Ultimate Martial Venerable - Chapter 24

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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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Episode 24. I’ll do this with my own strength
That night, the lamp in the Yuk Clan’s study burned long past the hour when most had retired.
The family’s key figures had gathered in one room, yet the sound that carried loudest was not conversation, but the clatter of dishes.
When Yuk Beom picked up a chicken leg, Kkamangi leaped across to the opposite plate. The beast swallowed the meat whole, then immediately fixed its eye on the next dish.

“Eat more slowly. Nobody’s going to steal it from you.”

Yuk Ho Yeon clicked his tongue as if at a loss.
Yuk Beom merely nodded and went back to wielding his chopsticks. In the half-year he’d spent in the mountains, all he’d eaten was roasted meat and wild fruit. Seasoned food and hot broth felt like a luxury long forgotten.
Kkamangi, belly visibly distended, prowled between the dishes. When Yuk Beom reached for the last dumpling, the beast let out an aggrieved whimper and nudged his wrist with a front paw.

“This one’s mine.”

Kkamangi growled low in protest.

“You already finished an entire plate of meat earlier.”

Yuk Ho burst out laughing. By contrast, Yuk Myeong’s expression soured, and he could only spin his wine cup idly in his hands.
Yuk Ho Yeon gestured toward Yuk Myeong with a tilt of his chin.

“Tell us again what you heard today. In your own words.”

Yuk Myeong’s hands stilled.
When Kkamangi finally snatched the dumpling and bolted away, Yuk Myeong set down his wine cup.

“Mak Un Bi bought the position of admission examiner

for this year’s Martial Arts Academy entrance selection.”

Yuk Beom’s chopsticks froze.

“The man’s name is Gwak Jin Hyeok. He’s an instructor overseeing external recruitment.”
“Can he falsify the Black Stone results?”
“The Black Stone itself can’t be deceived.”

Yuk Myeong looked directly at Yuk Beom.

“But he can frame your growth as the result of sorcery or forbidden cultivation methods. No matter how exceptional the measurement results are, if the examiner raises concerns, he has justification to remove you from the test hall.”

Yuk Ho crossed his arms and posed a question.

“Can he really go through with such an act without evidence?”
“Evidence can be fabricated.”

Yuk Myeong’s response came swiftly.

“He can claim your energy is turbid, or that your growth rate is abnormal. All he needs do is suggest that verification is necessary. In the examination grounds, what Gwak says is the rule.”

Having finished, Yuk Myeong’s expression hardened further as he gazed at the empty plates.
Yuk Beom lifted his water cup.

“What realm is Gwak Jin Hyeok in?”
“Inner Gangjing Realm,

ninth stage.”
“Not the Outer Gangjing Realm then.”

Yuk Beom took a sip of water and set the cup down.

“Then that’s settled.”

Yuk Myeong let out a hollow laugh.

“What do you mean by that?”
“It doesn’t matter what he throws at me—I’ll stop it.”

His answer was so calm that Yuk Myeong’s frown deepened.
Yuk Ho Yeon tapped his fingers against the table.

“Don’t see your opponent as just a pair of fists.”

The moment Yuk Beom turned his attention away, the elder’s voice dropped lower.

“Gwak Jin Hyeok may be merely an Inner Qi Realm martial artist as an individual, but on the selection grounds he wears the Martial Arts Academy behind him. Throwing him down won’t be the end of it.”
“Then what do you intend to do?”

As Yuk Ho asked, Yuk Ho Yeon paused before answering. His gaze traced the scars that remained on Yuk Beom’s shoulders and arms.

“First, let me examine your body.”

He gestured to Yuk Beom.

“How far have you progressed? Are there any internal injuries remaining?”

Yuk Beom took a moment to choose his words. He had no intention of revealing the Fusion Strong Energy

or the Dual Martial Mastery.

“I’ve surpassed the ninth stage of the Body Refinement Realm. No internal injuries.”

Yuk Ho took his wrist and checked his pulse. But the familiar flow of Strong Energy eluded him.

“Your energy feels strange.”
“My cultivation method is somewhat different.”
“It’s not a way that damages your body, is it?”

Yuk Beom felt the concern embedded in his father’s fingertips.

“No.”

The tension drained from Yuk Ho’s hand.
Yuk Ho Yeon, too, leaned back against his chair.

“If your body is sound, there’s still something we can do.”

He spoke as though reaching a decision.

“Tomorrow I’ll meet with Gwak Jin Hyeok myself.”

Yuk Beom’s eyes narrowed.

“The Mak Family has already paid their price.”
“If a man takes payment and acts, then he can stop for a larger price.”
“There’s no need for that.”

Yuk Ho Yeon’s gaze hardened.

“That’s for me to decide.”

Yuk Ho pressed down on Yuk Beom’s shoulder as his son opened his mouth to speak again.

“Leave this to us for today.”
“Father.”
“You’ve already spent half a year up in that mountain alone.”

Yuk Ho did not remove his hand from his son’s shoulder.

“I won’t have you fighting alone again on your first day back home.”

Yuk Beom watched the two men without speaking.
Yuk Ho Yeon let out a scornful laugh.

“You think the Yuk Clan would stand idle while one of ours is trampled unjustly in the streets?”

He turned his gaze toward Yuk Ho and Yuk Pung.

“Let’s go. There’s much to prepare.”

The three men rose from their seats. But their footsteps did not lead toward the conference room—they headed for the Rear Courtyard.
Yuk Beom stared at the closed door for a long moment.
Yuk Myeong, who remained across from him, set down his empty cup on the table.

“Do you know where they’re going?”
“The Rear Courtyard.”
“The treasure vault.”

Yuk Beom’s gaze shifted to Yuk Myeong.
Yuk Myeong walked toward the window. Beyond the snow-covered courtyard, torches flickered and moved.

“I don’t know what the Mak Family gave Gwak Jin Hyeok, but they’ve already moved the Martial Arts Academy instructors. A few chests of gold coins won’t be the end of it.”

His fingers gripped the window frame.

“Grandfather is prepared to give even more than that—everything he’s accumulated over years, perhaps decades.”

Yuk Beom gazed at the flames beyond the window.
The warm scent of food suddenly turned heavy, sinking into the room.

“And then?”
“So I’m asking you.”

Yuk Myeong turned around.
As his sleeve swung, a cold blade of steel cut across the room. The tip of the Long Sword stopped just before Yuk Beom’s throat.
Kkamangi bristled immediately, black embers crackling from his jaws as Yuk Beom raised his hand to hold the creature back.
Yuk Myeong did not lower his blade.

“Did you truly earn that power with honor?”

Yuk Beom did not even look down at the sword point before his eyes.

“I earned it through blood.”
“You climbed from the depths of the Body Refinement Realm to here in mere months.”

Yuk Myeong’s jaw tightened.

“Now I cannot even read your stage. Am I supposed to believe that with a single word about effort?”
“You don’t have to.”

Yuk Beom’s voice did not waver.

“What I’ve done doesn’t change because of this.”

The sword tip trembled, just barely.
Yuk Myeong gripped harder, as if to hide that tremor.

“I won’t stand by and watch my family pour everything into a man who learned forbidden arts.”

Yuk Beom finally raised his hand. With two fingers, he pushed the blade away from his throat.

“I didn’t believe it at first either.”

Yuk Myeong’s eyes narrowed.

“Believe what?”
“That I could learn martial arts at all.”

Yuk Beom kept his hand on the blade, watching him.

“That I could grow stronger than yesterday. That I could rise again after falling.”

His voice dropped lower.

“But when I thought I would die, I stood up once more. When my arms wouldn’t move, I clenched my teeth and moved them anyway. When I fell, I rose. This strength—it came from that.”

The room fell silent.
Even Kkamangi’s whimper from her throat ceased.
Yuk Myeong stared down at the blade that had been pushed aside. He could have raised it again, but his grip had failed him.
He exhaled slowly and sheathed his sword.

“I hope it wasn’t for nothing.”

The long sword slid into its scabbard.

“Now, if you fall, it won’t end with just you. The Yuk Clan falls with you.”

As Yuk Myeong turned to leave, Yuk Beom called out.

“Then why tell me?”

His footsteps stopped.

“I wasn’t helping you.”

Yuk Myeong turned his head only.

“I dislike you. But I dislike it more when the Mak Family tramples Yuk Clan members with underhanded tricks.”

His mouth twisted.

“If you’re humiliated in front of everyone, it’s the Yuk Clan that suffers.”

Yuk Beom let out a quiet laugh.

“Is that why you used to torment me?”
……
“Because I was the Yuk Clan’s shame?”

Instead of answering, Yuk Myeong grasped the door handle. The veins on the back of his hand stood out, then slowly subsided.
His silence was acknowledgment enough.
Yuk Beom watched the closing door and spoke.

“I won’t use the clan’s wealth.”

Yuk Myeong turned back.

“You’re not saying you’ll give up on the Academy?”
“The opposite.”

Yuk Beom rose from his seat.

“I’ll get in. No question.”

He added without a trace of hesitation.

“I won’t borrow anyone’s money or ask anyone’s favor. By my own strength.”

Yuk Myeong studied him for a long moment. He’d meant to sneer at the arrogance, but the words wouldn’t come.

“We’ll see if that fine confidence of yours lasts until tomorrow.”

He opened the door and spoke one final time.

“I still hate you, either way.”
“I hate you too.”

Their eyes met for a brief moment.
This time, neither of them smiled with contempt.
After Yuk Myeong left, Yuk Beom set Kkamangi on the table.

“Do you think Gwak Jin Hyeok will stop me tomorrow?”

Kkamangi stared up at him absently, displaying his round belly.

“No worries there.”

Yuk Beom gazed at the torches outside the window and smiled slowly.

“I’m rather looking forward to it.”

The following morning.
Snow that had fallen overnight melted in the sunlight, and the streets of Ganglim Castle brimmed with warmth for the first time in days.
Yuk Ho Yeon and Yuk Ho had carried two large trunks to a private room of the Tea House early in the morning—trunks containing gold coins and rare treasures the Yuk Clan had amassed over many years.
Yuk Ho gazed down at the locked trunks.

“What if he says even this isn’t enough?”

Yuk Ho Yeon placed his hand over the lock.

“Then we bring out more.”
“Yuk Beom won’t accept it if he finds out.”
“Which is precisely why I’m not telling him.”

Yuk Ho Yeon feigned composure, but his fingertips were rigid.
At that moment, the door to the Mak Family’s private room across the way opened. Mak Cheon emerged with a grin and swept his gaze across the trunks.

“Elder Yuk. Bringing your whole household at dawn, are we?”

He gestured at the trunks with the tip of his foot.

“Who wouldn’t try to silence anyone?”

Yuk Ho Yeon’s eyes turned cold.

“There’s no need to play ignorant.”

Mak Cheon clicked his tongue.

“I’m afraid that won’t be nearly enough. Instructor Gwak’s tastes turn out to be rather expensive.”

He closed the door with a mirthless chuckle.
Yuk Ho asked quietly.

“Does that mean we’re already offering something we can’t obtain?”

Yuk Ho Yeon fell silent for a moment.

“An Elixir Pill. That’s the most likely.”

Yuk Ho’s expression hardened. They could surrender gold coins and secret martial texts, but there was no way to procure an Elixir Pill made by a Flame Practitioner right now.
Yuk Ho Yeon summoned Yuk Pung.

“First, probe Gwak Jin Hyeok’s true intentions. If there’s even a hint he might negotiate, bring him upstairs.”
“How much should we offer, sir?”
“Whatever it takes—as long as we secure a test opportunity.”

Yuk Myeong, listening from the side, gazed toward the plaza entrance.
Last night, Yuk Beom had sworn they wouldn’t touch the clan’s assets.
Yet the chest sat right before their eyes now.

‘Said he’d handle it himself.’

Yuk Myeong’s grip tightened on the railing.

‘Where are you, Yuk Beom? Where?’

In the opposite room, Mak Cheon was laughing quietly.

“What if we squeeze them for that much property too?”

Mak Rim asked, pouring more wine.

“So long as we don’t give them a clear answer, the Yuk Clan will just keep bringing more on their own.”

Mak Cheon nodded with satisfaction.

“Pass word to Gwak Jin Hyeok.”

He glanced at the seat beside him.

“What of Jo Uk?”
“Last night too, he was at the Baek Bong Ru with Mak Un Bi. They carry on like brothers now.”
“Forging ties with a Flame Practitioner is no small matter. Spare no expense in giving him what he wants.”

Mak Cheon lifted his teacup, smiling.

“And ask if he’d be willing to prepare one more batch of Elixir Pills for our children while he’s at it.”

The Elixir Pills the Mak Family had offered were forged by Jo Uk as well.
Gwak Jin Hyeok, seated below the plaza, rolled the medicine bottle in his palm. If the results proved ambiguous, he could question the growth pathway; if they looked promising, he could drag things out by citing the need for an energy assessment.
Eliminating one young provincial would be no difficulty. He merely hoped Yuk Beom would arrive quickly and conclude their arrangement.
That was when it happened.
The clamorous plaza fell suddenly silent.
Those standing in front turned one by one to look behind them. Even the young man before the Black Stone forgot his examination and shifted his gaze.

“It’s Yuk Beom!”

Someone’s cry shattered the stillness.

“Yuk Beom has arrived!”

The crowd parted left and right.
At the far end of the widened passage, Yuk Beom walked forward at an unhurried pace.
Strapped across his back was a black heavy sword that towered well above a man’s height. Kkamangi perched upon his shoulders, gazing about with evident curiosity at the countless eyes fixed upon them.
At the Tea House above, Yuk Ho Yeon and Yuk Ho rose simultaneously from their seats.
Yuk Myeong too gripped the railing, his eyes never leaving Yuk Beom.
The strongbox containing the clan’s wealth had not yet been opened.
Yuk Beom offered a slight bow toward the Tea House. Yet he did not slow his stride.
The path the crowd had carved led straight to the Black Stone. The Weaponless Heavy Sword

strapped to his back swayed with ponderous weight at each step, but his stride remained utterly composed.
Yuk Ho lurched forward urgently.

“Father, we must call him back. We haven’t even finished our discussion with Gwak Jin Hyeok, and if he goes in like this——”

Yuk Ho Yeon raised his arm to stop him.

“Do not call him.”
“But——”
“Look at his face.”

Yuk Ho fell silent.
Before the gazes of hundreds and the open hostility of the examination administrator, Yuk Beom did not turn his head once.
Yuk Ho Yeon’s hand slowly released the railing.

“When a martial artist has chosen his path, there is only one thing those around him can do.”

He spoke softly.

“Watch his back to the very end.”

Yuk Beom walked toward the center of the plaza, bearing the weight of hundreds of watching eyes.
Gwak Jin Hyeok removed his hand from the medicine bottle within his robes and slowly opened his eyes.

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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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