Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 215

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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 215
The Dragon-Phoenix Gathering was unmistakably a festival exclusive to the Baek Family’s martial world.
Yet it was not uncommon for disciples from the Dark Path or heterodox sects to participate in the Dragon-Phoenix Competition.
It was impossible to prevent them from concealing their identities and slipping in secretly.
‘But openly declaring participation is a different matter entirely.’
Especially if it were the Hyeol Sa-ryeon—called one of the two greatest heterodox sects under heaven alongside the Changjiang Water Alliance.
‘Even accounting for my past life, this hasn’t happened in at least a century.’
Much had changed from my previous life, including Adu and Hyeon Geom’s participation.
So the Hyeol Sa-ryeon’s participation might be a natural progression within this new flow of events.
But.
‘By that logic, the Hyeol Gyoju’s amusement might also be something that never occurred in my past life.’
The Hyeol Sa-ryeon’s participation. And the Hyeol Gyoju lurking in the shadows.
Either way, it was an unfavorable turn of events.
To be honest, I wanted to avoid both if possible.
Especially the Hyeol Sa-ryeon—they were the primary reason Yang Hwi was so carefully sketching the foundations upon this paper called the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.
“Where are those Hyeol Sa-ryeon bastards?”
“As of yesterday, they were a day’s journey from Wuhan. Considering when the messenger was sent, their participation announcement was quite sudden.”
Then they should be arriving soon. Since Guizhou, where the Hyeol Sa-ryeon is located, lies west of Wuhan…
“Let’s head to the south gate. No, wait—they would have come by the Changjiang River, so we should go to the south gate.”
Yang Hwi and his group immediately rushed southward.
Near the south gate, crowds of spectators had already gathered in throngs.
Roughly a hundred martial artists approaching from the distance.
My skin prickled.
‘They’re coming with their aura flaring openly. Brazenly, even.’
“Brother, those bastards… they’re acting like they’ve never learned manners.”
“Indeed. When would heterodox sect members ever have the chance to learn courtesy?”
“True enough.”
In any case, they clearly had no intention of keeping their heads down, quietly watching the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, and leaving.
A signal. An expression of intent. That was the meaning contained in the aura they radiated.
Then it happened.
A violent wind swept through.
“Ugh, my eyes…!”
“Where did this wind come from so suddenly… Hngh!”
Shock flashed across the spectators’ faces as they turned toward the source of the gale.
It was unavoidable.
An old man had revealed himself. He was a being beyond the heavens.
“The Taeguk Sword Master…!”
“The Venerable One has stepped forward!”
The Taeguk Sword Master swept his penetrating gaze across the surroundings.
Though hundreds of people gathered would naturally create noise, every sound in the vicinity was erased.
-Elder Brother, if we just speak up, we have a perfect opportunity to catch the attention of Cheonmu-sip-jon!
-You fool, you mean his glare, not his attention, don’t you?
-Ah, right you are. So what should we do?
What can we do? We won’t even get a chance to step forward.
The two main players in the conversation about to unfold are the Shaman and the Hyeol Sa-ryeon.
As the Young Master of the Baek Family, I cannot even interject yet.
“Hyeol Sa-ryeon, halt!”
The Hyeol Sa-ryeon Disciples, who had drawn dangerously close, stopped in their tracks at a single terse command.
Their discipline was quite impressive—hardly the behavior one would expect from heretical sect bastards.
‘So the leader is… that one.’
A man who appeared to be around twenty-five, with a sharp and distinctive impression.
Based on his attire and position, he was undoubtedly the Sect Leader of Hyeol Sa-ryeon.
‘Hmm. Something feels off. Why does his face differ from what I remember?’
The Sect Leader raised his hand with an arrogant gesture.
“Greetings, fellow martial artists of the Baek Family’s martial world.”
The Shaman’s Disciples standing near the Taeguk Sword Master all stiffened their expressions at once.
“How presumptuous!”
“Hmm? I thought this was quite a cordial greeting, but ah! Of course! There must be someone of great standing present!”
The Sect Leader made an exaggerated expression as if he had only just noticed the Taeguk Sword Master.
“Geom-ong, my elder! My Master sends his regards!”
An excessively insolent tone of speech to use toward someone who was at least a hundred and fifty years his senior.
Yet the Taeguk Sword Master responded gently without the slightest change in expression.
“Ah, you bear a striking resemblance to your Master. It seems you’ve learned well.”
“Hahahaha! That’s precisely why I’ve risen to Sect Leader and graced this place with my presence!”
“Had you come alone out of affection for your Master, I would have treated you with great honor. Hmm. Fifteen first-rate, eighty-one peak masters.”
Among the Hyeol Sa-ryeon force numbering in the hundreds, nearly half were peak-stage masters.
Considering that in the Ak-an County where the Baek Family resided, a peak master once proclaimed himself the tyrant of the region, this was truly formidable power.
“Ah, to bring enough force to annihilate even a major sect and still come to Muhan—what brings you here?”
“Hahahaha! Why exaggerate so, Geom-ong, my elder! Both the Hyeol Sa-ryeon and the Shaman must bring this much force to maintain face, mustn’t we?”
“And you disregard this old man’s face?”
“That’s exactly why I brought only peak masters! This is respect, respect!”
He wasn’t entirely wrong. Had there been even a single transcendent master, this would be considered an assault rather than a visit.
No, the Shaman must have arranged it that way.
But setting that aside.
How does that bastard plan to handle the aftermath while flicking his tongue like that?
-Elder Brother, that one resembles a snake so much that even his tongue-flicking looks serpentine.
-I concur.
It seemed the psychological warfare disguised as conversation would drag on for quite some time.
I couldn’t just stand idle waiting, so I might as well gather some information.
I heightened my perception to its peak, then released hundreds of threads of true energy finer than a strand of hair.
‘Hehehehe, let me see your level, you bastards. If anyone figures it out, I’ll make sure to remember their face.’
In that instant, the Taeguk Sword Master’s gaze turned toward me, however briefly.
Damn it. I should have considered that old man too.
‘Well, since my Master said something, I suppose there’s no need to hide my martial prowess from the Geom-ong.’
First, I swept my perception across the entire gathering.
Then I concentrated all the threads of true qi toward the Sect Leader.
‘Ugh, disgusting. Just as expected from those heretical bastards. They’ve stored filth in their dantian.’
The disciples were one thing, but the Sect Leader’s inner energy was equally poor in quality.
How should I put it—it was far removed from anything clear and pure.
It was a sinister energy, yet it didn’t carry the reverse-flow sensation of demonic qi.
Though compared to Nang Hon, it was far closer to demonic corruption.
If this was the case, identifying the Hyeol Gyoju before the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly opened would be practically impossible.
‘How frustrating. It’s not that I haven’t found him yet—it’s far more likely that I’ve met him but failed to recognize him. Since he’s the head of the Hyeol Shin Hyeol Gyoju, there’s nothing strange about him concealing his aura through techniques I don’t know.’
So for now, both Nang Hon and this Sect Leader bastard were candidates for the Hyeol Gyoju.
While I was thinking this, the Sect Leader’s tongue was growing increasingly bold.
“My Master commanded me to return as the First Dragon! Thus I wish to participate in the Dragon-Phoenix Struggle, and since one could say we share a close relationship, I humbly request a Heaven-grade escort certificate! I believe you have more than enough benevolence to grant such a thing, Geom-ong!”
The Taeguk Sword Master fell silent. As if he’d grasped something, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.
“I see. Were you given an order?”
“What do you mean?”
“Did your Master not command you to wag your tongue before this Taeguk Sword Master?”
“Ah, how did you know? He said to treat you warmly since we share such closeness, hahahaha!”
“I see. Huhuhuhu.”
Formless energy gathered in the void.
Gathering and concentrating, it took shape.
It was a sword.
“I see.”
“….”
The Sect Leader could no longer conduct himself with the same arrogance as before.
In fact, he was permitted nothing save the act of breathing.
Such was the Geom-ong’s sword.
By its mere existence, it could impose and exercise its will upon the hundreds gathered here.
“I left Mudang Mountain for the first time in decades for the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly. Perhaps that is why so many distinguished guests have come. However, I see. Bin-do’s hospitality is quite special, you know. Your Master understands this well.”
The Taeguk Sword Master did not swing his sword.
Yet they were cut.
All ninety-six Hyeol Sa-ryeon Disciples collapsed in place.
“It is impolite to keep guests standing. This is the kindness Bin-do can show you. Does it please you?”
The Sect Leader could offer no response.
To avoid falling into demonic delusion, he had to pour all his mental strength into mending the wounds carved into his spirit.
‘Tsk, I knew it would be like this.’
Despite his serene, immortal-like appearance, the Taeguk Sword Master’s temperament was far from ordinary.
You can tell just by looking at what they’re doing.
“I permit all Hyeol Sa Ryeon Disciples to participate in the Dragon Phoenix Assembly. However, you must obtain your own invitation.”
The Taeguk Sword Master’s figure vanished, and the Shaman’s Disciples followed in his wake.
‘That’s… rather unexpected.’
It seemed not just I, but everyone in our group shared the same thought.
“The Shaman has no reason to accept Hyeol Sa-ryeon.”
“If the Shaman is confident that Hyeon Geom will become the First Dragon, wouldn’t having more supporters be advantageous?”
“Even so, it gains us nothing. In fact, the Jegal Family can now fabricate an excuse that we’ve taken the hand extended by the Sado Sect.”
Jegal Seol-ha, the one directly involved, wore a complicated expression as well.
An adversary in a conflicted relationship taking incomprehensible action?
For someone from the Jegal Family, known for their strategic nature, this would be quite frustrating.
“It seems the Taeguk Sword Master possesses information we don’t.”
Without an information gap, this choice would be impossible to understand.
“Could it be that the Shaman made a secret pact with Hyeol Sa-ryeon for some purpose? No, that’s going too far.”
“The Shaman wouldn’t do that—they’re not Namgung. But seeing Elder Dang say such things means he’s quite curious.”
Dang-gun nodded.
“Our alliance has much to gain from this Dragon Phoenix Assembly. With the situation changing rapidly, how could we not be curious?”
“Heh, that’s true. I’m dying of curiosity myself.”
“Me too, but my younger brother is even more… wait.”
Dang-gun, who had been agreeing, suddenly caught sight of my expression and was seized with dread.
“Hold on. No. That’s not it.”
“I haven’t said anything.”
“Don’t speak and don’t even think it. That’s not it.”
…
I quietly turned my head toward Jegal Seol-ha.
“Seolha.”
“Yes, Elder Brother? What is it? This sounds fun!”
Unlike Dang-gun, who felt fear, Jegal Seol-ha’s face bore a mischievous expression.
Like a child just before playing with fire, one might say.
Incidentally, my expression was the same.
“Seolha, I’m reminded of something the ancients once said. Do you know what it is?”
“Oh, wait. Hmm. Could it be this?”
Seol-ha, with a sly grin, continued.
“If there’s something you don’t know in your studies, ask even a three-year-old child!”
“Correct!”
I extended my hand, and Jegal Seol-ha met it with hers.
Clap!
“No. Younger Brother, no. That’s not it! Everyone, what are you doing! Don’t you know you have to stop him immediately when Hwi’s Younger Brother makes that expression!”
Chu Dal shook his head vigorously, and Baek Heon-so quietly lowered his.
“We’ve never succeeded in stopping him, Soga-joonim.”
“Besides… when Elder Dang says something is fun, it usually does become fun….”
My heart was just trembling too much in the process.
“If you’re going to do it, say so! At least discuss it first!”
“No. If I tell you, Elder Dang will stop me even if he has to release the poison.”
“I already know! I guessed it! You’re going to ask the Sect Leader of Hyeol Sa-ryeon, aren’t you!”
“Oh!”
“What the hell kind of ‘oh’ is that!”
Suddenly, Dang-gun’s expression became resolute.
“I will absolutely stop you. By any means necessary.”
“Hmm. Seolha, what do you say to that?”
“Hmm. Elder Hwi.”
“Huh?”
Seolha asked with an innocent expression.
“Among our group, aren’t Elder Hwi and I the first and second fastest in lightness martial arts?”
“That’s right. One of Master’s two techniques is the Lightness Method.”
….
….
With a whoosh, the two figures vanished in a blur.
Followed by Dang-gun’s final cry echoing out.
“You damn brats!”

* * *
The Hyeol Sa-ryeon disciples permitted entry into Muhan rented an entire grand estate and settled in.
It was so quiet that everyone seemed to be struggling to compose themselves.
Looking down at the estate, Yang Hwi posed a question.
“Seolha. Choose between the beauty trap and the provocation strategy.”
“I don’t like the beauty trap. Recruiting more people is becoming tedious.”
“I see. Then let’s go with the provocation strategy.”
“How should we do it? To provoke someone, we need to know their weak points beforehand.”
“Ah, I didn’t know before, but I just found out.”
I released the threads of my true energy. My perception expanded and contracted repeatedly, pinpointing the Sect Leader’s location at the center of the estate.
-Is your father’s surname Heo?
The Sect Leader’s energy convulsed as if seized.
-Curious who I am? Then come out first. I’m in a tree nearby.
Just saying this seemed like he might ignore it, so I added one more thing.
-Scarecrow Heo Seop, worthless trash, hot air merchant! All three fit perfectly, so your father must be surnamed Heo. If not, tell your father to change his surname!
If someone could endure hearing this, I’d admit it.
He’d be a Buddha, not a Sect Leader.
“Elder, what did you say?”
When I recited what I had said, Jegal Seol-ha burst into laughter.
In that moment, the Sect Leader with an expression of barely contained fury burst forth.
“Who is it that wishes to be torn in half… hmph!”
Seeing Jegal Seol-ha’s face and momentarily losing my composure had become routine by now.
I ignored it and opened my mouth.
“One question. Where did you leave the real Sect Leader, and send this scarecrow in his place?”
After finishing my words, I sharpened my energy perception while carefully observing the Sect Leader’s expression and aura.
Depending on what reaction he showed, many things would change.
‘So. The reason a different man came than the Sect Leader I knew. Which is it?’
Just a scarecrow? Or Hyeol Gyoju?
Soon I lifted the corners of my mouth in a smirk.
‘Ah. So it was that way?’
Now my chest finally felt relieved.

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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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