The Academy’s Unrivaled Professor - Chapter 52

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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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Academy Absolute Professor 052
The Difference in Talent
Once Kang Hyun had sorted through the situation, he stepped out of the apartment.
Do Jeong-hyeok, who followed him out, still couldn’t believe it.
‘Is this really happening?’
The image of Gye Mu-jin—the renowned Spear Ghost of the martial world—stammering before the professor remained vivid in his mind.
The money was shocking too.
A full hundred billion won.
No matter how affluent his upbringing had been, he understood intimately how precious that sum was to his mother—every last won was like blood money to her.
The professor had seized that vast fortune with a single sentence and placed it in his mother’s hands.
“If you could convince my mother without wounding her, wouldn’t that be possible? If so, I’ll follow whatever the professor says from now on.”
The professor had kept his promise.
More than that, even.
Wouldn’t his mother be overjoyed rather than hurt by a hundred billion?
“……Professor.”
His throat tightened and the words came with difficulty, but he forced them out.
“Thank you. Thank you so much……!”
Beyond the money itself.
He was grateful that he could now throw his fists without hesitation.
“It’s enough.”
Kang Hyun didn’t regret the money at all.
Compared to the ordeals this kid would have to endure, it was a pittance.
To forge the Diamond Body into a Vajra Immortal Body, the boy would have to crawl through living hell hundreds of times over.
If you called it an advance on the suffering to come, a hundred billion was actually cheap.
“I’ll listen well to everything the professor says from now on.”
“Good. Just keep that one promise.”
That would be the hardest part.
As Do Jeong-hyeok straightened from his bow, Gye Mu-jin approached from behind.
“Brother.”
His voice remained cautious.
“I’d like to introduce myself properly now. I am Gye Mu-jin.”
Do Jeong-hyeok, watching this scene unfold, still couldn’t make sense of it.
What exactly was the professor’s identity that Gye Mu-jin would go to such lengths?
“Formal introductions? What’s between us anyway?”
“You are my benefactor.”
“Don’t burden yourself with a false debt. There’s nothing I need from you.”
Kang Hyun replied coolly.
“A debt only exists if there’s someone to collect it. I don’t need anything from you.”
Gye Mu-jin’s eyes deepened at those words.
Usually, when someone becomes your benefactor, they expect something in return.
But Black was different.
He had returned a hundred billion to Do Jeong-hyeok’s mother with no conditions attached, and now he was telling Gye Mu-jin not to repay any debt.
‘Even though he took five hundred billion from Ma Chul-ung!’
The way he conducted himself only drew Gye Mu-jin in further.
It was as though he were captivated by the dignity of this man called Black.
Where once he had respected him for his strength, now Gye Mu-jin simply thought of him as magnificent.
Gye Mu-jin turned his gaze toward Do Jeong-hyeok.
“Jeong-hyeok.”
“Yes, Hunter?”
“I owe you an apology. It’s not that I taught you poorly, but you wanted to throw your fists so badly and I couldn’t allow it—that was my mistake as someone who took on the role of your master.”
Do Jeong-hyeok hurried to wave his hand in protest.
“No, that’s not it! If it weren’t for you, how would I have ever placed first in the Martial Arts Tournament? I’ve been truly grateful for everything you taught me all this time!”
“I’m glad you see it that way.”
Gye Mu-jin chuckled softly and added,
“Even if you set aside the spear, let’s grab a meal now and then on weekends. I want to watch how far you go with your fists.”
Black cared enough for this student to take him under his direct wing.
To maintain a good relationship with Black, it was wise to leave things with Do Jeong-hyeok cleanly, without lingering bitterness.
“Then I’ll be going now.”
After exchanging farewells with Do Jeong-hyeok, Gye Mu-jin turned back to Kang Hyun and bowed respectfully.
“All right, go on.”
“Ah, well then.”
Gye Mu-jin ventured carefully.
“Would it be possible to grab a meal with Chul-ung sometime down the road?”
“If the opportunity arises.”
Kang Hyun didn’t dislike Gye Mu-jin.
He was a Hunter who had risked his life alongside Ma Chul-ung during the Leviathan incident.
When Asura’s subordinates descended later, he would likely prove to be an excellent barrier.
Moreover, watching him today, his personality was refreshingly free of lingering resentment.
He was quick to read the room, cool enough to admit his own mistakes, and had the audacity to disgorge money already swallowed without protest.
‘There’s no particular reason to bring him along, but no reason to cast him out either.’
“Thank you so much! I’ll be waiting for your call!”
As Gye Mu-jin disappeared with a lighter step, Do Jeong-hyeok couldn’t hold back any longer.
“Professor, who exactly are you?”
“What do you mean?”
“How could you possibly be Gye Mu-jin’s benefactor?”
“Seems I’m someone more impressive than that remarkable person your mother used to talk about.”
“No, that’s not what I meant—”
“Quiet.”
Kang Hyun cut him off decisively, fixing Do Jeong-hyeok with a direct gaze.
“From now on, you are my second disciple.”
“…!”
Do Jeong-hyeok’s shoulders jerked.
He’d heard the rumors too.
The five Students that Kang Hyun taught were not true disciples.
Only Baek Yu-yeon, who came to the Professor’s Office, was a true disciple.
“So from now on, treat Baek Yu-yeon as your senior with proper respect. Act uncouth and you’ll answer to me with your life.”
“Yes, understood.”
“And starting tomorrow, participate in dawn training. Come to the grounds behind the New Training Hall by six.”
* * *
The next morning, before dawn.
The Five Person Group had gathered early, each refining their martial arts and warming up.
Though training started at six, not a single Student arrived exactly on time.
They all came an hour early to loosen up.
It was, in fact, the time they waited for most eagerly.
Crack!
Yun Hyun-jong, practicing the Dual Sword Technique with two wooden swords, was the first—
“Huh?”
—to notice the uninvited guest.
“Do Jeong-hyeok?”
The ranking top of the twenty-first cohort, who’d beaten Han Tae-ho, had appeared at the training ground.
“What’s this?”
Gwak Do-jin stepped forward, brushing sweat from his wet bangs.
“What brings you here? Did you lose your way?”
There was an edge to his tone.
After all, this was the very person who’d defeated Han Tae-ho and caused them all grief.
“No, sir. I’ve come to receive instruction from the Professor as well.”
“What?”
Gwak Do-jin’s expression hardened instantly.
“Listen here—there are Students who want to learn from the Professor standing in line. What, did you think being top of the twenty-first cohort got you special admission?”
“The Professor has given his permission.”
“What?”
The other Students were startled by this announcement.
The Professor had?
“That’s right.”
It was then that a familiar voice cut through the darkness.
Kang Hyun appeared, Whiskey Bottle in hand as always.
“Professor!”
“You’ve arrived!”
The Five Person Group bowed in unison.
Do Jeong-hyeok likewise hurried to lower his head.
A peculiar tension hung in the air, but Kang Hyun paid it no mind.
“Introduce yourselves. As of today, this one joins the dawn training with all of you.”
“Pardon?”
“And he is my second student, after Baek Yu-yeon.”
The students could have felt slighted, but Kang Hyun didn’t hide it.
Better to reveal what must be revealed quickly.
Sure enough.
Each of them wore an expression of grievance.
Tsk, tsk.
What good does it do to let feelings show so plainly?
“Is it because he defeated Han Tae-ho?”
In the end, Gwak Do-jin couldn’t hold back and asked.
“Of course not.”
Kang Hyun took a long drink from his Whiskey Bottle.
He swallowed several mouthfuls.
“Beating Han Tae-ho? That’s nothing special. The reason is simple—he has talent. Why, do you feel wronged?”
…….
The students had no answer.
“You’ll think it’s unfair, I’m sure. Fine then, let’s do this.”
Kang Hyun pointed at Do Jeong-hyeok with the Whiskey Bottle he was holding.
“Do Jeong-hyeok is top of his year, but today is his first day learning from me. Moreover, starting today, he’s abandoning the spear he primarily uses and will learn the fist from scratch. And I won’t teach him the Internal Energy Technique like I teach you. I’ll only teach him External Training.”
……!
In truth, they hadn’t been surprised at the mention of learning the fist.
But the announcement that he’d be taught primarily External Training shocked them all.
Hunters must cultivate Internal Energy.
Without Internal Energy, one couldn’t project force or generate destructive power.
Meanwhile?
External Training is an outdated philosophy.
A method of conditioning the body to its absolute limits!
It was a primitive training approach used before the world changed.
‘The Martial World had the same view, I suppose.’
Internal Energy was valued far more than External Training.
But?
To properly master the Iron Mountain Immortal technique and maximize the Diamond Body constitution, one had to master External Training.
External Training taken to its extreme was as formidable as Internal Energy.
“Listen carefully, all of you.”
Kang Hyun’s gaze sharpened to a cutting edge.
“When the Final Exam ends this semester, if any one of you defeats Do Jeong-hyeok in a Martial Duel,”
Someone swallowed hard.
A dry gulp echoed in the silence.
“that person becomes my true student on the spot.”
“Truly, sir?”
Fire ignited in Cha Yu-sik’s eyes.
He recalled what Kang Hyun had said before.
– When the day comes that you can breathe and move without effort within the Killing Intent I emit—then I’ll consider taking you as a student.
A vague condition, that was!
Now all he had to do was defeat Do Jeong-hyeok before meeting that standard!
‘He was evenly matched with Han Tae-ho.’
Cha Yu-sik, top of the nineteenth generation, had every right to attempt the challenge.
Jealousy had transformed into competitive hunger.
“Professor.”
Cha Yu-sik raised his hand.
“May I ask one thing, sir?”
“Go ahead.”
“If someone becomes your student, would Do Jeong-hyeok receive instruction outside the dawn training as well?”
“Presumably so.”
“Then that puts us at a disadvantage. We only receive guidance during dawn training!”
At the logical and bold question, Kang Hyun let out a low laugh.
Yes, voice your complaints like that.
Don’t brood silently and then burst.
“Arrogant brat.”
“I apologize.”
“Fine. Until the final exam is over.”
……
“And you five—you’re welcome to knock on my office door anytime. If you hit a wall, come find me.”
Joy bloomed across the Five Person Group’s faces.
* * *
The first class began.
Kang Hyun lightly corrected the Five Person Group’s form as they trained, then positioned himself before a visibly nervous Do Jeong-hyeok.
“You know how to do the Horse Stance, don’t you? Bend your knees. Keep your thighs level with the ground.”
“Yes.”
“Back straight and tall, eyes forward.”
It was the same foundational stance he’d taught the Five Person Group at the beginning.
‘Tch.’
Watching him from the corner of his eye, Kang Hyun clicked his tongue inwardly.
‘So he’s going to suffer through this hell just like the rest of them.’
‘Hang in there. It gets easier after the first few times.’
‘Let’s see how long he lasts. His legs will be shaking after ten minutes.’
But.
Their expectations began to unravel spectacularly.
* * *
Thirty minutes in.
‘What?’
Gwak Do-jin’s wooden sword faltered for a moment.
Do Jeong-hyeok’s legs hadn’t moved so much as a muscle.
‘Did he drive a steel stake into the ground or something? Why is he so stable?’
* * *
An hour in.
Yun Hyun-jong’s brow furrowed.
‘Still going? Things get rough for me from this point on.’
Seo Hae-in openly stared at Do Jeong-hyeok.
It was eerie.
His breathing was steady. He hadn’t even broken a sweat.
Normally, an hour in the Horse Stance should feel like every drop of fluid drains from your entire body.
* * *
Two hours in.
‘What is this guy.’
‘Is he actually a monster?’
‘His legs still aren’t shaking?’
Even Cha Yu-sik swallowed hard.
Throughout their training, he’d been stealing glances, and Do Jeong-hyeok’s form hadn’t crumbled once.
His expression hadn’t wavered either.
* * *
Then finally, three hours passed and the class ended.
Everyone was stunned.
‘He’s a real freak.’
‘He went through the elite track—it’s no joke.’
Do Jeong-hyeok remained in that stance.
Kang Hyun smiled.
“Time’s up. Get on your feet.”
“I could keep going.”
“You’re not even tired, so stand up.”
“Yes.”
Kang Hyun understood.
This was the hallmark of the Vajra Body.
Bones and muscles with density nearly equal to metal.
With such simple static movements, stamina wouldn’t actually drain at all.
To put it another way, it was like asking an ordinary person to bend their arm and stand still for three hours.
Boring, yes—but there’s no muscle-tearing agony.
‘He probably didn’t even get a workout out of it.’
But why go through the trouble of showing them that?
Kang Hyun cared for those five students.
That’s precisely why he wanted them to see it.
‘In this world, there exist mutants who far surpass even geniuses who’ve strived since birth. If you want to catch up with monsters like these, you’ll need to carve away even more bone.’
For those who would despair at this sight, the message was simple: give up now.
He’d already taught them everything; if they fell apart later, it would be a waste of time for everyone.
“Good. Do Jeong-hyeok, you move straight to the next level.”
Not a single student objected to his words.
But they all sensed it—something strange was unfolding.

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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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