The World’s Greatest Martial Arts Instructor - Chapter 316

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

 

 

 

 

Chapter 316. So, Young Lady…

 

 

Ha Mu-baek looked around at the Cadets and smiled broadly.

“For the time being, training matches will continue like this. However, starting tomorrow, someone other than me will oversee this type of training match.”

At Ha Mu-baek’s words, the Cadets showed complicated expressions.

They couldn’t tell whether it would be easier or harder than Ha Mu-baek.

Above all, Instructor Ha had only just returned, yet he was already giving off the atmosphere of leaving again.

“Well then, train hard starting tomorrow.”

With those final words, Ha Mu-baek turned around and disappeared.

Wi Ji-gun had been watching the entire process with keen interest.

“Hmm. So that’s how it’s done. In that case, I could probably handle three groups simultaneously. That boy Mu-baek, did he proceed slowly to show me? Heh heh heh.”

Muttering words that would have shocked the Cadets if they had heard them, Wi Ji-gun began sweeping.

He had to sweep the areas he couldn’t clean during the night while watching the Maengryong Corps training.

He also had to learn the Disguise Technique from Ha Mu-baek.

It seemed like it would be a busy night after a long time.

 

***

 

Dawn arrived with bone-chilling cold.

However, it was as bright as broad daylight.

White night.

From around the summer solstice for several months, the sun doesn’t set in the North Sea.

A night as bright as broad daylight.

Even dawn was no different.

Han Seol-bing opened her eyes on the bed.

She immediately climbed to the highest pavilion of the Han Family.

On the vast land within Ice Heaven Palace, each family had established their positions and built their own walls.

In the pavilion that stood tall in the center of the Han Family, Family Head Han Go-jeok, General Manager Na Hong-ryeon, and other family elders were already seated.

Tension was clearly visible on their faces.

“What about the Tak Family?”

After greeting those present, Han Seol-bing approached Han Go-jeok and asked.

“Still quiet.”

She looked toward the Tak Family’s direction, but there was no movement.

Han Seol-bing looked at those gathered here with a face full of worry.

The first to notice her expression was Na Hong-ryeon.

“What’s wrong? Young Lady. You seem to have many concerns.”

At her words, everyone’s gaze turned to Han Seol-bing at once.

At this point, anything to worry about would be related to the Tak Family.

Curiosity appeared on their faces.

“What’s the matter?”

Representing them all, Han Go-jeok asked.

Even though it was the Family Head’s question, Han Seol-bing hesitated.

Last night.

Han Seol-bing’s mind was complicated as she lay on the bed to sleep.

How could it not be?

When dawn broke, they would have to fight the Tak Family.

The difference in military strength was five to one.

Although she had asked Ha Mu-baek for help, it would be an extremely difficult battle.

A five-to-one difference in military strength.

It was like carrying kindling and jumping into fire.

Therefore.

Han Seol-bing thought of and pondered every possible method.

Nearly ten years of experiencing two Great Murim Wars.

Those were definitely not years spent in vain.

That experience was engraved in her body and mind.

That’s how she came up with one method.

But indeed.

Would the Family Head, the General Manager, and the family elders accept this method?

She shook her head.

They would absolutely not accept it.

First, the initial prerequisite had to be met.

Han Seol-bing thought once more about the tactics she had conceived and faced the people looking at her.

Would these people really follow that idea?

“There is one, one method I’ve thought of.”

At those words, expectation appeared on people’s faces.

Everyone gathered here knew it too.

That Han Seol-bing was the one with the most combat experience among them.

She was a warrior of reversal who had survived nearly ten years of the most fierce Great Murim Wars.

“For that, there’s a prerequisite that must be met first.”

“What is it?”

Na Hong-ryeon asked.

“Today, for one day. The Tak Family will not move.”

At her words, puzzlement appeared on people’s faces.

Everyone expected the Tak Family to move today, but it was possible they might not.

But why must that absolutely happen?

“And. All the Han Family’s servants must move in perfect unison. Even the children. Everyone who breathes within the Han Family.”

She was speaking more and more incomprehensibly.

It was truly like words from a labyrinth.

“What on earth are you talking about? What meaning does that have?”

Han Go-jeok asked, seeming frustrated.

“Half of all the family’s military strength will take the vanguard, the other half will take the rear. And we’ll place the servants in the middle.”

“Hmm…”

At Han Seol-bing’s explanation, Han Go-jeok frowned.

It seemed like a development suggesting they abandon the Han Family and leave.

However, because of what Han Seol-bing had said earlier, he made no interruptions and just listened.

Since Family Head Han Go-jeok showed such an attitude, no one interrupted Han Seol-bing’s words.

However, they too seemed very anxious and frustrated.

“By moving all our military strength like that…”

Han Seol-bing paused her words for a moment.

Everyone swallowed dryly and stared directly at Han Seol-bing’s mouth.

“We’ll break through the blockade of the Palace Lord’s Hall and enter the Palace Lord’s Hall. That is our path to survival. There’s a way to stop the Tak Family in the Palace Lord’s Hall.”

“?!?”

“Th, that’s…”

“Wh, what…”

“Huh…!?!”

All kinds of reactions burst forth.

The common reaction among them all.

They couldn’t understand it.

That was it.

It was only natural.

He had said there should be no movement from the Tak Family, yet breaking through the Palace Lord’s Hall blockade meant striking the Tak Family first.

Moreover, saying there was a way to survive in the Palace Lord’s Hall.

Saying there was a way to stop the Tak Family.

It was absurd.

If such means existed in the Palace Lord’s Hall, why was the Palace Lord showing no movement while being blockaded like that?

“War with the Tak Family is inevitable anyway. In that case, it’s better for us to move first rather than wait for their attack.”

“And that means breaking through the Palace Lord’s Hall blockade?”

Han Go-jeok asked.

“To be precise, the Ice Family outside the Palace Lord’s Hall must also join and coordinate our movements. This is more important and the most difficult part. If I had known the palace situation in detail, prepared, and returned, it would have been easier…”

The Tak Family already knew of Han Seol-bing’s return, and it was a hair-trigger situation where no one knew when they would start fighting.

Coordinating movements with the Ice Family in this situation was difficult and arduous.

“Why must we do that?”

This was a fight between the Tak Family and Han Family.

So why must they consider the Ice Family’s movements as well?

“After we enter the Palace Lord’s Hall… the Ice Family could become hostages to the Tak Family.”

It was incomprehensible.

Why would their entering the Palace Lord’s Hall make the Ice Family hostages to the Tak Family?

The Tak Family could just use the attack on the Palace Lord’s Hall blockade as an excuse to strike the Palace Lord’s Hall.

That seemed even more reckless.

Na Hong-ryeon, who had been deep in thought while listening to Han Seol-bing’s words.

Her expression changed.

Following a surprised face, hope settled on her features.

“If we proceed according to Young Lady’s plan… there is a way to persuade the Ice Family!”

Na Hong-ryeon exclaimed.

Everyone looked at Na Hong-ryeon.

Their eyes asking why she was acting this way.

“So, Young Lady is…”

Just as Na Hong-ryeon was about to speak of what she had realized.

Han Seol-bing shook her head.

Meaning not to speak.

At that gesture, Na Hong-ryeon immediately closed her mouth.

“You say there’s a way to persuade the Ice Family?”

At Han Seol-bing’s question, Na Hong-ryeon nodded.

At that reaction, Han Seol-bing brightened.

It was only natural.

That was precisely the second obstacle in the tactics she had devised.

To move the Ice Family, they had to move the Palace Lord.

But since the Palace Lord’s Hall was blockaded, the Palace Lord was currently in a state similar to confinement.

There was no way to break through the blockade and contact the Palace Lord.

‘If only Baek-a were here…’

Then it would have flown through the tight surveillance network to the Palace Lord.

But that Baek-a was now flying to Muchang in search of Ha Mu-baek.

Just as she was pondering other methods, Na Hong-ryeon had spoken thus.

“The Ice Family’s young lady, So Seol, is currently managing all the major and minor affairs of the Ice Family.”

At Na Hong-ryeon’s answer, a strange light flickered in Han Seol-bing’s eyes.

“So Seol?”

“Yes.”

She was Han Seol-bing’s irreplaceable friend in Ice Heaven Palace.

To think she was now leading the Ice Family.

This was the first Han Seol-bing had heard of it.

“Last year. When So Seol turned thirty, the Palace Lord said he would devote all his energy to palace affairs alone, and entrusted family matters to the young lady. As if he had anticipated something like this would happen.”

The Palace Lord’s Hall blockade.

The Ice Family would be the one thrown into the most extreme chaos by this incident.

“If we can give her confidence that we can save the Palace Lord, we should be able to persuade the young lady.”

Na Hong-ryeon said, looking at Han Seol-bing with confident eyes.

Just then.

A man hurriedly climbed up to the hall.

It was the leader of the martial artists monitoring the Tak Family’s movements.

“The Tak Family seems busy, but there’s no external movement yet. However…”

“However?”

Han Go-jeok’s question.

“The atmosphere suggests they’re preparing military forces of tremendous scale.”

At those words, Han Seol-bing brightened.

While everyone else was immersed in worry.

“They seem intent on a do-or-die battle.”

Han Seol-bing’s bright expression once again drew people’s attention.

“It seems they plan to crush our Han Family in one stroke and ride that momentum to target the Ice Family as well. But if there’s no immediate movement to advance, they won’t move today. Tremendous military force amounting to half the palace’s total strength. Though some of it was used to blockade the Palace Lord’s Hall, gathering all the rest isn’t easy. Especially if they have no experience commanding such a large army.”

So what of it?

Several people made such expressions.

“The first prerequisite I mentioned is being fulfilled.”

So what.

Even if that’s fulfilled.

Their faces showed frustration as if asking what means there could be.

Even if they entered the Palace Lord’s Hall.

They’d be defeated by the Tak Family anyway.

Na Hong-ryeon looked at such senior members with frustration but didn’t open her mouth otherwise.

Because of Han Seol-bing’s restraint from earlier.

“Seol-bing. Why are you so obsessed with the Palace Lord’s Hall? What’s there…”

Han Go-jeok, who had been speaking with a frustrated heart to ask directly, closed his mouth.

Because something had occurred to him as well.

Why hadn’t he thought of this?

When Han Seol-bing had returned.

“General Manager. If the Tak Family is gathering all their forces for one battle, their surveillance of us and the Ice Family should be lax. Please persuade So Seol.”

“What should I do?”

“That thing you thought of, General Manager. Tell So Seol about it. And ask her to bring all family members by mijeong (2 PM) today. With sufficient food and daily necessities.”

Only four hours remained.

It was urgent.

Persuasion had to be quick, and preparations had to be hurried.

Han Seol-bing looked at Han Go-jeok.

He nodded.

Let’s do the same for us. When do we advance to the Palace Lord’s Hall?”

“At sinjeong (4 PM).”

Han Go-jeok nodded.

“You’ve all heard. Move quickly! This is the Family Head’s command!”

Han Go-jeok’s command fell and people began moving in perfect order.

All the retainers needed to be mobilized, and the remaining time was tight.

 

***

 

News that Na Hong-ryeon had entered the Bing Family reached the Tak Family.

“Really? That actually works out better. Rather than divide and conquer, hitting one then another. It’s easier to sweep them all away at once. I was already frustrated that preparations were delayed. How convenient that they’re moving together like that.”

Tak Yo-beom grinned as he responded to Yang Jeok-san’s report.

His irritation from the deviation in plans seemed to ease somewhat.

The Tak Family’s military strength was even greater than Tak Yo-beom and Yang Jeok-san had thought.

Because of this.

There had been setbacks in preparation.

Yang Jeok-san’s proposed strategy was to sweep away the Han Family in one overwhelming strike, then ride that momentum to push through to the Bing Family and even the Palace Lord’s Hall.

This required sufficient preparation, but deviations occurred in the process.

They would be delayed by about a day.

“However. Han Seol-bing returned yesterday. If she tries to pull something…”

“Pull something? What could that wench possibly do? She returned alone.”

Tak Yo-beom spoke dismissively.

Nevertheless, Yang Jeok-san felt uneasy.

The thought that he might be missing something.

Han Seol-bing was an elite among elites who had experienced the great war called the Murim War.

With her return, it didn’t seem like the Han Family would move carelessly or clumsily.

‘I don’t know. What exactly are they scheming…’

Tak Yo-beom chuckled at Yang Jeok-san’s expression, which showed no signs of clearing up.

“Why worry so much? With our military strength, it’s as good as a finished battle anyway. We waited for that wench Han Seol-bing to return for the sake of justification. But that’s over now. Tomorrow, the master of Ice Heaven Palace will change. Kuhuhuh.”

“Still, if we deploy even some forces to check their movements…”

Tak Yo-beom shook his head at Yang Jeok-san’s suggestion.

“If they scatter in all directions because of that, it’ll be more troublesome. Let them gather in one place. We can’t deploy until tomorrow anyway.”

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