Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 122

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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 122
A melody drawn forth by plucking the strings with a sword.
Jegal Seol-ha and So Wol-hyang’s eyes widened.
Their deep expertise allowed them to immediately recognize the exceptional quality of the sound’s rhythm.
‘The notes flow without interruption like the erhu, but the timbre itself belongs to the guqin.’
The erhu—an instrument passed down from the barbarians dwelling in the vast northern steppes.
An instrument of unparalleled beauty, its sound produced by drawing a bow across two strings.
Chara-rang, chara-la-rang!
If plucking the strings sounded like water droplets falling from eaves—tap, tap—then Yang Hwi’s performance flowed like an unbroken stream.
That alone was not all.
Because he wielded the sharp blade as a bow, the quality of the sound was clearer and more crystalline.
Like the high, delicate voice of a young child.
‘The sound is more pleasant than I expected. Their reactions too.’
With both of them responding so warmly—those with keen ears for music—my enthusiasm soared even higher.
Perhaps I should display a bit more skill.
They say a truly accomplished musician can pour their heart into their performance.
Though I have not yet reached that pinnacle through music alone, I have once infused a single sword with my inner vision.
In this life, I have not yet attained the supreme realm known as the Heart-Image Scripture.
‘Still, I’ve cultivated enough inner strength. This much should be possible, shouldn’t it?’
I closed my eyes. Using my mind as canvas, I painted an image.
Strokes are drawn. The bow glides across the strings.
Strokes gather and accumulate to form a shape. Notes gather and accumulate to create form.
“…!”
“Elder brother!”
So Wol-hyang gasped silently while Jegal Seol-ha let out an exclamation of admiration.
It meant they had perceived what I had woven into the performance—in other words, I had successfully conveyed what I intended to express.
‘This is my first time experiencing something like this. It’s quite enjoyable.’
Beyond mere interest and amusement, I felt something almost ticklish.
How to describe it? A sensation of something approaching, yet falling just short of touching—leaving an unsatisfying gap?
That was the moment.
A jade-like voice layered itself over the guqin melody.
“Su Dongpo, upon seeing his son, was filled with joy and composed a poem: ‘My son, my son, I pray only that you be foolish and dull.'”
While performing, I inadvertently clicked my tongue.
‘Her talent truly is extraordinary.’
She had agreed to provide the accompaniment but had not specified what notes or rhythm she would create.
In other words, Jegal Seol-ha had heard only the brief melody and instantly conceived a poem that matched the rhythm, while also harmonizing the vocal pitch flawlessly.
Chara-rang, chara-la-rang!
“For talent hidden in one’s sleeve brings hardship throughout life, so my son, I beg you—never be clever.”
Gradually the notes descended lower, the rhythm slowed, and the long performance and song came to an end.
“That concludes it. I fear my skill is too humble to present before Miss Wol-hyang.”
“I’m a bit embarrassed. It was more impressive than I expected. I vouch for it as his teacher.”
So Wol-hyang nodded in agreement.
“To meet such an unexpected noble person—my ears have been truly blessed. I offer my gratitude.”
Her demeanor now radiated warmth incomparable to their first meeting.
Indeed, So Wol-hyang had a weakness for those versed in the arts.
I smiled faintly as I regarded her.
“Is that so? I’m relieved my words didn’t end up being false.”
“False? What do you mean?”
“You may not remember, but when we first met at the Dongpa Inn, I said you might regret it if you simply left.
“Ah….”
“Now we’ve met again, and you’ve even been called a noble—so Miss Wol-hyang has no reason for regret.”
“…That’s certainly true.”
So Wol-hyang nodded and continued speaking.
“Did you perhaps know who I was from the beginning?”
“One of Hangzhou’s three great beauties, Wol-hyang of Wol-hang-ru. You’re a famous person, after all. It’s become common knowledge that you burn with passion for music and dance, seeking to exchange with those of refined skill.”
I wasn’t certain if such rumors truly circulated, but I elaborated based on memories from my past life.
Fortunately, So Wol-hyang seemed to accept this explanation.
“Then you should have mentioned it from the start. You seem to have a mischievous side, Young Master.”
I responded with a smile, then paused to consider what to say next.
‘What should I bring up first?’
Ah, forget it. Should I just ask her directly to come with me?
That would be easier for me, but knowing Miss So’s temperament, she’d definitely refuse.
“There’s one thing I’m curious about.”
“Please, ask away.”
“Why do you pursue the Way of Music and Dance with such fervent dedication?”
In truth, I already knew the reason.
I had heard it directly from her own lips in my past life.
But to properly reestablish our relationship, I needed to hear it again.
“Music and dance are the arts of propriety and harmony—the expression of beauty itself and the pursuit of joy. Does one need any other reason for wanting to grasp beauty and seek greater happiness?”
There was another reason, though. To endure difficult and arduous times, one needed equally intense motivation.
Many desire wealth and glory, yet few actually strive relentlessly and cultivate themselves—that itself is proof.
I waited quietly for her answer.
“It has simply become the purpose of my life.”
Perfect. Her response was brief, yet it was exactly what I wanted to hear.
“Sister, that’s wonderful. You’re right—the arts are more than sufficient as a person’s ultimate destination and hold immeasurable value.”
“Thank you, Miss.”
“Sister, it feels awkward when you keep calling me ‘Miss.’ Would you call me Jegal instead, as my younger sister?”
So Wol-hyang’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
Now that I thought about it, the four of us in the guest room had never properly introduced ourselves.
“Miss. Are you from the Jegal Family?”
“It’s not ‘miss’—it’s ‘sister.’ And yes, I am from the Jegal Family.”
“…How dare a mere courtesan address the Young Miss of the Jegal Family in such a manner.”
“When two people walk the same path, what does family status matter? I simply wish to speak with my sister about deeper and more lasting things.”
So Wol-hyang demurred repeatedly, but Jegal Seol-ha was no less stubborn than anyone else when she set her mind to something.
Left with no choice, So Wol-hyang relented and changed her form of address.
“Very well, Sister Jegal. You truly have a warm heart.”
“It sounds a bit odd calling you sister while still speaking formally, doesn’t it?”
“Please, just let me keep my manner of speech….”
“Alright, Sister. I’ll be satisfied with this much for today.”
Yang Hwi interjected with a smile.
“Miss Wol-hyang. Since you’ve become sisters with my junior, you’ve become my sister as well, being my senior brother’s sister. I shall call you Sister from now on.”
“…Sigh. Very well. You may also speak to me more casually.”
“Then I shall, Sister?”
When she accepted without protest, bewilderment crossed So Wol-hyang’s face.
It seemed she’d only said it in passing.
But words once spoken cannot be taken back.
“Sister. Since things have come to this, won’t you come with us?”
“Come, you say? Where to?”
I explained about Yeong-nak Road, which was currently under construction, and the reason for our visit to Hangzhou.
“It would be wonderful if Sister could help us. Seol-ha has already agreed to work as a musician on Yeong-nak Road.”
“Me? When did I agree to that?”
“Well, it’s better to work alongside my senior brother than to perform the art of seduction under some stranger. It’s killing two birds with one stone.”
“…It feels like I’m being used. Like I’m being exploited for profit.”
This girl. She’s quick to catch on.
“What’s good is good. Anyway, Sister. What do you think? I’d like to invite you to our Yeong-nak Road with great honor.”
“…I appreciate the offer, but it seems difficult. I am bound to Wol-hang-ru.”
“I’m aware of that much. First, shall we discuss the terms? Ah, I have no intention of paying you a signing bonus.”
It contradicted what I’d said earlier about inviting her with great honor, but So Wol-hyang quietly waited for what would come next.
“Instead, I promise you ten percent of all the profits from the establishment that will belong to you.”
So Wol-hyang, who was second to none in composure in Hangzhou, could not help but be taken aback at this moment.
“Ten percent of the profits? Are you serious?”
“A man’s word is worth a thousand gold. Of course I’m serious. Your talents are worth that much.”
To be frank, it was the absolute truth without a shred of deception.
Though she was already exceptional now, the future So Wol-hyang, who would continue to refine herself and reach the pinnacle of musical mastery, was nothing short of a treasure worth ten thousand gold—a courtesan worthy of such acclaim.
In my previous life, when I took on a protection request, rumors like this had followed her.
‘The money she earns is said to approach ten percent of the entire profits of Hangzhou’s entertainment district.’
Hangzhou—the most prosperous place under heaven, with a level of refinement among the finest in the world.
Ten percent of such a place?
In essence, So Wol-hyang alone had earned as much money as Baek-ui-mun’s Yeong-hwi Road.
“Your words are sweet indeed, yet they sound like a dream. I cannot leave Wol-hang-ru.”
“You want to leave?”
“Not exactly. I owe Lu Ju not just a debt, but a profound kindness as well.”
My lips curved upward of their own accord.
‘Kindness, she says. Hardly.’
“Then let me at least speak with Lu Ju about it. If it truly won’t work, I’ll raise your sister’s value and depart.”
So Wol-hyang didn’t refuse outright.
She merely added one more thing.
“However, Lu Ju is a busy man. It may not be easy to meet with him.”
“I’m aware that Wol-hang-ru Master is a renowned magnate in these parts. They say he owns dozens of enterprises.”
Busy or not, it didn’t matter.
I simply needed to create a reason compelling enough for him to make time.
For instance… yes, speak of the tiger and it appears.
A presence was drawing closer from the rooftop above.
“Seolha, shall I teach you how to recognize a wealthy magnate?”
“How so?”
“When you sense considerable inner power yet weak momentum, nine times out of ten they’re rich. They’ve purchased martial manuals to cultivate their qi and consumed elixirs because they want to live long and healthy lives.”
“I see.”
A knock sounded at the door, and the guest room door swung open.
“Forgive my intrusion, honored guest. I am Hang Sang-un, master of Wol-hang-ru. Do you have a moment to spare?”
His attire was refined yet not ostentatiously ornate.
His speech was gentle and his manner courteous.
At first glance, Wol-hang-ru Master appeared to be a benevolent and kind-hearted middle-aged man.
“I have all the time in the world for you. Please, come in. But what brings you here?”
“I’m grateful for your understanding. The matter is regarding something that occurred just moments ago.”
This was precisely why I’d waited for those wealthy merchants’ sons to harass So Wol-hyang before making my move.
Had Jegal Seol-ha not arrived to provide a graceful conclusion, my original plan would have brought Wol-hang-ru Master out far sooner.
“Ah yes. Those men were intimidating my sister. I apologize for their rudeness.”
“Sister, you say?”
“She’s still young and has a friendly nature with others.”
“Hmm. Even if the young master is that way, our Wol-hyang isn’t the sort to open her heart so easily to just anyone.”
Wol-hang-ru Master smiled as he spoke.
I caught the subtle upward twitch of his eyebrows.
‘Bothered, are you? You bastard.’
A scoundrel wearing the mask of a benevolent man. It was rather amusing to scratch at him while pretending ignorance.
I wanted to claw even deeper and harder.
“Ah, I have a request for you, Lu Ju. Wol-hyang and I share the same aspirations, and I wish to take her with me. Please permit her to leave Wol-hang-ru.”
His smile vanished.
“Wol-hyang made a covenant with me. She will not leave Wol-hang-ru until her debt is repaid and all kindness is returned. Isn’t that so, Wol-hyang?”
“Yes, Lu Ju.”
“Therefore, I’m afraid I cannot grant your request.”
Yang Hwi’s response to this was remarkably straightforward.
“How much do the debt and favor amount to in total?”
“…May I ask your reason for inquiring?”
“I wish to settle both on her behalf and take my sister with me.”
The Wol-hang-ru Master stared at Yang Hwi’s face as though trying to bore through it.
‘Stare all you like, boy. You won’t bore through me, let alone wear me down. I’d be shameless if I gave in.’
“The debt is one matter, but converting the favor to currency is difficult. If I must speak plainly… Wol-hyang, would five hundred gold taels suffice?”
So Wol-hyang lowered her head silently in response.
Five hundred gold taels. Fifty thousand silver taels.
A sum that even a grown man laboring his entire life without spending a single coin could never accumulate.
Surely that dog of a man had deliberately quoted an inflated figure to discourage his intentions.
But.
“That sum is far too meager to bind my sister. I shall provide whatever amount you require.”
He withdrew a bundle of promissory notes from his robes and counted out precisely five hundred taels, extending them forward.
These were unallocated funds from the Yeong-nak-ro investment capital he had brought with him.
“I ask again. If five hundred gold taels settles my sister’s debt and favor, does she become mine, Master?”
“….”
At last, the Wol-hang-ru Master was forced to reveal his true heart.
“Young Master. Wol-hyang is a premier courtesan of the Wol-hang-ru. Though you appear to be from a distinguished household, carrying such wealth at your tender age, I have no intention of releasing her.”
Yang Hwi countered swiftly, as though he had been waiting for this.
“Then even after settling all her debt and favor, my sister cannot leave the Wol-hang-ru.”
He had continued this entire conversation for the sake of this single statement.
The Wol-hang-ru Master went rigid, struck at his vital point.
‘Now. Speak, you dog. You’re cornered!’
If he claimed she could leave, he would have to accept the notes immediately and release her.
But if he said she could not?
‘Miss So… Sister Wol-hyang will harbor suspicion. Then she’ll reach the truth all the faster.’
There was no way the Wol-hang-ru Master could release So Wol-hyang for merely five hundred gold taels.
Because the Wol-hang-ru Master already knew.
Her beauty, counted among the three greatest beauties of Hangzhou?
Her mastery of song and dance, possessing exceptional talent despite not yet reaching her twenties?
Certainly remarkable qualities….
‘But they amount to nothing compared to my sister’s true worth.’
The reason was simple.
So Wol-hyang was a descendant of both So So-so and Su Dongpo.
So So-so, hailed as the greatest courtesan of all ages.
And Su Dongpo. One of the Eight Masters of the Tang and Song, and among the eight literary giants, he ranked first among the greatest prose stylists of all time.
In other words, Su Dongpo himself could be called the greatest of all ages.
A descendant of two such paragons.
A talented woman who inherited the gifts of both and could claim yet another title as the greatest of all ages, holding it in her delicate, graceful hands.
That is So Wol-hyang.
‘In her past life, she suffered under the cruel grasp of the Wol-hang-ru Master.’
I gazed at the Wol-hang-ru Master.
His body remained rigid as stone, yet I could clearly see his mind churning restlessly.
‘You wretched bastard. This life will be vastly different from your last. And for you, it will be the worst possible outcome.’
Hangzhou—a city that stands as the equal of Heaven above and Suzhou below, and So Wol-hyang is its very embodiment.
She possesses the potential to be called the greatest of all ages in both the arts and music.
“My ancestor Su Dongpo once said this: talent hidden within the sheath brings a tumultuous life. Why? Why was I born with such a gift? Namgung Cheon-yeong. Namgung Cheon-yeong. Please, give me an answer.”
I will change it.
And thus I will obtain it.
‘For the Main Residence. And for my sister Wol-hyang’s happiness.’

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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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