The World’s Greatest Martial Arts Instructor - Chapter 164

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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 164. The Time Has Come

 

 

Three people with faces worn by fatigue appeared at the Great Training Ground.

Anyone could see that their faces were filled with exhaustion.

The signs of having run without rest.

Ha Mu-baek glanced at them briefly.

‘One of them is a warrior from the Demon Suppression Corps. Then…’

The other two must be related to the Maengryong Corps that had already gone to Sanwol Demon Forest.

Peng Do-yul also noticed their appearance.

However, he didn’t pay them any particular attention. He was simply looking at the hundred Maengryong cadets with complicated eyes.

The cadets from squads twenty-one through forty of the Maengryong Corps.

Once they left, new cadets from squads twenty-one through forty would be accepted.

Zhuge Ming’s gaze toward the Maengryong cadets was equally complicated.

“What are those shields?”

The shields they all carried on their backs.

Gleaming and polished, they were clearly new items fresh from the blacksmith shop.

“Instructor Zhuge Ming gifted them with his own money.”

Dang Jin-san answered, true to his role as Maengryong’s information hub.

At those words, Ha Mu-baek looked at Zhuge Ming with renewed appreciation.

Not only had he created and taught Shield Technique, but he had personally provided shields as well.

And he wasn’t even a Maengryong instructor.

What a remarkable person.

Meanwhile, Moyong Jin-ho maintained an indifferent expression.

Despite being the commander of the Maengryong Corps, he seemed like someone merely occupying a position.

During the past period, he had barely any contact with Ha Mu-baek.

“The time has come.”

Peng Do-yul looked up at the sky before ascending the platform.

“One hundred second-year cadets of the Maengryong Corps. You have worked hard during this time. As of this moment, I declare that your training at Gyoryong Hall has concluded. As the Academy Director, I grant your departure from the academy!”

His powerful and clear voice struck the ears of everyone at the Great Training Ground.

The Maengryong second-year cadets looked at Peng Do-yul.

What settled on their faces was fear.

Though they had volunteered for the Maengryong Corps knowing this day would come.

Now that it was actually upon them, they could only feel afraid.

“As the Academy Director, my final words to you are: thank you. And I’m sorry. I earnestly pray that you all return alive…”

He couldn’t properly finish his last words.

With that, Peng Do-yul descended from the platform.

And he watched the Maengryong cadets from one side, his attitude showing he would never turn away from their final moments at Gyoryong Hall.

Zhuge Ming ascended the platform.

“You have worked hard during this time. Continue to practice the Shield Technique you’ve learned. Think of the shield on your back as another life, and please return alive so we can meet again with smiles.”

Zhuge Ming gave his final advice and descended from the platform.

Only then did the three waiting people ascend the platform.

“I am the squad leader who came from the Demon Suppression Corps to lead you. From now on, you are incorporated into the Maengryong Corps under the Demon Suppression Corps. Now follow the orders of the section chiefs here.”

After finishing his brief words, he descended the platform and paid his respects to Peng Do-yul. He too was a graduate of Gyoryong Hall.

The two section chiefs busily organized and led the Maengryong warriors. Fifty each.

Thus, one hundred warriors of the Maengryong Corps left Gyoryong Hall.

“That will be us in a year.”

Dang Jin-san said with a complicated expression.

“Indeed.”

Dan Mok Un-rae’s responding voice also carried a subtle undertone of fear.

The other Maengryong cadets felt the same way.

Ha Seol-ran clenched both hands tightly.

Watching the seniors’ departure ceremony directly, she finally realized what kind of place the Maengryong Corps truly was.

They had left Gyoryong Hall with the faces of those going to their deaths.

“Survival rate of fifty percent.”

Ha Mu-baek spoke calmly.

“After completing their five-year service period, only five of them will return alive.”

Tension appeared on the faces of the seven cadets.

Hearing it in words was different from witnessing the scene with their own eyes.

“If things continue as they have, two of you will also have to bury your bones in Sanwol Demon Forest. Since five out of a hundred return alive.”

The cadets’ bodies trembled.

They had no choice.

They had seen Sanwol Demon Forest with their own eyes.

“It’s an absurd, damned situation.”

Subtle anger seeped into Ha Mu-baek’s voice.

“It’s a place that shouldn’t exist. Sanwol Demon Forest.”

Han Seol-bing and the seven cadets nodded slightly.

“The Elder Council bastards who left it there are the real bastards.”

His voice seemed to reach the peak of anger.

At his unfiltered expression, Dang Jin-san looked around nervously, checking if anyone was listening.

For a mere instructor at Gyoryong Hall, his remarks had crossed the line far too much.

Ha Mu-baek’s gaze turned toward Baek Ri-pyeong. Baek Ri-pyeong understood the meaning.

Therefore, he nodded with a calm expression.

It was a strong indication that he still wanted to remain in the Maengryong Corps.

“I told you to go home, didn’t I? But you stayed. You seven will definitely return alive.”

Ha Mu-baek left those words and departed from the Great Training Ground.

 

***

 

Two more days passed.

Thanks to a message from Cheonmok Pavilion, Guyang Myeong-won was able to escape from Gi Yu-chan’s clutches.

“What kind of grudge did he have against food ingredients…”

Guyang Myeong-won muttered, recalling the documents he had reviewed.

Most of the documents he had processed were about the quantity, quality, and prices of food ingredients.

Such matters only required knowledge of commerce and were unrelated to Gyoryong Hall’s affairs.

It was work to cross-check and confirm that nothing was omitted or falsified.

As if there had been some problem in the past, he examined everything with an almost obsessive thoroughness.

Only after being alone did Guyang Myeong-won unfold and read the message.

“How am I supposed to follow that man around…”

After reading all the contents, he shook his head from side to side.

‘If Ha Mu-baek has problems with Zhongnan, that’s an issue between the two of them, so the Jeongcheon Alliance will not interfere at all.

However, keep watch over Ha Mu-baek’s movements without losing track of him.’

That was the content of the orders.

Guyang Myeong-won crumpled the order and slowly chewed and swallowed it.

He was troubled.

He actually missed the documents that Gi Yu-chan had assigned him.

 

***

 

“What?”

Ju Jae-seung shouted with a distorted face.

He couldn’t help but react to his disciple’s report.

Gyoryong Hall’s response regarding Baek Ri-pyeong was utterly absurd.

“The supervising instructor refused approval, so Baek Ri-pyeong cannot leave the hall! What kind of bullshit is that! I am the sect leader of Great Zhongnan! I ordered Baek Ri-pyeong to come!”

His reddened face showed just how furious he was.

“This won’t do. This won’t do at all. To think Zhongnan’s affairs are being hindered by mere Gyoryong Hall regulations. What does that matter! Send people to bring Baek Ri-pyeong here!”

Ju Jae-seung’s command.

In his hand was Zhongnan’s sect leader seal.

Orders issued with the sect leader seal were absolute commands that took precedence over all sect rules.

At that command, Enforcement Department Chief So Jung-san wore a troubled expression.

And for good reason, since that absolute order he couldn’t refuse happened to ignore the Jeongcheon Alliance’s regulations.

Regardless, the order had been given.

Zhongnan became busy.

Whether they did or not, Ju Jae-seung was cooling his anger in his office.

A situation where no one could enter that place.

Even so, the voice of someone who boldly came to find Ju Jae-seung was heard.

“Senior Brother Sect Leader, are you in?”

Ju Jae-seung’s face brightened upon hearing that voice.

“Is that my youngest junior brother? When did you arrive? Come in quickly.”

Ju Jae-seung had numerous senior and junior brothers.

Among them, those who survived to this day and led Zhongnan numbered nine including himself.

It was the aftermath of the last war.

Among them, the youngest junior brother who had gone on a journey had returned.

“I greet Senior Brother Sect Leader. I’ve just returned. However, the atmosphere is unsettled. What has happened?”

The middle-aged man Gwak Sa-hu gave a cupped fist salute to Ju Jae-seung, then straightened and asked.

“Ah, if you’ve just returned, you wouldn’t know what’s been happening.”

Ju Jae-seung told him about recent events as if pouring out his resentment.

Gwak Sa-hu listened attentively. Sometimes agreeing, sometimes sighing.

Ju Jae-seung became even more excited by his youngest junior brother’s sympathy and continued his story.

“Hmm. Senior Brother Sect Leader. There’s only one reason you sent that bastard Pyeong to the Maengryong Corps, isn’t there?”

Gwak Sa-hu’s voice as he spoke was ominous.

“Only one.”

Ju Jae-seung nodded and answered.

The two men didn’t directly mention that reason.

But they knew without saying.

After all, it was Gwak Sa-hu who had originally proposed sending Baek Ri-pyeong to the Maengryong Corps.

They had sent him to die in Sanwol Demon Forest two years later.

“No matter how strong that bastard has become, going to Sanwol Demon Forest as part of the Maengryong Corps is a foregone conclusion. Is there really a need to invoke the sect leader seal to call him back to the main sect?”

Gwak Sa-hu’s words made sense.

He wondered if he had gotten too excited over the news of the martial tournament.

However, thinking of his opponent in that match, he soon shook his head.

“His opponent was Ju U-myeong. Ju U-myeong of Wudang. Such a person is in the Maengryong Corps. The Maengryong Corps might move differently than we thought.”

Ju U-myeong, disciple of the previous Wudang’s First Sword.

With him having entered the Maengryong Corps, Gyoryong Hall and the Jeongcheon Alliance might not easily send the Maengryong Corps to Sanwol Demon Forest.

They couldn’t send the Wudang sect leader’s junior brother to a place of death, could they?

“If that bastard becomes even stronger next year and the Maengryong Corps doesn’t go to Sanwol Demon Forest, the problem becomes complicated. There are still many who long for Great Senior Brother.”

Since Ju Jae-seung’s words made sense, Gwak Sa-hu nodded.

“Then it might block Si-un’s path forward.”

Ju Si-un.

Zhongnan’s first disciple and Ju Jae-seung’s son.

Ju Jae-seung’s purpose was obvious.

To make his son the next sect leader.

He wanted to make his Ju family monopolize the Zhongnan sect leader position.

Gwak Sa-hu was clinging to such a Ju Jae-seung, aiming for a position second only to one, above ten thousand.

“Right. That’s why I’m calling him back. I need to lock him in Punishment Hall so he can face the wall for life and not cause trouble.”

“There’s even justification for it. He defied the sect leader’s command.”

At Gwak Sa-hu’s words, Ju Jae-seung made a displeased expression.

“Your thoughts match mine. But that bastard Jung-san is opposing it.”

Thinking of Enforcement Department Chief So Jung-san naturally soured his mood.

Among the senior and junior brothers, So Jung-san was the one who had followed the previous sect leader Baek Ri-dan the most.

His nature also resembled Baek Ri-dan’s, always insisting on justification and righteousness.

After becoming sect leader, he had tried to remove So Jung-san from the Enforcement Department chief position first, but couldn’t due to his high reputation within the sect.

Now that he had somewhat established his position, the time was approaching to eliminate them one by one.

The first target was Baek Ri-pyeong.

The attention of the few disciples who still longed for Baek Ri-dan was focused on Baek Ri-pyeong.

He had to erase Great Senior Brother’s shadow from Zhongnan.

That’s why he had sent him to die in the Maengryong Corps, but he had become stronger there instead.

In the end, he had to keep him where his eyes could reach and tie him up so he couldn’t do anything.

 

***

 

So Jung-san was letting out a frustrated sigh in his office.

“That day. It seems I made a mistake after all.”

After Great Senior Brother Baek Ri-dan died, nine senior and junior brothers remained.

One of them had to become the sect leader.

The one who stepped forward saying he would do it was Second Senior Brother Ju Jae-seung alone.

And four senior and junior brothers who supported him.

Five of the nine had joined forces.

The remaining four should have united to oppose them.

But those four were again divided in their thoughts, two and two.

“We can’t stay like this. Second Senior Brother is becoming increasingly tyrannical.”

He knew the reason.

As his power as sect leader grew stronger, he was acting more arbitrarily.

So Jung-san stood up.

He was thinking of visiting the junior brother who had shared his thoughts back then.

Just as So Jung-san was about to move.

People departed from Zhongnan toward Gyoryong Hall.

To bring back Baek Ri-pyeong as Ju Jae-seung had commanded.

 

***

 

“Great Senior Brother. We’ll reach Muchang soon.”

At his junior brother’s words, Ju Si-un, the senior disciple with the highest rank among Zhongnan’s first disciples, frowned.

“We’re only arriving now? I don’t know what kind of hardship this is because of one little rat. I don’t understand why Uncle sent so many people just to catch that bastard. Tsk.”

A voice full of irritation.

His complaints even included his uncle Gwak Sa-hu who had sent him here.

It was natural.

He had been living comfortably at the sect, so how could he feel good about having to go on a journey?

His temperament was identical to his father Ju Jae-seung.

The three First Disciples who had come to Muchang with him looked at his behavior with disapproval.

Among the First Disciples, the Zhongnan Eight Swords were called the future of Zhongnan.

And now three of them were moving together.

Ju Si-un was not counted among the Zhongnan Eight Swords.

However, he openly went around calling it the ‘Zhongnan Nine Swords,’ including himself.

“No, seriously, to catch one Second Disciple rat, does it make sense to send four First Disciples? Just send two or three Second Disciples and be done with it.”

Endless grumbling.

Even after entering Muchang, his complaints continued.

Nam Hwa-ryong, the First Sword among the Zhongnan Eight Swords, had his face harden stiffly.

But since he was walking at the very back, no one noticed his change.

‘Such orders, and such a Great Senior Brother.’

It wasn’t only Ju Si-un who was irritated.

The other two were somehow trying to soothe Ju Si-un’s mood, pouring out all kinds of stories by his side.

Nam Hwa-ryong didn’t like even that sight.

‘This is not the appearance of Great Zhongnan.’

The pride in Zhongnan that had filled his heart.

Ever since the previous sect leader passed away, that pride had been gradually cracking.

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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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