The World’s Greatest Martial Arts Instructor - Chapter 388

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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 388. An Instructor?

 

 

 

 

 

Yeon Ha-min turned the pages one by one with trembling hands.

 

Manhwa Wollak Sword Dance.

 

True to its name of ten thousand petals bringing down the moon, it was a gorgeous yet graceful sword technique with dizzying variations.

 

Yet it also had fierce aspects.

 

Since it had to bring down the moon.

 

Yeon Ha-min read and reread the secret manual under the moonlight.

 

She read it countless times.

 

Until it was completely engraved in her mind.

 

So she could recall it at any time.

 

She stayed up all night like that.

 

 

 

Early morning.

 

When the eastern sky gradually reddened and began to brighten.

 

Ha Seol-ran, who opened her eyes on her bed, was startled.

 

The bed next to hers was still empty.

 

The neatly folded blanket remained as it was.

 

Yeon Ha-min had gone to talk with Instructor Han Seol-bing and hadn’t returned until morning.

 

Ha Seol-ran spread her Ki Sense.

 

Out of worry for Yeon Ha-min.

 

Soon she let out a sigh of relief.

 

‘She’s at the training ground.’

 

Her presence was felt at the Maengryong Corps 7th Group training ground.

 

She hurriedly changed into training clothes, washed her face briefly, and headed to the training ground.

 

She was worried about Yeon Ha-min who hadn’t returned all night.

 

Tap tap tap.

 

Ha Seol-ran’s footsteps echoed on the quiet Blue Stone Path of Gyoryong Hall.

 

“Ah…”

 

Ha Seol-ran, who arrived at the training ground, quickly raised her hand to cover her mouth to stop the exclamation that escaped.

 

There was Yeon Ha-min slowly moving her sword.

 

It was a sword technique she had never seen before.

 

Yeon Ha-min’s movements were extremely clumsy, as if she was performing this sword technique for the first time.

 

But.

 

But still.

 

‘Beautiful!’

 

Her whole body was drenched in sweat as she performed the unfamiliar sword technique.

 

The moment a drop of sweat hanging from her chin fell and touched the sword blade, the sword moved again.

 

Every time Yeon Ha-min’s body moved vigorously, sweat droplets scattered.

 

They shattered brilliantly on her sword and sparkled brilliantly in the slowly rising sunlight.

 

Yeon Ha-min was radiating dazzling brilliance.

 

A scene like a single painting.

 

Ha Seol-ran was amazed by that sight.

 

It was a sword technique that suited Yeon Ha-min so perfectly.

 

No.

 

Rather than a sword technique, it looked like a beautiful dance, and Ha Seol-ran was entranced by the sword path.

 

Ha Seol-ran was absorbed in it blankly.

 

How long had she been captivated by Yeon Ha-min’s sword dance?

 

Her sword’s movement gradually slowed down and then stopped.

 

Yeon Ha-min’s sword dance had ended.

 

Step.

 

Ha Seol-ran was startled by the sound of footsteps coming from right beside her.

 

She had been so focused on Yeon Ha-min’s sword dance that she didn’t even notice the presence approaching right next to her.

 

This was Ha Seol-ran, whose Ki Sense was no less than Ha Mu-baek’s.

 

“Instructor Han?”

 

Ha Seol-ran confirmed the identity of the person who appeared beside her.

 

“You’re up early. What brings you here at this early hour?”

 

“Well, Ha-min didn’t come back last night…”

 

Han Seol-bing smiled slightly at Ha Seol-ran’s answer.

 

“It was beautiful, wasn’t it?”

 

Han Seol-bing seemed to have watched Yeon Ha-min’s sword dance to some extent as well.

 

At that question, Ha Seol-ran nodded vigorously.

 

“Oh, Instructor. Seol-ran.”

 

Only then did Yeon Ha-min notice the presence of the two people.

 

She had been that focused on her sword dance.

 

“How was it?”

 

Han Seol-bing asked Yeon Ha-min.

 

“It was good. Couldn’t be better.”

 

Yeon Ha-min answered with a gentle smile.

 

Her expression showed none of the worry she had when she first received the secret manual the day before.

 

There was only the face of a martial artist completely absorbed in sword dance.

 

Ha Seol-ran looked back and forth between the two with a face full of questions.

 

She had plenty of things she wanted to ask, but she didn’t bother asking.

 

When the time came, Yeon Ha-min would tell her.

 

She believed that.

 

“You must be tired from reading the secret manual all night and training. Shall we go eat first?”

 

At Han Seol-bing’s words, the three headed to the nearest Damryong East Pavilion.

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

“Senior Brother.”

 

Yang Bi-chang visited Do Sim-geuk’s office.

 

“Dan-ju.”

 

Do Sim-geuk corrected the title while looking at Yang Bi-chang.

 

“Vice Dan-ju, if you came on official business, you should use the proper title.”

 

Do Sim-geuk, who had been examining documents at his desk, stood up and said.

 

“I apologize.”

 

Since it was clearly his mistake, Yang Bi-chang readily admitted it.

 

“What’s the matter?”

 

“A cooperation request has come from Gyoryong Hall.”

 

“A cooperation request?”

 

“They want to send Gyoryong Hall cadets for field training.”

 

“Field training?”

 

Do Sim-geuk continued tilting his head.

 

It was natural.

 

When they themselves were cadets at Gyoryong Hall, there was no such thing.

 

“To minimize confusion when deployed to the field later, they say they’ll send them during the break period to gain experience in advance.”

 

“Jamryong Corps and Waryong Corps?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Yang Bi-chang nodded his head.

 

“Interesting. Whose idea is this?”

 

“It seems to be Elder Yeon’s.”

 

Do Sim-geuk flinched at the answer that came back.

 

He knew well whose side his master Cheon Gi-buk had aligned himself with.

 

Yeon Ja-gyeong.

 

Yang Bi-chang had addressed him as Elder Yeon.

 

But to be precise.

 

He was one of only three Grand Elders in the Jeongcheon Alliance Elder Council.

 

If that elder was preparing something, they would need to cooperate fully.

 

“But… would there be any guys wanting to come here?”

 

The Bongma Corps that goes in and out of Sanwol Demon Forest.

 

Though there was the meat shield called Maengryong Corps.

 

The Bongma Corps was the military unit that Jamryong Corps and Waryong Corps cadets most dreaded.

 

It was also the military unit with the most casualties since the Great Murim War ended and the era of peace began.

 

“Elder Yeon says he’ll select the personnel himself. Not just us, but he’s sending them to all institutions under the Jeongcheon Alliance. Including the Elder Council, Enforcement Department, Cheonmok Pavilion, and even Muryeong Pavilion.”

 

“Huh?”

 

Do Sim-geuk showed a surprised expression at the answer that came back.

 

“Even Muryeong Pavilion?”

 

It was because this organization was included.

 

This place was the Jeongcheon Alliance’s intelligence and inspection organization, with the authority to inspect the Enforcement Department.

 

The Enforcement Department, which was responsible for managing the laws of the Jeongcheon Alliance, was under the influence of the Elder Council.

 

And Muryeong Pavilion, the only organization with the authority to inspect such an Enforcement Department, was an institution directly under the Alliance Leader.

 

The Alliance Leader’s Hall was subject to inspection by the Enforcement Department.

 

It was a structure where each kept the other in check.

 

Yeon Ja-gyeong, a Grand Elder of the Elder Council, would select personnel to send for field training to Muryeong Pavilion, which was directly under the Alliance Leader?

 

Would the Alliance Leader really accept this?

 

Yang Bi-chang shrugged his shoulders.

 

“At least that’s what the official document says.”

 

“Hmm.”

 

Do Sim-geuk wore an amused expression.

 

“Oh, and Master will personally escort the cadets who will receive field training.”

 

“Master will?”

 

Do Sim-geuk showed a surprised expression.

 

Wasn’t his master someone who left even the Gongsun Sect to his disciples and stayed only at the Jeongcheon Alliance?

 

Despite being the sect leader of the sect.

 

But such a master would leave Luoyang, where the Jeongcheon Alliance Main Headquarters was located, to come to this remote place?

 

‘There’s something.’

 

Do Sim-geuk immediately sensed it.

 

The pretext of field training.

 

That there was something hidden behind it.

 

That was why his master would lift his heavy bottom and come all the way to Sanwol Great Wall, this place.

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

Yeon Ja-gyeong sat at the tea table in the Alliance Leader’s office, facing So Hwi-ung and Gongsun Dan-gyeong.

 

It was to hear a definitive answer about the personnel deployment he had proposed last time.

 

He had already sent cooperation documents to all institutions of the Jeongcheon Alliance and summoned people from Gyoryong Hall.

 

Now all that remained was to finalize the personnel distribution.

 

“Have you finished reviewing the list I sent?”

 

At his question.

 

So Hwi-ung and Gongsun Dan-gyeong nodded their heads.

 

Both men’s expressions were calm, but resolute.

 

“It’s not possible.”

 

Even at So Hwi-ung’s answer, Yeon Ja-gyeong’s expression showed no change.

 

“I distributed it fairly according to the conditions the Alliance Leader mentioned, so why do you say it’s not possible?”

 

However, his voice was cold.

 

“There are institutions included that cannot conduct field training.”

 

At So Hwi-ung’s answer, Yeon Ja-gyeong tilted his head.

 

“Jamryong Corps and Waryong Corps cadets will be deployed to all institutions of Gyoryong Hall. Naturally, field training should be distributed to all institutions.”

 

He was asking as if he didn’t understand, but the corners of his mouth were smiling mysteriously.

 

“You don’t need to go that far. I have no intention of interfering with the personnel distribution of other institutions. Grand Elder.”

 

Gongsun Dan-gyeong interjected.

 

Yeon Ja-gyeong’s gaze turned toward Gongsun Dan-gyeong.

 

The smile on his lips deepened.

 

“Elder Council, Enforcement Department, Cheonmok Pavilion, Muryeong Pavilion. You couldn’t possibly not know that these four places don’t deploy newly graduated alliance members from Gyoryong Hall.”

 

So Hwi-ung said, looking at Yeon Ja-gyeong.

 

Of course he would know.

 

It would be strange if Yeon Ja-gyeong, a Grand Elder of the Elder Council, didn’t know.

 

Yet the reason he deliberately included those four places was.

 

“You put them in as throwaway cards to get what you want, didn’t you?”

 

Gongsun Dan-gyeong asked.

 

Yeon Ja-gyeong brought his teacup to his mouth without answering.

 

He had expected this much.

 

There was no way the outstanding military advisor Gongsun Dan-gyeong wouldn’t see through this level of maneuvering.

 

What mattered was what came next.

 

Though Gongsun Dan-gyeong said he had no intention of interfering with personnel distribution, he would surely attach other conditions.

 

Now it was about how to push and pull on that.

 

That was what remained.

 

While savoring the tea fragrance, he thought about future moves in his head.

 

Even so, he pushed once more.

 

Because there was such a thing as a slim chance.

 

“Not at all. They just don’t go there as new recruits, but they eventually go there after gaining two or three years of experience in the Alliance, don’t they? So I thought it would be beneficial to gain experience in advance.”

 

“You should know that those four places aren’t somewhere just anyone can enter, right? What’s the use if they’re people who won’t be deployed there even after field training?”

 

Gongsun Dan-gyeong said firmly.

 

‘As expected, it won’t work.’

 

As Gongsun Dan-gyeong said, they were throwaway cards.

 

Even so, it was a move he had tried just in case, but as expected, it was blocked.

 

It was natural if you thought about it.

 

The inclusion of Muryeong Pavilion among them was significant.

 

Muryeong Pavilion.

 

Even Yeon Ja-gyeong couldn’t fully grasp the reality of that place.

 

Since he said he would put trainees in such a place, it was natural for the Alliance Leader and Military Advisor to react like that.

 

Since he couldn’t say only Muryeong Pavilion wasn’t allowed, he was discussing it bundled with the other three places where new alliance members weren’t deployed.

 

“You clearly said you would leave it entirely to me…”

 

Yeon Ja-gyeong muttered as if displeased.

 

As if displeased that his dignity as Grand Elder had been damaged.

 

It was a strategic move for the next step.

 

No matter how much they were the Alliance Leader and Military Advisor, they couldn’t unilaterally damage the dignity of himself, a Grand Elder ranked third in the Elder Council’s hierarchy.

 

“I’ll do everything else as the Grand Elder has proposed. However.”

 

Gongsun Dan-gyeong paused briefly and brought his teacup to his lips.

 

Yeon Ja-gyeong’s eyes gleamed.

 

‘Now it begins.’

 

The proposal Gongsun Dan-gyeong would make after saying “however.”

 

That was the real thing.

 

“In the case of Bongma Corps, they’ll enter directly into Sanwol Demon Forest. It’s still too early a place for cadets to enter. For the cadets’ safety, it would be good to have a few instructors accompany them.”

 

“Instructors? Which instructors are you referring to?”

 

He asked sharply.

 

This part was important.

 

He had already anticipated that they would suggest having instructors accompany them.

 

Which instructors they would send along was also obvious.

 

‘Ha Mu-baek.’

 

The one the Alliance Leader and Military Advisor trusted most.

 

That bastard had to be stopped at all costs.

 

Among all the martial artists of Jeongcheon Alliance, he was the one who knew Sanwol Demon Forest best.

 

When they said they would build Sanwol Great Wall to preserve part of Sanwol Demon Forest.

 

The bastard who had ranted and raved frantically.

 

If that bastard moved together with the cadets, it was crystal clear that his own purpose would not be achieved.

 

‘He’s a Maengryong Corps instructor.’

 

There was justification too.

 

If they said they would send Ha Mu-baek, he planned to somehow block it on the grounds that he wasn’t an instructor for Waryong Corps and Jamryong Corps.

 

“We’ll leave the instructor selection to the Grand Elder.”

 

So Hwi-ung’s answer.

 

Yeon Ja-gyeong again lifted his teacup to his mouth.

 

To hide the smile that was flowing out.

 

He moistened his mouth with tea.

 

He hadn’t expected it to go this easily.

 

“Hmm. Won’t there be fairness issues among the instructors?”

 

“Then we’ll receive volunteers through the Gyoryong Hall Master and provide you with a list. Please assign them appropriately from among those, Grand Elder.”

 

As if it was already a matter discussed with the Alliance Leader, Gongsun Dan-gyeong answered naturally like flowing water.

 

When the situation became like this, it was Yeon Ja-gyeong who became suspicious.

 

‘What are they scheming?’

 

Things had flowed according to his intentions.

 

That’s why it was suspicious.

 

Gongsun Dan-gyeong.

 

That old man wouldn’t come out this obediently.

 

Yeon Ja-gyeong didn’t yet know what kind of personality Ha Mu-baek had.

 

That even So Hwi-ung and Gongsun Dan-gyeong couldn’t move Ha Mu-baek at will.

 

The reason they could move Ha Mu-baek like a limb during the Murim War was because it was about exterminating the Blood Cult and Demon Cult.

 

But this current matter was different.

 

Moreover, Sanwol Demon Forest.

 

Regarding this place, both Alliance Leader So Hwi-ung and Military Advisor Gongsun Dan-gyeong felt indebted to Ha Mu-baek.

 

Though they had agreed with Ha Mu-baek’s argument for the extermination of Sanwol Demon Forest, they hadn’t been able to fulfill it.

 

If Ha Mu-baek went along, So Hwi-ung and Gongsun Dan-gyeong would be more reassured than anyone, but since even the two of them couldn’t move him at will.

 

To hide that fact.

 

They had left the instructor assignment itself to Yeon Ja-gyeong.

 

In addition to that.

 

‘Gyoryong Hall’s winter closure period… overlaps with the graduation time of Maengryong Corps second-years.’

 

Gongsun Dan-gyeong smiled inwardly.

 

The list of Gyoryong Hall cadets that Yeon Ja-gyeong had obtained.

 

Only their origin sects, age, gender, and roughly estimated martial arts level were recorded.

 

And he had only received the lists of Jamryong Corps and Waryong Corps.

 

The Hubei Yeon Family had never sent anyone to Gyoryong Hall until now.

 

Because of that.

 

He wouldn’t know who among the current Maengryong Corps cadets was there.

 

That fact was what made Gongsun Dan-gyeong smile.

 

At the calm faces of So Hwi-ung and Gongsun Dan-gyeong.

 

Yeon Ja-gyeong rose from his seat with uneasiness.

 

On his way back to his residence.

 

He kept looking back at the Alliance Leader’s Hall.

 

‘I should definitely look into this. I’ll have no choice but to use the intelligence network’s information…’

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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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