Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 143

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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 143
Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju’s voice rumbled with menace.
“Look at this brat, swollen with arrogance.”
“Yeah, I hear that a lot.”
“Did no one teach you respect toward your elders?”
“Respect? Ah, respect! It’s important, sure. In that spirit, why don’t we introduce ourselves properly?”
I turned to my companions with a playful sweep of my arm.
“Come on, everyone. Aren’t you going to greet them?”
“I am Dang-gun, the Young Master of the Dang Family.”
“I am Jegal Seol-ha of the Jegal Family.”
“I’m Adu!”
“And that one over there is a Shaolin Monk.”
Of all places, I was receiving introductions from members of the Dang Family, the Jegal Family, and Shaolin itself.
Even when the world divides into black and white, there are courtesies that must be observed.
“I am Gu Yang-bu, Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju. The world knows me as the Demon Spear of the Black Path.”
A massive halberd with a spear head hung from his back, matching his fearsome epithet.
“It seems to be your turn now, boy.”
“Baek Yang-hwi, the Young Master of the Baek Family of Gangwon! But why ask when you already know?”
“Are you serious right now?”
I snorted at the bewildered expression on Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju’s face.
“The ancient sage once said that those without propriety and restraint are incomplete as humans. For a Black Path thug to lecture about etiquette—how predictable.”
Dang-gun’s face grew tense. We had already infiltrated enemy territory, and I couldn’t fathom why he would provoke them now.
-Hwi, shouldn’t we be more careful with our words right now?
-It’s fine, it’s fine. This works with Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju.
Even after hearing his transmitted voice, I didn’t change my tone.
“So you know respect well—is that how you justify extorting commoners?”
“….”
As I continued speaking casually to him, Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju’s facial muscles contorted with rage, yet he chose silence over rebuttal.
It was exactly as I expected.
‘That bastard is evil, but he’s not shameless.’
Among villains, some are either ignorant of their own wickedness or too brazen to feel shame. Others, however, commit evil while fully aware of it, driven by their own ambitions or desires.
One might think the latter are worse, but….
Reality is different.
Those who act despite knowing wrong at least show restraint and offer minimal mercy.
Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju was such a man.
A dog deserving of extermination, yet one who felt shame about being a dog.
A creature with self-awareness of his own depravity.
“So what will it be? Want to fight, subdue us, and take hostages? Or would you prefer a civilized conversation?”
Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju’s face hardened as his penetrating gaze studied me.
It was the look of one seeking to understand—know yourself and your enemy, and victory is assured in a hundred battles.
“Look at it this way—don’t you get it now? Let’s talk so we can understand each other better, yeah?”
“Fine. Let’s hear it first. If you spout nonsense, I can always move then.”
Acting magnanimous because he holds the advantage?
For dialogue to work, both sides need to stand on equal ground.
“No, no. Even if you move, you can’t take hostages anyway.”
“Already spouting nonsense?”
“Listen. I’ll explain why.”
“Don’t run your mouth at length. Even a dog’s barking grates on the nerves when you hear it.”
“Woof woof!”
-Hwi’s younger brother! I don’t want to die!
-Kyaaah, older brother! We just crossed the line with Seo!
-It’s fine. Just trust me.
I waited silently for Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju’s reaction.
Fortunately for Dang-gun and Jegal Seol-ha, Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju didn’t lose his reason and order them all swept away.
-Gun-ja-gun. I never knew Heuk Do’s patience was this good.
-Wow, he’s actually holding back.
“You get one chance. With that loose tongue of yours, give me a reason why I should let you live.”
“Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju, you don’t want this game to expand, do you? Taking hostages gives the Dang Clan, the Jegal Family, and Shaolin room to intervene.”
His expression said it was absurd. His attitude said to keep talking.
But I’d already caught on.
That bastard—I’d hit a nerve.
“I’m right, aren’t I?”
“I could just kill them all and be done with it.”
“What if we already reported this to our families?”
“….”
While Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju fell silent, I organized my thoughts.
‘Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju doesn’t want the situation to escalate. Namgung Cheon-hu—was he really just acting as a spy to feed information to Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju?’
No, it’s too early to be certain.
So I’d dig deeper.
That’s why I came to Wonju myself in the first place.
“If the Namgung Family hadn’t sided with us—if it were just the White Path and Black Path of Gangwon’s Martial Arts World clashing—victory would have been yours.”
“You understand well.”
Looking at raw military strength, the Black Path held the advantage in Gangwon’s Martial Arts World.
Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju, positioned as the loser among them, naturally wouldn’t want outside interference.
Especially since the White Path side had even provided justification by putting forward some common folk’s association.
‘Well, even so, I would’ve won in the end.’
I was confident that with the information from my past life and the power I’d accumulated, I could make it happen.
It was the best scenario I’d envisioned from the moment Baek Ui-mun provoked me.
Though the board’s gotten messy now.
“You White Path dogs are always the same. Spouting righteousness with your mouths while ganging up the moment things turn bad. You cowardly brought in the Namgung Family.”
There’s a misunderstanding. I didn’t call them—they suddenly came charging in on their own and offered to help.
“So here’s what I’m thinking. Want to join hands and wipe out the Namgung Family first?”
-Hwi’s Younger Brother!
-Elder Brother! You’ve crossed the line again!
“Just joking.”
“….”
I’d spoken such nonsense deliberately to gauge Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju’s reaction.
This bastard definitely hasn’t joined hands with the Namgung Family.
Beyond that, it seems he hasn’t even received a letter from them.
‘Though he could have cultivated his composure to the point where emotions don’t show.’
To distinguish between the two, I’d paused deliberately before calling it a joke.
If he were connected to the Namgung Family, he would have questioned the proposal.
From a position where I needed to gather maximum information, failing to probe the other party meant I’d unconsciously deemed it worthless drivel to even bother answering.
He firmly believed the Baek Family would never stab the Namgung Family in the back.
And there was one more thing.
‘He believes there’s a chance of victory even with the Namgung guys joining in.’
In that case, he’d definitely joined hands with someone.
“Honam? Is it Honam?”
A crack appeared in Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju’s stoic expression.
“Ah. So it is Honam. Wow, you’re quick too. Already shook hands with them?”
“I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
“Are you an idiot? Why do you know so little? If you keep playing dumb about everything I ask, this conversation won’t go anywhere.”
My temples twitched. Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju drew a deep breath that expanded his chest nearly twice its size, then exhaled slowly.
“Young Master Seo. Maintain at least basic courtesy. If you truly wish to have this conversation.”
The form of address had shifted from “kid” to “Young Master Seo.”
Since I’d received his concession first, I should probably dial back the teasing.
But I’d press one more vital point.
“Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju. Truth is, it doesn’t matter to you whose hands Gangwon falls into, does it? As long as your control over Gugang and Wonju remains secure. Or rather, just Gugang.”
The reason I could guess—or rather, practically confirm—this fact was simple.
In my previous life, Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju never expanded his forces in Gangwon.
The reason Baek Ui-mun could freely annihilate Jeong Wol-mun was entirely due to Heuk-gyeong Bang’s tacit approval.
Had Heuk-gyeong Bang revealed ambitions toward Gangwon, he couldn’t have attempted to destroy Jeong Wol-mun, who would have been a potential ally.
‘In fact, the war itself wouldn’t have happened. It could’ve meant handing over the fisherman’s profit.’
As someone unaware of my regression, Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju had just had his true feelings—which he’d never revealed to anyone—exposed.
Naturally, a hint of shock mixed into his expression.
“I don’t know what grounds you have for such assumptions. More wealth and greater power—who dislikes these things?”
“Gugang has the Janggang River.”
“….”
Just one phrase, yet Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju could only sit there like a mute eating honey.
“Exposing another’s inner thoughts in detail isn’t proper etiquette. I believe saying this much should suffice.”
“…If you truly figured it out. You’re quite the perceptive one, aren’t you?”
“I hear that often enough. So, Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju, let me ask you one thing.”
“Go ahead. Though I reserve the right not to answer.”
Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju’s guard shot up instantly.
It was clear he would choose his words with utmost care.
‘Hmm. Since it’s certain that Ho-nam has gotten involved, excessive caution might not serve me well.’
“If you’re going to be so rigid about it, I suppose I should make a concession. Let me ask something else instead. Has the Namgung Family ever made you any proposals?”
Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju’s expression grew puzzled for a moment before his brow furrowed.
He had grasped the implication behind the question.
That the Baek Family had never sought the Namgung Family’s support, nor did they trust them.
“At this point, wouldn’t you say that’s more than one concession? So answer me honestly.”
“How do you know whether I’m conducting a counter-operation by leaking information or not?”
So this is what it means to be the Bang-ju of Gangwon’s foremost clan.
Despite his bear-like frame, his mind worked quite sharply.
I simply shrugged my shoulders.
The truth was, depending on how Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju reacted and answered, I stood to gain much from this as well.
“I concede. This Bang-ju has never received contact from the Namgung Family.”
“Is that so? Then our business is concluded. We’ll be taking our leave.”
“You trust this Bang-ju’s words?”
Since the conversation was over, there was no harm in pressing further, was there?
“There’s no one trustworthy enough to believe in, so I trust the Heuk-do Faction instead. What I trust is only the situation itself.”
“….”
“Then I’m off. Oh, if you’re planning to take me hostage, give me a heads up. I’ll let myself be captured without holding back.”
Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju fell silent for quite some time.
He appeared to be wrestling with something intensely.
Then came his response.
“I think I need to kill you, if no one else.”
What? I didn’t see that coming.
I was cautiously gauging my escape route when he spoke again.
“Go. But remember one thing. You owe me a debt.”
He felt the necessity to kill me, yet he let me leave and mentioned a debt.
The meaning of this fact was singular.
‘Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju doesn’t trust the people he’s allied with either.’
That’s why he’s leaving room for shifting alliances.
“I’ll collect on that debt later. But let me ask one more thing. Which martial sect is Ho-nam, the one you’ve allied with?”
“Is the alliance already a done deal?”
“Let’s not play games between people who already know.”
“The Hyeong-san Sect.”
That was the moment.
My face turned rigid as stone.
Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju gripped his spear and assumed a stance, radiating such destructive momentum that it seemed to pour from him endlessly.
“What are you doing, you bastard!”
“….”
I did not respond.
My face had hardened like stone, yet at the same time, I was smiling with an utterly savage ferocity.
“So? The Hyeong-san Sect, you say.”
I recalled the moment in my previous life when Father had passed away.
Four years from now, I remembered the faces of those southern dogs who would finally extend their claws into Gangwon.
I recalled what those Hyeong-san Sect bastards had done—deeds so heinous that even disemboweling them and chewing their entrails would not suffice.
‘Hyeong-san Eum-hyeol…!’
“Hahaha, how pathetic that all you have to boast of is your sect affiliation!”
“Among all the Si-hyeop-il-jeol I know, you are the most worthless, Si-hyeop-il-jeol!”
“The Hyeong-san Sect, you say.”
I repeated the same words once more.
My tone was saturated with a killing intent so thick it seemed to congeal.
[Reversing Heaven and Exchanging Fate—the flow of Yeok-cheon has altered the shackles]
[Returning to the Correct Flow—one must straighten and flow rightly]
[Returning to the Point of Vows—go back and fulfill what you desire]
A voice I had heard while defying the ages.
Returning to the point of vows—to go back and fulfill what I desire.
I will fulfill it.
I will devour them all,

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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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