Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 262

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Third-rate Martial Arts Family, Greatest Under Heaven – Episode 262
Gaecheon Geomryong of the Baek Family pressed his blade against his opponent’s throat.
The Shaman’s Taeguk Hyeon Geom stood disarmed, silently gazing at the sword edge as he accepted his defeat.
To any observer, the outcome was unmistakable, and the scene was so magnificent it seemed plucked from the pages of legend.
“Roooaaarrr!”
It was a match that left spectators gripping their palms in tension.
Both the fierce clash of blades they had witnessed and the way the two had wielded their tangible energy with such fluidity—far beyond what one would expect from late-stage cultivators—made for a spectacular display.
And the result itself was absolutely thrilling.
The reason was simple.
A disciple of the Shaman sect, and the Shaman’s foremost talent at that, winning was entirely expected.
But Gaecheon Geomryong of the Baek Family? Most spectators had never even heard the name Baek before the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament began.
A young master from an obscure, minor martial family had defeated a disciple of the Taeguk Sword Master himself!
“Gaecheon Geomryong! Gaecheon Geomryong! Gaecheon Geomryong! Gaecheon Geomryong!”
Endless waves of cheers cascaded down.
Yang Hwi waved his hand unconsciously while replaying that strange sense of discord in his mind.
‘Taeguk Hyeon Geom. I definitely felt something.’
One of the past proposals that surfaced in my thoughts.
It was something the Taeguk Sword Master had said during our conversation.
“Child, I shall transmit the Hyeon Geom to you. You need not become a disciple of the Shaman. Simply say you will walk the same path, and that suffices.”
“You need the Hyeon Geom. There is no loss in accepting this old man’s proposal. Simply walk alongside me.”
It was a sword technique laden with advancement so profound it couldn’t be grasped at a glance.
So while not precise, and merely a vague sensation without clear reason.
I felt something was amiss.
‘Could this be why the old Sword Master offered to give me the Hyeon Geom?’
The Taeguk Hyeon Geom.
There is something contained within that sword technique.
I couldn’t discern what it was yet.
“Brother!”
“Hahaha, brother!”
My thoughts were interrupted. Chu Dal and Baek Heon-so had leaped onto the arena and tackled me.
“Congratulations on your victory!”
“You’ve done it again!”
‘Right, I’ll set aside what I don’t understand for later. It seems I’ll figure it out eventually anyway.’
Finishing my thoughts, I grinned widely.
“It’s the obvious result—why make such a fuss?”
I replied while glancing toward where my father stood.
His expression was composed, yet unmistakable pride gleamed in his eyes as he looked upon his son.
A thought suddenly occurred to me.
Baek Heon-so, nestled against my side, was beaming widely.
‘If I were Seo from my past life, I would have felt jealousy and rage in this moment.’
Moreover, Chu Dal likely wouldn’t have known about any of this.
All of this was the result of what I had accomplished with my own hands in this new life.
‘I walk my own path. That is all that matters.’
“That’s right, Chu Dal.”
“What is it, sir?”
With so many eyes watching, I whispered close to his ear.
“First, secure the money.”
True to his sharp instincts, Chu Dal immediately grasped my meaning.
“Huh? Before the match, my brother’s odds suddenly dropped sharply. Could it be…?”
“Yes. I wagered quite heavily.”
Thanks to the news that I had suffered severe injuries from Nang Hon’s surprise attack, the odds had fallen far more than expected.
This was an opportunity to make a fortune—there was no way I could let it slip away.
Absolutely not.
“Brother, you certainly are something.”
“Living frugally leads to prosperity.”
Besides, once the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering ended, there would be far more expenses to manage.
I would need to begin expansion in earnest.
Even if it meant waging war.
“Understood, sir.”
Chu Dal dashed away, and I descended from the arena.
As I walked, my gaze happened to cross with Hyeon Geom’s.
‘The disciple of the Taeguk Sword Master, who never appeared in my past life.’
I turned my head toward the Taeguk Sword Master.
The Geom-ong was also gazing at me at that very moment.
Our eyes met briefly. I could not discern the emotion contained within.
‘Did you see what you desired, old master?’

* * *
After the match between Yang Hwi and Hyeon Geom, the two Jeil-ryong candidates, concluded.
The arena was reorganized for approximately one hour before the next match began.
“Shaolin’s Iron Pagoda Fist Dragon! Hwa-san’s Plum Blossom Sword Dragon! Take the arena!”
Adu tossed the rice cake he was eating and caught it in his mouth.
Three chews, exactly. Then he swallowed it whole.
‘Hehe, delicious.’
Now that I’ve eaten something delicious, it’s time to digest it.
If moving for digestion brings joy, then even better.
‘Where did Yang Hwi go? Ah, there he is.’
A gentle smile curved across Adu’s lips.
For Adu, Yang Hwi was someone whose mere sight lifted his spirits.
“A good person.”
Though no one noticed, Yang Hwi was radiant.
And radiant people are good people.
And also….
Adu turned his head to look at Hyeon Geom on the other side.
‘Two good people fought each other.’
I couldn’t understand why. Why did they fight?
Ah! I see!
They weren’t fighting. They were playing.
Just like how my Master and I play every single day.
Adu wanted to play too.
With Yang Hwi, the first good person I discovered.
‘Then I have to win!’
Adu’s gaze turned toward Okcheon.
Suddenly, Adu rounded his lips.
Something felt off.
“Master Taoist. Aren’t you having fun?”
Though I hadn’t seen him many times, Okcheon was a cheerful person.
But now his expression seemed troubled.
“Not having fun, you say? How strange. You should be delighted, facing a strong opponent like yourself.”
“Yeah. Let’s have fun playing.”
Adu’s words touched Okcheon’s heart.
“Have fun playing, you say. For you, martial arts are purely something to play with.”
Okcheon was the same.
His long-cherished goal was the restoration of the Plum Blossom Sword technique, but the root of his desire was joy.
“You’re close with the Gaecheon Geomryong, aren’t you?”
“Yeah! We’re close!”
Gaecheon Geomryong Baek Yang Hwi. Okcheon recalled the time they crossed swords.
One who has mastered the profound mysteries of Plum Blossom Twenty-Four Strikes among all twenty-four techniques.
Forgotten, yet one who declared with his own lips that he inherited Hwa-san’s martial lineage.
‘I thought I had found a kindred spirit to pursue the sword path together through mutual inquiry.’
The other even revealed his favor and proposed sworn brotherhood.
Okcheon had been genuinely delighted. He wanted to advance together.
That was how it had been.
‘Now that I think about it, it is rather strange.’
We had only met a few times.
It was not a relationship where disappointment or regret made sense simply because our intentions differed.
Yet why did I feel such longing and regret?
Could there have been a deep karmic connection in a past life?
“I shall go, Monk.”
I drew my sword. I poured my stray thoughts into the blade.
Okcheon slowly lifted the corners of his mouth.
Now was the time to enjoy this.
Even if I were to lose.

* * *
The result of Okcheon and Adu’s match had been decided.
“The victor is Shaolin’s Iron Pagoda Fist Dragon!”
At first glance it appeared evenly matched, and Okcheon’s struggle shone brilliantly in the match.
Amid the passionate cheers that poured forth, Yang Hwi felt a bitter taste.
‘As expected.’
Okcheon was also a talent who transcended his station.
Yet he could not compare to Adu.
In my past life, Adu was a sprout that withered early, having lost his life.
I could not understand it.
What had happened in my past life that Adu died and Shaolin moved in fury?
It was a past I could never know now.
‘Moreover… the lack of superior martial arts was an even greater problem than the difference in talent.’
As the saying “all martial arts originate from Shaolin” suggests, Shaolin possessed countless techniques.
Adu, who had received supreme martial arts from Yeoilrakbul of the Cheonmu-sip-jon.
Okcheon of Hwa-san, who had practiced the latter half of Plum Blossom Twenty-Four Strikes, the supreme sword technique.
Between the two, there inevitably existed a stark difference.
‘Hwa-san also… agreed to the establishment of the Martial Alliance.’
Hwa-san, once the greatest sect under heaven, had declined due to the blood debt of Geom Wang’s faction.
It could never compare to Shaolin, the greatest sect under heaven of this era.
Regarding the Martial Alliance’s justification of avenging the blood debt of Geom Wang’s faction, Hwa-san could not have refused.
‘Had I grown closer to Brother Okcheon at this Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, I could have naturally repaid the debt of gratitude owed to Hwa-san.’
The opportunity I had originally planned for had vanished.
I need to think of another approach.
“Hwi, let’s go.”
The match was over, and it was time to return to our quarters.
Yang Hwi turned his head upon hearing Baek Moo-ryang’s words.
“Father, I have somewhere else I need to visit.”
“Hmm? You have business to attend to?”
“Yes.”
I didn’t elaborate on the details.
If I were to explain, I’d have to lay everything bare, and there were aspects Father wouldn’t approve of.
‘Still, there’s no helping it. Since Geom-ong has accelerated the Martial Alliance’s announcement, I must cross certain lines as well.’
Yang Hwi made his way toward the spectator section where members of the Jegal Family had gathered.
Among those preparing to leave their seats, I approached Jegal Seon.
“Uncle.”
“Yang Hwi. Congratulations on your victory.”
“Thank you. I have something to discuss with you regarding this matter.”
“Oh?”
“I believe it could prove beneficial to the Jegal Family.”
Jegal Seon’s eyes sharpened slightly.
“I see. We should find a quiet place to speak privately.”

* * *
In a quiet private chamber, I sat with Jegal Seon, Jegal Hwa-un, and Jegal Seol-ha.
“I’m not sure what you wish to discuss, but I have no objections.”
“Of course.”
“Speak then, Yang Hwi. What is this matter that benefits our main family?”
“It’s simple. I defeated Hyeon Geom.”
Jegal Seon exchanged a glance with his son, Jegal Hwa-un.
“Your victory carries special significance, Young Master Hwi. The Shaman must feel as though he’s been drenched in cold water.”
There was no warmth in Jegal Hwa-un’s voice.
And for good reason.
The Shaman was acting recklessly in Honam, the Jegal Family’s domain, and had even excluded them from the Martial Alliance’s establishment.
‘The Shaman made a grave mistake by excluding the Five Great Families, but he must have judged that the Jegal Family falls under Eum Hu’s sphere of influence.’
“I wish to prevent the Shaman’s establishment of the Martial Alliance. Will you help me?”
Jegal Seon nodded without a moment’s hesitation.
“Of course. Rather, we should be asking you. I’m curious to know your plan.”
“It’s simple. I’d like you to spread a rumor.”
The Baek Family could spread certain rumors to some degree, but nothing compared to the Jegal Family.
Especially not rumors the other party wished to suppress.
“A disciple of the Taeguk Sword Master and the Shaman’s greatest talent was defeated by the heir of an obscure minor clan. Doesn’t this suggest that Geom-ong may have failed in raising his disciple properly?”
Though it was merely a match between rising talents, victory and defeat were trivial matters.
As befitted members of the Jegal Family, they all grasped the intention immediately.
“So the idea is to paint a picture where the talent cultivated by Geom-ong is inferior to one who grew up on his own.”
“If a hothouse flower proves inferior to a weed, there would be no reason to pay such a premium to enter a hothouse in the first place, Father.”
“Goodness, your scheming is truly masterful, older brother. We could attribute Hyeon Geom’s defeat to a flaw in Geom-ong’s leadership.”
At the term “older brother,” both Jegal Seon and Jegal Hwa-un’s heads snapped toward Yang Hwi.
‘Oh dear, both of them have fire blazing in their eyes.’
Both Jegal Seon and Jegal Hwa-un were notorious doting fathers and uncles, so it was unavoidable.
“The resentment from before… it seems it hasn’t fully dissipated yet…”
“Same here, Father… *grumbles*…”
“But let us exercise restraint for now, Yang Hwi. Would spreading rumors suffice? Mere gossip alone won’t be enough to prevent the establishment of the Martial Alliance.”
A fair point. After all, the opponent was the Shaman of All Under Heaven, one of the Cheonmu-sip-jon.
However, a tower built too high must be toppled gradually, brick by brick from its foundation.
“But there is one problem. Yang Hwi, you are not merely the scion of a minor martial family—you are a disciple of the Cheonmu-sip-jon. Did you not reveal this yourself?”
It was a valid point, but I had already considered this matter beforehand.
“That makes it even better. If they respond with countermeasures in that manner, wouldn’t it actually work in our favor?”
I was about to explain further when Jegal Seol-ha interjected.
“Ah, I see. You’re trying to emphasize that you’re a lay disciple?”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————