The World’s Greatest Martial Arts Instructor - Chapter 257

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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 257. There’s Only One Way

 

 

With the sudden appearance of this figure, all eyes of the Namgung Family Estate focused on him.

His right arm hung empty and swaying.

The one-armed man brought his left hand to his bamboo hat and slowly removed it.

And the face that was revealed.

It was the face of a middle-aged man covered in scars.

There were wounds that appeared to be sword scars, but the scars were faint so it was difficult to judge precisely.

However, thanks to the faint scars, his features could be discerned to some degree.

And the assessment of the face thus revealed was.

Handsome.

It was a handsome face, much like Namgung Ji-hu’s.

Several people who had this impression were startled.

At the fact that when they looked at the one-armed middle-aged man’s face, why did his features resemble Namgung Ji-hu’s.

Unlike them.

The old warriors of the family estate trembled all over in shock.

Because it was a face in their memories.

Though he had become middle-aged with wrinkles on his face and time had settled there, it was certainly a face in their memories.

If the scars had been deep, his expression might have become fierce and they might not have recognized him.

But it wasn’t a face that could be hidden by such faint scars.

Namgung Hwa-hyeon was looking at the one-armed man with an expression of disbelief.

He didn’t move a muscle.

He didn’t make any sound.

Only his eyes full of disbelief were fixed on the middle-aged man.

‘That, how could that bastard… Certainly, certainly he should have died for sure… How could he survive falling with such injuries…’

Namgung Hwa-hyeon’s thoughts couldn’t continue.

And for good reason.

If it had been an ordinary gorge he fell into, they would have moved to confirm the corpse.

However, the gorge that bastard fell into at the time was flowing rapidly toward Sanwol Demon Forest.

Therefore, there was no way he could have survived flowing there.

He thought he must have become a jiangshi somewhere in Sanwol Demon Forest.

It was Namgung Hwa-hyeon’s mistake for not properly knowing the geography of that place.

The waterway below that gorge was a stream that flowed into Sanwol Demon Forest, passed through a certain village, and flowed to the sea.

Namgung Hwi had drifted down to that village.

And so Namgung Hwi was able to narrowly escape death with the help of the village people.

Namgung Hwa-hyeon, who couldn’t know this fact, couldn’t recover from his shock.

[How did this happen! Didn’t you say he was certainly dead!!]

Namgung Hyeon-cheol’s sound transmission.

Since they had believed he was certainly dead, they hadn’t even deployed shadow agents.

Yet he appeared alive like this.

Even though the family had erased his existence all this time.

Even though they had made it so no one could speak of him.

They couldn’t purge everyone related to him.

Therefore, even though twenty years had passed, there were those who remembered him.

“Hwi, Hwi, Hwi… Is, is, is that really… Hwi!!!”

Just like now.

An old man staggering from afar, pushing through people as he walked.

An old man who had been trembling all over, seemingly having received a severe shock from Chu Dong’s revelation.

He appeared to be past sixty at least.

Perhaps because his martial realm was low, the wrinkles carved into his forehead were deep.

He approached Namgung Hwi while trembling.

Continuously muttering his name.

He staggered toward where Ha Mu-baek, Namgung Hwa-u, Chu Dong, and Namgung Hwi were.

Several warriors tried to stop his actions.

Crackle.

But each time, they were bound by Ha Mu-baek’s killing intent that flew at them and couldn’t move.

The old man thus stood facing Namgung Hwi.

He stroked Namgung Hwi’s face.

“Really, Hwi… Is, is it really you…?”

Even at the old man’s actions, Namgung Hwi showed no movement whatsoever.

Instead.

His eyes turned red.

Moisture filled his eyes.

Namgung Hwi’s lips seemed to tremble, then began to move slightly.

And the words that flowed out.

“Yes. Uncle. It’s your nephew… Hwi.”

“Keuheuheuheuk. You, you were alive. You were alive! If only elder brother, if only elder brother had known this fact before he passed… keuheuheuheuk.”

At Namgung Hwi’s answer, the old man, no, Namgung Hwi’s uncle, sat down on the spot and began to sob, then soon wailed.

He remembered his elder brother who had passed away just two years ago, Namgung Hwi’s father.

The return of his nephew whom he had thought dead, and his elder brother who was no longer in this world.

These two existences made him wail so sorrowfully.

From the old man’s reaction, everyone present could now know that this one-armed middle-aged man was a person of the Namgung Family Estate.

The old man, no, Namgung Jin was a branch family warrior responsible for the eastern boundary of the outer courtyard.

Many knew him.

Hadn’t he called that man his nephew.

“Wait… If it’s Namgung Hwi…”

Someone middle-aged muttered while recalling the facts that Namgung Hwa-u and Chu Dong had revealed.

Twenty years ago.

The escort warrior who had followed Namgung Hwa-hyeon.

His name had certainly been Namgung Hwi.

There were still those who remembered this fact.

According to Chu Dong’s claim, Namgung Hwi who had died at Namgung Hwa-hyeon’s hands.

He had returned alive.

“You asked for proof of what Chu Dong said? I am that very witness. Family Head. No, Namgung Hwa-hyeon!”

A cold shout filled with rage.

Because it was cold, the anger could be felt even more keenly in that voice.

Namgung Hwa-hyeon, who had barely collected himself in the meantime.

It was thanks to Namgung Hyeon-cheol’s sound transmission.

“I don’t know how you survived. But what I said when I returned to the family estate contained not an ounce of falsehood. Didn’t you lure the monster-like jiangshi into Sanwol Demon Forest to save me and the two ladies?”

Namgung Hwa-hyeon, who had already changed his expression to a shameless face.

“I was truly saddened by your sacrifice. But now that you’ve returned alive like this, where could there be a day as joyful as today! But what are you thinking to fabricate the events of that day like this… I cannot understand. Have you perhaps been swayed by that boy Hwa-u’s honeyed words?”

At Namgung Hwa-hyeon’s words, the elders and other cunning family estate people nodded.

Those who had experienced the events of that day and had been present at the place where the two children’s Namgung bloodline was confirmed.

“No such thing happened. Namgung Hwa-hyeon. Chu Dong spoke the truth and I too am speaking the truth. Caught up in your wicked schemes, I committed the grave sin of violating the two ladies and impregnating them with two children. I too am of Namgung blood. Even if they are my children, they could receive recognition through that magic circle. Now stop and remove that mask!”

This was a scene he had already thought about countless times when he first left the village and headed to Hefei.

But it was completely different from that imagination.

In that imagination, he would have been brutally beaten by the warriors of the Namgung Family Estate, forced to his knees while screaming at that Namgung Hwa-hyeon.

How could he have thought he would be able to face that damn bastard so boldly after breaking through the strict defenses of the Namgung Family Estate alone?

It was such an impossible thing that he couldn’t even imagine it.

However, a monster who had accomplished what he couldn’t even imagine as if it were nothing was protecting him by his side.

Ha Mu-baek.

He was truly a master of Cheonoe-cheon.

“Family Head. I too want to ask! Is what Hwi said really the truth?”

Had he calmed down somewhat?

Namgung Jin staggered to his feet and asked Namgung Hwa-hyeon.

“Huh. Dan-ju Namgung Jin. Have you forgotten how I treated your brother Dan-ju Namgung Pyo? And have you also forgotten why I entrusted you with the Dan-ju position he held? It was all because of Namgung Hwi over there. Because of that friend, wasn’t it?”

Namgung Hwa-hyeon’s answer.

However, Namgung Jin asked another question.

“Then. Why did you try to erase all traces of Hwi? Why did you forbid my brother, who was suffering from the pain of losing his child, from saying even a word about Hwi? Wasn’t the position of Outer Courtyard Dan-ju the price for that?”

Another secret that the people of the family estate didn’t know flowed from Namgung Jin’s mouth.

However, at those words, Namgung Hwi rather let out a sigh of relief.

He had worried that his remaining family might have suffered hardships because of him, but it seemed that wasn’t the case.

It was fortunate amid the misfortune.

However, that didn’t mean his resentment would fade away.

That was that.

And this was this.

Namgung Hwi drew his sword.

And its tip was aimed precisely at Namgung Hwa-hyeon.

“If you’re also a warrior, then put away such pathetic excuses and speak with your sword.”

Eyes like frost.

Namgung Hwa-hyeon looked back and forth between Namgung Jin and Namgung Hwi.

Namgung Hwa-hyeon shook his head from side to side.

His gaze turned toward Namgung Hwa-u.

“Hwa-u. Impressive. Just how long have you been preparing this? I suspected you had ambitions for the Family Head position, but I didn’t know you would make such a big scene.”

Namgung Hwa-hyeon tried to frame all of this as Namgung Hwa-u fabricating and slandering to incite rebellion.

“Changcheon Sword Unit! Changgung Sword Unit! Changun Sword Unit! Activate the Imperial Changgung Sword Formation and sweep away those traitors!”

Namgung Hwa-hyeon’s command.

At the same time.

Clang! Clang clang clang! Clang!

Nearly two hundred warriors simultaneously drew their swords.

And slowly began to move.

Namgung Hwi and Namgung Hwa-u gritted their teeth at this sight.

Ha Mu-baek watched that scene calmly and then moved.

He grasped his sword hilt.

In reverse grip.

Shing.

Ha Mu-baek drew his sword just like that.

Dark colored Gang Qi was surging around his blade.

“I clearly said you would die this time, didn’t I?”

Along with those words.

Thunk.

The sword was thrust into the ground.

Crack crack crack crack crack!

The dark colored Gang Qi kicked off the ground and spread out like a spider web.

Namgung Hwa-hyeon was greatly alarmed at that sight.

Hadn’t he just experienced what scene would come next not long ago?

“A, a, avoid it! S, scatter!”

Just as the sword formation was about to activate.

At the Family Head’s urgent command, the warriors hastily threw themselves away.

To avoid the ominous black lines stretching like spider webs across the ground.

However.

“Explode!”

Along with that brief word.

Rumble rumble rumble rumble!

BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!

CRASH CRASH CRASH CRASH!

As the ground burst, split, and overturned.

An earthquake occurred.

A tremendous storm of Gang Qi swept the surroundings.

“Gaaaah!”

“Kugh!”

“Aaaah!”

Screams erupting from all directions.

Those who had rushed over after the banquet hall collapsed.

Now clearly saw what that explosion sound from before had been.

They also came to understand why the banquet hall had disappeared.

The Imperial Changcheon Sword Formation was swept away by the explosion like autumn leaves in the wind.

If the ground they stood on could be blown up like that, how were they supposed to fight back?

Just what kind of being was that monster?

A moment later.

Half of the two hundred or so warriors were lying on the ground.

Bleeding, coughing up blood.

Unable to properly control their bodies, groaning.

“There’s one thing I’m curious about.”

Ha Mu-baek looked at Namgung Hwa-hyeon and asked.

“Ji-hu and Ji-yu. How can you prove that those two are your biological children?”

“Wh, what do you mean by that?”

Namgung Hwa-hyeon’s question.

“Just as Chu Dong and Namgung Hwi’s words lack evidence, isn’t it the same that your words also lack evidence?”

Since the Bloodline Identification Sorcery Circle only revealed whether one was of Namgung bloodline.

It meant that it also couldn’t serve as proof that they were Namgung Hwa-hyeon’s biological children.

Those words clearly struck the ears of the Namgung Family Estate people who were shocked by the tremendous martial prowess Ha Mu-baek had displayed.

Gazes gathering toward Namgung Hwa-hyeon once again.

Was it because they had witnessed martial prowess like a divine general descended from heaven?

The people of the Namgung Family Estate found themselves strangely persuaded by those quiet words.

Even though they were the words of an enemy who had attacked the Namgung Family Estate.

“Bah! Who would be deceived by the words of a villain who attacked our family estate!”

Namgung Hyeon-cheol burst out in angry roars from the side.

“This was something all the elders of the Elder Council saw, heard, and judged! How could there be any fraud!”

Namgung Hyeon-cheol’s voice, filled with internal energy, spread throughout the entire family estate.

The servants came to their senses with a start at those words.

However, it was insufficient to completely erase the trace of doubt that had formed in their eyes.

“You seem to have something going on too…”

Ha Mu-baek muttered quietly.

At those words, beads of sweat formed on Namgung Hyeon-cheol’s back.

‘What is that damn bastard doing….’

Ha Mu-baek’s gaze turned toward Namgung Hwa-hyeon.

Receiving that gaze head-on, Namgung Hwa-hyeon’s vision went dark.

It felt as if he was being sucked into an endless abyss.

Ha Mu-baek.

That monster had casually unleashed that ridiculous attack that destroyed the banquet hall once again.

Yet now that bastard was far too calm.

As if nothing had happened.

As if he wasn’t tired at all.

Despite unleashing such tremendous gang qi twice, as if his internal energy was still overflowing.

That leisurely appearance.

Namgung Hwa-hyeon’s confident demeanor crumbled.

The Imperial Changgung Sword Formation had collapsed without even being properly deployed.

Half of its members had fallen and were groaning.

He had thought it was simply because the Peng Family was weak.

But that wasn’t it.

That crazy bastard was ridiculously strong.

Namgung Hwa-hyeon bit his lips.

That crazy bastard had sided with Namgung Hwa-u and Namgung Hwi.

He had thought he was overwhelmingly superior in martial prowess, but the reality was different.

‘A method… I need to find a method.’

Even in the despair of being sucked into the abyss, Namgung Hwa-hyeon tried to find a way to survive somehow.

What caught his eye was Namgung Hwi, who was holding his sword loosely in his left hand.

And it was Namgung Hwi’s appearance from before Ha Mu-baek had stepped forward.

Hadn’t he pointed his sword at him?

Saying they should settle things.

That’s right.

The cause of all this trouble was ultimately Namgung Hwi and the Namgung Ji-hu, Namgung Ji-yu siblings.

So if he dealt with Namgung Hwi, it would be over.

No matter how much Namgung Hwa-u persisted.

If Namgung Hwi wasn’t there.

What was the reason he had burst into a roar despite being flustered?

Wasn’t it because he firmly believed Namgung Hwi was dead?

If he had survived.

He just needed to kill him again.

Right.

That would do it.

Namgung Hwa-hyeon made his decision.

“Namgung Hwi. Didn’t you say that if one is a warrior, one should speak with the sword?”

Namgung Hwa-hyeon forcibly turned his head away from Ha Mu-baek’s gaze.

And looking at Namgung Hwi, he spoke.

At that question, Namgung Hwi’s eyes lit up as he nodded.

At that sight.

Namgung Hwa-hyeon.

Step.

Took one step forward.

“Good. Let’s speak with swords.”

Shing.

Namgung Hwa-hyeon drew his sword.

And he looked back at Ha Mu-baek.

“Will you interfere?”

At that question, Ha Mu-baek shrugged his shoulders.

A clear expression of intent that he would not get involved at all.

Namgung Hwa-hyeon nodded.

Just himself and Namgung Hwi.

A duel between the two of them alone.

Good.

His only worry had been Ha Mu-baek’s intervention.

Since he had shown his intent so clearly.

He definitely wouldn’t interfere.

Now he just needed to take Namgung Hwi’s head and it would be over.

The tip of Namgung Hwa-hyeon’s sword pointed at Namgung Hwi.

At the same time, a smile appeared on Namgung Hwi’s lips.

A smile filled with complex emotions.

Silently, Namgung Hwi also raised his sword again.

The tip of that sword pointed at Namgung Hwa-hyeon.

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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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