The World’s Greatest Martial Arts Instructor - Chapter 138

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 138. Then What About Heart Demons?

 

 

Dan Mok Un-rae’s mind was in chaos.

It was because of Ju U-myeong’s scolding.

Had he really done such a thing?

His hands trembled violently.

When he thought about it quietly, it seemed he had.

When he first realized his ability during the training match with Baek Ri-pyeong.

The surprise at that time, and the secret joy he had hidden.

In the training matches and martial duels that followed, he had honed this ability to the fullest.

That’s what he had thought.

But thanks to Ju U-myeong’s scolding, he realized now.

He hadn’t honed it.

He had simply relied on it.

Until the quarterfinals against Beom Il-so, he hadn’t known because he could see his opponent’s openings.

What would happen to him when he could no longer see openings.

And today’s semifinals.

Ju U-myeong’s Taiji Wisdom Sword had no openings.

At that moment, his own wretched state was revealed.

‘I was wretched. Certainly.’

He had relied solely on that ability, and when that ability was blocked, he tried to give up the match.

Ju U-myeong had every right to be angry.

Dan Mok Un-rae looked at himself coldly and sorted out his confusion.

He gripped his sword tightly.

At that moment, Ju U-myeong’s sword came flying.

It carried a terrifying qi aura.

It was probably the same thing Baek Ri-pyeong had shown in the martial duel just before.

‘Sword Qi.’

It was still a distant realm for Dan Mok Un-rae.

Nevertheless, he clashed with all his might against Ju U-myeong’s attack.

Clang!!

A loud sound rang out.

Even though Dan Mok Un-rae’s sword had no Sword Qi, it didn’t get pushed back when it clashed with Ju U-myeong’s sword that was imbued with Sword Qi.

 

“That’s a famous sword. All your kids have famous swords. Right now you’re benefiting from your weapons.”

Gongsun Mu-oe spoke admiringly of Dan Mok Un-rae’s sword that was blocking the Sword Qi.

Baek Ri-pyeong’s sword that had broken Namgung Ji-hu’s sword.

Yeon Ha-min’s and Dan Mok Un-rae’s swords were no less impressive.

Ha Mu-baek just smiled quietly.

It was an obvious statement.

Who had made those swords after all.

“Huh? The Instructor made those for us though?”

Dan Mok Un-hye, who had been concentrating on her brother’s martial duel with an anxious heart, spoke as if she had just remembered about the swords.

At that, Gongsun Mu-oe was startled and looked at Ha Mu-baek again.

“You. Could you also do blacksmithing? No, more than that, such famous swords?”

It was utterly unbelievable.

With his monster-like martial arts realm, and what about his medical arts? Wasn’t he at a level where he could treat Nine-Tone Severed Meridians?

But on top of that, he could make such famous swords.

“I merely removed the heart demons.”

Ha Mu-baek spoke calmly with his still-smiling face.

Gongsun Mu-oe found those words even more absurd, but didn’t voice it and focused on the martial duel.

The martial duel was becoming increasingly intense.

 

Clang!

Clang clang!

Clang! Clang clang! Clang clang clang!

The sound rang out endlessly.

Ju U-myeong wielded his sword with all his might with an expressionless face.

The nature of the Taiji Wisdom Sword had changed.

If the Taiji Wisdom Sword until now had shown movements that reached the extreme of harmony, now it looked like it had reached the end of domination.

It was the Taiji Wisdom Sword that could freely change even its nature according to the wielder’s intention.

Dan Mok Un-rae blocked all such dominating attacks.

He was pushed back little by little, but he didn’t retreat.

He didn’t concentrate on finding breaks between forms either.

He simply focused on the sword flying toward him.

Block one sword, thrust one sword.

That was the only thing Dan Mok Un-rae was thinking about now.

Ju U-myeong was right.

Since when had he been aiming for his opponent’s openings?

He would simply do his best with what he could do now.

That was Dan Mok Un-rae’s attitude.

Thanks to that, swords clashed without rest.

Block Ju U-myeong’s attack, then attack Ju U-myeong.

Then he would block his attack and attack him again.

It was a repetition of this.

A smile gradually returned to Ju U-myeong’s lips.

Accordingly, the Taiji Wisdom Sword showed various forms.

Sometimes it was Domination Sword, sometimes Phantom Sword, even showing the form of Swift Sword.

Dan Mok Un-rae received all those forms.

His Three Talents Sword Technique also showed all the forms of Domination Sword, Phantom Sword, and Swift Sword.

‘Indeed.’

Ju U-myeong nodded slightly at that sight.

People of the world look down on the Three Talents Sword Technique.

Just go to any market and you’ll find manuals titled ‘Three Talents Sword Technique’ circulating.

It was ridiculous to even call it a secret manual.

However, Ju U-myeong’s master was different.

Even if it was the current Three Talents Sword Technique that had been lost and modified, the basics remained, and those basics alone made it a sufficiently valuable sword technique.

‘If the essence of Taiji Wisdom Sword is harmony, then the essence of Three Talents Sword Technique is nothingness, was it?’

Ju U-myeong recalled Muyeon Jin-in’s words.

The Taiji Wisdom Sword could change into any form because it was harmonious, and the Three Talents Sword Technique could become any form because it originally had no form.

Indeed it was so.

No matter what form Ju U-myeong’s sword changed into, Dan Mok Un-rae’s sword changed into that form and clashed with it.

This was it.

This was what Ju U-myeong had wanted.

A response to his attacks.

His response to the opponent’s counterattack.

The repetition of that.

This fierce intensity that came from their mutual offense and defense.

Ju U-myeong’s body began to heat up gradually.

The smile on his lips also grew deeper.

Dan Mok Un-rae knew nothing of such things.

He simply crashed against the wall before his eyes.

Pouring out everything he could do.

Ju U-myeong’s Taiji Wisdom Sword moved increasingly brilliantly.

The Taiji Wisdom Sword completely covered all directions.

Within that, Dan Mok Un-rae’s Three Talents Sword Technique was defending at least its own territory.

Dan Mok Un-rae’s two eyes still shone.

Eyes that concentrated everything solely on the opponent’s sword.

And as time passed, it gradually became visible.

What couldn’t be seen when trying to see it, now slowly revealed itself when not trying to see.

The gap hidden within the mysterious harmony of the Taiji Wisdom Sword.

It faintly revealed itself whenever Ju U-myeong’s excitement rose.

It was paradoxical.

The gap that didn’t exist when Ju U-myeong faithfully followed his sword techniques and displayed what he had learned and cultivated.

The more Ju U-myeong became intoxicated with excitement and immersed in his sword, the more faintly it showed itself.

However, Dan Mok Un-rae didn’t cling to that.

Wasn’t it just moments ago that he had lost himself by clinging to such things?

Moreover, Dan Mok Un-rae didn’t even know that fact.

Not until he learned it from Ju U-myeong’s disappointed scolding.

He couldn’t repeat the same mistake.

Dan Mok Un-rae turned his eyes away from the gap that was trying to show itself.

Instead, he concentrated solely on Ju U-myeong’s sword.

Gradually, the focus disappeared from Dan Mok Un-rae’s eyes.

And the focus gradually disappeared from Ju U-myeong’s eyes as well.

Ju U-myeong, intoxicated with excitement, had also entered the State of No-Self.

It was the first time Ju U-myeong had experienced this.

The State of No-Self during a martial duel.

However, he wasn’t aware of this fact.

Because recognizing that one had entered the State of No-Self meant it was no longer the State of No-Self.

No, these two had not yet reached the level where they could recognize themselves within the State of No-Self.

That was a realm possible only after surpassing the edge of the peak and entering the beginning of the transcendent peak.

 

“Huh. Well, was that so easy? I don’t know how many times I’ll see that in this Eastern Tournament.”

Gongsun Mu-oe, who had noticed the state of Ju U-myeong and Dan Mok Un-rae, spoke as if bewildered.

“What’s wrong, Grandfather?”

Gongsun Bi-yeon asked with a puzzled expression.

“Those children. Can’t you see their eyes?”

At Gongsun Mu-oe’s question, Gongsun Bi-yeon looked carefully. However, she couldn’t tell.

“I don’t know.”

Finally, Gongsun Bi-yeon shook her head and said.

“Both children have entered the State of No-Self.”

“What?”

Gongsun Bi-yeon asked in surprise.

“Moreover, Dan Mok Un-rae. That child is already on his second time today. The first time he only half-entered before stopping.”

At Gongsun Mu-oe’s words, Gongsun Bi-yeon showed an expression of complete disbelief.

She had no choice.

It was a realm she had never experienced.

“Un-rae has overcome one small wall. That’s why he entered the State of No-Self.”

Ha Mu-baek spoke calmly.

“Then the heart demon?”

At Gongsun Mu-oe’s question, Ha Mu-baek nodded.

“He seems to have overcome it. Thanks to U-myeong. He has a good companion.”

Ha Mu-baek had heard all of Ju U-myeong’s scolding from earlier.

By concentrating internal energy in his ears and focusing his hearing on those two, he could hear it without difficulty.

Hadn’t Ju U-myeong said much of what he himself had wanted to say to Dan Mok Un-rae?

“Even if you have strange and excellent abilities, the moment you rely on them, you’ll be consumed by those abilities instead. Then that becomes a heart demon.”

Ha Mu-baek spoke at unusual length for him.

“But now, Un-rae has overcome that heart demon.”

Those words contained his feelings of being proud of Dan Mok Un-rae.

 

The Taiji Wisdom Sword and the Three Talents Sword Technique.

They were sword techniques that couldn’t dare be compared.

Yet now, those two were harmonizing and displaying an evenly matched offense and defense.

The platform where the Academy Director, along with the directors and instructors, had gathered.

The people there couldn’t collect their wits due to the successive unexpected events.

Only Peng Do-yul was watching that scene with a pleased smile.

Vice Director Yeon Baek-jin beside him seemed to have his mind elsewhere.

His gaze wasn’t directed toward the martial arts arena.

Rather, he kept glancing at other places.

Peng Do-yul noticed this behavior.

‘He must be worried about his niece.’

In this place, Peng Do-yul was the only one who knew that his niece was Yeon Ha-min.

“Vice Director. You look tired from the heavy work. How about taking a brief rest?”

“How could I leave my post? This is the Eastern Tournament that concludes Gyoryong Hall’s year.”

Yeon Baek-jin, who had turned his gaze at Peng Do-yul’s suggestion, declined the proposal.

The enormous mountain of work that Gi Yu-chan had handed over.

Thanks to processing all of that, Yeon Baek-jin now understood most aspects of Gyoryong Hall.

“I wouldn’t know if I weren’t here, but now that the Academy Director has come, the Vice Director should rest a bit. You must have suffered from the heavy work. You also seem to have something on your mind.”

Peng Do-yul’s second suggestion.

At the added phrase about ‘something on your mind,’ Yeon Baek-jin flinched slightly.

It wouldn’t be proper etiquette to decline the Academy Director’s suggestion twice.

“Thank you, Academy Director. Then I’ll briefly step away.”

Yeon Baek-jin bowed his head and descended from the platform.

No one paid attention to his absence. Everyone was captivated by the unbelievable spectacle on the martial arts arena.

 

The State of No-Self.

It’s a state of super-concentration where one becomes immersed while forgetting oneself.

When falling into such a state, it can become an opportunity to realize things not usually noticed and overcome walls.

But it’s not entirely good.

Forgetting oneself.

There was also poison in what that possessed.

Ju U-myeong’s Taiji Wisdom Sword gradually increased its power. The process of surpassing one stage and ascending to the next level.

Because he was progressing through this process in the State of No-Self, Ju U-myeong couldn’t consider the sword’s power or his opponent.

He simply displayed his maximum potential in response to his opponent’s reactions.

The same was true for Dan Mok Un-rae.

As the exchange of attacks reached its climax.

Just as Ju U-myeong’s Taiji Wisdom Sword was about to ascend to a higher realm, a clear break in his forms appeared.

Dan Mok Un-rae, lost in the State of No-Self, rushed toward that opening.

Ju U-myeong’s sword moved instinctively to block Dan Mok Un-rae, sensing the crisis.

Two people focused solely on the Sword Path.

They had no awareness that what they were facing was another human being.

Currently immersed only in martial arts while in the State of No-Self.

The result was unleashing the most efficient and lethal sword strikes toward each other.

Screeeech!

Shaaaak!

Eerie yet sharp air-rending sounds rang out as swords flew toward each other.

In his martial duel with Beom Il-so, Dan Mok Un-rae had been in a half-entered state rather than complete State of No-Self, so he could exclude killing intent.

But not now.

Dan Mok Un-rae’s sword, exploiting the opening, seemed faster.

However, the sword’s movement itself was faster with Ju U-myeong’s Taiji Wisdom Sword.

The mystery of Strike First After Moving Last.

It unfolded from Ju U-myeong’s sword.

Clang!

A sword cry rang out loudly.

Though he had excellently exploited the opening, Ju U-myeong’s Taiji Wisdom Sword, which was heading toward a higher realm, brilliantly blocked the attack that targeted that gap.

And Ju U-myeong’s sword moved again, flying toward Dan Mok Un-rae.

At its end was Dan Mok Un-rae’s neck.

Though Dan Mok Un-rae moved his sword quickly, that mysterious movement and speed seemed impossible to block.

 

“Th-that… that!!!”

Gongsun Mu-oe jumped up in shock and shouted. His finger unconsciously pointed toward the Martial Arts Arena.

And he realized.

That Ha Mu-baek, who had been sitting beside him, had disappeared at some point.

 

“Huh?”

At that moment, Dan Mok Un-rae awakened from the State of No-Self.

The State of No-Self had just been broken by the intense clash from moments before.

And the sword with murderous qi aura appeared before his eyes.

Dan Mok Un-rae knew his own sword was also moving, but soon realized.

That it was impossible to block.

And so the sword came flying.

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