Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 414
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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 414
All senior disciples of the Baek Family were summoned.
A single letter I’d sent carried such grave tidings that their assembly was unavoidable.
With a crisp sound, Baek Moo-ryang unfolded the letter and turned it so everyone could see.
Summarized, the opening section contained this:
The Akingok-ju and Injoong Sinma have joined forces.
The Akingok-ju is the Jeol-ak Gwi-nyeo, and Ak-in-gok is presumed to be the Salsoo Sect.
“Remarkable indeed. The Young Master’s talents are truly astounding—how does he gather such high-caliber intelligence going alone?”
“He wasn’t alone.”
Yeo Un-hyeok, the Baek Ik-gak-ju and current sect leader of the Divine Pivot Meridian School, continued with evident pride—he was also Chu Dal’s master in private.
“The Jegal Family’s young lady and my disciple accompanied him as well. I suspect we provided at least some small assistance.”
In truth, Chu Dal had been providing considerable help to me, so his assessment wasn’t far off.
“Indeed, that scoundrel Chu Dal is the current successor of the Divine Pivot Meridian School.”
“And the Baek Ik-gak-ju has trained him quite rigorously.”
“Haha, since the main branch’s talents are all exceptional, I merely strived not to fall behind.”
Besides, Yeo Un-hyeok knew better than anyone just how extraordinary I was.
From our very first meeting, he’d found me remarkably exceptional.
‘A seven-year-old child negotiating with a martial arts legend of that caliber.’
As a result, Yeo Un-hyeok had reclaimed his precious daughter and now enjoyed a happy twilight with a granddaughter as cute as a rabbit.
The only blemish was gaining a son-in-law who looked rough and unsightly, though his daughter and granddaughter adored him—infuriatingly so.
“Gae-cheon-sin-eung… surely everyone knows how exceptional the Young Master is.”
Taeryang, the Baek Lang-gak-ju who’d joined the Baek Family alongside the assassins after the Nang-in organization’s dissolution, spoke up.
“Yet I never dreamed my younger brother would already ascend to the same rank as Cheonmu-sip-jon and our Master. Blast it all… my apologies, Family Head.”
Baek Moo-ryang dismissed it with a wave.
Taeryang had been raised by assassins and became one himself.
Even when his rough speech patterns slipped out, Baek Moo-ryang was inclined to overlook it.
“First, Young Scholar. If anything occurs to you, speak.”
The Young Scholar, with black ink smudged across his left cheek and nose, rose to his feet.
Due to his persistent creative urges, he spent half his days writing books, but the matter was too grave to skip the assembly.
“Family Head, I believe we must first appoint a commander for the forces to dispatch to the main branch.”
If Ak-in-gok is indeed the Salsoo Sect, those remaining in the Baek Family are in danger.
Especially since we’ve already drawn our elite forces here to Baek Hwa-gak.
“A sound point. Who volunteers—”
“I, Gu Ak, shall return to the main branch, Family Head!”
Without the slightest hesitation, Gu Ak’s hand shot up.
The response was predictable enough that a brief silence fell over the gathering.
“You’re incorrigible, truly.”
“Family Head, might I go instead of my son-in-law?”
“Your wife and daughter are so lovely that he can’t help himself.”
Regardless of how the other senior disciples reacted, Gu Ak remained steadfast, his raised hand unwavering.
“Good. Have Gak-ju lead all the disciples and return to the main family immediately.”
“As you command!”
After Gu Ak left, we began discussing the matter in earnest.
“In the end, my request is simple: drag out the preparations for taking Honam as grandiosely as possible to buy time. What are your thoughts?”
“Since Young Master Hwi mentioned attempting a stratagem of discord, there’s no harm in waiting.”
“However, the joint cooperation between Jeol-ak Gwi-nyeo and Injoong Sinma poses a tremendous threat. If the Hyeol Sa-ryeon falls so easily, we’ll be next.”
After various opinions were exchanged intensely.
Baek Moo-ryang made the final decision.
“In the end, the Baek Family’s objective can only be one: for the peace of Honam’s common people, we shall advance into Injoong Sinma’s territory.”
The Young Scholar raised his hand and asked.
“Pardon me, Family Head. If that’s the case, won’t it make it difficult for the Young Master to execute his strategy?”
“Difficult or not, he’ll manage.”
The Young Scholar’s mouth opened slightly.
“Hwi has worn down my patience more than once or twice. Besides, he won’t oppose a decision made to raise the family’s banner. Even if he suffers, he’ll find his way back alive. This Family Head trusts him that much.”
Only Baek Moo-ryang, who trusted Yang Hwi more than anyone, could say such words.
“Proceed with preparations accordingly.”
“As you command.”
“As you command!”
“Yes!”
Thus, with Taeryang, the vanguard commander who volunteered, leading the way, the Baek Family’s advance into Honam was confirmed.
* * *
-Kiiiieeee!
The letter Won-woo brought back after flying to the Baek Family.
“Father truly has no intention of delaying the advance.”
“I suspected as much. During the last persuasion, you used the common people’s peace as justification.”
I would have preferred if the Baek Family had coordinated their timing with us.
Well, it wasn’t a major problem.
“Then I’ll need to gradually shift Injoong Sinma’s sphere of influence westward through Honam.”
“To match the Baek Family’s advance speed.”
The more that happened, the closer Injoong Sinma and the Hyeol-ma-dae would become to the Hyeol Sa-ryeon, ultimately placing them between the Hyeol Sa-ryeon and the Baek Family.
“If Jeol-ak Gwi-nyeo doesn’t want to watch the board I’ve set crumble, she’ll handle the Hyeol Sa-ryeon side.”
There was no need to worry about Jeol-ak Gwi-nyeo making a move against the Baek Family.
Since Gae-cheon-sin-eung was known to have lost to Injoong Sinma, the more dangerous side was the Hyeol Sa-ryeon.
“And once Seolha reaches the Hwa-gyeong realm, we’ll have an immediate reversal of fortune.”
If Baek Do’s side gains a second Cheonmu-sip-jon.
If we can effectively use three Cheonmu-sip-jon by adding Injoong Sinma.
There’s truly so much we can accomplish.
The problem was time.
Seolha furrowed her brow.
“But, brother. It’s so difficult. I can’t even grasp the concept.”
It had been four days since Seolha and I began training to reach the Realm of Transformation.
“You don’t understand the fundamental principles?”
“The true unity of the three dantians. The state where everything becomes one—that’s the Realm of Transformation. I understand it intellectually. The problem is the gap between knowing and feeling it.”
To become one, to transcend the concept of self. Because the self becomes the world itself, it is called the Realm of Transformation.
I elaborated further.
“You create a microcosm, but step beyond it to perceive the macrocosm. It’s an expansion into a larger framework.”
“I understand it intellectually, I’m telling you.”
If a blind man touched an elephant, he could know the texture of its tusks, the breadth of its ears, and the thickness of its legs.
But knowing each part separately and combining them to visualize the whole form were entirely different matters.
“A human. The character for person between heaven and earth. Expanding into an existence that rivals the world itself. Is this even possible for humans? That’s what I’m wondering.”
“You surpassed the pinnacle to reach the transcendent realm—something that shouldn’t be possible—and you did it easily. It’s possible.”
“Tch, you say it so casually, as if you’ve already reached it yourself.”
I suddenly chuckled. Seolha’s sulky tone was endearing.
‘It’s understandable to be frustrated. When knowledge doesn’t translate into results, confusion is natural.’
“Your spiritual form. Make Yu Cheon-sinpung your own world.”
I grasped Seolha’s hand and lifted us both into the air.
We shot upward like arrows. The ground below became the size of ants, and the distant horizon came into view.
“Elevate your perspective. Through expansion and ascension, truly transcend the ordinary.”
As I spoke, I moved my spiritual form.
For anyone else it might not work, but for Seolha, this was the most effective way to communicate.
Seolha’s violet eyes gleamed as she moved her consciousness to follow my spiritual form.
“Strengthen the connection of Yu Cheon-sinpung, Seolha.”
Our minds touched. Spiritual forms exchanged with each other.
Yu Cheon-sinpung and Heuk-baek-shin-jo pulled and lifted each other.
“Ah….”
“Do you understand a little?”
“Just a tiny bit. It’s still vague though.”
Her words were negative, but a smile graced Seolha’s face.
A small awakening and elevation. Beyond that, she was simply enjoying training with me.
“Brother. Is it really possible within a month?”
“We’ll make it possible. It will get harder. Be prepared.”
“I think you’ll suffer more than I will.”
Seolha turned her head to gaze at the full moon hanging brightly above.
On this cloudless night, beneath the sky and above the earth, only the full moon and the two of us existed.
“You won’t sleep for the entire month, will you?”
“I’ll compensate through cultivation.”
For the past four days, I had lived two days in one—by day I swept through Honam as Injoong Sinma, and by night I trained with Seolha.
I planned to continue this for another month.
“If I reach the Realm of Transformation even a day sooner, you’ll be able to sleep even a day longer, brother.”
“Fine. Work hard and let me get some sleep.”
“Tch, understood.”
“If you can’t manage it, I’ll work you to death from that point on, so keep that in mind.”
Seolha pouted her lips.
“I’m still technically your betrothed, so please refrain from such language.”
“I was just joking because I trust you.”
Seolha would ascend to the Hwa Realm within a month.
Her duel with Jeol-ak Gwi-nyeo, and her defeat.
The insights gained from that recent experience would make this possible.
‘Jeol-ak Gwi-nyeo’s inner form possessed something I lack.’
A unified inner form? That was merely the direction toward completion.
The missing material lay elsewhere.
More precisely, it was something I’d already obtained but never put to use.
‘Karma. Killing intent.’
Jeol-ak Gwi-nyeo’s inner form was so vast and immense that even the Heuk-baek-sin-jo, which unified righteousness and demonic nature, could not stand against it.
The reason this was possible.
Jeol-ak Gwi-nyeo’s killing ascension was simultaneously an inner form and a mountain of accumulated killing karma.
‘How was it possible? Karma and killing intent are merely abstract, nebulous concepts.’
Then again, by that logic, willpower itself is nothing but a vague concept.
The will of life taking tangible form and acting as power?
How could that be possible?
‘What makes the impossible possible is intent manifestation. The vitality of intent. The inner form.’
It follows the same principle. Accumulating karma, giving it form, and wielding it as power.
Just as one awakens to intent at the peak realm and creates the tangible form of inner manifestation at the transcendent realm.
The Hwa Realm is the stage where one comprehends how to manipulate karma.
It is the foundation for wielding the tangible karma one has created upon reaching the Hyeon Realm.
“Seolha. Think of just one thing. How will you define yourself, the world that is you? The ascent is your responsibility. This time, I will become the rising wind for you.”
Though I would not be the wind that bears up wings.
For there is more than one way to ascend—more than just the flapping of wings, which is flight.
One can ride the wind without flapping wings, soaring like a kite high into the sky.
Riding the rising wind, not through flight, but through floating.
‘It’s possible. Because of Seolha’s dual wind technique, the higher I rise, the higher she rises as well.’
So now was the time to walk a new path.
Until now, as Injoong Sinma, I had crushed the Sa-pa bastards and extracted the Hyeol-ma-gong to master it, yet I had never expanded the Hondan’s energy.
But…
I made an inner vow.
‘I must cross the line. Even if problems arise, I will trust Father and Seolha, and the others who will pull me back.’
Returning to ground level, Yang Hwi immediately summoned Chu Dal.
“Send word to the Blood Sect’s main headquarters. There’s something I need to request, Chu Dal.”
“What should I tell them?”
“I managed to sway Injoong Sinma, but lately he’s been growing defiant. To truly make him a servant of the Blood Sect, we need a strategy,” he said.
“So the Blood Sect has found something to extract from us?”
“Yes.”
Yang Hwi chuckled and pulled the white mask over his face.
“He says we need to plant the heart of fanatical devotion in Injoong Sinma, which means the Blood Sect must surrender their highest secret techniques.”
As long as I didn’t fall, even a precarious balance would hold.
It was time to begin walking the tightrope.
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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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