The World’s Greatest Martial Arts Instructor - Chapter 480

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

 

 

 

 

Chapter 480. Honestly, I Don’t Know

 

 

“Kueoeoek.”

Sanwol Demon Forest as darkness slowly descended.

One Death Jiangshi screamed as it was split apart.

Ung-cheol, who had shaken off his blade, indifferently looked down at the remains of the Death Jiangshi.

It was a situation of complete extremes.

When he first faced the countless hordes of jiangshi and those jiangshi that the word ‘monster’ was insufficient to describe.

He had thought this place would be where he would die.

But now he was slicing through Death Jiangshi all too easily.

“What do you think will happen to us?”

Bi Jin-hyeop, who had likewise cut down a Death Jiangshi beside him, spoke with a face filled with strange anticipation.

These two were the only people in this place.

All that remained now was to return to where Han Seol-bing was waiting.

“The Corps Leader said he would look into it. With the higher-ups.”

“We don’t have much work left to do. If that ends, I mean. Would we just spend our remaining time here? I hope that’s what happens. Hehe.”

That was exactly what Bi Jin-hyeop’s strange anticipation was about.

Maengryong Corps.

A military unit whose mission was to assist the Bongma Corps in Sanwol Demon Forest.

Sanwol Demon Forest.

This place was their area of service.

But the enemy had disappeared.

Yet they still had five years left in their service period.

He was expressing his wish to spend those five years comfortably here before going home.

That was the kind of hope he was talking about.

“Isn’t that stealing wages?”

Ung-cheol asked with an incredulous expression.

“That was the condition from when we first joined the Gyoryong Hall Maengryong Corps. Don’t you remember?”

At Bi Jin-hyeop’s question, Ung-cheol traced back his memories from two years ago.

It was certainly true.

The Gyoryong Hall administrator who had accepted their applications had repeatedly emphasized and confirmed it.

That the Maengryong Corps members who completed training would only serve in Sanwol Demon Forest.

“Hmm.”

Though Ung-cheol disliked thinking, Bi Jin-hyeop’s words made him think more.

 

***

 

It was the dead of night.

A time when everyone was asleep except for the night guards keeping watch around the perimeter.

Ha Mu-baek rose from his bed.

Swoosh.

His figure disappeared in an instant.

Since he had completely suppressed his presence, no one noticed his movement.

Not even Wi Ji-gun or Ha Seol-ran.

However, the two soon became aware of Ha Mu-baek’s movement itself.

Because his presence had disappeared from Ha Mu-baek’s tent.

But they couldn’t figure out where he was moving at all.

‘Hehe. This level of mastery?’

Even though he had experienced it several times already.

Each time he encountered Ha Mu-baek’s level of mastery, he was amazed and delighted.

‘As expected of Elder Brother…’

Ha Seol-ran, lying in bed and nodding her head briefly, resolved to train even harder.

She couldn’t become a burden to her elder brother.

 

“Huh. Where did that guy go again?”

Another person who sensed that Ha Mu-baek’s presence had disappeared from his tent was So Hwi-ung.

Not only him, but Han Seol-bing, Dam Mu-heun, Gongsun Mu-oe and others also belatedly noticed this fact.

In fact, the energy and presence that Ha Mu-baek possessed was enormous.

Those at that level of mastery couldn’t help but sense it.

But since it had suddenly disappeared without a trace.

They realized that Ha Mu-baek had moved.

Though they had no idea where he had moved to.

 

“Hey. Open your eyes.”

Yang Bi-chang, who was bound hand and foot and tied to a post driven into the ground inside a tent, struggled to open his eyes at the sudden voice.

He had been unconscious due to weakened strength.

With his internal energy suppressed, bound, and having traveled here tied up like this.

Blinking his eyes and struggling to regain consciousness, the man he saw before him.

“Maengryong Corps Leader…”

He had already seen with his own eyes the tremendous strength this man possessed.

That terrifying divine power that subdued the Myeolcheon Jiangshi that even the Alliance Leader had struggled against.

‘Why is this person coming to me…’

Ha Mu-baek glared at Yang Bi-chang with cold eyes.

“Spill everything you and that Bongma Corps Leader bastard did in the Bongma Corps.”

“I already told everything to the Alliance Leader…”

Yang Bi-chang spoke with difficulty in a cracked voice.

Ha Mu-baek smirked.

It was a laugh filled with killing intent.

Yang Bi-chang’s testimony had already been relayed to him through Dam Mu-heun.

From the orthodox faction’s perspective, it was truly an act that would anger both heaven and man.

To process and consume jiangshi inner cores and gain inner cores from that.

It was heretical, demonic.

Since the source of that power was jiangshi, there was no telling what side effects there might be.

There was the precedent of Myeol-gong after all.

“Right. I also looked through that Corps Leader bastard’s tent a while ago. Your tent too.”

Even so, there was no change in Yang Bi-chang’s expression.

Ha Mu-baek’s voice grew quieter, but the killing intent contained within it grew thicker.

“What was your intention?”

Yang Bi-chang made an expression as if he didn’t understand the question directed at him.

“You deliberately assigned death missions, didn’t you? Especially to squads that included five-year veteran Maengryong Corps members.”

Yang Bi-chang’s face stiffened with a start.

It was a fact he hadn’t revealed even before the Alliance Leader.

The written orders remained.

But without properly knowing the circumstances of Sanwol Demon Forest, one couldn’t read the intention within those written orders.

“Stupid bastard. Did you think I wouldn’t know if you hid it? Do you think Strategist Gongsun is a joke?”

Yang Bi-chang’s body trembled with a start.

Many people involved in that incident had lost their lives during this chaos.

But there were also survivors.

Like Heukdae Yi Jo.

Just by collecting testimonies from such people.

It would be easily revealed.

Ha Mu-baek had already known since he directly heard about Heukdae Yi Jo’s unjust mission in Sanwol Demon Forest.

Ha Mu-baek had moved to confirm the intentions he was suspecting.

“Yes, keep that mouth of yours tightly shut like that.”

A bloody killing intent appeared at the corner of Ha Mu-baek’s lips.

His hand moved slowly.

No one present in this place noticed what was happening inside.

He had perfectly blocked all sound with his energy barrier.

And he had completely erased his own presence.

 

***

 

It took three days to prepare all the coffins, carts, and carriages needed to transport the corpses.

The corpses had been frozen by Han Seol-bing’s ice techniques, so decomposition hadn’t progressed.

And the Maengryong Corps continued to exterminate the remaining Death Jiangshi in Sanwol Demon Forest.

Though it seemed the duties of Bongma Corps and Maengryong Corps had switched, Bongma Corps had no choice.

Their Dan-ju had died to jiangshi while fleeing, and their vice Dan-ju was imprisoned for his crimes.

They were now under the direct command of the Alliance Leader.

Through the proxy of Dam Mu-heun, the Vice Commander of Hotian Dan.

Meanwhile, the Maengryong Corps, which had gained both a Corps Leader and Vice Commander to fill the previous vacancy, was busy.

They truly busily roamed throughout Sanwol Demon Forest to dry up the remaining jiangshi seeds.

Among them, the busiest person was Han Seol-bing.

She had to lead the Maengryong Corps.

And she also had to use her ice techniques to freeze the corpses of Bongma Corps.

Even so, there were always those who had leisure time.

The group from Seonyu Valley, the Alliance Leader, and Ha Mu-baek.

Among them.

The people from Seonyu Valley announced they would be leaving.

“I’m sorry we couldn’t be of much help.”

Gongsun Mu-oe clasped his hands and spoke to the Alliance Leader.

“Not at all. We received great help thanks to your personal visit, Elder.”

So Hwi-ung received Gongsun Mu-oe’s greeting, then bowed deeply toward Ma Jin-gi.

“Hehe. You’re putting gold on the face of an old man who did nothing, Alliance Leader. Thank you.”

“I sincerely thank you for your help.”

With an expression saying it was nothing of the sort, So Hwi-ung conveyed his gratitude once more.

He had examined the walls of Sanwol Demon Forest.

He had clearly seen with his own eyes Ma Jin-gi giving his all to strengthen the spell formations at the place he was guarding.

At that time, they had certainly done their best.

The problem was.

An enemy had appeared that surpassed that best effort.

But even that enemy.

Before an even stronger power.

So Hwi-ung and Ma Jin-gi’s gazes briefly rested on Ha Mu-baek, who had come out for the farewell.

The wound on his chest was healing rapidly.

Now there were no traces of blood seeping out.

“Corps Leader Ha. Thank you so much.”

Gongsun Mu-oe and Ma Jin-gi simultaneously conveyed their thanks to Ha Mu-baek.

“I’m the one who’s grateful for both of your hard work.”

Ha Mu-baek also offered a proper greeting in return.

And so.

After the people from Seonyu Valley left.

Now only So Hwi-ung and Ha Mu-baek remained.

The others returned to their busy daily routines.

Excluding the bound criminals in Bongma Corps’ main camp.

These two were the most leisurely.

Even those taking shifts to watch the criminals maintained constant vigilance.

“Would you like a cup of tea?”

Ha Mu-baek asked So Hwi-ung.

So Hwi-ung showed a surprised expression.

“What’s gotten into you, Mu-baek? The sun definitely rose from the east today.”

Ha Mu-baek, showing no reaction to So Hwi-ung’s pointless joke, walked toward the barracks where he was staying.

“Geez, what a humorless person. Tsk.”

So Hwi-ung clicked his tongue and followed behind.

He put an appropriate amount of tea leaves in the teapot and gathered fire energy in both hands.

Tea that instantly boiled to the right temperature.

Soon the barracks was filled with tea fragrance.

Neither too hot nor too cold.

Seeing Ha Mu-baek’s internal energy control as he used just the right amount of fire energy to boil the tea water, So Hwi-ung nodded.

“What’s the matter?”

Sitting at the tea table and savoring the tea fragrance, So Hwi-ung asked.

“What will you do with our kids?”

Ha Mu-baek immediately brought up the main point.

“The Maengryong Corps?”

Ha Mu-baek nodded.

“In a few more days, we’ll completely exterminate even the Death Jiangshi scattered throughout Sanwol Demon Forest. Then the jiangshi in Sanwol Demon Forest will truly be completely eradicated.”

“Hmm.”

“Then the Maengryong Corps will have fulfilled its purpose for existence.”

At Ha Mu-baek’s words, So Hwi-ung quietly looked down at his teacup.

“No, it’s a fulfillment that goes beyond the purpose of existence. It was originally created as a military unit meant to be Bongma Corps’ meat shields. But what’s the state of Bongma Corps now?”

“Mmm.”

So Hwi-ung couldn’t properly answer Ha Mu-baek’s question.

Because there was nothing wrong with it.

“I heard the Alliance Leader was the one who raised their salaries?”

That was correct.

That was the minimum conscience So Hwi-ung had left.

He had pushed those who didn’t even know basic martial arts into that deadly situation under the pretext of training them.

Though Gongsun Dan-gyeong had also taken some measures.

“What do you want to do?”

So Hwi-ung asked directly without beating around the bush.

The fact that Ha Mu-baek had approached him like this meant he wanted something.

“Dissolution.”

“Then what about those corps members?”

“Their service term is complete. What else would there be?”

At Ha Mu-baek’s answer, So Hwi-ung frowned.

“Then what about the cadets currently at Gyoryong Hall?”

“As expected, discharge after completion of service.”

At Ha Mu-baek’s firm answer, So Hwi-ung shook his head.

That was unacceptable.

Though it had been nothing special in terms of training, the Jeongcheon Alliance’s budget had still been invested in raising them.

More importantly.

The surviving members of the Maengryong Corps were those who had been tempered by real combat in this harsh Sanwol Demon Forest.

And the newly assigned ones were those that Ha Mu-baek himself had properly trained.

Honestly, it would be quite a waste to let them go like this.

And there was another problem.

If he granted what they wanted like that.

Ha Mu-baek’s position would become ambiguous.

If the Maengryong Corps was disbanded, what would become of Ha Mu-baek, its Corps Leader?

“Are you planning to leave the Alliance?”

Ha Mu-baek looked at So Hwi-ung.

“Isn’t that so? If you disband the Maengryong Corps, your position in the Alliance would disappear as well.”

He had left the Dan-ju position vacant with the intention of calling him back as Hocheon Corps Leader soon.

But seeing Ha Mu-baek’s behavior here, it didn’t seem like he would return to the Hocheon Corps.

“Honestly, I don’t know.”

Ha Mu-baek didn’t deny So Hwi-ung’s words.

The contemplation over two days hadn’t reached a conclusion yet.

So Hwi-ung’s eyebrows twitched.

He hadn’t thought that Ha Mu-baek would actually have such intentions.

“Whether I should eliminate these damn bastards from within… or give up and leave… I don’t know.”

Anger was blazing fiercely in Ha Mu-baek’s voice.

So Hwi-ung frowned.

He couldn’t understand what had suddenly caused this reaction.

“The Bongma Corps. Do you know what these bastards have been doing?”

Ha Mu-baek’s question.

“Are you referring to consuming the Jiangshi’s Inner Core?”

At the response, Ha Mu-baek let out a bitter laugh.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————