He Became the Genius Blacksmith of the Namgung Family - Chapter 97

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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 97

Episode 97

“The place where younger brother and I arrived is where our Deer Tribe on the outskirts farms licorice. Of course, it’s also a place for keeping watch. And the blacksmith’s forge is a bit further from here.”

A place where a river flows between the dwellings of the Deer Tribe and Bear Tribe.

There lies the blacksmith’s forge of the Nanman Beast Palace, according to Gyarong’s explanation.

‘Well, to handle the heat of the forge and quickly obtain cooling water, being near a riverside is indeed good.’

The blacksmith’s forge belonging to the Namgung Family in Anhui Province is the same.

The location of forges is universal, after all.

Walking for not too long.

Just as Gyarong said, a blacksmith’s forge appeared near the flowing river.

“Wow… the size of the forge is quite substantial, hyung-nim?”

It seems to easily surpass the level of a medium-sized martial family.

“That’s right. All ironwork and ore used in the Nanman Beast Palace are smelted and produced here. That’s why it’s large.”

“Ah, it’s a monopoly forge. Then, it would need to be about this size.”

I don’t know how big the Nanman Beast Palace is, but it’s a city where all tribes live together, right?

At minimum, it’s half the size of Anhui Province, or possibly even larger, so if it’s a monopoly forge, that size is appropriate.

As we approached closer, the clear sounds of hammering – clang, clang – could be heard.

The heat was also distinctly felt, suggesting work was in full swing inside.

At the entrance of the forge were two warriors from the Nanman Beast Palace.

With their upper bodies bare.

Looking at them again, the Namman brothers really all have amazing muscles.

“I, Gyarong, have come. It’s been a while.”

They must be acquaintances.

No wonder those standing guard showed happy expressions upon seeing Gyarong hyung-nim.

Anyway, they must have had a good conversation, as they opened the way with bright smiles.

“I thought there would be more wariness toward a stranger like me, but there’s less than expected.”

It’s not just the forge.

Even when we arrived at the Nanman Beast Palace, there was no one particularly blocking strangers.

I didn’t even see any guards being vigilant in the first place.

If there was a place with strong wariness, it would be where the Blood Soil is located?

Though that’s unavoidable.

“Of course. Before coming here, Suwang had already delivered news about younger brother. So everyone knows.”

“Aha.”

If it was delivered in advance, that makes sense.

“They said Elder Yamu is working inside right now. Working with a blacksmith’s apprentice!”

Oh my, blacksmith’s apprentice!

What kind of crude language is that, hyung-nim?

It sounds like profanity!

“A blacksmith’s disciple is called a ‘doje’ (apprentice), hyung-nim. Come, try saying it. Doje.”

“Doje? Doje. Yes, I understand. Doje. Gyarong learned new Central Plains words.”

“Good, hyung-nim. Very well done.”

As expected, such kind brothers.

They just don’t know the language well, so I should kindly teach them.

After teaching the correct terminology like that.

We opened the forge door and entered.

The heat felt from afar struck like a strong wind.

Clang, clang, the pure and clear hammering sounds became even louder.

Just from the sound alone, I can immediately tell that the blacksmith here has excellent skills.

‘Well, Sister Cheong-ah did say that the blacksmith here learned from Master, right?’

The hammering skills are bound to be excellent.

Even at Cheongeumjeong, only hammering sounds like clear bell tones ever echoed.

‘If you hammer poorly, you get beaten with the hammer, so it has to be clear for dear life.’

When I was 13, I saw a blacksmith get beaten with a hammer by Mak Noya, and I knew it wasn’t an empty threat.

‘Let’s see, who might it be.’

There were only two people working inside the forge.

An old man and a young man.

‘That must be him.’

The one hammering the refined stone on the anvil was the old man.

Since his upper body was bare, sweat was beaded all over his body.

‘Wow, the elder’s physique is even more impressive than Gyarong hyung-nim’s!?’

Gyarong’s physique is also considerable.

He may be called the Deer Tribe.

If he hadn’t said so, it wouldn’t be strange to call him the Bear Tribe.

The blacksmith elder’s physique was a head taller than such Gyarong hyung-nim.

And what about his muscles.

Clang, clang!

Every time he swung the hammer, his rippling muscles looked like well-refined ore.

‘How magnificent.’

Indeed, in the martial arts world, it’s right to be careful of old men, children, and women.

“Elder Yamu—”

“Shh. Hyung-nim. Just a moment.”

Namgung Cheon-gang quietly stopped Gyarong who was about to call the blacksmith elder.

Smelting is work that requires concentration.

And right now, the blacksmith and apprentice before Namgung Cheon-gang’s eyes were in that world of concentration.

Namgung Cheon-gang didn’t want to break their concentration.

Perhaps understanding Namgung Cheon-gang’s feelings.

Gyarong also nodded and waited quietly.

In the silence of the four men.

The clear hammering sounds echoing in the forge grew even deeper.

Clang, clang!

* * *

“I am called Yamu. Thank you for waiting.”

“I am Namgung Cheon-gang, elder. Well, hammering sounds shouldn’t be interrupted, so it was only natural.”

The hammering that ended after one si-jin (2 hours).

The robust old man recognized Namgung Cheon-gang and approached, extending his hand in greeting.

Namgung Cheon-gang took a respectful bow and greeted politely.

Then carefully grasped the old man’s extended hand with both hands.

“Your calluses are incredible. I thought the hammering sounds were extraordinary from the start, and indeed you are an amazing blacksmith.”

“I’m embarrassed. My skills aren’t excellent enough to show before a disciple of Elder Mak Noya.”

“Oh? You know me?”

“How could I not know. Suwang already said that a disciple of Elder Mak Noya would be coming. If you came with Gyarong, you must be that disciple.”

My, our Gyarong hyung-nim.

It seems you’re more trusted by Yahwel hyung-nim than I thought.

Namgung Cheon-gang looked at Gyarong with admiring eyes.

Gyarong’s nose went up with pride.

“Heheh! I, Gyarong! Am one of Suwang’s cherished subordinates!”

“You know Namman jungle cooking and have various knowledge, so of course you’re cherished.”

“Ooh! You must be almost like his right-hand man, hyung-nim!?”

“Hehehe! That’s right! Right-hand man! Hehehe!”

Somehow.

So Yahwel hyung-nim was praising Gyarong hyung-nim’s cooking.

It was only because this hyung-nim was the only one who knew how to do it.

He was an even more remarkable person than I thought.

‘Of course, I could never understand the hyung-nims’ taste buds.’

Namgung Cheon-gang had been dejected for not receiving a single compliment on his cooking for an entire week.

‘By the way, Elder Ya speaks Central Plains language incredibly like a native.’

Is it because I’ve been hearing awkward Central Plains speech until now?

It feels like meeting a local after a long time.

As if knowing Namgung Cheon-gang’s thoughts.

“I learned blacksmithing from Elder Mak Noya, so I naturally picked it up. Getting hit by hammers, you learn it one way or another. Hahaha.”

“Ah…”

Master’s hammer didn’t discriminate between men, women, young, or old…

“According to Suwang’s letter, I heard that Elder Mak Noya’s farming tools won’t be coming this time. Instead, his direct disciple will come and make them… Will you start working right away?”

“Master isn’t sending farming tools, and I’ll be making them instead – is that really okay?”

Until now, they had received Mak Noya’s farming tools for agricultural use.

However, this year there were no farming tools from that Mak Noya, and his disciple had come instead.

Then, feeling it insufficient, there was a high possibility of disappointment.

Yet Yamu’s words showed no trace of disappointment, only calmness.

Curious about this, he asked.

“Living to this age, this is the first time I’ve heard that Elder Mak Noya took on a disciple. And a direct disciple at that. Moreover, Suwang was full of praise. He called you a genius who can make any item as desired. So, how could I not believe it?”

“Ahaha… Hyung-nim praised me like that. Haha, this is quite embarrassing.”

“Furthermore, looking at Gyarong, I knew it wasn’t just empty words.”

What did he mean by that?

Yamu’s eyes were directed toward Gyarong’s feet.

Gyarong’s feet wearing the cloud-walking shoes called Gimul Jokhwa.

As if he had been waiting for this moment.

Gyarong lifted his foot, showed it sideways, and proudly showed it off to his heart’s content.

‘…Why are all the hyung-nims who received cloud-walking shoes so eager to show them off?’

Hwanggyeon hyung-nim was the same before.

They must really like them.

‘He recognized at a glance that those cloud-walking shoes are remarkable…’

Namgung Cheon-gang couldn’t help but know that the cloud-walking shoes he made were exceptional.

They were the only shoes in the Martial Arts World that looked like real sneakers, and they even had special abilities!

Even if he didn’t want to praise himself, it was unavoidable.

The fact that he recognized this at a glance.

It meant the other party’s blacksmithing abilities were also outstanding.

It wasn’t just the clear sound of hammering.

“You’re amazing.”

Another heartfelt exclamation.

“Hoho, my goodness. Hearing such words twice from Elder Mak Noya’s disciple truly brings new emotions. So, will you make the farming tools right away? Then, my disciple and I will make them together. Though late, let me introduce him. This is my disciple, Ung. Ung, come here.”

The young man who had been standing a step back approached at Yamu’s call.

“I, I am Ung.”

He introduced himself in awkward Central Plains speech.

And took an awkward cupped-fist salute posture.

His eyes were truly clear and pure.

His face was also handsomely masculine.

With bronze skin and well-defined muscles, anyone could see he was like a Namman warrior.

“If you’re Elder Yamu’s disciple, you must be an excellent blacksmith. I’m Namgung Cheon-gang. Please take care of me.”

Ung’s appearance naturally brought out a bright smile, and Namgung Cheon-gang took the same cupped-fist salute.

Perhaps understanding the words of praise about himself.

A smile bloomed on Ung’s face.

“Namgung Cheon-gang, Namgung Cheon-gang. Good person. Amazing blacksmith. I, Ung. Together with Master. Learn.”

“Oho. For Ung to like someone this much and call them amazing. Truly, you are Elder Mak Noya’s disciple. Shall we start working right away then?”

“Yes! But what I need to make immediately isn’t farming tools.”

“Then what?”

“Tools to save the Mosquito-Honeybees.”

“Tools to save the Mosquito-Honeybees? Wait, does that mean the Namman Giant Mosquitoes have become violent?”

“That’s right, Elder Muya. The Namman Giant Mosquitoes have grown larger and become violent.”

Gyarong answered instead of Namgung Cheon-gang.

“So the blood energy has finally grown stronger.”

“Were you expecting this, Elder?”

“I did feel the evil of the Blood Soil growing stronger these past few days. As a blacksmith and farmer, I couldn’t help but notice the energy of the land… However, I didn’t expect it to become strong enough to make the Namman Giant Mosquitoes go berserk.”

Am I getting old too?

A faint murmur to himself.

“They say ‘in the time of one breath’ – the world can turn upside down in the time it takes to breathe once. So you don’t need to blame yourself, Elder.”

If one doesn’t correct their mistakes but also lacks shame, that would truly be wrong.

“So, we just need to solve it and finish the matter.”

“…”

Muya looked into the incredibly clear eyes of the young man.

The words that flowed out were not meant to reproach.

They meant there was no fault on his part, and were words extending a hand to solve it together.

The thought that he was remarkable naturally arose.

Though clearly a youth who hadn’t even reached his twentieth year.

How could his thoughts be so deep?

Wasn’t there a saying about ‘the young are to be feared’ and ‘not being ashamed to ask those below’?

The saying that there is learning in youth, and one should not be ashamed to learn from the young.

Didn’t it fit perfectly now?

‘To make me feel this way.’

Is it because he’s Elder Mak Noya’s disciple?

Or was he originally like this?

He must have been originally like this.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have become that person’s disciple.

So, his own disciple, who knows human purity and clarity, must have truly recognized this person.

Having felt this, how could he just stand by?

“Please take care of me. I will faithfully receive your teachings.”

With sincerity, giving a Central Plains greeting.

Muya took Namgung Cheon-gang into his heart.

“Oh my! Elder, how can you bow your head first! I’m the one who should be asking for your care!”

Namgung Cheon-gang hurriedly took a cupped-fist salute and bowed politely.

Hoho.

His manners are truly proper too.

How long has it been since meeting a Central Plains youth who was so likeable from the start?

“Now then, what should we do? We have natural insecticide used in our Beast Palace. Should we make insecticide sprayers to contain it?”

Though insecticide sprayers already existed.

Surely the number of Namman Giant Mosquitoes emerging from nine locations would be tremendous.

At minimum, they’d need to make at least a hundred to be able to suppress them.

Perhaps because of this, the Namman Giant Mosquitoes that served as Mosquito-Bees in the Namman Beast Palace might be exterminated.

‘But we need to save people first, so it can’t be helped.’

The water supply and purification issues would have to be considered later.

‘There are many places to get water, but purification will be the problem.’

This too would come to mind if they put their heads together and thought about it.

But, that’s what I thought.

“What? Insecticide? What kind of terrible thing to say… Why would we kill the Nammanggwadaemuun?”

“Hm? It’s not killing insects? Then what is it?”

“I said we’d save them. So we have to save them.”

“That wasn’t about saving people?”

“Of course. We have to save the Mosquito-Honeybees and save people too. We have to save them all.”

“Is it possible to save Nammanggwadaemuun infected with blood energy?”

“I’ll have to try first to know for sure, but I think it’s possible.”

No, how?

“Namgung Cheon-gang Younger Brother can do it. I, Gyarong, am certain! He fixed the divine insect!”

“Oh! Is that really true, Gyarong?”

Come to think of it, didn’t I hear that this journey involved executing a traitor while securing a divine insect?

If the divine insect was injured in the process of executing the traitor, and Elder Mak Noya’s disciple healed those wounds?

Then it would be entirely possible to heal Nammanggwadaemuun contaminated with blood energy…

“It’s true! He fixed it with hammering, clang clang!”

Huh?

“I didn’t see it myself, but Namgung Cheon-gang Younger Brother said he fixed it with blacksmith work. He said he treated it with refining.”

What?

“Blacksmith work is amazing. It can even fix living things. Gyarong will learn it later too. I’ll become Younger Brother’s disciple. Younger Brother is truly an amazing blacksmith.”

What crazy talk is this?

How do you fix living things with hammering?

“Ahem. That’s embarrassing.”

“…”

What’s this?

Are these guys poisoned by blood energy?

【( ￣^￣)】: Peep!

And what is that thing?

Why does some snow-white rice cake-like thing have a face?

It’s cute though.

“Our Baekseol is lifting her head because we’re talking about her.”

“Full of energy. Full of confidence. Bragging about getting her wounds treated. That’s right. This is the divine insect, Elder Muyaa.”

“…”

Muyaa seriously contemplated whether he should tap both of their heads with his hammer.

“Hammering?”

It seemed his disciple, Ung-i, felt the same way.

—————
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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