Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 166

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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 166
“The Baek Family Head has graciously accepted our request despite having the justification of maintaining order following the eradication of the Black Blade, showing us that the Baek Family’s words stem from genuine sincerity rather than mere pretense.”
“Through this, we outsiders have witnessed the true heart of the Baek Family. Thus, we outsiders come before you without shame to make one request of the Baek Family.”
“Speaking on behalf of seventeen of our outsider clans out of thirty-three, we humbly ask: would you not become the Great One for us outsiders?”
Great One—a title typically used with reverence when addressing someone of high status.
Yet in this moment, it carried a different meaning entirely.
“Great One, you say? Such an honor is far too great for this Baek.”
“How can you call it excessive when you display the bearing of a Great One? If you are not a Great One, then those of us here, myself included, can only be lesser beings. Please, Family Head Baek, grant us this request.”
Yang Hwi regarded Gyeong Ju-san with a look of surprise.
‘A clever man, indeed.’
The outsiders possessed a nature that was hostile and insular toward those from outside.
Yet this Gyeong Ju-san, the clan leader, appeared to have accumulated considerable experience in the outside world.
‘He reads the room well. If the first clan leader who refused was the hardliner, then Gyeong Ju-san must be the moderate.’
Moreover, his resourcefulness and situational judgment were exceptional.
To reverse his position just days after refusing, accepting such embarrassment?
And to do so publicly, in a gathering with so many present?
He had waited for the perfect moment—when the Baek Family alone among the martial sects in the vicinity of Gilju could not refuse without consequence—before making his move.
‘Now he cannot demand a price for the refusal. Though Father likely would not have demanded one anyway.’
Baek Moo-ryang’s response unfolded exactly as Yang Hwi had anticipated.
“Then I have one more matter to proclaim to the warriors of the Four Seas. I declare once more in this gathering: the Baek Family shall never turn away those who seek our aid!”
“Uuuuuaaahhhhh!”
Another thunderous roar erupted from the crowd.
The sincerity seemed even more profound than before.
It was a natural reaction, given that most of those gathered were common folk without power.
‘Still, Father, your words seem somewhat excessive.’
Never to refuse those who seek aid?
That was quite a dangerous statement.
Though, to be fair, most martial sects in Baekdo spoke such words as a matter of course.
‘But Father means it sincerely. If all the beggars under heaven came and received even a single silver coin each, the main family would be bankrupt.’
Well, it mattered not.
The Baek Family’s aid would not be a single silver coin to a beggar, but rather forcing them to learn how to earn their own wealth.
Those whose spirits were lazy and sought easy help would not receive our hand.
‘Those who endure that process and master the art of earning will each become workers who contribute to the Baek Family’s prosperity.’
This was Yang Hwi’s vision of how to realize unwavering cooperation.

* * *
Time flowed swiftly.
To be precise, with such momentous events unfolding, I found myself consumed by cleanup efforts, and entire days would vanish in the process.
‘Even two bodies wouldn’t be enough to handle all this.’
Well, if I’m being honest, my workload had simply doubled, so it was only natural.
Before the purge of the Black Bandits, the Baek Family’s domain had been limited to Muju alone, but now I had suddenly taken control of Gilju as well—a territory roughly thirty percent larger than Muju.
“Adu, could you rub my shoulders a bit… ah.”
I called out to Adu as I habitually did, then smacked my lips with a soft sound.
Now that I thought about it, the emptiness hit me quite sharply.
‘That fellow who used to sit around eating rice cakes whenever others worked. His absence is definitely noticeable.’
After the declaration I made before the assembled crowd.
Beop-gak departed from the Baek Family, taking Adu with him.
“Whimper. The Great Monk said I should follow good people!”
“Ah, my disciple. But you must prepare for the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.”
Adu whined constantly about the separation.
Though not a child, he sat down stubbornly like one and refused to move his feet.
‘The monk must be quite troubled.’
As for me, having Adu—a master of the highest caliber—attached to my side had proven useful in many ways.
But given the help I had received from Beop-gak, I had no choice but to say this reluctantly.
“Hey, Adu.”
“You don’t want to part with me either?”
“Let’s meet again after ten nights apart. If you behave well, I’ll grant you one wish.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Then I want to try drinking alcohol.”
“What…?”
How many meals had I shared with Adu during all this time?
Any true warrior should be bold and spirited, and any hero should enjoy drinking.
As someone who had come from an assassin’s background, I especially enjoyed alcohol.
Yet every time I drank, I would flatly refuse him.
I glanced at Beop-gak’s expression before nodding.
“Very well. A drink to celebrate our reunion. Excellent.”
‘The Dragon-Phoenix Gathering is three years away… he’ll probably forget by then.’
Surely that would be the case.
And so Adu departed with Beop-gak.
He was not the only one to leave.
Two days later, Jegal Seon arrived at the Baek Family.
“Uncle! I beg your forgiveness!”
The moment I saw Jegal Seon, I dropped to my knees.
Truthfully, I hadn’t committed any crime grave enough to warrant kneeling, but I knelt anyway.
I even plastered on a smile that couldn’t spit, unable to hold back.
‘If I exaggerate this much, perhaps they’ll be too embarrassed to stay angry.’
Originally, I had intended to entrust Beop-gak’s role to Jegal Seon, borrowing the Jegal Family’s name for Baek Family matters.
Moreover, I had dragged Jegal Seol-ha into the Baek Family’s conflict, so it was hardly surprising that Jegal Seon, a doting father, would be furious.
The fact that he rushed across the castle to reach the Baek residence the moment he received my letter made it obvious.
But then.
“It is not a sin.”
“Pardon?”
“To be precise, it is a sin, but what you have given is so great that it cannot be considered one.”
He was clearly referring to helping me find Eum Hu in the past and persuading him to accept Jegal Seol-ha as his disciple.
“Furthermore, you have never once attempted to exploit the name for personal gain. Considering it was beneficial to your sworn brother’s family, continue to use it. Within my means, I shall help you to the fullest.”
Jegal Seon’s expression suddenly grew distant.
“An unyielding stream’s integrity… a thorny path that our Jegal Family could never choose… yet you and your brother walk it without hesitation.”
In any case, Jegal Seon stayed at the Baek residence for several days before departing for the Jegal Family estate.
Taking Jegal Seol-ha with him.
“I need time to finish refining my peak state, and it’s already been half a year since I left on the Maneum Map journey. For now, I plan to spend time with Father and family while cultivating.”
Jegal Seol-ha lifted her veil and laughed playfully at Yang Hwi.
“We promised to meet again at the Yongbong Gathering with Adu, didn’t we? Let’s make a promise too. We’ll reunite at the Yongbong Gathering. Well, if you miss me before then, you can always visit the main estate.”
Yang Hwi offered a single phrase as his farewell.
“See you in three years!”
They say people don’t notice where others arrive, but they always notice where they leave.
The empty spaces left by Adu and Jegal Seol-ha were quite significant.
Perhaps it felt even larger because they had always been together.
Well, there was so much work to do that time flew by regardless.
And so a month passed.
“Hwi. Come to my study. We need to talk.”
“Yes, Father.”
As I answered, I thought: finally, it’s here.
‘Phew. At last. I’ve been anxious about this the whole time.’
During the process of eliminating the Black Bandits and exposing Namgung Cheon-hu’s schemes, I had taken considerable gambles and risks multiple times.
Given Baek Moo-ryang’s temperament, it would have been no surprise if he scolded me harshly.
Yet despite everything, Baek Moo-ryang had neither punished nor even admonished me until now.
“Hwi. I have something to say about your actions. In the recent Black Bandit elimination, you risked your life not once or twice, but multiple times.”
‘Heh, Father. I’ve had a whole month to prepare.’
Now was the time to demonstrate all my preparations!
“The thing is, Father, everything was done to maximize the family’s interests. Of course, a true leader must weigh gains and losses clearly. However, I did not risk my life—I acted under firm conviction, so my life cannot be placed on the scales, and…”
Baek Moo-ryang cut off my barrage of excuses sharply.
“I know.”
“…”
“I know too well, which is why I’m at a loss. So I command you.”
“What kind of order, Father?”
“From now on, you are forbidden from involving yourself in the main family’s affairs.”
“Pardon?”
Ah, this was quite the troublesome order.
I would need to persuade Father by any means necessary.
It was just as Yang Hwi’s mind began racing frantically.
“I’ve spoken with the Dang Soga-ju. The ten-year pact between our families draws to a close. Go to the Dang Family as an envoy to foster goodwill between our houses.”
“Pardon?”
I understood Father’s intention well enough.
Since I kept doing dangerous things under the guise of profit, he intended to send me somewhere where danger simply couldn’t exist—a prestigious martial clan.
Even accounting for my growth, compared to the Dang Family, a minor martial clan like the Baek Family would pose far fewer threats to my life.
However.
‘I was planning to go to the Dang Family anyway. This isn’t a punishment at all, is it?’
Yang Hwi wore a dejected expression while secretly rejoicing, but then a sudden doubt crept in.
‘But does Father know I was planning to go to the Dang Family? If he spoke sufficiently with Elder Dang, he would know. He might even be sending me while knowing.’
After gazing into Father’s eyes for a moment, I realized one thing.
This wasn’t simply sending me to a safe place as a form of confinement.
“Since this is a punishment I’m imposing upon you, I will permit neither excuses nor refusals.”
“Yes. I understand, Father.”

* * *
Clop, clop.
“Elder Dang, now that I think about it, it’s been quite a while since we’ve walked together like this.”
“Except for the fact that we’re riding horses rather than walking, I entirely agree. The last time was probably when we went to the Sword King’s Tomb, wasn’t it?”
“Wow. Has it really been that long? It feels strange, truly strange.”
Dang-gun smiled faintly, and Dang-yeon naturally leaned forward to join in.
“Hwi, so you don’t like it?”
“Of course I like it with Sister Dang-yeon here too. How could I not?”
“Really? Aha!”
Baek Heon-so, listening from the side, also joined the conversation.
“Brother, this is my first time going out somewhere with you like this! I’m so happy!”
Baek Moo-ryang had also brought Baek Heon-so along on the journey to the Dang Family.
By traveling with the Tang Siblings, we could receive the protection of the Dang Family’s guards, and given our destination, we could safely accumulate martial experience.
“You brat. If we end up camping at night, let’s catch a wild boar or two to eat.”
“Sounds good! I’ll catch them!”
In the cheerful atmosphere, Chu Dal, who had been following with his mouth slightly open, uttered a sullen remark.
“Brother, the mood is good even without me. Wouldn’t it be better if I just dropped out?”
“Chu Dal.”
“You didn’t really need to bring me along anyway.”
“What’s your alias?”
“A moniker? Chu Dal… No, I don’t have one!”
“That’s exactly why I’m taking you with me.”
“Pardon?”
“You’re at that age and don’t have a moniker! You need to get out there and make a name for yourself before one sticks!”
Chu Dal felt a sense of injustice wash over him.
At fifteen years old, it was perfectly normal not to have a moniker yet.
‘He’s the strange one here…’
Smack!
“Aaaagh! Why are you hitting me?!”
“Your eyes were impure.”
‘Can this man read people’s hearts like Seolha does? Baek Yang-hwi, you bastard…’
Smack!
“Aaaagh! Ah! Brother, surely you haven’t acquired the divine power of mind-reading?”
“No? I just felt like hitting you this time.”
“…”
And I endured the torment of the Asura Hell Technique for this man’s sake?
“Besides, if you don’t follow me around, where else would you go?”
“I have somewhere to go.”
Yang Hwi asked with a puzzled expression.
“You? An orphan with no one in the world? Where exactly?”
“Gugang.”
“Gugang?”
The place name was familiar.
It was where I had brought Chu Dal after annihilating the Moo-myeong Moo-sal-gok and raising him as Salsoo.
“Now that I’ve reached the first-rate level, I wish to find my benefactor.”
“Your benefactor?”
I realized what he meant.
“The person who saved me from the Moo-myeong Moo-sal-gok. You said you didn’t know who they were either.”
‘Ah… that was me.’
“I ask you seriously, brother. How is a man who forgets his debts any different from a beast? I must at least learn about my benefactor before returning.”
“When will you come back?”
Chu Dal replied with a firm expression.
“After I find my benefactor.”
‘If he searches for a benefactor who doesn’t exist, he’ll never return even if he dies and is reborn.’
Hmm.
This has become quite troublesome.

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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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