Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 394

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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 394
Inside the tavern, filled with guests.
“Um… Young Master Baek. Are you truly comfortable with this arrangement?”
An old man seated before the table glanced nervously and addressed Baek Heon-so, who stood behind him.
The old man was among the most prominent gentry figures in Gangseong.
Though he could hardly compare to the legitimate heir of the Baek Family, which had become the hegemon of Gangseong.
“It’s fine, Jang Master. Since I’m serving as a bodyguard now, please call me Baek the Guard.”
“How could I address a direct descendant of the Baek Family in such a manner…?”
“I truly don’t mind.”
I came out to earn money. What good would it do to be called Young Master in this situation?
It’s better for the family to lower myself and accommodate their preferences to secure the next commission.
“Then… Baek the Gua—ugh!”
Jang Master, who had been subtly attempting to change the form of address, flinched and turned his head.
In the direction of his gaze sat Dang-yeon, leisurely sipping tea.
“No matter that Young Master Baek was hired as a bodyguard, how could one possibly address him merely as ‘Guard’? I shall call you Young Master! I look forward to your service, Young Master!”
“…Very well. Do as you please.”
Baek Heon-so sighed inwardly and sent a transmission of thought to Dang-yeon.
-Sister, what is your reason for interfering with my business?
-Oh, it’s not interference—I’m helping! Regardless of wealth, I cannot allow a mere provincial notable to treat the Baek Family’s successor lightly.
Her words weren’t wrong, but the Baek Family currently needed substantial funds.
As a family member and direct descendant, Baek Heon-so had taken on external commissions to earn money.
-I heard the Dang Family is also actively strengthening its forces. Can you truly afford to idle about as a direct descendant?
Dang-yeon replied casually.
-Well, our Dang Family has plenty of money.
Poison and medicine are fundamentally one and the same.
In other words, the Dang Family possessed medical and pharmaceutical arts among the finest in the realm.
By common sense, it was a family that could never fall into poverty.
-Then could you lend me some money…?
-It’s not quite lending. The Yangtze River trade is something the Baek and Dang families are preparing together, after all.
This was the primary reason the Baek Family currently faced financial strain.
Though the vast sums Baek Moo-ryang poured into strengthening forces were considerable, they could not constitute a significant portion of the current Baek Family’s wealth.
‘I never imagined the Yangtze River trade would require so much money.’
In the distribution of merits following the annihilation of the Jang Gang-su Ro-maeng, the Baek Family consumed a third of the profits.
Though calling it a third, they were essentially reopening long-distance water trade routes that had nearly ceased due to the Ro-maeng’s activities.
Moreover, they were entering a venture the Il-pil-hwi-seo had never attempted, needing to build the foundation from scratch.
In other words, it was like this.
Money! So much money was needed!
‘And on top of that, Father is also spending vast sums to strengthen our forces… sigh.’
Though a sigh escaped him, Baek Heon-so actually fully supported the intentions his father Baek Moo-ryang held.
He too had nearly lost precious family members during the Jang Gang-su Ro-maeng’s surprise attack.
‘Turbulent times are coming. If I neglect to strengthen my martial prowess, I will surely regret it.’
That was why Baek Heon-so, despite his noble status, was taking on escort duties for a mere local dignitary.
-Heon-so, earning money from escort requests like this is just a drop in the bucket. Wouldn’t it be better to focus on your cultivation instead?
Dang-yeon’s words held no fault.
But Baek Heon-so wanted to contribute to the family in whatever way he could.
-Since my brother has disappeared, I must set an example for all the retainers.
In fact, ever since Baek Heon-so began earning money himself—not begging, mind you—all the retainers had been actively bringing in their own earnings.
-You have it easy, sister. Even though my brother is working himself to death, you get to leisurely follow me around temples.
-Watch your tongue. Deepening our connection with the Baek Family’s heir, our benefactor’s successor, is an order directly from the Family Head.
When put that way, there was nothing to say.
In any case, the appointed time passed and the escort duty ended.
“Jang Master, I look forward to working with you again next time.”
“Hehehehe, what are you saying? The contract went smoothly thanks to Young Master Baek.”
That was why local dignitaries paid Baek Heon-so three to four times the normal escort fee.
When a direct descendant of the Baek Family stood guard at an important contract signing, it served as pressure in itself.
“Then I shall take my leave.”
Before returning to the family estate, Baek Heon-so stopped by the market and bought a bundle of pastries.
It was a gift for someone who, like himself, was working tirelessly for the family.
“Oh my, you bought this for me?”
“…Yes, sister.”
“Thank you. Our Seo is really so thoughtful.”
‘Ugh, this was expensive—I spent a whole gold coin on it.’
He had no choice but to buy another bundle.
After that, Baek Heon-so spread his light steps and entered the Baek Family estate.
“Welcome back, Young Master.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“Not at all. It’s work for the family, so this is nothing. Where is Seo Seong-saeng?”
“He is in his quarters.”
He asked knowing full well, and received the expected answer.
Baek Heon-so headed toward Seo Seong-saeng’s quarters.
“Seo Seong-saeng, come out for a moment.”
Creak—the door opened, and Seo Seong-saeng emerged with his face completely smudged with ink.
His appearance naturally stirred pity.
“Welcome, Young Master.”
“…You’ve been through a lot.”
“It’s nothing to speak of…”
For the past several months, Seo Seong-saeng had not been attending to family matters.
The reason was simple.
Seo Seong-saeng was Il-pil-hwi-seo, the most famous novelist in the current martial world.
“Write novels! Produce one set per month and sell them for profit!”
After receiving orders from Han Supervisor, my direct superior, I had never once stepped outside the Baek Family Head’s residence.
More precisely, I couldn’t.
“They say the brain needs plenty of sweets to function, so I brought some. Eat while you work.”
“Candies, I see. Thank you. The workload has increased so much I thought I’d die.”
There were clear limits to the money I earned as Il-pil-hwi-seo.
After all, I had built my wealth and reputation through a premium strategy.
While fame and influence were one thing, it was impossible to earn enough money to operate an entire castle.
That’s why, starting this month, I was producing one set of work every ten days.
The scarcity was diminishing, and my name was becoming equally common.
But there was no choice if I wanted to earn the money the Baek Family needed.
“Sigh….”
“Sigh….”
Baek Heon-so and I exhaled simultaneously.
The thoughts crossing our minds were identical.
‘Where will the money come from?’
‘Young Master, please hurry and appear with a bundle of money.’
That was when it happened.
“Young Master!”
“Kyaaaah!”
When Han Supervisor burst through the door, I instinctively covered my face, seized by learned terror.
Regardless, Han Supervisor shouted with unbridled excitement.
“Young Master, starting tomorrow you won’t need to work anymore!”
“What? Did you manage to secure funds from somewhere?”
“Of course not! I’ve already borrowed from everywhere possible! But that doesn’t matter. The Deity will descend upon us!”
Thinking of the windfall of money about to pour into the family, Han Supervisor laughed heartily.

* * *
As the Baek Family Head’s residence drew closer, my heart grew heavier.
The punishment awaiting me from Father afterward. The mere thought was horrifying.
Seolha trembled beside me as well, shaking uncontrollably.
In truth, it was Seolha who had caused the greater disaster.
“What if the Family Head is in a terrible rage?”
“If I go quietly, he’ll just give me a beating. You don’t need to worry, Seolha.”
“How can you say that?”
We arrived at the Baek Family Head’s residence in broad daylight.
Because I hadn’t sent word ahead to avoid a scolding, there were people waiting to greet us… or were there?
“Young Master! Hehehehe, I thought you’d arrive around this time!”
“Junior Disciple! You’ve come at last! Kraaah, finally we’re liberated!”
“Brother!”
“Young Master!”
Han Supervisor, Gu Ak, Baek Heon-so, and Seo Seong-saeng stood with joyful expressions.
But their gazes were directed at a strange location.
‘They’re looking at the carriage, not at me?’
“What have you brought! Let’s open it at once!”
“Charge!”
Baek Heon-so and Gu Ak rushed toward the carriage laden with treasures.
I looked at Han Supervisor with confusion.
“What’s going on here? Supervisor, where is Father?”
“The Family Head is on a… temporary excursion. It’s a schedule that cannot be cancelled. He mentioned it beforehand, so he should return soon.”
An excursion? A money-making excursion?
‘I must have misheard.’
There was no way the Family Head of one of the Six Great Clans was running around taking outside requests to earn money like he did back in his third-rate martial family days.
“Whoa! Supervisor! It’s all treasures! All of it!”
At Baek Heon-so’s cry, Seo Seong-saeng rushed over and Han Supervisor’s eyes gleamed.
“How much! How many strokes of fortune!”
“By rough estimate, it should be around eighty thousand gold taels!”
“Hehehehehehe! So the Young Master was indeed fortune’s blessing! The God of Wealth has arrived!”
“…Of which only fifty percent belongs to the Baek Family.”
“Still forty thousand taels! In gold no less! Kuh, kuh-ack…”
“Han Supervisor! Release your neck! Get a hold of yourself!”
I stared with my mouth agape at this absurd spectacle.
What in the world had happened while I was away?

* * *
In the office of the Baek Family Head, Yang Hwi and Seolha sat with their heads bowed low, like children about to be scolded.
Across from them, Baek Moo-ryang maintained his silence.
“….”
“….”
“….”
Baek Moo-ryang felt a sense of déjà vu.
‘I should scold him. Clearly, I must.’
This had happened once before.
My son Yang Hwi had caused trouble and returned home, yet he brought back a substantial sum of money.
Even the situation where the family desperately needed funds, making it impossible to scold him, was identical to before.
“Sigh. Hwi, explain yourself first.”
“Yes, Father.”
Over the course of roughly half an hour, I explained everything that had happened at the Library.
However, I embellished the part about the Cheonma somewhat.
‘If I told the truth about absorbing the Cheonma’s avatar, I’d never be allowed to leave the family again.’
“Sigh. You found the legacy of Gwigyoe Jungok-gun? You’ve accomplished something truly remarkable. To achieve such results even without martial arts—truly, you are something else.”
I felt a pang of guilt.
Father, your son has never lost his martial arts.
In fact, I’ve now ascended to the Transformation Realm.
‘If I told him, it would mean copying the Four Books and Three Classics ten times over.’
All seven classics combined exceed one hundred and forty thousand characters.
Ten times over?
Even with a body in the Transformation Realm, my fingers would wear away.
Absolutely.
So I should change the subject.
“But Father, why is the family in such financial straits?”
The Jang River trade must have required considerable capital to establish.
Judging by the improved level of the family’s warriors, they must have spent heavily on strengthening our forces.
I can guess the reasons well enough.
But still, it doesn’t quite add up.
“Isn’t the main family now one of the Six Great Clans? There should be no shortage of places willing to lend money.”
“That’s the thing. The situation has changed. Not for any other reason, but precisely because the main family became one of the Six Great Clans.”
“What?”
Baek Moo-ryang continued with a bitter smile.
“The Venerable Daehaeyongwang established the Dragon King Alliance together with several prestigious families of Baek Do.”
The Grand Patriarch of the Peng Family, Daehaeyongwangdo Peng Beom.
The Cheonmu-sip-jon who had once passed on the mysteries of the Great Sea to Yang Hwi.
“Due to the Dragon King Alliance’s influence, securing funds has become difficult.”
Yang Hwi’s expression hardened. His keen mind had grasped the full implications of the situation.
“Even if not quite enemies, we’ve essentially become the same as the Shaman was before.”
“That’s right.”
‘If that’s the case, finances must be quite tight.’
Before discussing anything else, I needed to earn some money first.
“Father. More than half of the treasures I’ve brought back are Eternal Cold Iron and Seong Cheol.”
Both metals are essential when crafting divine weapons.
“I’ve heard the report. You’ve accomplished something great. Selling just a portion should allow us to catch our breath.”
“No, Father. That’s not it.”
“Hmm?”
Yang Hwi’s lips curled into a sly smile.
“Rather than simply selling them, let’s use this as an opportunity to extract money.”
I’d heard that the Peng Family possessed no legendary blade or treasure blade worthy of being called a family heirloom.
“Send invitations to all thirty-six major sects under heaven. If we announce an auction to sell divine weapons, what do you think will happen?”
‘Venerable Daehaeyongwang. You struck from behind without a word, so let me at least see your face.’

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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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