Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 234

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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 234
“I picked it up while traveling.”
A quiet murmur. My tone was composed, my voice low.
Yet an inexplicable tension permeated my entire being.
No, truthfully, there was every reason to feel it.
‘The Taeguk Sword Master. One of the Cheonmu-sip-jon, leader of the Shamans who eye the greatest sect under heaven.’
Across the entire martial world, few figures of his stature could be found.
Perhaps only the Hyeol Sa-ryeon Master or the Shaolin Abbot came close.
Ah, if we include the future, the Heavenly Demon as well.
‘This is no time for tension. Rather, this is quite amusing.’
After Pacheon Eumhu, Yeo Dong-bin, and the Great Sea Dragon King’s technique, this was already my fourth encounter with a Cheonmu-sip-jon.
These absolute beings from beyond heaven—those whom ordinary people struggle to have a single conversation with in their entire lives.
In my previous life, I could barely glimpse them from afar, let alone speak with them. Yet here I am, meeting my fourth such figure.
‘Reverse Heaven, Return Fate. I still don’t know who orchestrates this, but as you can see, I’m progressing quite well.’
I relaxed my tense body and deliberately lifted the corners of my mouth into a smile.
“Yes. I was heading to the Dang Family when this one came crying to find me, so I picked it up on the spot.”
“It came seeking you?”
The way he made me repeat myself showed that the Sword Master truly bore the marks of age.
Though if I said that aloud, I’d be in for a scolding.
“Yes. But why do you ask? Do you know Won-woo?”
The Sword Master, who had been gazing at me expressionlessly, opened his mouth.
“It has an intelligent appearance and carries a divine aura that captivates me… but you wouldn’t believe me if I said that, would you?”
Who in this world would believe such a thing? Everyone would think it merely an excuse.
“How could I not believe words spoken by the Sword Master?”
“How much do you know?”
“Know about what? It’s merely a bird—what is there to know?”
The Sword Master fell silent.
Yang Hwi maintained his expression while his mind raced to discern the reason for the silence.
Unexpectedly, the answer came from Hyeon Geom.
“This is a being who stands in heaven. I would appreciate it if you chose your words more carefully.”
I had tried to speak respectfully, yet it seemed to have offended him.
Indeed, someone of the Taeguk Sword Master’s stature would have half the world prostrating before him upon meeting.
But what could I do?
‘He’s not even my master, yet I should revere him like heaven itself?’
“I speak the same way I did with Pacheon Eumhu. Besides, I have a connection with Eum Hu through Jeong In.”
I deliberately emphasized Jeong In as I spoke. Hyeon Geom narrowed his brow and turned his gaze toward Jegal Seol-ha.
When she gave him a look asking why he was looking at her, his expression grew complicated.
“Hyeon Geom. It’s fine.”
“Yes. Your disciple overstepped.”
At the Taeguk Sword Master’s single word, Hyeon Geom withdrew.
Yet he made no mention of face or dignity.
This disciple certainly listens well to his master’s words.
“Child of the Baek Family. What did Eum Hu tell you?”
The way he cut through pleasantries and asked directly suggested he wanted to shed pretense and speak honestly.
“She said it was Geom Seon’s celestial beast.”
“To be precise, it is called the Celestial Hawk of Heaven’s Will—the hawk that Geom Seon commanded to guide the world righteously.”
Won-woo, this creature’s former name was grandiose beyond measure.
“Is that so?”
“Child. As you know, Bin-do inherited Geom Seon’s lineage. Since the Celestial Hawk of Heaven’s Will also originates from us, I wish to take it under my wing.”
I nearly frowned without thinking, but barely restrained myself.
His words sounded reasonable, but he was openly declaring his intention to take Won-woo from me.
“Is there something you desire?”
Against an opponent of his caliber, outright refusal would likely leave me defenseless.
A good idea suddenly occurred to me.
“If the price is right, there is little I cannot sell.”
The Taeguk Sword Master’s long, pale eyebrows twitched upward slightly.
Moreover, everyone seated there wore expressions of shock.
To use the word “sell” regarding the celestial beast acknowledged by the Taeguk Sword Master himself.
Hyeon Geom’s reaction went beyond astonishment to outright fury.
Yet the most violent reaction came not from a person, but from a bird.
-Screeeee! Screeeeeee!
Won-woo expressed betrayal as if asking how I could possibly do such a thing.
What set Won-woo apart from other birds most distinctly was his intelligence—he understood human speech.
I sent a transmission of inner voice.
-Stay quiet. I’ll treat you well.
“You asked what I desire. There are two things.”
“Speak.”
“First, Won-woo is no ordinary bird. Even if I transfer him, I would ask that you not forcibly restrain him.”
“How could I treat the Patriarch’s celestial beast in such a manner?”
“Second. How much have you learned about this matter?”
I deliberately rubbed my hands together eagerly, playing the part of a merchant blinded by greed.
The Sword Master no longer reacted.
‘Tch. He’s nearly two hundred years old—it shows.’
It seemed he had seen through everything.
Attempts to shake his composure through words and actions would no longer work.
“Money, then. I will give whatever sum you wish. It is the simplest form of payment.”
“I would ask that you pay not in gold, but in name.”
“In name?”
“In the future, I wish to borrow the name of the Shaman or the Patriarch once.”
Wrapped in pleasant language, but in essence, I was asking him to give me a blank check.
Fearing rejection, I quickly added more to my words.
“A disciple of Geom Seon returns to the Geom Seon bloodline! In a way, it’s like recovering a lost sect leader’s mandate. I’m truly grateful!”
The implication was clear—such an important matter meant I shouldn’t even think of negotiating the price.
“Your words ring true.”
Watching Geom-ong nod readily, I felt a twinge of disappointment.
I’d hoped to probe his personality through subtle probing.
My attempt to seize the initiative seemed to have failed.
Then again, my opponent was the Taeguk Sword Master.
An ancient monster so cunning that even the Cheonmu-sip-jon themselves remained wary—one with hundreds of schemes coiled within.
“But what brings you to such a humble place?”
I’d anticipated tremendous ripples from the chaos I’d caused in the preliminaries.
Yet the Sword Master coming in person was a situation I’d never even imagined.
“Child, I came myself because I’m curious about your goal.”
My goal? Why would the greatest swordmaster under heaven care about the ambitions of a minor young master from a mid-tier martial family?
“What goals do young people have? To rise in the world and gain renown, of course.”
Geom-ong slowly shook his head.
“I don’t believe you.”
“Yet it’s the truth. I entered the Dragon-Phoenix Clash to elevate my own reputation and contribute to my family’s revival.”
Not a shred of falsehood in those words.
“Then why did you make an enemy of Namgung?”
Should I hesitate and look guilty?
Or answer boldly and swiftly?
I chose the latter.
“To achieve my goal.”
“You spread rumors. But even if the Baek Family dominates Gangseong, they cannot surpass Namgung. The difference in power alone exceeds tenfold.”
This time, instead of answering immediately, I met Geom-ong’s gaze.
Deep, calm eyes. What lay beneath their surface remained invisible.
‘A conversation with Geom-ong is itself an opportunity.’
Like drawing a winning hand at the gambling table.
Better to raise the stakes despite the risk than to hesitate and lose the chance.
“Just as the Shaman needs the Hyeol Sa-ryeon.”
Every heroic tale requires a villain.
Setting aside accumulated grudges, the Baek Family needs a rival called the Five Great Families.
That’s why I passed the flag to Namgung Cheon-yeong.
“Did Eum Hu tell you even that?”
“When you say ‘that’…?”
“Eum Hu doesn’t know. She would never approve. Lakbul suspects but lets things flow as they will. The Dragon King maintains strict neutrality. He concerns himself not with matters beyond self-cultivation.”
He was clearly asking if I knew about the establishment of the Martial Alliance.
Now that I thought about it, this was still a secret at this point in time.
…I think I made a slight mistake.
“So I ask you. Have you heard of this Geom-ong’s wish, or did you deduce it yourself? No matter. It’s not important. You already know.”
It seems my guess was correct.
“Child. Do you know why Eum Hu doesn’t come looking for you?”
‘A reason? There’s a separate reason for that?’
The reason why Eum Hu often calls for Jegal Seol-ha, yet never tells her to come find me.
That reason flowed from the lips of the Taeguk Sword Master.
“Eum Hu hesitates and worries. The child with brilliant talent whom she took as a disciple out of admiration resembles far too closely the one she despises most.”
“….”
“Child. You resemble me.”
There was no need to ask further.
I could immediately understand in what way he meant I resembled him.
‘Yes. Certainly, we share many similarities.’
My lifelong aspiration is to make my family the greatest clan under heaven.
However, delving one layer deeper into my true heart, it was this.
To spread my father’s will—the chivalry of the humble—throughout all under heaven.
For that goal, I could do anything.
…Just like this Geom-ong, who seeks to carry on Geom Seon’s legacy in his own way.
“Child. Eum Hu evaluated my path thus. Yugong Yishan.”
Yugong Yishan. The foolish old man moves the mountain.
It is a saying that praises persistent effort, yet in reality it is used differently.
That attempting to move a mountain alone like Yugong is a foolish endeavor.
“I wish for all people under heaven to enjoy eternal peace and prosperity. To guide them righteously and achieve harmony.”
The rightful form of the world that anyone who follows the sword or pursues chivalry would desire.
Yet simultaneously, it was an ideal that could never be realized.
“Yes. A mere human certainly cannot move a mountain alone. But if Yugong were ten thousand strong…”
Yeo Dong-bin and Jang Sam-bong, whose qualifications overflowed yet who never became sect founders.
The Taeguk Sword Master chose a different path from his grand master and master.
Somehow, I found myself understanding that sentiment.
“Even if one lacks the ability to achieve it alone. Even if it is a lifelong aspiration that cannot be realized despite devoting one’s entire life. If there are countless others walking the same path together…”
The reason for becoming the Shaman sect founder and cultivating disciples.
Furthermore, the reason for making the Shaman sect the greatest school under heaven and establishing the Murim Alliance.
“The way of the Shaman is Taeguk, and Taeguk is mutual flourishing. We walk together and live together, building the mountain called prosperity.”
A gentle aura began to emanate from the Geom-ong’s body.
Like the Taeguk that circulates and achieves unity, it was natural, yet truly an unprecedented power was felt like nature itself.
“Though we pursue salvation of all sentient beings like Shaolin, we do not act without intention. Rather, even through intentional action, we seek mutual flourishing. Whether called Yugong’s folly or not, my wish does not change.”
Namgung’s Bright Heaven. Jeomchang’s Four Seasons. Baek Family’s Humble Way.
Each sect possesses and walks the way they seek to pursue.
The way of the Shaman was Taeguk.
“Child. Bin-do founded the Shaman sect and took Taeguk as his way, earning the title Taeguk Sword Master.”
The Way of the Shaman—Intentional Mutual Flourishing.
The Taeguk of the Taeguk Sword Master was precisely that.
“So I ask you this. Will you not walk the path of Ugong together with this old man?”
“….”
I fell silent for a long while, simply gazing at the Taeguk Sword Master.
Eyes that radiated a clarity and purity of spirit so luminous it seemed impossible they belonged to a man of two hundred years.
‘Now I understand.’
Why the Taeguk Sword Master had sought out a mere Young Master of a minor martial family.
Why Eum Hu had suddenly distanced herself and merely watched from afar.
“A disciple’s duty is to bring satisfaction to the master who watches over them, after all.”
‘Our paths are not the same, Geom-ong.’

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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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