Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 213

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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 213
I wished for someone who possessed both literary and martial prowess.
This was the meaning contained in Jegal Seol-ha’s single remark.
Whoever wished to be called the Sect Leader must be the one most capable of intelligently executing the purpose of maintaining order in Murim!
“So let us do this instead. For the next hour, we shall appoint as Sect Leader whoever devises the most excellent strategy!”
Traditionally in Murim, the position of leader belonged to the strongest.
But if that were the case, it was obvious that either Hyeon Geom or Namgung Cheon-yeong would become Sect Leader.
Therefore, the younger generation expressed enthusiastic agreement the moment I proposed this method.
None of them realized the entire situation was unfolding exactly as I had sketched it.
“Bring me brush and ink at once!”
“Do not look at your neighbor! Do you wish to be disqualified!”
Everyone began busily devising their strategies.
Even Namgung Cheon-yeong and Hyeon Geom, who had maintained composure or acted superior throughout, now wielded their brushes with visible agitation and tension.
‘You bastards. Neither of you is any good at using your heads, are you? Taste some humiliation.’
I could clearly see both of them glancing sideways, acutely aware of my presence.
By seizing the momentum and establishing the method for selecting the Sect Leader, they now felt frustration and urgency over the disadvantageous position they found themselves in.
An hour passed in an instant, and they began revealing their written strategies in turn.
“My strategy is simple! Eliminate them all at once!”
“Such a dangerous approach would never work! I, Samseong Geom, have devised a strategy of persuasion using money as bait!”
It was now Namgung Cheon-yeong’s turn to present his strategy.
“A Sect Leader must possess superior capabilities above all others. Position itself is but an expression of one’s abilities, is it not? I shall mobilize the full strength of the Namgung Family to maintain order in Murim.”
Though similar strategies had been proposed several times before, none matched the impact of this one.
He was declaring that the Changjeon Geom Family, one of the Five Great Families under heaven, would exercise its power.
“Is such a thing possible?”
“I am the Soga-joonim of the Namgung Family. Naturally, I possess such authority.”
I chuckled softly, recalling Namgung Sa-geom, who resembled a cunning old fox.
Well, I doubt your family elders would be pleased about this.
To voluntarily take on menial work under the Jegal Family—how amusing.
Should I thank you?
“A simple yet excellent strategy indeed. Next!”
There were still dozens who had not yet presented their strategies, but all of them seemed dispirited.
It was difficult for any strategy to surpass one where the Soga-joonim of the Namgung Family pledged the power of his entire family to maintain order.
Considerable time passed, and now it was Hyeon Geom’s turn.
“Hyeon-geom Dou. Do you have a good strategy?”
“….”
Rather than answer immediately, Hyeon Geom alternated his gaze between me and Jegal Seol-ha.
His eyes lingered a moment longer when directed toward Jegal Seol-ha.
“Bin-do is not accustomed to using his mind.”
“Then? Are you abandoning the position of Sect Leader?”
“No. Instead, I propose something in reverse.”
The sword cradled in Hyeon Geom’s arms drew itself upward with a whisper.
This occurred despite both his hands being tucked into the sleeves of his martial robe.
“Ah, void-grasping technique…!”
The Shaman’s grand technique, the Song-mun Ancient Sword, rotated half a turn.
The blade’s tip thrust toward the heavens, gleaming with an ancient patina.
“Bin-do possesses nothing but the sword to offer. I harbor no intention of mobilizing the sect’s disciples for personal gain.”
Namgung Cheon-yeong’s face flushed crimson as he suddenly found himself cast as a Family Head who would deploy his clan’s full strength for selfish purposes.
Witnessing this, I clicked my tongue.
‘Hyeon Geom’s mind certainly works faster than Namgung Cheon-yeong’s.’
Rather, it seemed less a matter of intelligence and more a difference in upbringing.
Hyeon Geom bore the unmistakable marks of one raised wielding only a sword in remote mountain valleys, yet Namgung Cheon-yeong transcended even that—the Namgung Family itself seemed to have constrained the breadth of his thinking.
‘It would have been better had he mobilized the Shaman’s disciples.’
That would have been the easiest advantage to seize.
Had it come to pass, the Jegal Family would have gained two justifications in hand.
Well, since the opportunity has already slipped away, there’s no use dwelling on regret.
“Then what is your strategy, Hyeon-geom Dou?”
Hyeon Geom’s response was extraordinarily simple.
“The sword.”
“By the sword, you mean?”
“Whoever assumes the position of representative, none shall surpass me. At least not in swordsmanship.”
“How can you be so certain?”
The Song-mun Ancient Sword began to tremble. The blade, mere steel by nature, sang as though alive.
Thus came the sword’s cry—its resonance became momentum, instantly drawing the focus of every late-stage master present in this gathering.
“Because the foremost late-stage master under heaven in the martial world today, the supreme dragon, is none other than Bin-do.”
“…!”
“…!”
A bold proclamation. An arrogant declaration, indeed.
He had just declared that the supreme champion of the martial tournament—the event most crucial to the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, commonly called the Dragon-Phoenix Supremacy Contest—was already predetermined!
“Bin-do’s sword shall cleave through more and mightier black-robed assassins. This alone is what I have to say here.”
“….”
“….”
Hyeon Geom’s move left a profound impression, though of a different nature than Namgung Cheon-yeong’s.
To speak plainly… compared to Namgung Cheon-yeong, it was far more capable of capturing the hearts of the martial world’s masses.
“I see. Well spoken. Shall we select the representative then?”
“Wait.”
“What is it?”
Hyeon Geom fixed me with a calm, penetrating gaze.
“Baek Dou. What is your strategy?”
Until now, I had assumed the role of moderator, guiding the proceedings.
As such, I had yet to reveal my own strategy.
“Hmm. Is it truly necessary to see it? Compared to the many heroes present, it is rather unremarkable.”
“This gathering is not merely for devising schemes and selecting a leader.”
“That is indeed so.”
I unfolded the paper with a smile.
In that instant, the later-generation geniuses could not help but wear expressions of shock for the third time.
Because the paper was blank.
It was completely empty.
“Ah, you see, I have no interest in the position of leader.”
Though I had set up the stage myself, I had never harbored much genuine interest in this children’s game among the later-generation geniuses from the start.
Leader of the Yeon-Wol Assembly? In the end, it was merely the head of the later-generation geniuses.
I was far too busy to spare time for such matters.
“Then shall we determine the leader?”
Namgung Cheon-yeong and Hyeon Geom could only feel an inexplicable sense of defeat as they gazed upon me.

* * *
“Soga-joonim. You have caused quite the commotion.”
“I am ashamed.”
Namgung Sa-geom sighed as he regarded Namgung Cheon-yeong.
For one claiming to be ashamed, he seemed to lack any genuine awareness of his wrongdoing.
“Soga-joonim. Did I not ask this of you? I said to wait and devote yourself to cultivation, as I had matters to discuss with the senior figures of other sects.”
“But Uncle, should I have simply stood by while I and my betrothed were engulfed in such scandalous rumors?”
“….”
‘Having raised him thus, there is no helping it. What a headache.’
Namgung Cheon-yeong was the finest sword of the Namgung Family and possessed the makings to become the greatest sword under heaven.
I had cultivated him with meticulous care over every small detail to achieve this.
That very weakness was now revealing itself.
‘Jegal Seol-ha. I never anticipated that girl would become such a problem.’
The strategic marriage had been pursued because I believed it would benefit both the Namgung and Jegal families.
I had never imagined that the talent I had so carefully nurtured would be swayed and entranced by a woman.
‘Had circumstances been different, he would have entered the Yong-Bong Assembly driven solely by animosity toward the Baek Family, who had brought down Namgung Cheon-hu.’
While it was fortunate that he harbored animosity toward the Baek Family, the jealousy stemming from Jegal Seol-ha seemed to burn far more intensely than any rage over Namgung Cheon-hu.
“Had you stepped forward, you should have become the leader. Is that not so, Soga-joonim?”
“….”
To this, Namgung Cheon-yeong had nothing to say.
He had never anticipated that he would lose the position of leader to Hyeon Geom, who had merely displayed his own martial prowess.
“The Namgung must always be first. Remember this truth alone, Soga-joonim.”
“I shall engrave your counsel upon my very bones, Uncle.”
“Well, should you become the First Dragon, such trivial matters will amount to nothing. Soga-joonim, what of Hyeon Geom?”
Namgung Cheon-yeong’s gaze deepened.
“He was formidable. Yet I did not sense that I could not defeat him.”
“That will suffice. You have observed your opponent, and that itself is a gain. From now on, ensure that traveling with the group yields two benefits.”
“I have assessed Hyeon Geom, and if I can achieve victory through this understanding, would that not also constitute a second gain?”
Namgung Sa-geom smiled with satisfaction.
Yes, this would do.
It was the mindset befitting the next greatest swordsman of the Namgung Family.
“Indeed. However, having said such things, you must transform one gain into two gains.”
“Of course.”
Namgung Sa-geom, smiling with satisfaction once more, thought to himself.
‘Cheon-yeong. There will be no next time.’
He must be kept from even thinking of it. Therefore, his actions must be refined so he does not act at all.
Namgung Cheon-yeong’s role was merely that of a sword.
No matter how great and powerful a sword may be, a sword remains a sword.

* * *
“Hehehehe!”
“Guffaw!”
Two distinct bursts of laughter echoed from the ornate guest chamber.
Dang-gun and the others of the party regarded Yang Hwi and Jegal Seol-ha with cold, weary eyes.
‘During the day, they were clearly a handsome young master and the most beautiful woman under heaven.’
But now, in the evening with wine laid out in this private space, they were simply…
Regardless of what the party thought, Yang Hwi and Jegal Seol-ha continued to giggle and laugh.
“Seolha, how does it feel to have the Shaman’s greatest talent serving beneath you!”
“It’s absolutely thrilling, Elder Brother! It feels like… like having a satisfying bowel movement!”
“Excellent analogy!”
A satisfying bowel movement. Defecation, no less.
Could such words truly come from that face?
And to add insult to injury, this man slapped his knee in admiration, praising the analogy. What could he possibly be thinking?
“Sigh…”
“Elder Dang. Why the sudden sigh?”
“That’s right, Soga-joonim. Is something the matter?”
“No, it’s nothing. I merely wish to ask—Hwi’s Younger Brother, were you not the one meant to take the position of Yeon-wol’s Master?”
There was reason behind Dang-gun’s question.
Originally, when the strategy was being devised, he had clearly seen Yang Hwi writing something.
Yet when it was revealed, it was blank paper—a substitution had been made in between.
“Ah, yes. Seeing how things were unfolding, it seemed Hyeon Geom would become the Master, and that made for a prettier picture.”
Just as he thought. If the numbers had been different, Yang Hwi had indeed intended to take the position of Master himself.
“With Hyeon Geom securing the position of Yeon-wol’s Master, the image became one of the Shaman’s greatest talent serving the young lady of the Jegal Family.”
“Exactly. That alone will create complications when the Shaman tries to seduce other sects.”
Of course, if Hyeon Geom becomes the first dragon of the Dragon-Phoenix Struggle, the situation would change considerably.
The current image would be entirely painted over with the Shaman’s colors.
However.
“Hyeon Geom will never win the championship anyway. If I give him the position of Yeonwol-dae Master and observe from the side, it’s killing two birds with one stone.”
“I see.”
Still, from Dang-gun’s perspective of having watched Yang Hwi all this time, there was one thing he couldn’t understand.
“Hwi’s Younger Brother. Your priorities are different from usual. Is there something else you need to do—something quite important, perhaps?”
“As expected of Elder Dang. You know my heart too well.”
Jegal Seol-ha deliberately pouted.
“Oh my. Elder Hwi, how can you say such things with Jeong In right beside you? You might cause a misunderstanding.”
Yang Hwi chuckled and took a sip of wine before responding.
“It’s the truth. Work harder, Jeong In.”
“Tch. Not even flustered.”
Anyway. The truly important matter lay elsewhere.
“What we need to accomplish through the Yeonwol-dae organization is something different.”
“What is it?”
“Finding Hyeol Gyoju, of course.”
The Dragon-Phoenix Struggle had not yet begun.
At this point in the Winds and Clouds Eve, the first thing I needed to discover was finding that rat, was it not?
“Chu Dal.”
“Speak, Elder.”
“There’s someone I need you to find. His name is Nang Hon.”
“I’ve never heard of him. Who is he?”
“You’ll know once you hear it, but the name is an alias and he’s likely an Assassin. Find him without fail. Three days should be enough, yes?”
Chu Dal asked with a puzzled expression.
“I’ll search diligently since you’ve ordered it. But who exactly is he?”
He was the one who would claim victory in the Dragon-Phoenix Struggle at this Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.
In other words, one of the most likely candidates for Hyeol Gyoju.
‘I should verify this once.’
If I could only identify Hyeol Gyoju at this Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.
‘Three of the Cheonmu-sip-jon are scheduled to gather at Muhan.’
I could eliminate the head of the Blood Sect among the Three Great Demonic Sects.
I will be able to kill the leader of the Blood Cult among the Three Great Demonic Cults.

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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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