Chapter 571
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 571
Chapter Title: Excellent
“Ugh... Urk... Uuuh...”
The pain from his broken ribs was excruciating.
It felt like the jagged ends were piercing his lungs with every breath, sending waves of agony through him.
Yet he had no choice but to breathe, leaving Neung Tan to endure the relentless torment.
Gwan Po glared at him coldly.
He had dragged him here and dumped him just as ordered.
Beyond that, he hadn't lifted a finger.
He was simply standing guard to ensure no escape.
Ha Mu-baek had commanded him to hold the man here, so until his superior arrived, there was nothing more to do.
Time dragged on.
Ha Mu-baek still hadn't shown, but Gwan Po kept watch patiently.
In the short time he'd known him, Ha Mu-baek was the type to keep his word without fail.
“Hah... Hah... What the hell is this? Deputy Commander?”
Having grown somewhat accustomed to the pain, Neung Tan gasped out the question.
“I'm no longer deputy commander. And what the hell were you doing?”
He was referring to the stunt of barging into the inn sword in hand.
“What else? Revenge. Look what those bastards did to my left hand.”
His voice still burned with anger.
“Tch.”
Gwan Po merely clicked his tongue.
If he'd just lived with his crippled hand, he might have kept his worthless life.
But after seeing Ha Mu-baek at the inn, the man was as good as dead.
And not an easy death, at that.
“Looks like you're still alive.”
“Gurk?!”
The sudden voice and terrifying presence startled Neung Tan.
A bizarre wail mixing pain and shock escaped his lips.
Gwan Po jumped too, but by now he was used to it.
He'd experienced it several times already.
Right after subduing this fool, hadn't Ha Mu-baek appeared like a ghost?
“I only took one left hand, but that wasn't enough for you, huh? Coming back with a sword.”
Expressionless face, eyes colder than ice.
“U... Uuuh...”
Neung Tan trembled violently.
Just moments ago, he'd been ranting about revenge in fury.
Now he was frozen like a mouse before a tiger.
“You must have been prepared for the consequences.”
Ha Mu-baek approached Neung Tan slowly.
“U... Uu... Uwaaaah!!”
Where did he find the strength? The fallen Neung Tan tried to scramble up and flee, only to collapse again from the agony in his ribs and lungs.
By then, Ha Mu-baek was upon him.
Thud!
Ha Mu-baek's fist slammed into Neung Tan's side.
“Guh...!”
Neung Tan couldn't even scream, his body shuddering uncontrollably.
His eyes had already rolled back white.
And for good reason—Ha Mu-baek's fist had struck the exact spot where Gwan Po's had landed before.
The broken ribs shattered into fragments, shards embedding deep into his lung.
“Cough... Cough...”
One lung collapsed, his breathing ragged.
Ha Mu-baek's fist moved again.
Thud.
“Coooough...”
The same spot once more.
Neung Tan's trembling body went rigid.
More rib fragments pierced deep into his lung.
One lung was utterly ruined.
Ha Mu-baek's fist rose again.
Thud.
“Gu...”
Neung Tan's eyes rolled back fully as he passed out standing.
Thump.
He crumpled to the ground.
Gwan Po had already turned away.
Just watching made the pain feel real.
Ha Mu-baek, still expressionless, lifted his foot.
Crack!
Neung Tan's ankle shattered.
“Gaaah!”
The searing pain jolted him back to consciousness.
Ha Mu-baek ignored his reaction and crushed the other ankle.
Crack!
Both ankles were pulverized.
Neung Tan would never walk again.
His body shook uncontrollably.
Ha Mu-baek stomped down on his remaining right hand.
Crack!
Both hands and feet destroyed.
Plus one lung.
With bone shards embedded so deep, he would die even if left alone.
“Take him to a physician and have him treated. Not sure if he'll survive.”
His voice was like a north wind blizzard as it reached Gwan Po's ears.
“Pardon?”
Gwan Po blinked in shock.
Treat him?
“If he pulls through, dump him on the streets of Sangnam. He won't even get the mercy of death on his terms.”
Gwan Po shuddered, realizing Ha Mu-baek's intent from those words.
Unable to use arms or legs.
Couldn't even eat properly.
Left on the street, he'd have to crawl to survive.
Considering the atrocities he'd committed, would the common folk let him be?
People could be kind, yet cruel as well.
He knew the man wouldn't die easily, but this was beyond imagining.
“And guard the inn properly this time. You did well.”
With that brief praise, Ha Mu-baek vanished.
Only Gwan Po and the crippled Neung Tan remained in the small grove.
“Tch tch. Why'd you have to do something so insane...”
Not that he pitied the bastard, but thinking of his future brought a sigh of pity.
“Better pray the treatment fails and he dies.”
Gwan Po hoisted Neung Tan over his shoulder.
And headed for Sangnam's most renowned physician.
Ha Mu-baek's destination was Yuun Martial Hall.
Sul Gwi-hwi's meditative trance seemed to be reaching its climax.
He appeared without a sound or presence.
Yu Gwi-gwang and Wi Su-yeon flinched upon spotting him lounging on the annex roof just as before, but said nothing.
Gwan Ha-kyeong and Poong Geon had also gathered in front of the annex before they knew it.
The Yuun Martial Hall retainers remained silently in the inner quarters.
They must have been anxious too, yet they maintained the solemn atmosphere admirably.
How much time passed?
Ha Mu-baek, who had been lying down, sat up.
It's about to end.
A massive surge of energy stirred within the annex.
It was the aura emanating from Gwi-hwi as he consolidated his enlightenment and ascended to a new realm.
At this level... he's nearing the peak of transcendent mastery.
Ha Mu-baek nodded inwardly.
He'd leaped several stages.
What secrets did the Yuun Sword Method manual hold, to strengthen a master like Gwi-hwi so dramatically in one go?
At this caliber, he was just shy of So Hwi-woong's level during the Martial World Great War.
Gwi-hwi calmly opened his eyes.
The storm of energy pouring from his body had settled into his dantian.
He rose from his chair, opened the door, and stepped out.
A deep sunset greeted him.
It had taken longer than Ha Mu-baek expected.
Next to catch Gwi-hwi's eye were the four people watching him.
Yu Gwi-gwang, Wi Su-yeon, Gwan Ha-kyeong, Poong Geon.
He formed a fist salute and bowed.
“My deepest thanks.”
It was a heartfelt gesture.
The four hurriedly returned the salute with bows.
It wasn't full shed-molt rebirth, but Gwi-hwi's body had transformed.
Wrinkle lines on his face had faded, his skin glowing with vitality.
“Pavilion Lord, could you show that manual to this child as well?”
Yu Gwi-gwang eyed Gwi-hwi questioningly.
It wasn't difficult, and since Gwi-hwi had already seen it all, he could teach it himself.
Especially after gaining such profound insight—he'd teach it better.
As if understanding the query, Gwi-hwi spoke again.
“One must see it and grasp it firsthand. It's infused with profound insights. That manual will truly become Yuun Martial Hall's treasure.”
Yu Gwi-gwang blinked in surprise at the lavish praise and patted his chest.
It wasn't just a simple Yuun Sword Method manual?
“Ah, understood.”
Yu Gwi-gwang pulled the manual from his bosom and handed it to Wi Su-yeon.
She accepted it with a dazed expression.
“Study it carefully in there.”
At Gwi-hwi's command, Wi Su-yeon entered the annex.
Ha Mu-baek, who had watched it all from the roof, tossed out a comment.
“Not just any manual, then.”
“Martial Uncle Yu Ji-woong was right. The Yuun Sword Method is flawless.”
His tone was calm yet brimming with inspire and passion.
Addressing Yu Ji-woong.
Gwi-hwi, who had briefly bowed his head, turned to Ha Mu-baek.
“Might I ask a favor?”
At Gwi-hwi's words, Ha Mu-baek leaped down.
“Doesn't matter if the girl doesn't watch?”
Ha Mu-baek nodded toward the annex.
Gwi-hwi smiled faintly.
“She must view it without preconceptions, relying solely on her own Plum Blossom Sword. That's the nature of the manual. Which is why I'm asking now.”
Ha Mu-baek crossed his arms.
“Makes me curious what annotations this Yu Ji-woong fellow left.”
Pure curiosity of a martial artist.
Yu Gwi-gwang startled at the word “annotations.”
He hadn't examined it closely yet, but clearly it wasn't mere sword forms.
Annotations?
Gwan Ha-kyeong and Poong Geon were equally shocked.
Ha Mu-baek spoke at their reactions.
“No way a simple sword manual turns that old man this strong. There has to be something extra—annotations are the only thing that fits. Considering who left it.”
Gwi-hwi nodded.
“Exactly. Martial Uncle Yu's lifetime insights are annotated throughout. That's why I can't teach it. One must absorb his insights directly, and how one does so varies by individual.”
“No single right answer? Spot on.”
Ha Mu-baek grinned.
His steps led to the training ground.
“Indeed. It's clouds, after all.”
Gwi-hwi smiled back and followed.
The favor he intended.
He hadn't spelled it out, but their minds aligned.
Yu Gwi-gwang, Poong Geon, and Gwan Ha-kyeong naturally trailed behind.
The two faced off in the training ground.
Each held their cherished sword.
“I appreciate it.”
Gwi-hwi assumed his stance.
“Anytime.”
Ha Mu-baek matched him.
Gwi-hwi moved first.
As his sword stirred, the training ground filled with thick plum blossom scent.
Countless blossoms bloomed from his sword tip.
A scene they'd seen before.
During his duel with Un Se-hyeok.
Plum blossoms had flowered from both their swords.
“It's different...”
“Yes...”
Poong Geon and Gwan Ha-kyeong, having witnessed it once, murmured in awe.
The same sight, yet utterly transformed.
Only Yu Gwi-gwang gaped, seeing it for the first time.
Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Techniques.
Its essence unfolded from Gwi-hwi's hand.
Starting with the first form, Plum Blossoms Falling,
each Plum Blossom Sword form followed in sequence.
Midway, the fourteenth form, Plum Blossoms in Full Bloom, emerged.
Ha Mu-baek's sword traced the path of the Infinite Formless Eight Ultimate Sword Sea.
The flashy, freewheeling storm of plum blossoms assailed him, yet failed to breach.
The training ground brimmed with blossoms.
Save one spot.
Around Ha Mu-baek, only he and his sword existed in purity.
Ha Mu-baek parried each strike, nodding.
It was undeniably different from the Plum Blossom Sword he knew.
Whether this was the original Huashan Plum Blossom Sword was unknowable.
The lost sections weren't simply restored.
It was a new Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword born from Yu Ji-woong's insights on the Yuun Sword Method, and Gwi-hwi's interpretation and enlightenment.
One thing was certain.
This Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Techniques that Gwi-hwi now wielded truly deserved the name.
At this level of exchange, the area should have been devastated, yet Yuun Martial Hall's training ground remained pristine.
They'd minimized internal energy in their swords.
No sword aura, not even proper sword qi.
Soon, the forms reached the twentieth, Plum Blossom Starfall.
The sword path shifted form.
As if all prior paths were feints, it became wholly new.
Freely morphing like clouds shaping plum blossoms—precisely Gwi-hwi's vision.
“Excellent.”
Ha Mu-baek said calmly, thrusting his sword.
His Five Severing Heaven Splitter unfolded from his hand, contrasting his praise by sweeping away the filling blossoms.
Gwi-hwi ignored the turning tide and focused solely on his swordsmanship.
This wasn't a life-or-death duel to defeat Ha Mu-baek.
Merely a spar to verify his current realm and new Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Techniques, at his own request.
Thus, victory or defeat mattered not; he concentrated purely on his sword.
The Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Techniques crested toward its peak.
Finally, the last form.
The twenty-fourth technique.
Plum Blossom Fragrance a Thousand Miles!
He'd used it against Un Se-hyeok too, but this was an entirely different sword.
A plum scent so thick it dazed the mind engulfed the area completely, as a massive blossom plummeted toward Ha Mu-baek.
Ha Mu-baek chuckled softly and moved his sword.
The moment Six Severing World Destroyer manifested at his tip,
the giant blossom vanished like mist.
The mind-hazing fragrance dissipated.
And the two faced each other.
“Excellent.”
“Thank you.”
They exchanged fist salutes and smiles.
The three spectators stared blankly.