Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 246

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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 246
A man quickened his pace, with several attendants respectfully following behind him.
“Family Head, you’re hurrying so. I fear others might see and think it damages your dignity.”
Namgung Il-geom chuckled heartily.
“Who cares about dignity now? My son is competing in the match!”
Since the True Dragon Tournament began, leaders from across the martial world had been arriving in succession.
Though the Yongbong Assembly was ostensibly an event for the senior members of the Baek Family to exchange views, it was quite rare for the heads of sects as prominent as the Five Great Families to attend in person.
All of them had come at the Shaman’s invitation.
“I’m late due to pressing matters, so I must hurry regardless of appearances. If I want to witness the finale myself, I’ll need to use lightness skill.”
Namgung Il-geom was not yet sixty years old this year.
At his age, leaping across rooftops with lightness skill like the younger generation would truly be undignified.
Yet Namgung Il-geom pushed off the ground without hesitation.
“To witness Cheon-yeong’s prowess—what could possibly hold me back? Hahahaha!”
“Your words are most wise, Family Head.”
“If the Young Family Head knew you were coming, it would be one thing, but since he doesn’t, he may have already finished his match.”
The retainers enthusiastically echoed his sentiments with exaggerated agreement.
They too had heard from Elder Namgung Sa-geom about the deeds Baek Yang-hwi had accomplished as his match opponent.
Though none dared mention the matter before the Family Head.
“I see a hint of anxiety on your faces.”
“….”
“….”
“It’s fine. If you cannot believe, then seeing is enough. I believe.”
‘In my sword, which I have personally forged and honed.’
Namgung Cheon-yeong is a blade that shall never break.
For I have raised him to be exactly that.
How could the sharpest and hardest steel under heaven ever shatter?
A blade that breaks is merely an ordinary sword.
My younger brother Namgung Sa-geom had written of Baek Yang-hwi’s existence and the humiliation Cheon-yeong suffered, urging me to take action.
‘Having endured this trial, my son’s edge will only grow sharper.’
The finest steel refined by the finest methods.
Unlike Namgung Cheon-hu, Namgung Cheon-yeong was a flawless blade.
Therefore, not a shred of doubt dwelled in Namgung Cheon-yeong’s heart.
Not even a fleeting ‘what if’ crossed his mind.
‘It must be so. It can be no other way.’
Otherwise, far too many things would need to change.
The moment he arrived at the arena.
Namgung Il-geom encountered a face—whether unfamiliar or well-known.
“Ah. Family Head Baek.”
It was Baek Moo-ryang, the head of the Gaecheon Baek Family.
“From your attire, you must be an elder of the Namgung Family. It is an honor to meet you.”
It seemed Baek Moo-ryang was also hurrying toward the martial grounds.
“What a curious coincidence—you’re the father of my son’s opponent, and here we both are, arriving late together.”
“I was caught up with urgent matters.”
“Let us proceed together.”
Namgung Il-geom readily invited him to accompany him.
Or rather, it was closer to a command.
This man who had taken in an orphan as an adopted son and raised him like a fool.
What expression would he wear when the match was decided?
‘Perfect timing. If all goes according to plan, that man will become one of us in Changcheon.’
I moved toward the martial grounds once more.
We had nearly arrived when it happened.
Explosive cheers erupting from all directions.
“The victor is… Gaecheon Geomryong Baek Yang-hwi!”
“Waaaaaaaah!”
“Gaecheon Geomryong won! Hahahaha!”
My eyes met Baek Moo-ryang’s.
Baek Moo-ryang smiled, his true feelings laid bare without a trace of calculation or artifice.
Namgung Il-geom’s expression hardened completely.

* * *
The match concluded. Victory proclaimed.
‘This should be enough to say I’ve crushed the competition wherever I go.’
As Yang Hwi basked in admiration, tremendous cheers erupted from the surrounding crowd.
“Waaaaaaaah!”
“Gaecheon Geomryong won! Hahahaha!”
“Gaecheon Baek Family has defeated Changcheon Sword Family!”
The cries came naturally to their lips.
‘Yes, that’s right. Everyone should be shouting like that. I went to great effort to make them hear this.’
But the truth is different.
The current Baek Family can never surpass the Namgung Family.
In a full-scale war, we would face annihilation without question.
However, the people will think otherwise.
The Baek Family Heir has crushed the Namgung Family’s Soga-joonim!
‘Even the wise and pragmatic ones will believe that in merely ten or twenty years, the Baek Family under my leadership will surpass the Namgung.’
That is what truly matters.
People’s perception. The rising prestige of the family that follows.
And the renown that will be carried by the four characters: Gaecheon Geomryong.
‘I will become the First Dragon. I will make it so.’
The ultimate objective of this Dragon-Phoenix Gathering. I consider it a done deal, yet it remains an extraordinarily important goal.
I must achieve it without fail.
The reason was simple.
If I could achieve this, I was confident I could catch up to the Namgung Family within three years.
‘Catching the tails of those Demonic Cult bastards and ruining the Shaman’s plans is just a bonus.’
My path unfolds in only one direction—for the sake of my family.
That was when it happened.
-You’ve worked hard, Seo-hyeop.
It was Eum Hu.
‘I thought she wouldn’t speak to me. But then again, she knows well what Namgung means to me.’
I hadn’t told her about the regression. But a master is a master.
Eum Hu knew exactly what feelings Yang Hwi harbored toward Namgung.
-Thank you, Master.
That wasn’t all.
Perhaps sensing that Eum Hu had sent a transmission, other messages began arriving in succession.
-Hehehehe, what a fine spectacle that was. I look forward to the day when the Donor and my disciple cross blades.
Lakbul’s playful voice.
-Ah yes, you truly should become my disciple. One final move! If you step onto my path, surely you would….
The Great Sea Dragon King’s transmission cut off mid-sentence.
When I turned my head, I saw Eum Hu grabbing him by the collar amid the chaos.
The two figures soon vanished.
The final transmission came from someone familiar and dearly missed.
-Hwi. You’ve worked hard. Congratulations.
‘Father?’
There was no way he could have arrived already with business to attend to at the main house.
In his letter, he had indicated he would arrive around the semifinals.
When I turned my head, there he truly stood.
Right beside the rigid Namgung Family Head.
‘Heh, quite the sight to behold?’
My eyes naturally met with Namgung Il-geom’s.
In that instant, he coldly turned away and vanished.
His demeanor suggested he could not bear to witness this moment of cheers for the victor.
It seemed he had no intention whatsoever of offering comfort to his son who had become the defeated.
“Father!”
I spun my sword in a graceful arc and dashed toward him with a bright smile.

* * *
Rather than watching the remaining matches, I spent time conversing with Father.
“You’ve worked hard indeed. You’ve finally defeated the Soga-joonim of the Namgung Family.”
“Whose son am I, Father? This was an entirely predictable outcome.”
“True enough, but unlike before, there were widespread rumors that this Soga-joonim was cultivated with the utmost care by the Namgung Family.”
That was certainly the case. To be honest, had I not regressed, there was no way I could have defeated Namgung Cheon-yeong at this point in time.
Namgung Cheon-yeong possessed talent so extraordinary.
‘Well, if you’re upset about it, go back in time yourself.’
I shrugged and replied.
“Compared to the remaining opponents, he was rather manageable.”
“You speak of the Shaman’s Hyeon Geom and Adu of Shaolin?”
“And Elder Dang as well.”
Dang-gun had changed considerably from his previous life.
It was thanks to what I had brought to the Dang Family during the Sichuan expedition.
The latent talent that had been suppressed exploded into growth upon encountering new martial techniques.
“Ah, there’s one more.”
“Ho, another talent worthy of your attention? Could it be that friend Nang Hon you mentioned in your letter?”
Even in the early stages of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, I had genuinely intended to recruit Nang Hon.
Naturally, I had hinted at this to Father through correspondence as well.
But now my thoughts on the matter had changed entirely.
“Yes, it is that person. Though any intention to recruit him has vanished completely.”
“From your judgment, he must be talented yet possess a flawed character.”
‘That’s not quite it. Hmm, should I say it’s a character issue?’
Father still didn’t know about it.
“Did you not see Seo’s match?”
“I nearly missed your match as well due to arriving late.”
I explained the match that had taken place between Baek Heon-so and Nang Hon.
Father’s eyes deepened as he stroked his chin, lost in thought.
“Do you know why this Nang Hon fellow wants to have a match with you?”
“I don’t know. On the surface, he said it would be interesting to fight me.”
“A competitive spirit, then. So out of mere competitive spirit, he did such a thing to your younger brother, my son Seo.”
Such a thing. A perfectly fitting expression.
Strictly speaking, Nang Hon had done nothing wrong.
The fact that Seo suffered injuries severe enough to lose consciousness was purely because he refused to give up until the very end.
But how can a family’s heart ever be objective?
“You have a duty now. You must repay Nang Hon without fail.”
“Of course. I was already planning to select Nang Hon for my next match. If I frame it as avenging my younger brother, the narrative will be quite fitting.”
“Just speak honestly. Isn’t it your primary objective rather than a narrative?”
I scratched my head once and was about to speak of my next plans.
“Family Head.”
Chu Dal opened the door and poked his head through cautiously.
“What is it, Hu Ya?”
“A guest has arrived. He is requesting an audience with the Family Head.”
I sensed intuitively who this guest was.
“Could it be Nang Hon?”
“Yes, Elder Brother.”
I exchanged glances with Father before speaking.
“Let him in.”
Father seemed to share my sentiment and did not object to my words.
Soon after, Nang Hon entered the guest chamber.
“The Assassin Nang Hon pays his respects to the Family Head of the Gaecheon Baek Family.”
A respectful fist salute. Father returned the gesture lightly.
“It’s good to meet you.”
“Yes, I am equally delighted. Hahaha.”
Nang Hon’s expression seemed somewhat suspicious.
How to describe it—he didn’t appear to have come merely out of curiosity?
“Nang Hon. Why did you seek out our Father?”
“Yang Hwi. Isn’t he the one who raised you? How could I not be curious?”
Your expression was telling me that wasn’t the only reason you came.
“You could have easily seen his face tonight at the banquet that’s about to be held. The fact that you came now means there’s another reason, doesn’t it?”
“That is true.”
Nang Hon gazed directly at Father and smiled gently.
“I truly wished to meet you once, Family Head Baek.”
“Is that so? For what reason?”
“There are several reasons, but the most important is one. There is something I wish to ask.”
“Speak.”
Nang Hon looked at me once with an inscrutable gleam in his eyes.
“Why did you give the name Yang Hwi to an adopted son who had entered your family?”
“Hmm? You were so curious about that?”
“Yes. Very much so, and sincerely.”
For someone who had gone to the trouble of visiting, it was a truly unexpected and trivial question.
‘What is his true purpose?’
Perhaps my expression had revealed my inner thoughts.
An additional emotion was added to Nang Hon’s smile.
You still don’t know.
Then this will be even more amusing.
It was a smile that only one who knew something could wear.

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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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