Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 186

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Third-rate Martial Arts Family, Greatest Under Heaven – Episode 186
The Dang Family assembled a force of roughly ten skilled warriors to launch an expedition against the Chok Rang Pavilion.
Among them were Yang Hwi, Baek Heon-so, and Chu Dal.
“Will this number be enough? It seems rather small.”
“We have no choice, Hwi’s Younger Brother. I received a letter.”
“A letter? From whom?”
Dang-gun’s expression turned bitter.
“From Gu-pa. He instructed us to come with roughly ten people, composed of those particularly skilled in poison detection techniques.”
Looking at it charitably, it was a reasonable request—Gu-pa would handle the combat while we provided support and assistance.
But in reality, it was likely a precaution against the Jinjang taking notice of the Dang Family if we displayed exceptional prowess.
‘He still doesn’t know we’ve already joined hands behind the scenes. Jin Dae-in laid down a good smokescreen.’
Since I had treated Jin Yeong-gil, it was natural to assume we had become closely connected.
The reason we weren’t was because Jin Yeong-gil made it abundantly clear that he wanted to employ and befriend everyone in Gu-pa, effectively blinding their eyes.
“Well, there’s no real need to make a grand showing anyway. We’re in the middle of intensive cultivation as it is.”
The Baek Family members who had come to the Dang Family numbered around sixteen, yet only three had been dispatched for the same reason.
The Dang Family had provided spiritual pills, and after having them consume the pills immediately, I had ordered them to focus on consolidating their qi.
“Elder Brother. Do I really need to go?”
Seeing Chu Dal grumble, I felt annoyed.
Why did this fellow seem to be getting lazier the more time passed?
“Where the needle goes, the thread must follow, you fool.”
“Ah, I wanted to eat a spiritual pill too! Is it so offensive that your younger brother wanted to taste something delicious?”
“You brat! Where do you get off talking back!”
“Everyone else gets to eat one, so why just me! Just me!”
I was just considering whether to flick Chu Dal on the forehead.
“Elder Brother! I’m truly honored! I will distinguish myself in this joint operation with you and bring glory to the Baek Family name!”
Baek Heon-so declared his ambitions. Now Chu Dal had nothing to say.
Chu Dal glared at Baek Heon-so with cold eyes, while Baek Heon-so smiled back with competitive fervor blazing in his gaze.
“Hmm. A heartening sight indeed. Healthy competition is always a good thing.”
Whether it was truly healthy, I couldn’t say for certain, but regardless.
We arrived at the gathering point after casual conversation during our journey.
A wide clearing nestled at the foot of a mountain. The mountain path stretching ahead was marked by rugged terrain.
“We’ve arrived. This is the entrance to Geomgak.”
Dozens of martial artists had assembled in the clearing.
Female Buddhist nuns with freshly shaved heads wearing straw hats.
Taoist robes with sunset-colored clouds painted in blue.
Taoist priests with threads of light embroidered on black fabric.
They were Ami, Cheongseng, and Jeomchang.
‘There are about twenty assassins here as well.’
Indeed, large-scale suppressions like this always included hired assassins separate from the main force.
They were needed as errand runners for menial tasks.
“Ah, members of the Dang Family have arrived.”
“You’re a bit late.”
“My apologies. I am Dang-gun, Supervisor of the Dang Family.”
Though it was before the assembly time, Dang-gun offered his apologies regardless.
Then came the moment of introductions.
“I am Regwha of the Ami sect.”
“First Disciple of Cheongseng, Seongpung.”
“We’ve met before. First Disciple of Jeomchang, Neung-o.”
Regwha—a nun who would one day be called the Divine Maiden of Ami.
Seongpung too would gain considerable renown in time.
‘It’s rather odd that I’ve never heard of Neung-o, who stands out the most among them.’
Well, life is a journey perpetually brimming with variables, after all.
In any case, altogether they numbered around seventy strong.
This force was more than sufficient to suppress Chulrang Fortress.
“You’ve arrived.”
I hadn’t realized Jin Dal-bong, the Supervisor, was here as well.
I’d thought the number of assassins seemed rather large, but it appeared the selection had accounted for Jin Dal-bong’s personal guard as well.
Discussion of the suppression operation began immediately.
“Chulrang Fortress is a mountain stronghold believed to comprise over fifty members.”
“Moreover, the caliber of its personnel is so impressive that one would scarcely believe them mere bandits.”
Among the Seventy Strongholds of the Green Forest, it ranked within the top ten in power.
It was also called the First Fortress of Sichuan.
Though three of the Gu-pa sects and the Dang Family had gathered, this was no easy adversary to suppress.
The reason was simple.
“Since ancient times, Sichuan has been the land of the fugitive, and among those regions, Jian Jiao has served as a haven for criminals.”
“There are likely at least ten horse lords who committed grave crimes, fled, and joined Chulrang Fortress.”
“Word will have reached them by now. If the bandits hide themselves to evade us, matters will become difficult. Swift action is essential.”
I observed the proceedings for a moment before quietly withdrawing.
‘It’s clear the Gu-pa disciples will decide everything among themselves.’
I had no voice in this matter. Even if I offered an opinion, it seemed unlikely to be heeded.
Besides, it was more efficient to simply listen to the conclusions after all this discussion concluded, then decide whether to object or accept at that point.
“Pardon me. I look forward to working with you all for the time being.”
One of the assassins blinked in surprise as I approached and addressed him so casually.
He clearly hadn’t expected such a friendly approach.
“Ah, yes. I too look forward to it, Young Master.”
“What is your name?”
“Yeong-hong, sir. Though it’s merely a humble name, I’m known as the Twin Blade Swordsman.”
So that’s why he carried two swords. He’d mastered dual-sword technique.
“Then I shall call you Yeong-hong. Please feel free to call me by my name as well.”
“Is… is that truly acceptable?”
“Of course! The four seas are not distant lands.”
“Understood, Elder Baek.”
He apparently lacked the courage to address me as a younger brother.
Well, it was customary anyway—when meeting in foreign lands, everyone addressed each other as elder brother.
“Come now, let’s chat while we deliberate. Gather around, everyone! Seo and Chu Dal, come over here.”
The assassins found it awkward at first, but within moments they began to chuckle.
“Hehehehe, Elder Baek. You’re quite an amusing person.”
“I hear that often!”
“Your confidence is remarkable too!”
“Indeed, what good is a man if he loses his nerve anywhere?”
“By the way, Elder Baek, is that hawk on your shoulder tamed?”
“It looks like a spiritual creature at first glance—truly remarkable.”
I stroked Won-woo’s head once and replied.
“His name is Won-woo. We met by chance.”
Won-woo puffed out his wings and cried out proudly.
-Kiiaaaa!
“Ow! You beast, if you cry like that while perched on my shoulder, my ears hurt!”
“Hehehehe, that cry is quite piercing.”
“Well-cooked and the legs spread wide… I apologize, Elder Baek. The joke went too far.”
I laughed without concern at the assassin’s apologetic glance.
“Why make a fuss over this? If a man gets angry at jesting between brothers, he’s petty!”
“Hehehehe!”
“How magnanimous, Elder Baek!”
Chu Dal and Baek Heon-so regarded me with curious eyes.
Though I was once a vagrant of the streets and occasionally displayed frivolous behavior, Baek Moo-ryang had raised his children to conduct themselves as befitted the offspring of a renowned family.
In other words, I was the Young Master of the Baek Family.
Yet I blended so well with these assassins—it was quite unusual.
‘Come to think of it, Elder Brother’s personality suits assassins perfectly.’
‘As expected of Elder Brother. Treating everyone without pretense, a true magnanimous person!’
Such were the thoughts of Chu Dal and Baek Heon-so respectively.
“Hwi. When did you go there? Come here for a moment.”
While I was still chattering away, I heard Dang-gun’s call.
“What is it, Elder Dang?”
“The suppression strategy is stalling. I thought it would be good to hear your opinion.”
It seemed he called me over as soon as I was given a chance to speak.
I looked around the gathering and asked.
“How far have we progressed?”
“Swift resolution through encirclement and annihilation. The broad strokes of the suppression strategy are already decided.”
“The problem is how to fill in the details.”
Seongpung of Cheongseng’s spiritual qi was faint, yet dissatisfaction lingered in his expression.
‘It seems he was bothered by chatting with those assassins. Well, Cheongseng is famous for his lofty bearing, after all.’
“Encirclement and annihilation. Excellent. We should implement it immediately, shouldn’t we?”
“Namgung Cheon-yeong. The Sword Gorge stretches across a mountain range spanning two hundred and fifty li. We can narrow down the approximate location based on the damage to civilians, but even so, finding the mountain stronghold itself will be arduous.”
Regwha, Ami’s gentle-voiced companion, offered the explanation.
Seongpung continued bluntly.
“How can we encircle a mountain stronghold when we haven’t even grasped the terrain yet? Namgung Cheon-yeong, I would appreciate it if you thought more deeply before speaking.”
I had been rebuked.
I had spoken lightly, as though it were a problem that could be resolved without much deliberation.
I glanced sideways at Dang-gun.
His gaze revealed his true thoughts.
“Taoist Priest Seongpung.”
“What is it?”
“Here.”
“What?”
“A map.”
“What?”
Seongpung took the rolled paper and unfolded it.
His eyes bulged out immediately.
The map contained the location of Chulrang Stronghold and everything about the surrounding terrain.
Even the positions where sentries were stationed and their shift times.
Literally everything about Chulrang Stronghold was written there.
“How did you obtain this…?”
Won-woo, perched on my shoulder, lifted his head and cried out.
-Kee-haha!
For some reason, it sounded like a self-satisfied laugh.
I immediately flicked him on the head.
-Kee-ack!
Won-woo fluttered down to the floor like a kite with a severed string.
“My apologies. This creature hasn’t been properly trained yet.”
“…I understand. But how was the map created?”
“I received it from an informant. Everything was prepared in advance.”
It was a lie. I had created the map after sending Won-woo out, but I had no intention of revealing Won-woo’s capabilities—a strategic weapon in all but name—to any faction outside the Dang Family.
Still, I needed to offer some explanation.
“Did you know in advance that Chulrang Stronghold would be eliminated?”
“Not exactly, but didn’t I have the fortune of accompanying such renowned masters from the Nine Schools? As someone from a humble family, I should at least prepare thoroughly and assist.”
Remarkably, none of the Nine Schools sensed anything amiss.
They were far too accustomed to people they had met, who belonged to the Nine Schools, making excessive efforts to appear favorable.
“Your family seems to possess exceptional intelligence capabilities.”
I was about to offer a modest reply when my eyes met Neung-o’s.
“Impressive, Young Master.”
His expression remained unchanged, as it always was.
‘I thought this fellow was a late-stage disciple, but he turned out to be the First Disciple.’
While not as dramatically mismatched as Adu’s case, Neung-o certainly appeared to be roughly ten years younger than Jeomchang’s other First Disciples.
It was uncommon, but occasionally individuals appeared whose age and rank didn’t align.
Those who possessed such an anomaly always shared one common trait.
Exceptional talent.
Talent so remarkable that the previous generation would disregard convention and take them as disciples.
‘Well then, let me test the waters first.’
“By the way, I have a suggestion for you.”
“Go ahead, Namgung Cheon-yeong.”
“Since we must move together for the suppression, wouldn’t it be wise to synchronize our coordination beforehand?”
In group combat, timing was paramount—his words held no flaw.
Beyond that, Yang Hwi added flattering remarks.
“I’ve frequently heard that Ami, Cheongseng, and Jeomchang’s martial arts are unparalleled. Because of this, I’ve long dreamed of witnessing them firsthand. Especially since Jeomchang’s sect is in Yunnan, it’s extremely difficult to meet your members… Is Jeomchang’s Four Swords technique truly as exceptional as they say?”
“….”
He’d meant it as a compliment, but Neung-o’s reaction seemed odd.
What was that expression?
For someone who always remained composed to react like this… it was quite….
‘It feels like I’ve caught a mouse by backing up—right now.’

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————