TL: FoodieMonster007
Inside the Patriarch's Hall of the Namgung Clan, where the clan's most critical decisions were made, a young man and a middle-aged man sat facing each other, discussing the new instructor training course set to begin the next day.
"I heard the Vermilion Phoenix and the Azure Dragon clashed on the very first day?" the young man asked.
"Yes, they did. Thankfully, it didn't turn into a full-blown brawl," the middle-aged man replied, shaking his head.
"What a pity. Honestly, watching them fight is more entertaining than any training course."
"I heard that the atmosphere is already as tense as a battlefield. The Azure Dragon Hero and the Blazing Rakshasa apparently made a bet with their jobs on the line…"
The young man burst into laughter. "Hahaha! Seems like they're going all out this year!"
Sighing, the middle-aged man protested, "Father, the training course hasn't even started yet. If fights break out this early, it'll harm the main family's reputation."
"You are the Patriarch of the Namgung Clan. How can you be afraid of criticism from others?" The young man, whom the middle-aged man called 'Father,' chuckled and picked up his cup. He was the former patriarch of the Namgung Clan and one of the murim's Ten Supremes, the Blue Sky Sword King Namgung Jaehak.
The middle-aged man, the Ironblood Swordsman Namgung Cheon, the current Patriarch of the Namgung Clan, shook his head. "Father, it's only easy for you to say that because you've stepped down from this position.""Anyway, have you spotted any promising talents?"
"Sama Yeong from the Vermilion Phoenix Academy and Tang Baekho from the White Tiger Academy are outstanding."
"Seems like the Fire King raised his granddaughter well. I've also heard that the Tang Clan kid is quite the eccentric one."
"The Black Tortoise Academy only sent one person this year, and it seems she excels in sorcery rather than martial arts. She's also mute."
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"They've always sent only a few, but this year there's only one? That's disappointing." Namgung Jaehak frowned. The Five Academies' New Instructor Training Course was an important annual event for the Namgung Clan. However, this year, the Heavenly Martial Academy wasn't attending, and the Black Tortoise Academy only sent one person.
"I'll send a letter to the head of the Black Tortoise Academy. Unless that old man has gone senile, he won't act like this next year," he remarked.
Namgung Cheon asked, "By the way, why isn't the Heavenly Martial Academy attending the course?"
Namgung Jaehak was not only the former Patriarch of the Namgung Clan but also a Star Instructor at the Heavenly Martial Academy. These days, he only gave a few special lectures a year, but whenever he did, students flocked to hear him. This meant he held immense influence over the Academy, but even so, they didn't participate in this year's new instructor training course.
"The Heavenly Martial Academy's absence isn't the Principal's will."
"Then whose is it?"
"It was their one and only new instructor this year."
Despite the fact that outstanding instructors from all over the world applied, some of whom had years of experience at other academies, the Heavenly Martial Academy hired no more than three new instructors each year. As such, becoming a new instructor there was said to be a herculean task. ɌＡꞐꝋBĘⱾ
And this year, only one new instructor was selected.
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Namgung Cheon furrowed his brows. "His name was Cheon Mugyeol, right? The one who passed the test alone after eliminating all the competition."
"That's right. He's an extraordinarily talented individual."
For the word 'extraordinary' to come from the Blue Sky Sword King could only mean that Cheon Mugyeol was a monster beyond imagination.
"Still, how arrogant of him to dare decline our family's invitation."
"Cheon Mugyeol is…" Namgung Jaehak paused, then continued, "Perhaps it's fortunate that he didn't come. There's no one in the other academies who can deal with him. It would make no sense for him to come here, and the other instructors would only be driven to despair."
"Is he that formidable?"
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Namgung Jaehak hesitated for a moment, suddenly remembering another person. However, he didn't voice it and replied, "…Yes, he is. Anyway, I plan to meet him separately when I return to the Heavenly Martial Academy. Don't worry too much about it."
"Understood." Namgung Cheon nodded, then casually asked, "What about the Azure Dragon Academy?"
"Why are you asking me about that?"
"Wasn't it you who instructed the Deputy Commander of the Heavenly Ears to observe the Azure Dragon Hero?"
"…You knew?" Namgung Jaehak laughed awkwardly.
Namgung Cheon looked directly at his father and said firmly, "No one in the Namgung Clan can keep secrets from me, not even you, Father. Well, if that's what you want though, please take back the position of patriarch. I'll return it without any regrets."
Namgung Jaehak grinned sheepishly. "Come now, don't be so harsh. I did it because I was curious, okay?"
Namgung Cheon did not press further. Although he only acted out of respect for the patriarch's authority, the Blue Sky Sword King, a figure revered throughout the land, was pleading with his son. Letting out a small sigh, he instead asked, "So, have you satisfied your curiosity?"
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"No, not in the least. I can't figure him out at all. That Azure Dragon Hero… there's something suspicious about him. I think I'll have to observe him personally this time," Namgung Jaehak replied, his expression somewhat complex. He couldn't explain the reason to his son, but his interest in Baek Suryong was of a different nature from his interest in Cheon Mugyeol.
"What do you think of him, Su? You've observed him for months, so you should know him better than us."
The two men's gazes turned simultaneously in the same direction.
A short distance away, Namgung Su replied with a calm yet polite expression, "Baek Suryong is an excellent martial arts instructor with exceptional skills both in combat and teaching. His approach to education may be unconventional, but it has shown great results, and the number of students who sincerely want to learn from him is steadily increasing."
"Oh?"
"He's also politically astute, capable of winning over key figures whether within the academy or outside of it. There are some issues with his personality, but I don't think it's a major problem."
Namgung Cheon blinked in surprise. Although Namgung Su's face was devoid of emotion from beginning to end, his words were full of praise. This was a first.
"This is the first time I've ever heard such high praise from you. You always find fault even with the Star Teachers of the Five Great Academies."
"As I said, there are some issues with his personality."
"To me, that just seems like you're forcing yourself to find some flaw in him."
"……" Namgung Su looked away without a word.
Seeing this, Namgung Jaehak laughed heartily and asked playfully, "So, do you think the Azure Dragon Academy will win the Heavenly Martial Festival this year, as he boasted?"
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"It will be difficult."
"Difficult? Not impossible, but difficult?"
"Are you serious?"
"To be honest…" Namgung Su looked up, meeting his father and grandfather's eyes. "I think it's entirely possible," he declared confidently.
The two giants of the Namgung Clan stared at him in shock. Namgung Cheon, in particular, felt a strange pang in his heart as he noticed the change in his son.
From an early age, Namgung Su had a detached and pragmatic personality. Knowing his position as a concubine's child, he volunteered to go to the Azure Dragon Academy, effectively renouncing his claim to the position of successor. This fact had always troubled Namgung Cheon.
That boy… now claims he'll lead the Azure Dragon Academy to victory in the Heavenly Martial Festival? Does he even understand what that means?
Namgung Su was basically announcing his return to the Namgung Clan's successor race. Even with his status, if he could accomplish the miraculous feat of leading the Azure Dragon Academy to victory in the Heavenly Martial Festival, becoming the successor wasn't an impossible dream.
Suddenly wanting to test his son, Namgung Cheon deliberately said coldly, "The Azure Dragon Academy winning the Heavenly Martial Festival is absurd. Moreover, they will be banned from participating in the Heavenly Martial Festival from next year onwards and likely kicked out of the Five Great Academies."
"……"
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"You should prepare to transfer schools. I'll find you a place at another academy."
"……"
"Did you not hear me?"
"…I apologize, but I cannot comply."
"What?!"
In the blink of an eye, a formidable aura erupted from Namgung Cheon. Although he was overshadowed by the Blue Sky Sword King, Namgung Cheon was the patriarch of the Namgung Clan, a master who had reached the transcendental realm, and a supreme leader of the present era.
"Ugh…" Namgung Su's face paled.
"Say that again!"
Namgung Su gritted his teeth. Fortunately, he was accustomed to enduring pain and pressure while mastering the Heavenly Lightning Sword Technique, so he was able to withstand his father's aura somewhat.
Looking Namgung Cheon in the eye, Namgung Su said, "Time is short right now, so my first priority is to prepare for the Heavenly Martial Festival."
"So, you're going to disobey me?"
"Even if we don't achieve good results in this year's Heavenly Martial Festival, I have no intention of leaving the Azure Dragon Academy."
"How dare you!"
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FWOOSH!
A powerful gale swept through the room, sending the furniture flying in all directions. A broken teacup grazed Namgung Su's cheek, drawing blood.
"ENOUGH!" Namgung Jaehak shouted, dispelling the fierce aura with a wave of his hand. Stepping in to stop the fight between his son and grandson, he said sternly, "Patriarch, calm yourself. Su, you may leave now."
Trembling slightly, Namgung Su bowed respectfully and exited the Patriarch's Hall.
Watching his son's retreating figure, Namgung Cheon muttered in a dispirited voice, "This is the first time he's ever defied me."
"I'm surprised as well. He was a child who hid his feelings behind an expressionless face. When did he change so much?"
Namgung Su, who had always been an obedient boy, had just shown remarkable conviction and courage in confronting the Patriarch. What could have caused such a transformation in him?
Could this also be a result of the Azure Dragon Hero's influence?
Namgung Jaehak recalled the look on his grandson's face when he spoke of Baek Suryong. Although he maintained his usual calm and collected demeanor, his eyes expressed an unwavering trust in the man. It was a sight he had never seen during Namgung Su's time in the clan.
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"Huh…"
He was truly perplexed. A direct descendant of the Namgung Clan, the world's strongest clan, had been influenced and changed by a mere martial arts instructor, not by the family elders.
Namgung Cheon smiled bitterly. "The Azure Dragon Hero… It seems that everyone is talking about him these days, even you, Father. He must truly be a man like a dragon."
"I still don't know much about him, but whether he's a dragon or an imoogi,1 we'll definitely find out through this training course."
"I'll keep a close eye on him as well."
"At the very least, it will be entertaining to watch. After all, Baek Suryong is a catalyst of chaos who causes a stir wherever he goes."
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Namgung Jaehak rose from his seat. The Patriarch immediately moved to follow him, but Namgung Jaehak stopped him with a hand.
"Don't follow me. I want to walk alone."
"Understood."
Leaving the Patriarch's Hall, Namgung Jaehak strolled down the long corridor with his hands clasped behind his back. The world revered him as one of the Ten Supremes, but the young man walking under the moonlight wore a worried expression on his face just like ordinary people.
He couldn't say it, but there truly was something he desperately wanted to confirm about Baek Suryong.
If he's the one I'm looking for, then…
Looking up at the night sky, a red glint flickered in the depths of the Blue Sky Sword King's eyes.
Translator's Note: Cheon Mugyeol, meaning Flawless Sky, is one hell of a pretentious name. See you next week!
Imoogi: Korean lesser dragon, or giant serpent/snake that aspires to become a full-fledged dragon. ↩
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