The World’s Greatest Martial Arts Instructor - Chapter 170

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

 

 

 

 

Chapter 170. Arrogant

 

 

Only silence filled the air.

The defeat of the First Disciple.

The shock it brought was enormous.

Moreover, it was Baek Ri-pyeong who had won—the one dismissed to the Maengryong Corps for lacking talent.

Several Second Disciples wanted to cheer, but they held back.

He was a First Disciple, and the eldest at that. The very eldest son of the current Sect Leader.

With his defeat, the atmosphere had become unbearably heavy.

Ju Si-un hung his head low and turned away.

“I’m sorry.”

Ju Si-un bowed his head to his father.

“Pathetic fool.”

The response was a single cold remark.

Ju Si-un could only remain in place, unable to lift his head.

“Well then, shall we proceed with the next martial duel?”

Glaring at Ha Mu-baek, who had blocked his path to his son, Ju Jae-seung spoke in a murderous tone.

“Let’s do that.”

Ha Mu-baek walked steadily and stood in the center of the Great Training Ground.

A place filled with nothing but enemies.

Even so, Ha Mu-baek’s face was utterly relaxed.

He looked like someone who had simply come out for a stroll nearby.

Ha Mu-baek’s gaze stopped on one person.

Jong Pae-jin.

He met Ha Mu-baek’s gaze.

“Hehe. Yes, that’s me. The person the Sect Leader has chosen as your opponent. I’m called Jong Pae-jin.”

His introduction began to stir murmurs around them.

It was inevitable.

The Second and Third Disciples didn’t know his face.

They had been curious about the identity of the old man beside the Sect Leader, and hearing his name, they murmured in surprise.

The former First of Zhongnan.

The person who had been the strongest in Zhongnan.

And perhaps someone who might still be the strongest in Zhongnan.

The current First of Zhongnan was a disciple brother of the Sect Leader who was currently away. He was at the Main Alliance as an elder of the Jeongcheon Alliance.

“I am Ha Mu-baek.”

Ha Mu-baek finished his simple introduction.

Jong Pae-jin nodded.

“I’ve heard your name mentioned here and there through friends. So we finally meet.”

Jong Pae-jin.

A master of the previous generation.

During the last war, he had already joined the Elder Council, so he hadn’t participated in battle.

He had stayed to guard the sect, defending Zhongnan against any potential enemies that might threaten it.

That’s why Ha Mu-baek and Jong Pae-jin had never met.

Moreover, Ha Mu-baek had heard nothing about Jong Pae-jin.

Though his opponent seemed to be somewhat different.

“Draw your sword first.”

Jong Pae-jin stopped three zhang away and spoke.

Ha Mu-baek didn’t bother to decline.

Sring.

With a clear sound, the sword revealed itself from the scabbard.

It was the sword forged on Cheongran Island, cleansed of the smell of blood.

“A splendid famous sword indeed.”

Jong Pae-jin also drew his sword.

The two men pointed their swords at each other.

Ha Mu-baek kicked off the ground.

His sword flew toward Jong Pae-jin.

Clang!

Jong Pae-jin blocked it precisely.

Jong Pae-jin’s sword, having forcefully pushed Ha Mu-baek back, began to move.

His sword moved faster and faster, creating countless star clusters, then forming a majestic flow.

Heavenly Star Galaxy Sword Technique.

His sword technique, having reached ultimate achievement, demonstrated what ‘true Heavenly Star Galaxy Sword Technique’ looked like.

“Ah…!”

Baek Ri-pyeong let out a quiet gasp at the sight.

A thousand stars bloomed in an instant, creating a magnificent flow that moved majestically.

Having reached ultimate achievement in the Heavenly Star Sword Technique, Baek Ri-pyeong could understand just how incredible Jong Pae-jin’s Heavenly Star Galaxy Sword Technique was.

Ha Mu-baek looked with complex eyes at the wave of stars approaching him.

‘What should I do…’

The clash of the first exchange had given Ha Mu-baek something to ponder.

Jong Pae-jin before his eyes.

This person was a true martial artist.

He knew it the moment their swords met.

A sword unleashed with full power by a true martial artist.

Then it would be proper courtesy to meet it with full power as well.

However.

Ha Mu-baek’s gaze shifted slightly.

At its end sat Ju Jae-seung, the Sect Leader of Zhongnan.

‘To drag down that rat bastard…’

Finally, he made his decision.

‘Wherever there are enemies, that is the battlefield.’

This was not Zhongnan’s Great Training Ground. What he was doing now was not a martial duel.

He was fighting his first battle on the battlefield.

With that mindset, Ha Mu-baek’s sword moved.

Clang! Clang-clang! Clang!

The sounds of clashing rang out in succession.

It began as an even match.

A smile appeared on Jong Pae-jin’s lips.

Since Ha Mu-baek had disgraced Zhongnan, he had engaged with full power from the start to utterly destroy him.

Yet his opponent was blocking his sword unleashed with full power.

This was the first time since Baek Ri-dan had left.

That’s why he smiled without realizing it.

When a martial artist met an opponent who could respond to a sword unleashed with full power.

It was an instinctive smile that arose.

Ha Mu-baek’s expression was rigid.

Because he approached this thinking he was fighting a battle on the battlefield. And because Jong Pae-jin’s smile weighed heavily on one corner of his heart.

That was the expression he wore.

The Heavenly Star Galaxy Sword Technique was truly a sword technique worthy of being called an ultimate technique of All Under Heaven.

Befitting the sword technique that had elevated Zhongnan to one of the positions in the Nine Sects One Alliance, it relentlessly pressed Ha Mu-baek from beginning to end.

 

For a full quarter-hour.

During that time, Ha Mu-baek precariously parried Jong Pae-jin’s sword.

His entire body was drenched in sweat.

“Huff. Huff. Huff.”

His breathing had also become rough.

Baek Ri-pyeong tilted his head at that sight.

No matter how strong Great Grand Master was, it didn’t seem like the Instructor he knew would struggle this much.

‘Ah.’

At that moment, a thought flashed through his mind.

Baek Ri-pyeong’s gaze turned toward Ju Jae-seung.

The Sect Leader was wearing a thoroughly pleased smile.

‘So that’s why…’

The Instructor still had one more martial duel remaining. Against a Zhongnan disciple that the Instructor would designate.

And the Instructor had said.

‘He said he would crush the Sect Leader.’

Perhaps his current appearance was a false front to draw out the Sect Leader’s complacency.

 

So Jung-san tilted his head as he watched the martial duel between Jong Pae-jin and Ha Mu-baek.

It had been a long time since he’d seen his martial uncle going all out, but Ha Mu-baek’s martial prowess in blocking it was also remarkable.

However.

‘Pung Gae. It doesn’t seem to be to the extent that fellow described…’

It wasn’t martial prowess to the degree that would make the Beggar Sect Leader prostrate himself flat and unconditionally apologize.

Though Jong Pae-jin was the strongest in Zhongnan, if the Eight Swords of Zhongnan combined their attacks, they could easily subdue him.

That meant Ha Mu-baek’s martial prowess was around that level.

For a sect belonging to the Nine Sects One Alliance to bow their heads to such a person.

It was impossible.

‘Pung Gae. What on earth happened?’

Nam Hwa-ryong, who was beside So Jung-san, also felt something was strange.

Because Ha Mu-baek on the battlefield had been truly terrifying.

Even though he was sweating profusely like this, with his breathing disrupted as he dueled with Master Uncle.

He didn’t feel terrifying at all.

Though several years had passed, the Ha Mu-baek he had experienced and the Ha Mu-baek he was seeing now were clearly different.

As if he had become a different person entirely.

“Hehe. Quite impressive. To block my full-power sword to this extent. Apart from the previous Sect Leader, there was no one like this in Zhongnan. How could such an excellent martial artist bring shame to Zhongnan?”

Jong Pae-jin, who had momentarily stopped his sword, looked at Ha Mu-baek and asked.

His breathing was also quite disrupted.

“I’ve never brought shame to it. Huff huff.”

Ha Mu-baek caught his rough breath.

At that answer, Jong Pae-jin frowned.

“If these ridiculous martial duel conditions aren’t bringing shame, then what is?”

At that question, Ha Mu-baek chuckled.

“Weren’t it the Sect Leader and Ju Si-un who accepted these ridiculous martial duel conditions? More than that, do you even properly know the conditions?”

Ha Mu-baek’s question in return.

Jong Pae-jin frowned.

The conditions he had heard were the martial duel between Ju Si-un and Baek Ri-pyeong, and two martial duels by that Ha Mu-baek fellow.

“And Baek Ri-pyeong defeated Ju Si-un, so do they really seem like ridiculous conditions?”

Ha Mu-baek’s follow-up question.

Honestly, Baek Ri-pyeong’s skill had been unexpected.

Even if he was Baek Ri-dan’s grandson, it was an achievement that far surpassed Baek Ri-dan at the same age.

“That child is exceptional, that’s all. But what about this current martial duel?”

Jong Pae-jin’s rebuttal.

“We’ll have to see how it ends.”

Ha Mu-baek kicked off the ground simultaneously with those words. And his sword thrust straight toward Jong Pae-jin.

Jong Pae-jin’s sword moved quickly and struck away Ha Mu-baek’s sword.

“From now on, it’s for real.”

The moment those words ended, Jong Pae-jin’s sword began emanating a fierce aura.

An aura that changed drastically from before.

As killing intent began to be infused, its power also doubled.

Killing intent was also infused into Ha Mu-baek’s sword.

The two men seemed to be engaging in a life-or-death battle rather than a martial duel.

Even so, Ha Mu-baek was gradually pushed back.

 

‘Hmph. So he acted so arrogant with just that level of skill? Lowly trash bastard.’

The smile on Ju Jae-seung’s lips deepened.

No matter how he looked at it, it seemed like he would be pushed back like that and lose as is.

If so.

He could protect his son’s arm and eye.

No, rather he should take that bastard’s and Baek Ri-pyeong’s.

After Master Uncle returned to the Elder Council.

Given Jong Pae-jin’s personality, if he knew such conditions existed, he would obviously fly into a rage and prevent it.

He was as stubbornly inflexible as senior martial brother Baek Ri-dan.

‘How is it that only such frustrating people achieve mastery in swordsmanship in Zhongnan…’

Even the junior martial brother who was currently at the Jeongcheon Alliance.

A junior martial brother who had repeatedly clashed with him, then left to become an elder of the Jeongcheon Alliance, saying Zhongnan was frustrating.

Thanks to that, the speed of taking control of Zhongnan had also increased.

Now he had erased about half of senior martial brother Baek Ri-dan’s shadow from Zhongnan. What came after would be even easier.

For that, Baek Ri-pyeong.

He absolutely had to erase this boy.

Ju Jae-seung glared at his son with sharp eyes.

To show such a foolish appearance and be defeated.

Hadn’t he almost failed to erase Baek Ri-pyeong?

Fortunately, Master Uncle seemed likely to defeat that lowly bastard’s son, so it would be salvageable.

“Wo, wow!!”

While briefly lost in thought, the disciples’ cheers erupted.

Thinking the outcome would soon be decided, he turned his gaze to where the martial duel was taking place.

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

Blood was flowing from Jong Pae-jin’s left shoulder.

‘How, how could…’

It was impossible.

Clearly Master Uncle had been gaining the upper hand.

“Huff huff huff. Huff.”

Ha Mu-baek was still breathing roughly.

However, Jong Pae-jin wore a dismayed expression.

“You had a hidden trump card, I see.”

It was truly exquisite.

The connection between the forms of the Heavenly Star Galaxy Sword Technique.

Even though he had reached ultimate achievement, there was still subtlety remaining in that part.

Something only Jong Pae-jin himself could feel.

That’s why he had been contemplating whether there might be an even higher realm of ascension beyond the ultimate achievement of the Twelve Stars.

That subtle gap, shorter than an instant.

Ha Mu-baek had pierced through that gap.

How shocked he had been when he saw the sword flying toward him.

Despite blocking the sword with all his might, he had been wounded on his left arm.

“Th-that was…”

Baek Ri-pyeong was startled.

The technique Ha Mu-baek had shown.

Hadn’t he himself been caught by it several times?

During training matches with Dan Mok Un-rae.

“So the Instructor was capable of it too…”

Though it was natural if it was natural, somehow he seemed to have wanted to think it was Dan Mok Un-rae’s special talent alone.

Since Dan Mok Un-rae could do what he himself couldn’t. He had just wanted to think of it as a special talent.

But Ha Mu-baek had shown the exact same thing.

‘I can do it too.’

Baek Ri-pyeong thought he too would be able to accomplish it.

It was the moment his next goal was carved into his heart.

 

Ha Mu-baek’s decisive strike.

After that, the aspect of the martial duel changed.

Ha Mu-baek still looked rough in breathing and exhausted, but the momentum was gradually tilting toward him.

It wasn’t a large wound.

But it was sufficient for Ha Mu-baek to seize the advantage.

During the time half an hour passed.

Jong Pae-jin’s face was drenched with sweat. The clothes on his left arm were also stained with blood.

And.

Clang!

With a loud sound, Jong Pae-jin dropped his sword.

Ha Mu-baek’s sword stopped in front of Jong Pae-jin’s chest.

The sword tip trembling slightly.

Jong Pae-jin looking down at the sword with a defeated expression.

Though filled with regret, he soon seemed resigned.

He let out a long sigh.

“Phew. I lost.”

Then he turned around, picked up his dropped sword, and sheathed it.

“H-how…”

“Th-this can’t be…”

The disciples’ eyes were filled with disbelief.

How could the former greatest master of Zhongnan lose to that young Maengryong Corps instructor?

Ha Mu-baek’s condition wasn’t good either.

His breathing was still rough, and his complexion was pale.

And what about the sweat soaking his entire body?

It looked like he would collapse if pushed slightly.

Ju Jae-seung gritted his teeth.

To think the master uncle he had trusted would lose in such a manner.

Nevertheless, his gaze was fixed on Ha Mu-baek.

He was truly exhausted and had barely won.

Right now, it seemed even his son could win if he stepped forward.

He couldn’t miss this moment.

Letting that bastard recover would be utterly foolish.

“You won. Indeed, you have the skill to wag your tongue like that, don’t you? Then let’s proceed with the next martial duel immediately. Who will you fight?”

At Ju Jae-seung’s question, Jong Pae-jin looked at him in surprise.

To have another martial duel against someone who had just finished a duel and looked too weak to even hold a sword.

That couldn’t be right.

“Sect Leader.”

“Master Uncle. That lowly bastard proposed the conditions first. One martial duel with someone Zhongnan designates, and then one with someone he designates. We must follow through.”

Ju Jae-seung cut off Jong Pae-jin’s words and spoke firmly.

“Huff. Huff. Huff.”

Ha Mu-baek stuck his sword into the ground and was barely standing while leaning on it.

Ju Jae-seung urged Ha Mu-baek.

“Ah, I understand. Then I’ll designate an opponent. Huff huff.”

Ha Mu-baek looked on the verge of collapse.

Zhongnan’s disciples watched his mouth intently. Who would he designate?

“Sect Leader. I’ll have a martial duel with you. Huff huff. Huff.”

Ju Jae-seung, who had been designated by Ha Mu-baek.

A sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth. His eyes gleamed with killing intent.

“Insolent. You little shit…”

Ju Jae-seung gripped his sword and walked toward the Great Training Ground with an enraged expression.

[I haven’t disgraced Zhongnan, but it seems I’ve disgraced you, old man. I apologize for that in advance.]

At that moment, sound transmission reached Jong Pae-jin.

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

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