The World’s Greatest Martial Arts Instructor - Chapter 217

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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 217. Trash

 

 

He was a man they recognized.

The man who had sparred with Eon Mu-ung some time ago.

And the man who had looked at them with concern today.

His group had even spoken to them.

Asking if they were alright.

“Dang Jin-san….”

As Eun Hwa-ryang muttered quietly, the man chuckled and nodded.

“That’s right. Junior cadets. I’m Dang Jin-san. Do you have a moment?”

“Training time is about to start….”

Someone beside Eun Hwa-ryang hesitantly spoke up.

They looked completely intimidated.

It was understandable.

Even though they were from Waryong Corps and he was from Maengryong Corps, that meant nothing.

He was direct lineage from the Sichuan Tang Family while they were mere errand boys from the New Eight Sects.

“Well, that’s true. But my instincts that I’d forgotten about opened their eyes today.”

The five people looked at Dang Jin-san with strange expressions.

“I’m famous in the capital as a scoundrel, you know. Heh.”

Everyone was dumbfounded at Dang Jin-san’s seemingly self-admiring words.

Was that something to be proud of?

“So. It’s fine to skip training once in a while. You probably won’t get proper education during training time anyway, right?”

Dang Jin-san was right about that.

Training in Waryong Corps meant honing the techniques of whatever sect one belonged to.

Having learned nothing but basic internal energy cultivation, there wasn’t much they could do.

The instructor seemed to know this fact and didn’t particularly interfere with them.

It had been the same on the first day.

“So. Follow me.”

“Where to…?”

“You’ll find out if you follow.”

Dang Jin-san took the lead and the five cautiously followed behind him.

Their steps were hesitant.

However, Dang Jin-san said nothing about it and simply walked at their pace.

Moving away from the training ground, they arrived at the western wall of Gyoryong Hall.

“It was definitely somewhere around here…. Ah, found it!”

After searching for a while, Dang Jin-san moved something and found a small hole beneath the wall.

It was just big enough for an adult to crawl through.

A dog hole.

There were several such places around Gyoryong Hall, and Dang Jin-san cleverly knew the locations of a few.

“Follow me.”

Dang Jin-san crawled out first, grunting and getting covered in dirt, and the five followed.

To think they were doing this in broad daylight.

“Now, now, we need at least a drink if we’re going to talk heart to heart.”

Leading the dirt-covered group, Dang Jin-san took the lead.

People on the main road glanced at them, but Dang Jin-san seemed completely unbothered.

 

***

 

Muk Hae-jin looked at the empty training ground.

“Hmm….”

A quiet sigh escaped him.

The group he was in charge of was Waryong Corps 20th Group.

Today was the fourth day of the first half, but the training ground was completely empty.

“What should I do.”

He was flustered.

He had roughly guessed from the cadets’ condition, but he hadn’t expected them to give up this quickly.

There was even a disciple from Cheolgi Workshop among them.

He had received separate contact from the sect about that child’s circumstances.

Though it was an instruction he didn’t like, since it was from his sect, he had decided to observe for now.

“This is troublesome.”

It was a natural reaction from Muk Hae-jin, who had only devoted himself to martial arts.

Still, since they were children who had entered Waryong Corps, he had resolved to teach them with all his might.

But they had already given up.

Reporting to the Academy Director wouldn’t be a solution.

Muk Hae-jin stood with his arms crossed, continuing to stare at the empty training ground.

 

There was another instructor in a similar situation.

Ha Mu-baek.

His gaze turned toward Maengryong Corps 7th Unit.

There were missing members.

“Dang Jin-san….”

Ha Mu-baek muttered quietly.

Of all people, it was a cadet under his charge who had skipped training.

“What should I do about this….”

His eyes were filled with concern.

The Seventh Group cadets watched Ha Mu-baek nervously.

Dang Jin-san wasn’t the only cadet who had skipped training.

Yeon Ha-min and Ha Seol-ran were also absent.

Perhaps that was why Ha Mu-baek wasn’t exploding immediately.

Dang Jin-san had brazenly said.

If the instructor looked for him, they should say he went for self-study.

Ha Mu-baek crossed his arms and tapped his arm with his fingers.

If it were just Seventh Group training, it wouldn’t particularly matter.

But right now it was training for all of Maengryong Corps.

If he let these guys slide, others would start skipping training too.

‘Consider yourselves dead tomorrow.’

Of course, his younger sister Ha Seol-ran was no exception.

He had thought they’d barely reconciled over a drink.

But it couldn’t be helped.

Official matters were official, personal matters were personal.

 

***

 

“Is this the place?”

At Yeon Ha-min’s question, Ha Seol-ran nodded.

After Dang Jin-san left, Yeon Ha-min, who had been waiting for training time in the training ground, suddenly moved.

She felt she should go see for herself too.

As if enchanted by those words, Ha Seol-ran also followed along.

It was probably because she couldn’t forget the look in the eyes of those five people she had seen in the morning.

She herself had once had such eyes too.

The eyes of someone who had fallen into despair, given up on everything, and simply surrendered to the flowing reality.

Elder Brother and Master don’t know.

When the symptoms of Severed Meridian Syndrome had reached their peak.

While watching Master struggle to treat her, she had forced herself to put on a bright expression.

But when she was alone, her eyes had looked exactly like that.

She thought she had forgotten her reflection in the bronze mirror, but the moment she saw their eyes, it came flooding back.

It was fortunate for Yeon Ha-min that Ha Seol-ran had come along.

Ha Seol-ran was able to track Dang Jin-san’s movements even though he had already disappeared.

Yeon Ha-min was amazed by her Ki Sense detection ability.

The place they arrived at was the western wall now before their eyes.

Both women’s gazes turned downward to the base of the wall.

The hole that Dang Jin-san had passed through.

It was still exposed there.

“He crawled out through there?”

Yeon Ha-min muttered with a troubled expression.

Since she was currently wearing martial attire, it wasn’t impossible to crawl through, but she still couldn’t bring herself to move readily.

“Let’s put on face veils first.”

Ha Seol-ran took out a face veil from her bosom.

Yeon Ha-min also covered her face with a veil.

“And. I think we can just climb over the wall.”

At Ha Seol-ran’s following words, Yeon Ha-min looked at her.

“There’s no one around. Right now.”

She had assessed the surrounding situation with her Ki Sense.

It was quite an enviable ability.

Ha Seol-ran leaped up first, and Yeon Ha-min followed behind her.

 

The place they arrived at after leaving Gyoryong Hall was a shabby tavern.

When they entered, there was no conversation.

They were simply tilting the wine cups placed before them.

“Huh?”

The first to notice Yeon Ha-min and Ha Seol-ran was Dang Jin-san.

He showed a momentarily surprised expression at their appearance, then chuckled and pointed to the seats beside him.

Two new wine cups were brought out.

Perhaps it was because alcohol was involved.

The five people freely shared their individual stories.

They were all quite similar.

If there was a common point, it was that they were all orphans without connections, and when they were at the Main Sect, they hadn’t received this level of treatment.

Unfortunately, those who had been sent to Gyoryong Hall all happened to have problematic personalities.

Dang Jin-san crossed his arms.

“So you’re going to keep living like this?”

The five people lowered their heads.

“Those bastards and you all are mistaken about something – this isn’t your sect, it’s Gyoryong Hall.”

There was no reaction.

“And all cadets at Gyoryong Hall are equal. Maengryong Corps wasn’t like that, but well, things have changed now.”

“Let me confirm something. The five members of the 1st Group. What was your position within the sect? Seeing that they sent you together, it seems like you have some influence.”

Yeon Ha-min, who had been quietly listening, asked.

“Byeok I-gyeom is the son of a merchant who provides a lot of support to the Main Sect.”

Eun Hwa-ryang answered in a small voice.

“The reason I came here was also because Byeok I-gyeom’s father asked an elder of Noejeongnru…”

Yeon Ha-min’s gaze turned to the other people.

They were all similar.

Sons of local influential figures in areas where the sect was located, and such.

One thing that was certain was that none of them were direct bloodline like Dang Jin-san.

“What ridiculous bastards.”

Dang Jin-san muttered as if he couldn’t believe it.

It was because their arrogant behavior made them seem like children of high-ranking officials within the sect.

“Still, they must be talented individuals. Being Waryong Corps 1st Group.”

“And equally lacking in manners.”

Ha Seol-ran was quietly observing such people.

“Are you going to keep living like this?”

Yeon Ha-min asked while looking at the five people with deep eyes.

“There’s no other way.”

Eun Hwa-ryang answered hesitantly in a low voice.

Deep in that voice was contained a small yearning.

That if there was a way, he wouldn’t stay like this.

Yeon Ha-min confirmed that.

And looked around at the other four people.

“Is there a way?”

Then someone asked.

“If there was?”

Yeon Ha-min asked back.

The heads of the five people slowly lifted up.

“Do you know about Hatuje?”

At Dang Jin-san’s question, the five people shook their heads.

And instead of answering, Eun Hwa-ryang threw out a question.

“But… why are you caring about us like this?”

That was what he was curious about.

The only people helping them when no one else cared.

“Well, you’ll understand when you hear the story. But to tell you the reason first – it’s because it doesn’t feel like someone else’s business. Because it’s like seeing my past foolish self. It makes me angry.”

The explanation started from there.

Dang Jin-san and Yeon Ha-min took turns.

When all the explanations were finished, the five people – no, six people including Ha Seol-ran – looked at Dang Jin-san and Yeon Ha-min with disbelieving eyes.

It was because they couldn’t believe that Dang Jin-san, who was right before their eyes, had gone through such times.

It was natural.

All of them had seen the martial duel between Dang Jin-san and Eon Mu-ung.

“But… our instructor is someone else…”

At Eun Hwa-ryang’s words, Dang Jin-san chuckled.

“I’ll help you. From what I can see, Ha-min seems to have the same intention.”

“But can we really do it like you seniors? Honestly, the Waryong Corps 1st Group are quite talented individuals.”

“One-on-one would be difficult.”

Dang Jin-san assessed coldly. Yeon Ha-min also nodded.

Because they had been the same way.

“Then…”

“You’ll have to fight with numbers. With a sword formation.”

The method they themselves had used.

“Sword formations are….”

“You’ll learn them in future classes. Sword techniques, fist techniques, movement techniques, even sword formations. Named Yuryong. They’re probably quite exceptional martial arts.”

Dang Jin-san spoke as if he had already looked into it.

“The problem is how much you can accomplish.”

“What if we fail?”

Someone else asked with a hint of fear.

“You’ll have to aim for the bronze tier.”

“….”

Everyone fell silent.

“Will the main sect be okay with this?”

Eun Hwa-ryang spoke up with difficulty.

Dang Jin-san thought for a moment before answering.

“If you’re outstanding, it’ll be fine.”

An answer with multiple meanings.

“What if we’re not outstanding?”

“It’ll be similar to now.”

“….”

Again, no one said anything.

Silence.

“And you won’t know if you’re outstanding unless you try.”

Yeon Ha-min said.

“If you don’t try, you’re giving up even the slightest possibility that you might have been outstanding.”

“Come find us if you’re interested. This is all we can help you with.”

Dang Jin-san stood up from his seat.

Yeon Ha-min and Ha Seol-ran did too.

After Dang Jin-san paid for the drinks, they headed to Gyoryong Hall first.

When Dang Jin-san was struggling to squeeze through the hole he had crawled out of.

Yeon Ha-min looked at Ha Seol-ran.

Ha Seol-ran nodded.

The two leaped up and vaulted over the wall.

Dang Jin-san, who barely managed to squeeze through the hole and saw this, pointed at them with trembling fingers.

“You, you, you two… so that’s why your clothes….”

Only then did he notice their clean martial uniforms.

“Who would have thought you’d climb over Gyoryong Hall’s wall like that….”

Dang Jin-san muttered as if dumbfounded.

“No one was there.”

Ha Seol-ran answered briefly and headed toward the Great Training Ground.

Dang Jin-san stared blankly at her retreating figure.

 

***

 

“You’re here?”

Ha Mu-baek greeted the three with a cold smile.

That smile was nothing short of murderous.

Just as Dang Jin-san was about to lead the way to find their spots.

Swords and shields came flying toward them.

The three barely managed to catch them.

“You’ll run carrying those.”

Ha Mu-baek’s brief words.

Large shields and heavy swords.

Dang Jin-san hastily strapped the sword and shield to his back.

At that moment, Ha Mu-baek’s finger wind sealed their internal energy.

“This won’t be released.”

It was exactly as he said.

The Three Talents Heart Method wouldn’t budge.

“Run.”

At Ha Mu-baek’s command, the three began running.

The training cadets glanced at them.

They ran at a steady pace.

Some thought that at this rate, they might be able to skip the next training session.

However, after one hour, they erased such thoughts.

Naturally.

They were still running.

Their eyes had already glazed over.

Even so, the instructor didn’t spare them a single glance.

The only time the instructor shouted at them was when they stopped.

The three were now walking.

They tried to run, but their bodies wouldn’t cooperate.

They had run non-stop for two full hours carrying those heavy things.

It was simple but terrifying.

Training ended.

The Maengryong Corps cadets were told to disperse, but not those who were running.

The three continued walking and running.

Ha Mu-baek crossed his arms and watched them with cold eyes.

The punishment for skipping training without permission continued late into the night.

Even when the cadets who finished training had dinner at Damryong Pavilion and returned to their dormitories, they were still running.

Some came out stealthily in the darkness out of curiosity.

They were still running then too.

Hajeong (10 PM).

Only then did Ha Mu-baek stop them.

The moment he did, they collapsed to the ground.

“It’s not just the Seventh Group’s training, but the entire Maengryong Corps’ training. I don’t know what meddling brought you here. But when you skip, be prepared for this much.”

With those words, Ha Mu-baek disappeared from the training ground.

“Huff huff huff. This is a huge loss…. Huff. Huff. Huff.”

Dang Jin-san gasped for breath.

“…Still, I’m going to help them….”

Yeon Ha-min’s words flowed quietly through her labored breathing.

Why she was so interested in them was beyond Dang Jin-san’s understanding.

Yeon Ha-min lay sprawled on the training ground, looking up at the sky.

In the dark night sky, it seemed as if her past memories were flowing before Yeon Ha-min’s eyes.

The humiliations she suffered at the Yeon Family.

The unpleasant stares.

Because she wasn’t of Yeon Family blood.

And the shameful times she endured as a woman with striking looks.

That time was projected onto the five people.

‘Trash.’

This was the immediate thought that came to mind when she recalled the Yeon Family members and the Waryong Corps First Squad cadets.

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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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