Chapter 63

Chapter 63: Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven

What truly allows a clan to stand firm on its own feet?

Is it the sovereign presence of its master? The swelling coffers of family treasure? The outward reach of martial dominance?

While every one of those elements held weight, a single principle stood far above the rest:

The unyielding weight of order and discipline.

What, then, was the genuine essence of that discipline?

Beopdo (法度)—in its literal meaning, the law and the Way.

Put plainly, it meant the statutes of the house and the precepts handed down by the lineage.

At present, two underlying dilemmas plagued the household.

First, having absorbed defectors who once walked the dark path, the clan had fractured into separate factions of old blood and newcomers.

To make matters worse, an immense gulf divided their martial strength. Such an imbalance was certain to spark friction.

Until fresh talents could be fostered to step up as true pillars and guiding momentum for the family, a method was needed to mend those dividing cracks. That urgency brought forth the second issue.

Someone had to come forward and carve the authority of the family statutes into the minds of all.

Bestowing real influence upon the veteran retainers would restore equilibrium, and such authority needed to rest with an individual whom the Lord of the House trusted without reservation.

Only one man fit every requirement for the mantle.

Gwak Mun.

Having drawn his first breath and grown to manhood within the Baek Estate, he had once stood as the preeminent martial force of the residence before the arrival of the converts from the dark path, Gu Ak among them.

His innate aptitude was… to be frank, plain. Yet his fidelity was absolute.

A reliable hand was just as indispensable as a rare prodigy. By that measure, Gwak Mun was a greater treasure to the Baek Estate than any other.

“Father, permit me to make a recommendation.”

“Speak your mind. What is it?”

“Our clan has risen to become the undisputed hegemon of Ak’an County, both in standing and in substance. That holds true whether judged by the sheer magnitude of our might or the altitude of our reputation. For that reason, I believe our discipline must match such elevated stature.”

Baek Muryang’s eyes flashed with keen interest as he studied Yanghwi.

Ever since an infiltrator had been exposed among the former outlaws, Baek Muryang had been racking his mind for a solution. To have his deepest unease so precisely resolved brought not just relief, but immense fondness.

“Say what is on your heart, Hwi.”

“Yes, Father.”

Yanghwi shifted his gaze toward Gwak Mun, who was standing beside the retainers who had paused their daily duties to gather around.

“Having passed through a grave trial, ought we not establish an unmistakable boundary between merit and fault? I formally propose that you confer a grand reward upon the retainer who has displayed the greatest contribution, offering a guiding standard for everyone.”

“A sound thought. And who, in your assessment, has earned such distinction?”

Yanghwi did not pull his gaze from Gwak Mun.

In private quarters, he spoke to him warmly as Uncle Gwak, yet in this hall, such casual speech had no place.

“The warrior Gwak Mun. I propose that you bestow two elixirs upon his hands and name him Master of the Hall of Discipline.”

Stunned by the unexpected summons, Gwak Mun’s eyes widened in sheer astonishment.

“Y-Young Master Hwi… This humble servant has achieved… nothing worthy of note, so…”

His words faltered into silence.

The hesitation was only natural. Once second only to the Lord of the House in martial prowess across the Baek Estate, he could no longer even secure a spot within the top ten.

“Warrior Gwak Mun has given his entire life in service to this lineage, and no one comprehends the foundational laws of our clan more deeply than he does. Conceding the mantle of Master of the Hall of Discipline to him as an honor is only proper.”

Baek Muryang looked over and asked, “Hwi, what do you deem to be the true family laws of our house?”

“I submit that such an inquiry would be far more appropriately answered by warrior Gwak Mun than by this son.”

“Very well. Gwak Mun, share your perspective.”

Every gaze in the gathering shifted squarely onto him. The crushing weight of the sudden scrutiny froze Gwak Mun to his core.

In that very breath.

Uncle Gwak. Simply speak with honesty.

Turn and see the eyes of your fellow retainers.

Yanghwi’s voice slipped directly into his awareness through qi transmission.

Looking past the center of the yard, Gwak Mun finally took in the sea of faces around him. Aside from the ranks belonging to the Reformation Pavilion, every familiar soul was watching him with expressions brimming with pure faith.

In a heartbeat, Gwak Mun grasped the purpose behind the moment.

So that is it. That is why Young Master Hwi called upon my name.

“The statutes of this family… reside in chivalry, righteousness, and harmony.”

His words came slowly, yet they carried the steady weight of unshakeable conviction.

“To strive after chivalry, to hold righteousness dear, and through them both, to arrive at lasting harmony. Such are the house laws of the Baek clan—truths that this Gwak, having lived his life within these walls, has felt in his flesh and etched into his spirit.”

A look of deep gratification bloomed across Baek Muryang’s features.

“Gwak Mun. Nay, Master of the Hall of Discipline. Your understanding is exact. Righteousness and chivalry. And culminating in harmony. The true will of our bloodline moves in complete step with your words and actions.”

Discipline was the framework of order.

It was an unwritten covenant that every retainer was bound to honor, an inner compass each member had to embrace.

“Master of the Hall of Discipline, will you shoulder this mandate?”

Gwak Mun fell to one knee, raising his hands in a formal cupped-fist salute.

“If this burden is granted to this servant, I shall surrender my very breath to see it fulfilled.”

“Splendid. Let everyone hear this.”

Baek Muryang cast his commanding aura across the entire open ground.

“In deep gratitude for a lifetime of unswerving devotion to this clan, I grant two elixirs to Gwak Mun, Master of the Hall of Discipline. If any soul harbors doubt or objection, step forth now!”

“…”

Not a single person moved.

Merely twelve months prior, the Baek Estate had been dismissed as nothing more than a third-rate martial clan. Yet from such modest roots, an apex realm master had risen to power.

Putting Old Man Yeo to the side, Father is undeniably the foremost martial artist in all of Ak’an.

Baek Muryang’s overwhelming majesty was more than enough to command absolute reverence from the assembly.

“Since there are no voices of dispute, we will carry on with the distribution of merits.”

Five fresh elixirs had been brought forth through arduous refinement over the past month. The gathered warriors watched with burning eyes.

“Gu Ak, Master of the Reformation Pavilion. Present yourself.”

Gu Ak stepped forward without a word and clasped his fists in deep respect.

“You once held vast influence, yet you surrendered it without hesitation to unite with our house, an act for which I have remained deeply grateful. Though an elixir was conferred upon you once before, that alone could not repay your merit, and so I grant you another this day. Continue to preserve your steadfast loyalty toward this clan.”

“This servant obeys!”

With Gu Ak stepping back, the turn naturally passed down to Yanghwi.

“Eldest Young Lord, Baek Yanghwi.”

“Present, Lord of the House!”

“Elaborate praise is unnecessary; your deeds are known to every soul here. I confer two elixirs upon you, to employ as your judgment dictates.”

“My deepest thanks, Father!”

Two elixirs remained. With the silent accord of the retainers, Baek Muryang granted one each to Baek Heonso and Baek Yeonyeon. The rest of the accolades and duties were balanced through parcels of silver and physical goods.

“With that, our business here concludes. Now that crucial matters have been settled to completion…”

A wide grin spread across Baek Muryang’s face as he let out a thunderous shout, “It is time to hold the feast we set aside! Today, drink until your senses scatter!”

“WE OBEY!”

Gather every current beneath the heavens into unity to replenish the true source.

Guiding his internal energy through a completed circuit under the doctrine of the Harmonious Heaven Primordial Art, Yanghwi parted his eyes.

“Phew…”

In that brief passage of time, my cultivation advanced by five full years.

The leap was owed entirely to the rare pill preserved by Lü Dongbin the Sword Immortal. As the immortal qi nestled within his immortal core dissolved strand by strand, the space within his dantian broadened without pause. That very immortal qi was weaving its presence ever deeper into his Harmonious Heaven qi, which stirred a slight shadow of apprehension in his thoughts, but since it brought no disharmony to his vessels, he chose not to meddle with it.

Besides, this immortal qi has lingered within my dantian ever since the regression occurred. By its very nature, it should harbor no malice.

All the same, unraveling the origin behind it remained an objective when circumstance allowed. For now, there was nothing more he could force.

I must also lay the foundation for an intelligence wing without delay.

A swift and far-reaching web of information acted as the vital pulse for any expanding power. To reach the standing of a genuine noble house, building an autonomous intelligence network was an inescapable requirement.

Even after pressing forward this far, an endless mountain of duties remains before me.

Guiding his younger siblings along the proper path, transforming the fresh recruits welcomed into the clan into genuine practitioners of the martial way. Above all, he could never afford to slacken his vigil against the catastrophes that had consumed his past life.

I have secured a remedy to alleviate Mother’s sickness. Yet I have not completely steered Father and Yeon away from their impending fates.

While Yeon was still wrapped in innocent youth, in time she would mature into a woman of sheer, immaculate beauty. Swarms of men with vile, predatory ambitions would surely gather. Even though the Baek house commanded influence unimaginable compared to his former life, it remained insufficient. At the end of the day, their dominion reached no further than the borders of a single county.

The figure tied directly to Yeon’s demise in that past lifetime was the young sect leader of the White Robes Sect.

The White Robes Sect. Celebrated throughout the land as the Greatest Sect of Nanchang. True to that title, they commanded the most terrifying might within that metropolis. In light of the staggering chasm between their forces, the Baek house still had immense ground to cover.

As for Father… though the primary road to that ruin has been severed, lowering my guard would be folly.

In the past life, his father had perished after being dragged into the chaos brought on by So’s reckless, twisted behavior. That particular tragedy would not unfold again, yet constant peril lingered.

A clan patriarch constantly walks alongside death. When the hour arrives for our house to seize control over Muju, even reaching the apex realm will fall short of guaranteeing safety.

He needed to lay down safeguards against that horizon as well, continuing his duties in the guise of a martial scholar.

Ah, that reminds me. I must uncover who stands behind the Gyojin Gang. There is without question an unseen hand pulling their strings.

A martial expert of the Blood Night Wanderer’s stature had stepped forward to fight in a death match. Demanding a death match was no petty contract; it commanded an expenditure of at least ten thousand silver nyang. Securing such an arrangement meant sacrificing enough wealth to cripple an entire prosperous enterprise.

No matter how desperate they were to secure triumph, such an expense defied reason.

What was more, given how common ruffians of the criminal underworld naturally groveled before power while trampling the defenseless, the entire setup reeked of deception. Had they been aware of the Baek family’s ties to the Zhuge family and the Tang Clan, common sense dictated that they would have tucked their tails and run, rather than issue a lethal challenge. They had to possess a patron influential enough to shield them from the aftermath.

The connection likely runs shallow, however. If their alliance were truly profound, the backing provided would have been drastically more overwhelming.

Regardless, the matter demanded thorough investigation. Yanghwi’s mind drifted back to the sheer convenience an intelligence division would bring… when a sudden realization struck him.

Now that I recall, whispers in my previous life claimed that thieves possess their own clandestine channels for trading secrets.

It might pale next to the Beggars’ Sect or the Hao Sect, but for the immediate future, it should serve our needs well enough.

Thieves prized hidden information just as intensely as dedicated spy networks. They had to scout out guarded estates to plunder and slip past relentless trackers; stripped of intel, they would find themselves captured within moments.

Old Man Yeo is the reigning Divine Thief. He is bound to possess that knowledge.

Yanghwi hurried straight toward Yeo Hyeok’s pavilion and laid out the query that had formed in his mind. Yeo Hyeok offered an effortless nod.

“You speak of the Thief Net (偸網). Reaching out to them poses no difficulty at all.”

A net of thieves. The title carried quite a fitting ring.

“Elder, would it be possible to utilize the Thief Net to secure the intelligence our house requires for the time being?”

“It demands little effort, so I have no objection. Be warned, however, that calling upon the Thief Net requires a heavy purse.”

Because it remained fundamentally a hidden channel among thieves, Yeo Hyeok clarified that their insights were narrow and commanded an exorbitant toll.

“To a thief, the bare reality that someone seeks a specific piece of information is treated as a tradeable secret in itself. The Hao Sect handles affairs similarly, yet the Thief Net demands a far steeper price.”

“That is acceptable. So long as the channel is open to us, the cost matters little. Then I have an immediate request.”

“Name it.”

“Track down the origins of the coin the Gyojin Gang offered to secure the Blood Night Wanderer.”

“Consider it done.”

With a quick nod, Yeo Hyeok leaped into the open sky, vanishing from view in the space of a single breath. With that departure, a lingering weight slipped from Yanghwi’s shoulders.

If they emptied their own vaults to hire him, fine. If a patron lurks in the shadows, their face will be dragged into the light, which serves us just as well.

Either outcome justified the spent silver. Letting out a light breath, Yanghwi rolled the tension from his shoulders.

Pushing my mind without pause has left my muscles stiff as wood.

Playing a few pranks on Chudal seemed like an ideal distraction to loosen his thoughts. While visiting, he could also inspect the boy’s martial foundation on the old man’s behalf.

“Chudal! Where are you hiding, you little rascal?!”

As he wandered the grounds bellowing at full volume, an entirely different retainer hastened over instead of Chudal.

“Young Master Hwi, a missive has arrived for your hands.”

“Oh? What have you got?”

The attendant passed forward a carefully sealed envelope.

[To the Young Hero from the Empress (后傳小俠)]

Yanghwi’s eyes widened a fraction.

The Empress sends to the young hero.

The soul behind this correspondence was none other than the Sound Empress.