The World’s Strongest Is from a Third-Rate Martial Clan [Novel] Chapter 62

Chapter 62

The Vanguard Sect Leader threw his body forward, a great saber drawn in his hands.د

TL/N: I changed the The Gyojin Sect to The Vanguard Sect

The members of the Vanguard Sect followed closely behind, gripping their own great sabers.

Agan County, prosperous along the lakeside, was a maze of winding alleys. Yet the Vanguard Sect Leader vaulted over walls and trampled across rooftops, advancing in a straight, unwavering line.

Paths were originally made for walking.

Yet these men currently had nothing else in their sights but blood.

“Move faster.”

Seeing the commoners scatter in terror at their approach, the Vanguard Sect Leader issued a command. The Sect members chanted their obedience in unison.

“We obey.”

Civilians could only run so fast.

They could never outrun martial artists utilizing light footwork in a straight line.

Yet the Vanguard Sect Leader intended to leave nothing to chance.

‘I will annihilate their entire family. Especially that little brat. I will personally tear him apart with my own two hands.’

The Baek Family Manor began to appear in the distance.

It was a sickening sight. They were merely a third-rate martial family until recently, yet they now occupied the largest manor in Agan County.

Today, this manor that had stood for hundreds of years would be reduced to ashes.

The Vanguard Sect Leader raised his hand. Following his signal, every martial artist suppressed their presence.

“Approach quietly until we are ten zhang away. Then, we strike all at once.”

The Vanguard Sect Leader issued his order in a venomous whisper and stepped forward.

‘The only variable is the Baek Family Head, who has reached the pinnacle. However, we have twice their numbers.’

Even if the enemy possessed a peak master, our numerical advantage should be more than enough to secure victory.

Furthermore, Baek Muryang would still be recovering from the injuries he sustained during the life-and-death duel earlier today.

He had calculated coldly and reviewed the plan thoroughly.

The conclusion was simple.

‘The Baek Family falls today.’

Yet the Vanguard Sect Leader had overlooked one crucial detail.

He believed his judgment was cold and flawless, blinding him to a glaring anomaly.

The Baek Family, which was supposedly holding a grand banquet, was dead silent.

“Now! Slaughter them all! Three of the four Hall Masters will face the Baek Family Head with me! Donggyo Hall Master, take command and butcher the rest!”

With a roar of fury, the Vanguard Sect Leader vaulted over the main gates of the Baek Family.

He landed within the courtyard, only to freeze at the sight before him.

“Just as we expected. You decided to grace us with your presence.”

The members of the Baek Family, standing in strict formation and firmly gripping their weapons, curled their lips into a collective smile.

* * *

Stepping back in time, roughly two double-hours ago.

“Chief Steward Han. We must prepare for something before we open the banquet.”

Chief Steward Han gave Baek Yanghwi a questioning look.

“Prepare? What do you mean, Young Master Hwi?”

“A surprise attack from the Vanguard Sect.”

Seeing the Chief Steward’s face stiffen, Baek Yanghwi continued.

“They ambushed and devoured the Suho Branch without a single shred of justification. Do you truly believe they will meekly accept their defeat in a life-and-death duel?”

“…”

“…”

Neither Chief Steward Han nor any of the family members present could offer a rebuttal.

The reasoning made far too much sense.

“I wonder if they would truly throw away even the last shred of their dignity. The problem is that they are fully capable of doing exactly that.”

“It would not hurt to be prepared.”

“The only flaw is delaying the banquet. Yet preparing for disaster must always take precedence.”

After reaching an agreement with Chief Steward Han, they conveyed their thoughts to Baek Muryang, who had just finished a heartfelt reunion with his wife.

“That makes perfect sense. Preparation prevents ruin, so let us do just that.”

Thus, the members of the Baek Family ceased their banquet preparations and began fortifying their defenses for an ambush.

Gu Ak, who had stepped into the life-and-death duel with great resolve only to never swing his axe once, took the initiative with burning enthusiasm.

“All martial artists belonging to the Pavilion of Rehabilitation, carve this into your minds! It is time to repay the grace the Baek Family showed by taking us in. If anyone harbors treacherous thoughts, I will execute you on the spot! Fulfill your duties!”

“We obey!”

“We obey!”

“We obey!”

Baek Yanghwi whistled inwardly as he watched Gu Ak and the Pavilion members.

‘They are finally starting to look like a proper unit.’

Half a year had already passed since Gu Ak made a genuine resolve to rehabilitate these men of the dark factions.

They had yet to completely shed their unorthodox habits, but they were passable.

‘Then again, Brother Gu gave them a brutal beating just a month ago.’

Back then, a spy among the Pavilion of Rehabilitation had leaked their relationship with the Tang Clan.

That leak was the catalyst that pushed the Vanguard Sect to challenge them to a life-and-death duel.

Drowning in shame and humiliation for failing to manage his subordinates, Gu Ak had unleashed his fury upon the Pavilion members, and their attitudes had visibly transformed ever since.

‘Come to think of it, we need to root out the spy issue as well. Though preparing for this ambush comes first.’

They gathered the family members who did not practice martial arts in the center of the manor, the safest location. The rest of the personnel took up arms.

Roughly two double-hours passed in this manner. They also updated Baek Muryang, who revealed himself after finishing Jung Inhwa’s treatment.

“Hmm. That certainly holds merit. If we can secure our safety, delaying the banquet is not an issue at all.”

Now that the Family Head had given his permission, Baek Yanghwi looked at Yeo Hyeok and sent a telepathic message.

[Elder. Could you sneak out and keep watch? Let us know the moment the Vanguard Sect approaches.]

[Say no more.]

Yeo Hyeok’s figure melted into the shadows.

How long did they wait like that?

[The Young Master predicted correctly. The Vanguard Sect is swarming this way. They will arrive in half a quarter-hour.]

Baek Muryang’s eyes gleamed with a strange light. He had clearly received the same message.

“The Vanguard Sect is coming. Everyone, maintain strict defenses and wait in silence.”

The family members took their positions with flawless discipline.

Although the Baek Family possessed no inherited formation arts, they constructed a simple formation designed to maximize joint attacks and defense.

[Young Master. The enemy is right outside. They will strike soon.]

The moment Yeo Hyeok’s telepathic transmission rang in his ears.

“Now! Slaughter them all! Three of the four Hall Masters will face the Baek Family Head with me! Donggyo Hall Master, take command and butcher the rest!”

With a roar of fury, a shadow vaulted over the main gate and landed in the inner courtyard.

A middle-aged man wielding a great saber. It was undeniably the Vanguard Sect Leader.

Seeing the man’s pupils dilate in sheer panic and bewilderment, Baek Yanghwi could not hold back his words.

“Just as we expected. You decided to grace us with your presence.”

Watching the Vanguard Sect members pour over the walls one after another, Baek Muryang hoisted his sword high.

“Throw!”

They had anticipated this exact scenario.

Knowing they were at a numerical disadvantage, they had prepared countermeasures.

The piles of heavy stones stacked across the courtyard were one of them.

“Uwaaah!”

“Let us see who has the better aim!”

“Aim for their heads!”

A torrential rain of stones blotted out the sky, mimicking the legendary Rain of Flowers.

They were not powerful enough to inflict lethal damage upon martial artists, but they were more than enough to shatter their momentum and inflict minor injuries.

“Damn it! Do not cower and strike! We have the overwhelming numbers!”

The Baek Family members watched the Vanguard Sect charge, yet they did not take a single step forward.

Instead, they anchored their feet and fortified their defensive lines.

In truth, they could not step forward even if they wanted to.

Because of what lay beneath their feet.

“Kuaagh!”

“M-My leg!”

“Damn it, it is a trap!”

They had dug pits throughout the courtyard and buried jagged shards of metal within them.

‘Roughly thirty percent of them fell for it.’

With the soles of their feet shredded, the Vanguard Sect members could no longer utilize their light footwork. They became sitting ducks, helplessly battered by the second volley of stones.

“Kuaagh!”

“Aaargh!”

Only half of the Vanguard Sect forces managed to reach the hardened formations of the Baek Family.

Their numerical superiority had vanished into thin air.

“Father. We can secure an easy victory if we eliminate their leaders while the situation favors us.”

“You speak the truth.”

Baek Muryang’s sword vibrated fiercely, erupting with a radiant white light.

“Vanguard Sect Leader.”

“Baek Family Head!”

“Your filthy nature truly knows no bounds.”

“Shut your mouth!”

As Baek Muryang stepped forward, the Vanguard Sect Leader and his three Hall Masters instantly formed a square formation.

‘I need to disrupt them if we want to end this quickly.’

“Brother Gu! Let us strike together!”

“Understood!”

Launching himself alongside Gu Ak, Baek Yanghwi thrust his sword toward one of the Hall Masters.

The First Stance of the Heaven-Covering 108 Swords.

Piercing Rock with a Shot Feather.

Vwooom!

Emitting the cry of a phoenix, the extended blade aimed straight for the Hall Master’s groin, forcing the man to throw his body back in a frantic evasion.

From the opposite side, Gu Ak swung his massive axe toward another Hall Master in perfect synchronization.

With that single exchange, the square formation was shattered.

“Father! Please finish him quickly while we hold them down!”

“Leave it to me!”

Baek Yanghwi locked eyes with the Hall Master standing before him.

“Why do you not run away while you still can? If you stay here, you will die.”

The Hall Master’s face flushed crimson. A mere eight-year-old child, possessing a lower martial realm, dared to mock him.

“Shut your mouth! Even if I must die today, I will rip your jaw off before I go!”

He was willingly digging his own grave.

* * *

Zero casualties. Three injured.

It was the total sacrifice required to slaughter or rout the entire Vanguard Sect.

It was an overwhelming victory, practically devoid of any damage to their side.

“With this, we can proudly proclaim ourselves the true overlords of Agan County.”

Wiping the blood from his sword, Baek Muryang looked down at Baek Yanghwi.

For the record, that blood belonged to the Vanguard Sect Leader.

“Hwi, was this also within your calculations?”

“It was not a calculation, but rather a natural sequence of events. The dark factions did not earn their name for nothing.”

“I see. The overlords of Agan County…”

Baek Muryang watched the family members busily clearing the scattered stones and filling the pits they had dug.

“It feels like just yesterday that I desperately prayed for the strength to protect those residing under my roof. Yet here we are.”

Baek Muryang shifted his gaze back to Baek Yanghwi.

A child of a mere eight years of age. So many things within the family had transformed since he arrived.

They had gone from a destitute state where the Family Head had to seek outside labor, to managing several highly profitable businesses.

They had cultivated a martial force worthy of being called a true martial clan, even if its members hailed from the dark factions.

Furthermore, they had even recovered the martial arts passed down through their family, restoring a lineage that had nearly died out.

‘The grace I have received from Hwi is vast and profound. Even if I dedicate my entire life to fulfilling my role as his father, I do not know if I could repay even a fraction of it.’

“It seems I have finally repaid a fraction of it.”

“Hmm?”

Baek Muryang widened his eyes, startled by the thought that his inner musings had been read.

“What grace are you speaking of?”

“Naturally, I am speaking of the grace you showed when you reached your hand out to me, a nameless wretch rotting in an earthen cave, Father.”

“You repaid that a long time ago. I never considered it an act of grace in the first place.”

“Then the same applies to me, Father. Therefore, please do not look at me with eyes that say you are in my debt.”

In that instant, an epiphany struck Baek Muryang.

True family did not weigh the balance of giving and receiving.

That was the very definition of a family, a group of people who shared their meals and their lives.

‘I believed I was truly treating him as my own son, yet I had yet to fully cross that threshold.’

Baek Yanghwi smiled as he watched the shift in Baek Muryang’s eyes.

The gratitude remained, yet the suffocating sense of debt had vanished.

It was the exact same gaze his father from his past life had always given him.

‘I will never be able to see my father from my past life again, but… Father. I swear I will make your dream a reality.’

He would forge the Baek Family Manor—no, the Baek Clan—into the greatest clan in the world.

With that grand ambition in mind, there was a pressing matter they needed to address immediately.

“Father, I have something to tell you.”

“What is it? Speak your mind freely.”

Pondering for a brief moment, Baek Yanghwi cast his gaze over the gathered family members.