Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 309

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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 309
Martial arts are undoubtedly expressed through the body.
The character itself depicts a soldier wielding a spear, so there is no doubt about this truth.
Yet all things in this world follow the principle of returning to their source, and martial arts too—the closer one approaches the pinnacle, the nearer one draws to something else entirely.
That something is the heart. In other words, the mind.
The Transcendent Realm is also called the Realm of Mental Imagery, and the reason is that one must elevate one’s martial arts to a higher dimension and inscribe it through mental imagery.
Therefore, the martial arts of a Transcendent Master are intertwined with the heart, and a clash between the supreme is a contest of mind against mind.
For this reason, those who have not awakened and inscribed their hearts cannot defeat a Transcendent Master.
It had to be this way.
Such was the principle of the world.
“Kyaaaaaaah!”
Hyeol-hyeol-nyeo, who had never once screamed in all her life, was screaming now.
“How! How is this possible!”
I had created a new sword technique—the Woowoo Dansim Sword Strike—from the second movement of the Cheondon Sword Method.
The power it contained was such that even from the Perfected Realm, it could sever a Transcendent Master’s mental imagery, so calling it earth-shattering would not be an exaggeration.
But it was insufficient.
One cannot fell a great tree by cutting a single leaf.
Seolha, watching the clash between me and Hyeol-hyeol-nyeo, became aware of a dormant power within herself.
An inescapable premonition that if she merely stood by and watched, I would meet my death—something within her had awakened.
Interference. She who had suffered pain from witnessing mental imagery could now interfere with it.
Even though it belonged to another.
Since she had never even conceived of possessing such power, she simply channeled it into her technique and released it. Fortunately, my senior sister, who claims to be the greatest talent under heaven, handled this power that even she herself was unaware of with remarkable skill.
‘I must cut. Without fail.’
With my power alone, I could only sever a single leaf.
Just as a human would not whimper and cry over a small cut on their finger, Hyeol-hyeol-nyeo would merely scoff at such a wound.
But if I combined it with the violet power that Seolha had transferred to me…
‘Then I could sever at least one of her most cherished branches.’
I applied the violet power to myself.
I interfered with my own heart and guided it in a single direction.
If I were to name that direction, it would be amplification.
I had learned resonance from Eum Hu and received the mysteries of the Great Sea from the Great Sea Dragon King.
Challenging the impossible—the reason it did not feel difficult, even on this first attempt.
‘Without the teachings of those two, I could never have wielded this.’
By chance, I had become a disciple of Pacheon Eumhu, one of the Cheonmu-sip-jon, and the Great Sea Dragon King had coveted my talent.
Therefore, this sword strike was the result of all that I had accumulated in this lifetime converging into one.
‘I must cut. Without fail!’
I had already decided which branch to sever.
I had long known what that dog-like mass of blood held most dear.
Feelings toward Cheonma. Obsession.
Mental imagery—a heart so intense it had been inscribed as form.
-Kiiiiiiiii!
The hawk’s cry pierced the air.
It was also the sharp cutting sound of the blade.
And this was the result.
“Kyaaaaaaack! Aack! No! This can’t be!”
Watching Hyeol-hyeol-nyeo’s anguished wails, my heart felt completely satisfied.
That dog-like blood clot of a creature.
‘So that was a sword technique I shouldn’t have unleashed at this stage.’
Even after consuming Seonran to amplify my own power, I couldn’t fully control it.
My body was shattered severely from the expenditure of Primordial Qi.
But.
When else should a man laugh if not at a time like this?
Despite being battered and broken, I grinned wickedly.
My tongue added to the provocation, of course.
“They say romantic affection is harder than diamond and redder than blood, which is why it’s called unwavering devotion. Yet your romantic heart failed to become unwavering. Look how easily you were cut.”
“Kyaaaaaaack! Aaaaack!”
“Stop quacking like a duckling and come at me. Try to kill the one who hurt you.”
Eyes filled with blood light glared at me.
Yet I sneered and unleashed sword energy from my silent strike.
It was fierce sword energy that might even be a flash of returning light.
Crack!
Red eyes visible between the blood-soaked tangled hair.
Resentment settled in them.
But Hyeol-hyeol-nyeo did not charge forward.
“Someday… I will surely make you regret this.”
Her voice carried an eerie quality. Hyeol-hyeol-nyeo’s spirit form scattered like blood mist.
Even in such a frenzied state, she refused to kill me.
‘Cheonma… based on her nature, it doesn’t seem like she would have ordered me not to be killed.’
Then she prioritized Cheonma’s intentions and pleasure over her own emotions.
Or perhaps… she feared facing the same sword technique again.
‘I should hope for the latter.’
Only then would Hyeol-hyeol-nyeo not make a fuss about bringing me sorrow.
Regret came flooding back, though it was hardly new.
‘Damn it. That I, Nangjoong Jeil-geom, would make myself a target to help the Namgung Family.’
Yet even if regret overwhelmed me, if I could return to the past, I would make the same choice.
Because the enlightenment I gained here was never light.
It made me not just know, but truly understand that I am both Nangjoong Jeil-geom and Gae-cheon Jeil-ryong of the Unbreakable Wall.
‘I repay what I receive in full. I think I’ve repaid enough now, Namgung Il-geom.’
My eyes slowly closed.
“Oh, brother!”
Seolha’s astonishment marked the final moment before consciousness slipped away.

* * *
Seon placed a white stone upon the Go board.
“The complete annihilation of the Sugu division sent all the way to Pacheon Eumhu. The opposition—merely a handful of late-stage cultivators.”
Clack! The next stone landed upon the board with a sharp sound.
This stone too was white. Ju Ja-bang, the strategist of Jang Gang-su Ro-maeng, stretched his neck forward like a turtle.
“We lost dominion over Ryeo-gang. Though we made a Transcendent Master our pawn, our true objective ultimately came to nothing.”
Dae Ryeol-il-hong had failed to kill Namgung Il-geom.
Namgung Il-geom, who managed to cling to life, died protecting his family.
The plan for one of the four Gu-pa masters participating in the Jang Gang conflict to eliminate an opponent had come to naught.
Clack! Again, a white stone.
“Truly many cultivators following the main path have perished. Winter is a harsh season—perhaps we must accept this as inevitable.”
All the assembled senior members of Jang Gang-su Ro-maeng felt as though walking upon thin ice.
Save for strategist Ju Ja-bang, they were all Transcendent Masters, yet Seon was an existence capable of instilling terror in them.
‘Whoever answers first dies.’
‘Even begging forgiveness brings death.’
‘If I confess guilt worthy of death, he will truly execute me.’
‘What are you waiting for, strategist! This is precisely when a strategist must step forward!’
Unable to bear the killing intent in those eyes, Ju Ja-bang finally opened his mouth.
“Seon, you have placed three white stones, so it falls to place three black stones next.”
Fortunately, Seon did not seem displeased.
“When placing stones, one must select the finest jade. Who shall be my black jade?”
Without hesitation, they stepped forward.
“Grant me the vanguard, I beg you!”
“I shall slaughter every fool who dares raise arms against Jang Gang-su Ro-maeng!”
As the atmosphere grew fervent, only Ju Ja-bang maintained his composure.
‘Has Seon been accepting these losses as inevitable all along? But why?’
He had long since discerned that some existence wielded great influence over Seon, and that this being belonged to the Demonic Path.
How could he not notice when secret techniques allowing mercenaries to cultivate their life force were distributed, and masters were enabled to transcend their limits?
Yet despite the consecutive defeats of the faction he led, Seon remained so utterly composed.
‘Perhaps… Seon truly regards Jang Gang-su Ro-maeng as nothing more than a pawn.’
A heretical thought. Yet even if true, he could not resist.
Those who harbor treacherous intent are punished by Heaven.
To Ju Ja-bang, Seon was Heaven itself.
“This humble Ju Ja-bang humbly asks Seon: might I pose a single question?”
“You have my permission.”
“Previously, you swiftly punished Baek Do and commanded that interesting things be brought before you. Yet now I perceive you were merely biding your time, and as your subordinate, I wish to understand your intention.”
Seon smiled with satisfaction.
“Ja-bang, you alone deserve to call yourself my strategist. Your words are correct. I have been waiting for the right moment.”
“If that is your command…”
“Then I too shall have the means to prove it.”
Prove? Prove what, exactly?
Who would dare make demands of Seon?
“I must destroy the Shaman’s temple. I need to see what lies within. Therefore, Ja-bang.”
“I await your orders, Seon.”
“Devise a strategy. You may commit more than half our forces to this. Strike at Hubei.”
Ju Ja-bang immediately laid out his scheme.
It was the duty of a strategist to consider multiple possibilities beforehand, and he spoke with remarkable speed.
“Just as the legendary Three Kingdoms strategy of old was executed, so shall we execute the Three Divisions of Hubei here, if I may be so bold.”
“Hehehehe, excellent.”
Seon rose to his feet.
The motion resembled a dragon ascending into the heavens.
“The sunlight is warm. The Dragon-Phoenix Gathering was held in Mu-han last year, was it not?”
“Indeed, Seon.”
“Not water bandits but mountain bandits… yet Mu-han is not mountainous, is it? Then let us become land bandits instead. We shall seize Mu-han.”
The snow melted.
The ice shattered.
Spring belonged to the Jang Gang-su Ro-maeng, and Seon’s will was swiftly realized.
The strategic stronghold of Baek Do.
The land of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.
Mu-han fell into the grasp of the Jang Gang-su Ro-maeng.

* * *
“Ugh. Good grief, this is rough.”
I opened my eyes. As consciousness returned, I expected to find myself in some celestial paradise like the Peach Blossom Spring, but that wasn’t what greeted me.
Hmm, it seems about time for a certain someone to make an appearance.
Lately, my desires have become far too obvious and direct, yet this person won’t even show their face?
‘Geom Seon, I was born with a contrarian nature. If you keep pestering me, I might just drive my blade straight through.’
Salmochwiseungeowang. The characters that surfaced in Geom Seon’s resolution nearly cost me my life once more.
Surely there should be proper compensation for such a thing.
‘Enlightenment? That was something I grasped through my own excellence.’
If I simply wipe my mouth clean, does that mean I don’t have to follow Heaven’s arrangements?
With such thoughts, I tried to rise—wait.
“Why am I here?”
It was an unfamiliar place, though I had visited once before.
Namgung Il-geom’s bedchamber.
In other words, the Family Head of the Namgung Family’s bedchamber.
“You’re awake, Yang Hwi.”
The one who entered through the door was Namgung Cheon-yeong.
Why is he calling me by my name?
“…Yang Hwi?”
“We spent an entire day crossing blades before establishing the bonds of brotherhood. Though we never quite settled who would be the elder.”
That was just something I threw together to deceive Namgung Sa-geom anyway.
And the very first thing I should have asked about wasn’t a change in attitude.
“Never settled who’s the elder? I’m a year older than you.”
Where does this brat get off trying to match me?
“Ahem. The Baek Family Heir should hear the rest of what this Family Head has to say.”
“So you’re going to use your position to suppress me?”
“In any case, I won’t be calling you elder.”
I was at a loss for words.
“Calling your elder ‘elder’ is only natural. Try calling me ‘Elder Baek.’ Actually, don’t. Now that I think about it, that irritates me.”
No matter how much our relationship has changed from before, Namgung Cheon-yeong is someone whose very face irritates me.
If I imagined him clinging to me saying “Elder Baek~”…
‘Still, I can’t let this brat call me by my bare name.’
That’s when I fell into contemplation.
“Now, don’t trouble yourself with such thoughts. I’ve already made my decision. Yang Hwi, I express my gratitude for your assistance.”
“Can’t you just call me Baek Gong-ja?”
“As Family Head, I thought it necessary to demonstrate the closeness of our relationship somewhat.”
He’s not wrong.
How long has this bastard been Family Head, and he’s already thinking like this?
“In any case, Yang Hwi. The Namgung Family owes a debt to you and the Baek Family. We shall repay it in full.”
“Mm.”
“Stop worrying about it. Besides, you’ve been clinging to someone over twenty years your senior and calling them brother from the start.”
“….”
I had nothing to say.
There was a sore spot I couldn’t refute.
A face shimmering in the empty air.
Gu Ak chuckled with amusement.
“Junior Disciple. Now do you understand how I, Gu Ak, felt watching that young fool whine and fret over a twenty-year gap?”
“And you’re only one year apart. Puhahahaha!”
Damn it.
“Setting aside the titles—why do you have to be the first face I see when I wake up?”
“As for Jegal Sojeo… hmm.”
Namgung Cheon-yeong’s expression grew complicated.
That bastard’s first love was Seolha, after all.
“Jegal Sojeo returned to the Jegal Family. An urgent matter arose.”
“An urgent matter?”
“You’ve been asleep for over seven weeks. That’s more than enough time for many things to happen. I have something to tell you about this.”
“Tell me about the urgent matter first.”
“The Jang Gang-su Ro-maeng has begun moving in earnest, and a great battle is scheduled to take place in Hubei Province.”
It wasn’t just an urgent matter—it was a very urgent matter.
“What about the Shaman?”
Hubei was the base of both the Shaman and the Jegal Family.
“That’s what I’m about to tell you.”
“They didn’t join hands, did they?”
“They couldn’t have.”
“Sigh. What are Geom-ong and the Jegal Family Head thinking?”
“That’s what I’m saying. Anyway, I’ll relay Jegal Sojeo’s message.”
“If that’s the case, you should have said it first. Tell me quickly.”
“It’s time to repay the debt, older brother.”
“…That’s all?”
“Yes. She said that much would be enough.”
Counting on my fingers the favors I’d received, I laughed softly.
‘Damn it. If Seolha’s saying it so casually, she’s asking me to make a real show of it.’
The Jegal Family’s patience had finally run out.
I could picture it without hearing the details.
The Jang Gang-su Ro-maeng must have struck at Hubei.
And… the Jegal Family would be fighting not the Jang Gang-su Ro-maeng, but the Shaman.

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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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