138 - Martial Arts Instructor of Marital Age

The Marriage-Ready Martial Arts Instructor - Chapter 138 > Snow Rabbit - Web Novel Repository Chapter 36: The Parade of a Hundred Ghosts (4) Swish. Swish. Watching the rapidly moving shadow of a hand in the air, Wang Woo swallowed a groan. 'Incredible.' Having deeply mastered the martial arts of the Kunlun School, Wang Woo could recognize this. That this seemingly simple hand movement was unraveling the essence of Kunlun martial arts. And yet, this wasn’t even a full exertion of power. Sitting cross-legged and humming, flipping pages of a book with his left hand, while casually demonstrating with his right. Still, the transformations continued incessantly. Swish. Swish-swish. The hand holding the sword was a blur, then suddenly split into light. When they merged back together, Wang Woo’s jaw couldn’t drop any further in astonishment. The Taihe Dragong Sword Technique. It was a secret art only the headmaster of the Kunlun School could learn, and it was being executed with ease. Wang Woo realized. 'I underestimated my lord.' Trying to comprehend it through the confines of human ability was a mistake. To commit such an error when they knew their scope was different from the start. Amidst self-reproach, Cho Un Hwi closed the book with a thump and grumbled. “That weakling. They sure made it complicated.” Reduced to a mere weakling who had spent years honing their martial arts, Wang Woo kept his mouth shut. “Why? Is there something on my face?” “No, nothing. It’s just amazing.” “Indeed. While learning it, the Kunlun sect's tricks seem quite convoluted and headache-inducing. How far have you mastered the Taihe Dragong Sword?” A brilliant shadow flashed from his hand in the air. It was simply impossible to follow with the eyes. “I... haven’t yet.” “Is that so? Then look at this.” After watching a few shaky sword moves, Wang Woo nodded in acknowledgment. “I’ve reached the stage of spectral light.” With a toss of his bushy hair, he snapped his fingers. “A five-star achievement? Passable.” Passable, indeed. Calling it passable for something refined day and night over six years felt excessively unemotional. “Let’s see. Since we have a little time left.” Glancing at an hourglass, Wang Woo noticed that there was indeed a bit of sand left at the top. 'My lord doesn’t even need a quarter of an hour for the world's most secret arts.' Worried about the lack of time, only to find he had extra time, Cho Un Hwi swiftly scribbled with a brush, blowing gently on it. “This is insight to advance to the next stage. Refer to it when you hit a wall.” Gently. The paper, placed in his outstretched hands, was astonishingly light for something that carried the weight of martial arts, a legend among righteous factions for hundreds of years. 'Surely, it will cause a bloodstorm across the martial world.' Wang Woo could sense it. He couldn’t leave potential troublemakers. With his extraordinary mind, he quickly memorized it and burned it. “I have learned it all.” “Then continue.” Thump. Cho Un Hwi hit the table and stood up. “Let’s go deal with that cunning bat.” “With utmost respect!” Wang Woo kowtowed and shouted. *** “This way! This way.” Despite her unsteady condition, Instructor Jo Hyun insisted on leading the way. Following her down the path swiftly, they discovered traces after half a day had passed. “We were ambushed here.” Looking around swiftly, Mo Yong Sun Ya swallowed a groan. “Quite the remnants here.” Mo Yong Sun Ya pointed here and there with his fingers. “They burst in with an assault technique like a storm.” Looking at a large pit, enough to bury a child, Instructor Jo Hyun nodded. “It was an astonishing and swift attack.” “The power infused in the technique is exceptional.” Unable to stay idle, Ye Mae Hong bustled around, searching for clues. The next discovery was a crumpled-up gauntlet. “It belongs to Instructor Yang.” “Sniff. Truly, it is Instructor Yang’s.” As they consoled Instructor Jo Hyun, Wang Woo, who was examining the gauntlet with a keen eye, spoke. “It seems to be mixed with iron from the Northern Sea.” “Correct. Instructor Yang always boasted about it.” Confirming this, Wang Woo, flipping the gauntlet over, let out a sigh. “It seems the opponent's power exceeded this artifact.” “This artifact you say?” This artifact. A hundred and twenty years of power. Only achievable at the pinnacle of mastery, surpassing even senior instructors’ skills. “That is a conservative estimate.” Otherwise, it would not be possible to wreck Northern Sea iron like this. Explaining, Wang Woo cautioned. “It might have even surpassed the ‘Wall of Wailing’.” “No way. That far?” “Indeed. It might be a master who’s begun or has already surpassed the human realm.” To surpass the pinnacle known to be the limit reachable by human effort meant only one thing. “A master at the threshold of transcendence.” Gulp. Everyone’s throats bobbed. *** The group advanced again. Yet unknown and unidentified. Finding a more perilous opponent was a slow endeavor. Above all, the traces were too faint. “They said their techniques were bizarre.” Ordinary martial artists leave footprints. Springing off from their firmly planted steps. But, the technique that moved as though flying through the air, riding the wind, left no trace easily. Eventually, Mo Yong Sun Ya, who was at the front searching paths, halted. “The trail ends here.” “Clicking. Is it over here?” However, it wasn’t a complete loss. “What on earth. Mo Yong Instructor?” A surprised voice came from beyond the bushes. Turning around, they saw an instructor with a troubled expression stagger out. Recognizing the person, Mo Yong Sun Ya stepped forward. “Instructor Oh.” “My goodness. It really is Mo Yong Instructor.” Seeing the instructor, who had collapsed weakly, Mo Yong Sun Ya asked. “We heard there was an ambush. What about the others?” “Well. Holding on till the end with a sword formation, I fell first, alas.” “Are you alone?” “Yes, though a moment ago that wasn’t the case.” Following the direction he pointed to with a melancholic glance, they saw a cave mouth agape in the darkness. Sizzle! As they tied cloth to a branch and moved forward with a small torch, they found two more people in a corner of the cave. Kneeling beside a figure, Wang Woo checked for a pulse on the neck with his index finger and shook his head. "Too late." "Mm-hmm." Mo Yong Sun Ya, who seemed to have had some familiarity with the deceased, swallowed back tears. "Sister. Are you alright?" "Those bastards. I won't let them get away with this." Thump, thump. Mo Yong Sun Ya ran out, furiously punching the cave wall until their hands were bloody. In contrast, Cho Un Hwi dragged a corpse out of the cave and laid it among the bushes. "Take a good look." He pointed to the shredded side and the severed arm with his fingers. "Heuk, heuk." Looking at the gruesome scene, Moyong So-hye fell to the ground, retching. Seeing someone they recognize as a corpse isn't something children easily come to terms with. Baek Li Seol, her face pale, struggled to contain her emotions and asked, "Are we supposed to get used to seeing bodies?" Cho Un Hwi shook his head. "No. What good would it do to grow accustomed to corpses?" There might come a time they get used to it, but at least not intentionally. "Being a warrior means knowing anyone could end up like this." Whether it's a death I bring about. Or another's doing. Such is the endless cycle of the martial world. "You understand why it's so damn horrible, right?" The four remained silent. "As your martial prowess improves, your sword will grow lighter." Lay upon it the weight of death. "One last thing. Even if killing becomes second nature, don't forget what must be remembered." What is it? Cho Un Hwi clasped his hands together, cracking them meaningfully. Clap, clap. Then he folded his hands in a prayerful manner. "Never forget to mourn any death." Only then can you remain human until the end. "Yes." The four nodded solemnly at the instructor's words. Confronted with their first corpses and death. Watching the four ponder the heavy implications, Cho Un Hwi thought to himself. 'It was too much for me.' It was perhaps too early for such teachings. *** As the night deepened, they could advance no further. With three more injured instructors found unconscious, pushing further was too risky. "We’ll rest here." The place Wang Woo chose for respite was a clearing adjacent to a valley. Gurgle, gurgle. Seeing the flowing valley water made Mo Yong Sun Ya frown. "…A fortune teller told me to avoid water." "Sister. Master Wang is listening. Shush." "Aw." What choice did they have when the group's master and eldest insisted on making camp? Reluctantly, Mo Yong Sun Ya had to abide. *** The group swiftly laid the injured to rest and prepared a campsite. One person stood out with their actions. "This is medicinal porridge to settle the stomach. I added herbs that warm the body, so it should help." It was Namgoong Yunho. Lighting the campfire quickly, he arranged a safe place for the injured and prepared for camping. Jegal Tan gathered stones to securely encircle the wounded. "This is a formation. It should buy us some time." Mo Yong Sun Ya, aware of how advanced formations are as a skill, was impressed. "A formation? So quickly?" "Impressive. Even instructors would find this difficult." More astonishing was that they prioritized the injured. "I heard Jegal Gwandu is cool-headed and calculative. Didn't expect concern for the injured." Hearing the mutter, Jegal Tan turned his head slightly, speaking as if in passing. "You learn it when you experience it." "……?" "When teetering on the brink of death, you realize the value of someone protecting you." Could someone from the great Jegal family have been on the verge of death? Though unbelievable, his voice carried such earnestness that it was hard to know how to respond. "Sister, look around." At Ye Mae Hong's urging, Mo Yong Sun Ya noticed something peculiar as she looked around. "For their first real combat, instead of cowering, they're each fulfilling their roles." As Ye Mae Hong pointed out, the entourage trained under Cho Un Hwi was continually active. Baek Li Seol planted her sword scabbard beside the campfire and began heating the blade. Next to her, Moyong So-hye kept a sharp lookout, adamant to not miss a thing. 'I don't know what she's doing, but.' Regardless of the utility, the fact they hadn't frozen from nerves was commendable. "Don't push yourself too hard." "I'm okay." It was especially noteworthy how Baek Li Seol and Moyong So-hye interacted. Baek Li Seol's anxious gaze constantly watched Moyong So-hye, akin to a mother duck watching over her ducklings, prompting disbelief that the renowned Baek Li Gwandu could be so nurturing. The known name of the Celestial Maiden of the Eastern Heaven was familiar even to Mo Yong Sun Ya. While marveling, Instructor Jo Hyun, who had been silent, looked up. "Cho Instructor is quite.... Huh?" "What's wrong?" "Where did Cho Instructor go?" Indeed, come to think of it. Ye Mae Hong tilted her head, confused. "Maybe he went to tend to the injured in the back?" "I'll check on it." As Jo Hyun rose, Mo Yong Sun Ya began to search the vicinity too. He was making his rounds when Wang Woo, who was seated a short distance away claiming to meditate, opened his eyes slightly. "He said he'd fetch some water." "Isn't that dangerous?" "He should be alright." "Just to be sure…." "It might be more dangerous here." "What?" Shing. In an instant, a chilling surge rose, and Wang Woo drew his sword like thunder. - Sha-sha-sha-sha-sha! At that moment. The sound of wind roared from somewhere, and across the campsite, Moyong So-hye shouted. "They're coming!" Thud! As her gaze sharpened, blood suddenly trickled from Moyong So-hye's nose. Wiping the flowing blood with her sleeve, Moyong So-hye shouted again. "Right side! Brother Namgoong!" Before the shout could fully echo across the area. Clang! With a sharp metallic ring, Namgoong Yunho was shoved back. Swish! As their opponent charged through the air, Mo Yong Sun Ya screamed as if in a nightmare. "Demon!" Cha-cha-cha-chang! The quiet campsite abruptly transformed into a battlefield.