The World’s Greatest Martial Arts Instructor - Chapter 406

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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 406. This Is the Last

 

 

 

 

 

Won Pyeong-sam.

 

About ten days had already passed since he entered Lanzhou.

 

During that time, he had become even more familiar with the culture of the Central Plains.

 

That he could adapt so easily in such a short time of ten days was largely thanks to Gang Hyo-wol’s help.

 

He claimed to be a beggar.

 

But he was definitely not an ordinary beggar.

 

Won Pyeong-sam could easily tell this fact while being with him.

 

The same was true for Gang Hyo-wol.

 

‘He’s not just a country bumpkin.’

 

Gang Hyo-wol thought as he glanced at Won Pyeong-sam, who was eating with him on the street again today.

 

“Hm? What’s wrong? Brother Gang?”

 

“It’s nothing. Brother Won. I thought something was stuck on you, but it wasn’t.”

 

Won Pyeong-sam chuckled at Gang Hyo-wol’s nonsensical answer.

 

The ten days had also changed how the two addressed each other.

 

Their friendship had deepened that much.

 

At the same time.

 

Rumors about a beggar and a country bumpkin were gradually spreading in the areas where they mainly moved around.

 

Because of that.

 

Even seeing Won Pyeong-sam eating on the street, passersby walked by without much concern.

 

‘A beggar with martial arts that has reached the peak level… It must be the Beggar Sect, right?’

 

Won Pyeong-sam thought as he glanced at Gang Hyo-wol.

 

On the day they first met.

 

He had been foolishly overwhelmed by the scale of the city called Lanzhou and couldn’t properly observe.

 

However, after collecting his wits, he could quickly tell.

 

That Gang Hyo-wol had learned martial arts.

 

And that it was at a high level that reached the peak.

 

The reason he could tell was simple.

 

Since Won Pyeong-sam’s level was much higher, he naturally recognized Gang Hyo-wol’s martial arts.

 

The same was true for Gang Hyo-wol.

 

Though Won Pyeong-sam appeared ordinary even to his eyes that had reached the peak.

 

There was a killing intent that he subtly emanated.

 

Gang Hyo-wol had already met people who emanated such killing intent before.

 

‘Half-Step Return to Truth… He might be at the Super Peak level.’

 

Precisely those who had reached Half-Step Return to Truth and ascended to the Super Peak realm.

 

They seemed ordinary.

 

Yet they still had a different killing intent from true ordinary people.

 

An ordinary peak master might not be able to sense it.

 

But Gang Hyo-wol was different.

 

He could feel it because he had experienced it before.

 

This was the reason he spent time with Won Pyeong-sam instead of observing the Gongdong Sect during those ten days.

 

Because such a master had suddenly appeared from beyond Jade Gate Pass.

 

“But Brother Won. You must know by now that only beggars eat rice on the street like this. Are you alright with it?”

 

When Won Pyeong-sam ate with Gang Hyo-wol, he would come out to the street together like this.

 

When eating alone, he would go into taverns or restaurants to eat.

 

“What matters is being with the benefactor who helped me, so what importance could the gazes of others have? If it weren’t for Brother Gang, how could I have adapted to the culture of the Central Plains so quickly?”

 

Won Pyeong-sam answered with a gentle smile.

 

“Those are right words, but ordinary people cannot do so even knowing this. There is something called dignity.”

 

“Being upright to oneself is true dignity.”

 

Won Pyeong-sam answered Gang Hyo-wol’s words matter-of-factly.

 

An expression of admiration appeared on Gang Hyo-wol’s face upon hearing those words.

 

Though Gang Hyo-wol also thought they were correct words.

 

How many people in all under heaven could truly be upright to themselves?

 

While thinking such thoughts, one person suddenly came to mind.

 

That person would be upright to himself no matter where in all under heaven he might be.

 

Some cursed him as arrogant and contemptuous.

 

But in Gang Hyo-wol’s eyes, it appeared as uprightness.

 

He was an absolute strong person.

 

A strong person whose match could not be found in all under heaven.

 

He had thought one needed to reach that level of realm to be so upright.

 

But today he had met another such person.

 

‘Could Brother Won also be at that level…?’

 

Gang Hyo-wol soon abandoned that thought.

 

Because he couldn’t believe there would be another such monster in all under heaven.

 

Gang Hyo-wol still couldn’t forget that tremendous sight from back then.

 

During the Great War between the Orthodox and Demonic factions.

 

There were few ways to go to Sanwol Demon Forest, which was evaluated as the worst death trap in history.

 

Gang Hyo-wol was one of those who volunteered to go.

 

Thanks to that, he saw the true nature of the monster.

 

And as compensation for that, he was now performing the mission of observing the Gongdong Sect’s movements in the quiet Lanzhou.

 

“What’s wrong? Brother Gang?”

 

Won Pyeong-sam asked worriedly at Gang Hyo-wol’s appearance of suddenly becoming lost in thought.

 

“Ah, it’s nothing. I was just thinking of old times. Do all people in Brother Won’s hometown live with such thoughts?”

 

Won Pyeong-sam nodded at Gang Hyo-wol’s question.

 

“It’s a barren and harsh place. A place where it’s hard to survive if you’re not upright to yourself.”

 

“If it’s a barren and harsh place… shouldn’t one rather bow and submit to the strong?”

 

Won Pyeong-sam shook his head at Gang Hyo-wol’s questioning inquiry.

 

“That way, you’ll only live as a weak person for life.”

 

Gang Hyo-wol’s eyes secretly gleamed at Won Pyeong-sam’s answer.

 

The answer was contained in those words.

 

Won Pyeong-sam must have been quite a strong person even in the place where he was.

 

That’s why he said that if you’re not upright to yourself, you’ll only live as a weak person for life.

 

What place in the outside regions could it be that such a strong person suddenly appeared in the Central Plains?

 

Though all under heaven is said to be the Central Plains.

 

Gang Hyo-wol knew well.

 

The outside regions beyond the Central Plains.

 

That a wider world was spread out there.

 

Meanwhile, the two men’s rice bowls had been emptied.

 

Won Pyeong-sam looked at his own bowl with regretful eyes.

 

“Thank you for everything so far. Brother Gang.”

 

Gang Hyo-wol read the underlying meaning in those words.

 

“Are you planning to leave, Brother Won?”

 

Won Pyeong-sam nodded.

 

“I came to see and learn about the culture of the Central Plains, so shouldn’t I go see other places? Didn’t you say so, Brother Gang? That Lanzhou is also a frontier region in the Central Plains. That there are many more prosperous and splendid places in the center of the Central Plains.”

 

“That’s right. If a man steps foot on Central Plains soil, he must visit Suzhou and Hangzhou without fail.”

 

At Gang Hyo-wol’s words, Won Pyeong-sam smiled broadly.

 

“Above is heaven, below are Suzhou and Hangzhou. I’ll make sure to visit Suzhou and Hangzhou as my brother Gang suggests.”

 

Gang Hyo-wol nodded his head.

 

“Then where is your next destination?”

 

“I’m thinking of going to Chang’an for now.”

 

“That place is also a great city incomparable to Lanzhou. Don’t show the same appearance as when you first came to Lanzhou – keep your wits about you.”

 

“Hahaha. Brother Gang. Don’t worry. This Won Pyeong-sam is no longer such a country bumpkin.”

 

Won Pyeong-sam rose from his seat.

 

Gang Hyo-wol also rose from his seat.

 

The two men looked at each other, then soon clasped their fists toward one another.

 

“Thanks to Brother Gang’s help and teachings, this Won Pyeong-sam was able to quickly learn the culture of the Central Plains. I’m truly grateful.”

 

“Thanks to Brother Won, this beggar Gang Hyo-wol was able to eat warm meals to his heart’s content for ten days. I’m truly grateful.”

 

After finishing their heartfelt farewells to each other.

 

Won Pyeong-sam departed.

 

He left through Lanzhou’s east gate, moving his steps toward Chang’an in Shaanxi Province to the east.

 

After he left Lanzhou.

 

Three carrier pigeons flew up into the sky.

 

They were carrier pigeons that Gang Hyo-wol had released to report about Won Pyeong-sam.

 

Won Pyeong-sam, who was walking away, saw the pigeons flying through the sky.

 

“Carrier pigeons.”

 

He could tell who had released them.

 

He had met someone suspected of being from the Beggar’s Sect.

 

Won Pyeong-sam smiled broadly.

 

Killing intent had somehow risen on his face.

 

“This abundance will soon become ours. It seems those Shakyamuni bastards have failed. But our Won family won’t be so easy to deal with.”

 

For a brief moment, the mask he had worn to understand the situation in the Central Plains was slightly removed.

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

It was hell.

 

Buddhism says there are a total of one thousand one hundred twenty-seven hells.

 

Among them, the foremost place is called Avici Hell.

 

It’s a name that means there are no intervals of suffering.

 

In other words, a hell where one must endure the worst pain continuously and eternally.

 

And for the Maengryong Corps cadets, the past seven days and nights were exactly like living in Avici Hell.

 

The herbal medicine with its terrible stench had an even more terrible taste than its smell.

 

After taking it, that stench and awful taste lingered in their nose and mouth all day long.

 

Just when it would disappear.

 

A new herbal medicine would appear before their eyes.

 

Nevertheless, the cadets as well as the Namgung siblings and Pyeong Deok-jo drank it again.

 

They became more haggard day by day.

 

And from yesterday, most of them had faces as if they had given up everything.

 

As if they had achieved enlightenment.

 

The same was true for the Namgung siblings.

 

Due to the terrible stench emanating from their entire bodies.

 

They couldn’t enter the dormitory.

 

That would definitely be a nuisance to others.

 

If it were Maengryong Dormitory where only Maengryong Corps cadets gathered, it wouldn’t matter.

 

But since they couldn’t go to Jamryong Dormitory.

 

Namgung Hu owed a debt to Dan Mok Un-rae and Dang Jin-san.

 

The female cadets’ Yeonryong Lodge was divided by affiliation.

 

Namgung Yu, who couldn’t bear to go to the Jamryong Corps section, had no choice but to impose on Yeon Ha-min and Ha Seol-ran.

 

Having watched the wrong spectacle once.

 

The siblings had been separated from the Jamryong Corps for the past seven days and had to stay with the Maengryong Corps.

 

The rumors about that stench had already spread throughout Gyoryong Hall, so no one approached near the Great Training Ground.

 

Nevertheless, they couldn’t stop taking the medicine.

 

When they practiced their internal energy cultivation, they could definitely feel, even if slightly, that things were different from before.

 

For martial artists, such sensations inevitably led to addiction.

 

Because they could clearly feel themselves becoming stronger.

 

And now.

 

That final bowl was before their eyes.

 

“Ugh. This is the last one.”

 

Dang Jin-san’s eyes turned red.

 

It was because all sorts of emotions swirled at the thought that it was finally the last.

 

Eventually, everyone emptied the final herbal medicine.

 

And entered internal energy cultivation.

 

Ha Mu-baek quietly watched that sight.

 

‘Not bad.’

 

He had thought that at least some would rebel saying they couldn’t drink it anymore, and that he would have to force them to drink it.

 

But that wasn’t the case.

 

After the first day.

 

Everyone suffered, but no one refused.

 

The Half-Measure Blue Forest Decoction was definitely inferior in efficacy compared to the Infinite Pill, but instead, its effects appeared more quickly than the Infinite Pill.

 

The cadets had felt that.

 

Having consumed all seven doses of the herbal medicine, they would have gained at least as much internal energy as they had possessed until now.

 

Of course, for the Seventh Group cadets and the Namgung siblings who already possessed large amounts of internal energy, it would be a small amount.

 

But not for the other Maengryong Corps cadets.

 

In addition, due to the sustained effects, the speed of internal energy improvement would also be about fifty percent faster than before.

 

That level would continue for about a month.

 

Combining all of this.

 

By the time the Eastern Competition was held, they would all have gained enough internal energy to manifest sword energy.

 

Of course, sword energy wasn’t a realm that could be manifested with sufficient internal energy alone.

 

The martial artist’s own enlightenment was also necessary.

 

Ha Mu-baek didn’t think that would be difficult either.

 

Sword force might be different.

 

But if it was just sword energy.

 

Ha Mu-baek could force enlightenment into them through training.

 

Of course.

 

That training would be correspondingly painful and arduous.

 

“For the next seven days and nights, focus on internal energy cultivation. There will be no group training during that time.”

 

The next seven days when the effects of the Half-Measure Blue Forest Decoction would be at their best.

 

Ha Mu-baek instructed them to focus solely on internal energy cultivation during that time.

 

[Do you have other business?]

 

At those words, Wi Ji-gun sent a telepathic message to Ha Mu-baek.

 

[It seems I need to go to Luoyang briefly.]

 

Since he had given them enough time, now he needed to confirm.

 

The Latent Blood Poison Jiangshi.

 

Whether that existence had been properly conveyed to the Jeongcheon Alliance.

 

So Ha Mu-baek decided to go find Gongsun Dan-gyeong.

 

It was bothersome to go find the main branch of the Jeongcheon Alliance.

 

But since he couldn’t summon Gongsun Dan-gyeong to Gyoryong Hall, he had to go himself.

 

[Understood. Don’t worry about this place.]

 

After bowing his head slightly at his Master’s response, Ha Mu-baek approached the supply wagon.

 

From there, a wooden coffin protruded out.

 

Ha Mu-baek floated the wooden coffin in midair with Void Grasping and kicked off the ground to run.

 

Creating fierce winds, Ha Mu-baek disappeared from the Great Training Ground, but none of the cadets knew this fact.

 

It was because they were all absorbed in energy circulation meditation.

 

The Namgung siblings as well.

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

Bang!

 

A rough sound rang out from the shield.

 

It was the sound of a Blood Jiangshi’s strike hitting the shield.

 

Slash.

 

However, the Blood Jiangshi’s neck was soon severed.

 

Because Gwan Ha-gyeong’s red blade energy swept through.

 

Thud!

 

The head that fell to the ground was smashed by Pung Geon’s foot.

 

Yu Gwi-gwang skillfully extracted the inner core from the jiangshi’s body.

 

It had been two days since they arrived in the southern Sanwol Demon Forest.

 

They were quickly identifying the territories of nearby jiangshi and drawing maps.

 

Perhaps thanks to their experience with Ha Mu-baek.

 

It was incomparably faster than before.

 

“Doesn’t something feel strange?”

 

Yu Gwi-gwang, who had collected the inner core, looked around and asked.

 

“It does feel like something is off…”

 

Pung Geon answered.

 

He couldn’t tell exactly what it was.

 

The territory confirmation was proceeding smoothly.

 

But an inexplicable ominousness could be felt.

 

“Could there be a Dark Blood Jiangshi territory nearby?”

 

Gwan Ha-gyeong asked.

 

Certainly.

 

It was similar to the ominousness they felt when entering a Dark Blood Jiangshi’s territory.

 

That too was something they felt thanks to Ha Mu-baek.

 

To be precise, it was the aura of the Beheaded Dark Blood Demon.

 

They had heard that Dark Blood Jiangshi territories could encompass the entire Sanwol Demon Forest.

 

Naturally, the closer they got to those creatures, the more intensely they could feel that territorial aura.

 

The members of the Bongma Corps and Maengryong Corps couldn’t feel that aura precisely.

 

They could only gauge it as ominousness, an unsettling feeling.

 

“But… from what we’ve confirmed, there are no active Dark Blood Jiangshi nearby…”

 

Pung Geon muttered with an expression of incomprehension.

 

They had discovered about two Silent Iron Jiangshi, but no Dark Blood Jiangshi.

 

“We’ll finish confirming the territory as quickly as possible and return. Something feels ominous.”

 

At Pung Geon’s words, everyone nodded and began moving quickly.

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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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