Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 313

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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 313
If you asked people which family was the most renowned in all the realm, they would unhesitatingly point to the Jegal Family.
Beginning with the patriarch Jegal Gongmyeong, the Jegal name had become so famous that there was scarcely a soul who didn’t know of it.
If you asked people which family was the oldest in all the realm, the Jegal Family would likewise be among the first names mentioned.
Nearly a thousand years had passed since they settled in Yungjoongsan, and half that time they had been counted among the Five Great Families.
‘Thus, our Jegal house is the most ancient and most illustrious family under heaven.’
And yet.
If you asked people to name the most powerful family that ever existed in the realm.
The Jegal Family would not be mentioned even once.
Jegal Pae understood this truth all too well.
The Jegal Family was a martial clan, yet they had never earned their renown through martial prowess.
The Five Great Families of Strategy. Waryong Jegal, masters of formation arrays.
The Jegal Family had never produced a single Greatest Under Heaven.
Not only that, but they had no ancestor who could rival the status of the Cheonmu-sip-jon.
‘Meanwhile, the Dang Family… surpassed the main house in merely a hundred years.’
A thousand years for the Jegal Family. A hundred years for the Dang Family.
That was why.
Even when his son Jegal Seon grew with a temperament unbefitting the Jegal name, he made no attempt to correct it.
When Waryong Musang—a title uncharacteristic of the Jegal clan—was bestowed upon him, I took secret pride in my son.
‘Yet even Seon falls short of becoming Cheonmu-sip-jon.’
The reason the Jegal Family lost to the Dang Family was because they lacked an absolute master like the Taeguk Sword Master.
The martial world is the world of warriors, and absolute martial might is a power that makes even the impossible possible.
‘Had there been even one absolutely overwhelming master, the main house would truly have been vastly different.’
Jegal Pae understood. With the Jegal Family’s martial arts and disposition, they would never produce a Cheonmu-sip-jon in the future either.
Yet he did not despair. Like a true strategist, he found a new path.
‘What doesn’t exist cannot be created immediately. But the future must be different.’
So he made his decision.
To obtain the Gae-cheon Jeil-ryong of the Bulwol Paveok, the most promising candidate for Greatest Under Heaven in all the realm.
Even if it meant giving away his granddaughter, the most precious bride candidate in the world.
Even if the Gae-cheon Jeil-ryong still possessed several fatal weaknesses unknown to him.
“I happen to know a method to counter the Dang Family’s sword techniques. How would you like to use it?”
‘Even if a few more weaknesses emerge in the future, the advantages will far outweigh them for now.’
A sharp one indeed. Despite launching a surprise attack with the betrothal as his gambit, look at how he immediately seeks to extract his own benefit.
The naturally gifted strategist Jegal Pae felt far more admiration than repulsion.
‘A madman, truly.’
To speak of knowing methods to counter the Dang Family’s sword techniques before the patriarch of another house?
It wasn’t merely audacious—it was sheer madness.
Should the Dang Family learn of this, they would surely hunt him down and kill him.
Yet such is the way of exceptional men—they are called mad by the ordinary.
Just as the ancestor Jegal Gongmyeong was when he summoned the southeastern wind.
One of a strategist’s essential skills is the ability to discern others’ thoughts.
Jegal Pae effortlessly traced through Gae-cheon Jeil-ryong’s reasoning.
Then he spoke what he believed would be most desired.
“Should the Jegal Family successfully reclaim Mu-han under our leadership, I shall grant the Baek Family rights to participate in the grain market.”

* * *
The Ilyk Alliance was born when the Dang Family and Baek Family revealed their ambitions to Jin Yeong-gil, the wealthiest merchant under heaven.
That ambition was none other than the resurrection of Poesang.
In other words, the Jang Gang-su Ro-maeng.
‘I haven’t told the Jegal Family about this yet. Have you already deduced it this far?’
I felt the corners of my mouth lift.
It wasn’t merely from satisfaction, but rather because my competitive spirit blazed to life.
“Pardon? Rights to the grain market?”
I feigned ignorance deliberately. I was curious about Jegal Pae’s reaction and the logic that would follow.
“The Baek Family endured the surprise assault of the Jang Gang-su Ro-maeng. A minor martial clan of Gangxi that withstood the assault of the Two Great Sects of Heaven. The Great Jang River War that followed. The Myeong Jin Sect’s Red Flute that appeared as if prepared in advance. Jin Yeong-gil, a merchant who became part of the Ilyk Alliance. Gangxi, one of the granaries of Gangnam.”
Jegal Pae sent a look asking if he needed to say more.
“I’ve heard you prefer directness. If rights to the grain market are insufficient, speak your terms.”
Generally speaking, the realm had vast plains in the south and mountainous terrain in the north.
Where people gathered on plains, granaries naturally formed, and martial artists honed themselves in deep mountains and remote valleys.
This was why the north boasted many renowned sects while the south was called the lifeline of the realm.
“Mu-han is… a vital hub of water route commerce.”
Which was why the Ro-maeng could occupy it so easily.
Which was why Mu-han must be reclaimed.
Mu-han, one of the realm’s lifelines.
Grains from Gangnam converge at Mu-han before dispersing northward.
By now, numerous renowned sects throughout the north were surely focusing their attention on Mu-han.
“Because the Jegal Family lost Mu-han, our prestige has plummeted to the depths. Conversely, if we reclaim Mu-han from the grasp of the Two Great Sects of Heaven…”
“For the time being, we need not fear being overshadowed by the Taeguk Sword Master’s Shaman sect in terms of prestige.”
It is spring now. We must reclaim Mu-han before autumn, the harvest season.
Whoever reclaims it will become the master of Mu-han.
“Considering the aftermath, that amounts to a three-month deadline. If the Jegal Family leads, are you confident in reclaiming it?”
“No.”
A refreshingly honest admission. Most would have hesitated and dragged out the time for pride’s sake.
This is why conversations with intelligent people move quickly.
“Then we should discuss how much support you’ll need.”
Jegal Pae’s answer came swiftly again.
“If we win, we shall announce that our Jegal Family, which has been in conflict with the Shaman sect, has devised a formation that can break through the Shaman sect’s sword techniques.”
Tch, this is why I dislike conversing with intelligent people.
‘He’s caught on that I have no intention of boasting about possessing a method to break through it.’
It matters not if the elite of the Taeguk Sword Master and Shaman sect discover this, but the realm must never know.
If I did that, the Shaman would try to crush me just because of public opinion.
‘Then deferred payment would be better.’
Rather than securing compensation in advance, it would be wiser to accomplish great deeds and then demand proper recognition for my contributions.
“Over these four days, I will impart the most effective methods of countering to the two who will face off alongside me.”
“Then we should discuss compensation after the reclamation is complete.”
He read my thoughts again. Sigh, there’s nothing I can do about it.
“I’m thinking of pairing you with Soga-joonim Seon and an Elder who is a Transcendent Master.”
He meant to compose representatives from different generations.
It would certainly be more advantageous if Jegal Pae stepped forward directly, but that would damage his dignity.
‘A Transcendent Master… hmm.’
I shook my head and opened my mouth.
“No. Skip the Transcendent Master and put Seolha in instead.”
“Brother, me?”
Seolha’s expression turned puzzled, but she soon grasped something.
Jegal Pae seemed to have understood long ago, his expression remaining composed.
“No matter what we do, we cannot change the perception that the Jegal Family is weaker than the Shaman. You understand that, don’t you?”
“So we need to deliver a shock. To overcome the Shaman with forces that are firmly believed to be weaker than the Shaman?”
To shatter an entrenched perception, one must hammer it with an impact of equal magnitude.
Therefore, a Transcendent Master must not be included.
Only by defeating three opponents—one of whom is a Transcendent Master—without including a Transcendent Master ourselves can this confrontation have true meaning.
“Hmm. What are the odds?”
He couldn’t help but ask.
For Jegal Pae, the family’s future was at stake.
In other words, the initiative lay with me.
‘I also need to deliver a powerful shock.’
I smirked.
“Eighty percent. How does that sound?”
“Worth staking one’s fate on. Very well, proceed.”
Jegal Pae turned his gaze back to the pile of documents.
It was a dismissal, telling me to leave.
The moment I stepped out of the office, Jegal Seol-ha asked.
“Brother, will I really be enough?”
A disciple of Cheonmu-sip-jon and the foremost master of her generation.
Yet Seolha was still only a peak-level master, not a Transcendent Master.
With the family’s fate on the line, her concern was natural.
‘Rather than coordinating with some unknown Elder at the Transcendent level, having you move according to my instructions would be far more effective.’
Especially now that I’ve awakened this mysterious ability to interfere with the mind itself.
A mischievous thought suddenly occurred to me, and I decided to tease her.
“You’re the one called the most beautiful under heaven. There’s bound to be a Hyeon Geom among them, and he certainly won’t be able to strike you.”
“…You’re saying he resents me because of my face?”
“Yes.”
“….”
Seeing Jegal Seol-ha’s expression flush with indignation, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Let’s hurry and practice the Hapgyeok technique. Where is Uncle….”
There was no need to ask. Standing outside the pavilion with axes drawn and murderous intent radiating from them were Jegal Seon and Jegal Hwa-un.
A father besotted with his daughter and a brother besotted with his sister—neither could accept Seol-ha’s betrothal, practicality be damned.
“U-Uncle. It’s been a while. Shall we share some tea to celebrate our reunion….”
Jegal Seon cut off Yang Hwi’s words.
He severed them with the precision of grinding teeth.
“You dare betroth yourself to my daughter? Are you prepared for the consequences?”
I didn’t forcibly arrange this betrothal. If anything, I’m the one who was victimized.
-Brother! Hurry and call him Father-in-law! And call Hwa-un Brother your brother-in-law!
-Are you telling me to commit suicide?
-Trust me and do it quickly!
Seol-ha was cunning in ways that wouldn’t lose to anyone.
There must be circumstances hidden from outsiders that only family knew.
“W-Father-in-law… Brother-in-law….”
“Father-in-law?”
“Brother-in-law?”
Clang! Clang!
Two blades emerged from their sheaths.
“Father, I believe we must take immediate action!”
“You’re right, my son! Baek Yang-hwi! Your crime stands confessed by your own mouth!”
I was done for.
Looking at Seol-ha, she wore a malicious grin.
-You said that if you receive something, you must repay it, didn’t you, Brother?
All this for a brief moment of teasing?
I’d given a bucket and received back a cup’s worth of words.
“Spare me! I am a distinguished guest of the Jegal Family!”
“Since when did a thief become a distinguished guest!”
“Die!”
“Ahahaha!”
“Kyaaaah!”
Listening to Seol-ha’s delighted laughter, Yang Hwi was beaten until dust rose from the clear day.

* * *
I rubbed my eyes with an egg.
“Ugh….”
“Does it hurt?”
“Yes. I won’t be able to participate in the match.”
“I examined you because of the match, but it seems that wasn’t necessary.”
At the sound of a sword being drawn, I quickly straightened my posture and adopted a solemn expression.
“From this moment forward, I shall impart the secrets of victory. Time is pressing, so there is no room for other matters! After all, I must master the method to counter the Wudang Sword Technique!”
The emotion in Jegal Seon’s eyes shifted from anger to astonishment.
“A method to counter the Wudang Sword Technique? How do you know of such a thing—or rather, Father, you already knew, didn’t you? That’s why you took Yang Hwi as your son-in-law.”
‘No, that couldn’t be it.’
How could I know something I’d only obtained days ago?
The Jegal Family Head must have sought the greatest advantage before securing victory against the Wudang sect.
He likely saw it as an excellent opportunity to firmly establish the Gae-cheon Jeil-ryong of the Unfailing Moon Sword as a member of the Jegal Family.
“Speak now. Tell me of the countering sword forms against the Wudang Sword Technique.”
“Yes. Based on what I explain, we must create a passing formation that possesses the subtlety of countering. I ask that you listen carefully and comprehend thoroughly.”
Before speaking of the incantations and subtleties, I recalled the legacy left behind by the Namgung Patriarch.
[Hear me, descendants. You must crush the arrogant nose of that conceited bastard, Jang Sam-bong.]
He who failed to become the disciple of Yeo Dong-bin, defeated by the Taeguk Sword Master.
The legacy left by Jjomseong-i, the Patriarch of the Great Namgung, was as follows.
[All martial arts of the Wudang sect center upon one principle: circulation.]
[Therefore, you descendants must awaken to the subtlety of the Anti-Taeguk, which opposes the Taeguk.]
‘It’s as if Jjomseong-i himself left behind this understanding.’
With that thought, I continued speaking.
“From this moment, we must become the thorn lodged in their foot.”

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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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