Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 151

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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 151
The solemn and serious exchange of glances was interrupted by a woman who couldn’t help but break the atmosphere that any man would find moving.
“Ugh, what are you two doing right now? You’re giving me goosebumps.”
“….”
“….”
The sixteen-year-old boy (a returnee) and the actual fourteen-year-old boy, who had been gazing at each other with eyes full of reliance, shot Jegal Seol-ha a sharp glare.
“Munch munch, wow, this rice cake is delicious!”
However, the sound of Adu eating the rice cake was too loud to say anything to Jegal Seol-ha.
In short, the entire atmosphere had been completely shattered.
‘Hmm. I didn’t act my age and behaved like a child.’
“Anyway, that Seo Seong-saeng got all serious for no reason, so I got swept up in matching his mood.”
Seo Seong-saeng, who had been abandoned, looked at Yang Hwi with eyes full of betrayal.
“In any case, kid.”
“I’m not a kid!”
He still seemed to dislike being called a kid.
“To discuss the realm under heaven, you must first abandon narrow-minded perspectives. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
My father’s decision is not a foolish course of action that refuses to give up even small things.
By refusing to abandon even the small things, it is a course of action to obtain something truly great—the hearts of the common people.
“Even if that weren’t the case, you should make yourself that way.”
“Yes. I was lacking.”
“No. You weren’t lacking. You did your best within your own thinking.”
It doesn’t suit one who has done their best to be told they were lacking.
Only those who recognize their shortcomings can rise further.
“Of course, it would be good to maximize short-sighted gains as well. So how should we do it?”
Seo Seong-saeng, having gained new insight, presented countermeasures with equal flexibility.
And immediately upon being asked.
“I will spread rumors about the reason why the Baek Family is marching out right now.”
“Exactly that.”
The Baek Family attacking Giljoo at this moment is only a losing move.
Yet they stepped forward preemptively, considering the suffering the guest merchants of Giljoo would endure.
Why? Because the Baek Family does not turn a blind eye to the suffering of common people!
Because they prioritize righteousness over family gain!
“Now that I think about it, stepping forward before Honam’s Black Sword wreaks havoc in Giljoo seems like a better move in terms of advantage.”
Seo Seong-saeng muttered to himself, lost in thought about something.
It was a common behavior of a strategist absorbed in contemplation.
“If we further consider the reactions of other regions and other forces in the future… to make it our base… No, it’s not just better than that, but perhaps we could even turn it into a golden opportunity.”
He’s the type who likes to explain things while showing off.
Since I’ve said something, let me dangle a carrot now.
“How?”
As I asked with a curious expression, Seo Seong-saeng immediately waved his arm with confident demeanor.
“Young Master, surely you understand the nature of the Kekkajin people!”
“You mean their insularity and hostility toward outsiders?”
“Precisely!”
The Kekkajin were closed-minded and hostile to outsiders because they were refugees and wanderers who had suffered at the hands of foreigners throughout their travels across the realm.
“Even now they suffer. All five of Gilju’s black path factions are composed entirely of outsiders.”
Had those black path dogs been Kekkajin from Gilju, the Baek Family could never have made it their base of operations.
Whether white or black, they would prefer their own kind among the Kekkajin.
“The crucial matter is winning the hearts of the Kekkajin people. In other words, the Family Head’s decision was truly the right one.”
Honestly, I don’t actually think that way.
But he’s quite skilled at packaging whatever the Family Head decides.
It’s a strategist’s duty to present the Family Head’s decisions in the best light, regardless of what they are.
Of course, if the judgment is truly foolish and idiotic, pointing out the error is also part of that duty.
“Here’s how we proceed: we eliminate the black path factions—mere outsiders who oppress the Kekkajin—and the Baek Family withdraws, claiming we want nothing more!”
The black path sects of Honam, bordering Gilju, are grinding their teeth in anticipation.
The Kekkajin will have no choice but to seek the Baek Family’s aid.
“After the Baek Family eliminates all of Gilju’s black path factions, we remain outsiders. The Kekkajin will wish for our withdrawal. So we withdraw, and when Honam’s black path attacks, we save them again!”
‘Truly brilliant. The way he grasps the larger picture from just a single hint is remarkable.’
The essence of Seo Seong-saeng’s strategy lay in winning over the Kekkajin people.
Through this, we establish the foundation for the Baek Family to claim Gilju as our base—not through short-sighted gains, but through genuine roots.
“Excellent. Develop concrete tactics based on what you’ve said. You may go now.”
“Yes, Young Master!”
Seo Seong-saeng left the room with enthusiasm.
Watching him depart, I allowed myself a slight smile.
‘I’ll need to offer some guidance once he brings the full plan.’
Seo Seong-saeng is the type who lives for his own cleverness and loves to show off his intelligence.
It’s important to temper that appropriately.
‘No matter how perfectly he constructs it, he won’t be able to account for all variables.’
Having lived through these times before, I knew of several variables he couldn’t foresee.
For instance, the assassins of Kekkajin origin.
In my previous life, when Hyeongsan Faction truly dominated Gilju, the greatest obstacle wasn’t the martial world of Kangso’s white path.
It was the Kekkajin who lived as assassins.
‘I’ll need to rotate the intelligence network once more. And to neutralize the Namgung faction’s scheming…’
The aftershocks of the Hwasan Return would soon ripple back to Kangso.
If the timing aligns perfectly, that would be ideal.
In any case.
Now only Adu and Jegal Seol-ha remained.
Adu was merely seeking food, so I’d set him aside.
“Seolha, you said you had something to tell me?”
“Yes. But I’ve thought of one more thing I wanted to say.”
“What is it?”
“Will you become the Family Head of the Baek Family later, Elder Brother?”
What is he talking about now?
“How could an adopted son become Family Head? The next Family Head will be that Seo brat.”
I’ve invested so much effort into ensuring that Seo brat doesn’t go astray like in my previous life.
It was all to raise him into an excellent heir to the family.
‘Besides, if I were to inherit the position of Family Head, problems would arise.’
As can be seen from the origins of the Baek Family, families are founded when exceptional individuals break new ground.
However, for a family to prosper across generations, everything must be adjusted to the standards of ordinary people.
It was absolutely impossible for someone exceptional in every aspect to inherit the position of Family Head across successive generations.
In that regard, Seo is the optimal Family Head.
“My goal is to make the main branch the greatest family under heaven. Continuing it is that brat’s responsibility.”
“…If Father had discovered you first instead of Uncle, many things would have been different indeed.”
“Hmm. Perhaps so.”
‘Thinking of my previous life, the Jegal Family must be facing quite a few concerns by now.’
The Jegal Family, one of the five greatest families under heaven.
However, recently the Jegal Family had been suffering from multiple troubles.
For example, the Wudang Sect, which is an immediate concern.
Within Hubei Province, the Wudang Sect and the Jegal Family were located respectively on Wudang Mountain and Rong-jung Mountain.
Hubei Province was vast enough for two great martial sects to divide and consume together.
But the Wudang Sect’s greed showed no end, and conflict was gradually becoming visible.
‘Well, it’s information I can’t use immediately anyway.’
“Why bring that up suddenly?”
“Just curious. I wondered why you dedicate yourself so much to the Baek Family.”
“What’s strange about living for your family?”
“Now that you mention it, I have nothing to say. So you have no intention of becoming the Family Head?”
“No.”
“Then what happens to you after Young Master Seo inherits the family?”
I understood what he was getting at.
Having someone stronger and more influential than the Family Head in the family is never good.
Factions would inevitably form.
Just now, even Seo Seong-saeng showed eyes and an attitude as if saying, ‘From now on, you are my lord.’
“When that time comes, I’ll need to keep some distance. For the sake of the main branch.”
“I see.”
“It’s a distant future matter though.”
“That doesn’t matter.”
Curious about his intention, I examined his face.
An expression crossing with multiple thoughts.
“Let’s stop talking about this. I’ll ask what I originally meant to.”
“Go ahead.”
“I want to reach the peak realm.”
“…?”
Why are you telling me this?
For a moment I had that thought, but I understood what she meant.
“You’re asking for my help?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm. For that, it would be fastest to seek out your master.”
Jegal Seol-ha shook her head.
“My master wants me to advance through my own inquiry and effort. She said that even my current progress is already an incredible pace.”
That’s true. The faster you go, the more you tend to miss along the way.
‘Even I’m like that right now.’
In my previous life, I have memories of reaching the peak in my youth, and I retain the enlightenment leading to the transcendent realm.
Yet despite that, the reason I don’t rush to elevate my martial prowess.
To build everything solidly without missing a single piece, so I can climb even higher.
It was truly the right choice.
Thanks to it, the moment I reached the peak, I could overwhelm Hyeol-an, and in Hangzhou, I was able to claim victory against three or four peak masters.
“Sa-mae. Martial prowess and martial force are different. Not all peak masters possess the same level of martial force. Only by building a broad foundation slowly can you obtain martial force beyond the peak realm.”
“I know. I can’t help but see it when I look at Elder Brother and Adu. Still though.”
I fell silent for a moment and looked at Jegal Seol-ha.
It seemed she had learned much from her duel with Baek Do.
It was natural, having experienced both her first battle and first kill.
“You felt your own powerlessness?”
“Yes. To be honest, I thought I was advancing at a pace that would rank among the finest in the world.”
It was true. Jegal Seol-ha, true to her nature as the Soul-Devouring Demon Empress who had caused great bloodshed in my previous life, was growing at an incredible pace.
Having reached the first-rate realm at merely fifteen years old, she was more than qualified to speak of the world.
Especially considering that orthodox martial lineages like the Seon-eum Jade-Ling Sect, which had continued unbroken for generations, required building a solid foundation for a long time at the beginning.
“But I’m still lacking. Today, I couldn’t do anything.”
“That’s not true. You performed better than most peak masters.”
It was due to the nature of her martial art.
At least in multi-person combat, Jegal Seol-ha at the first-rate realm could eliminate more enemies than a single peak master.
“Come on, I’m still lacking, so Elder Brother should help me.”
“Even if you ask for help, no matter how capable I am, I can’t guarantee anyone reaches the peak realm.”
“But I’ve already heard? Baek Ik-gak-ju and Father both reached the peak realm thanks to Elder Brother.”
I did serve as a martial instructor to Elder Brother and Father.
But that was thanks to knowing their martial arts so well that I even created methods to counter them.
Even as a lay disciple, since I haven’t received the transmission of the true profound techniques, it won’t be easy to serve as a martial instructor to Jegal Seol-ha.
“Surely you’re not lacking confidence? Aha, so there’s something even Elder Brother can’t do?”
“….”
“If you lack confidence, that settles it! There’s nothing to be done!”
It wasn’t easy, but there was nothing I couldn’t do. More precisely, I felt there was nothing I couldn’t do.
Besides, I had already been thinking I should give Jegal Seol-ha a gift.
When someone provokes me like this, I have no choice but to accept the challenge.
‘Unity of mind and body. And the embodiment of three enlightenments.’
The crucial part is building a solid foundation while advancing rapidly.
To a level where my master wouldn’t reproach me for laying hands on Seolha.
‘If there’s a Yin-Yang practitioner who reaches the pinnacle, I can certainly gain tremendous advantage in this struggle for supremacy. Moreover, if I solidify the foundation while bringing my disciple to the pinnacle, I’d be indebting my master. And the Jegal Family would consider themselves indebted as well.’
To incur a debt from one of the Five Great Families and one of the Cheonmu-sip-jon.
There’s no downside to taking this challenge.
However, one condition follows.
“Sa-mae.”
“Yes?”
“Are you prepared?”
“Prepared?”
“Yes. It will be far more painful than when you completed your body before.”
A month or two ago, Jegal Seol-ha had her physical form forcibly completed through Seon-gi’s pursuit of the Acupoints of Yin and Yang.
Despite its name, it had been an agonizing form of cultivation.
Only then did Jegal Seol-ha’s expression shift to one of realization, regret flickering across her face.
But it was already too late.
I suggested we spend some intimate time together, just the two of us as martial siblings.

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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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