Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 50

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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 050
“As a pastime, cultivate one disciple. That is my only request.”
“Yes. I have no other requests to make.”
“Hehehehe.”
Yeo Un-hyeok gazed at Yang Hwi with a gentle smile.
“The Young Master and the Baek Family have shown this old man tremendous kindness. To be honest, I was prepared to accept any command you might place upon me. Yet you do not do so.”
Baek Moo-ryang waved his hand dismissively.
“The two divine techniques you returned alone have brought great fortune to our Main Residence. How could I possibly ask for more?”
“People speak of those with such hearts as walking the righteous path, as being free from greed.”
“I merely do what should naturally be done.”
Yeo Un-hyeok laughed once more, a hearty sound. His smile carried an unmistakable satisfaction and delight.
“A disciple, you say. Though I have inherited a martial lineage of little renown, I cannot simply take anyone as my student.”
“I understand.”
“I shall cultivate a disciple as a pastime, as you have requested, but I cannot guarantee it will be that child.”
“Testing their aptitude and talent would be more than sufficient, Elder.”
‘Chu Dal will surely pass.’
Should he be judged lacking as disciple material, well.
I can simply teach him the martial techniques that Chu Dal had created and refined in my previous life.
“Then let us organize what you have obtained from this journey abroad.”
Chu Dal as a capable talent, twenty thousand gold coins, and four roots of the Seven-Branched Three-Fruit plant.
Plus the spirit pills already consumed, and the adjustment of profit ratios in the contract with Baek Bookstore.
“Not a two-fold gain, nor even a three-fold gain, but a five-fold profit achieved, Young Master Yang. Hehehehe, truly the arrival of a capable minister.”
Combining the current state of the Baek Manor with what Yang Hwi had obtained, the next course of action became clear.
“The urgent expenses have been resolved. How do you plan to use the remaining funds, Family Head?”
“Hmm. Since the Main Residence is flourishing splendidly, expanding our enterprises would be good. Keeping emergency reserves for unforeseen circumstances would also be good. A difficult choice, Chief Steward.”
“To have such worries about abundance—surely that is a blessed situation.”
“Indeed it is, haha.”
Yang Hwi raised his hand to request the floor and offered his opinion.
“For now, it would be wise to set aside funds as both emergency reserves and savings.”
“And why is that, Young Master Yang?”
“Because refining the Seven-Branched Three-Fruit plants will require expenditure.”
More precisely, it was to attract the physicians who would later arrive in Ak-an County.
‘Beyond the refinement, we need a skilled physician at the Main Residence for Mother’s sake.’
Jeong In-hwa would pass from this world years later due to a chronic illness she had suffered.
In this life, Yang Hwi had no intention of simply watching Jeong In-hwa depart early.
“Your words have merit as well. Since excess is never good, we shall postpone expanding our enterprises. This matter is decided.”
After addressing various other matters, the council meeting finally concluded.
‘Finally, I can bathe and see my siblings.’
Yang Hwi left the office with Gu Ak, offering his farewell.
“Elder Brother. Thank you for your efforts during the journey abroad.”
“Hehehehe, good. Now I can finally go see Rang-rang.”
Gu Ak patted his chest, clearly fingering the hairpin he’d purchased with some of his wealth before entering the Baek Manor.
Having been away from her side for so long, he intended to present the hairpin as a gift to soothe any disappointment Rang-rang might feel.
‘How wonderful.’
Watching Gu Ak made me curious about what a life of marriage and a hundred years of harmony together might be like.
In my previous life, I wandered the martial world creating new techniques, never forming bonds with women.
Most wanderers walk similar paths through life.
‘Perhaps in this life… I should try marriage myself.’
With such thoughts, I rushed toward my siblings’ quarters.
“Heon-so! Yeon-yeon! I’m here!”
The moment my voice rang out, Baek Heon-so and Baek Yeon-yeon came rushing out.
“Elder Brother! You’ve returned!”
“Big brother!”
Baek Heon-so and Baek Yeon-yeon, their faces bright and cheerful, came running but paused when they saw Chu Dal beside me.
“Ah, this is Chu Dal. He’s become a member of the Main Residence household starting today.”
“It’s not Chu Dal—it’s Lee Hu! Could you at least say my name correctly when we’re introducing ourselves?”
Chu Dal spoke in a disgruntled tone, then bowed respectfully to Baek Heon-so and Baek Yeon-yeon.
“Young Master. Young Miss. I am Lee Hu.”
“Ah, yes.”
“Hello!”
“You rascal, you’re getting increasingly disrespectful to me, yet you’re so polite to my siblings. Why is that?”
“Well, you said you were an adopted son. One must make a good impression on those who hold real power.”
Oh, he’s not wrong about that.
I chuckled and spoke to my siblings.
“Heon-so and Yeon-yeon, Chu Dal is someone I think of as a younger brother. I hope you’ll all get along well together.”
“If you say so, Elder Brother, I understand.”
“Got it, Big brother!”
“Since Heon-so and Chu Dal are the same age, I hope you’ll have healthy competition with each other.”
“Understood.”
“Then you’re my big brother too! From now on, I’ll call you Big Brother Chu Dal! Big Brother Chu Dal!”
As Baek Yeon-yeon bounced over, Chu Dal’s face flushed red.
For someone like Chu Dal, who carried a past different from others, this situation was entirely new, and he felt oddly embarrassed.
“Oh, that’s right. Heon-so, have you been diligently training the Heavenly Stream Technique?”
“Of course, Elder Brother! Would you like me to show you?”
Baek Heon-so shouted energetically and stepped forward with vigor.
Seeing the subtle principles flowing through each step, it was clear he’d been training without pause.
“Child, you’ve worked hard. Very well done.”
“Thank you, Elder Brother!”
Watching me pat Baek Heon-so’s head, Chu Dal felt an odd sensation.
‘He’s always criticizing me and joking around, yet he can be this affectionate with his younger brother?’
Noticing the subtle disappointment that lingered in the air, I turned to Chu Dal and spoke.
“Chu Dal, you must work hard so that you too can become a disciple of Elder Yeo. I believe in you, Chu Dal.”
My tone was firm yet gentle—different from before.
Chu Dal cried out without thinking.
“Yes, Elder Brother!”
Thus, the promising talents of the Baek Manor spent time reinforcing their bonds with one another.

* * *
During the council of elders, Han Chong-gwan had said I gained five advantages from a single stone, but the truth was somewhat different.
If I counted the invaluable information I obtained, it was actually seven advantages from a single stone.
I sat in lotus position on my bed, lost in thought.
‘I once believed that with knowledge of the future, I could achieve unbroken victories. I need to be more cautious and better prepared.’
Two pieces of information I had obtained this time.
First: The merchant fleet that emerged after my regression was connected to Sword Immortal Yeo Dong-bin.
Second: From this point forward, the Bloodthirst Sect and the Ming Sect were operating in the shadows of the martial world, and if I failed to stop them, it would lead to a catastrophe of heretical sects twenty-five years later.
‘Both are merely fragments of information. There’s no way to learn more or investigate further.’
Sword Immortal Yeo Dong-bin was essentially a legendary figure.
With my current intelligence network, it was practically impossible to uncover any clues about him.
The same applied to the Bloodthirst Sect and Ming Sect. For now, there was no way to prevent them from operating in secret and building their power in advance.
‘In the end, the answer is to strengthen the Main Residence’s forces and establish the foundation of a great sect as quickly as possible.’
Less than a year had passed since my regression.
Though I was expanding my power faster than expected, there were still many shortcomings.
I lacked the hands and feet to handle various operations independently, such as the Medicine Hall or an intelligence division.
‘A replacement for the Medicine Hall will eventually emerge with time. The intelligence division is the problem. For now, I may need to borrow external strength.’
An independent intelligence network was an essential element for rising to become a great sect.
Given the enormous time and money required to build such a network, borrowing strength from intelligence organizations like the Gaebang or Hao-mun was the correct choice for now.
‘Still, at this rate… things are proceeding far more smoothly than I expected.’
The most remarkable achievement was the expansion of the martial forces.
Gu Ak was actively working as a gang reformation director, rehabilitating members of the black path gangs.
For a white path sect to accept a large number of black path gang members was a risky venture, but thanks to Gu Ak—a trustworthy master from the black path—no significant problems had arisen thus far.
‘Making Elder Brother Gu a member of the Main Residence was a masterstroke.’
He was genuinely useful in many ways.
Even during this recent excursion, things would have been quite difficult without Gu Ak.
At this rate, I should probably stop toying with him like a plaything and show him proper respect as a director of the Main Residence… but I can’t.
His reactions every time I tease him are far too entertaining.
How could I give up something this enjoyable?
‘My apologies, Elder Brother Gu. Please bear with it just until Chu Dal’s boy adapts and starts fighting back against me.’
If Gu Ak heard this, he would be so furious that he would seriously consider leaving this world—but I continued sketching out my next blueprint.
‘There are two things the Main Residence must accomplish to expand its power more rapidly in the current situation.’
First: Eliminate Gyojin-bang and the Suhoji Guild so that the Baek Family becomes the undisputed hegemon of Ak-an County.
Second, I would refine the Seven-Finger Triple Elixir to increase both quality and quantity, then distribute it among my household members to boost their overall strength.
Logically, the second approach should come first, but there were complications.
‘Beyond elixir refinement, I need a physician skilled in both alchemy and medicine—one proficient in treating illnesses and injuries alike.’
Physicians meeting such criteria were exceedingly rare throughout the realm.
Most of those who did were widely renowned, making them prohibitively expensive.
Of course, I knew how to solve such problems.
‘The trouble is, that solution won’t arrive in Ak-an County for several more months.’
I stroked my chin, lost in thought.
In roughly three or four months from now.
Distinguished guests from Sichuan would arrive in Ak-an County—individuals possessing precisely the capabilities the Baek Manor desperately needed.
‘The Sichuan Tang Family.’
Also known as the Tang Sect.
An emerging power that had risen dramatically in recent years, they were martial artists who specialized in hidden weapons and poison—their greatest distinction.
‘The Tang Family naturally harbors many physicians.’
I had already confirmed this in my previous life.
Though they had not yet ascended to the rank of Great Family in this era, in the future they would proudly be called the Tang Clan or Tang Sect, counted among the Five Great Families of the realm.
‘An alliance with the Tang Family would yield tremendous benefits. The opportunity approaches—I must seize it.’
A pang of regret struck me. The Tang Family’s membership consisted entirely of blood relatives, their bonds unbreakable, making it impossible to recruit any of their members.
If only I could bring Tang Family members into the Main Residence, combining their elixir refinement and medical expertise—that would be perfect.
‘Wait.’
A brilliant idea occurred to me.
A stratagem to summon the Tang Family members immediately, rather than waiting several months for their arrival in Ak-an County, and to keep them at the Main Residence.
I rushed straight to Baek Moo-ryang.
Fortunately, he was in his study.
“You’re leaving the family again? What are you talking about, Hwi?”
I met Baek Moo-ryang’s worried gaze with unwavering confidence.
“For the sake of the common people’s livelihood and stability throughout the realm, I need only capture a single demon horse and return!”
With this dual purpose, I would draw the Tang Family’s martial artists and physicians to Ak-an County, and in the negotiations to follow, I would seize the decisive advantage.

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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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