Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 202

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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 202
I had to hold back.
Several reasons came to mind in mere moments—fighting Namgung Cheon-yeong here and now would bring nothing but losses.
First, Tae-ho was Namgung Family territory. In an extreme escalation, it could even cost me my life.
Moreover, if I were to fight, I’d need to win. Regardless of my confidence, crushing the Soga-joonim of the Namgung Family before so many witnesses would be a mistake in itself.
I had been deliberately concealing my martial prowess, and this would expose it to the world.
If that were my intention, I would have already spread word that I was Eum Hu’s disciple.
Beyond that, I had been holding onto what Namgung Cheon-hu had done as a hidden card to play, but recklessness could overturn the entire board.
But.
Even so.
Looking at Namgung Cheon-yeong’s face, I no longer wanted to hold back.
‘Why are you the one getting angry first, Namgung Cheon-yeong?’
I hadn’t even exchanged harsh words, yet his fury toward me was overflowing?
There was only one reason.
Namgung Cheon-hu and Namgung Cheon-yeong were brothers with deep affection for each other.
‘So your brother is precious to you, is he?’
It was somewhat unexpected, but rather favorable.
I had spotted a wound that would hurt if I pressed on it.
-You half-baked brat, where do you get off baring your fangs? Don’t you know your brother got his life ruined after messing with me?
Namgung Cheon-yeong’s face twisted violently. A small surge of satisfaction rose within me.
Yes, he cherished his brother, yet in the previous life he had committed such atrocities.
Namgung Cheon-hu had been ruined and disgraced, but he hadn’t died.
This man had never experienced the sorrow of losing a brother.
‘Go ahead, come at me. Your precious brother was just insulted. Let’s see you swing that blade.’
Namgung Cheon-yeong’s sword began to shimmer like heat waves. I felt a surge of delight within.
The Soga-joonim of Namgung was drawing his blade without even maintaining proper form?
With so many watching, the moral high ground would be mine.
I could beat him thoroughly.
But disappointment crossed my face.
Someone had stepped forward to block Namgung Cheon-yeong’s path.
“Soga-joonim. Wait a moment, please.”
“Uncle. But—”
“Dialogue must come before action, after all.”
Namgung Sa-geom, the Family Head’s brother and an elder, turned his gaze toward me.
“Greetings, Seo. It warms this senior’s heart to see a junior whose reputation has grown so recently.”
Things had become troublesome. From his opening words alone, I could see what kind of person Namgung Sa-geom was.
‘A man who plays politics.’
Before so many witnesses, he had defined our relationship as senior and junior.
It meant I had to show proper respect as a junior toward a senior.
If I didn’t, the moral advantage would slip away.
‘Well, it’s not like there’s no way.’
If there are rules for how juniors should treat seniors, then conversely, there are rules for how seniors should conduct themselves toward juniors.
So it wouldn’t be difficult to launch a counterattack with a three-inch tongue.
But… right now, I didn’t want to do that.
Regardless of advantage or disadvantage, I didn’t want to treat those who bore the Namgung name with senior courtesy.
‘I’ll make sure they don’t even think to expect senior treatment.’
“Now that I think about it, I was late with my greetings! I am…”
The moment I raised my voice so that everyone gathered here could hear.
Namgung Sa-geom cut me off and struck first.
“No! This side should greet first! Or rather, I should apologize again! I sincerely apologize on behalf of Namgung Cheon-hu, the former Family Head of the Namgung clan, for what was done to the Baek Family.”
As Namgung Sa-geom spoke, he performed a respectful fist salute so courteous it bordered on excessive.
From the Namgung Family, known as the Sword Family of the Eternal Heaven among the Five Great Families of the realm, and from that very family, one who was said to hold the second-highest authority after the Family Head.
“Namgung Cheon-hu, the ‘former Family Head’ of our main branch, committed deeds that should never have been done, no matter how consumed by demonic influence he was. I apologize sincerely!”
Namgung Cheon-hu had once attempted to annihilate the Baek Family in collusion with Baek Do.
He had joined under the pretext of helping the Baek Family’s cooperation, then continuously leaked information and even opened the way for attacks on the Baek Family’s main estate.
Such an act—one that the Family Head of the prestigious Namgung clan could scarcely be believed to have committed—was a heinous crime that drew universal condemnation.
However.
Rumors about Namgung Cheon-hu had not spread widely.
Despite the Elder of Shaolin vouching for his misdeeds and proclaiming it before countless witnesses.
‘Haha, interesting. Namgung Sa-geom. He’s more than just someone who dabbles in politics.’
It felt as though I’d been drenched in water so cold it chilled my bones—like a waterfall deep in the mountains.
My mind cleared instantly.
‘I was arrogant.’
“Young Master of the Baek Family. Won’t you accept this Namgung’s apology?”
“…”
The reason rumors about Namgung Cheon-hu hadn’t spread widely.
The Namgung Family must have manipulated the information.
That’s why I had planned to seize an appropriate opportunity at the Dragon Phoenix Assembly to expose this fact.
Since it hadn’t spread widely, I could have inflicted far greater humiliation.
‘My hand has been revealed. And it was exposed by another’s hand.’
The Namgung Family was one of the Five Great Families of the realm. Those who held the title of “Heaven Below” could never be underestimated.
Even knowing that being swept up in emotion was never wise, I thought I wouldn’t hold back today?
It was pure arrogance.
‘Since I reversed time… I’ve been running a path of success ever since.’
Until now, the Baek Family had grown its power with Kangso as its main stage.
As a result, we obtained the title of Great Family, bestowed only upon the foremost clan of Kangso and those who command the world.
So from now on, many things would inevitably be different from before.
All those I would compete against from here on would be formidable.
That realization was made starkly clear thanks to Namgung Sa-geom.
‘Rather, I’m grateful. Truly.’
A quiet laugh escaped me. I’d lost my composure seeing Namgung Cheon-yeong’s face directly, but thanks to my enemy Namgung Sa-geom, I regained my senses.
If Namgung Sa-geom knew this fact, wouldn’t he think he’d missed a golden opportunity?
“Of course, Namgung Dae-hyeop. Changcheon Sword House is a prestigious family of Baek Do and has long practiced righteousness and chivalry. How could I doubt their true intentions!”
It was a statement that elevated the Namgung Family, yet Namgung Sa-geom’s eyebrows twitched ever so slightly, barely perceptibly.
He’d read the hidden meaning beneath my words.
‘Indeed. That old man is no ordinary figure.’
“The previous Family Head’s mistakes will be corrected by the current Family Head. Our Namgung Cheon-yeong is truly worthy of being called a genius of this age! So, won’t you grant us the opportunity to set things right?”
“Opportunities won’t be scarce, will they? The Dragon Phoenix Assembly is right around the corner.”
“The sooner mistakes are corrected, the better. For the harmony of both families, no less. After all, rising talents bond through shared sweat and effort! What say you?”
Namgung Sa-geom had clearly shown displeasure when Namgung Cheon-yeong suddenly drew his sword.
And now that same man was the first to mention a martial contest?
He’d caught on.
He’d realized that drawing my sword now would be disadvantageous for me, now that I’d regained my composure.
‘Ha, this is genuinely entertaining.’
A man who reads intentions one step ahead and employs preemptive rhetoric with such skill.
I’d thought cunning like a viper never lost anywhere.
Watching Namgung Sa-geom’s tongue work, my competitive spirit ignited.
“Our Namgung Family values propriety and law as much as righteousness and chivalry. For warriors, the easiest way to show respect and propriety to one another is through martial contest! What say you, Gaecheon Geomryong of Gangseong?”
-A brat without manners needs discipline instilled in him. Like a tutor wielding a cane, if necessary.
Even using a secret transmission that others couldn’t hear?
It was a routine tactic I’d used whenever bored, but experiencing it myself for the first time felt refreshing.
I surveyed my surroundings coldly.
‘The atmosphere… has shifted.’
If we were going to fight, it should have happened earlier.
With Namgung Cheon-yeong consumed by rage, ignoring propriety and rushing at me.
Now, a martial contest with Namgung Cheon-yeong would only be disadvantageous.
‘I still want to slash his face whenever I see it. But I must endure for now.’
The problem was that Namgung Sa-geom himself wouldn’t simply back down.
Like a snake that found a weakness, he’d sink his fangs and hold on—it was crystal clear.
I needed a suitable move to escape this situation…
Ting-a-ling!
Just as I was thinking that.
Ting-a-ling, ting-a-ling!
A pleasant melody rang out.
It wasn’t mere sound. It was something more—a rhythm imbued with power and atmosphere.
“Hm?”
“What is that sound?”
As dozens of rising talents began murmuring, the noise grew quite loud.
Yet the melody echoing from afar remained clear and unobscured.
Like characters carved in relief.
“Look over there, will you!”
“Something’s… Whoa!”
“This can’t be! How is such a person in the latter period…!”
Those who turned their heads all froze with their mouths agape.
Their gazes fixed and refused to waver, their expressions growing increasingly vacant.
It was inevitable.
She was walking toward them from a distance along the flat shores of Lake Taeho.
She was the kind of beauty that left everyone breathless and staring.
Chara-rang! Chara-rang!
With each step came the sound of jade beads rolling—a melody of grace itself.
As she drew closer, her unique presence and aura enveloped all the latter-period martial artists.
So mesmerizing and intense was she that the hair-trigger tension that had been building between the Baek Family and Namgung Family dissolved in an instant.
“Soga Jegal Seol-ha!”
“Wait! Is that young lady the one?”
“It must be! The disciple of Pacheon Eum Hu, the one they call the Closed Moon, Jade Phoenix!”
Closed Moon is the legendary name of Chosun, counted among the three most beautiful women throughout all ages.
Her beauty is so radiant that even the moon hides in shame.
And jade is a precious stone holding cold essence, a symbol of beauty since ancient times.
Thus, Closed Moon, Jade Phoenix.
‘Soga and Closed Moon, Jade Phoenix—what a fitting epithet you’ve earned in my absence, Seol-ha.’
Though her steps were light and graceful, the distance had closed enough to make out her expression.
The latter-period martial artists noticed that Jegal Seol-ha wore a faint smile.
Her beauty was such that no man could avoid feeling his heart race.
Only then did they belatedly recognize the emotion in her expression.
Her smile came from genuine joy.
“Ahahaha!”
With laughter clearer than Lake Taeho’s waters and fresher than the sky’s azure, she pushed off the ground and leaped into the air.
‘This feels familiar somehow.’
Jegal Seol-ha always launched surprise attacks whenever they reunited after a long time.
Given how reckless she’d become, she would surely strike this time too.
Without question.
Or so I thought.
Whoosh!
My hands couldn’t block anything. Her actions were far different from what I expected.
Instead of attacking, she dropped right in front of me and leaned her face close.
A sweet fragrance. So close.
Her eyes, barely half an inch away, seemed as vast and deep as a serene lake.
She whispered.
Though words were sound, this was felt through touch rather than hearing.
“Have you been well, Brother Hwi?”

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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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