Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 87

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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 087
Dang-gun recalled their past encounter.
Back when everyone shunned the Tang Family, the Baek Family Head had accepted them without prejudice and resolved two pressing concerns: the pursuit of Saek Gwang-hori and the matter of the Fen Tower installation.
On the road to Wuzhou Agan County for the Fen Tower installation after reporting to the Main Residence in Sichuan, I had crossed paths with Namgung Cheon-hu, the Soga-joonim of the Namgung Clan.
‘The backing behind Saek Gwang-hori… I hadn’t uncovered it back then.’
Dang-gun harbored a strong suspicion that the Namgung Clan had been involved.
For that reason, Namgung Cheon-hu’s face did not appear favorable to me.
However, as the Soga-joonim of a clan, showing one’s emotions was nothing short of foolish.
“Soga-joonim Namgung. It has been quite some time.”
“Indeed. It has been several years since we last met in Gangwon. Five years? Six years?”
Though both held the position of Soga-joonim of their respective clans, his tone subtly belittled the other.
With nearly a decade separating their ages, one might attribute it to that, yet his underlying intent seemed suspect.
“Whether five or six years matters little.”
“True. What matters is that we have indeed met. Is that not so? The Main Residence and the Tang Family are hardly on ordinary terms.”
….
They were hardly on ordinary terms.
The problem was that the Tang Family wished to distance themselves as much as possible.
The Nine Sects and Five Great Clans who had contributed to the Tang Family’s founding.
They held the Tang Family’s leash in their hands.
A shackle the Tang Family longed to cast off as soon as possible.
“Soga-joonim Namgung. Like last time, it seems we encounter each other quite often.”
“They say when coincidence repeats, it becomes fate. Perhaps we are bound by destiny.”
“What brings you to visit this place?”
Despite hearing such a pointed question, Namgung Cheon-hu smoothly deflected it.
“Hundreds of thousands visit the scenery of Soho each year. What is strange about my presence here?”
Meanwhile.
Yang Hwi’s mind raced with such intensity that one could almost hear it, analyzing the current situation.
Jin Geum-bo had intended to take the route through Hap-bi among the two paths.
The Soga-joonim of the Namgung Clan had been waiting at Soho as if on cue.
‘At minimum, there was a secret agreement between the two.’
The Jin Family Manor in Jie-shou. Presumably, Jin Geum-bo’s birth family.
Since the Namgung Clan was the hegemon of Anhui, it was hardly strange that they had connections with the Jin Family situated in Jie-shou, which belonged to Anhui.
‘Now that the Namgung Clan has appeared, it is certain. The merchant Jin possesses some clue regarding the Geomwang Tomb.’
And perhaps the Namgung Clan had been supporting the Jin Family to secretly investigate the Geomwang Tomb.
If that were the case.
‘They would not simply let us go.’
It was as I had anticipated.
“Then, grateful for this brief meeting, we shall take our leave.”
Upon hearing Dang-gun’s words, Namgung Cheon-hu shook his head.
“Hmm. That would be difficult, I’m afraid.”
“Why is that?”
Namgung Cheon-hu stepped forward.
“I have business to attend to, so this is rather inconvenient. Merchant Jin, are you inside?”
Jin Geum-bo, who had been holding his breath inside the carriage, hesitantly stepped out.
“Oh, it’s been a long time, Soga-joonim.”
“Indeed it has. Hahaha, I never expected you to come near Hap-bi.”
“I had made a promise, so naturally I had to come.”
“Is that so? I was beginning to think you might have had a change of heart!”
“….”
Jin Geum-bo swallowed dryly and remained silent.
Namgung Cheon-hu gestured dismissively, as if Jin Geum-bo’s feelings were of no concern to him.
“Come here. We have much to discuss.”
“…Yes, Soga-joonim.”
I clicked my tongue quietly.
I wanted to observe the situation longer and gather more information, but it seemed I needed to act now.
“I’m afraid that won’t be possible!”
I kicked off the carriage. Somersaulting through the air, I landed and offered a light fist salute to Namgung Cheon-hu.
“It’s been a while. Though you may not remember me.”
Namgung Cheon-hu regarded me with an intrigued gaze.
“You again.”
“Again? What do you mean by that?”
“Ah, nothing of importance. In any case, it’s good to see you, Young Master of the Baek Family. Your name was… Yang Hwi, wasn’t it?”
“That’s correct.”
“I heard you recently earned the reputation of the Ascending Heaven Sword Dragon.”
I forced my lips to stay still.
‘He pretends not to remember my name properly, yet he knows my epithet well enough.’
Moreover, he called it a mere reputation. Wasn’t Namgung Cheon-hu’s epithet the Tyrant Sword Dragon?
Around thirty years old, already at a mature peak. And the Soga-joonim of the Namgung clan.
A remarkable position with corresponding ability to match.
‘Yet for all that, he’s still a man who couldn’t shed the title of dragon even at his age.’
In the Martial Arts World, the titles of dragon and phoenix were only bestowed upon those in the later stages of mastery.
I recalled Namgung Cheon-yeong, Namgung Cheon-hu’s younger brother and my enemy from my past life.
A peerless genius who, at a young age, was certain to surpass his older brother and become the next greatest swordsman of the Heavenly Blue Sky Namgung clan.
Compared to him, this man was merely ordinary. Utterly ordinary.
“Very well, Ascending Heaven Sword Dragon. Tell me why you cannot let me take Merchant Jin.”
“It’s quite simple. Our escort mission for the Gaecheon Escort Agency is not yet complete.”
“Is your escort mission more important than an agreement with the Namgung clan?”
“Haha, of course it is. How could we maintain our reputation if we didn’t approach our duties with such dedication?”
As I answered with a light tone, his response was a burst of hearty laughter.
“Hahaha! That’s also a fair point! Hahaha!”
I frowned slightly.
This bastard, look at how petty he is.
He’s subtly projecting his momentum while laughing.
I’m sorry, but I’ve experienced far too much to feel pressured by someone like you.
“Is that so? Hahahaha!”
As I pushed back his momentum and burst into laughter in kind, Namgung Cheon-hu’s expression hardened.
He probably never expected me to counter his momentum with my own and push it back.
“Jin Geum-bo has commissioned our Gaecheon Escort House to transport the cargo all the way to the Jin Family Manor in Jie-shou. As an escort house, we must complete the escort mission without fail. So wouldn’t it be fitting for the Namgung Soga-joonim to show magnanimity and make a concession?”
“A concession, you say. Can you convince me why I should make one?”
“Well, because the people of the Namgung clan all resemble the bearing of heaven itself and would never conduct themselves so pettily!”
I could see irritation slowly settling across Namgung Cheon-hu’s face.
It made sense—he’d just been told that refusing to concede would make him petty.
The fact that he’d listened to this much conversation at all showed considerable magnanimity for a Namgung.
But.
‘What does it matter.’
Until now, I’d been cautiously avoiding drawing the Namgung clan’s attention.
That changes from here on.
In just a few days, I might face off against him at the Geomwang Tomb anyway, so there’s no need to hold back.
“So, will you grant me a concession?”
“To receive a concession from the Namgung, one must have the qualifications. I’m not certain you possess them.”
“How might I prove my qualifications?”
“Hmm.”
Namgung Cheon-hu’s cold eyes glanced over me and Dang-gun.
Then they fixed on Dang-gun.
‘Ah, this bastard. Look at his manners.’
So I’m not even worth speaking to?
Why is his provocation so shallow when he’s over a dozen years older than me?
It seemed like he was trying to provoke anger to use some underhanded technique, but I decided to let it pass.
‘The longer this conversation drags on, the better for me anyway.’
Instead, I sent a secret message to Dang-gun.
As I did, Namgung Cheon-hu opened his mouth.
“Dang Soga-joonim. Tell me yourself. Are you also an escort for this mission?”
“I joined as a guest escort at my brother Yang Hwi’s request.”
“The Tang clan of all under heaven, and its Soga-joonim works as an escort. Hahahaha, wouldn’t it be more honest to say you were simply hired as a vagrant?”
This bastard is lumping together vagrants and escorts as if they’re the same lowly thing?
If you combined all the vagrants and escorts across the entire realm, there would easily be over a hundred thousand.
Arrogance may be the Namgung clan’s tradition, but this one is simply insufferable.
“Dang Soga-joonim. Let me ask you one thing. What is the content of this escort mission?”
“Namgung Soga-joonim, are you not aware of the unwritten rules of Gangho? The content of an escort mission cannot be disclosed.”
“It’s not an unwritten rule of Gangho, but merely an escort house regulation. I understand that if the escort house master permits it, the content can be revealed. Am I mistaken?”
“…That is indeed correct.”
Namgung Cheon-hu issued a command to Jin Geum-bo.
“Merchant Jin. I’m quite curious about the details of the escort request you made in exchange for receiving our Namgung Family’s assistance. Speak.”
“It was… to deliver a letter to the Jin Family Manor. Additionally, the condition was to travel together with the eldest son of the Baek Family, who has recently risen to prominence in Gangwon….”
A gleam flashed across Namgung Cheon-hu’s eyes.
“A letter being sent to the Jin Family Manor? Bring it here.”
“It’s merely a letter inquiring about their well-being, nothing more.”
“You were going to entrust a simple greeting letter to an escort service to deliver?”
“That was… because I admire Baek Yang-hwi and wished to travel with him….”
Namgung Cheon-hu cut off Jin Geum-bo’s words.
“Bring it here.”
Jin Geum-bo moved slowly forward. Though I read the emotions concealed in his gaze, Yang Hwi and Dang-gun made no move to stop him.
Since the escort master was handing over the letter, there was simply no justification to interfere.
Namgung Cheon-hu casually broke the seal on the letter and read its contents.
“Hmm. It truly was just a simple greeting letter.”
“Y-yes, Soga-joonim.”
“Then what was it that the Main Residence asked the Jin Family to do?”
“That is….”
He swallowed dryly again and again. His pupils wavered, his eyes darting back and forth.
Jin Geum-bo, visibly tense, continued speaking.
“I have yet… to discover it properly….”
Namgung Cheon-hu’s expression showed his interest had waned.
“I thought perhaps you harbored some hidden scheme, given that you were returning to Jie-shou. But it seems I was mistaken.”
“How could I possibly do such a thing, Soga-joonim.”
“Then it’s fortunate. My apologies for suspecting you, Merchant Jin.”
Yet not a trace of apology showed on Namgung Cheon-hu’s face as he spoke.
‘Well, for now. The situation ends here, I suppose.’
“Then, Namgung Soga-joonim. I shall continue with the escort, taking Merchant Jin with me.”
“Ah. That matter still remained, didn’t it.”
Suddenly, interest was etched anew across Namgung Cheon-hu’s face.
“You all understand, but with a single word from me, the escort would end.
Merchant Jin would not refuse a request from this Namgung Cheon-hu.”
It was not an untrue statement. The moment the escort master Jin Geum-bo declared the escort concluded, the pretext for the escort would vanish.
“However, I shall not do so. I respect you all, after all. But having spoken once, it would damage my dignity to simply take back my words….”
Namgung Cheon-hu’s arrogant gaze turned toward Dang-gun.
“Continue with what you were saying before. Prove that you have the qualifications to defy this Namgung Cheon-hu’s will and continue the escort.”
“What kind of proof do you seek?”
“Is there not but one way for a martial artist to prove their qualifications?”
“Martial prowess? Then shall we have a match right here?”
Watching Yang Hwi roll up his sleeves as if eager to fight immediately, Namgung Cheon-hu let out a low chuckle.
‘Does this bastard think I’m beneath him?’
Until now, it was rather I who looked foolish, but that glint in his eyes just now had something that stirred the heart.
Damn it, he’s making me look like a peak-level master defeated by a first-rate expert?
“I apologize, but it’s not your skills I wish to see.”
Namgung Cheon-hu drew his sword without a word.
This was clearly a breach of courtesy and an act of contempt toward his opponent.
“Dang Soga-joonim. It’s been a while since I’ve seen the skills of a Tang Family member. Would you not spare me a match?”
In that instant, Yang Hwi’s expression hardened.
Those Namgung bastards really are insufferable.
‘So that’s his game.’
Since he’s made a wasted trip, he doesn’t want to simply retreat quietly, does he?

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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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