Star Instructor, Master Baek

TL: FoodieMonster007

The Blue Sky Sword King's first practical training session concluded, marking the end of the first day of the new instructor training course.

As for the most surprising result? Every participant from the Azure Dragon Academy had tied for first place.

"…Is that even allowed?"

"Blocking the way… That has to be considered cheating…"

"Ho, hoho, hohoho…"

Everyone else was shocked speechless. No one had seen this coming.

As many gazes filled with disbelief fixed on Baek Suryong, one of the new instructors stepped forward.

"I can't accept this!" Sama Yeong cried bitterly.

Originally, she was supposed to cross the finish line right after Baek Suryong, but because of his interference, the Azure Dragon instructors overtook her. Also, as if that wasn't bad enough, right now, she looked like a disheveled beggar. Her proud scarlet Vermilion Phoenix uniform was stained with sweat and dirt, and her neatly tied hair had come undone after her ribbon broke.

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Glaring daggers at Baek Suryong, she protested, "Cutting others off at the finish line? How can this be called a fair competition? Mr. Baek Suryong's behavior is utterly unbecoming of a teacher!"

"I agree," Namgung Hak, the escort instructor of the Vermilion Phoenix Academy, chimed in. "While I acknowledge that Mr. Baek Suryong's martial arts are outstanding, using his superior skills and underhanded tactics to boost his peers' rankings goes against the spirit of an educator. What would students learn from witnessing such dishonest behavior?"

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the crowd.

Buoyed by public opinion, Namgung Hak glanced over at the Azure Dragon instructors. "Furthermore, such actions don't help the new instructors of the Azure Dragon Academy. One should complete tasks with their own abilities, not rely on others to achieve good results."

Suddenly treated as incompetent and dependent on Baek Suryong, the Azure Dragon instructors' faces crumpled.

"Isn't that a bit harsh? Although we did get help from Suryong-hyung, we also did our best and stayed close to the lead throughout the race," Ak Yeonho retorted.

"Can you call blindly following the marks left by Mr. Baek Suryong your own skill?" Namgung Hak sneered.

"That's…" Ak Yeonho's voice trailed off, momentarily speechless. He didn't know how Namgung Hak knew, but it was true that the race had been easier thanks to Baek Suryong's markers.

Still, there was one point on which he could argue.

"From the halfway point on, we had no more markers…"

"I won't hear any excuses."

Firmly cutting Ak Yeonho off, Namgung Hak scanned the crowd. The new instructors who had been blocked from crossing the finish line, the teaching assistants, and even the Azure Sky Sword Brigade were all furious at Baek Suryong. It was safe to say that very few of them were sympathetic towards the Azure Dragon instructors. Ɍ

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I can't allow the Azure Dragon Academy to achieve good results in this training course.

Although the humiliation of being slapped by his younger brother was infuriating, the bigger problem was that if the Azure Dragon Academy performed well, another competitor would emerge in the succession war.

Don't blame me, Su. You started this. I'll crush you here and now.

Casting a glance at Namgung Su, Namgung Hak declared, "I think that the Azure Dragon Academy should be disqualified from today's test. As instructors of the Five Great Academies, we should instill in our students the spirit of a martial artist and guide them toward becoming champions of justice and righteousness. People who lack the integrity of an educator have no business teaching students."

"W-What did you say?"

"Are you serious?"

Except for the protesting Azure Dragon instructors, many nodded in agreement with Namgung Hak's strong assertion. Moreover, as a Star Instructor of the Vermilion Phoenix Academy and the eldest son of the Namgung Clan, his voice carried considerable weight among those present.

"Wow, what a jerk…" Baek Suryong muttered incredulously.

He can't win through skill, so he's trying to squash the Azure Dragon Academy using public opinion? Why isn't the Blue Sky Sword King stopping him? He's just watching with his arms folded… No, he's waiting to see how I'll respond to this, since he's still suspicious of me.

Baek Suryong understood that his situation was precarious, and he didn't like the idea of drawing attention to himself. Still, he had no intention of letting others slander him without reprisal.

"I have a few words to say as well…" he began, when someone abruptly grabbed his shoulder.

It was Namgung Su.

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"Leave this to me," Namgung Su said firmly.

"What…?" Baek Suryong was about to retort, but seeing Namgung Su's unusually serious gaze, he calmed down and whispered, "What are you planning to do?"

"I promised you before, didn't I? That I'd back you up even if you cause some chaos."

"……"

"Just leave this to me."

Shoving Baek Suryong aside, Namgung Su faced his half-brother. "I've heard enough. Your claims are both baseless and illogical."

"What did you say?" Namgung Hak snapped, his elegant eyebrows twitching noticeably in displeasure.

Namgung Su coldly continued, "It seems that some of you have not grasped the true essence of this test. As a fellow instructor, I find this regrettable."

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"The essence, you say?"

"Are you referring to us?"

Despite the hostile gazes pouring in from all directions—the new instructors, the teaching assistants, the Azure Sky Sword Brigade, Namgung Su's brothers, and even the Blue Sky Sword King—Namgung Su didn't bat an eye as he chided, "Have you all forgotten the Blue Sky Sword King's briefing before the chase began? Just a few hours ago, he specifically emphasized that we should treat this practical training as if it were real combat."

Namgung Su. The insignificant third son of the Namgung Clan who was born to a concubine. A wimp who had dropped out of the succession war early on by volunteering to go to the trashy Azure Dragon Academy. A total loser. That was what the retainers of the Namgung Clan all thought about Namgung Su.

However, at this very moment, Namgung Su was forcefully asserting himself, as if mocking their poor judgment.

Locking gazes with Namgung Hak, Namgung Su snorted. "The integrity of an educator? Why is that needed in this training? This isn't a character-building class, it's survival training in preparation for real combat."

"That…"

The Namgung Clan's retainers blinked, bewildered yet impressed that Namgung Su was no less assertive than his eldest brother.

On the other hand, Namgung Hak and Namgung Heok could feel the pressure on them increasing.

Feeling everyone's eyes on him, Namgung Hak retorted, "Mr. Baek Suryong held a warrior of the Azure Sky Sword Brigade hostage. He crossed a line that no orthodox martial artist should. Even if it's practical training…"

"It was the Azure Sky Sword Brigade who attacked the new instructors first. What's wrong with retaliating? In fact, I think he deserves praise for being the one and only person to take action in self-defense."

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"Well said, our Star Instructor!" Baek Suryong cheered excitedly.

"Shh! Hyung-nim, please keep it down!"

At that moment, the captain of the Azure Sky Sword Brigade intervened. "Sorry to interrupt, but we had no intention of killing the new instructors. Mr. Baek Suryong, on the other hand, threatened…"

SIZZLE!

"Hold your tongue, Captain," Namgung Su warned, lightning crackling around his body as he released his aura. "I did not grant you permission to speak."

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The onlookers' eyes widened in disbelief, startled by Namgung Su's regal demeanor.

Was the third young master always that powerful?

I heard he was far weaker than his brothers…

He's been hiding his skills all along!

The captain of the Azure Sky Sword Brigade was equally surprised. Not only were Namgung Su's martial arts formidable, he also carried himself with an irresistible authority and dignity that he had only felt from the patriarch and former patriarch before.

"…My apologies," the Captain relented, bowing his head and stepping back.

The scene left a deep impression on everyone present.

Seeing the atmosphere start to spiral out of his favor, Namgung Hak raised his voice. "There should be limits! If you can use any means necessary during survival training, then does that mean it's acceptable to learn demonic arts or cannibalize human flesh?"

"Listen to yourself. You should know better than anyone how absurd your examples are…"

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"Pfft!"

Hearing stifled laughter, Namgung Hak turned sharply, only to see Baek Suryong covering his mouth. Biting his lip in chagrin, he said to Namgung Su, "No matter what you say, I think that Mr. Baek Suryong did something that a teacher should never do. The Azure Dragon instructors also achieved good results not by their own abilities, but by relying on others. Am I wrong?"

Namgung Su gave his brother a pitying look. "You know, these days, students call stubborn, condescending old men like you boomers."1

"You little shit…!"

"According to them, boomers always start hurling derogatory insults and throwing tantrums the moment they're cornered."

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"Ugh!"

Namgung Hak's face reddened, and blood seeped from his tightly clenched teeth. He had completely lost the war of words.

A huge grin spread across Baek Suryong's face. Wooow! That guy's merciless even to his own brother!

Immediately, he felt like whistling and applauding Namgung Su, but the instant he twitched, Ak Yeonho and Myeong Il'oh grabbed his arms from both sides, and Jaegal Soyeong clapped a hand over his mouth.

"Mmph? Mmmph?"

"Hyung-nim, please just stay still."

"Just leave this to Mr. Namgung Su."

"Talking is forbidden."

"Mmmph!"

While Baek Suryong was being restrained by his colleagues, the conflict between Namgung Hak and Namgung Su escalated.

"You… Are you seriously challenging me?"

"I have no idea what you are talking about. I am merely defending the new instructors under my guidance."

The brothers' gazes clashed fiercely. Words were no longer enough to settle this.

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As the Namgung Clan retainers watched with bated breath, both brothers silently reached for their sword hilts.

"Enough, both of you!" the Blue Sky Sword King roared, stepping between the two. Until now, he had watched with interest, but a fight was overkill.

He studied his two grandsons closely, especially Namgung Su. For a fleeting moment, a complex mixture of both pride and pity flickered in his eyes.

"The joint first place in this race goes to the Azure Dragon Academy," he declared forcefully, ending the dispute.

"!!"

"……"

Among the crowd, there was joy, and there was sorrow. Namgung Hak's face crumpled miserably, while Namgung Su remained as expressionless as ever.

The Blue Sky Sword King continued, "Although Mr. Baek Suryong's methods were aggressive, he did not cross the line by my standards. On the contrary, I think he deserves praise for thinking out of the box. Most importantly, though, he approached this task with a more serious commitment to 'real combat' than anyone else."

The new instructors tensed. The Blue Sky Sword King was strongly hinting that in future practical sessions, the other academies were allowed to use similar methods.

"As I understand it, the Azure Dragon instructors found their way here from the midway point without any markers. Am I correct?"

The captain of the Azure Sky Sword Brigade nodded. "Yes. Starting from around that point, we erased all the markers that Baek Suryong left for them."

"I see. Then, while the Azure Dragon instructors did receive help from Baek Suryong at first, from the middle, the four of them worked together to consistently stay in the lead group. You four should be proud of your results."

""Thank you!"" the Azure Dragon instructors replied, smiling joyfully.

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Turning around, the Blue Sky Sword King proceeded to acknowledge the efforts of the other instructors.

"Sama Yeong of the Vermilion Phoenix Academy. You displayed excellent martial arts skills, bold judgment, and solid leadership. Well done."

"…Thank you," Sama Yeong replied, biting her lip. She was still frustrated by the loss, but didn't argue further.

"Jongri Yeon of the Black Tortoise Academy. Your stealth techniques combined with sorcery were exceptional. I'll bet most people didn't even notice your existence during the entire race."

"Who?"

"Uh?"

As everyone looked around, a woman in a dark blue martial arts uniform stepped out from the shadows.

"When did she get here?"

"That woman came in third?"

Because Jongri Yeon had so little presence, most instructors only learned the name of the sole participant from the Black Tortoise Academy when the Blue Sky Sword King mentioned her.

Jongri Yeon, who was mute, bowed politely and then slipped back into the darkness.

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Next, the Blue Sky Sword King looked at the White Tiger instructors. "I'll also commend the White Tiger Academy. Though you arrived late, no one was left behind. Still, from the next training session onward, it would be good to think a bit more flexibly. Sticking together all the time isn't always the best decision."

"Thank you for your guidance! We'll do better tomorrow!" Tang Baekho saluted crisply. Although his academy's results left something to be desired, he had a simple personality and was satisfied with their achievements.

Having given advice to everyone, the Blue Sky Sword King turned back to Baek Suryong. "Although the Azure Dragon Academy is joint first place, I will grant the right to ask me one question only to Mr. Baek Suryong. Any objections?"

The Azure Dragon instructors, except for Baek Suryong, answered in unison, ""No, none at all, sir.""

"Will you ask me your question now?"

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Baek Suryong shook his head. He had many things he wanted to ask, but now wasn't the time. "No. I'll save it for later."

"You have until the end of the training course, so think carefully about it."

"Yes, sir."

For a brief moment, the two exchanged meaningful glances. Although neither of them said it out loud, they were both suspicious of each other.

"……"

"……"

In the end, the Blue Sky Sword King looked away first. "That's all for today. Gather here again tomorrow for the next lesson."

""Thank you!""

Having survived the first day of the new instructor training, the exhausted instructors returned to their lodgings.

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to them, one of the mountain peaks not far from Mount Tianzhu was swallowed by darkness.

Translator's Note: By majority vote, the next chapter titled "The Namgung Clan's Secret Part 1" will be released on Friday, along with the rest of the "Namgung Clan's Secret" on Sat and Sun.

1. Kkondae (꼰대): Namgung Su is using a very rude and insulting term reserved specifically for seniors who have an old-fashioned, stubborn, entitled way of thinking and acting. "Boomer" is the best English equivalent I can think of. ↩