Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 7

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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 007
Cheongsa-bang was a faction of Black Island that had recently escalated territorial disputes with Hong Gyo-bang to the point where blade-drawing skirmishes were commonplace—their relationship was decidedly hostile.
The fact that such a Cheongsa-bang had smuggled in and hidden a massive quantity of poison pellets posed a grave threat to Hong Gyo-bang.
“Little brother. Don’t take lightly the words you just spoke. Can you stake your life on it?”
Gu Ak no longer showed excitement. Instead, he asked with an icy composure and grave demeanor.
And Yang Hwi, in stark contrast, nodded with a casual attitude.
“Are you asking me to stake my life again?”
“…You’ve done it before. You certainly do it easily.”
“That’s because I’m certain.”
The reason Yang Hwi knew of Cheongsa-bang’s secret cache was simple.
In my previous life, when the poison pellets detonated, the common folk in the surrounding areas were killed en masse.
Since such chaos erupted the very day after I was registered as an adopted son, there was no way I could have remained ignorant of it even amid the turmoil.
‘In fact, the discovery of Cheongsa-bang’s spy within Hong Gyo-bang was itself a consequence of that accident.’
The accident occurred at the location where secret funds and weapons of last resort were concealed.
Naturally, Cheongsa-bang was greatly shaken, and the anxious spy exposed their identity as a result.
Afterward, a purge occurred within Hong Gyo-bang, and ultimately Cheongsa-bang seized hegemony over the region—but that’s a matter of no consequence for now.
“At the outermost edge of Ak-an County, there’s an abandoned house with a plaque reading ‘Sim Ga-jang,’ where two or three beggars reside. In truth, they’re disguised operatives of Cheongsa-bang.”
“What’s your evidence that place is Cheongsa-bang’s secret cache?”
Yang Hwi quickly assembled the logic in my mind to convince Gu Ak.
“I entered seeking to spend the night with the beggar gang. I was beaten and driven out. Harboring resentment, I observed those bastards to exact revenge….”
“And?”
“What kind of beggar bathes once every three days?”
“Is that your only evidence?”
“Of course not. Sensing something amiss, I kept watch on those beggar whelps. And then….”
“Then?”
“Later, I spotted one of them in the marketplace wearing Cheongsa-bang’s martial robes.”
Gu Ak’s expression turned incredulous.
“So your memory is that sharp?”
“Things I observe carefully never fade from my mind—it’s a torment, really. The curse of a supreme prodigy, one might say.”
“I can’t simply take your word for it.”
Gu Ak purchased a book from a nearby antiquarian shop and tossed it to Yang Hwi.
“I’ll give you one hour. Memorize at least ten pages. Then I’ll believe you.”
“One hour? That’s quite generous.”
Yang Hwi read more than half the book in half an hour, then began reciting it flawlessly.
Remarkably, he didn’t miss a single character.
“…It’s true.”
“As a righteous disciple of the White Path school, I cannot allow falsehood to pass my lips!”
“How did you know about the poison pellets?”
Yang Hwi immediately lied.
“I noticed a peculiar scent and committed it to memory. Later, when I sought alms from a passing martial artist of a clan, I caught a similar smell.”
Sachen Tang-ga. One of the Five Great Families, renowned for their mastery of poison and concealment techniques.
“The scent resembles that of a Sachen Tang-ga martial artist… I cannot confirm if it’s a poison pellet, but there’s certainly poison present. And quite a substantial amount, given how potently the odor lingers.”
Gu Ak concluded that these circumstances warranted investigation.
“Younger brother.”
“Yes, Brother Gu.”
“I’ll handle eight parts, and you’ll take two.”
“You have no intention of being fair, do you?”
“If you dislike it, go alone then.”
Gu Ak wore an expression of absolute confidence.
He believed it excessive to entrust this young boy with more than eighty percent of their hidden secrets.
But.
Yang Hwi responded immediately, as if he had anticipated this.
“Is this the only thing I know?”
“….”
By any reasonable standard, it seemed impossible he possessed additional knowledge.
He had already divulged two pieces of information unknown to others—there couldn’t possibly be more.
Yet… Yang Hwi’s unwavering confidence struck Gu Ak as peculiarly noteworthy.
‘Setting aside his loose tongue, his exceptional intellect is undeniable. His lack of aversion to those of Black Island, and the possibility of drawing him in and exploiting him later—it’s not without merit.’
Having reached this conclusion, Gu Ak decided to yield a step back.
“Precisely half each. I’ll show magnanimity toward my younger brother.”
“Indeed. I too hold Brother Gu in special regard, so I shall concede as befits a younger brother.”
…This impudent brat. He never backs down once.
“Wait here then.”
“Brother Gu, please take me with you.”
“Impossible. I’ll be using lightness technique—if I bring you, I’d have to carry you.”
For those of Black Island, who valued face even more than those of the righteous path in certain respects, such a thing could never occur.
“You’re not unfamiliar with Sim Ga-jang’s terrain and the behavioral patterns of those beggars in disguise. A swift, covert strike to subdue two or three at once is the only way to prevent chaos.”
“….”
Yang Hwi transformed the impossible into the possible.

* * *
Having commandeered Gu Ak as a swift and convenient means of transportation, I arrived at Sim Ga-jang in comfort and ease.
Inside Sim Ga-jang, just as I had said, three beggars were staying there.
I leaned close to Gu Ak’s ear and whispered.
“Look at them. It’s nearly evening—prime begging hours—yet they’re not out soliciting alms.”
“Indeed suspicious. We should wait until nightfall, then launch our ambush.”
I objected as if the idea were preposterous.
“That won’t do. If I return late, Father might punish me.”
Gu Ak could only wear an expression of utter bewilderment once more.
What does this brat think an ambush is…?
“I have a method. Trust me with this.”
Speaking with confidence, I removed my clothes and donned the tattered rags I had brought along.
‘I anticipated this—when I gave alms to a beggar earlier, I made sure to receive clothes that fit my frame in return.’
Once I smeared dirt across my face, I was instantly transformed into a beggar child.
“When I give the signal, simply burst in and subdue them.”
With those words, I entered a nearby dwelling.
“Excuse me, sir. Could you spare some food?”
“I’m afraid we have no rice left today. My apologies.”
“It’s no trouble. I’m not asking for charity—I’ll pay for it.”
I handed over a few coins and received a wide wooden bowl with food, which I prepared in a manner befitting a beggar’s meal.
In other words, I sprinkled some dirt on it and stirred it all together haphazardly.
With preparations complete, I charged straight toward Sim Ga-jang.
“Ahem! Customers, come out!”
Watching from behind, Gu Ak instinctively covered his eyes.
He said he’d conduct a luring operation, but he’s doing that?
‘His audacity wasn’t merely bold—he’s already had his liver offered to the Dragon King of the East Sea.’
“Customers, come out! Customers, come out!”
Unaware of Gu Ak’s thoughts, I continued shouting loudly to draw the beggars’ attention.
“What beggar is…?”
“Who are you?”
“Stop bothering us and get lost.”
Their faces were haggard, yet they seemed uneasy and cautious, as if I had touched a nerve.
I grinned wickedly and called out once more.
“What do you mean, what beggar! I heard there were strange beggars who don’t even go out to beg, so I personally came to solicit alms and brought food. Let us share a meal together!”
The three beggars frowned in unison at the sight of the food in the bowl I offered.
“I’m not hungry. Get lost.”
“Not hungry? You refuse food because you’re not hungry? Are you truly beggars? Any real beggar would fill their belly first when food is available.”
As I displayed an expression full of suspicion, the faces of the three beggars hardened like stone.
“Didn’t you hear me tell you to get lost!”
One of the beggars closed the distance, seemingly intent on driving me away by force.
My keen senses pierced through to gauge the opponent’s martial prowess.
‘Second-rate level. There’s no way I can win against that right now….’
Yet despite this assessment, I brimmed with confidence.
Because my opponent was so careless that he didn’t even regard me as a threat.
There’s a saying in the Martial Arts World: beware of women, the elderly, and children.
The hidden meaning of such sayings was simple—never let your guard down.
“Still, I should grab a bite—oof!”
I dashed forward cheerfully, pretended to trip over a stone, and scattered the food everywhere.
He reflexively moved to dodge, and the moment the food obscured his vision.
I took a wide stride with my leg. Using the momentum from my stumble, I stamped the ground with full force.
Boom!
I had no inner energy. But I compensated for my lack of experience by treading the pressure point precisely.
The flow of power transmitted through my foot amplified as it passed through my waist, and transferred to my hand without a single ounce of loss.
Crack!
A child’s palm—one who couldn’t even be called third-rate—struck upward against the jaw of a second-rate master.
“Ugh….”
‘In the Martial Arts World, even a careless master can be killed by an ordinary person with a blade, you bastard.’
The opponent lost consciousness and collapsed, and it was just as the other two beggars were rising in alarm.
Gu Ak, who had infiltrated wearing a mask obtained from who knows where, knocked both beggars unconscious simultaneously.
‘Oh, truly a first-rate master. This much is expected against a second-rate opponent.’
As I observed Gu Ak and thought he was worth keeping around, he spoke.
“Little brother. You’ve got some skill.”
“Where did you get that mask?”
“Any member of Black Island carries a mask or two in their possession. Anyway, I heard one of them would fall, but this is what you meant.”
Pure admiration gleamed in Gu Ak’s eyes as he spoke.
“Your movements are efficient. Where did you learn martial arts?”
“A young boy surviving among beggar gangs needs a hidden technique or two. I picked things up here and there by watching from the corners of my eyes.”
“…Remarkable talent indeed. This must be why the Baek Family Head took you as an adopted son.”
“It’s the Family Head, not the Baek Family Head. Anyway, let’s search the interior.”
“Right. We should hurry. There’s bound to be a lookout watching this place from a distance besides these fools.”
Finding the hidden cache within Sim Ga-jang didn’t take very long.
Because Gu Ak, true to his Black Island nature, smashed everything to pieces and searched thoroughly.
As a result, in less than an hour, we discovered piles of gold, various throwing weapons, and boxes containing poison pellets.
“This is… an enormous amount.”
Converting the simple value to silver, it amounted to a staggering ten thousand taels. Gu Ak’s expression hardened.
“There’s no way Cheongsabang’s earnings would allow them to store such a large sum in a branch location rather than the main headquarters.”
I harbored the same question. However, even searching through my past life’s memories couldn’t resolve this part.
“Well, what does it matter. The important thing is that this wealth has fallen into our hands.”
“We can’t carry all of it. What a shame.”
“Since I’ll be carrying you as well, I can only take the gold and poison pellets.”
“With this much wealth at hand, leaving a younger brother behind would be a waste, wouldn’t it?”
Gu Ak chuckled, his gaze fixed on me.
“True enough. The supervisor only saw a child entering the Manor. And though I launched an ambush, I wore a mask.”
I also let out a soft laugh, meeting Gu Ak’s eyes directly.
“What will you do? Will you take all the spoils for yourself and leave me behind?”
After a moment’s hesitation, Gu Ak shook his head.
“I’ll just take the gold coins and the poison pellets.”
He meant to carry me back on his shoulders.
‘So he’s not completely corrupted after all.’
I grinned, stuffed the pile of gold coins into my robes, picked up the box of poison pellets, and climbed onto Gu Ak’s back.
That’s how we returned near the Baek Family Estate.
“We agreed to split the spoils evenly, but I think it’s only right that you keep all the poison pellets, older brother.”
“I had no intention of handing such dangerous items to a younger brother anyway.”
“Then let’s divide it this way—the gold coins and poison pellets.”
“If we count the poison pellets as treasure, they’re worth less than half.”
“Come now, be generous. Poison pellets are notoriously difficult to obtain in the first place.”
Gu Ak suddenly felt the urge to strike that irritating mouth—it spouted words that were both unreasonable and impossible to refute.
“Fine. Let’s do it that way.”
Gu Ak answered with the tone of someone too tired for further argument, grabbed the box of poison pellets, and leaped away.
‘He’s leaving without even saying goodbye?’
I’d work on his manners slowly.
With my robes stuffed full of gold coins, I boldly pushed open the gates of the Baek Family Estate.
Baek Moo-ryang, who had been pacing the courtyard, suddenly turned his head toward the gate.
“Father! I’ve returned… wai…”
I could tell from his expression alone. My father was furious.
“Baek Yang-hwi! What in the world have you been doing until this hour!”
‘This is bad. When Father gets angry, he lectures for at least two hours.’
I tried to use my natural five senses to devise a solution, then realized there was a simpler way.
“Father! I’ve earned money!”
“And you even employed Hyeol Bu Gu-ak as your escort! After pulling such a stunt, what money could possibly… what… money…?”
The moment Baek Moo-ryang saw the pile of gold coins I presented, the anger drained from his face.
The amount of wealth was simply too great to maintain his fury.
“What exactly have you been doing?”
Hearing the question, I broke into a grin.

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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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