Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 21

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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 021
The next day, Baek Manor received the guest they had long been awaiting.
A man bearing the name Yeo Un-hyeok came to Baek Manor, claiming to be Rang-rang’s Father.
“Welcome, Old Man. If I may ask, do you have a way to prove that you are indeed the father of Miss Rang-rang?”
In response to Baek Moo-ryang’s question, Yeo Un-hyeok withdrew a jade token from his robes.
To anyone’s eyes, it was clearly a matching pair to the one Rang-rang possessed, and when true energy was infused into it, it resonated and trembled.
“I believe this proof is sufficient.”
Everyone present nodded in agreement. Yeo Un-jeok—no, Yeo Un-hyeok—slowly turned his gaze toward Rang-rang.
His eyes, beholding his daughter whom he had not seen in decades, rippled like turbulent waves.
“Arang… my daughter…”
Rang-rang appeared unfamiliar with him. How could she not, when she could not even remember having a father.
Yet blood runs true, and kinship is the thread of heaven itself.
Rang-rang recalled events from nearly twenty years past.
Yeo Un-hyeok’s face was identical to that of the visitor who had given her the token and departed.
“Fa… father?”
Trembling with fear, Rang-rang—or rather, Yeo Arang—gripped Gu Ak’s hand tightly as she hesitantly stepped forward.
“Arang…”
Yeo Arang’s hand touched Yeo Un-hyeok’s cheek, and his weathered hand covered hers.
In that moment, tears like chicken droppings streamed from Yeo Arang’s eyes.
“Father! Father!”
Yang Hwi stood beside Baek Moo-ryang, watching the touching reunion of father and daughter.
‘This turned out well.’
A moment later.
Yeo Un-hyeok, having composed himself, performed a formal fist salute once more.
“This old one has been most discourteous to such esteemed guests.”
“Please do not concern yourself, Old Master.”
“Your understanding is greatly appreciated. Then, might this old one presume to ask the Family Head for one additional favor?”
“A favor, you say…?”
“Before I speak, I must first ask: is there anyone present who should not know of this secret matter?”
Baek Moo-ryang swept his gaze around the room before fixing it upon Yeo Arang and Gu Ak.
Since they were the daughter and prospective son-in-law of the man in question, he found it difficult to single them out, and simply nodded.
“Please, speak freely.”
Yeo Un-hyeok carefully withdrew two ancient texts and handed them to Baek Moo-ryang.
Books so worn they seemed to be at least two hundred years old. After reading the first few pages, Baek Moo-ryang’s eyes widened.
“This is… could it be…!”
A profound and mysterious divine technique of the highest order.
Moreover, one founded upon the martial teachings of the Baek Family.
“Old Master, I require an explanation.”
“Might I illuminate my lineage instead? Are you familiar with the Shadow Ghost Gate?”
Immediately, an exclamation burst from Baek Moo-ryang’s lips.
“The Divine Thief’s Bloodline!”
Throughout the ages, those known as Divine Thieves have appeared in the Martial Arts World.
A martial lineage that inherited and carried forward the divine art of thievery itself.
‘The Old Man was a successor to the Divine Thief’s Bloodline?’
As I wore a puzzled expression, Yeo Un-hyeok’s voice transmission reached me.
-The previous Divine Thief was also involved in the Sword King Gun incident.
-Even after this old man was designated as a Martial Arts World criminal for the Sword King Gun incident, I was able to survive by evading pursuit all these years solely because my master accepted me as a disciple and gave me a new identity.
With that explanation, several mysteries that had troubled me began to unravel.
For instance, why someone called Gae-rok-wi-ma possessed at least peak-level martial prowess.
“The two martial techniques I presented to the Family Head were collected by our sect’s patriarch from a branch lineage separated within the Baek Family’s martial traditions.”
Yeo Un-hyeok dropped to one knee right there, displaying the utmost respect he could offer.
“I am aware of the great kindness the Family Head showed to this old man’s daughter. In return, I present these two martial techniques.”
Baek Moo-ryang trembled, overwhelmed by emotions beyond words.
What had caused the Baek Family, once among the Five Great Families, to decline day by day?
It was because over centuries, every martial technique except the foundational practice had been lost in actual combat.
‘Now… the Main Residence finally has ascending martial techniques!’
This was truly momentous. It was as though we were laying new foundations and establishing the very framework of our martial family anew.
Of course, for someone of Baek Moo-ryang’s second-rate level to master these techniques himself and transmit them to his children and household members would require considerable time…
Baek Moo-ryang’s gaze fixed upon me.
A genius who would master these two techniques in a timeframe incomparably faster than himself, and an adopted son who had only received without giving anything in return—a source of regret.
“Old Master!”
I was not without questions about the current situation. I suspected there were matters left unspoken and secrets yet untold.
However, the moment I received those two martial techniques back, nothing else seemed to matter.
Baek Moo-ryang sprang to his feet and rushed toward Yeo Un-hyeok, dropping to one knee as well, grasping his hands and helping him up.
“You have merely done what was natural, yet you bestow such tremendous grace upon the Main Residence. I know not how to repay you.”
“Compared to the great kindness the Family Head has shown, this is but a small gesture of courtesy.”
“This Baek Moo does not see it that way. Allow the Main Residence the opportunity to repay this debt.”
“If you speak thus… might this old man and my daughter be permitted to reside as guests of the Baek Family?”
Taking a successor of the Divine Thief’s Bloodline as a guest.
Though it would be difficult to spread word of this widely, for the Baek Family Estate it was a tremendous blessing.
An unexpected fortune, as the saying goes.
“What need is there to ask? I shall provide you and the young lady with a residence in the Main Hall.”
Yeo Un-hyeok smiled contentedly and naturally turned his gaze toward me.
-This old man has revealed one more secret to you.
-Though I did not read the contents as promised, merely knowing the truth seems to be quite a significant weakness.
A sole successor of the Divine Thief’s Bloodline. I had certainly received a tremendous secret.
I knew that Baek Moo-ryang had set up this entire situation.
Therefore, I needed an appropriate pretext regarding the counter-method, and this served as the perfect excuse.
I raised the corners of my mouth and sent a voice transmission to Yeo Un-hyeok.
-A most brilliant stratagem, Old Master.
In that instant, Yeo Un-hyeok’s eyes widened.
-How are you transmitting your voice through the air?
-I practiced a bit and it just started working?
Sound transmission was a form of inner energy technique that required a certain level of skill and internal power to execute.
It was not an easy technique for a child who had barely spent a year studying martial arts to master.
-Should I count this as another gift I’ve given you?
“Hehehehe.”
Yeo Un-jeok burst into laughter, a mixture of bewilderment and joy.
Watching this child’s growth would become the second greatest pleasure of my life at Baek Manor.

* * *
The Baek Family Estate had a tradition of holding senior council meetings to discuss and resolve major family matters.
In truth, these meetings had been held at most once every three or four months.
Since there were so few undertakings, there were rarely any significant issues to address.
But.
“The senior council meetings have been held quite frequently of late. It’s all thanks to Young Master Hwi.”
Han Supervisor, one of the attendees at the senior council meeting, took his seat beside Yang Hwi and smiled warmly.
Then Baek Moo-ryang announced the beginning of the senior council meeting and formally brought up the agenda.
“Over the past several months, the Main Residence has achieved significant growth, both internally and externally. More precisely, we’ve laid the foundation for it.”
The bloody struggle between the three factions that the people of Ak-an County now called the Black Blade Dispute.
From that conflict, the Baek Family obtained Ho-yeong-ru as a business establishment.
Naturally, all the family members had to endure an extremely busy period.
“The newly acquired martial techniques are also part of this. Hwi, how is your progress with the two martial arts?”
“I’ve brought both martial arts to the first stage and established a minimum foundation to teach others.”
“Truly? Only seven days have passed since we obtained them.”
“Yes.”
Baek Moo-ryang expressed genuine admiration.
“Excellent work indeed. Then let us begin teaching the family members starting today.”
“Yes!”
“Then next matter. Baek Ik-gak, how is the management of Ho-yeong-ru proceeding?”
Gu Ak was overseeing the management of Ho-yeong-ru together with his wife, Rang-rang.
As if he had been waiting for this, Gu Ak immediately offered his opinion.
“Recently, Gyojin-bang has been causing minor troubles. It seems they covet Ho-yeong-ru.”
Ho-yeong-ru was the most profitable business establishment that Red Bridge Hall had managed.
For a family like the Baek Estate, with a patriarch of second-rate level and only a dozen or so members, it was certainly a substantial acquisition.
“Is it because the power structure of Ak-an County is solidifying into a dual system between the Water Protection Society and Gyojin-bang?”
“After reorganizing their forces, they seem intent on making further demands.”
Baek Moo-ryang stroked his chin thoughtfully after hearing the opinions of those present.
“This is troublesome. The Main Residence cannot afford any disturbances for some time.”
“Why is that, Family Head?”
“Ah. My sworn brother, the Jegal Family Head, sent word. He mentioned wanting to visit the Main Residence while he’s in the area on business.”
“You mean Jegal Seon is coming?”
Baek Moo-ryang’s sworn brother was Jegal Seon, the Young Master of the Jegal Family, known by the epithet “Unparalleled Reclining Dragon.”
The Jegal Family was renowned for their wealth, yet oddly, rumors spoke of this eccentric who obsessed fanatically over martial arts.
That such a man had sworn a bond of brotherhood with Baek Moo-ryang at first meeting and voluntarily taken the position of sworn brother was a famous tale in these parts.
‘It’s unusual for Uncle to visit the Main Residence at this particular time.’
Now that I thought about it, at this point in my previous life, my father was recovering from injuries sustained at Gu Ak’s hands.
Perhaps that was the reason.
‘Wait. If that’s the case…’
“Family Head. Is Uncle coming alone?”
“The Young Master of the Jegal Family wouldn’t move about without an escort. And he mentioned his daughter is accompanying him as well.”
‘Hmm? Uncle’s daughter?’
My uncle Jegal Seon had two children—an eldest son and a second daughter.
Or rather, he had had them.
His second daughter, Jegal Seol-ha, had met with misfortune at a young age and passed away.
‘At this point in time, that incident hadn’t occurred yet. Wait… could it be…?’
I set aside the thought that had surfaced. I could see the others were preoccupied with the immediate problem at hand.
“If Gyojin-bang is the issue, there is a clever solution.”
Everyone fixed their gaze upon me.
“A clever solution, you say? What is it, Young Master Yang?”
“Spread word that the Young Master of the Jegal Family will be visiting the Main Residence soon. With that alone, no dark path gang would dare touch our estate.”
“…If that is all, it hardly qualifies as a clever solution.”
It was a fair point. The method I proposed was merely a temporary measure to postpone the immediate concern, not a true resolution.
“Of course that’s not all. During the time we buy, the Baek Family must grow stronger.”
The reason dark path gangs like Gyojin-bang were coveting the Baek Family’s assets was precisely because our family’s power was negligible.
“Now the Main Residence has a business that brings in regular profits. Soon, our collaboration with Baek Bookstore will also become a new source of funds. I propose to the Family Head that we recruit a large number of new retainers.”
Baek Moo-ryang stroked his chin thoughtfully.
“You make sense, Hwi. If we do this, what sort of people would you have us take as retainers?”
“Two categories. Talented individuals for the future. And capable fighters we can use immediately.”
“So you mean to use the rumors about the Jegal Family to buy time to expand our power.”
“Precisely, Family Head.”
“Then how do we attract retainers?”
It was obvious—if becoming a retainer of the Baek Manor offered no advantages, it would be difficult to attract capable fighters, regardless of talented prospects.
Of course, I had already devised a solution for this.
“Two things. The Hundred and Eight Heavenly Swords and legitimacy.”
“Hmm? The Hundred and Eight Heavenly Swords is our new family martial art, a supreme technique. We cannot teach such a divine art to all retainers.”
It was a valid concern, but I shook my head.
“From my analysis, the Hundred and Eight Heavenly Swords divides into fifty-four techniques total—eighteen for the beginning, eighteen for the middle, and eighteen for the advanced. The deeper sections contain profound mysteries.”
In other words, the Hundred and Eight Heavenly Swords itself is a supreme sword technique, but teaching only the beginning sections would yield first-rate martial arts.
I had deliberately designed it this way in my previous life so that one sword art could be transmitted not only to direct descendants but to many more retainers.
“We cannot use the Heavenly Hundred-Eight Sword as mere bait. The moment the sword technique is transmitted, there will be many who attempt to flee with it.”
“Perhaps your intention is to pass it on to talented youths as a foundation for our future strength. Is that correct, Hwi?”
“Yes, Father. However, to recruit actual martial masters as retainers for practical use, we would need another justification. A pretext, if you will.”
“Share your thoughts.”
“It is simple. We should increase the number of those like Gu Ak and the Baek Ik-gak Master.”
In other words, to accept the Black Blade Gang as retainers into the family.
In my assessment, this was the most effective method to rapidly strengthen the Baek Family Estate’s forces.
‘Father and the other retainers will likely oppose this.’
As expected, Baek Moo-ryang and Han Supervisor furrowed their brows while regarding me intently.

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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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