Star Instructor, Master Baek

TL: FoodieMonster007

Late that night, Wiji Cheon and Hyonwon Kang hid in the shadows, spying on Mae Geuklyom's house.

"…What should we do?"

"Are you sure he's inside?"

"He always drinks tea at this hour. Unless something urgent comes up, he usually sticks to his routine."

Since Wiji Cheon received basic etiquette lessons and swordsmanship advice from Mae Geuklyom every few days, he understood the Headmaster's daily schedule better than anyone else.

"Headmaster Mae is a swordmaster who never leaves any openings. Even if he's fast asleep, he'll swing his sword as soon as someone approaches him.

"Really? That's a problem…" Hyonwon Kang replied absentmindedly, glancing at the sword on Wiji Cheon's waist. He had lied to Wiji Cheon to gain his trust and get close to him, so naturally, he wasn't at all interested in Mae Geuklyom's beard.

He just wanted to steal Wiji Cheon's sword.

Wiji Cheon always slept with that sword in his arms. He might seem off guard now, but the moment Hyonwon Kang tried to touch his sword, he would react faster than anyone else.

Unfortunately, Hyonwon Kang wasn't confident enough to take his junior's sword by force, or he would have already attacked Wiji Cheon.

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If I mess this up, I won't get a second chance. Now, how can I catch this kid off guard?

Hyonwon Kang thought of the classic trick of "killing with a borrowed sword", that is, attacking the target by borrowing someone else's strength. In this case, that 'someone else' would be Mae Geuklyom.

"Let's move in closer," he said, licking his lips nervously.

Wiji Cheon nodded. "Alright."

The duo slowly moved closer to Mae Geuklyom's house…

An ambush!

Suddenly, both students felt a chill down their spines and spun around simultaneously, weapons drawn.

CLANG! CLANG!

Having deflected the hidden weapons that flew from behind, the two glared into the darkness. More than ten people in black masks had surrounded them.

"As expected of the Azure Dragon Hero's students."

"Don't approach recklessly. Spread out and surround them."

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"We're the Assassination Arts Club, a group that researches tracking, stealth, and surprise attacks."

Hyonwon Kang immediately flared up. "Aren't you guys part of the Club Union? Yet you're attacking me, the Club Union President? You bastards! This is a revolt!"

"Please take that up with Mr. Baek Suryong. Now, if you'll hand over your scented pouch quietly, no one will get hurt. This is our last act of consideration for you, Union President."

"Senior, what should we do?" Wiji Cheon asked, checking the number and location of their enemies.

Hyonwon Kang clicked his tongue. "There aren't many of them. Let's finish them off quickly before more arrive."

The Assassination Arts Club President scoffed. "We are elites who have been trained as assassins. You can't defeat us in the dark…"

"Shut up!"

Hyonwon Kang and Wiji Cheon scattered in opposite directions.

BAM! SLAM! CRAAAASH!

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In the raging whirlwind of movement, the students from the Assassination Arts Club scattered and fell to the ground like fallen autumn leaves.

Huh? Was I this strong?

Why are they so weak?

Hyonwon Kang and Wiji Cheon were surprised at their own strength. They had undergone arduous training under Baek Suryong, but they never had a chance to enjoy the results. After all, no matter how strong they became, they still couldn't graze Baek Suryong's clothes.

Now that they faced other Azure Dragon Academy students, though, they felt the difference clearly.

"M-Monsters… Fall back! We'll retreat and wait for another chance…!"

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"Who said we'd let you go that easily?"

THWACK!n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

The Assassination Arts Club President, who had been hiding in the darkness and giving orders, was the first to try to escape, but Hyonwon Kang's stone throw hit him squarely on the back of the head, dropping him instantly.

The rest were no better off. It didn't take the Remedial Class duo even an hour to defeat them all.

CRACK!

Hyonwon Kang twisted the wrists of the fallen Assassination Arts Club members slightly, not enough to break them, but just enough to sprain them. Their wrists would swell up, rendering them unable to wield weapons properly until the end of the exam period.

Wiji Cheon asked, "To prevent future trouble, it would be safer to break them completely, but that's too harsh, right?"

If they dare attack us again, I'll break them then. I'll make sure they can't hold a weapon for months," Hyonwon Kang replied.

Seeing their two fellow students threaten to break their bones without blinking an eye, the frightened orthodox sect children, who had gathered in a club to play assassins, begged for mercy.

"W-We won't bother you again!"

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"Please spare us just this once!"

Hyonwon Kang and Wiji Cheon shooed away the Assassination Arts Club, then looked at each other and grinned.

Seeing this, Mae Geuklyom, who had emerged from his house after being drawn by the noise outside, sighed. Like teacher, like pupils…

"What's all this commotion in the middle of the night?" he asked, approaching Wiji Cheon and Hyonwon Kang.

The duo immediately panicked.

Hyonwon Kang stuttered, "H-Headmaster, I can explain…"

Mae Geuklyom nodded. "Very well, I will hear you out first. If you don't give me a satisfactory explanation, however, you will be punished."

Hyonwon Kang subtly nudged Wiji Cheon. [You're closer to him, so try to make up some excuse!]

Wiji Cheon's mind raced. Unfortunately, flustered by the thought of having to cut Mae Geuklyom's beard, he ended up blabbing the one thing he shouldn't have.

"C-Could you please let me cut a few strands of your beard?" he blurted out.

Mae Geuklyom's white eyebrows twitched, and his magnificent beard shook with rage. "…What? Are you mocking me?"

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"N-No, that's not it… I really need it…"

Hyonwon Kang pounded his chest in frustration. "You idiot! Do you think he'll let you cut it just because you ask politely?!"

Mae Geuklyom frowned. He was more perceptive than the students thought. Considering the current situation and the uproar over Baek Suryong's exam, the conclusion was obvious.

"You two… Did that damned punk Suryong put you up to this?" he asked.

"What? N-No."

"Cheon, you're a poor liar, you know? I'll talk to Suryong about this later."

"……"

Mae Geuklyom stroked his magnificent beard. "Anyway, you said that you needed a few strands of my beard?"

Wiji Cheon timidly nodded.

SHIING!

Mae Geuklyom slowly unsheathed his sword. The pale moonlight reflected off the blade, casting a cold blue glow. "Since you failed to ambush me, you'll have to cut it by force now."

"…Yes." Wiji Cheon raised his Soul Sword tensely.

Mae Geuklyom glanced at Hyonwon Kang. "And you?"

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"I'm also taking the same exam. Is it okay if we work together?" Hyonwon Kang asked, shifting into a combat stance.

Mae Geuklyom smiled. "Good. Very good. I was planning on going out for a late night drink, and this will do nicely as a warm-up. Come at me."

Every movement Mae Geuklyom displayed as he slowly assumed his starting stance exuded elegance. However, once the stance was complete, the kindly old man disappeared, replaced by a single sharp, powerful sword.

"Whew…" Wiji Cheon took a deep breath and composed himself. Mae Geuklyom was the greatest swordsman he knew.

Although Baek Suryong might be stronger overall, if they were to compete in swordsmanship alone, Wiji Cheon felt that even his teacher wouldn't be able to defeat Mae Geuklyom.

I have to give it everything I've got… No, even my best won't be enough. I have to surpass myself!

Wiji Cheon concentrated all his senses on Mae Geuklyom, preparing to react at the slightest twitch.

"Hehehe…." Hyonwon Kang giggled sinisterly.

SMACK!

Wiji Cheon's body stiffened like a statue as Hyonwon Kang, who had been waiting for an opening, seized the opportunity and sealed his acupoints.

"S-Senior?" he gasped, staring at Hyonwon Kang in shock.

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"Have you already forgotten what we learned in class? Always watch your back," Hyonwon Kang chuckled as he uncurled Wiji Cheon's fingers one by one, took his Soul Sword, and then removed the scabbard from Wiji Cheon's waist.

"W-What are you doing?" Wiji Cheon asked. Completely paralyzed, he could only gape at Hyonwon Kang helplessly.

"Sorry, Cheon. I lied about my secret mission. This is my real mission," Hyonwon Kang replied, taking out his mission slip and showing it to Wiji Cheon.

Steal Wiji Cheon's sword.

Wiji Cheon's face paled. "You've been tricking me from the very start?"

"My dear junior, the jianghu is a harsh place where no one can be trusted. Learn from today's incident and strive to improve yourself, yeah?"

"Traitor…!"

"Consider this a small price to pay for an important life lesson. Better to fail an exam now than suffer a bloody demise later, right?" Hyonwon Kang patted Wiji Cheon's shoulder in consolation, but he couldn't hide the smile on his face.

"That's too much. I thought of you as my real big brother…" Wiji Cheon mumbled, looking heartbroken.

Hyonwon Kang felt a pang of guilt. "Hey, I didn't have a choice. This was my secret mission. I'll treat you to a nice meal after the exam to make up for this, okay?"

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"…I won't eat anything bought by a traitor. How do I know you won't poison it?" Wiji Cheon cried, sounding crushed.

Hyonwon Kang felt somewhat ashamed, but he had no intention of returning the sword. "Ahem! Anyway, your acupoints will be unsealed in about an hour. I'll be going now," he said, running away using his movement arts.

"……" Wiji Cheon stood there blankly, watching him go.

"Are you alright?" Mae Geuklyom asked, but Wiji Cheon hardly heard him.

"I will never trust anyone again…" Wiji Cheon muttered, a dark light flickering in his hollow eyes.

I may have lost my sword, but the exam isn't over yet!

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"Hehehe!" Hyonwon Kang giggled in satisfaction, dizzy with success.

Surely no one finished their mission faster than me, right?

Since the secret missions were all impossibly difficult, he was probably the only one who had completed it on the first day.

Cheon was too naive.

He pictured Wiji Cheon, who, despite their relatively small age gap, still had a childlike innocence.

Anyone could have tricked him.

Recalling the sight of Wiji Cheon nearly in tears, Hyonwon Kang felt a twinge of guilt, but he pushed the thought aside.

"Hmph, he only has himself to blame for being tricked."

He picked up the pace toward Baek Suryong's office, planning to turn in the Soul Sword right away and finish the test. It would be troublesome if Wiji Cheon came after him before he could complete his mission. Even though the boy had lost the Soul Sword, he wouldn't become weaker even if he used another sword.

Suddenly, a metallic stench wafted out from somewhere nearby.

Blood?

The smell of blood was too strong to ignore. Narrowing his eyes, Hyonwon Kang cautiously moved towards the source of the smell, only to find Yeo Min huddled in a dark alley.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

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"Senior Wonkang?" Yeo Min looked up with a start, then waved her hand dismissively. "Don't mind me and go on your way. I can handle this on my own."

"…What's with all this blood?"

Hyonwon Kang looked around. There were bloodstains all around Yeo Min, and looking closely, he could see tears in her clothes.

Yeo Min panted heavily, "…I was running away and got hit by a stray throwing knife. I'm just resting after treating my wounds, so just go."

Hyonwon Kang slowly approached Yeo Min. Despite her words, her lips were pale, and blood was seeping through her clothes.

"I told you not to come!" Yeo Min took out her folding fan and warily pointed it at Hyonwon Kang.

Hyonwon Kang nodded in understanding. If he had been in Yeo Min's position, he would have been just as jittery. "I just finished my mission and am on my way to Mr. Baek's office. I'm not after you."

"…Really?"

"Really. Have you lived your whole life doubting everyone? Look here, I have Wiji Cheon's sword. Getting his was my mission," Hyonwon Kang reassured.

He wasn't too worried that Yeo Min would attack him. She originally only practiced movement arts and had only recently started learning ice arts, so she was currently the weakest fighter among the White Dragon Manor students.

"I guess it's true…" Yeo Min muttered.

"Let me take a look at your wound," Hyonwon Kang offered, remembering how he had left Wiji Cheon all alone with sealed acupoints. The slight feeling of remorse made him more sympathetic toward Yeo Min than usual. "Where were you stabbed?"

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Hyonwon Kang leaned toward Yeo Min, but at that moment, Yeo Min's eyes flashed like a snake eyeing its prey. Reaching into Hyonwon Kang's pocket, she grabbed his scent pouch and immediately jumped back using her movement arts.

"Hey!" Caught off guard, Hyonwon Kang tried to grab Yeo Min, but in his panic, he only managed to pull off a few strands of hair.

He stomped his foot in frustration. Yeo Min had devoted herself to movement arts since arriving at White Dragon Manor. If she ran now, there was no way he could catch her.

"Damn it! Was stealing my scented pouch your mission?" he yelled.

"No. My mission has nothing to do with you, Senior," Yeo Min replied.

"What? Then why did you do this to me?"

Yeo Min smiled faintly, dangling Hyonwon Kang's pouch between her fingers. "Help me with my mission."

"Why should I?!"

"Because if you don't, I'll tear this up."

Hyonwon Kang flew into a rage. "Are you kidding me? Do you know how worried I was? I thought you were really hurt! Is this how you repay my kindness? Do you have a conscience?!"

Yeo Min stuck out her tongue. "It's your own fault for being tricked."

Translator's Note: Happy Spring Festival/Lunar New Year! May the fortune be with you. Live long and prosper!