Myth of Martial Arts - Chapter 7

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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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Episode 7
Before the stone monument of Changung Academy.

The moment Jang Wook arrived, he noticed Mu Jin’s father wearing a grave expression. Jang Wook pulled up the status window.

【Mu Jin】

【Gender: Male】

【Age: 49】

【Constitution Aptitude: Ordinary Bloodline, Single-Star Superior】

【Five-Star Aptitude: Three-Star Inferior】

【Special Aptitude: None】

【Cultivation Realm: Gyeseon Realm 9th Stage】

Mu was an exceedingly rare surname, and only one person bearing the name Mu Jin existed in the Imperial City.

Without question, this middle-aged man before him was none other than the legendary strongest force of the Imperial City—Mu Jin, Patriarch of the Mu Clan.

‘Ordinary bloodline, single-star superior constitution aptitude.’

Jang Wook was somewhat taken aback.

‘With aptitude like that, he’s already reached Gyeseon Realm 9th Stage in his forties…’

Mu Jin must have encountered some extraordinary opportunity in his youth.

Moreover, Mu Jin’s Five-Star Aptitude was remarkable indeed.

Five-Star Aptitude was, quite literally, the capacity to master martial arts and perceive the principles of the world.

The higher one’s Five-Star Aptitude, the faster one learned martial techniques, grasped their essence, and trained to perfection.

At the advanced stages of cultivation, those with high aptitude could perceive the natural laws more easily and command the forces of heaven and earth.

For this reason, at higher levels, Five-Star Aptitude sometimes mattered more than Constitution Aptitude.

In a sense, Mu Jin was a genius. As this thought crystallized in Jang Wook’s mind, a familiar mechanical sound echoed through his consciousness.

“System detected that Mu Jin possesses Three-Star Inferior Five-Star Aptitude. A quest has been issued.”

【Main Quest 3: Recruit Mu Jin as a student of Changung Academy】

【To build a great academy, one must embrace all things and receive a hundred streams. As Headmaster, you bear the responsibility and duty to recruit various prodigies for the academy.】

【Quest Reward: Five-Star Aptitude rises to Three-Star Superior】

【Time Limit: 12 hours】

【Quest Failure: No penalty】

Jang Wook’s senses snapped to full alertness.

‘Another quest.’

But after absorbing the full scope of the quest, a series of black lines appeared across Jang Wook’s forehead.

‘System, really a student? Not a teacher?’

A powerhouse confidently at the Gyeseon Realm 9th Stage, yet Changung Academy accepted him merely as a student?

This had to be the system playing games with him.

Jang Wook rubbed his head, clearly troubled.

If the quest had been to recruit Mu Jin as a teacher at Changung Academy, Jang Wook would have had some confidence in himself.

With a little persuasion, success might have been possible — but a student? He’d do better to abandon that idea altogether.

He didn’t believe he possessed the ability to coax a Gyeseon Realm 9th Stage master into becoming a student.

‘Unfortunately, I’m still no match for him. If I were, there would at least be hope of completing this quest.’

Fundamentally, the problem was that his mystical power was still too meager.

Though he had broken through the cultivation realm and his mystical power had increased, it still couldn’t sustain itself for long, and using martial techniques remained impossible.

If he couldn’t crush an opponent within a few exchanges, he’d be the one collapsing to the ground.

Thinking of this, Jang Wook could only sigh.

Though he had changed from a ‘three-second man’ to a ‘ten-second man’, the difference didn’t seem all that substantial.

While Jang Wook quietly assessed Mu Jin, Mu Jin was observing Jang Wook in return.

‘His aura is concealed inward — I cannot fathom his depth at all. It seems Muk did not deceive me. This fellow appears to be at least Gyeseon Realm 8th Stage.’

He believed that anyone whose cultivation stage he could not sense — even if weaker than himself — was not so far beneath him.

‘A pity.’

A flicker of regret passed through Mu Jin’s eyes.

Such a brilliant prodigy, yet fated not to live long.

Moments later, Jang Wook withdrew his gaze and smiled, turning to Mu Muk.

“I said come back tomorrow, so why did you come so quickly? Did you come to pay tuition?”

He was still fixated on the matter of tuition.

Upon hearing Jang Wook’s words, Mu Muk rolled his eyes and sighed inwardly.

‘This fellow — what moment is this, and he’s still harping on tuition?’

Fortunately, Mu Heon Heon wasn’t here — otherwise the wonderful elder brother image in her heart would have crumbled in an instant.

“I apologize, but I’ve come to withdraw from the academy.”

Mu Muk fell silent for a moment, then drew a deep breath and looked directly at Jang Wook.

In truth, they didn’t strictly need to retrieve the registration forms or complete formal withdrawal procedures.

But they were accustomed to handling matters according to protocol, and doing so kept them out of controversy.

The Mu Clan was the leading family of Imperial City and had many allies, but they had just as many enemies who wished for their misfortune.

But Jang Wook raised his eyebrows at Mu Muk’s words.

“What on earth are the Mu Clan people thinking? They want to withdraw in a few days?”

Not paying tuition and then withdrawing—where in the world did such a fortunate arrangement exist?

Though Jang Wook had anticipated this outcome from the moment he first saw Mu Jin, his displeasure lingered nonetheless.

“Director… I apologize. This isn’t Mu Muk’s wish—it’s mine.”

This time Mu Jin spoke. He shook his head at Mu Muk to signal him, then turned to address Jang Wook.

Jang Wook shifted his gaze to Mu Jin, feigning ignorance while regarding him with open curiosity.

“And you are?”
“Ah, I forgot to introduce myself. How do you do—I’m Mu Jin, Mu Muk’s father.”

Mu Jin offered a slight smile and introduced himself simply.

He saw no need for further flourishes.

There was no way Jang Wook wouldn’t know his name.

His name was as much a landmark throughout the Imperial City as anything else could be.

“I see.”

Jang Wook nodded, appearing entirely unmoved.

Mu Jin’s mind grew muddled as he observed Jang Wook’s reaction.

‘What does “I see” mean? Acceptance or refusal?’

Unable to read Jang Wook’s attitude, he proceeded carefully and opened his mouth once more.

“Director Jang, what must I do for you to approve the withdrawal procedures for Mu Muk and Mu Heon Heon? Any request—simply name it!”

He had no wish to treat Jang Wook too harshly.

The Mu Clan possessed considerable wealth; any problem solvable by money was hardly a problem at all.

Soon Jang Wook smiled and looked at Mu Jin.

“Patriarch Mu, you’re truly willing to hear any request?”
“Go ahead.”
“My request is quite simple. Have Mu Muk and Mu Heon Heon pay their tuition, and I’ll process their withdrawal immediately.”

Jang Wook smiled calmly.

“Surely such a request is simple enough, wouldn’t you say?”

Mu Jin looked at Jang Wook with an expression of surprise, then burst out laughing.

“Muk, pay the tuition at once. And your sister’s as well.”

For a problem that could be settled with mere Hwang Bi, he saw no point in wasting breath haggling over the price.

Such a sum was merely one hair on one of nine oxen to the Mu Clan.

At these words, Mu Muk immediately produced two notes of Hwang Bi, each worth ten thousand, and handed them over. Ten thousand per note meant twenty thousand for two.

But Jang Wook shook his head and did not accept them.

“The amount doesn’t match.”
“Isn’t it ten thousand Hwang Bi per year?”

Mu Jin’s brow furrowed.

“Do you think my arithmetic is so poor, Director?”

Jang Wook spoke evenly.

“I apologize, but ten thousand Hwang Bi per year was this morning’s price. The cost has risen now — it’s one million Hwang Bi per year.”

Damn it all — the moment he opened his mouth, the price shot up a hundredfold.

One million Hwang Bi was no trifling sum. Even for a wealthy clan like the Mu Clan, if you pooled all available capital, you wouldn’t exceed ten million Hwang Bi.

One person’s tuition at one million Hwang Bi meant two people would cost two million.

Mu Jin’s face suddenly darkened.

“Are you playing games with me?”

Two million Hwang Bi was a substantial sum, but not one the Mu Clan couldn’t produce.

Yet Mu Jin felt he had been insulted.

It was as if he were being mocked like some court jester for the amusement of others.

His eyes, fixed on Jang Wook, were already burning with fury.

Jang Wook maintained his serene expression as though he hadn’t noticed Mu Jin’s rage at all.

“Enrollment costs ten thousand Hwang Bi, withdrawal costs one million. Choose whichever you prefer.”

Mu Jin spoke, his voice dark and cold.

“And if I choose neither?”

His emotions had nearly reached the point of explosion.

“Neither, you say? That works too!”

Jang Wook showed no surprise, as though he’d already anticipated this very response.

He made a slight movement with his hands and arms, then stopped.

In that instant, his gaze sharpened, and a chill entered his tone.

“A single punch — if you can endure just one blow from my fist, then regardless of the outcome, I’ll process the withdrawal for Mu Muk and Mu Heon Heon.”

As the strongest force in Imperial City, Mu Jin’s power needed no further explanation.

If he came at him hard, Jang Wook couldn’t be certain he could hold him back.

Rather than wait for Mu Jin to swallow his pride and charge, it was better to seize the initiative first.

Besides, having met a powerful enemy at Gyeseon Realm 9th Stage, Jang Wook’s own hands were itching for the fight.

He wanted to test his own capabilities, to gauge the power of the mysterious force within him.

The Yellow Continent was vast and boundless, and geniuses overflowed like fish crossing a river.

Changung Academy would never lack for students in the years to come.

If anything, Mu Muk and Mu Heon Heon’s loss was in missing this opportunity.

“You mean it?”

Mu Jin’s composure wavered slightly. He found it hard to believe that Jang Wook’s terms were this simple.

Not one punch, but ten—a hundred even—meant nothing to Mu Jin.

He knew Jang Wook was strong, but no matter how strong, how could he possibly be stronger than himself?

“You seem to have accepted the answer. Very well. Prepare yourself.”

Jang Wook regarded Mu Jin calmly as he spoke.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Even I cannot predict how powerful this single punch of mine will be.”

He truly did not know the extent of his fist’s power. In speaking this way, he was not deceiving Mu Jin.

“There’s no need. Begin whenever you’re ready.”

Mu Jin waved his hand dismissively. It was only a matter of receiving one of Jang Wook’s punches—he saw no reason to prepare specially.

Mu Muk, standing beside them, opened his eyes wide, his face flush with anticipation.

One side was universally recognized as Imperial City’s greatest master.

The other was unquestionably a young prodigy who had reached Gyeseon Realm 8th Stage, perhaps even the 9th.

A contest between these two would be a matchless spectacle.

Jang Wook closed his eyes and exhaled softly. When his eyes opened again, his aura had transformed completely.

The mysterious force from his Dantian surged swiftly through his meridian channels, and in less than half a breath, it converged entirely into his fist.

A terrifying pressure radiated outward in all directions from his fist at its center.

Before the punch was even thrown, a weight descended—the kind that made hearts race—and even the air itself seemed to freeze.

Sensing the dreadful aura emanating from Jang Wook, Mu Jin’s face paled in an instant, and his eyes widened with disbelief.

‘Impossible. How could this possibly be?’

Mu Jin stared at Jang Wook with eyes wide open, transfixed.

Immortal Force.

How could someone barely over twenty possess Immortal Force?

It must be a mistake. Surely it had to be a mistake.

Immortal Force was the hallmark of those who had transcended the Wa Seon Gyeong. Only by breaking through the Gyeseon Realm 9th Stage and condensing Wa Seon within one’s Dantian could True Energy transform into Immortal Force.

A master of the Wa Seon Gyeong in his early twenties? Was such a thing even possible?

Mu Jin’s thoughts spiraled into confusion.

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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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