Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven - Chapter 9

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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 009
“A letter to Nanchang? What is the purpose?”
“I wish to send a novel I’ve written to the Namchang Baek-seo Antiquarian Bookstore.”
“Hmm? What are you planning to do?”
“Father, are you aware that I received an allowance of considerable wealth that should be beyond my years?”
“Of course. You accomplished something remarkable a month ago.”
Though I remain cautious of Cheongsa-bang’s scrutiny and have not yet properly used the wealth, Jeong In-hwa knew that the family head Baek Moo-ryang was aware of my sudden fortune.
“Setting that aside, I wish to conduct a small business venture with the Baek Bookstore.”
“You intend to sell the novel you wrote?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm….”
Though I spent most of my childhood confined to my quarters, I was far from foolish.
Reading is sustenance for the mind, they say. Having spent so much time in my quarters, I had perused countless books and possessed keen insight into worldly matters.
From my perspective, earning money by selling novels was no simple task.
The nobility disdain novels, while books bound on expensive paper command equally steep prices.
“It does not seem like a wise course to me. Though the tale of passionate love you wrote was quite entertaining, people prefer to hear stories from storytellers rather than purchase expensive books.”
“I share that assessment.”
Those without deep pockets typically choose to toss a few coins to a storyteller rather than purchase expensive books.
The nobility, valuing propriety, fill their shelves with the writings of Confucius and Mencius rather than frivolous tales.
Thus, selling frivolous tales in book form is hardly a prudent endeavor.
But.
I possessed confidence.
‘Il-pil-hwi-seo. If I follow his methods, that will suffice.’
Approximately fifteen years hence, a literary master bearing the pen name Il-pil-hwi-seo would emerge in the martial world.
Once he grasped his brush, he would compose entire narratives in a single sitting—he was the author of more than half of all the novels I knew.
‘Yet Il-pil-hwi-seo was recognized as a great master despite writing mere frivolous tales.’
All acknowledged it. His works possessed a value worthy of eternal transmission, compelling all who encountered them to read voraciously.
The reason was simple.
Every piece he wrote contained an exquisite profundity, and simultaneously possessed such captivating charm that one could not help but read on.
Il-pil-hwi-seo’s popularity reached such heights that even noble families began collecting his books to fill their shelves as a fashionable pursuit.
‘Though he later perished through arrogance and transgression.’
He exploited his fame to seduce countless women.
Eventually, he even seduced the lady of one of the Five Great Families, and was dismembered and executed.
“I believe that failure experienced at a young age becomes nourishment for growth. I wish to attempt this once, and humbly request your permission.”
Jeong In-hwa fell silent for a moment.
This child had displayed remarkable cleverness from our first meeting.
That day, the Baek Family had nearly faced catastrophe, but my stratagem had averted disaster.
‘And that was merely the beginning—I displayed extraordinary martial talent.’
Though merely Third-rate, a martial family is still a martial family. Yet in merely a month, I had earned recognition from all the family’s retainers.
‘The Patriarch himself said I possessed the wisdom of heavenly martial genius.’
A child blessed by heaven with innate martial talent.
Moreover, if the novel I just read was truly conceived and written by my own hand, then my literary talent rivals my martial aptitude.
“Hwi.”
“Yes, Mother.”
“I find myself doubting whether you’re truly eight years old. It occurs to me that perhaps a Daoist immortal has undergone reverse reincarnation and borrowed your child’s form.”
Her suspicion was hardly unreasonable. I myself was acutely aware that my actions had been precipitously hasty.
Yet.
‘If I am to elevate the Baek Family to become the Greatest Family Under Heaven before my lifespan expires, time is a luxury I cannot afford.’
This was the reason I continued to display conduct that would inevitably provoke astonishment, admiration, and even skepticism from those around me.
“That cannot be, Mother. I have simply witnessed and heard more than most since birth.”
“Yes, that must be it. Very well. I shall dispatch someone to Nanchang, so prepare a letter.”
“Thank you, Mother.”
Having obtained her permission, I bowed and departed from Jeong In-hwa’s chamber.
I then composed a letter to accompany the books and entrusted both to the household servants bound for Nanchang.
‘She could ignore it, but if this is the Chu Yong-wol I know, she absolutely will not.’
I was certain of it. Upon seeing the letter and the books, Chu Yong-wol would make her way directly to the Baek Manor.
‘If all proceeds according to plan, the Baek Family will gain a source of funds that requires no concern for competitors.’
The most common method for martial families to earn wealth is through contracts with pleasure houses and wine establishments, providing martial escorts for protection services.
However, setting aside the fact that most of our household servants possessed mediocre martial skill, the Baek Family was fundamentally incapable of pursuing such ventures.
‘The pleasure houses and wine establishments throughout Ak-an County are nearly all under the patronage of the Heuk-do-pa faction.’
It would be more accurate to say they are effectively owned by the Heuk-do-pa rather than merely patronized.
The moment the Baek Family attempted involvement, the Heuk-do-pa would perceive it as an encroachment upon their territory and respond accordingly.
‘Well, there are always alternatives, and for the servants’ experience, we must eventually venture into escort services.’
For now, however, it was impossible, so I needed to establish a new enterprise to generate revenue.
For truly, exceptional martial masters cannot emerge without abundant financial support.
In that regard.
‘I must transmit the martial techniques I devised as soon as possible.’
In my previous life, during more than a decade as a wandering swordsman traversing the martial realm, I created the Hwacheon Iyuan Gong and the Gaecheon Baekpal Geom.
Of these, while the sword technique may wait, the Hwacheon Iyuan Gong must be transmitted urgently.
For internal energy cultivation is best pursued with superior meditation techniques at the earliest possible age.
‘I need an appropriate pretext. What would be most convincing.’
I absolutely cannot claim to have created it myself.
No matter how talented, an eight-year-old child creating a transcendent supreme technique is simply implausible.
Then I must transmit the martial technique in a manner more plausible and beyond suspicion….
‘Using another person would indeed be most effective.’

* * *
The Baek Manor household staff numbered twelve in total, excluding the family head and his immediate relatives.
Four of them came from retainer families that had served the Baek Family for generations, while the remaining eight were either orphans who had been raised as household staff since childhood or those whom the Baek Family had saved from certain death, regardless of age.
“Young Master, you’re training diligently again today!”
“Young Master, should anyone dare to disrespect you, please tell me. I will teach them a lesson with the disciplinary rod.”
“Little Master, never forget for a moment that you are the material destined to inherit the family name.”
To them, Baek Heon-so was the sole son of family head Baek Moo-ryang and the firstborn heir of the Baek Family that had saved their lives, and thus I had grown up receiving the affection and expectations of all the household staff in full measure.
This had shaped young me into someone who enjoyed and desired receiving praise by meeting the expectations of others.
In truth, it could not have been otherwise.
Had expectations, affection, and praise been abundant, it might have been different, but I was forced to realize they were not—all because of my younger sister Baek Yeon-yeon’s existence.
My younger sister Baek Yeon-yeon was the beloved darling of everyone in the Baek Family.
I myself could not help but find her endearing rather than jealous of a younger sister who monopolized my affection—there was nothing more to say about it.
And so.
All that remained for me was to work diligently, study hard, achieve results, and receive praise through those achievements.
“Already wielding the Gaecheon Sword so skillfully. Splendid, my son.”
“A prodigy’s single day feels like three autumns, yet the Little Master is so diligent—he will surely achieve greatness.”
“My boy, you truly make me proud.”
From the day I first grasped a sword at the tender age of five, I had never missed a single day of training.
Unlike Baek Yeon-yeon, who would whimper about wanting to rest on days when she felt unwell, I had never once taken a break.
Whenever things grew difficult, I would repeat these words to myself.
I am the firstborn of the Baek Family. I am the future family head. I am the one who must lead everyone.
That must have been why.
When a boy whose name I did not know became my older brother, I felt rejection before acceptance.
‘Why are you accepting him as a son when I’m already here, and not even as a servant!’
To a boy who found his worth in the evaluations of others, Yang Hwi’s very existence felt like a threat.
I found him disagreeable, irritating, and detestable.
And in my childish heart, I let those feelings show, and I was struck for it.
—You impudent little brat.
A shocking statement I had never heard before in my life. And the loving rod disguised as a sparring match.
That day’s events remained strongly etched in my mind even now.
Because his very existence was shocking and unprecedented.
And.
Such shock and precedent were not confined to that first day alone.
—So. The first movement of the Gaecheon Sword is about freely connecting the power that originates from the lower body.
On the day he first picked up a sword, my older brother surpassed me.
—When executing the Five Elements Six Harmonies technique, even if it’s difficult, you must apply maximum strain to your body. Only then will your physical conditioning develop properly.
Not only did he master the sword technique, but he also grasped the Five Elements Six Harmonies technique within days, offering pointed observations that seemed like either instruction or something else entirely.
‘He’s bragging about being a genius. He’s trying to steal my praise.’
That was what I thought at first.
But I soon came to understand that was not the case.
-That’s right. Do it that way. Well done, So. Truly excellent. You are your father’s son.
My father, the person I respect most, and my elder brother lavishing praise upon me, saying I am worthy of being his son.
-Little brother, you are the sturdiest pillar of the Baek Family. Your shoulders must feel heavy, but I will help you greatly from beside you, so let’s persevere together. Understood?
My elder brother, sharing the crushing weight of expectations that I had borne alone in my young heart, offering me comfort.
-All of you, accept this. I give this reward specially because I am grateful for all you have done for our family.
Suddenly, Father distributed money to all the household servants, and this too was something my elder brother had procured.
Moreover, the money distributed was merely a fraction of what he had obtained.
It was an enormous feat that Baek Heon-so could never have accomplished.
Jealousy.
The emotion one feels when someone considered equal surpasses you.
But if that person transcends superiority itself, one cannot even muster jealousy.
And the emotion that fills that void is none other than.
Respect.
‘Elder brother… Yang Hwi, my elder brother…’
This was a profound change from Yang Hwi’s previous life.
In my previous life, I was an orphaned beggar boy.
Therefore, I had been starved for affection and intoxicated by family recognition.
Thus, while I cherished Baek Heon-so as family and younger brother, I had not yet thought to observe his inner heart and care for him.
But this life was different.
I spent most of my days with my younger siblings, faithfully fulfilling my duties as an elder brother.
‘So this is what it means to be an elder brother…’
Those without an elder brother cannot understand what an elder brother is or means.
Therefore, Baek Heon-so too had felt suspicion and rejection when Yang Hwi first appeared as his elder brother.
But.
-Why did I sneak away silver? Obviously to buy delicious things for our younger siblings!
Baek Heon-so was coming to understand what an elder brother meant and how much strength such a person could provide.
Though family, unlike parents of a different generation, an elder brother is close;
More trustworthy than anyone, someone one could even rely upon.
In Baek Heon-so’s heart, Yang Hwi had become such a presence.
And now that Yang Hwi.
From the first day at Baek Manor had accomplished the impossible against the Heuk-do-pa, an elder brother who made me marvel every single day.
Had caused trouble once more.
“Il-pil-hwi-seo! I rushed here the moment I received the letter you sent to our Namchang Baek Bookstore!”
A woman who appeared to have just passed her early twenties, dressed in silks from head to toe.
Seeing my elder brother grinning widely at the sight of her, Baek Heon-so thought to himself.
‘My elder brother has done something bizarre and outlandish again… something ingeniously reckless.’
“Il-pil-hwi-seo! The one who sent me the Eastern Classics, please show yourself at once!”

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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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