Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 11

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Third-rate Martial Arts Family, Greatest Under Heaven – Episode 011
An investment proposal worth a staggering four thousand silver taels.
Disbelief clouded Chu Yong-wol’s face.
“Four thousand silver taels…”
Chu Yong-wol picked up her teacup and took a sip.
“The tea truly has excellent flavor, Young Master.”
Watching her, I let out a quiet chuckle.
The reason she had suddenly mentioned the tea’s taste.
By judging the quality of the tea served to a guest, she was subtly implying that the Baek Manor’s finances didn’t appear particularly abundant.
‘Well, our Baek Manor does look impoverished on the surface, I suppose.’
Being a manor that had been passed down since my ancestors’ time, the grounds themselves were quite expansive, but without maintenance funds, everything except the bare minimum living spaces had fallen into disrepair.
Some of the pavilions looked like abandoned houses if you only looked at their appearance.
However.
“First, an advance payment.”
I pulled out a chest containing gold from beneath the bed and set it down.
“Two thousand silver taels.”
“…”
While Chu Yong-wol silently gasped at seeing a child casually produce such a large sum of money.
I continued speaking.
“From now on, we should discuss this matter with the head of the Main Family present.”
I called a servant and conveyed the matter to Baek Moo-ryang. But when he entered shortly after, he was not alone.
“Hwi, may this mother also listen to the discussion?”
“Of course. In fact, I was about to ask for that.”
Jeong In-hwa was the only daughter of a retired scholar of some renown in the region.
Regarding literary matters, if nothing else, she possessed the highest discernment within Baek Manor.
“Father, I was thinking of investing the Main Family’s surplus funds of four thousand taels into Miss Chu’s Baek Seo Antiquarian Bookstore. What are your thoughts on this?”
“Hmm. Four thousand taels, you say?”
“Yes.”
“I was just deliberating on how to use the funds…”
This was money obtained from Cheongsa-bang’s secret vault. Considering Cheongsa-bang’s attention, misappropriating funds within Ak-an County could create problems.
In such cases, it’s best to send the money far away and invest it elsewhere.
And if possible, the investment destination should be somewhere with promising prospects.
In that regard, the Baek Seo Antiquarian Bookstore in Nanchang was the perfect investment opportunity.
“Hmm. What do you think, my dear?”
“Having read the writing Hwi composed, I believe it possesses sufficient value for investment.”
“I see. However, this matter seems to require the opinion of one with exceptional talent even more. I would like to hear Miss Chu’s thoughts.”
“I too believe that Young Master Hwi’s writing will guide our Baek Seo Antiquarian Bookstore to an even greater height.”
“Is that so? Then I shall make the investment.”
“Pardon?”
Bewilderment crossed Chu Yong-wol’s face.
“I appreciate your trust, but….”
“What troubles you, Miss Chu?”
“Even if it is framed as an investment, entrusting a substantial sum to a complete stranger is no trivial matter. You seem to have decided rather easily….”
Chu Yong-wol hesitated for a moment before continuing.
“It feels awkward to say this in the young master’s presence, but this is ultimately a child’s decision, is it not?”
It was true that four thousand silver taels was an excessively large sum to stake on the decision of a young boy.
However.
Baek Moo-ryang and Jeong In-hwa responded simultaneously.
“It is because Yang Hwi undertook it.”
“If it is Yang Hwi’s decision, we can trust it.”
As husband and wife are of one mind, they spoke the same words at once, then gazed at each other with smiles—Baek Moo-ryang and Jeong In-hwa.
Watching them, Yang Hwi’s expression grew warm.
‘I see the fruits of consistently demonstrating trustworthiness over this past month.’
Indeed, Yang Hwi had successfully established considerable standing within the Baek Family.
It could not have been otherwise—from the very first day at the Manor, I had sent the Hong Gyo-bang gang packing with mere words.
That alone was remarkable enough to seem extraordinary for an eight-year-old’s exploits, yet on the second day, I had even plundered Cheongsa-bang’s secret vault and brought back five thousand taels.
Moreover, I had demonstrated the talent to master the Manor’s true martial techniques—the Heaven-Cleaving Sword and the Five-Flower Six-Harmony Technique—on the very first day, shallow though my understanding remained.
Thus, a conviction had quietly taken root in the Manor: whatever the eldest young master Baek Yang-hwi does, one should trust it first and ask questions later.
“Yang Hwi. Your father trusts your judgment. Therefore, should you be certain, we may invest the full amount. However…you said you would receive four-tenths of the profits as your share?”
“Yes, Father.”
Baek Moo-ryang regarded Chu Yong-wol intently.
The father’s smile vanished, replaced by the authority of the family head.
“Miss Chu. This family head’s wife is the daughter of a renowned scholar. Thus, I am well aware of how much an author typically receives when publishing a book.”
In that instant, Chu Yong-wol, having spotted an opportunity for additional gain, smiled and bowed her head.
“Typically one-tenth, sir. Please consider it as the Baek Seo Antiquarian Bookstore’s tribute and admiration for Young Master Yang Hwi’s literary talent. Then I shall prepare the contract for four-tenths.”
Baek Moo-ryang cut off Chu Yong-wol’s words at once.
“Hmm, that is not quite right. I am aware that even a handwritten copy with added commentary receives one-tenth. Yet you speak of four-tenths. Hmm.”
In that moment, Chu Yong-wol realized that Baek Moo-ryang had not mentioned four-tenths of the profits as an expression of gratitude.
But it was already too late.
“The author receives one-tenth. The basic costs of book production account for three-tenths. And the merchant who bears the production expenses and handles sales receives six-tenths. This is the average ratio as I understand it. Should I be mistaken in any particular, Miss Chu?”
Jeong In-hwa smiled faintly.
“The family head understands it precisely.”
“So Miss Chu receives six-tenths—thus you profit equally while still being praised for recognizing talent.”
Typically, scholars and literati are neither aware of nor concerned with such detailed financial arrangements.
Even with a scholar’s daughter present, Chu Yong-wol had not expected her to know the precise profit ratios, and she felt disconcerted.
‘And that is not even accurate!’
“Family head. What you describe is not profit, but rather costs that—”
Again, Baek Moo-ryang cut off Chu Yong-wol’s words.
“Costs. Yes, costs. And you are investing four thousand taels to cover even the book production expenses. Yet you claim four-tenths. Hmm, four-tenths indeed….”
Only then did Chu Yong-wol grasp Baek Moo-ryang’s true intent.
“I apologize to the head of the Baek Family. You showed such generosity by investing a substantial sum, yet as the daughter of a merchant house, I failed to demonstrate proper faith in return.”
If one shares both the financial losses and burdens through investment, then a fair adjustment to the profit ratio is only proper.
Chu Yong-wol had attempted to purchase goodwill with her words and fix the profit ratio at four parts, but Baek Moo-ryang, having understood her intention, pointed this out.
“I understand. The way of a merchant house lies in the pursuit of profit.”
Baek Moo-ryang spoke with a faint smile. Chu Yong-wol bowed respectfully.
“Thank you for your understanding.”
“Then, what ratio would you propose for adjustment, Miss Chu?”
“….”
Chu Yong-wol swallowed once, her voice trembling as she spoke.
“Five parts—no, six parts.”
“Seven parts.”
“….”
“Even if it were eight parts, I suspect an acquaintance of the merchant house whom I know would not refuse.”
Baek Moo-ryang subtly hinted that he had connections within the merchant house.
Chu Yong-wol had no other choice.
Four thousand silver taels—a substantial sum that more than covered all the expenses she had originally anticipated.
In other words, it was true that the Baek Seo Antiquarian Bookstore could undertake this new venture without any risk or burden.
“I am grateful for your generosity. Seven parts it shall be.”
“Excellent, Miss Chu. Let us draw up a contract.”
Yang Hwi gazed at Baek Moo-ryang with an expression full of admiration.
‘Father truly is father.’
The investment proposal and the resulting adjustment to the profit ratio were matters I had also been considering.
Yet I lacked the confidence to extract a seven-part profit while maintaining the same atmosphere of consideration and generosity toward the other party as my father displayed.
After all, that was not my nature from the beginning.
‘Had I been seated alongside Father from the start, perhaps I might have secured even greater profit.’

* * *
After Chu Yong-wol departed from Baek Manor following the conclusion of their contract.
Baek Moo-ryang called Yang Hwi aside privately.
“Yang Hwi. Would you care to join me for some tea?”
“I would be honored to accept, Father.”
Baek Moo-ryang summoned a maidservant and instructed her to bring tea.
Shortly after, the two sat side by side, sipping their tea.
“Tea embodies the aesthetics of patience. Drink too hastily in your impatience, and you may scald the roof of your mouth.”
“I shall take your words to heart and remain ever vigilant, Father.”
Understanding the deeper meaning behind his words, I simply bowed my head.
Yet seeing my response, Baek Moo-ryang released a quiet sigh.
“…Hwi.”
“Yes, Father.”
“I took you as my son, seeing it as fate. And yet you have already accomplished many things that even I deemed impossible. Do you know? Forging a bond between our family and a merchant house was one of my most cherished aspirations.”
I knew this well. Father had always yearned for the Main Family to gain a stable source of revenue.
Perhaps my skillful handling of Chu Yong-wol was simply the result of having envisioned this very scenario countless times in my mind.
“I shall ensure that our contract with Baek Seo Antiquarian Bookstore becomes the foundation of the Main Family’s prosperity.”
“Yes, I trust you shall. It has been merely a month since we became father and son, and yet I find myself believing in you with an almost uncanny certainty. However…”
Baek Moo-ryang continued speaking after taking a moment to gather his thoughts with his tea.
“Hwi. You are a peerless talent and a true genius. Though I am older, I am but an ordinary man, and our thoughts must differ in many ways. Yet an elder has his role to play. I perceive impatience in you.”
“…”
I fell silent. His words had struck the mark precisely.
‘Was it so obvious?’
Indeed, I had been rushing forward.
Those who had witnessed my displays thus far would naturally assume I was a monster possessing extraordinary talents in martial arts, literature, and commerce alike.
The reason I hurried so was because my goal stood impossibly high.
‘The greatest martial family under heaven. Even reversing thirty years of decline, achieving half of this goal in a lifetime would be difficult.’
Moreover, considering that the Namgung Family would become an increasingly significant threat as the Baek Family grew stronger.
In other words, before my time ran out, I had to lay all the foundations and eliminate all obstacles in my path.
“There is a saying: ‘Ride the tiger of opportunity.’ Hwi, it seems you regard becoming my son as riding upon a tiger’s back.”
“That is not the case, Father. I have never once viewed becoming part of the Baek Family as an opportunity.”
“I know. But I must ask—with your talents, you would have shone anywhere, at any time. Why then did you live as a beggar?”
A fair question. Setting aside even the miracle of reversing time itself, I had recognized my own talents from this same age in my previous life.
Yet the reason I continued living as a beggar was simple.
“Because I had no reason to live.”
But in my previous life, as a boy who merely lived because he was born, Father and the Baek Family…
became my reason to live.
They gave me the desire to live.
“Among all forms of grace, is there not one called the grace of saving a life? Father, you have bestowed upon me the grace of saving a life.”
“And so you strive to repay this debt?”
“That’s correct.”
“Then the relationship between father and son that you envision is one where debts of gratitude must always be repaid.”
“That is….”
Since my regression, I experienced my first moment of being at a loss for words.
“Yang Hwi of the Baek Family. This is the first lesson a inadequate father imparts to his capable son—always remember the principles of cultivating oneself and ordering one’s household.”
“….”
In quiet silence, I recalled the conversation that had just transpired.
Father had begun with praise of my talents, pointed out my impatience, and concluded by emphasizing the Doctrine of the Mean’s teachings on cultivating oneself, ordering one’s household, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world.
The entire sequence reorganized itself in my mind.
‘That’s right. My goal of becoming the greatest martial family under heaven is….’
Because I believed it was Father’s dream and the path to greater happiness for those I cherish.
Moreover, it was also because I regarded the Baek Family Estate as my home, Baek Moo-ryang as my father, Jeong In-hwa as my mother, and Baek Heon-so and Baek Yeon-yeon as my siblings.
In other words, if my family did not regard me as family in return.
If I lost sight of the fundamentals, then my goal would lose all meaning.
‘Truly, Father is… Father indeed. Though in my past life I had already surpassed his years, he still teaches me.’
Even water can go down the wrong pipe if swallowed in haste.
Though the spirit of a supreme master in his late thirties dwells within me, this body is that of a child, and this is a childhood where I can correct the regrets of my past life.
Swift, yet without haste.
Yes. Following the teachings of the Main Family—resolute, swift, and steadfast.
“I shall engrave your words upon my heart and never forget them. I am grateful for your guidance.”
“Good, see that you do.”
Baek Moo-ryang felt satisfied.
Though my son seemed to have gained an understanding quite different from the lesson I intended to impart, it mattered not.
What was important was the fact itself that we regarded each other as father and son.
And.
It was the very next day when a man who cherished his family in a manner different from both Yang Hwi and Baek Moo-ryang arrived at the Baek Manor.
“Little brother, didn’t we still have unfinished business between us? Since there’s been no word for over a month, I’ve come directly.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————