Chapter 380
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 380
Chapter Title: The Instructor's True Strength
Twilight was settling in, the time of dusk when it was hard to distinguish a dog from a wolf from afar.
Yet, somehow, Gwan Ha-kyeong had spotted the horse and carriage.
Thanks to her, they had closely examined the area and confirmed signs of human presence, approaching cautiously.
Pyeong Deok-jo had stepped away to wash his sweat-soaked body in a nearby stream.
Ha Mu-baek, who had been lying in the carriage sorting through his thoughts, grinned.
'Not bad.'
He had already sensed the presences racing along the top of the walls.
Given the time, he had assumed they would pass by without noticing.
But here they were, drawing near.
Judging by their auras...
'Demon-Sealing Corps and Fierce Dragon Corps?'
Come to think of it...
He had never encountered the Fierce Dragon Corps in the Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest.
As for the Demon-Sealing Corps, he had passed through during his time as Hocheon Corps Leader, but back then, he hadn't even known of the Fierce Dragon Corps' existence.
The Righteous Heaven Alliance's meat shields.
'Was I indifferent too...?'
The Fierce Dragon Corps had existed even before the Mountain-Crossing Great Wall was built.
If he had wanted to know, he could have found out.
But at the time, Ha Mu-baek's mind had been entirely consumed by the Blood Cult and Demonic Cult.
He had no mental leeway to survey his surroundings.
The presences drew steadily closer.
Ha Mu-baek rose, opened the luggage compartment door, and stepped out of the carriage.
The nine of them straightened their weapons, instantly going on alert at the sudden figure.
In the dim twilight shadows, it was hard to make out Ha Mu-baek's face.
"This is the Mountain-Crossing Great Wall territory under Demon-Sealing Corps management. Who are you to be here without permission?"
Pung Geon stepped forward and demanded.
"I came to the Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest on some business. I'll leave again in a few days."
Pung Geon frowned at the casual reply.
The blunt informality and half-hearted response felt suspicious.
At Pung Geon's hand signal, the other eight began cautiously encircling Ha Mu-baek.
One person alone.
Gwan Ha-kyeong stood frozen in place, as if nailed to the spot.
She tilted her head.
The speech pattern and voice felt familiar, like something she had heard before.
It was definitely in her memory.
She rummaged through her recollections to pinpoint it.
"Ah!"
It came to her.
Gwan Ha-kyeong couldn't help letting out a small exclamation.
At her sudden outburst, the eight halted and turned to her.
It was thoughtless behavior in a situation where the suspicious figure might be deemed an enemy.
Yet Gwan Ha-kyeong was lost in past memories, ignoring her comrades' reproachful stares.
The Summer Combat Festival.
The sixteen strongest.
After losing to Joo Woo-myeong and secretly shedding bitter tears.
The one who had acknowledged her efforts.
The voice that praised her pure dedication as worthy of commendation in itself.
The person who had bolstered her confidence, saying the Heaven-Severing Demon-Slaying Blade's basics required thorough training and that her path was not wrong.
"Instructor Ha Mu-baek?"
The moment the name slipped from Gwan Ha-kyeong's lips...
Pung Geon, who had been about to reprimand her, whipped his head around.
Instructor.
The only one she would call instructor was from the Dragon Training Pavilion.
"Long time no see."
Ha Mu-baek grinned.
He had sensed her presence from the start.
"Th-thank you."
She finally conveyed the gratitude she hadn't been able to express back then.
Even after learning Ha Mu-baek's identity, Pung Geon did not lower his guard.
"What brings a Dragon Training Pavilion instructor here?"
His question remained laced with wariness.
Ha Mu-baek was pleased with the attitude.
It was the demeanor of someone seasoned in battle.
"To secure teaching materials for the cadets' training and do some instructor training myself."
Rustle.
As Ha Mu-baek answered, a presence stirred from another direction.
Half the group immediately turned to guard that side.
"Gasp!"
Pyeong Deok-jo, who had just returned to the campsite, was startled.
At his level, he couldn't yet sense presences at this distance, so he had appeared defenseless.
"He's a Dragon Training Pavilion instructor like me."
Ha Mu-baek said, nodding toward him with his chin.
"State your exact affiliation."
Pung Geon demanded gravely.
"Chief Instructor of the Dragon Training Pavilion's Fierce Dragon Corps, Ha Mu-baek. That one's Fierce Dragon Corps Instructor Pyeong Deok-jo."
At those words, Pung Geon and Yu Gwi-gwang's gazes shifted to one squad member.
First-year in the Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest's Fierce Dragon Corps.
Last year, he had been in the Dragon Training Pavilion's Fierce Dragon Corps.
"It's true."
He confirmed it.
Even though Gwan Ha-kyeong had already verified, they checked once more.
Only then did Pung Geon slightly ease his vigilance.
"What brings you here?"
Still, he asked their purpose again.
He simply couldn't believe Ha Mu-baek's explanation.
Teaching materials?
What could there possibly be in the Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest?
That was his line of thinking.
"I told you. Securing teaching materials."
"No, but... there can't be anything like that here..."
Pyeong Deok-jo approached the carriage and opened the luggage compartment to show them.
Neatly stacked wooden coffins.
The moment he saw them, a thought flashed through Pung Geon's mind.
"N-No way..."
"That's probably exactly it."
Ha Mu-baek confirmed.
Pung Geon's incredulous expression.
"Th-that's impossible... No, it's impossible from the start. Did you get approval from the Demon-Sealing Corps Leader?"
"Why would I? Do the jiangshi here belong to the Demon-Sealing Corps Leader?"
Ha Mu-baek countered.
"The entire Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest is under Demon-Sealing Corps management."
He had no choice but to give the textbook answer.
Ha Mu-baek smirked at that.
"So, is the management being done properly?"
"..."
This time, he couldn't respond.
Hadn't he just been thinking the Demon-Sealing Corps Leader was a son of a bitch?
"And anyway, what are you nine doing here? This area's off the patrol route and it's not patrol time."
Pung Geon was startled by Ha Mu-baek's question.
He knew the Demon-Sealing Corps' patrol and management plans for the Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest.
"H-how do you...?"
Wariness darkened Pung Geon's face.
It made no sense for a Fierce Dragon Corps instructor to know Demon-Sealing Corps secrets.
"I knew from my old posting. Now put away your swords. Your vigilance is excellent, but I'm getting tired of it."
A subtle pressure began to rise from Ha Mu-baek's body.
His aura gradually encroached on the surroundings, expanding its domain.
"Ugh."
Pung Geon groaned under the stinging energy.
The Fierce Dragon Corps members even staggered back.
Gritting his teeth at the opponent's coercive display, Pung Geon stepped forward, one foot after another, into Ha Mu-baek's sharp aura.
Admiration flickered in Ha Mu-baek's eyes at the sight.
As if testing how far he would go, he intensified his aura.
"We'll consider this a hostile act against the Demon-Sealing Corps. Attack!"
With that cry, Pung Geon charged at Ha Mu-baek.
He swung his sword.
It was a sword technique Ha Mu-baek knew well.
A mid-tier sect that had fought fiercely in the great martial conference.
Flying Soup Scattering Flowers Sword Method.
The signature art of the Scattering Flowers Manor.
Ha Mu-baek nodded.
It was befitting a Scattering Flowers Manor disciple.
He had guessed from the internal energy, but seeing the technique in action confirmed proper training.
Seven others followed behind.
Gwan Ha-kyeong joined a beat late, blade in hand, leaping forward.
Only one person.
The first-year Fierce Dragon Corps member.
He alone didn't move.
Because last year...
He had witnessed what Ha Mu-baek was like at the Dragon Training Pavilion.
Thud!
Thump thump!
Thud! Thud!
A few punches landed with meat-ripping sounds, and all the attackers were sent flying.
"Kuhk."
"Ugh."
They groaned.
"Playing nice ends here. From now on, it's real."
Pung Geon was dazed.
They had definitely attacked, but he couldn't comprehend how they had been defeated so suddenly.
It had happened in an instant.
Gwan Ha-kyeong wore a similarly stunned expression.
Pyeong Deok-jo watched in admiration.
The first-year Fierce Dragon Corps member squeezed his eyes shut and turned away.
It was the scene he had expected.
"Ugh."
Pung Geon pushed himself up.
He had no choice but to believe.
Someone this strong could probably take the jiangshi.
But...
Why was such an extraordinary person an instructor in the Fierce Dragon Corps?
"Want more?"
Ha Mu-baek asked, and Pung Geon shook his head.
If he willed it, he could wipe them all out in a heartbeat.
Had there been malice, they would already be corpses.
"What brings you here at a time like this?"
The nine exchanged glances.
Gwan Ha-kyeong spoke up.
"We were ordered to investigate changes in the jiangshi territory near the Mountain-Crossing Great Wall's west gate and report back..."
"Huh?"
Ha Mu-baek let out an incredulous sigh.
How could he not?
Hadn't he already checked the territorial changes around here?
"Just you nine?"
Gwan Ha-kyeong nodded.
"Who by?"
"The Corps Leader."
Pung Geon answered.
"Did your Demon-Sealing Corps Leader mark you? Or did you commit a crime?"
Pung Geon bit his lip and shook his head.
From their reaction, Ha Mu-baek realized they knew what this order meant.
"It's a death sentence."
Ha Mu-baek stated flatly.
"B-but still..."
Gwan Ha-kyeong tried to say something hopeful, but Ha Mu-baek shook his head.
"I'm saying this because I've checked the area myself."
The mood grew heavy.
"Have you ever seen a Dark Iron Jiangshi?"
The Demon-Sealing Corps' main duty zones were around Four Evils Jiangshi, Poison Jiangshi, and Blood Jiangshi.
They only scouted the Dark Iron Jiangshi territories without entering.
Only about five corps leaders or squad leaders in the Demon-Sealing Corps could handle Dark Iron Jiangshi.
The nine nodded simultaneously.
Ha Mu-baek looked at them in surprise.
"How are you still alive?"
He asked with an unknowing expression.
At their skill levels, a frontal clash with a Dark Iron Jiangshi would have killed them all.
If they focused solely on fleeing, maybe two would survive.
If they sacrificed some as bait, three or four might.
"A mysterious expert... helped us."
Gwan Ha-kyeong answered.
Ha Mu-baek nodded as if it made sense.
There had indeed been outside help.
He had no idea that expert was Namgung Hwi.
"Then you know how terrifying Dark Iron Jiangshi are."
The nine nodded silently in unison.
"A territory for Dark Iron Jiangshi and Dark Blood Jiangshi has formed nearby."
The brief information hit hard.
Their eyes widened in shock.
Dark Iron Jiangshi were scary enough.
Dark Blood Jiangshi too.
"Wander in trying to scout it, and you'll die on the spot."
Silence fell.
It was a dilemma with no way forward or back.
They couldn't return or proceed.
"Go back. Even if you're punished for disobeying orders, you won't die."
Ha Mu-baek concluded neatly.
As if it held no value whatsoever.
"W-we can't..."
Pung Geon muttered, unable to accept it.
Glancing at Yu Gwi-gwang.
Disobeying orders meant punishment.
For the Fierce Dragon Corps, it added two years to service.
How had they endured five already?
Two more here?
Ha Mu-baek's gaze followed to Yu Gwi-gwang.
"What's the deal?"
At Ha Mu-baek's question...
"..."
Yu Gwi-gwang gave no answer.
Die.
Or endure two more years in this hell.
He agonized at the crossroads.
Anyone could see the second was better.
But could he survive two more years here?
Two choices, but both led to death—quick or slow?
'Fuck...'
Internally cursing up a storm, Yu Gwi-gwang didn't even hear Ha Mu-baek.
"Um, it's..."
Gwan Ha-kyeong answered instead.
"Squad Leader Yu finishes his service in three months... but disobeying orders would mean two more years..."
A cautious explanation.
Ha Mu-baek looked at Yu Gwi-gwang with curiosity.
"Oh? The guy with the five-tenths survival rate? You're him?"
Interest gleamed in his eyes.