Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 48

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Third-rate Martial Arts Family, Greatest Under Heaven – Episode 048
Twenty-five years later, when the heretical sects’ rebellion erupted, a total of five sects revealed themselves.
Among them, Singyeo was counted as one of the worst without question.
‘That bastard leading them… he should be around my age by now.’
Singyeo was terrifying not because its forces were the strongest.
Rather, it had the smallest numbers among the five sects, making it the least impressive in terms of power.
Though the problem was that each individual member was an elite demon warrior difficult to contend with.
And at the very top, that creature who received absolute fanatical devotion from all the demonic practitioners.
-Heavenly Divine One! Against the heavens, a new world!
-Heavenly Divine One!
The Sect Leader whom Singyeo’s followers called the Heavenly Divine One.
We called him by a different name.
A great evil born of heaven.
The greatest demon beneath the heavens.
The Heavenly Demon.
“You wretches, I already know that those cursed Hyeol Gyo followers are allied with Yeokcheon Singyeo. So tell me everything you know.”
Though I emerged with my memories erased, there must be something I know.
If all memories were completely wiped, personality and self would be damaged, so minimal information must have been preserved.
The fact that Gwi-no Baek-ma remembers belonging to Hyeol Gyo is proof of that.
But.
I couldn’t get the answer I wanted.
“Yeokcheon Singyeo…? I’ve never heard of it.”
“Ah, you bastard. You need more softening up.”
I immediately channeled vital energy into Gwi-no Baek-ma’s Sang-dan-jeon.
“Wait! Ahhhhh! I, I really don’t know! I’m telling the truth!”
“You really don’t know?”
“That’s right! The only place we Hyeol Gyo maintain contact with is the Bright Sect!”
The Bright Sect. Its formal name was the Sun and Moon Bright Sect.
One of the five sects that would rise to prominence in the future.
“Your memories weren’t erased?”
“No! During our covert operations, we had to maintain memories to prevent conflicts between us. The fact that I know of the Sun and Moon Bright Sect proves it!”
So he truly knows nothing about Singyeo?
Judging by how they rose simultaneously as if timed perfectly, they should know each other.
Could it be that at this point in time, not only is there no contact between them, but they don’t even know each other’s identities?
“Tell me everything you know, including about the Bright Sect.”
“Ugh…”
Gwi-no Baek-ma ground his teeth.
For someone who had killed countless masters and enslaved their souls as servants, even desecrating death itself, to fall to such a state.
The vital energy this young brat possessed was perfectly opposed to his own techniques and power.
And it was a superior incompatibility where he was being unilaterally broken down and annihilated.
‘Even Daoist sorcerers trembled before me, yet how does a mere brat possess such an aura….’
“Ah, this bastard. Thinking about something else again.”
As the mysterious energy attacked the Sang-dan-jeon once more, Gwi-no Baek-ma twisted his body and let out a scream.
“Krraaaaaaagh!”
A pain as though everything within him was vanishing.
In truth, the Immortal Qi was destroying the very foundation of the sorcerer known as Gwi-no Baek-ma.
Faced with such agony, death itself—no, even descending into hell after death—seemed preferable.
In the end, Gwi-no Baek-ma divulged everything he knew to Yang Hwi.
“You wretch. So at this point, you’re nothing but chaff.”
Yang Hwi clicked his tongue in disapproval.
Compared to the sinister reputation Gwi-no Baek-ma would earn in the future, his present self lacked any real substance.
Then again, he only became infamous after commanding the Four Demons—those wicked spirits whose blades could not pierce them, creatures that none but the will-manifestations of supreme masters could oppose.
Thwack!
I drove the sword qi through Gwi-no Baek-ma’s brow.
Fearing he might extend his life through some hidden sorcery, I administered several more finishing strikes before infusing Immortal Qi to ensure his demise was absolute.
‘In the end, the only meaningful information I obtained was that the Hyeol Gyo has been operating in secret from this point forward.’
The gains were meager compared to the effort expended.
Still, at least I’ve gained vigilance to prepare in advance, so it wasn’t entirely without merit.
‘Yet I still feel like I’ve taken a loss. This won’t do.’
Humans are creatures that despise loss.
To dispel this feeling, I should secure some additional profit.
Fortunately, I have an excellent target in the South Gold Guild Master.
With such thoughts, Yang Hwi walked toward where the South Gold Guild Master was.
“Young brother. You’ve arrived. What of that horse-faced bastard?”
“I’ve killed him. He knew less than expected.”
“The interrogation didn’t fail, did it? Ha, I should have questioned him myself.”
In Gu Ak’s gaze lay the sentiment: ‘So there are things even you cannot do.’
Yang Hwi simply smiled.
‘Hardly. Had I not intervened directly, we’d have gotten nothing.’
Much had changed during the interrogation.
The martial artists who had occupied the Namgeum Trading Company were all bound in ropes, while the Company’s security warriors worked under the Guild Master’s command to organize the estate.
“Namgung Cheon-yeong. You’ve arrived!”
Upon spotting Yang Hwi, the South Gold Guild Master came rushing over frantically.
His face still bore an overwhelming expression of gratitude.
“I am grateful once more, Namgung Cheon-yeong! Now that I think of it, we’ve been remiss in proper introductions. I am Nam Geum-jeok, Guild Master of the Namgeum Trading Company.”
I couldn’t reveal my true name, so I offered a suitable deflection.
“I am Wang Sam, wandering with my sworn brother.”
“Ha, so you are Young Master Wang. I’ve pondered how to repay this debt. The only sincerity this fellow can offer is coin, it seems.”
The South Gold Guild Master ordered a security warrior to bring forth a money pouch.
“I thank you for saving my life, Young Master Wang.”
I took the money pouch and opened it immediately.
‘To me…?’
I alternated my gaze between the flustered face of the South Gold Guild Master, who hadn’t expected me to open it right away, and the contents of the pouch.
It felt quite heavy, so I thought it was a windfall, but it contained nothing but silver coins.
‘A stingy miser and a money-grubber. No wonder he makes his fortune through loan sharking and bleeding people dry.’
In truth, I harbored a faint sense of apology toward the South Gold Guild Master.
Though he didn’t know it, I was the cause of everything that had happened today.
I had spread rumors that turned the estate into chaos and even summoned Gwi-no Baek-ma, yet I felt a twinge of conscience accepting payment for saving his life.
But that apology melted away entirely.
‘Right, he deserves to be ruined anyway. Making it happen a bit sooner is hardly something to feel guilty about.’
“My apologies, Namgung. In all the chaos, someone apparently looted a warehouse where valuables were stored…”
“Not at all. I didn’t help expecting any reward.”
I replied flatly and continued.
“Then I’ll take my leave now.”
“Ah, if you’d stay a bit longer, I could show proper hospitality and repay more of this debt of gratitude-”
“That won’t be necessary.”
His true intentions were transparent. With the estate in ruins, he was worried that more rumors would spread and draw even more martial artists. He was trying to gain at least one ally to his side.
“Elder Brother Gu. Let’s go.”
“Understood.”
I left the estate without hesitation alongside Gu Ak.
“Tsk. The results are rather meager compared to the effort expended.”
“Such is life sometimes. Besides, wasn’t our original purpose to help the Baek-ji Antique Bookstore?”
“True enough. But as I’ve said before, any truly exceptional talent should follow the principle of killing two birds with one stone.”
“I’ve been thinking the same thing, but that kind of talk just makes you sound more like a bandit than me.”
“How dare you speak so insultingly, Elder Brother Gu!”
“…If you can’t properly explain why you found that insulting, I’ll challenge you to a deathmatch.”
“I’m telling Sister Rang-rang! Elder Brother Gu tried to kill me!”
“…Argh! If I have to escort you again, I’m no longer human but a beast!”
As I was teasing Gu Ak to console my disappointment, I suddenly realized I’d forgotten something.
“Now that I think about it, where did that Chu Dal go?”
“I forgot about that one.”
I launched myself toward the hilltop where I’d told him to keep watch while waiting.
But there was no one on the hill.
“This brat, I told him to wait here—where did he go?”
“These young ones never listen to a word you say.”
“…Elder Brother Gu. Go find him and come back.”
“Why should I?”
“It’s the Young Master’s command. You have to listen, don’t you?”
“…”
That was when it happened.
“Huff, huff! Brother! Elder Brother Gu! Please help me out!”
I could see Chu Dal trudging up the hill, panting heavily.
Behind Chu Dal’s back hung an enormous bundle.
Yang Hwi rushed over in a single bound and immediately gave him a chestnut flick.
Thwack!
“Ow! Damn it!”
“Damn it? Damn it? You brat. I told you to wait here, yet you disappeared without a word.”
“Don’t scold him too harshly, younger brother. A younger sibling learns by watching his elder.”
“Just as I learn so much by watching Elder Brother Gu, right?”
“….”
After silencing Gu Ak, I rolled up my sleeves to give Chu Dal a proper scolding.
But then.
Chu Dal, unfazed by my posture, lowered the bundle.
“Hmph! Look at this first, Brother!”
“What is this… huh? Ah? You little rascal?”
Chu Dal began grinning mischievously.
“Hehehehe. If you can still scold me after seeing this, I’ll accept it gladly!”
Inside the bundle were gold ingots, gold coins, and all manner of precious ornaments.
By rough estimation, the value appeared to exceed two hundred taels of gold.
“Where did you get this? You didn’t…?”
“Hehehehe. Since things seemed to be going awry, I took it upon myself to play your role, Brother.”
In other words, he had secretly raided the Namgeum Trading Company’s treasure vault.
“You rascal!”
With this much wealth, it would more than compensate for the losses.
I tucked Chu Dal’s head under my arm and squeezed him tightly.
“You clever thing! What a capable fellow!”
“Hehehehe! I did well, didn’t I? Praise me more!”
“A well-raised younger brother rivals any sworn elder brother! You did splendidly!”
“I know I did well!”
Watching the two youngsters’ antics, Gu Ak remained silent.
‘Rang-rang. I miss you.’
Gu Ak felt unusually lonely today.

* * *
Muzhou, Jiangxi Province—the heart of Ak County, where the Baek Manor stood.
In the Family Head’s office, a core council meeting was underway as usual.
“Sigh… This is grave, Family Head.”
Baek Moo-ryang, who had emerged from seclusion not long ago, asked Han Supervisor, who was exhaling heavily.
“Is it truly so insufficient?”
“Woefully so. At this rate, we’ll have to sell off one of the enterprises we’ve only just acquired.”
The central topic of the core council meeting was money.
“Since the Black Path Faction War, we’ve incurred debt while repairing our internal damages. Moreover, when we took over these enterprises initially, we paid a fair price for them.”
It was unavoidable. Unlike the black path factions that wielded force and seized businesses at pittance, the Baek Manor was a righteous martial family that walked the white path.
“Of course. We conducted commerce through proper means—indeed, through the most normal methods possible.”
Among the enterprises currently owned by the Baek Manor was an inn that had been protected from the Black Path Faction War by mobilizing all of the manor’s martial artists, and which was transferred after strengthening ties with its owner.
In that case, the price could have been negotiated lower, but Baek Moo-ryang had paid full value without hesitation.
‘The Family Head’s nature is well-known, and there’s nothing to be done about it… but it’s truly frustrating.’
Han Supervisor Seok-eon oversaw all financial matters of the Baek Manor.
From his perspective, the manor was on the brink of ruin.
Expenditures far too great had occurred before revenue could arrive.
‘It’s as though we’ve returned to the time before Young Master Hwi arrived.’
As Baek Moo-ryang recalled the child who had entered seclusion and become the heir, a spark of light ignited in Han Supervisor’s mind.
‘Yes, if we can just endure until Young Master Hwi returns…’
The heir, Baek Yang-hwi. In Han Seok-eon’s view, a child born with the fortune of a financial deity.
Han Supervisor unconsciously curled his thumb and forefinger into a circle.
He was certain. This time too, Young Master Hwi would bring back a fortune in wealth.
So if they could just endure until then…
‘I wonder if we can hold on. Young Master Hwi, please return soon.’
That was the moment.
A servant of the family knocked on the door and cried out in a loud voice.
“Family Head! Young Master Hwi has returned!”
It was Han Seok-eon who reacted before Baek Moo-ryang.
He shot to his feet and shouted loudly.
“Did Young Master Hwi happen to bring something back!”
“Baek Ik-gak-ju was indeed carrying a large bundle!”
“Just as I thought! Just as I thought!”
Han Seok-eon bolted from the room.
“Young Master Hwi! How much was it this time!”
Seeing Han Supervisor’s radiant face and his curled fingers, Yang Hwi grinned and called out.
“Twenty thousand taels!”
The god of fortune had descended upon the Baek Manor, which had been struggling with financial hardship.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————