The Third-Rate Martial Arts Family Becomes the World's Strongest Chapter 51

Chapter 51

“Junior Brother.”

It was a low call from Gu-Ak.

Feeling guilty, Yang-hwi responded cheerfully on purpose.

“Yes, Gu-Hyung! Did you call for me? Your junior brother is right here!”

But it didn’t work.

Gu-Ak growled almost immediately.

“Didn’t you promise me? That once you returned from your travels, you’d guarantee time to spend with Rang-rang.”

“Haha, did I say that?”

“How long are you planning to work me like a mule?!”

Gu-Ak exploded in anger.

It was clear now that playing dumb and trying to weasel out of it wouldn’t work.

“My apologies. But it’ll only take three days at most this time, so don’t worry. Three days, including travel time!”

“Really?”

Gu-Ak shot him a look full of suspicion.

Given how many times he’d been duped, trusting Yang-hwi wasn’t easy.

“You’re saying you’re going to capture a demonic cultivator that quickly? Even if the target’s not a martial artist, it takes time to track down someone in hiding.”

“Want to make a wager? What will Gu-Hyung put up?”

Despite the valid doubt, Yang-hwi made a bold declaration.

And just like that, Gu-Ak sheepishly backed off.

He had never once won a bet at times like this.

“It’s just a saying. I’ll trust you.”

“Yes, trust brings blessings even while you sleep, they say.”

Truthfully, Yang-hwi was fully confident he could catch the target within three days.

Because he already knew everything about the man’s whereabouts and movements.

‘Lewd Fox of Scandalous Rumors’

The Lewd Fox of Scandalous Rumors.

As the vulgar nickname suggested, he was a sex-crazed beast—

A r*pist who had assaulted countless women.

He even dared violate a woman from the Tang Family, and was now being hunted down.

‘If I catch that bastard, I can turn the Tang Family into an ally of the main clan.’

Currently, the members of the Tang Family roaming Jiangxi had two goals:

First, capture and kill the Lewd Fox.

Second, find a suitable location to establish a branch stronghold.

‘In my previous life, they captured him near Akan-hyeo, tortured him in all sorts of ways, and then killed him.’

That was also why Yang-hwi knew the movements of both the Lewd Fox and the Tang Family.

Rumor had it they were a clan known for repaying grudges tenfold, and people gossiped about it endlessly.

‘Since I know exactly how and where they caught him, capturing him this time will be a piece of cake.’

Even if the Lewd Fox was a first-class warrior nearly at the peak realm.

“Now then, Gu-Hyung, let me share my plan to catch that perverted bastard, the Lewd Fox.”

Yang-hwi explained the outline of the plan simply.

The idea was to lay a trap, gain the upper hand, and capture him alive.

“You really know all sorts of things, Junior Brother. Sometimes I wonder if you’re reading the heavens.”

“I just base my guesses on rumors I’ve picked up. That’s all.”

“And yet those guesses are never wrong. It’s quite curious.”

“Well, that may be. After all, the criminal can never keep up with the eyes of a genius.”

“……”

The two made their way toward the northern part of Akan-hyeo—

A low mountain nestled on the border of Mugan County.

“This should be the bastard’s hideout. Let’s look for a cave or shelter with signs of recent habitation.”

****

Thanks to leaving Baek Family Manor early in the morning, they reached a suspected cave by midday.

“So many women’s clothes lying around… It’s obvious.”

Not far from the cave, the earth looked recently dug and covered back up.

No doubt, it was where the bastard had buried one of his victims.

They took a moment to silently pay respects to the deceased.

And Yang-hwi made a quiet vow.

‘Whoever you were, I’ll get revenge so brutal, even in the afterlife you’ll be at peace.’

“Gu-Hyung, I’ll begin setting the trap now. Please stand watch.”

Based on his past-life knowledge, Yang-hwi deduced that the Lewd Fox was currently prowling nearby villages, hunting for a woman to violate.

Even while being hunted by the Tang Family, he couldn’t stop his lust.

A degenerate worthy of the nickname “Lust Demon.”

Thinking that, he laid down the satchel from his back.

Usually, he made Gu-Ak carry the luggage, but today he’d volunteered to do it himself, probably because he felt guilty.

‘Hehehehe, let’s see how you like this.’

Inside the satchel was a poison bomb.

The very one Gu-Ak had taken when they raided the Cheongsa Sect right after their return.

Even during the Dark Path fighting, they hadn’t used it.

This seemed like the perfect opportunity.

‘No need to hold back when catching a lust-crazed bastard.’

“Hehehehe…”

Yang-hwi grinned wickedly as he hid poison bombs throughout the cave.

Drawing on his experience from his days as a wandering martial wanderer, he even took care to erase all traces perfectly.

“Gu-Hyung. It’s done.”

“Already? That was fast. Do I need to double-check it?”

Gu-Ak showed a flicker of unease on his face.

Understandable.

After all, the most important task had just been left to someone younger, almost like leaving it to a child.

“Trust me. Still, if you don’t, feel free to take a look. We’ve got time.”

After inspecting the cave, Gu-Ak clicked his tongue.

“I have no idea where those bombs are. Junior Brother, where on earth did you learn these kinds of tricks?”

“A peerless genius can create something from nothing, you know.”

Yang-hwi shrugged as he scanned the surroundings for a good hiding spot—

One close enough to trigger the poison bombs via fuses and spring an ambush effectively.

He found the perfect place, and both he and Gu-Ak concealed themselves.

“Gu-Hyung, are you well-versed in Stealth Technique?”

“What kind of question is that to ask a former Dark Path martial artist? Of course I know it.”

They exchanged a smirk before simultaneously using Stealth Technique to hide their presence.

4-hour periods passed.

As the sun began to set and the sky burned orange, they felt someone approaching.

—Gu-Hyung, it’s the Lewd Fox.

—He’s carrying a woman. It’s definitely him.

—See? Didn’t I tell you? Never underestimate the strategy of a peerless genius again.

Gu-Ak gave no reply.

Yang-hwi didn’t expect one and immediately sent another silent transmission.

—We must keep the woman from being exposed to the poison. Please ambush him in a way that forces him to drop her.

—Understood. But… will you be okay? Honestly, I don’t think I can win against him alone.

Lewd Fox was a first-rate expert, nearly at the Peak Realm.

Not only that, he’d mastered the Dual Cultivation Absorption Arts and had a considerable reservoir of inner power.

But Yang-hwi still didn’t lose his confidence.

—Can’t you feel the demonic energy oozing off that bastard?

—I can’t, actually.

Truth was, since he was being pursued, Lewd Fox had thoroughly suppressed his qi.

Yet Yang-hwi, with his strangely keen qi-sensing ability, was able to detect it.

—That bastard’s got demonic qi in him. At the very least, I can hold him back.

—Well, after taking that spiritual elixir, your inner qi has definitely developed some unique traits.

Gu-Ak recalled Gwi-no Baekma—

A terrifying demonic cultivator who commanded a horde of evil spirits and wielded unmatched martial power.

Even that monster had been helpless before Yang-hwi’s strange energy.

So this Lewd Fox was nothing in comparison.

Having regained confidence, Gu-Ak immediately launched a surprise attack.

“Who goes there?!”

As expected of someone just shy of the Peak Realm, Lewd Fox reacted instantly.

Clang!

He hurled the woman aside and blocked Gu-Ak’s axe with his bare hand.

Even though cloth struck steel, a metallic clang rang out.

With just one exchange of blows, Gu-Ak realized one thing clearly:

‘I can never win in a fair duel to the death.’

But as someone who lived as a Dark Path martial artist, he never intended to fight fair in the first place.

“This is the place! Tang Family! Lewd Fox is here!”

“W-What?! Tang Family?!”

Lewd Fox paled at the cry and immediately tried to flee.

The odd part was…

He didn’t run far. Instead, he darted straight into the cave.

Yang-hwi grinned in triumph.

‘Just as I thought.’

While scouting the cave earlier, they had discovered a hidden escape route.

Naturally, Yang-hwi had packed the area around it with poison bombs.

“Let’s see how you like a taste of poison, you bastard!”

Claaaang!

A thunderous explosion rang out, followed by a thick, suffocating cloud of poison smoke.

“Urgh! Cough! What the—?!”

Lewd Fox, who had darted into the cave like a startled rabbit, came bolting right back out.

By then, Yang-hwi and Gu-Ak were already waiting in ambush at the cave entrance, perfectly prepared.

“Gu-Hyung!”

With a shout, Yang-hwi unleashed a sword slash laced with powerful holy energy.

Just like before, Lewd Fox tried to block the attack with a hand brimming with demonic qi.

Clang!

His hand split cleanly down the middle, blood spurting from the wound.

“Gaaaaaaah!”

And no one in their right mind would wait for a screaming opponent to recover.

Hot on the heels of Yang-hwi’s sword strike, Gu-Ak’s twin axes sank deep into Lewd Fox’s shoulders.

By the time the Lewd Fox snapped back to his senses and tried to counterattack—

Puuk!

Yang-hwi’s blade pierced straight through his Dantian.

“Aaaaargh!”

A sword infused with sacred energy quickly invaded and destroyed his Dantian.

His martial arts were now gone.

“My Dantian! My inner power! You bastards! I’ll devour you both alive!”

Even now, rather than collapsing into despair, Lewd Fox huddled on the ground, shrieking defiance.

Understandable.

For a martial artist, losing one’s Dantian meant losing a lifetime’s worth of cultivation.

It was like watching your soul crumble.

That didn’t mean Yang-hwi had any intention of sparing him, especially when he still dared to act cocky.

“A punk who practiced Dual Cultivation acting like a victim? Pathetic.”

Without mercy, he kicked him square in the groin.

Thwack!

“Gaaah!”

He felt both orbs rupture. The sensation was vividly transmitted through his foot.

“Oh dear. Looks like you won’t be doing any more dual cultivation from now on.”

“Aaaagh! Aaaagh! H-hnnnng…”

Lewd Fox writhed and then fainted from the overwhelming pain.

Of course, Yang-hwi wasn’t about to let him enjoy unconsciousness.

“Wake up, scum. Now’s not the time to be napping.”

Reviving him by stimulating pressure points would’ve been too polite.

Instead, he and Gu-Ak simply beat him until he came to.

“Guh—kghk—cough! Cough—argh…!”

“You awake? This ain’t your bedroom, buddy. I woke you so your face wouldn’t get paralyzed. Be grateful.”

Lewd Fox glared at Yang-hwi with murder in his eyes.

Then he spewed venom-laced curses through bloodied lips.

“I’ll kill you. No matter what it takes. Even if I die first, I’ll wait for you in the afterlife and gnaw your bones to dust!”

“Pfft. You’ll be waiting for about a hundred years.”

Yang-hwi scoffed.

Lewd Fox suddenly wore the look of someone who’d made up his mind.

“Let me guess, you bastards were sent by the Tang Family to capture me. Hahaha! How laughably naïve.”

“What are you babbling about?”

“The aphrodisiac poison I used—it’s from the Tang Family. You must’ve heard the rumors. They’ll kill you both for this! Kuhahaha!”

Aphrodisiac poison? Since when did the Tang Family make those?

Yang-hwi had never heard of that in his previous life.

“You fools have uncovered one of their secrets. The Tang Family doesn’t show mercy. They’re poisoners to the bone!”

A degenerate who practiced sex-based demonic arts insulting poison users?

Yang-hwi rolled his eyes.

“We’re doing you a favor by capturing you and handing you over. What’s the problem?”

“They’ll suspect you know about the aphrodisiac poison! And then they’ll decide to eliminate all witnesses! You’ll be interrogated while your flesh rots from their poison. That’s your fate!”

So basically, because they caught him using Tang-made aphrodisiacs, the family would kill them to protect their secrets.

What utter nonsense.

Thwack!

“Gaaagh!”

The only cure for bullshit is a swift kick in the jaw.

Yang-hwi stomped on his mouth so hard he spat out all his teeth.

Just then, Gu-Ak voiced his concern.

“Junior Brother… that bastard might have a point. Maybe we were too hasty involving ourselves in Tang Family affairs.”

That’s when Yang-hwi remembered the reputation the Tang Family had during this period.

‘Ah right… At this point in time, they weren’t exactly held in high regard.’

Poison users and secret weapon experts.

People whispered that they weren’t honorable and followed a family motto of “returning grudges tenfold.”

They were feared, hated, and rarely trusted.

So it was understandable that Gu-Ak had some worries after hearing the Lewd Fox’s ramblings.

But—

“Don’t worry. The Tang Family won’t harm us.”

“How can you be so sure, Junior Brother? They’re known to be more ruthless than most Dark Path clans. And we’ve even learned about their aphrodisiac poison.”

Yang-hwi glanced at him and grinned.

“Gu-Hyung, wanna make a bet? I’ll wager a hundred silver coins that the Tang Family will say they owe us a debt—and repay it double.”

Strangely enough, the same Gu-Ak who earlier backed out of a bet was now nodding confidently.

“Hmm. Then I’ll bet that no matter what, they’ll find fault and try to silence us.”

“Deal!”

Yang-hwi was absolutely certain he’d win.

Because the Tang Family he remembered would respond exactly as he predicted.

‘So, Yeon… I wonder how those siblings are doing right now.’

[TL: Dantian (단전) – It’s referring to the energy core in the abdomen where inner energy is stored; the heart of a martial artist’s cultivation. ]

---The End Of The Chapter---

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