Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 192

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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 192
“Seo, recite the ten-year pact that the main family and the Dang Family forged.”
“Yes, brother.”
Baek Heon-so began his explanation.
“The Baek Family and Dang Family joined hands to conquer Hunan from both directions. To accomplish this, the core objective was to expand our influence within ten years to a degree worthy of being recognized as the Dang Family’s ally.”
“Why Hunan specifically?”
“Because Hunan is the territory of the Black Blade, which exists under the indirect control of the Blood Assassin Alliance. Since we need not compete with Baek Do who is stationed there, we have no need to deliberate over justifications.”
His words were sound, yet the greatest reason lay elsewhere.
“In truth, if the conquest of Hunan were the true objective, it would have been better to join hands with some force in Hubei at this point in time. So why the Dang Family? Why forge such a pact ten years in advance?”
That was it. The crucial matter was not the conquest of Hunan.
“The heart of the ten-year pact is not Hunan. It is the Dang Family.”
Baek Heon-so wore a puzzled expression, but Dang-gun and Jin Yeong-gil nodded in understanding.
“Ah, because we are the Dang Family of Sichuan, younger brother?”
“The most formidable force near the Min River, and a martial sect employing hidden projectile techniques.”
“Both of you are correct.”
The greatest advantage of hidden projectile techniques is the ability to strike enemies from great distances.
For example, like ships striking other ships from afar.
Furthermore, the Min River is a tributary that marks the beginning of the Yangtze, and the Yangtze cuts across the realm from west to east.
“And our Baek Family is situated in Gangwon. Seo, do you know what the most renowned product of Gangwon is?”
“Of course. Grain, is it not? When one speaks of rice, one thinks of the rice of Gangnam.”
Cloth and rice—these two commodities are considered the foundation of all products throughout the realm.
Among them, the silk of Sichuan is most renowned for fabric.
Yet the finest rice under heaven is that of Gangwon.
“Gangnam rice. Half of all people in the realm sustain themselves on the rice of Gangnam.”
“And the lifeblood that spreads the rice harvested in Gangnam throughout the realm is none other than the Yangtze.”
Dang-gun, seized by a chill, leapt to his feet.
“Sichuan, the source of the Yangtze! Combined with the grain of Gangwon! From the beginning, you dreamed of controlling river commerce!”
The land of Hunan was not what mattered.
One reason Hunan is called Hunan is because it lies south of the Yangtze.
The ten-year pact between the Baek Family and Dang Family was meant to conquer Hunan for the sake of controlling Yangtze river commerce.
Because Hunan, that place which became the territory of the Black Blade decades past.
Was where the Yangtze River Alliance most fiercely conducted their piracy.
‘Right after reversing the years, I made a vow.’
I would surely elevate the main family to the rank of the great families.
No, far beyond merely that—I would seize the title of Greatest Under Heaven.
“One of the qualifications necessary to discourse on the realm is, quite simply, wealth.”
Wealth. No, beyond mere currency for buying and selling goods—financial power.
The Baek Family must seize financial power.
But how?
“I see. Does the Baek Young Master dream of the revival of the merchant guilds?”
The Three Greatest Merchants Under Heaven, Jin Yeong-gil… or so they say.
But in truth, I am merely the third.
Rather, with no third and fourth in between, I am but the pinky finger compared to the first and second—the fifth digit of the hand.
This is not merely my personal assessment, but the common perception of the world.
Because the first and second of the Three Greatest Merchants are respectively the leaders of the Jin Merchants and the Hui Merchants.
Merchants are a breed that will unite for profit without hesitation, and there exist hundreds of merchant guilds throughout the realm.
The Jin Merchants and Hui Merchants were guilds that competed fiercely to become the foremost among them.
It would be no exaggeration to say that half of the Central Plains’ commerce falls under their dominion.
“Yet before the Jin Merchants and Hui Merchants, there existed the Po Merchants.”
The two greatest commodities under heaven—silk and rice.
In the distant past, merchant collectives that transported Sichuan silk and Jiangnan rice through canal routes were called the Po Merchants.
“Now they cannot possibly exist, though.”
The reason was simple. The Yangtze River stretched tens of thousands of li, and unlike before, the power of the black bandits had grown far too formidable.
Even the Yangtze River Alliance alone is counted among the two greatest sects under heaven alongside the Blood Corpse Lotus.
“Moreover, there are far too many competitors. In fact, every great merchant under heaven could be considered a Po Merchant.”
“There is not a single great merchant who does not deal in rice and silk.”
“The Yangtze River transport routes themselves—every martial faction along the banks has their hand in the pot.”
“The waterways from Sichuan to Gangwon have fewer competitors, it is true….”
“But the plundering by the Yangtze River Alliance is most severe there. That is why competitors are few.”
There are truly many obstacles. It is no wonder the Po Merchants no longer exist.
However.
“If one succeeds… one can grasp immense profits in hand.”
‘If one dreams of dominating the realm, one must surely accomplish this.’
The proof lies precisely in Gu-pa and the Five Great Families.
Centered on Shanxi, the Jin Merchants are also called Shanxi Merchants.
They maintained close relations with Gu-pa.
Centered on Anhui, the Hui Merchants are also called Anhui Merchants.
They were the financial source of the Five Great Families.
‘If one dreams of becoming the greatest family under heaven, one must possess financial power to rival the Jin Merchants and Hui Merchants.’
Jin Yeong-gil, who obtained the title of Third Greatest Merchant Under Heaven as a lone wanderer. He was the optimal talent.
Provide him with the means, and he could establish merchant power rivaling the Jin and Hui Merchants.
“The divine technique displayed in the suppression was precisely the potential to rise as a Po Merchant.”
“Indeed, Jin Dae-in.”
The Gae-cheon-bak-pal-geom’s new ultimate technique.
Eagle’s Cry Resonates, Water Harmony.
“Over a hundred bandits were subdued in a single stroke. If such divine techniques could be displayed continuously, it would prove most advantageous against water bandits.”
The true reason the Yangtze River Alliance’s water bandits are so fearsome is not because they are masters of naval warfare.
What is truly terrifying is their water mastery.
If water bandits faster than fish attack a ship’s hull from beneath the surface?
It takes less than a quarter hour to sink an entire vessel.
“But our Baek Family is different. Water is not their battlefield.”
The Eunghumyeongjin Water Harmony is a sound technique manifested underwater.
Since vibrations grow far more potent in water than in air.
“Hwi’s Younger Brother. Though water bandits and mountain bandits are both enemies, the Water Route Alliance operates on an entirely different scale than the Green Forest.”
The reason was simple.
Controlling the Yangtze River meant astronomical wealth.
“Can we truly succeed?”
“I don’t know.”
Everyone exchanged puzzled glances at this answer, so contrary to what had come before.
“Because I don’t know, it holds value.”
Jin Yeong-gil did not speak of making a contract with Yang Hwi.
He merely said he would take a chance.
“It is a gamble. The odds are low. And precisely because of that, it is worth wagering on.”
A smile flickered across Jin Yeong-gil’s cold, sharp features.
This was the ambition of a man who had earned the title “Under Heaven” standing alone.
“Jin Sang and Hwi Sang. And more besides. As an individual, this Jin may rank among the top three under heaven, but as an organization, we still fall short.”
Jin Yeong-gil was one of the Three Greatest Merchants under Heaven, yet his Jinjang and Jin merchant guild did not even rank among the Ten Greatest Guilds.
Beyond Jin Sang and Hwi Sang, there were many other merchant guilds and associations that spoke of the realm—Guangdong’s Yueshang, Zhejiang’s Zheshang, and countless others.
“In the Martial Arts World, there exists a technique called Mutual Destruction, does there not?”
When facing an opponent one cannot defeat in combat, using the Liucangu Duan technique to die together is called the way of Mutual Destruction.
“The weak cannot defeat the strong, which is why they remain weak. I ask you Martial Artists this: if you cannot win, will you simply offer your neck?”
The Soga-joonim of the Dang Family was the first to shake his head.
“How could that be? If we cannot win, we should die together.”
The Dang Family, called the Hundred Poisons Dynasty, possesses no poison that allows for a painless, peaceful death.
This is because the Dang Family’s poisons are not meant for assassination.
Yet that is only part of the truth—they do not use poison for an easy death because they refuse to.
Repay kindness twofold, repay enmity tenfold.
The Dang Family would rather coat their entire bodies in poison and die together than use it to escape peacefully.
“What of the Baek Family?”
Yang Hwi did not answer directly, but instead looked toward Baek Heon-so.
Baek Heon-so responded with a resolute expression.
“Even if I must offer my neck, I will claim the heart. Who knows? If we fight with the resolve of certain death, victory may yet fall into our grasp.”
A fine answer. Yang Hwi nodded with satisfaction.
“I, Jin Yeong-gil, share this very sentiment. I wish to seize the realm in my hands. I desire that nothing exist above the three characters of my name, Jin Yeong-gil.”
His quiet voice grew steadily louder.
“Therefore, I, Jin Yeong-gil, am one who can wager everything I possess at any moment!”
The declaration of the sole man in this chamber who had earned the title “Under Heaven.”
My eyes met Dang-gun’s. Suddenly, I felt exhilaration.
Without waiting for the other to speak first, Dang-gun and I opened our mouths.
“Our Dang Family is merely a dog of the Gu-pa and the Five Great Families.”
“The Baek Family isn’t even called a Great Family.”
“Jin Dae-in. To us.”
“Are we worth that much?”
It was a weak statement. It could have felt like preemptive excuses for failure.
Yet Jin Yeong-gil nodded in acknowledgment.
“I don’t trust the Baek Family or the Dang Family. I simply trust my own judgment. Isn’t that what gambling truly is?”
In other words, the Baek Family and the Dang Family were cards that could wager everything the Three Greatest Merchants of the Realm possessed.
“Congratulations, Jin Dae-in.”
“For what?”
“The earlier one invests, the better it is.”
“Isn’t that the way of merchants? Buy cheap, sell dear.”
Jin Yeong-gil burst into laughter.
“Is that so? How much would suffice?”
“To sell at a high price, I must first show you a taste, mustn’t I?”
I seized Jin Yeong-gil’s pulse gate and infused my energy into it.
“Though you seem considerate, there is one matter we must clarify, is there not?”
“About Jeomchang?”
“You alone must know this. The Mangeumjeung is indeed connected to Jeomchang. But we cannot take immediate action against Jeomchang.”
“Why?”
“It would be beneficial to make Jeomchang our ally as well.”
Jeomchang Sect, located in Changshan of Yunnan.
Since ancient times, Yunnan had been a place brimming with products from many foreign lands.
After hearing the detailed circumstances, Jin Yeong-gil nodded.
“This too is a gamble. Though Shuangpu is said to be the foundation of all goods under heaven, the more merchandise one handles, the better.”
“And they are even one of the Nine Sects.”
Even combining the current Dang Family and Baek Family could not compare to Jeomchang.
The Nine Sects were such formidable powers.
With Jeomchang as an ally, it would greatly aid in seizing dominion over the Yangtze River.
“I apologize for making this decision unilaterally. In return, I shall ensure you never suffer from Mangeumjeung again.”
An orb crafted from the purest energy under heaven took root in Jin Yeong-gil’s dantian.
“Truly, such formidable energy…”
Though Jin Yeong-gil had only learned cultivation techniques for health, even he could immediately perceive it.
“It is called the Seonran Hwayong-sul. From now on, you shall never fall prey to the invasions of the Sima.”
“Is that the only function? For something like this, the sensation is truly extraordinary.”
Even I did not fully understand it.
I had not yet grasped everything about Seon-gi.
Though I had created it myself, the Seonran Hwayong-sul might possess functions beyond my original intent.
“Thank you, Baek Gong-ja.”
Dang-gun, who had been observing, finally spoke.
“Now that it’s come to this, the core of our alliance has grown to three, hasn’t it?”
“Isn’t that right?”
“We can no longer call this merely an alliance between the Baek Family and the Dang Family.”
“Since names define all things, what if we gave our alliance a proper name?”
Upon hearing Jin Yeong-gil’s proposal, I pondered for a moment before responding.
“I’ve thought of a good name. Would it be acceptable if I decided it?”
“What is it?”
“The One-Wing Alliance.”
When feathers gather, they become a wing.
Though we are but three feathers now, one day the One-Wing Alliance will form a single wing and soar through those heavens.
“But there’s something I must ask, Jin Dae-in.”
“Speak freely, Baek Gong-ja.”
I smiled with amusement.
I had presented the blueprint.
So naturally, the other side should provide the funds.
“So how much will you be offering?”
“Hmm?”
“How about a modest one million taels?”
Jin Yeong-gil’s eyes widened in surprise.
Soon after, he laughed heartily as if conceding defeat.
“Are you perhaps thinking of becoming a merchant? I, Jin Yeong-gil, will support you wholeheartedly!”
“By the way, the Dang Family’s share is separate.”
“Hmm? This is starting off heavier than expected, isn’t it?”
“Don’t worry. The Dang Family’s share won’t be paid in money, but in something else.”
“Something else?”
Though I was speaking without consulting the Dang Family’s opinion, Dang-gun didn’t seem to mind.
Rather, he was gazing at me with eyes that held a hint of anticipation.
“Please procure as many Ice Essences as possible.”
It was time to complete the Tri-Origin Return-to-Origin Technique.

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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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