Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 13

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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 013
Before revealing his scheme to Gu Ak, Yang Hwi reminded himself of the conditions he needed to maintain.
‘I must make Rang-rang’s Father turn against Hong Gyo-bang-ju and become an ally of the Baek Family instead.’
The former would prevent the Heuk-do-pa from growing stronger, while the latter would bring me one step closer to the power of the Greatest Under Heaven.
‘So for now, I’ll keep it vague. There’s no need to reveal everything at once anyway.’
Yang Hwi opened his mouth with an enigmatic smile.
“Brother Gu, the real problem is that Miss Rang is merely a courtesan without backing. So… let’s create one for her.”
“What?”
“Does Miss Rang have a family?”
“No. She’s an orphan abandoned by heaven and earth.”
Gu Ak stated it plainly.
‘So he himself believes she has no family, and those around her think the same way.’
“Then let’s create one. For example, what if it turned out she actually had a father?”
“…Is that the method you mentioned before, little brother?”
Gu Ak’s expression noticeably grew cold.
Beyond mere deflation, disappointment flickered across his face—and even anger began to show through.
“Speak! So the brilliant conclusion from that clever mind of yours is to fabricate Rang-rang’s father!”
As if he hadn’t truly expected an answer, Gu Ak continued to shout.
“Would I not have considered such a simple method! The reason her father rejects Rang-rang is because she’s of no use to him! Why would an influential figure powerful enough to aid the Red Bridge Hall volunteer to become Rang-rang’s father! Even if we deceived her father into accepting her, without continuous support, he would cast her aside!”
Watching Gu Ak’s face flush crimson with rage, Yang Hwi grinned widely.
“You’re smiling? Should I make sure you never smile again, you brat?”
The moment Gu Ak grabbed him by the collar, Yang Hwi uttered a single phrase.
“What if there’s a perfect method that solves every problem?”
Gu Ak’s grip froze, unable to advance further.
“A method… exists? What is it?”
Instead of answering, Yang Hwi thrust his neck into Gu Ak’s grip and grabbed his own collar in return.
“Brother Gu! When a man draws his blade, he must cut something with it! Finish what you started!”
“…”
Gu Ak felt his frustration surge in a different way than before.
This brat possessed an almost supernatural ability to recognize exactly when he held the advantage and could therefore push back.
“Ahem. Little brother, I got a bit carried away. My feelings for Rang-rang run quite deep, so… I trust you, as a man, can understand.”
“Of course I understand! Absolutely!”
While nodding his head, Yang Hwi grasped Gu Ak’s hand with both of his own and dangled from it.
“…”
“Little brother.”
“Yes, Brother Gu!”
“As you know, being part of the Heuk-do-pa, my tongue can be rather rough.”
Though not entirely satisfactory, it was close to an apology by Gu Ak’s standards, so Yang Hwi released his grip.
He made sure to add one more thing.
“As the eldest son of the Baek Family, I understand completely!”
“…Hmm. So what method are you proposing?”
“Simple enough. Sister Rang simply needs to post notices everywhere seeking her lost father and inquire about him through various channels.”
“And then you’ll bring someone who can persuade my father?”
“Something like that.”
“What if things don’t go as planned?”
“Well, we’ll do the same as before. I’ll stake my life on it.”
Did this brat think his lifeline was something he’d picked up off the street?
Gu Ak watched Yang Hwi, who was grinning with amusement at his own words.
“Besides, even if the plan fails, there’s no real problem. How many people know that Sister Rang is your betrothed?”
“At least my father does.”
“Since you’re already earning his displeasure, one more disappointment won’t add any fresh shame to it.”
Gu Ak collapsed onto the ground and grabbed a wine bottle, gulping it down eagerly.
“Phew. Little brother. Rang-rang is… truly precious to me.”
“Indeed, for someone as rough and willful as you, Brother Gu, to listen to the reckless words of a small thing like me—that takes more than ordinary affection.”
“So you knew you were being reckless?”
“Understanding oneself is the foundation of a martial artist, is it not?”
“Yet you seem quite poor at reading the room.”
“If I truly couldn’t read it, I wouldn’t be able to sit alone with Brother Gu like this!”
“….”
Even after revealing some of his vulnerable feelings, this youngster wouldn’t concede a single point.
Gu Ak realized that he no longer felt a surge of anger rising—he had grown accustomed to… no, resigned to this boy’s manner of speaking.
“Let’s discuss the specifics then.”
“Very well. Though to avoid unnecessary complications, wouldn’t it be better to discuss this with Sister Rang present?”
“So you want to meet Rang-rang?”
“I’m curious what sort of woman could captivate a devoted man like Brother Gu.”
“So you know how to flatter too?”
“If I put my mind to it, I could make my tongue smooth as silk.”
Gu Ak chuckled and hoisted Yang Hwi onto his back, launching himself out the window.
“When you suddenly find yourself flying through the sky like this, you could at least pretend to be surprised. There’s no fun in teasing someone who doesn’t react.”
“Please make it more surprising then.”
“Ah, I shouldn’t have said anything.”
After traversing the rooftops for about a mile, Gu Ak came to a stop before a small, modest yet beautifully maintained tiled house.
“Rang-rang. I’m here.”
Moments later, the door creaked open. The figure that emerged was a woman of dazzling beauty.
“Father!”
The woman smiled like a blooming flower and embraced Gu Ak, gazing up at him.
The affection dripping from their exchanged glances made it abundantly clear they were deeply in love.
‘Seeing her in person for the first time, I understand why Gu Ak fell for her.’
She possessed not only stunning beauty but also displayed such profound affection that even a dull-witted man would notice.
Rang-rang was a woman no man could help but fall for.
“Ah, who might this young master be?”
“Hmm. Just a boy I happen to know….”
Yang Hwi interjected smoothly.
“I am the younger brother of Gu Ak. Yang Hwi of the Baek Family offers his respects to you, sister-in-law!”
Gu Ak fell silent. Rang-rang burst into soft laughter.
“Does the elder brother address someone as young as this master with such familiarity? Oh my, how adorable!”
To anyone’s eyes, the object of the word “adorable” was not Yang Hwi, but Gu Ak himself.
‘So she can use the word “cute” for a man with such a fierce appearance. She’s completely smitten.’
“Hehe, my brother Gu Ak is indeed quite adorable. Brother, have you come to realize your own cuteness?”
Unable to even get angry in front of Jeong In-hwa, Gu Ak lowered his flushed face and simply trembled.
“Even your embarrassment is adorable, brother!”
“The young master understands the elder brother’s charm well?”
“Of course, of course. How could one not?”
“Strangely, others seem to fear the elder brother.”
“They simply lack the eyes to see the adorable nature hidden beneath that fierce exterior!”
Yang Hwi had spoken entirely to tease, but Rang-rang seemed to genuinely believe and mean every word.
‘This is amusing, but he’s about to burst. I should stop here.’
“Sister Rang-rang, if it wouldn’t be too much trouble, might I impose upon you for a cup of tea?”
“I cannot simply let the younger brother of the elder brother leave. Please, come inside, young master. And you too, elder brother.”
Rang-rang, her arm linked with Gu Ak’s, walked ahead.
Gu Ak, who had been thinking of staying behind to play chess with Yang Hwi and Chi Do-gon, was drawn inside by the delicate woman despite his imposing frame.
“Please have some tea. I assume you came to see the elder brother, but… what brings you here, young master?”
Rather than answer directly, Yang Hwi glanced at Gu Ak.
It was a look asking him to decide beforehand what should and should not be said.
Fortunately, Gu Ak began explaining in Yang Hwi’s stead.
“It is thus. We thought to employ some strategy for our marriage.”
“So the young master is the elder brother’s strategist?”
“Ahem. Not quite. The boy simply happens to be clever, so I occasionally seek his counsel.”
At this point, Yang Hwi interjected.
“Therefore, we require your assistance, Sister Rang-rang. We must fill in the content for the notice we will post when searching for your father.”
“But I have already lost my father. I do not know what content should be written.”
“Is that so?”
Yang Hwi sipped his tea. Then he immediately realized something.
‘Hmm? This taste. And this energy.’
Ah, so it was true. Gu Ak, Rang-rang, and the Red Bridge Hall.
What he had known in his past life was not the entirety of the hidden history.
Secretly circulating his true energy through the Huachuan Yiyuan technique, Yang Hwi reflected once more upon what he had known in his past life and the new information he had gained.
‘First, the Master of Red Bridge Hall will kill Rang-rang no matter what the future holds. Second, the Master of Red Bridge Hall and Rang-rang’s Father will ultimately meet the fate of both perishing together.’
And finally, third.
Rang-rang’s Father is in a position where he cannot reveal his identity, yet if I utilize his skills, I can resolve the parts that have been difficult to untangle until now.
‘If I use these conditions well….’
A scheme materialized in my mind—bringing Gu Ak and Rang-rang together, and making Rang-rang’s Father an ally of the Baek Family.
Yang Hwi opened his mouth at once.
“Then let us proceed this way. Sister Rang, would you share some memories from your childhood? I shall embellish them and fill the room with your story.”
Gu Ak’s expression grew suspicious.
“You’ll write it yourself? Clever as you are, aren’t you still at an age where you haven’t even mastered the Thousand Character Classic?”
“And how far have you advanced in your studies, Brother Gu?”
“Ahem, for a martial artist, mastering the Thousand Character Classic is enough. Of course, I have read the Four Books as well.”
To my eye, he clearly had only mastered the Thousand Character Classic.
But when a man stands beside a woman, it is proper to draw out even non-existent merits and preserve his dignity.
“Wow! You’ve read the Four Books? That’s truly impressive! This younger brother barely manages to memorize the Thousand Character Classic, so naturally I was planning to conceive the content while asking Brother Gu to do the actual writing!”
“Ahem. I see.”
Though he tried to appear indifferent, Gu Ak’s shoulders subtly lifted.
Heuk-do-pa members were endearing creatures, after all.
“Then, Sister Rang. Do you have any object with a story behind it? Something that would make the room seem more authentic would be ideal.”
Even as I spoke, I anticipated Rang-rang’s response.
After all, I had specifically asked to see Rang-rang in order to obtain such an object.
“I don’t have anything like that… Oh!”
Rang-rang hurried over lightly and returned with a small jade pendant.
“When I first found work at Juru as a child, a guest gave it to me. He said it was something that would connect me with a precious person, and told me never to sell it but to always keep it. Hearing those words, I couldn’t bear to part with it, so I wore it around my neck and endured even through the hardest times.”
A jade pendant with a soft blue hue, bearing a single character in raised relief.
The calligraphy was so peculiar and strange that it was difficult to discern, but it was unmistakably the character Zhen (眞).
‘A keepsake from her father. Certain now.’
With this, I had secured the first and final condition to lure Rang-rang’s Father. Everything else could be fabricated freely without concern.
“This should suffice, Sister Rang. May I borrow it for a few days and return it?”
“Please do, Young Master. That pendant has fulfilled its purpose now that it has met its destined person.”
‘That won’t be the case. The precious person that guest spoke of must be her own father.’
Yang Hwi smiled softly and looked toward Gu Ak.
“By the way, Brother Gu. Wouldn’t it be better to move Sister Rang’s residence to the Baek Manor before we begin?”
“Hmm? Why is that?”
“No matter what direction this takes, it will cause a disturbance. Should Hong Gyo-bang-ju become enraged, he might commit something terrible. In such a case, is there anywhere more trustworthy and safer than the Baek Manor that Brother Gu can rely on?”
“….”
His words were flawless. Everyone Gu Ak knew was from Heuk-do.
While Heuk-do members were not without honor, with the premise that his father Hong Gyo-bang-ju would act, there was not a single person he could trust.
‘In that case… entrusting her to the Baek Family would be a hundred times, a thousand times better. The Baek Manor is a place even Father cannot easily touch.’
In truth, the Baek Manor was like a thorn in the eye to the Heuk-do factions of Ak-an County.
Though their forces could be swept away in a single day, they could not act recklessly because of the Family Head’s sworn brother.
This was also why Baek Moo-ryang had charged forward immediately when given justification before.
Though he had ended up submitting the war funds and returning, ensnared by Yang Hwi’s silver tongue.
“So be it. Rang-rang, stay at this young brother’s household for a few days.”
“I confess I don’t fully understand the reasoning, but if it comes from the Family Head, then it must be correct. I accept your words.”
The conversation had ended.
Gu Ak escorted Yang Hwi and Rang-rang to the Baek Manor before departing.
“Lady Rang, please make yourself at home here, even if it’s uncomfortable for a few days.”
“Hehe, I’m grateful for the young master’s consideration.”
And so Rang-rang’s life as a guest at the Baek Manor began.
The very next day, notices were posted everywhere.
Not only throughout Ak-an County, but in Wuzhou, Nanchang, and across all of Jiangxi Province—even extending to the neighboring region of Honam.
[A Daughter Seeks Her Father—Rang-rang, Born of No Marriage Contract!]
[A Father Who Lost His Daughter of Twenty-Five Years…]
[She has kept the jade token her father gave her as proof, and the token’s shape is…]
[If you wish to restore the severed bonds of kinship, come to the Baek Manor in Wuzhou, Ak-an County, Jiangxi Province…]
Exactly three days later.
The Baek Manor received an uninvited guest in the dead of night, beneath the full moon hanging bright and clear.

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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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