Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 88

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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 088
The Namgung Clan’s martial artists spread out in a wide circle, creating space for the duel.
In the center, Namgung Cheon-hu and Dang-gun stood facing each other.
“Will you use poison?”
“…You know it’s pointless.”
“True enough.”
Chu Dal, having heard their exchange, asked in a low voice.
“Elder brother. Why is poison useless?”
“Simple.”
The Tang Family possesses a hundred varieties of poison. Because of this, one of their nicknames is the Ancestor of Hundred Poisons.
But.
The Nine Sects and Five Great Clans know the antidote methods for every single poison the Tang Family has created.
‘The leash the Nine Sects and Five Great Clans have placed around the Tang Family’s neck—this is merely the first of many.’
Literally the first.
The Nine Sects and Five Great Clans bound the Tang Family with truly vicious thoroughness.
“No matter that they became the Tang Family’s origin, isn’t this too much?”
“Too much?”
A bitter laugh escaped me.
“This hasn’t even started yet.”
I recalled the bitter lament that Dang-gun from my previous life had uttered.
-Hwi. Our Tang Family is…merely a tool. How can a tool ever harm its master’s hand? How could it possibly…
What’s truly excessive…begins now.
“Young Master Dang. I’ll grant you ten seconds.”
“…I accept graciously.”
Namgung Cheon-hu flicked his blade as if beckoning me forward.
It was the Namgung Clan’s distinctive iron sword—slightly thicker and wider than a standard longsword.
Dang-gun took a deep breath upon seeing this.
Three Suns Return to Origin Technique—three streams of vital energy burst forth from the dantian, spiraling through the meridians before returning to their source.
Focusing on the heat sensation spreading across my entire body, I slipped both hands into the wide sleeves characteristic of Tang Family martial robes.
‘I’ll begin…with Pursuing Soul Technique.’
The Tang Family’s hidden projectiles consist of six types: needles, sand, nails, blades, butterflies, and markers.
The techniques for launching these projectiles at enemies are divided into two categories based on the type and number of projectiles released.
Flower Rain Technique and Pursuing Soul Technique.
A single hidden blade emerged from my sleeve, cutting through the air.
Whiiiing!
The projectile shot forth like a loosed arrow, slicing through the air before suddenly rotating and changing direction, targeting the crown of Namgung Cheon-hu’s head.
But.
Tap!
The hidden blade that had been plummeting with terrifying speed lost its force as it passed through the aura Namgung Cheon-hu released.
By the end, it merely struck his blade with a tap.
“One second, Young Master Dang.”
Namgung Cheon-hu’s voice was leisurely, as if stating the obvious.
Dang-gun clenched his teeth so hard his jaw cracked audibly.
The Samyang Guiwon Gong is founded upon the Three Talents of the Half Tai Chi.
A supreme technique created by the Nine Sects pooling their wisdom and based on Daoist principles—a half-baked inner energy cultivation method that could never be called a divine art.
“Chu Dal. The real trouble starts now.”
“Brother, why did the hidden weapons lose their momentum just now?”
“Because the Samyang Guiwon Gong, the Tang Family’s inner energy cultivation technique, has a method to counter it.”
“Then why would such a flawed inner cultivation method be passed down as a family secret…?”
“Because that’s all they were given.”
Chu Dal’s expression still showed confusion.
“The Tang Family is one of the great martial clans, practically on the verge of joining the Three Great Houses. Couldn’t they simply acquire and master new martial techniques…?”
“You’re right. If only they could obtain a technique superior to the Samyang Guiwon Gong.”
Even with its weaknesses, the Samyang Guiwon Gong ranks among the supreme techniques, among the very highest tier.
Though it lacks the enlightenment of the transcendent realm, it remains a supreme secret art counted among the finest in all the Gangho.
“Finding a divine art in this world isn’t easy. If they’d found one, they would have switched long ago.”
In other words, the Nine Sects and Five Great Houses deliberately granted a technique positioned at a remarkably delicate boundary.
Learning any technique other than the Samyang Guiwon Gong would only weaken their power, forcing them to reluctantly continue cultivating the Samyang Guiwon Gong.
“Two seconds.”
“….”
Dang-gun’s next attack was a technique based on the Flower Rain Art.
Butterfly Scattering—dozens of thin hidden weapons fluttered like butterflies, filling the empty space.
But what good was it.
Every hidden weapon that touched the energy Namgung Cheon-hu released lost its momentum instantly.
“Three seconds already.”
Dang-gun’s face had grown terrifyingly rigid.
Instead of continuing to throw hidden weapons, he raised his hand wrapped in hand guards and clenched his fist.
“Ho. Now you resort to fist techniques. Come at me.”
Most believe the Tang Family’s martial arts consist only of poison and hidden weapons.
But their hand techniques also boast supreme mastery.
The Soul-Stealing Poison Hand—living up to its name, bizarre and vicious metal hand techniques raked across Namgung Cheon-hu’s entire body.
“Impressive progress. You’ve worked quite hard, haven’t you? Hahaha.”
Despite Dang-gun’s desperate struggle, Namgung Cheon-hu evaded every attack with ease.
All techniques ultimately rest upon footwork—body movement, or body technique.
The Tang Family’s fundamental body technique was the Lightning Sprint Method, a technique pursuing speed swift enough to flee from lightning itself.
And.
The origin of the Lightning Sprint Method was the Namgung Clan’s Thunderbolt Twelve Sword Forms.
“Four seconds. Perfectly transparent.”
“Five seconds. Why not blend in more false moves?”
“Six seconds. The essence of thunderbolt lies not merely in speed—you still fall short.”
“Eight seconds. Oh, that attack was excellent. Truly magnificent.”
“Nine seconds. But when do you intend to land a blow?”
“Ten seconds. This is the last one.”
Dang-gun’s movements came to an abrupt halt.
Namgung Cheon-hu sheathed his sword while gazing at Dang-gun.
…By the look in his eyes, his intentions were far from benevolent.
“Now then, I shall impart a lesson.”
Understanding the meaning, Dang-gun pushed the Thunder Divine Method to its absolute limit to create distance, but—
In an instant, Namgung Cheon-hu closed the gap and extended the blade still sheathed in its scabbard in a straight line.
Thud.
The tip of the scabbard touched Dang-gun’s heart.
“Young Master Dang. You are now dead.”
Namgung Cheon-hu stepped back with a faint smile.
“A martial contest… Hmm. With such a disparity, I must say I have imparted instruction one-sidedly. I believe we should end it here.”
“….”
“Having received instruction, surely there is something you ought to say?”
Drops of blood fell from Dang-gun’s lips.
Blood that burst forth from his gums—he had clenched his teeth far too hard.
Watching this scene, Dang-yeon’s eyes were completely bloodshot, her vision consumed by crimson rage.
“…I am grateful for the instruction. Namgung… Young Master….”
“Think nothing of it. It was a good time.”
Namgung Cheon-hu turned and walked away.
Then, suddenly, he glanced in the direction where I stood.
“Come to think of it, this was a martial contest upon which the qualifications to complete the expedition hinged. Hmm. What should be done about this?”
The corners of his mouth rose even higher.
“Well, the Namgung clan tends toward magnanimity. Jin Merchant, you shall proceed to the Jin Family Manor with these people. I shall visit later.”
Namgung Cheon-hu departed without waiting for a response.
Only my group remained by the lakeside.
Dang-gun stood motionless, his head bowed.
Dang-yeon could not bring herself to approach him, her resentment burning within.
This was the current state of the Tang Family.
‘Namgung Cheon-hu….’
I watched the distant figures of the Namgung clan’s martial artists fade away.
My expression was bitterly cold.
A confirmation of the leash.
And a reassertion of it.
This was what Namgung Cheon-hu sought to gain from this martial contest.
‘He must have been displeased.’
The Tang Family was not confined to Sichuan alone—they were establishing branches and expanding their influence.
Moreover, since Gangwon lay directly beneath Anhui, from the Namgung clan’s perspective, the Tang Family had encroached upon their own front yard.
The Baek Family likely appeared to be a puppet set up by the Tang Family, so they probably wanted to correct that habit this time around.
-Hwi, you said your wish was to elevate our family to the ranks of the Three Great Houses, didn’t you?
-I feel the same way. I want to elevate our family… our Tang Family… to the ranks of the Three Great Houses.
-To do that, we’ll need to rebuild from the foundation.
‘Elder Dang. This life will be… very different from my past life. Both our Baek Family and your Tang Family.’
I quietly signaled Chu Dal and Gu Ak before approaching Dang-gun.
He naturally tried to stop me with a silent gesture, but I didn’t halt my steps.
“Elder Dang.”
Dang-gun turned his head slightly and smiled bitterly.
“You’ve seen it all. This is the state our Tang Family is in, younger brother Hwi.”
A faint resignation lingered in his tone.
This version of Elder Dang lacked the firm resolve he’d possessed in my past life.
“Elder Dang. What does that matter?”
–
“Let me ask you something. What just happened—which way does it lean for you?”
“What do you mean?”
“Repay kindness twofold. Repay resentment tenfold.”
I pulled my lips into a sharp smile.
“Which way are you going to repay them?”
For a moment, Dang-gun’s expression went blank.
I continued without hesitation.
“Will you be grateful for the teaching and consider it a debt of gratitude? No, you won’t. Then you should repay them. Those bastards from the Namgung Family.”
Bastards. Dang-gun’s eyes widened at the curse.
As a member of the Tang Family, he had never once hurled insults at the Nine Sects and Five Great Houses.
It was a kind of taboo. Yet I crossed that line without hesitation.
“Even if Elder Dang tolerates it, I cannot. They’ve brought humiliation upon someone I call brother. If you stay silent, I’ll make sure to give those bastards a thorough public shaming instead.”
“Younger brother Hwi…”
“A leash? They dare put a leash on you and our Tang Family?”
I’ll tear that pathetic leash to shreds for you.
Just wait a moment, Elder Dang.
-Hwi, please, please, the Main Residence… my wish… I beg you…
I continued speaking with conviction, concealing my true thoughts.
“That’s why, Elder Dang. I have a way to land a solid blow against those Namgung bastards. Are you interested?”
–
Members of the Sichuan Tang Family all hear rumors of being independent.
Though most are nothing but baseless gossip.
But where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
In Dang-gun’s eyes, a fierce flame was burning.
“Younger brother Hwi. If you’ve thought this through, you must have devised a proper way to land a solid blow, haven’t you?”
“Of course. Who do you think I am?”
Before Dang-gun could respond, I smiled with a slight hiss and continued speaking.
“The greatest martial talent under heaven, the peerless genius born with Moon Il-ji-baek’s gift for the martial way—that’s me. Trust only in me.”
In that sense.
“Jin Merchant. It seems we have some matters to discuss.”
Jin Geum-bo, who had been standing awkwardly, flinched at my words.
“H-Matters to discuss, you say…?”
“Where to begin… ah, first let me ask you something.”
I fixed Jin Geum-bo with an unwavering stare.
“Do you need help?”
“…Baek Sohyeop. Why would you suddenly ask if I need help….”
“My favorite idiom is directness. Answer me directly. Don’t try to gauge how much I’ve already figured out. Do you need help or not?”
“….”
Jin Geum-bo deliberated for a long while.
He hesitated and hesitated again.
‘Just how much has he figured out?’
From what had transpired moments ago, all I could discern was that the Namgung clan had entrusted Jin Geum-bo with some task that he had yet to complete.
Yet suddenly he was asking if I needed help.
If I’m being honest, I do need it.
But….
“Chu Dal.”
“Yes, Elder Brother.”
“Before we departed, you remember what I asked you to find out from the lady?”
“Yes.”
I looked at Jin Geum-bo.
He didn’t seem the type to confess easily, so I’d need to mix truth and falsehood to draw him out.
“Decades ago, during the Geomwang Tomb Bloodshed, was there a Jin clan among those families that faced annihilation?”
“There was. The Taiyuan Jin Family.”
At that moment, Jin Geum-bo’s body trembled violently as if struck by lightning.
Seeing his reaction, I continued.
“The Geomwang Tomb. It’s in Jie-shou, isn’t it?”

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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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