Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 158

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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 158
A prestigious family (世家). The world’s generation, a family’s legacy.
A prestigious family is a title bestowed upon martial clans worthy of leading the world.
It is not self-proclaimed, but rather a title given by the common people and connoisseurs.
In a sense, it could be called an honorary name granted to a family.
Then.
What must one do for a family to ascend to the ranks of a prestigious family?
‘I must prove it. That qualification.’
My father’s dream is for the Baek family to rise to the ranks of a prestigious family.
And beyond that, my dream is to make the Baek family the greatest under heaven.
‘I have been preparing for this day for a long time.’
And now, the moment to bear fruit was finally approaching.
“Seo Seong-saeng.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“Explain it once more.”
“Understood.”
Seo Seong-saeng pointed at the map affixed to the wall with the pointer in his hand.
“First. The martial world of Gangseong is at a stalemate between the black and white factions.”
“I know.”
“Second. For the main family to be called a prestigious family, we must at least be capable of claiming dominion over Gangseong.”
But what truly matters is that we must be recognized as the dominant force by everyone, not merely claim it.
In other words, it is this.
“Third. Through this process, the Baek family must prove its qualification as a prestigious family.”
This was an especially difficult aspect for the Baek family.
Because.
“The world’s perception of the Baek family is that we are riding on others’ coattails. Many cry out that our advocacy of the common hero was only possible thanks to the solid backing of the Dang and Jegal families.”
It could not be otherwise.
The fact that the Baek family, once merely a third-rate martial clan, has come this far owes greatly to the aid of the Dang and Jegal families.
“There really is no other way, is there?”
“Yes. Extremely dangerous, but most efficient.”
The black bandits of Honam are grinding their teeth in anticipation.
The Namgung family, disguised as our allies, continues to leak information, and when the time comes, they will open the gates.
But what of the Baek family’s forces?
Family Head Baek Moo-ryang and key personnel including Gu Ak, the commander of the expeditionary force, have departed for Gilju.
“Two hundred. Three days. Open the gates. Annihilation.”
“Only one day remains now.”
I lifted my head. The plan I had drawn became visible.
Could I truly accomplish it?
Was I not throwing a gamble with countless lives and the very existence of the main family at stake?
Suddenly, Seo Seong-saeng called out to me.
“Young Master. That expression doesn’t suit you.”
“Hm?”
“You were always so arrogantly confident—don’t show such hesitation now.”
Yang Hwi, who had been wearing a dazed expression, broke into a smile.
“You’re right. Your words are always correct. Even a brat has something to teach me, it seems.”
“Tch! What does a little age difference matter!”
I clenched my fist, dismissing his comment.
“It’s not a matter of whether I can do it. I will do it.”
With that resolve, I picked up the command order.
“The black bandits have launched a sudden attack. Given the considerable scale of their forces, if you take our family’s warriors along with twenty soldiers, you can personally sweep them out and return.”
A command order issued half a day ago at Namgung Cheon-hu’s request.
‘Yes, to avoid suspicion, I need to be absent. I’ll need the excuse of being on a mission.’
Therefore, only the family’s warriors remained here now.
‘Even so, I will succeed. I’ll stake everything on it.’
My side feels empty.
Adu and Jegal Seol-ha, who are usually always by my side, are absent.
The two are currently immersed in their work.
The Baek family was laying the groundwork to achieve victory against overwhelming numerical disadvantage.
‘And I’m not relying solely on Seol-ha either.’
“Seo Seong-saeng. Keep analyzing and extracting everything you can.”
“Where are you going, sir?”
“To boost morale.”
I headed to the training grounds.
“Rising Sword!”
“Ha!”
“Ha!”
As Baek Heon-so demonstrated and issued commands, numerous Baek family warriors followed suit.
I watched their forms with satisfaction for a moment, then tapped Baek Heon-so on the shoulder.
“Ah, older brother.”
“Seo. Are you doing well?”
Baek Heon-so, now grown to a height nearly equal to mine, grinned widely.
“Of course, sir.”
“Good, you can do this. Your role is very important.”
Determination to live up to his brother’s trust appeared on his face, then quickly transformed into heavy pressure.
Baek Heon-so had always wanted to contribute to family matters.
Now, for the first time, he was participating in a critical affair—one that concerned the very survival of the family.
He must be feeling suffocating burden.
“Seo.”
“Yes, older brother.”
“I trust you. You’re my brother.”
“Brother….”
The burden weighing on Baek Heon-so’s face vanished as if washed away.
Ever since gaining an older brother in childhood, I had always chased after Yang Hwi’s back.
A back that never wavered, no matter when or where.
‘If my brother says so, then that’s how it is.’
Conviction settled across Baek Heon-so’s face.
Though it originated from another, it was undoubtedly a certainty about myself.
“Baek A-dan!”
At Baek Heon-so’s cry, who commanded the Baek A-dan unit, all its members assumed their sword stance in unison.
“Can we do this!”
“Of course!”
“We will absolutely succeed!”
“I will protect the main house with these hands!”
The final cry that followed was Baek Heon-so’s own.
“Brother. I will stake my life and succeed!”

* * *
“Shhhhh. Huuuuh.”
As I opened my eyes after completing my breathing exercise, a brilliant light flashed and faded.
“Ah, just a bit more and I think I could have it.”
Previously, I had grasped the threads of Saengdong-ui-gi and Heogong-seop-mul.
Two of the three enlightenments needed to reach the pinnacle realm.
If I succeeded in embodying even one, the success rate of today’s great undertaking would skyrocket, but what a shame.
‘Even though it’s an enlightenment I already knew and had mastered before, it’s progressing this sluggishly.’
People are all different, and even the same enlightenment requires different methods depending on which warrior achieves it.
This is because the martial arts learned differ, and each warrior’s mind and body are varied.
This applied to me as well, having learned a martial system different from my past life and possessing a far superior spiritual foundation due to the existence of Inner Qi.
“I certainly know where the destination is.”
Therefore, there’s no need to wander searching for direction.
“But the path I originally walked has collapsed.”
So I must find another way.
‘This is frustrating.’
The consolation is that because I’ve laid a far grander and broader foundation, even with the same martial realm, I can display more formidable power.
Since I already know the destination, I can find the path more quickly as well.
“Brother. Are you done?”
Hearing Chu Dal’s voice, I opened the door and stepped out.
Chu Dal stood atop the roof of the residence, gazing into the distance.
“Yeah. I’m done.”
“Any progress?”
“Unfortunately not. But I’ve put my body in perfect condition.”
“Well, that’s one relief. They’ll be here soon.”
“What’s their location?”
“About half a shichen away from the main residence.”
Now that I knew of the attack, I couldn’t simply sit idle like a fool.
It went without saying—the Baek family had already dispersed agents from Baek-ri-gak, our intelligence division, in all directions several shichen ago.
“They scattered and moved, then regrouped after entering Muju.”
“So they’re advancing at full speed now?”
“That’s right.”
I tied my hair back tightly and fastened the hero’s headband.
I pulled the silk sash wrapped around my waist taut once more.
Then, finally, I drew my blade.
Baek Cheol, the Baek family’s greatest master craftsman, had forged this renowned sword over a hundred days to repay the debt he owed to the Young Master.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes, sir.”
In the Baek family’s main courtyard, all available forces had gathered at its center.
Even Adu and Jegal Seol-ha, our reserve forces, were present.
‘One at the peak realm. The rest ranging from third-rate to first-rate.’
Those at third-rate and the family servants without martial training had been evacuated to the deepest shelter.
-Seol-ha. One last question. Are you really going through with this?
Jegal Seol-ha answered through transmitted sound without a moment’s hesitation.
-Elder brother. If you were in danger, would I turn away?
Of course not.
Apart from the drawback of incurring Master Eum Hu’s resentment and severing ties with Uncle Jegal Seon.
Jegal Seol-ha was already someone I had to protect.
-I feel the same way, elder brother. I’ll be with you.
-Good. I won’t ask further.
-There’s one thing I regret though. If we could only reach Master, he’d sweep them all away.
I shook my head.
-Even if we could reach him, I can’t accept his help. This great battle must be the Baek family’s alone.
Even setting aside Adu and Jegal Seol-ha, who were merely post-celestial realm, the moment Eum Hu, one of the Cheonmu-sip-jon, stepped forward, the Baek family would forever be unable to rise to the ranks of the great families.
-I will repay the debt to the Jegal family.
-Not just the family, but to me personally as well?
-Of course.
Thanks to Jegal Seol-ha adding one more comment even now, laughter escaped me.
With the corners of my mouth raised, I unleashed a lion’s roar.
“Baek family!”
“Yes, sir!”
I walked through the center of the courtyard.
Thus I moved to the front gate of the main courtyard.
I leaped up onto the roof of the gate and drew my blade, resting it across my shoulder.
“You all know my temperament.”
“Of course!”
“There’s no one in this place who doesn’t know the Young Master’s nature!”
“Anyone like that would have already given up and left!”
“A stubborn old codger who holds grudges forever!”
That last comment came from Chu Dal.
Normally, I would have flicked a chestnut at him, but not today—I didn’t deny it.
“That’s right. There’s no one in all the heavens who holds grudges longer than I do. What I mean is this.”
Yang Hwi chuckled softly once more and lifted his head slightly.
The full moon hung in the sky. A shadow sat perched on the roof, a sword resting across its shoulder.
Silhouetted against the moon’s center, Yang Hwi continued.
“Everyone, don’t die. I won’t say much more.”
A brief silence fell. Then a cry so thunderous that dust billowed up shook the entire compound.
“We obey!”
“We obey!”
“We obey!”
Dust clouds rose from far in the distance as well.
My senses, honed like a blade, read their identities and numbers.
‘Exactly two hundred. Peak realm… fifty of them.’
Fifty at peak realm, plus second-rate and first-rate warriors bringing the total to one hundred fifty?
Considering that siege warfare is three times harder than defense, this represented more than double our fighting strength.
Half their force alone would be enough to annihilate the Baek family.
But.
Yang Hwi grinned fiercely as he looked at the leader at the very front.
“Well, well, Hyeong-san Eum-hyeol. What brings an old man who used to run away with his tail between his legs all the way here?”
I provoked him casually while examining his aura more carefully.
‘Three masters at Hyeong-san Eum-hyeol’s level?’
These bastards really came prepared.
At this point, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say they’ve brought the entire fighting force of the Hyeong-san faction.
Well, I suppose I should be grateful the Namgung guys didn’t openly join forces with them.
“Baek Yang-hwi. You young fool. You look remarkably well.”
It was a question—how had I recovered so quickly after releasing my latent power in the previous battle?
“Ah, unlike old men, the young have vigorous blood flowing through them. It’s the way of heaven and earth.”
“It seems you’ve obtained some elixir somewhere.”
“Think what you will.”
“The fact that you were waiting here suggests you knew something.”
“Yeah. I planted a spy under you.”
Hyeong-san Eum-hyeol let out a cold laugh, releasing a thick murderous aura.
“I don’t know where the leak came from. But it doesn’t matter.”
“Really? What if I’ve set traps?”
The moment I finished speaking, a snort of laughter burst forth.
“Do I appear to be a fool to you?”
“Yes.”
“…I know full well that your main force still has far to go before arriving. Which means any trap or scheme is utterly useless.”
The instant Inner Qi frosted over Hyeong-san Eum-hyeol’s hands, all two hundred of the Followers of Baek unleashed their ferocious momentum.
“The Baek clan will be annihilated today. Everyone, attack!”
Two hundred Followers of Baek in total, including fifty masters at their peak.
Yes, certainly enough power to obliterate the Baek clan and have strength to spare.
But.
Even as they surged forward to strike, Yang Hwi did not move.
“You fools, even a rabbit knows to eat and enter from its own burrow.”
In that instant, serpentine streams of light erupted from across the entire Baek estate.
“First, let’s try reducing their numbers by half.”
Yang Hwi smiled wickedly.

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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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