Chapter 574: I Didn't Know the Standard of Martial Arts Halls Was This High These Days
Chapter 574: I Didn't Know the Standard of Martial Arts Halls Was This High These Days
The Sword King’s gaze was soft.
The trainees were immediately taken by the first impression the new instructor projected.
Was it the relaxed air in his expression? Or perhaps it was his weathered martial arts robes, his simple iron sword, and his hair tied back in a loose knot? He exuded the aura of a man who was truly free-spirited.
He looked like a wanderer who enjoyed his liberty, roaming the Central Plains with nothing but a single blade at his hip.
That was precisely why Geom Mu-geuk grew even more tense.
He knew all too well what kind of realm that sense of absolute relaxation originated from.
Mu-geuk took a step forward, positioning himself in front of Lee An and Seo Jin. He kept the two women behind him, shielding them to his left and right.
Had he been alone, he wouldn't have been this nervous. But the hall was filled with trainees, and more importantly, Lee An and Seo Jin were here.
Was there any guarantee that the Sword King wouldn't attack him right here and now?
Considering everything that had happened with the forces lurking behind the scenes, nothing would be surprising anymore.
Lee An’s gaze fixed on Mu-geuk’s back. Ever since the temporary instructor appeared, Mu-geuk hadn't taken his eyes off the man for a second.
She had watched the Young Cult Leader since they were children. By now, she could read his mood just by the way he stood. She sensed that, for some reason, Mu-geuk was currently on a razor's edge.
‘He’s usually the person furthest removed from the word "nervous."’
Naturally, Lee An’s eyes shifted toward the new instructor.
She felt he was distinctly different from the other instructors in the hall, who all shared a similar, rigid vibe, but she couldn't sense any particularly special aura from him.
If Mu-geuk was truly this tense because of that man, it meant the instructor was a master far superior to herself.
‘Could it be? Is he a master from the Black Snake Unit?’
She never imagined that the mastermind Mu-geuk had been dealing with would show up here, so she wondered if the man might be a high-ranking operative from the Black Snake Unit.
“Now then, let’s start with introductions.”
The trainee closest to the Sword King was the first to state his name. The Sword King asked the trainees various questions. How old are you? Why did you join the martial arts hall? What do you plan to do after leaving? Do you have a girlfriend?
Looking at him now, he seemed like nothing more than a typical martial arts instructor—the kind who was overly interested in other people's business and loved to meddle.
Eventually, it was Mu-geuk’s turn.
“I am Geom Yeon.”
There was no wordplay in his introduction today.
Seeing that, Lee An became certain her intuition was correct. Normally, the Young Cult Leader would have joked that his name was written with the character for 'smoke' rather than 'connection.'
The decisive reason for Mu-geuk’s tension was simple:
‘He came here knowing exactly who I am.’
How could a meeting between one of the Twelve Zodiac Kings and himself be a mere coincidence? Especially a meeting with the First King, no less.
The problem was that the Sword King had stepped out into the open. If he knew Mu-geuk was here, he could have moved secretly, as most of the other Twelve Zodiac Kings had done.
Instead, the Sword King had stood boldly before him.
Did he think Mu-geuk wouldn't recognize him?
Impossible. No matter how much one hid their aura, how could such a presence go unnoticed by an equal? This was a display of the Sword King’s confidence—a silent declaration that they should have a proper showdown.
The Sword King, who had been staring at Mu-geuk, suddenly shouted out in delight.
“Hey! It’s you!”
To Mu-geuk’s ears, those words sounded like: So I finally meet the bastard who’s been such a thorn in our side!
Of course, the Sword King gave a different reason.
“Rumors are already flying through the hall. They say there’s a newcomer who walks around with two beautiful women. You lucky dog! I'm so jealous!”
He looked genuinely envious. The watching trainees burst into laughter. It was their first time seeing an instructor so openly jealous of a trainee’s looks and company. They already began to lower their guard around this temporary instructor.
Mu-geuk thumped his chest twice and spoke boastfully.
“That’s right. I’m that dashing newcomer.”
“Let’s have a closer look then. Just how dashing are you?”
The Sword King walked toward Mu-geuk.
In that moment, sensing Mu-geuk’s internal tension, the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Art activated on its own.
Even as he approached step by step, the Sword King revealed no killing intent. With a broad smile, he looked exactly like an instructor who enjoyed joking around with his students.
The Sword King stopped right in front of Mu-geuk’s nose.
They were now at a distance where either could draw their sword and take the other’s head in a heartbeat.
Mu-geuk’s heart hammered.
His opponent was the Sword King.
The Sword King took one more step closer. Then, he slowly raised his hand and reached toward Mu-geuk.
At that sight, it was Lee An, standing behind Mu-geuk, whose heart felt like it would explode.
If the two of them started a fierce battle, what should she do? Should she help the Young Cult Leader? Or should she trust him and retreat while taking care of Seo Jin?
The hand reached out toward Mu-geuk and found its target.
Tap.
The Sword King placed a hand on Mu-geuk’s shoulder.
“You’re cool.”
Until then, Mu-geuk had stood perfectly still. Watching the man place a hand on his shoulder without reacting was harder than a violent struggle. His mental exhaustion was reaching its peak because he didn't know when or how an attack might come.
Mu-geuk smiled and replied.
“You’re cooler, Instructor.”
“Me?”
“Usually, people would be burning with jealousy. But you, Instructor, tell me I’m cool.”
At that, the Sword King leaned in even closer. Mu-geuk stared silently as the man’s eyes drew near. It was the same as before—it was harder to endure this proximity without revealing his own aura.
The Sword King whispered into Mu-geuk’s ear.
“To be honest, I am jealous. I’m a man, too.”
He then gave Mu-geuk a sly grin.
The Sword King was different from what Mu-geuk had imagined. Entirely different.
‘So this is the kind of person the Sword King is.’
The man surely knew. He knew that Mu-geuk didn't see him as an ordinary instructor. That was what made his actions even more impressive.
Even then, the Sword King’s hand remained on Mu-geuk’s shoulder. The moment even a faint trace of True Qi was felt at his fingertips, a mad slaughter would erupt.
The Sword King’s gaze shifted to Lee An, who was standing behind Mu-geuk.
When their eyes met, Lee An bowed her head in greeting and stated her name.
“I am Lee An.”
The Sword King took his hand off Mu-geuk’s shoulder and took a step toward Lee An.
Mu-geuk turned to follow him.
‘If you strike Lee An, you die too.’
But the Sword King wouldn't take such a risk with Mu-geuk at his back. He, too, would know the extent of the Young Cult Leader’s skill.
As expected, the Sword King did not attack her. Instead, he looked at her with admiration.
“Incredible!”
It looked as though he was admiring her beauty, but Mu-geuk knew better.
‘He read Lee An’s achievement.’
In other words, he had instantly seen through the level of Lee An’s martial arts—she who had reached Great Achievement in the Flying Heaven Sword Technique.
Even though she showed no sign of nervousness and had thoroughly hidden her aura, she couldn't deceive his eyes.
The Sword King stared intently at Lee An before turning his gaze to Seo Jin.
“I am Seo Jin.”
There was no lust or desire in the Sword King’s eyes as he looked at the two women.
That was why it was even more of a problem. Having returned to his original spot, the Sword King called them out.
“Lee An, Seo Jin. Step forward!”
This was a blatant provocation aimed at Mu-geuk. An instructor calling trainees forward was a perfectly normal thing to do.
Now, what will you do?
Lee An, having taken a step forward, looked at Mu-geuk. From the way Mu-geuk was looking at the instructor, Lee An was now certain.
‘So this man is the master who makes the Young Cult Leader this nervous!’
She felt Mu-geuk’s worry. He was afraid they would be put in danger.
On the other hand, Seo Jin, unaware of the gravity of the situation, looked at Lee An with a gaze that suggested they should go out together.
In that moment, one of Lee An’s "nine tails" unfurled—her fox-like wit sharpened. She grabbed Mu-geuk’s wrist.
As a surprised Mu-geuk looked at her, Lee An pulled him along as she stepped forward.
“Let’s go together.”
Seo Jin followed behind them. She, too, sensed that something unusual was happening.
The Sword King wore a peculiar smile as he watched them.
“I believe I only told the two of them to come forward?”
Lee An said to him.
“There’s a reason I brought this friend along.”
Lee An looked at Mu-geuk as she spoke.
“This friend promised to be our sword and shield by our side for the rest of his life.”
Originally, he had said he would be her sword and shield, but now she used the word 'our.' It was because they were in a situation where Seo Jin needed protection as well.
The trainees, hearing this for the first time, grew noisy. Most of them scowled rather than laughed, and jeers broke out instead of applause.
“Since he’s a martial artist, he should carry his sword and shield wherever he goes.”
Even as she spoke, Lee An’s heart was racing wildly. It was something she had thought of on the spot, so she didn't know if it would work. Still, it was the method she chose to help Mu-geuk in any way she could.
The Sword King walked up to Lee An.
“And what if this shield gets smashed to pieces?”
A brief silence followed. Soon, Lee An replied with a bright smile.
“That’s why we’re always recruiting more shields.”
The Sword King stood dazed for a moment before letting out a loud laugh.
“Good, that’s funny. Is there an age limit for that shield position?”
It was a joke implying whether he could join as well, and the trainees burst into laughter.
“All three of you, go back to your spots.”
Whether he accepted her wit or not, the Sword King let them return.
As they were about to return to their original positions, the Sword King called out to Mu-geuk.
“You said your name was Geom Yeon, right?”
“Yes.”
“There are two women but only one shield? What happens if they’re both attacked at the same time?”
He asked it like a joke, but it was a loaded question. A question asking: If I attack these two women simultaneously, who will you protect?
It was a truly difficult question. If not for these two women, Mu-geuk wouldn't be standing here. If Lee An hadn't blocked for him with the Full Body Petrification Art, he would already be dead; if Seo Jin hadn't told him about the Great Regression Art, he wouldn't have been able to return.
Mu-geuk turned around with a smile.
“I won't have to save either of them.”
“Why is that?”
“What kind of idiot in this world would stab such beautiful women to death? Would you stab them, Instructor?”
At the unexpected answer, the Sword King laughed out loud once again.
“I wouldn't have been able to stab them. Instead, I would have stabbed you three times.”
“Why three times?”
“I’d have to stab you on behalf of the ladies as well.”
This time, Mu-geuk looked at Lee An with a smile.
“Did you hear that, fellow recruit? Your shield is in quite a bit of danger.”
Lee An replied with a smile.
“I’ll try to block at least one of them somehow. So just get stabbed twice.”
Then Seo Jin, who was on the other side, spoke up.
“I’ll work hard too, so that you only have to block once.”
Mu-geuk looked back at the Sword King.
“So they say.”
The two men looked at each other. The Sword King’s face was full of leisure, while Mu-geuk wore a comfortable smile.
The introductions of the other trainees continued. As if to show he wasn't giving Mu-geuk and the two women special treatment, the Sword King asked the other trainees all sorts of things. What’s your family like? What will you spend your money on once you earn it?
In the meantime, the training session ended. As soon as the bell signaling the end of training rang, the Sword King left without a single backward glance.
“See you tomorrow!”
The sight of him running off made him look like a slacker instructor who was glad to have finished his day's work.
Only after he was far away did Mu-geuk finally let out a soft sigh. He hadn't used a single strand of internal energy, yet he had just fought a fierce battle. And it was more exhausting than any other fight.
Lee An asked Mu-geuk cautiously.
“Did I ruin things, perhaps?”
“No. You did well.”
Only then did Lee An breathe a sigh of relief.
“You told me before, didn't you? That if I wanted to talk about my strength, I should ask how many exchanges it would take to kill the Yellow Dragon Martial Arts Hall Master! But just now, my heart nearly burst because of a single instructor!”
Mu-geuk responded to her joke with one of his own.
“I didn't know the standard of martial arts halls was this high these days.”
Of course, Lee An knew. She knew that the instructor from a moment ago was a master from the forces Mu-geuk had been fighting. A master from the Black Snake Unit couldn't possibly make Mu-geuk this tense.
“Once you reach your level of skill, enemies like that start appearing before you.”
“Then what should I do?”
Mu-geuk gave her the answer.
“You have to achieve the Twelve-Star Great Achievement.”
Lee An nodded, vowing to herself that she would definitely reach the Twelve-Star Great Achievement.
“You can't say this to me then! 'Sorry, now you have to face even stronger enemies!'”
Mu-geuk laughed with an expression that said he just might.
Seo Jin, standing beside them, also felt a burning desire to become stronger.
“I will work hard as well.”
“Right. Now we need a real ghost, not a baby ghost.”
The Sword King’s question about who he would save had actually served as a powerful motivation for Lee An and Seo Jin to become stronger. They were the type of people who would rather protect someone than be protected themselves.
Lee An looked in the direction the Sword King had walked and said,
“It looks like dangerous lessons will begin tomorrow.”
Mu-geuk replied with a meaningful smile.
“The more dangerous it is, the more there will be to learn.”