Chapter 21
Chapter 21: Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven
The following day, an eagerly awaited visitor arrived at the Baek Estate.
A gentleman with the surname Yeo, bearing the personal name Hyeok, came calling and proclaimed himself to be Rangnang’s long-lost sire.
“Greetings, elder. Forgive the inquiry, but can you present any token to verify your identity as the father of Young Mistress Rang?”
In response to Baek Muryang’s courteous challenge, Yeo Hyeok reached into the folds of his garment and produced an ornamental plaque.
It was undeniably the matching half to the medallion preserved by Rangnang. Furthermore, when channeled with true qi, the artifact hummed softly, vibrating in flawless harmonic synchrony with its counterpart.
“One hopes this offers sufficient verification.”
A collective murmur of approval swept through the onlookers. Yeo Unjuk—or more accurately, Yeo Hyeok—slowly shifted his attention toward Rangnang.
Observing his own flesh and blood after decades of forced separation, a turbulent storm of emotions churned within the depths of his eyes.
“Arang… my dear child…”
Rangnang stood rooted in sheer bewilderment. Such a reaction was entirely natural, given that she possessed no living memory of having a father at all.
All the same, the bonds of blood remain forged by heaven itself, impossible to sever.
A buried memory from roughly two decades prior stirred within Rangnang’s mind.
The aged patron who had once gifted her that protective token before vanishing shared the exact facial features of the man standing before her now.
“Fa… ther?”
Clutching Gu Ak’s hand tightly as if seeking an anchor in her fright, Rangnang—now Yeo Arang—took a cautious, trembling step forward.
“Arang…”
Yeo Arang reached out, letting her palm rest against Yeo Hyeok’s cheek, and his own calloused, time-worn hand gently covered her fingers.
Fat teardrops welled along her lashes and cascaded freely down her face.
“Father! Father!”
Positioned beside Baek Muryang, Yanghwi quietly observed the tearful embrace of the reunited family.
It was truly an ideal culmination.
A short while later.
Having steadied his composure, Yeo Hyeok clasped his hands in a formal martial salute once more.
“I have made a pitiful display of myself before such venerable company.”
“Any man would do the same under such circumstances. Please, elder, pay it no mind.”
“Your gracious understanding honors this old man. If the Lord of the House permits, might I presume to submit one additional plea?”
“A plea, you say…?”
“Before I elaborate, allow me a brief question. Is there anyone present in this hall who must remain ignorant of a vital secret?”
Baek Muryang surveyed the assembly, his gaze briefly passing over Yeo Arang and Gu Ak.
Considering the pair were the man’s own daughter and son-in-law, he found no cause to exclude them, offering a simple nod of assent.
“You may speak freely.”
Yeo Hyeok reached back into his robes, brought out two bound volumes, and presented them directly to Baek Muryang.
The tomes were visibly archaic, carrying the weight of at least two centuries. Upon scanning mere fragments of the initial pages, Baek Muryang’s gaze widened in absolute astonishment.
“Could this truly be…!”
Contained within was an ultimate divine art radiating profound and sublime fundamentals.
Even more astounding was the fact that its core principles were undeniably rooted in the foundational martial lineage of the Baek house itself.
“Elder. You must shed light on this.”
“To explain the origin, I must reveal the lineage to which this old man belongs. Has the Lord of the House ever heard of the Shadow Ghost Gate (影鬼門)?”
Baek Muryang gasped in sudden recognition.
“The Divine Thief lineage (神偸之脈)!”
Throughout history, those bearing the mantle of the Divine Thief had walked the jianghu from one era to the next.
It was an elusive sect dedicated to mastering and transmitting the absolute pinnacle of supernatural thievery.
This elder was the true inheritor of the Divine Thief lineage?
While Yanghwi tilted his head in mild bewilderment, Yeo Hyeok’s private qi transmission resonated clearly in his mind.
— The Divine Thief of the preceding era was deeply entangled in the Sword King’s Tomb Bloodbath as well.
— The sole reason this old man evaded endless pursuit and survived all these years, despite being marked as a public enemy of the martial realm, was that my venerable master took me under his wing and bestowed upon me a brand-new identity.
That revelation swiftly untangled several perplexing contradictions.
Chief among them was why an elder known as alters deer into horses commanded martial prowess reaching at least the apex realm.
“These two martial arts entrusted to the Lord of the House were originally recovered by our sect’s progenitor from a divergent branch that splintered from the main Baek clan.”
Yeo Hyeok dropped to one knee, paying the highest form of respect he could muster.
“I am acutely aware of the boundless benevolence the Lord of the House has shown toward my flesh and blood. In recompense, I hereby restore these two martial lineages to their rightful home.”
A profound tremor coursed through Baek Muryang, stirred by sentiment too vast for words.
What had driven the Baek house, once celebrated among the Five Great Houses, into its agonizing, centuries-long decay?
It was simply that across the passing eras, they had lost nearly every advanced martial discipline in their possession, stripped down to nothing more than fundamental basics.
Now… our family finally reclaims superior martial arts once again!
This was a miraculous turning point. It amounted to laying down a fresh, unshakeable bedrock upon which the clan could rise anew as a true martial family.
Admittedly, for a cultivator like Baek Muryang who lingered merely in the second-rate realm, directly comprehending these arts and imparting them to his heirs and retainers would demand an excruciating investment of time, yet…
Baek Muryang’s attention shifted toward Yanghwi.
Here stood an unmatched prodigy capable of mastering both disciplines in a mere fraction of that span—a beloved adopted son to whom he had provided so little, yet from whom he had received so much, stirring a tender pang of apologetic gratitude.
“Elder, rise!”
It was not as though Baek Muryang harbored no lingering doubts about the situation. He was certain other unspoken histories and layered secrets remained hidden beneath the surface.
Nevertheless, the moment these two martial arts were returned, all such concerns paled into irrelevance.
Leaping to his feet, Baek Muryang hurried across the hall, dropped to one knee before Yeo Hyeok, and firmly caught the older man’s hands to raise him upright.
“Our actions were merely what common righteousness demanded, yet you repay us with a boon of unimaginable magnitude. I scarcely know how our clan could ever match such generosity.”
“Compared to the mountain of grace the Lord of the House has bestowed, this humble gesture is nothing more than a token of basic etiquette.”
“This Baek cannot accept such modesty. Please grant our clan an opportunity to balance this immense debt.”
“If the Lord of the House insists… might this old man and my daughter be permitted to reside under the roof of the Baek house as honored guests?”
Harboring the living inheritor of the Divine Thief lineage within their walls.
While such an arrangement could never be brazenly broadcast across the wider world, for the Baek Estate, it was a colossal fortune.
It was an extraordinary favor they would never have dared propose, yet coveted above all else.
“How could you even hesitate to ask? A full courtyard pavilion shall be placed entirely at the disposal of yourself and Young Mistress Yeo.”
Wearing a warm countenance, Yeo Hyeok subtly shifted his gaze toward Yanghwi.
— This old man has parted with yet another great secret on your behalf.
— True to our pact, I refrained from perusing the internal text, yet the mere burden of possessing that knowledge felt like carrying a perilous vulnerability.
The sole inheritor of the Divine Thief lineage. He had indeed surrendered an immense vulnerability.
Baek Muryang was well aware that Yanghwi was the true architect orchestrating this board.
Consequently, Yanghwi required a sound justification for how he had come into possession of the counter-methods, and this revelation provided the flawless facade.
Yanghwi parted his lips into an amused grin, quietly returning his voice via qi transmission.
— You executed that brilliantly, elder.
Yeo Hyeok’s eyes widened in sheer shock.
— By what means are you projecting qi transmission?
— I merely experimented with it for a short while, and it seemed to click into place.
Qi transmission was fundamentally an advanced branch of internal sound arts, a feat requiring a substantial foundation of internal energy and refined technical control.
It was by no means an art that a youth who had commenced martial training less than a year prior should have been able to wield.
— Might you consider this an equitable exchange for what you just surrendered?
“Ha ha ha ha.”
Yeo Unjuk broke into hearty laughter, blending genuine incredulity with deep delight.
Witnessing the ascension of this youth would undoubtedly serve as the second greatest joy of his remaining years within the Baek Estate.
Within the traditions of the Baek house, the senior council convened whenever significant clan decisions required formal deliberation.
In truth, these gatherings had previously transpired once every quarter at best.
Given the scarcity of ventures managed by the clan, pressing issues worthy of serious debate had simply ceased to exist.
And yet…
“Our council seems to gather with remarkable frequency these days. It is entirely thanks to your efforts, Young Master Hwi.”
Steward Han, seated among the assembled elders, took his place alongside Yanghwi with an affectionate, beaming expression.
Baek Muryang signaled the commencement of the assembly and formally presented the primary agenda.
“Over these past few months, our house has achieved monumental strides both within our walls and throughout the territory. More precisely, we have established an enduring foundation.”
The brutal clash among the three rival factions, remembered by the residents of Ak’an County as the dark-path turf war, had finally drawn to a close.
In its aftermath, the Baek house had successfully claimed ownership over the enterprise known as Hoyeong Pavilion.
As a consequence, every retainer had been pushed into ceaseless, exhausting labor.
“The newly reclaimed martial arts represent another vital aspect of this expansion. Hwi. How progresses your study of the two techniques?”
“I have attained the first star in both arts, securing the baseline comprehension required to guide others.”
“What? Truly? A mere seven days have passed!”
“It is so.”
Baek Muryang could not conceal his profound awe.
“You have performed magnificently. In that case, we shall initiate the instruction of the retainers beginning this very day.”
“Understood, Father!”
“Moving forward. Master of Baekik Pavilion, how fares the oversight of Hoyeong Pavilion?”
Gu Ak was presently directing the operations of Hoyeong Pavilion in coordination with his beloved, Yeo Arang.
Having a pressing concern to report, Gu Ak answered without hesitation.
“Recently, operatives from the Gyojin Gang have been provoking minor skirmishes. It appears their ambitions are fixed upon seizing Hoyeong Pavilion.”
Hoyeong Pavilion was previously the most profitable pillar of revenue under the fallen Honggyo Gang.
It was undeniably a colossal establishment for an estate like the Baek house—guided by a second-rate leader commanding barely a dozen retainers—to retain securely within its grasp.
“Is this because the balance of power across Ak’an County has hardened into a direct rivalry between the Suho Alliance and the Gyojin Gang?”
“Having consolidated their ranks, they appear eager to give rein to their avarice once more.”
Hearing the council’s observations, Baek Muryang stroked his chin, lost in contemplation.
“This presents a delicate complication. For the immediate future, our clan cannot afford to be embroiled in open strife.”
“What prompts such caution, Lord of the House?”
“Ah. My sworn brother dispatched a missive. He noted that he has affairs in the vicinity and intends to pay a visit to our estate.”
“The Peerless Dragon is coming here?”
Baek Muryang’s sworn sibling was none other than the young lord of the Zhuge family, Zhuge Seon the Peerless Dragon (臥龍無雙).
Though the Zhuge family was celebrated for unmatched intellect and strategic insight, this particular man was an eccentric, whispered throughout the realm to harbor a near-obsessive zeal for martial arts.
That such a figure had been profoundly moved by the unbending righteousness of Baek Muryang, Peerless in Chivalry, and had formalized an Oath of the Peach Garden to stand as his sworn younger brother was an enduring legend across the region.
My uncle arriving at our estate during this period never occurred in the past.
Reflecting upon it, during this corresponding timeframe in his previous life, his father had been confined to bed, slowly recovering from the grievous wounds sustained during Gu Ak’s rampage.
That unfortunate circumstance had almost certainly prevented the visit from ever taking place back then.
Wait. If that is the case…
“Lord of the House. Does Uncle travel alone?”
“As the young lord of the Zhuge family, he would hardly embark on a journey without personal guards. Ah, he also indicated that his daughter will be accompanying him.”
Hm? Uncle’s daughter?
His uncle, Zhuge Seon, had fathered an elder son and a second-born daughter.
Or rather, that was how the family stood in the past.
Among them, the second daughter, Zhuge Seolha, had suffered a tragic calamity in her youth and departed the mortal world prematurely.
At this exact juncture, that tragedy has yet to come to pass. Wait. Could it mean…?
Yanghwi tucked that contemplation away for the moment, noticing the council members still fretting over the current territorial threat.
“If the provocations of the Gyojin Gang are our chief concern, I have formulated a viable scheme.”
Every eye in the chamber immediately locked onto Yanghwi.
“A viable scheme? What do you propose, Young Master Hwi?”
“We need only circulate rumors that the young lord of the Zhuge family will soon arrive as our guest. That alone will ensure no dark-path scoundrels dare raise a hand against us.”
“…If that comprises the entirety of your thought, it can scarcely be praised as a viable scheme.”
The critique was fair. What Yanghwi proposed was not an enduring remedy, but an ephemeral stopgap designed to defer their troubles.
“Naturally, that is merely the opening gambit. Within the window of time we secure, the Baek house must actively swell its internal strength.”
The fundamental reason dark-path marauders, including the Gyojin Gang, currently coveted the possessions of the Baek house was simply because the clan’s true martial weight remained negligible.
“Our clan now commands an establishment providing steady income. Furthermore, our approaching partnership with the Baekseo Merchant Guild will soon inject fresh capital into our coffers. Lord of the House, I recommend that we recruit a considerable number of new retainers without delay.”
Baek Muryang stroked his beard, considering the proposal.
“Your logic is sound, Hwi. If we proceed, what profile of martial artists should we seek to integrate?”
“Two distinct groups: gifted prospects to secure our future, and seasoned combatants who can be deployed on the front lines immediately.”
“In short, you wish to leverage the prestige of the Zhuge family to buy the time necessary to expand our numbers.”
“Precisely so, Lord of the House.”
“Yet what leverage do we possess to attract such retainers to our banner?”
It was obvious that without distinct advantages to entering the service of the Baek Estate, enlisting veteran combatants—even if raw prospects could be gathered—would prove an exceedingly difficult trial.
Naturally, Yanghwi had anticipated this hurdle long before.
“Two assets: the Hundred and Eight Heaven-Splitting Swords, and moral justification.”
“Hm? The Hundred and Eight Heaven-Splitting Swords stands as an epoch-making ultimate technique, newly established as our clan’s core heritage. We cannot lightly distribute such a divine art among ordinary retainers.”
The hesitation was entirely reasonable, yet Yanghwi offered a subtle shake of his head.
“By my breakdown, the Hundred and Eight Heaven-Splitting Swords is organized into fifty-four distinct forms spanning the front eighteen, middle eighteen, and rear eighteen. The most profound truths are reserved strictly for the later sequences.”
Put differently, while the full Hundred and Eight Heaven-Splitting Swords represented an unmatched pinnacle of swordsmanship, transmitting merely the preliminary stages made it equivalent to a formidable first-rate art.
During his former life, he had purposely structured the discipline in this modular fashion so that a single martial framework could serve both the core bloodline and the wider ranks of external retainers.
“We must never employ the Hundred and Eight Heaven-Splitting Swords as cheap bait. Doing so would only encourage recruits to abscond the moment they grasp the technique.”
“Your intention is to bestow it solely upon proven talents who will anchor our long-term strength. Is that correct, Hwi?”
“Indeed. However, to draw in seasoned martial artists capable of serving as immediate defense, we require a different incentive. Specifically, a righteous justification.”
“Elaborate on your thinking.”
“The concept is simple. We merely expand the ranks of men like Brother Gu—or rather, the Master of Baekik Pavilion.”
To put it plainly, he was advocating for the recruitment of dark-path ruffians directly into the ranks of the clan’s retainers.
In Yanghwi’s assessment, it offered the fastest viable path to rapidly elevate the Baek Estate’s martial leverage in the short term.
Though Father and the retainers will certainly balk at the notion.
Sure enough, Baek Muryang and Steward Han were already staring back at Yanghwi, their brows drawn together in deep skepticism.
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