Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 133

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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 133
“Seolha, you didn’t send a separate letter to Uncle, right?”
“You know as well as I do, brother. If Father finds out I’ve left, he’ll assign dozens of guards to me without hesitation. With all that fuss, there’s no way I could properly walk the path of enlightenment.”
“That’s true, but…”
“Besides, he’ll pout about me not visiting the main estate, and that’s just tedious.”
….
Yang Hwi recalled the conversation he’d had with Jegal Seol-ha just yesterday, and a satisfied smile crossed his face.
The cute daughter Jegal Seol-ha who once openly cried out “I love you, Father!” in her childhood no longer existed.
Only Jegal Seol-ha remained—slightly reckless, independent, and possessed of an enterprising spirit.
‘Who on earth did she take after to turn out like this… Ah, that’s disrespectful to my master.’
In any case.
Thanks to her, I could complete the picture now.
The reason I didn’t bring Jegal Seol-ha to this place was for the same reason.
She needed to be in Yeongnakro.
“Where is my daughter!!!”
To draw the Jegal Family, which occupied the first seat among the Five Great Families of the realm, into the game.
‘Good. Perfect.’
There were three options in dealing with the Baek Family.
First. Over several years, I could suppress the Baek Family financially and in terms of influence, centered on Yeongnakro.
Second. I could gradually increase powerful allies like the Dang Family and surpass the Baek Family with that strength.
And finally, third.
Create chaos and, even if it meant resorting to drastic measures, eliminate the Baek Family as quickly as possible.
Among these, my choice was the third.
It was efficient in that I could see benefits in the shortest amount of time, but…
I wanted to see.
I wanted to know.
My father’s heart.
‘Until now, I have moved based on my previous life.’
The pursuit of harmony. The desire to rise to the ranks of the great families.
Though these were teachings I learned from and inherited from my father in my previous life.
There is a saying: you may know the depths of ten fathoms of water, but you cannot know the heart of a single person.
‘Much has changed from my previous life. Just the power and status of the main family alone are worlds apart. It would be no surprise if my thoughts and my father’s will differ.’
That is why I had to confirm.
Whether I was leading the main family correctly.
Whether I could act without hesitation or regret going forward.
And I have gained that certainty.
‘I need only make the main family the greatest family under heaven. If I stray from the path, Father will set me right, and if my methods are wrong, he will likewise offer guidance.’
There was no need to dwell on direction.
Even as the main family grew rapidly in a short time, my father’s leadership as head of the family remained unchanged.
A horse held by the reins need only run.
That is precisely why I can run away all the faster.
‘In other words, once I cause trouble, Father will clean it up… Ah, but this is a bit different.’
A laugh suddenly escaped me.
I watched my father as he dealt with the mess I had created.
“Brother Jegal. What brings you to Nanchang?”
Seeing Baek Moo-ryang ask politely, Jegal Seon—who had unleashed that lion’s roar moments before—regained his composure.
“Ah, Elder Brother. I trust you have been well all this time.”
“Thanks to you, I have been at peace. But I heard you were searching for Seolha. Is she here in Nanchang?”
“Yes. I came rushing the moment I received Yang Hwi’s letter.”
Only then did Baek Moo-ryang grasp the final piece of the picture his eldest son had drawn.
‘Hwi, you had prepared for everything.’
He had declared that, being a man of the martial world, he would not yield an inch.
Accordingly, despite the disadvantage in numbers, he was prepared to clash with Baek Ui-mun, who stood in his way.
Yet Yang Hwi had anticipated this very decision and all that would follow, preparing countermeasures in advance.
“Great Master Jegal Seon, the Head of Baek Ui-mun, Gong Mo, offers his respects. Between our sect and the Baek Family….”
Jegal Seon cut off the words of Baek Ui-mun’s head.
“Can you not see that I am reuniting with my brother? You wait for now.”
“Brother. Still, he is the head of a sect, so perhaps we should show more courtesy.”
“That is true, but I gathered some information about this man on the way here.”
“You investigated? Why would you do that?”
“After receiving that rascal Yang Hwi’s letter, I could not help myself.”
“What was in the letter that prompted such action?”
“He wrote that Baek Ui-mun had mobilized the Black Bandits, putting Seolha in a difficult position.”
“…Seolha is in Nanchang?”
“You did not know? I thought you had come forward for Seolha’s sake.”
Baek Moo-ryang and Jegal Seon stared blankly at each other before simultaneously turning their heads toward me.
Receiving the gazes of both my father and my uncle upon me, I recalled my childhood self and filled my face with a bright, innocent smile.
“Why do you both look at me like that?”
“…We have been deceived.”
“…I apologize, younger brother.”
I stepped forward.
It seemed I needed to offer some explanation… or rather, clarification.
“I did not lie! Seolha is currently working as a craftsman at Yeongnakro, but because of those Black Bandit bastards, she has not been able to work properly lately.”
I truly had not lied.
After all, it was all true, was it not?
“Hwi. Why did you not tell us that Seolha had left the sect?”
‘Hmm. I did not expect you to blame me for this.’
“Seolha did not want it known! I wanted to tell you! In the end, I have told you anyway!”
This time too, I had not lied.
Though in the process, I may have taken slight advantage of the situation. Very slight advantage, mind you.
Well, this is a win-win for everyone, isn’t it?
‘I’ll probably get a smack on the back from Seolha for this. But that’s a small price to pay.’
After all, it was my own fault as an unfilial daughter—disappearing for years without informing Father.
While Yang Hwi was thinking such thoughts, Jegal Seon learned the full details of the situation from Baek Moo-ryang.
“I see the gist of it now. So the Baek Family was the real problem.”
Jegal Seon’s expression hardened as he gazed at the Baek Family Head.
“Baek Family Head. Will you also block the Soga-joonim’s path, just as you blocked the Baek Family?”
“….”
The Baek Family Head could not utter a single word.
Though he wished to prevent entry into Nanchang, he could not bear the consequences of opposing the legendary Jegal Family.
“My daughter is being threatened by the black path assassins in Nanchang. If you obstruct me, I will not stand idle.”
Moreover, justice was on their side.
How could anyone block a father’s path to find his daughter?
“…The Baek Family welcomes the heroes of the Jegal Family.”
“I hope you mean that sincerely.”
Jegal Seon, who had been passing by the Baek Family Head, suddenly stopped in his tracks.
“According to intelligence gathered by my family’s information division, the Baek Family has committed acts unbecoming of the Baek name. Your scheming with the black path faction to gain profit—I will settle that account later.”
“Soga-joonim! This family has absolutely not made contact with the black path faction.”
“Then you’re saying my family’s intelligence is mistaken?”
“….”
“I will investigate every detail so there is not a shred of injustice. Wait.”
Jegal Seon, dismissing him curtly, leaped forward to take the lead.
The Jegal Family’s warriors followed behind him.
The Baek Family members could not bring themselves to block their path.
“Father, shall we go as well?”
“…Yes, let us.”
The Baek Family had used the intrusion of foreign warriors into their domain as justification.
But now that the Jegal Family had already entered, there was no way to block the Baek Family’s advance.
Thanks to the Baek Family’s logic and justification losing their force, the Baek Family members were able to enter Nanchang without bloodshed.
“Yang Hwi. Where is Seolha?”
“This way, Uncle!”
Jegal Seon nodded and gazed at his subordinate warriors and Baek Moo-ryang.
“Eliminating the black path is urgent, but this younger brother must see his daughter first. So I would like you, Elder Brother, to take the lead in the elimination.”
“Very well.”
“It would be best to use proper force, so please take this younger brother’s subordinates with you. Hwa-un.”
Jegal Hwa-un, Jegal Seon’s eldest son, stepped forward.
‘Come to think of it, there was a Jegal brother too. He’s grown quite handsome in the time I haven’t seen him.’
After exchanging a brief nod with Yang Hwi, Jegal Hwa-un opened his mouth.
“I will coordinate with Uncle and lead the family members, Father.”
“Very well.”
After Jegal Seon finished speaking, he launched himself toward Baek Baek-ru, dragging along Yang Hwi and Adu, who clung to him like a wart.
Ting, ting—the soft, melodious notes drifted through the air.
Jegal Seol-ha, finding solitude tedious, had been tending to her instrument.
“Seol-ha!”
“Huh? Father?”
Jegal Seon, with his bear-like frame, descended upon Jegal Seol-ha.
“Kyaaaah! Father! Kyaaaah!”
“Seol-haaaa!”
Watching this spectacle, who under heaven would ever mistake Jegal Seon for the Soga-joonim of the Wa-ryong Clan?
This is precisely why one cannot be a daughter fool.
Yet it was precisely this weakness that had allowed me to orchestrate the current situation.
“Why did you not inform me! How much I have missed you!”
“Let go now, oof! Father! I am no longer a young girl!”
“In my eyes, you remain small and precious!”
“I am not small!”
Trapped in Jegal Seon’s embrace, Jegal Seol-ha glared at Yang Hwi with fierce eyes.
‘This won’t end with just one blow to the back, will it?’
I subtly turned away, feigning indifference.
-Tsk, turning away?
-Elder Brother, I shall repay this debt tenfold.
Tenfold? Seol-ha, your surname is Jegal, not Dang.
And if we follow the Dang Sect’s method of calculation, wouldn’t repaying a debt twofold be sufficient?
Ah, never mind.
I shall worry about such matters later.

* * *
Four days had passed.
It was the time it took for the Baek Family and Jegal Family, working in concert, to completely eliminate all the Black Blade Gang members they had mobilized.
At the highest floor of Baek Baek Tower, Baek Moo-ryang offered a respectful fist salute to Jegal Seon.
“My apologies, brother. My son took advantage of you.”
“Ha, not at all, brother. When you think about it, Yang Hwi was simply doing his duty. He conveyed the message on behalf of my incompetent daughter.”
Jegal Seon harbored no resentment whatsoever.
Even if Baek Ui-mun had not drawn in the Black Blade Gang to cause trouble, Jegal Seon would have rushed to see Jegal Seol-ha the moment he received word.
“As long as I hold the position of Soga-joonim, I must travel with an escort whenever I venture out. Whether the letter was sent earlier or later changes nothing.”
“I am simply grateful that you are so gracious about it, brother.”
Still, Baek Moo-ryang had no intention of letting the matter rest there.
“Take all the confiscated wealth seized from the Black Blade Gang. The Jegal Family will claim it.”
“That is unnecessary, brother.”
“No. It is a fact that our main family has gained tremendous profit thanks to you. As the elder, I cannot allow myself to be indebted to you.”
“If you insist on it that way… I will accept with gratitude.”
Having settled matters between the two families, they turned their discussion to Baek Ui-mun.
“Brother, I have no intention of letting Baek Ui-mun off lightly. Regardless of his ignorance, he dared to threaten Seol-ha.”
“Indeed… Now that his collusion with the Black Blade Gang has been exposed, punishment is necessary. This elder brother agrees.”
Thanks to the Jegal Family’s involvement, evidence of Baek Ui-mun’s instigation of the Black Blade Gang was easily obtained.
With evidence in hand, they could now bring in the Tang Family, allies of the Baek Family.
In other words, the fate of Nanchang’s foremost sect, the Baek Family, was being decided at this very moment.
‘By now, that bastard Gong Ya-hyeok must be burning with anxiety, not knowing what to do.’
Yang Hwi, watching the two men’s conversation from the corner, chuckled inwardly.
‘It feels strange to destroy with my own hands the place where I was once hired as an assassin in my past life.’
Then, suddenly, a question came to mind.
Why had Baek Ui-mun’s actions shown such a significant difference from my past life?
Certainly, in my previous life, Baek Ui-mun had provoked Jeong Wol-mun and was in the process of driving him to annihilation through direct confrontation—he had seemed far more meticulous and cunning in his approach.
Of course, when comparing then and now, there were many differences, starting with the passage of time.
‘The truth is, Baek Family Head Gong Ya-hyeok’s response was foolish in many ways.’
It was at that moment.
The Innkeeper, stepping carefully into the guest room, approached Yang Hwi.
“Young Master, I have something to tell you.”
“Speak.”
“Someone from Baek Ui-mun has come, wishing to see you, Young Master.”
There was no reason to meet with them.
“Issue an order to refuse entry.”
“Well…”
“What is it?”
“If you issue the refusal order, they said to deliver this message.”
“What message?”
My eyes widened as I caught the Innkeeper’s whispered words.
‘What on earth is this situation?’
I had just heard something that absolutely should never have reached my ears.
I immediately left the guest room and descended the stairs.

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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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