The World’s Greatest Martial Arts Instructor - Chapter 169

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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 169. How Petty

 

 

Baek Ri-pyeong stood facing Ju Si-un.

“Draw your sword. I’ll give you three seconds.”

Ju Si-un said to Baek Ri-pyeong.

Ha Mu-baek looked at him with disdain. While radiating such killing intent from his entire body, he says he’ll give three seconds.

Even a passing dog would laugh at this.

“That’s alright.”

Baek Ri-pyeong replied and drew his sword.

The pure white sword blade gleamed coldly in the morning sunlight.

“Arrogant.”

Ju Si-un also drew his sword.

He didn’t offer the three-second grace twice.

Rather.

“Hah!”

Without a word, he launched his body first and thrust his sword.

A sword showing countless variations as it flew toward Baek Ri-pyeong.

Heavenly Star Galaxy Sword Technique!

It was the ultimate technique representing Zhongnan.

Zhongnan’s True Mountain Ultimate Technique that only first disciples could learn.

No, it was Zhongnan’s supreme sword technique.

Ju Si-un had unleashed the highest level of swordsmanship he could display from the very start.

The swords flying with full killing intent were all aiming for Baek Ri-pyeong’s vital points.

Vital spots that could lead to death if properly struck.

Ha Mu-baek watched the scene silently as if he had already anticipated this.

A life-and-death duel disguised as a martial duel.

Ju Si-un was currently engaging in a life-and-death battle.

About forty percent of those watching showed shocked expressions at this sight.

The rest were watching calmly.

‘Has he secured about sixty percent?’

Ha Mu-baek gauged Ju Jae-seung’s influence from the expressions of the Zhongnan disciples.

 

Clang! Clang clang!

The sound of sword clashing against sword rang out.

Baek Ri-pyeong’s Heavenly Star Sword Technique confronting the Heavenly Star Galaxy Sword Technique.

A scene unimaginable for any Zhongnan disciple was unfolding.

To think the Heavenly Star Sword Technique could block the Heavenly Star Galaxy Sword Technique.

The two sword techniques had a clear hierarchical difference.

The Heavenly Star Sword Technique was merely a preparatory stage technique for learning the Heavenly Star Galaxy Sword Technique.

In other words, the Heavenly Star Sword Technique could not match the Heavenly Star Galaxy Sword Technique.

The Heavenly Star Galaxy Sword Technique had more complex variations and stronger qi energy.

Yet Baek Ri-pyeong was boldly confronting the Heavenly Star Galaxy Sword Technique with the Heavenly Star Sword Technique.

“How is this…?”

“This can’t be…?”

Shocked exclamations flowed from various places.

This was the same for Ju Jae-seung and his martial brothers.

However, only one person.

Jang I-geol. He alone watched the duel between the two with an expression of ‘as expected.’

Hadn’t Jang I-geol already seen the Heavenly Star Sword Technique that Baek Ri-pyeong displayed during the winter competition?

“This damn bastard…!”

Ju Si-un cursed while moving his sword.

‘How…?’

This was unbelievable.

No matter that his martial prowess wasn’t enough to be among the Eight Swords of Zhongnan.

The sword technique he was displaying was the Heavenly Star Galaxy Sword Technique.

None of the second disciples of Zhongnan could last more than thirty seconds against him.

The one who lasted the longest had knelt down at exactly thirty seconds.

Yet they had been exchanging attacks and defenses for over forty seconds already.

Since both the Heavenly Star Galaxy Sword Technique and Heavenly Star Sword Technique possessed the essence of swift swords, the number of forms exchanged was numerous.

How was it possible for the Heavenly Star Sword Technique to keep up with the speed and variations of the Heavenly Star Galaxy Sword Technique?

If the Heavenly Star Sword Technique was stars adorning the night sky, then the Heavenly Star Galaxy Sword Technique was the Milky Way where those stars flowed majestically.

Stationary stars could never match moving stars.

Yet now, that common sense was being shattered.

“Huh…?”

So Jung-san, who had been carefully observing the duel between the two, let out a small gasp.

The same was true for Nam Hwa-ryong.

They had discovered the secret of the Heavenly Star Sword Technique that Baek Ri-pyeong was displaying.

The same was true for the old man who had suddenly appeared and taken a position beside Ju Jae-seung.

“An interesting child. Is this because he’s Dan-i’s grandson?”

Ju Jae-seung’s eyebrows twitched momentarily, but then it disappeared.

“What do you mean, Uncle?”

A former master of Zhongnan.

When Baek Ri-dan became Sect Leader, the former Sect Leader and Guardian Elders who had stepped down from the front lines entered the Elder Council.

Ju Jae-seung had invited one of those former elders today.

When news came that Ha Mu-baek and Baek Ri-pyeong had crossed the main gate, he had hurriedly sent someone. The matter of the duel had already been discussed beforehand.

Former Elder Jong Pae-jin had readily stepped forward, hearing it was a duel with someone who had dishonored Zhongnan.

He had been the previous First of Zhongnan.

Though Ju Jae-seung was his martial nephew, he was the current Sect Leader responsible for Zhongnan.

So Jong Pae-jin asked with appropriate courtesy.

“Don’t you know, Sect Leader?”

“This disciple is foolish and does not know.”

For an ordinary person, this would have been words of modesty, but in Ju Jae-seung’s case, it was the truth.

Nevertheless, his position as Sect Leader made those words appear humble.

“The speed of executing the Heavenly Star Sword Technique is different.”

Ju Jae-seung tilted his head.

“As the speed increased, the variations have multiplied.”

Even though he had explained in detail.

Ju Jae-seung blinked his eyes.

After a moment.

“Ah… is such a thing possible?”

Only then did he finally grasp the meaning and ask.

“Since it’s unfolding before our eyes, it must be possible.”

That was correct.

When someone was currently performing it, asking whether it was possible was meaningless.

Ju Jae-seung gritted his teeth and glared at Baek Ri-pyeong.

Such talent.

He had only barely understood what was happening after hearing Jong Pae-jin’s explanation.

Yet this boy was displaying it right before his eyes.

Envy and jealousy filled his eyes completely. Soon, that transformed into killing intent.

‘I must definitely eliminate that bastard.’

That bastard would bring disaster not only to himself but to his son and grandson as well.

 

‘I can see it.’

Baek Ri-pyeong desperately moved his sword.

The galaxy waves of the Heavenly Star Galaxy Sword Technique came rushing toward him.

He could tell where they came from and where they would flow.

Even so, he had to respond with all his might. It was truly Zhongnan’s greatest ultimate technique.

‘If it weren’t for the Instructor…’

Yesterday.

He had faced him once.

The martial duel with Ha Mu-baek.

The sword technique Ha Mu-baek had displayed then was the Heavenly Star Galaxy Sword Technique.

How shocked he had been to see it.

He had been truly startled out of his wits.

His sect’s True Mountain Ultimate Technique had been displayed by another’s hands.

‘Why so surprised? This is just roughly imitating what I casually saw before. If it were that bastard Ju Si-un, he’d probably display it to about this level.’

Ha Mu-baek’s words from that time still seemed to echo in his ears.

The sword forms he had said were just roughly observed and merely imitated.

In truth, those seemed to be at a somewhat higher level than the Heavenly Star Galaxy Sword Technique Ju Si-un was displaying now.

That time had been more difficult than now.

‘He must have done it on purpose.’

He felt that even that level had been Ha Mu-baek’s intention.

Because he had done so, he could now somehow face Ju Si-un like this.

The Heavenly Star Galaxy Sword Technique could only barely be countered by displaying the Heavenly Star Sword Technique at double speed.

Even though Ju Si-un’s level wasn’t that high, it was like this.

What level would the Heavenly Star Galaxy Sword Technique of a truly accomplished swordsman be?

Baek Ri-pyeong hurriedly shook off the stray thoughts that arose in his mind.

Now was the time to focus on the martial duel before his eyes.

Having stray thoughts while barely managing to face the enemy before him.

Weren’t the Instructor’s eyes and arms at stake in this martial duel?

“This little bastard.”

Sparks flew from Ju Si-un’s eyes.

It was because the young bastard’s rampaging momentum was becoming quite serious.

Internal energy moved frantically from Ju Si-un’s dantian.

Internal energy transmitted to the sword.

The movements of the sword, filled with sword qi, gradually became more ferocious.

Clang! Clang clang!

Power began to be infused into Ju Si-un’s Heavenly Star Galaxy Sword Technique.

“Ugh.”

Baek Ri-pyeong was pushed back slightly.

He was indeed the first disciple.

Though he had thought he wouldn’t lose, he wasn’t an opponent who could be easily defeated either.

The sword moving even faster shone in the morning sunlight, creating stars in Zhongnan’s Great Training Ground.

One. Two. Three.

The sight of stars gradually increasing in number was truly spectacular.

A thousand stars.

That was the number the Heavenly Star Sword Technique created when reaching ultimate achievement.

However, the stars surrounding Ju Si-un now far exceeded that number.

Beyond a thousand, to two thousand.

But the torrent-like galaxy of the Heavenly Star Galaxy Sword Technique was sweeping through those two thousand stars.

Ju Si-un swung his sword like a madman.

Baek Ri-pyeong hesitantly retreated before Ju Si-un’s sword that struck like rough waves.

Even though he was scattering two thousand stars beyond the limits of the Heavenly Star Sword Technique, he was gradually being pushed back.

Scrape. Scrape.

Sharp cutting sounds rang out.

Baek Ri-pyeong’s clothes were cut here and there.

Blood slowly seeped from his skin.

A small smile appeared on Ju Jae-seung’s lips as he watched this scene.

‘Hmph, no matter how much that bastard struggles.’

The Heavenly Star Sword Technique was ultimately a sword technique whose purpose was to build the foundation for learning the Heavenly Star Galaxy Sword Technique.

No matter how fast he displayed it, there was no way it could defeat the Heavenly Star Galaxy Sword Technique.

Ha Mu-baek simply watched the two people’s martial duel with a calm expression.

Bang!

At that moment, a sword filled with sword qi struck the ground, producing a tremendous sound.

Baek Ri-pyeong dodged the sword by a truly precarious margin.

However, he seemed unable to completely avoid the aftermath and staggered to the side.

At that moment, a sinister smile appeared on Ju Si-un’s lips.

Immediately, the final ultimate move of the Heavenly Star Galaxy Sword Technique unfolded from his hands.

Galaxy waves surrounding all directions.

Baek Ri-pyeong forcibly swallowed the blood that surged up under the heavy pressure of the Heavenly Star Galaxy Sword Technique pressing down on him.

No matter that he had taken two of the spiritual pills Ha Mu-baek had given him.

The Ju Si-un before him had also grown his internal energy with all kinds of spiritual medicines under Ju Jae-seung’s management.

Being gradually pushed back in internal energy, he had suffered internal injuries.

Ju Si-un noticed this fact and drew up his internal energy even more.

“Ugh…”

Baek Ri-pyeong continued to retreat backward.

The Heavenly Star Galaxy Sword Technique was truly remarkable.

To be pushed back like this even though Ju Si-un, whose achievement wasn’t that high, was displaying it.

‘Still, I can’t just be defeated like this…!’

Baek Ri-pyeong gritted his teeth.

And he recalled the martial duel with Ha Mu-baek.

In truth, he hadn’t been able to withstand it then either.

He had barely managed to achieve a draw.

He moved his sword even more earnestly.

He squeezed out the internal energy from his dantian. It was different from the martial duel in the tournament.

Then he had given his all for victory.

But now his opponent was giving his all with killing intent.

This was the first time he had faced human killing intent so directly.

He couldn’t be broken like this.

Because the end of that killing intent was the Instructor’s eyes and arms.

And because he too was being targeted.

Baek Ri-pyeong focused even more on the Heavenly Star Sword Technique.

The Heavenly Star Sword Technique was definitely not a weak sword technique. Hadn’t it competed with Ju U-myeong’s Taiji Wisdom Sword in the tournament finals?

Though he had lost, it had been an evenly matched battle.

Though the Heavenly Star Galaxy Sword Technique was called Zhongnan’s greatest ultimate technique, the Taiji Wisdom Sword was also the ultimate technique among Wudang’s ultimate techniques.

He had withstood the Taiji Wisdom Sword, so there was no way he couldn’t handle the Heavenly Star Galaxy Sword Technique.

The difference between Ju U-myeong and Ju Si-un was the presence or absence of killing intent.

Ju Si-un’s sword, thick with killing intent.

‘Then I’ll break through it.’

Baek Ri-pyeong recalled the Eastern Tournament finals, that final moment.

Two thousand stars instantly became one star.

Instead, it shone more brilliantly than any other.

The sword concentrated at one point pierced through the galaxy rushing like a torrent.

“Kuk.”

A groan flowed from Ju Si-un.

At that moment, the galaxy disappeared as if washed away.

From the shock of the recent clash, Ju Si-un staggered backward.

This time, Baek Ri-pyeong’s Heavenly Star Sword Technique began to surge forward.

One star became a thousand stars again, then two thousand stars.

Eventually, it became three thousand stars.

Baek Ri-pyeong had shed his shell once more.

Ju Si-un gritted his teeth and unleashed the Heavenly Star Galaxy Sword Technique again.

However.

The three thousand stars that filled all directions completely swallowed the galaxy of the Heavenly Star Galaxy Sword Technique, blocking it from moving anywhere.

One. Two. Three. Four…

The sword shadows created by the Heavenly Star Galaxy Sword Technique, which had tried to become stars, began to be erased.

At this point, most of Zhongnan’s disciples recognized Baek Ri-pyeong’s sword technique.

No, they thought they recognized it. It should naturally be the Heavenly Star Sword Technique.

But it didn’t seem right.

That tremendous sight overwhelming the Heavenly Star Galaxy Sword Technique couldn’t possibly be the Heavenly Star Sword Technique.

“How, how can this be…”

“How is that possible…”

“The Heavenly Star Galaxy Sword Technique!”

“What kind of sword technique is that…”

Three thousand stars blooming brilliantly in Zhongnan’s Great Training Ground, perfectly surrounding Ju Si-un.

Now there was no hesitation in Baek Ri-pyeong’s sword.

“You, you dare!!!”

Ju Si-un screamed as he swung his sword.

However, he was constantly stepping backward.

Now the advantage had passed to Baek Ri-pyeong.

Baek Ri-pyeong relentlessly pressed Ju Si-un.

Though Ju Si-un’s face had changed to look like a demon, it stirred no emotion in Baek Ri-pyeong.

What did it matter if his face looked demonic when his sword posed no threat whatsoever.

At some point, Zhongnan’s disciples forgot to speak.

They could only stare with blank faces at the unbelievable scene unfolding before their eyes.

A Second Disciple was overwhelming a First Disciple who was using the Heavenly Star Galaxy Sword Technique.

Though it was the reality unfolding before their eyes, they simply couldn’t believe it.

Moreover, the one being pushed back was Ju Si-un, the most fearsome among the First Disciples.

There were also Second and Third Disciples who unconsciously clenched their fists.

These were disciples who had suffered much at Ju Si-un’s hands.

They cheered for Baek Ri-pyeong in their hearts.

It seemed as if he was taking revenge on Ju Si-un on their behalf.

“You fucking bastard!!!”

He let out an enraged shout and swung his sword with all his might, but.

Clang!

A harsh sound rang out.

Whirrr!

The sword was knocked away and flew,

Thud!

Embedding itself in the ground.

And.

The three thousand stars disappeared as if washed away, leaving only a single star.

Baek Ri-pyeong’s sword tip showing a menacing appearance before Ju Si-un’s eyes.

If he moved any further from there, it was in a position to pierce through Ju Si-un’s brow.

Ju Si-un looked at Baek Ri-pyeong with eyes streaming with killing intent.

A small growling sound leaked through his tightly clenched teeth.

“Fourth Senior Brother. Will you continue?”

Baek Ri-pyeong, looking utterly exhausted, asked with indifferent eyes.

Anyone could see the result was clear.

But only Ju Si-un, as if refusing to acknowledge his defeat, merely glared at Baek Ri-pyeong.

“…”

Only silence descended upon Zhongnan’s Great Training Ground.

Baek Ri-pyeong’s sword remained in that position without wavering.

“Fourth Senior Brother?”

Baek Ri-pyeong urged him.

Even so, Ju Si-un still only glared at Baek Ri-pyeong with eyes full of killing intent.

The sword moved slowly.

Very slightly.

Minutely.

Forward.

By that much, it drew closer to Ju Si-un’s brow.

“Eek.”

A sound full of frustration flowed through his teeth.

It even contained resentment.

However, the words that should come from Ju Si-un’s mouth did not emerge.

“Stop. That’s enough. The martial duel is over.”

The one who intervened was Ju Jae-seung.

He tried to end the martial duel.

However, Baek Ri-pyeong’s sword still did not move.

Instead, his mouth moved.

“Since victory and defeat have not been decided, I cannot end it yet.”

Though quiet, his voice was infused with internal energy and spread in all directions.

All of Zhongnan’s disciples gathered at the Great Training Ground could hear it clearly.

“You bastard!!”

Ju Jae-seung let out a furious shout at Baek Ri-pyeong’s words.

“How dare a lowly wretch talk back to the Sect Leader’s command! Hurry and withdraw that sword and end the martial duel!!”

Ju Jae-seung pressured Baek Ri-pyeong.

However, Baek Ri-pyeong was immovable.

He had no choice.

Ha Mu-baek’s eyes and arms were at stake in this martial duel.

So he couldn’t let it end ambiguously.

Victory and defeat had to be clearly decided.

Here, with all of Zhongnan’s disciples as witnesses.

“It will be resolved if Fourth Senior Brother acknowledges his defeat.”

Baek Ri-pyeong spoke in a firm voice.

And his sword moved a little further forward.

“Grr. You insolent bastard! You truly need to see blood before you’ll shed tears!”

Ju Jae-seung leaped toward Baek Ri-pyeong. A sword was already drawn in his hand.

Ju Jae-seung flew toward Baek Ri-pyeong’s back.

However, he could no longer advance.

Because Ha Mu-baek had suddenly appeared and blocked his path.

“Interfering in an unfinished martial duel. Is this Zhongnan’s way?”

Ha Mu-baek asked, looking at Ju Jae-seung with cold eyes.

“Grr.”

Ju Jae-seung’s face turned red with anger.

Even in the midst of this, he watched for an opportunity to rush at Baek Ri-pyeong.

Of course, Ha Mu-baek would never give him such an opportunity.

Ha Mu-baek’s gaze turned toward Jong Pae-jin.

From the moment he appeared, he already knew. That he would probably be his opponent today.

At least among the people here today, he possessed the strongest qi energy.

“Old Man. What are your thoughts?”

Jong Pae-jin received Ha Mu-baek’s question.

The mouth of the man who had been quietly watching what they were doing finally moved.

“Si-un. As a disciple of Great Zhongnan, you must accept what should be accepted.”

At Jong Pae-jin’s words, Ju Jae-seung’s head snapped around.

“Grand Uncle! Are you taking the side of these bastards who are insulting Zhongnan?”

His voice was agitated.

“I don’t know about that one who blocked the Sect Leader, but both Baek Ri-pyeong and Ju Si-un are disciples of Zhongnan. How can you call them those who insulted Zhongnan?”

The condition placed on this martial duel.

Naturally, Jong Pae-jin didn’t know about it.

No, few people knew.

Those who were present when the document was directly written, Ju Jae-seung, and So Jung-san who heard the news from Nam Hwa-ryong.

Only a few other people knew about it.

For Ju Jae-seung, it was a martial duel with his son’s eyes and arms at stake.

So he was trying to end it ambiguously somehow.

The witness’s hand seal stamped on that document was Peng Do-yul’s.

If defeat were to be declared like this, he would have to pay such a price.

“Zhongnan is nothing special. To be this petty.”

Ha Mu-baek chuckled and muttered.

What appeared on his lips was clear mockery.

“You bastard!! Ju Si-un! Do you intend to tarnish Zhongnan’s honor?!”

Jong Pae-jin’s aged voice burst out. And a terrifying qi aura pressed down on Ju Si-un.

“…I, I, I…”

His mouth simply wouldn’t open.

Jong Pae-jin’s qi aura grew even stronger.

“I lost…”

Finally, a defeat declaration filled with resentment flowed from Ju Si-un’s mouth.

Baek Ri-pyeong sheathed his sword as it was.

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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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