Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 233

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Third-rate Martial Arts Family, Greatest Under Heaven – Episode 233
“So Hwi and Seo have safely advanced to the True Dragon Tournament.”
The Dragon-Phoenix Contention transitions to one-on-one duels once the number of advancing contestants is reduced to sixty-four.
From this point onward, it is called the True Dragon Tournament, signifying that all have become dragons competing to determine the one true dragon supreme.
“Hehehehe, so the final sixty-four who advance to the True Dragon Tournament all earn the title of dragon, yes? Young Master Hwi deserves it, but Young Master Seo is truly impressive as well.”
Vice Supervisor Han Seok-eon, having received a letter from Baek Moo-ryang, chuckled heartily.
“What’s remarkable is that the True Dragon Tournament qualifiers were decided just four days ago, yet we’ve already received word through correspondence.”
It was the words of the Young Scholar, who had matured considerably and now carried the bearing of an accomplished scholar.
“This too is Hwi’s achievement.”
“Indeed it is, Family Head.”
Since the Sichuan expedition years ago, the Baek Family’s intelligence network had undergone tremendous transformation.
The white hawk Won-woo, brought as a pet spirit beast, and dozens of subordinate hawks under its command.
Without question, the Baek Family could exchange information faster than any power under heaven.
“The children are performing admirably. We cannot fall behind either.”
Several months had already passed since the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering began. The Baek Family had not been idle during this time.
There was one task that absolutely had to be accomplished.
“The time has finally come to put an end to the Jiangxi Black Blade Contention.”
The Jiangxi Black Blade Contention from years past. Back then, we had defeated the black blade villains who came in support from Hunan and exposed Namgung Cheon-hu’s schemes.
Yet it was only half a success.
We had not driven out all the black blades from Jiangxi.
“The Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju of Jiujiang.”
“If we drive out only those villains, Jiangxi will become unquestionably the land of the White Blade.”
The Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju, which had originally dominated Jiujiang and Yuanzhou, the greatest power in Jiangxi. After years of conflict, the Baek Family had seized Yuanzhou.
Now only Jiujiang, which bordered the Yangtze River, remained.
“We must seize Jiujiang. Only then can we realize Young Master Hwi’s grand vision.”
During the Sichuan expedition, Yang Hwi had declared the ambition of controlling the Yangtze River to Jin Yeong-gil, one of the three greatest merchants under heaven, and succeeded in making him part of the One Wing Alliance.
Controlling the Yangtze River was the core of the One Wing Alliance, so Jiujiang absolutely had to be brought under our sphere of influence.
“Jin Dae-in’s assistance has been invaluable during this time.”
“Just the Baek Merchant Guild alone has grown six times larger thanks to the support of the Jin Family Merchant Guild.”
“He invested enormous sums looking only toward the future, so we must show results worthy of that investment.”
Family Head Baek Moo-ryang, Supervisor Han Seok-eon, and Vice Supervisor Jin Geum-bo. Gangpae Pavilion Master Gu Ak and Cheonri Pavilion Master Yeo Un-hyeok.
Along with strategist Young Scholar and Chu Yong-wol, who had newly become part of the Baek Family.
All the senior members of the Baek Family had agreed and resolved.
“From this day forward, the Baek Family shall once again enter the contention. Everything is for the will of Gaecheon.”
“For the will of Gaecheon!”
“For the will of Gaecheon!”

* * *
The Baek Family swept through Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju’s territory with unstoppable momentum.
A decade ago, when Yang Hwi was merely seven years old, Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju had been unquestionably the greatest power in Gangseong.
But now, they were no match for the Baek Family.
“Kahahaha! Do you think you can stand against this old master!”
Gu Ak, one of the Baek Family’s most celebrated masters, wielded his twin axes with reckless abandon.
Unlike Hong Gyo Bang’s Chamam Technique, the fierce yet mysterious trajectory of his strikes originated from the Hunsbu Byeokcheon Palggyeol—the Eight Decrees of Axe-Splitting Heaven—a technique created exclusively for Gu Ak by Yang Hwi.
However, the senior members of the Baek Family perceived the sight differently.
“It seems Gaeng-saeng Gakju has accumulated quite a bit of inner strength.”
“It’s been about a decade since he married, and their daughter is twelve now, isn’t she?”
“Even with a fox-like wife and a rabbit-like daughter, one does accumulate considerable inner strength during such times.”
Bolstered by Gu Ak’s venting of frustration, the Baek Family advanced all the way to the very gates of Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju’s stronghold.
Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju, as the name suggested—black whale—possessed martial techniques and inclinations more advantageous in water, making the conquest all the easier.
“Does the Baek Family take the agreements between men so lightly!”
The rippling blue waves of the Yangtze River. Behind them, several boats floated, ready for escape.
It was the cry of Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju, prepared to flee at any moment.
“This is the first time we meet face to face. I am Baek Moo-ryang, Family Head of the Baek Family.”
“Why exchange names now! I should never have trusted those filthy Baek Dog bastards!”
The reason Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju felt such grievance was simple.
It stemmed from an agreement made when Hyeongsan Sect attacked the Baek Family in the past.
“The Young Master of the Baek Family promised me! He said if I provided information, the Baek Family would never strike at Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju! He even staked the honor of his clan on it!”
For those of the Baek Way, an oath made with a sect’s honor at stake was a vow to be kept even unto death.
Breaking such a promise was a grave crime worthy of extermination.
“It’s said that speaking with two mouths is the nature of you Baek Dog bastards, but I believed in the Gaecheon Geomryong’s covenant! To think my trust would be betrayed like this!”
“My son said to tell you—why don’t you keep promises made with the Heuk Way?”
“…?”
Soon, Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju’s rage erupted from the depths of his being.
“Aaaah! Aaaaah! Aaaaaaaagh! I will have my revenge, no matter what!”
“Calm yourself. Let us speak.”
“Speak? When things have come to this!”
“I will spare your life. I will even preserve your faction.”
“…Even now, after all this, there is still something to discuss?”
Baek Moo-ryang slowly sheathed his sword as he regarded Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju, who sought further explanation.
“You have the qualifications. Even when cornered, you did not seek aid from the Sullo Alliance.”
Like any faction of the Heuk Way, Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju had backing.
And it was formidable backing at that—the Sullo Alliance, one of the Four Greatest Sects under Heaven.
Though, according to the intelligence gathered, Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju seemed to wish to escape the Sullo Alliance’s grasp.
“Regardless of circumstances or feelings, had you requested aid from the Sullo Alliance, you could have endangered the Baek Family instead. In exchange, innocent people would have suffered plunder. Why did you not do so?”
“….”
Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju, who had been silent, replied with difficulty.
“Kangxi is my hometown, after all.”
“For some, that might be merely a trivial reason, but for you, it seems to be quite significant.”
In truth, the Baek Family could have eliminated the Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju long ago.
There was only one reason they hadn’t.
Yeo Un-hyeok of the Cheonri Pavilion had uncovered the hidden history between Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju and the Bang-ju itself.
“Gujiang… has always been a region where the Shuilu Alliance’s exploitation reached its peak. That is, until Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju came into existence.”
‘One who dons black robes of their own accord. Their purpose is to become the lesser evil to prevent the greater evil.’
Thanks to this, Gujiang was subjected to extortion of vast sums by Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju, yet its people were spared from having their very lives drained away.
Baek Moo-ryang’s lips curled upward as he continued speaking.
“I shall borrow my son’s words once more. Yang Hwi asked me to convey this to you.”
“What words are those?”
“Will you keep cowering under the Changjiang Shuilu Alliance’s gaze? Or will you change your clothes?”
“…?”
“I shall grant you the position of Baek Gyeong-dang Master under my command. You and your subordinates will become laborers for the Baek Family.”
For the grand scheme of the Changjiang water transport operation, martial artists skilled in water were necessary.
In that sense, if the Baek Family could absorb Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju, they could advance far more rapidly.
“Well then, Family Head. Allow this Gu Ak to speak on this matter.”
Gu Ak, the new Gaengseang-gak Master, smiled wickedly as he looked upon the face of his incoming superior.
“Simply by changing clothes, we’ll no longer need to pay tribute to the Shuilu Alliance, junior. The Baek Family will soon have a formidable backing. Or rather, it will be revealed, I should say?”
It was time to expand the scale of Gaengseang-gak once more.

* * *
Won-woo, who had flown from far away, descended to perch beside Yang Hwi, who lay sprawled upon the rooftop.
-Kiiaaah!
“Well done. You’ve worked hard.”
I fed him a piece of dried meat, then read the letter hanging from his leg.
‘Now the greatest power in Kangxi belongs to our Baek Family.’
Though I hadn’t firmly established influence over the regions bordering Anhui, having secured Gujiang was sufficient to claim the title of greatest power in Kangxi.
This much was evident from the conversations of the gossips drifting up from below.
“Did you hear? Both young masters of the Gaecheon Baek Family ascended to the Dragon Ranking.”
“Of course I did! The Gaecheon Baek Family was the only one where all participants obtained the Dragon’s Mark!”
“The disciples of minor martial families are quite remarkable.”
“Hey, you there. Haven’t you heard the rumors that the Gaecheon Baek Family is the greatest power in Kangxi?”
“Hmm? They weren’t a small martial family in some remote backwater?”
“They’re more than worthy of being called a great family, I hear. Being the greatest power in an entire province, no less. The rumors have been spreading quite recently.”
Yang Hwi smiled faintly and offered my thanks.
“Chu Dal, you’ve worked hard.”
“It was nothing.”
Chu Dal, who had been playing Go with Jegal Seol-ha on the rooftop, waved his hand dismissively.
Baek Heon-so, watching from beside them, eyes gleaming with excitement.
“Brother. Do you have nothing to say to me? To Baek Heon-so, the small dragon risen from the western regions!”
Having ascended the Dragon-Phoenix Stage, I earned the epithet of Kangso’s Young Dragon.
Pleased with my newfound dragon’s name, I had been carrying myself with considerable pride lately.
“The Twin Heroes of Gaecheon! Gaecheon Geomryong and Kangso Young Dragon! Haha! To think I’ve gained an epithet to be called alongside my brother!”
Given my nature, joy was only natural.
Yang Hwi clicked his tongue.
“It’s all buried anyway. I was planning to become the primary candidate for the First Dragon of the Tempest, the one who even made the Namgung Family’s Soga-joonim kneel.”
I had even gone through the trouble of trampling Namgung Cheon-yeong near the finish line where spectators could see, but an unexpected variable had ruined the plan.
“I’m sorry, brother. Hehe.”
The one responsible for spoiling the arrangement laughed playfully.
It was Jegal Seol-ha.
“I didn’t know things would turn out this way. Actually, isn’t it your fault for not telling me first?”
Recently, all the rumors sweeping through the martial world concerned Jegal Seol-ha.
“Pye Wol-ok-bong! She swept away thirty competitors single-handedly?”
“Truly worthy of being a disciple of Cheonmu-sip-jon!”
“There’s no one else to consider for this generation’s First Peak!”
Listening to the conversation drifting up from below, I suddenly became curious.
“Seolha. That’s unlike you. Why did you rampage so spectacularly?”
“I was annoyed.”
“Annoyed?”
“Yes. They kept acting bothersome with their petty jealousy. Making trivial provocations.”
Upon inquiring further, there was a reason.
The Dragon-Phoenix Gathering was also a place where romance bloomed.
When the finest men and women of the martial world gathered, it was inevitable.
However, this Dragon-Phoenix Gathering was somewhat different.
“It’s because of the Yeon-Wol Era?”
“Yes. Especially Namgung Cheon-yeong and Hyeon Geom. They were quite popular.”
“Really?”
Indeed, coming from prestigious families with exceptional skills, and at just the right age with no shortage of looks, it was inevitable that women’s attention would pour down upon them.
‘So it’s natural that with both of them captivated by Jegal Seol-ha, jealousy and resentment would naturally follow.’
Suddenly, I felt wronged.
“Then what about me? Why don’t I feel it?”
“My, my? Isn’t being called the pillar of the world’s most beautiful woman enough for you?”
“Ah, right. Since my competitor is you, I’m treated as an unreachable tree.”
Jegal Seol-ha slapped my shoulder and continued.
“Anyway, I swept away all those scratching at me this time. My Master also happened to order me to raise my name value, so I did both at once.”
Chu Dal chuckled beside us.
“Since Lady Jegal finally flexed her strength, isn’t it natural that your brother got overshadowed? How could your brother possibly compare to Lady Jegal!”
Yang Hwi uttered a brief command.
“Won-woo. Attack.”
Won-woo soared through the air and began pecking at Chu Dal’s head relentlessly.
“Ugh! This damned bird!”
-Screee? Screee!
The pecking grew even more ferocious.
“Chu Dal, don’t counterattack. If Won-woo gets hurt, I won’t receive the letter.”
“Ugh! Argh!”
Yang Hwi wasn’t even striking directly anymore.
“In any case, I’m sorry, brother. It’s not causing any major problems, is it?”
Jegal Seol-ha, pressing her buttocks close, gently stroked my forearm.
The way she acted so tenderly, unlike her usual demeanor, showed she was quite apologetic.
‘Well, as for ruining the plan, everyone who needed to know probably already does anyway, so it doesn’t matter.’
While she was apologizing, should I have her handle some annoying tasks?
“If you’re sorry, then use this chance to manipulate Hyeon Geom and Namgung Cheon-yeong a bit more… no, never mind.”
There was no longer any need for that.
A single stream of energy approaching from afar. It was openly radiating its presence.
Not quite overwhelming pressure, but more like making a courteous announcement of arrival.
‘So the legendary Taeguk Sword Master himself has graced us with his presence. It was worth trampling Namgung Cheon-yeong.’
“Everyone, get up. We have a visitor.”
Before my companions could even rise to their feet, the Taeguk Sword Master appeared.
With Hyeon Geom in tow behind him.
“Lady Jegal. It has been a while.”
“Current Sword Daoist. It’s only been about ten days, so it’s premature to speak of such things.”
Jegal Seol-ha offered her greeting with an utterly businesslike demeanor.
Compared to how she had been playfully intimate with Yang Hwi just moments before, the shift felt almost cold.
“Venerable Master, you have also graced us with your presence. This girl, Jegal Seol-ha, offers her respects to the Taeguk Sword Master.”
Following Jegal Seol-ha’s lead, everyone in Yang Hwi’s party showed proper courtesy.
Given that their guest was one of the Ten Supremes of the Martial World, they displayed extreme deference.
Only Chu Dal was an exception.
-Screeeee!
“Ugh! Stop it! Don’t you have any sense of the situation!”
Won-woo looked at me as if asking what to do about this.
Just as I was about to tell him to let up, I noticed the Taeguk Sword Master’s expression.
‘Hmm? That expression…’
Though I hadn’t encountered him many times before, the Taeguk Sword Master had always appeared calm and expressionless.
But now it was different.
His eyes had widened considerably, filled with astonishment.
“Baek Do. How does that hawk come to be with you?”
Ah, now that I think about it.
Won-woo was Geom Seon’s pet bird, wasn’t he?
‘This works out perfectly.’
The Cheonmu-sip-jon himself had come to have a conversation with me.
Given the caliber of my opponent, I needed to make the first move to avoid being at a disadvantage.
‘Regardless, taking the initiative is always the winning strategy.’
Yang Hwi chuckled lightly and responded casually.
“I picked it up while traveling, if you must know.”
“…You picked it up?”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————