The World’s Greatest Martial Arts Instructor - Chapter 250

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

 

 

 

 

Chapter 250. How Did You Know?

 

 

Gongsun Bi-yeon led the way with Ha Mu-baek following behind her. The three people from the Namgung family followed behind Ha Mu-baek.

Chu Dong said he would stay at the dormitory.

For him, it would be an uncomfortable place.

Having been expelled from the Mosan Sect, and now Seonyu Valley.

Moreover, a dinner banquet with the valley lord.

The banquet hall they reached following Gongsun Bi-yeon was spacious yet not flashy, but rather an elegant space.

Befitting a banquet, the dining table was filled with all kinds of dishes.

Gongsun Mu-oe was waiting for Ha Mu-baek with a bright smile on his face.

“Hehe. So, have you recovered well from your travels? Please, have a seat.”

Gongsun Mu-oe warmly welcomed Ha Mu-baek’s group as they arrived at the banquet hall.

His gaze also lingered on the people from the Namgung family.

“Indeed, a beauty like a lotus flower. Such incomparable beauty.”

At Gongsun Mu-oe’s praise, Namgung Ji-yu slightly bowed her head.

Since Gongsun Bi-yeon was present, she too was not wearing a veil.

Here, Ha Mu-baek met Gongsun U-gyeong for the first time, who was Gongsun Mu-oe’s son and Gongsun Bi-yeon’s father.

After exchanging greetings with each other, they spent time chatting about recent events.

Each dish was excellent in taste.

When the atmosphere had sufficiently warmed up.

Gongsun Mu-oe put down his wine cup and looked at Ha Mu-baek as he asked.

“While I’m delighted that you’ve visited Bongok, you who dislikes the trouble of traveling wouldn’t come all this way without reason. There must be some matter at hand?”

At Gongsun Mu-oe’s question, Gongsun Bi-yeon quietly nodded.

Having dealt with Ha Mu-baek herself, she knew his personality to some extent.

Because Gongsun Mu-oe thought this way, the only people from Seonyu Valley present were the three members of the Gongsun family.

Thinking that Ha Mu-baek surely had something to discuss.

Gongsun Mu-oe’s gaze turned toward the Namgung siblings and warrior.

Ha Mu-baek himself wouldn’t have any pressing needs.

So he guessed it must be related to those people.

“I heard there is a mystical arts practitioner named Ma Jin-gi in Seonyu Valley.”

Based on Chu Dong’s words that his age would be over a hundred, Ha Mu-baek spoke with utmost courtesy.

When Ma Jin-gi’s name came up, Gongsun Mu-oe showed a surprised expression.

As if he never expected that name to come from Ha Mu-baek.

“Huh. How do you know about that person…”

“I heard he is quite advanced in years…”

“He’s in good health.”

When Ha Mu-baek asked worriedly, Gongsun Mu-oe chuckled and replied.

At those words, it wasn’t Ha Mu-baek but the Namgung siblings and the Namgung family warrior who sighed in relief.

Gongsun Mu-oe’s gaze naturally turned to them.

Gongsun Mu-oe carefully observed the three people.

Soon, as if realizing something, he showed a surprised expression before quickly recovering his composure.

“Oh my.”

And then came a flowing sigh.

“I thought the rumors circulating in Gangho were false, but they were true…”

At his words, Namgung Ji-yu and Namgung Ji-hu flinched.

Ma Jin-gi.

They were surprised that Gongsun Mu-oe had guessed the whole situation just from that name being mentioned and their reaction to it.

“Grandfather. What do you mean by that?”

Gongsun Bi-yeon asked cautiously.

Gongsun U-gyeong was also tilting his head in confusion.

“Bi-yeon, go and bring Elder Ma here.”

Instead of an answer, what came back was an errand, but Gongsun Bi-yeon carefully stood up and left the banquet hall.

It was because the atmosphere was heavy.

For a moment, no one said anything.

Only the sound of Ha Mu-baek silently eating food and drinking could be heard.

Toward such Ha Mu-baek, Gongsun Mu-oe asked.

“How did you know?”

“Pardon?”

“About Elder Ma. Very few people in Gangho would know about those mystical arts.”

“Someone who can freely access the alliance’s information told me.”

Ha Mu-baek said matter-of-factly.

At that answer, Gongsun Mu-oe nodded with a stern face.

It was because he had once mentioned Ma Jin-gi and his mystical arts in passing to the Jeongcheon Alliance.

He remembered it was during a time when things were noisy due to some family’s succession dispute.

Who would have thought that even that would remain as a record in the alliance.

Gongsun Mu-oe looked at the Namgung siblings and Namgung Hwi with pitying eyes.

“The Namgung Family Estate will be in turmoil.”

His voice was full of sympathy.

Gongsun U-gyeong couldn’t understand at all.

Which mystical arts of Elder Ma were causing this reaction.

The fact that his father and outsiders were having a conversation knowing something that he, the minor valley lord, didn’t know, left him feeling bitter.

“Don’t make such an expression. It was something I didn’t intend to reveal to the world anyway, so I didn’t tell you either.”

Noticing his mood, Gongsun Mu-oe soothed his son’s hurt feelings.

“And Instructor Ha. If it weren’t for you, these mystical arts might have already disappeared from the world.”

At Gongsun Mu-oe’s following words, this time Ha Mu-baek tilted his head.

“Ah, Father…”

Gongsun U-gyeong was startled.

Because Gongsun U-gyeong knew the meaning of those words.

“I’m also a grandfather. I was planning to open it in the end. I said that because you seemed to rely on it too easily.”

Gongsun Mu-oe said with a bitter smile.

This time it was a conversation that Ha Mu-baek and the Namgung family people couldn’t understand.

Gongsun Mu-oe turned his head toward Ha Mu-baek again.

“However, even for someone like you, wouldn’t it be difficult if the opponent is the Namgung Family Estate?”

Ha Mu-baek smiled broadly.

“Straightening what has gone wrong and twisted is difficult and hard. As for dealing with the Namgung Family Estate, well…”

It was an arrogant answer.

That attitude suggesting there would be no difficulty in dealing with the Namgung Family Estate.

Even so, Gongsun Mu-oe just nodded his head.

As if acknowledging it.

Where in the world did such a warrior appear from.

It was truly a curious matter.

“Hehe. Valley lord. You were looking for this old man?”

At that moment, with a hearty laugh, an elderly man with the bearing of an immortal entered the banquet hall.

White hair and a long beard.

If a stranger saw him, they would immediately prostrate themselves calling him an immortal – such was his appearance.

“Elder. Please, come in.”

Gongsun Mu-oe rose from his seat to greet Ma Jin-gi.

The others also stood up from their seats.

“Yes, what is the matter?”

Ma Jin-gi asked as he took his seat.

Gongsun Bi-yeon, who had cautiously followed behind him, also sat down.

“An important guest of Bongok has requested your presence.”

He had heard the general situation from Gongsun Bi-yeon on the way.

Ma Jin-gi’s gaze turned toward Ha Mu-baek and stopped there.

His eyes trembled violently.

“My word. I never knew such an extraordinary person existed in this world…”

Ma Jin-gi let out an exclamation of admiration.

What had he seen in Ha Mu-baek?

He did not elaborate on the details.

Then his gaze examined Namgung Ji-yu, Namgung Ji-hu, and Namgung Hwi before returning.

“I don’t know how you found out, but I can roughly guess why you sought me.”

He was speaking to the Namgung siblings.

“That guest is the Noble Person who treated So Yu.”

“It was merely something my Master accomplished.”

Ha Mu-baek spoke calmly.

“My word. So you were my life’s benefactor.”

At Ma Jin-gi’s words, Ha Mu-baek tilted his head.

He had merely treated Gung So-yu, so how had he become Ma Jin-gi’s life’s benefactor?

“This is an important secret of Bongok. Can the young master and young lady of the Namgung Family Estate keep it?”

At Gongsun Mu-oe’s question, the two people—no, all three including Namgung Hwi—nodded gravely.

“Hmm. Perhaps you might already know. Being the young master and young lady of the Namgung Family Estate. There exists something called the Divine Scripture in Bongok.”

At Gongsun Mu-oe’s words, the two people nodded slightly.

They had heard of it before.

The Divine Scripture of Seonyu Valley.

A mysterious book that had made Seonyu Valley the best in All Under Heaven in mystical arts.

It was a rumor that had secretly spread throughout Gangho.

“The Divine Scripture is both the beginning and end of Bongok’s mystical arts. We believed it to be omniscient and omnipotent.”

A bitter smile appeared on Gongsun Mu-oe’s lips as he spoke.

“But it seems it’s not omniscient and omnipotent.”

Gongsun Mu-oe affirmed Ha Mu-baek’s words.

“Indeed. When we opened the Divine Scripture, we only received the answer ‘impossible.'”

He was referring to when they sought a method to treat the previous valley lord’s illness.

Of course, he didn’t bother to mention such detailed circumstances.

“Nevertheless, I recently thought I might have to open the Divine Scripture.”

Ha Mu-baek could guess something from those words.

“There’s a price, I suppose.”

“Lifespan.”

Ma Jin-gi answered.

“If we had opened the Divine Scripture this time, several people’s lifespans would have been shortened, and I would have been one of them. If that had happened, I probably would have lived out my natural span.”

Ma Jin-gi said with a gentle smile.

“To find a treatment for Nine-Tone Severed Meridians?”

At Ha Mu-baek’s question, the people of Seonyu Valley nodded.

“Hmm. That’s not a Divine Scripture but a demonic book, isn’t it?”

At Ha Mu-baek’s blunt observation, the Namgung family members were startled.

In fact, Namgung Ji-yu had been thinking the same thing inwardly.

An entity that shared knowledge in exchange for human lifespans.

Though they called it a book, she even doubted whether it truly was a book.

“Hahaha. You speak truly. That’s why we rarely open it these days.”

Ma Jin-gi answered with a laugh.

“Nevertheless, we call it the Divine Scripture because when we open it, it doesn’t just answer our questions but simultaneously releases countless fragments of mystical arts. Since I am in the position of conducting the ritual to open the Divine Scripture in Bongok, I have obtained the most fragments.”

It seemed to be an incomprehensible entity.

This thing called the Divine Scripture.

“Among them was the mystical art you desire.”

At those words, the Namgung siblings swallowed nervously.

Ma Jin-gi looked at the Namgung siblings and Namgung Hwi as he spoke.

“Father and children, right? I can tell just by looking, but others wouldn’t be able to.”

At Ma Jin-gi’s words, Gongsun U-gyeong and Gongsun Bi-yeon were shocked.

They knew well who Namgung Ji-yu and Namgung Ji-hu were.

Weren’t they the eldest daughter and eldest son of the Namgung Family Head?

The young lady and young master of the Namgung Family Estate.

But their father was the one-armed warrior sitting there with them?

It was astounding.

“Ah…”

Gongsun U-gyeong let out a small gasp.

He realized what it meant that the rumor his father had mentioned was true.

He too knew of that rumor.

But the fact that they had come asking for help meant…

Could it be?

“By any chance… is there a mystical art that can confirm the relationship between parent and child?”

Gongsun U-gyeong asked with an incredulous expression.

He had never imagined such a mystical art could exist.

It was only natural.

He knew well how difficult bloodline verification sorcery itself was.

“Thanks to fragments from the Divine Scripture, I somehow came to know it.”

Ma Jin-gi answered calmly.

With all the pieces fitting together, Gongsun U-gyeong understood the conversation that had taken place here.

He didn’t hide his confusion.

“To think the young master and young lady of the Namgung Family Estate had a different father—this is a momentous matter. Naturally, this old man should accompany you to the Namgung Family Estate to provide proof, shouldn’t I?”

Ma Jin-gi’s question.

“We are sorry to trouble you, but please, we beg of you.”

Namgung Ji-hu and Namgung Ji-yu simultaneously rose from their seats and spoke while giving a cupped fist salute.

“Please, we beg of you.”

Namgung Hwi also rose from his seat, performed a cupped fist salute, and bowed deeply.

“Let me hear what circumstances led to this.”

Ma Jin-gi said, looking at the three people.

It was Namgung Ji-yu who told the story.

Having already heard Bongok’s secrets and being in a position to ask for help,

there was no reason to hide the circumstances.

After all, once events unfolded at the Namgung Family Estate, rumors would spread throughout all of Gangho anyway.

Thus, the people of Seonyu Valley became absorbed in Namgung Ji-yu’s story.

When the entire story had ended,

the faces of the Gongsun family members and Ma Jin-gi bore both pity and anger.

Because what had been done to become Family Head was an act that would anger both heaven and humanity.

To violate the natural order and kill one’s father and mother—

How could such a thing be possible?

“It seems Heaven sent a noble person like Instructor Ha to Bongok to help me correct this disrupted natural order. That’s how I was able to heal So Yu without opening the Divine Scripture.”

Ma Jin-gi spoke calmly.

“What do you mean?”

Namgung Ji-yu asked with hopeful eyes.

“I’ll help you. I’ll go to the Namgung Family Estate and use that mystical art.”

Ma Jin-gi nodded as he spoke.

“Th-thank you.”

The three people from the Namgung family stood up simultaneously and bowed.

Their faces had turned red.

“I’ll come along as well.”

Gongsun Mu-oe spoke up.

“Ah, Father!”

Gongsun U-gyeong exclaimed in surprise.

It was already burdensome for a mystical arts practitioner from Seonyu Valley to intervene in another sect’s affairs, but for the Valley Lord to step forward personally.

“There needs to be someone to vouch for Elder Ma.”

Gongsun Mu-oe spoke calmly.

“But if that happens, the relationship with the Namgung Family Estate will…”

Originally, the relationship between the Nine Sects and One Alliance, Five Great Noble Families and the Eight Gates of Divine Progress wasn’t very good.

Still, they were together under the large umbrella of the orthodox faction.

If Seonyu Valley interfered in the Namgung Family Estate’s affairs like this, it wouldn’t just be a problem between two sects – it could create a huge rift between the Nine Sects and One Alliance, Five Great Noble Families and the Eight Gates of Divine Progress.

“Well, after this matter is over, the Namgung Family Estate might become Bongok’s closest ally.”

Gongsun Mu-oe glanced at Ha Mu-baek as he spoke.

Since he was stepping forward so actively, the fate of the Namgung Family Estate seemed to be unfolding before their eyes.

 

***

 

Namgung Hwa-hyeon received a report that his youngest brother Namgung Hwa-u had taken leave and come to the main estate.

“That bastard must have some scheme. Tsk.”

He had pushed for him to become the Hocheon Corps Leader to keep him away from the main estate.

And now, just over a year later, he was visiting the main estate on leave.

It was annoying.

In his unpleasant mood, he set down the tea cup he had been drinking from.

Crack.

The tea cup saucer cracked and split.

It was a tea set used by the Namgung Family Head.

It should have been a masterpiece of the ages in use, but to suddenly crack like this.

What could this mean?

Namgung Hwa-hyeon’s face grew even more furrowed.

The tea cup saucer had a blue sky pattern symbolizing the Namgung Family Estate drawn on it.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————