He Became the Genius Blacksmith of the Namgung Family - Chapter 52
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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 52
Episode 52
Namgung Cheon-gang, who had fainted after being struck by lightning, woke up.
Intoxicated by the thick scent of herbal medicine and feeling drowsy, he turned to look beside him.
His eyes met with the Namgung Clan’s Head, who was sitting with his arms crossed.
Meeting those gentle eyes filled with sincerity and pupils that held the weight of years, tears welled up.
The Namgung Clan’s Head, finding this strange, asked.
“Did you have a frightening dream?”
“No, sir.”
“Did you have a sad dream?”
“No. I simply dreamed that I had reached Heaven.”
“Then why do you have such sad eyes?”
“Because what I thought was a dream turned out to be reality.”
“What?”
“I truly died from being struck by lightning and ascended to the Underworld to stand before Yama, so how could tears not well up? Since things have come to this, please send me to Heaven.”
The tears that had gathered in Namgung Cheon-gang’s eyes flowed down his cheeks.
Because the reality that had come to pass was so sorrowful.
“Hehe.”
Hehehehe.
He’s lost his mind.
Well.
After encountering a Blood Cult follower, there’s no way he’d be in his right mind.
“In that case, I should strike him with lightning to bring him back to his senses. Since ancient times, they say a powerful shock is the cure for those who have lost their minds.”
“Namgung Cheon-gang, eldest son of Namgung Gang, leader of the Namgung Iron Sword Sect of the Namgung Family, pays his respects to the Master.”
Namgung Cheon-gang rose from his position and prostrated himself while cupping his hands in salute, bowing his head and showing proper etiquette with discipline.
As if nothing had happened just moments before.
“…”
“…”
Namgung Cheon narrowed his eyes.
Namgung Cheon-gang bowed his head even lower.
A thick, cold silence flowed.
“I’m so dumbfounded I don’t know what to say.”
Breaking that silence, Namgung Cheon spoke.
Cold sweat trickled down Namgung Cheon-gang’s back.
‘Well, how was I supposed to know it was real?’
Hadn’t he dreamed of meeting Yama who resembled the Master, getting struck by lightning and going to the Underworld?
But when he opened his eyes, there was Yama who resembled the Master right beside him?
How could he think this was reality?
He still thought it was a dream.
He even wondered if he had truly gone to the Underworld.
‘Since I was struck by lightning, there’s no way I could be alive.’
Huh?
Wait, why am I so dizzy?
Ah, right.
I was struck by lightning?
Only now does he face reality.
Cold sweat flows, and his body sways backward.
However, before that.
Namgung Cheon moved to catch and support Namgung Cheon-gang.
Bewilderment appeared on Namgung Cheon-gang’s face.
Good heavens.
To make the Master personally support him!
What a breach of proper etiquette this was!
“M-Master. I’m fine. I can move on my own.”
Flustered.
He moved his body to show through actions that he could move on his own.
“Tsk tsk. Don’t overdo it. After encountering a Blood Cult follower, your internal energy was exhausted. So your body isn’t normal, is it? In the midst of that, I unknowingly channeled energy—”
“Pardon?”
“Ah, no. You were also struck by lightning from a clear sky, so you still need to take care of your body.”
It seems there’s something he’s trying to hide.
But he didn’t bother to ask.
‘What am I to try to reveal what the Master is hiding?’
It’s not like I have a hundred lives or anything.
It’s right to just accept it and move on.
Of course, lying down while serving the Master isn’t proper etiquette for a retainer.
When he said he could sufficiently get up and serve the Master.
“Shall I force you to lie down?”
“Receiving the Master’s orders is also a way for a retainer to show proper respect.”
Namgung Cheon-gang lay down obediently.
“Ha, that fellow.”
Even looking again, he speaks so well.
This is why he didn’t lose heart even against a Blood Cult follower and opened his mouth to help the family members.
It’s both exasperating and admirable.
“Well done.”
Thus, praise naturally comes out.
“Pardon?”
Suddenly?
“I heard from the leader of Namgung Jeonggeom Dan and Sohye. Through your insight, you grasped the truth and falsehood of those Blood Cult follower bastards? You helped Namgung’s warriors by informing them without caring for your own body, so as the Master, I cannot help but praise you.”
“Ah…”
So that’s what you meant.
Since you suddenly praised me, I wondered if it was because I followed proper etiquette well.
Well.
There’s no reason to praise someone for lying down in bed properly.
But responding straightforwardly with ‘Yes, I did well’ isn’t the proper respect a subordinate should show either.
At times like this, you should step back so that adults will say you learned well and praise that your parents taught you well.
“No, sir. It was something any Namgung warrior would have known sufficiently, and in such a situation, anyone would have shouted out, so it’s not something to be praised for.”
Of course, you can’t end it here.
You should say it’s proper to praise others.
Then, you add gold to your parents’ faces.
What, do you show filial piety while looking at their faces?
You should do it at times like this.
“Rather, if there are people who should be praised, they are Namgung’s warriors who didn’t retreat and faced Sima Waidao. Therefore, I think it would be proper to bestow rewards upon them, Master.”
“You rascal.”
Look at that.
Just as he thought.
The Namgung Master’s face melts away, thinking what an admirable fellow this is.
“However, that doesn’t make your merit disappear. Excess is as bad as deficiency. Therefore, lowering yourself by saying there’s no merit when there is, is also excessive.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
“That’s a good attitude. Well then, I should think about what reward to give you. Let me see…”
Who would refuse when offered a reward?
Especially a reward given by the Master of the Namgung Family, a top-tier martial arts family?
It definitely won’t be ordinary.
‘Whatever it is, it’s worth looking forward to. Ha. My birthday already passed, but it feels like I’m getting another birthday present?’
My heart raced.
What would he give me?
“Ah, yes. This should do. I’ll reduce your punishment for learning the Cheonloe Jaewang Singong by half. Of course, half still remains, so let’s discuss that when you return to the family. You must know well since you heard from Mak Noya. Isn’t that right?”
“…Yes.”
It was truly a heart-pounding gift.
So much so that my heart nearly stopped completely.
“Are you that pleased? Haha. Of course. It’s something to be happy about. Even though you secretly learned the divine art, I’ve created a way for you to survive, so you should be happy, indeed.”
“Ha, hahaha. Yes, th-that’s right. Of course. Nothing is more precious than life.”
“Hoho, that’s right. So cherish that life of yours. Don’t lose it carelessly by charging at opponents you can’t handle like this time.”
“…I apologize for saying this to the Master, but if a similar situation arises, I think I would risk my life again.”
“Hmm? Why is that?”
“Am I not a Namgung?”
“Oh?”
“Even if I’m just a blacksmith, I carry the name Namgung. How could I retreat then? Moreover, when all those bearing the Namgung name didn’t retreat, it would be absurd for me alone to withdraw.”
“Even if it means losing your life?”
“Yes. Of course, I have no intention of dying. As they say, Heaven never cuts off the path of those who wish to live. Especially for a Namgung who wields martial arts that contain the heavens, even more so.”
Namgung Cheon-gang’s eyes were utterly serious.
His voice also held no hesitation.
“You rascal. You really speak well.”
Namgung Cheon’s eyes curved gently.
* * *
“Well then, I’ll be going now. Take good care of yourself.”
Namgung Cheon rose from his seat.
Namgung Cheon-gang tried to get up to see him off.
But Namgung Cheon declined.
“Didn’t I tell you repeatedly to lie down and rest when your body isn’t well? If you want to get up and worsen your condition, making things difficult for the Namgung family members remaining in Dongling, then go ahead and get up.”
Namgung Cheon-gang quickly lay back down.
“You speak well and listen well too. Hahaha.”
“I-I’m sorry.”
“I’m joking. It’s actually better that you listen well. I came to see you briefly since you made great contributions in discovering and subduing the Blood Cult follower, so don’t feel burdened.”
“I understand, Master. By any chance, are you alright?”
I had seen that the Blood Cult follower never even got to attack once.
But still, he was the Master who had rushed here for his family members.
It was natural to worry even if he didn’t have a single wound.
“I’m fine. Thank you for worrying about me. It’s been a while since I heard such concern, so it feels quite strange yet pleasant. Hahaha.”
“Please forgive me if I’ve unnecessarily disturbed your mood.”
“Disturbed my mood? What are you talking about? I told you it feels strange yet pleasant. I’m sturdier than most young men, so you focus on recovering. Well, though I said I reduced the punishment for learning the Cheonloe Jaewang Singong, I also gave you another reward, so you’ll recover quickly.”
“Pardon?”
“Check it after this old man leaves. Well then, I’ll be going now.”
Namgung Cheon opened the door.
Just before taking a single step forward.
“Ah.”
He stopped as if he had forgotten something.
‘Gasp!’
At that stopping motion, Namgung Cheon-gang’s heart sank.
Hadn’t there been an incident before where his heart nearly dropped because of Namgung Cheon’s similar behavior?
It overlapped with that time.
Ah.
What was he going to say this time?
Su-surely not?
‘He wouldn’t have discovered that I learned the Hebei Peng Family’s divine art too, would he?’
Somehow it seemed possible if it was the Master.
‘Oh, God. Please! Save me!’
Please help so that my heart doesn’t stop, so that he doesn’t mention the Hebei Peng Family’s divine art!
Namgung Cheon-gang prayed earnestly in his heart.
“It’s nothing major. The miner’s competition became a mess due to the Blood Cult’s appearance, didn’t it? Of course, it seems the outcome was already decided. So I’m curious about what you’ll do next.”
God existed!
Namgung Cheon-gang shed tears in his heart and let out a sigh of relief.
At the same time, he opened his mouth.
“To be honest, yes. Even if Namgung takes the Seongcheol as things stand, no one would have anything to say about it.”
We stopped the Blood Cult.
Who could complain?
Moreover, it was already practically the finals.
It was perfectly reasonable for Namgung to take it.
“However, looking at the bigger picture, it would be right to give up taking the Seongcheol because of this incident.”
“Hmm. Why is that?”
“Because we are Namgung.”
“This too is because we’re Namgung?”
“Yes. Because we are Namgung, we must show ‘magnanimity’ and ‘tolerance.'”
“Showing magnanimity and tolerance… then we would gain honor.”
“Yes. Of course, Namgung can ‘use’ this incident to gain much more along with honor.”
“What would that be?”
“The people’s hearts.”
* * *
Why are large corporations large corporations?
Because they have a lot of money?
Well, that could be part of it.
But there’s something more important than that.
They know how to use and act to obtain people’s hearts.
Why?
Because they know well that gaining public sentiment is necessary to avoid losses and achieve profits.
It’s not for nothing that large corporations push technology and capital to release products every year, every month to capture the people’s hearts.
‘Their after-service is excellent too.’
Of course, in the martial arts world, it would be difficult to push forward with technology.
‘But if you push with capital power, you could gain public sentiment.’
However, that would be shooting yourself in the foot.
In a world where convenience is dead compared to modern times.
How astronomical would the money spent trying to gain public sentiment be?
From the start, it’s obvious that large sects like major martial arts families and administrative offices would prohibit such things.
Then how do you gain public sentiment?
What methods would martial arts sects have to gain public sentiment?
Punishing parasitic scoundrels who try to leech off their wealth.
Lowering tax rates appropriately to care for people and enable active economic activities.
Also, if there’s one more method only possible for major sects and great martial families, it’s ‘magnanimity’ and ‘tolerance.’
Namgung Cheon-gang explained all this to Namgung Cheon in detail.
“A place that has the magnanimity to generously give up something like obtaining Seongcheol.”
As Namgung Cheon-gang explained.
Namgung Cheon saw the phantom image of his daughter overlapping before him.
‘A place that has the magnanimity to generously bestow something like obtaining Seongcheol.’
“In this martial arts world, only the great sects and great martial families have such places.”
‘In this martial arts world, wouldn’t only the great sects and great martial families have such places.’
“Why should we think of winning people’s hearts as so difficult? Of course not. Like this, even though we could possess it, simply bestowing it is enough to obtain it.”
‘Winning people’s hearts need not be thought of as so difficult. Like this, even though we could possess it, simply bestowing it is enough to obtain it.’
“However, since there are many places that cannot do so, they say it’s difficult to win people’s hearts.”
‘However, since there are many places that cannot do so, they say it’s difficult to win people’s hearts.’
“Because those who originally possess much tend to be stingy with tolerance and magnanimity.”
‘Because those who originally possess much tend to be stingy with tolerance and magnanimity, don’t they.’
He who speaks exactly like his daughter.
Watching quietly.
Namgung Cheon asks.
“However, Namgung is different?”
“Yes. It’s different. If it’s the Namgung I know, furthermore if it’s the Five Great Families, it’s different. This is something possible only because it’s Namgung and the Five Great Families.”
‘Yes. That’s why it’s different. If it’s the Namgung I know, furthermore if it’s the Five Great Families, it’s different. This is something possible only because it’s Namgung and the Five Great Families.’
“….”
His third daughter whom he met before meeting Namgung Cheon-gang.
She had said exactly the same thing.
Not a single word different.
Just a remnant of the past, not a phantom.
‘They say learning knows no age, the accomplished come first , and the teacher is nearby, not far away .’
In learning there is no distinction of age, so the accomplished take precedence.
Also, it means that teacher is nearby, not in a distant place.
After hearing Sohye’s story.
Looking at it this way, he feels anew that those words are truly correct.
Within lightness there is weight, and within weight there is insight.
‘Truly an amazing fellow.’
He likes him.
Also, his attitude of attributing his own achievements to Namgung’s warriors.
How could only Namgung Cheon-gang be likeable?
‘All of this was accomplished through the help of Young Master Namgung Cheon-gang. Therefore, I earnestly request that you bestow great rewards upon Young Master Namgung Cheon-gang.’
‘He gave me teachings and made me understand learning. Also, his ability to act according to each established plan was truly remarkable. Therefore, please bestow rewards upon Young Master Namgung Cheon-gang, Father.’
Namgung’s warriors too.
His daughter too.
He likes them all equally.
How could he not like such youth that thinks of others before themselves and acknowledges their contributions?
‘Namgung’s future is truly bright.’
His laughter doesn’t cease from the happiness.
“Let me ask just one more thing.”
“Please ask anything.”
With a face full of smiles.
Believing that this too would be said exactly the same as Sohye.
Namgung Cheon asks.
“You must know well that securing this Seongcheol is a matter of life and death for you. I also know this because I heard it from Mak Noya.”
“Yes. That’s correct.”
“Then, even though you can certainly secure the Seongcheol, do you still want to give the miners of Gongdongryang another chance?”
“Yes. Since I spoke of bestowing tolerance and magnanimity, I cannot say otherwise.”
“Even if you fail to obtain the Seongcheol?”
“I heard that Seongcheol falls into the hands of those who have a connection with it. If I don’t obtain it, it would mean I had no connection with it.”
“If you lose your life because of that, would that also be fitting with fate and connection?”
‘Yes. If it’s Young Master Namgung Cheon-gang, he would surely leave it to fate—’
“That… leaving it to fate is a bit much, isn’t it?”
‘What?’
“Huh?”
Sohye in the fantasy was also surprised.
Namgung Cheon was also surprised.
“No, think about it, Master. If there’s no Seongcheol, I die. But leave it to fate? That’s not quite right, is it? I want to live? If possible, I want to live long and well, Master.”
Huh?
Something seems different from what should come out?
Shouldn’t he say it’s okay to die?
“Come on. Where in the world is there a person who’s okay with dying? Even after the Cheonloe Jaewang Singong was discovered, I’m struggling like this to survive. And what about the Blood Cult on top of that. The reason I applied to join the family was because I wanted to live, wasn’t it?”
Right?
Come to think of it, he said “Heaven never cuts off all paths for people.”
It was because he wanted to live.
“Of course, I must live. I’m struggling to survive, so I should live as much as I’ve tried. I tried to catch Blood Cult followers to survive, but if I die now from not getting Seongcheol, I’d be too frustrated to die.”
But, but, won’t you die if you can’t get it?
“Is Seongcheol only found in this one place? The martial arts world is vast. There must be Seongcheol somewhere. Since my master didn’t set a time limit, I can obtain Seongcheol anytime.”
“….”
“Well, if not that, I could pay extra money to buy it from a miner who has a connection with Seongcheol. Either way, if I just obtain it, wouldn’t that also be a connection?”
“….”
“If you want to live, you have to struggle. What’s the point of just staying still. Even fish caught on fishing hooks struggle because they want to live. I’ll move even more vigorously than that and definitely survive to live well. Of course! I even became a direct descendant. I should live well!”
A more realistic mindset than expected.
Moreover, it seemed strangely reasonable, so Namgung Cheon didn’t know what to say.
‘….’
The daughter in the fantasy also seemed to be at a loss for words.
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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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