Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 69

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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 069
The moment I saw the letter, I understood what she was asking.
“Should I deliver it to Jegal Uncle?”
“Yes.”
I gazed at Jegal Seol-ha for a moment, then gently stroked her head.
“Stop it. You don’t need to do that. I’m fine.”
How did she know I was patting her head out of pity?
She’s quite perceptive.
“Just be patient a little longer. Once your martial prowess rises further and the foundations of your character solidify, Master will often send you home.”
She had lived her entire life without separation from her father, only to suddenly find herself confined here on Mount Gok-yeol.
No matter how much this was for training under a master, it would be impossible for her to feel no loneliness.
Considering her young age, it wouldn’t be strange if she cried from fear every night.
‘Still, for her upbringing, my junior sister has shown considerable maturity and few tantrums.’
Even so, being unable to see family freely could hardly be called a joyful situation.
That’s why she wanted to send a letter this way, at least.
“As soon as I descend the mountain, I’ll rush straight to the Jegal Family.”
“You don’t need to deliver it personally, senior brother. It would take at least a month just to reach the main residence.”
“My way is the fastest.”
Having reached the Second-rate realm, crossing a single city was hardly a great burden.
A Second-rate master with the appearance of a nine-year-old?
Considering that opponents would let their guard down, I could essentially move about freely without any real danger.
‘This works out perfectly. I need to create a reason to use the Jegal Family.’
And I happen to have just the right task in mind.
While I’m at it, should I get some help from the Waryong Lord… no, from my uncle by marriage?
“It would be nice to receive a reply too, wouldn’t it?”
“That would be wonderful, but it would be troublesome for senior brother to come back to Mount Gok-yeol again, so it’s fine either way.”
“This is for you, so this much inconvenience is nothing. I want to bring back a reply.”
‘Receiving a reply would certainly make it easier to… get help.’
Jegal Seol-ha fell silent for a moment, her gaze fixed on me.
Her face was filled with genuine gratitude.
“Hmph. Now you understand your senior brother’s character, yes? So do well. From now on, serve me properly.”
Jegal Seol-ha’s expression immediately hardened.
“…We’re the same age. And you’re calling me by name like that?”
“By name? You’re calling your senior brother by name?”
“Why not? Senior brother just called me by name too, saying it so casually.”
…Children really do catch everything you say.
“Am I the same as the Jegal Family’s precious jewel?”
“In the sense that we’re senior and junior siblings, aren’t we the same?”
“…”
For a moment, Yang Hwi felt a sense of apology toward those around him who had suffered from him, especially toward Gu Ak.
I’m beginning to understand just how irritating a clever, articulate child can be.
Well, if words don’t work, I can always coax them into compliance anyway.
“Seolha. Words are mirrors. Since you’re beautiful, shouldn’t your words be beautiful too?”
“…That’s persuasive.”
“Right?”
Jegal Seol-ha fell into contemplation for a moment.
Yang Hwi’s manner of speech—honestly, mimicking it was entertaining.
He was someone I admired but felt too embarrassed to openly acknowledge, someone whose every gesture and word I found myself observing closely.
I watched his every action and utterance with keen attention.
‘But Elder Brother’s point also has merit.’
I wanted to imitate him, yet it made sense not to.
‘Then I’ll do it this way.’
Having reached her conclusion, Jegal Seol-ha’s lips curved upward slightly.
“Yes. I’ll take your advice to heart, Elder Brother.”
Yang Hwi, unaware of what conclusion Jegal Seol-ha had reached, felt satisfied hearing such a docile response.
“Good. Always remember it. It will become your flesh and blood.”
A child is like blank canvas.
Yang Hwi did not know that one must weigh every word spoken before a child with utmost care.

* * *
Not quite two months after entering the mountain.
Standing before Eum Hu, Yang Hwi bowed respectfully.
“Master. I wish to return to the Main Residence now.”
Eum Hu, who would have preferred to keep him at her side for further instruction, nodded readily.
The progress Yang Hwi had achieved during this time far exceeded even her exacting standards.
“Very well.”
“Thank you for your permission. Ah, but I plan to visit again in about a month.”
He mentioned what Jegal Seol-ha had requested, then posed a question.
“If there’s anything you need or desire, I’ll bring it when I return.”
“Hmm. So my disciple Sohyeop volunteers as an errand boy—how dutiful.”
After listing various necessary items, Eum Hu smiled brightly.
“Then off you go. You needn’t see me out, yes?”
I would have preferred if she asked me to escort her to the mountain’s base, but making such a request might be presumptuous.
“Of course, Master.”
I descended the mountain northward rather than toward Baek Manor.
I needed to head to the Jegal Family to deliver the letter.
‘I should practice Qitian Step on the way.’
Qitian Step—a lightness technique and footwork method.
My steps, which had been light and graceful, gradually accelerated.
Thus, approximately two weeks passed.
I arrived at the foothills of Yungjoong Mountain in Hubei, where the Jegal Family Estate was situated.
“Impressive. Truly magnificent.”
Though several hundred zhang still remained before reaching the Jegal Family Manor proper, I was already overwhelmed by its sheer scale.
By size alone, it seemed three or four times larger than the Baek Manor.
Even the Main Residence back home was the grandest in Ak-an County.
Though to be fair, the Main Residence couldn’t expand further even during its heyday as one of the Five Great Families, since villages had sprouted up around it.
‘They even have gatekeepers. I should arrange for armed guards to station at the main gate of the Baek Manor soon.’
With such thoughts, I spoke to the guard.
“Ah? A young master bringing a letter from the young lady?”
After the gatekeeper sent word inside, Jegal Seon came rushing out moments later as if flying.
“Yang Hwi! Is it true you’ve brought a letter from Seolha!”
“It’s been a while, Uncle. My respects.”
I was performing a proper fist salute when my entire body was suddenly lifted into the air.
“Come inside at once!”
Jegal Seon deployed his lightness technique with such speed that the wind whipped across his face.
‘Interesting. So the Family Head can use lightness technique within the family grounds and traverse rooftops freely.’
The estate was so vast that without such technique, it would take quite some time to traverse.
The Family Head’s quarters would naturally be at the center of the inner courtyard, making it even more distant.
The manor visible below seemed to be boasting of wealth and glory itself.
Stone sculptures positioned throughout. Ornately decorated halls.
And.
‘There are truly many guards stationed here.’
My exceptionally keen sense detected the presence of armed guards concealed throughout the grounds.
‘Each one possesses considerable skill.’
Normally I would have pinpointed their exact locations, but not this time.
Their qi signatures were so faint they were barely perceptible.
They were all martial masters of high cultivation who had mastered advanced concealment techniques.
Indeed, one needed at least this level to claim the title of a prestigious family.
A dragon’s den and tiger’s lair—this place was exactly that.
‘Someday the Baek Family will reach this level too. But we still have a long way to go.’
Soon we arrived at the Family Head’s office.
Jegal Seon didn’t even summon an attendant to bring tea; he thrust his head forward eagerly.
“Yang Hwi, the letter! Quickly!”
“Here it is.”
Jegal Seon’s eyes darted rapidly as he read through the letter.
“Ah, she seems to be doing well. Truly wonderful. Truly wonderful indeed.”
With reddened eyes, Jegal Seon looked at me.
“Thank you so much for bringing the letter all this way. I’ve been remiss in my hospitality. Shall I have some tea prepared?”
“That’s not necessary. Rather, wouldn’t you write a reply? I’ll deliver it back to Seolha.”
Only I could access Eum Hu’s residence on Gok Yeol Mountain.
Jegal Seon expressed his gratitude once more.
“Nephew, your thoughtfulness truly moves this uncle. I must show the letter to my wife before composing a reply. Wait a moment.”
Jegal Seon rose to his feet, then paused briefly.
“Actually, let me introduce you to my family while we’re at it.”
I was led by Jegal Seon to the inner quarters.
“Here is my wife. Pay your respects.”
Thus I unexpectedly made the acquaintance of the Soga Family Mistress of the Jegal Family.
“And this is my son, Hwa-un. He’s five years your senior, Yang Hwi.”
That wasn’t all—I even met the Soga Family Head’s son, the boy who would one day become the master of the Jegal Family.
“Baek Yang-hwi Sohyeop.”
Jegal Hwa-un, Jegal Seon’s son and Jegal Seol-ha’s older brother, grasped both of my hands firmly.
“I’ve heard much about you. How you helped our Seol-ha take a step forward. I’m truly grateful. Truly. Truly….”
Jegal Hwa-un’s words trailed off.
The deep affection between siblings was palpable.
“Not at all. Even without my help, Seol-ha would have broken through her limitations on her own and become Master’s disciple. She possesses both the talent and the will for it.”
While Jegal Seon and his wife composed the letter, I conversed with Jegal Hwa-un.
“To reach the second-rate level at such an age—truly remarkable! Even with fortuitous encounters, it’s impossible without talent to support it. No, even accounting for fortune, it should be impossible!”
“I was simply fortunate.”
“Fortune, you say? How modest of you. I shall learn much from observing Baek Sohyeop.”
Yet Jegal Hwa-un himself was only fourteen years old and already a second-rate master.
Still, at merely fourteen, his manner of speech was quite formal—or perhaps rigid would be more apt.
A tedious young gentleman… he had the air of a scholar.
‘In a way, his temperament suits the Jegal Family perfectly. Then again, it’s Uncle who bears the Jegal name and is called Waryong Unmatched who’s the unusual one.’
Well, there was one thing father and son had in common.
They were both utterly besotted with their daughter and younger sister, respectively.
“When our Seol-ha was young, she was so adorable!”
More than half the conversation had been about Jegal Seol-ha, making this point abundantly clear.
“Yang Hwi. I’ve finished composing the letters.”
When he called me, I turned to see Jegal Seon holding the sealed letter with his personal stamp affixed.
“Deliver it well and request a reply.”
After speaking, Jegal Seon placed the letter in his robe.
“Uncle? If you wish to send the letter, shouldn’t you give it to me?”
“Of course, but I’ll hand it over a bit later.”
“Later, you say?”
“Ah, I intend to go with you.”
“…?”
‘Could he be hoping to receive another reply?’
That seemed to be the case. Rather than ask the Jegal Family to visit again, he intended to go near Gokryeol Mountain himself.
‘This works out well. It’ll be easier to make my request this way.’
“Uncle, wouldn’t it be somewhat dangerous for the Soga Family Head to travel alone?”
“I do intend to bring along a modest retinue of martial artists for protection.”
“Then, while you’re at it, could you perhaps lend us some assistance?”
I explained to Jegal Seon about the attack on Gyojin-bang that had occurred not long ago.
At that, Jegal Seon’s face twisted with fury.
“How dare those black-path scoundrels assault Baek Manor? And without even a pretext? It seems they’re eager to meet the ferryman of the underworld.”
Baek Manor, led by Baek Moo-ryang, who had sworn brotherhood with Jegal Seon.
To attempt to annihilate such a manor through ambush was tantamount to disrespecting Jegal Seon himself.
“Given the sudden nature of their violence, there’s certainly a backer behind them. I’ve left the investigation in capable hands, and by the time we arrive at the main residence, we should have results.”
“We’ll need to sweep them all away to save face. I should increase the escort.”
Jegal Seon’s “modest” force was, by Baek Manor’s standards, enough to rival the entire military might of the family.
‘Ten masters at the pinnacle realm? Whoever the backer is, annihilation is inevitable.’
A master at the pinnacle realm was someone you’d be fortunate to find even one of in an entire province.
But ten? To command such a force, one would need to be a faction controlling an entire state.
‘I’m looking forward to arriving at the main residence.’
Whoever had positioned themselves as Gyojin-bang’s backer—
They were all dead.
I was smirking at such thoughts when it happened.
‘Hm?!’
My keen sense of qi detected an aura.
And it was an extraordinarily massive one at that.
“Father, why are you here…?”
Seeing Jegal Seon’s bewildered expression, I understood.
Then came a voice, resonating with authority.
“The Waryong Lord has arrived!”
The door opened, and the figure that emerged was an old man wearing a Waryong Crown.
A scholar’s robe with a white base and a dragon embroidered in blue thread.
Though aged, his bearing radiated not frailty but the ripeness of seasoned wisdom.
An aura that enveloped his entire being—the distinctive presence of one who speaks of the realm.
“Hehehehe, so you’re Yang Hwi of the Baek Family.”
The old man opened his mouth to speak.
Simultaneously, several strands of qi began to coil around my entire body like serpents.

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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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