He Became the Genius Blacksmith of the Namgung Family - Chapter 19

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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 19

Episode 19

While laughing like a villain, a sudden visitor arrived and he choked on his own saliva.

The burning sensation in his throat and the pain of choking?

It was truly beyond words.

At least the reward of increased internal energy provided some comfort.

‘But I’m never doing that again!’

A terrible pain he never wanted to experience again!

Just thinking about it made his body tremble involuntarily.

“Are… are you alright? You seem to have caught a cold. How about resting? Just, you know, completely.”

“Pardon? Ah. Thank you for your concern. It’s not a cold. Just, a little, I was remembering something from before serving my senior, so my body trembled on its own.”

“What a sha… Ah, no. That’s a relief then.”

Namgung Cheon-gang stared intently at the middle-aged man with rat-like appearance sitting across from him.

The very person who made him choke.

But it wasn’t intentional.

He had welcomed him as a guest.

‘But why are his words and expression so different?’

Why does he seem disappointed?

Did he really do it on purpose?

Come to think of it, didn’t he hastily change his words?

His eyes naturally narrowed halfway.

At Namgung Cheon-gang’s narrowed gaze, Namgung Seo cleared his throat and subtly looked away.

‘Really on purpose?’

Just as his suspicion was turning into certainty.

“Well, the thing is, I have something to tell you, so I came here urgently.”

As if avoiding suspicion.

Namgung Seo hurriedly spoke up.

“Something to tell me?”

“That’s right. I see you have a lot of work to do, so I’ll get straight to the point.”

“It’s all thanks to the ocean-like grace of my seniors.”

Namgung Cheon-gang never forgot his gratitude to the seniors who had piled work on him.

“…Well, I’m sorry. I was against it, but most of the Cheongeumjeong blacksmiths insisted on it… What could I do? One person can’t overcome the power of the majority, can they?”

“Who would have thought that part of democratic society would exist in the martial arts world too!”

“What are you talking about.”

“I was just joking to comfort your heart, thinking how difficult it must have been fighting alone.”

“…”

“What did you want to say?”

The silence becoming awkward, Namgung Cheon-gang hurriedly asked.

“Ah right. This is important. Yes, it’s nothing else, but I want to make a proposal to you.”

“A proposal?”

“That’s right. You know, I know, and everyone in the Namgung Family’s branch families including Cheongeumjeong knows that there’s a Direct Lineage Promotion Exam in about two months.”

“That’s right?”

“Since I said I’d only talk about the main point earlier, I’ll speak directly. Could you give up participating in this Direct Lineage Promotion Exam?”

“…”

“You’re still young. You’re at a sufficient age to participate next year. However, the Cheongeumjeong blacksmiths participating in this year’s exam, including myself, are now in their mid to late forties. Even if there are opportunities, there aren’t as many as you have.”

“So you’re saying that since I have a long life ahead and many opportunities, I should yield just this once?”

“Exactly! As expected, someone who became a Cheongeumjeong blacksmith at age 12 has a quick mind!”

“Hmm.”

Namgung Cheon-gang immediately realized that Namgung Seo was trying to keep him in check with those words.

He mentioned becoming a Cheongeumjeong blacksmith at age 12.

Meaning that the current Cheongeumjeong blacksmiths would have difficulty beating him in skill.

‘It would be strange not to realize this after hearing that.’

Moreover, wasn’t he already being kept in check?

If he really didn’t understand, he’d have to bury his nose in a plate.

“Furthermore, if you grant my request, I’ll actively support you in the next exam.”

“Are you saying you have a high possibility of passing this exam, senior?”

“How did you know?”

“Your saying you’ll support me next time means you’re either confident about passing this exam or have a plan, doesn’t it?”

“Ha, your insight is truly frightening.”

The conversation wasn’t even long.

In just a few exchanges, he had figured out his intentions so directly.

Namgung Seo was genuinely impressed while his body trembled with fear.

‘I knew he was talented, but… his insight is also this remarkable.’

Was he always like this?

Just a few months ago, it didn’t seem to be to this extent.

It seemed like he had undergone tremendous change in just that short time.

‘They say boys grow even in just a week…’

The boy before his eyes had a growth rate that was beyond control.

It was as if once the reins were loosened, his suppressed growth potential exploded.

Or perhaps he had been hiding his true nature all along.

Either way, the fact that he was dangerous remained unchanged.

‘I really can’t let him participate in this exam.’

Namgung Seo’s resolve became even firmer.

“Thank you for coming all this way. However, I have no intention of giving up this exam, senior.”

But regardless of Namgung Seo’s growing resolve.

Namgung Cheon-gang firmly answered that he had no intention of backing down from this exam.

“…”

At that firm answer, Namgung Seo silently looked at Namgung Cheon-gang for a moment.

Soon, he sighed and asked again.

“Truly, is it a heart that cannot reconsider? I bow my head and ask of you.”

It wasn’t just words.

Namgung Seo stood up and actually bowed his head to Namgung Cheon-gang, who was much his junior.

‘Oh my…’

At Namgung Seo’s action, Namgung Cheon-gang let out a groan.

That’s how awkward this situation was for him.

Honestly, in normal circumstances, there would be no need for him to take the Direct Lineage Promotion Exam this year.

As Namgung Seo said, he was young enough to do it next year.

‘But this isn’t a normal circumstance, is it?’

His life was hanging by a thread.

This wasn’t a joke, but real!

His lifespan decreasing in real time.

Seeing this, how could he give up this year’s exam?

His heart that was about to weaken seeing his senior’s bald crown.

After bringing up the life-threatening mission window, what did a few strands of hair matter?

Both his head and heart cooled down completely.

“Yes. I cannot back down. For me too, it’s a matter of life and death.”

So Namgung Cheon-gang spoke resolutely and truthfully.

Namgung Seo, who had been bowing his head deeply.

At Namgung Cheon-gang’s resolute words, he slowly raised his head.

His face was completely hardened.

He moves his lips to ask once more.

But soon gives up.

He guessed that even if he spoke, the same answer would return.

“….”

“….”

A terrible silence briefly settles between the two.

It was Namgung Seo who spoke first.

“…I understand. I wish you good fortune in martial arts.”

“I apologize. However, please consider that I truly stake my life on this.”

“No. It was wrong of me to make such a request. Well then. I’ll see you on the day of the exam.”

With those words, Namgung Seo turned around and left Namgung Cheon-gang’s Blacksmith Workshop.

* * *

“….”

Namgung Seo stopped for a moment while returning to his own blacksmith’s forge.

His face was completely hardened.

Looking up at the sky, he thought about Namgung Cheon-gang, with whom he had just conversed.

The more they talked, the more certain he felt that Namgung Cheon-gang was a monster with ridiculous talent.

‘Rather than facing such a monster, it would be easier to wait for three years. However….’

Namgung Seo had no next chance.

Next year, he would reach the age of knowing heaven’s will.

The ‘Direct Lineage Promotion Exam’ was only for those under fifty.

For Namgung Seo, this was his last chance at the regular exam to ascend to the direct lineage.

‘No matter what schemes I must use, I will definitely pass the Direct Lineage Promotion Exam this year. So don’t resent me, Cheon-gang.’

You brought this upon yourself.

‘However, don’t feel too sorry. It’s not just you, but I’ll trample the other craftsmen as well. So now, what I must do is….’

Namgung Seo, who had been heading to his blacksmith’s forge, suddenly turned his steps toward the general manager’s office of Cheongeumjeong.

To trample everyone.

To propose what he could do best.

* * *

The Eighteen Types of Weapons.

A term that collectively refers to the weapons typically used in the Martial Arts World.

These can be broadly divided into four categories: long, short, projectile, and soft weapons.

First, what are long weapons?

Weapons with long handles that are advantageous for long-range attacks.

Spears, lances, staffs, clubs, halberds, and crescent blades can be cited as representative examples of these long weapons.

Second, short weapons are weapons advantageous at close range.

Swords, sabers, axes, and gauntlets commonly appearing in martial arts novels belong to this category.

Projectile weapons are bows capable of long-range attacks, and soft weapons are hooks, hairpins, chains, whips, and such—special weapons not commonly used.

In the Martial Arts World, if one can skillfully use the Eighteen Types of Weapons, the title ‘master’ naturally follows, but….

‘Just as cowboys have their romantic revolvers, Rambo has his gatling gun, and Star Wars has lightsabers, each warrior has their own representative weapon.’

Should I call it customized to match each sect and martial family’s martial arts?

Well, even so, most are short weapons, and among those, swords are predominant, so it’s inevitable that people think of swords when they think of the Martial Arts World.

‘Among countless weapons, the weapon that stands supreme in the king’s position is the sword, and no weapon fits the title “King of All Weapons” better than this.’

Well, it’s not wrong.

Swords are weapons with excellent balance between offense and defense among all weapons.

But, you know.

For some reason, I sometimes wonder if this title “King of All Weapons” was given simply because it’s used so much?

You, me, that guy, this guy, even the neighbor—when anyone picks up a weapon, it’s a sword.

Even looking at my own family, the Namgung Family, we’re already making our mark in the Martial Arts World with swords, right?

Frankly speaking, it’s not just the Namgung Family.

Excluding the Namgung Family, among the Five Great Families, there’s the Muyong Family that uses swords, and looking at the Nine Sects and One Faction, there are Wudang, Huashan, Qingcheng, Zhongnan, Kongtong, Hainan, Diancang, and Emei.

As I understand it, even ‘Shaolin,’ called the world’s greatest sect, is said to have martial arts that use swords.

‘Wait a minute? Thinking about it this way, except for the Beggar’s Sect, all of the Nine Sects and One Faction use swords, don’t they?’

When more than 70% of the representative sects and martial families of the Martial Arts World are like this, what about the others?

It wouldn’t be strange to say it starts with swords and ends with swords.

The thought that “King of All Weapons” might indeed be a title given based on the number of users becomes a conviction.

“Hmm. It definitely seems right.”

Namgung Cheon-gang, who had been sitting in the blacksmith’s forge with his arms crossed looking at the anvil, nodded his head.

The reason he was thinking so solemnly and seriously about the Eighteen Types of Weapons.

It’s nothing special.

It’s because of the Direct Lineage Promotion Exam.

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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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