Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 44

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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 044
“Ugh, ugh, hnngh…!”
Chu Dal wept for a long while, tears and snot streaming down his face.
Watching him, a moment from my past life surfaced in my mind.
‘This is the first time I’ve seen Chu Dal cry.’
In my past life, I first met Chu Dal a few years before reaching thirty.
He had already grown to his full height and experienced the hardships of the martial world, so seeing him cry was all the more unusual.
Even so, Chu Dal had always been a man of rich emotions.
Unbecoming of a man, he freely expressed whatever he felt at any moment.
‘I’ll let him live that way in this life too. No, you’ll live a far better life than before.’
In my past life, I always felt a sense of regret whenever I saw Chu Dal.
Though not comparable to myself, he was a talented individual brimming with potential.
It always bothered me that such a man grew without proper support, his martial achievements falling short of his talents.
‘This time, let’s not stop at a hundred li, but go a thousand li, no—ten thousand li.’
Yang Hwi smiled contentedly and waited for Chu Dal to stop crying.
Soon, Chu Dal wiped his tear-streaked face and expressed his gratitude.
“Thank you for your kindness, Elder Brother.”
“What kindness is there to speak of?”
“You freed me from the forced cultivation of the Heartless Art.”
“Ah, that. You’re too talented to waste on trivial techniques like the Heartless Art. Once we reach the Main Residence, you’ll be able to learn proper martial arts.”
I had already thought of something for Chu Dal.
Chu Dal, naturally nimble as a cat with an exceptional talent for concealing his presence.
There was a perfect master for him at the Baek Manor.
“Anyway. If you’ve calmed down, let’s go now. Sit beside me.”
“Yes, Elder Brother.”
“Hey, you brats. Why are you sitting so naturally? Now that you’re conscious, both of you get down!”
Watching the indignant Gu Ak, Yang Hwi called out brazenly.
“Ouch! The internal injuries from the bloody battle at the Yuga Manor are—ugh!”
“I know you’re not hurt, you little bastard!”
Ah, that won’t work. Time to change tactics.
Yang Hwi began trembling like an aspen leaf.
“Gasp, the psychological shock from my first killing…! If only I had reached the pinnacle, an eight-year-old child would never have had to experience murder….”
“….”
Gu Ak fell silent for a moment. Come to think of it, an eight-year-old child experiencing his first killing was indeed a fact.
He had overlooked it because the boy was so unchildlike, but thinking about it rationally, he must have suffered tremendous psychological trauma.
‘No matter how unchildlike he may be, he’s still a child. Perhaps it’s precisely because he’s so unchildlike that the signs don’t show.’
“…Are you alright?”
“How could I be? My hands are trembling and tears are threatening to spill, but I’m forcing myself to hold them back.”
“I’m sorry. Now that I think about it, I failed to properly fulfill my role as your protector.”
“Then may I continue sitting here?”
“…Do as you wish.”
Yang Hwi grinned wickedly, watching the back of Gu Ak’s head.
Needless to say, there was no shock from my first killing.
‘I’ve spent nearly twenty years wandering the martial world as a vagrant. What shock from murder could there be?’
In any case, the operation succeeded.
“…I’ll head down now. I think I can walk.”
Chu Dal, who had been sitting atop Gu Ak’s back and gauging the mood, was about to slip down when Yang Hwi stopped him.
“Now, now. Chu Dal, our Elder Brother possesses such magnanimity. He’s not the sort to make a child who just regained consciousness after fainting walk on his own.”
“…That’s right. Stay up there.”
“See? I was right, wasn’t I?”
“Thank you.”
“Good. Remember from now on—if you listen well to your elder brother, fortune will come even in your sleep.”
Gu Ak, who had become a pack animal, fumed inwardly at why Yang Hwi was receiving the thanks.
In the meantime, Yang Hwi stretched out his hand and shouted.
“Then let’s go, to Baek Manor!”
“Straight to Baek Manor? Didn’t you say we needed to stop by the Baek Bookstore in Nanchang before we departed, younger brother?”
“It’s on the way anyway. What’s the difference?”
To reach Baek Manor in Wuzhou from Gu Gang where Chu Dal had been staying, they had to pass through Nanchang.
“Then off we go, hyah!”
“….”
“You’re not coming? Hyah!”
Gu Ak made a vow.
If they encountered a muddy swamp on the way, he would throw this brat into it.

* * *
It took four days to reach Nanchang.
It was a distance that normally required six days or more by carriage, but thanks to Gu Ak pushing hard and even using his lightness martial art, we made excellent time.
“Chu Dal, what do you think? First time seeing the provincial capital?”
Nanchang, the provincial capital of Jiangxi Province. The city’s size alone, let alone the scale of its bustling districts, was incomparable to Ak-an County.
But instead of answering immediately, Chu Dal looked at me with a twisted expression.
“If you say it’s my first time, are you planning to mock me as a country bumpkin?”
Originally, Chu Dal had always spoken with respectful deference, but now his tone was as twisted as his gaze.
It was the result of me tormenting him relentlessly over the past six days.
Though Chu Dal had felt indebted to me for saving him when he was unconscious, he simply couldn’t endure my constant teasing.
“Just look at your eyes—I can tell everything. Take a good look around. We’ll stay here a few days before heading to Baek Manor.”
“Hmph! I’m long past the age of sightseeing!”
“Says the seven-year-old.”
“And you’re eight, aren’t you, Elder Brother!”
“…You little brats! How much longer do you plan to chatter on top of me!”
Gu Ak, his patience finally snapping, bellowed in frustration.
I tapped both Chu Dal and myself, then we quickly climbed down from Gu Ak’s back.
It had been fine until now, but the marketplace had many watchful eyes.
Since Gu Ak valued pride and dignity, I needed to preserve his face somewhat so I could use him as a mount again next time.
“But how do we find Baek Bookstore in this vast Nanchang? Do you know the location, Chu Dal?”
“Elder Brother Gu, you came along as my escort but didn’t even bother learning that much?”
“…”
“Chu Dal, our Elder Brother Gu is remarkably careless. Never learn from him.”
Chu Dal couldn’t bring himself to nod.
Gu Ak’s face had turned an alarming shade of red and blue.
‘How does Elder Brother not flinch seeing that face?’
Despite only a one-year age difference, our nerve was on entirely different levels.
Or perhaps he simply had nerves of steel.
Such thoughts were inevitable for Chu Dal.
“Elder Brother Gu, don’t worry. I know the location.”
I led the group toward the marketplace located in the southern part of Nanchang.
“There—that’s Baek Bookstore.”
“I heard it only sold old books, but it’s quite a large establishment.”
“It’s called a bookstore, but it’s actually a trading company specializing in books and paper.”
“I see. Let’s go in and get some food first. After days of sleeping rough and eating only dried provisions, my mouth feels parched.”
But unfortunately, Gu Ak’s wish would not come true.
Upon entering through the door, the interior of Baek Bookstore was absolute chaos.
Among the people with dark expressions tidying up the bookstore’s interior, I spotted Chu Yong-wol and raised my voice.
“Miss Chu!”
“Huh? Ah, Baek Sohyeop…?”
“What on earth is happening here!”
“That is… what brings you all the way here from Wuzhou?”
“Well, I invested money and received no word for over half a year. I came to investigate.”
I had entrusted three sets of novels to the Baek Bookstore.
Even accounting for the time required to carve woodblocks and print them, over half a year without any update seemed far too long.
This was why I had decided to visit the Baek Bookstore.
“…I am deeply ashamed.”
Chu Yong-wol, standing before me, bowed her head deeply with sincerity.
“I apologize. Not only have I failed to meet the deadline I promised, but I also gave no advance notice.”
“The Baek Family Estate is not one to treat business partners coldly. Has some unavoidable circumstance arisen?”
Chu Yong-wol nodded slightly and gestured toward the side with her hand.
“…This is not a matter to discuss here. Please, come this way.”
In the private room located behind the bookstore, I waited briefly after being shown in, and a servant brought tea.
Then Chu Yong-wol released a deep sigh that carried the weight of hardship endured, before beginning her explanation.
“In truth… the Baek Bookstore carries a debt.”
“A debt? Why did you not mention this?”
“It was not a serious matter at the time. It is commonplace for trading companies to borrow funds while expanding their operations. The problem is…”
In Nanchang, there were three trading companies that competed for the top position by scale.
Among them, the Namgeum Trading Company engaged primarily in usury and pawn brokerage, and the Baek Bookstore had borrowed money from the Namgeum Trading Company to expand its operations.
This was the beginning of all our troubles.
“Even after the due date passed, they extended it by one month, then two months, without pressing for repayment. We were foolish to feel reassured.”
The problem was that we believed their words—that there was no need to rewrite the contract since they would not press us anyway.
The moment rumors spread that the Baek Bookstore had received a substantial investment, they revealed their true colors.
“The Namgeum Trading Company had lent us money from the start with the intention of swallowing the Baek Bookstore whole, and they have been allowing us to fall behind on repayment without renewing the contract.”
“Is it impossible to repay the debt?”
To recover the funds invested in expanding the trading company, considerable time is needed.
Yet the Namgeum Trading Company sends people almost daily to cause trouble.
“And I cannot hand over the money that the Baek Family Estate invested either. I have been holding firm to prevent that, which is when you arrived.”
After Chu Yong-wol’s lengthy lament ended, I quickly organized the situation in my mind.
‘In a sense, this trouble arose because of us.’
The Baek Family Estate had invested a substantial sum in the Baek Bookstore.
Because of this, the Namgeum Trading Company abandoned their plan to absorb the Baek Bookstore and instead began demanding money to at least break even.
‘No, that is not quite right. Even without our involvement, the Namgeum Trading Company would have eventually revealed their claws. This must be the reason why the Baek Bookstore only rose to prominence as a new trading company after ten years.’
In the future, Chu Yong-wol becomes renowned in the merchant world as an exceptional talent.
Precisely, from ten years onward.
Perhaps those ten years of silence were due to the Namgeum Trading Company’s interference?
“When will the books be available for sale?”
Upon hearing the question, Chu Yong-wol’s expression grew resolute.
“The woodblocks themselves are already complete. We are fully prepared to print them on blank pages and begin selling immediately. However…”
“If we are discovered purchasing large quantities of blank pages, it will give the Namgeum Trading Company ammunition against us.”
“You’re absolutely right, Sohyeop.”
‘Hmm. What should I do?’
It was true that I hadn’t proceeded with the work as promised during the contract at Baek Bookstore.
However, holding her accountable for this seemed like a poor strategy.
To be precise, rather than pressing Chu Yong-wol based on the contract now, it seemed far more advantageous to demonstrate generosity and build trust and goodwill.
After all, Chu Yong-wol possessed the talent of a remarkable merchant whose name would spread widely through the commercial world in the future.
“I understand the circumstances well. Father will also show consideration to Baek Bookstore’s side once he learns of this.”
“Sohyeop…”
Chu Yong-wol gazed at me with moved eyes.
It seemed I had successfully earned some points.
Why not add a debt on top of that?
‘This actually worked out well. Let me use this opportunity to help them while securing greater benefits for the Main Residence.’
“I have one question, Miss Chu. If there were no interference from Namgeum Trading Company, could you proceed with selling the books immediately?”
“Of course. I’ll stake my name—no, everything of Baek Bookstore on it.”
“Then that settles it. I’ll take care of it.”
“What? How…”
“There are ways.”
‘Namgeum Trading Company collapses about fifteen years from now, doesn’t it?’
How dare they interfere with the Baek Family’s affairs?
You lot should fall much sooner.
And I’ll take a hefty bite of your plump profits while I’m at it.
Yang Hwi let out a quiet chuckle.

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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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