The World’s Greatest Martial Arts Instructor - Chapter 223

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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 223. Let’s Eat First

 

 

Dang Jin-san moved his sword and shield in time with the commands.

Just like a machine operating, movements that only responded to commands.

His eyes were locked in other thoughts.

If Ha Mu-baek had been there, it would have been impossible, but now the Maengryong Corps instructors were taking turns conducting training.

That’s why it was possible.

‘Internal Energy. Internal Energy is the problem.’

He felt it while training together with the Waryong Corps 20th Group guys.

Since their Internal Energy Mental Methods were different, the amount of Internal Energy accumulated was different.

They were able to reverse at an incredible speed because the instructor had planted seeds for them.

Even if it was just the ordinary Three Talents Heart Method.

But the Waryong Corps 20th Group guys, who each learned the basic Mind Techniques of the Eight Gates of Divine Progress, accumulated Internal Energy slowly.

At this rate, if the opponent crushes them with overwhelming Internal Energy.

‘The sword formation will be broken!’

In fact, they too had dropouts from Namgung Ji-hu’s sword strikes.

He would make them move with survival as the maximum goal, but he had to consider the case of encountering Waryong Corps 1st Group or Jamryong Corps 1st Group, where late-stage masters gathered.

However, even Dang Jin-san had no solution for this.

The Waryong Corps guys were currently training, even saving their sleeping time.

Were they sleeping for one hour a day?

The rest of the time was training and circulating energy.

Dang Jin-san had no way to accumulate Internal Energy beyond this.

‘Should I ask the Witch to send some elixirs?’

He even thought of such ridiculous ideas.

How much had he concentrated?

Dang Jin-san couldn’t even imagine that Ha Mu-baek, who had climbed onto the roof of the school building in the distance, was watching him.

 

The training ended somehow.

Each with tired bodies, they headed toward Damryong Pavilion.

Dang Jin-san also tried to join the flow of people.

But he had to stop walking because of the person blocking his path.

“In… structor?”

It was Ha Mu-baek.

“Want to have a drink for a moment?”

And unbelievable words flowed from his mouth.

Without even listening to an answer, Ha Mu-baek started walking, and Dang Jin-san hurriedly followed behind him.

The gazes of the Maengryong Corps 7th Unit cadets lingered on Dang Jin-san’s back.

Filled with curiosity about what was happening.

Ha Mu-baek headed to the shabby tavern he always went to.

During the walk, Dang Jin-san didn’t say anything.

Because the atmosphere was like that.

Today too, there was no one in the tavern.

They sat in a corner seat and ordered drinks and snacks.

Since it was before dinner, things that could serve as a meal too.

Dang Jin-san’s eyes widened at the aroma coming from the mouth of the bottle placed on the dining table.

Bamboo Leaf Green Wine.

‘He always drank only cheap fire liquor?’

As the name suggests, Bamboo Leaf Green Wine is made by adding bamboo leaves and various medicinal herbs.

It’s quite a high-grade liquor.

It was also the liquor Dang Jin-san enjoyed drinking when he lived in the entertainment district, called Seongdo Hwahwa Prince in Sichuan.

Knowing that taste, saliva quickly gathered in his mouth.

Ha Mu-baek silently filled the cup. Then he filled his own cup and emptied it in one go.

Seeing that, Dang Jin-san also emptied his cup at once.

The sweet yet fiery taste, and the bamboo fragrance filled his throat and nose.

“Ahh. Good.”

Was it because he drank it after a long time?

An exclamation that flowed out naturally.

Ha Mu-baek quietly stared at such Dang Jin-san.

Dang Jin-san couldn’t meet those eyes and slightly turned his head.

“Why did you do it?”

A heavy question that flowed out.

“Pardon?”

The question was too short, so he couldn’t understand the intention.

Dang Jin-san had no choice but to ask back.

“The bet.”

Another short word that followed.

But he could understand the intention.

It was asking why he proposed a bet to Waryong Corps 1st Group.

There was much to say.

Countless words flowed through his mind.

It seemed like he was seeing their past.

This is the absurdity of major sects.

If left alone, other sects will also use such tricks.

If they directly interfered with Waryong Corps 1st Group, the situation would actually worsen.

And so on.

However, the answer that came from Dang Jin-san’s mouth was short.

“Because I had to.”

“What about the other group members’ opinions?”

A question that immediately followed.

Dang Jin-san flinched at that question.

He had no choice.

That part was already a problem on the very day he made the bet.

He recalled the memory of that day.

His comrades respected Dang Jin-san’s decision, but it was true that he had been rash.

Of course, they were all angry at Waryong Corps 1st Group’s behavior.

But except for Yeon Ha-min, there was no prior consultation with the other group members.

“I didn’t make you squad leader to do that.”

Glug glug.

Ha Mu-baek spoke while filling his cup with liquor.

This time too, he filled Dang Jin-san’s cup.

“Because of your decision, Group Seven’s second half is now up as the subject of the bet. You say you can win, but.”

Gulp.

Ha Mu-baek emptied his cup once again.

“Do you think you can do it?”

He asked while looking straight at Dang Jin-san.

Dang Jin-san just stared at his wine cup.

He couldn’t easily answer this question.

He had been confident when he proposed the bet.

But now.

Honestly, he wasn’t sure anymore.

He was confident about nine-tenths, but the remaining one-tenth was the problem.

Internal energy.

Because of that.

He even thought it would be easier to just step forward himself and sweep away those bastards.

“Pathetic fool.”

Ha Mu-baek’s assessment thrown at Dang Jin-san who couldn’t answer.

Dang Jin-san raised his head.

“Then what should I have done? Those bastards were causing such trouble. How could I just leave those kids alone?”

Dang Jin-san asked with a voice filled with complex emotions.

“You guys are going to Sanwol Demon Forest.”

The conversation suddenly shifted direction.

“You might end up betting your squad members’ lives on something you’re not one hundred percent certain about.”

“That and this are…”

“Different. Of course they’re different. But if you rush into even small matters like this without thinking ahead and behind, what about other situations…”

“It’s not like I acted without thinking.”

Ha Mu-baek nodded slightly.

“You did use your head to some extent. But did you answer my earlier question?”

“…”

Dang Jin-san closed his mouth again.

Looking frustrated, he emptied the cup before him and refilled it himself.

Though several appetizing dishes were laid out, he only reached for the alcohol.

“Internal energy.”

Ha Mu-baek’s brief words.

Dang Jin-san, who was just reaching for his wine cup again, flinched.

“You can’t find an answer, can you?”

Dang Jin-san quietly lowered his hand.

In the meantime, Ha Mu-baek drank a cup.

“What will you do if by any chance you meet Waryong Corps 1st Group and lose because you’re overwhelmed in internal energy?”

Dang Jin-san gritted his teeth.

Eventually, Dang Jin-san hung his head low.

“Why didn’t you come to me?”

Ha Mu-baek asked Dang Jin-san again.

This was different from his previous interrogation.

“Huh.”

With a deep sigh, another cup of alcohol went down Ha Mu-baek’s throat.

“If you shit, you should clean it up, and if you can’t clean it, you should ask for help.”

Dang Jin-san quietly raised his head.

“What? Did you think I would step forward and help you first like some instructor?”

Dang Jin-san shook his head.

“When things get out of hand, going to someone who can handle it and asking for help is also an ability.”

“I… I wasn’t sure if you’d help…”

Dang Jin-san’s momentum suddenly deflated.

Ha Mu-baek chuckled at that answer.

What did he take him for to act like that?

“I thought you’d find it bothersome…”

Ha Mu-baek frowned.

It wasn’t entirely wrong.

Still, he wouldn’t turn away from cleaning up the mess his cadets had made.

“Just what do you think of me?”

At Ha Mu-baek’s incredulous question, Dang Jin-san quietly averted his gaze.

Ha Mu-baek took out a small wooden box from his chest and placed it on the dining table with a thud.

“Lucky bastard. It’s fortunate your comrades are good people. A squad leader putting his squad members up as stakes in a bet on his own. What a fine thing to do.”

“This is…”

Dang Jin-san asked cautiously.

“Open it.”

When he opened the wooden box, there were five blackish pills inside.

Dang Jin-san grimaced as soon as he saw them.

Those terrible things.

Those precious things.

“They’re different from what you guys took. They taste worse, and the effect is about half.”

Dang Jin-san looked at Ha Mu-baek.

“Still, they should create enough internal energy needed for Hatuje.”

“…Th, thank you.”

He bowed his waist and expressed his sincere gratitude.

“I’m not giving this because I like you. I’m giving it because I feel sorry for the other squad members.”

Ha Mu-baek, who had emptied his last cup, stood up from his seat.

“Oh, and you’ll have to pay the price after this matter is over.”

With those final words, Ha Mu-baek paid the bill and left the tavern.

Only Dang Jin-san remained at the table with the wooden box.

“Ha, hahaha…”

Nervous laughter flowed from Dang Jin-san’s mouth.

How long had he been frozen like that?

Only then did the forgotten hunger rush over him.

And a slight drunkenness too.

Dang Jin-san circulated his internal energy to dispel the drunkenness and reached for a duck leg.

“Let’s eat first.”

 

***

 

Various obstacles were set up in the training ground.

A path that was really twisted this way and that.

Yeon Ha-min looked at the sight with satisfaction.

“You understand the strategy well, right?”

“Survive as long as possible.”

Eun Hwa-ryang answered.

Yeon Ha-min nodded.

“Then what’s the most important thing?”

“Infiltration, ambush, stealth.”

Sim Cheol-san answered briefly.

Yeon Ha-min nodded slightly once more.

“And movement technique.”

She said while looking at the obstacles.

“Moklan Mountain’s terrain is quite rough. There are few straight paths where you can run at full speed, and most paths require repeated sharp direction changes and evasions like here.”

“Are you assuming we’ll flee?”

Yeong Hu-in asked.

“Escape and evasion too.”

All the cadets of Waryong Corps 20th Group nodded their heads.

“So. Use the Young Dragon Body Technique and run with all your might. Think that you’ll die if you get caught.”

Yeon Ha-min smiled brightly.

Those words didn’t suit her.

Or maybe they did.

“We’ll be chasing you. You know what happens if you get caught, right?”

She spoke with a beautiful face and beautiful voice, but it sent chills down their spines.

“Well then, begin.”

As soon as her words fell, the Five Cadets deployed their movement techniques with all their strength.

Having trained together until now, they knew what to do.

When told to run, they ran with everything they had.

Shortly after, Yeon Ha-min, Baek Ri-pyeong, Dan Mok Un-rae, Nak U-jin, and Ju U-myeong gave chase.

Ha Seol-ran was quietly watching from the side.

She was standing by to take turns in between.

How long had they been running like that?

Dang Jin-san appeared.

The Maengryong Corps cadets’ gazes flickered toward him briefly, then immediately resumed running with full strength.

Seeing this, Dang Jin-san nodded his head.

The content about movement technique training had been discussed beforehand.

A moment later.

“Wait. Let’s rest.”

At Dang Jin-san’s shout, the Waryong Corps cadets who were gasping for breath collapsed right where they stood.

“What happened?”

The Maengryong Corps cadets gathered while catching their rather rough breathing.

Since he had gone out with Ha Mu-baek, they couldn’t help but be curious.

“He gave me this.”

Cutting out all the details, he showed only the most important thing.

As soon as the wooden box opened.

The four people turned pale and stepped back.

“What’s wrong with you guys?”

Ju U-myeong tilted his head and stepped forward.

Five pills laid out neatly.

Their color and smell gave off a feeling that one shouldn’t get close to them.

“What is this?”

Ju U-myeong asked with a somewhat disgusted expression.

Ha Seol-ran, who had approached in the meantime, also tilted her head.

The smell was slightly different from what she knew.

“Something good.”

Dang Jin-san said with a bright smile.

The four people from Seventh Group who saw that smile.

Similar smiles appeared on their faces too.

“It’s precious.”

Baek Ri-pyeong said.

“It’s a shame there are only five. It would be good if you could have one too.”

Dang Jin-san said as if regretful.

Ju U-myeong lightly shook his head.

“I appreciate the kindness, but I’ll decline.”

“But it’s really good stuff…”

Ha Seol-ran muttered as if disappointed.

Since her words contained genuine sincerity, his heart wavered slightly, but Ju U-myeong soon put aside those feelings.

The expressions of the Seventh Group guys were quite suspicious.

“He said the effect is half.”

Dang Jin-san added.

“Still, that should solve the internal energy problem.”

Yeon Ha-min said as if relieved.

She too was aware of the internal energy problem.

She had pondered solutions, but even she didn’t have a clear answer.

She had been considering asking Ha Mu-baek for help if nothing else worked.

But spiritual medicine had come like this.

“Everyone gather over here!”

Dan Mok Un-rae shouted to the Waryong Corps cadets.

The five people who had caught their breath, even if briefly, approached.

Dang Jin-san handed each of them a pill.

“Wh-what is this?”

Since it was a suspicious-looking pill just by sight, Im Dae-chi asked with a trembling voice.

“Something good.”

Nak U-jin answered.

“Something precious.”

Dan Mok Un-rae added.

“So you have to chew it thoroughly before eating.”

Yeon Ha-min’s finishing touch.

Five people were staring intently at five people.

Under the pressure of those gazes, they put the pills in their mouths one by one.

“Urgh.”

“Ugh.”

“Kuk.”

They immediately covered their mouths and tried to vomit.

“You absolutely cannot spit it out! Chew thoroughly and swallow!”

Dang Jin-san shouted.

The cadets chewed the pills in their mouths while shedding tears.

“Uh, so… ah…”

When the flustered Ha Seol-ran got that far.

Yeon Ha-min grabbed her hand and shook her head slightly.

Her expression was so serious that Ha Seol-ran had no choice but to stop speaking.

“But was it that bad…”

Baek Ri-pyeong tilted his head at the Waryong Corps cadets’ reaction.

“Since the effect is half, the taste is worse too.”

Dang Jin-san said nonchalantly with a calm face.

Immediately, four people’s gazes turned toward him.

What a demonic bastard.

The four people were saying that with their eyes.

“Uh, uhhh.”

Meanwhile, Eun Hwa-ryang was the first to swallow the pill.

Thud.

He rolled his eyes back and fainted.

“Is the taste really that extremely awful?”

Dan Mok Un-rae muttered with a slightly trembling voice.

He said the taste was worse, but who would have thought someone would lose consciousness from eating a pill.

Thud. Thud.

Na Jung-cheon and Yeong Hu-in collapsed.

Thud.

This time it was Sim Cheol-san.

“Huff, huff, huff…”

Only Im Dae-chi was barely holding onto consciousness, drooling profusely.

“What an incredible guy.”

When Dang Jin-san muttered at the sight, everyone nodded their heads.

Ha Seol-ran watched those scenes with a dazed expression.

She had eaten while pressing the acupoint responsible for taste, so she hadn’t tasted the pill at all.

“It’s fortunate it’s Zhixiao Pill. It doesn’t matter if they faint.”

Yeon Ha-min muttered calmly.

Dang Jin-san nodded his head.

“This is really… This is actually good for the body… But there’s no way to explain it to these guys right now.”

Dang Jin-san muttered to himself as if perplexed.

Im Dae-chi looked at Dang Jin-san with trembling, disbelieving eyes.

He had heard those words.

“No, this is really good for your body, really good. But I can’t explain this. You’ll understand as time goes by.”

The moment Dang Jin-san patted Im Dae-chi’s shoulder and spoke.

“Urgh.”

Suddenly rising nausea.

Dang Jin-san hurriedly covered his mouth.

“No! You can’t vomit! This is really good stuff!”

Vomit slightly flowing out from Im Dae-chi’s mouth got on Dang Jin-san’s hand, but Dang Jin-san didn’t care and kept covering Im Dae-chi’s mouth.

Because all of this was precious internal energy.

“Just what… did Elder Brother make…”

Ha Seol-ran muttered with a blank expression.

—————
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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