Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 400

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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 400
[One Choice Determines All (一擇定來) – Go West and Obtain Something (往西得某).]
[Certain Death Brings Life (必死則生) – Life Brings Certain Death (生則必死).]
[Wager Your Life, Do Not Die (賭命勿死).]
Summarizing the phrases that newly emerged from Geom Seon’s decision, the meaning becomes this.
‘Pretend to worry about not dying, but ultimately go west and fight to the death. Like gambling with your very life on the line.’
So I had to obtain something.
Whatever it was, it would have a profound impact on my future course of action.
“In the end, the key is the Hyeol Sa-ryeon. Whether we strike Hunan or Guizhou, we must do it.”
“Deputy Alliance Leader. Just moments ago, you said not to rush when traveling a thousand li.”
“That’s why we should strike Baek Hwa-mun.”
“….”
Silence descended once more.
“Now, now, now. Please hear the rest of the explanation. Baek Hwa-mun is located on the border between Sichuan and Hunan. It’s perfect as a forward base.”
The senior disciples’ gazes turned toward the map.
It was certainly a strategically vital location.
However, that didn’t mean Baek Do could forcibly take over Baek Hwa-mun.
“We have justification. In the past, Baek Hwa-mun once proposed merging their faction with our Baek Family.”
Using their past audacious words as justification, Il-ik-chae would take over Baek Hwa-mun.
If the plan was drawn up this way, people wouldn’t criticize them as lacking integrity.
After all, it was Baek Hwa-mun who made the proposal first.
“I understand that much. While it does cross certain lines, what’s more important is swiftly eliminating the heretical sects and evil paths to protect more common people.”
Baek Moo-ryang paused for a moment before continuing.
“However, Deputy Alliance Leader. You haven’t forgotten that preserving our Il-ik-chae’s fighting strength is also a crucial matter.”
Strike Hunan first and face the Hyeol Sa-ryeon with weakened forces?
Setting aside the massive casualties expected, the odds of victory were low to begin with.
It seemed better to strike directly at the Hyeol Sa-ryeon through Sichuan instead.
“Don’t worry. I have a countermeasure.”
Yang Hwi rummaged through his robes.
It should be somewhere here… Found it.
“This is the token of the Hyeol Sa-ryeon Sect Leader that I received before. I had done him a favor, you see.”
That puppet Sect Leader I had used effectively during the Yongbong Gathering.
According to the information I had gathered, Sect Leader Namgung Cheon-yeong still maintained his position as Sect Leader.
Barely, maintaining just the right precarious standing to be manipulated.
“If I use that Namgung Cheon-yeong well, I should be able to use the Hyeol Sa-ryeon’s actual Sect Leader as a pawn.”
“Are you certain?”
“I already sent word immediately after the Great Sea Dragon King had a conversation with that old man.”
Thanks to Won-woo flying all the way to Guizhou and back in an instant, I had already received a response.
“The Sect Leader is in the palm of my hand. Considering his precarious position, if it becomes known that he made a secret pact with me, his head will be severed immediately.”
At minimum, I would be able to learn in advance when the Hyeol Sa-ryeon would make its move.
Even this alone represented a tremendous strategic advantage secured in advance.
‘Whether that bastard survives until then remains uncertain, though.’
If his head looked like it might roll, I could always slip out and reattach it myself.
“During the Yongbong Conference, the Sect Leader made a non-aggression pact under the name of the Blood Sect. You all remember, yes?”
“Of course.”
“However, we cannot simply trust the promises of the heterodox sects.”
“If we strike Honam, which the Blood Sect indirectly controls, wouldn’t we be the ones breaking the pact first?”
Every word rang true. Those heterodox bastards’ words were worthless.
But.
What if, conversely, those heterodox bastards believed this pact and revealed it to others?
“The Blood Sect is a heterodox alliance formed when Sect Leader Pae Ung-ho-geol Byeok-ryeok-san and his sworn brothers united as one. They place great emphasis on righteousness, you see.”
They genuinely regarded each other as brothers.
That was precisely why such a massive heterodox sect as the Blood Sect could be born in such a short time.
“In the end, the crucial point is that we don’t face attacks from the Blood Sect while we consume Honam and consolidate our forces, correct?”
There was indeed one method for this.
‘Sowing discord. And striking the east while attacking the west.’
“You all know that I engaged in a skirmish with one of the demonic sects in the western provinces, yes?”
“Hwi, this is supposed to be a council, yet you speak of skirmishes. Mind your words.”
“Ah, yes. In any case, according to the intelligence I obtained then, the demonic sects in Guizhou will soon make their move. More precisely, they plan to dispatch a master of Cheonmu-sip-jon caliber.”
“Truly!?”
“Why reveal such critical information only now, Vice Alliance Leader!”
Why indeed.
Because I just thought of this scheme moments ago.
-Elder Brother, surely the demonic sect’s peerless master isn’t you?
-Brother, are you putting on another mask?
Seol-ha-rang and Chu Dal had turned pale.
Well, with those two, there was no way they wouldn’t catch on.
Meanwhile, Neung-o appeared to have no particular thoughts on the matter.
Given his nature of showing interest only in matters of concern to him, he seemed to have missed it entirely.
‘I should just slip away quietly. If Neung Hyeong finds out, he’ll make a fuss about coming along.’
It had already been several years since Jeomchang Faction’s Jang Moon-in abandoned his sect and wandered about.
It was time to make amends to Jeomchang Faction, so Neung-o should remain with the Jeomchang people in this plan.
“Due to the need for secrecy, I shall say no more. However, I swear by the name of Cheonmu-sip-jon Gae-cheon-sin-eung. We must strike Honam first to maximize the benefits for the Il-ik Alliance.”
Cheonmu-sip-jon.
In other words, an absolute being capable of single-handedly destroying a sect of the caliber of the Nine Great Sects, or rather, the Nine Great Families.
The influence wielded by such a person’s words surpassed that of even the greatest sects.
“We transform this from a battle between the Blood Sect and the Il-ik Alliance into one between the Blood Sect and the demonic sects, and between the Il-ik Alliance and Honam. We devour both Honam and Guizhou!”
After careful deliberation, the senior disciples began nodding one by one.
“If we secure both Honam and Guizhou, expanding our forces into Guangdong and Guangxi afterward will be child’s play.”
“Bin-do supports the Vice Alliance Leader’s decision.”
“The Family Head shares my sentiment.”
“I understand, Alliance Leader.”

* * *
“Brother, is this really the right approach?”
Chu Dal asked in a trembling voice. Seolha then opened her mouth with a worried expression.
“Elder brother, no matter how I think about it, this seems far too dangerous.”
The journey to Guizhou to assassinate one of the Hyeol Sa-ryeon So-ryeon-ju’s sworn brothers.
Our party consisted of only three people—Seolha and Chu Dal.
Yet Yang Hwi waved his hand dismissively.
“Don’t worry. We won’t be discovered, I guarantee it.”
Seon-dan and Hondan had merged into Seon-hon-i-won-dan, but there was no problem using the two energies separately.
If I only use demon qi day and night, how would they ever suspect my identity?
Upon seeing a master of the Hwa-gyeong realm reeking of demonic energy, they’d figure out I’m from Baek Do?
If that were the case, I should be taking divination fees at a fortune teller’s shop instead of wielding a blade.
“Isn’t the issue more fundamental than just being discovered?”
“You think the three of us can assassinate someone at the highest level of the Hyeol Sa-ryeon?”
“Chu Dal, Chu Dal—written with the character for ‘eagle’ and ‘water’—you worry too much for someone at the peak of the lower tier.”
Well, despite being lower tier, I brought him along because his skills in gathering information and finding hiding places are unmatched.
“The Hyeol Sa-ryeon has only one master at the Hwa-gyeong realm—the So-ryeon-ju himself. And his sworn brothers are scattered throughout Guizhou, each ruling their own regions.”
“It seems you’re asking because you don’t know this?”
“If you knew, why ask, hmm? I, Gae-cheon-sin-eung of the Cheonmu-sip-jon, wield my blade—would a mere early-stage master escape without his neck severed?”
“That’s exactly why the aftermath is the problem!”
A member of the Cheonmu-sip-jon is an absolute being capable of annihilating a faction of Gu-pa-yuk-ga caliber single-handedly.
Conversely, if multiple forces of Gu-pa-yuk-ga caliber attacked together, even a Cheonmu-sip-jon member would be a dead man.
The Hyeol Sa-ryeon was precisely one such force.
“If you hadn’t brought me and Sister along, the success rate would have been higher.”
“No, that won’t do.”
The reason was simple.
I had no confidence in assassinating the So-ryeon-ju’s sworn brother and escaping using only demon qi.
Seolha’s mental cultivation, Yu Cheon-sinpung, was essential.
In that sense.
“Seolha, you’re mastering the martial arts I’ve given you well, right? From now on, you’re not Jegal Seol-ha of Baek Do—you’re Eum-hee, the illusionist of Hwanmong-gok.”
Seolha’s eyebrows furrowed slightly.
“I’ve already mastered them all, but… these aren’t techniques a Baek Do warrior should know, are they?”
Hmm. That’s certainly true.
I’d given her various sorcerous techniques I’d picked up here and there in my past life—soul-binding arts, techniques using bells and other minor sound-based arts.
“Heh. Martial arts are merely tools. A blade that kills in a murderer’s hand becomes a blade that saves lives in a sage’s grasp.”
“Understood. By the way, this is nice. It actually feels like a real journey this time.”
“Let’s visit all the famous sites of Hunan.”
The various sects under Il-ik-chae’s banner needed time to assemble their full forces and prepare for the great confrontation.
Because of this, I and my companions traveled through Honam at a leisurely pace, as if on a sightseeing journey.
Just days ago, we had even visited the Akyangnu, the most famous tavern in all the realm, located on Dongjeong Lake.
“Tsk, brother. Wandering about so openly in Honam, where the Black Sect dominates… this seems rather risky.”
“Tsk, Chu Dal. Don’t worry. At least you and Seolha won’t die on my watch.”
Even if my identity were exposed through the use of Seon-gi, I had no intention whatsoever of letting these two perish.
“Sigh… do as you please. When have you ever listened to my words anyway?”
“You’re right. Don’t worry. If I don’t see an opening, I’ll abandon the plan.”
“No, brother. Since we’ve already committed to this, if we’ve drawn our blades, we might as well cut down something. Even if the assassination fails, let’s at least make a proper mess of things.”
Truly, that’s Seolha for you.
Having grown up together since childhood, our temperaments matched perfectly.
“Right. For the sake of our Il-ik-chae, let’s make a grand spectacle of it!”
However, days later.
Whether to call it unfortunate or fortunate, I wasn’t sure.
The reason to risk our lives assassinating the sworn brother of the Hyeol Sa-ryeon So-ryeon-ju had simply vanished.

* * *
“Brother! Emergency! Emergency!”
Chu Dal came bursting through the door while I was resting peacefully in my room at the inn.
“You fool, what’s all this fuss about?”
“The Blood Sect’s demonic energy is spreading everywhere!”
It was indeed cause for alarm.
“What madness is this? How did this happen?”
“The source is unknown. It’s not spreading from any single region—the Blood Sect’s demonic energy is literally circulating everywhere.”
“Since when?”
“It began spreading in earnest ten days ago. The initial signs appeared roughly two weeks ago. And it happened simultaneously in more than ten locations!”
Hmm. Looking at how this was unfolding, the Blood Sect had clearly released this deliberately.
Even if it was demonic energy, all martial techniques held considerable value, yet they scattered it about so carelessly.
Their purpose was… obvious enough.
“They must have been running low on blood.”
In my previous life, the Martial Alliance, formed under the leadership of the Mudang Faction, had triggered the Great Righteous Confrontation and continuously spilled blood without end.
Immediately after, the Heretical Sect Incident erupted, and blood flowed like rivers once more.
‘In this life, the Three Great Demonic Sects won’t cause a Heretical Sect Incident. The Ilwol Myeong Sect has already vanished.’
Yeokcheon Singyeo and the Blood Sect remain, but I’m certain.
Looking at how things are unfolding now, they were clearly engaged in some other scheme.
“Wait. I need to go out and see this myself.”
I woke Seolha from her sleep and immediately rushed outside.
For four days straight.
I searched hundreds of li in all directions, even employing lightness techniques.
“The demonic energy really is scattered all over the place.”
“Moreover, they’re all from the Blood Sect—the kind who can grow stronger simply by devouring people.”
“Brother, what are you planning to do?”
“….”
Yang Hwi fell silent for a long moment.
My mind was spinning too rapidly to speak immediately.
‘If this is the case… then a three-faction war, or even a four-faction war, might actually be possible…?’
Soon Yang Hwi began to grin wickedly, and both Chu Dal and Seolha simultaneously wore expressions of unease.
“Brother?”
“Older brother?”
“Surely not…?”
“Remember when I created Il-ik-chae during the Yangtze River Great War?”
“As expected.”
“You’re going to gather those who’ve learned the Demonic Arts and build a force?”
“Yes.”
Perfect timing. That bastard Cheonma will prove useful after all.
I’ll rule all those creatures who devour people to strengthen themselves through terror, use them, and when the time comes, I’ll put them down.

* * *
“Kill them all! Slaughter every last one and pile them to the side!”
A farming village was burning fiercely.
“Kyaaaaaaah!”
“P-please spare us! I beg you!”
“Even in death, I will not forget this hatred!”
Cruel laughter erupted from all directions.
“Krkrkrkr, what will you do if you don’t forget?”
“That very hatred itself becomes strength—such is the martial art granted to us!”
The identity of the marauding and slaughtering band was Yeoksan-chae, one of the Seventy Bandit Clans of the Green Forest.
They were among the first in the region to obtain the Demonic Blood Art and were now eagerly engaged in slaughter, accumulating blood and vitality.
“Kill them all! Don’t forget that half the corpses belong to our Clan Head!”
“Clan Head, do we still need the women?”
A crude jest from the Vice Clan Head.
The Clan Head was about to respond with a laugh when—
“The prettiest one can be kept alive, perhaps….”
Shing!
The severed head rolled across the ground.
“Clan Head!”
“Who is it!”
“Show yourself!”
Bandits on guard from all sides.
The Liuhe Zheng Sheng resonated from every direction.
“I was never hiding in the first place, you bastards.”
Every bandit instinctively turned their heads.
A grotesque figure wearing a white mask stood atop a tall tree easily a hundred paces away.
“From such a distance… striking the void and unleashing sword energy…!”
“…Sect Leader. This appears to be an extraordinarily skilled master.”
The Sect Leader swallowed hard and bowed toward the grotesque figure.
“Might I inquire who you are, esteemed one?”
“I am Injoong Sinma. Born from the purest demonic essence. And I shall be your Divine Being.”
In that instant, the very air exploded with power.
It was the most pure and fundamental demonic energy—something that forced even those who had learned inferior blood demon techniques to their knees involuntarily.
“Ohhhhh, Divine Being!”
“Master! We shall serve you as our lord!”
“Please, guide us humble ones!”
Watching their faces drenched in reverence, I felt a surge of irritation rising within me.
I had to work alongside these creatures—less than human, truly.
But I could endure it.
‘I will kill the Cheonma. I will, without fail, make the Baek Family the greatest under heaven.’
For that, I could bear any hardship.
Though I had originated from the Cheonma’s arrangement, I was chosen by heaven itself.
Between such arrangements and arrangements lay a single human being.
A father who had taken a mud-covered beggar child as his son and given me the name Yang Hwi.
‘This life, I will surely succeed.’
And the conquest of Honam was the beginning of it all.
Come to think of it, the beginning of the Il-ik Alliance was also the conquest of Honam, wasn’t it?
For the Dang Family was our Baek Family’s first ally and support.
The promise I had put forth to seduce the Dang Family back then was the Honam Pact.
A vow to become a force that would not bow to the Dang Family, and together march in step to conquer Honam.
‘Seventeen years have passed since then. In a sense, I am finally taking the second step.’
My gaze turned toward the subjugated bandits in the midst of my thoughts.
Well… yes.
“Still, you should all just die. Laying hands on the slash-and-burn villagers who climbed the mountain because survival was so difficult—that crossed the line, you bastards.”
Shhhhhhwiiiiing—!
With a sharp cutting sound, every bandit’s head separated from their body.
The moment Injoong Sinma swept through the mountain and stepped forth into the central plains.
Third-rate Martial Arts Family, Greatest Under Heaven Part 1.
Complete.

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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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