The World’s Greatest Martial Arts Instructor - Chapter 279

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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 279. Gone

 

 

A tree branch in the distance swayed slightly.

Then a human figure carefully descended to the ground.

His face was uncovered.

He recognized him immediately.

It was that guest from the Sahae Alliance who had come looking for him last time.

The one who had come looking for Ha Mu-baek.

He was also the cause of this commotion.

Though what fault could he have? He was just following orders.

Before things got worse, it needed to be ended as quietly as possible.

The best method would be for Ha Mu-baek and that man to meet quietly and part ways.

And for Shaolin to return empty-handed just like that.

Peng Do-yul thought this way and decided to cooperate in helping the Sahae Alliance messenger complete his mission safely.

Since the mission was merely meeting Ha Mu-baek and leaving.

There was no difficulty in making such a decision.

After he appeared, Peng Do-yul looked around his surroundings.

There was no one around.

However, since being careful wouldn’t hurt, he walked like taking a stroll toward a place with even fewer people.

[You’ve managed to find your way here quite well.]

Peng Do-yul’s sound transmission.

Hae Pyeong-so was quick-witted.

He hid his body again.

[The security wasn’t that strict. Who are they?]

At Hae Pyeong-so’s question, Peng Do-yul’s face hardened.

[You encountered them? No, I should ask this first. How did you avoid their eyes?]

[I was staying outside Muchang.]

Since Hae Pyeong-so had no intention of talking about his intuition-like ability, he only told part of the truth.

At that answer, Peng Do-yul nodded.

Since they only searched inside Muchang, they couldn’t find him.

It would also be impossible to search the vast area outside Muchang to find one person.

‘He’s quite cautious.’

He thought this was someone worthy of being a messenger to the heart of the orthodox faction.

At the same time, a question arose.

How did he, staying outside Muchang, know of their existence?

[Then how did you know about them?]

[A group of people came out of Muchang and hurried north. At this late hour.]

Peng Do-yul tilted his head.

The person they were looking for was here, so where on earth had they gone?

[It’s Shaolin Temple.]

Peng Do-yul briefly told him their identity.

The moment he heard that answer, cold sweat beaded on Hae Pyeong-so’s back.

Why were they suddenly appearing here?

He had moved so secretly and carefully.

The only place he had revealed his identity was here at Gyoryong Hall.

It seemed Peng Do-yul hadn’t leaked his identity either.

‘So that’s why my intuition was like that…’

Hae Pyeong-so praised his choice from that time. His intuition had saved his life once again.

If he had ignored his intuition and continued staying there.

Just thinking about it was terrifying.

The thought of being chased by those demons from Shaolin Temple.

[Darim Tea House. Don’t go there. The owner is a secular disciple of Shaolin.]

At the following words, Hae Pyeong-so’s back became damp.

That was the last place he had been drinking tea in Muchang.

[How did Shaolin Temple…]

At the returned sound transmission, Peng Do-yul shook his head slightly.

[I don’t know either. However, I’m guessing it probably leaked from the Beggar Sect.]

After returning empty-handed from Darim Tea House, he had briefly met Byeokryeokgae.

Since both were people who didn’t want Muchang to become chaotic.

They had exchanged simple information.

Hae Pyeong-so was convinced by the mention of the Beggar Sect but also had doubts.

There were no beggars inside Gyoryong Hall.

[He should come around tomorrow.]

Since Hae Pyeong-so’s purpose was Ha Mu-baek.

After giving information about him, Peng Do-yul turned his steps toward the Director’s Pavilion.

Hae Pyeong-so, who had been silently watching that figure, carefully left Gyoryong Hall and went outside Muchang.

Since it would be dangerous to stay inside Muchang if Shaolin Temple had come.

 

***

 

The Shaolin Monks ran toward Moklan Mountain.

After searching Muchang all day.

They started moving again at the time when they should be resting and going to bed.

Since they were also human, they couldn’t help but get tired.

So they had no choice but to camp briefly on the way to Moklan Mountain.

But hurrying as much as possible.

Around the time dawn was breaking.

They arrived near Moklan Mountain.

Yeon-jin stopped walking.

And he gathered all the internal energy in his body and focused it on his two eyes.

He concentrated all his internal energy on the Prajna Bodhi Mind Eye.

The eye technique deployed to the maximum he could use.

In that state, he examined the surroundings.

Wondering if traces of evil energy might rise like heat haze from somewhere.

How long had he been examining the surroundings like that?

He saw faint traces of evil energy from one direction.

“Whew.”

He stopped the eye technique and let out a deep sigh.

His eyes hurt as if they might burst at any moment.

The amazing ability to find evil energy faintly remaining in distant places.

It was the result of overworking his body to the limit.

“That way.”

They began running again in the direction Yeon-jin pointed.

Irritation appeared on Ha Mu-baek’s face as he had just opened his eyes from sleep.

He had sensed the presence of a group approaching this place.

‘Buddhist monks. What brings them here.’

Gongya Hwi-yeon had already left.

Ha Mu-baek came out of the tent.

Ha Mu-baek sat on a suitable rock along the path where the Shaolin monks were approaching.

Uninvited guests from the early dawn breeze.

It was bothersome.

He could see dust rising in the distance.

They seemed to be running at full speed, kicking off the ground.

It was very Shaolin-like to be serious only about wicked groups.

He could see the face of the one running at the front.

It was someone he knew.

Shaolin’s first disciple, Yeon-jin.

‘Is that why?’

Ha Mu-baek immediately activated his Infinite Bright Wheel Eye.

And when he looked around.

Indeed.

Evil energy was flowing from the bodies of the Waryong Corps 20th Group members.

It was especially thick on Sim Cheol-san, who had taken a direct hit to the shoulder from the Dominating Power Arrow.

At this level.

Evil energy would have also clung to the bodies of those who were eliminated after being hit by Gongya Hwi-yeon’s arrows.

Someone of Yeon-jin’s level.

If he had encountered them, he would have noticed the evil energy on their bodies.

Prajna Bodhi Mind Eye.

There was no better eye technique for detecting demonic energy, blood energy, and evil energy.

“Amitabha. It has been a long time, Benefactor Ha.”

Yeon-jin, who had arrived before he knew it, clasped his hands together and greeted Ha Mu-baek.

“Indeed. It has been a long time.”

A curt reply.

Yeon-jin just smiled gently.

“What business would this humble monk have? I merely followed the traces of wicked evil enemies and arrived here. By any chance, have you seen them, Benefactor Ha?”

“No.”

A firm answer.

“Hmm.”

Yeon-jin looked at Ha Mu-baek.

A sign that he was trying to confirm whether he was lying.

However, Ha Mu-baek was confident.

It was natural.

Ha Mu-baek had spoken the truth.

At least for Ha Mu-baek, wicked evil enemies meant the Demon Cult and Blood Cult.

So he had no choice but to have never seen them.

If Yeon-jin had asked whether he had seen any unorthodox sect members, a different answer might have come out.

He had no particular intention of lying.

Though he also had no intention of telling the whole truth.

Yeon-jin was already activating his Prajna Bodhi Mind Eye again.

“Those benefactors over there are…?”

“Cadets who overdid it a bit yesterday.”

“May I meet with them?”

“As you wish.”

Perhaps due to the presence outside the tent.

The cadets came out one by one.

The cadets were startled by the sudden appearance of a group of monks.

“Amitabha. I am Yeon-jin of Shaolin.”

Yeon-jin politely clasped his hands together toward the cadets.

His gaze turned to Sim Cheol-san.

Because he was the one emanating the most evil energy.

“I would like to ask you something, benefactor. Would that be alright?”

“P-please speak, Master.”

Sim Cheol-san answered with a trembling voice.

“By any chance, were you hit by an arrow at Hatuje?”

“…Yes. I was hit.”

Sim Cheol-san answered with a bewildered face.

A face that showed he didn’t understand why that was being asked.

Ha Mu-baek just watched without saying anything.

‘He’s found out quite a lot.’

Though it was something he had expected when they appeared here.

Yesterday.

He thought it was good that he had sent Gongya Hwi-yeon away.

A day’s distance.

She would have hidden well.

Of course, since her internal energy was restricted, she couldn’t have gone far.

The problem was.

‘If it’s that monk Yeon-jin.’

He would discover the evil energy lingering in the Four-One Thunder Bow.

The appearance of the Shaolin monks here was something even Ha Mu-baek hadn’t anticipated.

He never thought someone of Yeon-jin’s caliber would step forward.

‘I hope she hid cleverly.’

Though he wasn’t sure if she could manage that.

“Which benefactor shot the arrow?”

Yeon-jin asked again.

Since there was no one with evil energy in this place.

“Ah, it’s Chu Hwi-yeon, a cadet from Maengryong Corps. She should be staying in that tent over there…”

The tent Sim Cheol-san pointed to.

There was no sign of human presence.

Yeon-jin approached the tent.

“Amitabha. This humble monk is Yeon-jin of Shaolin. If it wouldn’t be rude, could I see you for a moment?”

There was no answer.

No presence either.

Yeon-jin already knew.

That there was no one inside this tent.

A master of that level couldn’t fail to sense a presence at such close range.

Nevertheless, he had to observe proper etiquette.

“By any chance, is the owner of this tent a female benefactor?”

Something that could be guessed from the name.

Sim Cheol-san nodded.

Yeon-jin’s gaze turned to Yeon Ha-min and Ha Seol-ran.

“May I make a request of you two benefactors?”

Both of their gazes turned to Ha Mu-baek.

Ha Mu-baek nodded.

Ha Seol-ran also already knew there was no one inside the tent.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

Yeon Ha-min spoke briefly and entered through the entrance.

As expected, no one was there.

Inside the neatly organized tent.

“Please come in.”

At Yeon Ha-min’s words, Yeon-jin checked inside the tent and nodded.

It was clean.

Though he had entered to check even knowing no one was there, hoping there might be some clues.

However, there was a faint trace of demonic energy remaining in one spot.

“As expected of those demonic sect bastards…”

Yeon Ha-min flinched at Yeon-jin’s muttered words.

Demonic sect.

Was that female cadet who had stayed here from the demonic sect?

Ha Seol-ran, who didn’t know much about the concepts of orthodox and demonic sects, just tilted her head in confusion.

“May we check the other tents as well?”

With the cadets’ consent, they checked all the other tents too.

The Waryong Corps First Squad Cadets had expressions wondering what this was all about.

Though they looked around all the tents.

There were two places where demonic energy still remained.

The place where Sim Cheol-san had stayed and the place where Chu Hwi-yeon had stayed.

Afterward, Yeon-jin asked the cadets detailed questions about Chu Hwi-yeon.

Her appearance, height, habits, and such.

After all confirmations were finished, Yeon-jin glared at Ha Mu-baek.

“Benefactor Ha. Didn’t you say you hadn’t seen any suspicious groups?”

“I did.”

Ha Mu-baek answered calmly.

“With Benefactor Ha’s level, you wouldn’t be unaware of the demonic energy remaining here. You must have clearly seen the one who left this demonic energy here, so why are you speaking falsely?”

There was anger contained in that voice.

Ha Mu-baek frowned.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. To me, suspicious evil enemies are the Demon Cult and Blood Cult. Where are there traces of the Demon Cult and Blood Cult here? If there had been, they would have met their end at my hands before you even arrived.”

Ha Mu-baek’s words sounded like growling.

Yeon-jin flinched at that intimidating presence.

Because Ha Mu-baek was Ha Mu-baek.

“But there are clearly traces of the demonic sect…”

“So what? What’s wrong with the demonic sect?”

“…”

Yeon-jin couldn’t say anything.

Ha Mu-baek was clearly telling them now.

That to him, the demonic sect was not a suspicious evil enemy.

Yeon-jin stared intently at Ha Mu-baek.

In the end, it was he who took a step back.

“I understand. Then I’ll ask just one thing. Where did that Chu Hwi-yeon go?”

“Find out for yourself.”

He didn’t want to lie and say he didn’t know, nor did he want to tell them.

It was an answer with clear intent.

“I understand. We apologize for the great intrusion. Amitabha.”

Yeon-jin also seemed unwilling to create further conflict with Ha Mu-baek and withdrew like that.

Several hot-blooded young Shaolin monks who seemed displeased with this situation glared at Ha Mu-baek.

But they didn’t rebel against Yeon-jin’s decision.

 

***

 

Gongya Hwi-yeon ran at full speed.

Since Shaolin monks had come looking.

She had to hide herself somehow.

Facing this situation.

She had to admit it.

The Maengryong Corps training had been tremendously helpful to her.

She now had the stamina to move even without internal energy.

She ran like that through the night.

A small village came into her sight.

It was still the deep night when everyone was asleep.

Gongya Hwi-yeon carefully entered the village outskirts.

She needed to rest for a moment.

In the midst of this, she touched her beloved weapon slung diagonally across her shoulder.

The Four Days Thunder Bow.

Among the Shaolin Temple monks, there might be someone who could sense the energy dwelling within it.

Though it was a very small possibility.

‘Consider all possibilities that could occur.’

These were words she had heard from Mun In-baek-song.

Then she had to hide the Four Days Thunder Bow first.

Moving carefully, what caught her eye was a dried well at the village outskirts.

She had already confirmed that two other wells were still being used.

There would be no reason for anyone to come here.

She threw the Four Days Thunder Bow into the well without hesitation.

She threw sand and dirt from the surroundings over it and covered it with pebbles and rocks.

Then she covered the well again with the lid that had been blocking it.

Even after doing this, if Shaolin discovered the Four Days Thunder Bow.

‘It can’t be helped…’

Right now, her own safety was more important than the Four Days Thunder Bow.

Gongya Hwi-yeon clearly recognized her position.

The Four Seas Alliance Leader’s granddaughter.

She knew how much weight that position carried.

Of course, she also possessed the reckless drive to run away from home despite knowing such weight.

But there had been confidence in that.

Confidence that with the Seven-Colored Phoenix Ring and Ten Thousand Illusion Divine Face, no one would recognize her.

The existence of Shaolin monks who might recognize the demonic energy of the Four Days Thunder Bow was an emergency situation beyond expectations.

That’s why she was moving to protect what was more important.

‘When you can’t protect everything, you must set priorities.’

This too was Mun In-baek-song’s teaching.

Gongya Hwi-yeon was moving intelligently as Ha Mu-baek had expected.

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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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