Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 274

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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 274
Fourteen martial artists deployed their full strength, executing their lightness techniques at maximum speed.
Yang Hwi ran at the forefront, then glanced back over his shoulder.
‘I’m uneasy. My intuition feels off.’
I prided myself on having keen instincts.
I decided to trust my gut feeling.
“Father. I shall press ahead more quickly.”
“Hwi, we’ve already organized a vanguard unit and are moving with urgency. Your remaining stamina upon arrival is equally important.”
I understood. That’s precisely why I was saying this.
“Please follow at a pace that preserves your strength. I’ll go ahead first.”
“Even for you, traveling alone is dangerous.”
“It’s fine. Seolha and Adu are with me.”
While Baek Moo-ryang was the oldest in the vanguard unit, there were actually three others superior to him in terms of inner cultivation and movement techniques.
“Adu. Seolha. Are you both willing?”
“Yes!”
“Of course, Elder Brother.”
“Father. Please grant your permission.”
“Then swear to me. Swear you’ll be careful.”
“I will.”
Permission was granted. In an instant, Yang Hwi’s figure vanished into the distance, with Adu and Jegal Seol-ha following in his wake.
Baek Moo-ryang could only shake his head in amazement.
‘Hwi. To become a father you need not be ashamed of, I must strive even harder. Please protect our retainers.’
When the vanguard unit had fallen so far behind as to disappear from view, Yang Hwi spoke.
“Adu. Seolha. Can you run even faster?”
“Huh? Yes!”
“No need to hold back—just push forward at full speed, Elder Brother.”
“Thank you.”
I combined Eum Hu’s One Step Thousand Li with Yongwang-do’s Great Sea technique.
The amplified inner force, reaching the magnitude of ten heavenly stems, erupted explosively, and the scenery around us stretched and blurred as our speed intensified.
“Ugh, this might be a bit tough?”
“Yang Hwi! At this pace, I’m struggling!”
“Will you be too exhausted to fight immediately upon arrival?”
“No, not to that extent.”
“If your energy runs out, I’ll fight with my body!”
I felt somewhat apologetic, but maintained the speed nonetheless.
Simultaneously, I ground my teeth.
‘Those damned bastards. I’ll crush every last one of them.’
How much time had passed?
I had barely slept, only running continuously.
The Gu River appeared in the distance. We had arrived in Gangseong.
“Let’s rest here for a moment. Once I’ve recovered my strength as much as possible, we’ll ride without stopping until we reach the main house and engage in battle immediately.”
“Yes, Elder Brother.”
“Yang Hwi, do you want to sleep?”
He collapsed and fell asleep at once, while Seolha began to circulate her energy through breathing exercises.
Since one of them had to stand guard, Yang Hwi merely circulated the Small Heavenly Circuit while remaining vigilant of his surroundings.
When he was an assassin, he had to be ready to fight at any moment—a skill he had mastered back then.
“It’s time. Let’s go again.”
“Got it!”
“Yes, let’s go.”
The three of them raced in a straight line, indifferent to mountains, fields, or roads.
In less than three hours, they arrived at Namchang, and without stopping, they continued until finally crossing into Muzhou’s territory, reaching at last the mountain ridge where the Baek Family estate came into view.
“It’s swarming, Elder Brother.”
“Like ants.”
Had they arrived any later, it would have been catastrophic.
From the numbers, it appeared they were attempting to overwhelm the exhausted members of the main family with one final massive assault.
That was the moment.
‘Huh? Elder Brother Gu…!’
My enhanced vision, sharpened by concentrated inner energy, pierced through thousands of zhang into the distance.
A towering man dropping to one knee under the combined assault of countless enemies.
It was unmistakably Gu Ak, and Yang Hwi’s eyes blazed with fury.
“I’ll tear them all apart!”
One Step Heaven, Swift Swift Swift Speed!
A tempest erupted. The distance of thousands of zhang rapidly closed, and the blade that swung forth stirred the wind once more.
Gae-cheon-bak-pal-geom Technique, Second Secret.
Heavenly Wings Suppress All Under Heaven!
-Kiiiiiiiiiiiii!
The hawk’s cry poured forth in convulsive waves.
With a resonant cry, pure white feathers bloomed forth.
As vast as his fury itself.
The swirling feathers possessed enough force to crush the earth, and held power sufficient to shred mere enemies and more.
Kuakuakuakuakuakuakua!
A single strike, yet it claimed the lives of a hundred.
With one leap, Yang Hwi descended before Gu Ak and examined his condition.
“Elder Brother Gu! Elder Brother Gu!”
He grasped his collar and shook him vigorously, but Gu Ak did not awaken.
Having confirmed that his injuries were not severe, the shaking revealed that fatigue had accumulated to the point of deep sleep.
“Rest, Elder Brother Gu. I’ll handle what comes next.”
He turned his body.
From the heavens, celestial melodies and golden meteors were descending.
‘I’ve reduced their numbers by roughly two hundred, so I can entrust the rest to those two.’
Even if more water bandits poured in, there would be no problem.
The separate unit and main force would arrive in sequence at the appointed time.
So Yang Hwi decided to prioritize regrouping his retainers.
Though he wished he could tear apart even one more of those bastards.
Protecting his retainers’ lives came first.

* * *
The water bandits who attacked the Baek Family numbered roughly five hundred, but fortunately there were no fatal casualties.
To be precise, all the direct line members and senior figures were safe.
This was thanks to Gu Ak’s desperate defense.
“You’ve worked hard, Baek Ik-gak-ju. I shall repay this debt without fail.”
“How could the Family Head speak such words to a mere retainer? It is not a debt but a duty, and not repayment but commendation that is fitting.”
“I appreciate you saying so even more. Surely you won’t deny that a lord may also express gratitude?”
Baek Moo-ryang, who had commended Gu Ak, struck the table.
With a resounding thud, the senior figures gathered in the conference hall bowed their heads.
“The Baek Family shall surely retaliate for this incident. We must offer the blood of these water bandits as a sacrifice to our fallen retainers. However, before that, there is a matter to clarify. Five hundred attackers—this is essentially a declaration of war, a full-scale assault by the Changjiang Water Alliance. Han Supervisor.”
“I await your question, Family Head.”
“What justification have they put forth?”
“The Heuk-gyeong Faction. Since we struck at a subordinate force of the Water Alliance, they claim retaliation is warranted.”
The Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju—or rather, Baek Gyeong-dang-ju—rose with an aggrieved expression.
He had been recruited while Yang Hwi was away from the main residence and had become a member of the Baek Family, knowing the details of these matters better than anyone.
“The Water Alliance’s justification is mere sophistry. Before becoming Baek Gyeong-dang, the Heuk-gyeong Faction completely severed all ties with the Water Alliance.”
The Heuk-gyeong Faction—the last Heuk-do faction remaining in Gangseong.
Before the Baek Family’s mad ascent, it had controlled Gugang and Wonju, earning the title of Gangseong’s premier force.
“I trust the Family Head remembers, for I mentioned this when you first proposed that I become one of your retainers.”
Around the time the Yongfeng Conference had entered its main stage with the True Dragon Tournament, Baek Moo-ryang had taken the Heuk-gyeong Bang-ju into his service.
The Heuk-gyeong Faction bordered Gugang and conducted Changjiang river commerce, and though not a bandit collective, it was a faction that profited by operating boats.
For the Baek Family, controlling Changjiang river commerce was a crucial enterprise that had to be seized.
“Baek Gyeong-dang-ju.”
The summons from the family’s Young Master, Yang Hwi. Baek Gyeong-dang-ju responded.
“Why do you call upon me, Young Master?”
His tone was curt for a retainer addressing the Young Master.
Yet no one in the room blamed him.
‘Didn’t the Young Master stake the family’s honor on not attacking?’
‘And then pressured the Heuk-do faction, saying he wouldn’t keep his promise?’
‘It wouldn’t be strange if he flew into a rage, but this much? Baek Gyeong-dang-ju truly is a good-natured man.’
Yang Hwi likewise made no issue of it and continued.
“Gugang has long suffered from the Water Alliance’s exploitation. The Heuk-gyeong Faction, by donning black robes and becoming a subordinate force of the Water Alliance, reduced the suffering of the common people. Thus Baek Gyeong-dang-ju’s merit is immense. Even if the Water Alliance’s intent were purely retaliation for the Heuk-gyeong Faction’s elimination, I would not raise objection. Is that not so, Father?”
Baek Moo-ryang answered without a moment’s hesitation.
“Of course, Hwi. Baek Gyeong-dang-ju and all under Gaengaeng-gak-ju are members of the Baek Family. This is a truth that shall never change.”
Baek Moo-ryang’s words also meant there was no reason to abandon the Baek Family members and strip the Sullo Alliance of its justification.
Baek Moo-ryang, having discerned Yang Hwi’s intention, was instilling trust in him.
“Therefore, let us focus solely on how we shall confront the Sullo Alliance.”
A brief silence followed.
The Sullo Alliance was hardly an easy opponent, so this was only natural.
Yang Hwi, too, paused in thought rather than speak immediately.
‘The justification itself lies with the Sullo Alliance, and we fall behind in power as well.’
This was also the reason I had treated the Heuk-do Faction separately during the Black Path Struggle years ago.
In my past life, I witnessed firsthand how the Yangtze River Sullo Alliance moved under the pretext of the Heuk-do Faction.
‘That’s why I conducted the purge of the Heuk-do Faction during the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering. They moved when there was the least reason to do so. Why on earth?’
The Gae-cheon Baek Family had produced Jeil-ryong.
The eyes of the realm were fixed upon the Baek Family.
Yet in such circumstances, they deliberately targeted the Baek Family.
Look at what happened immediately. Did not members of Jeomchang, Jegal, and the Dang Family come to offer their support?
‘Moreover, they mobilized five hundred men from the start—not against our enterprises, but struck at the main estate itself.’
“Father, the Heuk-do Faction is merely a pretext. There must surely be another reason. Uncovering this will be equally important.”
“Do you have any suspicions?”
“None as yet. I believe we need to investigate further. Besides, since an all-out war has essentially begun, discussing countermeasures should take priority first.”
“Your words are sound. The foremost concern is how we shall counterattack.”
The atmosphere within the conference hall grew heavier.
The Yangtze River Sullo Alliance. One of the two greatest evil sects in the realm, alongside the Hyeol Sa-ryeon.
The Shaman had formed the Martial Alliance to oppose the Hyeol Sa-ryeon.
In other words, the Yangtze River Sullo Alliance was a vast evil sect so enormous that even the Martial Alliance was necessary to confront it.
“The main family alone cannot possibly stand against them. We must request reinforcements.”
It was the Young Scholar, who had swiftly calculated the situation, who spoke.
“We must transform this from a Sullo Alliance versus Baek Family conflict into a Sullo Alliance versus Il-ik Alliance struggle.”
“Even if it becomes the Il-ik Alliance, it merely adds the Dang Family, the Jegal Family, and the Jeomchang Faction. There can be no equality in such a battle.”
Baek Moo-ryang’s rebuttal was also without flaw.
Yet the Young Scholar continued immediately.
“The difference between the Hyeol Sa-ryeon and the Yangtze River Sullo Alliance lies in cohesion versus dispersion. Though the Sullo Alliance is called one of the two greatest evil sects, each individual faction is merely a drop in the ocean, scattered across the realm. Therefore, our Baek Family and the Il-ik Alliance need only proceed according to our original plan.”
To undertake the Yangtze River Venture, we inevitably had to stand against the Sullo Alliance.
No—we had to transcend mere opposition and conflict.
At minimum, we needed to be confident of an eighty percent victory rate against the Sullo Alliance’s assault before we could proceed with the Venture.
‘Otherwise, we would have to pay tribute to the Yangtze River Sullo Alliance.’
This was also why the Baek Path factions did not directly throw themselves into the Yangtze River Venture.
The opponent was one of the two greatest evil sects in the realm, and from the perspective of the Baek Path factions, the moment they paid tribute to the Sullo Alliance, the honor of their sects would be trampled into the dust.
‘I have made many preparations to face the Sullo Alliance… but it is too soon. I am still lacking.’
I could not fathom why they had launched an assault at such a time.
Had there been a reason within my expectations, I would have hastened my preparations.
It was then.
‘Hmm?’
Young Scholar’s expression caught my eye.
That distinctive look he’d worn since childhood whenever he wanted to show off.
“One-winged alliance is insufficient.”
“Hwi. For you to say such a thing means you must have a scheme in mind.”
“No, sir. I don’t have one.”
Yang Hwi pointed a finger toward Young Scholar.
“Young Scholar appears to have thought of something. Am I right, Young Scholar?”
“Yes, Young Master. I do have a ghostly stratagem.”
Baek Moo-ryang’s brow furrowed slightly.
“Speak, Young Scholar. What do you mean by a ghostly stratagem—neither a superior strategy nor a cunning one?”
“What if we requested assistance from the Namgung Family?”
“….”
Truly a ghostly stratagem—utter nonsense, like a ghost eating bean chaff.

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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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