Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 284

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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 284
Can a single person truly shatter a mountain?
No one could say for certain, but this much was undeniable.
With merely one human, a massive water fortress could be destroyed!
“My younger brother’s martial prowess has grown tremendously.”
“Indeed. I’m not sure when he became so powerful, but he’s truly a monster.”
The water surface churned violently. From it emanated waves of force.
The water fortress was collapsing inward.
Like a sword blade struck by a hammer, it trembled violently, unable to withstand the power and shattering apart.
For Dang-gun and Chu Dal, who had spent an hour with Yang Hwi, it was a sight they could only watch in stunned silence.
‘Even if one reaches a higher realm, could they truly display such divine technique? I cannot say.’
The Dang Family’s martial arts were certainly optimized for mass destruction, but that didn’t mean they possessed overwhelming destructive power.
Even reaching the pinnacle would make it impossible to shatter a massive water fortress in a single strike.
“Well, my older brother should be capable of at least that much.”
As Jegal Seol-ha spoke, her expression burned with competitive spirit.
Having learned the same sound technique, she felt even more acutely how extraordinary the divine technique Yang Hwi had displayed truly was.
‘Could I do the same?’
Impossible. It was a divine technique where vibrations were driven directly through the sword as a medium, enhanced by the mysteries of the great sea.
But someday, I will achieve it. For I walk this path alongside Yang Hwi.
“Wow, this looks fun. I wish I had gone too.”
Only Adu felt neither admiration nor competitive spirit.
As one trained in Shaolin, Adu possessed the inner strength and martial prowess to recreate the spectacle before his eyes.
“It seems our turn has come.”
Neung-o drew his sword and pointed it forward.
Though the water fortress had been destroyed, not all the water bandits had been annihilated.
While the small fry were finished, those with sufficient martial prowess leaped out like grasshoppers caught in flames.
“I’ll go first.”
An arrow flew forth. Riding the lingering waves of vibration, Bin-do advanced in a winding path and pierced the water bandits with his sword technique.
It was like skewering fish on a stick.
“I’m going too!”
Adu, wrapped in golden light from head to toe, charged forward.
The golden radiance grew larger with each moment. Dozens of water bandits who had escaped and regrouped were crushed in a single charge.
“Shall we go as well, Dang Soga-ju?”
“Let us do so. I’ll strike first, Jegal Sojeo.”
Dang-gun, his hands thrust deep into his sleeves, unleashed his technique.
Dozens of hidden projectiles scattered forth, trailing poison in their wake.
Chara-rang!
The sound wave Jegal Seol-ha released dispersed the poison far and wide.
Thus, a hundred paces in all directions around the water fortress were sealed off by poison and sound waves.
“These enemies are bastards not worth negotiating with, so we can kill them all without hesitation, yes?”
“Very well. A few strong ones are bound to survive anyway—we can simply interrogate them.”

* * *
A bonfire blazed atop the heap of collapsed water channels.
Or rather, it was far too massive to be called merely a bonfire.
Wooden pillars and fragments scattered about had been hurled into the flames.
Beside the roaring inferno, the Azure Heaven flag fluttered magnificently from a long pole.
“Elder brother, another ship from the water bandits approaches.”
“Leave it be. The word needs to spread far and wide.”
With that reply, I kicked the pole so the Azure Heaven flag would wave even more splendidly.
The Azure Heaven flag planted atop the collapsed water channels.
Already more than six merchant vessels had witnessed this sight in passing.
Since I’d also let the scout ships of the water bandits depart, the rumors would spread in an instant.
I clutched my belly and rolled about with gleeful laughter.
“The Namgung bastards—they can’t wriggle out of this now, can they?”
“Even if they try to distance themselves, the Changjiang Water Route Alliance won’t stay silent. A flag of the Azure Heaven now stands where their affiliated water channels collapsed.”
The Namgung’s intentions mattered little. Whether the executor belonged to the Namgung was equally irrelevant.
Countless witnesses had seen this spectacle. For the sake of their reputation, the Changjiang Water Route Alliance would have no choice but to punish the Namgung Family.
“And as a bonus, I’ve also restored the prestige of the main family.”
Not far from the fluttering Azure Heaven flag, at a higher position, the Gae-cheon flag of the Baek Family stood planted.
It made crystal clear that today’s affair was retaliation for the outrages committed by the Changjiang Water Route Alliance.
“The Gae-cheon Jeil-ryong of the Baek Family destroyed Chullak Channel with a single strike! Should we spread such rumors far and wide, elder brother?”
“Yes. Spread it everywhere, Chu Dal.”
“Leave it to me. I’ll use the messenger network to ensure rapid dissemination.”
“Good.”
“Elder brother. Shouldn’t we return to the Baek Family soon? We’ve already waited a full day.”
The reason I’d gone to such lengths to plant the flags and wait.
I’d hoped the water bandits would come seeking revenge.
‘The cowards are frightened. Not a trace of them after one water channel was annihilated.’
They couldn’t even be bothered—just sending scout ships one at a time.
“You’re right, Seolha. There’s no point waiting any longer.”
Even having reached the Jeil-ryong realm, one was still merely a late-stage expert.
With such a person’s hand destroying a water channel, they’d apparently decided to gather more information rather than dispatch forces immediately.
Water bandits—all cowardice, no courage.
Clap!
As I clapped, wind surged forth and extinguished the massive bonfire.
I picked up a skewer that had been planted near the fire and bit into the fish meat dripping with oil.
“Ah, perfectly cooked. Let’s take the fish and eat it when we get hungry.”
After another bite, I tossed the fish into the air.
Won-woo, who’d been circling nearby, descended swiftly and snatched the fish with his talons.
“So we’re moving right now, yes? Chu Dal, I’d like to reach an inn before nightfall. Do you know a good place?”
“One moment, let me check the map, Jegal.”
Chu Dal was just pulling out a map when I spoke.
“Don’t bother. I have no intention of staying at an inn.”
“What? But I hate sleeping outdoors, Elder Brother.”
“Don’t worry. I hate it too.”
“Then what’s your plan?”
“Well, the river’s right beside us. Why exhaust ourselves walking? Let’s just steal a boat from those water bandits and sail instead.”
Dang-gun interjected.
“Hwi, isn’t that suicide? The Yangtze River Alliance will be watching for us. Moving by waterway is madness.”
He had a point.
But still.
“Elder Dang, did you forget?”
As I finished speaking and pointed my finger at the sky, Dang-gun nodded in understanding.
“Ah, if Won-woo is with us, that should be fine, shouldn’t it?”
“Right. Won-woo, I’m counting on you.”
Won-woo, who had been flying through the air tearing into fish, let out a cheerful cry.
-Keeaaa!

* * *
“They annihilated an entire stronghold of the Yangtze River Alliance. Six disciples of that master, all in the late stages of inner qi cultivation, gathered together. Is this true?”
Namgung Sa-geom bowed his head in response to Namgung Il-geom’s question.
“Yes, Family Head.”
“They planted the Azure Sky Flag atop the ruins of the destroyed stronghold and waited there for a full day?”
“They must be mad.”
No one could fail to understand what such an action meant.
“They certainly know how to use the flag I gave them as a token.”
“I cannot fathom how the son of Baek Do employs such cunning for evil purposes.”
A chill descended upon the office for a moment.
“That fellow is what he is. Even if he’s a mudskipper thrashing about in the mire, when his scale grows this large, he must be called a dragon. Wouldn’t you agree, Sa-geom?”
“Your words are wise, Family Head.”
Judging by the agreement alone, the Namgung Family should have held the advantage.
Yet Baek Yang-hwi had seized the upper hand for the Baek Family through an unexpected move.
Now the Namgung Family would need to commit far greater forces to their war with the Yangtze River Alliance than originally planned.
“And they’ve stolen a scout boat and are returning via the waterway. Is this confirmed?”
I had already received this report, but I sought confirmation once more.
The matter was simply too unbelievable.
“Yes. They’ve already traveled roughly halfway.”
“Without encountering a single water bandit.”
Those who destroyed the stronghold were now traveling by waterway?
The Yangtze River Water Alliance could not simply let this pass.
If they returned safely to the Baek Family, it would deal a serious blow to the Water Alliance’s prestige.
“How are they moving without getting caught? They can’t possibly know every tributary of the Yangtze’s complex network.”
“We are still investigating that matter, Family Head.”
Namgung Il-geom and Namgung Sa-geom were unaware of Won-woo’s existence.
To be precise, they only knew of Yeo Dong-bin’s divine beast, but they had no knowledge of what abilities Won-woo possessed.
It was only natural.
Won-woo—or rather, Geom Seon’s celestial beast, the Heavenly Eagle—had revealed itself to the mortal world for the first time after his master’s ascension to immortality.
“At least one thing is certain. They can navigate the Yangtze’s tributaries, tangled like a spider’s web, as easily as walking through their own home.”
“That appears to be the case. I suspect the Yangtze River Water Alliance will suffer complete humiliation.”
A thief had declared they would steal, yet they were robbed anyway—true and utter disgrace.
“So both our Namgung and the Yangtze River Water Alliance have become victims of this jest.”
Namgung Il-geom, with interlaced fingers resting upon his knees, lifted the corners of his mouth.
“Amusing. This will be worth watching.”
He would continue to observe without turning his gaze away.
Only then would he know where to sink his teeth.

* * *
-Keeeeee!
“Chu Dal, turn the rudder. Water bandits spotted ahead.”
-Keeeeee!
“No masters among this group. Let’s crush them and move on.”
-Keeeeee!
“Hey! Break the rudder! Stop! Hide!”
-Keeeeee!
“Full speed ahead from here! We go straight to Jiujiang!”
Returning by boat on the Yangtze, where the second greatest evil sect under heaven, the Yangtze River Water Alliance, lay in wait.
It was quite easy.
‘This is like eating rice cakes while lying down and then drinking cold porridge on top of it.’
Won-woo possessed the ability to share vision.
Not only that, but his eyesight was incomparably superior to ordinary hawks, and his speed was extraordinary as well.
In terms of reconnaissance, Won-woo was undoubtedly the most exceptional spirit beast under heaven.
‘A fleet of multiple ships might be different, but a single small, swift reconnaissance vessel could never be caught.’
Jiujiang in Jiangxi, bordering the Yangtze.
Once the domain of the Black Prison Faction, now the territory of the Baek Family.
Upon reaching Jiujiang, Yang Hwi’s party abandoned the boat and deployed their lightness technique.
Thus passed a day.
At last, the party arrived at the Baek Family without suffering any losses to the water bandits.
“Hwi!”
“Father!”
Because I had sent Won-woo ahead, Father Baek Moo-ryang and the family elders were arrayed before the Baek Family’s main gate.
I smiled at my father calling out my name with a raised voice, and my body shot forward.
Smack!
“Ow!”
I took a flick to the forehead squarely.
“You fool—just how many lives do you think you have? Are you a nine-tailed fox? And bringing disciples from other sects along with you, no less!”
“But I survived, didn’t I?”
Smack!
“Ow!”
Father Baek Moo-ryang turned his gaze with a fearsome expression.
It was directed at the group who had stopped in their tracks upon seeing me take another flick after approaching.
“Dang Soga-ju. Tell me—who exactly suggested taking a boat back through the waterways?”
Dang-gun pointed at me without a moment’s hesitation.
“It was Hwi, Family Head! I tried to stop him, but he wouldn’t listen!”
“Elder Dang! Don’t lie! You didn’t try to stop me—you agreed to it!”
Dang-gun disowned me with a gesture.
“I clearly said it was dangerous!”
“Wow, how unfair. I nodded because you said it was fine since Won-woo was there, and—ow!”
Smack!
“Aaah!”
Smack!
“Father! It hurts!”
“That’s why I’m hitting you!”
It truly hurt. Father Baek Moo-ryang was infusing inner qi into each flick.
Even Chu Dal in the back wore an expression of complete satisfaction from the barrage of flicks.
Father Baek Moo-ryang only stopped when my forehead had swollen bright red.
“Hwi. Always prioritize your own safety. I’m asking you.”
‘But I did that this time too.’
If I said that honestly, I’d get hit again, wouldn’t I?
“Yes, Father!”
I answered quickly with a sincere expression, but Father Baek Moo-ryang’s face said he wasn’t buying it.
“I know you won’t listen. But each time you pull something like this, today will repeat itself.”
“…Yes.”
“Still… you did well.”
“I knew it, didn’t I?”
Father Baek Moo-ryang sighed as my attitude shifted immediately, then continued.
“Yes. I can’t deny it. Thanks to you, our Baek Family has seized advantageous ground.”
The Changjiang Waterway Alliance’s first strike. A surprise attack on the Baek Family’s main compound with hundreds of men.
Our retaliation. The annihilation of Chungnak Pavilion and our return through the waterways.
This was many times over a greater counterattack than the damage we had suffered.
“Kekeke, I imagine you’re having quite a few thoughts by now?”
“Indeed. I’ve shown the world that our Baek Family is far from easy prey.”
We had exchanged blows once each, making us even.
So the true war was only beginning now, and this time it was the Baek Family’s turn to strike first.
“Father, are you ready?”
“Of course.”
I lifted my head slightly and surveyed my surroundings.
The first thing that caught my eye was the main gate.
In terms of height alone, it towered above the Namgung Family’s gate as if symbolizing past glory, yet it had once been nothing but an eyesore due to lack of funds for repairs.
Now it stood clean and pristine, with the plaque bearing the four characters “Gae-cheon Baek Family” brushed in bold strokes, and above it the Gae-cheon flag fluttering proudly in the wind.
Next, I gazed upon my retainers.
The Baek Young Talents, gathered and trained personally from childhood.
The reformed criminals who had once been the Black Blade Gang but were now retainers of the Baek Family.
And the surrendered martial artists who had flocked beneath the Baek Family banner, their names renowned throughout the land.
Hundreds of warriors stood arrayed before the Baek Family’s main gate.
‘Seonran Hwayong-sul. The harmony of response and clarity. Yes. It is possible.’
This war.
The Five Great Families would become the Six Great Families, and Gae-cheon Baek Family would be reborn as a true Baek Clan of the ages.
It was the moment I harbored such ambitions.
Uuuuuung!
The Geom Seon Jijul in my bosom began to vibrate.

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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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