Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 65

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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 065
Crash!
After deflecting the sudden attack, I immediately turned my head toward one direction.
There was nothing but dense trees and undergrowth, yet my keen sense of qi detected a presence concealed behind them.
“Fourth Sister. What are you doing all of a sudden?”
Instead of an answer, a beautiful melodic resonance echoed forth.
Ting!
I swung my sword to neutralize the qi wave embedded in the sound.
Crash!
“You’re not going to answer and just keep attacking?”
Only then did Jegal Seol-ha emerge from behind the undergrowth.
“It’s been a while, Senior Brother.”
Her face revealed without any veil, displayed with confidence.
Whether by appearance or by her aura, she had become completely different from before.
“Yeah, it’s been a while. But you just attack out of nowhere like this.”
“It’s Master’s orders.”
Jegal Seol-ha, playfully sticking out her tongue, plucked the pipa she was holding.
Ting!
This time, instead of swinging my sword, I threw myself to the side to evade.
Dust rose from the spot where I had been standing moments before.
I let out a whistle.
“That’s impressive for only half a year having passed.”
Striking the empty air with such force is normally impossible at ordinary levels of cultivation.
For ordinary warriors, one must achieve enlightenment of unified qi and intent to project qi waves outward.
Yet Jegal Seol-ha was infusing her qi into the pipa’s melody to launch ranged attacks.
“Master is none other than Cheonmu-sip-jon. I only recently reached the realm of sound resonance.”
Ting!
Still, the range of her attacks wasn’t very wide yet.
I was just about to speak again, having easily evaded the sound resonance with a simple hop in place.
Ting!
“Ugh!”
A second sound resonance flew toward me suspended in mid-air.
This time I had no choice but to desperately swing my sword to block it.
Crash!
“You can fire those consecutively?”
Infusing qi into sound could never be easy.
I had jumped because I judged the interval between notes couldn’t possibly be short, but I was wrong.
“I trained very diligently while you were away, Senior Brother.”
Eum Hu aside, I couldn’t help but admire Jegal Seol-ha’s talent.
Sound cultivation was renowned among various martial techniques and arts for being difficult to master.
Of course, channeling qi through sound is never easy.
Yet she’s already demonstrating this level of martial prowess.
‘Still, it won’t work against me.’
Judging by the fact that she’s attacking on command, it seems she wants to gauge how much I’ve grown.
Eum Hu probably intends to suggest that I can only grow stronger more rapidly by continuing to receive instruction under her.
Unfortunately, I’ve already reached the second rank, Master.
And of all methods, she chose a martial duel right after the ambush.
She’s quite mischievous, isn’t she.
‘I’ll meet her expectations and finish this quickly, Master.’
“I can’t keep taking hits forever. This time it’s my turn, Junior Sister.”
When facing someone who uses sound-based martial arts, closing the distance is paramount.
Since sound can strike from range just like projectiles or arrows, it shares those same characteristics.
I stepped forward using the Gicheon-bo footwork, rapidly closing the gap.
Cha-ra-rang!
In that instant, a resonant blast flew toward me—its force two or three times stronger than before.
I retreated, widening the distance as I watched Jegal Seol-ha move back.
Still clumsy, but her footwork clearly contained the subtlety of the Ilbo-cheon technique.
‘She’s trying to force me to dodge while she increases the distance.’
I have no intention of surrendering control of the spacing.
My blade trembled with the sound of a hawk’s wingbeats.
The first technique of the Gaecheon Baekpal Geom.
Sauwan-gam-am.
A piercing thrust that penetrates the very center of the resonant blast.
The vibration interferes with the sound wave, shattering it.
“Ah!”
Before Jegal Seol-ha could finish her startled cry, I had already reached her.
Seeing her surprised expression, I grinned and tapped her forehead lightly.
“You’ve grown considerably, Junior Sister.”
“…Ah. I didn’t expect to lose so easily.”
Her cheeks puffed out indignantly in that moment.
Whiiii-ing!
A gust of wind swept through, and Eum Hu’s silhouette appeared in the blink of an eye.
“You always exceed expectations, Namgung Cheon-yeong.”
“This unworthy disciple pays respects to her Master.”
Eum Hu scrutinized my entire form as I performed the respectful fist salute.
I felt her qi probe across my body following her gaze, but I made no particular reaction.
“It’s truly remarkable. I thought if Seol-ha were at her current level, she would be evenly matched with you.”
In fact, Jegal Seol-ha’s growth rate was astounding.
It was natural that Eum Hu would think so.
Without the memories of my past life, I might have lost.
‘Well, that makes sense. In my past life, I was the Pacheon-eumhu who caused a blood catastrophe, so I should be at least this strong.’
Moreover, that was when I had gone berserk from the side effects of my demonic cultivation. In this life, training properly under the Cheonmu-sip-jon, I would become far stronger than that.
‘Though I’m planning to keep growing stronger from here on out anyway.’
“Still, as the senior brother, I can’t lose to my junior sister, can I?”
Eum Hu shook her head as she watched Yang Hwi respond with a smirk.
“That’s only if we received the same teachings.”
It was a statement that carried the pride of the Cheonmu-sip-jon.
And it was also something I couldn’t deny.
“How truly fascinating. You couldn’t possibly have another master, yet you’ve grown so rapidly. Already at the second-rate level, no less.”
Jegal Seol-ha’s eyes widened.
“Second-rate level? But you’re the same age as me… or just one year apart…”
“Without receiving teachings from a master, yet reaching the second-rate level at that age. Your martial talent alone is worthy of admiration.”
“Isn’t that the very talent our master coveted? I should be performing at least at this level.”
“Your silver tongue remains unchanged. But beyond that… hmm?”
Eum Hu’s eyes widened slightly.
I felt the flow of her qi extending outward, concentrating on my dantian.
“This qi. Namgung Cheon-yeong. What did you consume?”
‘She’s sensed the immortal pellet.’
Originally, there had been an immortal pellet in my dantian, but when we met before, it was small and faint.
So Eum Hu had merely felt that I possessed a clear and mysterious temperament.
‘This is a good opportunity. Since she’s someone of the Cheonmu-sip-jon’s caliber, she might know something.’
“I encountered a stroke of fortune while carrying out family business.”
I explained how I had obtained the legacy of the greatest martial artist under heaven, presumed to be the Sword Immortal Yeo Dong-bin.
“That’s how it happened. When I swallowed the spirit pellet, something like an inner pellet formed.”
“Hmm. A Sword Immortal’s legacy…”
Eum Hu stroked her cheek thoughtfully for a moment before speaking.
“Based on the temperament I sense, it seems plausible. At least it doesn’t appear to have any negative effects on you.”
“Do you happen to know anything about the Sword Immortal?”
“Among the previous generation’s masters, there was one who had connections with the Sword Immortal.”
The Seongeum Okryeongmun also walked the path of immortal cultivation, so it made sense.
“The Sword Immortal… I’m not certain if they were the first, but it’s certain they achieved ascension to immortality.”
Ascension to immortality wasn’t merely a legend but actually possible?
I asked in surprise, and Eum Hu nodded.
“Just as there are no rootless trees, so too do rumors and legends have their basis.”
“Then the Immortal Realm and the Jade Emperor and such… do they all actually exist?”
“I cannot say for certain. However, the world is so vast and boundless that it cannot be fully grasped by the perspective of ordinary people.”
Eum Hu gazed at the sky with distant eyes for a moment before continuing.
“If it’s a legacy left by the Sword Immortal, nothing would be surprising. You said the qi in your dantian gained the function to break through evil sorcery?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
The breaking of the Heartless Technique. The destruction of the malevolent spirits that Gwi-no Baek-ma had commanded.
All of it would have been impossible in my past life.
“The will of heaven is beyond mortal comprehension. I cannot say. I do not know. I myself still have far to go.”
Eum Hu spoke in riddles—words that even Yang Hwi, who carried memories of his previous life, could not decipher. It was grasping at clouds.
Yet Yang Hwi did not press for clarification.
The atmosphere emanating from Eum Hu forbade it.
“In any case, if what Namgung Cheon-yeong says is true, no harm will come of it. But as your master, I cannot simply stand idle. I must investigate this matter thoroughly.”
“Thank you, Master.”
Eum Hu nodded and lifted both Yang Hwi and Jegal Seol-ha into the air.
Suspended by invisible force, Yang Hwi’s expression grew puzzled.
“Master?”
“We’re heading to my residence.”
“My own speed has grown quite swift now, though…”
“Even so, compared to this master, you move like a tortoise.”
Eum Hu smiled faintly. A whirlwind swept past, the world blurred, and suddenly a well-constructed residence came into view.
“Namgung Cheon-yeong. Do you need time to recover from your travels?”
“No, Master.”
“Good. Then I shall begin your instruction at once.”
She seemed to have no intention of sharing pleasantries between master and disciple.
Then again, this was very much like Eum Hu.
“Understood!”
“Now that I think about it, this is my first time properly instructing someone.”
Indeed, it was true.
Before, I had stolen my knowledge of the Ilbo-cheon technique through my own study.
Though it was thanks to Eum Hu’s consideration in allowing me to perceive it with my own eyes.
“Tell me. What do you wish to learn from me, Namgung Cheon-yeong? From Pacheon Eum Hu, one of the Cheonmu-sip-jon?”
“I will gratefully accept whatever teachings you bestow upon me.”
Eum Hu shook her head firmly.
With the appearance of a fourteen-year-old girl, the gesture seemed almost endearing.
“You cannot inherit the martial arts of my sect, Namgung Cheon-yeong. I can only teach with limitations. So I wish to teach you what you truly desire.”
“…”
Upon hearing Eum Hu’s words, Yang Hwi closed his eyes for a moment and reflected upon himself.
In my past life, I wandered the realm without a master, climbing to the pinnacle through self-study alone.
Naturally, it was far from perfect.
Though I created martial techniques that reached the level of divine arts, they did not possess roots as broad and deep as those of orthodox schools.
More precisely, there remained room to elevate my martial knowledge to even greater heights.
‘This is an excellent opportunity to fill those gaps.’
Moreover, I could even receive guidance on what those deficiencies were.
My master was none other than Pacheon Eum Hu, one of the Cheonmu-sip-jon.
“Master. May I draw my blade?”
“You may.”
I drew my sword and moved my body slowly.
Just as I had maintained harmony with the intervals of yin within the Eum-gwan of the Jeongeum-ogwan.
I presented the Gaecheon Baekpal Geom to Eum Hu as a single sword dance.
“This is a sword technique that your foolish disciple is learning. I humbly beseech you, Master—would you point out my shortcomings and grant me the means to remedy them?”
Eum Hu, true to her status as one of the Cheonmu-sip-jon, immediately grasped the profound essence of the Gaecheon Baekpal Geom.
“Heaviness and swiftness—a sword technique that contains two directions difficult to reconcile in a single breath. Truly, it is not lacking to be called a divine art.”
“I am grateful for your excessive praise.”
“Hmm? I was praising the martial art, not you.”
‘Because I am the one who created this martial art.’
I could not speak such words aloud, so I merely smiled and savored the quiet satisfaction within.
As I did so, Eum Hu continued.
“It is certainly worthy of being called an ultimate martial art—a supreme technique. But that is where it ends.”
Praise followed by criticism.
To draw such a definitive line around its limits stung a little.
‘Since I created it at the ultimate realm, it is only natural that nothing beyond that is contained within it.’
“However, it is not impossible to advance further. How intriguing. A sword that expresses yin through swiftness and heaviness.”
She spoke of the phoenix-wing sound that resonated when I compressed the opening techniques into a single strike.
“I had no intention of teaching yin to one who pursues the path of the sword, but… if things have come to this, the matter changes.”
Joy spread across Eum Hu’s face.
“Namgung Cheon-yeong. As your Master, I command you. Within four days from today, create a single melody.”
Bewilderment settled across my face.
“Pardon?”
Suddenly I’m being asked to compose music?

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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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