Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 171

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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 171
‘As I suspected. Only I can consume the Spirit Pill that Seon-gi has condensed.’
My suspicion became reality, and my mind grew slightly complicated.
In times like this, cultivation is best. Besides, I’ve already consumed the Spirit Pill.
With that thought, I collapsed onto the ground.
“Huh? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Elder brother. That was in my mouth.”
“What of it?”
“It was covered in saliva.”
“I wiped it clean before eating it.”
This brat—have I raised him too delicately in this life?
Back in my previous life, I tell you, back then!
‘In my past life, I was so frustrated that I couldn’t even find a single low-grade Spirit Herb that most people encounter at least once.’
Warriors are those who dedicate everything to martial prowess.
Martial prowess means strength. If one can gain ten years of inner qi, a warrior would eat dog droppings from the roadside.
‘I’ve already consumed several, but a Spirit Pill from Iron Ring is a supreme elixir that would cause upheaval across the realm if revealed.’
But what’s a little saliva?
I did pop it straight into my mouth, but of course I wiped it with my sleeve beforehand.
From the start, if it means becoming stronger, I could do far worse.
“First, I’ll cultivate. Everyone, please wait.”
I had just finished a round of cultivation moments ago, so I felt a bit sorry to do it again.
With that thought, I closed my eyes.
“Hssss. Haaa.”
Spirit Pills are Spirit Pills, even if I’ve consumed them several times before.
Cultivation is essential to carefully gather every strand of qi contained within.
It took roughly two hours.
Yang Hwi, having consolidated everything, exhaled deeply and opened his eyes.
‘At this rate, I’ve gained nearly a full decade of inner qi.’
In about two months I’ll turn seventeen, but even so, my inner qi has already approached two hundred and fifty years at this age.
In my past life, even before death, I think I had only about this much.
Is this right?
“Hwi, congratulations. There are people in this world who receive such fortune.”
“Watching your younger brother, it truly seems as though heaven’s fortune accompanies him.”
“Heaven’s fortune, you say….”
A bitter smile escaped me.
When I fought those Black Demon cultists not long ago, I had thought that fortune followed me as well.
Remarkably timely occurrences like Law Gak Monk, Adu’s senior brother, appearing, made me continually think my luck was good.
In my past life I had such terrible luck, but in this life heaven’s fortune accompanies me.
Isn’t this a bit too much to simply call luck?
“By the way, how did this happen? When I put it in my mouth, it was hard like a stone.”
“You know how I once obtained the legacy of the Greatest Under Heaven through a stroke of fortune?”
While they didn’t know about the iron rings, everyone was aware that I had consumed the spirit elixir at that time.
It was impossible not to know since I had reported it to the family.
“It was a spirit pill identical to the one from back then. I suspect that unless one’s qi and constitution have changed to be compatible, one wouldn’t be able to consume it in the first place.”
It was a rough excuse, but a plausible one.
Chu Dal nodded his head.
“So there was such a restriction. Ah, if only I could have eaten it, that would have been a stroke of fortune too. What a shame.”
“Why would you eat the fortune I obtained?”
“And yet you shoved a spirit pill directly into my mouth and say such things?”
That was because I had some certainty that he wouldn’t be able to consume it.
“Anyway, congratulations, Hwi’s Younger Brother. That’s truly heaven’s blessing.”
“Right? Walking with heaven’s blessing sounds pretty cool, doesn’t it?”
Instead of answering, I simply smiled faintly.
‘It would be more accurate to call it arrangement rather than heaven’s blessing, Elder Dang.’
I had come to be with Won-woo, the spiritual beast that was Geom Seon Yeo Dong-bin’s companion.
And then Won-woo brought me the iron rings, which were Geom Seon’s legacy.
This couldn’t possibly be mere coincidence.
‘I don’t know what you want, but try once.’
I recalled the voice from the regression once more.
Return and act upon what you desire.
It was possible that Geom Seon had arranged everything and guided me.
But whether it was speculation or fact didn’t matter.
‘I act upon what I desire. That’s all.’
In that sense, I needed to be able to obtain everything I could from the Dang Family expedition.
Well, bringing Geom-gak Dok-eung along meant the first step was already in place.
“Come now, we have a long way to go. Everyone, let’s depart.”
Geom-gak wasn’t simply a name referring to a single mountain.
It was a mountain range where multiple blade-like peaks gathered, and it took nearly half a month just to traverse Geom-gak.
This speed was only possible because everyone was a warrior.
“Ahhh! Finally, flat ground!”
“Sleeping rough for half a month! I feel like insects are crawling out of my body!”
“Ugh, an inn! Find an inn! Everyone, spread out!”
Only after we rushed into an inn together, cleaned ourselves up, and filled our bellies with well-prepared food could we finally catch our breath.
“Phew. Now I feel alive again. Geom-gak is always such hardship to cross.”
“Tell me about it. Taking the easy route takes too much time.”
Baek Heon-so, who had been sprawled out, posed a question.
“How much longer until we reach the Dang Family from here?”
“Ah, Younger Brother Seo. Don’t worry. Since the Sichuan lands are so vast, it will take quite some time, but the journey ahead will be comfortable.”
“Since there’s no rush, we can even sightsee Sichuan along the way.”
“That sounds wonderful!”
This was the first time Baek Heon-so had traveled such a distance.
As Yang Hwi, I had visited most of the famous sites already, so I wanted to reach the Dang Family quickly.
‘Well, as Sister Dang said, there’s no rush. Chu Dal seems eager to sightsee too.’
Besides, I needed some time as well.
—Screeeee!
I had much to learn while testing the capabilities of Won-woo perched on my shoulder.
And so, another month passed.
“Here we are.”
“Welcome, everyone. Welcome to the Dang Family.”
[Sichuan Dang Family Tuo]
A wooden pillar with five characters carved in bold, sweeping calligraphy.
At last, the Dang Family.
“Let’s go in then.”
The most striking difference between the Dang Family and other great clans.
The Dang Family was both a family and a sect—called the Dang Sect.
Just as the Dang Family Tuo existed alongside the Dang Family, villages naturally grew around powerful martial clans.
Due to their excellent security, common folk flocked there and settled.
In the past, when the Baek Family was the Baek Clan, Ak-an County had similarly grown from such a village.
But.
The Dang Family Tuo was different.
Elders walking through the village. Strong men working.
Even children playing in the open grounds.
All of them bore the Dang surname and were members of the Dang Family.
A single village, a sect, and a clan all at once.
That was the Dang Family of Sichuan.
“From here on, we enter the inner grounds.”
[Great Sichuan Dang Family]
Unlike the pillar at the entrance of the Dang Family Tuo, a proper plaque hung here.
‘The calligraphy style is identical.’
Typically, plaques hung above the main gate connected to walls on either side.
But the main gate before me had no walls flanking it left or right.
As if declaring there was no need to separate inside from outside.
That was when it happened.
‘Hmm?’
A powerful surge of inner qi emanating from within.
The presence was approaching rapidly.
The figure that soon appeared was.
“Dang-gun. Yeon-a. It has been far too long.”
“Family Head. Young Master Dang-gun has returned after completing his mission.”
“Uncle! I missed you so much!”
Dang-gun prioritized reporting on his official duties.
Dang-yeon showed her joy at meeting family after so long.
Beyond the two blood relatives, Dang Seong, the Family Head of the Dang Family, cast his gaze toward Yang Hwi.
“Members of the Baek Family, welcome to the Dang Family.”
The Great Sichuan Dang Family Head, the Sichuan Poison King—Dang Seong.
Yang Hwi received the full weight of Dang Seong’s gaze and slowly performed the fist salute.
“Baek Yang-hwi of the Baek Family from Gangseong greets the Family Head.”

* * *
A vast chamber adorned in the green that symbolized the Dang Family.
This was the Family Head’s office.
“I’ve heard much about you through Dang-gun and Yeon-a. It’s good to meet you.”
“I too have heard much of your illustrious reputation. It is an honor, Family Head.”
Before the Dang Family’s emergence, rumors had spread that the Dang clan members were temperamental by nature.
Contrary to that, Dang Seong appeared remarkably composed at first glance.
After all, how could the Family Head of such a clan lack composure?
That was when I thought—
‘Huh?’
Rumble, rumble, rumble—
A terrifying aura spread forth, causing the air itself to tremble.
The source of that aura was none other than Dang Seong.
‘A senior testing a junior is practically tradition in the martial world, but this suddenly?’
I glanced at Dang-gun and Dang-yeon, who sat beside me.
Both had already risen from their seats and retreated backward.
Dang-gun shook his head as if to say there was nothing to be done, while Dang-yeon furrowed her brows with an expression that seemed to say “here we go again.”
“I hear both Baek Yang-hwi and Baek Heon-so of the Baek Family are exceptional talents.”
“…Ugh.”
It was Baek Heon-so who let out a stifled groan.
No matter how well one had mastered the Intent Sharing technique, it would be insufficient to withstand the aura of a master at the absolute peak.
I reached out to help him bear it, but then reconsidered.
-Seo, use the subtleties of Intent Sharing to expel your energy. Try to endure it.
-Yes, brother.
Hearing my transmission, Baek Heon-so began to push back against the pressure with all his might.
So this fellow has been working hard all this time.
‘He’s improved quite a bit, hasn’t he? Impressive.’
Dang Seong’s face also showed a flicker of interest.
If this were enough to satisfy him—no, it wasn’t.
Poison began to frost over the aura.
‘So this is what a Dang Family Head truly is.’
The martial arts representing the Dang Family are poison techniques and dark assassination arts.
There was no obvious sign, yet a venomous aura hung thick in the air itself.
This was proof that Dang Seong’s poison mastery had reached its pinnacle.
‘Certainly, it’s the type of poison that would be cured immediately with an antidote. But even so, to unleash such toxins on a first meeting…’
Perhaps the rumors that members of the Dang Family were poison specialists weren’t unfounded after all?
“Cough!”
Baek Heon-so, unable to endure the venomous aura, coughed violently.
Yang Hwi smiled faintly and draped his sleeve-lengthened arm before Seo’s face.
Immediately, the air within the office began to flow, and all the poisonous aura concentrated toward Yang Hwi.
Dang Seong revealed his exceptional nature once more.
The concentrated poison became even more potent, yet Yang Hwi maintained his smile throughout.
“Impressive.”
Both momentum and poisonous aura suddenly amplified.
“Thank you for the praise.”
However, it fell short of breaking through Yang Hwi’s composure.
“…Gun-a and Yeon-a were right. Truly a remarkable talent.”
The momentum vanished as if washed away, and the poisonous aura was drawn back into Dang Seong.
He must have judged that escalating further would cross the line.
“Sichuan cuisine is famous for its spiciness, and indeed, the Dang Family of Sichuan lives up to the reputation. The pungency is quite stimulating.”
“….”
Considering the relationship between the Baek and Dang families, testing a junior so aggressively on a first meeting was tactfully pointed out as discourteous.
Yet Dang Seong said nothing and remained silent.
He merely sent a gaze whose meaning was inscrutable.
“I would prefer it that way. Baek Sohyeop. I have a request for you.”
“I am listening.”
“Become a live-in son-in-law of the Dang Family.”
Shock rippled through the office.
A live-in son-in-law. In other words, a marriage proposal.
Considering what marriage means for the Dang Family, of all families,
it was far too weighty a proposal to voice on a first meeting.
“….”
Yang Hwi fell into thought for a moment.
The rudeness of testing through sudden displays of force and pressure.
And now, a unilateral marriage proposal on top of it.
‘I see.’
I think I understand Dang Seong’s intentions now.
“I must decline, Family Head.”
Yang Hwi, who had rejected outright, let out a quiet laugh.

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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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