Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 297

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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 297
The bandit leader stationed at the Great Lijiang Gorge was named Yeo Hyong-chae.
Among the henchmen who frequented the Lijiang, Yeo Hyong-chae commanded the largest force—crushing him alone would mean more than half the battle for controlling Lijiang was won.
‘Just looking at it, his gang is at least ten times larger than the bandits on Payang Lake.’
Well, that’s only natural. Unlike Payang Lake, Lijiang is a vital crossroads.
While the Yangtze River cuts through the lower regions of Anhui, Lijiang stretches through the heart of Anhui.
It’s the critical tributary connecting to the Yangtze’s waterways.
‘Besides, Payang Lake is famous only in name, but during dry seasons it splits into dozens of channels, making it structurally impossible for bandit gangs to grow large.’
The beginning of the Great Lijiang Gorge occupation campaign.
The Namgung Family from the east and the Baek Family from the west.
The Namgung Family chose the easier eastern approach, but truthfully, the western terrain would be more advantageous.
The west has a sprawling dock where the bandits moor their ships.
The east, meanwhile, is blocked by shallow cliffs and wooden palisades, with swift and treacherous currents.
“Junior Disciple, there won’t be any hitches in the operation?”
“Ah, Elder Brother.”
Gu Ak had approached without warning. Though not surprising, he looked quite different from before.
His beard showed hints of gray, and he now resembled a father more than a man.
“From a warrior’s perspective, the west is obviously far more difficult to assault. I had my reasons for having the main family take the west, but we mustn’t suffer unnecessary casualties, should we?”
This Lijiang occupation campaign couldn’t be conducted in secrecy.
With not just one family but both the Namgung and Baek families joining forces, there was no way to conceal the information.
In other words, if a frontal battle erupted, the henchmen would swarm out from the western docks in droves aboard their ships.
‘The east, while harsh in terrain, wouldn’t pose a significant problem even for warriors.’
Therefore, the Namgung Family’s strategy could only be to use the Baek Family as bait on a grand scale.
A pincer maneuver—while the Baek Family blocks the western docks, the Namgung strike from behind in the east.
‘We do all the hard work while they reap all the glory for themselves.’
But.
Would it really go that way?
I glanced at Seolha, who was earnestly explaining something on another boat, and smirked.
“Don’t worry. When have I ever disappointed you, Elder Brother?”
“Plenty. Tremendously?”
“Pardon?”
“Even before becoming a member of the Baek Family, my only memories are of being backstabbed and toyed with in the palm of your hand.”
Hmm. I can’t deny that.
“I never imagined a seven-year-old brat would have such a deep scheming mind. And I certainly never thought I’d become part of the Baek Faction.”
From the successor of the Heuk-do Faction that dominated Akan County to a retainer of a fallen third-rate family—my life had certainly been eventful.
“…If you put it that way, I have nothing to say, Elder Brother.”
“Well, thanks to it all, I married my wife and gained Hwa-hwa. That’s enough.”
Gu Ak laughed heartily, in good spirits.
If this were the past, he would have spoken more harshly, but he really has changed.
“How old are you this year, Elder Brother?”
“No matter how long we’ve been like brothers—over a decade now—when the age gap exceeds twenty years, shouldn’t one be addressed by their years rather than mere age?”
“There’s no need for such distinctions between us.”
“I suppose I gave up on that long ago anyway.”
Even now, I don’t bristle at it.
Unlike before, it feels less like a man and more like a husband and father.
Someone who was once considered hopelessly immature has matured considerably.
“You’ve aged much, Elder Brother.”
“Are you mocking my age?”
“Nothing of the sort.”
Gu Ak gazed toward Yeo Hyong-chae in the distance.
“Junior Disciple.”
“Yes.”
“Thanks to you, I’ve gained so many precious things. I find myself willing to pour all my strength into protecting them.”
“….”
Gu Ak had indeed proven his words through action.
When the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering drew to a close, he had safely defended the family estate from the Yangtze River Alliance’s surprise assault.
So now it was the Baek Family Heir’s turn to demonstrate his resolve.
To the man in white who had abandoned everything to pursue love alone, I needed to assure him that he would never regret his past choice.
“Have no worries. Even a fraction of my strength will be enough to protect it.”
One day.
I will bring down Yeo Hyong-chae within a single day.
Such was Yang Hwi’s resolve.

* * *
Attacking the mercenaries at night was suicide.
The water was already difficult to see through in daylight, but at night it became pitch black.
I had to kill those henchmen who used water combat techniques and tried to destroy the boat’s hull from below, and they even employed concealment swimming arts.
For that reason, Namgung had sent word that we should launch our offensive at dawn the next day.
“There’s no reason to follow that plan, Father.”
“Indeed. Your father thinks the same.”
They wanted to wait for the sun to rise before attacking because of some strategic advantage?
Our strategic advantage would shine equally well whether it was night or day.
“Everyone listen. I intend to inform Namgung of our intentions half a shichen before the attack. They’ll have enough time to prepare and follow.”
The senior members of the Baek Family discussed strategy vigorously during the remaining two shichen.
After establishing both the overarching strategy and detailed tactical plans, we launched our assault.
We didn’t ambush Yeo Hyong-chae directly—we notified the Namgung Family that we would launch an offensive immediately.
“What are you saying suddenly! We agreed to move together at dawn!”
“Hmm? The main family hadn’t responded yet. After discussing strategy, we determined now is the optimal moment.”
Baek Moo-ryang issued the command, and five warships of the Baek Family launched in unison.
All were vessels prepared by the current Baek Gyeong-dang of the former Heuk-do Faction.
In addition to martial artists with naval combat experience, we had the ships and various tools necessary for water warfare.
This was why the Baek Family had accepted the Heuk-do Faction’s surrender instead of annihilating them.
“Baek Gyeong-dang-ju. Today you shall serve as our Baek Family’s supreme commander.”
“That is too great an honor, Family Head!”
“No. You are the most suitable choice. I, the Family Head, will participate today merely as one warrior, so feel free to issue your commands.”
Baek Gyeong-dang-ju took the helm of the main vessel, and Yeo Hyong-chae, which had appeared as a tiny speck, grew larger and larger.
It was partly due to distance, but also because lights were being lit in various places.
“Tsk. I had hoped we’d be discovered a bit later.”
“The enemy are masters of naval warfare, so I’d say we’ve done well to get this close.”
“That’s true, but… Seolha, what are you doing here?”
“What do you mean? I was bored.”
….
The five warships were arranged in a formation with the central main vessel at the center and one ship positioned in each of the four directions—front, rear, left, and right.
Yang Hwi was on the foremost ship, and Seolha should have been with Father on the main vessel.
“Don’t worry. I’ll return without delay.”
Being separated for a brief moment wasn’t something to complain about being bored over.
She wasn’t being so carefree because it wasn’t her family’s matter, was she?
Seolha didn’t return to the main vessel until we had closed to within a hundred zhang.
‘Now it truly begins.’
I drew the Muk-pa from the two scabbards at my waist.
Though “drew” was hardly the right word, since the blade was absent, leaving only a rattling handle.
Yet the blade that would be forged from this black hilt could become sharper than any sword.
At the very front, Baek Yang-hwi. Today I intended to wield it properly.
So first… Ah. The order has come down.
All fronts, prepare for concentrated artillery fire!
As the distance closed, the henchmen were already aboard their vessels coming to meet us.
Needless to say, beneath the dark water surface, those mercenary bastards would be swarming about, diving.
Soon enough, those water-beetle bastards would be gripping harpoons and trying to tear away the wooden planks of the ship—a timely order indeed.
Boom, boom-boom, boom-boom-boom!
A spirited drumming echoed from the main vessel.
Surely Seolha was striking the back of the Pacheon Eumhu’s instrument.
Yang Hui also wanted to dance with his sword and strike the metal head of the Ming Jin Pa Di Po, but he held back.
Unlike the thugs of Payang Lake, those bastards from Yeohyungchae can’t be caught just by throwing around indiscriminate attacks.
“They’re preparing sound waves! Brace yourselves!”
Sure enough, the henchmen’s vessels grew frantic.
Until now, not only Payang Lake but also other armed forces of the Baek family have been using Myeongjin faction artillery in the oral cavity.
The Changjiang Waterway Alliance weren’t complete fools—there was no way they hadn’t prepared countermeasures by now.
‘They must have prepared protective talismans or qi techniques to block the inner qi amplification method through sound waves.’
But.
Our Baek Family weren’t fools either, bringing the same strategy knowing the enemy had prepared for it.
Boom-boom-boom-boom-boom-boom-boom!
The drumming intensified. Simultaneously, a strange qi current unlike before began to manifest.
Familiar yet new.
The sensation of mechanical formations I’d experienced countless times made it familiar, but it was a completely different new formation’s qi current, making it novel.
The reason the five ships were arranged with four cardinal points and one center, five points connected.
The reason why Zhuge Xueha’s contributions were remarkable in creating the Myeongjin faction’s tactics, and why the advice of Pacheon Eumhu was also necessary.
‘Those mercenary bastards have already reached the ship.’
The sensation of them striking the wooden planks from below transmitted upward.
Each of them was a mindless brute, so it wouldn’t have been strange if the planks were already being torn away, but the Myeongjin faction’s artillery was already vibrating and firing.
It wouldn’t be easy to tear away the planks while enduring the sound waves spreading through the water.
‘Well, they won’t be able to hold out long anyway.’
It didn’t matter.
The main family’s battle strategy was only beginning now.
Baek Moo-ryang raised his voice instead of using transmission, issuing the command.
“Activate the resonance sound wave formation!”
“Understood!”
“Understood!”
“Understood!”
With the command came a majestic single strike that split the air!
Booooooooom!
Five ships in a row, equipped with installed Myeongjin-style cannons.
Precisely, they all resonated at the same height with identical vibrations.
And then, immediately.
The water’s surface across a hundred zhang in all directions trembled in unison.
Mercenaries floated upward with their bellies exposed, like fish knocked unconscious.
The only difference was the stench of blood rising from their bodies.
“Resonance Formation! Prepare the second strike!”
Duuuuuuuung!
The exhilarating drum sound rang out once more.
This time, the mercenaries’ boats were pushed backward in unison.
The fronts of the three or four boats at the very front shattered, sinking with violent bubbling.
‘Their formation has been breached.’
When a hole opens, one must exploit it and widen it.
“We charge with full force.”
“Yes, Young Master!”
I drew a second sword in my left hand, following the one I’d already drawn.
So Yeo Hyong-chae’s Family Head is known to be a Transcendent Master—let me see what he’s truly capable of.
‘He sent Sugu’s forces to crush me. I’ll return the favor tenfold.’
So from the start, I unleashed something devastating.
-Kiiiiiiiii!
-Kiiiiiiiii!
Both blades began to shriek.
I soared upward and swung them.
Gaetian Sword Technique, Twin Hundred Eight Transformations of Heaven.
One strike’s variation, Twin Wings Dominate the World!
From that moment, two hours passed.
That was the time required for the Baek Family to occupy Yeo Hyong-chae.

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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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