He Became the Genius Blacksmith of the Namgung Family - Chapter 89
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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 89
Episode 89
“….”
Suwang looked down at Seo-heung’s head with complicated eyes.
After a brief conversation, he had come to find the dead.
Seeing those wide-open but lifeless eyes, he seemed to understand what kind of feelings they held.
“…You don’t understand? Well, I would feel the same way.”
Who was Seo-heung?
A supreme warrior who had wounded the lord of the Nanman Beast Palace and escaped, and a suitable successor for the Bloodletting Flute Technique.
Of course, it wasn’t that the lord hadn’t been careless because they were blood relatives.
What mattered was that he had ‘wounded’ the master, the lord of the Nanman Beast Palace.
Moreover, wasn’t he a genius of escape who had evaded the persistent pursuit of the Nanman Beast Palace for months and made it here?
He was absolutely not someone who would fall in such a manner.
‘If the Nammantae Daehyeolseo had been intact, there would have been no need to come to this Cheonjaeum belonging to the Namgung Family.’
No, if that strange blacksmith from Namgung hadn’t come….
Things wouldn’t have gone this smoothly.
But who could have known?
That he would be caught by the scruff of his neck by that blacksmith and ultimately meet his end.
“Truly a strange blacksmith, isn’t he?”
The way he creates things as if stamping out goods, and the way he captures people’s hearts.
He’s truly a type of existence I’ve never seen before.
But strangely, I find myself drawn to him.
Is it because his nature feels good?
Or is it because he approaches without pretense, with sincerity?
Or perhaps….
“Because he’s interesting.”
Maybe it’s all of that.
Otherwise, how could I have opened my heart so easily?
No matter how much we were in the wrong.
Namman warriors don’t easily bow their heads to Central Plains warriors.
Naturally, secrets can’t be carelessly spoken either.
But I did tell Namgung Cheon-gang.
‘It was possible because he became like a younger brother.’
He made it that way.
Strangely so.
But does that feel strange? Not really.
Rather, it’s a refreshing feeling.
Besides, does he just listen for free? He takes everything he needs to take while also giving back just as much.
Take these cloud-walking shoes I’m wearing right now.
An item worth whatever price you’d name.
At first it seemed somewhat haphazard, but when you think about it later and examine each detail, it’s incredibly meticulous.
“Come to think of it, it’s no wonder he caught us by the scruff. Who could escape from his plans?”
The bait he set with cloud-walking shoes that completely captured the hearts of Namman warriors.
How could one escape it?
Even knowing about it, I think I’d still fall for it.
Chuckle.
That thought makes me laugh involuntarily.
“Thanks to that, I gained a good younger brother. I’m leaving with a great gift at the end.”
He slowly buries the laughter in his heart.
He knelt down.
Reaching out his hand, he closed the bewildered eyes of the head lying there alone.
Slowly rising, he reached inside the black tiger hide and pulled out a small gourd bottle containing liquor.
Long ago.
Namman liquor that he and his uncle used to drink together.
He pours that liquor over the head.
Trickle, trickle, trickle….
The one who was his uncle is no more.
He was an enemy, and died by his own hand.
Blood relations buried in this ground .
I bury here the heart that wavers due to blood ties.
Not asking about past affairs, completely forgetting the causes of sin and karma .
I shall forget the past, sins, karma, and all connections.
However, if there is a source of all this trouble.
Those who harm my kin must be eliminated .
The body that harmed my relatives (blood kin) must surely be killed and eliminated.
“That is my pledge as a nephew for my uncle who was affectionate in the past, as a younger brother who cared for his elder before his eyes were blinded, and for my father the king who lived sparing nothing for his lord.”
The Nanman Beast Palace does not forget grudges and favors….
“…Farewell, uncle.”
He throws away the empty liquor bottle like the heart he has abandoned.
Turning his body, he leaves without lingering attachment.
Toward such Suwang, someone leaped over in a single bound.
A refreshingly handsome man overflowing with healthy vigor.
It was Namgung Cheon-gang.
“Hyung-nim, hyung-nim!”
Namgung Cheon-gang called out to Suwang with a bright face, raising his hand high.
“Oh, yes, younger brother Namgung Cheon-gang! I’m here. Hahaha!”
Suwang welcomed him with a pleased laugh at that call.
Before long.
Namgung Cheon-gang stood close by.
He takes a moment to catch his breath.
My goodness.
Why did he run over so urgently just to see this hyung-nim?
Ah, perhaps he wanted to ask if I got hurt during the fight?
What a good younger brother—
“Phew, now I can live a little. Really, what are you doing here, hyung-nim!”
Huh?
“The others are picking up the silk and outer shells of our Sinchung Baekjeop scattered around the area, and you’re trying to escape alone!”
What?
“Sniff, sniff? Wait? This is the scent of liquor? Don’t tell me you were here trying to secretly drink? Wow, that’s too much!”
No, that’s—
“Yes, yes. I’ll buy you a whole jar of liquor later. Come on, hurry up and help! We’re short even one pair of hands!”
“….”
What does this guy think Suwang is?
‘Should I cancel and take back what I said about this being a good connection?’
Suwang pondered as he was dragged away by Namgung Cheon-gang’s hand.
However, since the liquor had been spilled and buried in the earth, what’s done is done.
Therefore, neither Suwang nor Namgung Cheon-gang saw it.
The moment when Seo-heung’s closed eyes briefly opened and blinked.
* * *
The journey to Dongyun Forest’s Cheonjaeum, which he thought would only involve repairing the silk loom—that is, the Jamsagi Gijo—and eliminating the source of trouble.
Who would have known there would be so many events?
‘Did I form some kind of karmic connection with those Blood Cult bastards? Running into the Blood Cult here too?’
Damn it.
In some ways, it was more chaotic than what happened in Dongling County.
Finding the cause, playing detective, setting traps, seeing a building-sized rat.
And at the end?
Even a monster battle!
‘Wow, looking at it this way, it’s been full of troubles and hardships. Really full of troubles and hardships.’
Events happened as rapidly as Hong Gil-dong appearing here and there in a flash.
‘Well, at least it’s settled now.’
Though the events happened frantically, it seems we were able to resolve them quickly precisely because we moved frantically.
If we had delayed even a little?
Perhaps the martial arts world’s secret history from 30 years ago might have been recreated here.
And indeed, after hearing what Suwang hyung-nim was hiding, a mission was generated, wasn’t it?
‘You could say the deadline is a whole month, but honestly, if I didn’t have the awakening ability…’
What’s a month?
It would have taken several months and more.
Rooting out traitors, repairing the foundation, and furthermore, smooth relations with the Namman brothers.
It’s material that could easily produce two volumes of a martial arts novel.
The awakening ability that made it possible to finish this work so easily.
I love it, truly.
And wait, does it end with just ‘I solved the problem!’?
No way.
What comes after finishing work?
‘That’s right, reward time!’
The reward from the mission for catching the rat!
Well, I already know what it is.
(・‸・) : Pii?
This little guy.
The plump larva wrapped around his neck, embracing both shoulders.
Namgung Cheon-gang poked the plump larva with his finger.
(つ‸⊂) : Pi.
Look at that expression with narrowed eyes.
So cute I could die.
It’s called a larva, but it’s pure white without a single wrinkle, almost like a white scarf.
“With that round face like an emoticon and those cute marshmallow-like little feet, it really does look like one.”
Who would think this is a larva?
(・0・) : Pi?
“No. Just stay on daddy’s neck like that. It’s nice and cozy.”
(ᵕωᵕ) : Pii~
“My goodness. How can its expressions be so rich? Are all divine insects like this?”
How would I know?
This is the first time I’ve seen a divine insect.
Sinchung Baekjeop (Divine Insect White Butterfly).
The divine insect that appeared in this Dongyun Forest.
Furthermore, the spiritual medicine(?) that Nammantae Daehyeolseo was targeting.
This cloud-like thing embracing Namgung Cheon-gang’s neck was precisely that Sinchung Baekjeop.
The monster that was as huge as Nammantae Daehyeolseo is now just a scarf?
It reduced its size on its own.
‘It seems like it can increase its size by itself, but it doesn’t seem like something it can do carelessly.’
Seeing how its energy drained away, it seems like gigantification consumes tremendous energy for some reason.
Well, to become that huge would require enormous energy consumption.
‘Right now it’s probably in charging mode. It’ll grow big again later if it wants to.’
Of course, to call it Baekjeop (White Butterfly), it’s closer to a larva (young insect).
But the reason it can still be called Sinchung Baekjeop is precisely because of the special mission.
A special mission that appeared after a long time since ‘Catch the Blood Cult followers.’
This little guy appeared after healing treatment in the special mission ‘Save the Sinchung Baekjeop.’
Well, I can’t say it’s not Sinchung Baekjeop.
Also, since the urgent mission said the reward would disappear, ‘Reward: ???’ is certain.
You might think it’s cute but the reward is too modest…
No way!
Sinchung Baekjeop was an incredible being that could infinitely create A-grade crafting materials.
Precisely, the silk membrane that was used to heal that chicken breast-like flesh when fixing Sinchung Baekjeop!
‘It can create the silk that formed that membrane!’
Thread-like material with the strength of steel.
It creates such materials as you wish?
What better reward could there be for a crafting profession?
Also, is this the only reward?
Though not applied to the mission reward, there’s an additional reward.
Precisely, Sinchung Baekjeop’s outer shell!
And the silk it spewed out and the silk membrane used for protection!
‘Each one is A-grade or higher crafting material, right? I need to collect them all!’
I collected everything with help from hyung-nim and noona.
“Hehehe. I was already planning to craft other equipment besides shoes to ensure safety.”
I was going to make a matching top and bottom set with the premium cloth I’d receive from Namgung Cheonggi noona for this mission.
I’m in a good mood thinking I can make even better top and bottom equipment.
‘This damn martial world. Coming outside Anhui is really dangerous beyond measure.’
I’ve only gone out twice now, and both times I encountered the Blood Cult.
There’s no law saying I won’t encounter the Blood Cult in the future, so I need to prepare for safety.
Until the day I become the world’s greatest blacksmith!
“Let’s see, I’ve finished checking everything one by one.”
Currently, Namgung Cheon-gang was alone in the forge prepared at Cheonjaeum.
To check the silk membrane, silk, and outer shell brought from the battlefield one by one and pack them well to take.
I need to pack them carefully so I can carry them well when I leave later.
Of course, I’m not departing immediately.
There’s still cleanup work to be done.
Repairing Cheonjam-gak’s collapsed walls, restoring the excavated ground.
Furthermore, cleaning up debris in Dongyun Forest and repairing the halls that Nammantae Daehyeolseo destroyed while escaping.
The work is mountainous, you could say?
“At least, with Namgung Jeonggeomdan coming, the trouble of securing manpower is reduced.”
With Beggar’s Sect also helping, it’ll be restored quickly.
“Before it was the Sword King. This time it’s Namgung Jeonggeomdan. I’m really fortunate to be from the Namgung Family.”
There’s no place like our Namgung for taking good care of their own people.
I love you, Namgung Family!
Let’s go together, Namgung Family!
“For today, they said we’d rest and enjoy a feast since everyone worked hard, right?”
Well, a big event just passed, didn’t it?
Isn’t it the way to eat your fill and clean up after big events?
“Oh, come to think of it, it’ll start soon, right? Let’s hurry, Sinchung Baekjeop. Let’s go eat our fill and then work.”
(>0【) : Pii!</p】
“It’s awkward to keep calling them Sinchung Baekjeop, so we should decide on a name when we take a break.”
I’ll have to discuss it with my brothers and sister.
* * *
The hammer falls toward the blood-tinged ore placed on the anvil.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
It’s precise.
But somehow.
It sounds like the metal is screaming, mixed with ghostly wails.
Maybe it’s because the sparks that fly with each hammer blow look like blood.
Or perhaps,
Claaang! Clang!
“….”
It’s because the eyes of the one striking the hammer are stained blood-red without a trace of emotion.
Precise, but terrifying.
Screeeeech!!
A deep, long death cry consumed the blacksmith’s forge.
The hammer doesn’t fall, as if it’s stuck to the ore.
The emotionless blood-red eyes quietly stare at the screaming ore.
Eventually, slowly.
Flowing out,
“It seems to have failed.”
A voice as devoid of emotion as the blood-red eyes.
The blood-red eyes disappear from the world.
Through the closed eyelids, the last thing the failed one saw flowed out like a revolving lantern.
A giant back.
A collapsed forest.
A giant blood rat falling.
In the end, it seems they were caught and met their demise.
“Tsk. It was too much for them, it seems.”
Thirty years ago, I had expectations since they were the descendant of one who at least fulfilled their quota.
It seems I had too high expectations.
After all, wasn’t he someone greedy, dreaming of ambitions beyond his station?
Moreover, even though what was given was great compared to the sins his family bore, he was never satisfied, so failure might have been an inevitably predetermined sequence.
Well, something that could have been nurtured slowly over time was ruined by his own greed and haste.
“What a waste. He was good material for causing chaos.”
Well, it doesn’t matter.
I don’t know about before.
But now I can create something equivalent again.
“The Reverse Heaven Myriad Phenomena blood festival will soon begin.”
This isn’t the time to be obsessing over small things, is it?
The eyes that reappeared in the world,
Once again covered with emotionlessness, turn toward the blood-tinged ore.
In that quiet, darkness-filled blacksmith’s forge.
Within it, once again.
Clear, yet filled with ghostly wails, the sound echoes.
Clang! Clang….
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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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