Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 191

—————
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 191
On the road back to the Dang Family after completing all the subjugation tasks.
“Hehehehe, how much is all this worth!”
“How long are you going to keep cackling like that?”
Chu Dal, who habitually picked at everything, suddenly felt something odd.
What? That voice sounds different.
Turning his head, he saw Dang-gun cackling away.
“Hehehehe. Hehehehehehe!”
“….”
For someone usually so dignified and composed to act like this… well.
Though to be fair, it was an enormous amount of treasure.
Spirit herbs, not money, but still.
‘Even the Dang Soga-ju is like this, so why is my hyung so quiet?’
When I turned my head the other way, I understood the reason.
There was Yang Hwi with a serene smile, his eyes half-closed.
‘I’ve seen that expression somewhere before. Ah, Han Supervisor.’
Chu Dal, who had been thinking it seemed familiar, suddenly shouted.
“Hyung! No! You can’t achieve enlightenment! Not now!”
Yang Hwi snapped back to awareness.
“Wow. Thanks, Chu Dal. I almost went there for real.”
So it was true that a person could die from being too happy.
I almost actually departed—whether to the underworld or the celestial realm.
“…Hehehehehehehehehehe!”
Spirit herbs. Not just two or three plants, but an entire field.
Not the kind of ancient spirit herb like the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng where consuming one grants decades of inner strength and spiritual qi in an instant, but a field nonetheless.
And an enormous one at that. Just counting the ones we identified… we found…
“Ah! I’m about to go again.”
At this rate, I’ll actually achieve enlightenment or ascension.
I need to think negatively about this somehow.
‘Negative thoughts… negative thoughts…’
“Actually, calling them spirit herbs is generous. These spirit sprouts barely yield ten years of inner strength per plant. Compared to true spirit herbs, they’re just weeds, really. Plus, more than half of them aren’t even fully mature. And we can’t sell them anyway.”
Everything sounded good until that last part.
Chu Dal, with a puzzled expression, asked a question.
“Huh? Why can’t we sell them?”
“We have to consume them all. How else would we use them?”
The Baek Family had already spent half of all their accumulated wealth on purchasing spirit herbs.
To expand the family’s power, we needed to reinvest everything, yet it still wasn’t enough. When considering the future, it was an unavoidable choice.
Why? Because the Baek Family lacked masters.
The weakness of all rising families.
Regardless of talent, becoming a master requires time to accumulate inner strength, and families lacking in years of accumulated power have few masters.
“I’ll feed them all until their bellies burst. Elder Dang, as promised—we take seven parts, your family takes three?”
“Excellent! Three parts is more than enough to be grateful for!”
It was Won-woo who discovered the spiritual herb field. Strictly speaking, the Dang Family had no claim to it.
The problem was that the spiritual herb field, located deep within Geom-gak, lay thousands of li away from the Baek Family, and there were no skilled alchemists capable of refining spiritual herbs into spiritual pills.
So the Dang Family agreed to manage the field, periodically harvest the spiritual herbs, refine them into pills, and deliver them to the Baek Family.
In exchange, they received three parts.
‘This is practically giving it away for nothing.’
Honestly, from the Baek Family’s perspective, regardless of how much the Dang Family received, simply saving on spiritual herb expenses for their retainers was an enormous gain.
Unlike now, by reinvesting all profits, they could expand their family’s power twice as rapidly.
“Ah.”
“Hwi’s Younger Brother. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Just… suddenly.”
A moment from my previous life suddenly came to mind.
In my past life, my father took on work as a bodyguard and such to earn money, despite his status as Family Head.
When times were difficult, his simple pleasure was to sit down with the respectable Yang Hwi and drink a cup of cheap liquor with modest side dishes.
“Hwi, this father’s dream is for our Baek Family to return to the ranks of the great families and command Kangseong Province.”
‘Father. Before long, I will have your dream within reach.’
A great family was one recognized by the world.
It meant a family that commanded the realm.
We weren’t quite there yet to claim such status.
But we had everything. We only needed our reputation to spread further and reach people’s ears.
Three years. The time remaining until I came of age.
Within that span, the Baek Family would become a great family.
Not a plan—a certainty.
‘When that happens.’
My reminiscence continued, following the passage of time until it reached the end.
“Forgive me, Nangjoong Jeil-geom. Your talent is far too dangerous.”
“Namgung.”
“Hmm? Brother, why are you suddenly speaking of Namgung?”
“No. Just talking to myself.”
The greatest family under heaven, the Namgung.
From now on, they will advance even faster.
Like an arrow shot forth, piercing through their heads.
At this point, since Namgung hasn’t yet claimed the title of greatest under heaven, it will be all the easier.
‘Now that I think about it, what became of Namgung Cheon-hu?’
I hoped he would simply decline and fade away.
If he continued to exist as a rival to Namgung Cheon-yeong, it would benefit the Baek Family.

* * *
“Family Head. What will become of Namgung Cheon-hu going forward?”
Namgung Cheon-hu opened the eyes he had kept closed.
It was only natural that he would react upon hearing his own name.
“Namgung Cheon-hu is a criminal who has defiled the name of our Namgung Family. He will face the appropriate price for his crimes.”
Not as the Soga-joonim, nor as the Young Master.
As Namgung Cheon-hu.
It would not have been strange if a bitter laugh escaped me.
But it did not.
The threshold for such bitter laughter had long since fallen far below.
‘Family Head. How impressive.’
Whether I became a criminal or not, their manner of address was utterly disrespectful.
One could not have become a Changcheon Sword Sect member if one were foolish enough not to understand that this served no benefit to oneself.
In other words.
Such disrespect would be impossible without the Family Head’s explicit command.
‘You have cast me away completely. How impressive, Family Head. How admirable.’
Truly admirable—the ruthlessness of Family Head Namgung Il-geom, who would even cast out his own son.
But what could be the reason? Why issue such a command to disrespect me?
‘I see. By entangling me with the opposing faction’s elders… Namgung Cheon-hu becomes a criminal not merely for defiling the Namgung Family’s name.’
Fascinating. Using one’s son as a brush and political schemes as ink—is this the level of artistry required to become a Family Head?
‘I have been abandoned. Truly abandoned. I knew it, yet only now do I truly understand.’
It is the end. Beyond the end, nothing exists.
And so, I felt only peace.
Merely emptiness.
Then it came.
A voice.
-Who dares abandon you?
I shook my head slowly.
Now I understood.
That Sim Ma was speaking to me, inciting me to action.
-Is that wrong? You are a prodigy of the Family Head bloodline. What you believe to be right is the answer.
My head grew firm and resolute.
-Am I mistaken?
“No. Not in the slightest.”
-You know it yourself. You have not erred. You were born, you strived to meet expectations, and you have grown magnificently.
I did not ask to be born.
I did not ask to have a father.
Yet despite this, I devoted my entire life to following my father’s will.
A prodigy of the Family Head bloodline—something no one could deny.
That was who I was.
-Yes. That is who I am.
Such a person as myself.
You dare abandon me?
Dare? Who among you would dare?
-You have the qualification. It was already yours.
“Yes. It is mine. The Namgung Family.”
My mind became crystalline.
“Reveal yourself.”
-My.
“If you do not obey my command, then I shall not answer either.”
-Ahahaha! Young Girl, I bow to the Family Head’s decree.
Thick ropes bound my entire body tightly.
Iron bars sealed all sides, with thick wooden planks reinforcing them.
Everything vanished.
In merely the blink of an eye.
What remained instead were shattered remnants and nothing but blood, blood, blood.
“Are you curious?”
A voice perfectly identical to the one in my mind.
Exquisitely sweet, capable of seducing all things.
I gazed upon her.
Corpse-pale skin. Everything else was crimson.
A woman of inhuman beauty spoke softly.
“You’ve grasped the Blood Divine Sword, haven’t you? You’ve grown well.”
“The Blood Divine Sword. You speak of that demonic blade?”
“Correct. A blood heart has grown within you, so you possessed the qualification. Indeed, you were right.”
It was a statement that moved my heart more than any other words.
Namgung Cheon-hu strove to maintain composure and posed a question.
“What qualification do you speak of?”
The crimson and pallid woman enveloped Namgung Cheon-hu’s entire form.
A sweet fragrance brushed against my nostrils, yet upon another breath, it was merely the scent of blood.
It was fragrant.
“The qualification to rightfully grasp. Child, will you not come with me?”
“If I go, what will change?”
“Regardless of the process, you shall obtain what you desire and the fitting result.”
“Very well.”
“My?”
She laughed like a fox.
“I thought you would hesitate somewhat, deliberate, weigh matters, and torment yourself with doubt.”
“Do you enjoy bewitching people? I apologize for disappointing you.”
“It matters not. Though disappointed, I found myself liking you even more.”
She opened her mouth, her tongue—vivid crimson as if soaked in blood—flicking out.
“I am Hyeol-hyeol-nyeo. A woman who has given everything to him. Yet I am also a body that needs a man to ease my loneliness.”
-So that’s how it is. Since you’ve caught my fancy, I must taste you. It’s too late now, even if you don’t follow.
“That won’t happen. As you said, I have the proper qualifications.”
The sun sets. Two shadows stretch long.
Soon, everything was dyed crimson.
“I will become the Family Head of the Namgung Family. Without fail.”
A blood-red wind swallowed everything.

* * *
Since Yang Hwi arrived at the Dang Family as an envoy, they had been perpetually busy.
With Baek-dok-bul-chim, Ki-dok’s martial arts, Tan-baek-myo-hwa-gyeol—extraordinary techniques surfaced almost daily.
But now, the Dang Family was stirring and bustling for an entirely different reason.
It couldn’t be helped.
“The Master of Jinjang has graced us with his presence!”
To grace with one’s presence is an honorific expression for someone visiting where another resides.
Jin Yeong-gil, one of the three greatest merchants under heaven, was a man for whom such an expression was entirely fitting—the gatekeeper of the Dang Family, the premier clan of the martial world, who bowed to none wherever he went.
The wealth he alone controlled exceeded what the Dang Family earned in an entire year.
‘Only a month since the subjugation. He must have deliberated carefully on this matter.’
Since an esteemed guest had taken the trouble to visit the family courtyard itself, it was only proper for the Family Head to receive him personally.
It was only after approximately two hours had passed that Yang Hwi could meet with Jin Yeong-gil.
“Hwi’s Younger Brother. Jin Dae-in wishes to speak with you.”
The Soga-joonim himself conducted the guidance instead of a servant.
Well, considering the Dang Family had few connections outside martial circles in Sichuan, it made sense that one of the three greatest merchants under heaven would be regarded as exceptionally precious.
“May you have a fruitful conversation, Jin Dae-in. I shall take my leave.”
“Elder Dang. Just come in with us.”
After all, Chu Dal and Baek Heon-so were already in the guest room.
“Hmm, is that acceptable?”
Dang-gun replied respectfully, yet his pleasure was evident.
“Your cook’s skill is quite remarkable. These dumplings—the skin is so thin you can see right through to the filling!”
“Ahem. Thank you for your consideration.”
It wasn’t really consideration. After all, the Dang Family’s assistance was essential.
“Well then, Jin Dae-in. What brings you to grace us with your presence?”
“A certain person who reeked of money has been conspicuously absent.”
He chuckled and changed the subject.
“What conversation did you have with the Family Head?”
“Curious, are you? How much so?”
“I’ll demonstrate the spiritual qi of discerning unheard conversations. Would you offer some modest compensation?”
“Haha, that does sound amusing. Let’s do the reverse then.”
Jin Yeong-gil’s smile vanished in an instant as he withdrew a tablet from his robes.
“During the recent bandit suppression, you planted your sword in the water and subdued over a hundred bandits in one fell swoop. You did that intentionally for me to see, didn’t you?”
“Correct.”
That was indeed the primary reason.
I needed to persuade Jin Yeong-gil and earn his trust, but I lacked a convincing pretext otherwise.
‘Let’s see just how much he’s already deduced.’
If I could manage to hear “correct” three or four more times, this would be quite entertaining.
“Excellent.”
“Pardon?”
An answer that would catch even Yang Hwi off guard. Jin Yeong-gil spoke once more.
“Water transport. The Yangtze River trade alliance. Zhaoyun. Jiangxi. Jiangnan rice. Bao and Bu, the twin cloths—these are the foundation of all the world’s goods and the most precious of them. I shall make my move.”
‘This is why I respect this man.’
However, Chu Dal and Baek Heon-so appeared not to understand.
Judging by the questions they were asking.
“Should we just step outside? What is he even talking about?”
“Elder brother, could you explain this to us?”
“Ah, of course.”
Now, where should I begin the explanation?
Seven years ago from now—or should I say eight years ago at this point?
It all began with the ten-year covenant with the Dang Family.

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