He Became the Genius Blacksmith of the Namgung Family - Chapter 55

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 55

Episode 55

“How did you like the gift I gave you?”

“A gift?”

“The miners’ hearts.”

“My goodness. That was something you did, Hoyeol?”

“Of course?”

“Oh my! How could you go to such trouble!”

“A person shouldn’t forget when they’ve received kindness, right? Well, I only provided information, and left the rest to the miners’ hearts. The gift grew quite large, making me greedy.”

“Since it’s a gift you’ve already given, I’ll gratefully accept it. Thank you.”

“Ho ho ho. Yes. I’m so glad the gift pleased you. Well then, are you leaving now?”

“I’ve made pickaxes for all the miners. I’ve secured Seongcheol too. It’s time to go home, so I should leave.”

“I didn’t expect you to come see this Hoyeol before leaving.”

“I had to come see you, didn’t I? As you said, it wouldn’t be proper to ignore kindness received. Oh, and please accept this too.”

Namgung Cheon-gang handed Hoyeol a wooden box carved with a fox.

When opened, needles of various sizes were neatly arranged inside.

“Oh my, what could this be.”

Hoyeol pretended not to know.

An eye smile.

“It’s a sewing kit.”

Namgung Cheon-gang accepted it with a gentle smile.

“You seemed to enjoy embroidery and sewing as hobbies, so I made it.”

“Oh? Did I ever mention that?”

“No. I can just tell by looking. Your fingers, shoulders, arms, and so on… It’s hard to explain precisely, but you can think of it as a blacksmith’s eye.”

“It must be like a woman’s intuition. Well, they do say that those who’ve reached mastery all have such insight.”

“Mm, well, something like that. Anyway, since it’s made with Seongcheol, the durability goes without saying. You can also use it for other purposes if you wish.”

“Hmm. You seem to know something~ Just as Hosiu said, you’d probably excel in this field, so how should I create a position for you?”

“Oh please, I like Namgung, and I like being a blacksmith. Anyway, what I’m giving you now is just a gift. The promise remains valid, so please call on me anytime.”

“May I ask just one thing?”

“Anything at all.”

“How can you be like this?”

He received repayment from those who owed him kindness.

And then he repaid that repayment again.

With Seongcheol, no less.

He gave her a sewing kit made of Seongcheol as a gift too.

And said the contract was still valid.

Had she ever seen someone so generous?

Of course, there would be some.

But at that age?

No matter how much she thought about it, there weren’t any.

So she asked.

How could he be like this.

To that question, Namgung Cheon-gang answered.

“Well. I suppose I lived in a previous life where morality was common sense.”

The gentle smile on his face deepened.

And Hoyeol blushed.

* * *

About two months.

The journey to Dongling County for a job change.

It’s finally over!

There was a lot of talk and trouble.

But I gained just as much, didn’t I?

Seongcheol and traits.

But there’s something else most important that I gained.

The connections I made with the miners!

“If you ever need mining done, please be sure to call us!”

“We’ll drop everything and come running!”

“Young Master Namgung Cheon-gang! We’ll see you next time!”

Somehow they knew I was returning to Namgung.

“Yes! See you next time! Everyone stay healthy!”

The protagonists of those connections seeing me off at the entrance to Dongling County.

I raised one hand high toward them and waved it greatly from side to side.

The miners also raised the pickaxes in their hands and waved them the same way.

The pickaxes glinting in the sunlight.

Like stars floating in the sky in broad daylight.

‘I can’t deny it. They’re Seongcheol products after all.’

The 50 Seongcheol pickaxes I made sparkling brightly.

Just looking at them made me feel pleased.

‘At least it was 50 people, so I finished within this week. If it had been more, oh my…’

Not only the time, but more Seongcheol would have been needed too.

‘Originally there were about 200 people total who participated in the Seongcheol competition?’

About 200 miners belonging to mining groups, martial arts sects, and martial families.

150 of them were excluded because of the Blood Cult intrusion incident during the miners’ dispute.

The places where the 3 Blood Cult members belonged were naturally excluded.

I heard those places are now being thoroughly cleaned out by the Jeongyanmyeong.

‘Those in Dongling County are being thoroughly cleaned out by orthodox faction sects, led by the Namgung Family.’

The Sword King personally stepped forward.

How could the orthodox faction sects near Dongling County stay still?

The first to step forward was the Beggar’s Sect.

Well, disciples belonging to the Beggar’s Sect are all over the eight provinces of the country.

They couldn’t help but step forward first.

It was also the Beggar’s Sect that first informed the Jeongyanmyeong about the Blood Cult’s appearance.

‘I heard the Jeongyanmyeong is located in Shaanxi.’

From Anhui to Shaanxi.

It takes a month and a half at eight-horse carriage speed.

One week after the Blood Cult incident.

News that the Jeongyanmyeong was cleaning them out within that time.

I was so surprised when I heard it from Namgung Cheonggi.

‘Truly the martial arts world’s intelligence agency, Wi-Fi, 10G internet. Their information transmission capability is on another level.’

It’s not for nothing that information belongs to the Beggar’s Sect and Hao-mun.

After that, the group that stepped forward was the Namgung Family.

The Master came.

There’s no way the martial arts order belonging to the Namgung Family wouldn’t come.

Though they came a step late.

‘Well, how could they keep up with the Master’s speed.’

Keep up with the speed of one of the current five strongest in the martial arts world?

No matter how powerful the martial arts order, that’s impossible.

Still, those who came are no pushovers.

The entire ‘Namgung Iron Sword Sect’ came.

‘Thanks to that, I was able to take time to have a brief meeting with Father and Uncle after a long time.’

Family I hadn’t seen in nearly two months.

How delighted I was to see them.

When you’re in a foreign land, you miss your family.

Whether in a past life or this life, it’s no different, right?

‘Besides that, the Namgung Surveillance Agency came too.’

And that’s not all?

Half of the Namgung Jeonggeom Dan that came to Dongling County with us was deployed for Blood Cult elimination.

They’d find even a flea.

So on the way back, the Namgung Jeonggeom Dan was reduced by half.

The only leader left was Dan Master Namgung Cheonggi.

All the vice-masters were pulled into Blood Cult elimination.

‘Besides that, those belonging to the Heterodox Faction were excluded for now. Just in case.’

When you think of villains, the Heterodox Faction comes to mind – that’s common sense in this era.

So they had no choice but to be excluded.

After all these exclusions, 50 people remained.

However, considering we’re making curved steel with star iron, even 50 is a lot.

Moreover, did we only make curved steel?

No.

We also made mining helmets.

‘I would have liked to make mining boots and mining clothes too.’

The miners strongly dissuaded me.

Asking if I’d use up all the star iron.

Plus it would delay us considerably.

We’d already spent several extra days from the original schedule, so we had to return.

‘The mission deadline is right around the corner, so we have to go.’

I barely earned enough to save my life.

I can’t let it fly away due to mission failure.

Even after using all that, we acquired quite a lot of star iron beyond what was needed.

There’s still more to mine.

The Kang Clan Mining Company is staying to continue mining.

The master blacksmiths also made contracts with the Namgung Family in large numbers.

So there’s still plenty to come back for.

‘I came to Dongling County empty-handed, but I’m leaving with both hands full.’

This is what returning home in glory means.

Of course, besides the connections with star iron, the mine, and the miners, there’s one more thing I gained.

“Wow, I never thought I’d be going to Anhui Province together with Young Master Namgung Cheon-gang like this. Now that we’ll be eating from the same pot in one place, please take good care of me, Young Master!”

The squinty handsome man.

Hosiu.

A person from Haomun.

He sticks right next to Namgung Cheon-gang and chatters in an excited voice.

Right.

This guy was here.

One more thing I gained.

Jiaoholu, which we visited the night before going home.

Its owner.

The Dongling County Haomun branch manager.

After meeting ‘Hoyeol’ and expressing my gratitude.

‘Learning that the miners’ actions were due to Manager Hoyeol’s gift, and that Manager Hoyeol had prepared one more gift – that was this person.’

In other words?

Creating a connection with Haomun.

Not bad.

Making ties with one of the martial world’s strongest information networks and intelligence agencies?

It’s like earning an extra life, isn’t it?

Information is important in any time or era.

However.

“I don’t know how long it’s been since I left Dongling County. Phew. I thought I’d be buried in Dongling County until I died of old age. Thanks to you, Young Master, I’m escaping like this!”

“Oh right, there’s something I really want to tell you, Young Master – squinty eyes are absolutely not a sign of being a mastermind! Of course, there was one Blood Cult bastard with squinty eyes, but that doesn’t guarantee I’m that kind of bastard, does it?”

“No, thinking about it, this doesn’t make sense – then aren’t all people in the world wide-eyed? Two of the Blood Cult bastards who appeared this time also had wide eyes. Then we should suspect wide-eyed people too!”

“Chatter chatter, jabber jabber!”

This guy.

He talks way too much.

I had met and talked with him briefly a few times before.

‘I did notice he talked a bit much, but I don’t think it was to this extent?’

Don’t tell me!?

‘He was holding back all this time!?’

Wow.

No, did the ghost of someone who died from not being able to speak in a past life possess him?

Why does he talk so much?

‘This guy, could he be a modern reincarnation? Seeing how talkative he is, being a BJ is in his nature.’

Haomun informant, after reincarnating, streaming is his calling.

‘Not bad as a web novel title.’

Plus the protagonist has squinty eyes and is handsome.

Could even be a mastermind.

The protagonist value doesn’t seem bad either?

“No, so, jabber! That’s why! Chatter! Chirp chirp!!”

‘Ugh. Setting everything else aside, let’s shut that mouth first.’

My ears feel like they’re going to bleed.

No, Hosiu’s life is in danger too.

Lady Namgung Sohye’s eyes are starting to sink coldly.

Lightning seems to be flickering too.

At this rate, the moment lightning flashes!

Hosiu’s mouth might just fly away.

I have to stop it.

For the brilliant future of our Namgung Family’s third princess.

‘If rumors spread in the distant future that she cut off Haomun’s mouth for being noisy, there’d be no greater dishonor.’

Then, how should I stop it?

Well, what’s the big deal?

“By the way, Master Hosiu.”

“Chatter chatter— Yes?”

“You’re affiliated with Haomun.”

“That’s right!”

“Somehow, seeing how the branch manager takes care of you, you’re not just an ordinary member. Ah, right, when we met, judging by the coin you showed, your rank was high too.”

“Hehe. You’re finally recognizing me. Yes. I do have some rank. Oh, and I didn’t show it to you, you rummaged through my pocket and took it—”

“Manager Hoyeol seems to cherish you too.”

“She says there’s no younger brother like me. Anyway, the money in that purse you took back then was quite substantial. If you still have it, could you give it back to me—”

“By any chance, siblings?”

“Yes. Did you spend it all by any chance? Isn’t there even anything left?”

Ugh, seriously.

“…You, you reveal that you’re siblings quite easily?”

“Well, would I hide it as some big secret? The Namgung Family would find out quickly if they looked into it. Moreover, my sister said it was okay to reveal it to Young Master Namgung Cheon-gang.”

“Wow, the branch manager here is really generous.”

“….”

It suddenly became quiet.

Why did it suddenly get quiet?

“Why did it get quiet?”

“Ah, no. Yes, well. It is quite generous.”

Hmm.

It seems like I caught onto something.

Let’s wait and see for now.

“Hehe, right? Then is the information free too?”

“I was told to provide what I can within my knowledge for free.”

“Wow, it was really true.”

“There aren’t many people who can receive Haomun’s information for free, and among them, there’s no one of your age, Young Master. You should be proud! Hahaha!”

“Then, do you have anything about the Blood Cult?”

“The Blood Cult….”

Hosiu’s noisy mouth finally shut.

Something that could shut the mouth of a chatty Haomun member.

What else could it be other than asking about important information?

* * *

“Well, everyone knows that the Blood Cult was destroyed 30 years ago.”

Nod nod.

“From what I can see, you seem to want practical necessary information rather than history. Am I right?”

Nod nod.

“In other words, you only know that the Blood Cult was a Sima Waidao that brought chaos to the Martial Arts World?”

Exactly.

I only knew that the Blood Cult was Sima Waidao.

The detailed contents?

I didn’t need to know.

I was too busy living as a blacksmith.

What would I do by learning about Blood Cult members who were destroyed 30 years ago?

“Certainly, since you’re not a warrior, Young Master, you wouldn’t need to know. It’s enough to just know they’re Sima Waidao and that you should report them. Moreover, as a blacksmith belonging to the Namgung Family, you’d rarely encounter them.”

That’s right.

Do Martial Arts World blacksmiths wander around like warriors?

If you have one forge, you stay nailed there and live doing blacksmith work.

Namgung Cheon-gang was wandering around trying to secure Seongcheol to solve his current mission and survive.

Otherwise, he would have been stuck in the Namgung Family’s forge.

While exploring famous restaurants.

‘My safe haven, the Namgung Family. Why would I leave there?’

The dream of becoming the world’s greatest blacksmith?

Wouldn’t it be enough to safely do blacksmith work in the world’s greatest family?

‘But somehow, I feel like I’ll end up wandering around.’

It’s a strange intuition.

It seems like my fate has become rough since awakening.

“For now, assuming you only know they’re Sima Waidao, there are roughly three things I can tell you about the Blood Cult.”

Hosiu’s words continued meanwhile.

“I’ll categorize them into ranks, martial arts, and areas of activity. First, as far as we know, there are five levels of ranks.”

Followers, Devotees, Bishops, Archbishops, and the Cult Leader.

“Followers are ordinary people. They’re just those who think of the Blood Cult as a religion and believe in and follow it. Unlike those belonging to other religions, their faith can be considered quite fanatical.”

What the followers do is donations, service, and miscellaneous tasks.

Simply put, they’re laborers with the obligation to pay tribute.

‘The only difference is that it’s a religion, not a country.’

Then what are devotees?

“You can think of them as warriors belonging to the Blood Cult. Like martial arts sects and martial families, they belong to martial organizations and are deployed for various tasks requiring force. Yes. They’re deployed to places where fighting is needed, like this time. They also serve as inspectors who maintain discipline within the cult.”

“There must be grades among devotees too.”

The one who asked the question was Namgung Sohye.

She had also been quietly listening from the side.

Namgung Sohye is a warrior.

So, she inevitably knows more about the Blood Cult than Namgung Cheon-gang.

However, the one talking about the Blood Cult now is someone from Haomun.

Since stories she doesn’t know might come up, she has no choice but to listen carefully.

Namgung Cheonggi is no different.

“Yes, that’s right. They’re subdivided according to their level. Taking the three Blood Cult followers who attacked this time as an example, they would have at least the same rank as me. Meaning they’re capable of inspection team missions. In other words, they can be considered 3rd-grade devotees.”

“Are 3rd-grade devotees that strong?”

The three Blood Cult followers who attacked.

At minimum, they were peak-level figures.

Therefore, several members of the Namgung Jeonggeom Dan barely held out against one person.

Otherwise, they would have been quickly subdued.

But such figures are merely 3rd-grade.

This means there are at least two more ranks above them.

Hence, Namgung Sohye asked with an expression of disbelief.

Hosiu nodded with calm, narrow eyes.

“Yes. That’s correct. That’s why the Blood Cult could throw the Martial Arts World into chaos 30 years ago. Because those who reached merely 3rd-grade devotee, not even bishops, were at the peak level. There’s a reason they were called Sima Waidao.”

Also, the reason they could possess strength as Sima Waidao.

“It’s because of martial arts that suck human blood and convert it into internal energy. This allows them to easily gain strength. Therefore, you must be careful not to easily fall victim to the Blood Cult’s martial arts. That is demonic arts that devour people.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————