Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 360

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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 360
Hundreds of martial sects participated in the victory banquet.
It was no exaggeration to say that virtually every martial sect under heaven had sent representatives.
They had come here coveting the rights and interests of the Yangtze River.
Excluding the roughly thirty sects that participated in the Yangtze River Tournament, including minor ones, hundreds more remained.
-What should we do, Family Head?
-Our preparations have come to nothing.
-If things proceed this way, the Baek Family’s sacrifice has become far too great, Elder.
-Hehehehe. Who could have foreseen such a turn of events.
After deliberation, the various sects had reached nearly identical conclusions.
If we who did not participate in the Yangtze River Tournament wish to claim the rights and interests, we must turn on the Baek Family.
Since the Five Great Families desperately desire elevation, let us use this as bait to secure our share of the interests.
-The Baek Family achieved maximum merit with minimal sacrifice. Thus they could also claim justification for yielding for the sake of the martial world’s peace.
-But if the Baek Family has lost Eung-hyo Je-il….
All our plans crumble to dust.
Why?
Because the Baek Family paid the greatest price among all sects that participated in the Yangtze River Tournament.
Even greater than the Shamanic Sect, which lost the Taeguk Sword Master.
-The Sword Master’s passing is indeed lamentable….
-Had the Sword Master killed Seon, Eung-hyo Je-il would not have fallen to such a state.
The Taeguk Sword Master’s death was an enormous loss for the Shamanic Sect.
Yet it was simultaneously a consequence arising from the conflict between the Cheonmu-sip-jon.
Eung-hyo Je-il, in finishing what the Taeguk Sword Master could not complete by slaying Seon, had essentially cleaned up the Shamanic Sect’s mess.
As a result, he lost the extraordinary martial prowess that would have secured his position as the next Greatest Under Heaven.
“I, Tang Seong, Family Head of the Dang Family, wish to speak to my fellow martial artists.”
Dang Seong’s expression was grave and solemn.
“Eung-hyo Je-il. At merely twenty-three years of age, he aspired to become the Greatest Under Heaven—a hero of our martial world. That he has lost his martial prowess is undoubtedly a tremendous loss for the entire martial world.”
All inwardly agreed.
Especially given that traces of the demonic path were beginning to seep out here and there.
Was it not the case that even the Yangtze River Alliance was being touched by the mysterious demonic sect known as the Blood Sect?
“No, Family Head Tang. It was only right that he step forward for the sake of the world. Therefore, let us refrain from unnecessary words.”
Dang Seong’s voice grew louder instead.
“Behold, fellow martial artists! For a warrior, martial prowess is everything! We have lost Eung-hyo Je-il, who remained so composed even after losing everything!”
From the opposite side, Namgung Cheon-yeong, Family Head of the Namgung Family, stepped forward.
“Our Namgung Family held back countless mercenaries in the final bloody battle and lost two transcendent masters. Yet compared to the losses the Baek Family has suffered, our sacrifice pales in comparison.”
The sects belonging to the First Alliance also began to add their voices one by one.
“The Yangtze River Alliance! Eung-hyo Je-il, the hero who annihilated one of the two greatest demonic sects while sacrificing his own martial prowess, is none other than the Baek Family Heir!”
“As a member of the First Alliance, I dare add my words. Fellow martial artists! Should we not bestow upon the Baek Family the honors they rightfully deserve?”
Originally, the order of proceedings was to discuss the Baek Family’s elevation to the Five Great Families after the merit assessment.
It had been arranged that way in consideration of the opposition various sects would raise.
Of course, this was only after I had carefully considered the possibility of overturning the board like this.
“Which martial sect contributed the greatest merit in annihilating the Two Great Demonic Sects of the Heavens!”
“The Baek Family!”
“After occupying Payang Lake, it would have been acceptable to merely hold a defensive position, yet who was it that led the Yi-ik Alliance all the way to the Three Gorges!”
“The Baek Family Head! The Yi-ik Alliance Master! The Twin Blade Sword Sage Baek Moo-ryang!”
Dang Seong thrust his arm skyward, his momentum overwhelming.
“Fellow warriors! We who live by the blade and die by martial arts—what is the one thing we can never abandon!”
“Integrity!”
“What must we honor for those who sacrificed for the way of the sword!”
“Honor!”
It was a cauldron of fervent passion.
A few sect leaders wore expressions of dismay, but it was already too late.
The atmosphere was like a great river—once caught in its current, it was difficult to stop.
“I dare propose to the fellow warriors! That we expand the ranks of the Five Great Families and establish the Baek Family as one of the Six Great Families!”
Dang Seong spoke with eloquent passion.
It was his intention to repay a considerable portion of the debt owed to the Baek Family in this opportunity.
“Dang Family Head Dang Seong! I believe the fellow warriors have witnessed the standing of my family! We too have the qualifications to reach for the Five Great Families! However! This Family Head intends to yield that qualification to the Baek Family! Why? Because the Baek Family possesses the greatest qualifications! That is the proper flow of things!”
“As the Family Head of the Namgung Family, one of the Five Great Families, I declare it! I, Namgung Cheon-yeong the Bow Sword Master, also welcome the Baek Family’s ascension to the Six Great Families!”
“…The Jegal Family also wishes to stand with the Baek Family.”
The leaders of the sects belonging to the Yi-ik Alliance rose to their feet in unison.
The Sichuan Tang Family. Jeomchang Sect. The Namgung Family.
In addition to these three families of the Gu-pa Five, the leaders of some thirty minor and mid-tier sects as well.
…Of course, Jegal Family Head Jegal Pae also rose to his feet.
Since he had risen somewhat late, Jegal Pae resolved to add the finishing touch himself.
“Jegal Family Head Jegal Pae asks the fellow warriors—if you oppose the Baek Family’s ascension to the Five Great Families, or rather, the Six Great Families, please raise your hands.”
“….”
“….”
“….”
After waiting for some time, not a single hand was raised.
A few hesitantly began to lift their shoulders, only to be pulled back down by those beside them.
Yang Hwi quietly observed the scene, and for a moment, closed his eyes.
‘So we have finally reached this point.’
The Baek Family Head, once merely a third-rate martial arts family.
Though he harbored the grand ambition of becoming the Greatest Family Under Heaven, throughout my previous life, I could not even achieve the status called a Great Family.
Yet now, I have become a Major Great Family.
One of the Six Great Families—the Gaecheon Baek Family.
“Listen, this father’s dream is to make our family a Great Family.”
Words spoken in my previous life while drinking, with an adopted son who could not adapt to the family seated before me.
A cherished aspiration that had somehow become a dream, a lifelong pursuit.
I had achieved it.
‘Father. Not yet. The Baek Family will become the greatest clan under heaven. I promise you this.’
My fists clenched with determination.
I was halfway there now.
And halfway was merely the beginning.
So this was truly where it all started.

* * *
To summarize the subsequent distribution of merits, it went like this.
Countless interests arose from the void left by the annihilated Jang Gang-su Ro-maeng.
Among these, the Dang Family, Jegal Family, and Namgung Family each received one share.
The Dang and Jegal families earned their portion through their exceptional contributions in numerous battles, while the Namgung Family was recognized for blocking the Three Gorges and fighting fiercely at the end.
The sects that followed the Shaman and the minor factions of the Alliance combined received about one share total.
Though there were dozens of sects involved, one share was appropriately proportional when merit was fairly assessed.
“Brother. Four shares remain, and we’re receiving one share?”
Chu Dal approached and whispered near my ear.
I chuckled softly—I couldn’t use sound transmission here.
I spoke quietly instead.
“Of course not. We and the Shaman receive one share each.”
Chu Dal’s eyes widened.
“What? Even though the Taeguk Sword Master passed away, our portion equals the Shaman’s?”
“In exchange, the Baek Family lost a day.”
Though truthfully, I hadn’t lost anything.
It was an elaborate deception, even deceiving Father.
But for the family’s sake, what couldn’t I do?
I certainly wasn’t delaying the revelation simply to savor the concern of those dear to me a while longer.
Absolutely not.
“Wow, this will be incredible going forward! One share—the very share that the two greatest sects of the realm once controlled!”
The Jang Gang-su Ro-maeng had been a colossal faction, rivaling three or four of the Five Great Families combined.
Simply put, the interests we gained were comparable to, or perhaps slightly less than, one of the Five Great Families themselves.
“Now our Gaecheon Baek Family ranks as the sixth great clan. We’re still far behind the other major families. To advance faster, even this isn’t enough.”
I had actually aimed for three shares, but my inquiries behind the scenes had been rebuffed.
Fair assessment of merit meant the Baek Family alone couldn’t claim three shares.
‘Had I not feigned the loss of my martial arts, I would have received slightly over one share.’
Still, receiving the same proportion as the Shaman, who lost the Taeguk Sword Master himself, was satisfying enough.
“Now comes the next event, Brother.”
Suddenly, Chu Dal grinned mischievously and jabbed my forearm with his elbow.
“Congratulations? You must be thrilled?”
The reason was simple.
Next on the schedule was the betrothal ceremony between Seolha and me.
“Go prepare in the back. Change into formal robes.”
“Hmm. It wouldn’t have mattered anyway.”
“Pardon? Why is that?”
Speak of the tiger and it appears.
But Wa-ryong was one step faster than the tiger.
“Gentlemen. Now that the merit ceremony has concluded, I, Jegal Pae, wish to speak.”
Jegal Pae and all the members of the Jegal Family rose to their feet in unison.
Seolha was nowhere to be seen, and Soga-joonim Jegal Seon appeared to be seething about something.
“As written in the invitation, I trust you all know that today’s banquet was also meant to celebrate the betrothal between this Family Head’s granddaughter and the Baek Family Heir.”
Jegal Pae continued speaking with his usual expression—utterly composed and therefore coldly detached.
“The Jegal Family has decided not to proceed with the betrothal ceremony. I offer my apologies to those who had anticipated this.”
“…!”
“…!”
“…!”
A shock comparable to when Yang Hwi had confessed to losing his martial arts rippled through the gathering.
The First Dragon—Gaecheon Geomryong Baek Yang-hwi.
The First Peak—Pye Wol-ok-bong Jegal Seol-ha.
The two who had been famous as a destined couple since those days.
Now that the families themselves had reached an agreement, even more so.
The future greatest under heaven, Eung-hyo Je-il Baek Yang-hwi.
The most beautiful under heaven and direct descendant of the Jegal Family, Jegal Seol-ha.
They were the lovers whom more than half the world admired and yearned for.
Yet they were breaking the betrothal?
‘…In a way, it’s inevitable.’
‘The Jegal Family is an extremely cold and pragmatic house.’
‘The current Eung-hyo Je-il has… no value.’
Even without martial arts, one could still serve as a scholar.
Since his martial knowledge transcended ancient and modern times, there would be meaning in bearing his children.
But a family of the Jegal caliber could not marry their direct line to such a person.
“Jegal Family Head.”
Baek Moo-ryang smiled bitterly as he looked toward the Jegal Family members.
“I am sorry, Baek Family Head.”
Jegal Seon, standing beside Jegal Pae, could be seen opening his mouth slightly.
It seemed he was offering an apology to his sworn brother Baek Moo-ryang.
“Baek Family Head. I trust you will understand.”
“I understand. My heart aches because I understand, but I do understand. I hope you will comfort Seol-ha’s heart as well.”
“That is something our family will handle.”
“…That is indeed the case now.”
Thus.
When the betrothal between the two families was decided to end in dissolution.
“No.”
The wind blew.
A wind that yearned to roam the heavens.
Seolha stood dressed in white and crimson martial robes instead of wedding garments.
“Grandfather. Who gave you the right to break the engagement on your own?”
Jegal Pae’s expression remained unmoved even in this situation.
“It is the decision of I, Jegal Pae, the Family Head of the Jegal Family. Do you dare defy the Family Head’s decision?”
“Yes!”
Not a flicker of hesitation crossed Seolha’s face.
Only the will of one who had already made her resolve remained.
“Grandfather. No—Family Head. I reject your decision.”
A brief, deep breath. Then her voice unfurled.
Beautiful as pearls rolling across stone, and precise to every ear as befitted a master of sound cultivation.
“Jegal Seol-ha, disciple of Cheonmu-sip-jon Pacheon Eumhu. I, hereby reject the decision of the Jegal Family Head!”
In that moment.
Yang Hwi understood one truth.
The reason he had kept it secret from everyone, especially from Seolha.
‘I wanted to confirm it.’
And now, I had.

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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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