Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 229

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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 229
Namgung Cheon-yeong looked ready to draw his sword at any moment, so I quickly threw myself back to my original position.
He immediately kicked off the ground, but on both his sides were two squad members bound together by iron chains.
Clang!
“Ugh!”
When one person acts recklessly while connected by chains, the consequences are predictable.
“Oops, you should be more careful. You already have an injured leg, and now you’ve bumped your head on a rock too.”
“….”
Namgung Cheon-yeong trembled with rage, unable to even form words.
In my past life, I was relatively composed, at least.
Well, he’s still young after all.
“If you’re taking the center position, not left or right flank, always remember this: you must move in consultation with your squad members.”
This was also why Yang Hwi had volunteered for the left flank and suggested the right flank to Peng Wang.
The center position was the most restricted location for displaying martial prowess.
“You. Aren’t you afraid of the consequences?”
“What is there to fear?”
“We are all warriors of Baek Do. Your actions just now have made you a public enemy.”
Well, is that so?
Yang Hwi looked around deliberately and raised his hand high.
“Members of the nine squads! I have just put Namgung Cheon-yeong, one of the strongest candidates, in danger of elimination! If you believe my actions violated the rules or were unfair, please raise your hands!”
Not a single hand was raised.
It wasn’t entirely fair, but it wasn’t wrong either.
Well, there was one exception.
“Yang Hwi! That’s mean!”
Hearing Adu’s words, I replied casually.
“So you’re going to fight me?”
“No way! I don’t fight good friends!”
I shrugged ostentatiously and shouted.
“The Shaolin Monk Adu says he won’t fight! Is there anyone else who will?”
“….”
“….”
Not a single hand was raised.
It couldn’t be otherwise.
‘Namgung Cheon-yeong has a point. If you draw attention with obvious actions, you give others an excuse to gang up on you.’
But I didn’t need to worry about such things.
“If there are no objections, we’ll move ahead first, everyone!”
After finishing my words, I kicked off the ground. Jin Yeong-jin and Peng Wang, who had received my signal beforehand, immediately followed.
As Squad 16 charged in first, the other squads began their assault without hesitation.
“We’ll explore the outer perimeter of the area starting from the far right.”
“Understood.”
“I agree.”
The other squads each chose different directions.
After they scattered, only three remained when Peng Wang spoke up.
“Come to think of it, what a shame.”
“What do you mean, sir?”
“I had originally planned to carry myself around like baggage.”
So he was actually thinking of becoming a literal piece of luggage to spread filth everywhere?
“Isn’t that embarrassing?”
The area was so vast that there were no spectators, but word would certainly spread regardless.
“A true man doesn’t concern himself with others’ gazes. Just like my grandfather.”
“Yet the Great Sea Dragon King is known to have an excellent reputation, is he not?”
Daehaeyongwangdo Peng Fan is known throughout the world as a hero and legend.
But Peng Wang shook his head firmly.
“That’s what he became. In his prime, his nickname was quite crude.”
The prime of the Great Sea Dragon King would be at least sixty years ago.
So much time had passed that it seemed the Peng clan’s bloodline alone knew such hidden histories.
“I accepted the wager, but perhaps it would have been better to ride on Young Master Baek’s back and simply enjoy the forest scenery.”
“….”
Instead of the silent Yang Hwi, Jin Yeong-jin’s eyes brightened.
“You had such thoughts as well, Peng Dae-hyeop?”
In Jin Yeong-jin’s eyes lay genuine affection for Peng Wang.
“I did the same. To exhaust our stamina that way, and later with the flag….”
This fool, don’t go forming common ground over defecation.
Anyway, I need to change the subject of this conversation.
“We’ve traveled quite a distance, yet I see no flags.”
“They were hidden from the start, after all.”
The competition area spans over two hundred zhang in both length and width.
Finding five flags within it is truly no different from searching for a grain of sand on a riverbank.
‘Hmm. Still, since this is a martial artists’ competition, there must be some trick hidden within.’
I suppose I’ll only understand the details once I find the first flag.
For now, I’ll have to rely on direct confrontation.
“Gentlemen, might we increase our pace further?”
“I have no objection.”
“I’m afraid I must decline. I wish to conserve my inner qi.”
Certainly, Jin Yeong-jin’s skills were the weakest among the three.
That’s why I had him take the center position under the guise of being a mediator.
“If it’s a matter of inner qi, I can resolve it easily.”
“How so?”
“Ride on my back.”
“….”
Jin Yeong-jin hesitated without answering. The reason was obvious enough.
Being carried on someone’s back because his strength lagged behind would wound his pride.
“For victory, it’s wise to alternate and conserve stamina and inner qi. A strategic judgment, if you will.”
“If that’s the case.”
Once I offered a convenient excuse, Jin Yeong-jin promptly climbed onto my back.
Despite his protests, his genuine desire to ascend higher seemed sincere.
“By the way, Baek Gong-ja. Why did you act on impulse? It was meant as a check, but drawing attention won’t do us any favors.”
“Were you worried the other squads might conspire and launch a coordinated assault later?”
“I had suspected as much.”
“There’s no need to worry about that.”
“What makes you think so?”
The answer was simple.
“You’ll understand when you see it.”
We continued our conversation, discussed our subsequent strategy, and searched the territory.
“Hmm?”
“What is it, Baek Gong-ja?”
“I’m changing direction. Please follow me.”
As we moved slightly toward the north-northwest, the forest grew denser.
Pushing aside the thick branches that obscured our view, a thick white wooden pole came into sight.
Hanging from it was a flag embroidered with the characters for dragon and phoenix.
“Ho. A flag, then.”
“Baek Gong-ja, your luck is truly exceptional. Finding one already.”
‘I’m sorry, but it wasn’t luck, Jin Gong-ja.’
Judging by Peng Wang’s intrigued expression, he had already figured it out.
This flag was no ordinary object—it was a magical artifact.
It contained qi within itself.
That changes things considerably.
“Peng Soga-joonim. It appears my inner qi is advancing ahead.”
“Search diligently. I’ll simply take everything in the end.”
Ah, so he doesn’t even intend to bother searching for flags himself?
He’s absolutely confident he’ll win any fight that breaks out.
Well, such thinking is only natural.
He’s a direct descendant of a prestigious clan who never bowed to anyone in talent, and he’s sixteen years my senior besides.
‘We’ll see about that.’
I heightened my qi perception. My vision through qi sense rapidly expanded, and countless presences from all directions began flowing into my awareness.
Among them, what I needed to find was a thread of qi that matched the flag’s color and scent.
‘Hmm. I can’t sense it yet.’
The qi contained within the flag was far too faint to be perceptible.
Well, it doesn’t matter.
While I won’t be able to pinpoint the location immediately, it should be far more efficient than rummaging through brush and digging up earth.
‘If we’re talking about sensing qi alone, I’m the best among the thirty of us.’
At least in this confrontation, I’ve secured the most advantageous position.
“Let’s move to a different location. From here on, slow and methodical searching will serve us better than rapid movement.”
Yang Hwi, who had picked up the flag, handed it to Jin Yeong-jin as he descended from his back.
“Given its size, we can’t hide it in our robes. It seems most efficient for Young Master Jin at the center to carry it.”
The words sounded reasonable, but truthfully, I was just tired of holding the thing.
“Baek Gong-ja is right. From now on, I’ll carry the flag.”
Jin Yeong-jin nodded obediently.
He seemed pleased to be holding the flag directly, which was the condition for victory.
Thus, Squad Sixteen resumed their search.
“Baek Gong-ja, you said you’d search thoroughly, but it looks like you’re just passing through carelessly.”
“I’m searching diligently, I assure you.”
From Jin Yeong-jin’s perspective, this must be confusing.
Since I was concentrating on sensing qi, my external appearance made the search seem half-hearted.
But.
‘I found it.’
I couldn’t sense the flag yet, but multiple qi signatures were registering in my perception.
“This way.”
I immediately launched myself forward.
After advancing about a dozen paces.
A boulder in the center of a narrow clearing. The flag planted atop it came into view.
‘As expected.’
Five squads of fifteen martial artists stood facing each other with weapons drawn.
They were probably in the midst of determining who the flag’s owner would be.
“…We have visitors.”
“Well, this flag is quite conspicuous, after all.”
“That’s why five squads gathered here.”
I couldn’t sense the flag’s qi itself due to the distance.
But there was no other reason for fifteen people to gather besides the flag.
“Squad Sixteen.”
“Uninvited guests.”
The other squads all frowned upon seeing Yang Hwi’s group appear.
“Well now, were you all amusing yourselves with a staring contest out of boredom?”
I cracked a joke, but no one laughed.
With the flag right before their eyes, greed took precedence.
Someone spoke up.
“Rather than squabble among ourselves, shouldn’t we eliminate Squad Sixteen first?”
“I agree. And since Squad Sixteen has brought a flag as well, it’s a perfect bonus.”
Jin Yeong-jin’s face immediately turned pale.
-Look, Baek Gong-ja! They’re discussing a joint attack!
I clicked my tongue in response.
-Stay calm. We were always going to join forces anyway.
-What? Why?
-It’s simple. Our squad is the most dangerous.
In a competition where five win and twenty-five lose, do you think the losers will simply accept their fate?
Of course not.
There’s no way.
“Listen, here’s what we’ll do. Our Squad Sixteen won’t covet the flags. We’ll withdraw.”
“No. That won’t work.”
“Put that flag down as well. Then I’ll let you go.”
-See? Even when I said we’d just leave, they still act like this.
Only then did Jin Yeong-jin grasp the situation.
Peng Wang, the strongest of the previous generation. Already famous, and Yang Hwi who defeated the Hyeol Sa-ryeon So-ryeon-ju in a single second.
-From their perspective, we were the strongest competitors.
The alliance was already a predetermined fate.
If that’s the case, we must pursue the greatest advantage within the established game.
That’s why I created casualties in Namgung Cheon-yeong’s squad, which harbors greater hostility toward us.
-Hmph… So what will you do, Young Master Baek?
I looked toward Peng Wang.
“Will you follow one step behind me, who has already moved ahead?”
I had provoked him to draw his sword, but Peng Wang instead stepped back.
“I did make a wager based on your words… but I’ve been thinking.”
Ah. This is going to become troublesome.
“What matters in a wager is competitive spirit. You need to kindle that spirit a bit.”
Then Peng Wang shouted openly.
“Juniors! This Peng Wang has no intention of drawing his sword, so do as you see fit!”
“Thank you for your generosity, Senior!”
“Truly worthy of the Peng Family’s Soga-joonim, famous for his magnanimity!”
I tried to scratch my head with the tip of my drawn blade, but couldn’t reach, so I gave up.
“Young Master Jin. I’ll let you know in advance through sound transmission, so coordinate your movements as much as possible.”
“Understood.”
“Soga-joonim Peng, just follow along without interfering.”
“That much, your senior can afford to do.”
With the stage set like this, it would be a waste to back out now.
Since it’s come to this, I should reduce my techniques before starting.
“Come on, come in. Gather like the Black Blade Gang and let’s have ourselves a proper brawl.”
The advancing participants wore expressions of wounded pride.
They understood the jab—that joining forces cowardly was something the Black Blade Gang would do.
“Our Group Twenty-Five will strike first. But remember this, everyone. Since Senior Peng said he won’t participate, through this alliance we can seize two flags!”
The opponent finished speaking and let out a battle cry.
“Hah!”
Group 25 consisted of three swordsmen.
Three blades slashing through the air as they charged in a line.
I could see the trajectory connecting all of them in my vision.
“Yah!”
What sound would ring out if blade met blade?
A sharp clang or metallic ring should have echoed forth.
And they should have been knocked backward by the recoil.
But.
“The blades…?”
“They’re stuck…?”
The three blades collided with my sword.
Yet no sound rang out at all.
That wasn’t all.
The three blades clung to my sword as if they were glued fast.
“Why the shock? Never seen the Suction Seal Technique before?”
Though admittedly, this wasn’t an ordinary suction seal technique.
I grinned and threw a punch at the nearest opponent, then immediately followed with a headbutt at the next.
“Gack!”
Two members of Group 25 flew backward, blood streaming from their noses.

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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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