Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 204

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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 204
There are three vows I swore to fulfill after turning back the wheels of time.
The most important one, first.
Making my family the greatest under heaven.
The second thing I must accomplish for that goal.
Rooting out the male and female leaders of the Three Demonic Cults, including the Sagyoji.
And the third is.
‘You Namgung bastards, you’re all falling into my hands.’
What? Your talent is too dangerous, so you must die?
Those bastards from the Baek Family, one of the most renowned martial clans in all the realm, actually did such a thing.
I will never forgive them.
“Seol-ha. I won’t accept the Namgung Family under any circumstances.”
“Then why?”
Jegal Seol-ha’s face bore a mischievous curiosity.
This girl, her playful streak is showing again.
“You know this. Our Baek Family and the Dang Family have been at odds with the Namgung Family.”
The fact that Namgung Sa-geom suddenly apologized for past grievances and made the first move proves it clearly.
The Namgung Family has no intention of treating the matter involving Namgung Cheon-hu as mere history and moving past it.
“Just look at the two marriage refusal letters that arrived at the main family immediately. The Namgung must have had a hand in it.”
An-hwi’s Yang Family or whatever also received a marriage refusal letter.
But the Baek Family, which has shown the most prominent growth recently, received two marriage refusal letters.
They might have thought the proof was still insufficient, but it was surely the Namgung Family’s influence that made them think that way.
“Is that the only reason?”
“Of course not.”
“Then what?”
“Looking at what you did just now, it seems you don’t want it either. As your older brother, I can’t stand by and watch you enter into a marriage that Sa-mae doesn’t desire.”
“Tch. How boring.”
“What kind of answer were you hoping for?”
“A thrilling development where your older brother falls head over heels for Sa-mae after meeting her again after so long, then feels jealous upon hearing about the betrothal?”
Yang Hwi didn’t answer immediately. Instead, I folded my arms and stared intently at Jegal Seol-ha’s face.
Under such an obvious gaze, Jegal Seol-ha averted her eyes.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that all of a sudden?”
“Hmm….”
“…?”
“You have become more beautiful, but not enough to make me fall head over heels.”
Jegal Seol-ha stood there with her mouth agape.
“Wow. I’ve never heard you say something like that before.”
“Then I’ll be remembered as your first in that regard.”
“But we’ve shared so many firsts together already, haven’t we?”
“That’s true.”
When I was thrown by Eum Hu in the past and fell off a cliff, she was with me.
“Regardless, this won’t do. I’ll prevent the Namgung Family from expanding their power by any means necessary.”
A union between the Jegal Family and the Namgung Family, two of the Five Great Families?
And a betrothal between the Soga-joonim’s daughter and the Soga-joonim himself?
This is quite fatal.
Especially considering that the Jegal Family’s Soga-joonim is notoriously obsessed with his daughter.
‘Moreover… considering the current circumstances of the Namgung and Jegal families. The moment they’re bound by a betrothal, their alliance will only solidify.’
The Jegal Family, suffering difficulties due to the Shaman’s aggressive expansion.
The Namgung Family, grinding their teeth against the Habuk Peng Family, who currently hold the title of the greatest family under heaven.
“You’ll prevent it by any means necessary?”
“Yes. Without fail.”
“Then this becomes much easier.”
Jegal Seol-ha slapped her knee as if she’d received the answer she wanted.
“Please pretend to be my betrothed for a while.”
“…What?”
“Why?”
“That… well… isn’t there a better solution?”
“It’s the simplest and most efficient. It’s what my brother values, after all. Efficiency.”
“Well, I suppose that’s true.”
I recalled the behavior Jegal Seol-ha displayed at Tae Lake.
Instead of suddenly launching a kick like before, she thrust her face forward without any distance between us.
Right in front of all those people surrounding us.
‘That was a calculated move?’
“The elders of the Jegal Family seem to approve of the betrothal. And it appears Namgung Cheon-yeong of the Namgung Family isn’t acting out of strategy but genuine feeling?”
Jegal Seol-ha clicked her tongue.
“Your perceptiveness hasn’t changed, past or present.”
“I possess the greatest heart technique under heaven, after all.”
“Your arrogance hasn’t changed either, past or present.”
“It’s not arrogance—it’s fact.”
Jegal Seol-ha clenched her delicate fist and lightly struck my shoulder.
“It’s the truth, so I can’t deny it, but it makes me want to hit you.”
I accepted the blow quietly and continued.
“This seems quite troublesome. How much do the Jegal Family members actually want this?”
“Everyone except Father and my brother seems to approve?”
“Even the Family Head?”
I recalled the Jegal Family Head I’d met with privately in the past.
“Jegal Dae-ya is quite a cold person.”
“To be honest, Grandfather is a heartless man.”
She put it so bluntly that I felt a bit embarrassed by my own circumspection.
“Still, it doesn’t seem he’s issued an outright command against it.”
“Because of Master’s reputation. No matter how much of a granddaughter she is, they can’t force a marriage upon Eum Hu’s disciple, can they?”
“I see. So they’re applying pressure in a different way?”
“Everyone in the family wants my betrothal. More precisely, they’re radiating that sentiment everywhere. My father is holding them back, but…”
So that was it. They couldn’t force marriage upon Eum Hu’s disciple, so they were applying subtle pressure instead.
If the entire clan unanimously desired it, then as a direct descendant of the Jegal Family born and raised into prominence, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of their expectations.
“This might be a sensitive question, but is the Jegal Family in that much trouble?”
“….”
Jegal Seol-ha fell silent for a moment, her gaze sweeping across the Tang Siblings, Baek Heon-so, and Chu Dal.
“You don’t have to speak if it’s burdensome.”
“No. If I can’t speak of this to the people here, then there’s no one in all the world I could confide in.”
Dang-yeon and Baek Yeon-yeon made a fuss about being moved by her words.
Jegal Seol-ha, who had joined in their agreement, continued speaking.
“The Shaman is the problem. She’s acting as though conflicts with the main branch don’t concern her at all. Just look at where the Dragon Phoenix Assembly is being held.”
‘That’s true. Wuhan in Hubei Province is Jegal Family territory.’
The Shaman is holding this Dragon Phoenix Assembly entirely under her authority, and it’s being hosted in Wuhan, which is Jegal Family territory?
“I naturally assumed there would have been some negotiation.”
“It was essentially a notification, and though we did receive compensation, it was insufficient.”
If neither the Shaman nor the Jegal had been Baek Do, war would have erupted long ago.
“You’re in a situation where you need allies. Strong, trustworthy allies at that.”
A casual alliance wouldn’t provide the reassurance needed.
After all, they could betray you and switch sides to the Shaman instead.
That’s why they’re pursuing a strategic marriage.
“And the Namgung Family is probably strongly pushing for this strategic marriage too. They have nothing to lose.”
A marriage alliance with one of the Five Great Families.
A connection to Pacheon Eum Hu, one of the ten strongest in all the world.
And privately, a bride renowned as the most beautiful woman under heaven.
‘Moreover, the marriage itself would place the Jegal Family in debt while simultaneously providing a means to check the Peng Family.’
Dang-gun’s expression grew serious.
“Hwi’s Younger Brother. I think we absolutely must prevent the marriage between Namgung Cheon-yeong and Lady Seol-ha.”
“I agree.”
-Does Lady Seol-ha know about the Ilyk Alliance?
I briefly considered the intent behind Dang-gun’s transmitted message.
He was asking whether it would be good to draw the Jegal Family into the Ilyk Alliance.
-No. The Jegal Family mustn’t know yet.
The reason was simple.
Even if I brought the entire Ilyk Alliance to bear, it couldn’t compare to the Namgung Family.
The Dang Family and Baek Family had certainly grown to a level incomparably greater than before, but…
Even so, we couldn’t handle even a single one of the Five Great Families.
‘Things will change considerably after the Dragon Phoenix Assembly ends, though.’
-Well, I’m planning to give her a hint soon anyway. It feels wrong to keep it secret from Seol-ha.
Moreover, if I create secrets among sworn siblings, I might face our Master’s wrath.
-I see. Then what should we do?
I tapped my forearm with my fingers while keeping my arms crossed.
‘A suddenly massive variable has appeared.’
Unlike my past life, Seol-ha had not met the unfortunate future of becoming Seob Hon-ma-hu.
Thinking about it that way, it was naturally a variable I had to account for.
“Certainly, Seol-ha. The situation is indeed complicated.”
“It is….”
“The best method you’ve thought of is to pretend to be a betrothed, right?”
“Yes. There’s no better excuse to break an engagement than claiming an existing betrothed.”
“Still, pretending to be a betrothed seems a bit much?”
“Ha! I could hardly consider it an honor!”
I shook my head at Jegal Seol-ha’s bewildered expression.
There was one disadvantage she hadn’t considered.
“The moment rumors of a betrothed spread, I have a feeling Uncle Jegal will come to crack your skull.”
“…Yes. There’s a high probability he would do so.”
“See?”
Moreover, the moment I begin pretending to be a betrothed, my destination becomes fixed to the Jegal Family.
We’ve become close, yet I don’t visit for greetings?
Things could really fall apart.
“We need some kind of strategy. Does anyone have a good idea?”
Surprisingly, Baek Heon-so raised his hand immediately.
“Seo. Speak.”
“Wouldn’t it work if we asked Eum Hu for help?”
“That won’t work.”
“I see….”
Since Baek Heon-so immediately looked dejected, I explained the reason right away.
“The moment our Master interferes in the Jegal Family’s affairs, the Jegal Family can conversely demand something from our Master.”
“That’s right. Making our Master owe a debt to the main family over just an engagement issue isn’t good in many ways.”
The reason was simple.
I couldn’t predict how the Taeguk Sword Master and the Shaman would react.
If things went wrong and the board became divided between the Taeguk Sword Master’s Shaman and Pacheon Eum Hu’s Jegal Family.
A truly massive amount of blood could be spilled.
“Lady Seol-ha. I apologize for saying this, but wouldn’t it be possible for you to boldly reject the engagement?”
At Dang-gun’s question, Jegal Seol-ha hesitated.
It wasn’t wrong, but Dang-gun didn’t know Seol-ha’s past.
She carried an enormous debt of gratitude to her family—more precisely, to her loved ones.
“Elder Dang. Since I’m Eum Hu’s disciple, rejection itself isn’t really a problem. But.”
“But?”
After gazing at Jegal Seol-ha for a moment, I made my decision.
“Seol-ha. Your judgment seems correct. Posing as a betrothed couple is the most efficient approach.”
Jegal Seol-ha’s expression brightened slightly.
Yes, for the sake of our Sa-mae, I can easily bear the risk of breaking the pot.
“Let’s maintain this pretense for now. But don’t blame me later if your marriage prospects are ruined because of it.”
Regardless of their feelings, Yang Hwi could never truly be bound to Jegal Seol-ha.
If that happened, one fatal problem would arise.
“Don’t worry about that. You’re the one who should be careful not to fall genuinely for me, Elder Brother Hwi.”
“Fair enough.”
Suddenly, Chu Dal’s lips curled into a mischievous grin.
“Then shouldn’t you two change how you address each other first?”
Indeed, the easiest way to demonstrate they were betrothed was through their forms of address.
Yang Hwi and Jegal Seol-ha exchanged glances for a moment.
“…Hwi… brother?”
“…Ha… sister?”
“…”
“…”
“Aaahhh!”
“Kyaahhh!”
Suddenly my body felt so itchy I had to scratch frantically.
Jegal Seol-ha was twisting uncomfortably as well.
“Let’s just call each other by name.”
“I’ll call you Elder Brother instead.”
With that agreement settled, it was time to address the next matter.
“Since we’re doing this anyway, it works out well. Seol-ha, I need your cooperation on something.”
“Yes? What is it?”
“It’s simple.”
Yang Hwi continued with a smirk.
“Do you happen to know where I can find someone with a Heaven-rank betrothal contract?”
Jegal Seol-ha’s expression shifted from confusion to understanding, her lips curling upward.
It was exactly the same expression as Yang Hwi’s.
“Would the Shaman faction work?”
“Of course. Actually, that’s even better.”
“Really? And who handles the aftermath?”
“My Master.”
“Ah!”
The Tang Siblings and Baek Heon-so, who had been watching this exchange, felt a chill run down their spines.
‘The Shaman faction? Why mention them? They’re practically the supreme martial sect under heaven right now…’
‘Is he seriously planning something so catastrophic that one of the Cheonmu-sip-jon would need to clean up the mess?’
‘Surely not… Hwi’s Younger Brother, you’re not planning to hunt for betrothal contracts by targeting sect disciples of the Shaman faction who possess Heaven-rank contracts?’
It felt like trouble had just doubled.

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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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