Myth of Martial Arts - Chapter 26

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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 26
“Fine, it doesn’t matter. There’s no one in the Imperial City who can match me anyway.”

Jang Wook no longer dwelled on the matter. In a remote place like the Imperial City, a Waseon Realm expert was practically invincible.

Since it was getting late, Jang Wook meant to get out of bed and head to his lecture on Gyo Jeong-mal.

But the moment he lifted his head, his expression hardened. Wherever his gaze fell, everything lay in disarray, as though a typhoon had swept through.

“What on earth is going on here?”

Jang Wook surveyed the wrecked room in astonishment, then shifted his gaze to So Gang standing by the door. His eyes were distinctly uneasy.

“So Gang, be honest with me. Did you do this?!”
“Woo-woo…”

So Gang let out a few mournful whines, as if wronged, but under Jang Wook’s uneasy stare he shrank back, retreating step after step.

Jang Wook stepped outside with a dark expression. Then, seeing the grass and trees outside, all bent and leaning, he furrowed his brow deeply.

“What exactly happened outside while I was training?”

As he thought it over carefully, a vague suspicion dawned on Jang Wook, and a flustered look crossed his face.

“Uh… um…”

Jang Wook scratched his head, looked over the ruined courtyard, and gave a wry smile.

“I think I’m the one who did this…”

With a sigh, Jang Wook turned and headed for the Gyo Jeong-mal. As he walked, he muttered to himself.

“Next time, I’d better not train at home.”

‘Extreme Flawlessness.’

It was an exceedingly overbearing Cultivation Method. When practiced, it could shake heaven and earth.

When Jang Wook’s training had still been shallow, its effects on Hyang Sa So Geo had been minor. But as his practice advanced day by day, the might of ‘Extreme Flawlessness’ had grown ever more astonishing.

The next time he trained, the entirety of Hyang Sa So Geo would likely struggle to endure it.

Passing along the narrow footpath within the academy, Jang Wook soon arrived at the classroom.

Inside, every student, including Mu Jin and Mu Muk, had gathered together. All of them sat neatly within the classroom, not a single one missing.

They all looked at Jang Wook with eager eyes, and Mu Jin was no exception.

As Jang Wook slowly stepped into the Gyo Jeong-mal, he glanced around and gave a light cough.

“Hmm. Class begins now.”
* * *
Two days later.

Two days after their departure, Im Hae Ae and Na Ak San finally appeared. With them was a mysterious middle-aged man.

The mysterious middle-aged man seemed to be of very noble standing.

Im Hae Ae and Na Ak San not only attended him the entire time, but also fawned over him with every flattery and sycophantic gesture, behaving like a pair of obedient dogs.

None of the usual dignity of a director showed on his face.

Im Hae Ae and Na Ak San escorted the mysterious middle-aged man toward Sinwang Academy, treating him as if a star were attending upon the moon.

The mysterious middle-aged man carried himself with arrogance, and he took their deference and flattery as though they were simply his due.

When the three of them reached the front gate of Sinwang Academy, the mysterious middle-aged man stopped, surveyed the place for a moment, and sneered.

“Is this Sinwang Academy? It’s far too modest. Any academy in Tong Ju City (通州城) is much grander than this! Still, the standards for a One-Star Academy (一星學院) are quite low, so I suppose Sinwang has barely managed to meet them.”

Tong Ju City is the seat of Tong Ju Prefecture (通州府), one of the few large fortified cities in Jujo.

“You’re absolutely right, Lord Ju. Our Imperial City is nothing but a backwater town. If you compare Sinwang Academy to the academies in Tong Ju City, you’re paying us a great compliment.”

Im Hae Ae grinned obsequiously and bobbed her head, and nothing about her looked like a director in that moment.

Na Ak San, standing beside her, fawned all the harder, eager to win his favor.

“Lord Ju has seen so much of the world. Of course, a little academy tucked away in a country corner like ours can’t possibly impress you.”

Just then, Yi Cheonyong, the gatekeeper of Sinwang Academy, caught sight of Im Hae Ae. Moved to tears, his voice trembling, he called out.

“Director, Director.”

Before Im Hae Ae could even open her mouth, Yi Cheonyong spun toward the academy grounds and bellowed.

“The Director has returned!”

Before they could draw a single breath, a crowd came pouring out of the academy.

They all wore the distinctive uniforms of Sinwang Academy’s instructors, and their faces were flushed with excitement.

Like children who had suddenly found their parents after being wronged, they burst out in a ringing, orderly chorus of “Director!”

The cry sounded almost as if they had been drilled for it.

They had been humiliated by Jang Wook, and now at last they had found someone who would take their side. Their excitement was only natural.

Im Hae Ae looked at the instructors with puzzlement, and thought to herself.

‘These fellows are acting awfully strange today.’

Lord Ju, watching the scene, raised his brows in surprise.

“Are you and your instructors really on such good terms, Director Im?”
Good terms?

Im Hae Ae’s face stiffened, then she forced a smile.

“Ha ha, we get along well enough.”

Na Ak San cast a suspicious glance at Im Hae Ae.

He had long dealt with Im Hae Ae and prided himself on knowing both her and Sinwang Academy well, yet he had never had any idea that she was on such good terms with the instructors.

The scene before him left him bewildered.

He even suspected that Im Hae Ae had arranged all of this in advance.

But Im Hae Ae did not care why the instructors were behaving so oddly today.

Everyone had gathered here, so it was the perfect chance to put it to good use.

He raised a hand for silence, and once the room had gone quiet, he smiled and spoke.

“Do you see the distinguished gentleman standing beside me? This is Ju Sim, Steward of the Baek Won Alliance Tong Ju Branch! Everyone, give him a warm welcome with applause!”

The instructors had meant to tell Im Hae Ae what had happened two days ago, but the moment they learned Ju Sim’s identity, shock left them unable to think of anything at all.

Baek Won Alliance.

Branch Steward.

The weight of those two words was simply too great.

The Baek Won Alliance was one of the most powerful alliance organizations on the Yellow Continent, made up of academies both large and small.

In practice, one could say that every academy on the Yellow Continent fell under their jurisdiction.

Their influence therefore spanned the entire Yellow Continent, and it was fair to call them a true colossal power.

Within the Baek Won Alliance, there was a strict system of rankings, ranging from lowly minor academies all the way up to the premier Six-Star Academies.

The gap in influence between ranks was enormous, and the higher the rank, the more resources one could claim.

Sinwang Academy and Unsan Academy were grand places in the eyes of ordinary people, and it was no exaggeration to call them the holy grounds of cultivation in the Imperial City.

Yet in the Baek Won Alliance’s evaluations, they were nothing more than minor academies that hadn’t even earned a rank.

One could tell just how formidable the Baek Won Alliance was from this alone.

No wonder everyone was in shock that Ju Sim, standing before them now, was a Steward of the Baek Won Alliance Tong Ju Branch.

The Baek Won Alliance was no ordinary power. Even a mere Steward commanded terrifying strength.

In other words, Ju Sim’s strength was formidable. Truly, extremely formidable. In all likelihood, he was one of the legendary powers of the Waseon Realm.

In the eyes of these instructors, Ju Sim was like a god they served day and night. When a legendary deity appeared before them, how could they possibly stay composed?

Ju Sim was slightly intoxicated. He savored the feeling of drawing everyone’s attention.

Within the Baek Won Alliance, he was merely an unremarkable subordinate, but once he came to a minor academy like Sinwang Academy, he became a being who shone like the sun.

This feeling of being the center of attention intoxicated him deeply, leaving him unable to pull free.

Clap.

Clap.

Clap-clap-clap!

The instructors of Sinwang Academy clapped in excitement. The thunderous applause echoed through the academy and went on for a long, long time.

Ju Sim solemnly smoothed his robes, took a deep breath, then stepped forward toward the instructors and flashed what he considered a charming smile.

“Greetings, everyone!”

Of course, to the instructors of Sinwang Academy, this Lord Ju looked truly charming.

His charm didn’t come from his smile, but from his status.

When the applause died down, Im Hae Ae finally sensed something was wrong. She furrowed her brow and asked.

“Where are Jeon Pung and Mak Cheon-gu? Does anyone know where they are?”

The moment the words left her lips, the academy, which had been bustling only moments ago, fell dead silent.

Only then, hearing Im Hae Ae’s question, did everyone remember the grave matter they had yet to report to her.

“Ch-Chief… Chief…”

One of the instructors stammered.

“Vice Chief Jeon and Mak Sir… they’ve all… all… died.”

Im Hae Ae’s face drained of color.

“How could that be?!”

Could a powerhouse in the early stages of the Gyeseon Realm 9th Stage and a peak master of the Gyeseon Realm 8th Stage have fallen so easily?

Seeing Im Hae Ae’s bewilderment, the remaining instructors broke down, wailing as if a dam had burst.

“They’re dead, all of them! Vice Chief Jeon is gone, Mak Sir is gone, and even the Great Elder is dead!”
“Sob… Jang Wook was truly a demon. Not only did he kill Vice Chief Jeon and his party, he emptied the library and didn’t leave a single scrap of paper behind!”
“He forced us to haul the cargo. Had we refused, he would have killed us too!”
“Chief, you must avenge us!”

Among the instructors, the youngest was past thirty, and the eldest was over seventy.

Yet now they sobbed before her like wronged children before their parents, pouring out their grief and the unfair treatment they had endured.

Im Hae Ae’s head spun, and she swayed on her feet.

“All of them are dead?”

Did that leave Sinwang Academy with nothing but herself, a handful of surviving elders, and these pitiful underlings?

At the instructors’ wailing, Na Ak San felt a cold dread settle over him.

‘When we left, Jeon Pung and Na Gun went together to carry out the assassination quest. If Jeon Pung is dead… no, that can’t be!’

Murderous intent flickered in his eyes. Suddenly he lunged at one of the instructors, grabbed the man by the collar, and demanded in a fury.

“Where’s Na Gun? Tell me, where is Na Gun?”

Na Gun was not merely the Vice Chief of Unsan Academy. He was Na Ak San’s son, and the only blood relative he had left in this world.

“He’s dead. Vice Chief Na is dead too.”

The instructor whose collar was clutched in Na Ak San’s fist answered with hollow eyes.

“Jang Wook admitted it himself. He’s the one who killed Vice Chief Jeon and Vice Chief Na.”

In that instant, Na Ak San let out a cry of anguish.

“Aaaaah!”

The greatest sorrow in the world, they say, is for white hair to send off black hair.

Rrip!

Veins bulged along Na Ak San’s neck as he tore through the instructor’s robes.

His red eyes, brimming with tears, were terrifying, and murderous intent poured off his body.

“Jang Wook, I’ll kill you!”

Driven past reason by the agony of losing his child, he looked no different from a beast hunting its prey.

The instructor, his robes torn, stumbled backward again and again, trembling with terror.

Just then, Im Hae Ae barely regained her composure, stepped toward Na Ak San, and spoke calmly.

“Brother Na, please calm down!”
“Calm down, my foot!”

Na Ak San suddenly raised his head, his bloodshot eyes fixing on Im Hae Ae like a snake’s, and a dangerous aura rolled off him.

“My only son is dead, and you dare tell me to calm down?”

Im Hae Ae flared up at his attitude.

“Na Ak San! If you want to throw a tantrum, go throw it at your Unsan Academy! What do you expect me to do with your anger?”

Im Hae Ae’s scolding jolted Na Ak San back to his senses a little, and he reined in his runaway emotions somewhat.

He lacked the nerve to vent his rage at Im Hae Ae, so he wept alone, grieving bitterly.

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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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