He Became the Genius Blacksmith of the Namgung Family - Chapter 28
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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 28
Episode 28
“Would you like a cup of tea?”
“….”
“Heh heh. I’ll take that as a yes.”
Glug glug.
Namgung Cheon-gang quietly watched the empty cup being filled with tea.
In the clear water, the reflection of a young man with a complicated expression appeared.
When the cup was nearly full.
The young man in the teacup spoke heavily.
“Elder. Why did you do such a thing?”
“What do you mean? Ah, right. You mean helping you?”
“Yes.”
He had been caught learning the Cheonryejeowang Sinkong.
The owner of the divine technique was quietly furious.
He thought he was going to die.
He had desperately tried to save his family.
But then, Mak Noya stepped forward.
Now he was alive and had come to Mak Noya’s dwelling, but….
“The family head will know.”
“Yes, he’ll know. One of only five people in the Martial Arts World with the title of King wouldn’t be ignorant of such things.”
“Then why would someone who knows that…!”
It was frustrating.
It was heartbreaking.
If only he could sacrifice himself, it would be over.
But now an innocent person’s life was also at stake.
This wasn’t right.
Mak Noya was an indispensable person in the Martial Arts World.
Considering his achievements and reputation, he shouldn’t die so easily like this.
Therefore, this had to be corrected.
“I will go to the family head.”
Namgung Cheon-gang stood up from his seat with a stern expression.
“Tsk tsk. You brat. Standing up when an elder hasn’t even finished speaking? Stop thinking useless thoughts and sit down.”
“Elder―”
“What? Because I’m the renowned owner of Cheongeumjeong, famous as a master-level blacksmith, you think I shouldn’t die easily for the sake of a mere young blacksmith?”
“….”
“Tsk. Where is there hierarchy in life, and where is there nobility or baseness in occupations? If an old man’s life saved a young one, that alone has value. And if you go to the family head now? Do you think it will end with just your measly life? Having committed the great sin of obtaining the divine technique, the Namgung Iron Sword Sect leader and vice-leader won’t be safe. Same goes for your mother. If you don’t want to go back and cause the massacre of your entire family just to save me, and if you don’t want to burden this old man with regret, sit down quietly.”
“….”
“And I didn’t step forward for nothing. Moreover, it’s not like there’s no plan for what comes next, so sit. Or should I make you sit?”
Mak Noya raised the hand holding the teapot halfway.
His triceps bulged prominently above his hemp clothes.
He looked ready to throw it at any moment.
Namgung Cheon-gang quietly sat down.
A teacup thrown by the strong Mak Noya.
It would hurt a lot if it hit him.
“…It’s not that I sat down because it would hurt. I sat down because you said you have a plan and I want to hear it.”
“Who said anything? Why are you suddenly spouting such nonsense so seriously?”
“Well, I was laying groundwork in case someone who felt puzzled by the sudden change in atmosphere said something.”
“What?”
“….”
“….”
It was the look one gives to a crazy person.
Namgung Cheon-gang quietly turned his head away.
“…Fine. You took the family head’s aura head-on, so you can’t help but be out of your mind. I’ll have to think of it that way. Otherwise, I’ll hit you with a hammer.”
Namgung Cheon-gang also kept his mouth tightly shut.
“Right. If you’re going to talk nonsense, keep your mouth shut like that. Anyway, the main point must be what plan there is to overcome this crisis.”
Nod nod.
“Give me an answer, you brat.”
“Yes.”
Rough Mak Noya.
So he was a Martial Arts World tough guy.
Martial Arts World tough guy Mak Noya glared and continued speaking.
“Tsk. That plan to overcome this. It’s nothing special. We just need to make ‘lies’ become ‘truth.'”
“Huh? Make lies become truth?”
“Right. Let me ask you once. What lies did I tell the family head?”
“The lies you told the family head would be that you taught me the divine technique. And also that you belonged to a sect.”
“You remember well. Then what do you think it means to make lies into truth?”
“…Do the divine technique and your sect actually exist?”
“Heh heh heh. Correct. They exist. So I propose this.”
“What do you propose?”
“Become the true disciple of my private sect.”
“You mean become your exclusive disciple?”
“Ho? Why do you think that?”
“Just intuitively, your private sect seems like a one-person transmission.”
“Heh heh. You’re indeed clever and perceptive.”
Mak Noya seemed to be in a good mood.
He chuckled for quite a while.
When he stopped laughing, he made the offer again.
“Right. Become the successor of my sect’s one-person transmission. This is the lifeline that will save your neck immediately. Of course, if you want, you can have time to think―”
“I’ll do it. No, please let me do it!”
Namgung Cheon-gang jumped up and shouted resolutely.
“Uh…?”
Mak Noya was flustered.
He hadn’t expected such an immediate answer.
Wasn’t serious consideration supposed to follow serious proposals?
That’s why he was going to give him time to think.
Not too long though.
About one meal period (30 minutes).
Given the situation.
But this guy said he’d do it before the words were even finished, as if thinking was a waste.
Why was he so quick?
“Of course I should do it. If that’s the means for my life, my family’s safety, and finally for Mak Noya to escape danger, then hesitating would be stupid.”
“Well, that’s true, but… what if the sect I belong to is an evil heterodox faction, or I’m deceiving you with sweet words?”
“That won’t happen. Because you’re Mak Noya.”
“You trust me?”
“I trust you. But it’s not because Mak Noya gave me a chance to live that I trust you.”
What he had observed so far.
The reputation he had heard.
Achievements.
And.
His own eyes.
Finally closed.
“I believe in that.”
“In other words, you trust me because you believe in yourself?”
“Yes. The Mak Noya I’ve seen is a righteous person who upholds justice.”
“A young sprout who hasn’t even lived half of half my life sure speaks well. Tsk tsk.”
Sincerity.
That heart was visible through those clear eyes.
A gentle smile naturally formed on Mak Noya’s face.
“Very well. Yes. If I don’t accept as a disciple someone who believes his master is a righteous man, who would I accept? Congratulations on entering my school and becoming my sole disciple.”
Thus, Mak Noya also accepted Namgung Cheon-gang with even greater sincerity.
“Thank you, elder! No, Master! Please accept my bow!”
“Tsk tsk. Very well.”
Standing up abruptly, he performed the nine prostrations toward his master.
Hearing Mak Noya’s pleased laughter, Namgung Cheon-gang also smiled as he performed the nine prostrations.
Relief at being alive.
Though, looking at the current situation, he wasn’t certain he would live.
How could one know the family head’s heart?
Just because he became Mak Noya’s sole disciple didn’t guarantee he would be spared.
Yet still, he felt ‘relief’ and ‘certainty.’
Direct Lineage Promotion Exam mission completed.
He thought the reward for that would be ‘death.’
But it connected like this.
Moreover, the reward was upgraded, and ‘survival’ was added to the additional rewards.
How could he not feel relief and certainty?
‘I’m alive!’
With survival confirmed from the brink of death, laughter came naturally.
A sigh of relief finally escaped.
‘But I didn’t know Mak Noya had a school and martial arts. But if I’m his sole disciple, then the existing craftsmen of Cheongeumjeong weren’t disciples?’
With his mind at ease, questions arose about his earlier conversation with Mak Noya.
‘As expected, rewards are received based on related people or situations, just as I guessed.’
Also remembering what he had thought before, he nodded at his correct prediction.
He could find out about his curiosities one by one from now on.
‘But expulsion?’
What’s this? Wasn’t it severing limb tendons?
Wasn’t the failure penalty for the previous mission definitely severing limb tendons?
Dazed.
As questions led to more questions, another message window appeared.
Huh? Job change?
What’s this?
“Now that I have a sole disciple and resolved my grudge, I suppose I can disband Cheongeumjeong.”
The nine prostrations were finished.
He stood up with a puzzled expression due to the questions from before and the new ones that arose.
But Mak Noya’s words made him even more flustered.
Disband what?
Cheongeumjeong?
Suddenly?
Why?
Why are these interconnected questions like endless mountain ranges?
* * *
“Elder.”
“Speak, Family Head.”
“Is such acting really necessary?”
“Not strictly necessary, but we need justification, don’t we, Family Head?”
“Justification?”
“Yes. It’s confirmed that the boy possesses Cheonryejeowang Sinkong.”
“Yes. I’m certain. That’s also why it’s puzzling. There was definitely no way it could have leaked, yet he knows it, which is astounding. Of course, the child did give reasons using Manryugwijong as an example, but that’s hardly believable.”
“Tsk tsk tsk. Indeed, it makes no sense to suddenly learn martial arts that founded an entire Muga. However, you gave him no punishment, Family Head.”
“I had no choice. Looking at the child’s conduct, he’s honest, and there’s no chance of leakage. If he truly learned it of his own will under these circumstances, his talent would be beyond comprehension.”
“So he has exceptional martial talent?”
Namgung Cheon thought for a moment, then shook his head.
“His martial talent isn’t that remarkable. With proper guidance, he could earn recognition as a master.”
“Yet learning Cheonryejeowang Sinkong or similar martial arts on his own would indicate ‘grandmaster’ qualities or beyond.”
“Certainly so. Perhaps he’s so exceptional that I overlooked it.”
“Martial talent couldn’t escape your eyes, Family Head. However, as a blacksmith, he’s definitely heaven-sent material.”
“If Mak Noya says so, then he’s the finest talent under heaven.”
“Yes. That’s right. So I believe we can fulfill the promise made with you ten years ago.”
“If he becomes direct lineage?”
“Exactly. That was one of the promises. Also, not just that child, but his entire family must become direct lineage to avoid gossip.”
“True, at that level, learning the martial arts would have some excuse.”
“Yes. That’s why I said I’d remain with Namgung for that child’s sake. Now, Cheongeumjeong is something that child must build.”
“If you tell him straight, won’t he understand? I’ll say it again, playing the role of threatening the child is unpleasant…”
“I’d normally just tell him directly, but watching that boy for six years, I’ve concluded one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“This bastard won’t listen if you just talk to him.”
“…To that extent?”
“To that extent. Otherwise, what twelve-year-old would cause such a fuss about doing blacksmith work despite risking broken legs? What twelve-year-old would storm out of Baekryeon-dang like that?”
“Hmm.”
“Not only stubborn, but he’s a child with firm convictions. Straight as bamboo. Plus, he’s eloquent, and if you give him an opening, he’ll somehow wriggle out like a loach.”
“His eloquence was certainly impressive.”
And that wasn’t all.
When interrogating whether he learned the martial arts, his behavior was more like an eel than a loach.
“Tsk tsk tsk. He’s definitely more eel than loach. That boy really thrashes about well. So we can’t handle this normally. Who knows where he might bolt?”
“However, if his family is at stake and his potential ‘master’s’ life is on the line, his concerns will be focused in one direction, so as you say, elder, he’ll be caught in the net immediately.”
“Yes. So please, Family Head. There’s no one I like as much as that boy, and there will be no one else to spread my school’s teachings. Of course, if done well, you might achieve what you desire too.”
“Understood. After all, this is the agreement between you and me, and even my father before us, so if an opportunity to fulfill that agreement has arisen, I’ll certainly help however possible.”
“Tsk tsk tsk. Then I’m counting on you, Family Head.”
“Don’t worry, elder. I’ll grab him firmly and help you recover your strength.”
“Just hearing those words fills me with energy, tsk tsk tsk.”
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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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