Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 61

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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 061
Unfortunately, Hong Gyo-bang-ju was not possessed by a demonic cultivation.
Though he had coughed blood, indicating his qi had reversed, his complexion suggested the internal injury was merely superficial.
‘Should I provoke him once more?’
“Hong Gyo-bang-ju. Did not the Baek Family Head ask whether you acknowledge defeat? Why have you suddenly become silent as a stone?”
“….”
Hong Gyo-bang-ju departed wordlessly, carrying his unconscious son on his back.
The members of Gyojin-bang followed behind him, their steps listless.
Watching their receding figures, Yang Hwi could not help but shout one final words.
“Honor your agreement! It was you who said the losing side would withdraw from Ak-an County!”
Though the distance was great, he could see clearly because he had amplified his vision with inner energy.
Hong Gyo-bang-ju’s shoulders trembling slightly.
Yang Hwi chuckled softly and scurried toward Baek Moo-ryang.
“Father! Congratulations on this great victory!”
Following Yang Hwi’s lead, the household members all performed the fist salute in unison.
“Congratulations on this great victory!”
Baek Moo-ryang smiled warmly, his gaze sweeping across each household member one by one, until finally it fell upon Yang Hwi.
“Hwi. Taking you as my son has truly been the greatest blessing upon this family.”
Baek Moo-ryang stroked my head, and I savored the sensation, lost in memories of childhood long past.
“Now then, let us return home. It has been far too long since we held a grand feast.”
From this day forward, Baek Manor had become the undisputed master of Ak-an County.
With the Suhoji Guild in decline and Gyojin-bang’s withdrawal decided, no other force existed to rival Baek Manor alone.
It was truly a victory worthy of celebration.
“Listen all. We return to the manor. Gwak Moon, take several others and return first to prepare the feast.”
“As you command!”
Following Baek Moo-ryang’s orders, the household members withdrew in perfect formation.
Gwak Moon and his selected companions deployed their lightness technique and rushed ahead first.
Watching them depart, I approached Gu Ak.
“Elder Brother.”
“What is it, younger brother?”
“You said you would serve as my martial teacher, just as you did for Father, did you not?”
“I did. Oh, surely you do not mean to ask me to teach you right now?”
“Not exactly.”
“Then what?”
“My legs are aching. Would you carry me, please?”
“….”
Gu Ak fell silent and glanced around at the surroundings.
More than half the spectators remained, cheering loudly for the Twin Blade Swordsman and Baek Manor.
“Right now?”
“Yes.”
“Exactly?”
“If you don’t like it, then forget it.”
The moment I turned my head away, Gu Ak grabbed me like a dog desperate to relieve itself.
“N-no, it’s not that I dislike it. It’s just….”
A man of honor, Gu Ak. A man who lived by reputation and died by face.
“With so many people watching… couldn’t you carry me after we walk a bit further?”
“If shame is the problem, I’ll solve it for you.”
I cried out boldly and staggered my body.
“The aftermath of the life-and-death duel is making me dizzy!”
“Ah, oh my! Little brother! Your elder brother will carry you!”
Naturally carried, I whispered to Gu Ak.
“Now there’s nothing to be ashamed of, is there?”
“Much obliged. Anyway… you’ll help me train in martial arts, won’t you?”
I was about to say “judging by what you’re doing,” but simply nodded instead.
‘Well, he did help me out today after all.’
If Gu Ak grew stronger, it would ultimately increase the main family’s overall strength as well.
In any case.
There was a separate reason why I specifically asked Gu Ak to carry me.
It was to have a moment to think calmly.
‘With this, the reorganization of Ak-an County is complete.’
Red Bridge Hall, Cheongsabang, Gyojin-bang, and even the Suhoji Guild, which despite being part of the Baek family, constantly tried to obstruct us.
I had either dismantled all four major forces or brought them to their knees, becoming the greatest martial family in Ak-an County.
Merely ten months.
An achievement accomplished in less than a year since my regression.
‘At first, I thought it would take at least three years.’
Gu Ak, Yeo Un-hyeok. And various other incidents.
Variables that didn’t exist in my memories before regression, all connected as one, brought favorable results to the main family.
‘I’m currently rapidly expanding our forces by rehabilitating the Black Blade Gang, and I’ve secured the Spirit Elixir to prepare for the future. From now on, I’ll be able to build our power even faster.’
Of course, it’s still insufficient. Woefully so.
Even if I became the hegemon of Ak-an County, it was merely one county.
My ambitions soared far higher.
‘To be recognized by the eastern powers of the Four Seas as having entered the ranks of the great families, I need to at least make a name for myself across an entire province.’
To become the hegemon of Gangwon Province, I would need to conquer more than ten regions as vast as Ak-an County and beyond.
Since even this was merely an intermediate goal, I hadn’t yet reached one percent of that intermediate objective.
‘First, I must become the hegemon of Gangwon Province, or at least rank among the top five powers. Only then can I realize the ten-year grand strategy with the Tang family.’
Allying with the Tang family to gradually seize Honam, which had become the domain of the Black Blade and the Demonic Sects, from both left and right.
To coordinate with the Tang family, which is called a great family, the main family must also enter the ranks of great families within ten years.
‘To achieve that, what I must acquire is….’
I must cultivate more talented individuals and develop them into elite martial artists of the main family.
I must expand the number of business ventures and increase profits through connections with the Baek Trading Company to build financial strength.
At the same time, I had to build achievements that would elevate the Baek Manor’s reputation, until all ten thousand people of Gangwon acknowledged it.
‘Truly, there is still a long road ahead.’
Yet I felt no sense of distance or despair.
In this life, I had complete confidence that I could achieve and grasp everything.
“Younger brother. We’ve arrived at the main house.”
“Hmm?”
The gate of the Baek Family Estate had come into view.
A symbol and legacy of the family, created during the time of the first Family Head and passed down to this day.
The antique hawk-wing pattern on the gate drew my gaze with unusual intensity today.
‘I will surely restore the Baek Family to a great clan. No, beyond that, I will add the title of “Greatest Under Heaven” before its name.’
The gate swung wide open. Inside, Mother Jeong In-hwa, Baek Heon-so, and Baek Yeon-yeon stood waiting.
“Father!”
“Father!”
“Husband.”
Baek Moo-ryang, wearing a pleased smile, threw himself forward.
Then he embraced his wife along with the two children.
“Hahaha! Today especially, though I see these faces every day, I don’t know why I’m so delighted to see them.”
“Husband. There is blood on you. Could it be…?”
“It is merely a light wound, so do not concern yourself. The branch family duel ended in victory for the main house.”
“Ah! Congratulations, husband! I believed in you.”
“My dear, I believe I was able to win thanks to your faith.”
Jeong In-hwa offered a genuinely happy smile.
Baek Moo-ryang also met her gaze and laughed heartily.
“Now, I have finally become able to treat you directly.”
Baek Moo-ryang, who had harbored regret at not reaching the pinnacle realm before and thus being unable to treat his wife directly.
His words to Jeong In-hwa carried deep emotion.
“I believed in you, husband.”
Jeong In-hwa gazed at Baek Moo-ryang with a clear smile.
It was then that the couple exchanged glances.
‘Hmm. I have something to tell him. But it feels awkward to break the mood.’
Well, there was something I needed to calculate before bringing up the matter anyway.
Namely, the total combat strength currently available from the main house.
‘One at the pinnacle realm, two first-rate, eight second-rate, and thirty-three third-rate, I believe.’
Hmm. This should be sufficient.
After all, we held an overwhelming advantage thanks to the recent Black Path Struggle.
“Han Supervisor.”
I approached and whispered in his ear, and Han Supervisor’s expression turned puzzled.
“Why do you call me, Young Master Yang?”
Yang Hwi chuckled.
“There is something I need to tell you. I think it would be best to postpone preparations for the banquet.”

* * *
Boom! Boom! Crack! Kaboom!
Within the manor where Gyojin-bang was situated, the pavilion housing the Bang-ju’s quarters was being destroyed from within.
Crash!
Wood fragments burst through the paper doors and crashed into the courtyard.
It appeared to be pieces of a bed.
“Arrrgh! I’ll kill them all! Every last one of them!”
Though I had not even fought, I had suffered defeat in the life-and-death duel that wagered the fate of my faction.
Yet I was a master of the first rank, one who had mastered both Deep Life Cultivation and Righteous Merchant’s Intent.
The fury and killing intent I unleashed poured forth as an overwhelming aura, making the skin of the Gyojin-bang members arrayed in the courtyard prickle with dread.
Whoosh!
Finally, one of the main beams of the pavilion shattered.
The structure began collapsing from the west, now half in ruins.
Wood splinters scattered in all directions as I emerged from the wreckage.
“….”
All the Gyojin-bang members bowed their heads.
In truth, their numbers were barely half of what they had been the day before.
Many had fled the moment the decision was made to evacuate, as befitted a dark path faction.
“Ha ha ha, just yesterday I thought I could devour Ak-an County. And now, of the hundred-plus faction members I once had, barely half remain.”
Moreover, my son, whom I had cherished for his keen intellect and exceptional martial talent, had become a cripple.
The Hyeol-ya Nang-do I had hired, even borrowing vast sums from my backers, had suffered a pathetic defeat.
“Kha ha ha! My Gyojin-bang, I—Lee Ho-yang—must abandon Ak-an County? Me?”
I unleashed a roar of fury.
At that moment, a middle-aged man stepped forward.
“Bang-ju. I have something to report.”
He was my cousin and the strategist of Gyojin-bang, the leader of the Eastern Pavilion, I Cheol-yang.
“Speak.”
I Cheol-yang met my gaze for a moment.
Then he became certain of what he needed to say.
‘Indeed. The Bang-ju has no intention of simply retreating.’
After all, if we had honored every agreement, we would never have been called a dark path faction.
The path Gyojin-bang walks is unmistakably the dark path.
A path where all flaws and oaths are buried in shadow.
“Bang-ju, I humbly submit: though there were unforeseen sacrifices, your scheme has succeeded.”
My eyes gleamed, urging him to continue.
I Cheol-yang quickly continued.
“A month ago, you revealed to me a scheme, Bang-ju. To request a life-and-death duel with Baek Manor and lower their guard! Your intention has borne fruit!”
The life-and-death duel I had requested to evade the interference and pressure from the Jegal Family and the Tang Clan had transformed into the foundation of my scheme.
“Now Baek Manor celebrates their victory without worry, hosting grand festivities. The time has come to execute the next phase of your plan.”
I Cheol-yang lowered his head.
With this, he had given Bang-ju at least a semblance of justification, and now all that remained was to follow through with the decision.
“…The Eastern Hall Master speaks truly. Though Hong Gyo-bang-ju has suffered grave wounds, everything proceeds according to plan.”
Hong Gyo-bang-ju continued, his face brimming with murderous intent.
“We have purged the worthless dregs disloyal to our hall, and even lulled our enemies into complacency. Now only the blood massacre remains.”
Whoosh!
The Eastern Hall Master’s body crashed down directly before the gate.
“I shall personally annihilate the Baek Manor and seize the throne of Ak-an County.”
Retaliation from the Jegal Family, sworn brothers with the Baek Family Head and the Gu Family Head?
Fear of the Tang Clan, who seemed to have recently grown intimate with them?
None of that mattered now.
“All of you, follow me. We march on Baek Manor at once.”
“As you command!”
Better to bite first than be looked down upon.
Rather than lose one’s nest and wander as a vagabond, seize another’s house.
Such was the law of the dark path.
Gyojin-bang’s entire force surged toward Baek Manor.

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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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