Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 217

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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 217
Disciples from Huashan School, one of the Nine Great Sects, began to chatter excitedly.
The center of attention was singular: Il-pil-hwi-seo’s new work.
“Blood Sect Leader! This title is quite fierce indeed.”
“I read it in advance, and the entertainment value remains exceptional. Quite refreshing, even.”
Il-pil-hwi-seo. A legendary literary master who swept through the realm in merely a decade since releasing his first work.
His books held considerable significance for Huashan School.
The reason being….
“This author is truly a remarkable talent.”
“Indeed. A mere scholar wielding such profound influence over the martial world.”
“That a single novel nearly fractured the deep brotherhood between Songshan and Huashan. It’s laughable when you think about it.”
“Hehehehe….”
Ok Jeong, the eldest present, simply laughed.
As the elder handling practical affairs, he had endured considerable difficulty at that time.
“Elder Ok Jeong. Were relations with Songshan School not favorable…?”
“No! They were excellent!”
“Hmm… I apologize, but perhaps we should be more cautious regarding Huashan School’s relations….”
“I said no!”
“I was unaware that Huashan and Songshan Schools had strained relations. I apologize for proposing a joint venture between the two Shaanxi sects.”
“Please, just listen to what I’m saying!!”
Huashan and Songshan, both situated in Shaanxi, naturally had many overlapping or collaborative ventures. Due to the sudden misunderstanding, clarifying the situation had been exhausting.
Moreover, among the easily swayed younger disciples, didn’t a competitive spirit emerge where they felt compelled to defeat one another?
‘Our Huashan and Songshan are like brothers….’
Surely this work doesn’t contain strange things written about Huashan again?
Ok Jeong felt a slight unease as he turned the first page of Blood Sect Leader.
And, moments later.
“Hmm.”
“Entertaining, isn’t it?”
“This work is tremendous as well.”
Despite the difficulties endured, Huashan School harbored no particular resentment toward Il-pil-hwi-seo.
One reason for this was the entertainment value.
Overwhelmingly captivating entertainment!
Though everyone knew it was merely fiction, the work possessed such immersive entertainment that it drew readers into reality.
‘Thanks to this, the number of admirers visiting Huashan School has increased threefold or fourfold.’
In the story, Huashan School ascends to become the greatest sect under heaven, and the protagonist becomes the greatest warrior under heaven.
What does this mean? People’s perception of Huashan had changed dramatically!
“In summary, it’s a story of defeating the legendary villain, the Blood Sect Leader.”
“Yes. The moral lesson of rewarding virtue and punishing vice is well integrated.”
The peculiar aspect was how the Blood Sect Leader was portrayed as a legendary fool and simpleton.
Being a villain one could comfortably curse and mock made the entertainment all the more engaging.
“If a place called the Blood Sect actually existed, that would be quite entertaining, haha!”
“Indeed. Their Sect Leader has publicly become a fool, after all.”
It was while the Huashan disciples were laughing.
“Master! An Elder from the Songnan Sect has arrived!”
“Ah! Bring him inside.”
Huashan was not the only sect keeping a keen eye on Il-pil-hwi-seo.
Truthfully, Huashan had benefited greatly thanks to Il-pil-hwi-seo, but Songnan was different.
‘When it comes to the conclusion, Songnan plays quite a significant role as well, so they wouldn’t have suffered losses. But matters of face are another story entirely.’
“Welcome, Elder Yang Seon.”
“It has been a while, Elder Ok Jeong.”
After exchanging brief greetings, they moved straight to business.
“Have you heard about Il-pil-hwi-seo?”
“As expected, you’ve come about that matter. I was just discussing it with my disciples.”
Elder Yang Seon of Songnan’s request was simple.
“Il-pil-hwi-seo. We must investigate him.”
“Hmm….”
“I harbor no ill will. It is merely a tale from books, after all. But are you not curious?”
I was curious. Setting aside everything else, Il-pil-hwi-seo was someone who could be called the greatest under heaven in the literary arts.
“From our investigation at Songnan, Il-pil-hwi-seo publishes books only through the Baek Book Merchant House, and that merchant house has close ties to the Gaecheon Baek Family.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“As it happens, the Gaecheon Baek Family’s name is at the center of one of the three rumors circulating about the three things that temper Mu-han. Quite convenient, is it not?”
Ok Jeong was the most knowledgeable among Huashan’s disciples about external rumors, but the distance from Shaanxi to Jiangxi was far too great for him to know the name Gaecheon Baek Family.
However, unexpectedly, a brief explanation flowed from Okcheon’s lips.
“The Gaecheon Baek Family! Called the greatest family of Jiangxi, they are a martial clan expanding their power at the fastest rate in recent times! Their Young Master, Gaecheon Geomryong, is famous for being a fool!”
One of the disciples wore a puzzled expression.
“How do you know this, Okcheon? Were you in the Jiangnan martial world when you ran away?”
“Haha! That’s not it! But there’s a way everyone knows!”
It was then, as the disciples of Huashan and Songnan were discussing going to meet the people of the Gaecheon Baek Family.
“Hehehehe! You were having quite an interesting conversation.”
Startled by the voice, I turned my head to see Lakbul standing there.
One beside each of the disciples.
As the shocked Ok Jeong and Baek-seon sprang to their feet, Lakbul’s form glided smoothly and merged into one.
“G-Great Master!”
“Has the Venerable One arrived!”
“Hehehehe, I came merely to chat, so I hope I’m not intruding.”
Even if Gu-pa’s Elder, compared to Cheonmu-sip-jon Lakbul, the difference in standing was immense.
Even if eavesdropping and interjecting was rude, who could honestly say so?
“Gaecheon Baek Family’s Gaecheon Geomryong. This humble monk is also interested in that child. Will you not go together?”
“How could the great Lakbul take interest in a late-stage martial artist…?”
I asked carefully, and Lakbul made a gesture for me to wait a moment.
Soon, voices began to echo through the air.
“Master!”
“Please! Show some restraint!”
Two figures emerged into view—Adu and Beop-gak, disciples of Lakbul.
“Amitabha. How delightful to see you both, Elders. I hope my Master has not caused you any inconvenience.”
Beop-gak offered a respectful greeting, and Baek-seon and Ok Jeong returned the courtesy with bows.
“Inconvenience? On the contrary, it brings us immeasurable joy to see you after so long.”
“Bin-do feels the same.”
Lakbul, his expression slightly deflated, added a remark.
“Now I’ll have a conversation with Beop-gak. If you don’t want to be scolded further.”
Who under heaven could diminish Lakbul’s spirit and make him speak of being scolded?
All the disciples of Song-nam and Hua-shan thought the same thing simultaneously.
“Even if he is a monk, he deserves punishment if he’s done wrong.”
“Who under heaven would scold Lakbul!?”
Lakbul and Adu’s gazes turned toward Beop-gak.
Beop-gak responded with a look that said, what else could be expected?
“Did you not, as the Abbot himself, find it bothersome and run away with only Adu, heading toward Mu-han? Had I not anticipated it beforehand… well.”
“Beop-gak. Must you rebuke your Master so openly before disciples of other sects?”
“Is this the first or second time? You must feel shame to avoid repeating it!”
Lakbul let out a groan.
“This is how I live….”
“If you wish to abandon your disciples entirely and devote yourself to Buddhist cultivation, you need only say the word.”
“Beop-gak.”
“Yes, Abbot.”
“I apologize.”
“That’s all that matters.”
The disciples of Hua-shan and Song-nam fell into unified silence.
Moments later, Ok Jeong began to smooth things over.
“Ahem… Even the Abbot of Shaolin must heed the words of the Precepts Master. You are setting an exemplary standard by personally upholding the sect’s regulations!”
“I appreciate your understanding.”
“Then… are the people of Shaolin also coming along to meet the Gaecheon Baek Family?”
“Indeed. I’ve been wanting to see an old friend and his disciple again anyway.”
It was then.
“Disciple Okcheon! Will it be alright if I remain behind alone!?”
“Okcheon, wouldn’t it be better to come along?”
Okcheon shook his head.
“Not yet! It doesn’t seem like the right time to meet, Senior Brother!”
A cryptic statement. Ok Jeong interpreted his disciple’s meaning on his own.
“He has a strong competitive spirit, it seems. Very well. There’s no rush to deepen our bonds after we clash at the Dragon-Phoenix Struggle for Supremacy.”
Okcheon had always been this way—more inclined to devote himself to cultivation than to concern himself with external matters.
Though his talkative nature led others to mistake him for being sociable, what mattered most to him was martial arts.
All of Huashan’s disciples understood this about him.

* * *
Several days had passed since Il-pil-hwi-seo released a new work titled “Hyeol Gyoju” under his name.
During that time, I remained quietly in my guest quarters, passing the days.
‘Bringing the Young Scholar into the main family was indeed a brilliant move.’
My memory was exceptional enough to memorize every character of every book I’d read in my past life, yet it was impossible for me to create entirely new stories on my own.
But thanks to having the Young Scholar, I could now use Il-pil-hwi-seo’s name whenever I needed.
‘Still, it’s about time the bait gets taken.’
I’d made Hyeol Gyoju into a laughingstock of the realm.
By now, those bastards from the Blood Cult who’d infiltrated Mu-han should be arriving with fury burning in their hearts.
I’d released the new work precisely to lure them out, and I planned to use those who bit the bait to track down Hyeol Gyoju once more.
“Elder brother.”
Chu Dal, who had crawled out from somewhere in the ceiling, spoke to me.
“Someone is looking for you.”
“Is that so? Who?”
“Doesn’t seem to be who you were hoping for, but come take a look.”
“Very well.”
Recently, I’d been receiving visitors almost every single day.
The reason was simple.
“Are you Gaecheon Geomryong?”
“That’s correct.”
“I’ve come to challenge you to a duel, with a wager of betrothal tokens.”
A young man with quite an arrogant bearing.
‘Ah. Is it this matter again?’
Disappointed, I nonetheless scanned him with my qi perception just in case.
I sensed no demonic energy.
My disappointment deepened.
“Where do you hail from?”
“I am the Sect Leader of Tae-an Jeongmun.”
Tae-an Jeongmun—one of the Thirty-Six Great Sects of the realm.
A disciple of a prestigious sect, raised without knowing his place in the world.
Given that he hadn’t mentioned an alias, it seemed he hadn’t yet built a reputation.
Then his purpose was obvious.
“You must have received a heaven-grade betrothal token, so why wager one in a duel…?”
“I gave mine to someone else. I need a betrothal token of my own.”
“….”
“You’re not answering. Are you afraid?”
I’d fallen silent for a different reason, but he seemed to have misunderstood.
‘Intentional or not, he keeps showing up like clockwork.’
Who was the easiest target to gain renown against in the present Mu-han?
Yang Hwi, of course.
Though I was mocked as the pillar-husband of the Greatest Under Heaven, I bore the grandiose title of Gaecheon Geomryong and was famous enough that everyone in Mu-han knew my name.
‘It’s my own doing, so I can’t blame anyone. Sigh.’
The reason I had handed over a Heaven-rank certificate of defeat to the Sect Leader earlier was precisely this.
To preemptively block those bothersome fellows.
Though the effect proved minimal.
“I was defeated by the Sect Leader of Hyeol Sa-ryeon and surrendered my certificate of defeat.”
“What, what did you say!”
The Tae-an Jeongmun Somunju was flustered. This was why the certificate of defeat had minimal effect.
‘That bastard Sect Leader, I told him to spread the word, but he’s been silent as a mute.’
“I suffered a crushing defeat! Therefore, this Young Master holds no certificate of defeat!”
Because of this, Yang Hwi’s side was spreading rumors even more loudly.
There were still many who came without knowing this fact.
“Since our business seems concluded, I’ll take my leave.”
“Wait, just a moment.”
“What is it.”
“What?”
“What is it, if I may ask?”
The Somunju, whose eyes had been rolling about, discovered a new target and broke into a satisfied smile.
“The hawk on your shoulder.”
“You mean Won-woo?”
“I’ll give it a new name myself. Let’s have a martial contest wagering that hawk.”
An impertinent demand. But this bastard clearly wanted to defeat me somehow and raise his renown.
‘I was going to let him off easy, but you—you’ll serve as my punching bag instead.’
If I defeated him publicly, rumors would spread that the pillar-husband had beaten a Heaven-rank sect’s Somunju, which would be troublesome.
But beating him a few times in some secluded place would be fine.
I shifted my weight onto one leg and adopted a menacing expression.
-You arrogant bastard.
Speaking through sound transmission so no one else could hear—such careful planning.
-Do you think I’m easy? Want to die?
“How, how dare you speak such words…!”
These young ones these days fall for even the slightest provocation.
It seemed I could lure him to a secluded place like this.
“I swear by the name of Tae-an Jeongmun—I will make you regret this!”
The enraged Somunju shouted so loudly that the Juru rang out resonantly.
I was about to smile at the sight when—
“Yang Hwi!”
A thunderous voice that matched the previous shout in volume. The giant who appeared was a towering figure whose head nearly brushed the ceiling, with a face of innocent simplicity that seemed wholly at odds with his massive frame.
“Adu?”
“Yeah! It’s me!”
Adu hadn’t come alone. Dozens of martial artists were filing in behind him.
‘Huashan and Wudang? And even Monk Beop-gak?’
Adu, who had been gazing at me with a bright smile, read the atmosphere.
“Yang Hwi, you fighting him?”
“Huh?”
Dozens of Gu-pa’s disciples had appeared.
There was no way to drag this to a quiet place now.
Though it was I who had initiated the confrontation in the first place.
What mattered in moments like these was a swift change of tactics!
“Oh my! The esteemed Adu, Shaolin’s greatest talent, has graced us with his presence!”
“Yang Hwi, what’s wrong with you?”
“And the disciples of Wudang and Huashan as well! This is the honor of three lifetimes!”
As the Tae-an Jeongmun Sect Leader’s face drained of color, Beop-gak stepped forward and chanted a Buddhist invocation.
“Amitabha Buddha. I heard words of regret and reluctance. Might I ask what business the Tae-an Jeongmun’s donor has with the Baek donor?”
“….”
The Sect Leader wished he could see his father.

* * *
After the Tae-an fellow fled in terror, I began to properly receive my guests.
With so many people, the guest quarters proved insufficient, so I had to borrow one of the banquet halls.
“What brings such esteemed guests to our humble abode?”
The disciples of all three sects simultaneously wore troubled expressions.
It was a light, ceremonial question, yet their reaction left me somewhat bewildered as well.
‘What is this? Did they come for more than just rumors?’
Shaolin I could understand given our modest connection, but Wudang and Huashan?
Even I could not have predicted what those two sects had experienced, based on Il-pil-hwi-seo’s records.
“Well, you see…”
“Ahem. We came because we had questions for the Baek Family.”
“As for the two from Shaolin, we happened to travel together… Two of you?”
The eyes of Elder Yang Seon from Wudang and Elder Ok Jeong from Huashan widened.
“Where has the Venerable One gone…?”
“Hmm, surely he was with us just moments ago.”
It was then that Beop-gak pressed his palm to his forehead.
“Hehehehe, how amusing.”
An old monk who had appeared suddenly stroked his unkempt beard.
“A Jegal with their restraints loosened, a child of the Jegal clan, and unexpectedly, a disciple of the Yingui Sect. Furthermore, young one. The aura you harbor—hehehehe. So this place is the Dragon’s Pool and Tiger’s Lair.”
I tensed my entire body.
‘In that brief moment, he read everything?’
One of the ten martial artists said to have transcended heaven’s wall, and the current abbot of Shaolin, the greatest sect under heaven in the north.
Though the world wished to honor him with the epithet “Living Buddha Among Men,” he rejected all such accolades, insisting he was merely a monk who found joy in the Buddhist path.
The arrival of Lakbul, one of the Cheonmu-sip-jon.
The old monk smiled.
Yet his gaze alone was sharp and crystalline, as though he could perceive all things.
“Child, what is it you seek to do?”

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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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