Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 8

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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 008
Inside Baek Moo-ryang’s study at the Manor.
Baek Moo-ryang asked once more.
“I heard you seduced So and Yeon, employed cunning schemes, took Gu Ak as your escort, and went out. But what in the world is this about? Tell me what happened afterward.”
Yang Hwi answered Baek Moo-ryang’s question briefly and concisely.
“I raided the secret vault of Cheongsabang with Brother Gu.”
That alone was enough to shock Baek Moo-ryang.
“Why would you do something so reckless!”
“It wasn’t dangerous.”
Yang Hwi presented the same explanation he had given to Gu Ak, but repackaged it to sound more pleasant and less perilous for Baek Moo-ryang’s ears.
“How could you… Hwi, you’re truly remarkable for a child.”
Baek Moo-ryang’s expression became difficult to describe.
“Still, no matter what…”
‘Tsk. Did I overreach? Father seems to find this strange.’
If my father harbored suspicion or doubt, it would feel rather disappointing.
So Yang Hwi quickly offered an explanation.
“Though my birth parents abandoned me, it seems they passed down remarkable talent to me.”
“Hmm, hmm. Ah, I see…”
Baek Moo-ryang seemed flustered, not expecting Yang Hwi to say such a thing.
Thanks to this, the sense of incongruity forming in Baek Moo-ryang’s mind vanished without a trace.
“Then, does this wealth belong to you?”
“Yes. More precisely, it belongs to the Baek Family.”
Yang Hwi pushed the pile of gold toward Baek Moo-ryang.
“What do you mean?”
“You and the Baek Family took me in, an orphan with nowhere to turn. I set out to repay that kindness, and the wealth I obtained should rightfully be used for the Baek Family.”
Baek Moo-ryang’s expression became resolute.
“The Baek Family contributed nothing to obtaining this wealth. It is unquestionably yours.”
“Since it is mine, please allow me to use it for the Baek Family as I wish.”
“Hmm…”
In truth, Baek Moo-ryang had intended to reprimand Yang Hwi for involving himself with the Heuk-do-pa.
But hearing that he had acted not out of greed for money, but for the family’s sake and to repay kindness, he could not bring himself to scold him.
“Even so, I cannot accept all of this wealth.”
Baek Moo-ryang divided the pile of gold exactly in half.
Even so, one portion exceeded two thousand silver taels—a considerable sum.
“I accept your intention. However, half of this is pocket money that I, as your father, give to my son.”
Yang Hwi nodded without declining.
“I will use it gratefully.”
‘I knew Father would respond this way. He has the character to never covet others’ wealth.’
Even if the family’s circumstances were difficult, he would never resort to improper means to obtain wealth.
Yang Hwi had used gratitude as a pretext precisely to make Baek Moo-ryang accept the wealth.
“You’re not flustered? That’s an enormous sum for a child to handle.”
“Since Father has commanded it, I shall obey as your son and member of this household.”
To be precise, I had already grasped his intentions.
‘He’s giving me money and observing how I use it to gauge my character. Even if he’s accepted me as his son, to him I’m merely a child he met yesterday.’
“Father. What of So? If you haven’t disciplined him yet, since he followed me, I would hope you haven’t punished him too severely.”
“You’re already looking after your younger brother after only a day as siblings? That’s right—brothers should have affection for one another. So… I didn’t punish him.”
Baek Moo-ryang wore a satisfied expression.
“He told me this: following you around and observing various places, he gained the enlightenment that ‘people without benevolence are inhumane, people without righteousness are unjust.’ I thought him merely a child, but So has grown considerably.”
‘No, Father. So is still young.’
I decided to bury the truth so that Father’s joy could continue.
Well, as we spend more time together, So will mature quickly, unlike in my previous life.
Of this much I was certain. Not merely hoping for it—I intended to make it happen.
“That concludes my business. Go wash and rest. You’ve worked hard today.”
“And you, Father?”
“I’ll attend to some matters before retiring. And… now that we have such wealth, I should decide how to use it wisely.”
Baek Moo-ryang gazed at the pile of silver, grinning widely.
He seemed delighted at the prospect of finally showing generosity to the household servants who had been struggling.
I was about to warn him to be careful so Cheongsabang wouldn’t catch the scent of this wealth, but I held my tongue.
Though small in scale, he was still the patriarch of a family. He couldn’t possibly be unaware of such matters.
“Then I shall take my leave. Have a good night, Father.”
Leaving the study and returning to my quarters, I counted the wealth I had obtained.
‘In silver taels, that’s exactly two thousand fifty-five taels.’
An enormous sum—enough to employ ten servants for more than half a year.
Certainly too great a fortune to entrust to a mere child like me.
In other words, it would be difficult for a child to find a proper use for such wealth.
But.
I had already decided how to use this fortune before today even began.
‘I must invest it and multiply it. I cannot be satisfied with this alone.’
My goal remained unchanged: to make the Baek Family the greatest under heaven.
That meant expanding our numbers by at least hundreds of times over, and raising our martial prowess to incomparable heights.
For that, even two thousand taels of gold—not silver—would be woefully insufficient.
“Let me think. Which trading company will prosper most in Jiangxi Province in the future?”
Ideally, I would immediately seek out the Danxu Trading Company of Zhejiang Province, which would become the greatest trading company under heaven, and invest in it. But as an eight-year-old child, I couldn’t travel to another province.
A province in name, yet spanning distances and breadth rivaling entire kingdoms.
No matter how much knowledge from my previous life I possessed, my body couldn’t endure such a journey.
‘For now, I must confine my movements to Jiangxi Province—no, to Wuzhou. Better yet, limit myself to Ak-an County as much as possible.’
The Martial Arts World is vast, and equally dangerous. Moving recklessly with only memories from my past life would likely cost me my life.
Having spent over a decade as a wanderer, I knew this better than anyone.
“Yes, that place would be ideal.”
I recalled one of the trading companies that, ten years from now, would display remarkable commercial talent and rise rapidly.
The Bai Shu Trading Company. True to its name, it had begun by dealing primarily in paper and books, then expanded its business scope to grow in scale. I recalled that by this point in time, it operated as an antiquarian bookshop.
‘The proprietor of the Bai Shu Trading Company… by now, it would be his daughter running it. In any case, rumors had circulated about Chu Yong-wol’s considerable talent in commerce.’
Very well, I had decided on the Bai Shu Trading Company.
Though there was the problem that it was located in Nanchang rather than Wuzhou where the Baek Manor stood, that was merely a matter of arranging for her to come to us instead.

* * *
A month later, at dawn.
Baek Moo-ryang, as always, called the children early in the morning and taught them martial arts.
“Yang Hwi, though you grasped the hidden secrets concealed within the Gaecheon Sword Technique in a single moment, your body is merely that of an eight-year-old child. Therefore, you must train diligently.”
I agreed with this assessment.
Martial arts, after all, ultimately came down to wielding weapons and fists in combat against adversaries.
Naturally, the stronger one’s body, the more advantageous.
“Cultivate your inner energy diligently as well. The Dual Harmony Six Union Technique is a simultaneous cultivation method possessing the mysteries of both inner and outer martial arts, allowing you to build qi and temper your body at once.”
“Understood, Father.”
Bowing my head respectfully, I continued practicing the Dual Harmony Six Union Technique until Father departed.
‘The qi accumulation is slow, but the body-tempering effects are certainly excellent.’
Though called a third-rate martial technique, it was fundamentally a foundational method.
Just as the Namgung Family trained in the Flying Swallow Sword before mastering the Spear-Sword technique, and the Wudang School built their foundation with the Six Union Sword before cultivating themselves through the Tai Chi Sword.
In that sense, the Dual Harmony Six Union Technique was an incomparably excellent study for establishing fundamentals.
A remnant of what was once a prestigious family, perhaps?
“I shall take my leave now. After practicing forms for two more hours, see to your meals and cultivate your scholarly refinement.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Yes!”
“Understood.”
Baek Moo-ryang, watching the three siblings respond in unison with satisfaction, departed from the training grounds.
From that point on, I taught Baek Heon-so and Baek Yeon-yeon whenever I had breaks in my own training.
“Heon-so, when you execute the first form, extend your foot an additional inch further.”
“But I learned it this way, older brother.”
“That was before your body had grown. As your frame has enlarged, your movements must adapt accordingly.”
The servants passing by said nothing upon witnessing this.
Over the past month, I had already impressed all the household servants with my talent.
“Older brother, what about me?”
“Yeon-yeon, it seems you need to build more strength. Why don’t you practice the Dual Harmony Six Union Technique with me?”
“Yes!”
Watching Baek Yeon-yeon bounce about as she mimicked the Dual Harmony Six Union Technique, I found myself smiling naturally.
“My, you’re doing wonderfully. If you keep this up, Yeon-yeon, you could become the finest female martial artist in the future.”
“Really? Hiya, hiya!”
“Well done, well done!”
As I showered her with praise as though entranced, I felt a gaze and turned my head.
Baek Heon-so was watching me with a subtle expression.
“Ahem, ahem. That’s enough practice for now. Let’s have lunch and then study.”
The Baek Family Estate forgoes breakfast, instead eating lunch early and a more generous dinner.
A family tradition, or so it was called—though in truth, it was an unspoken rule born from financial constraints.
At the dining table sat Jeong In-hwa, the lady of the household.
“So, Yeon—did you both practice well this morning?”
“Yes, Mother! Today I performed the Gaecheon Sword over a hundred times from beginning to end!”
“Me too! I practiced the Iwhayuk-hapgong diligently. Hwi taught me!”
Jeong In-hwa, who had been smiling warmly, let out a shallow cough.
“Cough, cough.”
I watched my mother intently.
Jeong In-hwa had been frail since childhood, rarely able to venture outside.
Moreover, bearing two children had left her with a chronic ailment, and now she spent more than half of each day confined to her bed.
Yet she remained a devoted mother, insisting on sharing at least one meal daily with her children.
‘Such a compassionate woman, showing affection even to me, who is not her biological child.’
I cannot bear to witness her succumbing to illness just five years from now.
‘I must earn greater wealth as soon as possible. If only to continue seeing Mother’s smile.’
With such thoughts, I smiled and spoke to Jeong In-hwa.
“Mother, are you feeling quite unwell?”
“Today is somewhat better, dear. Do not worry.”
“So and Yeon mentioned you spend most of your days in your room. If you ever feel bored, please call for me anytime. I would be happy to keep you company.”
Jeong In-hwa smiled gently.
“Hwi, you are a tender-hearted child. Your mother is well enough—do look after your younger siblings more.”
“I have always been affectionate by nature, Mother. It would be difficult to care for them any more than I already do. Isn’t that right, you two?”
“Mm-hmm!”
“Yes, Brother.”
After gazing fondly at my siblings for a moment, I turned back to Jeong In-hwa.
“Mother, what do you usually occupy yourself with in your room?”
“I read books. Poetry and classical texts have been my passion since childhood.”
I already knew this. But I also knew something deeper—that her true passion lay not in classical texts, but in reading something else entirely.
“Then, Mother, would you perhaps have interest in tales of wandering legends and miscellaneous writings?”
Tales of wandering legends and miscellaneous writings—a term for the gossip of enthusiasts and heroic tales of the Martial Arts World.
Commonly called simple stories, or fiction.
“Tales of wandering legends?”
Jeong In-hwa showed interest. Of course she did.
Her true hobby was seeking out such tales to read, finding vicarious satisfaction in them, unable as she was to venture beyond these walls.
“Yes, Mother. Having wandered among storytellers since childhood, I have heard many entertaining tales.”
“You mean to play the role of a storyteller?”
A storyteller—one who recounts entertaining tales in the marketplace, inns, or taverns where crowds gather, receiving payment in return.
“If it interests you, I thought to write down what I remember and present it to you. Might I obtain some blank pages for a manuscript?”
“My, of course. I shall have a blank volume placed in your room.”
“Since I’m doing this anyway, could I ask for two volumes instead of one?”
“That’s not difficult. I shall do so.”
After enjoying this pleasant meal with my family, I promptly returned to my room.
On the chair beside my bed lay two blank books and writing materials.
‘Hmm. Which story should I write first?’
During my wandering years, there were times when I couldn’t train—such as when traveling—yet had plenty of time on my hands.
In those moments, I would seek out miscellaneous tale collections and read them, committing every detail of the entertaining stories to memory without missing a single word.
‘Yes, I’ve decided.’
I inscribed the titles “Eastern Lands” and “Eternal Love” on each of the two blank volumes, then filled their pages with swift, flowing brushstrokes.
Shortly after, I took the completed “Eternal Love” and visited Jeong In-hwa’s chambers.
“Mother, it is I, Hwi. I have finished the manuscript and have come to present it to you.”
“I am truly grateful.”
Jeong In-hwa received “Eternal Love” and began reading slowly.
Her expression, which had shown only mild interest at first, gradually transformed.
“This is…”
“How is it?”
“It’s refreshing and entertaining. Where did you hear such a tale?”
I smiled.
‘It couldn’t be otherwise. This is a romantic novel that would become wildly popular in the future.’
For reference, my mind contained over a hundred stories of this caliber.
“I pieced together stories I heard here and there along the way, then modified them to be more entertaining as I saw fit.”
“Is that truly so?”
“It is.”
“I heard from your father that you possessed exceptional martial talent, but your literary skill is equally remarkable.”
“Eternal Love” possessed a depth that was utterly unbelievable for an eight-year-old to have written.
It carried a maturity that transcended mere entertainment—a sophistication that could only emerge from lived experience and profound understanding, something impossible to conceive through imagination alone.
‘If such depth truly came from pure imagination alone…’
A prodigy. Surely a literary genius blessed by heaven itself, one who might become a celebrated master of letters in the future.
Jeong In-hwa gazed at me with genuine admiration.
Seeing her expression, I gained confidence that I could make a certain request of her.
“Therefore, Mother, would it be possible to send a letter to Nanchang?”
Now that I had seed capital, it was time to begin earning money in earnest.

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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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