Chapter 410: Chapter 410

"Get out of my office right now."

"There's no need to kick me out just for laughing a little, is there?" Baek Suryong grumbled, upset at being shooed out of Namgung Su's office.

He reread the letter Gongson Su had sent while he walked back to the White Dragon Manor.

By the time this letter arrives, the Azure Dragon Festival will likely be over.

I heard that thanks to you, this year's Azure Dragon Festival will be a huge success. If only I hadn't taken a leave of absence, I would have been able to participate. What a shame!

Baek Suryong knew who wrote it even without checking the sender's name. The bold handwriting and friendly yet mature tone gave it away. Besides, only one of his students would mention a 'leave of absence.'

Do you know that rumors about the Azure Dragon Hero have reached even the Imperial Palace these days? I can't believe you're now one of the Ten Supremes! You have a talent for surprising people even from afar.

Hoho! Now I see that I received tutoring at a very cheap price. Please forgive me for once suspecting you of scamming me... By the way, do you still offer tutoring at that price?

For the most part, the letter was an exchange of greetings after being apart for so long.

Gongson Su wrote that he'd been incredibly busy since returning to the Imperial Palace. When he occasionally heard news about the Azure Dragon Academy and Baek Suryong amid his busy schedule, however, the rumors seemed so unbelievable that he initially dismissed them as baseless.

However, as the rumors were confirmed to be mostly true through various channels, he revealed that hearing news about the Azure Dragon Academy and the Azure Dragon Hero had become one of his life's greatest joys.

This old man has never been prouder to be part of the Azure Dragon Academy. Still, I'm frustrated that I can't be there having fun alongside my fellow students!

Baek Suryong could tell from the forceful handwriting that this statement had been written in excitement. Gongson Su rejoiced in both his and the Azure Dragon Academy's rising fame as if they were his own achievements.

Hoho, I got carried away because we haven't caught up in a while. If Yeong saw me now, she would scold me for being silly.

Anyway, I'm doing well. I'm still training every day, just as you taught me. It was really hard at first, but I've gotten used to it now, and it's quite manageable. Wouldn't you say I've made huge progress? Hoho!

A smile emerged naturally on Baek Suryong's lips. There was no greater compliment for a teacher than hearing that a student hadn't forgotten their teachings.

"The training is manageable, he says..." His expression turned peculiar for a moment, but he continued reading.

Now then, on to the real reason I picked up my brush. I would like to arrange a meeting between you and a certain someone, who has expressed interest in speaking with you.

Quite a few people still visited White Dragon Manor these days, though nowhere near as many as before. Unlike previously, Baek Suryong had solidified his position as one of the Ten Supremes and had even gained the position of Murim Alliance Chief Instructor. He was no longer someone who could be easily approached.

Forgive me for arranging this meeting without first asking you. However, I am certain that you will find this meeting beneficial rather than harmful.

Someone who wants to meet me? Who could it be?

Gongson Su didn't reveal who would be visiting Baek Suryong. Whether he thought it was better to meet the person directly rather than judge beforehand, or if he simply intended to surprise him was unclear. The latter seemed more likely.

He will visit you soon. I really want to see the surprised look on your face, but alas, I can't go with him. What a shame!

The long letter was coming to an end. Baek Suryong could sense Gongson Su's regret in his every word.

Please give my regards to Wonkang and Cheon. I don't know when I'll finish my work at the Imperial Palace and can return to school, but I'm watching and cheering you on from afar!

I look forward to the day we can all meet again at the Azure Dragon Academy.

From Gongson Su, student of the Azure Dragon Hero and first-generation graduate of the White Dragon Manor.

"I'm looking forward to your return too." Baek Suryong chuckled, feeling warmth spread through his heart. He folded the letter and carefully placed it inside his pocket. "So, someone important wants to meet me, huh...?"

Since the letter said the person would be visiting soon anyway, he decided not to worry about it too much. Nevertheless, he would write a reply as soon as he returned to White Dragon Manor. One part of the letter from his long-distance student had bothered him greatly.

He said the training method I taught him is manageable?

Well, it was a training regimen designed for when he was a frail old man, so he must have gotten used to it by now.

If that's the case, isn't it time to move on to the next stage?

He needed to devise a new, higher-intensity training regime. It had to be so difficult that Gongson Su couldn't joke about its manageability, and it had to produce guaranteed results.

"I should send a reply as soon as possible."

At the thought of introducing a new training regimen to Gongson Su, Baek Suryong quickened his pace. He knew Gongson Su's reaction to the reply wouldn't be pleasant, but he was determined to do it anyway.

The next day, the Five Young Azure Dragons trained at the White Dragon Manor while Baek Suryong was away.

"Yaaah!" Hyonwon Kang yelled as he rushed forward, swinging his dao at his opponent's shoulder. Although it was a wooden practice dao and not the Black Dao, it carried the ferocity of a wild beast.

His sparring partner, however, frowned in displeasure as he easily deflected the attack.

"You seem distracted today," Dokgo Jun remarked.

Provoked by Dokgo Jun's comment, Hyonwon Kang unleashed a flurry of attacks. His wooden dao tore through the air, clawing in all directions like an eagle's talons. Despite the fact that the wounds he received from the assassin hadn't fully healed, his attacks were still fast and powerful.

Still, he was indeed somewhat distracted and hesitant. An average student would have been overwhelmed without even noticing, but Dokgo Jun was no average student.

"Hyonwon Kang! Stay focused. If you're not going to give it your all..."

Dokgo Jun skillfully parried each of Hyonwon Kang's relentless strikes, then thrust his wooden sword at his target. A technique from the Nine Swords of Dokgo, imbued with the essence of the heavy sword, struck the middle of the wooden dao with pinpoint accuracy.

Hyonwon Kang's wooden dao cracked. Seizing the opportunity, Dokgo Jun pressed his advantage.

In the end, Hyonwon Kang was pushed back relentlessly until he fell on his butt.

"You'd be better off lying down and cooling your head," Dokgo Jun advised.

"Haa..." Hyonwon Kang lay flat on his back, gasping for breath. He wiped his sweat with the towel Dokgo Jun handed him and grumbled, "This doesn't count as your win. We didn't use inner arts, and I'm still injured."

"Think whatever you want," Dokgo Jun replied, shaking his head and looking around.

The training ground, which had been ruined by the fight with the assassin, was now repaired. The Five Young Azure Dragons were training hard on it, but they all had one thing in common.

None of them look happy.

It wasn't just Hyonwon Kang. The physician had told everyone not to overdo it, but no one listened. They all felt like they would explode with frustration if they didn't train or spar with someone.

"Does it bother you a lot?" Dokgo Jun asked.

Hyonwon Kang stared blankly at the passing clouds for a while. "...I thought I could finally be of some help," he finally mumbled.

Even though they had been affected by the enemy's sorcery and had no memory of it, the students were shocked to learn that they had tried to kill Baek Suryong. While their teacher was ultimately unharmed, after spending over half a year with him, they couldn't help but notice his unusually pale face. Evidently, he had overexerted himself during the fight.

"Besides, Mr. Namgung Su almost got hurt because of us..."

As soon as the Five Young Azure Dragons learned the full story, they had gone to see Namgung Su, only to be kicked out of his office upon arrival.

"Do you think your pathetic attacks could ever reach me? Stop with the nonsense and focus on your own recovery."

This made them feel a little more at ease, but their guilt didn't completely disappear.

"Far from helping, we just got in the way. The instructors got hurt because of us... Fuck, I'm sick and tired of being protected."

Dokgo Jun didn't comfort Hyonwon Kang. He simply plopped down beside his friend and looked up at the sky with him.

The cool autumn breeze brushed past their hair.

"...I'm just as frustrated," Dokgo Jun said with a heavy heart.

Hyonwon Kang glanced at him. Dokgo Jun was glaring fiercely at the sky, his fists clenched tightly.

"At least you guys got to fight. Even though I'm the Student Council President, I couldn't do anything but watch as the Azure Dragon Academy was attacked."

While Baek Suryong hunted the assassins alongside his trusted allies, the Vice Principal and the other instructors protected the other students at the academy. Besides the Five Young Azure Dragons, who were being targeted, none of the other students were permitted to participate in the battle against Deathshroud.

This included Dokgo Jun. Despite being the academy's greatest prodigy and the Student Council President, the instructors still saw him as a student who needed to be protected.

Hyonwon Kang scratched his cheek awkwardly. "Well, you know, we were the assassins' targets from the start, so it made sense for us to act as bait. You had no reason to get involved."

Dokgo Jun shook his head. "If I were a stronger martial artist, I could have joined the fight against the assassins and helped you. The fact that I couldn't means that the instructors still don't trust my abilities."

"Why are you blaming yourself so much?"

"I'm not blaming myself. I'm just stating the cold, harsh reality. No matter how strong we get, Hyonwon Kang, we are still immature. And not only us. In the eyes of the instructors, all the students of the Azure Dragon Academy probably seem like children left by the water's edge."

Before the two knew it, silence had fallen over the noisy training ground. The Five Young Azure Dragons, who had been engrossed in their training, were now staring at the two of them.

"However..." Dokgo Jun stood up and met their gaze. He had come to the White Dragon Manor at Baek Suryong's request, but it wasn't to cheer up the Five Young Azure Dragons.

He simply wanted to apologize to the injured students and steel his resolve.

"I don't intend to remain a child forever. If something like last time happens again, I will fight the enemy. I won't stand by and watch as my fellow Azure Dragon Academy students get hurt anymore."

As Student Council President, Dokgo Jun felt a sense of responsibility and duty to his peers. Even if each of the Five Young Azure Dragons was as strong as or stronger than him, he didn't want to stand behind them. He didn't want to be protected by them.

Geo Sangwoong sighed and nodded. "...Junior Dokgo is right. We won't be children forever."

He also felt bad because Hyonwon Kang, Yeo Min, and Wiji Cheon were hurt much worse than he and Ya Suhyeok. He couldn't stop thinking that if he had gone straight to the White Dragon Manor after fending off the assassins that day, he could have protected his juniors from the Second Shroud's attacks.

However, there was no point in regretting the past.

"Okay, let's put the past behind us and focus on getting stronger!" Pulling Hyonwon Kang to his feet, he slapped the backs of the other sulking juniors one by one.

"Are you trying to kill me?!"

The slap hurt enough to make tears well up in their eyes, but thanks to that, the gloomy atmosphere disappeared.

All of them shared the same sentiment. They knew they couldn't accomplish anything by brooding, and that the only way to prevent such an incident from happening again was to grow stronger.

"I'm glad I could be of help." Dokgo Jun smirked as he watched the Five Young Azure Dragons' mood brighten, then addressed Geo Sangwoong, the only one there who was his senior. "I should have said this earlier, but I plan to visit the White Dragon Manor every day until classes resume."

Geo Sangwoong beamed. "That's great! Let's train together!"

The Five Young Azure Dragons welcomed Dokgo Jun, thinking he had come to train with them. However, that was not the only reason he intended to come here every day.

"Also, starting today, I will teach you basic mathematics for one hour every day."

"Wait a damn minute!"

"N-No, why would you do that?"

Hyonwon Kang, Wiji Cheon, and Ya Suhyeok's eyes trembled as if they had been struck by an earthquake.

Dokgo Jun asked quizzically, "Didn't you know? Mr. Baek Suryong himself requested me to do this. He was quite impressed by the intellectual ability you displayed at the Azure Games."

"......" Stunned speechless, the three boys' jaws dropped with shock and disbelief.

In contrast, Geo Sangwoong nodded grimly. "Is that so? It's sooner than I thought, but it can't be helped..."

"Why are you acting like you're about to learn something amazing?" Yeo Min exclaimed, shaking her head in exasperation at the idiots.

However, Dokgo Jun wasn't finished.

"It's not just me. Tang Soso, Yoo Yiran, and Senior Mok Hyungwoo will also periodically stop by to teach you some common sense and proper etiquette. Since Mr. Baek Suryong personally requested this, we will do our best. Shall we begin the math lesson right away?"

"Uh, well, that's..."

"Can't we rest for a little while first?"

Dokgo Jun tilted his head. "Why? We haven't even started yet?"

"I-I'm not mentally prepared to do this..."

The Five Young Azure Dragons immediately began searching for a way out, but it was useless.

"You'd be better off learning from me now," Dokgo Jun advised. "Mr. Baek said he would personally check on your progress when he returns."

Until the Azure Dragon Academy returned to normal and classes resumed, Baek Suryong decided to educate the students on the common sense and etiquette they lacked.

As luck would have it, they were all injured anyway. It was a golden opportunity to force them to study.

It was then that a visitor arrived at the White Dragon Manor.

Translator's Note: See you next week! A new epub should be out by then too.