Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 216

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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 216
In my previous life, of course, I had seen the face of the Sect Leader of Hyeol Sa-ryeon.
In the current Murim, assassins were needed mostly when there were conflicts with the Janggang Water Route Alliance or Hyeol Sa-ryeon.
‘I don’t recognize this face. There are two possibilities.’
Either the Sect Leader position was about to change, or the Hyeol Gyoju had consumed Hyeol Sa-ryeon and granted the Sect Leader position for his own amusement.
Since the name was Hyeol Sa-ryeon, it was possible they had connections to Hyeol Gyoju from the beginning.
So at first, I thought it might be the latter…
‘This bastard is just a scarecrow.’
Watching him get severely beaten by the Taeguk Sword Master, I realized this Sect Leader was absolutely not the Hyeol Gyoju.
Even if someone hid their identity and enjoyed games, dignity accumulated from what one had built would always shine through.
“A scarecrow? Do you want to hang from a wooden pole with your limbs fixed like a scarecrow?”
“A shallow bastard like you could never manage it.”
The Sect Leader made an expression of sudden confusion.
Look at that. He can’t even manage his facial expressions properly.
If he’s acting while accounting for even this, I’d genuinely acknowledge it.
But the Hyeol Gyoju, a major figure I couldn’t even catch a glimpse of in my previous life, didn’t seem like he’d be like this.
-Older brother, it doesn’t seem right, does it?
-Right.
-What do we do now? Should we just leave?
-No. Since we’re here, let’s scratch at him a bit before we go.
I had obtained new information. Based on that, my mind spun rapidly, determining what color of paint to use.
“Business is done, so get out. I have no more use for you. Shoo, shoo!”
The Sect Leader’s already flushed face deepened in color by twofold the moment he saw my careless gesture.
“So you really want to die.”
“Die? By you? Me? How?”
I asked out of genuine curiosity, not provocation.
But the Sect Leader didn’t seem to take it that way.
“With a single gesture from me, dozens of masters would seize you and gnaw your bones starting from your fingertips.”
“Listen, young friend.”
The Sect Leader was at least five years older than me.
Being called “young friend” by someone younger than him in every way, the Sect Leader momentarily lost his composure.
Regardless, I continued.
“An educated person should distinguish between what they can do and what they cannot.”
“How dare you spout such nonsense before the Sect Leader of Hyeol Sa-ryeon?”
“Then call them. Call dozens of masters and try cutting off my fingers one by one.”
….
The Sect Leader became momentarily speechless.
“See? Now that you think about it, you can’t do it, right?”
….
“If you cause a commotion, the Taeguk Sword Master will drive his sword through you this time. Hahahaha!”
A killing intent as dark and thick as ink poured forth from the Sect Leader.
How could the heir of a massive faction already be this excited?
“So your father really is Heo after all. You’re doing exactly what I said you would.”
A scarecrow spouting hot air—Heo the garbage!
“…Tell me your name.”
“Well, well. So you didn’t set up an intelligence network beforehand.”
I’m the one standing at the center of the hottest rumors in Murim recently.
“Fine, I’ll tell you. Go hire some assassins and quietly kill me. I’m Gaecheon Geomryong of the Gaecheon Baek Family.”
“…The pillow companion of the most beautiful woman under heaven?”
The Sect Leader’s expression shifts as he gazes upon Jegal Seol-ha’s beauty, as if finally understanding.
A pillow companion? That’s too much. It’s all just an act.
Though admittedly, the rumors have been flowing in a rather unfavorable direction lately.
Seeing that Gaecheon Geomryong Baek Yang-hwi abandoned his position as Yeonwol Pavilion Master, he’s nothing but a pretty face with no substance.
The luckiest man under heaven, having won the heart of the most beautiful woman under heaven through nothing but a childhood connection.
A pitiful wretch facing an unfortunate future where his lover will be stolen by Namgung Cheon-yeong or Hyeon Geom.
And so forth.
‘The Shaman must be manipulating these rumors.’
“…Things are proceeding strangely, Inspector.”
“A mere woman’s choice determining the First Dragon? Why are such rumors spreading….”
“Rumors are like water, flowing freely and changing shape.”
“We should manipulate the rumors ourselves!”
This must be the result of a conversation like that among the Shaman’s senior members.
Anyway, that’s not the important part.
“Why is Hyeol Sa-ryeon coming all the way to Murim to participate in the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering?”
“How would a worm hiding in a woman’s skirts understand a giant’s intentions?”
“Ah, so you came because the Hyeol Sa-ryeon Leader told you to, without much thought. Then you’re both bait and a stone.”
Justification is bait for catching fish.
A stone cast to create ripples on still water.
Now that I’ve figured out the intention, I’ve truly seen everything.
‘Ah, one more thing left.’
“Anyway, whether you send assassins or do whatever—handle it yourself. But if you’re a man, you should know how to fight directly too.”
“Don’t worry. I, the Sect Leader, will tear you to death with these own hands.”
“Yeah, that’s the way.”
Yang Hwi’s lips curled upward as he pulled out a martial manual from his robes and tossed it over.
“Here. The heavenly-grade manual you wanted. I didn’t give up the Sword Master’s manual, but your older brother is magnanimous enough to show kindness to a young friend.”
The Sect Leader’s gaze and expression.
While trying to guess what I’m thinking, I recall how I’ll use the obtained manual and break into a satisfied smile.
No matter what, you’re just a frog in the palm of Buddha’s hand, kid.
“Yeah. Works.”
“…?”
“You could say I defeated Gaecheon Geomryong of the Baek Family and tore away a Heavenly-grade manual certificate from him.”
“…Shut your mouth.”
Look at him getting angry after I struck a nerve.
People are truly shallow. He’s obviously not Hyeol Gyoju material, and he doesn’t even qualify as a properly cultivated Sect Leader candidate.
“You know about the preliminary rounds of the Heavenly-grade certificate tournament, don’t you? Nominate me as your first opponent. Let’s have a proper match in front of everyone.”
Currently, I’m being called a kept man, a lucky bastard, someone with empty fame—all manner of things.
What if I faced the Sect Leader in the first round and utterly crushed him?
My evaluation would skyrocket instantly.
He’s a perfect sacrifice. That’s all the use he has left.
“I’m leaving. If you want to tear me apart, you’ll need to dedicate yourself to training.”
I launched myself forward without waiting for a response.
For a moment, I waited with hopeful anticipation for the Sect Leader’s reaction to follow.
Ah, the bastard. He didn’t even have the spine to struggle under my heel.
-It ended rather anticlimactically, didn’t it?
-The opponent was an empty cart. What can you do?
-But, Elder Brother Hwi. Didn’t you say you’d use the Armor-Breaking Technique?
-I did use it.
-It seemed like you used the Clothing-Rupturing Technique instead. The Sect Leader’s clothes were tearing apart like he was about to die.
-Well, that’s true. Seolha, your tongue has grown quite sharp.
-Hehe, the student surpassing the master isn’t far off.
Now I need to find another Hyeol Gyoju candidate from scratch.
This won’t do. I need to devise a strategy.

* * *
At the northern gate of Mu-han, a group of Taoists descended the mountain path, clad in martial robes embroidered with plum blossom patterns.
“Senior Brother Ok Jeong, we’ve arrived at Mu-han.”
One of the Cheong Ja-bae disciples leaped onto Ok Jeong’s back and craned his neck to survey Mu-han.
It was an impertinent gesture toward someone of Ok Jeong’s standing, yet no one objected.
“Disciple! You’re clinging too much—it’s bothersome! This Ok Jeong! I’m not one to be narrow-minded, but when something’s annoying, I say it’s annoying, that’s the way of a great martial artist!”
“After so many years away, must you speak so coldly?”
“Well, I suppose I am a bit sorry about that….”
Rather than throwing the disciple off his back, Ok Jeong continued walking while carrying him.
Soon the other disciples began pestering him to carry them as well.
As if they were greeting a cherished family they hadn’t seen in ages.
That wasn’t all.
“Senior Brother Ok Jeong, won’t you carry this old one too? My knees ache with age, you see.”
“Senior Brother! Shouldn’t you, being my senior, be carrying me, your junior?”
“Hm? Hehehehe, I suppose that’s how it works.”
“Yes! Please carry me! This Ok Jeong! The man in all the heavens most skilled at clinging to a senior’s back! A Taoist challenging the path of back-riding mastery!”
“Hehehehe, if I carry you, your mouth ends up right beside my ear. It’s far too noisy.”
“What? Senior Brother! That’s too much! Senior Brother!”
Ordinarily, a young disciple who surpasses his generation becomes a source of awkwardness for the elders of his sect.
But in Hua-shan, all of the Okja-bae genuinely cherished the young disciple Ok Jeong.
Even Cheong Ja-bae, his peer and junior by one generation, treated Ok Jeong as both an older brother and a young uncle.
Truly, an ideal sect family that seemed to exist only in books.
“Welcome to Mu-han, honored guests from Hua-shan.”
Hua-shan was one of the Nine Sects. Naturally, they all possessed heaven-grade tokens and entered Mu-han with ease.
“A pleasure house! Such a magnificent pleasure house exists! We have nothing like this in Hwa-eum County!”
“Cheong Jang, how would you know of such things?”
“Ah.”
“Disciple Cheong Jang! A true Taoist must distance himself from extravagance and luxury! Given our sect’s circumstances, we cannot stay in such a place! In truth, we must lodge in the heaven-grade guest quarters prepared by the Shaman! Why? Because our Hua-shan has no money! Hahahaha!”
“Surely one night wouldn’t be so terrible?”
As Ok Jeong’s expression wavered slightly, his senior brother Ok Jeong clicked his tongue.
“You rascal Ok Jeong, how can you be swayed by your disciples’ tricks? Speak truthfully—while I was away, did you visit Juru or not?”
“Senior Brother! This Ok Jeong! A man who can go anywhere under heaven! Yet deep in my heart, the identity I cherish is! It is….”
As Ok Jeong’s words trailed off, Ok Jeong clicked his tongue once more.
“Tsk, so you did go. A Taoist consorting with wine and women!”
The Hua-shan party quietly made their way to the guest quarters of the Yongbong Assembly.
While not so impoverished they lacked the means to stay at a pleasure house, they had no intention of squandering resources when their sect’s circumstances were difficult.
Such were the people they were.
“Ok Jeong, take the disciples to show them around Mu-han since they’re experiencing the martial world for the first time.”
“Senior Brother! This Ok Jeong has no time for such things! Why is this so? There is a reason I must decline your heavenly proposal! It is simple yet grave! This Ok Jeong bears the tremendous mission of bringing honor to Hua-shan! To become the greatest dragon, one must possess the bearing of the greatest dragon! Therefore, this Ok Jeong….”
Cheong Jang covered his ears, cutting off Ok Jeong’s words.
“Now that you understand, continue your training.”
“Yes!”
Ok Jeong was such a relentless training fanatic that even all the disciples of the Huashan Sect acknowledged it.
A true cultivator who pursued the Way of the Sword in its deepest sense—one who demonstrated through action that life was not meant to be enjoyed, but to be honed and refined.
Given that Ok Jeong displayed so many inhuman qualities, it was only his distinctive loud and talkative manner of speech that prevented many from keeping their distance.
‘My apologies, Senior Brother! To be honest, since it’s troublesome, I’ll leave the junior disciples’ training to you!’
Once again today, Ok Jeong picked up his sword.
For the Huashan Sect… no.
For my own goal.
For that, everything else truly mattered little.
It was then.
One of the junior disciples came running over and shouted loudly.
“Senior Brother, Sect Leader! Have you heard? Il-pil-hwi-seo has released a new work!”
All the disciples of the Huashan Sect widened their eyes in astonishment.
The author Il-pil-hwi-seo.
That name held great significance to the Huashan Sect.
“The author of ‘Return of Huashan’ has released a new novel?”
“Yes! I even managed to obtain a copy and brought it!”
The title written on the book was four characters.
[The Sect Leader of Slaughter and Blood]
Without realizing it, Ok Jeong’s lips curved upward into a smile.

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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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