The World’s Greatest Martial Arts Instructor - Chapter 205

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

 

 

 

 

Chapter 205. What!

 

 

“This recent matter…”

There was nothing to ponder about.

The Blood Cult’s Soul Sleep Poison incident. That’s what he was referring to.

“Gwang Hoe-cheon. No, from our perspective, was it the elimination of Hyeong Ui-cheon? No, that’s not right. Since it was under the pretext of eliminating those Blood Cult bastards, was it Gwang Hoe-cheon’s elimination? Well, that’s not really important.”

Ha Mu-baek quietly watched Peng Do-yul muttering to himself.

“Hmm. Anyway, we completely absorbed the Danan Trading Company where that bastard Gwang Hoe-cheon was the Dan-ju. Even the main branch in Changsha.”

“So that’s why you were so busy.”

It wasn’t just handling the situation in Muchang.

They had truly been frantically busy.

Even Gongsun Dan-gyeong seemed to have overworked himself.

When it came to handling paperwork, Gongsun Dan-gyeong’s level was comparable to Ha Mu-baek’s.

Yet even his eyes had dark circles under them.

Organizing the chaos in Muchang was an enormous task, but that level was within Gongsun Dan-gyeong’s capabilities.

But on top of that, Gyoryong Hall’s absorption of Danan Trading Company was added.

It was a trading company based in Changsha, after all.

“That old man Gongsun wouldn’t have done it for free…”

“We split it half and half. Half went to Gyoryong Hall’s Geumdang, and half to the Alliance Leader’s Hall and Cheonmok Pavilion.”

Ha Mu-baek nodded.

Of course.

The place that held the purse strings of the Jeongcheon Alliance was Geumhae Pavilion.

Not just the purse strings.

It was the core that handled the Alliance’s internal affairs and even the personnel matters of the scholars.

And such Geumhae Pavilion was under the influence of the Elder Council.

In other words, it meant the Elder Council held the Alliance’s purse strings.

The Elder Council could freely control the purse strings for the Alliance Leader’s side, including the Alliance Leader’s Hall and Cheonmok Pavilion.

In preparation for this, the Alliance Leader’s Hall and Cheonmok Pavilion had each created their own funding sources.

But money was always better in larger amounts.

This time, a large trading company happened to be entangled with the Blood Cult, so they absorbed it.

Gyoryong Hall, the Alliance Leader’s Hall, and Cheonmok Pavilion did so without the Elder Council’s influence reaching them.

“Well, they say the bear does the tricks but someone else takes the money. And now I’m stuck with the troublesome work too. This seems like a huge loss for me.”

At Ha Mu-baek’s gaze, this time Peng Do-yul turned his head.

“The Namgung family head is grinning from ear to ear. About the rapidly increased finances.”

“Hmm. Then this matter will quickly reach the Elder Council’s ears.”

“Well, since we’ve already absorbed everything, it doesn’t matter. Even the Elder Council can’t do anything about it. Military Advisor Gongsun handled everything according to the Alliance regulations.”

Indeed, that meticulous man wouldn’t have handled things carelessly.

He would have done it thoroughly so the Elder Council couldn’t find a single fault.

‘Wait.’

A sudden thought.

He had wondered why Gongsun Dan-gyeong had bothered to travel all the way to Muchang.

This was probably the reason.

While the Elder Council was arguing back and forth about the Blood Cult’s Soul Sleep Poison problem, he had focused on Gwang Hoe-cheon’s Danan Trading Company and moved directly.

Of course, he also handled the Soul Sleep Poison matter excellently.

He even provided clues about the Demonic Cult’s supreme techniques and demonic arts.

“Anyway, thanks to that, we have a lot more budget flexibility.”

“What if the Jeongcheon Alliance reduces the budget using that as an excuse?”

“Heh. Gyoryong Hall’s budget scale is set by Alliance regulations.”

“Can’t the Elder Council just change the Alliance regulations?”

“That requires the consent of the Alliance Leader and Military Advisor.”

Came Peng Do-yul’s reply.

“Isn’t the Academy Director a person of the Peng Family? And the Peng Family is part of the Five Great Noble Families.”

Ha Mu-baek asked, tilting his head.

The main axis of the Elder Council was the Orthodox Alliance of the Nine Sects, One League, and Five Great Noble Families.

The Alliance Leader and Military Advisor were from the New Eight Schools faction.

“I don’t know about such things. The most important thing to me is Gyoryong Hall.”

Ha Mu-baek suddenly thought that he might value this place more than his own family, the Peng Family.

“Since the budget has increased, this means we can now provide sufficient support to the Maengryong Corps.”

At Ha Mu-baek’s words, Peng Do-yul nodded.

“So all equipment will be newly issued with superior quality items. Shields, of course, and swords too.”

That was good news.

Though the Maengryong Corps 7th Unit and Ha Seol-ran were using swords made by Ha Mu-baek.

“And most importantly, I’m thinking of eliminating the break period for the Maengryong Corps only.”

“What!”

At those words, Ha Mu-baek shot up from his seat.

What kind of bolt from the blue was this?

Eliminating the break period when they could officially rest to their heart’s content.

“Honestly speaking, is the Maengryong Corps in a position to rest during break periods? That was created based on the standards of the Jamryong Unit and Waryong Corps.”

“…”

“The Maengryong Corps consists of those who wouldn’t have enough time even if they trained desperately. Giving such people break periods was…”

“Because of budget constraints?”

“Feeding and housing a hundred people all costs money. Add the instructors to that.”

It was true.

Gyoryong Hall during break periods was truly quiet.

It operated with minimal personnel and materials.

Ha Mu-baek and the members of the Maengryong Corps 7th Unit ate and slept there.

But that was on a different scale from the entire Maengryong Corps doing so.

“And I’m going to increase training hours. I plan to teach shield techniques more seriously. Not just shield techniques, but I’m thinking of devising sword techniques and joint combat techniques that complement them.”

“Instructor Zhuge will be busy.”

At Ha Mu-baek’s words, Peng Do-yul stared at him intently.

“What?”

“You create some.”

“What!”

Ha Mu-baek shot up once again.

Peng Do-yul stared at such Ha Mu-baek intently.

“Don’t you have more than enough ability for that?”

“Isn’t that something Instructor Zhuge could do too?”

“Instructor Zhuge has too many responsibilities. And most importantly, he’s the Jamryong Unit instructor. Shouldn’t the Maengryong Corps instructor step up for Maengryong Corps matters?”

“Ugh.”

It was an irrefutable statement.

The Maengryong Corps students’ training should be handled by the Maengryong Corps instructor.

Since it was absolutely correct, he had nothing to say.

“Sigh. To Instructor Han…”

As Ha Mu-baek began to speak, trying to somehow avoid the troublesome task.

“Are you trying to become a bastard too?”

Peng Do-yul’s blatant provocation.

“Damn it.”

Ha Mu-baek closed his mouth.

Peng Do-yul looked at Ha Mu-baek like that.

“Phew. I understand. I’ll do it.”

Peng Do-yul smiled brightly.

“Then I’ll be counting on you starting tomorrow.”

“Phew. Understood. Show me the new equipment when it arrives. I need to teach accordingly.”

“Got it. I’ll make sure to inform them. The changes in Maengryong Corps 7th Unit. It was quite impressive.”

Leaving those words behind, Peng Do-yul rose from his chair.

Ha Mu-baek was left alone in the dormitory after the unwelcome guest departed.

He sat on the bed and looked up at the ceiling.

“Phew. Well, they’re the ones going to Sanwol Demon Forest…”

Ha Mu-baek muttered quietly.

In the end, they were the ones going to face those Blood Cult bastards.

And those Demon Cult bastards were also starting to crawl out stealthily.

Ha Mu-baek himself had business in Sanwol Demon Forest.

He had to go catch those bastards hiding there.

“Since it’s come to this, I’ll have to train them properly. So that as many as possible can return alive.”

Fifty percent survival rate.

Ha Mu-baek was determined to make such words disappear.

Coming to Gyoryong Hall had been against his will.

Becoming an instructor had also been against his will.

A year spent like that.

For the first time since becoming a Maengryong Corps instructor, Ha Mu-baek made a decision of his own will.

Though it seemed like a job he’d been pushed into against his will, he couldn’t spend time idly like this forever.

About a year was enough rest.

“I should move properly for the first time in a while. I’ll have to become a real bastard. To the Maengryong Corps guys.”

A chilling smile crossed Ha Mu-baek’s lips. Plans for how to train those guys were forming systematically in his mind.

The good times were now over.

For Ha Mu-baek.

And for the Maengryong Corps cadets.

 

***

 

Maengryong Corps 7th Group Training Hall.

Though it was a training ground for five people, nine had gathered.

The 7th Group and 20th Group, plus the Namgung siblings.

“So what’s this about?”

Dang Jin-san asked Namgung Ji-hu in a low voice.

Among them, none had yet reached the level where they could block sound with their energy.

So they were speaking quietly.

Namgung Ji-hu’s face darkened.

His lips moved but he couldn’t easily speak.

Namgung Ji-yu stared at him intently.

As if frustrated, her mouth finally opened.

“It’s family business. It is family business, but…”

Namgung Ji-yu stopped speaking there.

No one urged her on.

It was natural.

Since it was about Namgung Family affairs.

As outsiders, they couldn’t say anything about it.

“Father doesn’t consider us his children.”

Namgung Ji-hu spoke in a dark voice.

“Ji-hu!”

Namgung Ji-yu cried out in surprise.

“You know it better than I do, sister.”

“…”

Namgung Ji-yu couldn’t respond at all.

The seven people just watched silently.

“Shortly before returning to Gyoryong Hall this time, he spoke about the policy regarding the Young Family Head.”

Namgung Ji-hu spoke weakly.

From that atmosphere, those present could understand.

That Namgung Ji-hu had not become the Young Family Head.

That the process would be difficult going forward.

That’s why he looked like this.

“Emperor Sword Form.”

The strongest technique of the Namgung Family suddenly came from Namgung Ji-hu’s mouth.

“After revealing the first half of Emperor Sword Form to the direct line and the branch family males closest to the direct line, he would make the one showing the most outstanding achievement the Young Family Head and pass on the second half. Those were Father’s words.”

“…”

Everyone was silent.

“If it’s the Namgung Family direct line…”

“Sister and I, just the two of us. That’s all.”

Before Dang Jin-san could finish speaking, Namgung Ji-hu answered.

“He’s telling you to compete with your cousins.”

Namgung Ji-yu added an explanation.

Dang Jin-san’s mouth fell open.

He too was a member of the Sichuan Tang Family, a noble family.

He had never heard of a noble family selecting successors this way.

Though martial families were one pillar of Gangho’s martial world, there was clearly a difference from martial sects.

They were groups formed by blood relations.

So unless there were special circumstances, primogeniture was usually the principle.

There might be noble families with different traditions, but as far as Dang Jin-san knew, the Namgung Family had maintained the principle of primogeniture.

The current Namgung Family Head, Namgung Ji-hu’s father, was also the eldest son.

And to make the position of Young Family Head competitive when there was a perfectly fine son.

Now Namgung Ji-hu’s lament made sense.

“The first half of Emperor Sword Form is actually a sword technique that direct line members can learn.”

Namgung Ji-yu added an explanation.

“The second half is the symbol of the Family Head. All the uncles have learned the first half of Emperor Sword Form, and they’re all at the main estate. The cousins weren’t qualified to learn Emperor Sword Form, but this time Father granted them that qualification by his authority as Family Head.”

“That means the cousins can receive help from their uncles in training Emperor Sword Form.”

At Baek Ri-pyeong’s words, Namgung Ji-yu nodded.

“And Ji-hu has to train alone at Gyoryong Hall with a sword technique he received just a few days before returning to Gyoryong Hall.”

At Yeon Ha-min’s words, Namgung Ji-yu nodded once again.

Everyone was silent.

Namgung Ji-hu’s dark expression was understandable.

This was too blatant.

Blatant conditions for giving the Young Family Head position to someone else.

“Father has been like that since we were children. He always looked at sister and me with cold eyes. As if looking at strangers. Rather, his gaze toward our cousins was warmer.”

It was a voice filled with resentment.

“I struggled so desperately to gain Father’s recognition… I received recognition from everyone in the family, but Father! All he said was to go to Gyoryong Hall.”

Thus, Namgung Ji-yu and Namgung Ji-hu entered Gyoryong Hall as first-year cadets of the Jamryong Corps a year ago.

Their entrance that surprised everyone.

The story behind it was like this.

“Well, nothing’s going to change just because of this.”

Dan Mok Un-rae spoke up then.

Everyone’s gaze turned toward him.

“You’re Namgung Ji-hu. One of the greatest rising talents of the Orthodox Sect. Then just proudly master the first half of the Emperor Sword Form. Instead of resenting your father, swing your sword one more time.”

Dang Jin-san grabbed Dan Mok Un-rae’s arm.

It was because of his overly direct words.

“I recently found a secret martial arts manual of my family’s secret techniques… but I couldn’t learn it. No matter how much I read the manual, I couldn’t understand what it meant. Even after reading it twenty times in one sitting, I couldn’t grasp the meaning of a single character.”

Namgung Ji-hu, who was about to say something, stopped.

“At least you’re not like that. You did receive proper instruction. Everything after that is entirely up to you.”

Namgung Ji-hu stared intently at Dan Mok Un-rae.

He had dueled with Dan Mok Un-rae several times before the Eastern Tournament.

He remembered the look in Dan Mok Un-rae’s eyes back then.

Deep in those eyes lay envy.

Envy for his martial arts, along with a yearning for martial prowess.

This was a guy who reached the top 4 of the Eastern Tournament with just the Three Talents Sword Technique.

While he himself only made it to the top 8.

Excuses about tournament brackets were meaningless.

This guy had accomplished what he couldn’t.

This guy obtained a secret manual, but was frustrated because he couldn’t learn it.

How ridiculous.

This guy, who didn’t even have the ability to read and interpret a secret manual, reached the top 4 of the Eastern Tournament through relentless training of the Three Talents Sword Technique.

Yet here he was, having received complete instruction in martial arts, giving up first and resenting his father just because there were no family elders to properly advise him.

Namgung Ji-hu rose from the tree stump where he had been sitting.

And he began walking.

The place he was heading to was the Jamryong Corps’ training ground.

Dan Mok Un-rae’s words were right.

If he had time to resent, it was better to swing his sword even one more time.

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