The World’s Greatest Martial Arts Instructor - Chapter 366

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 366. It’s a Mechanism

 

 

 

 

 

“Today’s training ends here.”

 

Han Seol-bing said this and turned around to leave the Great Training Ground.

 

It was because of the items stored in her dormitory.

 

Since they were precious things.

 

Just in case something happened, she tried to stay at the dormitory as much as possible.

 

“What on earth could be going on?”

 

The Jigunwi Instructor had never been like this before, so questions arose.

 

She didn’t ask anything, but she couldn’t help feeling curious.

 

He hadn’t returned until training was finished.

 

She thought it might not be an ordinary matter.

 

Walking like this, she found herself near the dormitory before she knew it.

 

“Come to think of it…”

 

It seemed like she had hardly seen the elder recently.

 

Elder Wi, who roamed throughout Gyoryong Hall sweeping with his broom, now felt like a symbol of Gyoryong Hall itself.

 

He had been everywhere and appeared at any time.

 

“Is something wrong with him?”

 

Ha Mu-baek wasn’t around either.

 

Wi Ji-gun was nowhere to be seen either.

 

Her intuition told her it probably wasn’t anything good.

 

Han Seol-bing entered her room.

 

Boxes stacked in one corner of the dormitory.

 

What the Sichuan Tang Family had sent to Ha Mu-baek.

 

Blood Poison Pills.

 

Not long after Ha Mu-baek left, the Sichuan Tang Family had delivered them directly to her.

 

Two hundred Blood Poison Pills had come neatly packed in several boxes.

 

What kind of miracle had this man worked?

 

For the Tang Family to send them so quickly.

 

Since Ha Mu-baek had obtained them, she was just storing them in Han Seol-bing’s room for now.

 

“Nothing happened to that man, right?”

 

She muttered while looking at the Blood Poison Pill boxes.

 

Two hundred Blood Poison Pills.

 

The Tang Family wouldn’t have given them for free.

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

Thud. Thud.

 

The footsteps of three people echoed off the walls of the passage.

 

Walking a little way into the entrance, it was quite a large cave.

 

And in the cave, there were several passages again.

 

They first entered the leftmost passage.

 

They walked to the end but found nothing.

 

Thinking there might be hidden mechanisms, they searched the surroundings thoroughly.

 

But there was nothing.

 

Eventually they returned to the beginning again.

 

Ha Mu-baek glanced at the nine remaining passages.

 

And expanded his Ki Sense.

 

There was no human presence in any of the remaining places.

 

Not even corpses.

 

“There’s nothing here.”

 

Ha Mu-baek’s words.

 

“Could it be hidden by mechanisms?”

 

Dang Ji-yeon’s opinion seemed plausible.

 

To check for the presence of mechanical devices, Ha Mu-baek would have to directly channel his internal energy and confirm with his Infinite Bright Wheel Eye.

 

They moved to the second and third passages, but the results were the same.

 

Ha Mu-baek checked using his internal energy and Infinite Bright Wheel Eye, but still found nothing.

 

And so, in front of the tenth passage.

 

This was the last passage.

 

“There must be something here, right?”

 

Considerable time had already passed.

 

Dang Ji-yeon’s face showed signs of fatigue instead of anticipation and excitement.

 

“Hmm. Indeed. Looking at the entrance, it doesn’t seem like ordinary people’s hands touched it.”

 

The nine places they had just passed through were all in their natural state.

 

Winding and narrow then wide, with water flowing through them.

 

Going to the end of each was quite tiring work.

 

Of course, it was nothing to Ha Mu-baek.

 

And so they entered the tenth passage.

 

This time was different.

 

While it was still a natural cave passage, there were traces of human hands in various places.

 

“If only we had gone to the farthest place from the beginning…”

 

After confirming those traces, Dang Ji-yeon muttered as if feeling deflated.

 

The regret that if they had just chosen well at first, they wouldn’t have had to waste effort nine times.

 

They followed the passage inward.

 

Even after going to the end, only a dead end appeared.

 

“Wh-what is this?”

 

Looking at the blocked place, Dang Ji-yeon muttered with eyes that said this couldn’t be right.

 

From the traces discovered at the very first entrance.

 

To the traces remaining in this passage.

 

Clearly human hands had touched them.

 

And those of an incredibly powerful expert.

 

But there’s nothing here?

 

Could someone have done this to mock people who discovered and entered?

 

An absurd thing.

 

“Hmm.”

 

Dang Ja-cheong also let out a groan as if confused.

 

And Ha Mu-baek surveyed the surroundings with profound eyes.

 

It was a dead end of a natural cave.

 

But something felt strange.

 

That’s why Ha Mu-baek.

 

Reached his hand toward the dead-end wall and channeled his internal energy.

 

His two eyes glowed.

 

Infinite Bright Wheel Eye.

 

Ha Mu-baek spread his eye technique and examined the surroundings.

 

This time was different.

 

The reaction was different from the previous nine places, and what was visible was different.

 

The flow of internal energy told him that this place was not just the natural end of a cave.

 

And one spot.

 

There was a part that resisted the internal energy Ha Mu-baek was flowing into it.

 

He focused on that place.

 

He was examining whether there was a specific mechanism.

 

“Is there something?”

 

Dang Ja-cheong asked a question about Ha Mu-baek’s actions.

 

“It’s a mechanism.”

 

At that answer, Dang Ji-yeon looked as if she might burst into cheers at any moment.

 

Because they had finally found it.

 

The point that resisted Ha Mu-baek’s internal energy.

 

When he tried to flow internal energy behind that spot, it resisted even more fiercely.

 

He tried to break through the resistance and push it in.

 

But the Infinite Bright Wheel Eye showed him the movement of mechanisms deep inside.

 

He saw it flinch as if about to collapse.

 

Ha Mu-baek immediately withdrew his internal energy.

 

“It seems to be a mechanism that reacts to a specific energy.”

 

Both people’s eyes fixed on Ha Mu-baek.

 

“Just now when I increased the amount of internal energy slightly, this place tried to collapse.”

 

The two people flinched.

 

Something was hidden.

 

But if they carelessly tried to obtain it, they could lose their lives.

 

Since the passage was quite deep.

 

If this place collapsed all at once, they would all be buried underneath.

 

Ha Mu-baek carefully flowed in internal energy while observing the reaction.

 

No energy worked at all.

 

It only continued to resist.

 

While showing a reaction as if it would immediately collapse this place if forced.

 

“This is difficult.”

 

Ha Mu-baek said, shaking his head.

 

There was no reason to take unnecessary risks.

 

Dang Ji-yeon’s shoulders drooped as if disappointed.

 

Her gaze turned toward the ground.

 

In her eyes, Ha Mu-baek’s feet came into view.

 

And at the tip, she saw traces of small pattern-like indentations.

 

Perhaps due to the passage of time, they had become quite faint, so at first glance one wouldn’t think they were patterns.

 

They looked like traces naturally formed by limestone ground dissolving in water.

 

She discovered it because of her excellent observation skills.

 

“Um… this is…?”

 

When Dang Ji-yeon pointed at Ha Mu-baek’s feet with her finger, both people’s eyes naturally turned there.

 

“What’s wrong, Yeon-ah?”

 

“This here. Doesn’t it look like some kind of pattern?”

 

Dang Ji-yeon’s question.

 

Ha Mu-baek and Dang Ja-cheong examined it closely.

 

“Isn’t it just dissolved by water? This rock has properties that dissolve in water.”

 

At Dang Ja-cheong’s words, Dang Ji-yeon moved her finger along the traces.

 

When she infused internal energy into her fingertip, a clear picture was drawn over the faint traces.

 

“Like this.”

 

The pattern Dang Ji-yeon drew.

 

Indeed.

 

If one excluded the surrounding traces eroded by water, it would likely become such a pattern.

 

Dang Ji-yeon stared intently at the pattern she had drawn.

 

“I think I’ve seen this before.”

 

Dang Ji-yeon recalled the pattern from her memory.

 

The gathering of Sichuan sects.

 

She had seen it then.

 

Among the flags of each sect fluttering.

 

A small flag fluttering deep in one sect’s area.

 

She had seen it there.

 

“It’s the pattern that was hanging in the Valley Master’s Quarters of Cheondok Valley during the gathering.”

 

“Huh?”

 

At those words, Dang Ja-cheong’s eyes widened.

 

It was a pattern not in his memory.

 

It was completely different from Cheondok Valley’s pattern to begin with.

 

Come to think of it, in the gatherings held every few years, Dang Ja-cheong had never been to the Cheondok Valley Master’s quarters.

 

He had mostly just met people in the huge banquet hall prepared for the gathering.

 

So it wasn’t in Dang Ja-cheong’s memory.

 

The curious Dang Ji-yeon had wandered around everywhere during each gathering.

 

She had seen it in that process.

 

Dang Ji-yeon shrugged her shoulders.

 

“I only saw it in passing so I don’t know the detailed circumstances, but I saw Valley Master Yeo coming out from there.”

 

Ha Mu-baek recalled the overall view of Cheondok Valley.

 

But nowhere was there such a pattern.

 

Nevertheless.

 

Since Dang Ji-yeon was confident she had seen it.

 

“Then would it be poison energy?”

 

He asked Dang Ja-cheong with faith.

 

“Since it’s Cheondok Valley, it would probably be so. And poison energy that only the Cheondok Valley Master could possess.”

 

“It would be Myeongdokgong.”

 

Dang Ja-cheong nodded.

 

At the same time, difficulty appeared on his face.

 

It meant this was ultimately a mechanism that only the Cheondok Valley Master could open.

 

Moreover, since it would be an arrangement left by Cheondok Valley’s ancestors, it wasn’t right for outsiders like themselves to trespass carelessly.

 

“Something of Cheondok Valley…”

 

Ha Mu-baek muttered quietly.

 

For something like that, it seemed no one knew about it.

 

Even Myo Gu-eung, who was supposedly the legitimate successor.

 

He only knew it as a secret escape route, and seemed to have no idea such a place existed here.

 

“They seemed unaware of its very existence.”

 

At Ha Mu-baek’s words, Dang Ji-yeon nodded slightly.

 

Dang Ji-yeon seemed reluctant to retreat like this.

 

“Even so, carelessly trespassing in a place that has an owner would not be chivalrous. Let’s inform Valley Master Yeo of this place’s existence.”

 

After discovering the pattern and confirming the owner, Dang Ja-cheong spoke with a clear face as if he had no regrets.

 

Ha Mu-baek fell into thought for a moment.

 

He was retracing what he had experienced in Cheondok Valley.

 

First.

 

Upon arriving at Cheondok Valley, the conversation he had with Yeo Hong-gi.

 

The secret history of the past that Dang Ja-cheong had told then.

 

Yeo Hong-gi’s appearance, clearly flustered.

 

And the explanation that followed.

 

Yeo Hong-gi, who had not answered his question about revenge.

 

“Even with the Myeongdokgong. Valley Master Yeo probably won’t be able to open this place. He might even collapse it instead.”

 

At Ha Mu-baek’s words, Dang Ja-cheong cast a questioning glance.

 

“Didn’t you also hear about it, Elder? The story behind the Myeongdokgong. The two Myeongdokgongs.”

 

“Ah.”

 

He let out a low exclamation at Ha Mu-baek’s point.

 

That was right.

 

The former Valley Master of Cheondok Valley and the current Valley Master had failed to inherit all the true teachings that should have been passed down as Valley Masters.

 

If.

 

The Ten Thousand Desolations Soul-Stealing Underworld Poison Art that Yeo Hong-gi had mentioned was the key to this place.

 

Yeo Hong-gi also could not open this place.

 

Since he did not possess the key.

 

“Then in the end, it’s a place no one can open. Tsk.”

 

Dang Ja-cheong clicked his tongue as he spoke, but.

 

Ha Mu-baek shook his head.

 

“Myo Gu-eung. If it’s that man, he could open it.”

 

“But he is…”

 

Dang Ja-cheong was about to say he must surely be dead, but Ha Mu-baek’s words were faster.

 

“We haven’t confirmed the body.”

 

“Even so, if he fell into those rapids below…”

 

Ha Mu-baek shook his head once more.

 

“Until we confirm the body, we cannot be certain.”

 

Having actually experienced such cases during the Murim Great War.

 

Ha Mu-baek was not convinced of Myo Gu-eung’s death.

 

Rather, he placed weight on the possibility that he was still alive.

 

It was due to his habit of always assuming the worst-case scenario when dealing with enemies.

 

“Then…”

 

Dang Ja-cheong looked at Ha Mu-baek with complicated eyes.

 

“If there’s even a one in ten thousand, one in ten million chance. If we consider the possibility that he might return alive and discover this place… we must check it first.”

 

Ha Mu-baek spoke resolutely.

 

At those words, Dang Ja-cheong could say nothing.

 

Because Ha Mu-baek’s reasoning was correct.

 

Myo Gu-eung had already caused disaster-like calamities in Namman with his terrible poison.

 

They could not allow him to obtain anything from this place that might give him power.

 

Though Dang Ja-cheong thought he was dead, there was nothing to prove that thought.

 

“Even so, can’t we also not open it? Are you perhaps planning to collapse it so he can’t obtain anything either?”

 

If it were Ha Mu-baek.

 

After Dang Ja-cheong himself and Dang Ji-yeon escaped first, if he were alone, it seemed like he could somehow collapse this place and still escape safely by himself.

 

“If we ultimately cannot open it, then we must do so.”

 

Ha Mu-baek answered as if it were natural.

 

“Before that, I’d like to try one last thing.”

 

The Poison Energy he had absorbed into his own body using the absorption technique to treat Dang Ji-yeon’s poisoning.

 

That was certainly from Myo Gu-eung.

 

The Poison Energy created by the qi of the Ten Thousand Desolations Soul-Stealing Underworld Poison Art, which he had achieved great mastery of by absorbing the Ten Thousand Year Poison Essence.

 

‘If it’s this, then perhaps…’

 

The circulation of qi between his dantian and inner core.

 

That Poison Energy still resided within it.

 

Though it was gradually being absorbed into Ha Mu-baek’s dantian, making his Ten Thousand Poisons Immunity even more excellent.

 

Ha Mu-baek could skillfully manipulate that Poison Energy.

 

Thus.

 

He moved a portion of the Poison Energy circulating between his dantian and inner core to his fingertips.

 

And at that one point.

 

He pushed a very small amount of Poison Energy into it.

 

At that moment.

 

Kururururung.

 

The cave slowly began to vibrate.

 

“Th-this!”

 

“Ah, aah?”

 

Dang Ja-cheong and Dang Ji-yeon were startled.

 

Ha Mu-baek pressed his left hand against the cave wall, injecting internal energy while observing the movement with his Infinite Bright Wheel Eye.

 

It was not a movement indicating collapse.

 

It seemed like the movement of trying to open a door that had been closed for ages, but.

 

There was only vibration.

 

It did not move further.

 

Ha Mu-baek pushed in a little more Poison Energy.

 

Then.

 

Gugugugung.

 

Something tried to move little by little.

 

‘The amount is the problem.’

 

The mechanism showed a reaction but did not move properly.

 

The amount of Myeongdokgong’s qi also seemed to be an important factor.

 

After confirming this, Ha Mu-baek.

 

Continued to push in the Poison Energy.

 

Kuku.

 

Gigigiging.

 

Guuung.

 

Then the cave’s vibration subsided and the faint sound of mechanisms moving could be heard.

 

Finally.

 

Kuku. Kuku. Kuung.

 

Kuuuuuung.

 

The wall where Ha Mu-baek had been injecting qi moved with difficulty.

 

What they had thought was one cave wall opened as it separated with difficulty.

 

It was not a wall but a door.

 

And the closed joint originally had gaps and would have been clearly a door, but.

 

Over the long years.

 

Water had flowed and caused erosion, making it stick together as if it had originally been one wall, like a natural cave.

 

The door opened and the scene inside was revealed to the three people’s eyes.

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