He Became the Genius Blacksmith of the Namgung Family - Chapter 74

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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 74

Episode 74

Namgung Yeong knows.

That his physique is different from others.

Well.

Is his height a bit tall?

About 7 cheok 7 chon (230cm).

He was a healthy baby from birth.

His parents were confused whether he belonged to the Namgung or Peng clan?

This year he’s thirty.

By now, he should be used to people being surprised when they see him.

‘But…’

What about this person?

He knows who he is.

Someone who came through Namgung Cheonggi’s introduction.

To solve the problem that occurred at Cheonjaeum in this Dongyun Forest.

‘His name is…’

Namgung Cheon-gang.

He’s heard of him.

He’s famous these days.

The first among blacksmiths to become a direct disciple.

Mak Noya’s disciple.

Though he’s about two weeks’ distance from Anhui Province.

There’s no way he wouldn’t hear such famous rumors.

At first, he was surprised to see him…

But looking at his behavior afterward, he doesn’t seem particularly bothered.

No, he naturally apologized for his surprised reaction through conversation.

And he spoke so well to ensure his feelings weren’t hurt.

‘His eloquence is truly outstanding.’

The same words can feel different depending on the person saying them.

A word’s value is better than a thousand gold.

Used wrongly, praise becomes insult; used well, even insults can become praise.

‘Is he being fake?’

No.

He’s sincere.

Most of Cheonjaeum’s silk goes to Cheonggung Clothing Shop, but 30% is traded with other merchants.

Having experience talking with seasoned merchants and haggling prices, how could he not read people’s hearts?

So he was surprised.

‘Those who’ve rolled around the Martial Arts World for decades would understand.’

From what he heard, he’s eighteen.

Not even of age yet.

In the Martial Arts World, he’s rolled around for three or four years at most?

For such a person to be so eloquent.

‘It’s natural talent.’

Maybe it’s because he’s refreshingly handsome.

His eloquence seems to make him even more likable.

He said he wanted to call her older sister, and she told him to do so.

Seemingly casual yet cunning skill.

Truly excellent.

But being surprised by his natural eloquence was only up to this point.

What made him wonder ‘what could it be’ and surprised him was what came after.

“These are the hands of a ‘craftsman’ more passionate about creation than martial arts. And not just any ordinary craftsman, but one who has reached the level of artisan like Namgung Cheonggi. Right, older sister?”

He saw her not as a woman, not as a warrior, but as an ‘artisan.’

Not a guess, but certainty.

The clear eyes that held the sky and made such an assertion were also the eyes of an artisan.

‘I was going to guide him through Changcheon Jikgak and introduce myself slowly…’

Then I was going to show him the problematic looms.

But he took the initiative.

He wasn’t just a youth with empty rumors.

‘So that’s why Cheonggi sent him.’

The reason he calls her older sister and master is now clearly understood.

Given this.

“Then, shall we go see your loom now, older sister? An artisan’s time is worth a thousand gold. We can’t waste any more of that time.”

At Namgung Cheon-gang’s words behind his gentle smile, Namgung Yeong automatically nodded.

* * *

The loom for weaving Baeknyeon silk was located in the central part of Changcheon Jikgak.

The room was large, and the silk loom in the center was also large.

It was sized to match Namgung Yeong’s physique.

It looked fine to the eye.

One might wonder if anything was broken.

However, as soon as Namgung Cheon-gang saw it.

“The central axis is tilted. I need to examine the inside and outside.”

He immediately spotted the problem.

Then he quickly ran over and examined it from various angles.

“…”

Namgung Yeong was surprised once again.

Because it was the correct answer.

‘How did he figure it out at once?’

Can that really be seen?

No.

Really, just looking at the surface, there seems to be no problem.

The twisted central frame.

It’s so subtle that only someone who has actually built looms would know.

Would that be a problem?

It would.

When weaving fabric or silk, the grain gets ruined.

If it were rough, ordinary silk, it wouldn’t matter.

But is the silk woven from silkworms ordinary silk?

It’s silk fabric that can’t be sold because there isn’t enough.

Moreover, the loom here is the Baeknyeon Jamsagi Gijo that only Namgung Yeong can handle.

It’s very important, so it absolutely cannot be off by even an inch.

So he was going to tell him…

But he figured it out on his own.

Really—

“Amazing, right?”

His own thoughts.

He hears them from beside him.

Turning around, there’s the shaggy-haired Beggar’s Sect member who came with him.

When Namgung Yeong looked at him.

When Namgung Young looked at him.

“I am Hwang of the Beggar’s Sect’s Three-Pouch rank. It is an honor to meet the famous Heavenly Weaver.”

Hwanggyeon concealed his true identity and lightly cupped his fists.

“That’s too generous a title. Please call me Namgung Yeong, the Heavenly Weaver.”

Namgung Yeong also responded with a light cupping of fists.

Since they had already greeted at the main gate, she welcomed him again with a light bow.

“Oh my. Too generous? Right now, you’re the only one besides the Tang Clan who can weave Baeknyeon Jamsasa into silk, aren’t you? It’s a title you fully deserve.”

“Thank you for saying so. But I still have a long way to go to catch up to my ‘Master.'”

“Don’t they say the student surpasses the teacher? Given time, you’ll surely surpass him. Hahaha.”

Is it because he’s from the Beggar’s Sect?

He’s quite smooth-talking and speaks well.

‘He doesn’t seem like just a Three-Pouch rank…’

Just from the way he quotes classics, he’s no ordinary person.

At a glance, he seems to be of higher rank.

She didn’t bother to pry.

‘He must have his reasons for hiding it.’

But what did he say earlier?

Ah.

She remembered.

That praise directed at Cheongang.

“Yes. He really is amazing.”

Namgung Yeong responded in kind.

Both their eyes soon turned.

Toward the back of the young man who was examining the loom and nodding his head.

Watching that back, Hwanggyeon spoke.

“No matter what people chatter about around him, when he concentrates, he doesn’t pay any attention at all.”

Why wouldn’t he know?

They had worked together making the Cloud Blossom Shoes.

Hwanggyeon had also spent three days without sleep.

But he hadn’t worked as intensively as Cheongang.

‘He handled an impossible amount of work all at once, never losing focus even once.’

He wondered if he was even human.

Even as a supreme master warrior, he didn’t think he could do it again if asked.

‘But my brother would do it.’

He realized this was how one created masterpieces.

Though he didn’t speak of his experience working with Cheongang.

Namgung Yeong seemed to understand without needing to hear it.

Rather, she felt even more keenly how amazing that young man was.

Though their trades were different, weren’t they in the same industry?

That insane level of concentration he displayed – she occasionally showed it herself, so how could she not know?

But if asked whether she could enter that state so quickly?

‘I can’t.’

That was an extraordinary feat only possible because it was that young man.

‘A perfect example of the student surpassing the teacher is right before my eyes.’

It seemed Master Mak Noya had found a proper disciple in his later years.

She should hurry to become like that too.

She needed to work a little harder.

She made that resolution in her heart.

Hwanggyeon watched her from the side.

‘Oh my, oh my.’

He clicked his tongue.

‘This person is also a monster.’

She had the eye to see through Cheongang’s talent at a glance.

What else could she be but a monster?

Moreover, judging by her expression, it seemed she would reach even higher levels.

‘I’ve heard of the Heavenly Weaver’s reputation. But seeing her in person is completely different.’

It seemed the rumors couldn’t capture the truth.

‘Why does Namgung have so many young monsters?’

Do only warriors support a martial family?

What nonsense.

Without those who shoulder the economic power that supports the warriors who sustain the martial family, the pillars of the martial family would collapse.

It was more important.

Only places that knew and acted on this could develop and earn the title of “Great.”

‘If you know one thing, you know two.’

For someone from the Beggar’s Sect, if you know two, you know three or more.

‘I need to completely update the list and information of industrial figures belonging to Namgung.’

Not by listening, but by running around directly.

At minimum, they would all rise by half a level.

‘For now, I should help my brother, the youngest monster I know, and then think about it.’

With the eyes of an Eight-Pouch rank helping, what assistance couldn’t he provide?

‘I can’t just let the person who came to help do all the work. Working together with that person, we’ll discover problems that weren’t visible before.’

Thinking the same as Hwanggyeon.

Namgung Yeong also moved.

But before the two could start moving.

“It’s definitely repairable. Plus, I found the fundamental problem too.”

Cheongang approached the two of them.

With the face of someone who had solved the problem.

“If my brother repairs it, there’d be no problem, but you already found the fundamental issue?”

“Are you saying you found the problem with the misaligned central axis?”

It hadn’t even been a few minutes since he’d rushed over to examine it.

The conversation had also been just a moment.

But in that time, he’d already solved it and come back?

“Yes. First, I have something to ask Sister Namgung Yeong.”

Just when they were wondering if he was really a monster.

A question directed at her.

Namgung Yeong answered in a bewildered voice.

“…Me?”

“Of course. You mentioned that traces related to the problems with the looms were heading toward Dongyun Forest… those are different looms, not the Baeknyeon Jamsagi Gijo, right?”

“Ah. Yes. That’s right.”

These were the problematic looms she had intended to show him first.

But she had been completely won over by his eloquence and overflowing talent, so she showed him the Baeknyeon Jamsagi Gijo first.

Normally, this wasn’t something to show just anyone.

It was the only device that could weave Baeknyeon Jamsasa, so how could she show it carelessly?

That’s why Namgung Cheonggi couldn’t entrust the request to just anyone.

She had received the request from her and gotten that letter, which is why she showed it.

But what about the Beggar’s Sect member who came with him?

Since he came together, she had to trust him.

If you can’t trust the Beggar’s Sect, who can you trust?

One person wouldn’t be a problem.

Looking at him, he seemed to be above Three-Pouch rank.

‘Judging by his bearing, he somehow looks high-ranking, so if it’s that person, he should be trustworthy. But why is Young Master Cheongang mentioning the other Jamsagi Gijo instead of the Baeknyeon Jamsagi Gijo?’

Could it be that he wants to go see it now?

Looking at what he said earlier….

‘Does he want to go see the traces??’

“Is that perhaps ‘Jjuigumyeong’?”

“…!?”

I was shocked.

Really, I was properly shocked again.

That’s right.

Exactly correct.

The problem that occurred at other Jamsagi Gijo.

The traces that are the cause of that problem are indeed Jjuigumyeong.

No, how does he keep guessing everything so accurately?

Could it be that Gaebang told him?

No, Hwanggyeon shook his head.

“Oh my, what am I saying? I couldn’t even tell them I was rushing here in just one day.”

I knew that traces of the problems at Baeknyeon Jamsagi Gijo hadn’t been found.

Still, it’s not something to mention, so I hold back my words.

“Then, then?”

“He figured it out on his own. I told you, didn’t I? Our little brother is amazing. But even I was quite surprised by this. I didn’t know he had such good insight to see through to the core, including his concentration.”

Onion, and little brother?

What kind of person keeps showing abilities no matter how much you peel away?

“Oh my, hyung-nim too. If you praise him like that, little brother will grow wings and fly away.”

Perhaps embarrassed.

He waves his hands dismissively.

Hehe, he laughs carelessly and even scratches the back of his head.

That’s truly charming.

“Anyway, rather than praising me, we need to solve this problem first. In any case, since there’s no Jjuigumyeong here, you must have thought it was different from the problems at other Jamsagi Gijo, right?”

“Th-that’s right.”

“But it’s the same problem.”

“What?”

“There’s no Jjuigumyeong, but the cause of the problem is the same.”

“What do you mean… no, wait, surely not! Then are you saying the problem at Baeknyeon Jamsagi Gijo was also caused by rats?”

“Yes.”

“That doesn’t make sense. If it were a problem caused by rats, we would have discovered it long ago… The problem at Baeknyeon Jamsagi Gijo is so subtle that only a user would notice it, as Young Master Namgung Cheon-gang said.”

However, the Jamsagi Gijo at other Changcheon Jikgak?

You can definitely see it’s a rat problem.

Because there are clear traces of gnawing.

When such problems aren’t visible, can you call it rats?

“At Changcheon Jikgak, Namgung warriors take turns standing guard day and night. However, small animals like rats might somehow be able to enter the rooms where other Jamsagi Gijo are located.”

Warriors are also human.

They’re bound to occasionally miss such small animals.

“However, the place where Baeknyeon Jamsagi Gijo is located is different.”

The security is stricter than other places.

They catch even rats with sharp eyes.

“Moreover, this place where Baeknyeon Jamsagi Gijo is located is made of black stone.”

Black stone is a stone material that only comes from Namman.

A stone so hard that it’s difficult to scratch even with a sword.

It’s obvious that if a rat tried to gnaw on it, its teeth would crumble to pieces!

“Besides, the door keys and window latches can’t be opened without the key I possess.”

So there’s not a single corner for rats to approach.

“How could I not know about black stone?”

I’m a blacksmith.

I know better than others.

“Still, it’s rats. I’m certain.”

Even so, Namgung Cheon-gang was confident.

His clear eyes were even resolute.

I couldn’t possibly say he was wrong or that it wasn’t so.

“Why…?”

So the question ‘why?’ automatically came out.

“Because there are traces of rats.”

“Huh?”

A vague answer.

What’s this, is he just saying anything?

Insisting he found it when he couldn’t find it?

To hide his embarrassment?

Looking at his previous behavior, he doesn’t seem like that type of person?

If he’s just saying anything out of embarrassment, then what does that make the person who thought he was amazing and cool?

Fortunately, I didn’t need to retract my earlier words.

“Noona, didn’t you encounter people from Namman in Dongyun Forest where the traces continued?”

“…!!?”

“Hyung-nim. Could I whisper something for a moment….”

“…??”

‘The reason Gaebang is helping. It’s related to the Blood Cult, isn’t it?’

“…!!!!”

Namgung Yeong and Hwanggyeon’s eyes widened simultaneously.

“This is why I can say it’s rats. If they’re rats related to Namman and, uh… yes, that side, then black stone wouldn’t matter to them at all.”

Namgung Cheon-gang was still amazing.

—————
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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