Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 320

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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 320
“He, Baek Yang-hwi…”
My ears perked up. While maintaining an outward appearance of composure, my attention had been drawn in that direction for quite some time.
“He will be the Greatest Under Heaven of the next generation.”
The Greatest Under Heaven of the next generation.
The Greatest Under Heaven of the next generation.
The Greatest Under Heaven of the next generation.
The words echoed endlessly. Before I could help myself, the corners of my mouth curled upward.
“Kkhehehehe…”
Jegal Seol-ha, who had been sitting beside me as I lay sprawled on the roof, wore an expression of exasperation.
“Brother. You didn’t do it alone, yet you’re acting like you’re thrilled about it?”
Ever since reclaiming Mu-han, this was already the fifth time I had sprawled out on Juru’s roof, eavesdropping on the conversations of drunk patrons.
And in all five instances, there had been almost no talk about Jegal Seol-ha—only the identity of the next Greatest Under Heaven dominated the heated discussions.
As for Jegal Seol-ha, her irritation was beginning to simmer.
“We fought together, yet you monopolize all the fame. Are you enjoying this blessing so much?”
“Ahem. We agreed on this from the beginning. You’re no fool—there’s no way you didn’t know.”
When we realized that fighting together could unleash transcendent power, we had decided that Seol-ha would handle the rear while I would charge through the front lines.
No matter how well I had mastered the Thousand Winds technique, it wouldn’t do for the Sound Master to draw the enemy’s attention.
In every sense, I, the swordsman, had to become the target for elimination.
Seol-ha grumbled.
“I know. I wasn’t ignorant of it. But I never expected you’d absorb all the attention like this!”
Nearly ten transcendent masters from both sides had participated in the Mu-han battle.
Yet the one whose reputation had risen the most was the Gae-cheon Jeil-ryong of the Baek Family.
“I never thought you’d be this delighted about it!”
“Ah, so you’re jealous?”
I swiftly dodged her hand as it aimed for my forearm, then continued speaking.
“I made it clear. I would solidify my position as the Greatest Under Heaven of the next generation.”
From the beginning, I had been regarded as someone who would become the Greatest Under Heaven of the next generation.
However, this was in fact closer to the perception that I was merely the most outstanding among the later generations.
A subject of speculation—perhaps it would happen.
A subject of certainty—it would definitely happen.
‘Though they sound the same, they’re as different as heaven and earth.’
The people’s reaction was proof of this.
Rather than cheering for the Jegal Family, who had commanded the reclamation forces and reclaimed Mu-han, everyone was talking about me instead.
Not merely a Cheonmu-sip-jon, but the Greatest Under Heaven.
That was the standing the Greatest Under Heaven held in the martial world.
“In any case, I will never forget this. I’m going to keep track of this debt.”
Did this girl think I was some unscrupulous merchant running a loan-sharking operation?
How many debts had accumulated anyway?
“I’m getting anxious. Should I ask you to repay what you owed me before?”
“Hmm. How should I repay you?”
“Well, you’ll have to ask what your peer sister desires.”
“Here’s what I want. Once the banquet ends today, spend time with me.”
Today a grand banquet was being held to commemorate the recapture of Mu-han.
Invitations had been sent to the martial sects participating in the Jang Gang conflict on such a lavish and magnificent scale.
Though the war was still ongoing, Family Heads couldn’t attend, but each sect had confirmed they would send their Soga-joonim-level senior members.
“Understood? Don’t forget. And don’t cause any trouble.”
Yang Hwi’s expression turned puzzled.
“You want me to play with you all day long, and you’re even calling in a favor for it? That seems too easy.”
Had it been anyone else, they would have accepted with delight, but toward Seolha, I owed a considerable emotional debt, so I questioned further.
“That’s exactly why you should think of a proper way to entertain me. If you just pass the time and it ends, the debt won’t disappear.”
“Ah, so that’s what you meant.”
She was asking me to play the role of a jester of sorts.
That wasn’t particularly difficult.
“Fine. Shall we head out then?”
Rising to my feet, I released my inner qi to brush away the dust.
In response, a lustrous sheen flowed across the formal robe.
‘Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever worn such an expensive garment in my entire life.’
It was a formal robe prepared in advance before the Mu-han recapture battle for today’s banquet.
The fabric was pristine white overall, but with subtle dark undertones that conveyed a sense of luxury.
Even the cyan-gold embroidery depicting the hawk and feathers, symbols of the Baek Family.
“Seolha, but you… hmm.”
I turned my head to look at her, then trailed off.
Seolha was also dressed in a formal robe prepared for the banquet.
Tailored to fit her frame perfectly, her feminine presence felt far more pronounced than usual.
Or perhaps it was the contrast of colors.
The red fabric hugging her hips, and above it, shimmering golden embroidery in the shape of white feathers.
While the lower half was strikingly red, the upper portion was pristine white silk, yet strangely emanated a violet radiance.
“What is it?”
“I’m thinking quite a few men will fall for you today.”
“What’s new? That’s always been the case.”
“Well, it’s still annoying.”
“That’s inferiority complex talking.”

* * *
I deliberately timed my entrance to coincide with the banquet’s beginning.
Ordinarily, Hu Gi-jisu arriving this late would be criticized for rudeness, but Yang Hwi was an exception now.
I was no longer Hu Gi-jisu.
There were scarcely any who would treat the future Greatest Under Heaven as a mere subordinate or concern themselves with formalities.
“The arrival of the Hawk’s Roar, First Among All!”
The attendant’s proclamation rang out. I moved forward in rhythm with it.
The title was unfamiliar, yet it was my own epithet.
Hawk’s Roar, First Among All—a title meaning the hawk roars as the Greatest Under Heaven.
On the first day of the Infinite Martial Arts Tournament, I had slain the fully mature Transcendent Master Dong Jeong-il-gun while roaring that I would become the Greatest Under Heaven.
This epithet was born from that moment, and it also signified the confirmation of my position as the future Greatest Under Heaven.
‘Truly magnificent.’
A victory banquet held after reclaiming the Infinite Martial Arts that had been taken from me.
From the Jegal Family’s perspective, they had expanded the scale for the sake of display as well.
The gazes of countless people poured down upon me—familiar yet strange all the same.
Both in quantity and quality, never before had I experienced such concentrated and abundant attention.
Yet what was amusing was that Seolha, walking beside me, was receiving even greater interest.
‘The Greatest Under Heaven cannot surpass the Greatest Beauty Under Heaven…?’
A revelation that struck my mind like a hammer. Thinking such frivolous thoughts, I walked toward the center of the banquet hall.
More precisely, toward where my particular companions had gathered.
“Hwi’s Younger Brother. Ha, should I now call you the Hawk’s Roar Master?”
“Elder Dang. Don’t embarrass me like that.”
I embraced Dang-gun lightly. Afterward, I exchanged greetings with Neung-o, Adu, and others.
‘They’ve all grown tremendously.’
It was natural, having wielded their blades against mercenaries.
Real combat was, after all, the fastest path to growth in martial training.
That was when I felt a gaze from behind. I turned my head.
Namgung Cheon-yeong had been looking this way, but when our eyes met, he hurriedly turned his head away.
‘Sigh. When will that fellow stop being so fidgety?’
“Hey, Namgung Cheon-yeong! Come here! Or if you’d rather hear yourself called Family Head, don’t bother!”
Regardless of being peers, it was hardly the tone one should use toward the Family Head of the Great Namgung in an official setting, but what of it.
I too was now the future Greatest Under Heaven.
“Ahem. Ahem, ahem.”
Namgung Cheon-yeong approached and awkwardly cleared his throat.
“If you’ve come, speak instead of coughing. You were watching because you wanted to join in.”
“Hawk’s Roar. This Namgung Mo was not looking with such thoughts, but rather…”
“Want to start over?”
“I shall offer my respects anew to the brothers. I am Namgung Cheon-yeong, the Active Sword, now Family Head of the Namgung Family.”
I patted his back firmly.
“Drop the formality, boy. We’re family now—why create distance?”
Namgung Cheon-yeong’s eyes widened.
One family. It wasn’t wrong to say so, now that he had joined with Ilick Alliance.
Yet it was hardly the right thing to say between those who had crossed blades and sought each other’s death mere moments ago.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“…Elder brother. Thank you. Truly.”
That’s enough, boy. No matter how much you thank me, you should be thanking me more.
I still remember it.
The vacant eyes of Chu Dal, who returned with his head severed.
The sensation of Namgung Cheon-yeong’s heart through the blade I drove in.
But I will forget it.
Now that I have found a new path, I will not be bound by the past.
I struck his back once more, hard enough to make a sharp sound.
“Ah, while we’re on the subject, let’s settle something before we go. Namgung, do you still like Seolha?”
“Uh hehehehe!”
What is this? Did he prepare vocal mimicry to get closer to me?
“H-how can you say such a thing so openly!”
“We need to settle this. Do you like her or not?”
“….”
Namgung Cheon-yeong gazed quietly at Jegal Seol-ha.
Their eyes met, yet her expression remained cold and unchanged.
She was a warm person, one who smiled often.
Only for someone in particular.
“I do not, sir.”
In my younger days, I was captivated at our first meeting.
It was a shallow emotion born of superficiality. Perhaps it was the very feeling she would hate most.
“The memories of the past make it bittersweet. Yet I do not like her. I have changed, and I must continue to change.”
Moving forward. This is what we call growth.
“Elder brother. So Namgung really doesn’t like me anymore?”
“J-Jegal Sojeo??”
“Good? Then that settles it. Now let’s enjoy the banquet.”
I have much to do today. A victory banquet is also a stage for politics, after all.
Based on the unshakeable reputation I’ve built, I can forge more advantageous relationships to aid the Baek Family’s future joining of the Five Great Families….
That was the moment.
[Friends. You all seem to be enjoying yourselves?]
Silence, and stillness.
The clamorous noise of the banquet hall vanished as if washed away.
It truly disappeared and ceased.
As if the very air had declared it would no longer carry sound.
…The Taeguk Sword Master at the head seat rose to his feet.
“Susa Jaeseol. Is that you?”
“Taeguk Sword Master. Always so arrogant. Speaking to me as though I were your senior brother.”
Five strands of qi gathered in the empty air.
They coalesced and took shape, forming the figure of a man.
An old man with white hair and white beard, as though he had stepped out of a divine immortal’s painting.
Susa Jaeseol, the leader of the Jang Gang-su Ro-maeng water ghosts.
“What brings the leader of the water ghosts to grace us with his presence? If we’re counting guests to celebrate victory, we have more than enough.”
“Geom-ong, mind your words. If I am the leader of the water ghosts, are you not the master of mere foot soldiers?”
The Taeguk Sword Master’s eyes deepened. To him, the Shamans were precious disciples.
Unlike Seon, who regarded his subordinates as mere disposable pieces.
“For an uninvited guest to behave so rudely—is the title of Susa Jaeseol not too grand for such conduct? Leave.”
“Can you truly interfere with my path so easily? You?”
Seon smiled gently and glanced around the surroundings.
“If you’re upset, come at me, great-disciple of Geom Seon.”
“….”
This was precisely why I could not respond to Seon’s sudden arrival and provocations.
Normally, I should rejoice when the enemy’s leader appears alone at my main camp, but the opponent was Seon.
Fear of being surrounded and killed?
None.
Though Baek Do’s warriors filled the surroundings, the disadvantage lay with me, the Taeguk Sword Master.
The moment we fought, catastrophic collateral damage would occur.
‘The problem is, once the board is set like this, I cannot retreat.’
I could not simply bow my head meekly.
It would appear that the Shaman faction was submitting to the Jang Gang-su Ro-maeng.
“It seems this old man must teach you what courtesy means. Had you become a disciple of my Master, you would have learned it long ago. What a pity.”
This time, Susa Jaeseol’s eyes twitched.
He held deep interest in the Shaman faction, and its roots traced back to the Geom Seon lineage.
From the Taeguk Sword Master alone, I did not wish to hear such words.
“It has been a long time.”
“Will you conduct yourself so shamefully here?”
“That way, you’ll regret it all the more.”
“That will not happen.”
Five strands of qi seized control of heaven and earth.
In response, a sword traced the sphere of the Taeguk.
A critical moment, as though it might explode at any second.
“Sigh.”
A sigh echoed out.
“If you’re going to fight, take it outside. I was enjoying my meal.”
Yang Hwi, who had passed through the Gae-cheon Jeil-ryong and the Bul-wol Pa-byeok-ryong and was now called the Eung-hyo Jeil, stood with his arms crossed and one leg propped up.

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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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