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Chapter 61
Regrettably, the Leader of the Gyojin Sect had not fallen into qi deviation.
Judging by the blood he had spat, it was clear his internal energy had reversed and his meridians had been damaged—but from the look of his complexion, it seemed he had escaped with nothing more than a light internal injury.
‘Should I provoke him just a little more?’
“Leader of the Gyojin Sect! Did not our Clan Head ask if you admitted defeat? Why have you suddenly gone mute like a man with honey on his tongue?”
“……”
Without a word, the Leader of the Gyojin Sect hoisted his unconscious son onto his back and departed.
Behind him trailed the Gyojin Sect members, shuffling away without spirit.
Watching the backs of their retreating heads grow smaller in the distance, Yang-hwi couldn’t resist shouting one more time.
“Keep your promise! You were the one who said the losing side would leave Akan-hyeon!”
Even from that distance, Yang-hwi could see it clearly, his inner force strengthening his vision, the Leader of the Gyojin Sect’s shoulders trembling.
Smirking faintly, Yang-hwi darted over to Baek Mu-ryang.
“Father! Congratulations on your great victory!”
At his call, the retainers all performed the fist-and-palm salute in unison.
“Congratulations on your great victory!”
With a warm smile, Baek Mu-ryang swept his gaze over his retainers one by one, until it finally settled on Yang-hwi.
“Hwi… Taking you in as my son was truly the greatest blessing for this house.”
Baek Mu-ryang ruffled his hair, and Yang-hwi savored the touch, letting himself be carried away by long-forgotten childhood memories.
“Come, let’s return now. It’s been too long since we held a victory banquet.”
As of today, the Baek Clan Manor had become, in both name and reality, the undisputed ruler of Akan-hyeon.
With the Suhoji Assembly scattered into disorder and the Gyojin Sect’s departure decided, there was no other force to rival them.
It was, in every sense, a victory worthy of a celebratory toast.
“Everyone, listen. We return to the manor. Gwak Moon—take a few men ahead and begin preparations for the banquet.”
“Yes, sir!”
At Baek Mu-ryang’s command, the retainers dispersed with perfect coordination.
Gwak Moon, having selected his team, used light footwork to rush ahead.
Watching them disappear, Yang-hwi approached Gu-Ak.
“Gu-Hyung.”
“What is it, Junior brother?”
“You once told me you’d like me to act as your martial arts tutor, just like I do for Father, correct?”
“That’s right. Oh? Don’t tell me… You expect a lesson right now?”
“Not exactly.”
“Then what?”
“My legs hurt. Could you carry me for a bit?”
“……”
Gu-Ak glanced around silently.
More than half the spectators were still there, shouting “Twin Absolutes Sword Hero!” and “Baek Clan Manor!” in wild cheers.
“Now?”
“Yes.”
“Must I?”
“If you don’t want to, then don’t.”
When Yang-hwi abruptly turned away, Gu-Ak grabbed him like a dog desperate to relieve itself.
“I—it’s not that I don’t want to. It’s just…”
Gu-Ak—a man who lived for honor and died for pride.
“There are so many people watching… Couldn’t we walk a bit farther first, and then I’ll carry you?”
“If it’s embarrassment you’re worried about, I can solve that for you.”
With deliberate theatrics, Yang-hwi staggered and shouted loudly—
“The aftereffects of the Life-and-Death Duel are making me dizzy!”
“Ah! Ah—! Junior brother! This elder brother will carry you!”
Naturally, Yang-hwi was lifted onto Gu-Ak’s back. He leaned in and whispered—
“Now there’s nothing to be embarrassed about, right?”
“Much appreciated. Anyway… you’ll still act as my martial arts tutor, won’t you?”
He almost replied, Depends on how you behave, but instead just nodded.
‘Well, I guess he did do something worth thanking him for today.’
After all, if Gu-Ak grew stronger, it would only improve the overall strength of the clan.
But truthfully—
The reason Yang-hwi had insisted on being carried was something else entirely.
It was to have a quiet moment to think.
‘With this, the affairs of Akan-hyeon are finally settled.’
The Honggyo Sect, the Cheongsa Sect, the Gyojin Sect, and even the Suhoji Assembly, which had been both an ally and a constant source of interference—
All four of the major forces had been dismantled or brought to their knees, leaving the Baek Clan Manor as the unrivaled martial family of the region.
In just ten short months—
Less than a year since his return, he had accomplished it all.
‘Back at the start, I thought it would take at least three years…’
Gu-Ak, Yeo Hyuk—and the many other incidents.
Each of these variables, absent from his memories before his regression, had converged into a single chain of events that ultimately brought great benefit to the Main Clan.
‘We’re already rehabilitating the Dark Faction to quickly bolster our current strength, and I’ve secured the Spiritual Elixir to prepare for the future. From here, we can grow even faster.’
Of course, it still wasn’t enough. Not nearly enough.
Even as the ruler of Akan-hyeon, that was, in the end, just one small county.
Yang-hwi’s ambitions reached far higher.
‘If I want to be recognized by all the Eastern martial clans as standing among the Great Houses, I’ll need to make our name known across at least an entire province.’
From Akan-hyeon, he would have to take Mujoo, then conquer more than ten other regions as vast as Mujoo to become the undisputed ruler of Jiangxi Province.
And even that would only be an intermediate goal. At present, he hadn’t even reached one percent of that target.
‘First, I need to become the ruler of Jiangxi Province—at least one of the top five powers. Only then can I bring the Ten-Year Grand Plan with the Tang Family to fruition.’
The plan: to ally with the Tang Family and, from both east and west, slowly carve away at Hunan Province—a territory currently dominated by the Dark Path and Demonic Sect.
But to work hand-in-hand with a Great House like the Tang Family, the Main Clan would also have to rise to that same level within ten years.
‘To do that, I’ll need…’
More outstanding talents, trained into elite warriors of the Main Clan.
Expanded business ventures through closer ties with the The White Scroll Merchant House, increasing both revenue and wealth.
At the same time, he would have to build a record of achievements so remarkable that all of Jiangxi’s people would acknowledge the Baek Clan Manor’s name.
‘Truly… the road ahead is still long.’
But there was no feeling of despair or distance in that thought.
In this life, he had the confidence to achieve and seize it all.
“Junior brother, we’ve arrived at the Main Clan.”
“Hm?”
Before he realized it, the grand gates of the Baek Clan were in sight.
An emblem and legacy passed down since the era of the First Clan Head—
—the elegant hawk-wing crest seemed to gleam all the more brightly today.
‘I will restore the Baek Clan to the ranks of the Great Houses. No—beyond that, I will make sure the title “The Greatest Under Heaven” precedes our name.’
The gates swung open wide. Inside, Matron Jeong In-Hwa, Baek Heon-So, and Baek Yeon-Yeon stood waiting.
“Father!”
“Father!”
“Husband.”
With a pleased smile, Baek Mu-ryang moved forward in a flash—
—and embraced both children along with his wife.
“Hahaha! Strange, isn’t it? I see these faces every day, yet why do they seem so dear to me today?”
“Husband, there’s blood on you. Could it be…?”
“It’s just a light wound—pay it no mind. The Life-and-Death Duel ended in our victory.”
“Oh! Congratulations, Husband! I knew you would win.”
“My dear, I think it was your faith in me that made it possible.”
Jeong In-Hwa smiled with genuine happiness, and Baek Mu-ryang returned the look with a broad grin.
“Now… I can finally treat you myself.”
In the past, he had carried the bitter regret of being unable to personally treat his wife, having not yet reached the pinnacle realm.
That was why his words now held such deep emotion.
“I always believed in you, Husband.”
Her clear smile met his eyes.
It was in that moment, as the two exchanged gazes—
‘Hmm. There’s something I need to say… but it feels wrong to break the mood.’
Well, in any case, there was something to calculate before bringing it up—
—namely, the clan’s currently available fighting strength.
‘One at the pinnacle level, two first-rate, eight second-rate, thirty-three third-rate…’
Hmm. That should be enough.
After all, thanks to the recent Dark Faction Contest, they already held an overwhelming advantage.
“Chief Han…”
Leaning in, he whispered into the ear of Chief Steward Han, who gave him a puzzled look.
“What is it, Young Master Hwi?”
Yang-hwi grinned slyly.
“There’s something I need to tell you. I think it’s best if we delay the banquet preparations.”
* * *
Bang! Bang! Crack! KWAANG!
At the Gyojin Sect manor—more specifically, in the main hall where the Clan Leader’s residence was located—the building was being destroyed from the inside out.
Crack!
A paper sliding door burst apart, and splintered wooden fragments shot into the courtyard.
From the shape, it seemed to have once been part of a bedframe.
“Grrraaaahhh! I’ll kill them all! I’ll slaughter every last one of them!”
He had lost—without even getting to fight—at the duel that decided the fate of the entire clan.
Yet the Leader of the Gyojin Sect was a first-rate master, one who had mastered Manifested Will Intent.
The rage and murderous intent radiating from him surged outward like a wave, making the skin of the Gyojin Sect members gathered in the central courtyard prickle and sting.
Boom!
At last, one of the great support beams of the hall gave way.
The collapse began from the west side, reducing half the building to ruins.
As wood splinters scattered in every direction, the Gyojin Sect Leader emerged.
“……”
Every Gyojin Sect members bowed their head.
In truth, “every” was an exaggeration—there were barely half as many as the day before.
True to the Dark Path, the moment the order to retreat had been given, a good number had fled.
“Hah… Just yesterday, I thought we could take all of Akan-hyeon, and now… out of over a hundred men, barely half remain.”
And to make matters worse, the clever, talented son he had cherished had been reduced to a cripple.
The mercenary Blood Night Wanderer—whom he had hired at great expense from their backers—had been utterly crushed.
“Khahahaha! My Gyojin Sect—me, Lee Hoyang—forced to leave Akan-hyeon?!”
The Gyojin Sect Leader roared, his voice heavy with rage.
At that moment, a middle-aged man stepped forward.
“Clan Leader, I have something to say.”
He was none other than Lee Cheol-yang, the Vice-Leader, strategist of the Gyojin Clan and the Clan Leader’s cousin.
“Speak.”
Lee Cheol-yang looked into the Clan Leader’s eyes for a brief moment—
—and confirmed what he had suspected.
‘As I thought… the Clan Leader has no intention of retreating quietly.’
Indeed, if they were the kind to keep promises just because they’d made them, they wouldn’t be called Dark Path scum.
The way of the Dark Path was one where flaws and honor alike were buried in shadow.
“Clan Leader, forgive my boldness, but… despite the unexpected sacrifice, I must congratulate you on the success of your strategy.”
The Gyojin Sect Leader’s eyes gleamed, urging him to go on.
Lee Cheol-yang quickly continued.
“One month ago, you instructed me in a certain plan: Challenge the Baek Clan Manor to a Life-and-Death Duel to lull them into complacency! Your intent has been fulfilled!”
Originally meant to avoid the pressure and interference of the Jegal family and Tang Family, the Life-and-Death Duel had now become the stepping stone of a greater scheme.
“Right now, the Baek Clan is likely celebrating their victory without a care, hosting a grand banquet. I believe it is the perfect moment to carry out the next stage of your plan.”
Bowing his head, Lee Cheol-yang had now given the Clan Leader at least the appearance of justification.
All that remained was for him to decide.
“…Vice-Leader, you are correct. Though our Young Clan Leader suffered grievous injury, everything has gone according to plan.”
With a face full of killing intent, the Gyojin Sect Leader spoke on.
“We have purged the disloyal trash from our ranks, and lulled our enemy into lowering their guard. Now, all that remains… is to unleash a bloodbath.”
Whoosh!
The Vice-Leader leapt and landed just outside the main gate.
“We will personally annihilate the Baek Clan Manor and claim the title of ruler of Akan-hyeon.”
Retaliation from the Jegal family, whose Head and Young Lord were sworn brothers to the Baek Clan?
Fear of the Tang Family, with whom the Baek Clan had recently grown close?
None of that mattered right now.
“If we are to be looked down upon, better to bite first. Rather than become drifters without a nest, we will seize another’s home.”
That was the law of the Dark Path.
The entire fighting force of the Gyojin Sect launched themselves toward the Baek Clan Manor.
---The End Of The Chapter---
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