Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 82

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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 082
Such was the way of Moon Il-ji-baek’s genius: every action, every encounter had to yield one benefit or more.
When Jeong Myeong-gun had provoked me yesterday, I had calculated every advantage I could extract from this affair.
First: humiliating Jeong Wol-mun, who competed for the position of Wuzhou’s supreme master.
Second: displaying extraordinary prowess to finally shed the tiresome label of Geom-wae.
To claim this second benefit, I needed to secure victory against Jeong Wol-mun’s elder-tier masters—the peak experts.
With my current cultivation at merely first-rate, such a feat was practically impossible.
Of course, that was only if I lacked the memories of my past life.
Gi-cheon Step, Swift Illusory Exchange.
I treaded the Gi-cheon Step, weaving together the mysteries of swiftness and speed, illusion and transformation.
My silhouette pierced through the eighteen fist shadows that embroidered the heavens.
‘I see it all.’
In my past life, Jeong Wol-mun had waged war against Baek Ui-mun, the supreme master of Nanchang.
As a wanderer then, I had been hired by Baek Ui-mun and fought countless life-or-death battles against Jeong Wol-mun’s key figures.
With Gyeok-wol-gwon especially, I had crossed blades and fists more than ten times.
‘I even know the secret formulas of the Wol-heun Sword technique—no matter how low my current realm, I cannot be defeated by this.’
At the war’s end, Jeong Wol-mun was ultimately annihilated by Baek Ui-mun.
And I, who had been obsessed with creating my own family martial art at that time, had demanded the Wol-heun Sword technique as compensation for the contract.
In other words, the Wol-heun Sword technique was a martial art I had thoroughly studied, mastered, savored, and even developed complete countermeasures against.
‘Wol-heun Sword technique, Moonlit Eighteen Chaotic Fists.’
The pinnacle of the Wol-heun Sword technique, which used the principles of the Three-Six Harmony as its foundation and wove in the mysteries of illusion to bewilder opponents.
The countermeasure against it lay in the gaps revealed when treading the reverse positions of the Six Harmonies.
However, perfect evasion was impossible.
After all, my opponent was at the peak realm while I remained at first-rate.
‘Well, if perfect evasion is impossible, then partial defense will suffice.’
The first technique of the Gae-cheon-bak-pal-geom.
Feathered Arrow Pierces Stone.
Whoooosh!
Among all sword techniques, the thrust could contain the greatest force.
Feathered Arrow Pierces Stone—a thrust with the momentum of a shot feather piercing rock—deflected Gyeok-wol-gwon’s fist.
The blade chipped where it met the fist energy, but such damage was inconsequential.
After all, my opponent had suffered injury in equal measure.
“Ugh…!”
The technique of Feathered Arrow Pierces Stone carried the vibration of Sealed Wing Ming-jin.
Gyeok-wol-gwon shook his hand once to disperse the tremor.
Yet the internal injury from the heavy water had already penetrated his blood vessels.
“How did you evade the Moonlit Eighteen Chaotic Fists?”
Though Gyeok-wol-gwon had been consumed with rage moments before, he could not remain entirely lost in anger.
‘Though I said “evaded,” in truth it was countered.’
That the sect’s secret technique had been countered was truly a grave matter.
It would be no exaggeration to say that the very survival of the sect hung in the balance.
“Answer me. How were you able to evade it?”
“I simply saw it coming and dodged, that’s all!”
“You wretch! Tell me the truth!”
“I’ve told you the truth, and now you’re asking me to tell the truth again—I’m simply bewildered.”
Gyeok-wol-gwon ground out the words.
“Are you claiming to be such a genius that you could find a counter to a single move of Il-su’s technique?”
“Precisely correct!”
“….”
“If you doubt me, test it yourself.”
“Very well, I shall!”
Gyeok-wol-gwon stepped through the forms of the Wol-heun Sword technique once more.
A speed so explosive it deserved the very name.
Combined simultaneously with a dazzling brilliance that dazzled the eye.
Yet Yang Hwi evaded the assault with ease and launched his counterattack.
“Ugh…!”
Struck once more by the Chim-twe technique, Gyeok-wol-gwon grasped his throbbing wrist.
His expression betrayed utter disbelief as he muttered.
“How on earth…?”
“Because I possess eyes that can see and a mind that can comprehend.”
“Even so… this makes no sense!”
This was the earnest attack of a master at the pinnacle.
A first-rate martial artist should not evade so easily.
“In addition to eyes and mind, I possess superior body-movement techniques.”
The Gi-cheon Step originated from the Ilbo-cheon of the Seongeum Okryeong-mun, which contests for supremacy under heaven through body-movement techniques.
I owed Jeong Wol-mun an apology, but it meant my martial knowledge held a decisive advantage.
Yang Hwi fell into contemplation.
It was a choice between two paths.
It was true that Jeong Wol-mun’s main residence was a rival sect….
‘Should I make an enemy, or should I show restraint?’
There seemed no need to forge such bitter enmity.
Extreme actions often brought loss in return.
“Wol-heun—a fist technique that pursues the traces of moonlight. Truly excellent martial arts. Senior Brother Gyeok-wol-gwon, would you permit this junior to demonstrate a technique?”
Since I had not truly been asking permission, Yang Hwi moved immediately.
Clang, clang!
I moved my body in harmony with the flow.
I wielded my sword according to principle.
A single sword dance imbued with logic and subtlety.
Yet.
The sword intent contained within the dance was not that of the Baek Family.
Gyeok-wol-gwon muttered a phrase almost unconsciously.
“Wol-heun….”
All martial arts are imitations of nature.
Just as Namgung Cheon-yeong’s blade seeks to capture the heavens.
Just as the Peng Family’s Five Tiger Fist mimics the movements of tigers.
The Wol-heun Sword—Jeong Wol-mun’s signature technique—is, if one must rank it, a supreme martial art.
The moonlight that pours down grows fragmented.
Scattered light bewilders the vision.
Thus, the Wol-heun Sword technique pursued hwan—transformation itself.
‘In my past life, thanks to the Wol-heun Sword, I was able to master the subtleties of transformation.’
I wove the moonlight’s changes into my sword dance.
I demonstrated everything I had come to understand about the Wol-heun Sword technique through my blade.
So that the senior masters of Jeong Wol-mun who witnessed it could recognize the weaknesses of the Wol-heun Sword.
‘Will this become a handshake that fills my competitor’s gaps? Or….’
Jeong Wol-mun is a rival sect competing with the Baek Family for dominance in Wuzhou.
But Wuzhou is merely one of eleven regions in Jiangxi Province.
Baek Ui-mun, the hegemon of Nanchang, the provincial capital of Jiangxi.
The Black Mirror Sect, which seized Yuanzhou and now extends its reach downward into Giljou.
The Baek Family’s rivals are countless.
‘So… let me add one more bird to this stone, shall I.’
If things don’t go according to plan, well, there’s nothing to be done about it.
“That concludes my demonstration.”
The sword dance had ended. Yang Hwi performed a respectful fist salute.
“I have presumed to display my humble skills before so many esteemed seniors. How was it?”
“….”
“….”
Gyeok-wol-gwon remained silent.
Jeong Wol-mun and the two other elders watching from behind also maintained their silence.
Yang Hwi’s sword dance. Having perceived the profound depth of martial understanding woven within it.
They could say nothing.
A disciple from another sect had demonstrated a depth of martial understanding incomparable to any disciple of their own sect.
Moreover, he had even shown them the direction the Wol-heun Sword technique should advance toward.
Before being a sect leader or elder.
A martial artist’s true calling is to reach ever greater heights.
Thus, the emotion felt by Jeong Wol-mun’s senior masters was singular.
“Young Master Baek.”
Gyeok-wol-gwon’s form of address had changed from “you” to “Young Master Baek.”
“Your talent is… truly remarkable. So a genius of the ages truly does exist in this world.”
“You are too kind with your praise.”
Gyeok-wol-gwon gazed around with sunken eyes.
Jeong Wol-mun’s disciples, Yang Hwi’s entourage, and countless spectators.
‘So many eyes watching.’
A fleeting impulse stirred within me. Most of them likely wouldn’t understand the significance of that sword dance anyway.
So I could simply pretend ignorance and move on.
But. But.
As a martial artist, I couldn’t do that.
“I have but one question, Baek Gongja. Having exchanged blows with you, your martial prowess is undoubtedly first-rate. Yet how did you see through it?”
I answered with a faint smile.
“Understanding of martial technique and understanding of martial theory don’t always align. I remain at first-rate only due to lack of time, but I aspire toward something greater.”
“…I see.”
Gyeok-wol-gwon performed the fist salute with utmost courtesy.
“I, Gyeok-wol-gwon, elder of Jeong Wol-mun, shall never forget the teachings bestowed upon me by Baek Yang-hwi, the eldest son of the Baek Family Head!”
The spectators began to murmur among themselves.
“What does that mean?”
“They were having a match, then suddenly he performed a sword dance, and the other said he received teachings.”
“Martial artists do incomprehensible things all the time, don’t they?”
“True enough.”
Then Gyeok-wol-gwon cried out once more.
“I came forth to impart teachings, yet instead received them—therefore, this match is my defeat! Baek Gongja! I offer my admiration for the depth of martial understanding you have cultivated!”
Only then did excitement begin to color the spectators’ faces.
“Defeat? Did Gyeok-wol-gwon the Great Master truly say he was defeated?”
“This cannot be! Then Geom-wae Gongja has achieved victory!”
“A junior martial artist has defeated a late-stage master and elder of a major sect!”
“Waaaahhhhh!”
“Geom-wae! Geom-wae! Geom-wae! Geom-wae!”
“Hey, you people! Look at Baek Gongja’s appearance! Where do you see anything warranting ‘Geom-wae’!”
“That’s a fair point!”
Among the favorite pastimes of those who loved gossip was bestowing plausible titles upon rising martial artists.
Those with some literary refinement immediately conceived a new epithet for Yang Hwi and proclaimed it.
“The sword dance was executed with exquisite beauty! Thus I propose Mireoseo—the Beautiful Sword!”
My ears perked up.
Mireoseo. A rather fitting epithet.
“Alas! Mireoseo is insufficient to capture all that transpired today! From this moment, I shall call Baek Gongja the Foremost Sword of the Junior Generation!”
At fifteen years of age, I had achieved victory against an elder of a major sect—someone twice my level.
Thus being called the Foremost Sword of the Junior Generation was hardly undeserved.
‘The Foremost Sword of the Junior Generation… Heh. I do seem to have a connection with “foremost sword” titles.’
“Alas! Have you not heard the rumors of an extraordinary prodigy in the Shaolin Temple far to the south in Henan! There is insufficient proof to claim the foremost of the junior generation!”
“True. He hasn’t even faced the direct disciples of the major sects, so calling him the Foremost Sword of the Junior Generation is premature.”
Without realizing it, I bristled.
These bastards?
“But today, Young Master Baek has truly demonstrated the prowess of the sword within his pocket! So why not call him this—the First Sword Within the Sheath!”
Not the first among wanderers, but the first among pocket contents?
This bastard is mocking me right now, isn’t he?
I made a mental note to remember the face of the spectator who had just shouted.
“The humble Baek Manor, cradling Young Master Baek, has ascended to its present station. So, gentlemen, what say you we call Young Master Baek the Ascending Sword Dragon from this moment forth!”
The spectators began to chime in one by one.
“Ascending Sword Dragon! A fitting epithet indeed!”
“Rising from the depths to the heavens—ascending!”
“Displaying the divine prowess of a dragon itself—sword dragon!”
“Ascending Sword Dragon!”
“Ascending Sword Dragon!”
“Ascending Sword Dragon!”
The first condition of a good epithet is how magnificent it sounds.
In that regard.
‘Ascending Sword Dragon. When you think about it, it’s far more impressive than First Sword of the Sheath.’
Gyeok-wol-gwon bowed respectfully to me once more.
“A fine match, Ascending Sword Dragon.”
My opponent in the match responded to the enthusiastic cries of the onlookers.
In that moment, my epithet transformed from Geom-wae—meaning the sword-wielding dwarf—to Ascending Sword Dragon, soaring toward the heavens.
“It was a good time for me as well.”
I bowed and descended from the arena.
Chu Dal, Dang-gun, and the rest of our group welcomed me.
“Ahem, little brother. Congratulations on your victory.”
“You’re truly remarkable, Hwi. I never expected you could achieve such a result.”
I was about to respond with a humble smile when
Chu Dal, uncharacteristically, bowed respectfully and offered his greeting.
“Congratulations, Elder Brother!”
Why is this bastard acting like this?
Ah.
“That’s right, Chu Dal.”
“Yes, Elder Brother!”
“You were cheering for Master Gyeok-wol-gwon earlier, weren’t you?”
“…What?”
“I heard everything. What was it? You hoped my pride would be deflated?”
Chu Dal’s face crumpled as he saw my menacing expression.
“Come here, you bastard!”
“Aaaah! Spare me!”
After grabbing Chu Dal by the collar and giving him a thorough scolding,
I turned my gaze once more toward the senior members of Jeong Wol-mun.
‘To add another bird to my collection, I should finish this cleanly, shouldn’t I?’
“I have something to say to the esteemed seniors of the Jeong Wol-mun.”

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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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