Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 141

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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 141
Decades ago, when the Demonic Sect’s foremost power, the Blood Demon Cult, rose under the Sword King’s Massacre and consumed Hunan.
Countless poets, scholars, and refined gentlemen of the martial world sighed in unison.
The reason was simple.
Because Hunan possessed Dongting Lake.
“Truly magnificent scenery.”
The Dongting Yueyang Tower, one of the Four Great Towers of the South.
From atop the towering pavilion, a man gazed downward, murmuring to himself.
Below stretched the vast expanse of Dongting Lake, and to the north lay the scenic mountains and markets where the Yangtze River converged.
“Is it not so, Yin-blood?”
The guest room door slid open, and another man emerged.
“You noticed my presence, Tyrant Spear.”
Gu Yang-bu, master of the guest house and leader of the Black Whale Gang, flashed a fierce grin.
True to his epithet, he wielded a spear with an impressively large spearhead.
“If you’ve arrived, you should announce yourself. This shadowy behavior—you’re living up to your reputation.”
Despite the seemingly confrontational response, Gok Baek-mun of Hyeong-san Yin-blood spread his arms casually.
“As you can see, I’ve brought many companions. Meeting such a renowned figure as the Black Whale Gang Leader makes one nervous. So I merely observed what you were doing for a moment.”
Behind Hyeong-san Yin-blood stood ten martial artists.
All were gang leaders or held equivalent positions within the Black Blade factions situated in eastern Hunan, bordering Jiangxi.
“These don’t seem like people whose courage would shrivel merely meeting this Gu Yang.”
“Appearances deceive—they’re all quite meticulous, you see.”
“Making excuses, are we? Fitting for one renowned as the most sinister blood of Hyeong-san. Truly devious.”
“I appreciate the compliment.”
Wine and food arrived, and courtesans began playing instruments and performing dances.
Amid this, the gang leaders took their seats.
“You’ve heard the news, I assume. The Namgung Family sent troops to aid the Baek Clan.”
“My, jumping straight to business before the atmosphere even settles?”
“What’s the point in prolonging words between us?”
Hyeong-san Yin-blood laughed openly and replied.
“Even the renowned Black Whale Gang Leader grows impatient in these circumstances?”
“How amusing. You’re the one who summoned me here.”
The Black Whale Gang Leader frowned and continued.
“I’ve always said—don’t exchange lengthy words with those Hyeong-san dogs. So drop the pretense.”
Hyeong-san Yin-blood was the sect master of the Hyeong-san Faction, located on Hyeong-san, the Southern Peak among the Five Sacred Mountains.
“Amitabha Buddha. Your harshness wounds me so.”
“I told you to stop spouting nonsense.”
When one speaks of the Hyeong-san Faction, one typically recalls the illustrious Taoist sect that once ranked among the Nine Great Sects and Ten Great Gangs.
But the Hyeong-san Faction of today was no longer a collective of righteous Taoist priests.
They had faced near-annihilation during the Sword King’s Massacre decades past.
Thus, a Shaman filled the vacant seat left by the Nine Great Sects.
“Using the name of a sect you’ve annihilated—I can’t fathom what you’re thinking.”
“It’s a grand ambition to inherit the spiritual legacy passed down through generations.”
“Ha! You simply wish to mock and humiliate them.”
“Two birds with one stone, perhaps? Regardless. Let’s proceed with the main matter as Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju desires.”
Hyeong-san Eum-hyeol continued with a chuckling laugh.
“Just a few years ago, no one had even heard of those Baek bastards, yet they’ve declared themselves the overlords of Gaecheon. So I imagine Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju’s intestines must be burning with anxiety. Should you need assistance, do say so.”
Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju snorted derisively.
“You said we’d get to the main point, yet you continue spouting nonsense.”
The dark path sects in the western regions of Gangseong are divided into two major factions.
Heuk-gyeong Bang, positioned at the uppermost Gugang and expanding its influence downward to even infiltrate Wonju.
Five dark path sects based in Gilju, supported by the dark martial forces of Honam.
“Though divided now, you must understand why Baek Ui-mun, after consuming Namchang, was called the First of Namchang rather than the First of Gangseong.”
The reason Baek Ui-mun, though controlling a city and called a hegemon, never obtained the title of Gangseong’s First.
It was because of Heuk-gyeong Bang’s existence.
Gangseong consists of more than ten regions, and only Heuk-gyeong Bang has infiltrated two of them.
In other words, Heuk-gyeong Bang, which controls Gugang and Wonju, was the greatest force of Gangseong.
“Stop this posturing, Eum-hyeol. I already know the five dark path sects under you have been whimpering and requesting an audience.”
Hyeong-san Eum-hyeol, who had maintained an enigmatic smile throughout, saw the corners of his mouth droop.
Because Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju’s words were true.
“Gaecheon Baek will likely strike either my Wonju or Gilju, which you control. You must be anxious about whether Gilju will be attacked first.”
“Indeed. Truly the insight befitting the leader of Gangseong’s greatest force. I genuinely admire it. However.”
“However?”
“Speak plainly. Our sect, backed by the protection of the Blood Demon Alliance, would hardly feel anxiety over mere Baek family.”
It was not an untrue statement. Since the days of old Blood Demon, Honam had been the territory of the Guizhou Blood Demon Alliance.
Moreover, Hyeong-san Sect was itself one facet of the Blood Demon Alliance.
“So let’s dispense with this pointless posturing and address the main issue. We’ll join hands before this meeting ends anyway. The Baek family, backed by Namgung, is quite troublesome, and we cannot allow a third party to reap the benefits. It’s a fact we both know, so let’s end this.”
“Understood. I’ll proceed as Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju says.”
Finally obtaining an answer, Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju exhaled an exasperated sigh.
This is why one shouldn’t engage in lengthy conversations with those Hyeong-san bastards.
Merely conversing with them is enough to irritate anyone.
“My Wonju. Your Gilju. Whichever the Baek family strikes first, we respond together.”
“Agreed. But merely responding? As they say, the best defense is offense.”
“….”
Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju met Hyeong-san Eum-hyeol’s gaze instead of answering immediately.
‘He’s proposing an offensive.’
Offense is naturally three times more difficult than defense.
Given that the purpose is to counter the Baek family’s invasion, there’s no reason to choose offense.
Yet the fact that he’s still proposing it means there’s another motive.
“Even a stray dog eats half its fill in its own yard. Why venture beyond it to attack?”
“That’s hardly something the great Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju should say, haha. Ah, it seems you’re concerned about Honam’s forces, including our sect, entering Gangseong?”
“No. Let’s do it that way.”
“Hmm?”
“Quite the surprised expression. I’m agreeing to your proposal, so why that attitude?”
In that moment, Hyeong-san Eum-hyeol and Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju fell silent, studying each other.
And simultaneously, they arrived at the same conclusion.
‘He has another scheme hidden away.’
‘There’s a hidden move in reserve.’
“We’ll do as you say. We’ll take the offensive.”
“Finally reaching an agreement—it genuinely warms my heart.”
The two men shook hands, their smiles fierce and predatory.
For decades now, they had walked the dark path where schemes and assassinations ran rampant.
Even when clasping hands, neither truly trusted the other.

* * *
“We must never make the first move. The main family must await the enemy’s assault.”
The Baek Family’s inner council chamber.
Baek Moo-ryang responded to my declaration.
“Hwi, if you suddenly throw out your business like that, won’t the others be confused?”
An inner council meeting. Literally a gathering where the Baek Family’s core members pooled their opinions to plan the future.
But today’s inner council meeting had two people present who had never attended before.
The Namcheon Muwangju and Jeong Wol-mun. Or rather, those who should now be called the Gaecheon Muwangju and Jeongwol Gakzhu.
“Now that I think of it, I must express my gratitude to both of you once more.”
“Not at all, Family Head.”
“We would prefer if you spoke more freely, Family Head.”
The reason why not only the Gaecheon Muwangju, who had publicly requested to join, but also the Jeong Wol-mun as the Jeongwol Gakzhu were here together was simple.
“To repay the grace the First Young Master bestowed upon our sect, there was no other path. There is no need for gratitude.”
After the previous banquet, I had succeeded in making Jeong Wol-mun a part of the Baek Family.
It was an achievement obtained by dangling before them the Wol-heun Sword, Jeong Wol-mun’s exclusive martial art, along with the countermeasures I had thoroughly analyzed and improved upon in my previous life.
“From the beginning, Jeong Wol-mun has pursued only the advancement of martial arts. We have prioritized the pursuit of martial excellence over the sect’s survival, and we have simply become part of the Baek Family in accordance with such a tradition. Please do not concern yourselves.”
Baek Moo-ryang did not elaborate unnecessarily.
Instead, he bowed once toward the Gaecheon Muwangju and Jeongwol Gakzhu, then resumed the meeting.
“Hwi. Will you explain what you mentioned earlier?”
“Yes, Family Head.”
I stepped forward and stood before the wooden map hanging in the center.
The map displayed the western regions of Gangseong and the eastern regions of Honam.
“I’ll skip over the current situation, which I’m sure you all understand. There are three reasons why our main family must not act first.”
First. Choosing the battlefield is just as important as waging war itself.
To minimize harm to the common people, it’s better for us to strike first.
Second. Given their dark path nature, they will certainly launch a surprise attack without any ultimatum.
Therefore, considering the variables of seizing initiative and the advantages and disadvantages in strategic selection, striking first is the better option.
Finally, the third reason.
“The longer we delay, the more disadvantageous it becomes for the main family.”
Confusion settled across everyone’s faces. Baek Moo-ryang, speaking for the group, posed a question.
“Hwi, you said we must wait for the Black Blade’s attack. Yet all three reasons you’ve given point to the opposite.”
“Young Master, don’t we need to move first to choose the battlefield and seize the initiative?”
“You’ve stated the third reason backwards as well. Currently, the main family’s stability has been shaken by accepting outsiders from other sects. To resolve this, we must engage external enemies as soon as possible.”
I listened to the various opinions and nodded silently.
“That’s correct. The main family must move first. But precisely because of that, we must not move first.”
“What is your reasoning?”
“Explain your logic and evidence, Young Master.”
Before fully presenting my argument, I recalled the conversation I’d had with Seo Seong-saeng of Namchang.
‘That young fellow came up with quite a clever stratagem.’
Indeed, Seo Seong-saeng was a born strategist—a talent worthy of discussing the realm itself.
Despite his youth and inexperience, when given information and resources, he extracted the optimal strategy.
“We must feign an advance while stopping precisely at the boundary! This way, we seize the advantages of both striking first and striking second.”
‘I had believed that striking first alone was the most efficient path with the fewest pitfalls.’
Until now, I had been drawing my plans with that approach in mind.
But the moment I heard Seo Seong-saeng’s stratagem, I redrew the entire picture.
“Before explaining my reasons in detail, I request the presence of the Soga-joonim of both the Dang Family and the Namgung Family.”
“Hmm. Since we’ll need to coordinate our steps going forward, I’ll send for them.”
Shortly after, Dang-gun and Namgung Cheon-hu entered the council chamber.
I briefly explained the discussion so far, then fixed my gaze on Namgung Cheon-hu.
“Given the three reasons I’ve mentioned, we’re deliberating between striking first or second in the suppression of the Black Blade in the Gangseong martial world. I wish to hear your esteemed opinion on this matter, Soga-joonim.”
‘Now then, it’s time for you to reveal part of your schemes, Namgung Cheon-hu.’
I regarded him with some anticipation. Yet he offered no opinion whatsoever.
“In this suppression of the Black Blade, our Namgung Family is not the principal but merely an auxiliary. We have simply come forth to aid the Baek Family’s initiative in the Gaecheon Alliance. So proceed as you wish.”
I asked for his opinion, but received only a response of compliance.
Without any hidden intent, it was an answer that revealed nothing of his true thoughts.
However.
‘Interesting. At least one assumption can be ruled out.’
Offering opinions in council and seeing one’s proposed strategy succeed also constitutes merit.
Showing no interest in establishing merit means not considering the distribution of rewards after suppression.
In other words, it was this simple.
‘This bastard doesn’t want the suppression to succeed.’
Now that I understood, I also knew how to respond.
Soon, I opened my mouth.

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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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