-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Zhejiang Yuk Clan
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The Zhejiang Yuk Clan was an ancient prestigious family based in Hangzhou, a major landowner dominating the entire Zhejiang Province.
They had tens of thousands of pyeong of farmland entrusted to tenant farmers for cultivation.
As merits of service, they received a stipend of five thousand seok.
They commanded thousands of retainers.
On top of that, they owned trading caravans and escort agencies that plied the Grand Canal between the northern and southern banks.
Even after the Zhu clan unified the realm, it was commonly said without exaggeration that in Zhejiang, the Yuk clan's prestige was second to none.
They were treated as a martial family only because they had one foot in the Jianghu world. In truth, their wealth and glory rivaled that of any feudal lord.
The clan's founding ancestor had been a founding merit who also earned distinction in the Jingnan Campaign, aiding the Yongle Emperor's ascension to the throne—for which he was granted the title of Duke of Yue. Such acclaim was no exaggeration.
And the head of the Zhejiang Yuk Clan whom Jang Un had served was Yuk Ju-jin, the eldest grandson of that founding ancestor, Yuk Mu-hyeok.
But in this era where Yuk Jin-yang lived, the Zhejiang Yuk Clan's founding ancestor, Yuk Mu-hyeok, was still alive and well.
The enemy from his previous life was nothing more than a boy in his teens, not even old enough for his coming-of-age ceremony. He hadn't even been named successor yet.
At first, it had been bewildering.
To have his soul seize another person's body from the past. And the Zhejiang Yuk Clan, of all places.
But the torment didn't last long.
Because he saw it as a chance to take everything from Yuk Ju-jin.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
A chill wind bent the reeds flat.
Yuk Jin-yang was moving atop them.
His silk robes clung to his sweat-slicked skin, outlining his physique perfectly. His muscles were sharply defined, like polished stone.
Suddenly, the nature of his movements shifted.
Softness blended with power. Bold and unhesitating, like a torrent racing to meet the wind.
Finally, a satisfied smile curved his lips.
Yuk Jin-yang finished his forms and slowly drew in a breath. Amid the long, drawn-out respiration came a stream of pure inner energy.
'As expected, a famed family's secret arts are on another level.'
The technique Yuk Jin-yang was cultivating was the Moon Maiden Divine Art.
The Zhejiang Yuk Clan's core inner cultivation method, passed down for a thousand years.
Surprisingly, its principles were straightforward. Like Hua Tuo's Five Animals Frolic or the Shaolin Temple's Muscle Tendon Changing Classic, it wove mental cultivation with physical training.
Its true value lay in its boundless potential. The realms it could reach were staggeringly high. Mastered to the extreme, it could forge a flawless body.
Not just bones and sinews. It opened unparalleled horizons in absorbing and wielding qi. Its mind-calming effects rivaled the Muscle Tendon Changing Classic.
In his previous life, he hadn't even had a chance to glimpse it. The Moon Maiden Divine Art was the origin and foundation of the Yuk clan's martial arts. Leaking it to outsiders could invite dire consequences.
Naturally, transmission was only through oral formulas. They guarded it fiercely against leakage.
But in this life, such restrictions meant nothing.
Yuk Jin-yang wasn't some mere collateral son-in-law. As a direct descendant of the Zhejiang Yuk Clan, he enjoyed every privilege in full.
'And this body...'
Yuk Jin-yang felt the towering wall of generations that a famed house had built. It was different from how it appeared to outsiders.
A smooth, broad path. This current flesh truly was one. His meridians and qi channels were wide and expansive, unblocked no matter what he cultivated.
His bones and sinews were leagues beyond the wretched body of his past life.
Famed families intermarried for generations out of obsession with martial bloodlines. This body was the fruit of such unions.
Thanks to that, even relearning foundations posed no great difficulty.
Yuk Jin-yang had no intention of recultivating the martial arts from his previous life in this one.
In his past existence, he had learned many techniques. From street-thug basics to the sword arts of renowned wanderers.
It wasn't purely talent. His lowly origins demanded it. Scuttling through sewers like a rat to survive required anything and everything. Thus, he had absorbed all manner of杂 arts. Tales from his desperate struggles to live.
Now was different. He had no lingering attachment to third-rate techniques. It would be like planting rotten seeds in fertile soil. This time, he would build a proper foundation from the ground up.
"Impressive progress."
A sudden voice made Yuk Jin-yang turn. A man stood at the training hall entrance, watching him.
The man was the current fourth son of the Zhejiang Yuk Clan, Yuk Eon. He was also the father to Yuk Jin-yang.
"You used to say martial arts bored you to death. Now you've suddenly changed and completed the Lesser Heavenly Circuit in just a month. So it was lack of effort after all, eh?"
"...Father."
The word still felt awkward. Even a month after abruptly awakening in this body.
Originally, Yuk Jin-yang had been thirty when he died in his previous life.
It was hard to act cute and clingy or play the naive youth without issue.
Fortunately, the body's original owner had also been unusually taciturn for his age. No suspicions had arisen so far.
Despite his son's curt demeanor, Yuk Eon didn't erase his pleased smile.
"When I was your age, I struggled to grasp the formulas. Ended up asking my brothers in frustration. Got scolded for it, of course."
"I was lucky."
"Hah, so humble. It's not luck—it's aptitude. Though you're a direct Yuk bloodline, so where else would it come from?"
Yuk Eon ruffled his son's hair. Yuk Jin-yang awkwardly accepted the gesture. A bittersweet, self-mocking remark followed.
"It's like looking at your grandfather. He achieved great success in the Moon Maiden Divine Art at fifteen, too."
The words carried layers of meaning. Yuk Jin-yang stood silently, listening.
He knew of Yuk Eon from his previous life. It was due to his famously scandalous romance.
Once, Yuk Eon had been called the Jiangdong Sword Dragon.
Among his southern peers, no one matched him with the sword—a late blooming genius the clan had great hopes for.
It happened one day while he roamed the Jianghu.
Chasing Demonic Heretics, Yuk Eon was aided by a woman.
Dang So-so, daughter of the Sichuan Dang family.
A fateful encounter between young man and woman. Both nobly raised, both strikingly handsome. It took little time at the Youth Dragon Assembly for them to fall for each other.
In the end, they consummated their passion in the wild and became husband and wife without parental consent—knowing full well the repercussions.
The head of the Zhejiang Yuk Clan, Yuk Mu-hyeok, flew into a rage and opposed the union.
The stated reason was that her status was beneath them.
Ancient families like the Zhejiang Yuk Clan scorned all upstart martial houses that rose amid the chaos of the Yuan-Ming transition. For lacking pure bloodlines. Their pride was immense.
It wasn't wrong. Even the youngest ancient families traced to the Tang era. The oldest reached back to the Spring and Autumn period.
The Yuk clan was no exception.
Their progenitor was a Qi royal of the Spring and Autumn era, originally of the Tian clan, but granted the lands of Lu Township upon branching off, taking the Yuk surname.
Later came the famed general Yuk Sun of the Wei-Jin and Southern-Northern Dynasties. He wed a descendant of Sun Wu, author of the Art of War—the daughter of O's champion consort king, Little Conqueror Sun Ce.
With such lineage, only another ancient family or the Zhu imperial house would catch their eye.
In the end, Yuk Eon branched off and vanished into seclusion.
All he took was a rural manor with attached fields, a house, and a handful of servants.
He barely avoided total disownment, but was treated worse than collaterals.
Even after the clan head's death, the decree stood.
Yet whispers persisted that the true reason for their exile surfaced after his passing.
That Dang So-so was actually the daughter of the notorious Yuan-era Demonic Heretic, Dang Sai-er. That was the real cause of the clan head's opposition.
The rumor was unverified. No way to confirm it now. Yuk Eon's line never reemerged into the world.
Thus, they were forgotten.
That was all Yuk Jin-yang knew from his previous life.
How the couple lived and died, or their descendants' fates—he heard nothing while slaving for the Zhejiang Yuk Clan for a decade.
'Perhaps they wanted to sever ties with the clan themselves.'
Yuk Jin-yang quietly suspected as much.
The hearsay from his past life was likely baseless. From what he'd seen firsthand, Dang So-so was too gentle to be the daughter of some vicious Demonic Heretic.
Yuk Jin-yang's grudge targeted only Yuk Ju-jin's line. He had no intent to punish by association just for shared blood.
He knew venting on the uninvolved would only invite inner demons to gnaw at him. Thus, his revenge must be cold and precise.
"What's wrong? You look troubled."
"Pardon? It's nothing. I was pondering sword forms."
"Why not ask your father first?"
Yuk Jin-yang broke into a sweat soothing his father's subtle sulk.
Fortunately, a servant's timely call rang out.
"Clan Head, lunch is ready!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Lunch at the Yuk estate was warm and lively—far from the solemn feasts of a stern prestigious house. Formality yielded to open family chatter.
"Jin-yang's progress grows daily. Soon we can cross swords."
"Oh my. He must take after you, brother."
"Better than I was at his age. Perhaps thanks to his mother's talent."
The couple exchanged fond smiles and banter.
Sandwiched between, Yuk Jin-yang ate silently, eyes fixed on his bowl.
These were now his parents in this life. A month of living with them had built some bond. But watching their affection was still hard.
"Here?"
"Yes, that's right."
"Tsk, even the clan head..."
Bustling voices drifted from outside. Chopsticks paused midair at the round table.
Dang So-so and Yuk Eon exchanged quick glances. Since their forced branching, no guests had come calling.
"Brother."
"Wait. I'll check."
Yuk Eon gripped his sword and headed out. Dang So-so turned protectively to Yuk Jin-yang, tension etching her face.
"Jin-yang, come here. And if anything happens..."
As Dang So-so began her warnings for the worst...
A cheerful voice boomed from outside.
"Brother?"
"It's been ages. Doing well?"
"What brings you here?"
"Come now, no need for suspicion. I'm here with good intentions."
Dang So-so exhaled in relief.
Soon Yuk Eon returned to the dining hall with a stranger in tow. Oddly, the man's features resembled his own.
The man glanced around and sighed.
"Oh dear, I interrupted your meal! Sorry for the intrusion."
"It's fine. We'd nearly finished."
Spotting Yuk Jin-yang, the man's eyes lit up with warmth.
"This is my nephew?"
"Jin-yang, greet him. Your uncle."
Yuk Jin-yang's eyes widened. He bowed deeply and politely.
"I'm Yuk Jin-yang."
"What a smart-looking lad. I'm Yuk Hang. Your middle uncle, haha."
Yuk Hang. The current second son of the Zhejiang Yuk clan head. In his previous life, said to have fallen to qi deviation in old age, wandering mad. First time meeting face-to-face.
The uncle-nephew encounter ended swiftly. Dang So-so subtly rose and tugged Yuk Jin-yang's arm.
"Jin-yang, let's step out so the adults can talk."
"Yes."
Yuk Jin-yang obediently stood—but only verbally. Once in his room, he pressed his ear to the wall, listening intently.
The thin wall carried the dining hall conversation clearly.