Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 181

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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 181
What? That was a lie.
What? That was a lie.
What? That was a lie.
The innocent-sounding response echoed in Dang-gun’s mind like the tolling of a bell.
Dang-gun forcibly suppressed the urge to slap his forehead and sigh.
There were far too many eyes watching for him to display such a reaction.
‘Ami, Cheongseng, and even Jeomchang.’
All of them were prestigious sects holding the Dang Family’s leash—families the Dang could not afford to offend.
This was simply absurd.
‘I thought I’d been pressing him too hard lately, so I let him leave on this excursion without stopping him….’
The guilt he’d harbored about forcing the family’s daughters upon him evaporated entirely.
It had only been two days. A catastrophe of this magnitude in just two days?
Now he understood why Baek Family Head Baek Moo-ryang had sent word all the way to the Dang Family.
‘Was Baek Family Head feeling this way every time Hwi’s Younger Brother caused trouble….’
Yes, his younger brother was so remarkably clever it seemed almost uncanny—surely he had his reasons for everything.
But did it have to be like this? That thought was unavoidable.
-Elder Dang. Control your expression. Control your expression. In gambling, expression control is the most important rule.
‘This isn’t a gambling den!!’
Behind Dang-gun’s internal scream, Yang Hwi grinned widely and raised his voice once more.
“As you can see, this Young Master’s identity is guaranteed by the Dang Family! Therefore, I dare declare here and now. Speaking with the Dang Family name on the line, I can immediately treat Jin Dae-in’s condition!”
Dozens of physicians glanced at one another and murmured, while the gathered spectators stirred restlessly.
Of course, the loudest commotion came from Dang-gun’s voice transmission.
-Hwi’s Younger Brother! Hwi’s Younger Brother! I never made any guarantee! Hwi’s Younger Brother!
-Just trust me, Elder Dang.
-How am I supposed to trust you without knowing what you’re planning!
‘Well. If you’re going to be so troublesome about forcing us to become family, you should accept this much.’
If he caused the Dang Family losses after all this, he’d have to take responsibility and truly become a live-in son-in-law, but it would certainly turn to profit.
Consider this petty mischief as a reasonable price.
“Supervisor. Under the names of the Dang and Baek Families, I ask. May this Young Master treat Jin Dae-in?”
It was then that Neung-o leaped forward gracefully and performed a respectful fist salute.
“How fortunate—disciples of the martial sects dominating Sichuan have all gathered here. It has been long, Dang Soga-ju.”
After exchanging greetings with Dang-gun, Neung-o called out again.
Though addressing the Supervisor, his voice was loud enough for all to hear.
“Supervisor. This gathering was meant to be a medical competition to select a disciple of Seong Su-sin-ui, but the Baek Young Master has made an interesting proposal. What do you think?”
Neung-o’s face remained utterly consistent as he spoke.
One might say he had no expression at all.
Not quite expressionless, but with slightly raised corners of his mouth and gentle eyes.
A face seemingly crafted artificially to win people’s favor.
“Indeed, discussing Father’s treatment at this moment seems quite unreasonable.”
“I figured the Supervisor would think that way. Hahaha, but isn’t it amusing? The one vouched for by Jeomchang competing against the one vouched for by the Dang Family for a position as Seong Su-sin-ui’s disciple.”
Though he spoke of amusement, from the Dang Family’s perspective, his words made their seated position decidedly uncomfortable.
-Hwi’s Younger Brother, how do you plan to clean up after this mess you’ve created?
Clean up? Why would I need to?
If I steer the situation so there’s no need for cleanup, that’s all there is to it.
“My thoughts differ somewhat, Supervisor.”
I surveyed the assembly before raising my voice further.
“Medical arts are the art of saving lives! My techniques exist to preserve life. This is not a place to discuss treatment? No! From the very beginning, everything I do has been for the sake of treatment!”
Who is truly Seong Su-sin-ui’s disciple doesn’t actually matter.
Neither side consists of his real disciples anyway.
So let me redirect people’s attention to the treatment itself.
“Let me state this once more. I can treat Jin Dae-in immediately. Sosineui, can you do the same?”
Sosineui couldn’t respond with the same confidence as I did.
“Of course. If I take time to manage the symptoms and gradually improve the condition….”
The sort of generic words any physician could utter.
It contrasted sharply with my bold proclamation, and naturally, the Supervisor and others began to place greater trust in my words.
“Supervisor! Please make a decision for your father’s sake!”
“I need more time to consider….”
“The longer you wait, the worse Jin Dae-in’s condition will become! Within ten days! If I cannot cure Jin Dae-in within ten days, I will forfeit my life!”
Dang-gun stared intently at me as I poured out passionate words.
When he first arrived at the Jin residence, he felt only bewilderment, but now he sensed a different kind of dissonance.
The Yang Hwi that Dang-gun knew firmly believed his own convictions were correct, but he never forced his will on others or acted with arrogance.
Yet this was different.
It reminded him of when he encountered the Blood Sect’s leader at Geom Wang’s fortress.
‘There’s something hidden here.’
The Mangeumjeung certainly had many suspicious aspects.
It appeared suddenly and spread primarily among the wealthy.
If someone was orchestrating this….
-Hwi’s Younger Brother. Did you discover involvement from heterodox or demonic forces?
-That’s right.
I replied tersely and lifted the corners of my mouth.
Elder Dang truly is a capable family head.
Initially, I intended to treat Jin Yeong-gil and gain some profit, but now the priorities have reversed.
Because I realized the cause of Mangeumjeung was Bright Qi.
‘As expected. Those Bright Sect bastards were also operating in the shadows like the Blood Sect.’
The Bright Moon Sect—one of the three pillars of the heterodox sects.
I found their trail.

* * *
After a heated exchange and verbal sparring that could cut three inches deep, we decided to adjourn for the time being.
Since Jeomchang and the Dang Family had each stepped forward to vouch, lingering any longer would only prolong the debate.
“Hwi’s Younger Brother. I need a situation report. As detailed as possible.”
Before answering, I closed my eyes.
Everything had happened so rapidly that I myself needed time to organize my thoughts.
‘The Mangeumjeung is undoubtedly a strange ailment originating from the Myeong Cult.’
I had sensed demonic energy within Jin Yeong-gil’s body—the Myeong Cult’s bright energy.
When people speak of demonic energy, they typically expect characters like black, darkness, blood, or light attached to it.
In that sense, the Myeong Cult’s bright energy does seem somewhat peculiar.
Bright energy—literally, radiant qi.
Isn’t it strange that an evil sect’s energy bears a name evoking light?
But then again.
What exactly are demonic energy and demonic forces to begin with?
Simply put, they are corrupted energy and energy that defies natural order.
In that sense, the Myeong Cult’s bright energy was undoubtedly demonic.
‘In my past life, I didn’t notice this when treating Mangeumjeung. But now I’m certain.’
Having endured the Heterodox Faction Disturbance, I had experienced the Myeong Cult’s energy thoroughly.
Though faint and different in texture, it was unmistakably their bright energy.
‘If the Myeong Cult is involved, where did they begin their schemes?’
Could it have started when that impostor claiming to be Seong Su-sin-ui’s disciple appeared?
No, that couldn’t be it—Jeomchang is vouching for him.
According to my past life’s memories, none of the Nine Sects had colluded with the Three Great Evil Cults, so that possibility was low.
‘How can I catch the body without losing the tail?’
Should I dangle appetizing bait so they can’t escape after cutting off their tail?
“Hwi’s Younger Brother.”
Dang-gun’s voice reached me again. I opened my eyes.
‘A thousand-mile journey begins with a single step. For now, I’ll take what I can and slowly dangle the bait.’
“Elder Dang. I’ll treat Jin Dae-in and explain it this way: through recent exchanges between the Dang and Baek Families, we discovered the subtle martial principles of using poison to counter poison, which allowed us to achieve the cure.”
Dang-gun’s expression stiffened slightly.
“I’m sorry, but that shouldn’t be revealed.”
“I know. You want to keep it secret from the Nine Sects, right? I feel the same way, so I’ll only tell the Family Head in private.”
“The Family Head? Not the Supervisor?”
“You’ll understand when the time comes. Anyway, I’m trying to keep this as secret as possible from the Nine Sects.”
This isn’t the important part anyway.
“Prepare extreme yin and extreme yang elixirs for me. I’ll be able to obtain funds and connections.”
Mangeumjeung isn’t inherently difficult to cure.
The problem arises when it becomes a strange ailment like Jin Yeong-gil’s, but even that can be treated by burning it away with extreme yin and extreme yang energy.
This fact hasn’t been revealed at this point in time.
‘Wait. From the Myeong Cult’s perspective, wasn’t the mutation of Mangeumjeung a side effect?’
I don’t know. At this point, we lack clues, so I can only make shallow guesses.
Before a cure was discovered, everyone who contracted the corrupted Maneumjungseung died, so I suspect the facts might align with that.
“And we need to gather those afflicted with Maneumjungseung and find commonalities. As discreetly as possible, but mobilizing our entire intelligence network.”
Dang-gun listened quietly to my continued words before asking his question once I finished.
“I understand everything. But you’re not telling me the most important part.”
Well, it’s awkward to mention.
At this point, the Samdae Demonic Cult hasn’t revealed itself.
It’s difficult to explain clearly right now.
“I sensed demonic energy within Jin Dae-in’s body. I can’t pinpoint the exact identity, but my instincts feel off. I think it’s best to prepare.”
“….”
An insufficient explanation. Yet Dang-gun nodded shortly after.
“I trust you.”
“….”
This time, I fell silent.
I was grateful that he trusted me even though I’d mentioned the Dang Family’s name, however questionable my reasoning might be.
Because of that gratitude, I wanted all the more to live up to his trust.
“Trust me. By tomorrow, you’ll trust me even more.”
“Ho. Now you’ve made me curious about your reasons.”
“You’ll feel with your own body that it brings benefits, at least.”
Exactly one day later.
My group, who had been staying in the guest quarters of the reception hall, welcomed the Supervisor who came rushing over barefoot.
“What is the matter, Supervisor?”
The Supervisor answered Dang-gun immediately as he asked on behalf of the group.
“The Family Head has awakened. He requests to meet you privately, so would you follow quietly?”
Jin Yeong-gil, who had been in a comatose state for over a year, had regained consciousness.
Dang-gun stared blankly at me.
‘I wondered why he mentioned the Family Head rather than the Supervisor.’
My younger brother is trustworthy. He always responds to expectations in this manner.
Dang-gun offered a smile toward me as I grinned at him.

* * *
Dang-gun and I followed the Supervisor deeper into the Jin Family compound.
A magnificent chamber surrounded by stringent guards.
Jin Yeong-gil, one of the Three Greatest Merchants Under Heaven, sat upon a silk bed.
“You’ve arrived.”
When his eyes were closed, I hadn’t noticed, but Jin Yeong-gil possessed an exceptionally irritable and cold demeanor.
His gaze carried a venomous edge.
“Since ancient times, when the dynasties of the Central Plains collected taxes from commoners, they desired two particular commodities. Do you know what they are?”
An unexpected question.
I had just regained my senses after being caught in the throes of poison, yet he posed such a riddle instead of asking the many things he surely could.
Still, I answered.
“Rice and silk cloth—the two tributes.”
“Precisely. The twin tributes are the foundation of all commodities under heaven and the most precious of all.”
Jin Yeong-gil’s hand swept across the silk bed.
The friction between his palm and the silk produced a soft, whispering sound.
“Among all silks, brocade reigns supreme, and among all brocades, Shu brocade stands unrivaled. Thus, Shu brocade is also called Shu gold.”
Shu was the ancient name for Sichuan, and its silk was so rare that it rivaled gold itself in value throughout the realm.
“I ask this upon my own name, Jin Yeong-gil. Speak freely.”
His hand, which had been caressing the silk, came to a halt.
“You must have much to say. Tell me everything. I shall listen and determine your worth, then decide how many bolts of Shu brocade to bestow upon you.”
Hearing Jin Yeong-gil’s words, I was quite impressed.
‘One of the Three Greatest Merchants Under Heaven. Certainly a remarkable man.’
However.
When it came to negotiation, I possessed considerable confidence myself.
“How many bolts will you offer? I shall speak accordingly.”
Who was making the opening bid here?
The advantage belonged to me.

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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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