Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 111

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Third-rate Martial Arts Family, Greatest Under Heaven – Episode 111
“Adu.”
“Hm?”
“I am Adu of Shaolin, a humble monk. Try it.”
“But I’m not a humble monk?”
“Yes, you are.”
“What does humble monk even mean?”
“You don’t know that? Don’t your head abbot and the other monks go around saying ‘humble monk’ all the time?”
On the road back to the Baek Family estate from Geom Wang’s Fortress.
Adu stuck to Yang Hwi like glutinous rice, never tiring.
To be precise, Yang Hwi and the others had naturally come to regard Adu as part of their group.
“You’re a monk, yet you’re always going on about ‘I this’ and ‘I that.’ If you just threw in some ‘humble monk’ talk, you’d sound a lot more refined.”
As they rode in the carriage, Yang Hwi’s primary concern was correcting Adu’s manner of speech.
It seemed they would be traveling together for quite some time, so I thought it best to polish away his childish tendencies beforehand.
‘I absolutely despise acting like a child. Though Hwa-hwa and Yeon-yeon are exceptions.’
Thinking of returning home to see the adorable Gu Hwa-hwa and Baek Yeon-yeon, who had blossomed like a flower, brought a natural smile to my face.
Beside me, Gu Ak wore the same smile as he thought of his daughter and wife.
“We should be able to enter Jiangxi Province soon.”
“By tomorrow at the latest, we should be able to cross the river.”
It took Yang Hwi’s group a little over a month to return to the family estate.
The distance from Jizhou to Wuzhu Akan County was considerable, and the injuries and exhaustion sustained at Geom Wang’s Fortress were severe, leaving no energy to hurry.
‘Besides, there were many places to visit along the way.’
Contrary to plan, we had caused quite a commotion at Geom Wang’s Fortress.
Though it was due to the Blood Cult’s sudden intervention, we had to handle the aftermath all the more thoroughly.
For instance, confirming what Ha O-mun knew and how much he knew.
“It’s fortunate that Ha O-mun knows nothing.”
“Indeed. We could have been falsely accused of colluding with the Blood Cult alongside the main family and the Baek clan.”
To create chaos at Geom Wang’s Fortress, I had sold out Jang Bo-do to Ha O-mun.
At the time, the Tae-hwa Branch Leader had identified Yang Hwi’s identity, but he apparently died at the hands of the Blood Cult before informing other branches.
Thanks to this, no one in the world remained who knew that Yang Hwi was the source of the rumors at Geom Wang’s Fortress.
‘Thank you. Since I have taken my revenge, rest easy knowing I will close my eyes in peace.’
After arriving in Jiangxi Province by way of the Yangtze River, the journey became considerably faster.
Since the influence of the Baek and Tang clans was stronger in this region, we received various assistance, such as exchanging horses through the Gaecheon relay stations.
Thus, the group arrived at the Baek Family estate about five days after reaching Jiangxi.
“Young Master Hwi!”
Han Supervisor and the household servants under Jae-gyeong Pavilion came rushing out barefoot.
“Young Master Hwi!”
“Haha, Supervisor!”
Han Supervisor embraced Yang Hwi as if greeting a beloved grandson after ten years, lifting him up and spinning around.
It was remarkable that an old man of five feet possessed the strength to lift the six-foot-tall Yang Hwi.
“I heard the rumors! You pulled off another one, and did it properly too!”
“Rumors? What rumors have been spreading?”
“According to what the Baek Intelligence Bureau investigated, you apparently went into the Geom Wang Headquarters!”
‘Ah. It’s inevitable the rumors spread because of Elder Dang and his sister.’
The Tang Siblings—they had treated over a hundred wounded inside the Geom Wang Headquarters.
Given that, there was no way the rumors wouldn’t spread.
“I’ve already requested an emergency meeting of the elders! Let’s head in right away!”
“Supervisor, perhaps you should rest a bit first….”
“Nonsense!”
‘Haha. I really wish I could rest.’
But there was no helping it.
It was only natural that the family elders were intensely curious about what happened at the Geom Wang Headquarters.
“Yang Hwi. It’s been quite a while.”
The Family Head’s chamber—the usual venue for elder council meetings.
Baek Moo-ryang entered and smiled upon seeing me.
“Father.”
After three months of seclusion, I had immediately departed on my journey, and now eight months had passed since my return—three months away and three months back, plus two more months of absence before that.
The reason it was eight months rather than six was simple.
Father had been in seclusion before that.
‘Father’s bearing has changed quite considerably.’
For the past couple of years, Baek Moo-ryang had stepped away from miscellaneous duties and devoted himself entirely to refining his martial arts.
His dedication was so intense that except during family elder meetings, he was almost always in seclusion training.
Considering that he had previously devoted himself to his children’s education even amid his busy schedule, this was quite unexpected.
I understood my father’s choice.
‘In a martial family, the most important thing is the Family Head’s martial prowess. The burden must be immense.’
Compared to when I first entered the family, the Baek clan’s power had grown more than a hundredfold.
Father must have become unable to be satisfied with anything less than the pinnacle.
For a leader could only command more people by becoming stronger himself.
‘Seclusion training is never easy. Father truly has the makings of a Family Head.’
Severing all life’s pleasures and devoting oneself solely to martial cultivation.
This was essentially a form of self-torture.
People grow weary eating the same food for merely four days—yet here was someone repeating only training for years on end.
For anyone without an iron will, it would be no wonder if madness took hold.
“I hear you’ve accomplished great things. Whenever you depart, you return having achieved something—truly commendable.”
“Not at all. It’s only thanks to your excellent guidance, Father.”
Baek Moo-ryang smiled gently.
“I’d like to hear the details, so shall we begin the meeting?”
Though the clan’s power had grown considerably over the years, the faces attending the elder meetings remained largely unchanged.
Yeo Un-hyeok, the director of the Baek Intelligence Bureau, our dedicated information division.
Gwak Moon, the Baek clan’s most loyal retainer and director of the Discipline Bureau.
Gu Ak, whose authority over personnel matters comprised half of the Baek Family’s martial force.
Han Supervisor, the Baek Family’s second-in-command who wielded the financial division and supervisory bureau with a single hand.
And now, with Family Head Baek Moo-ryang and Crown Prince Yang Hwi present as well.
‘Thinking back to how things were, Gwak Moon’s transformation truly deserves the phrase “seas turning to mulberry fields.”‘
Having consumed two Spirit Elixirs, the internal energy accumulated in my dantian alone reached fifty years’ worth.
My martial prowess, honed through daily blood and sweat, combined with Yang Hwi’s periodic guidance, had brought me to the threshold between third-rate mastery and first-rate transcendence.
‘For now, this level suffices. It’s not a martial force division, after all—it’s a regulatory authority.’
With that thought, I shifted my gaze slightly.
Toward Jin Geum-bo, the sole attendee who was not a member of the Baek Family.
His expression mingled tension with anxiety.
‘Don’t worry. I will keep my promise without fail.’
Soon, the elders’ conference began.
“Crown Prince Yang Hwi, speak up. What exactly happened at Geom Wang’s Fortress!”
“Several days before the Crown Prince arrived, Jeong Wol-mun sent an emissary. We request an explanation regarding this matter as well.”
“The father and son of the Jin Family from Taewon came to the main house. Is it true they agreed to become vassal families?”
I’ve certainly left quite a mess in my wake during this journey.
With multiple questions coming at once, my head is spinning.
“I’ll explain in chronological order. Shall I start with the matter of Jeong Wol-mun?”
Han Supervisor’s instincts about money were prickling insistently regarding Geom Wang’s Fortress, but he held back.
Meanwhile, Yang Hwi began his explanation.
“It began as a dispute, but we concluded matters amicably with Jeong Wol-mun.”
The matter of achieving victory in martial combat against a peak-stage master.
Pointing out the weaknesses in the Wol-heun Sword technique and conveying methods for improvement.
Then I explained the reasons behind taking such measures toward Jeong Wol-mun.
“I believed that by utilizing Jeong Wol-mun, we could fill the Baek Family’s chronic weaknesses.”
The Baek Family’s problem and weakness.
Everyone in this room knew it.
“The absence of the upper generation. A shortage of masters.”
“Certainly, as our power grows, this problem becomes increasingly pronounced.”
“The Baek Family’s true nature is martial. In the end, martial prowess is what matters.”
Family Head Baek Moo-ryang’s expression darkened slightly.
He believed the current issue was his own fault.
Seeing this, Yang Hwi quickly continued.
“Therefore, I believe we should accept Jeong Wol-mun as an ally of the main house.”
“An ally, you say.”
“Wouldn’t that create difficulties considering the Tang Family’s position?”
A subtle smile crept across someone’s lips.
The words they had been waiting for were finally spoken.
“Correct. Ultimately, the objective is to absorb Jeong Wol-mun entirely.”
“Hmm….”
In other words, this was the strategy.
Begin as allies or friends, demonstrate the gap in our positions, and make them desire to become one with us.
“Do you believe it’s possible?”
“Though Jeong Wol-mun’s history may be shorter than the main family, it boasts over a century of legacy as a martial sect. Their pride is certainly not insignificant.”
“Please entrust this to me. I am confident.”
I recalled what had transpired at Jeong Wol-mun and the emotions I had read from the faces of the Jeongwolmun Elders.
I was certain, once again, that I could win them over.
“Well, Young Master Hwi surely has everything planned.”
“Indeed, there has yet to be a single matter that Young Master Hwi has promised that failed to come to pass.”
“By the way, the Ascending Dragon Sword—what a magnificent epithet you’ve earned!”
Nearly three months had passed since the enthusiasts at Jeong Wol-mun first cried out the Ascending Dragon Sword.
Rumors of the Baek Family’s Ascending Dragon Sword were beginning to spread throughout Gangseong.
“That sword dragon ascending toward the heavens!”
“To have earned the dragon epithet bestowed only upon the greatest of the late-stage realm—this is surely cause for celebration.”
“Beyond Young Master Hwi’s personal achievement, this will undoubtedly elevate the family’s renown. It was the same when the Baek Family earned the epithet of the Dormant Dragon in the past.”
“Remarkable, Young Master Hwi!”
“Thank you all.”
I smiled and continued speaking.
“Regarding the matter with the Tae-won Jin Family—I received considerable assistance in entering the Sword King’s Tower.”
I spoke while looking toward Jin Geum-bo.
“Without Jin Merchant, I would never have entered the Sword King’s Tower. For this reason—his choice to stake the family’s very existence and select the main family, and his talent in commerce which will surely benefit us—I have promised Jin Merchant the status of a vassal house of the Baek Family.”
Everyone fell silent, lost in thought.
I first observed Han Supervisor’s expression.
‘There’s no need for concern.’
The Supervisor’s Office was overwhelmed with work as the family’s financial scale grew by the day at an astonishing pace.
Han Supervisor, its head, had not slept more than two hours a day for nearly a year.
“According to information received from Baek Li-gak, Jin Merchant’s commercial talent is quite exceptional. I humbly request that you assign Jin Merchant to the Supervisor’s Office, Family Head.”
Upon Han Supervisor’s request, Baek Moo-ryang regarded Jin Geum-bo with a solemn expression.
“Jin Merchant, I have a question.”
“Please speak, Family Head.”
“Why do you wish to become a member of our family?”
Jin Geum-bo, after considering for a moment, answered while looking toward me.
“The Jin Family’s long-cherished wish was to clearly expose the existence of the Sword King’s Tower, which had caused us to lose everything. Young Master Hwi promised to address this, and he fulfilled our wish admirably. Therefore.”
Jin Geum-bo swallowed hard and continued.
“I, Jin Mo, wish to repay this debt by serving the Baek Family with utmost devotion.”
Baek Moo-ryang gazed at Jin Geum-bo with serious eyes and smiled gently.
“I believe you. Furthermore, I welcome you. From this moment, I assign you, Jin Merchant—or rather, Vassal Jin Geum-bo—to the Supervisor’s Office.”
“Thank you! Thank you so much!”
Jin Geum-bo, overwhelmed with emotion, bowed repeatedly.
After he composed himself, the meeting resumed.
“At last, I shall hear the tale of the Geom Wang Spear.”
“Hwi, speak at once.”
“What exactly happened, Young Master Hwi!”
“…Hehehehe.”
I let out a laugh brimming with avarice, my fingers fumbling to retrieve something.
“First, allow me to show you something.”
A massive chest landed upon the table with a heavy thud.
As the lid swung open, a dull golden radiance spilled forth.
It was gold I had collected and gathered from my companions beforehand.
“Ten thousand taels of gold!”
“…!”
“Gasp…!”
“T-ten thousand taels?”
Han Supervisor’s face broke into a blissful smile.
Then he collapsed right there.
“Han Supervisor!”
“Quick! Infuse him with vital energy!”
“Even if I die, I have no regrets….”
Han Supervisor’s thumb and forefinger were curled into the shape of the character for gold.

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