Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 241

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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 241
A disciple of a prestigious sect had killed the Sect Leader.
And it happened at the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, where the present and future of the martial world converged.
‘I would never have chosen this path. But… I cannot deny it was the best move.’
Because I was Neung-o, because I was Jeomchang—swift as a loosed arrow—I made this choice, and it was possible.
‘Yet this cannot simply be overlooked.’
Whether Myeong-wol was a spy for the Blood Cult or not, patricide is patricide.
A transgression despised and forbidden by all, righteous and wicked alike.
…But.
What is patricide, after all? It means deceiving and insulting the elders of one’s own sect, does it not?
Then.
‘If I can bring forth the greatest elder in all the martial world, this can be resolved.’
A status so elevated that counting it becomes meaningless.
A reputation not merely overwhelming but legendary.
The Shaman of the South—a colossal force that commands public opinion.
Impossible for Yang Hwi, precarious even for Pacheon Eumhu.
But for the Taeguk Sword Master, it was possible.
And I happened to possess the very card to move him.
“Venerable Sword Master! I beseech you to reveal the truth plainly and show us what is right and what is wrong!”
-This is the price Won-woo demands of me, Baek Yang-hwi.
“…”
The Taeguk Sword Master regarded Yang Hwi in silence for a long moment.
Even the Cheonmu-sip-jon of all heaven had not expected such audacity.
His face was expressionless, yet his eyes gleamed with a hint of admiration.
From that gaze flowed a subtle sense of regret.
“…Venerable One. Is what the Baek Young Master said true?”
“We humbly request a word from you.”
People cautiously petitioned the Taeguk Sword Master.
I had invoked the names of the Shaman and the Taeguk Sword Master without permission.
Even without a promised price, I had forced them to respond.
‘Either clarify, or kill me to punish my presumption.’
“My disciples.”
A soft voice. The surroundings fell silent.
The Taeguk Sword Master rose to his feet.
‘Which path will you choose, old master?’
I waited for his next words, somewhat tense.
I had gambled on his promise, but the Taeguk Sword Master could have refused.
“In the distant past, when my own master, Sambong Jin-in, completed his training and traveled the realm, there was a sect called the Fire-Worshipping Cult that crossed from the Western Regions and sowed chaos.”
“The Fire-Worshipping Cult!”
“We know of it! How could we not!”
When it comes to sects in the Western Regions, names like Solei Eumsa and Potala Palace are renowned, but among them, the most notorious is the Baehwa Cult.
True to its name, a gathering of madmen who worship fire and cultivate demonic arts under their Sect Leader’s guidance.
“The Ilwol Myeong Cult is a heretical sect newly formed by remnants of the Baehwa Cult that Sambong Jin-in purged. They follow light and worship the sun and moon as the source of illumination.”
These words came from none other than the Taeguk Sword Master himself.
The moment he spoke, it became truth regardless of fact.
“Once the Ilwol Myeong Cult recovered their strength, they attempted to plunge the world into chaos once more. They sought to dye the entire realm in light according to their doctrine. However, their ambitions were thwarted before they could even begin.”
The Taeguk Sword Master’s penetrating gaze fixed upon Neung-o.
“Because Jeom Chang Jang-mun, the greatest swordsman of that era, beheaded their Sect Leader Gwang-myeong Cheon-jon with a single strike.”
Gwang-myeong Cheon—the bright and radiant light of heaven.
From the epithet alone, one could discern that the Sect Leader of that time must have been the leader of one faction of the sun and moon.
‘In a sense, Jeom Chang’s sword succeeded in striking down the sun.’
Now I understood why the Taeguk Sword Master had unnecessarily explained the origins of the Myeong Cult.
“Thus Jeom Chang became the mortal enemy of the Myeong Cult. An existence they wished to annihilate by any means necessary.”
It was essentially an admission that Myeong-wol and Bun-gwang’s martial lineages originated from the Myeong Cult.
Everyone present fell into shock.
“How can this be? You mean to say that Jeom Chang of the Gu-pa has truly been infiltrated by demonic forces!”
“If you knew beforehand, why did you merely stand by and watch?”
Watching the stirring crowd, Yang Hwi reflected inwardly.
‘He knows more details than I expected. This means he’s already grasped a considerable understanding of the Three Great Demonic Cults.’
Naturally, he would have been aware of their danger as well.
Yet when Eum Hu requested assistance with tracking the Blood Cult, he refused without hesitation.
Was he waiting until they ripened sufficiently before moving to suppress them?
‘The Shaman will only act once the Three Great Demonic Cults become public enemies of the realm. Only then can the vanquished be praised as evil adversaries.’
Yes. That’s not wrong.
If one harbors ambitions, one must achieve them by any means, even utilizing everything in the world.
But.
‘It seems I cannot walk the same path as you, Elder. Our roads are similar yet distinctly different.’
If the result is righteousness, does the method matter?
Is it right to sacrifice the few for the many?
The Taeguk Sword Master would say yes.
Yes, it is.
Meanwhile, my father Baek Moo-ryang would shake his head.
‘Gaecheon-ji-hyeop—the Baek Family never turns away those who need shelter.’
That is why I have consistently rooted out every trace of the demonic cults that appeared.
These bastards must never become a card to be played in any circumstance.
“Neung-o. I apologize. Though your Master, the previous Jeom Chang First Sword, had a connection to you, I stood by. Yet I believed. I believed you, who inherited his will completely, would set Jeom Chang right.”
Neung-o silently bowed his head.
“Jeom Chang has always been a place that honors trust. Fellow disciples, fortune has returned to the Baek Family and the martial realm! A young dragon pierces through great evil—the birth of a new hero!”
A hero indeed. He is certainly a hero.
A young peak master transcended distribution and inaction to strike down a supreme master.
It’s all over now.
No one under heaven will be able to hold Neung-o accountable for his Qi Annihilation Technique.
‘As a bonus, I’ve officially revealed the existence of the Myeong Sect among the Three Demon Cults. Now, using the Ten Thousand Gold Voucher, I can provide benefits to both the Dang Family and the main house….’
While my mind raced with calculations, I suddenly felt a gaze upon me.
Nang Hon was sending me a look.
Lips curled upward. Eyes curved in amusement.
A face that seemed to say this was tremendously entertaining.
-Young Master Baek is truly remarkable.
A sensation beyond words. As if the sun had been obscured by clouds.
‘That bastard?’
I drew out my full qi-sensing ability and scanned Nang Hon’s entire body.
But.
I felt nothing. Not even a trace of demonic energy.
-I await the day I face Young Master in battle. With great anticipation.
Nang Hon. The champion of the previous generation.
An assassin presumed to be a disciple of the Recluse Deity, and the top priority among talents to recruit for the main house.
‘I’ve already investigated thoroughly through Chu Dal. There’s no basis for suspicion regarding Nang Hon. Clearly there isn’t.’
So why?
Why did I suddenly feel so uneasy?

* * *
Deep, suffocating darkness. A single voice tears through the silence.
[Hyeol-hyeol-nyeo.]
The crimson woman pressed her forehead to the ground.
“Your command, Highest One.”
[The world is vast and profound.]
Though the words were cryptic, Hyeol-hyeol-nyeo took them as a rebuke.
“I offer my life in atonement.”
Without hesitation, she tore out her own heart.
Blood cascaded forth—thicker and more vivid than ordinary blood.
[Jeom Chang has always been such a place. Those dwelling at the very bottom aim for the heavens.]
The blood Hyeol-hyeol-nyeo spilled flowed upward, defying natural law.
As if her heart were absorbing the blood itself.
The severed heart returned to Hyeol-hyeol-nyeo’s chest.
“I am grateful for your mercy, Highest One.”
[Why not? It is none other than you, Hyeol-hyeol-nyeo.]
Hyeol-hyeol-nyeo trembled as exhilaration coursed through her entire body.
The Deity does not wish for my death.
That fact had transformed into overwhelming ecstasy.
[The Myeong Sect’s existence has been officially acknowledged. How will Gwang-myeong Cheon and Dok-hwi-gong emerge?]
The bright, luminous light of the sky and the solitary light existing within the void.
Each was a title referring to the leaders of the sun and moon.
“The moon shall watch over, and the sun shall pour down.”
[Yes. It shall be so.]
Joy suffused the voice of Hyeol Gyoju.
[It is time to set things in motion. The time has come to end one thing and begin another.]
Hyeol-hyeol-nyeo crawled forward on her knees and pressed her lips to the feet of the Deity.
“Shall I prepare the grandest stage for the Highest One’s amusement?”
The Sect Leader of Hyeol-shin Hyeol-gyo is the earthly representative of Hyeol-shin.
Yet Hyeol Gyoju was not red, but black.
As if blood had accumulated and deepened into darkness.
Or perhaps….
As if to say that within darkness, color itself held no meaning.
[So be it. At times one wishes to be an actor rather than a spectator. Now is that time.]
Pitch darkness surged and billowed.
It was an absolute black that would swallow and dye over all the crimson of blood.
[Since the time has come to walk again, let me indulge in one final spectacle before that.]

* * *
Night had fallen. The True Dragon Tournament lived up to its name, captivating everyone from the very first day.
The excitement ran so high that people were buying drinks for their neighbors and chattering away.
“Listen here! I’ve been enjoying your conversation from the side, so let me buy you a round!”
“Much obliged! Let us raise our cups and make merry together!”
“Ha ha ha! The wine tastes especially fine today! Is it because it’s free?”
“Rather, isn’t it because we’ve witnessed something splendid!”
“Indeed, that’s true. We’ve been sweating in our palms all day long watching!”
Even setting aside the favorites like Adu of Shaolin or Hyeon Geom of the Shamans, all sixty-four competitors in the True Dragon Tournament were recognized masters.
Among tens of thousands—nay, tens of thousands of participants, they represented the absolute elite, not even one-tenth or one-hundredth, but merely the top six percent.
“How could all thirty-two matches be so thrilling?”
“Because they are all disciples of renowned sects or those who defeated disciples of renowned sects.”
Of course, everyone agreed that the hero of the most captivating match was Jeomchang.
“To think that the legendary Jeomchang was being infiltrated by the Demonic Sect. How terrifying.”
“True, but today I witnessed the true depth of Gu-pa. Even as it was being consumed by the Demonic Way, it corrected itself.”
Moreover, that method was a peak-stage disciple executing an absolute-peak master.
To witness such a feat and not feel shock and exhilaration would be possible only for an enlightened sage.
“Sai Il-jeong Ryong Neung-o! He shall surely become the greatest under heaven! If one who slew an absolute-peak master at merely thirty years of age does not become the greatest under heaven, then who shall!”
“I agree. Yet it is a pity. His injuries were severe and he forfeited, so we shall not see the Nong-o Daoist become the First Dragon.”
Since the conversation had turned to Neung-o, naturally the actions of Gaecheon Geomryong also became a topic of discussion.
“The Baek Family Heir is quite an extraordinary fellow, is he not?”
“In some ways, even more so than Neung-o. He stepped forward and defended a criminal of the Kisa-myeol-jo, entrusting the aftermath to the Taeguk Sword Master himself.”
“Hahaha, that one certainly has guts worthy of the True Dragon.”
I wondered if he’d left his liver with the Dragon King’s deputy.
Well, once I heard the backstory, I couldn’t help but nod along.
“It was Gaecheon Geomryong who made the Bright Sect known, wasn’t it? I hear he’s been fighting demons since childhood.”
“A true hero of the martial world. The future of the jianghu shines brightly.”
“Considering his age at the time, we should call him a heroic boy. I heard he formed a bond with Nong-o Daoist at just sixteen years old.”
“Remarkable indeed. Nothing but admiration comes forth.”
The men laughed heartily, clinking their cups together.
The door opened with a light chime.
The one who entered was a famous figure everyone recognized.
“Oh, Nang Hon!”
“The only assassin in the True Dragon Tournament!”
Nang Hon approached the men with a polite smile.
Then he looked at a young man who had been drinking and joining the conversation.
“Would you tell him that Nang Hon has come?”
“Pardon? You mean me? But who exactly am I supposed to—?”
The young man’s expression was utterly bewildered.
Nang Hon replied casually.
“Please, Chu Dal.”
The young man’s face changed completely. Not just his expression—his actual face transformed.
He had dispelled his face-changing technique.
“How did you see through it?”
Instead of answering, Nang Hon merely shrugged his shoulders.
“I’ll pass the message to your brother, at least. Though whether he comes is another matter.”
“Ah. I didn’t come to see Yang Hwi.”
“Then?”
Nang Hon smiled.
“I came hoping to share some time with Jegal Sojeo.”

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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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