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Chapter 10
“…Ah… no, it must just be my imagination. And it wouldn’t be right to be rude to someone who helped me.”
“Of course. So… what brings you here?”
Cheongang thought his connection with the Moyong Family had ended.
But she suddenly showed up again.
He had no idea why.
“I’ll be returning to my family soon.”
“Ah, I see.”
So—
A farewell visit.
‘Good. Please go quickly.’
Because of her—
He ended up at the Inspection Division.
If this continued—
He might even meet the family head next.
‘That sounds exhausting.’
“Before leaving, I wanted to properly thank you.”
“Thank you again for saving me.”
“It was nothing. As a member of the Namgung Family, I just did what I should.”
“And you created the opening yourself.”
“The fact that you took advantage of that opening is impressive.”
“…And you really are a blacksmith.”
He was wearing blacksmith clothes.
And standing in a forge.
There was no hiding it.
“Yes, I’m a blacksmith.”
“And a pretty famous one, too.”
“I’ve heard of you. You’re a top craftsman at Cheongeum Workshop.”
“That’s impressive.”
“…Oh?”
That was unexpected.
He thought she might look down on him.
But—
She didn’t.
She sounded sincere.
‘She’s very polite.’
“Being a blacksmith with such martial skill…”
“You’ve shown me that the martial path isn’t limited to warriors alone.”
‘She talks nicely too.’
Her praise made him smile.
“It’s not a big deal.”
“I just have a good eye for metal.”
“A good eye?”
“Yes. I can see the ‘grain’ of metal better than others.”
“Ah! So that’s how you broke the sword!”
“Exactly.”
…Not really.
It was mostly the system.
But he couldn’t say that.
“That’s amazing.”
“Ah… it’s nothing—”
Her eyes sparkled.
‘…Is this fate?’
He started imagining things.
Marriage.
Kids.
A house with a forge.
Then—
A voice interrupted.
“Can you really see the grain?”
“…What?”
Reality crashed back.
He turned.
‘Is that a human… or a bear?’
A massive man stood there.
Huge hands.
Overwhelming presence.
‘He’s as big as my uncle!’
Cheongang immediately backed down.
No reason to fight.
“What did you ask again?”
“If you see the grain, is it through internal energy or instinct?”
Ah—
So he wasn’t picking a fight.
Just curious.
‘Not a villain?’
“…I see it with my eyes.”
“Internal energy helps, but mostly it’s instinct.”
“Really?”
“And how do you train your internal energy?”
“Aren’t blacksmiths too busy?”
“…?”
He kept asking questions.
‘Is he trying to become a blacksmith?’
Cheongang misunderstood.
A moment later
“…May I ask who you are?”
“Oh! My mistake.”
“I forgot to introduce myself.”
The giant bowed.
“I am Paeng Dohyuk of the Hebei Paeng Family.”
“…Oh.”
One of the Five Great Families.
Then—
Another man stepped forward.
Elegant.
Refined.
“I am Jegal Hojun of the Jegal Family.”
‘…What?’
Now three great families were here.
Namgung.
Moyong.
Paeng.
Jegal.
‘What is going on?’
All of them—
Seemed like direct descendants.
But—
Not his problem.
“I’m Namgung Cheongang.”
“A blacksmith at Cheongeum Workshop.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“Now, can you answer my question?”
“Yes… you asked about training.”
“Yes. How do you train internal energy while working?”
“Well…”
“I train while working.”
“…!”
“That’s incredible!”
Paeng Dohyuk looked amazed.
“You are a true martial artist!”
“…Uh.”
Suddenly—
Moyong Sohwa sent a voice transmission.
- He’s obsessed with martial arts. That’s why he reacts like that.
‘Ah.’
That explained it.
‘Wait… voice transmission?’
That required high-level skill.
‘So she’s that strong?’
Then—
The others probably were too.
“Do you train after work?” Paeng asked.
“Isn’t that too late?”
“Sometimes.”
“But I also train during work.”
“Oh!”
“And sometimes, after training, when I hammer metal…”
“I absorb fire energy.”
“That’s amazing!”
He reacted enthusiastically.
Like a fan.
‘His reactions are great.’
“Of course, I couldn’t defeat assassins with just martial arts.”
“As a blacksmith, I have limits.”
“That’s true.”
“They were from one of the top assassin groups!”
“They’re assassins.”
“…Ah.”
“Anyway, there’s one ability blacksmiths have.”
“What is it?!”
“The ability to see the grain.”
“…!”
Paeng leaned in.
“…Tell me!”
Cheongang glanced at the large blade on his back.
‘Better not drag this out.’
“It’s an instinct.”
“We can sense weak points in metal.”
“OOOH!”
Paeng burst into laughter.
“That explains everything!”
Then—
He suddenly hugged Cheongang.
CRACK—
“AAAAHHH!!”
“My ribs!!”
“Ahh! Sir Namgung!”
The bear—
Was crushing him.
“Help!!”
