Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 4

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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 004
Silence settled over the Manor. It was Baek Moo-ryang’s hearty laughter that broke it.
“Hahaha! Hahahaha! I took in a son out of compassion, but now it seems I’ve gained a truly exceptional talent! Wouldn’t you all agree?”
Han Supervisor, speaking on behalf of the household staff, answered.
“With merely three inches of tongue, he resolved the situation—there’s no doubt this child is extraordinary.”
“Han Supervisor, what do you make of it? As the head of this family, I believe Yang Hwi has bestowed a great favor upon us all.”
Han Supervisor could not bring himself to disagree. Being the oldest and most experienced among them, he knew well that the situation just now had been a grave crisis for the Baek Family.
‘He said he’d use this favor as justification. Could that child have anticipated everything?’
Baek Moo-ryang harbored the same question as Han Supervisor.
“Yang Hwi, did you know in advance that Hong Gyo-bang would attack the Main Family?”
Yang Hwi bowed respectfully.
“The Na Heuk-pa gang weren’t the meticulous sort to guard their tongues in front of a child they planned to sell into slavery. I learned of it by overhearing them mention Hong Gyo-bang.”
To the ears of others, it sounded as though he had predicted the entire sequence of events based on information obtained from Na Heuk-pa.
All from a mere eight-year-old child.
‘Truly a brilliant child. With this one…’
Though I had decided to accept him as an adopted son because I felt a connection, it remained an undeniable fact that compassion had been the beginning.
But now I had transcended mere compassion. Baek Moo-ryang felt desire as he looked upon Yang Hwi.
I was too occupied with external affairs to maintain the family’s standing to have time, and my wife’s frail health meant she spent most of her days confined to bed.
Because of this, my son and daughter were always a source of worry, but this child seemed capable of becoming a fine example and an excellent elder brother for them.
Baek Moo-ryang surveyed his household staff.
“A child who was once a homeless orphan and a beggar has now prevented calamity from befalling our Main Family—truly a blessing! Since the Baek Family is now indebted to him, I shall repay this debt by becoming a new roof for the child who once had only the sky as his shelter. Does anyone object to this decision?”
Jeong In-hwa answered with a gentle smile.
“Since the head of the family’s resolve is firm, *cough*, I can only follow.”
Han Supervisor also bowed his head.
“The head of the family’s benevolence has brought fortune to our clan. I can only praise your compassionate heart and marvel at your foresight.”
With the lady of the house and the supervisor in agreement and bowing, the other household staff also showed positive sentiment.
Yet Yang Hwi observed the faces of his two younger siblings, Baek Heon-so and Baek Yeon-yeon.
Baek Heon-so’s cheeks were puffed up, clearly full of resentment.
In contrast, his youngest sister Baek Yeon-yeon wore an expression full of curiosity and innocent wonder, as was typical of a child encountering something new and fascinating.
‘So’s reaction is exactly as expected. But our Yeon-ah… she’s always so adorable.’
My youngest sister, three years younger than myself at eight years old, making her five—no, Baek Heon-so was seven, so she was two years younger than him.
In my previous life too, Baek Yeon-yeon had been the darling who monopolized the affection of the entire family.
‘Such a child… I will never let that happen again in this life.’
The tragic trajectory of Baek Yeon-yeon’s life in my previous existence came to mind.
I recalled the emotions I felt when I enshrined my mother at a temple, unable to overcome her chronic illness and passing away prematurely.
And even the reason my father, who I thought would be fine until his sixties despite his modest martial realm, having never neglected his training, eventually left this world…
‘There’s so much to change in this life.’
That was good. Because Yang Hwi had confidence that he could overturn everything.

* * *
That night.
After completing my ritual purification and changing into clean clothes, I lay down on the bed in the room I’d been given.
How long had it been since I last lay on a bed?
By the standards of this life, it felt like the first time since birth.
Perhaps because of that, my young body—contrary to my mind—was savoring sensations it had never experienced before.
‘Ah, this is comfortable.’
I could have fallen asleep immediately, but I forced myself up.
‘When do I have time to rest?’
I had returned thirty years back in time with a fresh, underdeveloped body.
Now I had the chance to start from the beginning and cultivate martial arts anew.
In truth, my body was itching to begin training martial arts right away, and I was barely restraining myself.
‘In my past life, I left my family in my youth and wandered the Martial Arts World for eighteen years, yet I barely managed to cross the threshold of the supreme realm.’
By my own assessment, I was born with exceptional talent—a prodigy of the highest caliber.
My perception of inner energy was so acute and precise that the phrase “unprecedented and unmatched” suited it perfectly.
From infancy, despite sleeping under the wind and stars, I never caught a single cold—my body and bones were remarkably resilient.
I possessed the wisdom to understand the principles and knowledge contained in a single observation, and a memory that never forgot.
‘If only I had learned the martial arts of a prestigious sect, I would have become the greatest under heaven.’
Shamelessly praising myself, I sat down in a cross-legged position.
It was to cultivate the heart method I had created by reconstructing the family’s inner energy technique, the Six Harmonies of Dual Fire—the Harmony of Heaven’s Original Force.
‘I really suffered creating this.’
Sword techniques consisting of nothing but slashing and thrusting could be created even by third-rate martial artists.
Once one reaches the supreme realm, one naturally develops one’s own forms without ever having learned footwork.
But.
Only those who have reached the rank of great master could ever create a heart method.
Why? Because trial and error could lead directly to death.
‘Looking back now, it was such a foolish thing to do. Attempting to change my inner energy method at merely the supreme realm.’
The price was demonic possession. Fortunately, I didn’t die or suffer severe injuries, but I was left with aftereffects I would carry for life.
The damage to my meridians caused problems in my circulation of inner force.
‘Yet I still earned the title of First Sword Among Wanderers—that proves I was a genius.’
This life would be different. I would not settle for merely being the First Sword with such a narrow label.
I was confident.
At just eight years old, I could now inscribe martial arts and inner energy methods worthy of being called divine techniques into my body.
‘How far can I go in this life?’
The question that suddenly arose transformed into resolve and determination.
‘Absolutely the greatest swordsman under heaven. No—the greatest under heaven itself.’
I recalled the Namgung Family, currently the greatest family under heaven.
I remembered the face of Namgung Cheon-yeong, who had ambushed me in my past life’s final moments, claiming to eliminate a threat.
“I cannot allow such a family to bear the title of the Greatest Family Under Heaven. I will absolutely make the Baek Family the greatest family under heaven.”
I exhaled slowly.
I inhale deeply.
Between the inhalation and exhalation, the natural qi of heaven and earth began to converge.
Harmonizing Heaven and Refining Origin—a technique that harmonizes with heaven and earth to benefit the source.
The converging qi circulated through my meridians, transforming into an all-encompassing true qi capable of harmonizing with anything.
‘Is it because I haven’t yet experienced the demonic influence, and my body is still young? Why does this feel so refreshing?’
How should I describe it—the qi itself felt clean and clear, unlike before.
So much so that it seemed my very constitution had changed.
So the sensory difference of demonic influence was truly this significant.
“Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.”
I’m not sure how much time had passed.
Yang Hwi, immersed in meditation, regained consciousness at the sound of knocking on the door.
“Young Master, have you awakened?”
When I opened the door and stepped out, I saw a delicate maidservant who appeared to be around fifteen years old.
“What is it?”
“The Family Head has commanded that you participate in dawn training.”
Baek Moo-ryang left the estate early each morning to maintain the family’s standing.
Yet he always made time to teach his children, so training sessions were held at the crack of dawn.
“I’ll head out right away.”
Though I had stayed awake through the night, the breathing exercise left me not particularly fatigued. My ordinary body now harbored even a seed of qi.
Yang Hwi quickly prepared and made his way to the small training ground in the center of the Manor.
“Hwi, did you sleep well? The sleeping quarters must have felt unfamiliar.”
“It was the most restful sleep in the world. Thank you for your concern.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
Beside Baek Moo-ryang stood Baek Heon-so with a sullen expression, and his younger sister Baek Yeon-yeon, whose face was filled with curiosity.
“Yesterday, I deliberately did not give you time to exchange greetings as siblings. I thought you each needed time to think and adapt. Now, greet one another properly.”
Yang Hwi opened his mouth first, looking at Baek Heon-so and Baek Yeon-yeon.
“From yesterday onward, I am Baek Yang-hwi, your eldest brother. I look forward to our time together.”
“Wow, I have another older brother! Brother, I’m Baek Yeon-yeon!”
Watching Baek Yeon-yeon bound forward with sparkling eyes brought an involuntary smile to my face.
“May I call you Yeon from now on?”
“Of course, brother!”
She was so adorable that I unconsciously reached out and gently stroked her head.
It was a habit from my past life, and fortunately, Baek Yeon-yeon did not shy away from my touch.
‘Indeed, our Yeon is truly kind and upright.’
A far cry from Baek Heon-so, who was glaring from over there.
‘That boy is as full of discontent as ever. Truly consistent, he is.’
My younger brother, who suddenly became the second son after I joined the family as an adopted member.
He had always shown jealousy and hatred, as if I had stolen something precious from him.
The Yang Hwi of the past had been delighted to have a family and even cherished such aspects, always yielding and losing to Baek Heon-so.
‘Father’s nature was so kind that he never disciplined the boy strictly. In the end, he grew up twisted.’
In my previous life, one reason I left the family as soon as I came of age was the influence of Baek Heon-so, who had become the family head at that time.
‘This life, I’ll reshape you too, So.’
“Baek Heon-so. I’m your older brother, Baek Yang-hwi. From now on, I’ll call you So.”
“…Hmph!”
“So, what kind of tone is that to use with your older brother?”
“…But. Father….”
Baek Heon-so showed no sign of reflection, and while Baek Moo-ryang attempted to gently admonish him, Yang Hwi stopped him.
“Father. I believe that brotherly affection becomes all the more precious when built through one’s own efforts. I’m fine with it—why not give So time to accept me as his older brother?”
“Hwi, if that’s your thinking, then so be it.”
Baek Moo-ryang, watching Yang Hwi speak with such maturity, offered a warm smile and continued.
“Hwi, now that you’ve become a member of the martial family, you must begin training in martial arts from today onward.”
“Understood.”
“The Main Family possesses two martial techniques: the internal cultivation method called Dual Harmony Six Union Energy, and the sword technique known as Heaven-Covering Sword.”
I already knew. More than that, I had mastered all Twelve Star Stages and completely restructured both techniques.
“Let’s start with sword training. The Main Family’s Heaven-Covering Sword technique consists of three forms in total.”
Baek Moo-ryang demonstrated the sword forms and spoke to Yang Hwi.
“Try following along.”
Yang Hwi quietly raised the wooden sword.
‘How much should I reveal?’
As I briefly pondered how to shape my future path forward, I made my decision.
Then, I swung the wooden sword.
In that instant.
Baek Moo-ryang’s eyes widened considerably.
“Wh-what…!”
It was inevitable.
The Heaven-Covering Sword that Yang Hwi displayed was even more perfect than Baek Moo-ryang’s own.
The Heaven-Covering Sword Technique—a crude sword art that had lost so many forms despite its name meaning “to cover the heavens,” leaving only three meager techniques remaining.
Even so, it was incomparable to the Three Calamities Sword or other techniques found in the streets.
Though it had gaps here and there, the depth of each individual form could not be ignored.
It was not a crude sword technique that could be learned and replicated after seeing it once.
Yet the Heaven-Covering Sword technique that Yang Hwi displayed was flawless.
Therefore, Baek Moo-ryang felt astonishment.
‘Could he have learned the Heaven-Covering Sword technique before…? No. That’s impossible.’
For a moment, Baek Moo-ryang suspected a leak of the technique, but he soon realized his assumption was wrong.
After all, he had already confirmed that Yang Hwi’s body bore no traces of martial training.
In fact, Yang Hwi’s entire body was trembling with muscle strain at this very moment.
‘His body couldn’t withstand the sword technique he displayed, causing him strain.’
They say that at the Shaolin Temple, child monks are made to practice only horse stance for a year before learning martial arts?
Similarly, all martial arts, including sword techniques, require physical conditioning as a prerequisite.
Yang Hwi’s physical response was that of an ordinary boy who knew nothing whatsoever of martial arts.
Then how on earth had I demonstrated the Gaecheon Sword Technique so flawlessly?
“Yang Hwi. Will you show me once more? This time, you need not hold a wooden sword.”
Though my body still trembled, I obeyed my father’s command without a word.
With empty hands, I assumed the stance as though gripping a blade. Simultaneously, I drew forth the three forms that I had drilled into my very soul with this unfamiliar young body.
The shock etched across Baek Moo-ryang’s face deepened further.
‘Indeed. It is flawless.’
A technique shown but once, executed with a body that had never trained in martial arts even once, yet performed with absolute perfection.
The implication of this fact was simple.
“Yang Hwi….”
From the moment I first saw him, I sensed he was vastly different from ordinary children.
Drawn by eyes that had never witnessed the world’s light, I had proposed he become my adopted son.
Yet it was a choice made because I believed that pursuing the values I held dear was the path of righteousness.
But now, Baek Moo-ryang understood.
The child who lay in the Muddy Swamp with soot on his face and mud on his clothes was in truth the greatest jewel under heaven.
“I sought only to save Hwil, yet a peerless prodigy has rolled into the Main Family.”
And yet.
Rather than rejoicing, Baek Moo-ryang’s expression grew increasingly grave.
Witnessing this shift in his expression, I felt bewildered.
‘Why does he look like that?’

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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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