Star Instructor, Master Baek

TL: FoodieMonster007

From early morning, a crowd gathered around the White Dragon Manor, keeping their eyes on the tightly shut gates while traded rumors. Every single one of them had come to catch sight of the Azure Dragon Hero.

"I heard someone climbed over the wall last night."

"Was it another thief?"

"I don't think it was a thief this time. The thieves who got in before were all punished severely and kicked out, but it was quiet yesterday, and the lights were on until late."

"I heard some voices from inside the manor…"

Quite a few folks stayed awake all night, keeping a close watch. Some had already been camping outside the manor for more than ten days.

"Maybe the Azure Dragon Hero came back last night?"

Everyone's eyes sparkled, and the martial artists who had been waiting for days seemed ready to barge through the gates.

"If he's back, then why hasn't he come out? What's he doing inside?"

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"It's rude to keep guests like us waiting outside!"

"Now that everyone's calling him a hero, he probably thinks that low-level trash like us is beneath him!"

The crowd was filled with grievances. For some absurd reason, even though none of them had been personally invited by the Azure Dragon Hero, they still believed that it was only right for him to welcome them warmly.

"I can't wait any longer. Let's just smash those gates!"

"Yeah, let's!"

Feeling impatient, several martial artists decided to force their way into the manor.

"Wait! The door's opening!"

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Suddenly, the White Dragon Manor's tightly closed gates swung open, and out stepped a tall and shockingly handsome young man dressed in blue.

There was no need for him to introduce himself.

"It's the Azure Dragon Hero!"

"Why are you only opening the door now?!"

"Oh my! I finally get to see the noble face of a candidate for the Ten Supremes."

Some called the Azure Dragon Hero a candidate for the Ten Supremes, but their voices laced with ridicule rather than admiration or respect. Although Baek Suryong had eliminated the Blood Cult Elder and saved the Namgung Clan, few felt that this alone was enough to earn him a spot as one of the Ten Supremes.

First, he must defeat me and prove his strength, was the unspoken challenge carried in the eyes of every martial artist present. Quite a few were already picturing themselves defeating Baek Suryong and basking in their newfound fame.

Unfazed by the overwhelming attention, Baek Suryong stepped forward and clasped his hands in greeting. "Good morning, everyone. I am Baek Suryong. First, I wish to apologize to everyone who came here to the White Dragon Manor. Due to the internal injuries I sustained at the Namgung Estate and travel fatigue, I quietly returned home and rested last night."

"If that's true…"

"Ugh…"

Seeing Baek Suryong's pale face and knowing what had happened to the Namgung Clan, no one in the crowd thought he was lying. Some still seemed irritated, but most nodded in understanding.

After all, it wasn't every day one got to witness a famous master like the Azure Dragon Hero politely admit their mistakes.

The tension has eased up a bit, judged. As expected, just by humbling himself, the people's indignation was somewhat soothed.

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Smiling gently, he continued, "Thank you for understanding. Now, while I would love to invite you all inside…"

He paused, scanning the hundreds of people who had gathered in the early morning with an apologetic expression. Even now, more were arriving, having heard of the Azure Dragon Hero's return.

"…I'm afraid that there simply isn't enough room for everyone, nor can I properly entertain such a large crowd."

"You're not telling us to leave after we've been waiting out here for days, are you?!" an impatient martial artist shouted.

Baek Suryong shook his head and answered benevolently, "No, of course not. It's just impossible to accommodate you all at once, and I don't wish for anyone to wait under the hot sun."

Many nodded. Baek Suryong's acting was very convincing, to the point where no one even suspected that he was putting on a show.

"Even if it's just for a short time, I wish to have a proper conversation with each of you," Baek Suryong added.

"Ooh…"

"Now that's a true master for you."

"I've heard that he was arrogant, having become a master at such a young age, but it seems the rumors were wrong."

Quite a few of the martial artists were impressed by the Azure Dragon Hero. They had been prepared to be turned away, yet Baek Suryong was willingly offering his time to them.

Almost there, Baek Suryong thought, smirking inwardly. There were many masters in the murim, but few were skilled with words, being stubborn and arrogant.

He, however, was different. His silver tongue, honed from years of teaching and 'persuading' people as a martial arts instructor, shone brightly here.

"To accommodate all of you, I've come up with what I think is the best solution. Who arrived first?"

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"Me." A young beggar raised his large, thick, grime-covered hand.

Some in the crowd recognized him and started whispering among themselves.

"Isn't he the Strongman, Wang Son?"

"The Beggars' Gang Jiangxi Branch Manager? If I remember right, he's also the Gang Leader's disciple…"

"Why are you surprised? The Azure Dragon Hero's name is famous throughout the land, it's only right that a Beggars' Gang Branch Manager would come."

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Wang Son calmly picked his nose, paying no mind to the stares.

"Branch Manager Wang Son, do you recall the order in which everyone arrived?" Baek Suryong asked.

Wang Son rubbed his chin. Despite his dirty and dull appearance, he had a good memory and was intelligent enough to become a Branch Manager and a disciple of the Beggars' Gang Leader.

He replied politely, "I remember about thirty people behind me…"

Even though he was well-known in the murim, he was very courteous to Baek Suryong.

Baek Suryong is a serious contender for the Ten Supremes. There's no harm in getting on his good side.

Wang Son grinned broadly, revealing yellowed teeth.

"…It's great that you recall thirty people. I could really use your help," Baek Suryong said stiffly. While could tell that Wang Son meant to be friendly, his fake smile had nearly cracked when the beggar started suckling on the very finger he'd just used to pick his nose.

"Sure, what can I do for you?"

"Kids!" Baek Suryong shouted behind him.

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The students appeared from within the manor, holding stacks of paper.

"My students here will distribute numbered tickets based on everyone's order of arrival. While you are waiting for your turn, you can rest at a nearby inn, and my students will find you in numerical order. There's no need for you to wait outdoors."

"Ooh!"

"That's an excellent idea!"

The crowd applauded. If they followed Baek Suryong's plan, they could avoid waiting outside in the scorching heat.

They lined up in the order of their arrival and claimed numbered tickets. Since Branch Manager Wang Son of the Beggars' Gang was verifying the order, there were no disputes.

"There's an inn nearby called the White Dragon Inn. It would be best for everyone to stay there so my students can easily locate you," Baek Suryong said, casually promoting the inn run by the White Dragon Conglomerate.

Nobody found that suspicious, although some grumbled for a different reason.

A man pushed through the crowd, his long scar and dominating aura making him impossible to miss. "Are you really planning to greet all these riffraff one by one? How long are we supposed to wait in line? I am Cho Yeonil of the Cho Family Sword Sect, and I have traveled a thousand miles to challenge you, Azure Dragon Hero."

"The Soul-Seeking Swordsman!"

"The one who supposedly killed a demonic practitioner in Shaanxi with a single slash?"

Those who recognized Cho Yeonil stirred in excitement.

Cho Yeonil's lips curled up slightly at the crowd's admiring gazes. He was the heir of the Cho Family Sword Sect, a sect founded by a martial clan. Determined to perfect his martial arts, he had been traveling the world for the last three years, dueling other martial artists.

SWISH!

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He tried to appear unconcerned as he stepped forward, drawing his sword and letting it gleam in the early sunlight.

His gaze locked onto Baek Suryong. "Azure Dragon Hero! I challenge you to a duel. My blade has been sharpened by countless real battles, so this shouldn't take long… unless you run away."

Cho Yeonil grinned smugly, confident in his victory over Baek Suryong. His skills had been honed over three years of incessant fighting, and he believed he'd reached his peak.

He needed only to defeat one famous master to gain the recognition he craved.

People are actually considering this pretty boy as one of the Ten Supremes? Hmph, I'll expose his false reputation.

Cho Yeonil wasn't alone in his arrogance. Other skilled fighters who hated waiting also stepped forward.

"I too came to challenge the Azure Dragon Hero!"

"Me three!"

"If you're not afraid of my spear, then accept my duel, Azure Dragon Hero."

Each speaker was an accomplished martial artist, proud and unaccustomed to lining up.

However, Baek Suryong remained firm. "That would be unfair to those who arrived before you. Please take a numbered ticket based on your order of arrival."

"Are you making excuses to avoid a fight?" Cho Yeonil taunted.

The other martial artists sneered and jeered.

Baek Suryong's face clouded over. He wanted to immediately beat all these idiots to a pulp, but with so many witnesses, that wasn't a good idea.

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Fortunately, he had a strong ally.

A voice sharper and colder than Cho Yeonil's cut through the tension. "I can hardly believe how shameless you all are."

"Shameless? Who the hell are you?" Cho Yeonil snarled.

Namgung Su stepped up beside Baek Suryong. "I am the third son of the Namgung Clan and the Star Instructor of the Azure Dragon Academy, Namgung Su."

"Gasp!" The women in the crowd couldn't help but gasp in admiration. The sight of the two extremely handsome men standing side by side was like a scene from a painting.

Cho Yeonil seethed. "…Even if you're a son of the Namgung Clan, don't you think you're being too rude?"

Namgung Su snorted derisively, as though he found Cho Yeonil's words laughable. "None of you were invited here. If you had any manners, you'd thank your host for taking the time and trouble to acknowledge your existence, but instead you unsheathe your weapons when asked to wait in line? What makes you any different from common bandits?"

"……" Cho Yeonil was speechless.

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The other masters were also at a loss for words.

"…Why are you interfering in our affair?" he finally asked after a pause.

"Baek Suryong is my fellow instructor at the Azure Dragon Academy, and I simply cannot stand by while my colleague is being unfairly harassed."

"Hey, who are you accusing of harass…"

"More importantly, he's my family's benefactor." Ignoring Baek Suryong's whispered protests, Namgung Su looked the challengers straight in the eye. "You can persist if you'd like, but you'll have to go through me first."

The martial artists who met Namgung Su's steely gaze flinched and looked away. Even if the Namgung Clan had recently suffered a heavy blow, they still commanded respect, and public opinion was also on Namgung Su's side.

"He's right! Wait your turn!"

"What gives you the right to cut in line just because you're stronger than us?!"

Fuck… Cho Yeonil ground his teeth in frustration. He didn't fear Namgung Su, but he wasn't ready to ruin his reputation so pointlessly.

In the end, the Soul-Seeking Swordsman Cho Yeonil had no choice but to back down.

"…My apologies, I got a little carried away. I'll take a numbered ticket and wait for my turn."

Glaring daggers at Baek Suryong, he quietly joined the queue, and the other martial artists did the same.

A short while later, numbered tickets in hand, they all headed to the White Dragon Inn.

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"Damn it," Cho Yeonil muttered, downing a cup of strong liquor. The sting of his earlier humiliation was still fresh in his mind.

He was a cut above the trash here, these nobodies who were just buzzing around the Azure Dragon Hero like flies, hoping for a favor.

How can I, an honorable martial artist, be lumped in with all these opportunists?

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. He drained yet another cup.

Hmph! Regardless, when I defeat the Azure Dragon Hero, public opinion will turn around. In the end, strength is all that matters in the world of martial arts.

Imagining how the murim would be shaken by the rise of a new master in a few days, Cho Yeonil's rage subsided… but it flared up again the instant he saw the bill.

"Why is this so expensive?" he demanded, glaring at the waiter.

"Sir? This is our regular price…"

"It's nearly twice as expensive as other inns."

"Sir, I assure you, everything here is priced at market rate!"

Cho Yeonil ground his teeth. No matter how I look at it, it's a rip-off… but I can't make a scene over a few coins!

Martial artists valued pride above life itself, and as heir to the Cho Family Sword Sect, he couldn't afford to be known for bullying a mere waiter over money.

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Did the Azure Dragon Hero recommend an expensive inn on purpose? No, there's no reason for him to do something that doesn't benefit him…

Unfortunately, as a visitor from out of town, Cho Yeonil did not realize the White Dragon Inn was run by the White Dragon Conglomerate, and they had jacked up prices right before everyone arrived.

Something's weird.

The unreasonable prices wasn't the only odd thing. A handful of merchants were setting up pop-up stalls inside the White Dragon Inn.

"Fresh spirit beast cores for sale! Don't miss out on this rare opportunity! Get your spirit beast cores!"

"Spirit beast cores, you say? Let's see what you've got."

Martial artists gathered around the merchants. As promised, the spirit beast cores were fresh and of the highest quality, so the martial artists whose inner arts were lacking felt their hearts race.

"I'll buy one!"

"That one is mine!"

In the end, the merchants' goods were all sold at prices far above market value.

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Cho Yeonil shook his head. They're being completely ripped off! The fools who emptied their wallets to buy the elixirs may look satisfied now, but will they still feel the same tomorrow?

Every hour, Baek Suryong's students stopped by to call out numbers.

"Number thirty-two! Is number thirty-two here?"

"That's me! Finally, it's my turn!"

The man who jumped up was one of the challengers. He strode off confidently, eager to test Baek Suryong's mettle.

"I'll go see how sharp the Azure Dragon Hero's sword is!"

…After about an hour, he returned looking humbled. There was no need to ask what had happened.

"…My sword broke after five exchanges."

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"Five exchanges? Is the Azure Dragon Hero really that strong?"

"Here, have a drink and tell us what went down."

Cho Yeonil's ears perked up, though he pretended not to listen.

For a while, the challenger hesitated, but finally he gave in and whispered, "I couldn't even see his sword properly. I was blocking like crazy, and then my sword shattered."

"Wait. You said your sword was destroyed, but the one in your hand looks brand new."

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"Oh, this?" The challenger gingerly held his sword up. "The Azure Dragon Hero apologized and recommended a top smithy nearby called the Wiji Smithy. That's where I met this beauty. Heheh…"

The challenger chuckled with satisfaction, hugging his new blade. "It's a rare, precious sword. I barely managed to buy it with all my money."

Cho Yeonil's eyes widened in disbelief. He wasted all his money on a sword just because the Azure Dragon Hero broke his old one? Isn't that suspicious?

This is weird. That is weird. Everything is weird…

Suddenly, a boy with a sword strapped to his waist entered the inn and glanced around, his gaze eventually settling on Cho Yeonil.

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"Number seventy-five! Are you here?"

Cho Yeonil checked his numbered ticket and stood up. Seventy-five. His number was called earlier than he thought.

"…Finally, it's my turn. Can I head over right now?"

"Um, not exactly. Even if you went now, you'd have to wait for about an hour."

"Then why are you here already?"

"Actually… if it's okay with you, I'd like to ask you a favor."

"A favor?"

"I've been watching you. Would you be willing to duel with me first?"

Wiji Cheon stared at Cho Yeonil's sword, his eyes glittering with a puppy-like excitement.

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