Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 286

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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 286
This Seo Seong-saeng keeps saying “let me see, let me see,” so there’s nothing he won’t say.
I should just grab him once and be done with it.
What kind of nonsense is telling me to become a mercenary when I have nothing else to say?
Common folk often lump bandits and mercenaries into the category of heterodox sects.
But by my standards, those called thieves were subhuman beasts far worse than the heterodox bastards.
Those called thieves cannot be recycled.
They’re cockroaches that must be caught and killed on sight.
With that thought, I flicked my finger.
‘Finger Flicking Divine Technique!’
I hadn’t secretly learned Shaolin’s supreme techniques, but I fired finger flicks so rapidly they deserved to be called a divine technique.
Snap! Snap! Snap! Snap! Snap! Snap!
“Ow, ugh, dying, ugh, gurgling….”
I woke up Seo Seong-saeng, who had fainted from the qi strike of capturing emptiness, and glared at him.
“Explain yourself and convince me within ten breaths. Otherwise, you’re in for a world of hurt today.”
Thinking it was getting too noisy, I checked the faces of Father and the elders.
‘Hmm, no problems there.’
The remark about becoming a mercenary had certainly crossed a line.
“I didn’t mean for you to actually become a mercenary! That could never happen, Young Master!”
“So if I call you a bastard, it doesn’t mean you actually become a dog, right?”
“Oh, well, that’s true.”
“This bastard?”
As I growled, Seo Seong-saeng jumped in fright.
“An explanation! Let me explain first! I meant you should become a righteous outlaw who catches mercenaries—no, provoke the Yangtze River Mercenary Alliance! Like the Liangshan heroes of old in Water Margin!”
I paused before flicking another chestnut at him.
Hmm, that does sound somewhat intriguing.
There’s nothing quite as entertaining as scratching the itch of dealing with those mercenary bastards.
But Father seemed to have different thoughts.
“The only expected ripple effect would be drawing the Yangtze River Mercenary Alliance’s attention to our Baek Family, particularly to you. Why should we undertake such a dangerous venture?”
“It’s simple, Family Head. To protect what our Baek Family might lose.”
“And what might that be?”
“The reputation of Greatest Under Heaven.”
Hyeon Geom, disciple of the Shaman sect’s founding patriarch.
Namgung Cheon-yeong, the Soga-joonim of the Namgung Family.
Both were losers who failed to claim the title of Greatest Under Heaven in the Dragon-Phoenix Struggle.
The Shaman and Namgung participated in war against the Yangtze River Mercenary Alliance to restore honor to the successors who would lead their sects in the future.
“Viewed individually, Young Master Yang Hwi achieved overwhelming victory. However, if the power of sects becomes involved, the situation changes considerably.”
Though the Baek Family of Gae-cheon has grown tremendously, compared to the Shaman and Namgung, we’re still insignificant.
Especially considering that the Yangtze River Mercenary Alliance’s target is the Baek Family, an even more treacherous situation awaits.
“Therefore, Young Master Yang Hwi must employ reckless strategies to capture and hold the attention of the world. Only then can we prevent the reputation of Greatest Under Heaven from being stolen.”
I found myself nodding without realizing it.
After finally reaching the pinnacle as Gae-cheon Jeil-ryong, I enter actual combat only to hear I’m inferior to Hyeon Geom… especially to Namgung Cheon-yeong?
Then I might as well bite my tongue and die.
‘Father may think differently, though.’
So I needed to strike first.
“Father. Gae-cheon Jeil-ryong is a member of the Baek Family. Therefore, I ask that you refrain from saying you cannot bear to see me in danger for the sake of the Baek Family.”
“Hwi.”
“Have you not been watching all this time? If danger comes, I will extract myself.”
Baek Moo-ryang merely swallowed his saliva and offered no response.
I recognized that such a reaction was an unavoidable expression of acceptance.
“Seo Seong-saeng. Continue with your explanation.”
“Yes. The moment the Young Master proclaims he will walk the Path of the Water Bandits, we gain a three-fold strategic advantage in one stroke.”
Seo Seong-saeng’s explanation continued.

* * *
“Assassin, and now bandit. My life truly is peculiar, isn’t it.”
As I muttered to myself, someone beside me interjected.
“Assassin? When did you ever work as an assassin?”
It seemed my inner thoughts had slipped out as actual words.
I replied with an awkward expression.
“I’ve wandered so much here and there. Like duckweed drifting on water, that’s how it is.”
“You went out on your own accord, and yet you get to see such magnificent scenery. That’s not so bad, is it?”
“That’s true enough.”
Before my eyes stretched the spectacular vista of Payang Lake.
No matter how far I cast my gaze, the lake’s end remained invisible.
“Truly the greatest lake under heaven. I never knew it was this vast.”
“They say the Northern Sea far to the north is dozens of times larger than Payang Lake, yet even Payang Lake is this expansive. I wonder what the Northern Sea must be like.”
“Indeed. I cannot even imagine it. That’s probably why it’s called a sea, not a lake.”
In any case, Payang Lake was where I would take my first steps down the Path of the Water Bandits.
“Tsk. I told you not to follow, yet here you cling to me.”
It was not only Jegal Seol-ha.
Even Dang-gun and Neung-o, who held high positions in their respective organizations, stood beside me, let alone Adu.
“Can the Soga-joonim of the Dang Family and the Jang Moon-in of Jeomchang truly engage in banditry?”
“Baek Dou. The Path of Sa-il exists everywhere.”
“There are many who can govern our Dang Family in my stead. But if I’m to prevent my younger brother Hwi from causing trouble, I must remain at his side.”
“Hmm.”
Originally, I had intended to act alone.
But Jegal Seol-ha refused to relent, and Adu threw such a tantrum that the group swelled like dried pollack being strung together.
“If you dare speak of danger, do not. Steel is tempered in the black fire, beaten by the hammer until it becomes hard.”
“Understood, Brother Neung-o.”
I had never entertained such thoughts from the beginning.
A martial artist who shies away from danger? That made no sense.
“But brother, wouldn’t it be better to start from Gugang rather than Lake Payang? We could also receive help from Baek Gyeong-dang-ju.”
In the future frontline that would form, the Baek Family occupied the central position.
They would have to defend both Gugang in the east and Lake Payang in the west.
Faced with this choice between two options, I selected Lake Payang.
‘In terms of importance, Gugang is far more critical, so it makes sense for me to make waves at Lake Payang instead.’
The current Baek Family’s territory encompassed the northern and western regions of Gangxi, including Gugang, Namchang, and Muju.
In other words, Gugang was the Baek Family’s main base and a crucial junction leading to the Yangtze River, so it required thorough defense.
‘On the other hand, Lake Payang is ambiguous as a territory of the main family.’
Though the Baek Family had certainly become the greatest clan of Gangxi, that didn’t mean they unified all of Gangxi.
Since ancient times, Gangxi had been divided into the Black Sect in the west and the White Sect in the east.
The reason? Simple.
East of Nanchang, the provincial capital, lay the White Sect factions influenced by the Namgung Family of Anhui.
‘Looking at it differently, this war is an opportunity to unify Gangxi.’
I would create a spectacle that would capture the attention of the entire realm.
Through this, I would strip away the Namgung Family’s influence and allow the Baek Family to claim that position.
This was one of the three-fold benefits that Seo Seong-saeng had presented.
“I understand the circumstances. But can we really engage in banditry with just the few of us? It seems we should have received support.”
I deliberately avoided seeking support. If martial artists were conscripted, it would create gaps in the main family’s fighting strength.
Of course, Father had tried to assign me an elite martial force.
When I firmly refused everything, Baek Cheol even offered me the Family Head’s sword he had spent three years crafting, but I declined that as well.
‘The safer I become, the more danger falls upon others.’
Better that I, who could find ways to survive regardless, bear slightly more risk.
Besides, if my assumptions proved correct, I could build a force whenever I needed.
“To run a bandit den, we’d need at least twenty people, right? Let’s become self-sufficient.”
“Self-sufficient? How?”
“It’s not difficult.”
I whistled, and Won-woo, who had been flying through the air, cried out sharply.
“Go find a suitable bandit den for us.”
-Kiiiiaaaaaah!
As Won-woo flew off into the distance, I waited while enjoying the scenery for about an hour before he returned.
Through our spiritual connection, his vision transmitted to me.
The bastard had found exactly the right bandit den.
“Seolha, let me teach you one lesson.”
When you lack something, taking it from others is the first step of the bandit’s way.

* * *
The Yunshang Fortress at Payang Lake was roughly a third of the scale of the Chungnak Fortress that had been destroyed previously.
Considering that even the Chungnak Fortress failed to rank among the eighteen core strongholds, it could only be called a minor mercenary outpost.
Well, it couldn’t be helped since it wasn’t located in the northern region of the lake that bordered the main channel of the Yangtze River.
“From now on, this place is no longer the Yunshang Fortress, but the One-Wing Fortress.”
I had considered calling it the Gae-cheon Fortress, but the name sounded odd, so I settled on One-Wing instead.
After all, this was also an operation of the One-Wing Alliance.
“Listen up, you mercenary rabble.”
Twenty-some mercenaries bound with rope, kneeling on the ground.
Unlike the Chungnak Fortress, I hadn’t destroyed the Yunshang Fortress.
I planned to use it repeatedly, so it was only natural.
Thanks to that, more than half of the mercenaries survived, but I had killed all those responsible for combat and kept only those who rowed oars or steered boats.
‘Every last one of them harbors treacherous intent.’
“This hero has resolved to abandon the life of a bandit and hereby proclaims himself the One-Wing Fortress Master. Let’s do this nicely, shall we? Will you die, or will you become a member of the One-Wing Fortress?”
The mercenaries wore bewildered expressions even as their lives hung in the balance.
The legendary Gae-cheon Jeil-ryong, the young hero of Baek Do, was saying what exactly right now…?
“These fools are slow to catch on. Adu, give them a demonstration.”
“Yes!”
With a bang, one mercenary flew far away.
After the splash echoed back, I continued speaking.
“So. Will you die, or will you be slaves?”
Their status had been downgraded. From members of the One-Wing Fortress to slaves.
“Y-yes, we will!”
“If you spare our lives, we will serve with utmost loyalty!”
“I am a dog of the Yunshang Fortress—no, the One-Wing Fortress! Woof woof!”
As expected of mercenary bastards.
There wasn’t a shred of integrity or loyalty to be found among them.
“How can we trust the words of these mercenary bastards? Isn’t that right, Seolha?”
“Absolutely. Those beasts probably have fur growing thick on their backsides.”
Hmm.
Such language from such a beautiful young lady was rather unbecoming.
In any case, let me take some measures to make these untrustworthy fellows trustworthy.
“Open your mouth.”
I grabbed the jaw of the mercenary at the front and shoved my hand inside.
“Ugh, ack!”
The mercenary’s face twisted with a mixture of indignation and terror.
Regardless, I generated a Seon Orb at the tip of my index finger.
I was curious what would happen if someone harboring treacherous intent accepted a Seon Orb.
“It’s delicious. If you spit it out, you die. Since it’s a mass of energy, you won’t be able to spit it out anyway.”
The Seon Orb traveled down the esophagus and began seeping into the dantian.
I had previously tested this when dealing with those Blood Sect bastards and discovered that demonic qi and celestial qi with opposing natures cannot coexist. I wondered how mixed qi would behave.
“Ugh, ugh!”
The henchman writhing in agony lost consciousness.
When I placed my hand on his dantian and projected my energy, I could sense that Seonran had successfully taken root in his dantian.
‘Fortunately, it went as planned. I suspected it might work.’
It was possible precisely because mixed qi was similar to demonic qi yet distinctly different—an ambiguous quality that couldn’t quite be called demonic qi.
Snap!
When I flicked my finger, Seonran writhed.
“Ahhhhhhh!”
The henchman snapped awake instantly.
“Hurts, doesn’t it? Feel that egg-like thing in your dantian? My energy and will are sealed inside it. If you stray too far—boom! You understand what that means?”
I approached the next henchman beside him.
“No, please! Don’t do this!”
“Then die.”
I pressed his death point and tossed the corpse into the lake.
With a splash, I moved on to the next one.
“Die or become a slave?”
“….”
Thus, I shoved Seonran into the mouths of all the remaining henchmen.
Clang! One-Wing Fortress complete!
“Gentlemen. I express my joy at your swift and willing surrender.”
“….”
“….”
“….”
“How dare you ignore your fortress master?”
Snap!
“Ahhhhh!”
“Ahhhhhhh!”
“P-please, spare us, ahhh!”
Dozens of men writhing like insects—quite the spectacle.
“Now then, gentlemen. Shouldn’t you celebrate your new fortress master’s ascension?”
“Congratulations!”
“We consider it the greatest honor of our lives!”
“Long live the One-Wing Fortress Master!”
“Long live!”
After shrugging my shoulders and savoring their utterly insincere responses.
I issued my first command as fortress master.
“Listen up, bastards. Tell me everything you know about ancient ruins or places where hidden opportunities might be concealed in this region.”
Divining the location and obtaining the first treasure.
First, I needed to investigate the orders from the Geom Seon’s secret manual.

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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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