The World’s Greatest Martial Arts Instructor - Chapter 445

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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 445. This Is Troublesome…

 

 

While kicking off the ground and running over a nameless mountain.

A suitable place happened to catch his eye.

Deep night past midnight, deep in the mountains.

A suitable clearing where no people would be.

The sound of rushing water could be heard, suggesting there was a waterfall nearby.

Ha Mu-baek stopped his hurriedly moving legs.

Though he knew Han Seol-bing would be waiting.

Right now, training his body was the more important situation.

Since he couldn’t just rush there blindly, and a suitable place had caught his eye, he thought to train even briefly.

He took off his upper garment and hung it on a nearby tree branch.

He also removed his sword along with its sheath and hung it nearby.

And slowly began moving his body.

Since he had been running continuously using lightness techniques, his body was already appropriately warmed up.

Ha Mu-baek started with training the Extreme Five Forms.

The Extreme Five Forms he had practiced intermittently while traveling from Dongting Lake to Luoyang.

Thanks to that, he could now perform basic techniques at a level no different from before entering the Archive Hall.

Of course, in a situation where he used no internal energy and relied purely on physical strength.

Beads of sweat quickly formed on Ha Mu-baek’s body.

The sweat drops flowing down his body flew up into the air following Ha Mu-baek’s movements and scattered.

“Whew.”

Ha Mu-baek exhaled deeply after performing the Extreme Five Forms once.

“Now I should be able to start moving my internal energy.”

The Extreme Five Forms infused with internal energy.

The sight was amazing.

It was not a basic martial art.

A single completed ultimate technique.

That was what was being displayed from Ha Mu-baek’s body right now.

Ha Mu-baek gradually raised the level of his internal energy.

First level, second level, third level…

Ha Mu-baek’s eyebrows twitched.

When he raised it to the ninth level.

He felt something was off.

He stopped at that moment.

And the martial art changed.

Wuji Combat.

Again, first with pure physical strength only, then using internal energy.

Wuji Combat felt off when he raised his internal energy to the seventh level.

Finally, he picked up his sword.

After performing the Wuji Eight Severing Sword Sea with pure physical strength only, he began raising his internal energy.

First level, second level…

He performed the Wuji Eight Severing Sword Sea even more carefully and with concentration.

Given the power of sword techniques.

If he couldn’t properly control his own energy and swordsmanship, he could devastate this entire area.

The Wuji Eight Severing Sword Sea unfolding like that.

Divine techniques.

He had no intention of performing the Ninth Severing Abyss.

That was only possible after completely absorbing all the opportunities gained from the Archive Hall.

Right now, normalizing his body was the most urgent matter.

Fourth level.

‘Up to here is fine.’

And the moment he raised his internal energy level to the fifth level.

Ha Mu-baek urgently stopped the deployment of his sword technique.

He felt a very strong sense of discord.

Cold sweat formed on his forehead.

Because he was concentrating, he felt the subtle discord that reacted immediately when he raised his internal energy.

What if he hadn’t noticed and performed the sword technique?

‘The sword technique would have consumed me.’

Just raising his internal energy caused such a reaction, so if he had performed the sword technique in that state, it would have happened nine times out of ten.

“This is troublesome…”

Ha Mu-baek muttered quietly.

He had definitely become stronger.

That was a fact.

But right now, Ha Mu-baek was actually in a weaker state than before.

The Wuji Eight Severing Sword Sea performed at the fourth level.

Had similar power to the Wuji Eight Severing Sword Sea performed at about the sixth level before entering the Archive Hall.

In other words, the maximum power Ha Mu-baek could currently exert was equivalent to his previous Wuji Eight Severing Sword Sea at the sixth level.

He had become unable to perform the sword technique he used to freely execute at the extreme level.

Of course, he could perform it at the extreme level.

But would Ha Mu-baek at that time truly be Ha Mu-baek himself?

He knew the answer.

Endless training.

That was all.

Ha Mu-baek performed the Extreme Five Forms again.

Starting from the internal energy level where he felt no discord.

One by one.

Without being impatient.

Slowly and with concentration.

Even if he couldn’t exert all his power, there wouldn’t be many in all under heaven who could face the current Ha Mu-baek.

 

***

 

Gyoryong Hall.

In different training grounds.

Two people having similar concerns.

Namgung Hu and Dan Mok Un-rae.

Through conversations with the parties involved, Yeon Ha-min and Ju U-myeong respectively.

They had somewhat lightened the burden on their hearts.

But what they had done didn’t disappear, so guilt still remained in a corner of their hearts.

That guilt had become inner demons.

The two people spending time in training grounds to overcome it.

The Jamryong Corps First Unit Training Ground and the Maengryong Corps Seventh Group Training Ground.

There wasn’t much time left to spend in these places.

The Jamryong Corps would soon depart for field training.

The Maengryong Corps graduation from Gyoryong Hall is coming soon.

Since the Eastern Tournament ended yesterday.

That time is probably tomorrow.

“Hehehe.”

At that moment, Namgung Hu turned around at the sudden laughter.

Elder Wi was there.

‘When?’

He hadn’t sensed any presence at all.

Not knowing Elder Wi’s true identity, Namgung Hu couldn’t help but be startled.

The laborer who always cleaned various parts of Gyoryong Hall had naturally positioned himself behind him and was laughing.

Namgung Hu’s hand moved toward his waist.

The treasured sword he received from his family, the Great Azure Sky Sword, hung at his waist.

“No need to be on guard. It’s almost time to leave, so I’m feeling regretful. Seol-ran also asked me to.”

“What do you mean by that…?”

Namgung Hu was engulfed in confusion.

It was such a sudden statement.

“Rather than wondering who I am, it seems more important to know what state you’re in right now. So, what is the identity of your heart demon? Is it regret for nearly killing a friend? Is it self-blame for losing yourself?”

Wi Ji-gun’s question.

“I am…”

Namgung Hu’s lips trembled at the sudden question.

The thing he couldn’t answer to Yeon Ha-min’s words yesterday.

After a day of anguish and contemplation, the conclusion he reached was simple.

“It’s self-loathing toward myself for losing control and nearly killing a friend.”

Self-hatred.

How could one become stronger while loathing oneself?

It was a great heart demon.

It was also something every martial artist had to experience at least once.

Wi Ji-gun lightly extended his hand.

A practice sword placed on a sword rack at one side of the training ground flew over with a whoosh and floated in midair beside Wi Ji-gun.

“Th-that is…”

Namgung Hu was startled.

Naturally so.

Maintaining a sword like that with Void Grasping was no ordinary feat.

“At times like that, sometimes rolling your body is faster than continuing to worry. Since there doesn’t seem to be anyone in Gyoryong Hall suitable to push you, I’ll give you a workout.”

Wi Ji-gun smiled broadly.

And.

Without even listening to Namgung Hu’s response, he extended his finger forward.

Swoosh.

At that moment.

The sword charged toward Namgung Hu at lightning speed.

“Huk!”

He hastily drew his sword to block.

Clang!

He barely managed to deflect the sword’s direction, but.

Slash.

The sleeve of his forearm was cut and blood flowed out.

“Weak. You’ll need to use your full strength.”

The sword circled through the air and flew at him again.

Namgung Hu quickly drew up his internal energy.

Blue sword aura shimmered on the Great Azure Sky Sword.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

‘Th-this is Qi Control Sword.’

It wasn’t floating the sword with Void Grasping.

Qi Control Sword that had reached a profound level.

That’s why the sword was floating in midair.

‘Then this person is…’

The expert who broke through his sword wall at the crucial moment and saved Yeon Ha-min.

“Having distracting thoughts will only invite danger.”

Wi Ji-gun’s voice was calm, but the sword’s movements became even more fierce.

Namgung Hu sustained wounds all over.

He had no choice but to concentrate.

He swung his sword with full force again and again.

Like that day’s martial duel.

He unleashed the Azure Sky Unhindered Sword to its limits.

To block the vicious attacks aimed at him.

As he moved his sword with full force, as if asking when he had fallen into a heart demon.

He entered that state once again.

The sword wall of the samadhi.

A blue wall made of blue sword aura revealed its solid form before Namgung Hu’s eyes.

It was because Wi Ji-gun had guided him that way.

He had pushed Namgung Hu to the brink of life and death, but once he confirmed entry into the samadhi, he loosened the string of his attacks.

Thanks to that, he entered the sword wall of the samadhi once again.

The sword wall fell toward Wi Ji-gun.

Up to this point, it was the same as that time.

But the opponent was different.

Wi Ji-gun, not Yeon Ha-min.

The Qi Control Sword collided with the sword wall.

Kwaaaaang!

The sword wall shattered and scattered into pieces.

However, Namgung Hu was still within the samadhi.

His sword flew toward Wi Ji-gun following the form of the Emperor Sword Form.

With blue sword aura emitting brilliant light.

Clang!

This time too, it was blocked by the Qi Control Sword.

“Go ahead and rampage to your heart’s content.”

Saying that, he extended his left hand.

Another practice sword flew up.

Two swords relentlessly pressed Namgung Hu.

Namgung Hu’s sword changed from moment to moment.

From Azure Sky Unhindered Sword to Emperor Sword Form, from Emperor Sword Form to Azure Sky Unhindered Sword.

Sometimes to Great Flame Sword Technique.

Bang!

At some point.

Namgung Hu, unable to endure any longer, flew backward and collapsed on the ground.

Two swords flew toward Namgung Hu’s neck and dantian.

Just before the swords pierced Namgung Hu.

Focus returned to Namgung Hu’s eyes, ending the samadhi, and the two swords stopped as if by magic the moment they touched Namgung Hu’s skin.

A blood spot marked above his Adam’s apple.

A dot-like hole in the fabric above his dantian.

The swords slowly moved back to their original positions.

“How was it, nearly dying?”

Wi Ji-gun turned his body around.

As if he had no intention of hearing an answer.

Namgung Hu sat cross-legged just like that.

The place Wi Ji-gun headed to was the Maengryong Corps 7th Group’s training ground.

Dan Mok Un-rae had also experienced something similar to Namgung Hu.

The only difference was that Dan Mok Un-rae knew Wi Ji-gun’s true identity, so he had moved desperately from the very beginning.

 

Wi Ji-gun climbed onto the academy rooftop and looked at the two guys sitting cross-legged.

Then he patted his waist.

“Ugh. At my old age, cleaning up after my disciples isn’t easy either.”

Self-pity directed at himself in a place where no one was watching.

Namgung Hu was at Ha Seol-ran’s request, and Dan Mok Un-rae was one of the Maengryong members that Ha Mu-baek had asked him to look after.

So he had moved.

Because he could see that their inner demons would grow larger after today passed.

“Still, they’re talented guys, so they’ll overcome it well. Well, they won’t be able to forget that moment of regret. But that’s also a natural emotion humans should have.”

 

***

 

“He’s not here?”

She had really run without rest.

Come to think of it, she had run even more desperately than when returning to the Ice Palace last time.

So she had arrived in Luoyang a day earlier than Ha Mu-baek’s expectations.

And that was late at night, past midnight.

Han Seol-bing had just arrived at an inn after crossing over Luoyang’s castle walls.

Though they hadn’t made any prior arrangements.

She knew that if it were Ha Mu-baek, he would come to this inn before entering the Jeongcheon Alliance.

It was a fact only known to the Hocheondan members.

No, perhaps the Military Advisor might know about it too.

Since they hadn’t moved secretly.

So when Wi Ji-gun said that Ha Mu-baek had headed to Luoyang.

Han Seol-bing naturally thought she would meet Ha Mu-baek here and ran.

But he wasn’t there.

When she described Ha Mu-baek’s appearance to the shopkeeper, he said there was no such guest.

“Ha.”

She sat at a first-floor dining table with a dejected face.

Since the shopkeeper was reading the situation.

“Rice wine and one fried chicken.”

She placed a simple order.

The shopkeeper hurriedly headed to the kitchen.

Just by looking, she was clearly a martial artist, so his actions were extremely cautious.

Even though she had suddenly barged in at a time past midnight, reaching the hour of the Ox, when he was dozing off.

Right now, she was the only customer on the first floor.

The others had already headed to the guest rooms upstairs to sleep.

“Did he go to the Alliance first? Or could it be that he hasn’t arrived yet?”

The second option was absurd.

Knowing Ha Mu-baek’s abilities, it was impossible unless Ha Mu-baek was deliberately dawdling.

And Ha Mu-baek wouldn’t dawdle.

Because she knew what business he was heading to the Jeongcheon Alliance for.

There wasn’t much time left to coordinate with the Maengryong members.

To find out if Ha Mu-baek had entered the Jeongcheon Alliance first, she would have to wait for dawn.

Even she couldn’t enter the Jeongcheon Alliance at this hour.

She couldn’t climb over the walls either.

“I don’t want to go looking for that guy… Tch.”

In the meantime, the alcohol and chicken came out.

Unlike Ha Mu-baek, Han Seol-bing wasn’t in a position to directly seek out Strategist Gongsun.

So in the end, she was thinking of finding Dam Mu-heun, the Jeongcheon Alliance’s informant.

Her best friend and rival.

 

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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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