Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 25

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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 025
Yang Yeom wielded his wooden sword in a charge that was incomparably faster than his younger brother Yang Hak, yet it was all for naught.
But Yang Yeom, too, proved to be nothing more than a one-second opponent when facing me.
Thud!
The Referee approached the fallen Yang Yeom to assess his condition and cried out.
“Young Master Yang Hwi’s victory, I declare!”
Pride and satisfaction welled up in Baek Heon-so’s face below the Dueling Stage, while the complexion of Yang Ga-ryong, the head of the Yang Jo-mun seated in the place of honor, flushed crimson.
Both brothers had fallen to a single opponent in one second—the Yang Jo-mun’s dignity lay shattered on the ground.
Nevertheless.
I had no intention of ending things here.
This martial exhibition was, after all, a stage for a display of power.
‘I’ll crush the Suhoji Guild’s arrogance so thoroughly they won’t even dare to challenge the Main Residence.’
“Is there another challenger? If there is a young master who wishes to offer me instruction, please step onto the Dueling Stage.”
“….”
“….”
After a brief silence, the largest boy present climbed onto the Dueling Stage.
“Cheol Byeong-hu of the Yuhang Branch. I’ve come to test my skills.”
A frame that practically matched that of an adult male. By appearance alone, he seemed to be fifteen years old—clearly pushing against the age restrictions.
“I look forward to our match.”
The moment the distance closed for our salutation, Cheol Byeong-hu whispered something low.
“A brat whose manhood hasn’t even ripened yet dares to be so bold. I’ll teach you some manners.”
Truly a vulgar remark.
‘A provocation tactic.’
Should I lose, there would be utter humiliation—so he was attempting even cheap tricks.
I smiled faintly and responded immediately.
“So you’ve finally understood why your mother has such a fondness for unripe fruit?”
Cheol Byeong-hu’s expression went blank for a moment before he grasped the meaning of my words.
“You bastard!”
Cheol Byeong-hu, flushed red and purple in an instant, charged forward even before the Referee could signal the start.
Whoooosh!
With a sound like the beating of wings, he was sent tumbling off the Dueling Stage.
“…Young Master Cheol Byeong-hu, who committed a foul, has been subdued by Young Master Baek Yang-hwi. Young Master Baek Yang-hwi’s victory,”
Even the oldest among the participants—defeated in one second.
An ominous silence now permeated the Banquet Hall.
I lifted the corners of my mouth.
‘This should be enough for word to spread that the Main Residence harbors a hidden dragon throughout every corner of Ak-an County.’
I had deliberately stopped holding back and ended every opponent in one second—all to spread the word.
Did they dare attempt to sever the Main Residence’s ties with the Jegal Family?
Such an attempt born from underestimation. I intended to correct that very perception and mindset.
‘While Uncle Jegal remains at the Main Residence, I need not worry about consequences or future complications. Now is the moment.’
The Suhoji Guild is a coalition of mid-tier martial sects that generate revenue through escort services, money transport, and martial instruction businesses.
If word of today’s events spreads?
Their clients would take notice of the Baek Family.
It means we can rehabilitate the Black Path gangs, integrate them as the family’s martial practitioners, and immediately deploy them to generate profit.
‘If that happens, the Main Residence gains not only a reputation far superior to before, but also financial gain—truly a stroke of genius.’
“It seems there are no further challengers. Should someone accumulate more victories than I have, I will return to the Dueling Stage.”
With those words, I descended from the Dueling Stage.
The initial fervor had already extinguished, leaving only cold ashes in its wake.
The young participants had lost their fighting spirit, and the organizers and referees alike stood at a loss.
Then.
“Hahahahahaha!”
A burst of hearty laughter resonated through the Banquet Hall.
“Yang Hwi! I watched that splendidly!”
The voice belonged to Jegal Seon.
“To have caught your eye, Uncle—I was worried my meager skills might tarnish your perception, so I’m relieved.”
I offered a respectful martial salute before continuing.
“Then should the wager be considered a victory for talent?”
The condition of my wager with Jegal Seon was whether I would claim first place in the martial tournament.
To clarify this precisely, Jegal Seon rose from his seat.
“I ask all the fellow practitioners gathered at this banquet: having observed the children’s skills, it appears my nephew here is the most outstanding. Do you acknowledge him as champion?”
“….”
“….”
Not a single voice offered dissent to his declaration.
Jegal Seon nodded as if he had expected nothing less.
“Yang Hwi. I hereby declare you the champion of the Yuhang Branch martial tournament!”
Though Jegal Seon was merely a guest—neither the organizer nor affiliated with the Suhoji Guild—no one raised objection.
Everyone understood that Jegal Seon’s very presence here was like a scholar who had passed the imperial examination standing among village schoolboys reciting poetry.
The gap in standing between the great Jegal Family that commands the realm and the modest sects clustered in a single county of Ak-an was precisely that vast and profound.
In truth, had it not been for Baek Moo-ryang, Jegal Seon would never have set foot in such a place.

* * *
Baek Moo-ryang returned to Baek Manor with his adopted son and children, his voice booming with delight.
“We shall celebrate with my brother and a grand banquet! Everyone, prepare yourselves!”
The banquet hall in the main residence filled with mountains of food and wine, and Baek Moo-ryang sat surrounded by Jegal Seon and the others.
Naturally, their respective children were seated alongside them.
“Brother, you truly startled me today. With a child of such exceptional talent, the future of the Baek Family shines as bright as the full moon.”
“That would only match the Jegal Family, my brother. I hear your eldest son possesses innate talent unparalleled under heaven.”
It was true. Jegal Mun-ha, Jegal Seon’s eldest son and Jegal Seol-ha’s older brother, was a prodigy of unrivaled talent, already lauded as one who would be counted among the greatest of future generations.
“Hehehehe, so the rumors have spread this far.”
Jegal Seon then turned his head toward Yang Hwi.
“As promised, you claimed victory in the tournament, so you’ve won the wager. I shall grant what you spoke of before. But tell me, will you satisfy this uncle’s curiosity on one matter?”
“I could answer ten such questions, Uncle.”
Jegal Seon’s question was simple.
“Why did you do it? Today you displayed your exceptional talent. It pains me to say before your father, but your martial prowess shone so brilliantly it could have brought calamity upon the Baek Family.”
I knew. And I did it anyway.
The reason was simple.
It was something I had pondered constantly since reversing time, so I answered without hesitation.
“Once, Father told me that your dream was to restore the Main Residence to the rank of a great family.”
“Did I say that?”
Baek Moo-ryang’s expression turned bewildered.
It was natural he wouldn’t remember—it was from my past life—but I pressed forward shamelessly.
“Yes. You said it when you had me sit and were composing poetry. From that moment, my dream too became seeing the Main Residence rise to the rank of a great family. That is all.”
It was a simple answer, yet it was sufficient for Jegal Seon.
“Hah! You’re even more formidable than I thought. Martial prowess and strategic mind both!”
Exceptional talent is like an awl in a pocket—it cannot help but show itself.
Better then to reveal it completely and become a dragon among chickens.
Like a flame that draws moths to gather, I would draw admiration and attention, becoming the center around which people congregate.
Such was my ambition.
“A great family must accept countless people into its household and govern them by family law. So you intend to make yourself the foundation upon which the family stands.”
I lowered my head and performed the martial salute.
“These are merely the shallow thoughts of a young person. If there are errors, I trust Uncle will correct me.”
“There are no errors. Only concern. The path you’ve chosen often breaks before reaching its end.”
Those who stand out gain many enemies as well.
There’s a reason the saying goes that time is the greatest enemy of heroes.
Yet I smiled with confidence.
“If I break, then it was simply my fate not to reach the end. Nothing more.”
Everything was for making the Baek Family the greatest under heaven.
To lay even the foundation within my lifetime, I must take risks.
“…You’re right. Nephew, your words are true! Then I must now discuss the reward I shall grant you.”
Jegal Seon’s expression was one of pure delight.
When Yang Hwi had stated his request earlier, Jegal Seon had burst into hearty laughter.
It was because Yang Hwi, not even knowing what my own purpose was, had suddenly expressed a desire to journey together with me going forward.
The reason Jegal Seon felt such delight upon hearing that request was simple.
“Tell me, Yang Hwi. Have you discerned this uncle’s purpose?”
“I merely made an educated guess with my limited understanding.”
Jegal Seon gazed at his nephew, who continued to astound him with admiration ever since they had met, his eyes brimming with intrigue.
“Then let us see if you can arrive at the correct answer. Speak.”
A brief moment of contemplation. Yang Hwi opened his mouth.
“You mentioned that you had business to attend to and stopped by the Main Residence, bringing Seol-ha with you.”
“You reasoned there must be a reason for bringing her along.”
What Jegal Seon sought must surely be something necessary for Jegal Seol-ha.
‘In my past life, Jegal Seol-ha died young. Because of that, Uncle fell into sorrow and lived in seclusion for many long years.’
Yang Hwi looked toward Jegal Seol-ha. More precisely, he heightened his sensitivity and focused his mind on the strange energy signature emanating from her.
Immediately, Jegal Seol-ha turned her head toward Yang Hwi.
With only a thin cloth between them, the gazes of the two children met.
‘Indeed, the energy that Jegal Seol-ha possesses is not something an ordinary constitution could have.’
Yang Hwi opened his mouth.
“Seol-ha was born with a special constitution or destiny, and my inference is that something extraordinary is needed for this.”
All things originate from the Primordial Chaos and are composed of the Two Energies—Yin and Yang.
This connects to the Three Pillars of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity that form the world’s foundation. Thus, humans standing between heaven and earth receive the qi of nature and are born with special talents and abilities.
In other words, constitution or destiny.
Commonly known examples include the Nine Yin Meridians, Heavenly Demon Constitution, and Heavenly Martial Constitution.
‘What constitution could it be? The energy signature I sense leans toward the yin side… The Nine Yin Meridians? No, that’s not it.’
The Nine Yin Meridians were characterized most distinctly by a yin and cold temperament, yet the energy emanating from Jegal Seol-ha was yin but not cold in feeling.
‘Rather than cold, it’s more…’
At that moment, Jegal Seon, who had been silent, regarded Yang Hwi with eyes that had grown deeper.
“Yang Hwi. I truly cannot hide my admiration for your talent. You have discerned it all correctly. This uncle came to Baek Manor to find the Eumhu.”
“The Eumhu? Brother, surely you don’t mean Pacheon Eumhu?!”
Baek Moo-ryang exclaimed in shock, springing to his feet, and Jegal Seon nodded firmly.
“That is correct, Elder Brother.”
Pacheon Eumhu, one of the Ten Supremes Under Heaven.
One of the ten absolute beings always mentioned when naming the strongest martial artists in the world.
A supreme master of Sound Arts and renowned for possessing the greatest lightness technique under heaven.
“According to the investigation by Waryongak, the intelligence division of the Main Residence, the Eumhu’s last known whereabouts were near Gok-ryeol Mountain in this Ak-an County.”
Jegal Seon held his precious daughter close in his embrace.
“Our Seol-ha must become the Eumhu’s disciple in order to overcome the heavenly affliction she was born with.”
At that moment.
With the final clue of Pacheon Eumhu added, Yang Hwi could finally comprehend the truth.
A truth that was profoundly shocking at that.
‘Could it be that Jegal Seol-ha was the Sephon Demon Empress?’
Ten years from now, a demon known as the Soul-Seizing Demon Empress appears in Hubei Province, where the Jegal Family resides.
A great demoness who bewitched and controlled countless martial artists with her supreme soul-seizing techniques, thereby causing a catastrophe across the region.
‘According to rumors, the Soul-Seizing Demon Empress was able to commit such acts because she possessed the Peach Blossom Constitution.’
The Peach Blossom Constitution—a physique said to harbor the Peach Blossom Qi in the upper dantian, which bewitches and seduces the opposite sex even against one’s will.
In severe cases, merely seeing one’s face or hearing one’s voice is enough to set desire ablaze.
‘Because the Peach Blossom Qi keeps her upper dantian open, she could sense my attempt to read her. One thing is certain—Jegal Seol-ha definitely possesses the Peach Blossom Constitution.’
The reason she always wore a face veil and never once opened her mouth.
A temperament that was yin yet burning, as if one’s body were aflame.
Everything could be explained if she possessed the Peach Blossom Constitution.
Her search for Pacheon Eumhu, who reached the absolute realm through yin cultivation, must be to control the Peach Blossom Qi embedded in her voice.
‘If that’s the case, then contrary to what was known in my past life—that Jegal Seol-ha died young—she continued to survive, and my uncle’s seclusion, which he attributed to his daughter’s death, was actually for a different reason.’
In my past life, I likely never met the Demon Empress.
And given Jegal Seon’s nature, he would have done anything to help his daughter suffering from this heavenly curse.
If he had attempted to solve it by dabbling in demonic arts like soul-seizing techniques and something went wrong…
‘It’s merely speculation, but it’s credible enough.’
Then there might be more I need to do beyond simply accompanying the Jegal father and daughter.
‘I’ve never attempted it even in my past life, but if my suspicion is correct…’
Yang Hwi recalled the incantation of the Hwa-cheon-i-won-gong.
An incantation containing the supreme mystery that embraces all qi under heaven—one he had created after directly mastering numerous inner cultivation techniques and even experiencing the tribulation of entering the demon realm.
‘It might just be possible.’

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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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