The World’s Greatest Martial Arts Instructor - Chapter 214

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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 214. Stronger Than Him?

 

 

The dimly lit office.

Yeon Ja-gyeong, who had just returned to his office, did not light the lamp.

Instead, he was staring intently at his writing desk.

A sealed letter placed neatly there.

There was only one person who would leave a sealed letter on his desk like this.

All other correspondence and documents came up through his Escort Guards.

The insolent bastards who would dare place letters directly on his desk like this were.

‘Those insolent Blood Cult bastards…’

That’s right.

The Blood Cult.

Temporarily joining hands with those filthy bastards for revenge.

Yeon Ja-gyeong first reached into his robes.

After that chaos in Muchang.

The Tang Family had sent antidotes to the Jeongcheon Alliance as a precaution.

Antidotes that the Tang Family was still steadily producing and stockpiling bit by bit.

Yeon Ja-gyeong had also received three of them.

He first took one out from his robes and consumed it.

How could he know what those Blood Cult bastards had done inside that sealed letter?

This was a relationship of trading for mutual benefit.

In other words, it meant they could target him at any time depending on their interests.

He had to be constantly careful.

After confirming the antidote was completely absorbed, Yeon Ja-gyeong reached for the sealed letter.

He tore open the envelope and unfolded the letter inside.

His expression hardened coldly.

“Insolent…”

A cold voice flowed out without him realizing it.

‘Blood Cult Il-ro. Insolent bastard.’

To summarize the contents of the letter, it was this:

In recent years, due to the activities of the Demon Sealing Corps and Maengryong Corps, the number of Jiangshi in Sanwol Demon Forest was gradually decreasing.

He was asking for measures to be taken regarding this.

In other words, it was a demand to send more sacrificial lambs to Sanwol Demon Forest.

‘After even devouring my son…’

Yeon Ja-gyeong’s hand holding the letter trembled finely.

He had recalled his son’s death, which he had been deliberately avoiding thinking about.

Though the bastard had died while running wild, blinded by lust, he was still his eldest son.

There was no way his heart wouldn’t ache, no way he wouldn’t be angry.

He had simply buried it deep in his heart for the future.

Blood Cult Il-ro’s letter had slightly drawn out that anger.

‘The payment is White Flower Purple Light Grass…’

At that passage, Yeon Ja-gyeong frowned.

Because he realized once again that Sanwol Demon Forest was still clearly Blood Cult territory.

Those bastards had been watching the Demon Sealing Corps’ activities from somewhere.

They even knew that they had started collecting White Flower Purple Light Grass.

In the end, it meant they were in the palm of their hands.

‘Those bastards can control Jiangshi.’

They had attacked using countless Jiangshi in the last war.

In other words, it meant they could move freely in Sanwol Demon Forest without worrying about the Jiangshi.

Those bastards were demanding countermeasures because the Jiangshi were gradually decreasing.

‘White Flower Purple Light Grass. The more the better.’

It wasn’t just because of Ha Mu-baek.

The Internal Energy Scattering Poison made from the White Flower Purple Light Grass they currently possessed was already powerful enough to poison most people except Ha Mu-baek.

Yeon Ja-gyeong fell into thought for a moment.

Eventually, he made his decision.

“Hatuje, was it? Around the time that ends would be good.”

 

***

 

He was so exhausted that he thought he wouldn’t have an appetite.

But when the food was actually placed in front of him, it tasted like honey.

Moreover, today the training had ended right at dinner time.

Thanks to that, Damryong Pavilion was bustling.

Once their hunger was somewhat satisfied, the Maengryong Corps Cadets finally looked around.

Their gazes all turned to one place.

The place everyone was glancing at.

It was where the Maengryong Corps Seventh Group and Twentieth Group Cadets were eating.

They were just concentrating on their meals as usual, only having small conversations.

Whether they were pretending not to know about the gazes from all directions or genuinely didn’t care.

Someone wanted to step forward and ask them something, but couldn’t bring themselves to do it.

The gazes of several cadets turned in a different direction.

At the end of those gazes was Cho Mu-ha.

It was silent pressure telling him to go.

Cho Mu-ha, who had been frantically chewing and swallowing food, felt those gazes from around him at some point and fidgeted.

Eventually, he stood up from his seat.

Then slowly approached Dang Jin-san.

Though they had only conversed once, he thought he had the most familiarity among them.

“Um, senior.”

Cho Mu-ha cautiously called out to Dang Jin-san.

“Hm? What is it?”

Dang Jin-san, who was eating, turned his head.

“Well… how long do we have to do this kind of training?”

It must be a question representing the feelings of not just Cho Mu-ha, but all the first and second-year Maengryong Corps Cadets.

At that question, the Group Seven Cadets who were eating together all smiled in unison.

“It’ll end soon?”

Dang Jin-san answered with a bright smile.

At that answer, smiles appeared on the lips of the Maengryong Corps Cadets as well as Cho Mu-ha.

“I told you before, didn’t I?”

“Pardon?”

“Go home.”

Hearing the same words again, Cho Mu-ha didn’t know how to react.

“If you can smile at the words that this level of training will end soon, then that’s probably right.”

Dang Jin-san said while nodding his head.

“Because this is just the beginning.”

At the following words, the faces of the Maengryong Corps Cadets contorted grotesquely.

“The beginning?”

“This kind of training will soon end and even harder training awaits.”

“….”

Cho Mu-ha couldn’t say anything.

“Didn’t I tell you? One monster instructor might grab you by the collar and help you survive?”

Cho Mu-ha nodded his head.

“That’s right now.”

Cho Mu-ha with a blank expression.

“Training to death like this now is much better than actually dying. If you don’t like it, you can go home.”

“To become strong, you need to put in that much effort. You won’t automatically become strong just by staying at Maengryong Corps.”

Dan Mok Un-rae, who had been listening silently, added a word and stood up from his seat.

He had already finished his meal.

“You’re done eating already? Where are you going?”

Dang Jin-san asked Dan Mok Un-rae, though he already knew.

“Cultivation.”

Dan Mok Un-rae left only a short answer and started walking.

Cho Mu-ha watched Dan Mok Un-rae’s retreating figure.

Dang Jin-san smiled slightly and looked at Cho Mu-ha.

“You. Are you stronger than him?”

“No….”

“What are your plans for later?”

“After eating, I plan to wash up and rest at the dormitory….”

Cho Mu-ha spoke in a hesitant, shrinking voice.

“What did he say he’s going to do now?”

“That… cultivation….”

Cho Mu-ha’s gaze gradually dropped lower.

“Right, that’s it. That’s the difference between Un-rae and you guys. You’re wondering when things will get easier because even the current training is hard, but Un-rae goes to cultivate more because he thinks even now isn’t enough.”

“Yes. I was short-sighted.”

Cho Mu-ha, who readily accepted the current situation, raised his head.

“I’ll also start cultivating right now. Senior Dang Jin-san, you’re also going to cultivate after eating, right? I’ll join you!”

Cho Mu-ha shouted loudly.

Loud enough for everyone in Damryong Pavilion to look at him.

At those words, Dang Jin-san’s expression hardened.

“What?”

“Hehe.”

Ha Seol-ran, who had looked in a bad mood all day, let out a small laugh.

She couldn’t help it.

Dang Jin-san’s schedule for today was the same as Cho Mu-ha’s original schedule.

Dang Jin-san still hadn’t recovered from the aftereffects of being thoroughly beaten after his martial duel with Eon Mu-ung.

But this junior with such bright, eager eyes.

Dang Jin-san, who had been making a troubled expression, soon nodded his head.

“Alright. Let’s do it. This is my karma. Let’s go cultivate. I’m done eating too.”

Dang Jin-san stood up from his seat.

 

***

 

Dan Mok Un-rae was diligently moving his sword at the Maengryong 7th Division Training Ground.

Eighty-One Style Galaxy Phantom Sword Technique.

It was a sword technique that became more difficult the more he learned it, so he could only do his best.

If he accumulated little by little like this every day, someday there would be results.

With that mindset, he silently swung his sword.

How long had he been swinging his sword?

He could see other squad members also coming to the training ground to cultivate.

And also gazes looking at him.

Dan Mok Un-rae turned his head in that direction.

“What?”

“Can we talk for a moment?”

It was Namgung Ji-hu.

Dan Mok Un-rae nodded and sheathed his sword, then followed behind Namgung Ji-hu.

In his line of sight, he saw Cho Mu-ha diligently moving his sword and shield.

Dan Mok Un-rae chuckled and followed Namgung Ji-hu.

The place he headed to was the training ground of Jamryong Corps 1st Unit.

An empty training ground with no one around.

“I thought this would be a good place to talk.”

It was certainly better than the Maengryong 7th Division Training Ground full of people.

“What’s this about?”

“Should we have a martial duel first?”

Namgung Ji-hu placed his hand on his sword hilt.

Dan Mok Un-rae shrugged and stood at a distance.

And simultaneously, swords were drawn.

The two rushed toward each other.

Their first martial duel since the second semester began.

Both men’s swords flew fiercely toward each other.

Clang! Clang clang!

The beginning was a probing battle.

After that ended, both finally began moving their swords in earnest.

Dan Mok Un-rae no longer deployed the Three Talents Sword Technique.

What replaced it was the Eighty-One Style Galaxy Phantom Sword Technique.

‘This must be the new family sword technique he obtained.’

Namgung Ji-hu admired Dan Mok Un-rae’s swordsmanship. However, he could clearly see that he hadn’t properly mastered it yet.

‘In that case, I too.’

Namgung Ji-hu immediately deployed the first half of the Emperor Sword Form.

A sword technique he was seeing for the first time in his life.

Dan Mok Un-rae instinctively knew this was the Emperor Sword Form.

The strongest sword technique of the Namgung family that he had to newly master.

The two swung their swords at each other with unfamiliar techniques.

In that process, Namgung Ji-hu was gradually pushed back.

It couldn’t be helped.

Since it was an unfamiliar sword technique, there were many gaps, and Dan Mok Un-rae never missed those gaps.

‘This time.’

Namgung Ji-hu changed his sword movements.

If until now he had followed what his father taught him, from now on it was time to deploy what he felt from the incantation formula.

Dan Mok Un-rae immediately noticed the change in sword movements.

‘The gaps are gradually disappearing.’

The gaps that were clearly visible before gradually became faint and were filled in.

Dan Mok Un-rae swung his sword with even more concentration.

However, this time it was rather Dan Mok Un-rae’s gaps that were larger.

Namgung Ji-hu wasn’t an easy opponent who would miss such weaknesses.

How many seconds did they exchange like this?

Both men’s faces became drenched with sweat.

The two faced each other again, having widened the distance between them.

“Let’s stop here.”

“Yes. Let’s stop here.”

Both simultaneously lowered their swords.

“Is the Emperor Sword Form the problem?”

Namgung Ji-hu nodded at Dan Mok Un-rae’s question.

“The first or the second one?”

“Both.”

Namgung Ji-hu answered calmly to Dan Mok Un-rae’s question.

Dan Mok Un-rae tilted his head in confusion.

“They definitely seemed similar, but at the same time they were different…”

“The first was Father’s interpretation, the second was my interpretation.”

“Is that even possible?”

“Exactly.”

Namgung Ji-hu answered Dan Mok Un-rae’s question as if frustrated.

“Well, to be honest, the second one was a bit more troublesome.”

Namgung Ji-hu nodded as if he had expected that.

After all, the one executing it would know such things best.

“How about showing all the incantation formulas to Instructor Ha and receiving his guidance?”

“…”

Those were the words he had wanted to hear.

With Ha Mu-baek’s single comment, he had begun walking a new path with the Emperor Sword Form.

The more he did so, the more frustrated he became.

Because no one would tell him anything.

Until now, he had walked a path with predetermined answers.

At least he could know the direction.

But now he was completely in the dark.

Sword Form.

The word ‘form’ rather than ‘technique’.

He had left behind the path his father had presented and begun walking his own solitary path.

But it was difficult and frightening.

What if it was the wrong path?

While cultivating the Emperor Sword Form, the initial frustration had disappeared, but now fear had come to visit.

That’s why Namgung Ji-hu needed a signpost.

Currently within Gyoryong Hall, Ha Mu-baek was the only person who could serve as such a signpost for him.

Even knowing this.

Before seeking him out, he wanted to make one final confirmation.

After all, he would be showing the Namgung Family’s strongest and most secret sword technique to an outsider.

“Hmm… It’s interesting, though difficult. In the end, he says you have to do it yourself while occasionally teaching you little bits? Annoying yet detailed? I can’t explain it properly.”

Namgung Ji-hu nodded at Dan Mok Un-rae’s words.

He thought he should indeed seek help from Instructor Ha.

He seemed to have no particular interest in other people’s martial arts.

Hadn’t his sword changed this much from that single comment casually thrown out that day?

 

***

 

Ha Mu-baek was alone at a tavern, tilting his wine cup.

He was pondering when Ha Seol-ran’s anger would subside.

With a heavy heart, he was drinking alone, unlike usual.

“Tsk. What should I do…”

He scratched his ear as he muttered in frustration.

It seemed to itch for no reason.

 

Glug glug.

He filled the empty cup.

And gulp.

He downed it in one go.

He brought a piece of fried pork from the table to his mouth, chewed and swallowed it.

Then another cup.

The wine cleanly washed away the greasy taste of the fried pork.

Ha Mu-baek, who was about to move his chopsticks again, hesitated.

It was because of movement caught by his ki sense.

Ha Mu-baek put down his chopsticks.

As he remained still for a moment, the movement gradually drew closer.

‘No way…’

Already at this level?

Right now Ha Mu-baek was completely suppressing his presence, wasn’t he?

Shortly after, the owner of the movement Ha Mu-baek had sensed entered the tavern.

In the shabby tavern, Ha Mu-baek was the only customer.

The person approached Ha Mu-baek directly.

“Elder Brother.”

It was Ha Seol-ran.

“How did you know about this place?”

“I could sense that presence.”

“I was completely suppressing it though?”

“I felt it like a thin thread. It’s you we’re talking about, Elder Brother.”

At that answer, Ha Mu-baek let out a hollow laugh.

“You’ve grown a lot.”

Ha Seol-ran sat across from Ha Mu-baek.

“Give me a cup too.”

At those words, Ha Mu-baek’s eyes widened.

“Do you even know how to drink?”

“I’m an adult too, you know?”

And so the siblings shared wine cups for the first time.

The previous day’s disappointment and regret flowed away, carried by a cup of alcohol.

—————
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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