Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 340

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Third-rate Martial Arts Family, Greatest Under Heaven – Episode 340
Ju Ja-bang, the chief strategist of Jang Gang-su Ro-maeng, whose name means “Wandering the Yangtze” (周遊長江).
Before Su-sa-jae-seon suddenly appeared decades ago and became the leader of Ro-maeng, he was originally called this.
The young leader of Jang Gang-su Ro-maeng. The sole heir.
‘Father. What are your thoughts on this?’
Seon did not inherit the position of Ro-maeng leader from his predecessor.
Even back then, decades ago, he was already a Cheonmu-sip-jon—what could he possibly have wanted that would make him bow his head?
He killed and took it by force.
“You lowly creatures seem to have some use after all. Hand it over.”
Originally, the bandits of the Yangtze were a far more insignificant force compared to the second-rate sect they are considered today.
The Yangtze is the waterway and lifeline connecting all places under heaven.
How could mere bandits banding together ever seize hegemony?
In such circumstances, it was Ju Un-jang, the Ssang-do Ssang-a-rang, who persuaded or subdued the leaders of the eighteen strongest water fortresses and unified them into one.
Ja-bang’s father and the first leader of Ro-maeng.
“I shall submit to you. No, I shall serve you as my lord. Please lead us, O Transcendent Master of the Five Sovereigns.”
Father Un-jang possessed strategic brilliance equal to his martial prowess, having built the very foundation of Ro-maeng’s birth.
Thus, the moment the absolute being then called the Transcendent Master of the Five Sovereigns descended upon the Three Gorges Fortress, he immediately bowed his head.
“Lord? Why would I demand such courtesy from insignificant creatures like you?”
Ja-bang had not forgotten it even now.
The moment his father’s head was severed.
“Even if I decided to use you, I cannot simply leave your head intact.”
Even had Un-jang lived, he could never have inflicted the slightest harm upon Seon.
The gap between them was as vast as that between heaven and earth.
Seon killed his father merely because he might become troublesome.
The boy Ja-bang witnessed every moment of it clearly.
And thus, he chose his own path.
‘Father. In my view… perhaps this is both the first and last opportunity.’
Before his father’s severed neck, the young Ja-bang swore his loyalty to Seon.
“Heh, how amusing. Swearing loyalty to the one who killed your father.”
The Ro-maeng leader… now the former Ro-maeng leader, Un-jang. His one and only son, Ja-bang.
Seon posed a brief question.
“Boy, how can I trust you?”
So Ja-bang kicked away his father’s severed head.
“He was the sort who would make his own son a Namchang.”
There was no need to feign anger and resentment.
His heart was already filled with it.
He merely redirected its course slightly.
Ja-bang would later be called the greatest strategist of the Yangtze, and his wisdom had been exceptional since childhood.
“In any case, bandits are filthy creatures.”
Kicking away his father’s severed head while exposing the depravity of making one’s own son a Namchang—suspicion would be laughable.
If he were older, it might be possible, but where in this vast world could a fifteen-year-old boy exist who could pull off such an act?
Of course, I had subjected him to certain tests.
Crack, crack, crack!
While the Five Elements Qi tore my father’s corpse to shreds, the boy’s expression remained fixed with nothing but rage and resentment.
Only then did Seon believe Ju Ja-bang’s words.
But Ju Ja-bang performed one more false sincerity.
“Transcendent Master of the Five Elements. I possess legitimacy as the child of the previous Alliance Lord. Do not spare me—cast me aside if you wish, but should I prove my capabilities, I humbly ask for your trust.”
“So be it. A minor amusement, then.”
And so, to the present.
Ju Ja-bang became the chief strategist of the Jang Gang-su Ro-maeng and Seon’s right hand.
Until now, I had not been discovered.
‘Father. It is nearly time. For decades I watched for an opportunity, yet not even a glimpse appeared, but now—now is the moment.’
Despite the turbulent thoughts within, my face remained as always.
Or rather, I was performing fear.
I was on my way to report to Seon.
“Seon. It is Ja-bang. I have come to deliver my report and receive your instruction.”
“Speak.”
An old man with white hair and white eyebrows, bearing the demeanor of an immortal sage. Yet the heart he harbored was nothing but evil itself.
“The battle at Dongjeong Lake… has ended in defeat.”
Evil! With a cutting sound, both arms were severed.
Ju Ja-bang screamed with all his might.
“Aaaaargh! Aaaaargh!”
“Defeat? You say we were defeated? How absurd.”
“Gah, aagh! P-please… forgive me…”
The pain felt as though my brain would burn away.
My consciousness seemed to snap, and confusion crashed down like a storm.
Yet my lips remained steady, reciting the excuse I had prepared beforehand.
“It was… soul qi. The Baek Family employed mysterious sorcery, and those carrying soul qi were helpless against it.”
Ju Ja-bang did not know the exact name, but this was the truth.
Yang Hwi had planted immortal eggs through the Seophran Hui-seon technique into the key forces.
Immortal qi is antithetical to demonic qi and holds superiority when contending with soul qi.
This was why the numerically inferior Ilick Alliance could push back the Jang Gang-su Ro-maeng.
“The Shaman, Namgung, Jeomchang and others… we maintain parity. Gah, guhgh. It is different from the Ilick Alliance side!”
“Huuuuh.”
Water qi and wood qi among the Five Elements surged forth, reattaching both severed arms with a wet sound.
“So the reason for defeat is the Baek Family. Heh, I see. Then they intend to come here?”
The headquarters of the Jang Gang-su Ro-maeng is located on Jusan Island in the Jang Gang Three Gorges.
The boundary where Guizhou, Sichuan, and Hubei meet.
By using the Jang Gang Three Gorges as a natural barrier, the martial world beyond finds it difficult to attack, yet conversely, it serves as a crucial junction for transportation through dozens of tributaries of the Jang Gang.
The Three Gorges Fortress, established and constructed by Ju Un-jang, Ju Ja-bang’s father.
“Yes. I believe that to be the case.”
“Ja-bang.”
“Yes.”
“Can you do it?”
“T-this time, I shall surely deliver everything that Seon desires.”
“Ja-bang.”
“I await your command.”
“Can I trust you?”
He was not speaking of guaranteeing victory.
An inexplicable light flickered in Seon’s eyes, and every space within the dwelling became an extension of Seon’s being and perception.
“Answer me.”
Ju Ja-bang felt as though everything in the world had become an observer, dissecting him.
That was not all.
Like the other mercenaries, the soul qi dwelling in his dantian.
The soul qi writhed and attempted to scrutinize Ju Ja-bang from within.
But.
‘I have been waiting for this moment, Seon.’
The soul qi could not escape beyond the dantian.
Twenty years ago, Ju Ja-bang had deliberately fallen into demonic cultivation.
He had sealed his meridians to confine the soul qi solely within the dantian.
“Yes, Seon. Please, I beg you to trust me.”
For decades, he had served as Seon’s limbs, licking at his feet.
He had accomplished everything Seon desired and brought satisfactory results.
If Seon was the greatest contributor to the rise of Jang Gang-su Ro-maeng, the second greatest was Ju Ja-bang.
Therefore, the current predicament was merely due to the variable called the Baek Family.
It was because of the Baek Family and the three Cheonmu-sip-jon who clung to them.
Ju Ja-bang had done his utmost.
“I see.”
Seon cast aside his suspicion.
“Then I shall trust you one last time. Since things have come to this, invite all those irritating obstacles to the Three Gorges. I shall sweep them away myself.”
“Yes, Seon.”
Ju Ja-bang’s face filled with reverence and admiration.
‘It is done. I have guided them as I conveyed to the Young Master of the Baek Family.’
The first and final opportunity.
He had no intention of letting it slip away.

* * *
All the senior members of the Il-ik-maeng had engaged in heated disputes for over two weeks.
The proposal conveyed through the strategist Ju Ja-bang was equally grave and perilous.
As a result.
“We have decided to march toward the Three Gorges in step with all the sects participating in the great conference.”
The conclusion was set. The stage was also determined.
Three months hence, the Jang Gang-su Three Gorges.
We would lay siege to heaven’s own fortress of natural advantage.
‘An extra month has been gained. Fortunately… it will be tight, but I can make the timing work.’
The Hunting Slaughter Water Dragon Formation.
The ultimate secret technique I was devising to hunt down Cheonmu-sip-jon Su-sa-jae-seon.
‘Six Transcendent Masters to form the formation. I’ve barely managed to gather them.’
Baek Heon-nang-wang’s disciple, Taeryang.
Pacheon Eumhu’s disciple, Jegal Seol-ha.
Yeoilrakbul’s disciple, Adu.
Jegal Family’s Soga-joonim, Jegal Seon.
‘I’m truly grateful that my uncle stepped forward.’
The family’s Soga-joonim, the sole candidate for the next Family Head, willingly taking on such danger?
Everyone tried to dissuade him, but Jegal Seon refused to yield.
…Because Seol-ha refused to yield.
“All of you, be quiet! My daughter is going—how could I possibly stay behind!”
The roar of this doting father was so thunderous that even the Jegal Family Head could not overcome it.
As a result, I would have to cede considerable interests to the Jegal Family, but well.
‘Beyond material gain, I am indebted in spirit. I will surely repay it.’
To Seol-ha and to my uncle—if I survive, I intend to repay this debt for a lifetime.
Just as the Dang Family regards the Baek Family as their benefactor, I too would regard the Jegal Family as my benefactor.
‘The final position was filled by Elder Taeryang.’
One more Transcendent Master arrived from Nangsi.
Ssang-do Ssang-a-rang, who was on intimate terms with Taeryang and whom I had met a few times in my previous life.
True to his epithet, a master who wields dual blades like fangs.
“Elder Chu! How could you exclude me from such an exciting venture! I’m truly disappointed!”
“Now that I’ve dropped the ‘Seo’ character, I’ve told you not to call me that!”
In any case, five Transcendent Masters had been confirmed.
And then, Eung-hyo Je-il, Baek Yang-hwi.
A total of six.
The Hunting Slaughter Water Dragon Formation was complete.
‘And conveniently, Elder Dang also ascended to the Transcendent realm.’
Dang-gun had not achieved ascension.
However, his transformation succeeded.
My debt to the Dang Family was equally profound.
Dang-gun had made a sacrifice for Yang Hwi himself.
In any case, Dang-gun was scheduled to coordinate and oversee the exterior of the Yeop-sal-su-yong-jin formation alongside the Jegal Family Elders.
‘…It’s a shame that Elder Neung-o ultimately failed to reach the Transcendent Master realm.’
Yang Hwi, who prided myself on knowing Neung-o best.
Had he ascended, it would surely have been to the heavens, and he would have become a tremendous asset.
But there was no helping it.
I had no intention of blaming Neung-o.
‘Though imperfect, the preparations are complete.’
Yang Hwi smiled.
It was not the usual sly, sneering grin.
Lips curled up fiercely. Fangs bared.
“Seon, you old bastard. I made it clear, didn’t I?”
That I could see the path. The path to sever that neck of yours.
“The time has come.”
A voice from beside me. It was my father, Baek Moo-ryang.
“Yes, Father.”
I nodded and turned to look back.
Countless martial artists stood arrayed, radiating fierce momentum.
“Brethren! The moment to prove our path has finally arrived!”
A thunderous roar erupted like thunder.
Baek Moo-ryang declared.
“Today, we shall overturn the Two Great Sects of All Under Heaven!”
“Uwaaaaaa!”
“Uwaaaaaa!”
“Uwaaaaaaa!”
The long and arduous Jang Gang Great War.
The curtain of the final battle had risen.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————