Chapter 407: Chapter 407

A modest funeral for Jin Euihyeop was held at the Azure Dragon Academy. Fellow instructors and a few students were in attendance, and Noh Goonsang delivered the eulogy.

The Principal's voice echoed softly as those in attendance listened quietly to his speech.

"Mr. Jin Euihyeop was a sincere and humble young man. I remember the day he interviewed for a new instructor position. When asked what kind of teacher he wanted to be, he answered seriously: 'In a way that would not bring shame to the name Euihyeop (chivalrous hero), given to me by my parents, I will always teach with fairness and integrity. I want to be a teacher who's always ready to help students who are struggling in class."

"Sob..." The instructors and students who had been close to Jin Euihyeop began to weep one by one.

"......" Kwak Duyong, who had been particularly close to Jin Euihyeop, was naturally present. He stared blankly at his friend's memorial tablet, which stood alone since his body was never found.

Looking at him with a pained expression, Noh Goonsang continued, "I never doubted that Mr. Jin Euihyeop would become the future of the Azure Dragon Academy. He wasn't an exceptional martial artist or a brilliant instructor right off the bat, but I knew the true worth of young men like him is revealed over time, like well-aged liquor."

Baek Suryong also attended the funeral. He didn't know Jin Euihyeop personally, and they only acknowledged each other with a light nod when they crossed paths at the Azure Dragon Academy. He was always busy with work, and he had more than enough friends, so he never bothered to expand his social circle.

He died because of me.

Ultimately, Jin Euihyeop died because Skykiller needed to disguise himself as someone close to him. To put it bluntly, he was unlucky. Still, that unlucky person could also have been Ak Yeonho, Myeong Il'oh, Jaegal Soyeong, or Kwak Duyong.

Furthermore, this was something that would never have happened if he hadn't actively provoked the Blood Cult.

As a result, he couldn't help feeling somewhat responsible for Jin Euihyeop's death.

Although he had led his forces to an overwhelming victory against Deathshroud, the top assassins' guild in the Central Plains, there were still casualties. Just at the Azure Dragon Academy, Jin Euihyeop perished, and several instructors and students were injured. There were also a considerable number of wounded among the Murim Alliance, the Beggars' Gang, the Rehabilitation Sect, and the constables, who had formed the perimeter.

Sensing Baek Suryong's gloom, the Divine Azure Dragon Sword comforted him gently, [Don't blame yourself. It was an unavoidable event that happened in a place you knew nothing about.]

Baek Suryong smiled bitterly and patted the sword. [I'm not blaming myself. It's just...]

He often attended the funerals of deceased colleagues in his past life. In fact, he had witnessed many more deaths back then. However, today was different from those days when he had regarded the deaths of others as trivial.

Only one person had died. As Skykiller had pointed out, it was a small loss, one that could even be called selfish.

But I feel like absolute shit.

Baek Suryong looked at Jin Euihyeop's memorial tablet. He had heard that Jin Euihyeop had family back home, including his parents and three younger siblings. As the eldest son, he was a source of pride for his family after getting a job at the Azure Dragon Academy, and had even treated everyone in his village to a meal in celebration.

May you rest in peace, Jin Euihyeop.

He had arranged through Bok Manchun to send condolence money to the family and instructed the White Dragon Conglomerate to support them as much as possible. He didn't know how much help it would be, but it was the best he could do for them.

If by some chance you are reincarnated like me, I hope you'll be able to teach students to your heart's content.

While Baek Suryong was lost in a brief, idle fantasy, the funeral ended.

Or perhaps, it would be nice to meet as teacher and student next time.

People began to leave one by one, their expressions grave and solemn. Baek Suryong gave a light nod toward the memorial tablet before departing as well.

The space was now empty.

A sudden gust of wind made the chestnut wood memorial tablet tremble slightly before settling down again.

Less than half a day later, rumors spread throughout the city that assassins from Deathshroud had infiltrated the Azure Dragon Academy to target the Azure Dragon Hero, and that a bloody battle had taken place the previous night.

Naturally, the entire city was abuzz. Several people had witnessed the fight between the martial artists and assassins that night. Fortunately, there were no civilian casualties, but the mere fact that an assassins' guild had infiltrated the city was enough to make people fear for their lives.

While the plan to secure the perimeter had been carried out in secret, now that the fighting was over, the Murim Alliance officially dispatched an investigation team. Consequently, the Azure Dragon Academy decided to suspend all classes until the investigation was complete. This was also in consideration of the injured instructors and frightened students.

After attending the funeral, Baek Suryong went to visit Mae Geuklyom.

"Grandpa, how are you feeling?"

Lying in bed, Mae Geuklyom resembled a critically ill patient. His wounds from the fight with the First Shroud were numerous, and his internal injuries deep. The physician had told him not to move and to rest, but the old man tried to act as if he were fine in front of his grandson.

"I'll be able to move like before in just three days, so don't worry too much..."

"Three days? Not a chance," Baek Muheun, who was brewing a medicinal tonic, interjected. "The physician said you need to rest for at least ten days. When did that become three?"

Baek Muheun approached, nagging people along the way. He cleaned Mae Geuklyom's wound with a clean cotton cloth and skillfully applied salve. He also brought the tonic he had brewed himself, helped Mae Geuklyom sit up, and assisted him in drinking it. His touch was as delicate as that of a female physician who had worked at a clinic for years.

"The medicine's bitter."

"Of course medicine is bitter, not sweet. I brought some candy though, so have some."

"You insolent whelp..." Mae Geuklyom frowned, but did as Baek Muheun instructed.

Baek Suryong stared at his father, dumbfounded. "How are you so good at taking care of patients?"

"Why do you think I'm this good at it?" Baek Muheun asked rhetorically, then laid Mae Geuklyom back down on the bed and tucked him in properly. "The physician said he must rest for ten days without moving. Until then, I'll stay by your maternal grandfather's side and watch over him, so don't worry."

"Shut up. Since I'm nursing you, how about you stop calling me a playboy?"

"But that's what you are."

Baek Muheun smirked at his father-in-law's gruff response but glanced at his son's complexion out of the corner of his eye. Although Baek Suryong's injuries weren't as bad as his father-in-law's, he knew that his son had also been through a tough fight. "How are you feeling?"

"Me? I'm perfectly fine." Baek Suryong shrugged casually.

The Divine Azure Dragon Sword at his waist trembled. [Lying is not good.]

Baek Suryong snorted. [What's the point in telling them? It's not like they can help me.]

Fortunately, with the help of the Divine Azure Dragon Sword, he managed to perform the sorcery safely. Had he tried to control the sorcery alone, however, he would have suffered fatal internal injuries. Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on novel⚑fire.net

Nevertheless, his condition was not good. In fact, it could even be described as dire. In exchange for using a tiny piece of the Blood Fiend's finger, the energy of the Heaven Defying Divine Art was now running rampant throughout his body, messing up his insides.

He could almost hear the Divine Azure Dragon Sword sigh deeply in his ear. Since his affliction couldn't be detected by taking his pulse, though, no one else should know about it unless he told them... or unless they were unusually perceptive, like his father.

"You, as I thought..." Baek Muheun narrowed his eyes, studying his son's expression, then sighed worriedly. "This won't do. I'm too worried about my son to go home."

"What?" Baek Suryong blinked in confusion for a moment before the meaning of those words hit him. Pouting, he asked, "Don't tell me... are you planning to stay here?"

"Watch your mouth, you rude brat. And yes, I plan to stay here." Baek Muheun nodded. However, he wasn't doing this simply because he was worried about his son. "Besides, if I return to the Baek Academy , the people there could be in danger because of me, couldn't they?"

Baek Suryong's eyes widened in realization. "Ah, I hadn't thought of that."

His father had indeed killed one of the Blood Cult's elders. There was a high probability that the Blood Cult would now have him in their sights. Returning to the Baek Academy in this situation could endanger the people around him.

"For now, it's better if I act as if I've cut my ties and left for good," Baek Muheun added. "I'll probably get an earful from the villagers when I eventually go back, though."

"That's a good idea. There are plenty of empty rooms at the White Dragon Manor, so feel free to pick one."

Baek Muheun shook his head. "No thanks. I have no intention of living off my adult son. I'll find a place to stay on my own."

"Do you have a lot of money, Dad? The housing prices in this neighborhood are no joke..."

"How could I possibly have money? I've spent it all on my son, so I'm flat broke."

"Ahem!" Baek Suryong cleared his throat. The words pricked at his conscience. "No, I mean, if you don't have money, then how..."

"I agreed to lend him some money," Mae Geuklyom, who had been lying down quietly, chimed in.

Baek Suryong looked at his father with a troubled expression. It seemed the father-in-law and son-in-law had already discussed the matter.

Then why do I feel so worried about this man, who's nearly half a century old, as if he's a child left by the riverbank?

"You could have just asked me," he argued. "Wouldn't it be better to leech off your son than your father-in-law?"

Baek Muheun gripped the pestle used for pounding medicinal herbs. "Do you really want to get hit? I may have nothing right now, but I'm not yet at the point where I need to rely on my son, and who's leeching? I plan to work and pay it all back."

Baek Suryong flinched and leaned back slightly. He couldn't understand why his father was being so stubborn about something . "...What kind of work?" he asked.

"Since I've been teaching martial arts for over ten years, I'm thinking of opening a small martial arts academy here. Perhaps a basic martial arts class for adults, aimed at improving general health?"

"A martial arts academy..."

The idea of his father opening a martial arts academy near the Azure Dragon Academy made Baek Suryong feel a bit strange.

"So about that, would you mind if I used your name to my advantage?"

"Are you asking me to go and teach?"

"No." Glancing at the sleeping Mae Geuklyom, Baek Muheun lowered his voice and whispered, "You just need to come by once or twice and check their posture. Don't you think people will show more interest if I put up a poster saying the Azure Dragon Hero will provide direct instruction?"

"I knew it! You little miscreant... I can tell you're brewing up a scam!" Mae Geuklyom roared, glaring daggers at Baek Muheun. For some reason, he had awoken instantly as if he could sense his son-in-law was up to no good. "I thought you'd turned over a new leaf with age, but you still haven't shed your delinquent ways!"

"Your son-in-law and a graduate of the Azure Dragon Academy is trying to use his son's fame to make a living. What's wrong with that?"

"Get your facts straight. How are you a graduate of the Azure Dragon Academy? Didn't you drop out of school and elope with my daughter in the middle of the night?"

"Hey, I still attended until the start of my fourth year, didn't I?"

"Did you now? This damn scoundrel is trying to talk back to me!"

Just when it seemed like they were getting along, the two started bickering like cats and dogs again.

Watching their utterly childish argument, Baek Suryong lost control of himself and burst out laughing. In an instant, the gloomy feelings from Jin Euihyeop's funeral melted away.