Chapter 341
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 341
Chapter Title: I'll Set You Straight
"Hmm..."
Pavilion Lord Pang Do-yul quietly gazed at the official document Ki Yu-chan had delivered.
An official visit from the Dorim Sect.
That was the stated reason.
Assessing the Dragon Training Pavilion's current status ahead of dispatching a new instructor.
But it felt like that was just a pretext, nothing more.
All because of the bad blood between Ha Mu-baek and the Dorim Sect.
First Han Pyeong, and now Un Do-heon as well.
Given what Pang Do-yul knew of the Dorim Sect Leader's character, he doubted there'd be any real trouble.
But others were involved too.
Especially the name of the man dispatched this time to assess the situation.
Un Gyo-tak.
He'd heard Un Gyo-tak was currently the strongest warrior in the Dorim Sect.
And he hadn't participated in the last Martial World Tournament.
He'd entered closed-door training at a critical juncture.
Nearly succumbing to qi deviation, or so the story went.
It had taken a full seven years to overcome that crisis.
But in return, he'd grown tremendously stronger.
A reward for conquering such a major ordeal.
However, that also meant he had immense pride in his sect.
And since he hadn't joined the Martial World Tournament, he likely knew little about Ha Mu-baek.
On top of that, his first stop was the Fierce Dragon Corps.
That very afternoon.
Someone unfamiliar with the situation might not notice.
But it was plain as day to Pang Do-yul's eyes.
"He'll get smashed and slink away again. Tsk."
He muttered calmly and reached for his teacup.
He'd been anxious before, but not anymore.
His faith in Ha Mu-baek had taken root.
Which was why Pang Do-yul could enjoy his tea in peace.
Han Seol-bing was the real issue.
"Hmm. A disciple, huh."
Thanks to her, he'd combed through every regulation.
There was no rule prohibiting instructors from taking personal disciples.
It couldn't be helped.
Instructors had their own sects and returned there during breaks.
They could take disciples then, so it wasn't banned.
However.
That disciple couldn't stay at the Dragon Training Pavilion.
No lodging could be provided.
The regulations clearly outlined who qualified for Pavilion dorms.
They might overlook an instructor bringing a disciple along during duties.
But housing was the problem.
Especially since the boy was only eleven years old.
"Did everyone rest well?"
Afternoon.
Group training for the Fierce Dragon Corps began in the main drill hall.
After just one day off, asking if they'd rested well.
"It was too short!"
As the cadets exchanged awkward glances,
Only Dang Jin-san bellowed his response.
Ha Mu-baek's gaze naturally turned that way.
Ha Mu-baek smirked as he watched.
His eyes seemed to say, I know exactly what you were up to yesterday.
"Yeah, you must've had a blast, so it probably flew by. How about it? Gonna sit out today too, Jin-san?"
Dang Jin-san flinched at the words.
'Ah, he knows...'
He was an adult.
It wasn't anything bad.
Just a fun night out.
Yet for some reason,
He hated his comrades finding out.
That's why he'd gone alone yesterday.
Despite Nak Woo-jin seeming idle, Dan Mok Un-roe the training fanatic, and Baek Ri-pyeong the picture of propriety.
He could've taken them all.
At Ha Mu-baek's grinning question,
The eyes of Squad Seven and Squad Twenty—all six cadets—turned to Dang Jin-san.
They were asking with their stares:
What'd you do yesterday?
Dang Jin-san slyly looked away.
Training began with Ha Mu-baek's shout, after lightly pinning Dang Jin-san.
First came basic formation drills.
The cadets moved with practiced ease the moment he spoke.
Reacting automatically.
Ha Mu-baek nodded in satisfaction.
'Not bad.'
Not quite snapping to attention at a tap,
But close enough.
"Wow. How on earth did you train them?"
Han Seol-bing, arriving at the drill hall, exclaimed in admiration.
They were unrecognizable from when she'd left.
Making progress by leaps and bounds.
Im Jang-mu, who'd come with her, watched wide-eyed.
"Their energy is so tight-knit and vigorous."
Ha Mu-baek overheard Im Jang-mu's comment to Han Seol-bing.
"What's with the kid?"
"Ah, my benefactor."
Im Jang-mu hurriedly bowed to Ha Mu-baek.
Ha Mu-baek chuckled at the sight.
Come to think of it, he'd seen him at the Ice Heaven Palace.
"My disciple."
Ha Mu-baek looked intrigued at Han Seol-bing's answer.
"Huh. Your disciple?"
Han Seol-bing nodded.
"But can a Dragon Training Pavilion instructor take a personal disciple?"
Ha Mu-baek tilted his head curiously.
Han Seol-bing flinched at the question.
She'd just come from seeing the Pavilion Lord about this very issue, with no solution.
"Taking a disciple is fine. It's just... no place for him to stay."
The regulations forbade providing dorms.
She let out a soft sigh as she explained.
"Hmm."
Ha Mu-baek stroked his chin.
That young boy.
His age and gender were the problem.
Couldn't leave a little kid outside the Pavilion alone.
And he was a boy, so her dorm was out.
"I'm thinking of getting a small manor or something."
Han Seol-bing said helplessly.
"Wait..."
Suddenly, an idea struck Ha Mu-baek.
"There might be a way."
"Pardon?"
"Come with me after today's session."
Im Jang-mu bowed again at Ha Mu-baek's words.
"Th-thank you so much."
Ha Mu-baek ruffled Im Jang-mu's hair with a chuckle, then strode back to the drill hall.
"Sparring time, now!"
The cadets froze at his command.
Tense, they watched his mouth.
Wondering who'd be called first.
"From today, you'll spar among yourselves. Nearest squads pair off. Winners fight winners, losers fight losers. The ones who lose the most—get ready."
Some cadets jumped in alarm.
"Oh, and the biggest winners get to face me at the end."
At that,
All eyes turned to Squad Seven of the Fierce Dragon Corps.
And so,
The cadet spars began.
"Impressive."
Han Seol-bing watched with interest.
Thanks to drilling the United Formation into their bodies.
The cadets traded blows adeptly.
Im Jang-mu stared in wonder.
"Two groups are shining the brightest."
Ha Mu-baek glanced back at Han Seol-bing.
"Who is this kid, really?"
Han Seol-bing just smiled at Ha Mu-baek's question.
Ha Mu-baek nodded, convinced the boy had exceptional talent worthy of her as master.
Moments later, Ha Mu-baek's gaze shifted.
Sensing presences approaching the drill hall.
Someone with Pavilion Lord Pang Do-yul.
'Dorim Sect energy... but well-honed.'
That's what Ha Mu-baek's senses picked up.
Soon after,
The two appeared in the drill hall.
"Instructor Ha. Got a moment?"
"What is it?"
Un Gyo-tak's eyebrows shot up at Ha Mu-baek's curt reply.
"Arrogant..."
He muttered under his breath.
But Ha Mu-baek, Han Seol-bing, and Pang Do-yul all heard it.
"This is Great Hero Un Gyo-tak from the Dorim Sect. Younger brother of Sect Leader Un Gyo-cheol, here to assess the Pavilion's status regarding the new instructor dispatch."
"Sounds unrelated to the Fierce Dragon Corps."
Ha Mu-baek's retort.
Indeed.
No prestigious sects had ever dispatched instructors to the Fierce Dragon Corps.
Only to their own allies, the Wa Dragon Corps and Hidden Dragon Corps.
"That's for me to decide."
Un Gyo-tak stepped forward, snarling at Ha Mu-baek.
The cadets halted.
They'd noticed the commotion where the instructors stood.
Ha Mu-baek stared steadily at Un Gyo-tak.
"So, what do you want to say?"
Un Gyo-tak's face flushed red at Ha Mu-baek's question, then returned to normal.
He wasn't entirely ignoring his sect leader brother's final words.
That he had to see for himself.
There must be a reason behind his brother's advice.
So he forcibly calmed his excitement.
"I'll personally verify the skills of the current Fierce Dragon Corps chief instructor."
Ha Mu-baek nodded.
"Do what you want."
A stance of utter indifference.
Still, Un Gyo-tak glared daggers at him.
Ha Mu-baek turned to Pang Do-yul.
Pang Do-yul met his gaze.
"I'll set you straight. The Fierce Dragon Corps chief instructor is—"
Ha Mu-baek's eyes widened round at Pang Do-yul's words.
He had no idea about this?
"You're in charge of Fierce Dragon Corps training, aren't you?"
Ha Mu-baek nodded.
That much was true.
"That makes you the chief instructor."
Ha Mu-baek looked dumbfounded.
What the hell...
"A chief instructor who doesn't even know his own role... Tsk."
Un Gyo-tak clicked his tongue.
That stung.
Being dismissed like this by a guy like that.
Ha Mu-baek's expression hardened slightly.
Han Seol-bing subtly shook her head, reading it.
This Un Gyo-tak guy.
He wasn't leaving peacefully.
Thud. Thud.
Ha Mu-baek walked to the center of the drill hall.
The cadets hurried to the edges, clearing the space.
They could guess what he was about to do from past experience.
At the center, Ha Mu-baek fixed Un Gyo-tak with a stare.
Slowly raising his right hand, pointing with his index finger.
Beckon.
Beckon.
Twice, then lowered his hand.
"That bastard."
Un Gyo-tak trembled with rage.
Had he ever endured such humiliation?
"You want to test my skills? Means you wanna throw down. Come at me."
Ha Mu-baek's provocation.
Un Gyo-tak ground his teeth.
"Hoo."
After a deep breath, he calmed himself.
Thud. Thud.
He stepped to the center.
Facing Ha Mu-baek at a distance.
"Ready?"
"Ready for what? You're just here 'cause your guys got wrecked before. Han Pyeong and Un Do-heon."
Those two were etched in Ha Mu-baek's memory.
No forgetting their pathetic display of the Heaven-Severing Demon-Slaying Blade.
"Everyone and their dog seems to learn it. Let's see how well you mastered it."
Shing.
At Ha Mu-baek's words,
Un Gyo-tak roughly drew his sword.
Scree!
Whoosh!
Shuuu!
The sword savagely cleaved the air.
Red sword aura wove fiery trails through the sky like brilliant sparks.
The sword's movements grew fiercer.
The aura glowed scarlet, like flames roaring in a furnace.
As the blade accelerated relentlessly.
A faint crack appeared in the unbreakable wall that had blocked him for years.
Crash!
The wall crumbled.
And he surged forward.
A exhilarating rush, like galloping down an open road.
So Hwi-woong's sword danced even more freely.
A deep smile played on his lips.
It seemed like swordplay in a trance.
But he was aware.
Of shattering the massive, unyielding wall that had stymied him for years.
How long had he charged on like this?
Another wall loomed.
Vaster, far sturdier.
Perhaps because his stagnation had lasted so long.
No sooner had he broken one than the next appeared.
How many realms higher had his level jumped?
He couldn't tell.
Finally completing the Heaven-Severing Demon-Slaying Blade, So Hwi-woong opened his eyes.
His piercing gaze blazed hot enough to melt iron.
"Hoo. Fine sword."
He muttered, gazing contentedly at the Silent Golden Sword.
Who'd have thought a new weapon would be the key to breaking the wall?
Even So Hwi-woong hadn't imagined it.
He hadn't just scaled it.
He'd smashed it to pieces.
Once he organized this insight, he'd reach an entirely new realm.
The level gained from that breakthrough alone was immense.
"Maybe I should reward Manwol-ryeon somehow..."
So Hwi-woong murmured to himself.
Grinning happily, he reviewed the Heaven-Severing Demon-Slaying Blade.
His sect's sword art, yet astonishing.
"A swordsmanship that keeps changing forms."
That's why it felt fresh every practice, walls constantly arising.
He wondered what lay at the end, after smashing and surpassing them.
The day he achieved the Twelfth Realm's pinnacle.
A new Heaven-Severing Demon-Slaying Blade flooded his mind.
Starting from the First Realm again.
That day,
He'd told his sect leader senior brother.
Have anyone with talent learn it.
True mastery emerges only after the Twelfth Realm.
It's no art to hoard selectively.
Until now,
So Hwi-woong had believed that.
But no.
"Back to the First Realm again..."
Today, he'd achieved the second pinnacle.
And met the third swordsmanship.
"At this rate, Mu-baek might actually match up decently with that guy. Heh."
So Hwi-woong sat cross-legged, organizing his new insights.