Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 404

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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 404
When I obtained the Black and White Twin Swords, I certainly grasped something through the will contained within them.
However, it fell far short of the martial techniques and enlightenment that Baek Hwa-mun so desperately desired.
‘The sword path released through resonance with the Human-Faced Winged Bird. Thanks to that, I could even employ my true swordsmanship using demonic energy.’
In other words, it held little meaning for beings without demonic energy.
Moreover, for Baek Hwa-mun, who had abandoned Gae-cheon as the foundation and its subtle principles, there was no way to even modify and apply it.
‘Well, if it doesn’t exist, I can simply create something suitable and provide it.’
I was Yang Hwi, who had created both Hwa-cheon-i-won-gong and Gae-cheon-bak-pal-geom at the pinnacle of martial mastery.
In the creation of martial techniques, even now that I had just ascended to the Hwa realm, I was confident I surpassed any of the Cheonmu-sip-jon.
The reason was simple.
‘How many martial techniques have I secretly learned and pieced together over time?’
Experience added to talent—the experience of two lifetimes.
Martial technique secrets? I could steal the gist just by seeing them a few times.
And if the roots of the swordsmanship are the same? I only need to learn the beginning portion?
It’s easier than feeding a lying child rice cakes.
“Hmm, the secrets of the Baek-baek-man-hwa swordsmanship must be quite the technique, contained as they are in the sword of our ancestor who was the greatest under heaven.”
“Then, the secrets, how could you…?”
“How could I? Baek Hwa-mun-ju, think again about who I am.”
The youngest among the Cheonmu-sip-jon, Gae-cheon-sin-eung.
Yet the Baek Family Heir had been remarkably famous even before ascending to the Hwa realm.
The architect who created the current Baek Family, the Gae-cheon Baek Family that occupies the first seat among the Six Great Families.
The greatest dragon of this era and the greatest prodigy under heaven.
A master of cunning rhetoric whose words, once entangled in, become impossible to escape.
Furthermore.
A genius so exceptional that three of the Cheonmu-sip-jon transmitted their martial techniques to him.
“To you, Gae-cheon-sin-eung… our Baek Hwa-mun’s swordsmanship is…. merely something whose secrets become visible after seeing it a few times?”
“The subtle principles contained within aren’t particularly difficult to penetrate, to be honest.”
Contempt flickered across Baek Hwa-mun-ju’s face.
Yet he could not deny my response.
After abandoning Gae-cheon as the foundation and its subtle principles, Baek Hwa-mun’s martial techniques had become correspondingly light and shallow.
It was because he himself had sought out the divine artifact of Gae-pa’s ancestor.
“Instead of making that expression, why not think about why I recited the secrets so openly?”
Only then did Baek Hwa-mun-ju come to his senses.
His expression changed immediately. It was anticipation.
“Ahem, I haven’t even thought about who to give the rice cake to yet. It’s premature to expect anything.”
“Gae-cheon-sin-eung. If you, or rather, if you would improve our Baek Hwa-mun’s martial techniques. I would do anything you desire.”
That’s a remarkably dangerous thing to say, my friend.
It doesn’t even seem like he’s prepared to actually follow through on anything.
‘People are all the same—different going in the outhouse, different coming out.’
I must not improve the martial techniques in exchange for compensation.
If you truly wish to make Baek Hwa-mun part of the Baek Family, it cannot take the form of a transactional exchange.
“Fine. This much I can do without compensation.”
“…What did you just say?”
He must have expected to extract a substantial price.
Seeing him show bewilderment instead of joy at the offer to do it freely.
“It’s not particularly difficult, and we share the Baek surname. This is merely a courtesy between kinsmen.”
“….”
Baek Hwa-mun-ju fell silent. He was likely contemplating one of two possibilities.
‘Which one would it be? Inferiority? Awe?’
I would prefer it to be inferiority.
That way, I could establish justification and crush him beneath my heel.

* * *
For Baek Yeon-cheon, the lord of Baek Hwa-mun, refining the Baek-baek Man-hwa Sword Technique had been a lifelong aspiration.
Yet simultaneously, it was an inescapable pit of despair.
At the age of knowing Heaven’s mandate, I had reached the pinnacle. Never once had I neglected my training, yet no further wall appeared before me.
In truth, failing to perceive the existence of a wall meant I could not even experience the despair of being frustrated by an insurmountable barrier.
‘That is why I yearned for the divine technique of that one. For the sect’s advancement, for my own growth.’
That was how it had been.
Until just moments ago.
‘I never imagined that a lifelong aspiration and despair could be resolved by merely a single word from someone….’
Though diminished in scope, the Baek-baek Man-hwa Sword Technique was a Divine Technique.
Gae-cheon-sin-eung had casually promised to refine this Divine Technique.
…An immeasurable gap was felt.
Could the chasm between heaven and earth be like this?
‘If he offers a Divine Technique in exchange for loyalty….’
Even after sifting through a sieve, more warriors remain than grains of sand in the martial world.
And such martial prowess was precisely what a Divine Technique represented.
Those who lived by the martial way and died by the martial way were warriors.
“Recite the entire formula and secrets of the Baek-baek Man-hwa Sword Technique. I’ll correct it right away. Ah, but the moment you hesitate, thinking I’m trying to trick you into revealing the secrets, I’m leaving.”
What Baek Hwa-mun, what I as its lord had so desperately desired.
Something that Cheonmu-sip-jon could casually bestow without promising any compensation in return.
“….”
Why had I felt jealousy watching the Baek Family’s overwhelming growth?
Because this branch, born from a separation of the main family, had felt superiority watching the main family’s decline over the years.
‘The reason I rejected the Baek Family’s proposal and took a confrontational stance even against those who had seized our base…. How futile.’
It was because I wished to preserve the name Baek Hwa-mun in three characters.
It was because I did not wish to lower the signboard of Baek Hwa-mun in my generation and become part of the main family.
But what did it matter?
Before that person—no, before that child—everything became nothing but insignificant dust.
‘Why was I opposing the Baek Family? Why did I try to obtain what I desired from this person with only minimal cost?’
An overwhelming disparity.
What creates that disparity is one’s vessel.
It was an overwhelming difference in the size of one’s vessel.
If I were a small sauce dish, this person seemed capable of holding even the great sea itself.
Indeed, that must be why the Great Sea Dragon King himself entrusted the mysteries of the great sea to this person.
Just recently, when the Il-do Alliance and the Yongwang Alliance clashed, he made many concessions to Gae-cheon-sin-eung.
“Well now, old man, you’re hesitating? I’m leaving.”
“My lord.”
It was not about following the strong. It was not about bowing one’s head to the stronger.
Since when had it become shameful for a warrior to bow before superior martial prowess?
Was it not the way of humanity to offer reverence to those more excellent, to those more extraordinary?
“I, Baek Yeon-cheon, wish to become your sword. Please grant me this honor.”
Baek Yeon-cheon knelt before Yang Hwi with sincerity, drawing his sword and offering it.
He had to pledge his loyalty before it was too late.
That was the right choice.
‘From now on, countless others will follow this person like grains of sand. So I must act swiftly, even by the smallest measure of time.’

* * *
‘Sweet. This is perfect.’
I thought it would be either inferiority or awe, but it was neither.
This man—he should have some bamboo-like rigidity like my father.
Instead, he sways like a reed?
‘He looks like he’ll eat anything raw. I was planning to test the waters carefully, pressure him, and make various agreements.’
I wanted to laugh but maintained a stern expression.
“A sudden oath of loyalty. To be honest, your intentions are rather transparent.”
“You need not correct my martial arts. Simply allow me to follow you.”
Hmm. Let me verify this first.
“A man cannot take back what he has promised. Recite the incantation from memory.”
“Yes, my lord.”
The incantations of the Baek Hwa-mun True Body Martial Art poured out in rapid succession.
My daughter Baek A-yun, watching from the side, was startled by such a swift change in demeanor.
What could have suddenly inspired such loyalty?
‘It must be martial prowess itself.’
Yang Hwi, at his core, loved martial prowess itself, and among all things, he held a special affection for the sword—a true swordsman.
The first condition of genius is enjoyment, and since martial prowess could never reach its pinnacle without genuine passion and dedication, this was the nature of the way.
“When a warrior shares his martial arts, it is the most certain oath of loyalty. I shall trust in your sincerity.”
“Thank you, my lord.”
“However, the title ‘my lord’ is excessive. Your true lord is my father. I am merely the Young Master.”
“….”
Baek Yeon-cheon hesitated for a moment before responding.
“I shall visit the Family Head and renew my oath, Young Master.”
“No, there’s no need for that.”
The door creaked open as Baek Moo-ryang entered, and Yang Hwi let out a sigh.
‘I had hoped he wouldn’t interfere.’
“Father, were you watching from the shadows?”
“With a son who has reached the rank of Cheonmu-sip-jon, how could I not know? Let’s skip the ‘shadows’ part.”
Baek Moo-ryang had stepped in out of concern that his son might display some cunning tongue before the Baek Hwa-mun-ju.
Though he hadn’t expected to accept a loyalty oath so suddenly.
“The sincerity carved into the Baek Hwa-mun-ju’s heart is directed toward you. There’s no need to redirect it to your old father.”
“But, Father.”
“Baek Hwa-mun-ju. I am Baek Moo-ryang, the father of the one who shall be your lord.”
Baek Yeon-cheon responded with quick wit.
“I shall revere you as an elder, Family Head. Furthermore, I, Baek Yeon-cheon of the Baek Hwa-mun, wish to become part of the Baek Family. Would you accept me as a retainer?”
“I shall establish the Baek Hwa-gak within the Baek Family and appoint you as its director.”
After finishing his words, Baek Moo-ryang winked at Yang Hwi.
“Doesn’t that settle everything cleanly?”
‘…It’s so neat I can’t even argue against it.’
“Understood, Father. If that is your will.”
I could sense why Father had stepped in, and I wanted to protest further.
But there was no help for it.
This too was Father’s will.
As a son, it was my duty to respect it.
‘In any case, now that I have a retainer, I suppose I should look after him.’
“Director of Baek Hwa-gak. I understand you regard me as your lord, but given how others might perceive it, let’s use the title Young Master when addressing me.”
“Understood, Young Master.”
“First, what is your current level of inner power?”
I could have discerned it through my qi, but by the customs of the martial world, that would be rude.
“Slightly over three decades and a half.”
It wasn’t my place to comment, having already wielded power close to ten decades when I was barely past my twenties, but it was an inner power level befitting the master of a heavenly-grade martial sect.
“The sword of the Baek Hwa-mun shall henceforth pursue strength and firmness. That is Gae-cheon.”
For this, inner power was necessary.
For wings to become as solid as fortress walls, one must lay sturdy bricks upon sturdy bricks.
“Young Master, but at my current level of inner power, it would be difficult to increase through elixirs. If you grant me time, I shall devote myself to cultivation.”
“Time is precious—why waste it that way?”
I had planned to discuss this with Father after our conversation anyway, so the timing worked out well.
“I shall increase your inner power to four decades by today.”
“…Pardon?!”
“Hwi, is such a thing even possible?”
Four decades might sound simple, but it meant raising him nearly thirty years’ worth of cultivation.
Shock etched itself across the faces of Baek Moo-ryang and Baek Yeon-cheon.
“Yes. It’s possible now.”
Yang Hwi continued with a wry smile.
“The Blood Sect’s demonic techniques turned out to be quite useful once I dissected them.”

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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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