The World’s Greatest Martial Arts Instructor - Chapter 387

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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 387. This is Entirely My Fault

 

 

 

 

 

Blade Qi swept roughly through the air, flying toward Ha Mu-baek with momentum that seemed ready to devour him.

 

Ha Mu-baek’s sword was already sheathed.

 

Instead.

 

Internal energy gathered heavily in both his hands.

 

He didn’t form Gang Qi.

 

His current purpose was to subdue Gwan Ha-gyeong.

 

Ha Mu-baek’s hands moved smoothly according to Mugeuk Combat Fighting techniques.

 

They slipped through the gaps between Gwan Ha-gyeong’s blade strikes.

 

Thwack!

 

Lightly yet powerfully.

 

His hand gripped Gwan Ha-gyeong’s right wrist and twisted it.

 

Gwan Ha-gyeong spun her entire body in the direction Ha Mu-baek applied force, aiming her knee at Ha Mu-baek’s temple.

 

Ha Mu-baek pressed down the hand that was twisting Gwan Ha-gyeong’s wrist while simultaneously.

 

Kicking at her supporting leg that was planted on the ground.

 

Gwan Ha-gyeong’s body floated up just like that.

 

Ha Mu-baek’s remaining hand pressed against Gwan Ha-gyeong’s stunning technique point.

 

“Ugh.”

 

Gwan Ha-gyeong let out a groan and lost consciousness.

 

“Tsk.”

 

Ha Mu-baek clicked his tongue lightly and.

 

Laid her down where preparations for camping were in progress.

 

“Wh-what just happened?”

 

Pyeong Deok-jo asked about the fantastic exchange between Ha Mu-baek and Gwan Ha-gyeong.

 

“I was too greedy.”

 

Gwan Ha-gyeong’s blade technique was excellent.

 

After exchanging a few moves, he could tell how diligently she had trained.

 

That day.

 

When she was defeated at the Eastern Tournament.

 

She seemed to have faithfully followed the advice he had given her.

 

That’s why.

 

Ha Mu-baek unknowingly became excited and.

 

Continued to lead her on.

 

Beyond what Gwan Ha-gyeong’s current abilities could handle.

 

And.

 

Gwan Ha-gyeong had been consumed by the Heaven-Severing Demon-Slaying Blade.

 

Pyeong Deok-jo wore a puzzled expression at Ha Mu-baek’s brief answer.

 

“You’re next.”

 

Ha Mu-baek’s words flew toward that Pyeong Deok-jo.

 

Pyeong Deok-jo immediately drew his sword and took the ready stance of the Chogao Sword.

 

Clang! Clang clang!

 

The two men’s training match began and.

 

Perhaps due to his real combat experience, Pyeong Deok-jo’s sword had changed again.

 

His control of internal energy had also become more skillful, as he subtly infused Sword Qi into his blade.

 

This level could definitely be considered having reached the realm of first-rate.

 

The peak didn’t seem too far away.

 

After Pyeong Deok-jo, it was Pung Geon’s turn.

 

Pung Geon stood before Ha Mu-baek with a tense expression.

 

It was his first time training with him and.

 

He had also seen how the two who sparred before him fared.

 

“Come.”

 

Ha Mu-baek wiggled his finger.

 

Whoosh.

 

Pung Geon, who had drawn his sword, kicked off the ground.

 

Explosive Mountain Flower Sword Technique.

 

It was the strongest ultimate technique of his sect, the Mountain Flower Hall.

 

Lightly leaping up with Sword Qi that seemed ready to explode, plus changes like flower petals scattering in all directions.

 

A single sword technique contained various momentums and variations.

 

It was a sword technique worthy of being called one of Gangho’s finest, but.

 

Since Mountain Flower Hall was a small to medium sect, it wasn’t widely known.

 

Even Ha Mu-baek was seeing this sword technique for the first time.

 

Though he had witnessed the martial arts of countless sects during the Murim War, he hadn’t had the chance to meet any martial artists from Mountain Flower Hall.

 

Therefore.

 

Initially, he took a defensive stance.

 

The Explosive Mountain Flower Sword Technique consisted of six forms in total.

 

When Pung Geon had executed all the forms about twice with full effort.

 

Ha Mu-baek’s sword path began to change.

 

“Ugh.”

 

Pung Geon’s sword path was interrupted by Ha Mu-baek’s suddenly intervening blade.

 

“This part should move a bit faster to display its true power.”

 

Advice about an unfamiliar sword technique.

 

It was an action tantamount to absolute taboo, but since Ha Mu-baek could see how to improve Pung Geon’s sword technique.

 

He began pointing out such aspects one by one.

 

Pung Geon’s eyes widened as much as they possibly could as he swung his sword according to Ha Mu-baek’s advice.

 

The reason was simple.

 

When he was at his sect.

 

These were parts his Master had pointed out to him several times and.

 

When he did as Ha Mu-baek instructed, even he could feel his sword technique’s completion level rise significantly.

 

Pung Geon gritted his teeth and moved his sword even more earnestly.

 

He realized while facing Ha Mu-baek.

 

That this situation was nothing short of a fortuitous encounter.

 

Pung Geon’s sword pierced toward Ha Mu-baek with increasing sharpness.

 

Ha Mu-baek nodded very slightly.

 

This fellow also had considerable talent.

 

And it seemed he hadn’t neglected his training either.

 

‘This is far enough.’

 

Ha Mu-baek knew he had given everything he could offer right now.

 

If he got carried away with excitement and went further from here.

 

Pung Geon would also go berserk and Ha Mu-baek would have to subdue him.

 

“That’s enough.”

 

Ha Mu-baek stepped back and sheathed his sword.

 

Pung Geon’s sword stopped.

 

His expression was full of regret.

 

The desire to swing his sword a bit more against Ha Mu-baek was overflowing.

 

“Excess becomes poison.”

 

Ha Mu-baek read Pung Geon’s mind and said a word.

 

And his gaze turned toward Gwan Ha-gyeong.

 

Following that gaze and seeing her condition, Pung Geon had no choice but to agree and step back.

 

However.

 

While the afterglow of the sparring still remained, he continuously swung his sword to absorb a bit more of it.

 

Pyeong Deok-jo was already swinging his sword for quite some time.

 

Without even watching Pung Geon’s sparring, lost in his own training meditation.

 

Pung Geon also soon focused on his training in the same way.

 

Ha Mu-baek’s gaze turned to Yu Gwi-gwang.

 

“This time it’s you.”

 

Yu Gwi-gwang swallowed his dry saliva and picked up his sword and shield.

 

This was all the martial arts he knew.

 

Zhuge Ming’s shield technique that he had learned by watching over the shoulder of a junior cadet.

 

And the sword forms that Ha Mu-baek had taught him here.

 

That was everything.

 

Nevertheless, Yu Gwi-gwang approached it seriously.

 

He knew well that having a master of that level personally guide one’s martial arts was almost unheard of in this Gangho.

 

Tap tap.

 

He kicked off the ground, rushed forward, and thrust his sword.

 

It was exactly as Ha Mu-baek had taught him.

 

“You put in too much force. That slows down your speed.”

 

Along with his critique, Ha Mu-baek reproduced the exact sword strike that Yu Gwi-gwang had just made and struck his shield.

 

“Kugh.”

 

He gritted his teeth, put strength into his shield, and endured.

 

Soon after, a second sword strike flew in.

 

It was the exact same movement as before, but it was fast.

 

“Ugh.”

 

The force that struck the shield was also stronger.

 

“Look properly!”

 

Ha Mu-baek shouted at Yu Gwi-gwang who was trying to lower his gaze.

 

Yu Gwi-gwang reflexively raised his head.

 

The same sword strike again.

 

Yu Gwi-gwang saw it clearly.

 

And as if entranced, he followed that form and thrust his sword.

 

Clang.

 

His sword was deflected sideways by Ha Mu-baek’s sword.

 

“Still too much force.”

 

It went like this.

 

He would point out the areas for improvement in Yu Gwi-gwang’s sword strikes, and Ha Mu-baek would demonstrate them to Yu Gwi-gwang over and over.

 

Yu Gwi-gwang blocked them with his shield while watching over and over.

 

When Ha Mu-baek extended his hand.

 

A shield that a Maengryong Corps member had placed nearby flew over with a whoosh and was caught in his hand.

 

And he repeatedly demonstrated the shield movements.

 

“Huff. Huff. Huff.”

 

Yu Gwi-gwang breathed heavily.

 

His survival in Sanwol Demon Forest until now had not been a coincidence.

 

Yu Gwi-gwang absorbed Ha Mu-baek’s teachings instantly like cotton soaking up water.

 

So Ha Mu-baek taught and showed him even more.

 

Only about shield techniques and sword forms, of course.

 

There was no worry of these two going out of control.

 

It continued even as the sun set and night deepened.

 

Two people crossing swords and shields, relying on moonlight.

 

“Huff. Huff.”

 

His arms and legs trembled, and sweat poured down like rain.

 

“That’s enough for today. You guys are tomorrow.”

 

Ha Mu-baek spoke to the unit members and corps members he couldn’t attend to today.

 

“And you guys need to wash up.”

 

Ha Mu-baek spread his Ki Sense widely.

 

There were no signs of jiangshi or demons at the waterside.

 

“I’ll come if anything happens, so be careful. Take your swords and shields with you.”

 

The three people – Pyeong Deok-jo, Pung Geon, and Yu Gwi-gwang – carefully went to the waterside and quickly washed off their sweat before returning.

 

Meanwhile, an intense aura was rising from Ha Mu-baek’s body.

 

But no one felt it.

 

That was natural.

 

It was an aura that jiangshi could sense.

 

From his days as Hocheon Corps Leader.

 

It was a technique he learned while roaming Sanwol Demon Forest.

 

While gauging the territory of Dark Blood Jiangshi, he discovered that even Silent Iron Jiangshi couldn’t easily approach the surrounding areas.

 

He carefully observed and imitated the aura of Dark Blood Jiangshi.

 

Of course, since Ha Mu-baek was a living person, his aura couldn’t be the same as a Dark Blood Jiangshi’s.

 

But when he tried using it by imitating it as closely as possible, jiangshi didn’t approach.

 

Imitating the aura of jiangshi was not an easy task even for Ha Mu-baek.

 

That was natural.

 

It was a living person imitating the aura of dead demons.

 

So he rarely used it, but now he had no choice.

 

If he was to look after these guys’ safety alone.

 

And so the night passed.

 

 

 

Early dawn.

 

When darkness still covered Sanwol Demon Forest.

 

Gwan Ha-gyeong’s eyes snapped open.

 

She had spent the entire night holding her mixed-blood sword.

 

Her head throbbed and ached.

 

The smell of sweat was rising from her body.

 

Well.

 

She had moved so vigorously yesterday.

 

“Ugh.”

 

A groan naturally flowed from her mouth.

 

Since she had no idea how she had fallen asleep, she began to trace her memories.

 

She had definitely been sparring with Instructor Ha and had unleashed the Single Heaven Demon Severing Blade several times.

 

“Ah!”

 

She realized that at some point she had been absorbed in the blade technique and lost consciousness.

 

“Are you awake?”

 

Then she heard Ha Mu-baek’s voice.

 

Gwan Ha-gyeong raised her body from where she lay.

 

On one side, she could see the traces of a campfire that had burned out completely, leaving only ash.

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

This was the first thing Ha Mu-baek said to Gwan Ha-gyeong as she got up.

 

Gwan Ha-gyeong blinked her eyes.

 

It was because of the sudden apology whose meaning was unclear.

 

Ha Mu-baek explained to Gwan Ha-gyeong what had happened yesterday.

 

“Yesterday, while sparring with me, you were consumed by martial arts.”

 

Gwan Ha-gyeong tilted his head and pondered over Ha Mu-baek’s words.

 

“Ah.”

 

He let out a low exclamation.

 

He realized that his memory only went up to the middle of the sparring match for this very reason.

 

His last memory was probably right before being consumed by martial arts.

 

“What happened to you was entirely my fault.”

 

It was rare for Ha Mu-baek to admit fault like this.

 

Since he rarely made mistakes to begin with.

 

However, yesterday’s incident was entirely Ha Mu-baek’s fault, just as he said.

 

That’s why he was apologizing first to Gwan Ha-gyeong who had just woken up this morning and explaining the situation.

 

In the dark and quiet forest, only Ha Mu-baek’s voice echoed softly.

 

“Heaven-Severing Demon-Slaying Blade. Your level of cultivation and realm are by no means low, and you followed well as I led you. So without realizing it, I got excited and led you to parts that far exceeded your realm. Normally, one would be unable to follow and collapse… but you followed all the way there. Instead, you couldn’t protect yourself and were consumed by the Heaven-Severing Demon-Slaying Blade.”

 

An explanation that continued unusually long for Ha Mu-baek.

 

It contained self-reproach.

 

“I should have led you while checking your condition more carefully, but I failed to do so. I was only intoxicated by my own excitement.”

 

Gwan Ha-gyeong listened to all of that story intently and then had a question.

 

“I heard that the Heaven-Severing Demon-Slaying Blade is righteous and upright even among orthodox martial arts, so how can martial arts devour its practitioner?”

 

“It’s not that demonic arts devour you and orthodox arts don’t. Martial arts simply try to achieve higher completion according to the realm they ascend to. In that process, if a large gap forms between the practitioner’s talent and current level, that’s how one gets consumed by martial arts.”

 

Gwan Ha-gyeong still tilted his head as if he didn’t understand.

 

“Your talent is outstanding enough to follow where I led you yesterday, but your body wasn’t ready to accept that realm.”

 

“Ah!”

 

At Ha Mu-baek’s continued explanation, Gwan Ha-gyeong exclaimed and his face reddened.

 

Since he had directly heard praise that his talent was outstanding right in front of him.

 

His face reddened without him realizing it.

 

“Th, that can’t be. I’m ordinary…”

 

At Gwan Ha-gyeong’s words, Ha Mu-baek shook his head.

 

“You definitely have talent for the blade. At least among the people I’ve seen, you executed the Heaven-Severing Demon-Slaying Blade the third most excellently. Considering the time you’ve spent cultivating, this is amazing.”

 

He didn’t bother to mention who the first and second were.

 

“And the Heaven-Severing Demon-Slaying Blade is a blade technique without limits. It’s a technique where the next level appears again once you achieve ultimate mastery. Review yesterday’s events well and cultivate diligently.”

 

“Th, thank you.”

 

At Ha Mu-baek’s words, Gwan Ha-gyeong bowed deeply and expressed his gratitude.

 

Then he frowned.

 

It was because he directly smelled the sweat odor coming from his own body up close.

 

“I…”

 

“I’ll keep watch, so go wash up.”

 

At Ha Mu-baek’s words, Gwan Ha-gyeong quickly moved toward the waterside.

 

Ha Mu-baek’s body was still emitting qi energy that mimicked the Dark Blood Jiangshi’s aura.

 

Thanks to this, jiangshi were not approaching near this place where they were camping outdoors.

—————
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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