The World’s Greatest Martial Arts Instructor - Chapter 447
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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 447. Is This Personnel Lobbying?
It couldn’t be called late night, but night was still night.
A time when entry and exit to the Jeongcheon Alliance was strictly controlled.
Ha Mu-baek headed toward the wall of the Jeongcheon Alliance as if it were nothing.
And lightly leaped over.
Han Seol-bing stared blankly at his figure.
No, her expression showed she was dumbfounded.
What on earth is that man…
“What are you doing? Not coming?”
Ha Mu-baek stood on the wall and spoke indifferently toward Han Seol-bing.
Han Seol-bing shook her head from side to side and launched her body.
“What’s the point of doing this when there’s a perfectly good gate?”
“It’s bothersome.”
A short answer.
“Wouldn’t getting caught by the Alliance Guards be more bothersome?”
“We won’t get caught. If I were alone, I would have already arrived.”
Leaving those words behind, Ha Mu-baek lightly launched his body.
Han Seol-bing hurriedly followed behind him.
That man’s words were correct.
She couldn’t imagine the Alliance Guards would be able to detect that man’s movements.
Maybe if it were Han Seol-bing herself.
Ha Mu-baek was walking leisurely as if taking a stroll, but strangely, they didn’t encounter a single person.
Because he was moving using Ki Sense to choose only places where there were no people.
Han Seol-bing guessed that was probably the case and followed behind him.
Soon Cheonmok Pavilion came into view.
The security was tight.
In Han Seol-bing’s eyes.
Ha Mu-baek seemed to survey the surroundings of Cheonmok Pavilion for a moment, then grinned.
Then he boldly moved his steps toward the main gate.
‘Huh?’
Han Seol-bing’s expression showed surprise.
She had thought Ha Mu-baek would naturally just use lightness skill to go up to the top floor.
The moment the Gate Guards who spotted Ha Mu-baek’s figure pointed their spears.
“Long time no see. You know me, right?”
The Gate Guard who received Ha Mu-baek’s cheerful greeting, Bae Dan-ya.
His face turned pale.
It was a face he could never forget.
“Yes, yes, yes! Instructor Ha!”
Was that why?
He answered loudly without realizing it.
His shout was loud enough that the warriors of Cheonmok Pavilion guarding the surroundings gathered around.
His senior guard who had been on duty with Bae Dan-ya looked at him with a face wondering why this guy was suddenly acting like this, then shifted his gaze back to Ha Mu-baek.
Since a stranger had suddenly come without any notice.
Scolding his crazy junior would come later.
Just as he was about to warn the unfamiliar visitor.
Gate Captain Go Gi-ryong came running out.
He had heard the shout calling “Instructor Ha.”
Fortunately, there was no incident like last time. He arrived before the senior guard could say anything to Ha Mu-baek.
“I-Instructor Ha. What brings you here this time?”
At the sight of Gate Captain Go Gi-ryong appearing urgently, the senior guard stopped his actions.
And looked at Ha Mu-baek with eyes full of questions.
‘Who on earth is that guy…’
His thoughts stopped.
And he recalled the commotion that had occurred at Cheonmok Pavilion not long ago.
The incident where even the Alliance Leader had personally stepped out.
Since it happened to be his day off, he had only heard about it from his colleagues.
‘Instructor Ha…’
Right.
The person who had come that day was called Instructor Ha Mu-baek.
He had forgotten despite his colleague’s reminder to remember it well.
Just as his face was turning pale.
“Gongsun Elder is inside, right?”
Ha Mu-baek asked calmly.
“I’ll notify him immediately.”
When Go Gi-ryong answered with great tension, Ha Mu-baek stepped inside.
Han Seol-bing naturally followed behind him.
No one could stop them.
“Never mind. I’m faster.”
And he walked up the stairs step by step.
“When did you torment the Cheonmok Pavilion guards again?”
Han Seol-bing asked quietly from behind.
“Torment? I just got acquainted with them when I came last time. And you know that guy Gi-ryong too.”
That was true.
When he was promoted to Gate Captain, Han Seol-bing was also the Deputy Corps Leader of Hocheon Corps.
He was also someone she had often seen when she visited Cheonmok Pavilion on business thanks to the demoted Corps Leader.
Top floor.
The Cheonmokgak Leader’s office.
“I’m here.”
Ha Mu-baek simply called out in front of the door, then opened it wide and entered.
“Tsk. Can’t you visit normally?”
Gongsun Dan-gyeong scolded him as if he had been waiting the moment he saw him.
Although the Gate Guards hadn’t notified him, regardless of that, news of Ha Mu-baek’s visit had already been quickly delivered to Gongsun Dan-gyeong.
Because Cheonmok Pavilion wasn’t such an easy place.
“It takes time and is bothersome too.”
Gongsun Dan-gyeong shook his head as if he couldn’t stop him.
“You’re probably the only one who goes around climbing over the Jeongcheon Alliance’s walls like they’re your neighbor’s fence.”
There was no information at all that Ha Mu-baek had joined the Jeongcheon Alliance.
If he had passed through the Jeongcheon Alliance’s gate normally, the news would have reached Gongsun Dan-gyeong’s ears immediately.
Gongsun Dan-gyeong concluded that he had completely deceived the eyes of the Jeongcheon Alliance and Cheonmok Pavilion and climbed over the wall to get here.
“But today this one climbed over too?”
He pointed at Han Seol-bing with his chin.
“It’s been a while, Deputy Corps Leader Han, no, Instructor Han.”
Gongsun Dan-gyeong’s expression as he smiled and greeted her was completely different from when he looked at Ha Mu-baek.
“It’s been a while, Pavilion Leader.”
When seated with the Alliance Leader, he was called Military Advisor, but this was Cheonmok Pavilion and he was the master of this place, so he was called Pavilion Master.
“Yes, what is it?”
Gongsun Dan-gyeong asked Ha Mu-baek.
He was busy.
Extremely busy at that.
It was natural since the Alliance Leader was absent.
That’s why he got straight to the point.
“Please change my position.”
“A personnel request?”
The immediate response to Ha Mu-baek’s words.
“Hmm.”
Ha Mu-baek crossed his arms and thought for a moment.
“Well, then should I just submit a resignation letter?”
He retorted.
“Tsk. No fun fellow. I was joking.”
“Weren’t you busy?”
Ha Mu-baek’s gaze turned to the pile of documents.
“Phew.”
Gongsun Dan-gyeong glanced at the documents and let out a deep sigh.
There was still a mountain of work to handle.
“What position do you want?”
“Maengryong Corps Leader.”
At Ha Mu-baek’s answer, Gongsun Dan-gyeong tilted his head.
“Huh? Aren’t you already the chief instructor of Maengryong Corps?”
“Did your brain suddenly get worse?”
At Ha Mu-baek’s harsh words toward Gongsun Dan-gyeong.
He recalled what had been shoved into a corner of his memory since it had been vacant for so long.
“You mean the Maengryong Corps of Sanwol Demon Forest?”
Ha Mu-baek nodded.
Maengryong Corps.
Since it was a group called a corps, there should be a corps leader.
But there wasn’t one.
Since they would receive orders from Bongma Corps members under Bongma Corps anyway, they thought it was meaningless and didn’t appoint one.
No, there was also the deliberate decision to leave it vacant because having a corps leader might cause disputes with Bongma Corps.
Though nominally placed under Cheonmok Pavilion.
“You know that appointing a corps leader requires the Alliance Leader’s approval?”
At Gongsun Dan-gyeong’s question, Ha Mu-baek frowned.
“Then, that’s troublesome…”
He had already heard from Han Seol-bing about the Alliance Leader’s absence.
Ha Mu-baek’s senses also couldn’t detect So Hwi-ung’s presence.
“It seems the appointment of Maengryong Corps Leader wouldn’t need the Alliance Leader’s approval, Pavilion Master?”
Then Han Seol-bing interjected.
At her words, Gongsun Dan-gyeong chuckled.
“Instructor Han is right. In the case of Maengryong Corps Leader, the Alliance Leader’s approval isn’t needed. Other corps leaders are different though. Instructor Ha. Someone as smart as you should pay more attention to your surroundings.”
Gongsun Dan-gyeong’s rebuke.
Ha Mu-baek thought for a moment then looked at Gongsun Dan-gyeong and asked.
“Don’t tell me Maengryong Corps belonged to Cheonmok Pavilion?”
Corps leaders of corps belonging to pavilions, halls, or departments could be appointed first by pavilion masters, hall masters, or department heads, with reports filed later for personnel orders.
Though Ha Mu-baek was well aware of this fact.
He didn’t know that Maengryong Corps belonged to Cheonmok Pavilion.
On the other hand, Han Seol-bing had grasped this.
“Due to various circumstances, Cheonmok Pavilion ended up taking responsibility for it.”
At Gongsun Dan-gyeong’s answer, Ha Mu-baek’s demeanor changed ominously.
Because despite belonging to Cheonmok Pavilion, they had practically neglected Maengryong Corps.
Those who were being sacrificed as meat shields.
“Gongsun Elder. I’m disappointed.”
A sincere statement.
That voice even carried deep anger.
“I have nothing to say.”
Gongsun Dan-gyeong answered with a bitter face.
There was much to say.
The entangled factions and their circumstances, and even the secret struggles.
However, all of that was nothing more than excuses.
What was certain was.
Maengryong Corps members were sacrificed every year in Sanwol Demon Forest, and Gongsun Dan-gyeong, who was responsible for them, had taken no measures.
Gongsun Dan-gyeong rose from his seat and headed to a drawer among the bookshelves that filled the wall.
Opening one of the drawers, he held a small bronze plaque in his hand.
“This is the first time I’m taking it out. I had even forgotten it was here. Take it.”
The bronze plaque he offered to Ha Mu-baek was engraved with “Maengryong Corps Leader.”
“I wish to be Vice Commander.”
Han Seol-bing said to Gongsun Dan-gyeong.
“I thought you would.”
He took out another iron plaque and handed it to her.
“I know well that I’m not qualified to say this, but please take care of them. I’ll write the personnel order right now.”
Gongsun Dan-gyeong quickly wrote the order and stamped it with his official seal.
One for Ha Mu-baek to take to Bongma Corps, and one to keep at Cheonmok Pavilion.
Ha Mu-baek and Han Seol-bing had left.
Gongsun Dan-gyeong remained alone in his office, which had originally been solitary.
“Phew.”
Letting out a deep sigh, he opened one of his desk drawers.
Inside was a thick message that had recently arrived from Gyoryong Hall.
A report from Zhuge Ming about this year’s Maengryong Corps cadets.
And again, gratitude for providing shields to the cadets and financial assistance needed for that, among other things.
Lengthy content was written there.
Zhuge Ming was one of the few outstanding talents in Cheonmok Pavilion, and Gongsun Dan-gyeong had high expectations for this promising individual.
His transfer to become an instructor at Gyoryong Hall.
Would have been impossible without Pavilion Master Gongsun Dan-gyeong’s assistance.
The various martial arts theory books and secret manuals that Zhuge Ming referenced in creating shield techniques and formations were also secretly supported by Gongsun Dan-gyeong.
Only two people knew this fact: Gongsun Dan-gyeong and Zhuge Ming themselves.
“This was about all I could do.”
Gongsun Dan-gyeong muttered bitterly alone in the empty place.
Meanwhile, a small smile appeared on his lips.
Since Ha Mu-baek had headed to Sanwol Demon Forest.
He had hoped it might be because of his younger sister Ha Seol-ran, but couldn’t be certain.
He was such an unpredictable person, and strong enough to move as he pleased.
But now he had become Maengryong Corps Leader himself and gone to Sanwol Demon Forest.
A sense of relief settled in one corner of his heart.
***
Do Sim-geuk.
His face was severely contorted.
It couldn’t be helped.
It was because of Jeongcheon Alliance Leader So Hwi-ung, who had suddenly barged in the previous day without any notice.
News that he had left the Alliance had been secretly conveyed from his Master.
The problem was that this news had arrived only about half a hour earlier than So Hwi-ung himself.
After receiving news that So Hwi-ung had left the Alliance and his destination was presumed to be Sanwol Demon Forest, exactly half a hour later So Hwi-ung had barged into the Bongma Corps.
They couldn’t make any preparations.
The reason was inspection of Sanwol Demon Forest and direct subjugation of powerful individual jiangshi.
‘It’s probably an inspection of the Bongma Corps, not Sanwol Demon Forest.’
On the day he arrived, he said he was tired and went straight to rest.
But what would happen today?
Especially since there had been the incident of failing to report the new type of poison jiangshi last time.
Do Sim-geuk had been restless since dawn.
Meanwhile, morning had broken.
A meeting was convened under the supervision of Jeongcheon Alliance Leader So Hwi-ung.
Those attending were So Hwi-ung, Dam Mu-heun, Gongsun Mu-oe, Ma Jin-gi, Do Sim-geuk, Yang Bi-chang, and Pung Geon.
Do Sim-geuk glanced sideways at Pung Geon.
‘Why is that bastard…’
He had been called at So Hwi-ung’s request.
Do Sim-geuk couldn’t help but feel guilty.
Because he was the one who had discovered and reported the new type of poison jiangshi.
“I came a few days early and looked around Sanwol Demon Forest a bit. Because of the jiangshi reported through Cheonmok Pavilion previously.”
At So Hwi-ung’s words, Yang Bi-chang nodded.
He had probably suspected as much.
The appearance of a jiangshi that had struck the walls of Sanwol Great Wall was no ordinary matter.
It was an issue worthy of the Alliance Leader moving personally.
However, Senior Brother Do Sim-geuk seemed unable to think that far, his expression looking quite complicated.
But he appeared to breathe a sigh of relief at the Alliance Leader’s words.
“Are you the one who experienced it directly?”
At So Hwi-ung’s question, Pung Geon politely bowed and answered.
“Yes.”
“Could I hear the details of that situation?”
Ma Jin-gi interjected.
Pung Geon’s gaze turned to So Hwi-ung, and the Alliance Leader nodded.
With the Alliance Leader’s permission, Pung Geon recalled his memories and recounted them in detail.
“Hmm. You felt the jiangshi’s qi energy and ran away without looking back…”
So Hwi-ung quietly fell into thought.
“I’m, I’m sorry, Alliance Leader. Squad Leader Pung’s squad is quite lacking even within the Bongma Corps, so they showed a shameful display.”
Do Sim-geuk carefully spoke up.
So Hwi-ung chuckled at those words and shook his head.
“You. You’re a Dan-ju, yet you don’t even properly understand your subordinates?”
That voice was chilling.
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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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