Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 190

—————
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 190
Neung-o suddenly laughed.
Unlike the ceremonial expression he had shown until now, he smiled with genuine warmth.
“I am grateful to you, Namgung Cheon-yeong.”
“What are you suddenly thanking me for?”
“My shoulders feel lighter.”
“Ah. I am happy to accept such gratitude.”
“You understand immediately?”
Because I had entertained the same thought.
I simply shrugged my shoulders, and Neung-o bowed respectfully with his fists clasped.
“I could not afford to fail. So I endured hardship and waited for a better opportunity. But now, it seems I need not do so anymore.”
Because now I have someone to rely upon.
If I fail, Namgung Cheon-yeong before my eyes will bring his master who has reached the pinnacle and save Jeomchang.
It was something that had not yet come to pass, and thus a subtle difference.
But to Neung-o, it was a difference as great as the height of Mount Tai.
“Therefore, I can now speak with confidence. Before borrowing another’s hand, I will attempt to save him myself.”
Jeomchang was everything to Neung-o.
It had become a new family to one who had abandoned even his own.
“You said the Cult of Brightness’s disciples are your enemies. Will you permit Bin-do’s ambition?”
To be honest, from my perspective, the correct answer would have been to send word to Eum Hu regardless of what Neung-o thought.
That way would have the fewest complications and the greatest efficiency.
But.
“I will do so.”
This decision was not made out of some hollow courtesy about prioritizing a disciple’s wishes in another sect’s affairs.
It was a choice made after considering the most advantageous option.
“It seems like Elder Neung-o is worth that investment.”
If I wait a little, it will return greatly.
Neung-o was an entity worth investing in.
Using Jin Yeong-gil’s expression, a commodity of high value.
“I am grateful for such words. I must live up to them.”
“Of course you will be able to, won’t you?”
“Of course. I am a disciple of Jeomchang. When I first learned the Thousand Character Classic and moved on to the Analects, the phrase ‘If one learns the Way in the morning, one may die content in the evening’ was the first passage I memorized.”
If one obtains the Way in the morning, one may die in the evening without regret.
For what one seeks, even life becomes insignificant.
Such was Neung-o.
An arrow loosed from the bowstring.
Even if it missed, with another arrow ready, he would never hesitate.
“Very well. In return, allow me to present Elder Neung-o with a token.”
“A token, you say?”
I crossed my arms and fell into thought for a moment.
‘Looking at how the Blood Cult bastards react, the Righteous Sect will definitely have a fit over Seon-gi.’
If I could hand Seon-gi over to Neung-o.
And if I could keep it hidden so nothing showed until the critical moment arrived.
It would surely become the perfect move to reverse the tide of victory.
“Wait just a moment. I need to devise a martial technique.”
“Devise a martial technique? Now?”
“It won’t take long.”
I sifted through memories from my past life.
…To be honest, I knew quite a bit about demonic arts.
Having spent years fighting those bastards from the Three Great Demonic Sects in my previous life.
Though I never cultivated them, I’d seized quite a number of demonic forbidden texts by killing their practitioners.
‘The Crimson Blood Hidden Poison Gu. If I modify this properly, it should work.’
A forbidden technique that enhances one’s own power by implanting the Crimson Blood Hidden Poison Gu—cultivated through gu poison sorcery—into one’s body.
Normally it requires a worm nurtured with blood qi and poison qi, transformed into a spiritual creature or demonic entity.
‘But I have the Living Intent Qi. With luck, I might be able to substitute it.’
I drew out Seon-gi and experimented with various modifications for a while.
The results gave me confidence it would work.
“First, I’ll call it the Immortal Egg Courage Technique. Neung-o, would it be alright if I implanted one worm into your body from now on?”
Neung-o was genuinely startled.
Though his expression didn’t really show it.
“A worm?! You’re going to use gu poison sorcery?”
“It’s good for the body.”
“….”
“It’s good for the mind too, isn’t it? How convenient to have an ace hidden in your sleeve while gambling?”
Neung-o, who had been staring blankly, burst into laughter.
“Fine. I am an arrow, and arrows become stronger when explosives are attached. I’ll think only of that. Even if you have other intentions, it doesn’t matter.”
“I have no other intentions.”
“Even if you do, it doesn’t matter. We’ve had this conversation.”
No, I really don’t.
It’s genuinely good for both body and mind.
Anyway, I had his consent.
I faced Neung-o and Jang Sim.
When qi carries will, this becomes life itself.
Therefore it is Living Intent Qi.
‘But you shall become an egg, not a gu.’
Seon-gi compressed into something small and round.
An egg.
What it would become upon awakening was unknowable.
For I had granted it will without imposing intention.
The life within this egg would simply live for Neung-o.
“Hmm!”
Neung-o looked at me and spoke.
“You were sincere.”
“What do you mean?”
“Truly, purely for Bin-do’s sake.”
The moment that small, round energy seeped into my body, I could understand it.
This energy could never carry malicious intent alongside it.
I clicked my tongue.
“I told you already. There was no other intention.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m the one who should be grateful.”
“What does Namgung Cheon-yeong have to be grateful for?”
“When someone hints, you should catch on immediately. Just like me.”
“Hmm, I see. I’ve spent so many years alone. I’ll make an effort.”
Neung-o laughed.
I laughed as well.
Swordsmen could converse through their blades, and at the same time, people were beings who could discern each other’s true feelings through their expressions.

* * *
“No, Elder Brother. So what did you decide?”
“Should I interpret asking the same question multiple times as you wanting to annoy me?”
“No, Elder Brother, that’s not like you.”
“Child, how dare a petty person try to judge the grand intentions of a magnanimous one.”
“No, whether magnanimous or petty, it’s just not like you!”
If words had grades, “no” would be the highest.
What I mean is.
“Chu Dal, I shall accept it.”
“Accept what all of a sudden?”
“Your challenge for a martial bout.”
I grabbed him by the collar and dragged him along. To properly discipline someone—enough to kick up dust on a rainy day—one needed a spacious place.
“Let’s see, an open area…”
“Ugh! Elder Brother! I was wrong! I won’t act up again! Ugh! Ugh! It hurts!”
“I haven’t even hit you yet, you fool!”
Baek Heon-so, watching from the side, chuckled with amusement, but Dang-gun beside him gently tried to stop me.
“Hwi’s Younger Brother, discipline should be administered within the family for the household to remain at peace.”
“Ah, is that so?”
“No, Soga-joonim! How could you say something so hurtful!”
“I understand Hwi’s Younger Brother’s meaning, so surely you, as his sworn brother, can’t not understand. Then you were just teasing.”
“No! I really wasn’t!”
I released Chu Dal’s collar.
I dusted off my hands and asked Dang-gun.
“So? What do you think I was thinking when I accepted Neung-o’s choice?”
“What do you mean? You’ve always been like this.”
“Is that so.”
“Well, someone who only looks at your surface would think this: a man with such strong strategist tendencies would only make choices that eliminate variables.”
“I did make the choice that benefits us most.”
The Yang Hwi that Dang-gun saw was not such a person.
What I valued most was always harmony.
What I mean is this.
“A single problem may have many answers, but the right answer can only be the most correct one.”
‘Hwi, you’re someone who wants to choose only the right answer.’
“I would have made the same choice. Even if our reasoning differed, you and I usually arrive at the same answer.”
The Dang Family possessed a family tradition of compulsively following righteousness and harmony.
Dang-gun, as the Family Head, pursued virtue most strictly among them.
Because of this, Dang-gun wished to walk the path he believed was right, even at a loss.
To such a Dang-gun, I was truly remarkable.
I walked the path I believed was right while always creating profit.
Though I myself claimed it was coincidental that pursuing profit happened to be the right path.
“I like you. I really do. When I see you, I don’t doubt my own decisions.”
“What if I make a wrong decision?”
“Then this Elder Dang will tell you. As your elder brother, I’ll beat it into you and correct your thinking.”
“You’re making me embarrassed, Soga-joonim.”
“Is that so, Young Master.”
Chu Dal, unable to bear the pleasant atmosphere, quickly interjected.
“Then what do we tell the Supervisor of Jinjang? We found the culprit who made Father ill, but we’re just watching for now?”
“….”
“….”
I and Dang-gun became silent as clams.
“Chu Dal, don’t worry. Hwi has already thought it through.”
“Elder brother, this is when I need your advice.”
“Ahem. I’m busy, so I’ll take my leave.”
“Hey! You said you’d beat sense into me if needed! You should step in when it can still be resolved with words!”
“Ahem.”
It was while we were discussing with playful banter.
I felt the gaze of a passing Gu-pa disciple.
Chu Dal whispered softly.
“Elder brother, that guy’s eyes are irritating. He’s cursing us with his eyes, asking why we’re playing while they work.”
“Yeah. It’s irritating.”
“Should we beat him? Just handle the aftermath.”
Currently, all members of the suppression force were ferreting out the remaining bandits who had fled from Chok-rang-chae.
In a way, it was the most tedious and time-consuming work imaginable, yet it appeared as though I was merely idling about—which was undeniably frustrating.
‘Has the efficacy of the Eung Hu alliance already worn thin? Or perhaps the higher-ups have decided how to treat us.’
In any case, that look in their eyes was somewhat unjust.
Even if it appeared I was playing around, I was actively conducting the search operation.
‘Of course, through Won-woo, not myself.’
What good is having a winged spirit creature if I don’t use it wisely? Better to put it to proper use than let it go to waste.
Right now, Won-woo was soaring through the sky searching for bandits.
I hadn’t bothered connecting through our spiritual link out of boredom, but we’d agreed he would return and inform me once he found something….
“What? Why are you there?”
Won-woo was perched on a nearby tree branch.
Continuously pecking at something with his beak.
The creature had returned and should have reported immediately, yet here he was snacking away.
“Won-woo. Back to your post.”
-Kee-aah?
“Back to your post.”
-Kee-aah….
Won-woo, gauging my mood, flew toward my outstretched arm.
“You little beast, when your master gives you a task, you should perform it faithfully… wait.”
-Kee-aah?
I sensed qi emanating from his beak.
“What are you eating?”
I opened his beak and extracted what was inside.
“This… is a spirit herb?”
“A spirit herb?”
“Hwi’s younger brother, did you say spirit herb?”
“Who just said spirit herb?”
Baek Heon-so, Chu Dal, Dang-gun, and Yang Hwi exchanged glances, blinking rapidly before launching themselves forward without hesitation.
“Go! Fly! Take us to where you found it!”
-Kee-aah….
“I’m not punishing you! If there are more, I’ll reward you with the finest beef! Premium cuts!”
-Kee-aah-aah!
We ran for about half a double-hour following the excitedly soaring Won-woo.
The qi had grown so potent that not only Yang Hwi but even the others—indeed, even a third-rate martial artist could sense it.
And there, planted in the ground, were dozens of plants that unmistakably appeared to be precious spiritual herbs… no, hundreds of them… no….
“Wow.”
“This is completely unexpected.”
“Is heaven itself aiding us?”
Yang Hwi gazed upward and roared.
‘That’s right. It was I who was strange in my past life. My luck was truly abysmal.’
“Ahhhhh! Fortuitous encounters are always sudden, you bastards!”

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