Chapter 147
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 147
Chapter Title: Next is the Arm
Having made his decision, Baek Ri-pyeong picked up his brush.
The content flowed onto the pristine white paper in a single, fluid stroke.
It was a dormitory withdrawal application.
Once he finished writing everything, he neatly folded it and slipped it into an envelope.
He also carefully placed the voucher sent from his sect into another envelope.
Submitting these would be the end of it.
Two envelopes sat side by side on the desk.
Baek Ri-pyeong gazed at them with a complicated expression.
Even though he knew he had to, he couldn't bring himself to pick them up and tuck them into his robes.
"Hoo."
After staring at the desk for about a quarter of an hour, Baek Ri-pyeong let out a deep sigh and rose from his chair.
He slowly reached out, slipping both envelopes into his robes.
"Let's go."
Muttering softly to himself, Baek Ri-pyeong stepped out of the room.
He stopped abruptly at the doorway.
Turning back, he took in the sight of his room for a brief moment.
Then he closed the door and walked away.
His destination was the Pavilion Lord's Residence.
That's where he needed to submit the withdrawal application.
He knew the distance from Fierce Dragon Dormitory to the Pavilion Lord's Residence was considerable, yet he arrived in no time at all.
After glancing at the building, he entered through the entrance.
"Oh? Isn't this Cadet Baek Ri-pyeong, the sacred star of the Summer Combat Festival? What brings you to the Pavilion Lord's Residence?"
A man with a kindly yet meticulous impression greeted Baek Ri-pyeong with a smile.
A small cart behind him was piled high with documents.
He clearly seemed to be in a hurry somewhere, but he stopped in his tracks the moment he spotted Baek Ri-pyeong and approached.
"I've come to submit this."
Baek Ri-pyeong drew an envelope from his robes.
During the walk to the Pavilion Lord's Residence, he had shaken off all lingering attachments and hesitations; there was no hesitation in his movements now.
The man took the envelope and widened his eyes at the words written on the front.
Dormitory Withdrawal Application.
"Hmm. This is beyond my authority to handle. Follow me."
He abandoned the cart and led Baek Ri-pyeong up the stairs.
They arrived at the top floor, the fifth.
Before them was the Pavilion Lord's office.
Baek Ri-pyeong's eyes widened.
Did withdrawing from Fierce Dragon Corps warrant a personal visit to the Pavilion Lord's office?
"It seems you didn't know, but withdrawal applications must receive the Pavilion Lord's personal approval."
With that explanation for Baek Ri-pyeong, the man cleared his throat and called out loudly.
"Pavilion Lord! This is Guard Ki Yu-chan. May I enter for a moment?"
"Come in."
Permission came swiftly.
Upon opening the door, Pavilion Lord Pang Do-yul was savoring tea while gazing out the window.
"Oh? Cadet Baek Ri-pyeong. What brings you here?"
"This."
Ki Yu-chan handed over the envelope he was holding.
Pang Do-yul glanced at the five words on the front, then calmly pulled out the paper inside and read its contents.
"A recall order from Zhongnan Sect..."
He murmured softly.
"And this as well."
Baek Ri-pyeong politely offered the envelope containing the voucher from his robes.
"Hm. A voucher from Zhongnan's chief steward."
Pang Do-yul confirmed the voucher as well.
He gave a glance toward Ki Yu-chan.
Understanding the cue, the guard quietly exited the office.
"Do you know why your sect leader issued this order?"
Baek Ri-pyeong paused at the pointed question but nodded and answered.
"I believe it's for the same reason they sent me to Fierce Dragon Corps."
This time, Pang Do-yul nodded.
It was a question to confirm whether Baek Ri-pyeong fully grasped his own situation.
"Sect Leader Joo is an ambitious man. Far beyond his capabilities."
"...Pavilion Lord, that remark seems excessive."
He had spoken negatively of Zhongnan's sect leader in front of one of their disciples.
But it was something Baek Ri-pyeong could say.
"My apologies. I was out of line."
Pang Do-yul admitted it readily. Baek Ri-pyeong's expression shifted slightly at the sight.
Among the adults he had encountered at Zhongnan, few admitted their faults so quickly.
"You haven't reviewed the dormitory rules, have you?"
Pang Do-yul continued, walking to the bookshelf and pulling out a thick volume.
Baek Ri-pyeong had no reply. The Pavilion Lord was right.
He had only known that submitting the application at the Pavilion Lord's Residence would suffice.
Pang Do-yul deftly opened the book to a specific page and held it out.
"These are the rules regarding withdrawal. Take a look."
The entire thick book was filled with dormitory rules.
And the way he opened it so familiarly, as if he knew exactly where everything was.
The pages were glossy from repeated handling.
Baek Ri-pyeong carefully examined the open page and flinched.
Because of a single, clearly written line.
"Indeed. To submit a withdrawal application to the Pavilion Lord, you must first obtain approval from your assigned instructor. Do you have Instructor Ha's approval? There's no signature on this application."
"I do not."
A curt reply.
"Then that's the first step. Bring me Instructor Ha's approval, and I'll grant it. Take it back for now."
Baek Ri-pyeong bowed his head, as the Pavilion Lord's words made perfect sense, and left the office.
Pang Do-yul gazed silently at Baek Ri-pyeong's retreating figure as he exited the Pavilion Lord's Residence through the window.
"Sect Leader Joo. Your greed will stir up trouble in peaceful Zhongnan..."
Pang Do-yul murmured softly.
The moment Ha Mu-baek set foot beyond the main gate.
"Attack!"
A loud shout rang out, and arrows flew from all directions.
Countless arrows rained down like a sudden downpour.
Ha Mu-baek smirked at the sight.
"What's the point of an ambush if you're shouting so loudly?"
With that, he casually swung his right arm.
As if an invisible wall had appeared, the incoming arrows fell powerless to the ground.
Not a single one reached Ha Mu-baek's vicinity.
Next, warriors charged in directly with swords and spears.
They had formed a proper formation, suggesting some training in joint maneuvers.
Gong Mu-hyeok's face twisted upon recognizing them.
"The guard unit..."
That's right.
His own guard unit was the first to attack him upon his return to the alliance.
He had been away for no short time, but not excessively long either.
To turn against him in that span.
At least the guard captain hadn't.
He had died protecting Gong Mu-hyeok.
Gong Mu-hyeok's eyes trembled fiercely.
"I told you it wouldn't be easy. You can't lose heart already."
Ha Mu-baek said quietly.
Stepping forward, he drew his sword.
A light swing.
But the result was tremendous.
The swords and spears of the guard unit warriors who had formed up to attack were all severed in two.
The guard warriors were stunned.
Their weapons were broken, yet not a scratch on their bodies.
How was this possible?
It was nothing short of miraculous.
Ha Mu-baek regarded them calmly and spoke.
"Next is the arm."
His words pierced their ears.
Understanding the meaning was not difficult.
Thus, the guard warriors' eyes shook wildly.
A few had already broken formation and fled.
Regardless, Ha Mu-baek raised his sword.
And brought it down.
"Arghhh!"
"Uwaaaah!"
Half screamed and scattered in all directions.
The other half gritted their teeth and charged at Ha Mu-baek.
The outcome was Tragic.
"Aaaak!"
"Kuaak!"
Screams filled the air.
Those who had rushed at Ha Mu-baek clutched their left elbows and collapsed.
Blood poured out like a waterfall.
What should have been below the elbow was gone.
Their arms lay severed on the ground, and the wounded knelt wailing.
"Unable to fight from that level of pain."
Ha Mu-baek muttered dismissively.
The agony of limb loss.
An indescribable, excruciating pain.
Yet on the battlefield, one couldn't feel it. Or rather, even if they did, they had to endure and move.
Otherwise, their head might fly next.
To Ha Mu-baek, these were mere greenhorns.
Gong Mu-hyeok watched wide-eyed.
He had already realized Ha Mu-baek was an transcendent master from surviving the Mancheon Geumsa Pungroe.
But this was different.
To dismantle so many with such simple movements.
The gathered guard unit numbered about a hundred.
He had neutralized them with one gesture and two sword strokes.
Even seeing it firsthand, it was hard to believe.
Ha Mu-baek looked around calmly.
Only those clutching arms in agony or collapsed remained.
The fleeing ones had already scaled walls and fled down the mountain or into the woods.
"A motley crew."
A succinct assessment.
But Gong Mu-hyeok couldn't readily accept it.
'Instructor Ha is just too strong. Who wouldn't crumble before such prowess...'
Gong Mu-hyeok couldn't voice the thought.
And it continued likewise.
No one among those blocking the way withstood a single stroke from Ha Mu-baek.
Thus, the number losing their left arms steadily grew.
Gong Mu-hyeok's heart was uneasy watching his alliance's members lose arms.
Yet he couldn't ask Ha Mu-baek to go easy.
He knew mercy was already being shown.
Arms, not heads, were being severed.
Yes, better than death.
With such thoughts, he followed, witnessing the Tragic scene.
They arrived at the grand hall.
The central building where the alliance's major and minor affairs were decided.
Ha Mu-baek gazed steadily at the hall.
"They're inside."
Gong Mu-hyeok nodded at Ha Mu-baek's words.
"It's the heart of our alliance."
"Seems they're waiting."
Ha Mu-baek stepped forward, Gong Mu-hyeok following.
As Ha Mu-baek had promised from the start, Gong Mu-hyeok wasn't harmed in the slightest.
Not even dust on his clothes.
Thud. Thud.
Entering the hall and walking the corridor, only their footsteps echoed.
Making the countless warriors they had encountered en route seem pointless—no one was here.
"Seven are waiting. People are gathering around this hall."
Ha Mu-baek shared what he sensed.
Gong Mu-hyeok steeled his expression.
It was time to settle things.
They reached the grand hall.
On the throne at the head.
Gong Do-hyeok sat, looking down.
"You've come, brother."
Those standing around the throne.
One face was unfamiliar.
But the other five were well-known.
"Elder Oh."
Gong Mu-hyeok murmured calmly.
Those who decided the alliance's affairs alongside the leader.
The five elders.
All siding with his brother.
Their expressions varied.
Some ashamed, some defiant.
One filled with ambition.
"Have all Elder Ohs endorsed Do-hyeok's rebellion?"
Gong Mu-hyeok stepped forward and asked.
Ha Mu-baek stood calmly beside him.
From here, it was an internal alliance matter.
He would observe, then decide how to collect his debt.
Gong Do-hyeok glanced at Ha Mu-baek.
"Rebellion? Brother, I'm simply the deputy leader who has managed the alliance in place of its irresponsible head taking off—who now ascends to the throne. Me."
Gong Do-hyeok declared boldly.
"Think the council of elders will approve?"
Gong Mu-hyeok asked.
"Hmph. Those old fossils living in the past are lost in the Mancheon Geumsa Pungroe nonsense, out of their minds. With the council absent, the elders' consensus will suffice."
To become leader, one needed approval from the five elders and the council simultaneously.
In this situation, it was mere formality, but Gong Do-hyeok spoke as if following procedure to claim the throne.
"A deputy who tried to kill the leader?"
"Ha?"
Gong Do-hyeok sighed in disbelief at Gong Mu-hyeok's words.
Gong Mu-hyeok slipped his hand into his robes.
What he drew out was the launcher tube of the Mancheon Geumsa Pungroe.
"Th-that's...?"
One of the elders recognized it.