Star Instructor, Master Baek

TL: FoodieMonster007

Frowning, Namgung Cheon stared at the empty space he had sliced with his sword qi. Initially, he had wondered if the faint presence was just his imagination, but now he was sure. Just moments earlier, someone had been hiding here.

"They've escaped."

As a martial master, his keen senses easily picked up the faint traces left on the floor, walls, and even lingering in the air. The intruder was gone.

With a grim expression, he turned to face the Heavenly Ears Commander. "The intruder can't have gone far. Find them."

"Yes, sir!"

The Namgung Clan warriors immediately scattered in all directions. Lights flickered on in dozens of pavilions as hundreds of martial artists mobilized to track down the intruder, and scouts specially trained in tracking techniques were deployed along with dozens of hunting dogs.

GROWL… BARK BARK BARK BARK!

It was a major incident. Of all places, someone had infiltrated the heart of the Namgung Clan.

"An intruder has breached the main house!"

"We have to find them at all costs!"

Namgung Cheon quietly observed the chaotic scene, lost in thought. The weight of the atmosphere pressed down so heavily that his children remained silent, not daring to utter a single word.

Suddenly, a voice came from above, breaking the silence.

"What is all this commotion about?" the Blue Sky Sword King Namgung Jaehak demanded, standing atop a wall and gazing down at his descendants.

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WHOOSH!

With an effortless leap, Namgung Jaehak landed gracefully in front of Namgung Cheon.

Everyone lowered their heads in a respectful bow.

"There was an intruder in the Heavenly Ears Headquarters," Namgung Cheon explained.

"An intruder? Who would dare do such a thing?!"

With a grave expression, Namgung Cheon briefly explained the situation to the Blue Sky Sword King. "So… either it was just my imagination, or the intruder's martial arts are far superior to mine."

"Hmph. Both suggestions are absurd."

Namgung Jaehak, the Blue Sky Sword King, knew better than anyone how strong his son's martial arts were.

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If it weren't for me, Cheon could have easily ranked among the Ten Supremes.

Namgung Cheon's exceptional martial prowess had allowed him to hand over the position of Patriarch with complete confidence.

Even I can't fool Cheon's senses or disappear without a trace while standing right in front of him… Wait. Could it be?

For a moment, Baek Suryong's face flashed in his mind, but he immediately shook his head. He had already assessed Baek Suryong's abilities. Considering the young instructor's age, it was astonishing, and as a cunning fellow, he might have hidden a trump card, but performing a disappearing act right in front of Namgung Cheon? It was improbable.

Then again, one can never be sure.

Namgung Jaehak turned to the Heavenly Ears Commander. "Inform the instructors of the Five Great Academies as well. We don't know what the intruder's aim is."

"Understood."

"I'll go investigate personally as well."

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"Former Patriarch, there's no need for you to go yourself…"

SWISH!

Before the Commander could finish speaking, the Blue Sky Sword King kicked off the ground, soared into the sky, and used his inner arts to enhance his vision, surveying the ground below.

The Namgung Clan's warriors scurried around dozens of buildings, running around with torches, searching for the intruder. There was no sign of anyone being found.

FWOOOSH!

Namgung Jaehak expanded his senses and scanned the entire Namgung Clan like an eagle. Finally, he caught an unfamiliar aura heading toward the new instructors' quarters.

Gritting his teeth, the Blue Sky Sword King let out a lion's roar that shook the mountains and forests, "DO YOU THINK YOU CAN INFILTRATE THE NAMGUNG CLAN AND GET AWAY ALIVE?!"

At the immense fury of the Blue Sky Sword King, which had not been witnessed for decades, a wave of fear spread through even the martial artists of the Namgung Clan.

WHOOSH!

His eyes burning with a terrifying killing intent, the Blue Sky Sword King's figure shot forward like a cannonball.

Baek Suryong. If you're indeed the culprit, I'll seize this opportunity to capture you and uncover your true identity! Anyone who dares to pry into the Namgung Clan's secrets must pay the price!

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[Do not resist. I mean you no harm.]

Shortly after hearing the telepathic message, Baek Suryong relaxed and let his body be enveloped by the mysterious power.

The next moment, he found himself back in his room.

ZZZ~ SNOOORE~

Kwak Duyong was still snoring like a pig.

Baek Suryong blinked at the sudden change in his surroundings. Was that the Space Compression Technique? No, did I just teleport?

At that moment, a woman emerged from the shadows in the room. Baek Suryong immediately recognized her as the only instructor from the Black Tortoise Academy participating in this new instructor training course.

"You're… Jongri Yeon, right?" he asked hesitantly.

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Jongri Yeon nodded. "I need to talk to you."

"I thought you were mute."

"I don't much time. You probably have many questions, but please listen to me first."

What's up with her aura? It's strange… like some kind of divinity…? In any case, this is the aura of a sorcerer, not a martial artist. Baek Suryong narrowed his eyes. Looking closer, he noticed that Jongri Yeon's pupils were deep green.

He furrowed his brows in suspicion. "You… You're not Jongri Yeon."

The mysterious being behind the green glowing eyes smiled gently. "You're indeed a clever man. I am known as the Dark Heaven Goddess, and I'm borrowing this child's body to speak to you."

"The Dark Heaven Goddess? The Principal of the Black Tortoise Academy?"

The Dark Heaven Goddess, principal of the Black Tortoise Academy, was widely recognized as the world's greatest sorcerer.

"Why would you help me?" Baek Suryong asked.

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The Dark Heaven Goddess looked at Baek Suryong with unfocused eyes, as if she was not looking at the present, but at the distant past or future. "Soon, a great calamity will befall the Namgung Clan," she declared in an ethereal voice.

Baek Suryong blinked in bewilderment. Is that a prophecy?Why is she telling me this now?

As if she could read his thoughts, the Dark Heaven Goddess said, "Because this calamity is intertwined with your destiny."

"My destiny? What do you mean?"

"You have a destiny that defies the heavens. A fate that can overturn celestial order, capable of either destroying or saving the world."

"You…!" Baek Suryong almost shouted, but managed to restrain himself.

He glanced at Kwak Duyong, who was still sleeping soundly. It would be a big problem if Kwak Duyong woke up and heard this conversation.

"He won't wake up for a while. Also, only you can hear my voice right now," the Dark Heaven Goddess explained.

Baek Suryong lowered his voice. "You… How much do you know?"

He had heard that the greatest sorcerers in the world could read celestial secrets, manipulate mysterious phenomena at will, divine a person's past and even predict the future.

Does she know about my previous life?

He clenched his fist tightly. Depending on the situation, he might have to kill Jongri Yeon to silence her.

The Dark Heaven Goddess's dark green eyes deepened. "I don't know everything about you either. Didn't I say it? You have a destiny that defies the heavens. Your fate can't be read using divination. I only came here to give you a warning."

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"A warning? What warning?" Baek Suryong asked warily.

"I'll say it once more. Soon, a great calamity will befall the Namgung Clan. When that happens, you will have to make a choice, and your decision will ultimately determine whether the event becomes a great disaster or a blessing for the world."

"Instead of me, shouldn't you be informing someone from the Namgung Clan, like the Namgung Patriarch or the Blue Sky Sword King about this…?"

"They are not qualified to hear my prophecy," the Dark Heaven Goddess said firmly.

Baek Suryong tilted his head. "Then are you saying I'm qualified?"

"Revealing the secrets of the heavens usually comes at a terrible price. Since you exist outside the celestial order, however, you are an exception."

Baek Suryong blinked in confusion. Is she saying that she can only tell me this because I'm someone with an ambiguous destiny?

Though unexpected, he tried to deduce some clues from her words.

A calamity that will befall the Namgung Clan. A choice I have to make because of it. Could it be related to the Blood Cult?

"Can you tell me specifically what that choice is?" he asked.

"Unfortunately, this is all I can tell you."

Baek Suryong sighed. It's abstract, but I guess it's still better than nothing.

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He looked at Jongri Yeon. To his surprise, after only a few words, she looked very haggard…

No, that's not exhaustion. She's aging rapidly!

Previously, she had looked to be in her mid-twenties, but now she appeared middle-aged, with wrinkles on her face.

Seeing Baek Suryong's shocked expression, the Dark Heaven Goddess smiled softly. "Don't worry, this child is not alive."

"She's not alive…? Is she a jiangshi?" Baek Suryong asked, recalling that the Black Tortoise Academy studied sorcery and necromancy.

The Dark Heaven Goddess shook her head. "Similar but different. Jiangshis are made from corpses, but this child is a puppet made with sorcery."

"The world of sorcery is more amazing than I thought…"

Although Baek Suryong had seen various sorceries in the Blood Cult, most were so evil and bizarre they were referred to as the dark arts.

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The Blood Demon was once the world's most powerful sorcerer, but the Dark Heaven Goddess's sorcery is just as profound and mysterious as his. I almost want to learn sorcery from her now.

Baek Suryong bowed respectfully to the Dark Heaven Goddess. Chunks of flesh were falling off the Dark Heaven Goddess's skin. She didn't have much time left.

"Thank you for helping me escape today's crisis, and also for your guidance," he said sincerely.

The Dark Heaven Goddess smiled faintly. "It's too early to relax. The Blue Sky Sword King will arrive here soon."

"What?"

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Just then, a resounding voice echoed throughout the Namgung Clan.

"DO YOU THINK YOU CAN INFILTRATE THE NAMGUNG CLAN AND GET AWAY ALIVE?!"

BOOOM!

Every hair on Baek Suryong's body stood on end as the absolute master's killing intent descended upon the entire Namgung Clan.

The Dark Heaven Goddess glanced out the window. "I can't believe he found the faint traces of sorcery I left behind. He's truly a monster. Anyway, he will arrive here soon."

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"Damn it…" Baek Suryong's expression hardened. If the Blue Sky Sword King came here following the traces of sorcery and saw the two of them together, no amount of excuses would be enough. "Please hide somewhere for now. I'll figure out how to…"

"There's no need for that." Shaking her head, the Dark Heaven Goddess stood up. "Today, I'll save you from trouble. In return, when you meet my students in the future, please help them."

"What?"

The Dark Heaven Goddess opened the door and stepped outside. The Blue Sky Sword King was flying toward them like a meteor. Judging by his speed, he would arrive here in mere seconds.

"Visit the Namgung Clan's ancestral shrine sometime. You might discover what you're searching for there."

With these last words, the Dark Heaven Goddess flew into the sky and sped northward, too fast even for Baek Suryong's eyes to follow.

Almost simultaneously, the Blue Sky Sword King shouted, "Halt! Stop right there!"

The Blue Sky Sword King, who had been flying toward the new instructor dorms, sharply changed direction and pursued the Dark Heaven Goddess.

Baek Suryong watched as the two figures disappeared into the distance. A moment later, lightning flashed and thunder rumbled from the direction they had gone.

RUMBLE! BOOM BOOM BOOM!

"ZZZ… Huh, huh? What's going on?"

Startled, Kwak Duyong, who had been snoring loudly, jumped out of his bed ran outside barefoot.