Myth of Martial Arts - Chapter 15

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 15
“What’s so hard to guess about it? Without a doubt, Mu Muk and Mu Heon Heon have become students of Changung Academy, and Mu Jin…”

Jeon Pung, the vice-director of Sinwang Academy, said with unwavering conviction.

“Judging by his abilities, he may well have become an instructor at Changung Academy, or even risen to honorary director or vice-director.”

Na Gun shot him a sidelong glance and said with displeasure.

“Even so, is there any reason for him to come and go from Changung Academy every single day? Are you seriously suggesting those worthless students matter more to him than his Mu Clan business?”
“Enough, enough, the two of you, stop squabbling!”

Im Hae Ae waved her hand and spoke calmly.

“Whatever role Mu Jin has taken on, it’s certain the Mu household has joined Changung Academy! Besides, the other eight are all from second-rate and third-rate families with ties to the Mu Clan, so it seems the Mu Clan has resolved to share the same fate as Changung Academy.”
“Couldn’t it be otherwise?”

Na Ak San, director of Unsan Academy, who sat across from Im Hae Ae, pushed back.

“Without a single shred of evidence, how can you be so sure they’ve joined Changung Academy?”

Im Hae Ae fell silent for a moment, then gave an order to the middle-aged man seated beside her.

“Mak Cheon Gu, take out that item and show it to Director Na.”

At Im Hae Ae’s command, Mak Cheon Gu drew a finely crafted jade vial from his sleeve. Inside the vial sat a vermilion pill, looking every bit like an elixir from legend.

“This is…”

As Na Ak San stared at the pill inside the jade vial, his pupils contracted almost imperceptibly.

“A pill!”

Mak Cheon Gu carefully returned the jade vial containing the Gyeseon Pill to his sleeve, then raised his head and explained with a solemn expression.

“Our people spent great effort acquiring this from Dong Woo Saeng, the head of the Dong Family, who is known as Dong Family Patriarch. According to Dong Woo Saeng, this pill originally came from Mu Jin’s own hands. The pill is called the Gyeseon Pill, and it is said to enhance the cultivation of Gyeseon Realm practitioners. Even a Gyeseon Realm 9th Stage expert is said to gain considerable benefit from taking it.”

Jeon Pung nodded and continued.

“Upon hearing this news, we sent people to investigate and confirm. It’s not just Mu Jin. Everyone at Changung Academy has Gyeseon Pills in their possession. Take Im Myeong, the discarded son of the Im Family, the infamous castoff, for example.”

Then he spoke in a voice that grew somewhat heavier.

“If we connect all these clues, we can form a bold hypothesis. Could it be that Jang Wook has been concealing his true self all this time? He isn’t the harmless figure we imagined. It’s far more likely that he has become an Alchemist!”

A legendary Alchemist.

The faces of everyone inside the meeting hall changed in an instant.

“Seen this way, it all makes sense. Why Mu Jin sent his own children to Changung Academy, and why he himself comes and goes there every single day. And what draws people from second-rate and third-rate families is not Changung Academy at all… but the Alchemist himself!”

Jeon Pung’s expression grew extremely grave, and his tone turned heavy as well.

The pill is real, and it can’t be a fake.

It’s also true that Mu Jin comes and goes from Changung Academy every single day.

That Mu Muk, Mu Heon Heon, Im Myeong, and the others have become students of Changung Academy is an undeniable fact as well.

Therefore, Jeon Pung’s conjecture is, in all likelihood, correct.

“Now then, Director Na, do you have any other doubts?”

Im Hae Ae gazed calmly at Na Ak San.

“There’s no need to say more. I understand your meaning.”

Na Ak San’s expression darkened, and he spoke in a grave voice.

“Jang Wook must die. We cannot allow him to grow any further!”

He knew full well just how vast an influence an alchemist could wield.

Setting aside a Senior Alchemist, a single One-Star Alchemist alone could, given enough time, forge dozens of Gyeseon Realm 9th Stage powerhouses.

Mu Jin was only the beginning. If they let this continue, more Gyeseon Realm 8th Stage and ninth-stage powerhouses would form ties with Jang Wook, or even swear loyalty to him.

“Your thinking and mine align perfectly, Director Na. Back then, I spared Jang Wook’s life only because I was wary of Jang Ho Yeon, but I never imagined that a passing mercy would breed this sort of danger. Fortunately, we discovered it early, before he had fully grown. Otherwise…”

Im Hae Ae’s words trailed off, and a sharp glint flashed across her eyes.

“Jang Ho Yeon hasn’t returned in all these years, so he likely never will. My proposal, then, is to eliminate that child immediately!”

At that, Na Ak San’s gaze fixed on Im Hae Ae.

“Jang Wook must die. There is no doubt about that. But whom shall we send to kill him? We can’t very well act ourselves, can we?”

Feeling his gaze upon her, Im Hae Ae answered with composure.

“If Jang Wook is an alchemist, then the information we had about his strength is certainly false. His cultivation realm must be at least Gyeseon Realm 7th Stage, and it may even be the 8th.”

She paused briefly, then continued.

“In other words, to kill him, we’ll need someone at Gyeseon Realm 8th Stage or higher, and we must also avoid Mu Jin! That narrows our choices considerably.”

Na Ak San nodded. He and Im Hae Ae had been longtime rivals, but he had no choice but to admit that her analysis held water.

“Many among us have reached Gyeseon Realm 8th Stage, but only four have attained the 9th: you and I, Vice Director Jeon, and Vice Director Na. I want this action to proceed without a single mishap, so it would be best for a 9th Stage powerhouse to strike personally. Excluding you and me, that leaves only Vice Director Jeon and Vice Director Na among the 9th Stage powerhouses.”

Im Hae Ae’s gaze finally came to rest on Na Gun. Within those clouded eyes, a sharp light flickered, barely perceptible.

“Vice Director Jeon broke through to the 9th Stage only recently, so his realm is unstable, and he’d struggle to wield its true power. But Vice Director Na is different. Director Na’s exceptional talent passed down to him, and he reached the 9th Stage at just over forty. Not only that, he has cultivated Iron Back Fist to a divine level. In time, he is very likely to become a peak master rivaling Mu Jin. In my view, Vice Director Na should take responsibility for this operation!”

‘You old fox.’

Na Gun cursed silently at Im Hae Ae’s words.

‘You speak so sweetly on the surface, but in truth you’re afraid Jang Ho Yeon might really return one day…’

It was hard to imagine that a man who had been gone for seven full years still posed such a great threat.

Before Na Gun could even voice a rebuttal, Na Ak San shook his head coldly.

“You flatter him too much, Director Im. This worthless fellow could never shoulder a mission of such weight! If anything, Vice Director Jeon is seasoned and composed. Entrusting something this important to him is the surest way to avoid mistakes!”
“Enough.”

Realizing there was no way out, Im Hae Ae reluctantly spoke.

“Let us not delay any longer, you two. Rather than leave it to one man, Vice Director Jeon and Vice Director Na shall share the responsibility jointly! There are two reasons for this. First, if the two of them act together, the odds of killing Jang Wook rise. Second, should they run into Mu Jin, one can hold him off while the other pursues Jang Wook!”

Na Ak San and Na Gun exchanged a glance, then nodded toward Im Hae Ae.

“Fine. Let’s do it that way.”

While Sinwang Academy and Unsan Academy were drawing up their schemes, Jang Wook, too, had both of them in mind.

“Good. That concludes the lecture on the Six-Star Grade Extreme Flawlessness method. Any further questions?”

Jang Wook’s gaze swept over the eleven students seated below the lectern.

It had been delayed by a full month, but the Six-Star Grade Extreme Flawlessness method had finally come to an end.

Now he had to find a way to quickly cover the follow-up methods.

Otherwise, it would become a serious headache.

But the students, none the wiser to his thoughts, shook their heads in unison and answered.

“No, there aren’t.”

It wasn’t that they were particularly clever. It was that Jang Wook had explained everything so thoroughly.

Whether they had already considered a point or not, Jang Wook had covered every detail and repeated the important parts again and again.

If they still didn’t understand after all that, they’d be better off going home to farm.

“If there are no questions, class is dismissed.”

Waving a hand, Jang Wook turned his attention to Mu Muk.

“As usual, Mu Muk stays behind. The rest of you have free time.”

The moment he said it, everyone scattered in a rush. Yet even after leaving the classroom, they did not leave Changung Academy. They sought out quiet spots nearby and began to cultivate.

After staying at Changung Academy for some time, they had come to realize that the Spiritual Energy here was far more concentrated than anywhere else, making their cultivation considerably more efficient.

Compared with Im Myeong and the others, Mu Jin was without a doubt the more agitated of the two. Nearly a month had passed, and he had finally been able to cultivate Extreme Flawlessness.

All this while, he had watched with his own eyes as Mu Muk and Im Myeong’s group cultivated Extreme Flawlessness and advanced by leaps and bounds, and a thirst he could no longer bear had been building inside him.

Especially the last time, when Mu Muk and Mu Heon Heon had held out against his grip for dozens of exchanges while cultivating at the peak of the Gyeseon Realm 5th Stage, his craving for Extreme Flawlessness had reached its height.

He longed to cultivate Extreme Flawlessness so badly, because if he didn’t cultivate it right now…

He would likely be overtaken by Mu Muk and Mu Heon Heon within just a few days.

To be a father and fail to best his son and daughter. He could never bear that.

So after leaving the classroom, Mu Jin—for once—did not leave Changung Academy, and he hurried to find any spot at all to begin cultivating at once. His impatience and pressure were plain for all to see.
* * *
Inside the classroom.

Mu Muk stood behind Jang Wook, head respectfully bowed, waiting for instructions.

After tidying the alchemy equipment, Jang Wook turned around and spoke to Mu Muk.

“You’ve already learned all the basic knowledge of alchemy. From here on, it’s time for hands-on work. Hmm, let’s start with the simplest one, the Qi Blood Pill. Once you can make Qi Blood Pills with skill, we’ll try other pills, like the Gyeseodan Pill or the Whirlwind Pill. That sort of thing.”

And Mu Jin was not the only one who was impatient. Jang Wook was impatient too, because one of the quests the System had announced had yet to be completed.

【Main Quest 5: Raise one One-Star Alchemist】

This quest was no easy task, and it demanded a great deal of time and effort. Above all, the time limit for this quest was one month.

Now only three days remained until the quest’s deadline.

If he failed to raise Mu Muk into a One-Star Alchemist within three days, the System would automatically record the quest as failed.

Failing the quest carried no particular punishment, but Jang Wook could never bring himself to accept failure.

The reward was so generous that Jang Wook was already swallowing his saliva in anticipation.

‘For the sake of Two-Star Elixir Refinement Technique, I have to complete this quest no matter what!’

Jang Wook let out a deep sigh, and his eyes, fixed on Mu Muk, were full of expectation. Then he said silently to himself.

‘The time limit is far too tight. There’s no help for it. These next few days are going to be rough on him.’

Feeling the encouragement and expectation in Jang Wook’s gaze, Mu Muk’s heart stirred a little. He nodded vigorously and spoke with solemn resolve.

“Director, don’t worry. I won’t let your expectations down, not for a second!”
“Good. Let’s get started.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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