Star Instructor, Master Baek

TL: FoodieMonster007

"Baek Suryong… you damned bastard… I swear I'm going to hunt you down…" Namgung Su wheezed, panting heavily. His fists, clenched so tightly that they had turned white, were trembling.

After parting ways with Baek Suryong in the middle of the city, Namgung Su had to fend off countless challengers on his way to the Jaegal Estate.

"Lightning Dragon Hero! I challenge you to a duel!"

"Let's see if you really deserve the Azure Dragon Hero's acknowledgment!"

"This old man wishes to test your martial arts."

As if that wasn't bad enough, rather than mediate, that accursed Jaegal Patriarch fanned the flames for no reason other than to satisfy his own curiosity.

"Line up, folks! Only ten challengers will be allowed to duel the Lightning Dragon Hero! All martial artists below the peak level, step aside!" the Jaegal Patriarch shouted.

Namgung Su's eyes widened in disbelief. "…Jaegal Patriarch? What are you saying?"

"You're not going to run away now, are you? That would dishonor not only you but also your clan."

"……"

After defeating the ten carefully selected challengers, Namgung Su finally reached the Jaegal Estate, thinking that he could rest at last.

Unfortunately, his nightmare was only just beginning. Rumors of the Lightning Dragon Hero's ten consecutive victories and his mysterious golden eyes spread like wildfire overnight.

"Lightning Dragon Hero, come out!"

"I waited all night for you!"

"Accept my challenge!"

"I LOVE YOU!"

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The Jaegal Estate was besieged by martial artists from daybreak, both those aiming to confront Namgung Su and those merely observing. Only the Jaegal Clan's formidable presence prevented the scene from devolving into a raucous spectacle.

Fuck you, Baek Suryong… Namgung Su thought, grinding his teeth.

Just then, a Murim Alliance messenger arrived and pushed his way through the crowd in front of the Jaegal Clan.

"What business does the Murim Alliance have here?" Namgung Su asked.

The messenger stuttered, "I can't explain out here, so would you mind following me to the Alliance? It's regarding the Azure Dragon Hero…"

When he received a message from Baek Suryong summoning him to the Murim Alliance, Namgung Su was surprised, but didn't think much of it. Baek Suryong was the Murim Alliance's new Chief Instructor, after all, him paying a visit to the Alliance headquarters was… normal…

He glared daggers at Baek Suryong. "…You. You broke the Murim Alliance's main gate?"

"……" Baek Suryong smiled sheepishly.

"And now you need a guarantor until the disciplinary committee is held?"

Baek Suryong nodded.

"And you named me as the guarantor? After pulling that stunt in public and running off?"

"Ahaha…"

CRACKLE… BZZZZT…

White lightning sparked off Namgung Su's body as he approached his nemesis.

Baek Suryong raised his hands in mock surrender. "Long time no… wait, no, it hasn't been long, but for some reason, it feels like a long-awaited reunion? Don't you agree?"

That was the last straw.

Namgung Su's temper boiled over. "Long-awaited reunion? We parted ways just yesterday! How on earth did you manage to cause so much chaos within a day?!"

"I had my reasons! I'll explain everything in detail later, so could you please put away that thunderbolt qi?"

"If your explanation isn't good enough, be prepared to suffer…"

"I raised a tiger cub. I raised a damn tiger cub!!"

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"Ahem!" Ryu Seol stepped between the two bickering men. "Handsome boys, please save the heartwarming reunion for later. May I have your attention for a moment?"

Both men turned toward Ryu Seol at once.

She flinched. At that moment, she had only maintained the facade of Acting Chairman by the thinnest of margins.

Holy shit, does the Azure Dragon Academy pick instructors based on looks? If my self-discipline was any weaker, I'd spiral straight into qi deviation from sheer lust…

After taking a moment to compose herself, Ryu Seol looked at Namgung Su. "You've heard the situation on the way, right? The Chief Instructor caused a mess, and he needs a guarantor."

"…I understand." Namgung Su nodded.

Ryu Seol turned to Moyong Jun with a look that said, you explain the rest.

With a resigned sigh, Moyong Jun said, "According to protocol, the Chief Instructor should be confined to his quarters until the disciplinary committee convenes, but if he's monitored by a guarantor, he can move around freely without restraint."

"Still, just in case something happens, he must wear these cuffs," Ryu Seol added, smiling brightly at Baek Suryong as she twirled a pair of black metal cuffs around her finger. "These are made of black iron. It would be difficult even for you to break them, and if you even think of trying, the Alliance's top experts will intervene immediately, so be careful."

"Understood." Baek Suryong let out a deep sigh and reluctantly stretched out both arms.

Deep down, though he was thinking something else entirely.

Time to throw out some bait.

By now, the culprit or accomplice who had attacked the Chief of the Beggars' Gang would be extremely on edge due to his sudden appearance in the Murim Alliance. They had no idea why he had come, or what he knew.

I made sure to leave traces so they know for sure that I stopped by the Beggars' Gang.

From the rat's point of view, Baek Suryong was a thorn in their side. Worse, he was strong enough to be one of the Ten Supremes, so they couldn't attack him carelessly.

If he was shackled with black iron cuffs, though…

There's bound to be some sort of reaction.

For example…

"Objection!" the Heavenly Justice Commander's voice rang out as he surveyed the room with undisguised disapproval. "These two are from the same academy. Do you seriously believe that Mr. Namgung can be impartial?"

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"That's…" Ryu Seol opened her mouth to reply, but before she could finish her sentence, Namgung Su cut in firmly.

"Of course I can," he said, instantly backing up his words with swift action.

SWOOSH! CLACK!

Snatching the cuffs from Ryu Seol, Namgung Su pulled Baek Suryong's arms behind his back and secured the cuffs without a hint of hesitation or mercy.

Moyong Jun blinked, startled. "U-Um, it's standard procedure to cuff the hands in front, not behind…"

"Hey! How am I supposed to eat if my hands are cuffed behind my back?"

Namgung Su ignored both Moyong Jun's concern and Baek Suryong's protest. Staring straight at the Heavenly Justice Commander with sharp, intense eyes, he declared: "On my honor, I swear to watch over Baek Suryong until the disciplinary committee convenes and make sure he doesn't escape.

The Heavenly Justice Commander frowned, unconvinced. "And what if the Azure Dragon Hero does escape?"

"On the Namgung Clan's honor, I will chase him to the ends of hell and drag him back."

"……"

Now that he'd invoked the honor of the Namgung Clan, it was hard for the Heavenly Justice Commander to continue arguing. "…Fine. I concede. I'll accept you as his guarantor."

"What more do you want?" Ryu Seol asked, furrowing her brows in annoyance.

The Heavenly Justice Commander ignored her and continued, "Until the disciplinary committee convenes, I think it's appropriate to feed the Azure Dragon Hero Qi Dispersing Poison to prevent him from using the inner arts."

"What? Heavenly Justice Commander, are you out of your mind?" Ryu Seol snarled, looking like she was about to explode.

For a martial artist, to be stripped of their inner arts was a far greater punishment than mere physical restraints. Furthermore, the more profound their mastery of inner qi, the more devastating the consequences of its suppression.

A master of the Azure Dragon Hero's level would be reduced to a lethargic mess by the poison. Also, what about the people inside the Murim Alliance who hold a grudge against him?

Moyong Jun shook his head. "That's a bit too much…"

"It's unacceptable," Namgung Su said firmly.

"I don't mind," Baek Suryong agreed casually.

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Namgung Su glared at him in anger. "Baek Suryong! What are you thinking…"

Baek Suryong grinned. "The Lightning Dragon Hero will be by my side the whole time, protecting me. What's there to worry about?"

"…So you're planning to use me as a bodyguard instead of a watchdog?"

"A little of both." Baek Suryong approached the Heavenly Justice Commander, his eyes flashing coldly. "In return, stay out of my business until the disciplinary committee is held. Don't stand in front of me and bark orders like you did today. Just stay out of my sight. Got it?"

"…How insolent!"

Oh? Baek Suryong smirked inwardly. Maybe it was because the Heavenly Justice Commander hadn't expected that Baek Suryong would really agree to take the Qi Dispersing Poison, or maybe he had other reasons, but his indignant retort was briefly delayed.

"…Fine. That's not a problem," the Heavenly Justice Commander reluctantly agreed, then took out a pill wrapped in paper from inside his pocket. "This is a high-grade Qi Dispersing Poison made by the Murim Alliance. Without an antidote, even a master won't be able to properly use inner arts for five days."

"You really came prepared, huh?" Ryu Seol jabbed sarcastically.

Ignoring her, the Heavenly Justice Commander stared hard at Baek Suryong. "Are you sure you don't want to back out?" he sneered.

Baek Suryong opened his mouth wide, as if asking to be fed. "As you can see, my hands are tied behind my back, so you'll have to feed me. Ahh~"

"How dare you…!" The Heavenly Justice Commander, his face flushed red and blue, glared at Baek Suryong, then forced a smile and shoved the pill into Baek Suryong's mouth. "Ugh! Alright, I'll feed it to you myself."

Baek Suryong gulped down the Qi Dispersing Poison and then opened his mouth again to show it was gone. "There, satisfied? Now, I'd appreciate it if you disappeared from my sight."

"…I'll be watching you from a distance."

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After shooting Baek Suryong a fierce glare, the Heavenly Justice Commander slammed the office door shut as stormed out.

BANG!

"What the hell were you thinking, Junior?" Ryu Seol asked, letting out a long sigh. To her, Baek Suryong's actions just now seemed both reckless and foolish.

He really took the Qi Dispersing Poison just to win a psychological battle with the Heavenly Justice Commander?

Next to her, Moyong Jun also sighed worriedly, "This is troubling. If anything happens to the Chief Instructor, we'll be held fully responsible."

No, you won't. I took the Qi Dispersing Poison in front of you precisely so you wouldn't be held responsible. Baek Suryong grinned mischievously. "So what? Just because I can't use inner arts for a bit doesn't mean my skills disappear."

""……""

A childish supreme master who had absolute confidence in his abilities. At least, that was what Baek Suryong wanted everyone to think of him.

"……" Namgung Su narrowed his eyes. Baek Suryong's behavior and tone was unusual, even suspicious. Contrary to public belief, he never acted recklessly without thought.

There's no way this man would swallow Qi Dispersing Poison if he didn't have some kind of backup plan.

Namgung Su's guess was spot-on.

Baek Suryong was secretly gloating over the success of his scheme.

This worked out even better. Who would've thought absorbing the Poison Demon's venom would help me like this?

Qi Dispersing Poison was still poison in the end. Compared to the Mortal Venom made by the Poison Demon, it was crude and laughable. With his newly gained Thousand Poison Immunity, the Qi Dispersing Poison hadn't affected him at all.

And no one here knows that, not even Namgung Su. Well, I've tossed the bait. All that's left is to wait.

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Baek Suryong hoped the big fish would bite.

From the third floor of the inn, the Murim Alliance Headquarters was clearly visible.

A man clad in black sat alone, slowly sipping his drink as he gazed at the Murim Alliance. Since he had rented out the entire floor of the inn, his surroundings were enveloped in absolute silence.

"Did you really have to summon me to a place like this?" the man's guest complained, taking a seat across from the man in black.

The man in black didn't bother glancing at his guest, instead continuing to stare at the large and imposing Murim Alliance building. "How are the preparations going?"

"We have a problem. That damned Azure Dragon Hero is stirring up the Murim Alliance."

The guest told the man in black everything that had happened in the Murim Alliance, from how the Azure Dragon Hero had smashed the front gates, to how a disciplinary committee had been convened, to how black iron shackles had been placed on his wrists, to how he had voluntarily swallowed Qi Dispersing Poison.

Some of this information was something only a high-ranking official of the Murim Alliance would know.

"The Azure Dragon Hero… the one who killed the Eighth Elder, huh?"

The Eighth Elder, Bloody Spirit, was a pathetic man. He had merely inherited his master's position and was far too unqualified to be called an elder, but regardless, he was indeed one of the cult's elders.

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The man in black had no intention of wasting this opportunity for revenge.

"I'll take care of the meddler," he said.

He had already eliminated a beggar who had been snooping around.

Translator's Note: There will be fewer chapters today (hangover) and tomorrow, but chapters will be released on Monday as well to compensate. Selamat Hari Raya, Eid Mubarak to all Muslims!