Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Triumph and Treachery
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Unfortunately, the Advance Teaching Gang's leader wasn't suffering from Qi Deviation.
From the blood he'd vomited, it was clear his qi and blood had reversed flow, but his complexion suggested it was just a minor internal injury.
'Shall I provoke him one more time?'
"Advance Teaching Gang Leader. Didn't the head of our Baek Clan Manor ask if you acknowledged your defeat? Why have you suddenly gone mute as a nun with a mouthful of honey?"
"......"
The Advance Teaching Gang leader wordlessly hoisted his fainted son onto his back and departed.
The Advance Teaching Gang members trailed limply behind him.
Baek Yang-hui watched their retreating backs and finally shouted one more thing.
"Keep your promise! It was your side that said the loser leaves Eokan County!"
It was a fair distance away, but thanks to infusing his eyes with inner energy, he could clearly see it.
The Advance Teaching Gang leader's shoulders trembling faintly.
Yang-hui chuckled softly and scurried over to Baek Mu-ryang.
"Father! Congratulations on the great victory!"
At Yang-hui's lead, the retainers all cupped their fists in unison and bowed.
"Congratulations on the great victory!"
Baek Mu-ryang beamed warmly, his gaze sweeping over the retainers one by one before finally settling on Yang-hui.
"Hui-ya. Taking you in as my son truly turned out to be the Baek Clan Manor's greatest blessing."
Baek Mu-ryang stroked his head. Yang-hui savored the familiar sensation, lost in childhood memories for a moment.
"Now, let's head back. It's been a while since we threw a feast."
As of today, the Baek Clan Manor had become Eokan County's undisputed overlord in name and fact.
With the Protection Assembly scattered to the winds and the Advance Teaching Gang's departure confirmed, no other faction could rival them.
It was an achievement more than worthy of raising a toast.
"Everyone, listen up. We're returning to the manor. Gwak Mun. Take a few men and head back first to prepare the feast."
"Understood!"
At Baek Mu-ryang's command, the retainers withdrew in perfect order.
Gwak Mun selected his group and dashed ahead with lightness skill.
Watching them go, Yang-hui approached Gu-ak.
"Brother Gu."
"What is it, little brother?"
"You asked Father to let you play the role of martial scholar, right?"
"That's right. Oh, are you going to let me now?"
"Not exactly."
"Then?"
"My legs hurt. Give me a piggyback ride."
"......"
Gu-ak glanced around silently.
More than half the onlookers remained, cheering for the Twin Rings Sword Heroes and the Baek Clan Manor.
"Right now?"
"Yes."
"You really mean it?"
"If you don't want to, forget it."
Yang-hui turned away sharply, and Gu-ak grabbed him like a puppy desperate to poop.
"I-It's not that I don't want to. It's just......"
Gu-ak, the man who lived by honor and died by face.
"There are so many people around... Couldn't you walk a bit and then I'll carry you?"
"If it's embarrassment, I can fix that."
Yang-hui shouted dramatically, swaying his body.
"Dizziness from the life-and-death duel aftermath!"
"Whoa, hey! Little brother! Your big brother Gu-ak will carry you!"
Once naturally hoisted onto Gu-ak's back, Yang-hui whispered.
"No need to be embarrassed now, right?"
"Thanks. Anyway... you'll let me play martial scholar, yeah?"
Yang-hui was about to say we'll see, but nodded instead.
'Well, he did help out today.'
Gu-ak growing stronger would ultimately boost the clan's forces too.
Anyway.
There was a specific reason he'd asked Gu-ak for the ride.
To calmly gather his thoughts for a bit.
'With this, Eokan County is sorted.'
The Crimson Gang, Blue Serpent Gang, Advance Teaching Gang, and even the Protection Assembly that had constantly checked them despite being from Baek Manor.
He'd dismantled or subjugated all four major factions, making the Baek Clan Manor Eokan County's top martial house.
In just ten months.
An achievement in less than a year since his regression.
'I thought it'd take at least three years at first.'
Gu-ak, Yeo Un-hyeok, and various other incidents.
Variables absent from his pre-regression memories had aligned to favor the clan.
'Reforming the Black Path Dominators has quickly boosted our current forces, and securing spirit pills prepares for the future. Things should expand even faster now.'
Of course, it was still insufficient. Woefully so.
Even as Eokan County's overlord, it was just one county.
Yang-hui's ambitions soared far higher.
'To gain recognition from the eastern martial world's clans as worthy of that rank, I need fame across an entire province at least.'
Beyond Eokan County to Muju, and dominating over ten regions as vast as Muju—that would make them Gangseo Province's overlords.
This was merely a midpoint goal, so they hadn't even reached one percent of it yet.
'First, become Gangseo Province's overlord, or at least a top-five power. That's necessary to realize the ten-year pact with the Tang Clan.'
Alliance with the Tang Clan to carve up Honam—the black path and unorthodox domain—from both flanks.
To match steps with the clan-called Tang, the Baek Clan Manor needed to ascend to clan status within a decade.
'To do that, we need......'
Train more exceptional talents into the clan's elite warriors.
Expand businesses linked with the Baek Book Merchant Group, growing revenue and wealth.
Simultaneously, accumulate feats to elevate the Baek Clan Manor's prestige until all of Gangseo Province acknowledges it.
'The road ahead is still long.'
Yet he felt no awe or despair.
This life, he was confident he could seize it all.
"Little brother. We're at the manor."
"Hm?"
The Baek Clan Manor's grand gates had entered his view before he knew it.
The family symbol and legacy, crafted in the founding head's era and passed down to this day.
Today, the antique hawk-wing emblem particularly caught his eye.
'I will absolutely restore the Baek Clan to clan status. No—surpass that and claim the title of the world's greatest.'
The gates swung wide. Inside, his stepmother Jeong In-hwa, Baek Heon-so, and Baek Yeon-yeon stood waiting.
"Father!"
"Father!"
"My lord."
Baek Mu-ryang smiled warmly and leaped forward.
Then embraced his wife with his two children.
"Hahaha! Today of all days, these faces I see every day feel so welcoming."
"My lord, you're covered in blood. Are you...?"
"Just a light wound—don't worry. The life-and-death duel is our clan's victory."
"Oh! Congratulations, my lord! I believed in you."
"My love, it feels like I won thanks to your faith."
Jeong In-hwa showed a genuinely happy smile.
Baek Mu-ryang met her eyes and grinned broadly.
"Now, I can personally treat you myself."
Previously, he'd harbored regret for not reaching peak realm to heal his wife himself.
Thus, his words to Jeong In-hwa carried deep emotion.
"I believed in you, my lord."
Jeong In-hwa gazed at Baek Mu-ryang with a pure smile.
It was then, as the couple exchanged glances.
'Hm. I have something to say, but it might kill the mood.'
Well, he had some calculations to do before bringing it up anyway.
Namely, the clan's currently available total forces.
'One peak realm, two first-rate, eight second-rate, thirty-three third-rate.'
Hm. That should be enough.
They already held an overwhelming advantage from the recent black path skirmishes anyway.
"Steward Han."
Leaning in to whisper, Han Seok-eon looked puzzled.
"What is it, Young Master Hui?"
Yang-hui grinned.
"I have something to tell you. Best to delay the feast preparations."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Boom! Boom! Crackle! Kwang!
The Advance Teaching Gang's compound. The building housing the leader's quarters was crumbling from within.
Kwachik!
Wood fragments burst through the papered door, slamming into the courtyard.
They appeared to be part of a bed frame.
"Kraaaah! I'll kill them all! Kill every last one!"
Though he'd lost without even fighting in a duel that decided his gang's fate.
The Advance Teaching Gang leader was a first-rate master who'd internalized heart-born seed intent and righteous aura.
His fury and murderous intent rippled outward as pressure, prickling the skin of the assembled gang members in the courtyard.
Kuwoong!
Finally, one of the main beams shattered.
The western side collapsed first, leaving the building half in ruins.
Splinters flew everywhere as the Advance Teaching Gang leader emerged.
"......"
All the Advance Teaching Gang members bowed their heads.
In truth, even "all" now numbered only half of yesterday's count.
Quite a few had fled the moment withdrawal was decided, true to black path ways.
"Hahaha, just yesterday I thought we'd devour Eokan County. Now my over a hundred gang members are down to half."
On top of that, his exceptionally clever and talented son had become a cripple.
The Blood Night Wanderers, hired with massive loans from backers, had suffered miserable defeat.
"Kuhahaha! My Advance Teaching Gang, I, Lee Ho-yang, have to leave Eokan County?!"
The Advance Teaching Gang leader bellowed in rage-filled fury.
At that moment, a middle-aged man stepped forward.
"Leader. I have something to report."
He was Lee Cheol-yang, the leader's cousin and the gang's strategist, serving as deputy leader.
"Speak."
Lee Cheol-yang met the Advance Teaching Gang leader's eyes briefly.
Then confirmed what he needed to say.
'As expected. The leader has no intention of backing down.'
Indeed, if promises were always kept, they wouldn't be called black path.
The Advance Teaching Gang walked the black path.
A road where flaws and faith alike were buried in shadows.
"I dare report to the leader: Though there were unforeseen sacrifices, congratulations on the stratagem's success."
The Advance Teaching Gang leader's eyes gleamed, urging him to continue.
Lee Cheol-yang pressed on swiftly.
"A month ago, you instructed me on a stratagem: Apply for a life-and-death duel with the Baek Clan Manor to lower their guard. Your will has been fulfilled!"
The life-and-death duel, filed to evade scrutiny from the Zhuge and Tang clans, had become the stratagem's foundation.
"Now the Baek Clan Manor is surely reveling in victory with a feast. It's time for the stratagem's next phase."
Lee Cheol-yang bowed his head.
This gave the leader at least minimal justification; now he just needed to follow through.
"......The deputy leader speaks truly. Though the young leader suffered greatly, all has gone according to plan."
The Advance Teaching Gang leader continued, his face brimming with killing intent.
"We culled disloyal rabble and lulled the enemy into complacency. Now, only the bloodbath remains."
Pang!
The deputy leader leaped to land right before the gates.
"I'll personally annihilate the Baek Clan Manor and seize Eokan County's throne."
Retaliation from the Zhuge Clan, sworn brothers with the Baek head and young master?
Fear of the Tang Clan, with whom they'd recently grown close?
Those weren't important now.
"All of you, follow me. We're heading to the Baek Clan Manor now."
"Understood!"
Better to bite first if underestimated.
Steal another's nest rather than wander homeless.
That was the black path's law.
The Advance Teaching Gang's full forces surged toward the Baek Clan Manor.