven’t there been several people whose skills and talents improved after using items he made these past few months?

Jaeneungpilmyeong Shinpumeukju .

A talented blacksmith creates masterpieces, and a divine blacksmith helps even the item’s owner develop.

An oral tradition and folk belief that anyone who practices blacksmithing comes to know.

Since he himself had experienced this, it couldn’t be dismissed as mere tradition or superstition.

“I thought such people had disappeared and would be hard to see in my generation, but hehe.”

He had been waiting while checking on how all the Cheongeumjeong blacksmiths were doing through Gungsang-i.

Who would have known such joy would arise.

“Hehehe. This is why living long is enjoyable. Who would have known a kid I really like would finally appear.”

It was even better because it was the kid he had been watching.

Now there was only one thing to anticipate.

What would that child create for the exam?

Though he didn’t know for sure, the child would surely make something delightful to the eyes and heart.

“Word will soon spread that the child is participating.”

If you were to pick the person most Cheongeumjeong blacksmiths had been wary of, Mak Noya could say without hesitation it was Namgung Cheon-gang.

His origins as a blacksmith had been extraordinary from the start.

However, just a few days ago, hadn’t the Cheongeumjeong blacksmiths’ wariness eased when he said he wouldn’t participate in the Direct Lineage Promotion Exam?

But now he changed his mind again and decided to participate?

Originally, participating was his own decision, so there was nothing wrong with changing his mind, but.

“Since he said he wouldn’t do it, then said he would, those lacking fellows will become even more on edge.”

Isn’t that how people naturally are?

When someone who wasn’t going to do something suddenly starts, they become more wary than of others.

“What can you do? It’s all something you brought upon yourself, so you must accept it gracefully. Hehe.”

However…

‘Considering that child’s cunning personality, I feel like he already knows?’

A child who had shown not a single difficulty when dealing with him from their first meeting.

The social skills to read the atmosphere and bow down readily.

That personality that went beyond cunning to being completely shameless.

‘I see.’

Mak Noya thought so.

“I expected interference to come, but isn’t this a bit too much? These old men, is it right for adults to do this to an 18-year-old boy!?”

As expected, Namgung Cheon-gang knew interference would come.

Of course, he was getting heated because the interference was beyond what he had imagined.

* * *

A week had already passed since the meeting with Mak Noya, the owner of Cheongeumjeong.

In those two days, there had been a big change in Namgung Cheon-gang’s daily routine.

Studying for the Direct Lineage Promotion Exam had been added.

That said, nothing had changed from his existing routine—

Ah, there was one thing.

Restaurant exploration.

He had expected the time would be reduced, but…

Clang! Clang! Clang!

“I never thought I wouldn’t be able to go at all!”

Clang! Claang!

My only pleasure.

The hope of my life.

Restaurant exploration!

The anger at being completely unable to do that became rough hammering toward the ingot he was refining.

“I expected interference to come, but isn’t this a bit too much? These old men, is it right for adults to do this to an 18-year-old boy!?”

Clang! Clang!

“Why are the Cheongeumjeong blacksmiths so narrow-minded!!”

Claang!

That’s right!

The reason Namgung Cheon-gang couldn’t even go restaurant exploring.

The reason the restaurant exploration impossibility that should have come only after becoming direct lineage was moved up so much!

It was because of countless interference from fellow Cheongeumjeong blacksmiths!

Of course, it wasn’t interference through physical contact.

Physical interference against Namgung Cheon-gang was impossible to begin with.

Though Namgung Cheon-gang’s family was a branch of the Namgung Family.

Wasn’t it a family with excellent physical strength that had overcome that position and seized the leader and vice-leader positions of one of Namgung’s military organizations?

If they made physical contact, they could be folded in half without anyone knowing.

However, interference methods didn’t only include physical contact.

Mental contact methods.

Psychological pressure.

This also accumulated damage, so if handled wrong, one’s back could break.

However, the mental contact interference imposed on Namgung Cheon-gang was a method with no such damage accumulation.

Namely, labor pressure!

Making him take on all the general item production requests that suddenly surged at Cheongeumjeong during the exam period!

Of course, he had done it from the beginning, but still, the Cheongeumjeong craftsmen had taken some of it.

“Now it seems like they’re just openly pushing it all on me. But I can’t not do it either. Sigh.”

There were also the words he had said to Mak Noya.

If he said he wouldn’t do it now, wouldn’t he become a loose-lipped guy who says two different things with one mouth?

A man of the Namgung Family, huh?

And a man of the Martial Arts World at that?

That simply couldn’t be!

Of course, that didn’t mean the words he said to Mak Noya were just something that came to mind at the time and carelessly spoken.

Namgung Cheon-gang truly believed what he said then was the essence of a blacksmith.

“That’s why I was a blacksmith in my previous life and am a blacksmith now, creating all sorts of things.”

Clang! Clang! Clang!

“But looking at this, the senior Cheongeumjeong blacksmiths are really useless people, aren’t they? I’ve been thinking well of them all this time, but they’re trying to crush a growing young man like this? What if I had been an ordinary Cheongeumjeong blacksmith?”

Looking at the amount of general requests coming in one by one.

100 kitchen knife sets, 100 general needle sets, 100 each of various farming tools, and 100 each of other metal items used in daily households, etc.

They said 100 each, but there were often cases that exceeded that.

Really, if he had been an ordinary Cheongeumjeong blacksmith, it would be work that would take over two months including night shifts.

“If I wasn’t an awakened one, I really would have been in trouble!”

The reason for being interfered with?

There’s no way they wouldn’t know.

Because he’s outstanding.

‘It’s not self-praise. Even I think, considering what I’ve accomplished, they have no choice but to keep me in check as blacksmiths.’

In terms of warriors, it’s like warriors in their early to mid-twenties or early thirties are just reaching first-rate and trying to achieve peak mastery, when suddenly a guy who reached first-rate at age 10 appears.

And now that guy is trying to compete for a direct lineage position?

They have no choice but to light fires in their eyes and stop him.

“What can I do? Being talented is a sin. Finding the direct lineage position appetizing is a sin. Sigh.”

Even if I’m angry, even if my heart aches.

I have no choice but to hammer away, resolve commissions, and overcome their interference.

Clang, clang, clang.

“Still, well, I finished two items. Fortunately, the deadline isn’t that short either.”

The production periods for the commissions that came into Cheongeumjeong this time were longer than expected.

Once it was revealed that the craftsman making the products was alone, the clients extended the time.

What was one week became two weeks.

About twice as long?

Thanks to this, I can breathe a little easier.

Claaang!

“Good! Everything I planned to make today is finished!”

Even though I could breathe easier, the quantity and variety of items to be made was enormous.

However, Namgung Cheon-gang used his head and organized them starting with the commissions with the shortest production periods.

He set it at exactly two items per day.

All remaining time was devoted entirely to studying.

“Without such a systematic plan, this would be impossible.”

This too is an effect of awakening!

Having finished today’s systematically planned tasks, Namgung Cheon-gang.

Soon moved on to his next schedule – studying for the direct lineage promotion exam.

Just because you know it’s weapon crafting doesn’t mean your studying is over.

Also, just because you have master-level skills and abilities beyond others as an awakened one doesn’t mean you don’t need to study.

The deeper your experience, and the deeper your learning, the more you must study.

Isn’t that the step-by-step progress toward the future without stagnating?

“The reason the tortoise won the race was precisely because it didn’t stop.”

That’s why even in his previous life, Namgung Cheon-gang was a world-class S-rank blacksmith.

“Well, I’ve already decided what to make though.”

A sword.

The Namgung Family is a renowned house rumored to be the best under heaven with swords.

“You can only be called a first-rate blacksmith if you know what that person and that family handle best and what suits them best.”

Though the Cheongeumjeong blacksmiths are narrow-minded, they too belong to the first-rate, so they’ll surely compete with swords.

“Hehe. So I’ll completely turn their insides upside down with a sword. Hehehe!”

I will never forget that act of dumping missions on me!

“This is true revenge! Righteous revenge! So accept it sweetly, you narrow-minded adults. Kahahaha!”

Knock knock knock.

“Is, is Cheon-gang there?”

“Oh my, kack, kack!”

While burning with vengeance toward the Cheongeumjeong blacksmiths who had tormented him and laughing like a villain, he heard knocking at the door.

Then came the voice of a middle-aged man.

He was startled and simultaneously choked.

Ugh!

Kack!

“Ow, kack! Ah! Forge sparks got in! Aah!”

While coughing, some sparks from the forge got in.

“Khack, help, help me!”

* * *

Cheongeumjeong.

The largest and finest blacksmith’s forge belonging to the Namgung Family.

A place with high reputation even in the martial arts world.

If ‘weapons’ weren’t supplied exclusively to the Namgung Family.

The entire martial arts world might well have been dominated by weapons supplied from Cheongeumjeong.

Most of the craftsmen at this Cheongeumjeong are branch family members.

This is to prevent leakage of Cheongeumjeong’s techniques.

Therefore, the direct lineage promotion exam is like a once-in-a-lifetime test for Cheongeumjeong’s craftsmen.

Even if you drank together just yesterday, you instantly become competitors.

Except for their respective forges prepared at Cheongeumjeong, they completely shut themselves away from other places.

They planned to do so until the exam day two months later, but….

“Did, did you hear the news?”

“I heard. That Cheon-gang is participating in the exam.”

“Ha. I was relieved when he said he wouldn’t participate, but to think he’d backstab us like this!”

Facing an unexpected situation, craftsmen who hadn’t seen each other’s faces for days gathered in one place.

Secretly, and huddled together.

Gathered like that, they grind their teeth and rage with reddened faces.

The target of that rage, the reason they gathered.

None other than Namgung Cheon-gang.

A branch family member who became a master-level blacksmith at Cheongeumjeong at age 12, called a prodigy and genius in the blacksmithing world.

A monster who became even more famous at age 18 by creating new Baekryeonjeonggang.

Having heard that such a person was entering the direct lineage promotion exam, how could they stay still!

“First, let’s dump all the designated commissions coming to you gentlemen onto Cheon-gang. Also, subtly influence those who aren’t gathered here. If Cheon-gang handles all the commissions coming into Cheongeumjeong, he’ll naturally be eliminated from the direct lineage promotion exam.”

At this, ‘Namgung Seo,’ the owner of the forge where people gathered and who led today’s meeting, spoke with an evil smile on his face that seemed perfect for scheming.

“Let’s do that.”

“I felt sorry giving him everything, so I did a few myself. Can’t be helped.”

“We need to eliminate major rivals first.”

“It’s a temporary alliance.”

They accepted Namgung Seo’s proposal.

After dumping all commissions on him.

“…Isn’t he a damn monster!”

“No, how can he show such work output!”

Ha. How can he do work that should take three days in just one day?”

“His skills seem to have improved further. Is a genius truly a genius?”

One day, two days, and now a week after dumping all the commissions on him.

He had completely handled the storm-like workload.

Not only that?

In his spare time, he even studies for the exam.

For the Cheongeum-jeong branch blacksmiths who formed the alliance, it was utterly absurd.

“If what he made were shoddy products it would be one thing, but rumors say they’re all superior or masterwork quality!”

“There are even rumors that if you use what Cheon-gang made, whether for cooking, tailoring, butchering, or anything else, your skills improve beyond your original ability!”

“From what I hear, they now have no intention of placing designated commissions with anyone but Namgung Cheon-gang. I too lost several workshops that way!”

“Perhaps dumping commissions on him made his monster-like skills improve even more.”

“Namgung Seo, what do we do now! Since you suggested it, try something!”

The secret alliance of Cheongeumjeong craftsmen was on the verge of breaking apart by the third day.

All of them uniformly pressed Namgung Seo, who had suggested dumping commissions.

Namgung Seo was flabbergasted.

At first they all rushed in saying it was good, but when things go wrong, they blame it all on me?

Damn, those bastards!

Curses naturally spilled out.

But if he didn’t resolve the current situation, it would be big trouble.

He could become a refining stone on the anvil.

Well, if they could manage it.

“…Since I gave my word, I’ll take responsibility. So trust me and wait. Once we deal with Cheongang, it’ll become a proper competition between us. And there are still many test schedules left, so there’s plenty of opportunity to keep each other in check.”

Thus, not wanting to become refined on the anvil, he declared he would take responsibility.

“If you say so, well.”

“Hmm. I’ll trust and wait.”

“Hmm, hmm.”

At Namgung Seo’s declaration, the craftsmen of Cheongeumjeong finally showed relieved expressions.

‘That bastard, looking at his face, he’s definitely harboring other thoughts.’

‘Tsk. As expected, the only one I can trust in this world is myself. I should devise a strategy to monopolize the designated requests and crush these guys.’

While they all harbored different thoughts together…

‘I never intended to go all the way with you guys anyway, so after meeting that Cheongang fellow and talking with him, I’ll have to execute another plan right away.’

This would be the same for Namgung Seo as well.

It was truly a petty alliance, different on the outside and inside.

Still, having given his word, Namgung Seo went to find Namgung Cheon-gang.

Knock knock knock.

“Hey, is Cheongang there?”

Standing in front of Namgung Cheon-gang’s Blacksmith Workshop, he knocked on the door and quietly called for Cheongang.

However, the sounds coming from inside were strange?

Gack! Gaaaack! Gack gack!

Coughing sounds as if someone was dying could be heard, along with various screams like “save me” and “gueeeck.”

“Wh-what! Are you alri—”

Startled, Namgung Seo hurriedly tried to open the door and enter, but stopped.

Wait a minute?

Looking at it, doesn’t it seem like he’s screaming from pain so severe he might die?

In other words…

‘My greatest rival is disappearing!’

He quietly released his hand from the door handle.

‘Farewell, Cheongang! I’ll pray for your soul!’

He even prayed for his soul.

But Namgung Cheon-gang didn’t die!

“Phew, I thought I was going to die. I wondered who it was, but if it isn’t Senior Namgung Seo, gack gack, ow, my throat.”

Not dead, but surviving, he opened the door and greeted Namgung Seo with a flushed red face.

‘Damn!’

Namgung Seo was greatly disappointed that Namgung Cheon-gang was alive.

—————
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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