Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 70

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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 070
My gaze fixed upon the old man’s head as he appeared.
The Waryong Crown—a type of Jinxuan cap that scholars typically wore, characterized by vertical ridges running along its form.
Originally woven from silk thread, it was also called the Yun cap.
The reason this object bore the name Waryong Crown, or alternatively Jegal Cap.
Naturally, it stemmed from the influence of Waryong Jegal Gongmyeong, the founding ancestor of the Jegal Family, and because it was no ordinary Jinxuan cap.
‘So that is the Waryong Crown, the family treasure of the Jegal Family.’
The Wudang’s Pine-Pattern Ancient Sword, the Shaolin’s Jade Buddha Staff, and so forth.
Within the Martial Arts World exist mystical weapons imbued with supernatural power.
Among them, the Waryong Crown is a legendary artifact said to lend the wearer the wisdom of Gongmyeong.
Along with the White Feather Immortal, it is a family heirloom passed down through generations of the Jegal Family and serves as the sect leader’s insignia.
‘But that’s not what matters right now.’
A serpentine energy crawling across my entire body.
Fine and secretive, meticulous and persistent.
It was the same with Eum Hu—did people develop the habit of probing at youngsters’ meridians once they aged?
‘Well, he probably assumes I won’t notice.’
I smiled inwardly.
Probing an opponent through qi flow is the easiest method to gauge realm and martial prowess.
But.
Observing something reveals oneself in much the same way.
Through the threads of qi, I could likewise gauge the Jegal Family Head’s realm and martial prowess.
‘Approximately peak first-rate. A mature peak first-rate, I’d say.’
Though his embodied martial techniques were still shallow, he possessed the enlightenment of a peak first-rate master.
His skill in manipulating qi, his dexterity in sensing blood vessels through skin.
I could roughly discern what level the Jegal Family Head had reached.
‘Valuable information obtained.’
In my past life, I had wandered the Martial Arts World, yet my status was merely that of a wanderer.
Meetings with someone of the Jegal Family Head’s standing—one of the Five Great Families—were rare enough to count on one hand.
Peak first-rate. A lofty realm, yet not beyond reach.
Perfect as a distant milestone and goal to aspire toward.
“Hehehehe. Truly a remarkable child. To reach second-rate at such an age.”
He smiled and performed the cupped-fist salute.
‘Seolha didn’t sense it.’
As expected, her realm was lower than Eum Hu’s.
Well, the Jegal Family Head was said to be around sixty this year, so it was only natural.
The Cheonmu-sip-jon—a position that even heaven’s greatest talents required nearly a century of cultivation to reach.
Besides, what made a family head truly formidable was the vast power of their clan.
“Yang Hwi of the Baek Family pays respects to the Jegal Family Head.”
“Family Head? Child, I am merely the head of a household, and I have not come here in my capacity as family head.”
“Then allow me to rephrase. Yang Hwi of the Baek Family pays respects to Uncle Jegal.”
Upon hearing the title “Great-grandfather,” the Jegal Family Head smiled warmly.
“Great-grandfather, indeed. You speak with proper respect, child. It feels as though I’ve gained another grandchild.”
Though his tone and words were warm like a grandfather’s, I remained vigilant.
In my past life, I had never directly conversed with Jegal Pae.
However.
‘During the Saeyo period, Jegal Pae served as the strategist of the Baekdo Alliance.’
Considering the stratagems Jegal Pae had proposed in the future and the strategies he pursued, his nature was.
‘Utterly cold.’
If Jegal Seon possessed an unusually passionate temperament for a member of the Jegal Family,
then his father and the current Family Head, Jegal Pae, was one who deserved the title of cold-blooded.
To use an analogy… he walked the righteous path like an orthodox sect leader, yet not because he pursued righteousness or cooperation, but because it yielded maximum advantage.
‘Well, in a way, it’s perfectly characteristic of the Jegal Family.’
Just look at Jegal Ryang—he executed Ma Suk under the pretext of strict military discipline without hesitation.
A man who preferred painting the grand picture over being swayed by sentiment.
The current Family Head, Jegal Pae, was precisely such a man.
“Yang Hwi of the Baek Family. Child, I’ve heard tales of you from my son.”
“Since my uncle holds me in such regard, I suspect he may have offered excessive praise.”
“I thought the same at first. But seeing you now, it seems it was not exaggeration.”
As I bowed respectfully, Jegal Pae continued.
“First, I must express my gratitude. For enabling our Seolha to become a disciple of Pacheon Eumhu. I am truly grateful.”
I lifted my head slightly to gauge Jegal Pae’s expression.
‘This part seems sincere.’
Indeed, Jegal Seol-ha was a daughter and granddaughter whom anyone would cherish.
I wouldn’t be surprised if she were the apple of his eye.
‘If this continues, I might be able to gain more.’
True to form, Jegal Pae’s next words carried an offer of repayment.
“Since I’ve received a favor, I must repay it in kind. If there is anything you desire from the Main Residence, speak freely, child.”
A reward promised by the Family Head himself—not a branch head—of one of the Five Great Families of the realm.
I was not one to miss such an opportunity.
‘If he offers, I should accept gracefully. But what should I ask for?’
Wealth? No.
I could obtain other things, and my circumstances were not so dire that I needed to request money.
Spirit pills? That was also unnecessary.
I had already obtained twenty spirit elixirs from the Seven-Finger Three-Poison technique, so it was better to fill other gaps.
‘Wait. Do I truly have a choice here?’
Considering Jegal Pae’s nature as I had perceived it in my past life…
Instead of stating a request, I answered with respectful courtesy.
“How could I presume to desire anything when the Family Head bestows upon a junior and the grandson of his cousin? I shall gratefully accept whatever you offer.”
Jegal Pae’s eyebrows rose slightly.
“If that is your answer, then I shall give you nothing. For whatever I give would be inferior to what I do not give.”
Jegal Pae’s expression as he spoke was utterly rigid.
The warmth and gratitude from moments before had vanished entirely.
Which was it, I wondered.
‘Sincerity? Or a test?’
He didn’t ask for details, simply turning serious.
The opportunity to be a disciple of Cheonmu-sip-jon Pa-cheon-eumhu.
There was only one answer.
“I never considered it a favor bestowed, nor do I find it strange to expect no reward for what must naturally be done. I simply follow the will of the Family Head.”
Jegal Pae, who had been studying me intently, lifted one corner of his mouth.
“Child. Your resolve is firm. In all my years, I have never encountered a boy who conducts himself as you do before me.”
‘As expected, Family Head.’
A demeanor that feigned warmth before suddenly shifting completely.
Beneath the emotions displayed outwardly, his gaze remained frozen and unchanging as ice.
I suspected even his grandson Jegal Hwa-un must find him intimidating.
I glanced sideways at Jegal Hwa-un beside me, and my suspicion seemed confirmed.
“I have done nothing wrong and acted in a manner worthy of gratitude—what reason could there be for shame?”
“Hahaha! You speak truly!”
Jegal Pae, who had been laughing heartily, suddenly turned grave.
‘What am I to do with this child.’
Second-rate mastery at merely nine years old.
If he were of direct lineage from a major sect, it would be understandable.
But this boy comes from a mere third-rate martial family.
And he has only been formally studying martial arts for just over a year, from what I hear.
‘One of two things. Either Heaven aids him, or he possesses martial talent bestowed by Heaven itself.’
The rumors spoke of him encountering an opportunity of a thousand ages.
Perhaps it was not one of two, but both.
Moreover, martial talent was not all.
‘He shows no panic, so his resolve is firm. He reveals no mistakes, so his scheming runs deep.’
A child like this must not be allowed to grow unchecked.
To be precise.
Either nurture him to grow even greater, or if he seems destined to become an enemy, crush him underfoot.
Before being the grandfather of a granddaughter who received my favor, I must decide his fate as the Family Head of the Jegal Family.
‘A debt repaid is a debt settled. I must think of what comes after.’
Suppress him. Or, take him in.
Which choice would bring greater benefit to the Waryong Family’s ascension.
The connection with my son Jegal Seon.
The values and family traditions pursued by those of the Baek Manor.
The position of their faction and the distance between us.
Yang Hwi’s status as an adopted son despite being called the eldest, and his conduct.
Considering all things, Jegal Pae reached his conclusion.
‘Cultivate them, then reap the benefits. It seems Seon has reached the same conclusion.’
From the perspective of a great family discussing the realm, it was advantageous to have one friendly force in each province.
Since Jiangxi Province lacked a Baekdo Sect large enough to catch the Jegal Family’s eye, nurturing the Baek Manor was not a poor choice.
‘By offering small favors, I can cultivate great goodwill. A profitable arrangement indeed.’
“Child.”
“Yes. I am listening.”
“I shall open the Hak-u Archives of the Main Residence to you.”
If I treat them with friendship and goodwill, making them regard the Jegal Family as their ally,
it will prove beneficial when the time comes to reap the fruits.
Jeongal Pae was the sort who could afford to be magnanimous in such moments.
“For three shichen. I grant permission to transmit all martial arts you have read and memorized to others during this period. This is a gift from our Waryong Family to the Baek Manor and a token of our brotherhood!”
The moment Yang Hwi heard Jeongal Pae’s declaration, he could not help but lift the corners of his mouth.
“I am grateful for such boundless grace!”
Permission to transmit all the martial arts I’ve memorized?
I’ve struck gold. Truly, a windfall beyond measure.
The foundation of a martial family is martial arts.
In that sense, the Baek Manor’s roots ran deep but had never spread wide.
Palm techniques, internal and external cultivation methods, grappling arts, and more.
Among the countless classifications of martial arts, we possessed only mental cultivation methods and sword techniques.
‘I should memorize roughly twenty techniques and transmit them to the Main Residence.’
The leakage of twenty martial arts techniques—
even Jeongal Pae, the Family Head of the Jegal Family who would never yield to anyone in intellect under heaven, had not anticipated this.

* * *
The Crane Feather Repository.
Not a martial art passed down through the direct bloodline of the Jegal Family, but rather a collection of third and second-rate martial techniques gathered from outside sources over generations by the Jegal Family.
It was primarily opened to family servants who had rendered merit, but it had been quite some time since it revealed its interior to an outsider.
“This is indeed the Crane Feather Repository. Please remember to observe the three-hour time limit, Young Master.”
I entered the repository under the guidance of the guard warrior.
The rich, heavy scent of old books wafted through the air.
“Haaah, hahaha. Excellent, what a wonderful smell.”
There were three things necessary for a martial family to evolve into a great clan.
Wealth, martial experts, and martial techniques.
This was an excellent opportunity to establish a foundation in martial techniques, which had been lacking.
‘Time is short, so I’ll gather only the best.’
Even if they were merely second-rate techniques, that was actually preferable.
What the Main Residence needed wasn’t exceptionally powerful martial arts, but techniques that servants could learn widely and comfortably.
In other words, martial techniques suitable for developing and distributing to create diverse martial strength tiers.
‘Besides, with just a solid foundation, developing them into first-rate techniques isn’t particularly difficult.’
Yang Hwi thought such things without hesitation—thoughts that would shock anyone who heard them.
The reason was simple.
I had experience from my past life creating martial techniques and going through countless trials and errors.
If I combined the enlightenment gained from that experience with the characteristics and nature of newly acquired martial techniques.
I could accomplish martial technique creation far more quickly than others, who would need painstaking effort and long years.
‘For that, the foundation must be solid. Even if the enlightenment contained is shallow, it must be the kind that can stand properly.’
I began scanning through the shelves and reading everything.
More precisely, just the beginning sections.
Just as a promising tree shows its quality from the seedling stage, worthwhile martial techniques reveal themselves after reading just the first few passages.
In one hour, I selected approximately twenty martial technique manuals worth memorizing.
‘Now only one shelf remains.’
It was located in the most remote corner of the repository, and the books stored there were old and filthy beyond measure.
Because of this, I considered skipping it.
But since I was already here, shouldn’t I read through everything?
It was while continuing my book exploration with that thought.
‘Huh?!’
My eyes widened considerably.
“Why is this here?”
I read the title of the manual once more.
There was no doubt.

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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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