The World’s Greatest Martial Arts Instructor - Chapter 172

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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 172. It, It’s True

 

 

“Uh, uuh, uuuuuh.”

Ju Si-un couldn’t even speak properly.

He only mumbled incomprehensible words while hesitantly backing away.

The footprints of his wet shoes were clearly imprinted on the ground.

Ha Mu-baek slowly approached Ju Si-un.

The disciples of Zhongnan watched the two men, wondering what on earth was happening.

So Jung-san moved urgently.

He knew the story behind this martial duel.

With the Sect Leader in such a state, the eldest disciple couldn’t be the same way too.

“St, stop!”

So Jung-san, who had approached using his lightness skill, blocked the space between Ha Mu-baek and Ju Si-un.

The Jongnam Eight Swords also moved urgently and approached.

Ha Mu-baek slowly looked around at those surrounding him.

“What does this mean?”

Ha Mu-baek’s question.

“The martial duel is over now. So how about we end things here?”

So Jung-san spoke to Ha Mu-baek in a soothing tone.

“Didn’t you hear what I said earlier? There’s still something to settle.”

At Ha Mu-baek’s words, So Jung-san’s face hardened.

“Hah. You seem to know about it too.”

At So Jung-san’s change of expression, Ha Mu-baek smiled knowingly and spoke.

“And three of these people would know as well.”

Ha Mu-baek’s gaze turned toward the First Sword, Sam-geom, and Yuk-geom of the Jongnam Eight Swords.

The confrontation between the Jongnam Eight Swords and Ha Mu-baek.

At that sight, the disciples were gradually approaching Ha Mu-baek.

Even so, Ha Mu-baek remained leisurely.

“In, Instructor…”

Baek Ri-pyeong, who had approached his side, spoke cautiously.

“Zhongnan doesn’t seem to be a prestigious orthodox sect.”

Ignoring Baek Ri-pyeong’s call, Ha Mu-baek muttered as if sighing.

At those words, the disciples’ qi aura immediately turned fierce.

Their qi aura had already become rough from the Sect Leader’s miserable defeat.

Ha Mu-baek’s words added fuel to the fire.

“What nonsense is that!!”

Someone among the countless disciples shouted.

“Treating agreements so lightly is something only the unorthodox sects would do.”

As if responding to that, Ha Mu-baek spoke once more.

Now treating them like unorthodox sects.

The qi aura of the Zhongnan disciples blazed fiercely and dominated the surroundings.

Each individual’s qi aura was weak, but with so many gathered together, their combined aura was quite formidable.

“What exactly do you mean by that?”

Finally, Jong Pae-jin stepped forward again.

He had been defeated and even toyed with in the martial duel.

On top of that, his sect was being insulted, so anger flashed in his eyes.

Ha Mu-baek took out an envelope from his chest. A single sheet of paper from within.

He sent it flying toward Jong Pae-jin.

“No, no, don’t!!”

What was he thinking?

Ju Si-un desperately tried to snatch the paper Jong Pae-jin had just caught and tear it up somehow.

However.

The stiffly spread paper remained unmovable.

Even when he applied force with his grip, there was no deformation whatsoever.

“Hah.”

Jong Pae-jin could only let out a hollow laugh at that sight.

Using levitation technique to hand him the paper was one thing.

But the paper that had left his hand was being protected while surrounded by gang qi.

What level would one need to reach to make such a thing possible?

Gang qi striking through midair.

That’s why even with Ju Si-un’s desperate struggles, the paper remained perfectly intact.

Therefore, Jong Pae-jin was able to read all of its contents.

“Is, is this really true?”

“Gr, Grand Uncle…”

Ju Si-un trembled violently.

However, Jong Pae-jin’s gaze was not directed at him.

His stern gaze turned toward Nam Hwa-ryong.

Nam Hwa-ryong’s name was also on the paper.

Under that sharp gaze, Nam Hwa-ryong deeply bowed his head.

“Why is there no answer!”

Jong Pae-jin pressed again.

“…It, it’s true.”

Nam Hwa-ryong spoke with difficulty.

Jong Pae-jin’s anger reached its peak. However, this time the target was different.

It was anger directed at Ju Jae-seung, Ju Si-un, and Nam Hwa-ryong.

“A disciple of Great Zhongnan agreed to such a martial duel? Wagering the opponent’s eyes and arms?”

Jong Pae-jin’s voice rang out loudly. Upon hearing those words, questions arose on the faces of Zhongnan’s disciples.

Faces wondering what on earth this was about.

Then the paper slowly moved. Ha Mu-baek had moved it with his levitation technique.

The paper moved before the eyes of each and every disciple of Zhongnan.

Some tried to destroy the paper after reading its contents, but Ha Mu-baek’s gang qi remained firm.

One by one, emptiness and shock settled on the faces of the disciples who read what was written on the paper.

They knew about the Sect Leader and Ju Si-un’s cruel nature, but who would have thought it would be like this.

How could they tell a disciple to wager his eyes and arms in a martial duel?

Even though it was actually Ha Mu-baek’s that were used in the martial duel, they could fully feel the deep malice directed at Baek Ri-pyeong.

If Ju Si-un had won the martial duel and Baek Ri-pyeong had returned to Zhongnan, it was clear what kind of treatment Baek Ri-pyeong, a disciple of the main sect, would have received.

Ha Mu-baek waited for a moment.

However, that was enough.

“Then, old man. Would you please step aside?”

Ha Mu-baek’s request to Jong Pae-jin.

After looking at Ha Mu-baek for a while, Jong Pae-jin shook his head and stepped aside.

“Gr, Grand Uncle!”

At that sight, So Jung-san cried out in surprise.

Step.

Ha Mu-baek took one step forward.

“Will you block me?”

A question directed at So Jung-san.

So Jung-san gritted his teeth.

He disliked both his senior brother and his senior brother’s disciple. But still, he thought this wasn’t right.

“I am So Jung-san, Head of the Enforcement Department of Zhongnan Sect. As the Head of the Enforcement Department responsible for Zhongnan Sect’s laws, I cannot acknowledge that document!”

So Jung-san decided to fulfill his duty as Head of the Enforcement Department and shouted.

Ha Mu-baek smiled brightly at those words.

Soon his mouth opened.

“Your Sect Leader’s eyes were burning red trying to take my eyes and arms, weren’t they? Why didn’t you stop that? From what I can see, you already knew about the conditions of this martial duel.”

“That, that was…”

So Jung-san was left speechless.

“I cannot acknowledge laws that are only invoked when Zhongnan loses. If you wanted to invoke the laws, you should have stopped this martial duel from the beginning.”

At Ha Mu-baek’s words, So Jung-san clenched his fists tightly.

It was true.

So Jung-san had originally intended to do just that.

However, he couldn’t override the Sect Leader’s authority.

No, the authority of the Sect Leader’s seal that the Sect Leader held took precedence over the Enforcement Department.

When Ju Si-un had returned to Zhongnan first, So Jung-san had sought out Sect Leader Ju Jae-seung to oppose the martial duel.

His reason was that as Head of the Enforcement Department, he couldn’t allow the laws to be broken.

Weren’t the conditions of the martial duel utterly absurd from the start?

At that time, what Ju Jae-seung had brought out once again was the Sect Leader’s seal.

“I couldn’t go against the command of the Sect Leader’s seal…”

His voice was full of regret.

At those words, Jong Pae-jin was shocked.

“You even mobilized the Sect Leader’s seal to conduct such a martial duel!!”

That outcry reached the ears of the Zhongnan disciples.

Their agitation grew even worse.

The Sect Leader’s seal had been used to override the Enforcement Department Head’s opposition.

And the purpose was to take the eyes and arms of an instructor who taught disciples.

Disappointment, shock, despair.

All kinds of emotions swirled among the Zhongnan disciples.

“This document doesn’t have the Sect Leader’s seal, so I’ll block it. What a convenient excuse. But I’m not a person of Zhongnan. This is a contract between me and that bastard Ju Si-un. The witness is Peng Do-yul.”

Ha Mu-baek was still smiling.

However, that smile was terrifying.

Because of the qi aura slowly flowing from his body.

“I’ve been plenty considerate up to this point, so now step aside. Or else…”

The qi aura bursting from Ha Mu-baek’s body concentrated on So Jung-san.

So Jung-san trembled all over and broke out in cold sweat.

Eventually, overwhelmed by the qi aura, he had no choice but to step back hesitantly.

Now there was nothing blocking the path between Ha Mu-baek and Ju Si-un.

Ju Si-un was chattering his teeth and trembling all over.

Ha Mu-baek’s fist moved.

Crack.

The sound of bones shattering rang out.

“Kyaaaaaaak!”

Ju Si-un screamed.

His right eye burst from Ha Mu-baek’s fist strike. The surrounding bones also broke and began to swell.

Tears and blood mixed together and flowed down.

“Next is the arm.”

“Uh, uh, uh…”

Making strange sounds, Ju Si-un turned and ran. A desperate struggle to escape somehow.

But it was useless.

Ha Mu-baek instantly blocked his path and simply tripped him.

And then just like that.

Crack.

He stepped on and crushed his left arm.

“Kyaaaaaaak.”

His foot pressed down firmly and moved left and right.

The bones in the stepped-on area crumbled completely, becoming irreparably damaged.

“Whether you cut it off or live with it as is, do whatever you want.”

Ha Mu-baek had a relieved expression as if his business was finished.

So Jung-san squeezed his eyes shut.

“If it were me, I think I’d hold that bastard accountable for the crime of promising such a martial duel that violated the laws.”

Ha Mu-baek’s voice reached So Jung-san’s ears.

“He must have committed a grave sin as well.”

“You speak truly.”

A powerless voice was heard.

It was Jong Pae-jin.

There was no room for excuses. Everything was laid out in the document.

Ju Si-un’s signature was all too clear.

To think that someone who was the sect’s head disciple had conducted a martial duel targeting someone’s limbs.

There was no such absurd precedent in Zhongnan’s laws.

“Jongnam Eight Swords, confine that criminal to Thunder Prison. Move the Sect Leader to the Medical Hall. Once he recovers, we’ll settle this matter according to Zhongnan’s laws.”

At Jong Pae-jin’s command, the Jongnam Eight Swords moved quickly.

“I, as one of the elders of the Elder Council, apologize for this incident.”

Jong Pae-jin respectfully performed a cupped fist salute toward Ha Mu-baek and bowed his waist.

It was a humiliating sight, but it wasn’t humiliating.

Since he was apologizing for wrongdoing, Jong Pae-jin was both respectful and dignified.

It was just heartbreaking to see the Sect Leader and head disciple stray from the proper path.

Rather, that was what was humiliating if anything. How could such a thing happen in Zhongnan?

It was quiet.

None of the disciples opened their mouths.

They were simply lost in confusion.

“Well, it’s fortunate that no troublesome matters arose.”

At Ha Mu-baek’s response, sweat beaded on Baek Ri-pyeong’s back.

This was because he had heard from Ha Mu-baek what those troublesome matters might be.

“And thank you for raising the Main Sect’s disciple so well.”

Jong Pae-jin’s eyes looking at Baek Ri-pyeong were warm.

“It was nothing.”

Ha Mu-baek answered as if it was no big deal.

“Though things are chaotic, how about staying for a few days? I know it won’t be comfortable, but I say this thinking of Ri-pyeong who has returned to the Main Sect after so long.”

At those words, Ha Mu-baek’s gaze turned to Baek Ri-pyeong.

He tried not to show any emotion, but how could he not?

This place was Baek Ri-pyeong’s hometown and home.

“Hmm. Three days.”

Thus Ha Mu-baek came to stay at Zhongnan’s Reception Hall.

 

As soon as he entered his room, Ha Mu-baek lay down on the bed.

“Phew. Now I can rest a bit. Well, there shouldn’t be any more troublesome matters now. It seems like there are beggars and Cheonmok Pavilion people here too.”

Ha Mu-baek’s ki sense was spread throughout all of Zhongnan.

The presence of the Beggar Sect and Cheonmok Pavilion caught by his ki sense.

They were scattered throughout Zhongnan, disguised as workers or head cooks in their respective positions.

He didn’t bother to deal with them.

After all, he planned to finish the martial duel and return.

In any case, since the Jeongcheon Alliance’s eyes and ears had reached Zhongnan, news would spread.

He had already given them advance notice.

“Gongsun Elder will handle it properly. Now, well.”

With that, Ha Mu-baek closed both eyes.

 

***

 

Three days passed quickly.

During that time, the atmosphere in Zhongnan was gloomy.

The shock over the Sect Leader’s atrocities.

The current state of that Sect Leader.

These factors combined to create the mood.

“His dantian is damaged?”

“Yes.”

The Medical Hall Master carefully answered Jong Pae-jin’s question.

“Well, considering how badly he was beaten…”

Fists filled with internal energy had pounded his entire body relentlessly.

It was no wonder his dantian was damaged.

“Then how long will recovery take?”

At Jong Pae-jin’s question, the Medical Hall Master shook his head.

“Recovery seems impossible.”

“Huh. Then what about his martial arts?”

“Though damaged, some remains so he can still use them… but he’ll barely be able to use even one-tenth of his original internal energy.”

“His dantian is practically shattered. Tsk.”

Jong Pae-jin clicked his tongue.

“But there’s an even more serious problem.”

“Hm?”

“It seems the psychological shock was severe.”

“What do you mean?”

Jong Pae-jin asked, seeing the Medical Hall Master’s grave expression.

“Whenever he sees a fist… he becomes paralyzed with fear and can’t do anything.”

Jong Pae-jin’s movement stopped.

What kind of situation was this now?

To confirm, Jong Pae-jin personally visited the Medical Hall.

In the spacious inner chamber, Ju Jae-seung lay alone, his entire body wrapped in bandages.

As Jong Pae-jin entered, Ju Jae-seung’s eyes moved toward him.

“Sect Leader. How are you feeling?”

Even at Jong Pae-jin’s question, Ju Jae-seung gave no response.

His eyes were vacant and unfocused.

“Huh.”

Jong Pae-jin let out a pitying sigh and raised his hand.

He intended to briefly check Ju Jae-seung’s pulse points.

In the process, his slightly clenched fist came into Ju Jae-seung’s view.

At that moment.

“Kuh, kuaaaak. Kheuk. Aaaang!”

Ju Jae-seung began thrashing his entire body violently while screaming.

Jong Pae-jin was startled by the sudden situation.

The Medical Hall Master hurriedly moved to lower Jong Pae-jin’s fist and covered Ju Jae-seung’s eyes with black cloth.

Only then did Ju Jae-seung gradually calm down.

“This is the situation…”

At the Medical Hall Master’s words, Jong Pae-jin shook his head repeatedly.

“For the Sect Leader to be like this…”

It seemed he was in no condition to perform his duties as Sect Leader.

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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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