The World’s Greatest Martial Arts Instructor - Chapter 247
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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 247. Always Be Careful
At Namgung Ji-yu’s words, Namgung Hwi quietly looked at her.
“The Family Head has many brothers. Namgung Hwa-u is just one with exceptional skills among them. If the current Family Head falls from grace, all those brothers should be considered qualified to become Family Head. Since there’s no Young Family Head.”
At her words, Namgung Hwi finally nodded.
That was right.
How could Namgung Hwa-u be the only one among Namgung Hwa-hyeon’s brothers who harbored ambitions for the Family Head position?
Surely there were others who kept such ambitions hidden deep in their hearts.
“Namgung Hwa-u will take the lead himself to expose the Family Head’s disgrace and try to bring him down by saying he’s unqualified to be Family Head. But if we don’t participate in his plan, it amounts to nothing.”
Namgung Hwi listened carefully to Namgung Ji-yu’s words.
“On the other hand, we just need to leave the Noble Family Estate and that’s it. The shadows might pursue us, but… with Father and Ji-hu’s skills, I don’t think even the shadows could harm us.”
She was right.
It seemed like it would be good to just forget about revenge and leave with the children to live somewhere else.
“In the end, it’s Namgung Hwa-u who’s in a difficult position. There’s no reason for Father to be dragged along by his proposal.”
At Namgung Ji-yu’s words, Namgung Hwi nodded heavily.
These were aspects he hadn’t considered while thinking about the children.
“Then what do you think we should do now?”
At Namgung Hwi’s question, Namgung Ji-yu smiled slyly.
“We need to buy time. Until Namgung Hwa-u reveals his hand himself.”
“Right. Let’s do that.”
Namgung Hwi nodded in agreement.
With that, their discussion about future plans came to an end.
The three people rose from their seats.
When they left the tavern, Ha Mu-baek was still waiting.
“Namgung Hwa-u said to come find him tomorrow. What will you do?”
Ha Mu-baek’s question.
“He’s the one in a difficult position, not us.”
At Namgung Ji-yu’s answer, Ha Mu-baek smiled slightly and nodded.
Ha Mu-baek thought so too.
Using even his help to complicate matters.
That wasn’t Ha Mu-baek’s temperament.
It would be easier to just push through everything at once.
However, since Ha Mu-baek was a supporter rather than the main party in this matter.
Contrary to his feelings, he had been observing Namgung Hwi’s opinion.
“Make your decision, and let me know if you need help.”
Leaving those words, Ha Mu-baek departed.
The three left behind.
They moved to another location and continued discussing future plans.
And they shared their feelings about meeting blood relatives for the first time in their lives.
***
Two days passed.
Namgung Hwa-u gradually became anxious.
Namgung Hwi, who he naturally thought would come looking for him, hadn’t come.
“Hmm.”
He fell into contemplation alone at the inn.
Namgung Hwi, Namgung Ji-hu, and Namgung Ji-yu.
For that family, there couldn’t be anything better than his proposal.
Namgung Hwa-u reviewed again to see if there was something he had missed.
No matter how he thought about it, it had been the best proposal.
While reviewing once more, this time he tried thinking from Namgung Hwi’s perspective.
Namgung Hwi hadn’t said anything to him and had just listened.
But if he were Namgung Hwi and had received such a proposal, what would he have done?
‘…There was a variable.’
The variable he finally discovered.
It was Namgung Ji-hu and Namgung Ji-yu.
What did those two children want?
If those two, or rather Namgung Ji-hu, had no desire for the Family Head position?
His proposal would become worthless.
They could just leave.
Retrieve the martial arts they had learned?
Having faced Namgung Hwi directly, Namgung Hwa-u could assert with certainty.
Impossible.
Even the shadows – he wasn’t confident they could handle Namgung Hwi.
What if the previous generation masters stepped forward?
Still no answer.
Ha Mu-baek.
With that monster saying he would help them.
“I was the one in a difficult position.”
Namgung Hwa-u muttered with a bitter expression.
He didn’t know whether Namgung Ji-hu had ambitions for the Family Head position or not.
That was the problem.
“There are also my older brothers…”
Namgung Hwa-u folded his arms in contemplation.
Eventually, he left his room.
The one in a difficult position had to move first.
And there was no time.
‘Ji-yu. It must be that girl’s thinking.’
Among the three, she would be the one capable of such broad thinking.
Leading Namgung Hwi to reveal that he was the biological father had actually become his own stumbling block.
He had moved too hastily with the possibility of realizing his ambitions right before his eyes.
‘I still have a long way to go.’
He entered Gyoryong Hall.
Since the Gate Guards already knew Namgung Hwa-u’s identity, they didn’t particularly stop him.
He walked to find Namgung Hwi.
He headed toward the Jamryong Corps training ground.
Although the time Peng Do-yul had permitted was until yesterday, no one stopped him today either.
He couldn’t find Namgung Hwi at the Maengryong Training Ground.
If he was still working as a laborer, perhaps he would be at the Jamryong Corps side where Namgung Ji-hu and Namgung Ji-yu were, so he headed in that direction.
From a distance, he could hear a commotion.
“Hey. One-arm. What are you doing here?”
It was Hwang Ryeok.
His face was now bright red as he glared at Namgung Hwi with bulging eyes.
Hwang Ryeok was on his way back from working at the laundry area until just a moment ago on orders from a superior.
It wasn’t originally his job, but he had been dragged there because they said they were short-handed.
That part was fine.
He too had often done laundry work when he was a newcomer.
However.
Even though it had been a while, the nagging from those around him made his temper flare.
“How can a man with such a mountain-like build be so slow? The washing isn’t even done properly. That Nam Hwi fellow was not only fast but washed things like new.”
It wasn’t just one or two people.
He had come to help, only to hear such words.
And the subject of comparison was that one-armed cripple Nam Hwi.
What was so special about that bastard?
Why were they comparing him to such a cripple and nagging him?
Resentment built up in his chest.
After finishing the laundry work and coming to the Jamryong Corps Training Ground that he was in charge of, that cripple was there.
The moment he saw that sight, his anger exploded.
Namgung Hwi, who had been cleaning around the Jamryong Corps Training Ground, looked at Hwang Ryeok in the sudden situation.
Since that day.
The person who had been ignoring him was suddenly picking a fight like this.
“I am cleaning the Jamryong Corps Training Ground, sir.”
“That’s exactly it. Why are you doing it! The Jamryong Corps Training Ground is my responsibility!”
At those words, Namgung Hwi frowned.
Even though the cleaning areas were divided.
If he had cleaned the other’s assigned area for him, shouldn’t he be grateful instead?
Yet he was getting angry like fire and picking a fight with him.
He hadn’t even known whose area the Jamryong Corps Training Ground was originally, and was only doing it because Wi Ji-gun had told him to clean it.
“Elder Wi told me to clean the Jamryong side as well, so I’m just doing it.”
Namgung Hwi answered confidently.
“Hah.”
At those words, Hwang Ryeok let out a deep sigh.
“Damn it. That old man. What does he think he is, the Academy Director or something?”
Hwang Ryeok, who couldn’t even make proper eye contact in front of Wi Ji-gun, immediately spat out rough curses when he wasn’t around.
Or was it because this was his assigned area?
Namgung Hwi frowned at the completely different behavior from what he had seen near the Maengryong Training Ground.
“What? You’re frowning? Damn it. You crippled bastard. What are you going to do about it?”
Hwang Ryeok flipped the broom he was holding and poked Namgung Hwi’s chest repeatedly with the handle end.
Namgung Hwa-u hid his body slightly from a distance and watched the scene.
Like a newborn calf that doesn’t know to fear a tiger, he was curious how Namgung Hwi would respond to that laborer’s crazy behavior.
“What? Are you going to run to that old man Wi and tattle? The one in front of you right now is me, isn’t it?”
Poke poke again.
Namgung Hwi grimaced.
Last time he had endured it.
Because he had to.
But did he have to endure it now too?
It seemed like he didn’t have to.
He had already found Namgung Ji-yu and Namgung Ji-hu anyway.
And he would be leaving for Hefei soon.
In fact, there was no longer any reason to continue working as a laborer here.
It was just comfortable.
And because he could stay close to the children, he was just continuing as he had been.
“Hey. Ryeok. What are you doing?”
“Ah, young master. It’s nothing much. There’s a crazy laborer here, so I was giving him some discipline.”
Just then, a third-year Jamryong Corps cadet who recognized Hwang Ryeok approached.
Hwang Ryeok had been building close relationships with the cadets while cleaning the Jamryong Corps Training Ground.
It was because of this that he had prevented other workers from cleaning around the Jamryong Corps Training Ground.
He had become angry upon suddenly discovering Namgung Hwi cleaning.
Until now, the time when Namgung Hwi had been cleaning was when Hwang Ryeok was working elsewhere, so they hadn’t encountered each other.
Today their schedules had shifted slightly, causing them to clash like this.
“Huh? There’s such a laborer? Since it’s your work, Ryeok, shall I help you out a bit?”
The third-year cadet slyly interjected.
His narrow, slit-like eyes and thin lips seemed to speak for his character.
“Hehe. How could such a noble young master get involved in affairs concerning these lowly people?”
Hwang Ryeok said, respectfully clasping his hands together.
The third-year cadet.
Namgung Jin.
He was a cadet sent to Gyoryong Hall as a branch member of the Namgung Family.
Being from the Namgung Family, he had been walking around with his shoulders squared in the Jamryong Corps.
But the situation changed when Namgung Ji-hu and Namgung Ji-yu entered the hall last year.
He was just an ordinary branch family warrior.
The halo of the Namgung Family had all but disappeared.
After that, he still walked around with his shoulders squared when those two weren’t around, but no cadets properly acknowledged him.
As a result, his attention had turned to the workers.
He formed a group with several cadets in similar situations and lived that way.
The person he became close with through this was Hwang Ryeok.
He was quite perceptive and amusing, so he had been using him appropriately.
But today he was trying to pick on some laborer.
It looked interesting, so he had interjected like this.
Namgung Jin walked around Namgung Hwi in a circle.
“One-armed and scarred… Was there such a laborer? What was Gyoryong Hall thinking? Hiring such a laborer. Tsk tsk.”
Namgung Jin clicked his tongue.
Namgung Hwi looked at him quietly.
Deep, deep eyes.
The moment he saw them, the moment he felt the killing intent, he knew.
A Namgung Family descendant, a branch family warrior.
He was in the same situation as himself, but his attitude was completely different.
Was it because of guys like this that branch family warriors were looked down upon?
Such thoughts arose in his mind.
Just then.
The sound of people moving could be heard from afar.
These were cadets moving to Damryong Pavilion after classes at the school building had ended.
Jamryong Corps, Waryong Corps, Maengryong Corps.
Cadets of all kinds were walking.
Among them would surely be Namgung Ji-hu and Namgung Ji-yu as well.
He remembered last time.
He had shown the pathetic sight of just taking it from that bastard Hwang Ryeok in front of the two children.
But what about now?
“That’s right. Young master. Why did they hire such a crippled bastard? Really. Because of one crazy old man.”
Hwang Ryeok poked him repeatedly again while saying this.
Namgung Hwi put down the broom in his left hand.
And grasped the end of the broom that was poking his chest.
Crack.
The handle instantly crumbled to powder.
Namgung Hwi glared at Hwang Ryeok with cold eyes.
“Wh-what, what is this?”
Startled by the sudden situation, Hwang Ryeok stammered in surprise.
Step.
Namgung Hwi took a step forward and grabbed Hwang Ryeok’s right arm.
Crack.
“Kyaaaaaaah!”
Hwang Ryeok screamed.
Tremendous pain surged through his right arm.
With just one grip, he had broken Hwang Ryeok’s arm.
“Hey, what the hell do you think you’re doing?”
Namgung Jin frowned and glared at Namgung Hwi, who was moving while ignoring him.
His robes fluttered slightly, as if he had drawn up his internal energy.
“If you have time for such nonsense, you’d be better off devoting yourself to cultivation.”
Namgung Hwi spoke while looking coldly at Namgung Jin.
His left hand still gripped Hwang Ryeok’s arm.
“What, what did you…! How dare a crippled laborer like you!”
He shouted and was about to kick off from the ground.
But Namgung Jin couldn’t move, as if rooted to the spot.
Instead.
“Ugh, uuugh…”
He groaned and trembled all over.
Namgung Hwi had revealed his killing intent and was pressuring Namgung Jin with it.
“Wh-what is this…”
“There are many extraordinary people in the world who hide their true selves. That’s why one must always be humble in Gangho. That’s the secret to living long.”
“Kyaaaah.”
As soon as those words ended, the storm of killing intent struck, and Namgung Jin rolled his eyes back and fainted.
His pants were thoroughly soaked.
Hwang Ryeok saw this and trembled all over.
He couldn’t even feel the pain anymore.
Only now did he realize what he had done.
Namgung Hwi released Hwang Ryeok’s arm.
Thud.
At that moment, Hwang Ryeok prostrated himself flat.
“I-I failed to recognize a great person and this lowly one acted recklessly. P-please spare my life. I was wrong, I was wrong.”
At this sight, Namgung Hwi chuckled.
Exactly as he had expected.
It was amusing that he had revealed his killing intent against such a petty person.
But thinking of that incident from before, he had no intention of letting it slide.
He lifted his foot and stomped on the right hand of Hwang Ryeok, who was prostrated flat.
“Kyeeeeeek.”
“Look at this hand and always be careful.”
As he applied pressure with his foot, the bones in Hwang Ryeok’s right hand cracked and shattered to pieces.
He would probably never be able to use his right hand properly for the rest of his life.
The moment when the one who had called Namgung Hwi an arm-cripple became a hand-cripple himself.
Around that time, the cadets arrived at the scene.
Among them were the Namgung siblings as well.
They tilted their heads at the sight of Namgung Hwi and the two fallen men, but Namgung Hwi simply picked up his broom from the ground and walked away.
“Hah.”
Namgung Hwa-u let out a hollow laugh at the sight.
Though it was brief, the killing intent he had revealed was tremendous.
Perhaps it was even more so because he knew he was being watched.
His mind became complicated, wondering how he should ask them for help.
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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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