Chapter 411: Chapter 411

The students' heads snapped around in unison at the sound from outside, their expressions grim. A notice hung on the main gate of the White Dragon Manor, saying 'We will not be receiving guests for a while,' but the coming of a guest wasn't why they were anxious.

I didn't sense any presence...

None of us noticed until they were right at the gate?

Who could it be at this hour?

The Five Young Azure Dragons quickly exchanged glances. Due to the recent assassin attacks, everyone was on high alert. The fact that no one had noticed the person until they arrived at the main gate meant that they were exceptionally skilled at concealing their presence, and people like that were often assassins.

"Is anyone there?" a woman asked in a low, gentle voice from outside the gate.

The students were somewhat relieved that the visitor had announced their arrival, but they didn't let their guard down completely.

Geo Sangwoong, who was the least injured of the five, stepped forward. "I'll go take a look."

The other students tensed, ready to fight at any moment, and followed the pair cautiously. Googlᴇ search novel-fire.ɴet

Geo Sangwoong stood before the main gate and yelled, "State your name and business!"

The person beyond the gate hesitated for a moment, then said, "I've come to see the Azure Dragon Hero, Mr. Baek Suryong. There's something I need to speak with him about in person."

Geo Sangwoong scoffed, as if to say, 'Not a chance.' Until recently, martial artists visited the White Dragon Manor daily for similar reasons. Moreover, this person hadn't revealed their identity or the purpose of their visit. The White Dragon Manor wasn't so lax as to welcome someone so suspicious.

"The White Dragon Manor isn't receiving guests at this time! I'm sorry, but please leave!"

Geo Sangwoong clenched his fists, preparing for any potential trouble. If the person tried to force the gate open, he was prepared to drive them away by any means necessary. Of course, no one in their right mind would think of barging into the home of one of the Ten Supremes, but it never hurt to be prepared.

A moment later, a troubled mumble came from beyond the gate, "My father should have sent a letter in advance..."

"A letter?" Geo Sangwoong tilted his head, recalling what Baek Suryong had said the previous night.

"A guest might come while I'm away. If someone comes looking for me and mentions this name, treat them with courtesy, show them inside, and let me know immediately."

He asked warily, "What's the name of the person who sent the letter?"

"His surname is Gongson, and his given name is Su."

Hyonwon Kang, who had been tilting his head in confusion, flinched. Remembering something, he ran to the gate. "Wait! This voice... could it be? Move aside!"

He forged ahead, forcefully pushing Geo Sangwoong and Dokgo Jun out of his way, and flung the gate wide open before anyone could intervene.

A woman in a pale green martial arts uniform stood before the gate. She had sharp eyes and distinct features, and a sleek sword hung at her waist. The moment the students saw her, their instincts alerted them to her strength.

"Uh...?" Hyonwon Kang was momentarily taken aback by her aura, which felt different from what he remembered, but he recognized her face and exclaimed happily, "Shadow-noona!"

Almost simultaneously, Wiji Cheon came running out like a puppy. "Shadow-noona?"

Shadow smiled gently at the two boys. "Long time no see, boys."

The two boys looked at Shadow with equal parts delight and surprise at how much her demeanor had changed.

"Is it really you, Shadow-noona?"

"Your aura's completely different..."

They were both bewildered. Shadow looked very different from when she had visited the White Dragon Manor as Gongson Su's bodyguard. Back then, she was a cold bodyguard who looked like she wouldn't bleed if stabbed. Even imagining her smiling like she was now was impossible.

"If you don't believe me, you can check to see if I'm wearing a human skin mask."

Shadow clasped her hands behind her back. She had also heard the rumors about the attack on the Azure Dragon Academy before arriving. She rushed over just in case, but it was a relief to see that none of them were seriously injured.

I should check, right? Hyonwon Kang unconsciously reached toward Shadow's face.

Yeo Min slapped his hand away with her folding fan. She apologized to Shadow on his behalf, saying, "What are you doing being so rude to a guest? I'm sorry. As you know, this guy doesn't have any common sense."

"It's alright." Shadow smiled and nodded. With a nostalgic expression, she glanced inside the White Dragon Manor. She had only spent a month here with Gongson Su, but every single day had become a precious memory.

It's changed a lot since then.

The layout seemed to have changed slightly, and there were several new faces. Overall, the White Dragon Manor appeared much livelier than before.

Shadow smiled and asked Hyonwon Kang, "Can I come in now?"

"Uh, of course! Come in! Everyone, relax! She's someone I know!" Hyonwon Kang exclaimed, coming to his senses belatedly. He guided Shadow inside.

"Wonkang, you're the most nervous one here..."

However, Shadow hadn't come alone. Behind her stood a woman with an elegant air. Even at first glance, she exuded an extraordinary aura.

Wiji Cheon asked, "Who's that with you?"

Shadow grinned mischievously. "The person your teacher's been looking for."

The woman who followed Shadow through the gates of the White Dragon Manor smiled gently. "Is the Azure Dragon Hero inside?"

She was the guest that Gongson Su had mentioned, the one who wanted to meet Baek Suryong.

"No, I'm telling you, that street isn't a good place to set up a martial arts academy," Baek Suryong countered.

Baek Muheun sighed heavily. "What can I do if I don't have enough money? Thanks to someone, I've lived so frugally that I don't even know the current market prices."

Opening a martial arts academy in Nanchang proved difficult right from the start. The cost of renting a large enough manor was beyond imagination, and that wasn't the only expense. The territorial disputes with the surrounding martial arts academies hadn't even begun yet.

"So, about that... can you lend me some money?"

"Didn't you say you didn't want to be indebted to your son?"

"Ahem! That was then..." Baek Muheun sipped his tea, looking embarrassed.

"Excuse me for interrupting your conversation," a chilly voice interjected.

The father and son turned their heads simultaneously.

Namgung Su, who had been focused on his work, lifted his head and glared at the pair, his golden eyes flashing as if lightning were trapped within them. "Must you have your father-son chat right here in my office?"

An ordinary person would have fled, knees buckling, just from meeting his gaze. However, his current opponents were the Baek Family.

Baek Muheun chuckled, "Hoho! I'm sorry. Was I speaking too loudly?"

Namgung Su regretted not kicking the Baeks out sooner. Although he had a table and chairs for receiving guests in one corner of his office, Baek Suryong and Baek Muheun were currently sitting there, having a comfortable chat without his permission.

"We'll be leaving soon, so please pardon our intrusion," Baek Muheun added. "Suryong mentioned that this is his temporary office, so I thought we could stay as long as we liked."

Namgung Su shot Baek Suryong a death glare at the words 'temporary office,' but Baek Suryong simply averted his gaze, mumbling, "Someone completely wrecked my office, so I have no choice but to make do with this space until it's fully rebuilt."

"Oh dear. That 'someone' certainly caused you quite the inconvenience."

"Indeed. I can't even invite my own father into my office to serve him a cup of tea."

"Don't worry about this old man. I'll just go outside and get some fresh air, so you should get back to work."

Namgung Su winced subtly at the words that pricked his conscience. This father and son pair...

Sighing, he stopped Baek Muheun, who was slowly and hesitantly getting up from his seat. "I never told you to leave. I was simply hoping you gentlemen could lower your voices a little.

"Hoho! I understand. I'll be quiet so as not to bother you any further!"

Unfortunately, the office didn't become quiet.

"MR. BAEK!" Hyonwon Kang bellowed, barging into the office. "Mr. Baek! Mr. Baek! I brought the guest! The guest Grandpa talked about! She's in the hallway outside right now!"

Baek Suryong was taken aback. Hyonwon Kang always acted without thinking, but today he was so excited that he didn't seem to realize where he was.

Needless to say, the price for doing so was steep.

"Wonkang, I think you're about to get roasted by Namgung Su," Baek Suryong whispered.

Namgung Su snapped icily, "Student Hyonwon Kang, come over here."

"...!" Hyonwon Kang's face drained of color at the summons.

"Who on earth arrived for you to cause such a commotion?"

"......" Baek Suryong silently opened the office door and stepped into the hallway, not wanting to inconvenience Namgung Su any further. Although he knew a guest was coming, he still didn't know who it was.

His eyes widened as he spotted a face that was both familiar and unfamiliar walking toward him from the other end of the hall. "Shadow!" he exclaimed, sounding just as surprised as the students. She seemed like a totally different person from the last time he had seen her.

"Long time no see, Mr. Baek!"

Her aura creates the impression that she is a completely different person. Her martial arts skills have also improved significantly.

Shadow was originally trained as an assassin. However, the feel of an assassin had largely vanished, replaced by signs that she had learned proper martial arts, and a very powerful kind at that.

Baek Suryong smiled. "How long has it been? Were you the person the Elder mentioned?"

"If I may be so bold as to correct you, my name is no longer Shadow."

Shadow grinned, then clasped her hands together in greeting and formally reintroduced herself. "Let me introduce myself properly. My name is Gongson Yeong."

"...!!" Baek Suryong's eyes widened in shock, but he quickly broke into a bright grin.

How could he not know the meaning of that name? It was proof that Gongson Su formally adopted her as his daughter.

"Haha! Why are you only telling me such wonderful news now?"

No wonder there was almost no mention of Shadow in the letter Gongson Su sent. Did the old fox intentionally hide it to surprise me?

"I have many things I'd like to talk about, too... but first, please allow me to introduce the person who accompanied me here today." Smiling, Gongson Yeong stepped to the side.

The woman who had been quietly following her stepped forward and performed clasped her hands together elegantly. "My name is Ja Hyeon. My master ordered me to retrieve his Gratitude Token, so I've come to see you, Azure Dragon Hero."

Baek Suryong returned the greeting and asked with a puzzled expression. "I'm Baek Suryong. Whose Gratitude Token are you talking about?"

He had never heard of the name Ja Hyeon before, which meant that this woman wasn't a renowned master in the jianghu. She seemed to have reached a high level of mastery in martial arts, yet she didn't exude the typical disposition of a martial artist.

She doesn't seem like an ordinary person...

[The Divine Physician is my master.]

Baek Suryong's eyes shot open. She's the Divine Physician's disciple?

How long had he been searching for the Divine Physician? He needed to completely change his constitution by transforming the Heavenly Yin Severed Meridians into the Heavenly Yin Divine Meridians, thereby stabilizing the Heaven Defying Divine Art's unstable energy. For that great technique, he needed a physician whose skill had reached the realm of divinity.

"When you say you've come to retrieve the Gratitude Token, surely you don't mean you just want me to give it back?"

"I heard from Elder Gong that the Azure Dragon Hero has been looking for my master. I presume you intend to make a request that would require the Gratitude Token."

The 'Elder Gong' that Ja Hyeon mentioned referred to Prime Minister Gongson Su. She was speaking indirectly, mindful of listening ears.

Baek Suryong didn't deny it and nodded. "That's right. I have a favor to ask of him in exchange for the Gratitude Token."

"My master said as much. He also told me to retrieve the Gratitude Token."

Baek Suryong frowned. Essentially, Ja Hyeon was saying that she would grant a favor worthy of the Gratitude Token in place of the Divine Physician. "I apologize for saying this, but it's difficult to simply trust you and make my request..."

Ja Hyeon understood well enough without him finishing the sentence. He was doubting her abilities.

"Of course, my abilities can't compare to my master's. However, if the Azure Dragon Hero desires something that requires a physician, I'll be able to accomplish it. If it's beyond my abilities, though, I won't accept the Gratitude Token," she replied calmly, neither offended nor arrogant.

Baek Suryong nodded. Indeed, he didn't necessarily need the Divine Physician. Since Gongson Su himself had introduced the woman, her identity was assured, and her skills certainly seemed extraordinary.

She seems tight-lipped, too.

He decided to talk to Ja Hyeon a little more. "The details aren't something to be discussed here. Let's move to another place."

At that moment, Ja Hyeon noticed Baek Suryong's pallid complexion. "You look very pale. If you don't mind, may I check your pulse for a moment?"

"Yes, well... alright." Baek Suryong nodded and offered his wrist, feeling a bit curious. How much Ja Hyeon could find out just by taking his pulse?

Ja Hyeon's expression quickly grew serious. "How could you let things get to this point?"

Baek Suryong asked skeptically , "I've been really busy lately. Is it that bad?"

Ja Hyeon stared at Baek Suryong as if she were seeing a ghost. "It's worse than bad!" she gasped in disbelief. "How...? With a body , it's a miracle you're still alive!"

Baek Suryong heard the sound of something shattering behind him. Glancing back, he realized it was the teacup that Baek Muheun had been holding falling to the floor.

Translator's Note: This is the only chapter today. I will be making epub v4 and finishing up the glossary for the whole of Unruly Heir so I don't have to do it again.

UPDATE:Epub Volume 4 is up. Please help check for errors.