Star Instructor, Master Baek

Chapter 304: Master Lightning Dragon Hero!

TL: FoodieMonster007

The people of Wuhan were prideful, and it wasn't because Murim Alliance HQ and the Heavenly Martial Academy were located there, but because their city was the beating heart of the murim.

Wuhan was the capital city of Hubei, and for generations, the Nine Sects One Gang and their subsidiary sects had traveled through the region, fostering politics and trade. In addition, Hubei was bordered by Henan, home to the famous Shaolin Temple; Shaanxi, where the Mount Hua and Zhongnan Sects were located; Anhui, where the Namgung Clan was based; and Sichuan, the domain of the Tang Clan, Qingcheng, Emei, and Diancang Sects.

It was for this reason that the most important institutions in the murim had been built in Wuhan.

"T-There are so many people…" Namgung Mi muttered, looking around with wide, astonished eyes.

Right from the city's entrance, the streets were a bustling scene, packed with people, vendors displaying unique merchandise, and the mouthwatering aroma of delicious food.

For a ten-year-old girl, it was akin to a sensory overload.

"This is your first time in Wuhan, right, Mimi?" Jaegal Soyeong asked, smiling as she gently stroked the girl's hair.

"Yes…"

For her, Wuhan was more than just a city, it was home. After all, this was where the Jaegal Clan of the Five Great Clans, also known as the Clan of the Godly Diviners, was located.

Even though the Jaegal Clan was the weakest of the Five Great Clans in terms of martial strength, just the fact that the clan had consistently produced numerous exceptional figures in the more academic fields of mechanisms, formations, and sorcery was enough to solidify their dominance among the murim clans.

Jaegal Soyeong rarely boasted of her lineage, but she was in fact a treasured daughter of the Jaegal Clan.

"Mimi, can you stay close to your brother until we reach the Jaegal Estate? I'll take you on a proper tour of the city later," she added.

"Okay! Thank you, Unnie!" Smiling brightly, Namgung Mi jumped onto Namgung Su's back.

Startled by his sister's sudden action, Namgung Su furrowed his brows and sighed, "Miss Jaegal asked you to stay close to me, not hop on my back for a piggyback ride."

"But this way, I'll never lose you, Oppa!" Namgung Mi hugged Namgung Su's neck tightly, acting cute.

"……" Namgung Su shook his head in exasperation, but didn't put her down. Considering all she had been through, he could allow this much indulgence.

Meanwhile, Baek Suryong scanned the surroundings with narrowed eyes, but for some reason, the women who met his gaze flinched and quickly looked away.

Frowning, he tilted his head and muttered, "By the way… people are staring a lot."

For the people of Wuhan, martial artists were nothing unusual, and as the city with the highest concentration of martial artists in the world, it was home to all kinds of eccentrics. The sight of warriors missing limbs or wielding bizarre weapons should be commonplace here.

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So why are we attracting so much attention right from the moment we enter the city?

"Something's off. I heard that people in Wuhan don't really pay attention to martial artists…"

Jaegal Soyeong stared at Baek Suryong as if he had lost his mind. "Wait! Do you really think they're staring because we're martial artists?"

Baek Suryong tilted his head again in confusion. "If not that, then what? It doesn't seem like they recognize us…"

"Listen to what they're saying carefully," Jaegal Soyeong interrupted.

"……" Baek Suryong shut his mouth and listened as instructed.

"Look, look over there…"

"Oh my goodness…"

"Am I seeing things…?"

"I thought the Jade Qilin was the most handsome man in the world, but compared to those two…"

"Who are they? Does anyone know their names?"

"Men that handsome must have aliases…"

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"The one in white… his eyes, they're the legendary Golden Fiery Eyes1… Haah…"

Like Jaegal Soyeong had said, the reason they were being stared at wasn't because they were unknown martial artists. Most of the stares and gasps came from wide-eyed women who looked as if they had just discovered a legendary creature.

…And the reason was because the pretty boy duo of Baek Suryong and Namgung Su, walking side by side in their blue and white martial arts uniforms, looked like a painting brought to life.

SHWAA…

The wind blew, ruffling their clothes and hair, while flower petals swirled around them in the breeze.

"Oh my…"

"Aah…"

Women covered their mouths in awe.

Sighing, Jaegal Soyeong turned to the two men and said, "They're not staring because you're martial artists. They're staring because you're handsome."

"…Shit," Baek Suryong cursed. He had forgotten that his father was the legendary Handsome Prince.

I should've put on a bamboo hat right after passing through the gates…!

As a city with many visiting martial artists, the gates of Wuhan had very tight security, so things like bamboo hats, masks, and any kind of face coverings were forbidden, and the guards even touched each person's face to make sure they weren't wearing human skin masks.

Furthermore, if anyone was later found to have falsified their identity, they would be severely punished by the Murim Alliance.

If I wanted to, fooling them would be simple, but…

Baek Suryong had committed no crime, and he didn't want to go that far. Therefore, he had entered the city after revealing his identity, and fortunately, no one seemed to recognize him.

Even in a city full of martial artists, law enforcement was ultimately handled by government soldiers, so there was no way mere guards would have a portrait of the Azure Dragon Hero.

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Besides, Baek Suryong's fame still lagged behind that of the other Ten Supremes. Aside from his striking appearance, he didn't have any unique distinguishing features. It wasn't surprising that no one had immediately recognized him.

However, that won't last long.

Wuhan was crawling with informants from the Beggars' Gang and the Rogues' Guild, as well as spies from various sects. Within an hour, news of the Azure Dragon Hero Baek Suryong's arrival would spread.

I need to finish my business and leave before it gets noisy.

Unfortunately, Baek Suryong was so worried about being recognized that he completely forgot about another problem.

Some of the women's eyes lit up with determination, and a few of them even gathered the courage to approach.

"Um…"

"Excuse me…"

At that moment, Baek Suryong remembered the warning Mae Geuklyom had given him just before he left the Azure Dragon Academy.

"Unfortunately, your face takes after your father's, which means you are destined to attract trouble wherever you go. Be especially careful with your words and actions around women, got it?"

If all those women were to surround him, even with his martial arts skills, he wouldn't be able to escape easily, especially since he couldn't harm the ordinary civilians among them.

Hmm, how do I get rid of them… Oh! Isn't this the perfect time to use that guy's oppressive and mystical golden eyes?

Quickly leaning over to Namgung Su, Baek Suryong whispered, "Namgung Su. Put some qi into your eyes."

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"What?"

"Your eyes are terrifying. If you glower at them hard enough, they'll all run away."

"……" Namgung Su sighed heavily. Ugh, if it weren't for this damn debt of gratitude…

CRACKLE!

A spark of lightning flashed in his golden eyes.

"Eeeek!"

The women who had gathered the courage to approach stopped in shock, feeling like prey in the presence of a predator. Too afraid to approach, they retreated instead, and the crowded street quickly cleared.

Namgung Su blinked, surprised. Huh? Did my eyes always have this kind of effect?

Grinning, Baek Suryong led the group forward. "Let's go."

Unfortunately, even after the incident, the crowd's attention did not dissipate. If anything, even more eyes were drawn to them.

"Those people… they seem to be highly skilled in martial arts as well."

"The woman with them looks familiar. I feel like I've seen her before…"

"The child on his back also has an air of nobility. She doesn't seem like an ordinary person."

"…Ah!" A man who had been staring at Jaegal Soyeong suddenly shouted, "I remember now! Isn't she the second daughter of the Jaegal Clan?"

"What? You mean the one who became a new instructor at the Azure Dragon Academy this year…?"

"Are you sure?"

"Wait, if that's the case, then…"

As soon as they recognized Jaegal Soyeong, it was only natural for them to start guessing the identities of the two men accompanying her.

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"The men beside her… could they be…"

"Wait, the Azure Dragon Academy…?"

"T-The Azure Dragon Hero?!"

The crowd looked at Baek Suryong and Namgung Su with growing suspicion. Recently, the shocking rumors about the Azure Dragon Hero and the Azure Dragon Academy had reached Wuhan, but since the Azure Dragon Hero's portraits had not yet been delivered to the city, they had no way of knowing which man was him.

"Could it really be…?"

"If it is…?"

"Which one is it?"

Namgung Su looked at Baek Suryong and whispered, "Hey, it won't be long before our identities are revealed."

With all eyes on them, he avoided calling Baek Suryong by name to avoid unnecessary commotion.

"It can't be helped. We came here knowing this might happen."

"Are you skipping the Jaegal Estate and heading straight to Shaanxi?"

Baek Suryong nodded. "Yeah, I just have one quick stop to make before I leave."

Jaegal Soyeong and Namgung Mi immediately pouted in disappointment.

"Why the hurry? It would be nice if you stopped by my home, too."

"Can't you stay with us a little longer…?"

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Baek Suryong shook his head with a smile. "Sorry, but this is the best place for us to part ways. I don't want to trouble the Jaegal Clan, and I'm on a tight schedule."

Summer vacation wasn't all that long, and if he wanted to accomplish everything he had planned, he had to use his time efficiently.

After a brief moment of thought, Jaegal Soyeong nodded. "You're right. If my father found out you were here, he'd definitely hold you hostage for days and ask you all sorts of uncomfortable questions…"

"He would?"

"Well, my father is… quite the erm… doting parent…" Jaegal Soyeong mumbled.

Before she could explain what she meant, though, a thunderous voice rang out, "SOYEONGGGGGGG!"

Jaegal Soyeong instantly covered her face with both hands, utterly embarrassed. "D-Dad…"

"My daughter! My daughter has come home! Wahahaha!"

A middle-aged man was racing toward them using movement arts, laughing heartily all the way. He was Jaegal Sun, the Patriarch of the Jaegal Clan, and a renowned master of lightning arts who was known as the Thunder Dragon Swordsman.

He was also the person Namgung Su had been advised to seek guidance from.

Not that he needs his advice anymore.

…Not that I need his advice anymore.

Both Baek Suryong and Namgung Su had the same thought, but still, it wouldn't be proper to leave without at least greeting the Jaegal Patriarch.

Baek Suryong glanced at his companions. "Looks like we'll part ways here. I was going to say goodbye at the Jaegal Estate's front gates, but…"

A sly grin spread across Baek Suryong's face. A brilliant idea had just struck him. He had been contemplating the best way to announce this, and now he had the perfect opportunity.

Turning around, he clasped his hands toward Namgung Su in a formal martial greeting.

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Namgung Su glared at him warily. "What are you planning this time…?"

Baek Suryong's smirk widened. He infused his voice with qi, then announced at the top of his lungs, "Then, I shall see you when school reopens, MASTER LIGHTNING DRAGON HERO!"

"You…! I told you that I hate…!"

Unfortunately, it was too late. Hundreds of people had already heard Baek Suryong refer to Namgung Su as the Lightning Dragon Hero (雷龍神劍).

Coincidentally, the alias of the approaching Jaegal Patriarch was the Thunder Dragon Swordsman (雷龍劍), but Baek Suryong had just declared that title not for Jaegal Sun, but for Namgung Su.

"The Lightning Dragon Hero?"

"What does that mean?"

Confusion spread across the crowd.

Baek Suryong grinned wickedly, then drove in the final nail into the coffin, "I will never forget the sight of your sword as you cut down the infamous Thunder Demon with a single slash, nor how even that villain paid his respects to your incredible swordsmanship. Though he was an evil man, he bestowed upon you the title of Lightning Dragon Hero in his dying moments. No martial artist deserves this title more than you!"

"You! I'm going to kill you…" Namgung Su grit his teeth and muttered under his breath.

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"Hahaha! Well now, I shall take my leave~"

WHOOSH!

Having said everything he wanted, Baek Suryong activated his movement arts and ran without looking back, his form blurring as he vanished in an instant.

Moments later, Jaegal Sun arrived at the scene and let out an admiring whistle. "Wow! That was some impressive movement arts."

"…Greetings, Jaegal Patriarch."

"It's been a long time since I last saw you, Young Master Namgung. Weren't you still a child back then? Oh, and by the way, who was that young man who just left?"

He's my benefactor, but he just ran away after sabotaging me.

There was no way Namgung Su could say that, so he simply answered, "That was the Azure Dragon Hero, Baek Suryong."

"Oh? I suspected as much!"

The Jaegal Patriarch and the surrounding crowd let out gasps of amazement.

So that's the Azure Dragon Hero!

The rumored rising star and newest member of the Ten Supremes had just been standing right in front of them.

"…He had urgent business, so he left first," Namgung Su added through gritted teeth. Although his blood was boiling with frustration, he had no choice but to cover for Baek Suryong's sudden exit.

"Oh. Well, that's too bad… but what was that about the Lightning Dragon Hero? And that he killed the Thunder Demon? Could it be… you?"

"That's…"

Murmurs spread through the crowd.

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"The Lightning Dragon Hero?"

"He said Lightning Dragon Hero."

"And that he killed the Thunder Demon?"

…DAMN YOU, BAEK SURYONGGGGGGG!

Namgung Su cursed his and his family's benefactor repeatedly as he spent the rest of the day sweating through endless explanations about the Lightning Dragon Hero and the Thunder Demon.

Also, from that day forward, his new title was the Lightning Dragon Hero.

1. Golden Fiery Eyes (火眼金睛): This is the term used to describe the Monkey King Sun Wukong's golden eyes in Journey to the West, a classic Chinese fantasy novel. ↩