The World's Greatest Countryside Martial Arts Academy - chapter 1

Chapter 1

A person who is truly on the verge of death doesn’t say that they feel like they are going to die. They merely wonder if they are still breathing. How do I know that? Because that was exactly the case for Jin Cheong-un, who opened his eyes while half-buried in the rubble.

Did I survive?

Barely managing to raise his upper body, Jin Cheong-un slowly exhaled.

I survived this.

Turning his head to slowly observe his surroundings, the whole world, from right in front of his nose to the distant mountain ridges, was tinged red. The headquarters of the Secret Cult. Until just a few days ago, it had been the most extravagant and dangerous palace of the cultists in the Jianghu, but now it was a ruin filled only with death.

What happened?

His last memory was of blocking the Secret Cult Leader’s strike in place of the Alliance Leader. The battle must have concluded in one way or another. Taking a moment to catch his breath, Jin Cheong-un grabbed the sword on the ground and tried to stand up. At that moment.

Clatter!

The hilt of the sword slid weakly out of his grasp.

“……”

Only then did he take a good look at his own body. There wasn’t a single intact spot on his entire body. It was a miracle he wasn’t feeling any pain despite this.

“No wonder I had a bad feeling.”

A hollow chuckle escaped him unbidden. In this state, even if he somehow managed to grip the sword, would he even be able to swing it? Giving up cleanly on standing up, Jin Cheong-un just sprawled out flat on his back.

How did a country bumpkin from a rural martial arts academy end up all the way here?

It had already been over ten years since he threw himself into the Murim Alliance, harboring dreams of grandeur befitting his name. Looking back, it all started with a single proposal.

—Warrior Jin. Do you have any intention of becoming the Alliance Leader’s secret guard?

A secret guard? Not just a regular guard, but a secret guard. Didn’t it sound like he would be uncovering the hidden histories of the Jianghu and fighting against massive conspiracies? If one’s heart didn’t pound at hearing this, they weren’t a martial artist.

If my heart suddenly starts pounding, I should go see a physician, why would I join as a guard?

Uncovering hidden histories and fighting conspiracies? Yeah, he did do something similar. The problem was the day-to-day. Working while the Alliance Leader rested. Starving while the Alliance Leader ate. Even when he went to the outhouse…! Jin Cheong-un squeezed his eyes shut.

I should have retired.

He had tried. He even had the chance.

I should have retired sooner.

If only he hadn’t fallen for the Alliance Leader’s wicked tongue every single time.

—You’ve been working hard lately. I’ll give you about a week of vacation, so go clear your head. —Oh my, I was just about to raise your monthly salary… Even if you retire, wouldn’t it be more comfortable if your pockets were full? —I’m telling you this because you’re like a son to me, but do you know how hard society is? If the Alliance is a battlefield, the outside world is hell!

Indeed, the sweet-talk of a man who rose to become the Alliance Leader in the Murim Alliance, where political machinations ran rampant, was on another level. Did they say that if you’re unlucky, you’ll break your nose even if you fall backward? Just when he had firmly resolved to quit no matter what he heard. The Secret Cult arose. Even so, he had somehow made it this far, but…

—Cheong-un! Buy me some time!

To think that vicious man would really dump the dirty work on him right up until the very end? Looking back on it, it was absurd. Were those words a Murim Alliance Leader should say? He just minced his words, but how was that any different from asking him to be a sacrificial lamb…

Sacrificial lamb?

In an instant, Jin Cheong-un’s body completely stiffened.

Nah, no way.

…No way? It was then.

“You, as expected, you survived.”

Jin Cheong-un turned his head. An elderly man in his twilight years was approaching. It was the current Alliance Leader of the Murim Alliance, Yeo Un-baek.

“Alliance Leader, you survived as well, I see.” “I was lucky.”

Yeo Un-baek, who had limped over, let out a hollow chuckle.

“Is your body alright?” “……It’s bearable enough to live.” “Haha, impressive. To think you took that head-on and still… wait, you?”

Looking closely at Jin Cheong-un, Yeo Un-baek’s expression darkened. Jin Cheong-un chuckled.

“It’s fine. I got off cheap with this much.”

Yes, he got off cheap. They had almost gone sightseeing at the Sanzu River together, but hadn’t they both survived?

“More importantly, what happened to that bastard?”

The master of the evil spirits who engulfed the world in the fires of war. He was referring to the top of the Secret Cult’s twelve high priests and the one the world called the Heavenly Slaughtering Divine Demon (天殺神魔), the sovereign of the Secret Cult.

“Did you not see?” “I was busy having an interview with the grim reaper from the underworld until just now.” “I see you managed to return safely without following him.”

Yeo Un-baek, smiling weakly, spoke in a voice laced with deep lingering emotion.

“It is all over.” “……”

Yes. It was truly over. The war, and the Secret Cult Leader. And his own martial arts that he had trained in for his entire life.

“Thanks to you buying me a single breath’s worth of time, I was able to strike off his head. How on earth did you do it? Did you learn a new martial art without me knowing?” “Ah, that’s not it……”

Jin Cheong-un, who was about to answer, paused for a moment and tilted his head.

“Wait. What do you mean by that?” “Hm?” “Are you telling me you asked me to block it without knowing if I could actually handle it?” “……” “……”

After a brief moment of silence, Yeo Un-baek subtly averted his gaze and spoke.

“……I believed that you would be able to pull it off.”

This old man? Yeo Un-baek slyly changed the subject.

“So, what exactly happened?” “To be honest, I am not quite sure myself.”

The bastard’s martial prowess was truly fitting of the title Divine Demon. Even with their combined attacks, they barely matched him, and they had long since hit the bottom of their barrel. He possessed no secret trump card capable of blocking the bastard’s absolute technique. So…

I think out of sheer desperation I unleashed the martial art I learned back in the academy a long time ago.

It was a martial art he hadn’t even glanced at since learning advanced martial arts in the Alliance. Yet, not only did it block the attack, but it also saved his life.

I think the bastard yelled something as well.

Who would’ve thought? He had assumed it was a third-rate martial art from a rural academy, but could it have been a hidden peerless martial art all along? Though he wondered what use that was now.

“I guess I was lucky too.” “……Luck, you say. Yes, what importance is the past. They say the utmost sincerity can move the heavens.”

The conversation trailed off, and silence hung in the air. Gazing out over the desolate battlefield, Yeo Un-baek muttered as if complaining to himself.

“Only this old Alliance Leader gets to return alive by sheer luck. How am I to bring back all these vengeful spirits buried in the wilderness?” “……”

Not knowing how to respond, Jin Cheong-un merely blinked his eyes. Suddenly, Yeo Un-baek turned his head with deepened eyes.

“You have worked hard.” “……?” “If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have made it this far.”

Yeo Un-baek’s voice sank heavily. Jin Cheong-un flinched.

Why is he suddenly acting like this?

Yeo Un-baek’s voice calmly continued.

“You have done so much for me over the years. There were times when I regretted bringing you into the Black Dragon Unit, but looking back, it seems that was the best choice of my entire life.” “What is this? It doesn’t suit you.” “I mean it. I will never forget your sacrifice.”

Yeo Un-baek stared at him with serious eyes.

“Thank you.” “……?” “And…… I am sorry.”

It was a heartwarming moment beyond compare, but for a split second, a chill ran down Jin Cheong-un’s spine. All sorts of thoughts flashed through his mind. Jin Cheong-un carefully placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.

“By any chance, is it right now?” “What do you mean ‘right now’…… Anyway, why are you looking at me like that?” “The day has finally come. Did you think I wouldn’t know?” “Wouldn’t know? Know what?” “Given the flow, isn’t this the exact atmosphere where you stab me in the back and say farewell, abandoning the hunting dog once the hare is caught? Ah, I knew a day like this would come eventually.” “What?”

Yeo Un-baek blinked, doubting his own ears.

“Abandoning the hunting dog? Who? Me?”

Soon, his face turned completely red as if it would burst.

“What kind of absurd nonsense is that! Why would I!” “That’s because……”

Jin Cheong-un mimed stabbing a sword into the air.

“Saying things like I know too much, or my usefulness has ended, or it was a necessary sacrifice, and then from behind…… Stab!“

Yeo Un-baek finally lost his patience and blew up in anger.

“Y-You! How on earth have you been viewing me all this time!” “As someone who lured in a countryside youth who knew nothing of the world with the sweet promise of being a secret guard, and then sucked him dry right down to the marrow.” “Even if your mouth is crooked, you should speak the truth! You…… Argh! You were only a secret guard in name, do you know how many accidents you caused wherever you went! Do you know how much I suffered cleaning up after your messes!” “I’m older now too, so why are you calling me ‘this punk, that punk’ like the old days? And even if I did cause accidents, how many could I have possibly caused?” “Have you completely forgotten about smashing the jaws of the envoys from the Society?” “That was because they picked a fight first. Even escort warriors have a sense of pride.” “If they picked a fight twice, you’d blow away the Alliance’s fortress. No, wait, there actually was a time you almost did that, wasn’t there?” “You said I did well back then, but you’ve been harboring a grudge all this time? Looking closely, you’re secretly quite petty.” “No, but this punk, I let it slide and now……?”

Yeo Un-baek’s eyes glared fiercely.

“Fine. Shall I stab you like you wanted? Just brace yourself! Where should I stab you!” “You’re finally showing your true colors.” “Ha! Haaah! Haaaaah!”

Yeo Un-baek pounded his chest aggressively as if he would die from the frustration inside him.

“Phew, you punk.” “Don’t come any closer and speak from over there.” “You……”

Yeo Un-baek maintained his dignity as the Alliance Leader through superhuman mental fortitude.

“Did you buy and read some strange storybook from the marketplace again? I told you to stop reading those trashy books!” “Strange! Trashy books! How could you say something so insulting……!” “The one who got insulted is me! I am the Murim Alliance Leader, the head of the Orthodox Factions in name and reality!” “Are you not going to do it?” “I’m not doing it, you punk!” “If you aren’t going to do it, you aren’t, so why get all worked up? Your personality is truly strange.”

Grind. Yeo Un-baek gnashed his teeth. Jin Cheong-un’s cheeky tone disrupted his composure even more than the dark arts of the Secret Cult.

“Search for survivors! Hurry!” “Over here!”

Right around then, a clamorous noise could be heard from afar. It was the death squad members who had come to the headquarters with them. It seemed more of them had survived than expected. Yeo Un-baek, who had been looking in that direction for a while, opened his mouth once again.

“Cheong-un.”

It was a tone that sounded more like a father calling his son than a superior calling his subordinate.

“……Yes, Alliance Leader.” “How long has it been since you joined the Black Dragon Unit?” “It’s probably been a little over ten years.” “Already…… That troublemaker has somehow become a proper human being.”

Yeo Un-baek let out a hearty laugh.

“Are you really planning to retire?” “Yes.” “What about the bastards who follow you?”

At those words, even Jin Cheong-un was momentarily speechless.

“They’re bastards who stubbornly refuse to listen to others anyway, so they’ll figure it out on their own.” “You’re serious.” “Yes.” “Let me ask you one more thing.”

Yeo Un-baek erased his smile and asked with a serious face.

“Are you retiring just because you want to leave? Or is there something you’ve come to want to do?” “……” “You sang the song of retirement every single time, but you never actually had anything you wanted to do. After achieving your goal for entering the Alliance, you were like a bastard with only a shell left.” “That’s because I didn’t get to climb the ranks of success like I intended to and only kept working.” “Isn’t that not the true reason?” “……”

That was why Yeo Un-baek intentionally held onto Jin Cheong-un even more. The lives of all Jianghu people were like that, but the work he had done his whole life was seeing someone else’s blood. Jin Cheong-un had an aptitude, a talent, and even a purpose for such work. Unfortunately. It was then.

“I plan to open a martial arts academy.”

Yeo Un-baek’s eyes sparkled as if it was unexpected.

“An academy?” “Yes. I’m thinking of relaxing, playing around, collecting appropriate tuition fees, and playing the role of a master teaching the neighborhood kids.”

Life was truly an unpredictable thing. It felt like only yesterday that he had disobeyed his master’s words, stormed out of the academy, and entered the Jianghu, yet now, conversely, he was trying to open an academy again.

“An academy, you say. Hahaha.”

Yeo Un-baek let out a hearty laugh and nodded.

“It seems I really have to let you go now.”

Looking up at the sky once, Yeo Un-baek sighed deeply.

“As soon as the war ends, a lot of people are going to have a headache because of you.” “Why would anyone have a headache over a mere guard retiring.” “A mere guard?”

Yeo Un-baek snorted. Was this bastard acting like this because he truly didn’t know, or was he just pretending not to know?

“You’re acting completely carefree and peaceful, aren’t you?” “Since I’m retiring, of course I am.” “Hahaha, let’s just wait and see.” “……?”

Yeo Un-baek smiled faintly.

“Cheong-un. Live like a proper human being from now on.” “Like a proper human being.” “Yes. Don’t get blood on your hands, make some friends and drink alcohol with them, stop causing accidents, meet a good maiden, and get married.” “……” “Do you understand?” “……Yes.”

Suddenly, Jin Cheong-un mumbled as if he wanted to say something. Yeo Un-baek smiled warmly, as if looking at his young son.

“Is there something you wish to say?” “It’s nothing.” “Haha, it is fine, go ahead and speak.” “But shouldn’t you be the first one to get married, Alliance Leader? How could you reach that age and still……” “This little bastard?”

Just then, it suddenly became bright before their eyes. The two men turned their heads at the same time. They saw the sunlight peeking over the ridge line, covering the earth like the hem of a blanket. The pitch-dark world was brightly transforming.

“Thank you for everything thus far.”

Jin Cheong-un said quietly, bathed in the sunlight.

“Yes, you have worked hard too.”

Yes, he had worked hard. And now, it was the beginning. Finally, retirement!

Stepping off the carriage, Jin Cheong-un smiled softly as he looked down at his identification tag. Written on the tag was his home address and his name.

Number 13, Northern District, Cherry Blossom Village, Yichang County, Hubei Province. Jin Cheong-un of the Jin family.

“Is this the place.”

Looking up at the front gate, he soon tilted his head.

What’s this? I don’t think the house I saw looked like this.

Was it because he was visiting after such a long time since buying it, or because all the manors nearby looked similar? He wasn’t entirely sure. Well, it must be right.

Finally.

He felt deeply moved. To think that an orphan with absolutely nothing had earned his own money and achieved the dream of owning a home. His heart swelled at the thought of decorating the house and tending to the garden in the future. Yes, cleaning up after the Alliance Leader wasn’t real life; this was real life. The moment Jin Cheong-un placed his hand on the gate with a wide grin on his face.

Clatter!

The door opened on its own from the other side.

“Sister?”

A boy with a sickly-looking face poked his head out, then froze in place.

“……Who are you?” “That’s what I want to ask. Who are you to be in someone else’s house?” “Someone else’s house? This is our house.” “……Your house?”

Dumbfounded, Jin Cheong-un stepped back slightly to inspect the front gate and the wall.

It is the right place, though?

A chill ran down his spine. His voice trembled unbidden.

“This is my house that I bought a few years ago, though.” “I’ve lived here my whole life since I was born, though.” “Your whole life?”

In that moment, a memory flashed through Jin Cheong-un’s mind.

—Oh my, you are getting a great house for a dirt-cheap price! It came out cheap because the previous owner had to move out in a hurry. —Ah, are you asking if you don’t need to see the owner? Don’t worry. The owner had some business to attend to and entrusted the contract entirely to me. Now now, right this way!

No way.

Jin Cheong-un’s eyes trembled violently.

A scam……?