The World’s Greatest Martial Arts Instructor - Chapter 252

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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 252. What Kind of Proposal Was It?

 

 

The moment they left the inn, Ha Mu-baek disappeared.

As if he had soared into the sky, as if he had sunk into the ground.

His presence could not be felt anywhere.

It was as if he had never existed in the first place.

But among those who were with him, no one was surprised.

They had already experienced what kind of person Ha Mu-baek was.

Namgung Ji-hu took the lead.

Thus, they headed toward the main gate of the Namgung Family Estate.

The Gate Guards recognized Namgung Ji-hu and Namgung Ji-yu at a glance.

They were startled.

The siblings who should have been at Gyoryong Hall had suddenly returned to the family estate without any prior notice.

“G-Grand Young Master. Grand Princess. How did you…?”

The Gate Guards’ Squad Leader came running out in surprise.

His voice was trembling at the unexpected situation.

“An honored guest said he would visit the main estate, so we ended up escorting him here.”

Namgung Ji-hu answered calmly.

“An honored guest, you say?”

The Squad Leader asked, tilting his head.

Namgung Ji-hu and Namgung Ji-yu stepped slightly to the side.

“This is Lord Gongsun Mu-oe, the Seonyugok Lord.”

At Namgung Ji-hu’s words, the Gate Guards’ Squad Leader’s eyes widened.

How could they not?

He was the Sect Leader of one of the Eight New Sects.

Such a person had appeared with the Grand Young Master and Grand Princess of the Namgung Family without any prior notice.

It was bound to be confusing.

“I-I’ll hurry and r-report this inside.”

The Squad Leader bowed his waist and ran inside.

Separately from him, another Gate Guard guided the party inside.

They couldn’t leave the Grand Young Master and Grand Princess of the Namgung Family standing at the front door.

“I’ll personally escort you to the Guest House.”

At Namgung Ji-hu’s words, the Gate Guard who had been leading stopped walking.

Thus, Namgung Ji-hu’s party was able to head toward the Inner Courtyard of the Namgung Family Estate without any difficulty.

No one paid attention to Namgung Hwi, Chu Dong, and Ma Jin-gi who wore bamboo hats.

They were simply regarded as Gongsun Mu-oe’s modest escort.

Namgung Ji-hu and Namgung Ji-yu guided Gongsun Mu-oe to the highest-grade room in the Guest House.

It was a place reserved for when the leader of a sect would visit.

Since Gongsun Mu-oe naturally had such qualifications, the Guest House managers also followed Namgung Ji-hu’s orders.

The one who came to the Guest House was Namgung Hwa-u.

Wasn’t he someone who already knew this would happen?

Namgung Hwa-u’s movements were immediately reported to Namgung Hwa-hyeon through Namgung Hwa-jin.

 

“What?”

Namgung Hwa-hyeon’s face clearly showed his bewilderment.

He had just heard the news of Lord Gongsun’s visit.

And he was told that he had come together with Namgung Ji-hu and Namgung Ji-yu.

What kind of connection could he possibly have with those children?

But how did Namgung Hwa-u know to head to the Guest House?

Namgung Hwa-jin had delivered this news.

Namgung Hwa-hyeon immediately rose from his seat and hurried his steps.

Why on earth had the Seonyugok Lord come to the Namgung Family Estate without any prior notice?

Even though their positions within the Jeongcheon Alliance might differ, he was absolutely someone who could not be treated coldly.

In the past two wars, there was no righteous sect that had not been indebted to Seonyu Valley.

The Namgung Family was no exception.

When Namgung Hwa-hyeon arrived at the Reception Hall, Namgung Hwa-u was already chatting and laughing with Gongsun Mu-oe.

“I greet Lord Gongsun. I only heard the news a moment ago, so I’m late. My apologies.”

Namgung Hwa-hyeon immediately went straight to Gongsun Mu-oe and offered his greetings.

Gongsun Mu-oe rose from his seat.

“I greet Family Head Namgung. Since it’s this Gongsun’s fault for visiting suddenly without notice, please don’t be concerned about it. I’m endlessly grateful that you’re welcoming an uninvited guest like this.”

Greetings that preserved each other’s dignity.

And they sat down again.

Namgung Hwa-hyeon’s gaze turned to Namgung Hwa-u.

“What brings you here?”

“I only came to pay my respects to the Seonyugok Lord as the Hocheon Corps Leader of the alliance, brother.”

“Didn’t you say you were on leave?”

“Even so, when the Lord of Seonyu Valley has come, I can’t use leave as an excuse.”

A displeased expression appeared and disappeared on Namgung Hwa-hyeon’s face.

His gaze took in the three people wearing bamboo hats but soon ignored them.

He regarded them as Gongsun Mu-oe’s escort.

It was curious that there was a one-armed man among them, but since Seonyu Valley was renowned for its medical skills, he assumed on his own that the man had been indebted to them and became an escort to repay their kindness.

This was because their martial energy was not much different from ordinary people.

Namgung Hwa-hyeon’s gaze turned to the siblings Namgung Ji-yu and Namgung Ji-hu.

“When you’re escorting such an honored guest, why didn’t you contact the family estate in advance?”

Cold words.

They didn’t feel like words a father would say to his children.

They were businesslike words without a trace of affection.

“We were so focused on escorting the Lord that we didn’t think of it. We apologize.”

“Tsk.”

Namgung Hwa-hyeon just clicked his tongue at Namgung Ji-hu’s apology.

“You must be tired from the long journey, so please rest and recover from your travel fatigue. We’ll prepare a banquet for this evening.”

“I’m grateful once again for your hospitality.”

Namgung Hwa-hyeon exchanged greetings with Gongsun Mu-oe and left the Guest House.

Namgung Hwa-hyeon stopped walking for a moment and looked back at the Guest House.

An inexplicable uneasiness settled in a corner of his heart.

[Hwa-jin.]

Namgung Hwa-jin immediately responded to Namgung Hwa-hyeon’s Sound Transmission.

[Yes, Family Head.]

[Keep watch over this place.]

[Understood.]

Namgung Hwa-hyeon ordered his subordinates to prepare a grand banquet.

Since it was the Seonyugok Lord’s visit, most of the family estate’s distinguished members would need to participate.

It wasn’t even close to lunchtime yet, but even starting preparations now, time would be tight.

 

***

 

Namgung Hwa-hyeon left.

After some time had passed.

“Huuu…”

Namgung Hwi let out a deep sigh.

It was filled with anger.

The moment Namgung Hwa-hyeon visited this place.

He had given his all to suppress the rage and killing intent surging from his chest.

Every time he heard that voice.

He wanted to draw his sword immediately.

But since he couldn’t do that, he suppressed it with all his might.

It was much harder than hiding his energy.

Truly, he had almost struck several times.

Especially when he spoke those cold words to Namgung Ji-hu.

At that moment, hadn’t he almost rushed out immediately?

“Haa, haa.”

On the other hand, Chu Dong exhaled roughly as if his tension had been released.

It was because he had been extremely tense, not knowing when Namgung Hwa-hyeon might discover them.

“Hehe. Then I’ll go rest for a bit. I’ll see you at dinner, Hocheon Corps Leader.”

“Yes. I’ll take my leave now.”

Those who only exchanged casual conversation.

It was because they suspected surveillance had already been placed around the guest house.

Namgung Hwa-u left.

“We’ll also take our leave now.”

Namgung Ji-hu and Namgung Ji-yu also left the guest house.

The remaining four people.

They entered their respective bedrooms under the pretext of recovering from travel fatigue.

Chu Dong was still tense and restless.

While doing so, he kept drawing divination lots.

Since the results were always the same, he had no choice but to trust his divination.

‘Damn it. When exactly will a favorable sign appear?’

He was extremely anxious that the divination regarding his personal safety was still unclear.

Only ominous signs kept appearing.

Namgung Hwi quietly immersed himself in meditation.

To suppress his anger and killing intent and maintain his composure.

If he lost his composure and his sword tip wavered.

He might not be able to cut down Namgung Hwa-hyeon.

In Namgung Hwi’s mental image, the Great Flame Sword Technique flowed calmly from beginning to end.

The Great Flame Sword Technique that ultimately led to the Emperor Sword Form.

A sword form he hadn’t learned but had realized on his own.

The end of that flow was directed toward Namgung Hwa-hyeon.

Ma Jin-gi was calmly checking his mystical arts.

The mystical art of paternity confirmation.

It was definitely not an easy mystical art.

It was natural since it was a mystical art he had barely learned from fragments of divine texts.

He checked the beginning and end of the mystical art once more so he could perform it at any time.

Gongsun Mu-oe simply rested.

His role was now finished.

His welcome banquet.

That was the extent of Gongsun Mu-oe’s role.

Setting the stage to reveal Namgung Hwa-hyeon’s ugliness.

Now the rest depended on Namgung Hwa-u.

They had already finished their discussion through sound transmission before Namgung Hwa-hyeon arrived.

‘Ha Mu-baek. That fellow always brings storms of Gangho with him. Though he himself seems unaffected. He’s like a person at the eye of a storm.’

Gongsun Mu-oe smiled gently while thinking of Ha Mu-baek.

He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

 

***

 

“What? What business does someone who should be at Gyoryong Hall have at the family estate?”

A person who discovered Namgung Ji-hu and immediately picked a fight.

It was his cousin Namgung Ji-rin.

A person with considerable talent among the cousins.

However, he was always compared to Namgung Ji-hu and Namgung Ji-yu and couldn’t receive full recognition for his talent.

He was filled with an inferiority complex.

“I had business here.”

“Hah. You didn’t come to spy because you can’t properly master the Emperor Sword Form, did you?”

The condition for becoming Young Family Head.

The Emperor Sword Form.

Currently, Namgung Ji-rin had the greatest achievement in the Emperor Sword Form within the Namgung Family Estate.

That’s why he was mockingly sneering at Namgung Ji-hu with a confident face.

Having tried to learn it himself, he knew how difficult the Emperor Sword Form was.

Learning it alone by looking at the secret manual without instruction was an impossible realm.

Namgung Ji-hu also responded to Namgung Ji-rin’s mockery with mockery.

“Really? Is that so? Hah.”

It was as if he hadn’t said anything at all.

But just Namgung Ji-hu’s mockery alone made Namgung Ji-rin feel bad.

“Let’s see how long you act so arrogantly. You’d better be prepared when I become Young Family Head.”

Namgung Ji-rin looked at Namgung Ji-hu with eyes burning with anger.

However, Namgung Ji-hu only received his gaze with indifferent eyes.

And then he continued on his way.

Namgung Ji-rin, who glared at the siblings’ retreating figures, ground his teeth.

“Damn bastards…”

The siblings’ cousins already knew.

That the Family Head’s heart had turned away from those two.

That’s why he was personally checking their Emperor Sword Form and encouraging their cultivation, wasn’t he?

Although they hadn’t yet shown results that would catch the Family Head’s eye.

Namgung Ji-rin was confident.

It wasn’t because they were incompetent.

It was because the Emperor Sword Form was a complex sword technique of the highest realm.

 

***

 

The sun in the sky quickly passed by the Namgung Family Estate.

It was already time for the sunset to begin.

A maid visited the guest house.

It was to escort Gongsun Mu-oe to the banquet hall.

Gongsun Mu-oe moved together with his party.

At this sight, the maid showed a troubled expression for a moment.

She had probably received orders to escort only Gongsun Mu-oe.

Nevertheless, the maid guided their party to the banquet hall.

With the mindset that the rest would be handled by the distinguished guests themselves.

She was merely a maid, after all.

Upon arriving at the banquet hall, many members of the Namgung Family had already gathered.

These were people who had assembled upon hearing news of the Seonyu Valley Master’s visit.

Among them was Namgung Ji-rin as well.

He had only heard the news after parting ways with Namgung Ji-hu.

That bastard had brought such distinguished guests.

Even that fact itself displeased him.

The fact that those siblings had gained an opportunity to build friendship with the Master of Seonyu Valley.

No one paid attention to Gongsun Mu-oe arriving with his attendants.

They merely showed gestures of greeting him and trying to build rapport.

With everyone gathered like this, the banquet began.

Good words were exchanged between each other, and the atmosphere proceeded in an even more harmonious manner.

The taste of all kinds of delicacies was excellent, the musicians’ music was sweet, and the famous wine of the world was honey-sweet.

As the atmosphere was ripening in this way.

Namgung Hwa-yeong rose from his seat.

He was Namgung Hwa-hyeon’s younger sibling and Namgung Ji-rin’s father.

“Haha, thanks to the Master of Seonyu Valley gracing us with his precious visit, we can have such a wonderful time, making this truly a joyful day. May this Hwa-yeong of the Namgung Family make one proposal to add to the banquet’s excitement?”

When he spoke with a voice infused with internal energy, his voice was clearly heard by everyone’s ears.

“What proposal is that?”

Namgung Hwa-hyeon’s question.

“Are there not children who are cultivating the Emperor Sword Form with all their might to become Young Family Head of this noble family? To add to the banquet’s entertainment, how about a martial duel between two outstanding ones among them? Using the Emperor Sword Form they’re cultivating.”

At those words, interest arose on the faces of the Namgung Family members.

A martial duel using the Emperor Sword Form.

And that of late-stage disciples who had just begun cultivation.

In this gathering, there were those who had learned the first half of the Emperor Sword Form as direct descendants, and there were also those who had never even seen it as branch family members.

It was truly an interesting story for both groups.

As it would also become an occasion to showcase the future of the Namgung Family.

Of course, this proposal was something Namgung Ji-rin had requested of his father.

To humiliate Namgung Ji-hu in an official setting.

When he said two people, he knew that naturally the Grand Young Master Namgung Ji-hu and himself, Namgung Ji-rin, who had the most outstanding achievements, would be chosen.

Namgung Hwa-hyeon’s gaze turned toward Gongsun Mu-oe.

“Would this be acceptable to you, Valley Master?”

“Hehe. I’ve gained an opportunity to broaden my perspective with the Emperor Sword Form, said to be the greatest sword of the Namgung Family, so I can only be grateful.”

Gongsun Mu-oe answered with a hearty laugh.

At his reaction, Namgung Hwa-hyeon’s gaze turned toward two people.

They were Namgung Ji-hu and Namgung Ji-rin.

“You two, come to the center.”

Dining tables arranged in a square formation along the massive banquet hall.

There was a wide space in the center of it.

Namgung Ji-hu and Namgung Ji-rin took their respective swords and stood there at the Family Head’s command.

—————
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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