Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 211

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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 211
I grinned as I studied the two people seated across the table.
Namgung Cheon-young, the second master of the Namgung clan, and Hyun Geom, the late-stage master of shamanism.
Those who are always mentioned when naming the most promising rising stars in the current martial arts world, with modifiers before their names that are nothing short of brilliant and dazzling.
Seeing the expressions on their faces was genuinely difficult to bear without laughing.
‘They look like they’ve swallowed something foul. Or rather, their pride has been wounded.’
Both of them were young, admittedly.
Had I been in their position, I would have worn an expression closer to utter defeat.
Though truthfully, I wouldn’t have let my expression betray anything at all.
“Baek Yang-hwi.”
It was Namgung Cheon-yeong who spoke first.
Not “Baek Gong-ja” or “Baek Sohyeop”—but Baek Yang-hwi.
“What is it you wish to say, Soga-joonim?”
I used formal address to allow him to recognize the distinction himself.
Yet Namgung Cheon-yeong seemed to feel nothing at all.
His tone remained unchanged, after all.
“Whose permission did you seek before committing such an act?”
I offered a smile as an invitation for him to continue, and Namgung Cheon-yeong bristled.
“You must have heard from Jegal Seol-ha about the discussions between our main family and the Jegal Family. Yet you dare attempt something like this—I cannot fathom your reasoning.”
“Are you being sincere?”
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing.”
I had wondered whether he was merely trying to provoke me or genuinely ignorant, but it seemed he truly didn’t understand.
Namgung Cheon-hu would have grasped it immediately.
How could the Namgung Family leave their most talented raw gem unpolished and neglected like this?
‘If you’ve stepped onto my board, you must understand my intentions, you bastard.’
I met Namgung Cheon-yeong’s gaze while concealing my true thoughts.
A thick, viscous emotion surged within me.
“To be honest—no, to be blunt about it. I find facing you, Soga-joonim, far from pleasant. Rather, it’s closer to repulsive.”
I meant every word. I had no desire to share a meal with anyone bearing the Namgung name.
But what could I do? We were still insufficient.
A direct confrontation would only harm the Baek Family.
‘Though it’s amusing that I’m saying such repulsive things while thinking this way.’
From our brief exchange, I had gained confidence that this much was acceptable.
Especially since my opponent was Namgung Cheon-yeong.
‘So this is why, having raised him knowing nothing, he spouted such nonsense in his previous life about assassins coming and apologies and all that drivel.’
“How could it not be repulsive? Being in the presence of a man who presumes to flirt with my betrothed.”
“Who exactly is your betrothed?!”
“Who else? Our Seolha. Ah, but it wasn’t merely a betrothal agreement—surely you harbored feelings for our Seolha as well, Soga-joonim?”
How delightful. The arrow I had casually fired struck the target’s center perfectly.
Looking at Namgung Cheon-yeong’s contorted face, it was unmistakable.
I wondered if he even realized it himself.
The expression he was making now seemed far more intense than when he’d cursed Namgung Cheon-hu through sound transmission before.
Was he in his early twenties?
Well, it was certainly an age to burn with emotion over matters of women.
‘He’s still a child. A real brat, this one.’
“Come then. I find myself compelled to punish that arrogant tongue of yours, Baek Yang-hwi.”
It seemed Namgung Cheon-yeong had genuinely fallen for Jegal Seol-ha.
For someone who had grown to adulthood yet retained a boy’s heart, this was the level of a fierce first love descending upon him.
“That won’t do. I promised to go out with Seolha this evening. If I sweat, all this careful grooming would be for nothing.”
Killing intent began to flow in streams from Namgung Cheon-yeong’s eyes.
Somewhat unexpected. I’d thought he wasn’t as overbearing and emotional as Namgung Cheon-hu.
Then again, men tend to show a different side of themselves when it comes to matters concerning women.
‘This one’s certain, at least. He’ll be swayed if I play him right.’
Then it was time to check the other one.
“Namgung Cheon-yeong.”
The moment I shifted my gaze, Hyeon Geom called out to Namgung Cheon-yeong as if he’d been waiting.
Namgung Cheon-yeong’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
“Namgung Cheon-yeong? Did you just call me by my name?”
“It’s the same as when Dou called you, just as Baek Gong-ja did.”
‘Interesting. This Hyeon Geom fellow has some perception.’
“As a disciple of the Shaman, I have that much standing.”
Cancel that. He hadn’t turned it around with perceptiveness to deliver a rebuke—he was just blunt by nature.
Well, it was common enough for those who’d shut themselves away in deep mountains swinging swords to be direct and stubborn.
“Save the challenge request for later. After Bin-do settles his business. Or would you prefer to determine precedence with Bin-do first? With swords, of course.”
The fire had spread. Namgung Cheon-yeong’s intense gaze met Hyeon Geom’s impassive stare.
Between them, I observed Hyeon Geom leisurely, even heightening my perception.
‘His qi… hmm. Remarkable. It surpasses even Adu.’
Adu was the one with the most astonishing talent and martial prowess I’d encountered across both my past and present lives.
Even if the last time I’d seen him was three years ago, to surpass that Adu…
He truly seemed to be someone with remarkable talent.
Judging from his personality as glimpsed so far, it seemed he’d trained with nothing but his sword his entire life.
‘An awl that pierces through even a full purse. Why was this fellow not even known to the Dohojo in my past life?’
In any case, to use a card, one must first understand the picture drawn upon it. I’d need to learn more.
“Take your pride elsewhere. I need to handle my business first.”
Namgung Cheon-yeong and Hyeon Geom both turned their heads simultaneously.
A hint of bewilderment showed on their faces.
“If you don’t like it, keep staring each other down. I’ll just call Seolha and go out for an outing.”
Around Chuhanru, the inn where they were staying, crowds of curious onlookers had already gathered after hearing of the Yeonwoldaecheop.
After the three late-stage experts—the current hottest topic—had their discussion, Yang Hwi of the Baek Family was enjoying an outing with Jegal Seol-ha, just the two of them?
What kind of rumors would spread was obvious.
“We can’t just leave it at that. Who exactly gave permission?”
“Baek Dou. What is your reason for summoning us?”
Namgung Cheon-yeong kept harping on about permission. Hyeon Geom questioned why I’d stirred up this commotion called the Yeon-wol Daecheop.
First, I’d need to keep Namgung Cheon-yeong in check, or this conversation would never end.
“Namgung Soga-joonim. Of course it’s the permission of ‘our Seolha.’ So then, Namgung Soga-joonim—from whom did you obtain permission and credentials to speak of qualification and permission to me, who am ‘our Seolha’s’ Jeong In? If it’s something the Pacheon Eum Hu has hinted at, I’ll accept it gracefully.”
I conveyed, in roundabout fashion, that unless Eum Hu had approved it, he should shut his mouth, then began to broach the real matter.
Or rather, I tried to.
“Baek Dou.”
‘Ah, these young bastards. Is interrupting people a habit?’
In any case, those raised swinging swords all day had this problem.
If they’d gone out and tasted the world a bit, they might have developed some social grace.
“Bin-do’s feelings toward Jegal Dou or your connection—whether it’s affection or fate—matters not to me.”
That was somewhat unexpected. An interesting response, even.
I smiled faintly and asked.
“Then you don’t desire a betrothal?”
“I do desire it. It is what my Master wishes. However, I have no intention of keeping time with you. Ensure that the name of the Shaman and the title Hyeon Geom are not mentioned in whatever schemes you undertake henceforth. Should you do so, I will not punish you.”
Punish. An amusing choice of words.
He truly believed he had the basic qualification to mete out punishment?
‘Hah, it’s been a while. This feeling.’
In my previous life, wandering the realm as an assassin from a third-rate martial family.
This was a situation I’d seen and experienced ad nauseam.
The realm was vast, and it was equally overflowing with arrogant young masters from martial sects who fancied themselves accomplished.
“Unfortunately, it seems I cannot do so. Rumors are like spilled water, like galloping horses—how can a person possibly control them at will? Unlike Hyeon Geom Dou, a disciple of the Great Shaman, I am merely a young master from a minor-to-middling martial family. It’s impossible for me.”
Hyeon Geom’s answer was simple.
“Then you must bear the price of a fallen record that cannot be restored.”
Hyeon Geom rotated the sword he held in his arms halfway around.
And there it was—an antique pine pattern revealed.
That, that right there—it was the Pine-Pattern Ancient Sword.
A divine blade regarded as the de facto treasure of the Shaman sect.
He possessed such a thing as a junior disciple?
It was clear evidence of what rank and treatment Hyeon Geom enjoyed within the Shaman sect.
“What manner of price do you speak of?”
“The price for acting like a matchmaker despite calling yourself Jeong In, and making Bin-do a nuisance.”
This fellow certainly had an amusing way with words.
A Jeong In playing the role of matchmaker. He wasn’t wrong.
After all, it was I myself who had spread the rumors under the plausible name of Yeon-wol Daecheop.
‘From the perspective of someone innocently caught up in it, irritation would be natural. But kid, when it comes to making people a nuisance, the Shaman sect takes the cake.’
“Very well. However, there is something I discussed with the Taeguk-mun Master.”
“What is it?”
“I’ve arranged for Hyeon-geom Dou and Seolha to have an opportunity to meet face-to-face.”
“Then that settles it. I have no desire for it.”
“Ah, so because you rank higher in the hierarchy, you can simply disregard the Taeguk-mun Master’s wishes?”
“….”
I deliberately met the gazes of Namgung Cheon-yeong and Hyeon-geom before turning my head toward the door.
“Seolha. It’s still early before the appointed time—why have you come down already?”
The door creaked open, revealing an exquisite figure.
It was Jegal Seol-ha.
Without question, she was the most beautiful woman in all the realm at this very moment.
She had gathered her long black hair up, applied her makeup with meticulous care, and dressed in an exceptionally beautiful martial robe.
“….”
“….”
A heavy silence descended.
Namgung Cheon-yeong’s mouth had fallen slightly agape.
The expression of someone utterly captivated by the sight before them.
Well, his reaction was predictable enough. The truly amusing part was Hyeon-geom’s response.
‘What was it he said earlier? That it didn’t matter whether they shared affection or were bound by fate—he just needed to handle the betrothal himself?’
Whether he’d been trying to imitate a Daoist with deep cultivation at his young age, Hyeon-geom had been sitting with his eyes half-closed until now.
Now those eyes were wide open with all his strength.
As if he’d witnessed something so astonishing he could barely contain himself.
“J-Jegal Dou… is it?”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Hyeon-geom Sohyeop.”
An exclamation escaped me naturally.
Truly, I’d asked for this, but still.
Her voice was already beautiful beyond measure, yet she was embellishing it further with subtle applications of inner energy.
This Seolha had truly become a fox.
‘It’s over. He’s completely fallen for it.’
A man who’d spent his entire life in the mountains with nothing but his sword.
Having now witnessed the most beautiful face under heaven before his very eyes.
How could any man not be captivated?
I asked with confident amusement.
“Hyeon-geom Dou, you asked me not to let you become entangled. Very well. The Shaman’s sword is fearsome, so I shall do my utmost to prevent that. Now, please take your leave. If you remain any longer, you’ll only become more entangled.”
“….”
Hyeon-geom could not rise to his feet.
Rather, I should say he did not.
“Neither of you are leaving, I see. Then I shall assume you both intend to participate in the Yeon-wol Tournament.”
Had this been moments earlier, I would have thrown out a remark out of wounded pride.
But Jegal Seol-ha’s appearance had robbed them of the leisure to concern themselves with such trivialities.
When this happens, one must drop another bomb.
“Well then, there is one matter I must address—for all the later-stage cultivators participating in the tournament.”
Seeing the confusion settle across Namgung Nom’s and Malko’s faces, Yang Hwi broke into a smirk.
“A grand competition, you see, is nothing but a fight! A test of victory and defeat. And the event shall be held under the name of the Jegal Family—an endless maintenance of order.”
In that instant, Hyeon-geom’s face hardened like stone.
He possessed enough perception to grasp what lay beneath those words.
Seeing his expression, Yang Hwi smirked once more.
-My brother truly does wield his mind in the most terrifying ways.
-It’s all possible because of your beauty working so hard, after all.
-Hehehehe, you shaman bastards! Now taste a real trick!
He continued, meeting Hyeon-geom’s gaze directly.
“Should the senior figures of the Shaman sect learn of this, they’ll demand you withdraw immediately, regardless of rumors or anything else.”
The reason was simple.
It stood in direct opposition to the Shaman sect’s course of action.
“What will you do, Hyeon-geom Dou?”

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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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