Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 80

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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 080
The moment his excited son stepped onto the Dueling Stage, Jeong Wol-mun found himself pressing his palm to his forehead without thinking.
‘To call him the Young Master of Jeongwol Gate…!’
A sole heir obtained in his later years. Perhaps it was the result of indulging him too much, but his own son remained immature and shallow in his learning.
To be caught off guard by such a trivial provocation.
Unaware that Yang Hwi had employed vocal transmission to manipulate him, Jeong Wol-mun could only find his son’s reaction disappointing.
‘If things have come to this, then truly there is no turning back.’
He sent a vocal transmission to his son.
-My son. Now that matters stand thus, you must secure victory.
-Have no fear, Father. I shall humble that young upstart.
A confident reply came back.
If only matters would unfold according to his son’s boastful words.
He did not even dare hope for victory.
Merely a draw. If even that proved impossible, then defeat after a valiant struggle.
‘The reputation of Geom-wae…is no fabrication.’
The Baek Family Estate, whose power had grown dramatically of late and now threatened Jeongwol Gate’s position.
The Baek Family Estate possessed three principal figures in total.
Baek Moo-ryang of the Twin Saber Sect and Gu Ak of the Single Saber Sect.
And Geom-wae, Baek Yang-hwi.
‘The other two are masters of the highest realm, so one accepts it. Yet merely a child of fifteen shares their name.’
To share fame with a master of the supreme stage?
This meant he possessed talents that stood out beyond martial prowess alone—talents whose brilliance could not help but shine.
Whether through scheming, eloquence, or something else entirely.
No, his martial ability itself could not be low.
For this Gangho, this Martial Arts World, does not hold in high regard those without martial power.
‘So my son, even if you lose, please lose with dignity. The honor of Jeongwol Gate rests upon you.’
His son, now twenty-five and still lacking maturity, raised like a delicate flower in a greenhouse.
Yet this did not mean his son’s martial ability was low.
By the standards of his own eyes, who oversaw an entire martial sect, it was sufficient.
So perhaps, there might be hope.
Perhaps.
…Jeong Wol-mun’s hopes shattered immediately after.
“Geom-wae Namgung Cheon-yeong. Assume your stance. Unless you wish this match to end in a single second.”
“Understood. Come then.”
“I meant for you to draw your sword.”
Even hearing those words, Yang Hwi did not draw his sword.
“I cannot draw a blade when instructing a martial artist. It is unnecessary, so please come.”
Veins bulged at Jeong Myeong-gun’s temples.
“Are you saying you will face me, the martial artist and Young Master of Jeongwol Gate, using only bare-handed techniques?”
“You have heard correctly.”
-My blade is too heavy to draw against a nameless nobody like you.
“….”
Jeong Myeong-gun fell silent, his body trembling violently.
“I’ll make you regret this. Absolutely.”
The Moonlit Fist Technique, the signature martial art of Jeongwol Gate, was precisely as its name suggested—a fist method that seemed to tread in the traces of moonlight.
In other words, it was a martial technique imbued with the wondrous mysteries of extraordinary footwork.
With steps as ethereal as moonlight itself, Jeong Myeong-gun surged toward me.
“Ha-ap!”
Jeong Myeong-gun’s fist extended precisely toward my mouth.
I made no move to react until his fist was nearly upon me.
Victory’s joy gleamed in Jeong Myeong-gun’s eyes.
An opponent who couldn’t even react. The alias “Geom-wae” appeared to be nothing but an empty reputation.
‘I knew it would be like this!’
He could already see his future—crushing this arrogant youth and claiming the glory for himself.
It was precisely when Jeong Myeong-gun broke into a radiant smile.
-Expect what you deserve, you brat.
Clack.
Jeong Myeong-gun’s fist was caught in my hand.
The formidable force he had channeled was blocked with laughable ease.
“Wha…?”
Bewilderment spread across Jeong Myeong-gun’s face.
I smirked, my lips curling upward.
“I did let you have the first move, didn’t I?”
Seeing the scorn on my face, Jeong Myeong-gun swung his other arm.
But.
Clack!
Both of Jeong Myeong-gun’s fists were caught in my grip.
It looked as though we were shaking hands with both arms.
-What are you doing? Want to play a children’s game?
“Ugh!”
Jeong Myeong-gun strained to wrench his hands free, but my grip was as unyielding as iron shackles.
‘What kind of strength is this…!’
He drew upon his inner energy and exerted all his force, yet still nothing moved.
This meant my superiority lay in both physical strength and the cultivation of my dantian.
For Jeong Myeong-gun, this result was utterly incomprehensible.
‘How can a mere fifteen-year-old brat…!’
He was twenty-five.
That meant he had ten more years to train his body and accumulate inner power.
Yet this was the result.
That was the moment.
“Hup.”
One of my hands thrust upward into the void.
Naturally, Jeong Myeong-gun’s arm, which I held, rose along with it.
“Hup!”
My other hand shot upward into the void.
Once again, Jeong Myeong-gun’s arm was dragged along.
Thus the two of us found ourselves with arms raised in triumph.
For reference, I stood roughly half a foot taller than Jeong Myeong-gun.
In other words, his feet dangled uselessly above the ground.
“This feels rather like entertaining a young nephew, I must say.”
“You little bastard!”
Jeong Myeong-gun lashed out with a kick aimed at my abdomen.
I evaded the attack with an infuriatingly casual ease.
“Thrashing about like that will only make you appear more pathetic, you know.”
“Shut your mouth!”
Jeong Myeong-gun struggled again, yet despite the close distance, I dodged his kick with perfect precision.
“Too slow.”
“Damn you!”
“Sluggish.”
“I’ll kill you!”
“How can a snail strike a man?”
“Arrrrrgh!”
Jeong Myeong-gun’s face flushed crimson as though he had fallen into a state of demonic possession.
A smirk escaped my lips.
‘Perhaps I should end this jest.’
I hurled Jeong Myeong-gun away with force.
Yet bearing the training of martial arts, he executed a somersault through the air and landed properly on his feet.
However.
‘Oh dear. Their faces have all turned quite grim.’
Jeong Myeong-gun seemed unaware.
Of the expressions worn by the Jeongwol Gate Elders observing him from behind.
Had he known, he would not be raging as he was now.
“Come again. I shall instruct you further.”
“You bastard!”
I stepped into the Gicheon-bo stance. The vessel to be filled held swiftness and brilliance.
Moving with speed and dazzling grace, I evaded his punch, then swept his leg.
“Ugh!”
Rather than press the attack against the off-balanced Jeong Myeong-gun, I created distance.
“Compose yourself, Jeong Wol-mun. Surely you do not intend to claim defeat due to emotional disturbance?”
“….”
“I’ll give you time to compose yourself. Calm your mind and come at me properly.”
“…You will regret this.”
Jeong Myeong-gun steadied his breathing and assumed the martial stance once more.
In contrast, Yang Hwi maintained a leisurely posture, as if taking a stroll through the marketplace.
“Come. Let me offer you the first lesson.”
“Haaht!”
Moonwhisper Fist Technique, Moonlit Path.
A straight punch accompanied by dazzling footwork.
‘At least he’s attacking properly now. Not bad, I suppose. Though he’s still far from my level.’
I moved my body according to the principles of Gicheon-bo, evading the fist.
As he passed by, I caught sight of Jeong Myeong-gun’s vacant expression, his hollow cheeks.
It irritated me that he kept calling me by that name, Geom-wae. Should I just slap him across the face?
‘No, hold back.’
There were too many eyes watching.
No matter how foolish Jeong Myeong-gun might be, he was still the Young Master of Jeongwol Gate, which claimed to uphold the righteous path.
I couldn’t very well strike his face, even in a duel, against someone of his station.
For now, I needed to display only the bearing befitting the eldest son of the Baek Family Estate.
“The first lesson, Young Master. Any martial artist must possess a sturdy lower body.”
Especially if one had learned martial techniques containing the mysteries of dazzling footwork like the Moonwhisper Fist Technique.
Thwack!
“Ugh!”
I struck Jeong Myeong-gun’s thigh with a finger thrust.
Despite using only light force, my fingertip penetrated nearly an inch deep.
“Your muscles are soft. How do you expect to generate any power like this?”
I deliberately raised my voice as I continued.
“My family name is Baek! You’re ten years my senior, yet you can’t even draw your sword against me!”
The murmurs of the gathered spectators responded to my declaration.
The expressions of the Jeongwolmun Elders hardened accordingly.
And Jeong Myeong-gun’s face turned rigid as well.
“…I acknowledge it. You are stronger than me. But let me show you what the spirit of my Jeongwol Gate truly is, Geom-wae Namgung!”
This bastard still wouldn’t stop calling me that name?
I had briefly considered ending this gracefully, but clearly that wouldn’t work.
“The second lesson.”
I stepped forward with Gicheon-bo, infusing it with speed, swiftness, and more speed.
A movement like an arrow loosed—Jeong Myeong-gun lost sight of my form.
In that instant, I moved behind him and gave the back of his head a light push.
“Dazzling techniques lose their meaning without speed.”
For flashy moves to achieve their true purpose, one must be faster than the opponent.
“Dazzling technique means moving two or three times faster than your opponent—no, ten times faster. Only then do the false openings multiply.”
Thus, the foundation of dazzling technique is speed and swiftness.
“Then what is the foundation of speed and precision?”
To be fast is simply to move before others.
In other words, movement.
“Stillness within motion. For movement to be swift, one must first establish unwavering stillness.”
The Gae-cheon-bak-pal-geom of the Main Residence embodied this fundamental principle—the pursuit of seemingly contradictory virtues of speed and solidity.
Though they appeared to move in opposite directions, they were ultimately one.
“Therefore, remember this.”
-Train your lower body first. For a man, the legs are everything. Do you understand?
“Harmony. Speed. Motion. Stillness. In the end, it all begins with fundamentals.”
From the thighs to the abdomen, and up to the neck.
My fingertips pressed against the vital points across Jeong Myeong-gun’s entire body.
All of this occurred in the single second it took him to throw his punch.
Jeong Myeong-gun, now rigid as a wooden log, collapsed heavily to the ground.
I stood before the fallen Jeong Myeong-gun and performed a respectful martial salute.
“Thus concludes my instruction. It has been an honor, Gate Master.”
The moment my greeting ended.
A thunderous roar filled Jeong Wol-mun’s Manor.
“Impossible! The Baek Family’s First Son has won!”
“The Jeongwol Gate’s Young Master is nearly ten years his senior!”
“Geom-wae’s reputation is no mere legend!”
At the sound of that name—Geom-wae—my brow furrowed deeply.
‘Hmph. Endure it. After today, no one will call me that again.’
The reason I had transformed this foolish young master’s casual challenge into such a grand spectacle.
While humiliating Jeongwol Gate was the first reason, the second reason mattered far more to me.
“Gate Master Jeong Wol-mun. Your Young Master appears to be in considerable distress. Perhaps you should escort him away.”
“….”
Crunch!
A sickening sound emanated from Jeong Wol-mun’s jaw.
Surely two or three of his teeth had shattered.
Without question.
“I shall not forget what transpired today, Geom-wae Namgung Cheon-yeong.”
I smiled with satisfaction.
Geom-wae again?
‘That’s right. This alone is hardly sufficient.’
“Then I must make a request of you, Gate Master.”
I continued without waiting for his response.
“Teaching is an exchange between two parties. Since the Baek Family’s First Son has offered instruction to Jeongwol Gate’s Young Master, I would hope that Jeongwol Gate might offer instruction in return.”
Jeong Wol-mun’s expression darkened as he grasped my meaning.
‘As expected, a Gate Master’s perception is sharp.’
But it was too late.
“I am Yang Hwi of the Baek Family, and I humbly request instruction from the Elders of Jeongwol Gate!”
Jeongwol Gate had three Elders in total.
And all three were masters at the pinnacle of martial prowess.
In other words, Yang Hwi had just challenged a pinnacle master to a duel.
Audaciously.
“Hahahaha! Well, well, it seems we cannot simply let this pass!”
A hearty laugh infused with the subtlety of Intent-Based Imagery resonated through the air.
The spectators gasped under the weight of the overwhelming presence, and the Tang Siblings as well as Chu Dal retreated a step backward.
Gu Ak, his brow furrowed, was about to step forward to dispel the pressure.
“My apologies.”
With Yang Hwi’s single step, the pressure contained in the hearty laugh dissolved away.
“I too have comprehended Intent-Based Imagery.”
I released my inner force and projected it through my presence as I continued speaking.
“Which of the three Elders will offer me instruction?”

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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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