The World’s Greatest Martial Arts Instructor - Chapter 124

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

 

 

 

 

Chapter 124. The Winter Tournament Begins!

 

 

The day he first came to Gyoryong Hall.

These were the words Ha Mu-baek had said in response to Peng Do-yul’s request to stay quiet.

He had always stayed quiet, but his opponents were the ones who were noisy.

In fact, it was true.

This time too, it was always the opponents who were noisy.

Yeon Baek-ryang had been like that, and the Demonic Cult had been like that.

There truly hadn’t been a single quiet day.

“How did you manage to extract yourself from your family?”

Ha Mu-baek’s question.

At that question, Peng Do-yul quietly nodded his head.

“We decided to go into seclusion. It will probably last about ten years.”

Seclusion.

A term referring to when noble families or sects stop all external activities and close their doors.

When entering seclusion, they only engage in minimal activities to maintain the sect’s lineage, truly living in hiding as if retired from the martial world.

In other words, the Five Great Noble Families would become the Four Great Noble Families.

Or perhaps, during the ten years the Peng Family was in seclusion, a new noble family would emerge to take the Peng Family’s place and become one of the Five Great Noble Families.

“Then shouldn’t the Academy Director also return to the Peng Family?”

Since seclusion meant stopping all external activities, all members of the Peng Family in the Jeongcheon Alliance would have to return as well.

Peng Do-yul would be no exception.

However, Peng Do-yul shook his head.

“I decided to stay at Gyoryong Hall.”

“Is that even possible?”

Ha Mu-baek asked, tilting his head in confusion.

“Strictly speaking, it’s impossible.”

“Perhaps you were even expelled from the family…”

Ha Mu-baek soon shook his head.

From what he could see using his Infinite Bright Wheel Eyes, the Peng Family’s internal energy was still contained in his dantian.

“Just consider it an exception. In preparation for when the seclusion is lifted. And I prefer this place, Gyoryong Hall, more than the main estate. It’s a place I’ve devoted everything to, so I suppose you could say I’m attached to it.”

His eyes were filled with melancholy as he looked toward the north where the Peng Family was located.

“Well then, what do you think about tomorrow?”

Changing the mood, Peng Do-yul asked Ha Mu-baek.

“What do you mean?”

“The Winter Tournament. Do you think there will be an upset like in the last Summer Tournament?”

At that question, Ha Mu-baek chuckled.

“I already proved myself back then, so would this time still be called an upset?”

“I don’t think so, but others probably still consider the previous results a fluke.”

“Someone who’s been away from the academy for two whole months sure knows a lot.”

At Ha Mu-baek’s sarcasm, Peng Do-yul merely smiled.

“See for yourself with your own eyes.”

Ha Mu-baek turned around and walked toward the dormitory.

With the air of someone who really needed to rest now.

Come to think of it, darkness had already begun to settle in.

 

***

 

The eastern sky turns red as the sun rises.

The cadets of Gyoryong Hall had already awakened and finished their preparations while it was still dark dawn.

Today was the last day of the second half of the year, and the day to culminate a year’s worth of achievements.

The Winter Tournament.

The day to conclude Gyoryong Hall’s year.

A martial arts competition held after random drawing with support from all cadets.

While the Summer Tournament had been only for first-year cadets, the Winter Tournament had all cadets face off on the martial arts arena regardless of their year.

Therefore, it was originally a martial arts competition favorable to fourth-year cadets. Their accumulated experience was different.

However, this year was different.

There were some truly exceptional individuals among the first-year cadets of Jamryong Corps and Waryong Corps.

Namgung Ji-hu of the Namgung Family, Mok Cheong-san of the Heavenly Sword Sect, and Ju U-myeong of Wudang.

They were the promising prospects of Jamryong Corps, Waryong Corps, and Maengryong Corps respectively.

Cadets began appearing one by one around the martial arts arenas that had been prepared for two weeks and completed yesterday.

Eight regular arenas surrounded the central large arena in all directions.

The massive training ground used for group training of all cadets was filled with martial arts arenas and spectator seats. Thanks to this, there had been no group training for the past two weeks.

A cold morning where breath naturally formed clouds.

The instructors also began to appear on the platform built high enough to overlook all the martial arts arenas.

Academy Director Peng Do-yul sat in the Grand Master’s chair at the highest seat, with Vice Director Yeon Baek-jin and the corps commanders sitting in the seats prepared around him.

“Commander Sang. Finally, your favorite Winter Tournament. What do you think it will be like?”

At Peng Do-yul’s question, Waryong Corps Commander Sang Gyeong-mun spoke as if it were obvious.

“One of the three cadets will win. It’s obvious.”

“You mean one of Namgung Ji-hu, Mok Cheong-san, or Ju U-myeong?”

“It’s only natural. They’re disciples of prestigious families, their skills are outstanding, and considering their passionate attitude toward training, I can’t think of anyone else besides those three.”

“Then who among them do you think will be first?”

Peng Do-yul’s questions continued.

“You have to compete to know which is longer or shorter, but… in my personal opinion, I’d say Mok Cheong-san…”

Unlike his initial statement, this was an evaluation tinged with personal feelings.

Sanggyeongmun was the lord of Waryong Pavilion and hailed from Noejeong Tower, one of the Eight Rising Gates, so naturally his loyalties lay with his own people.

“Commander Neung. What do you think?”

“Namgung Ji-hu. He’s changed beyond recognition since that incident at the last Summer Tournament.”

Neung U-dam, an affiliated disciple of Mount Hua Sect, also supported Namgung Ji-hu, who belonged to the same Orthodox Alliance.

At their answers, this time Peng Do-yul’s gaze turned to Moyong Jin-ho.

The commander of Maengryong Corps.

In fact, he was the person who should have been most troubled because of Ha Mu-baek, but he cleverly took the stance of not interfering with anything regarding Ha Mu-baek.

He maintained distance from Ha Mu-baek, only paying slight attention to his activities.

“I don’t know.”

Moyong Jin-ho gave a truly brief answer.

At that response, Sang Gyeong-mun and Neung U-dam chuckled.

It was a laugh that seemed to say that’s why he remained as Maengryong Corps commander.

But Moyong Jin-ho truly couldn’t tell.

The reason was that he knew Ha Mu-baek’s true identity, which Sang Gyeong-mun and Neung U-dam didn’t know.

When it was decided that Ha Mu-baek would be assigned under him, Peng Do-yul had told him.

Since then, the actions Ha Mu-baek had shown truly exceeded his expectations.

So he couldn’t predict the Winter Tournament either.

He had heard that both Namgung Ji-hu and Ju U-myeong had gone to see Ha Mu-baek.

And the cadets of Seventh Group as well.

There was no way they couldn’t show the same upset in the Winter Tournament that they had shown in the Summer Tournament.

Thus, the time was approaching for the Winter Tournament, which was drawing everyone’s attention, to begin.

As the warmth of the sunlight began to gradually heat up the martial arts arena.

“The Eastern Tournament begins!”

With Peng Do-yul’s declaration, martial duels began simultaneously on eight martial arts arenas.

The central martial arts arena was planned to be used from the quarterfinals onward, so it was currently left empty.

The instructors took turns serving as judges.

For duels between Waryong Corps and Jamryong Corps cadets, a Maengryong Corps instructor would serve as judge, and so on.

However, since the Maengryong Corps instructors’ skills were relatively lacking, it was adjusted so that Waryong Corps and Jamryong Corps instructors would serve as assistant judges.

This was because occasionally, exceptionally skilled Jamryong Corps or Waryong Corps cadets would surpass the abilities of Maengryong Corps instructors.

Martial duels proceeded at a rapid pace on each arena.

As for Maengryong Corps cadets, just like in the Hatuje, almost none participated.

Unlike Jamryong Corps and Waryong Corps, their training period was only two years, and most of them had only begun learning martial arts after entering Gyoryong Hall.

From Maengryong Corps, only seven cadets from Group Seven and Group Twenty participated in the Hatuje – that was all.

Even this was different from last year.

Until last year, the Hatuje and Eastern Tournament had been festivals exclusively for Jamryong Corps and Waryong Corps.

 

Ha Mu-baek climbed onto the roof of a suitable building around the martial arts arena to watch the duels.

“They’re all mediocre.”

There wasn’t anyone particularly noteworthy.

Even though they were fourth-year cadets, the Maengryong Corps Group Seven cadets were stronger than them.

If those kids aimed for victory, he could still see a few opponents they would need to overcome.

Even without watching them duel, Ha Mu-baek could tell at a glance.

“That guy, that guy, that guy.”

He took note of them one by one.

Most were cadets from Waryong Corps and Jamryong Corps Group One. Only one guy was unfamiliar.

“Hm?”

Then someone caught Ha Mu-baek’s attention.

He was definitely a Waryong Corps Group One cadet, but he had changed beyond recognition from when he saw him in the first half.

“Not bad…”

Just as he was thinking that perhaps that guy might be…

A voice calling for Ha Mu-baek was heard.

It was his turn to go up and serve as judge.

“Hm?”

Interest flickered in Ha Mu-baek’s eyes as he climbed onto the martial arts arena.

This was because an instructor he knew had come up as assistant judge. It was Muk Hae-jin from the Cheolgi Workshop.

The instructor from Jamryong Corps was someone he was seeing for the first time.

The duelists were cadets from Jamryong Corps and Waryong Corps.

They appeared to be third-year cadets, and their skills seemed evenly matched.

“Begin!”

The duel began with Ha Mu-baek’s declaration.

As expected, their skills were evenly matched.

Someone might call it an intense, neck-and-neck battle, but to Ha Mu-baek it was like comparing acorns.

To Ha Mu-baek’s eyes, it looked like they were just squabbling for a long time.

Just when he was about to yawn from boredom.

Ha Mu-baek’s eyes flashed.

And he stepped between the two people and grabbed the Jamryong Corps cadet’s left wrist.

“Huh? Huh!”

Meanwhile, the attacking Waryong Corps cadet couldn’t properly stop his sword and was about to stab Ha Mu-baek.

However.

Whoosh. Swish.

With a light gesture, the Waryong Corps cadet ended up lying flat on the arena floor.

Thud.

“Instructor Ha. What’s the matter?”

Muk Hae-jin, who had been watching from the edge of the arena, approached.

The Jamryong Corps instructor from the opposite side also quickly approached.

“Hey! What are you doing!”

His face was full of anger, perhaps because Ha Mu-baek had stopped the Jamryong Corps cadet.

“How can an instructor interfere with a duel!”

The Jamryong Corps instructor criticized Ha Mu-baek as soon as he arrived.

Ha Mu-baek ignored him regardless.

“This guy. Disqualified.”

Brief words.

At those words, the Jamryong Corps instructor’s face turned red and blue.

“Even if you’re the judge, barging into a duel on your own whim – what kind of outrageous behavior is this!”

He looked like he was acting as the Jamryong Corps cadet’s spokesperson.

Ha Mu-baek frowned at his behavior.

Then he rolled up the sleeve of the wrist he was holding.

There was a black wristband fastened there.

“So what if there is!”

The Jamryong Corps instructor continued to rage wildly.

Ha Mu-baek cut off that wristband and brought it right in front of that instructor’s nose.

At this sight, the Jamryong Corps cadet’s face turned deathly pale.

‘There’s something there.’

Muk Hae-jin, who had been quietly observing, intuited that the Jamryong Corps cadet had committed fraud.

“So what if this… what…?”

The Jamryong Corps instructor, who was about to say something to Ha Mu-baek, suddenly flinched.

Then he quickly turned his head and glared at the Jamryong Corps cadet.

He too had realized something was there.

“It’s Paralysis Powder in a very minute concentration. Just enough to cause slight dizziness for an instant. So subtle that even the victim wouldn’t notice.”

Ha Mu-baek said while glaring at the Jamryong Corps cadet with cold eyes.

“…”

The Jamryong Corps cadet lowered his eyes and trembled.

He thought he would never get caught, but to be caught like this.

Just what kind of instructor was this?

“I thought there were a few duels that seemed strange somehow.”

Ha Mu-baek chuckled.

“So you were pulling these tricks. This is probably the Tang Family’s handiwork, isn’t it?”

At Ha Mu-baek’s question, the cadet couldn’t give any answer.

The duels at the other seven locations were also stopped.

And the gazes of all the people gathered here focused entirely on the martial arts arena where Ha Mu-baek was.

Meanwhile, Ha Mu-baek’s eyes swept in all directions.

He was looking for the bastard who had pulled such petty tricks.

His eyes, utilizing the Infinite Bright Wheel Eye, examined the internal energy origins of numerous people.

Among them, the one who had learned the Tang Family’s internal energy was.

“That bastard.”

Ha Mu-baek glared at one location.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————