Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 235
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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 235
Unlike my past life, in this one, I met Eum Hu.
Though she was not my formal disciple but a lay practitioner, I learned so much from her.
Take the Gi-cheon Step I created back then and have been using well ever since—wasn’t it modeled after Il-do, the cultivation method of the Seongeeum Okryeong School?
‘If my Master is watching over me, pondering which path I will choose,’
If she worries that a talented and clever disciple like myself might fall into the folly of always choosing the easier road,
Then it is my duty as a disciple to dispel those worries and bring peace to my Master’s heart.
“You said we should walk the path of Ugong together, didn’t you?”
I spoke grandly and persuasively, but it was really just asking him to come under me instead of Eum Hu.
As for why he made such a proposal, there’s nothing much to think about.
“It seems even Geom-ong, who has the Current Sword Daoist as his disciple, is envious of my talent.”
I finished speaking while deliberately glancing at the Current Sword Daoist.
Hah, setting everything else aside, it feels good to be recognized.
“Fundamentally, the relationship between Master and disciple is one where you show the path you’ve walked and pass it down, is it not? I already have a path I’ve inherited and am walking.”
Besides, the path of Ugong doesn’t seem to have much value anyway.
It’s literally just the path an old fool walks, isn’t it?
“Child. I shall transmit the Hyeon Geom to you. There is no need to become a Shaman’s Disciple. Simply say that you will walk the same path.”
What, the Taeguk Hyeon Geom, known as the Shaman’s greatest secret technique?
Eum Hu said that as a lay practitioner, I could not receive the true martial arts of the Seongeeum Okryeong School.
I don’t know how the Shaman’s circumstances have turned, but it was certainly an extraordinarily generous declaration.
Seeing how the Current Sword Daoist, who became the Taeguk Sword Master’s disciple by skipping several ranks, widened his eyes in surprise.
“Child. You need the Hyeon Geom. There is nothing to lose by accepting this old one’s proposal. Simply walk together with me.”
At this point, something feels slightly suspicious.
He’s offering the Hyeon Geom while asking for something far too trivial in return.
Does he have some other intention?
‘Even so, it’s a poisoned apple.’
Not poison in the sense that my relationship with Eum Hu would grow distant, but literal poison.
The kind that clouds the mind and obscures vision, making it impossible to see the path I walk.
‘My path is singular. If you wish to walk together, then come to my side.’
“There may be times when our paths overlap occasionally. When that happens, we can simply exchange greetings now and then.”
Yang Hwi’s clear voice.
The Taeguk Sword Master simply gazed at me with profound eyes.
* * *
The Taeguk Sword Master recalled what had transpired before coming to meet the child of the Baek Family.
“Gaecheon Geomryong has caused trouble again.”
“To inflict such a grave insult upon the Soga-joonim of the Namgung Family with so many onlookers present.”
“The Namgung Family is seething with rage. They’re sharpening their blades for vengeance.”
“The Baek Family shares deep bonds with the Jegal and Dang Families. A small wound could fester into a terrible scar. Or rather, this isn’t even a small wound to begin with.”
“If the rift deepens… it could jeopardize the Grand Patriarch’s great plan.”
The Namgung Family was preparing to take action, believing they had crossed an irreversible river with the Baek Family.
Just as before, it was all because of the Baek Family’s Young Master—thrashing about like a mudskipper in clear water, turning everything around him into a murky mess.
“Grand Patriarch. Please, we beseech you.”
“If we merely observe, disaster will surely strike.”
“We must act swiftly to prevent further escalation.”
Despite his disciples’ clamoring, the Taeguk Sword Master remained silent, his eyes closed.
Yang Hwi of the Baek Family. Yang Hwi—characters meaning radiance and brilliance.
A name signifying one who shines in the light. Truly, a magnificent name.
A name that could not be dismissed lightly.
The reason was simple.
‘The Gaecheon Baek Family of Kangxi. The founder was the Heavenly Sword Deity. Their roots trace back to… the lineage of Hwa-san.’
Hwa-san. It was Hwa-san.
The source from which so much had originated, and therefore the place one yearned to transcend.
‘My Master. And my Grand Master.’
The memory remained vivid even now—when his Master, Sambong Jin-in, ascended to immortality.
—Child Sword, forgive me. This is my final command as your inadequate Master. Carry on the lineage, yet follow your own path.
He was now called the Taeguk Sword Master, but his original name had been Killer Sword.
The alias he had forged for himself in the midst of the battlefield had become his very name.
‘I could only find my worth through killing.’
Such was his life. Such was his world. That was all he had known.
Everything changed after meeting his Master.
—A child who only knew how to swing a blade in the shadows. You called yourself Killer Sword because you were named Killer Sword. Then henceforth, you shall be Yang Hwi—when you swing, you shall stand upon the light. I, Sambong, shall call you thus.
Sambong Jin-in had bestowed upon him the name Yang Hwi, though he affectionately called him Child Sword when in good spirits.
‘Thus the lineage continued, and it began.’
Studying under Hwa-ryong Jin-in of Hwa-san in Shaanxi, the young boy became Geom Seon Yeo Dong-bin.
Geom Seon raised Sambong, and once again brought benefit to the world, and the lineage extended further.
He transformed the boy who had lived only through killing into one who would swing his blade in the light.
‘Therefore, the Geom Seon lineage must not merely continue. It must spread widely and bring benefit to all under heaven.’
The world mistakenly believed the Shaman’s desire to become the greatest sect under heaven stemmed from rivalry with Shaolin.
Surpassing the northern reverence of Shaolin and southern prominence of the Shaman—becoming the one greatest sect under heaven!
Yes, on the surface, it could only appear to be for such reasons.
It was indeed one of the intended purposes.
But the true reason was different.
In place of Hwa-san, which gave birth to all things yet failed to properly pass them on, I spread the will of the Geom Seon lineage throughout the world for the benefit of all.
Even if my strength alone proves insufficient, I shall borrow the hands of countless others.
This was the path of Ugong that Geom-ong wished to walk.
‘The Baek Family. Yang Hwi of the Baek Family. Why must it be Yang Hwi, and why must it be the Baek Family?’
Was the lineage of Hwa-san, which seemed to break yet never truly severed, about to blossom in a place other than Hwa-san itself?
A child born with a name destined to shine brightly in the light.
I recalled my disciple, Hyeon Geom.
I had sought to make him a brilliantly shining existence, yet the seed had taken root in the lineage of Hwa-san after all.
“Be quiet. Bin-do shall go and meet that child.”
The Shaman’s Disciples fell into shock.
The absolute being who had given everything and created all was now taking steps with his own feet.
It was nothing short of astonishing.
“I shall judge after seeing for myself.”
The Taeguk Sword Master set out on the road, bringing only Hyeon Geom, my disciple and the child who should shine brightly.
Thus I came to meet Yang Hwi of the Baek Family.
‘I see. So you are Yang Hwi. Perhaps…’
An extraordinary child.
The audacity to jest even before the Cheonmu-sip-jon of all under heaven without yielding.
Martial prowess so mature for his age that it was scarcely visible.
But that was not all.
He saved the daughter of the Jegal Family, who had fallen into hell due to her heavenly curse, by connecting her to Eum Hu.
He liberated the Dang Family, who struggled to break free from their shackles and might have been drawn into shadow.
‘Could it truly be you? If you are destined to shine brightly. If you are truly Yang Hwi(陽輝).’
People are like moths, drawn to those who shine brightly.
Therefore, an existence within the arrangement possessed the power to draw people together.
-Become the sword wielded by one who shines brightly. That is what I wished. Yet you too are my precious radiance. So I shall not speak it. It suffices that you become it of your own will. If that is the will of a disciple, of one who has inherited the legacy.
The arrangement of Geom Seon Yeo Dong-bin, transmitted through the Geom Seon lineage.
When one who shines brightly reveals themselves, aid them together and wipe away the turbidity of shadow.
This was also the Ancestor’s Inscription.
‘Could it truly be you? Or shall brightness be inherited from me?’
I do not know. To speak truthfully, it was none of these three.
For neither the child of the battlefield nor the orphan of the beggar’s den was born with a name.
That is, the child before my eyes, the Taeguk Sword Master, and Hyeon Geom… even the child of the farming village who lost all past memories in a bandit attack.
These three people were either not born with a name or had lost theirs.
Therefore, they were beings without fortune, and perhaps they walked outside the bounds of fate itself.
‘…Do all that is human and await heaven’s will.’
Before heaven’s will descends with clarity, humans merely create.
That is the world under heaven.
The path of Ugong. Retracing my own way, Geom-ong made a proposal.
The Way of Shaman: Purposeful action creates mutual growth.
“So I ask you this. Will you not walk the path of Ugong together with this old man?”
Yang Hwi, who had been silent for some time, merely smiled faintly.
“The duty of a disciple is to bring satisfaction to the master who watches over them, is it not?”
It was merely one statement, yet my heart stirred.
“Child. You need the Hyeon Geom. There is nothing to lose in accepting this old man’s proposal. It suffices merely to walk together.”
If I were truly destined to shine in the light.
The Hyeon Geom would be necessary. It would become necessary.
For it was a sword forged by squeezing out wisdom to fill what was lacking.
But.
The answer was clear and simple.
“There may be times when our paths overlap occasionally. When that happens, perhaps we can exchange greetings then.”
“….”
Perhaps somewhere deep in my heart, I had come to acknowledge it.
Child, whether you exist within some arrangement or not, I cannot say.
But you possess the talent to move people’s hearts.
In other words, you shine.
‘Yet I too am Yang Hwi. I shall walk the light and wield it.’
* * *
The conversation with the Taeguk Sword Master was not long, yet it demanded every ounce of my mental strength.
“Phew. To grow weary from exchanging just a few words. A novel experience indeed.”
“Is that something you should say, you who spoke your mind freely before that Sword Master? Don’t you agree, older brother?”
“This older brother is simply older than you, you see.”
“If we’re being precise, we’re the same age, are we not? It all started when I lost an Inner Qi wager and began calling you older brother.”
‘Was that how it was? Growing old, my memory….’
It was then.
“Older brother… you said.”
It was not Yang Hwi’s voice. The two of them spun around in shock.
“It has been a long time, daughter. And Yang Hwi.”
A middle-aged man stood there, grinning with a murderous aura.
The Soga-joonim of the Jegal Family, one of the Five Great Families under heaven.
Known by his distinctive temperament as Waryong Musang, and in private, the father of Jegal Seol-ha.
It was Jegal Seon.
‘I truly am exhausted, it seems.’
To not notice such a ferocious aura approaching so close.
“The rumors circulating about that fellow were quite intriguing. Someone said you were someone’s Jeong In.”
“Ah, Uncle. There are circumstances behind this. Seol-ha likely mentioned….”
“Jeong In? Jeong Iiiiiiin?”
Jegal Seon was in no state to hear any explanation.
If he had heard something beforehand, there was no way he would react like that… Ah.
“Seolha?”
Jegal Seol-ha stuck her tongue out cutely.
“Uncle, didn’t you know? Why we pretended to be Jeong In?”
“Hehe. I kept putting it off and forgot.”
“Ah.”
I forced a smile and looked at Jegal Seon.
“So the Five Great Families have finally begun sending their core members. How convenient. I actually have something to tell you——”
Jegal Seon exploded. Seized by the collar, I dangled helplessly in mid-air.
“Baek Yang-hwiiiiiiiii!”
“But your daughter suggested it!”
“No excuses!”
“Aaaaaahhhhh!”
A doting father’s heart, watching his precious daughter—the apple of his eye—create a fake Jeong In!
A fury hotter and more desperate than Mount Hwa itself erupted!
“Die for thisssss!”
“Please spare meeeeeee!”
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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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