Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 168

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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 168
The Central Plains were at peace.
To be precise, it was an age of chaos where black and white tore at each other’s throats, but this chaos belonged to the lower ranks.
The higher-ups of the righteous and demonic factions were solidifying their positions.
Meanwhile, minor martial sects were forming and dissolving alliances, scrambling to claim the scraps left behind.
‘Then the moment the Demonic Cult’s rebellion erupts, it becomes an explosion.’
True chaos would arrive.
Blood flowing like water. Complete pandemonium.
I didn’t feel obligated to stop it, but for the Baek Family’s interests, it was better to prevent the same flow as my previous life from continuing.
‘In that sense, the Dang Family is exactly the ally we need.’
Moreover, throughout the entire realm, they were among the least likely to betray those who trusted them alongside Baek.
If the Dang Family grew stronger, it would only benefit the Baek Family.
Then, I should make them stronger, shouldn’t I?
‘Let me probe a bit deeper.’
I released my qi threads like silk, maximizing my energy sensitivity.
The destination of those threads was the dantians of Dang-gun and Dang-yeon.
‘Elder Dang is at the peak. Sister Yeon is first-rate.’
At their age, this level of martial prowess was among the most exceptional, but… it was insufficient.
What made it more problematic was that the insufficiency stemmed not from talent, but from their martial techniques.
Especially in Dang-yeon’s case—if she had cultivated the Samyang-gwiwon-gong, reaching the peak would have been no surprise.
The Samyang-gwiwon-gong. The secret heart technique of the Dang Family, created by the Gu-pa and the Five Great Families.
It was certainly an excellent technique, but one that could never be called divine—a martial art with clearly defined limitations.
‘It can contain extreme yang qi, greatly reducing the danger when handling poison, but even accounting for that advantage, its drawbacks are evident.’
Most orthodox martial techniques emphasize the harmony of yin and yang.
Techniques lacking this harmony find it difficult to reach higher realms.
Logically, when comparing someone with one leg to someone with two, the latter can walk farther and faster.
‘They deliberately gave them an imbalanced technique. While it allows for specialization due to that imbalance, it creates clear disadvantages and weaknesses.’
Someone who lost one leg gains exceptional arm strength in compensation.
The Samyang-gwiwon-gong possessed similar characteristics.
By cultivating and wielding yang qi, it gained an elemental advantage against poison, allowing it to be combined with other poison techniques to harbor poison qi within the body.
‘But what good is that? As a technique for a prestigious sect… it becomes both a curse and shackles in itself.’
Therefore, one of my objectives for this journey to Sichuan—no, my greatest purpose—is to overhaul the Dang Family’s martial techniques.
Whether it’s possible as an outsider, I’m not sure.
Well, even if it’s impossible, I’ll make it possible.
Only then can the Dang Family escape their current state of being a leashed dog and become a true ally to the Baek Family.
‘Come to think of it, I feel quite nostalgic.’
Compared to the Baek Family when I first returned, the Dang Family was truly among the greatest martial families under heaven.
Now I’ve reached a point where I’m concerned with elevating the Dang Family itself.
“The conquest of Hunan is a distant future matter. Let’s discuss what we need to worry about now, Elder Dang.”
“That’s right. As for whether the main family’s senior members are satisfied with the current state of the Baek Family, I’d say it’s about fifty-fifty.”
I’ve regained the reputation of being a martial family representing Gangwon, yet the support is only fifty-fifty.
Well, that’s only natural.
“When you consider the entire Martial Arts World, Gangwon is merely a remote region.”
Gangwon, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi—and so on.
Southern regions like these lack the massive prestigious sects comparable to the Nine Paths or the Five Great Families.
The current center of the Martial Arts World was undoubtedly the northern regions.
“The only exception would be Hunan, but Hunan has already fallen.”
Sichuan, where the Dang Family is located, has an ambiguous position, but if anything, it could be considered part of the north.
Though it has some remote areas, two of the Nine Paths are located there as well.
“To be honest, the Baek Family still falls far short of standing on equal ground with our Dang Family. Setting aside the scale of our influence, their current military strength is considerably lacking.”
This is an inherent disadvantage of a rapidly growing new martial family.
Accumulating martial power inevitably requires a proportional amount of time.
‘Even if we force-feed them elixirs, subject them to hellish training, and provide external support, there are still limits.’
“Then the reason it’s expected to be fifty-fifty is because of the Dang Family Scripture, right?”
I responded with a warm smile matching Elder Dang’s.
“That’s right. The Dang Family Scripture fulfilled what those bearing the Dang surname had desperately yearned for.”
Even just ten years ago, the Dang Family members were scorned by the people of the world.
A righteous sect that shamefully employed poison and assassination techniques.
A martial school so vicious in temperament that their family creed was to repay grievances tenfold, causing people to fear and distance themselves from them.
“The Dang Family Scripture completely shattered those prejudices. Thanks to my younger brother Hwi, we were finally recognized as legitimate martial artists of the righteous path.”
“There’s no need for such formality between us.”
“In any case, the Baek Family demonstrated their integrity by offering a portion of their manor as a training ground when everyone else avoided us, and through the Dang Family Scripture, they’ve provided us with tremendous intangible benefits. So even if there’s an objective difference in our power, roughly half of the opinions support the relationship with the Baek Family.”
Though Elder Dang was speaking favorably, fifty-fifty was hardly an ideal situation.
After all, those opposed typically voice their opinions more forcefully than supporters.
“In other words, our Baek Family needs to prove ourselves further.”
“I’m afraid so.”
Father Baek Moo-ryang must have brought Baek Heon-so along with this consideration in mind.
It seemed his intention was to demonstrate that with two such exceptional sons, the Baek Family’s future was bright.
“After discussion with the Baek Family Head, you and the Baek Family members will remain with us for approximately one year for friendly exchanges.”
Martial arts are like water—they stagnate and rot if left still.
Unless a sect is large and established enough to improve solely through its own disciples, most martial schools regularly exchange with other sects.
While they wouldn’t share their most profound techniques, merely being exposed to different martial arts could provide insights for improvement.
“That’s all well and good, but a whole year?”
“The Baek Family Head said that much time seems necessary.”
Hmm, so Father’s primary objective really is to keep me confined to the Dang Family.
It was a long enough period to feel that way.
Though being at the Dang Family doesn’t mean I can’t involve myself in the main family’s affairs.
“Are you worried about being away from the family for such an extended period?”
“Not at all. That’s absolutely not it.”
The Baek Family doesn’t consist solely of mediocre people and children, after all.
I was certain. And anticipation stirred within me.
After so much time had passed that it could be counted in years, how much would the Baek Family have grown?
“In any case, it’s half and half. Hmm.”
On the way to Sichuan, I needed to think about how to make everyone unanimously agree on this matter.
Truth be told, I already had a method in mind, but whether it was actually feasible was another question entirely.

* * *
The journey from the Baek Family Estate to the Dang Family in Sichuan required traveling an incredibly long distance.
Since we couldn’t pass through Hunan, we had to make a wide detour, crossing through Hubei in its entirety as it stretched long from east to west.
Moreover, the most convenient route required stopping by Shaanxi. We had to pass through two entire provinces.
Because of this, our group chose the fastest route.
That was to pass through Sword Gorge.
“Phew. We’re only at the entrance and already it feels daunting.”
“Aha, the terrain looks incredibly treacherous, doesn’t it?”
“Yes, Elder Sister. Even for a warrior, it seems like it will be quite difficult.”
Sword Gorge. True to its name, the peaks rose high and sharp like sword blades, a mountainous region of extreme terrain.
The famous plank road of Sword Gorge was known for being so treacherous that a single misstep would send you plummeting into the abyss below.
“Elder Brother.”
Baek Heon-so called out to me cautiously, then after checking our surroundings, continued in a low voice.
“We’ve arrived. From here on, we cannot ride in the carriage, so you should prepare to get up soon.”
I, who had been cultivating my inner energy, did not open my eyes upon hearing his voice.
Since I had begun my cultivation in the swaying carriage, I kept my ears open to external stimuli, but stopping now felt like I would miss something crucial.
“Would it be acceptable to rest briefly before we continue? It seems difficult to interrupt the cultivation midway.”
Fortunately, Baek Heon-so sought the others’ understanding instead of rushing me, and as the carriage came to a stop, I sank deeper into my inner world.
‘I had been sensing it all along, but something changed after that battle a month ago.’
It was natural that something would change, of course.
Though I borrowed Seong Cheol’s power, I had forcibly manifested the function of Living Qi Enlightenment at that time.
Living Qi Enlightenment. The realization of unifying qi and intent, causing the qi itself to become living.
Its function was the maximization of the intent one held.
For example, making it possible to cut what cannot be cut.
‘In other words, it’s the first step of pulling intent into reality.’
What is intent? It is imagination and mind.
How could the mind, which exists yet remains formless, possibly affect reality?
This is because there exists a medium called qi.
Just as man stands between heaven and earth, qi bridges the gap between the natural world and the human mind.
“Shhhhh. Haaaaah.”
The qi moves. It becomes living without my will to move it.
The fact that it moves without my command means intent has taken root in the qi.
Then have I truly embodied the enlightenment of Living Qi?
‘Not yet. But it won’t be long.’
The “Hwa-cheon” in Hwa-cheon-i-won-gong represents the enlightenment that all things beneath heaven can be harmonized.
In other words, Hwa-cheon-i-won-gong is a divine technique specialized in unity from the very beginning.
Even if it were the unity of energy and intention rather than energy and energy, it would not deviate from Hwa-cheon.
The fact that Hwa-cheon energy and Seon-gi became intermingled to form Hwa-cheon Seon-gi was partly due to the function of Hwa-cheon-i-won-gong.
That was the moment.
-Keeeeee!
The cry of a hawk echoed.
Was this a sound from reality, or a manifestation from my inner vision?
Energy stirred.
It filled and traversed the acupoints—the passages and cavities scattered throughout the human body as a microcosm, just like the dragon veins and dragon caverns of heaven and earth.
-Keeeeee!
‘Something… something different from my past life is being completed.’
Even for me, Yang Hwi, who possessed the most supreme enlightenment in my mind, this was a metaphysical sensation I could not precisely grasp.
Literally, a feeling that seemed to be so.
In other words, something akin to enlightenment itself.
‘Just a little more. Just a little more.’
Click!
The interlocking protrusions and indentations of different pieces fit together.
To the dragon painting with only its eyes left undrawn, the finishing touch… the final stroke…
“Ah!”
I opened my eyes and felt a deep sense of regret, smacking my lips.
“I just needed to add that one final point.”
A thirst so severe it was almost mournful washed over me, but the sensation of enlightenment had vanished.
They say enlightenment is bestowed by heaven, after all.
It seems the time has not yet come.
Still, it does seem like it will become easier to forcibly manifest the vitality energy through the Seong Cheol Sword.
At sixteen years old, even this much is something that would astound the world.
Though I’ll be seventeen the day after tomorrow.
-Keeeeee!
I found myself wearing a puzzled expression.
“…What? It wasn’t a sound from my inner vision?”
As I stepped out of the carriage, I saw people with ashen faces.
The reason was simple.
Dozens of hawks were perched on the branches all around.
“Chu Dal. How did this happen?”
“I-I’m not sure. I was resting while waiting for you, and suddenly they all flew down at once.”
As if in response to Chu Dal’s words, one hawk with feathers as white as snow cried out sharply.
Just looking at it, that one seemed special—clearly the leader of the hawk flock.
-Keeeeee!
Watching that sight, I smacked my lips.
“Heaven must have sent this hawk so I could fill my belly before climbing that treacherous mountain.”
Roasted hawk.
Now that’s a delicacy.
-Kee-aaa?
Confusion flickered across the White Hawk’s eyes.
A look that seemed to say, ‘This… this isn’t what I expected?’
“For a mere hawk, you certainly have expressions.”
Judging by how clever it is, this must be an old bird.
It’ll taste even better then.

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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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