Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 72

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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 072
“It has been confirmed that the backing force behind Gyojin-bang was the Heukrang-pyo-guk.”
“…!”
“Hmm….”
“The Heukrang-pyo-guk….”
The atmosphere in the hall grew slightly subdued.
Those four characters—Heukrang-pyo-guk—carried considerable weight.
Heukrang-pyo-guk (黑郞鏢局).
As the name suggests, they are dark path gangsters masquerading as an escort bureau.
‘Well, to call them a gang might be understating their scale. Besides, they do legitimately operate escort services.’
The important point wasn’t that they wore the mask of an escort bureau.
“Brother, is the Heukrang-pyo-guk truly so powerful?”
Baek Moo-ryang answered Jegal Seon, who asked with a puzzled expression.
“The Heukrang-pyo-guk. They serve as a liaison between the dark path factions of Wuzhou, which includes Ak-an County, younger brother.”
Though brief, the explanation was immediately understood by Jegal Seon.
The Heukrang-pyo-guk, maintaining even loose cohesion.
In other words, they wielded considerable influence over Wuzhou’s dark path factions and even served as a sort of central hub.
However.
‘This is exactly why I made that request of Uncle.’
The Heukrang-pyo-guk—a bigger catch than expected.
Yes, if I’m going to use the Jegal Family name, I should land something of this caliber.
‘Now that I think about it, if it’s the Heukrang-pyo-guk….’
I searched through my memories from my past life.
There was definitely some hidden history connected to this place.
And it was related to the Namgung Family.
Yang Hwi’s expression grew slightly darker.
‘I might be able to intercept the benefits the Namgung Family would gain in the future.’
The Heukrang-pyo-guk. The reason those dark path bastards claim to be an escort bureau is simple.
They do conduct escort work, after all.
The problem is that instead of transporting legitimate goods, they traffic people sold into human trafficking.
Moreover, at their headquarters, countless people are imprisoned and worked to exhaustion like slaves.
Among them, one person.
Someone destined to become a treasure of the Namgung Family in the future.
‘Baek Cheol. I’m certain. He should be at the Heukrang-pyo-guk right now.’
According to my memories, Baek Cheol is currently living a slave-like existence at the Heukrang-pyo-guk alongside his father.
‘This works out perfectly. It’s an excellent opportunity to make Baek Cheol a member of the Main Residence.’
An opportunity to make someone who would become a talent of the Namgung Family into a servant of the Main Residence?
I couldn’t pass this up.
Yang Hwi, whose lips curled upward, raised his hand and shouted.
“Father! I propose we annihilate the Heukrang-pyo-guk in one fell swoop!”
“Hmm? If we could, it would benefit both the common people and the Main Residence. But we lack the means to do so, don’t we?”
Unlike the grave Baek Moo-ryang, Yang Hwi’s expression was remarkably light.
Jegal Seon then posed a question with the same expression as Yang Hwi.
“Brother, does the Heukrang-pyo-guk perhaps have a master of the highest realm?”
“Probably. At least one, I’d wager.”
“Then that settles it.”
“Settles it?”
“Ah, come to think of it, you haven’t heard the conversation I had with Yang Hwi yet.”
With a single statement, Jegal Seon left most of the attendees at the council meeting astounded.
“I shall sweep through the Heukrang-pyo-guk together with the escort warriors we’ve brought.”
Foreseeing what Baek Moo-ryang’s reaction would be, Yang Hwi prepared to strike first.
‘We didn’t forge this brotherhood to gain favors. If we cannot overcome this crisis through our own strength, it would only bring harm instead. Surely that’s what you’d say, Father?’
With a father of such bamboo-like integrity, it was obvious.
However, Yang Hwi’s thoughts diverged considerably.
‘Father, this doesn’t cross any lines—please let this one slide gracefully!’
“As expected of the young master of the illustrious Jegal Family! To rise so resolutely against the black-hearted Heukrang-pyo-guk, who engages in unlawful human trafficking and brings suffering to the common folk!”
Jegal Seon responded with sharp intuition.
“Indeed! As one who walks the righteous path, I cannot ignore villains like the Heukrang-pyo-guk! This is certainly not to repay any debt owed to the Baek Manor!”
Watching their perfectly orchestrated performance unfold like a well-crafted opera, Baek Moo-ryang found himself smiling despite himself.
“To refuse gratitude is also improper. This once, both of you.”
‘Excellent. Now we can resolve this swiftly and cleanly.’
With permission granted, let me conduct a proper counterattack this time.

* * *
Ten days after the core council meeting was held at Baek Manor.
In front of the main headquarters of Heukrang-pyo-guk, which bordered Ak-an County where Baek Manor stood, a gathering of martial artists appeared.
Needless to say, they were members of the Jegal Family, led by Jegal Seon.
“Hwi. You insisted on bringing me all the way here. Are you truly prepared to fight?”
Yang Hwi, standing beside Jegal Seon, nodded vigorously.
“Yes, Uncle. My Master commanded that I internalize her teachings through real combat experience. I cannot afford to miss such an opportunity.”
A lie. I simply had to come because there was someone I needed to look after.
As a bonus, I was also thinking of acquiring some of Heukrang-pyo-guk’s wealth and other valuables that caught my eye.
“If your Master commanded it, then there’s nothing to be done. Regardless of how mature your martial prowess is, you’re still just a child. Eum Hu seems to be quite a strict person.”
“She is rather strict.”
In fact, she was very strict.
More precisely, she assigned tasks without hesitation that ordinary people would deem impossible.
Well, considering she threw me into an incomplete Jeongeum-ogwan on our first meeting, that says everything.
“In any case. If your resolve is firm. Let us proceed.”
A terrifying aura began to emanate from Jegal Seon’s entire being.
‘Come to think of it, is this the first time I’m witnessing Unrivaled Dragon Jegal Seon in combat?’
Yang Hwi watched with keen interest as Jegal Seon moved into action.
“Heukrang-pyo-guk Lord! You wretched bastards, show yourselves at once!”
Jegal Seon unleashed a lion’s roar. The manor of Heukrang-pyo-guk erupted into chaos as if a hornet’s nest had been disturbed, and the flag bearers poured out in droves.
“What short-lived fool dares to—”
A metal brush struck the brow of one flag bearer who had begun to roar with fury.
The man collapsed lifeless, and silence descended.
“You wretched bastards of Heukrang, without the permission of this Unrivaled Dragon, not a single one of you shall speak. Should you disobey, I shall end you.”
“U-Unrivaled Dragon…!”
One flag bearer, who had cried out without thinking, died immediately after.
A member of the Jegal Family martial artists, who had approached unnoticed, drove a sword through him.
Watching this unfold, Yang Hwi whistled softly.
‘Exquisite. I thought the Jegal Family was known for brush techniques and fan techniques. But it seems their foundation is actually swordplay?’
The Jegal Family was represented by three signature martial arts.
Brush techniques using metal brushes and fan techniques using fans.
And in addition to those, swordplay.
However, only the brush and fan techniques were renowned.
As they were a form of unconventional weapon technique, their distinctive nature made them widely discussed among martial enthusiasts.
‘Indeed, if the Jegal sword had been mediocre, the names of the Minor Celestial Sword Technique and Major Celestial Sword Technique would never have spread so widely.’
In fact, more than half of the martial artists present were wielding swords.
Jegal Seon himself was a sword master.
“Heukrang-pyo-guk Lord! If you do not reveal yourself at once, I shall execute every last one of your wretched subordinates!”
Soon after, the Heukrang-pyo-guk Lord appeared.
“Unrivaled Dragon Jegal Seon, Great Hero. I, who serve as the Lord of Heukrang-pyo-guk….”
Yang Hwi quickly interjected from the side.
“Yourself? How dare a black-path bastard address himself as such before the young lord of the great Jegal Family! Shameful!”
“I am Cheol Heuk-rang, Lord of the Heukrang-pyo-guk. Might I inquire what brings you to this humble place…?”
Even when the white-path conducts operations to suppress the black-path, once it becomes a matter between sects, justification becomes necessary.
However, Jegal Seon’s position was far too elevated to engage directly with such a wretch, so Yang Hwi stepped forward himself.
“Why else would you come, you bastard? We’ve uncovered every scheme you plotted against our Baek Manor.”
The Heukrang-pyo-guk Lord, a man in his fifties being called a bastard by a child not yet ten, trembled violently.
“Getting old, are you? Did you catch the shakes? Or perhaps you’re the type who grows embarrassed and nervous under people’s gazes?”
“Your tongue is quite sharp, Young Lord. As for schemes… I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
Oh, this black-path scum actually has some patience. Impressive.
“What you don’t understand is your…”
I glanced at Jegal Seon’s expression before finishing.
If my old vagrant habits of speech slipped out and reached Father’s ears, I might face three hours of disciplinary instruction.
“Ahem, anyway. The evidence is quite substantial.”
At Jegal Seon’s signal, two martial artists brought forth the ledgers marked with evidence and the witness.
The witness, incidentally, was a black-path member who had served as a contact broker between the Heukrang-pyo-guk and Gyojin-bang.
“He’s confessed everything, and we’ve traced the flow of funds. Will you still deny it?”
The Heukrang-pyo-guk Lord realized everything had fallen apart.
“I will admit that this pyo-guk has committed unseemly acts against Baek Manor. But how can the Jegal Family oppress this pyo-guk!”
It wasn’t entirely without persuasive logic.
The problem was that I could easily refute it anyway.
‘These bastards’ brains are all about the same level as chickens. That’s why I prepared another justification.’
“From here on, Uncle will speak.”
Jegal Seon nodded and declared loudly.
“I, Jegal Seon, do not act for the sake of avenging Baek Manor. As a righteous knight walking the white-path, I have come solely to eliminate black-path vermin who plague the common people with their wickedness and cruelty.”
The ledgers thrown by the martial artists struck the Heukrang-pyo-guk Lord’s head with dull thuds.
They were all records documenting the illegal enterprises and misdeeds the Heukrang-pyo-guk had committed.
“…”
The Heukrang-pyo-guk Lord picked up one ledger, read its contents, and trembled violently once more.
What followed unfolded with lightning speed.
In other words, ten peak-realm masters rampaged through and razed the Heukrang-pyo-guk’s headquarters to ashes.
‘Wow. When you’re one of the Five Great Families under Heaven, things really are this simple.’
The Heukrang-pyo-guk Lord, who was himself a peak-realm master?
Jegal Seon personally severed his head.
Over a hundred flag-bearers of the Heukrang-pyo-guk?
More than half were slain, and the rest scattered in flight.
Even the plaque hanging at the manor’s main gate was torn down and used for firewood—thus the Heukrang-pyo-guk met its complete annihilation this day.
“Uncle. According to our investigation, there are slaves and wrongfully imprisoned people hidden in the manor’s inner chambers and underground secret chambers.”
“I’m aware. I’ll handle the remaining forces. You go ahead and check first, Yang Hwi. I’ll assign two martial artists to accompany you.”
Yang Hwi, accompanied by two peak-realm masters, searched through the headquarters.
At nine years old, commanding two peak masters gave me quite the sense of being properly escorted.
‘Ah. So this is why people cultivate connections.’
Even as I savored the moment, I didn’t forget my true purpose.
For this instant was both vengeance and righteous action.
“Everyone. The Heukrang-pyo-guk ends today! You are all free now, so please come out!”
Inside the filthy warehouse, children bound in iron chains.
I freed them all.
I also liberated the women trapped in the ornately decorated main hall.
‘Baek Cheol should be somewhere here too.’
According to my past life, Baek Cheol lived as a slave of the Heukrang-pyo-guk for approximately ten years until he was rescued by the Namgung Family five years from now.
So he must certainly be here.
I grabbed one of the women I had freed and asked her.
“Are there no others who are imprisoned or kidnapped?”
“Not here. Ah, those with special talents are all confined in a secret location hidden in the back mountain, not here, benefactor.”
So there was a separate secret location.
I immediately climbed the back mountain.
Shallow yet subtly treacherous terrain, and in its center lay a small village nestled in a basin.
“You two, inform the people that they are now free. I will search to see if anyone has difficulty moving.”
“Understood, Young Master.”
After making suitable excuses, I set out alone to find Baek Cheol.
The first place I headed was the blacksmith’s forge located in the center of the basin.
The two peak masters were shouting about what had happened to the Heukrang-pyo-guk, so commotion could be felt inside.
‘Hmm?’
Then I spotted a person hiding behind the forge door, looking toward me.
An age between boyhood and young adulthood.
A face that looked honest and timid.
I smiled and spoke to him.
“Brother, what is your name, if I may ask?”
“Baek Cheol… that’s my name. Um, Namgung Cheon-yeong. What exactly has happened…?”
Watching the timid Baek Cheol ask his question, I became certain.
‘Found you, Divine Craftsman.’
My lips curved upward in a smile.
‘The Namgung Family’s Divine Sword, Heavenly Blue Sky. In this life, I will make you the treasured blade of the Baek Family.’

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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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