Chapter 150
Chapter 150
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 150
Chapter Title: The Strategist's Resolve
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There was something to do before he could move.
"Ugh, I feel like I'm gonna drop dead."
He had sustained massive injuries while facing the Hyeong Mountain Yin Blood.
It wasn't from a direct attack, but from forcibly tapping into his middle dantian to trigger a burst of latent power.
In short, Yang-hui's internals were a complete mess right now.
He wouldn't be surprised if he collapsed on the spot.
In fact, the people around him had insisted he rest instead of attending the meeting.
"The Pure Qi's effects are incredible, though."
His condition was still the worst. The problem wasn't that he was forcing himself to attend the meeting through sheer willpower—he could keel over at any moment without it being odd.
Yet he was able to maintain consciousness solely thanks to the Pure Qi.
The Pure Qi's ability to guide his body back to the proper path.
The Pure Qi fused with Heavenly Flame Qi—Heavenly Pure Qi—was even now coursing through his body to the limits of his will, permeating the damaged meridians and acupoints that had taken the shock.
"Normally, it'd take at least half a year of focused recovery... but with Pure Qi, I can shake it off and get back on my feet in just a few days of nonstop cultivation."
That meant recovery dozens of times faster by proportion—a testament to the Pure Qi's superiority.
Anyway.
"Ugh, I'm dying here. Gotta get back to my room and cultivate ASAP."
The expedition had been decided, but preparations would take at least three days.
With the urgent meeting wrapped up, he was free for the time being.
But.
"Young master. I have something to say."
"Right now? It has to be now?"
"Right now, and it has to be."
The young scholar, furrowing his brow, stuck to Yang-hui's heels.
And it wasn't just him.
"Yang-hui, when do I get my rice cakes? The ones with red bean paste, right?"
A-du, promised two geun of rice cakes as reward for fighting well, clung to him like sticky taffy.
"Senior brother, is the meeting over? I have something to tell you."
Zhuge Seol-ha, who hadn't attended the elders' meeting, had slipped in out of nowhere and approached Yang-hui.
But Zhuge Seol-ha's appearance drew a startled gasp from someone.
"Gasp!"
"Oh my, if it isn't the young young master. Hello there."
"H-H-H-Hello...!"
The young scholar, seeing Zhuge Seol-ha for the first time, froze like he'd been struck by lightning and began stammering.
Come to think of it, those two never crossed paths in Namchang.
"The kid's got good taste."
Even with the face veil, that reaction—what would happen if he saw her bare face?
It was a bit ridiculous seeing a boy who bantered freely with adults turn into a stiff wooden block.
Anyway, cultivating right away seemed off the table.
Well, delaying wouldn't leave any lingering effects, so no big deal.
"Still hurts, though. I'm tired."
"Pain or fatigue, duties must be done. You worked this young scholar to the bone, yet plan to rest up fully yourself?"
"Yang-hui, good guy!"
"Senior brother hurts? Tired? For real? Wow, amazing!"
"......"
Yang-hui let out a deep sigh and waved them off.
"Fine, follow me then. Don't yap at the hallway—let's go to my room."
Yang-hui's quarters were spacious, befitting the eldest young master.
Plenty of room for three people.
Flopping onto the bed, Yang-hui pointed to the stools and chairs nearby.
"Too lazy to brew tea. Grab whatever snacks are there and munch."
"Whoa, sweets!"
"Do you think I'm your lover?"
"Senior brother! Sitting on the bed in dirty clothes?"
"Call the maids later to change the bedding."
"Abusing power like it's everyday life?"
"......"
He shifted slightly and plopped down on the floor by the bed.
"Aigoo, this is rough. Anyway, what's up with everyone? Young scholar, you first."
The young scholar, mouth full, swallowed hastily with a startled look after chewing.
You little punk, didn't you say no eating?
"My business is simple. Or should I say complicated?"
"What is it?"
"What are your plans going forward? Keep doing things like today?"
Yang-hui realized the irritation etched on the young scholar's face.
Of course—from a strategist's view, that meeting must've been baffling and frustrating.
"You mean Father's decision?"
"Yes. Frankly, I think it was a foolish choice."
"Foolish, huh."
Father Baek Mu-ryang had chosen the expedition to the capital pass from two options.
Not abandoning them, but holding off would maximize the Baek Clan's gains—yet he chose this.
"You dare call the clan lord's decision foolish?"
Yang-hui put on a stern face and pressed. The young scholar tensed but didn't back down.
"Yes. A foolish decision. An incomprehensible choice. Because the lord is clan head before he's an ally."
"And?"
"You called me here to play strategist, young master. As your strategist, I demand an explanation for today's outcome."
Yang-hui stared piercingly at the young scholar in silence.
The young scholar flinched but held his gaze.
"Pass."
"......Pardon?"
"That's how a strategist should be. Know when to push back if the superior makes a wrong call."
Not confronting in the meeting but coming to the de facto second-in-command afterward—also a pass.
A strategist must be prudent, following the principles of the Three Caves of Strategy.
"Still testing me? After all I've done? At this young age, I coordinated Namchang's vast interests single-handedly."
"Young? Sure, you're a kid."
"Eek, don't call me a kid!"
Claims youth when convenient, hates being called a kid—typical punk.
"To pass the imperial exams, you start at the local level and pass multiple tests up to the highest. Life is a series of exams. Got it?"
"Hmph, I'll pass every one. Like today."
Confident, huh. Keep growing like that.
"Young scholar, to sum your grievance in one phrase."
"Not exactly a grievance."
"Don't quibble, punk. Anyway, you're worried the clan lord's ally-focused decisions will hinder the clan's growth?"
"Yes."
Any other clan head would've chosen the opposite of Baek Mu-ryang.
A clan head must prioritize the family's interests over personal likes.
"Father did too."
"Pardon?"
"Father originally made decisions putting the clan first."
"......Really?"
Yang-hui recalled his previous life.
Peerless Righteous Helper Baek Mu-ryang had devoted much of the clan's limited funds to relief efforts, giving the finance manager Han headaches.
A prime example was adopting Yang-hui.
The clan head taking in an orphan beggar as family.
Not even raising as a retainer—just for relief, granting a fief and making him a son.
And the result for the clan?
"The clan founded by the world's greatest warrior of old. A fallen martial house that once sat among the Five Great Clans. Tell me, young scholar—why has the Baek Clan survived its decline?"
The young scholar paused, looking at Yang-hui.
He knew the answer but couldn't accept it—his expression said.
Time for explanation.
"Young scholar. When do you think a title is born?"
"......When one displays their own excellence."
"Right. And Father held the title Peerless Righteous Helper even before I joined the clan."
The past Baek Mu-ryang, clan head of a third-rate house and merely second-rate himself, was called that.
Not self-proclaimed, but acknowledged by the world.
"The Baek Clan was prime prey. Weak enough that subjugating them granted a line of prestige."
I, so-and-so, subjugated the bloodline of the old Five Great Clans and former world's greatest—now my subordinate!
Perfect for bragging.
"Father was clan head. And a genius who broke second-rate walls with mere third-rate clan arts."
Who pondered the clan's survival and revival more than Baek Mu-ryang?
No one, Yang-hui was certain.
"Acting the sucker—yes, the sucker—beyond his station earned him the 'Peerless' title in righteousness, and through it, he forged a sworn brotherhood with the Zhuge Clan's young lord."
In Jiangxi, full of middling sects, that alone deterred those willing to risk touching the Baek Clan.
"No way... Did he shape the landscape so even forcing the Baek Clan required that much justification? All intentional?"
Admiration dawned on the young scholar's face.
Earning a title for flashy righteousness mismatched to his status, then leveraging it.
Enduring any humiliation or loss for his goals.
Reminded Yang-hui of Han Xin crawling under a thug's crotch...
"Nah, who knows."
His thought trailed off.
"How should I know? Never asked Father's thoughts back then."
"Then it's all speculation!"
But listen, young scholar.
"You didn't know until I told you. Means you didn't keep possibilities open and infer."
"That's......"
"One question. Strategist who came questioning the clan head's decision—can your puny brain calculate the world's every variable?"
"......"
"You must. That's a strategist. Rack your brains till they burst, fabricate reasons to fit."
That's the role.
The share I expect from you, young scholar.
"......"
The young scholar's eyes changed.
What was it—like sudden enlightenment?
"Nice reaction."
Despite his churning guts, Yang-hui rose.
And gathered his aura.
"I will make the Baek Clan the world's greatest house."
If aspiring to World's Greatest Clan, one must first become the world's greatest oneself.
"Baek Yang-hui will become the future world's greatest. I will stand above all warriors, looking down."
This was a declaration.
Not jest, but resolve from one with the talent to achieve it.
"So I ask you, young scholar."
"Command me."
"Young strategist who sought me knowing your talent. Do you have the confidence to become the world's greatest strategist?"
Strength entered the young scholar's small hand. Fingers clenched into rock.
Muscles tensed, body rigid.
Not a reed in the wind, but an ancient sturdy tree—he lifted his chin.
The young scholar answered.
"I will. Absolutely."
To the boy, the ambition declared by the eldest young master—older by just two or three years—was enough to stir his heart.
Fifteen, the age of establishing will.
Confucius said: When one knows learning and sets their own intent.
In this moment, the young scholar set his intent.
"Young scholar. Let me define your role precisely. You make Father's decisions yield the greatest gain for the clan."
"That's what a strategist does."
"Yes. You can do it."
The young scholar stood. Straight-backed, he offered Yang-hui a clasped-hands bow.
"I will. The world's greatest strategist."
A boy who knew his brilliance but was too young for grand ambitions.
This was the moment he set his path and will.