Myth of Martial Arts - Chapter 28

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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 28
Only after he finished speaking did he resume walking.

Before long, the two figures grew smaller and smaller until they finally vanished from sight.

Watching Ju Sim and Jang Ye disappear, Im Hae Ae pulled her gaze back, swept it across everyone present, and spoke in a heavy voice.

“All of you, follow me to the conference room.”
* * *
In the conference room, Im Hae Ae and Na Ak San took the seats at the front, while the teachers stood in a line beneath them.

“What concerns Lord Ju and whatever we discuss from here on must be kept strictly secret. Not a word of it is to leave this room.”

Im Hae Ae’s expression was grave, and her sharp eyes swept over every teacher in turn.

Tense and solemn, everyone nodded.

“Understood!”

Im Hae Ae turned her head toward Na Ak San.

“Brother Na, Lord Ju’s intentions were perfectly clear just now. He won’t lay a hand on Jang Wook himself, so we have to lure Jang Wook into a narrow stretch of terrain. But how and where should we draw him in? Do you have a good idea?”

She paused and glanced sideways at the teachers.

“All of you, think it through carefully. See if anyone has a good suggestion.”

Hearing this, Na Ak San rubbed his temple and spoke.

“My head is a little muddled at the moment, and I can’t come up with a single method. Brother Im, leave this matter entirely to you.”

The teachers of Sinwang Academy sank into thought, but for a long while none of them opened their mouths.

Im Hae Ae furrowed her brow, her face openly dissatisfied.

“You chatter away like a flock of sparrows when there’s nothing to worry about, yet now you’ve been silent for half a day. Hmph, useless lot!”

The teachers all lowered their heads, and though resentment may have stirred in their hearts, not one of them dared to show it before Im Hae Ae.

After studying them all for a long moment, Im Hae Ae let out a disappointed sigh.

“Enough. It seems I can’t expect this sort of thing from the likes of you. I’d better find a way myself rather than wait on you lot.”

She fell into thought for a moment, then suddenly asked Na Ak San.

“Brother Na, isn’t the day of the Yellow Abyss Trial coming up soon?”
“The Yellow Abyss Trial, you say?”

Na Ak San started in surprise, and then his eyes lit up.

“If I remember correctly, it’s about half a month away. Surely you don’t mean…”

The Yellow Abyss Trial is an examination event jointly hosted by Sinwang Academy and Unsan Academy, held once every year. Its purpose is to sharpen students’ practical skills and their ability to survive in the field.

Of course, there is a competitive edge to it as well. Students who stand out in the Yellow Abyss Trial receive generous rewards and draw the attention of many powers.

That is why students eagerly long to take part in the Yellow Abyss Trial, hoping to carve out a brighter future for themselves.

Up to now, the Yellow Abyss Trial has already been held more than a hundred times.

Seven years ago, before Jang Hoyeon left, Changung Academy had also taken part in the Yellow Abyss Trial.

Every time, the students of Changung Academy put on dazzling performances and easily defeated Sinwang Academy and Unsan Academy.

“I’d wager that Jang Wook fellow will try to restore Changung Academy’s reputation. The Yellow Abyss Trial would be the perfect opportunity for him. If we just send someone to tell him, I’m certain he won’t refuse.”

A sly glint flashed in Im Hae Ae’s eyes. No one in the entire Imperial City could match him when it came to scheming and intrigue.

“Let’s see whether that man can hide inside Changung Academy again this time!”

The Yellow Abyss Trial was a place crawling with danger. Each time the trial opened, Sinwang Academy and Unsan Academy sent large numbers of instructors along with their students, and both academy heads secretly trailed behind to keep their students safe.

But they had never truly been worried about the students’ well-being. They were only afraid that if too many students died or were injured, it would tarnish their academies’ names.

“According to what we’ve gathered, Changung Academy currently has no instructors. He is both the head and the teacher there, so if he agrees to join the trial, he’ll have no choice but to go along with his students.”

Im Hae Ae said this with a cold smile.

“There are plenty of narrow passages inside the Yellow Abyss. Once we find a suitable pretext, we can lure him into one of them.”

The instructors standing below swallowed hard at these words.

“As expected of our academy head. To come up with such a vicious scheme in an instant!”

The instructors had lived at Sinwang Academy for a long time, grown accustomed to Im Hae Ae’s methods, and even learned a great deal from him.

In their eyes, the more ruthless Im Hae Ae’s schemes were, the better. The harsher the plan, the greater the odds of success.

No one thought such conduct was improper, and no one felt ashamed of it.

Before they knew it, under Im Hae Ae’s influence, they had become people much like him.

Once Na Ak San’s train of thought got going, ideas poured out of him endlessly, and he kept nodding as he spoke.

“Yes, exactly that.”

The moment Im Hae Ae finished, he added a few more words of his own.

“Doesn’t that man hold his students dear? If worst comes to worst, we can send people to capture those students and use them as leverage. Of course, that’s a last resort, so if there’s another way, we shouldn’t rashly do it. After all, none of those students are of ordinary standing. If we actually did such a thing, we’d provoke public outrage.”

They say there’s always a higher mountain beyond the mountain, and Na Ak San’s ruthlessness was no less than Im Hae Ae’s.

The instructors listening to the two of them broke into a cold sweat, and in their hearts they began to feel sorry for Jang Wook.

“We may not match that man in strength, but when it comes to plotting, we’re the experts!”

Im Hae Ae laughed calmly, a trace of pride showing on his face. Accustomed to schemes and intrigue, he felt no shame at all; if anything, he took pride in it.

“But…”

Na Ak San furrowed his brow and spoke.

“Who should we send to tell him?”

By rights, they ought to go themselves to observe proper etiquette, but as everyone knew, the moment they showed their faces before Jang Wook, they’d be killed by him before they had a chance to say a word.

So someone else would have to be sent, and that person had to carry a certain amount of standing.

After all, the Yellow Abyss Trial was no trifling matter, so anyone lacking the standing for such an important task had no business taking part.

Im Hae Ae looked around, her gaze sweeping over the instructors gathered there.

The moment they felt Im Hae Ae’s eyes on them, the instructors broke into a cold sweat, hastily lowered their heads, and pretended to be invisible.

“A pack of cowards.”

Im Hae Ae curled her lip and spoke with a sneer.

“Rest assured, I won’t send you. Your status and your strength aren’t enough to qualify you.”

At Im Hae Ae’s scolding, the instructors said nothing aloud, but inwardly they held her in deep contempt.

‘Cowards who fear death? Then why don’t you step forward yourself?’

Unable to hear the instructors’ thoughts, Im Hae Ae withdrew her cold gaze and sank into thoughts as deep as an abyss.

In truth, the best course would have been to send Ju Sim to Changung Academy along with them.

If that were done, Jang Wook would be powerless to do anything vicious to them, no matter what he intended.

But they had no right to give orders to Ju Sim, who had reached the Waseon Realm, and instead they had to flatter him and keep him pleased.

All so that, even by a hair’s breadth, Ju Sim would not be offended and abandon the matter on a whim.

“Ugh, that Jang Wook bastard, so utterly merciless! He killed Jeon Pung, killed Mak Cheongu, and even the Grand Elder, until now there’s hardly anyone left worth calling on.”

Im Hae Ae let out a heavy sigh. The hatred toward Jang Wook burned hotter once more.

Apart from the Grand Elder, Jeon Pung, and Mak Cheongu, there had been only one other true master at Sinwang Academy.

The so-called nominal elders were really just instructors who had been around a little longer, and their skill fell short even of Mak Cheongu’s, so they were not worth relying on at all.

“If it really comes to that, let’s go to Mu Jin ourselves and ask him to send word to Jang Wook.”

Na Ak San said calmly.

Though they feared Mu Jin’s peerless martial skill, they were not so afraid of him that they couldn’t bear to meet him.

In this Imperial City, there was only one being they feared enough to never dare raise their heads before: Jang Wook.

At Na Ak San’s suggestion, Im Hae Ae’s eyes gleamed, and after a moment’s thought, he agreed.

“That’s a truly good plan! We can’t delay. Let’s go see him tonight!”

Afterward, the two of them discussed the matter at length, settling every detail, and only then did they finally feel a little at ease.

“Honestly, I hope Jang Wook attacks Sinwang Academy right now. If he does, Lord Ju won’t be able to stay out of it. Even out of consideration for Lord Du Yak… for Lord Du Yak’s dignity, Lord Ju won’t be able to pretend he doesn’t see us.”

Im Hae Ae shook his head slowly and sighed.

“The Yellow Abyss Trial is still half a month away. Who knows how much blood will be spilled in the meantime…”

As long as Jang Wook draws breath, not one of them could sleep soundly; they were bound to tremble constantly, as though a blade were pressed against their backs.

Na Ak San shook his head and spoke.

“Never mistake Jang Wook for a fool. The fact that he has vanished before our very eyes for so many years, leaving not a single trace, shows just how deep his scheming runs and how terrifying his plans must be. Unless he’s certain he can stand against Lord Ju, he won’t act rashly. Above all, don’t provoke him first. If he agrees to take part in the Yellow Abyss Trial, that’s good; if not, we’ll devise another strategy.”

The Yellow Abyss Trial was a poisoned bait they had cast out, and a trap wrapped up in the guise of a fair and proper offer, forced upon him all the same.

Let’s see whether Jang Wook dares to accept this challenge.

Im Hae Ae stroked her long, flowing beard and smiled coldly.

“The Yellow Abyss Trial has been held for many years, and its fame has already spread across the entire Imperial City, even to every village at the foot of the mountain. If that Jang Wook wishes to reclaim the old glory of Changung Academy, the Yellow Abyss Trial is undoubtedly the fastest shortcut. He will never be able to refuse it!”

The Yellow Abyss Trial was the greatest martial gathering of the year in the Imperial City.

Not only the powerful families within the Imperial City, but also the great sects from beyond its walls would all gather at the Yellow Abyss on this day.

Even the City Lord’s Administration, which represents the authority of the imperial court, would dispatch the City Guard Army to keep order.

Surely Jang Wook would not refuse a festival of martial arts this grand.

And so, late at night, Im Hae Ae and Na Ak San visited the Mu Clan together. They stayed for roughly a quarter of an hour before quietly taking their leave.

Afterward, Mu Jin ran toward Changung Academy, his expression grave, his deeply furrowed brows betraying his worry.

About half an hour later, Mu Jin arrived at Changung Academy. By then, every student had already left the academy, and the grounds were eerily silent.

Spotting the bright lamplight of the Library Pavilion from afar, Mu Jin did not hesitate for a moment and headed straight for it.

Reaching the gate of the Library Pavilion, Mu Jin stopped in his tracks and called out loudly.

“Director!”

A shadow on the window wavered slightly, and then Jang Wook’s voice drifted out from within the Library Pavilion.

“Come in. I’m on the second floor.”

The moment he heard the words, Mu Jin entered the Library Pavilion and climbed the stone stairs to the second floor.

Spotting Jang Wook, Mu Jin hurried over to him. Deference colored his expression.

“Director, Im Hae Ae and Na Ak San just came looking for me.”

In front of Jang Wook, Mu Jin’s manner grew even more respectful. He could subtly sense that Jang Wook’s dignity grew stronger by the day, and that his extraordinary bearing moved people more and more.

Compared with the first time they had met, the Jang Wook standing before him now seemed like a completely different person.

Mu Jin couldn’t tell whether this was merely his own illusion, but it did nothing to diminish his reverence for Jang Wook.

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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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