Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 355

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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 355
Born on the battlefield and given the name Jeon-il, he survived and chose his own name upon awakening to his first purpose: Taeryang.
Having walked a path guided by that name until he touched the heavens, people called him thus.
Baek Heon-nang-wang, one of the Ten Transcendent Martial Deities.
‘There are truly so many people.’
At the entrance to Nang-si. Both pedestrians and passing carriages were remarkably numerous.
It was only natural, since Nang-si had originally formed when followers gathered around the place where Baek Heon-nang-wang had secluded himself.
Even more so now, as mourners from across the realm converged here.
“Let’s go, Seolha.”
The difference, however, was that while most were departing Nang-si, Yang Hwi and Seolha were heading toward it.
Today was the final day of the funeral. I had deliberately arrived late at Taeryang’s request.
“Brother. I wonder what final words Elder Nangwang left behind?”
I turned my head slightly to regard Seolha.
Seolha, dressed in pure white garments of mourning with a white cloth wrapped around her face.
Though her simple attire and veiled face concealed much, her beauty remained evident, drawing constant glances from those around us.
“Indeed. Well, given the Elder’s nature, it would be fitting for him to leave some parting words.”
In both my past and present lives, my encounter with Nang-wang had lasted only a single day, yet the honorific “Elder” flowed naturally from my lips.
Baek Heon-nang-wang was such a man of grace and virtue.
His playful nature was merely a charming peculiarity.
“Whatever words he left, we must go. We must arrive and hear them, then pay our final respects.”
In a sense, Baek Heon-nang-wang had been my savior.
Had it not been for the weakness of Seon that he revealed, I could never have survived the Three Gorges.
‘Conversely, from Elder Nangwang’s perspective… having killed Seon, who had defeated him, I must have become someone of particular significance to him. Perhaps that is why he left these final words.’
Seon may well have been the last lingering regret of Nang-wang’s life.
Shortly after Seon’s death and the conclusion of the Yangtze River Tournament, he departed from this world.
“There it is.”
A large tomb came into view.
I could also see Taeryang’s figure, appearing smaller than usual today.
Along with other assassins of Nang-si standing beside him.
“Ah. You’ve arrived.”
“Brother Taeryang. Please accept my deepest condolences for the departed.”
“We offer our sympathies, Senior.”
“Thank you. And thank you as well, young lady.”
Taeryang released a long, heavy sigh.
“He always said we never know when we’ll go, but I never imagined it would be so sudden.”
Tears streamed down Taeryang’s face.
Despite being a Transcendent Master, the redness around his eyes suggested he had already wept considerably.
“Brother. Please, compose yourself.”
“Yes. I must. Master would laugh at the sight of me like this. I must.”
For Taeryang, Baek Heon-nang-wang was a father before he was a master.
Suddenly, Yang Hwi recalled a moment from his past life.
The day his father had passed away.
The day he had resolved to create a divine technique to make the Baek Family supreme under heaven, and left the clan.
That piercing regret.
“Sigh. Thank you for waiting.”
Only after a long while did Taeryang look at Yang Hwi.
“Now I must reveal the will. Father left behind words before his passing, and I have been waiting for you to arrive.”
With those words, Taeryang withdrew a single orb of crystalline luminescence from his bosom.
An extraordinary aura emanated from it—this was no ordinary object.
“Is it the contents of the will that you are giving this to me?”
“No. This orb itself is the will.”
The moment Taeryang infused his spiritual energy into the orb—
「Whoosh!」
“Yelp!”
“Master!”
“Good heavens!?”
Everyone gasped in shock. Elder Nangwang had burst forth from the orb, startling them all.
‘Goodness. What is this? Surely he didn’t seal a soul inside the orb.’
Handling the spirit of the deceased was the most forbidden of forbidden arts.
Unless one were to pray for their peace and guide them to enlightenment.
「Kekeke, were you all surprised? Isn’t it fascinating?」
“Master. Haha… even leaving a will in such a manner is so very like you.”
Nangwang did not respond to Taeryang’s words.
「Is it fascinating? It is, isn’t it? When one reaches the level of Cheonmu-sip-jon and prepares for death beforehand, even such tricks become possible. Kekeke.」
Only then could Yang Hwi discern the true nature of the orb.
An illusion. Or more precisely, a manifestation of consciousness.
Nangwang had embedded his will into a vessel shaped like an orb.
With a will that touched the heavens, it took on such a vivid and tangible form.
Nangwang’s manifestation suddenly wore a benevolent expression.
「I would have preferred you all to be startled while grieving. I didn’t die at anyone’s hand—I enjoyed everything life had to offer and departed gracefully. Why weep instead of celebrating?」
Truly, even his final will bore the Elder’s character.
He was remarkably cheerful.
「I suspect those present are Taeryang and his children below him, and the Baek Family’s Young Master. Am I correct?」
“Yes, Master.”
「Then I shall proceed. If anyone is absent, relay this to them yourselves.」
Thus, Nangwang’s will began.
「I, this Taeryang, reached the heavens in the very heart of the Blood Sect Leader’s domain.」
「Born on the battlefield and raised among blood… yet so much blood was spilled then. Tears shed for the loss of the precious were also abundant.」
「Whether they divide themselves into black and white to fight is no concern of mine, but still, one must uphold righteousness. The Hyeol Sa-ryeon crossed that line.」
The Hyeol Sa-ryeon—the root cause of the Blood Sect Leader’s domain.
Through their schemes, they orchestrated countless blood feuds, and thus became one of the two greatest sects under heaven.
「Let me speak plainly. Behind Hyeol Sa-ryeon stands the Blood Deity and Blood Sect. Young Master of the Baek Family, you know what those bastards do, don’t you? Hehehehe. Not only that. I hear you’ve even met the Cheonma?」
The Nang-wang before my eyes was merely a phantom.
Yet Yang Hwi bowed respectfully and answered.
“Yes. I am aware.”
「After the Blood Sect Leader, I made it my lifelong pursuit to uncover the secrets of the blood feuds. The connection I discovered in that process—the Blood Sect. Not merely a gathering of Mado practitioners, but a heretical sect bound together through fanaticism.」
「For reasons unknown, the connection also reached Seon. So we fought, and I lost.」
Suddenly, Nang-wang turned his head to one side.
By chance, it was precisely where Yang Hwi stood.
Nang-wang’s lips curled upward roughly.
「When I heard the news, I laughed heartily. That bastard Taeryang took him away and finally killed Seon? Ahahaha, that damned fool. In the end, I lived longer! Ahahaha!」
Nang-wang, laughing loudly with his head thrown back, posed a question.
「So, who was Seon’s master? That bastard Jang Cheon-sa—the Cheonma, right?」
I recalled the words Seon had murmured in his final moment.
Even in a state of madness, half-lost to reason, he had declared he would not give up and prove himself to his master.
It was a fact known only to Seolha and Taeryang in this place.
“Yes. With ninety-nine percent certainty—no, absolute certainty, I am convinced.”
「Right. That’s what I thought. Even Seon was a monster who lived over two hundred years, but Jang Cheon-sa? He’s a figure from centuries past. The Cheonma. The Cheonma.」
Nang-wang’s gaze deepened.
「Young one, I support your future as you stand against the greatest monster in all the realm.」
「In the end, I could not reach it. But thanks to you, the Baek Family’s young master, I leave having unraveled at least one thread. I am relieved. Thank you.」
“No, I am the one who should be grateful. Without your counsel, I would already be dead.”
Nang-wang’s gaze turned toward the heavens.
「I do not know the true nature of the Cheonma. But I can leave you with a warning. He is an existence of unknown origins. Therefore, you must always suspect and remain vigilant. Gather those you can trust, build your family. And so I—」
Nang-wang lowered his head. His eyes blazed with intensity.
「I command the dissolution of the Nang-in order.」
Taeryang and all the assassins fell into shock.
“Master! What do you mean by that!”
“Elder, please reconsider!”
“How can you give such a command!”
Nang-wang’s phantom continued as if he had anticipated this.
「Stop your nonsense and listen. Does it make sense for assassins, who should be the freest in all the realm, to gather around serving an old man? Leave and live doing what you wish. Especially you, Taeryang—if you perform a three-year mourning for me, I’ll haunt you from the grave. Understood?」
“….”
Taeryang became like a man struck dumb. It seemed he had genuinely intended to observe three years of mourning at the grave.
“Brother Taeryang. What will you do?”
“Will you truly dissolve the Nang-in order?”
“You must take over and lead us, brother!”
「These bastards won’t listen and are resisting, aren’t they? Young Master of the Baek Family, ignore these stubborn assassins who won’t obey and listen to me.」
‘Even in the afterlife, he’s still a ghost. He must have pre-recorded this, but the way he responds as if watching is perfect.’
That much spoke to how well they knew each other and how dearly they cherished one another.
“Young Master of the Baek Family. Though our meeting lasted but a day, I called you here because I have something to say.”
“Your martial arts are crude, you know. No, rather—each technique is formidable, but they’re scattered. You’ve learned everything under the sun, relying solely on talent.”
“Achieve unity. The essence of both the pinnacle and transcendent realms is unity, as you well know. Unity. This is the counsel one senior passes to a junior with promise.”
I etched it deep within my heart.
The unity of martial arts was a question I, Yang Hwi, had long considered vital.
Indeed, wasn’t it this very principle that led me to create the Three Truths of Gaecheon Swordsmanship—the Gaecheon Sword Path—when I fought Seon?
“Yes. I will keep it close to heart.”
“When something blocks your way, you’ll sense that the time has come. Then go to Hwa-san. Hwa-san, I say. Your roots ultimately lie in Hwa-san, and much of what you’ve inherited traces back there.”
Hwa-san. Okcheon naturally came to mind.
My sworn brother, who had been like a master in my past life.
Yet in this life, our connection had become twisted.
‘I must repay my debt to Hwa-san as well. I should visit someday.’
“And listen. If Taeryang acts all pitiful, smack him across the face and drag him along. Help him enjoy seeing the world and having fun. A single word of counsel from Cheonmu-sip-jon is worth a fortune. Since you’ve received it, you must pay the price, yes?”
“Yes. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to strike Elder Taeryang’s cheek.”
Nang-wang raised his arm and stretched.
“Well, my children should be coming to their senses by now. Don’t be bound—live freely, you bastards! You are assassins!”
“As an assassin, I reached toward the heavens and earned the title of Nang-wang. Yet I was no true assassin. Rather than drifting freely like a leaf on the wind, I was shackled by the chains of my ambitions. So, you lot—savor the joy of being an assassin to your heart’s content.”
Nang-wang’s phantom form slowly began to transform into radiant light.
“It always bothered me. How could assassins follow and gather around someone? Respect yourselves, you bastards. Walk the path you yourselves have chosen! This is the Way of the Assassin that I, Baek Heon-nang-wang, leave behind!”
It was over.
A long and profound testament, yet more joyful and pleasant than any final words had any right to be.
And yet.
For someone, it was a crossroads.
“Self-respect… Master.”
Taeryang contemplated.
When the Master had commanded him to abandon his name, he had changed the character and become another Taeryang.
So this time, he would do the same.
‘You told me to walk freely on my own path. My path is to fulfill your unfulfilled wish in your stead, Master.’
Taeryang stepped before me.
“Brother. What do you think of Cheonma?”
“Simple. A bastard who must be killed without fail, someday.”
“I see.”
Taeryang suddenly dropped to one knee.
“Brother… No, Young Master. Grant me a place to remain within the Baek Family.”
In that moment.
I understood.
‘Elder Nang-wang. Your depth truly was profound.’
It was no accident that he was Cheonmu-sip-jon.
The reason he summoned a one-day acquaintance at the moment of his final words.
The reason he mentioned the Blood Sect and Cheonma, yet ended by telling us to live freely.
‘I understand. You leave without even repaying your debt, and instead you’re adding more to it.’
Yang Hwi regarded Taeryang with a solemn gaze.
“I, Baek Yang-hwi, heir of the Baek Family of Gaecheon, make this vow. Taeryang, you are henceforth a member of the Baek Family.”
The moment a disciple of Cheonmu-sip-jon and a Transcendent Master became a retainer of the Baek Family.

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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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