Make the Namgung Family Great Again – Chapter 50

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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Having already received the ‘Jeseon-gyeong’, Namgung-Woo’s resistance had lessened considerably.

He accepted the Five Tigers Token without hesitation.

Reflecting the Peng family’s character, the token was made from iron rather than from precious gems or jade.

Pleased by his acceptance, though belatedly, Peng Hou-sang finally answered Namgung-Woo’s initial question.

“You said you were looking for a place to process the Sky-Gazing Howler’s horn?”

“Ah, yes. That’s right.”

“I have a few places in mind. The Imperial Family would be the closest. Their blacksmiths and sorcerers should be able to handle the horn. But I imagine you’d prefer to avoid them.”

Han Gye-ran, the Martial Consort of Haedong, was intent on making him the Imperial Son-in-Law.

Marriage was a burden Namgung-Woo wished to avoid. And Peng Hou-sang felt the same.

“That leaves two options. One is the Tang Family in Sichuan. They’re experts in poisons and metallurgy, so they should be able to process the horn. The problem is, their skills as swordsmiths are relatively lacking.”

The name was so well-known that an image formed instantly in Namgung-Woo’s mind upon hearing the name.

The Sichuan Tang Family were renowned for their poison techniques and hidden weapons.

If he entrusted the horn to them, what would he get back?

Would the horn’s mystical toxins be extracted, and the remaining material fashioned into hidden weapons or daggers?

“The last option is the Guya Workshop in Southern Zhili.”

The Guya Workshop.

A sacred ground for swordsmiths, dedicated solely to the craft of blades.

It was known throughout the world as the finest forge in all the land.

“Jiangnan has long been known for its fine swords. The legendary blades forged in Wu and Yue during the Warring States period are still revered because the natural environment there is perfectly suited for swordsmithing. The Guya Workshop is considered the best among all the forges in Jiangnan.”

Its very name, derived from Ou Yezi, the legendary ancestor of blacksmiths and the patron saint of swordsmiths, set it apart.

An arrogant name, claiming to be the true inheritors of Ou Yezi’s legacy.

Yet, if they could maintain that claim for so long, it wasn’t arrogance, but fact.

“It’s quite a distance, located in Jing County near Mount Ci, where Ou Yezi forged the legendary swords Longyuan, Gongbu, and Tai’a, but there’s no better place.”

“But the Sky-Gazing Howler’s horn isn’t metal. Will that be a problem?”

“The Guya Workshop doesn’t discriminate when it comes to materials. Metal, stone, wood, bone, even monster parts… they work with everything. If you want the horn forged into a blade, the Guya Workshop is a better choice than even the Imperial Family.”

Peng Hou-sang’s cherished saber, ‘Singwol’, was also a product of the Guya Workshop.

Its name, derived from one of Ou Yezi’s legendary swords, ‘Geogwol’, served as a mark of its origin.

“But Family Head, doesn’t the Guya Workshop only craft blades for select individuals?”

The spar between two peerless experts: Namgung-Woo and Peng Hou-sang.

It was a spectacle worth more than gold, a stroke of fortune for any martial artist.

Therefore, with Namgung-Woo’s permission, Peng Hou-sang had allowed members of the Peng family to observe the spar.

Peng Ja-ryeong, Peng Ha-ryeong, Peng Ye-ryeong, and even Peng Mu-ho, who had just spoken, were among the spectators.

“I know. They’re skilled, but also incredibly proud.”

They had even refused a request from Zhu Jianze, the Emperor’s younger brother and the Prince of Chong, to forge him a sword.

The name of a prince wasn’t enough to sway them.

They took immense pride in their craft, and they had the backing to support that pride.

Peng Hou-sang himself wielded a weapon from the Guya Workshop.

Heonwon-gang, the Saber Sovereign and head of the Heonwon Family, also treasured weapons crafted there.

To disturb the Guya Workshop was to stir the entire Jianghu.

Conversely, if a martial arts faction interfered with the forge, the Imperial Court would intervene immediately.

The Guya Workshop didn’t just create weapons; they created divine weapons.

With the chaos caused by the Ghost Gates, the Imperial Family wouldn’t tolerate martial arts factions strengthening themselves with divine weapons.

This delicate balance of power made the Guya Workshop a neutral zone, untouched by both the Jianghu and the Imperial Court.

A demilitarized zone, existing precariously between the righteous, the wicked, and the Imperial forces.

“Even the Five Tigers Token wouldn’t move them. But have you forgotten? Four times a year, they open their doors to the world.”

“…The Four Seasons Gathering.”

Peng Mu-ho muttered, as if just remembering.

Peng Ha-ryeong, seeing Namgung-Woo’s confusion, whispered an explanation.

“The Guya Workshop accepts outside visitors during the four seasons: Start of Spring, Start of Summer, Start of Autumn, and Start of Winter. That’s the Four Seasons Gathering. Huge crowds gather during those times. Normally, they don’t take custom orders, only selling their creations to those they choose. But during the Gathering, they accept requests from outsiders.”

It was like a Jianghu-wide enrollment period.

The seasonal schedule reminded him of booking tickets for holiday travel or making reservations at a popular restaurant.

“Hmph. I didn’t get ‘Singwol’ through the Four Seasons Gathering. I received it directly.”

Peng Hou-sang puffed out his chest proudly.

This time, Peng Ye-ryeong whispered from the other side.

“They gave one to each of the Three Extremes and Twelve Sovereigns. It’s their way of building connections and ensuring their survival.”

“Hey now! Ye-ryeong! The Guya Workshop master was so impressed by my Five Tigers Gate-Severing Saber Art that he sent me ‘Singwol’ as a gift of gratitude for the inspiration!”

Ignoring Peng Hou-sang’s indignant protests, Namgung-Woo calculated the dates.

It was late July, nearing August. Start of Autumn hadn’t passed yet, but it was too far to reach in time.

That left Start of Winter, and even that wasn’t far off.

Sensing his concern, Peng Hou-sang cut short his boastful tale of how he acquired ‘Singwol’ and said, “What are you worried about? You have the Peng Family behind you.”

“We’ll use the Grand Canal.”

As expected of Peng Ja-ryeong, who is practically in charge of the Peng family’s logistics, he followed up with clear and precise figures.

“The fastest route from Tianjin to Zhenjiang via the Grand Canal is thirty days, forty at the slowest. It’s about the same as the forty-day journey from Beijing to Nanjing. From Zhenjiang to Jing County, it’s about ten days by horse. All in all, it shouldn’t take more than two months, so we should reach Jing County before Start of Winter in October.”

Peng Ja-ryeong smiled, a confident grin mirroring his father’s.

“Don’t worry about passage. There are hardly any merchant vessels in Tianjin that aren’t connected to the Peng Family.”

So reassuring.

The Hebei Peng Family… a truly unwavering source of comfort.

“Thank you for your assistance.”

Namgung-Woo bowed his head in gratitude. Peng Ja-ryeong returned the gesture, bowing even lower.

“The debt we owe you is far greater. I’m unworthy of your thanks.”

As they exchanged pleasantries, Peng Ha-ryeong’s voice cut through the air.

“Speaking of which…!”

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“Do you have any regrets?” Namgung-Woo asked.

Peng Ha-ryeong smiled brightly. “About what?”

“Well… about all this.”

Seeing his awkwardness, she chuckled softly. The river breeze rustled her hair.

It was the first time.

Being away from the Peng Family, traveling on a canal boat, wanting to be with someone outside her family.

“Benefactor, I’ve always been in Hebei.”

She hadn’t wanted to leave, afraid that being too far away would mean less time with Peng Ye-ryeong.

She’d only left Tianjin when Ghost Gates opened within Hebei.

“It would be nice to spend time with Ye-ryeong now that she’s healthy. Yes, that would be a dream come true. I’ve always longed for that. But I think a part of me wanted this too.”

To travel freely, without worries, anxieties, or guilt.

“And I never travel with maids. Our family rules are more relaxed than other clans, but that comes with its own responsibilities.”

Even in Wuan County, she hadn’t brought any attendants and traveled with the Northern Sky Group members instead.

“So don’t worry. I won’t be a burden.”

“I never thought you would be.”

Namgung-Woo turned away, gazing at the passing scenery.

But the images didn’t register in his mind.

There were four of them on the boat traveling down the Grand Canal from Tianjin.

Namgung-Woo, Yang Kwai, Yang Jeong, and Peng Ha-ryeong.

After the spar with Peng Hou-sang, Peng Ha-ryeong had announced her intention to accompany him.

There were no objections.

In fact, Peng Hou-sang had encouraged her, telling her to see the world.

Even her mother, Moyong-hye, had agreed.

Peng Ye-ryeong had also wanted to join them, but the reaction then had been quite different.

Moyong-hye had objected, and Peng Hou-sang had also refused.

While Peng Ye-ryeong possessed immense potential, her unstable Celestial Gate had hindered her martial arts training.

She lacked the strength to protect herself.

Even with Namgung-Woo and Peng Ha-ryeong, they couldn’t protect her every moment of every day.

She was still too fragile to roam Jianghu.

While the Peng Family might have allowed her to travel within Hebei, venturing into Jiangnan was out of the question.

The south was the land of the Black Path.

While the north was predominantly righteous, there were still wicked sects there. And similarly, there were righteous sects in the south.

But south of the Huai River, the Black Path held greater sway.

The Jianghu was a chaotic place, where anything could happen.

How would Peng Ye-ryeong, with her immense potential but current weakness, be perceived there?

Even Namgung-Woo agreed with Peng Hou-sang’s decision.

“Oh, right,” Namgung-Woo said, turning back to Peng Ha-ryeong.

“Perhaps you should stop calling me ‘Benefactor’ now.”

“Hmm, you’re right. It does sound unnatural outside the Peng estate. What should I call you, then?”

“Since you’re technically a member of the Azure Sky Group, ‘Boss’ would be appropriate.”

“I don’t like that.”

She replied instantly and a pout formed on her lips.

She then used the term she’d been wanting to use.

“…Oppa. I’ll call you Oppa. And Benefactor, no, Oppa, could you call me by my name?” [1]

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[1] [T/N: author used Gēge (哥哥) but ‘Oppa’ just fits better, tbh.]

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