The World’s Greatest Martial Arts Instructor - Chapter 231

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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 231. Don’t Say You Dislike It

 

 

The cadets, who occupied about three dining tables, picked up their chopsticks immediately after the food arrived.

Hunger was the best seasoning.

Their chopsticks moved very quickly.

It couldn’t be helped.

It was well past dinnertime.

While they were eating frantically like this.

Ha Mu-baek entered the first floor of Geumryong Pavilion.

He quickly spotted the cadets and walked toward them.

“Hm?”

Dan Mok Un-rae was the first to notice him.

“Instructor?”

Ha Mu-baek plopped down in an empty seat.

“Eat slowly, everyone. If you get indigestion, there’s no cure for it.”

Ha Mu-baek said while looking around at the cadets.

“What brings you here?”

Baek Ri-pyeong asked.

This was because Ha Mu-baek hadn’t shown up for Maengryong Corps’ afternoon training either.

“I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

Ha Seol-ran asked, tilting her head.

Nothing particular came to mind.

“Eat first. You all look hungry.”

At Ha Mu-baek’s words, the chopsticks that had stopped began moving again.

Ha Mu-baek chuckled as he watched them.

‘Hm?’

He raised his head to look up at the upper floors.

It was because of a martial artist caught in his ki sense.

Only after feeling that presence up close could he properly gauge their level.

When he had spread his ki sense at Gyoryong Hall, he thought there were only ordinary people there.

Who would have thought there was a master who had reached the Half-Step Return to Truth realm on the fifth floor.

He could only properly sense it after entering Geumryong Pavilion.

‘I wonder if it matters?’

All Under Heaven was vast and there were many masters.

It could be some eccentric passing through Muchang.

Ha Mu-baek didn’t particularly care as long as they posed no harm to him.

 

‘Should I head out now?’

He had been sitting for a long time.

Silence had also descended upon Gyoryong Hall after the day’s activities ended.

Only the occasional torches and lanterns provided light.

There was almost no human movement.

It seemed time to head to the inn he had chosen as his lodging.

Namgung Hwi slowly descended the stairs.

True to being a tavern, this place became more lively as darkness deepened.

Having reached the first floor, Namgung Hwi discovered a group clustered together on his way to the exit.

These were the people who had rushed over from Gyoryong Hall earlier.

And his eyes met with one of the men among them.

‘That person is?’

Namgung Hwi was inwardly startled as he recognized his face.

This wasn’t their first meeting.

A few years ago.

The village where Namgung Hwi had been staying was one of the fiercest battlegrounds in Sanwol Demon Forest.

So Hwi-ung had come to clean up that place.

Leading his direct military unit, the Hocheon Corps.

‘Hocheon Corps Leader.’

Namgung Hwi had helped him back then.

Though his skills were incomparably shallow compared to now, he still knew the terrain of the surrounding Sanwol Demon Forest well.

He hadn’t even revealed his name at the time.

Ha Mu-baek also spotted Namgung Hwi.

And he was startled.

A face covered in scars from sword wounds.

An empty right sleeve.

The sword at his waist.

He was an unforgettable person.

When Ha Mu-baek and the Hocheon Corps members were still unfamiliar with Sanwol Demon Forest.

This was the man who had guided them through what was the most fierce battlefield in Sanwol Demon Forest.

‘He asked to be called Nameless…’

Even then, he seemed to have many stories.

His eyes were dead too.

Sometimes he would show living eyes, but that was only for the briefest moments.

But now he seemed somewhat different.

He still seemed to have many stories, but his eyes were alive.

What could have happened in the meantime.

The realm of supreme mastery.

It was truly a transformation beyond recognition.

Their eyes met briefly like that.

Namgung Hwi continued walking.

Namgung Ji-hu and Namgung Ji-yu were seated facing Ha Mu-baek, meaning they had their backs to Namgung Hwi.

Because of this, Namgung Hwi left Geumryong Pavilion without seeing those two people.

“What’s wrong?”

Ha Seol-ran asked.

“A considerable master just passed by.”

At Ha Mu-baek’s answer, the eyes of the Maengryong Corps cadets and the Namgung siblings widened.

To think there was someone that monster-like instructor would call a considerable master.

Namgung Ji-hu turned around out of curiosity to look behind him.

But Namgung Hwi had already disappeared.

“He’s already gone.”

Ha Mu-baek said briefly.

“More importantly. It seems you’ve mostly finished eating.”

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

“Hiiik?”

“Hi-hiccup.”

At that sight, the Waryong Corps 20th Group cadets were startled and began having fits.

It couldn’t be helped.

A memory etched in his mind had surfaced.

“That is?”

Baek Ri-pyeong spoke with a hopeful heart.

Expectation had already dawned in Dan Mok Un-rae’s eyes.

Click.

The wooden box opened, revealing several pills stacked on white paper inside.

He had brought the Infinite Pills.

“You guys won’t need them.”

At Ha Mu-baek’s words, the Waryong Corps 20th Group cadets nodded vigorously.

They had already taken the Half-Measure Pills delivered through Dang Jin-san.

They were still busy absorbing all the medicinal effects.

“Would you guys like to try some too?”

Ha Mu-baek asked, looking at Namgung Ji-hu, Namgung Ji-yu, and Ju U-myeong.

“What is it?”

Namgung Ji-hu asked.

These siblings knew nothing about the Infinite Pills.

“Something good for your body.”

Ha Mu-baek said briefly.

For something supposedly good for the body, the Waryong cadets’ reactions seemed suspicious.

Nak U-jin and Baek Ri-pyeong’s expressions weren’t particularly good either.

“Never mind if you don’t want to.”

Ha Mu-baek distributed the pills one each to Baek Ri-pyeong, Dan Mok Un-rae, Nak U-jin, and Ha Seol-ran.

Seeing this.

“I’d like to try one too.”

Ju U-myeong said impulsively.

It was curiosity.

Curiosity about what exactly that thing was.

“I’ll try one too.”

Namgung Ji-yu also made her decision.

Judging by the reactions, there was something dangerous about it.

But she had faith that the instructor would never lie.

If an instructor of his caliber said it was good for the body, it surely must be.

So Namgung Ji-yu chose to take the risk.

Ha Mu-baek looked at Namgung Ji-hu.

He who had not yet made his decision.

“This is really good for your body. I can’t explain exactly how though.”

At those words, the Waryong cadets trembled.

They had heard those same words from Dang Jin-san once before.

Ha Mu-baek brought his hand to the wooden box lid.

Just as he was about to close it.

“I’ll take one too.”

Namgung Ji-hu made his decision.

Ha Mu-baek took out one Infinite Pill, handed it to Namgung Ji-hu, and closed the wooden box lid.

“Well then, I’m going.”

Then he got up from his seat and immediately left Geumryong Pavilion.

 

Ha Mu-baek, who had been walking toward Gyoryong Hall, suddenly stopped in his tracks.

The look in Namgung Ji-hu’s eyes when he decided to take the Infinite Pill just now.

It was the same look he had seen when giving advice about the Emperor Sword Form and watching his training.

A look he felt he had seen somewhere before.

Now he remembered.

Where he had seen that look.

“Nameless…”

That’s right.

The moment of crisis they encountered while guiding through Sanwol Demon Forest.

His eyes shining with desperate resolve.

It was exactly like that.

Though he had dead eyes, only in moments of crisis did his gaze come alive.

Perhaps there was some desperate reason why he absolutely could not die.

Ha Mu-baek turned his head to look back at Geumryong Pavilion.

“Hmm. The Namgung Family Estate…”

He still didn’t know for sure.

Among the sword techniques Nameless had used back then, there were no Namgung family techniques.

Rather, he had only used basic sword techniques known to everyone in Gangho, like the Three Talents Sword Technique or Five Elements Sword Technique.

“Well, I’ll find out if I keep watching.”

Thus Ha Mu-baek concluded his thoughts about meeting Nameless.

“But still, my spending has gotten loose. Tsk.”

Ha Mu-baek clicked his tongue and muttered as he approached his dormitory.

Infinite Pills.

They were more difficult to make than expected.

So he had used them sparingly, but who would have thought he’d end up using them so freely at Gyoryong Hall.

Well, he could just make more to replace what he used.

The problem was that he had used up all of several essential medicinal ingredients.

“I should go gather medicinal ingredients sometime.”

Ha Mu-baek said, thinking of his master’s secret repository.

His master had said there were medicinal ingredients remaining there.

One type even grew exclusively in that place.

“There are still quite a few Infinite Pills left.”

Well, it wasn’t urgently needed right away.

“But it feels like I’m forgetting something…”

Ha Mu-baek tilted his head.

 

***

 

“What is this thing?”

Namgung Ji-hu’s question.

These people seemed to know what it was.

“I don’t really know either. But it seems to taste quite awful.”

Ju U-myeong said with a shrug.

“It’s hell.”

Eun Hwa-ryang said.

“It’s hell indeed.”

Im Dae-chi said with a pale face.

Namgung Ji-hu frowned.

“But he said it’s good for the body?”

“It is good.”

Yeong Hu-in answered.

“It’s paradise.”

Na Jung-cheon nodded and added.

Namgung Ji-hu’s expression grew even more grimaced.

What on earth was this supposed to mean?

“You’ll know once you try it. They say what those guys ate was even more terrible than this.”

Dan Mok Un-rae didn’t hesitate and tossed the Muryangwan into his mouth.

Dan Mok Un-rae grimaced as he chewed with crunching sounds.

Still, since it was his third time, it was quite bearable.

Well, taste wasn’t important to Dan Mok Un-rae.

What mattered was the internal energy that would increase after eating this.

Baek Ri-pyeong and Nak U-jin also ate it calmly now.

After confirming the three men’s condition, Ju U-myeong carefully brought the Muryangwan to his mouth.

This was his first time eating it.

He put it in his mouth.

He chewed once.

“Keuuk.”

His eyes widened.

A groan escaped involuntarily.

‘Th-there’s something even more terrible than this?’

Ju U-myeong’s gaze turned toward the Waryong Corps cadets.

Those people suddenly seemed incredibly amazing to him.

Ju U-myeong desperately chewed and swallowed the pill.

Tears had already welled up in his eyes.

At that sight, Namgung Ji-hu and Namgung Ji-yu swallowed dry saliva.

Now they understood a little what the word “hell” meant.

“Ah!”

At that moment, Ha Seol-ran let out a low exclamation.

“What’s wrong?”

Namgung Ji-yu asked.

“The acupoint, the acupoint. We should press the taste-numbing acupoint before eating…”

At those words, Namgung Ji-hu and Namgung Ji-yu’s eyes widened.

There was such a method.

Since the problem with this was the taste, numbing the sense of taste would solve it.

The problem was.

“Do you know where that acupoint is?”

She didn’t know the location of that acupoint either.

“Well, there’s nothing we can do. We’ll just have to eat it.”

Namgung Ji-hu tossed the Muryangwan into his mouth.

“Keuhup.”

And his eyes widened.

His reaction wasn’t different from Ju U-myeong’s.

After barely managing to chew and swallow it, his eyes had turned red.

“How did you guys eat this so calmly?”

Namgung Ji-hu asked with an incredulous expression.

“After eating it about three times, it’s okay.”

Baek Ri-pyeong answered calmly.

“Three times of this?”

Baek Ri-pyeong nodded.

Namgung Ji-hu shook his head as if he was sick of it.

Now only two people remained: Namgung Ji-yu and Ha Seol-ran.

Namgung Ji-yu closed her eyes tightly and ate the Muryangwan.

Since the Maengryong Corps cadets had eaten it three times.

It must definitely have effects.

She too barely swallowed it while feeling that terrible taste.

Her whole body trembled.

The last remaining person was Ha Seol-ran.

‘I can’t rely on Elder Brother and Master forever.’

She made that decision.

She closed her eyes tightly and put the Muryangwan in her mouth.

“Heueup.”

The bizarre and terrible taste she felt as soon as she put it in her mouth.

This was truly an indescribable taste.

A sensation as if goosebumps rose all over her body and all her pores opened up.

To think that stimulation to taste alone could change a person’s body this much.

Ha Seol-ran struggled desperately and barely managed to chew and swallow the Muryangwan.

‘E-Elder Brother!! You should have pressed the acupoint for me!!!’

Ha Seol-ran’s silent cry that she only shouted in her heart.

There was no way that would reach Ha Mu-baek.

 

***

 

Day broke.

Early morning.

Namgung Hwi roughly settled his breakfast with cold roasted duck he had brought from the tavern the day before.

Then he asked the inn’s shopkeeper and headed to Gyoryong Hall.

As the old man who had shared a table yesterday said, Gyoryong Hall was always looking for workers.

Even the shopkeeper knew about it.

However, the shopkeeper looked at Namgung Hwi with pitying eyes as he told him.

His gaze clearly showed that it would be difficult to become a worker with one arm missing.

Namgung Hwi paid no mind and headed to the small gate on the western wall side of Gyoryong Hall, as the shopkeeper had told him.

When he knocked on the door, a person’s voice was heard from inside.

“What business do you have?”

“I came because I want to work as a laborer.”

At those words, the door opened and a man appeared.

He confirmed Namgung Hwi’s appearance and immediately hardened his expression.

“Are you a murim person?”

He was asking after seeing the sword at his waist.

“No. I carry this just in case because my body is like this.”

Namgung Hwi answered calmly.

“Can you work properly?”

“Even with a body like this, isn’t there work I can do? You don’t need to pay me wages right away, so how about watching me work for a few days and then deciding?”

The man pondered for a moment at those words.

No matter how he looked at it, there wasn’t much work a one-armed person could do.

Moreover.

What kind of people were the cadets of Gyoryong Hall?

A few crazy bastards made life difficult for the workers, so one or two people quit every day.

Today too, one guy had already quit.

“Well, let’s do that. It’s no use making a fuss about not getting paid wages, you know? Of course, if you work properly, I’ll calculate and give you wages.”

Since they were short-handed, the man decided to have him work for about a day to see.

“Come in this way and wait a moment.”

Thus Namgung Hwi entered through the small gate.

After waiting briefly, the man returned with an old man.

“Huh?”

It was an old man he recognized.

Hadn’t they shared wine cups together just yesterday?

“So it’s you. Heh. Your drive is truly remarkable.”

Wi Ji-gun also recognized Namgung Hwi and smiled.

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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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