Myth of Martial Arts - Chapter 27

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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 27
“Sob, sob… My son, you died so wretchedly!”

Watching Na Ak San in his half-deranged state, Im Hae Ae felt her anger subside, and she sighed before offering consolation.

“Na Ak San, compose yourself and steady your heart.”

Though Im Hae Ae’s own mood was far from pleasant, her emotions remained within the bounds of control.

“To be honest, I understand how you feel. After all, our Sinwang Academy suffered something similar. Our former vice principal passed away, the Great Elder passed away, and Mak Cheon Gu died too. I’m… I’m angry as well!”

Im Hae Ae drew a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.

“What matters most right now is understanding exactly what happened while we were away. After that, we can devise a countermeasure slowly.”

Pausing briefly, Im Hae Ae turned her gaze toward a nearby teacher.

Jang Ye, tell us what happened.”

The designated Jang Ye nodded toward Im Hae Ae, then opened his mouth with a grave expression.

“On the afternoon the director left, the former vice principal and I proceeded as originally planned…”

Jang Ye’s emotions were quite composed, and he explained the events of two days prior with excellent clarity.

After hearing Jang Ye’s full account, Im Hae Ae looked around and asked everyone a question.

“Is there anything to add?”

Everyone shook their heads. They all seemed to agree entirely with Jang Ye’s account.

Im Hae Ae furrowed her brow deeply and spoke in a heavy voice.

“If that is the case, it seems we have continuously underestimated Jang Wook. His abilities… may be superior to Mu Jin’s. Perhaps he has even reached the Waseon Realm.”

Mu Jin was universally recognized as the strongest in the Imperial City, but now Jang Wook appeared far more suited to that title.

Na Ak San had only just managed to compose himself. He clenched his fists and spoke coldly.

“That man, his cunning runs truly deep!”

Im Hae Ae nodded in deep agreement.

“All this time, hiding his strength right before our eyes, appearing docile while we noticed nothing at all. He waited until he had cultivated enough power to protect himself and strike back, then slowly revealed his true nature. Such profound cunning is genuinely chilling.”

Hearing these words, Na Ak San rubbed his aching head and muttered.

“If he is that formidable, what are we to do? Are you saying we must simply abandon avenging my son?”

According to the accounts of the Sinwang Academy teachers, Jang Wook had killed Mak Cheon Gu and the Great Elder with ease.

In other words, his strength was decidedly superior to Mu Jin’s. Perhaps he truly had reached the Waseon Realm.

If so, he was not someone they could dare touch.

A light of anguish flickered across Na Ak San’s face.

He wished to avenge Na Gun even in his dreams, but the current Jang Wook was no longer a meek lamb they could handle as they pleased.

He knew all too well that Jang Wook was a fierce tiger that could descend upon them at any moment and tear their lives apart.

“The Waseon Realm…”

Im Hae Ae sighed, a wave of helplessness washing over her.

If Jang Wook truly was a master of the Waseon Realm, then not only would vengeance be impossible—they might not even survive in the Imperial City.

Going to take their revenge would be like sheep walking into a tiger’s den.

In an instant, everyone fell silent, and the mood grew desolate.

“The Waseon Realm?”

A voice tinged with surprise suddenly cut through the room. Ju Sim spoke with evident interest.

“A master of the Waseon Realm, even in a small place like the Imperial City?”

To Im Hae Ae, Na Ak San, and the other teachers, a Waseon Realm master was an invincible force beyond their reach.

But to Ju Sim, a Waseon Realm master was merely a martial artist of somewhat elevated strength.

The moment Ju Sim’s voice reached their ears, Im Hae Ae and Na Ak San snapped to attention. They had forgotten—the towering figure standing beside them was Ju Sim.

That was right. To everyone in the Imperial City, Ju Sim was an absolute giant.

“My apologies, Master Ju Sim. We’ve shown you something rather embarrassing.”

Im Hae Ae forced a smile as she spoke.

“We originally invited you to evaluate our academy, but we never imagined such an unexpected trouble would arise.”

Na Ak San, too, smiled awkwardly while suppressing his grief.

“Master Ju Sim, please forgive my rudeness from before.”

Ju Sim waved his hand with a laugh.

“Don’t concern yourselves. I understand your feelings well enough.”

After a brief silence, Ju Sim asked with evident curiosity.

“There’s something I’m curious about. Just who is this Jang Wook you speak of? From what I’ve just heard, he seems far from ordinary.”

To reach the Waseon Realm without a master’s guidance or abundant resources, relying only on his own strength—Ju Sim’s interest was greatly piqued.

At Ju Sim’s question, Im Hae Ae hesitated for a moment before finally deciding to speak honestly.

“It all began seven years ago…”

He explained the turmoil of seven years past, though in doing so, he considerably embellished the images of the Sinwang Academy and Unsan Academy.

Most significantly, during his explanation he mentioned the name “Du Yak Un” several times, as though this name carried some special meaning.

“The Head Butler was involved in this?”

Ju Sim could not hide his surprise upon hearing this.

The Head Butler he referred to was none other than Du Yak Un.

Only a select few knew that Du Yak Un, who had been the vice principal of Changung Academy at the time, ascended like a dragon taking flight to the heavens, becoming the butler of the Central Capital branch of the Baek Won Alliance in merely seven years after leaving the Imperial City.

What was most remarkable was that seven years prior, Du Yak Un’s cultivation realm had been at the peak of Gyeseon Realm 9th Stage, yet seven years later it had soared to Waseon Realm Upper Stage.

“I assure you, it’s absolutely true! If you don’t believe me, there are many people who know what happened back then—you’re welcome to ask them.”

Im Hae Ae spoke earnestly, and Ju Sim shook his head.

“I believe you.”

He didn’t think Im Hae Ae possessed the audacity to deceive him.

“I never could have imagined it! The butler hailing from such a remote place like the Imperial City, and even serving as vice principal of a small academy at that. Now I understand why the butler took such keen interest in the two of you and personally instructed me to visit such a remote place with you.”

Ju Sim marveled.

“If I told the other butlers this story, they’d probably think I’d lost my mind.”

Ju Sim felt that this visit had been truly the right decision. To think he’d stumble upon so many secrets without realizing it.

Im Hae Ae hesitated for a moment before speaking in a low voice.

“Please keep this matter secret, Ju. Du… the lord was always averse to anyone mentioning this incident. Had we not been in truly desperate circumstances, we would never have asked for his assistance.”
“Ha, rest assured. I possess that much discretion.”

Ju Sim spoke with a calm, measured laugh.

“There’s no need to lecture me on such matters.”
“Yes, yes. I worried too much.”

Im Hae Ae apologized with a smile.

“I beg your forgiveness.”

At that moment, Na Ak San beside them drew a deep breath, his eyes flashing with resolve. He approached Ju Sim with heavy footsteps, bent at the waist, and spoke respectfully.

“Please, I beg you—help us!”

At Na Ak San’s plea, Ju Sim and Im Hae Ae ceased their conversation and turned their attention to him.

Feeling Ju Sim’s gaze upon him, Na Ak San clenched his teeth and forced courage into his voice.

“Please, for the sake of the lord’s honor, help us!”

Ju Sim’s brows furrowed, his gaze sharp and cutting.

“Are you attempting to coerce me by invoking the butler’s name?”
“No, no! You’ve misunderstood me.”

Na Ak San stammered in panic, scrambling to explain himself.

“I harbored no intention of coercion whatsoever! I merely beseech you to help us—I ask for nothing in return and would accept any terms. Even if you desired Unsan Academy, I would willingly surrender it!”

Na Ak San had steeled his resolve for revenge; he could even relinquish Unsan Academy, which the Na family had painstakingly built over centuries.

“Unsan Academy is merely a paltry little academy—why would I have any use for it?”

Ju Sim twisted his lips in scorn, making clear his disdain for Unsan Academy.

“But this Jang Wook is quite intriguing. In such a desolate border town, a Waseon Realm prodigy emerges at so young an age. Hmm….”

Even knowing that Jang Wook might be a Waseon Realm master, Ju Sim paid him no mind whatsoever.

Waseon Realm masters themselves were divided into three tiers: lower, middle, and upper.

Ju Sim was no mere Waseon Realm master—he was among the stronger ones, a Waseon Realm Middle Stage expert.

At the Waseon Realm stage, there were few who could threaten him. Moreover, he believed that no such person could possibly exist in the Imperial City.

“What is your will, sir?”

Na Ak San asked carefully.

“I’ll meet this fellow personally. If the opportunity arises, I’ll dispatch him in a heartbeat.”

Ju Sim stretched lazily as he spoke.

“I’ve already killed one or two Waseon Realm masters with these hands, so adding one more won’t cause any trouble. You lot will lure him to me. If possible, entice him to a confined space—that way I can eliminate him in one stroke. All Waseon Realm masters carry means of escape for emergencies, so if I show even a moment’s carelessness, he might slip away.”

As he finished speaking, Ju Sim’s expression finally turned grave.

He was not speaking carelessly. Waseon Realm masters were different from Gyeseon Realm masters.

Those who reached this stage were prodigies, one in ten thousand, each carrying hidden trump cards of their own.

Even being a Waseon Realm Middle Stage expert, he couldn’t be certain of cleanly eliminating a Waseon Realm Lower Stage master.

In the past, several Waseon Realm Lower Stage masters had escaped his grasp, troubling him for quite some time afterward.

So he was resolved not to act rashly against Jang Wook unless perfectly prepared.

The talent Jang Wook displayed was extraordinary. He was a rare talent not just in a provincial backwater like the Imperial City, but even in the Central Capital.

If Jang Wook were to escape and go into hiding to train for years or even decades, the unlucky one would be Ju Sim himself.

Even if the Baek Won Alliance could protect him, once a grudge sealed in blood took root, no rank or status could suppress the enemy.

Taking such enormous risk for two completely unrelated people would surely be wasteful.

“Good, that will do. Figure out the method yourselves. Inform me once you’re ready.”

Ju Sim shook his head, stretched once more, and yawned.

“Ah… I’m quite exhausted from riding all day. Im Hae Ae, prepare a place for me to rest. If anything urgent comes up, we can discuss it after I’ve had a nap.”
“Understood. Please wait just a moment.”

Im Hae Ae nodded and bowed deeply. The instant she straightened, she turned to Jang Ye beside her.

“Jang Ye, go quickly to the dormitory and prepare the finest, largest room. Since our guest has traveled far and must be worn out, he needs proper rest.”

Ju Sim waved a hand.

“No need for such trouble. Just take me there now.”
“Ah… yes….”

Im Hae Ae hesitated briefly, then nodded.

“Understood. Jang Ye, escort our guest.”

Jang Ye bowed respectfully to Ju Sim and spoke.

“This way, if you please, sir.”

Ju Sim adjusted his robes and began to move forward. But he stopped after barely three steps. Then, turning to look back at Im Hae Ae and Na Ak San, he delivered a warning—or rather, a kind of notice.

“I dislike tedious matters. So don’t trouble me with trivial concerns.”

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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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