The World’s Strongest Is from a Third-Rate Martial Clan [Novel] Chapter 73

About ten years in the future.

A blacksmith of immense skill would emerge, hailed as the reincarnation of Ou Yezi, the legendary master smith of the Spring and Autumn Period.

His name was Hwanyaja Baek Cheol.

He was the timid young man standing right before Yanghwi’s eyes.

‘When I saw him in my past life, he had a hardened look after enduring all sorts of hardships.’

Now, he was the very picture of innocence.

No… it would be more accurate to say he looked timid.

‘How many people actually know that such immense talent is hidden within this guy?’

Starting with the Black Wolf Escort Agency, Hwanyaja Baek Cheol suffered in the clutches of the Black Path for a long time before being coincidentally rescued by the Namgung Family.

The sword he spent ten years forging and dedicating to them out of gratitude was none other than the Divine Sword, Azure Heaven.

It was the Azure Heaven Divine Sword that would become the Namgung Family’s greatest heirloom in the future.

‘Azure Heaven Divine Sword. A divine weapon said to dare encompass the sky itself.’

A divine weapon literally meant an armament imbued with divine energy, an artifact capable of wielding supernatural powers.

To forge such an object, the creator themselves could not be ordinary.

Hwanyaja Baek Cheol was an artisan who crafted divine weapons… someone entirely worthy of being called a Divine Smith.

Provided it was properly honed, his innate talent was enough to reach the heavens.

‘And that very Baek Cheol has fallen into our family’s hands.’

Well, strictly speaking, he had not fully secured him yet.

If he could not coax the man into joining their household under these circumstances, he would not have been known as the finest silver tongue in his past life.

“Brother Baek. I am Baek Yanghwi from the Baek Family in Agan County. I stepped forward to save those suffering after hearing of the Black Wolf Escort Agency’s evil deeds. You no longer need to be imprisoned here, so please put your mind at ease.”

After that, Yanghwi continued to speak as smoothly as flowing water, resolving Baek Cheol’s doubts and answering his questions.

At the same time, he guided him around, packing up necessities and seeking out other artisans who would be good additions to the main family.

“Ah, Brother Baek. Do you happen to have any other family or loved ones? Even if they are elsewhere, I will rescue them.”

Baek Cheol hesitated, his words trailing off.

“Well… my father is…”

“You have a father. Where is he?”

“Held hostage… in the Black Wolf Escort Agency…”

“Ah, then don’t worry. We have already rescued everyone who was at the agency’s stronghold.”

Baek Cheol’s face lit up upon hearing the answer.

He seemed quite filial. Confirmed.

He needed to remember this and use it to win his favor later.

“Please come this way.”

He led Baek Cheol and the others toward the stronghold of the Black Wolf Escort Agency.

Just in time, Jegal Seon and the martial artists were putting up notices after forcing all the remnants to their knees.

The notice roughly stated that since the Black Wolf Escort Agency had been wiped out, those who had suffered under them should come and take their share of the wealth.

‘It’s a bit of a waste, but oh well. Since we took this action under the righteous cause of chivalry, it can’t be helped.’

In truth, it was not that big of a loss.

Not only had he obtained the greatest treasure, Baek Cheol, but it was also his habit to leave about half behind whenever he looted Black Path thugs under the guise of chivalry.

“Uncle. I have rescued everyone suffering from the Black Wolf Escort Agency’s evil deeds.”

“Good work. It feels pretty damn good to loosen up my body after so long.”

Indeed, Jegal Seon’s face looked incredibly refreshed.

“By the way, what should we do with the rescued people? It’s a bit troublesome since we don’t really have any connections here in Jiangxi.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve already spoken with my father about taking those with nowhere to go back to our main family for now.”

“Is that so? You’re quite thoughtful, haha.”

Thus, the hostile force neighboring the Baek Family and the most influential power in Muju, the Black Wolf Escort Agency, vanished overnight.

It was a flawless execution of Killing With a Borrowed Knife, brilliantly playing the fox borrowing the tiger’s might.

‘As expected, getting someone else to do your dirty work is the most satisfying.’

Having finished all his business, Jegal Seon escorted Yanghwi and the rescued captives to the Baek Family, exchanged brief farewells, and returned to the Jegal Family.

Immediately after returning to the estate, Yanghwi requested a meeting with the family’s core executives.

It was to report the results he obtained from looting… ahem, carrying out a chivalrous deed against the Black Wolf Escort Agency.

“We acquired fifty thousand taels of wealth and rescued twenty-one people in total. Among them, three or four are artisans, and twelve are children.”

“To work people so ruthlessly for so long that they no longer have a place to return to… They were truly wicked bastards. You’ve worked hard, Young Master Hwi!”

Chief Manager Han’s face practically dripped with affection as he said this.

It did not seem to be because of the chivalrous deed, but rather because Yanghwi had brought in fifty thousand taels, right?

‘Somehow, Chief Manager Han is becoming more and more transparent.’

Still, it was nice to see. It was much better than watching him agonize over their ruined finances like in his past life.

Thinking this, Yanghwi continued speaking.

“We should help the artisans figure out a way to make a living, but what if we take all the children in as members of our household, Father?”

“That is a good idea. Since they are children with nowhere to go, simply handing them money and sending them away wouldn’t end well.”

Additionally, they decided to accept any of the artisans who wished to entrust themselves to the Baek Family.

Among them were Baek Cheol and his father.

“Is that so? You say there are those who wish to remain with our family even when offered a generous amount of wealth?”

“Yes, Father. They say they want to repay the favor.”

Baek Muryang smiled warmly.

As someone devoted to righteousness and chivalry, there was no way he could look unfavorably upon people who wanted to repay a debt of gratitude.

“Good. It isn’t as if our circumstances are tight, so let us take them all in.”

‘Perfect. With this, I’ve successfully made Baek Cheol a part of our household.’

Though it had not bloomed yet, Baek Cheol’s talent was the real deal.

It would reveal itself as he gradually tested him, so securing him like this was enough for now.

‘Now, the only thing left to do is…’

Even as Yanghwi fell deep into thought, the meeting continued.

The next agenda was the establishment of the Tang Family’s branch.

“Previously, we agreed to offer a portion of our estate for the Tang Family’s branch. The people from the Tang Family should arrive in about a month.”

“We have prepared the pavilions in advance. Lending them about three buildings should suffice.”

‘Everything is progressing step by step.’

He felt a sense of pride. Just a year and a half ago, the Baek Family had been the very definition of a third-rate martial family.

And yet, he had already revived it to this extent.

‘It’s too early to be satisfied. There’s still a long way to go.’

A wide, open highway stretched out before him, but to truly sprint ahead, there were still many things he needed to prepare.

“Brother. Is that really true?”

On the road from Sichuan to the Baek Family in Jiangxi Province.

Tang Gun wore an exhausted expression.

It was because his sister, Tang Yeon, had asked this question for the fifth time already.

“Yes. It’s true. The Baek Family is a place where a young imoogi… no, a Hidden Dragon is growing.”

Tang Yeon, who was a year younger than Tang Gun, let out a light laugh.

At the same time, her hands nimbly tossed and caught a piece of iron.

“Be careful. If you drop that while on horseback, it’ll be a hassle. It’ll be a disaster if the horse behind us steps on it.”

“Oh, come on, Brother. I’ve been playing with hidden weapons instead of toys since I was three years old. Do you really think I’d make a mistake?”

Flashing a smile, Tang Yeon continued.

“It’s interesting. To think there’s a child you actually acknowledge as a Hidden Dragon, Brother.”

Since she was born, Tang Yeon had never seen anyone in their age group more outstanding than Tang Gun.

Let alone someone even younger, yet he was admiring him this much.

It was only natural that she felt curious.

“Keep your curiosity just as curiosity. You mustn’t try to test him.”

“I’m not the troublemaker Yeon from our childhood anymore, Brother.”

“Right, right.”

The Tang siblings continued to converse after that.

It was a long journey, and if they did not chat, they would be bored to death.

Besides, they had plenty to talk about.

“Anyway, we need to prepare a gift to give the Baek Family, but it’s quite a headache.”

“Isn’t the Baek Family just letting our Tang Family use their estate while they borrow our prestige like a fox borrowing a tiger’s might? I wonder if we really need to give them a gift.”

“It’s not entirely wrong to see it that way. However… as your brother, I want to treat the Baek Family with utmost courtesy.”

Tang Yeon, who had been pondering something, clapped her hands.

“You said we already made them elixir pills. Then, how about gifting each direct descendant of the Baek Family a sword?”

“Oh?”

Tang Gun recalled his memories from a few months ago.

It was true that the swords wielded not only by the family retainers but even the Baek Family Head were rather shoddy.

“That’s a good idea. Our Tang Family’s blacksmithing skills aren’t lacking anywhere, so they will surely love it.”

Just as poison and medicine were two sides of the same coin, the counterpart to hidden weapon arts was blacksmithing.

This was because creating small, intricate hidden weapons fundamentally required exceptional blacksmiths.

“We’ve already decided to expand our branch’s influence by running a smithy and a medical clinic, so this is perfect.”

“Right? If the Baek Family Head, who has become the overlord of this region, wields our swords, it’ll serve as great promotion too.”

One day. Two days.

Ten days. A month.

The massive journey spanning thousands of li from Sichuan to Jiangxi finally neared its end.

In other words, they had arrived in Jiangxi Province, specifically Agan County, where the Baek Family was located.

“Oh, Yeon. Do you see that over there?”

“Yes, Brother.”

The Baek Family estate was located right in the dead center of Agan County.

On the opposite side of the estate’s main gate.

In other words, the direction where the rear gate was located, which connected toward Sichuan.

A signboard hung there.

[Great Tang Family Branch]

“To think they even prepared a signboard in advance.”

“Well, it’s definitely clear that the Baek Family is sincerely welcoming us.”

The Tang siblings felt a simultaneous surge of pride.

How long had they suffered disdain for wielding poison and hidden weapons, arts that the Orthodox factions considered akin to evil sorcery?

It would not be an exaggeration to say they had rarely been treated well since their sect’s founding.

But such a warm welcome. Anyone bearing the surname Tang could not help but feel a sense of goodwill.

“Brother. I guess I’ll have to order the artisans to truly show off their skills.”

“I was thinking the same thing. It might not be a Divine Sword, but let us gift them blades worthy of being called prized swords.”

Before knocking on the Baek Family’s gates, they sent a messenger ahead.

As a large group of martial artists, it was basic courtesy.

A moment later, a martial artist accompanying the messenger approached the Tang Family members.

“You have arrived! I am Gwak Mun, Master of the Baek Family’s Disciplinary Pavilion. Please, follow me.”

Passing through the gate where the signboard hung, they saw Baek Muryang standing amidst the lined-up retainers of the Baek Family.

Tang Gun immediately dismounted and cupped his fists in greeting.

“It has been a while, Family Head.”

Putting age aside, Baek Muryang also returned the courtesy owed to the Young Head of a major martial family.

“It is a pleasure to see you as well, Young Head. Hahaha.”

Just as they were exchanging greetings and building a warm atmosphere…

Tang Gun’s eyes suddenly went wide.

“Good heavens!”

“What is the matter, Young Head?”

“Th-that sword. I haven’t seen that blade before…!”

“Ah. You have a sharp eye, Young Head. This is a sword crafted by our family’s blacksmith.”

Sporting a beaming smile, Baek Muryang slowly drew the sword from its scabbard.

‘This is the first time I’ve ever seen Father look so pleased and show off like that.’

Well, it made sense. A swordsman’s closest friend was their favored weapon… their sword.

And the blade Baek Cheol had forged and presented as a token of gratitude was of such exceptional make that it was more than enough to captivate Baek Muryang.

Moreover.

Even in the eyes of Tang Gun—the Young Head of the Tang Family… a clan whose blacksmithing bowed to no one in the world—it was an incredible prized sword.

“Wh-what kind of blacksmith could possibly forge such a prized sword?”

Among the lined-up retainers of the Baek Family, someone hesitantly raised his hand.

“Th-that would be me…?”

Seeing Baek Cheol mumble his answer, Tang Gun’s eyes widened.

Tang Gun looked back and forth between Baek Cheol and the blade Baek Muryang had drawn.

‘Such an outstanding prized sword… forged by someone so young…!’

Even if he was considered young, he was still older than Tang Gun. But by a blacksmith’s standards, he was undeniably young.

In a way, blacksmithing was a craft that required just as much—if not more—time and experience than martial arts.

“Forgive me for the intrusion, but I must ask. How on earth did you craft such a prized sword?”

“W-well…”

Becoming the center of attention, Baek Cheol broke out in a cold sweat and began to fluster.

“I just… worked hard…”

The phrase ‘worked hard’ was insufficient.

Who would not work hard?

Effort was something anyone could put in.

However, producing such a vastly superior outcome was not something just anyone could achieve.

Therefore, Tang Gun could not help but think this way.

“Haa. You must have been honing your skills by forging swords since childhood. Seeing that your surname is Baek, you must be a member of the Baek Family. Truly remarkable.”

The panic on Baek Cheol’s face deepened.

“Um… my surname was given to my father by his previous master… It’s unrelated to the Baek Family… And I’ve only been making swords for a month now…”

“A month? You’ve only been forging swords for a month?”

“Y-yes…”

Astounded, Tang Gun completely forgot the strict manners he observed precisely because of his young age and blurted out.

“How?”

“Well… just by doing what the Eldest Young Master told me to do…”

The Eldest Young Master of the Baek Family. It was obvious who he was talking about without even having to ask.

“Brother Hwi! What is the meaning of this?!”

Watching Tang Gun demand answers with an urgent intensity, Yanghwi flashed a triumphant smile.

‘Perfect. He took the bait.’

He knew a member of the Tang Family, who possessed immense pride in their blacksmithing, would obviously fall for it.

Yanghwi recalled everything that had happened over the past month since taking Baek Cheol into the household.