Star Instructor, Master Baek

TL: FoodieMonster007

"A position? Are you asking for a position in the Murim Alliance?"

For a moment, Yayul Hwang blinked in confusion, but his expression quickly brightened.

"Hahaha! A master of your caliber is always welcome! I can secure any position you desire, just name it!"

Suddenly, as an idea struck him.

"Pack your things when you return. You should join me on my tour of the Five Great Academies. It will set a good example for the others," he added, his tiger-like eyes gleaming.

The Azure Dragon Hero, whose recent fame rivaled that of the Murim's Ten Supremes, joining the Murim Alliance? That would be a powerful tool to sway public opinion in his favor.

However, it didn't take long for him to realize that he had completely misunderstood Baek Suryong's intentions.

"Pack my things? Then what about the Azure Dragon Academy?" Baek Suryong asked, bewildered.

"What does the Azure Dragon Academy matter if you are going to join the Murim Alliance? We will provide accommodations, so just bring yourself."

Baek Suryong stared at Yayul Hwang as if he had lost his mind. "Why would I suddenly quit a perfectly good job?"

"…If you don't quit, how will you join the Murim Alliance?" Yayul Hwang stared back in puzzlement.

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Baek Suryong shook his head and clarified, "I believe there's been a misunderstanding. I never intended to leave the Azure Dragon Academy to join the Murim Alliance."

"Then what did you mean?"

"I meant that I would have one foot in both organizations. If you insist on defining it, you could call it an adjunct position."

The veins on Yayul Hwang's thick neck bulged. "…An adjunct position?"

Despite Yayul Hwang's obvious irritation, Baek Suryong wasn't intimidated. He had already figured out that the best way to deal with this Murim Alliance Chairman was to be as direct as possible.

"If possible, give me a position with a lot of power and no responsibility. I'm too busy with the Azure Dragon Academy to visit the Alliance very often anyway."

Yayul Hwang gaped at Baek Suryong in disbelief. "Are you messing with me?"

"I'm as serious as serious can be," Baek Suryong replied.

Yayul Hwang hesitated. This was the problem. Baek Suryong sounded so sincere that even though he was normally a hothead, he couldn't decide whether or not to get angry.

He had encountered all sorts of eccentrics in the Murim Alliance, but he had never met anyone quite like Baek Suryong.

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Does this brat not fear me at all?

No matter how skilled the young man was, he remained beneath him. However, the more they spoke, the more he felt that Baek Suryong was dominating the conversation.

I can't let this brat control the flow any longer!

Narrowing his eyes, Yayul Hwang said sternly, "So you're saying that you want to continue working at the Azure Dragon Academy and hold a key position in the Murim Alliance at the same time? You sure have some nerve, making such a ridiculous demand."

"This deal is not a loss for the Murim Alliance."

CRUNCH!

The already broken table crumbled into dust under Yayul Hwang's foot as he leaned his massive frame toward Baek Suryong, growling, "You seem awfully confident in your martial arts and reputation. Choose your next words carefully."

"Allow me to explain why hiring me would be a significant gain for the Murim Alliance," Baek Suryong said, meeting Yayul Hwang's gaze without flinching despite the overwhelming pressure radiating from him.

If he wanted, he could immediately draft a compendium of Blood Cult martial arts and hand it over to the Murim Alliance, but that would raise too much suspicion, so he had no intention of doing that just yet.

Besides, there were plenty of other things he could offer.

"First, I have a vast amount of high-level intelligence on the Blood Cult," he added.

"Information?" Yayul Hwang sneered. Does this kid really think he knows more than me, the Murim Alliance Chairman?

His conceit didn't last long.

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Baek Suryong asked, "Are you familiar with the Apostles?"

"How did you know about that?!"

Yayul Hwang's eyes widened in shock. The existence of the Apostles were classified as top-secret information even within the Murim Alliance. Baek Suryong had no way of knowing about them and no right to know about them.

"You'd better have a damn good explanation for how you got that information," he snarled, a hint of killing intent flickering in his eyes. If Baek Suryong failed to answer properly, he would attack without hesitation.

However, Baek Suryong already had the perfect response prepared.

"I extracted a lot of information from the Blood Cult Elder I killed at the Namgung Estate."

Yayul Hwang's oppressive aura eased slightly, but his suspicion was still not completely allayed. Frowning, he asked, "Why did you not report this to the Alliance immediately?"

Baek Suryong snorted. "Was I obligated to?"

"Arrogant punk…"

Although Baek Suryong said it flippantly, his real reason for withholding information was simple—he did not trust the Murim Alliance, which was in all likelihood infested with Blood Cult spies and corrupt traitors.

Now though, he was alone with the Murim Alliance Chairman. This was an opportunity he could not waste.

Yayul Hwang. I don't particularly like you, but your hatred for the Blood Cult is real, so I'll use you to the fullest.

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Yayul Hwang scoffed. "In any case, I am the Murim Alliance Chairman. Everything you know, I already know as well."

"Oh? Then I suppose you already knew that the one who orchestrated the Namgung Clan massacre was none other than the First Apostle, right?"

"…Of course."

Baek Suryong rolled his eyes. Pfft, don't even try to bluff me.

From Yayul Hwang's delayed reaction, it was obvious that this was his first time hearing about the mastermind's identity.

Smirking, Baek Suryong retorted, "You are not very good at lying, Chairman. As far as I know, the Murim Alliance has never captured a Blood Cult Elder or a high-ranking commander in the past twenty years."

"……"

Yayul Hwang might have been aggressive and straightforward, but he wasn't a fool. He quickly realized the value of the information that Baek Suryong possessed.

Still, that alone wasn't quite enough to demand a key position within the Murim Alliance, and Baek Suryong knew it.

So he dangled yet another carrot.

"Second, I can create counter techniques for most Blood Cult martial arts, and I can confidently say that I am better at it than you, Chairman."

Just because someone was strong didn't mean they could teach martial arts well, and likewise, it didn't mean they would naturally be good at martial arts theory. When it came to developing counter techniques, Baek Suryong was confident that none of the Ten Supremes could surpass him.

I studied and analyzed over a hundred martial arts in my previous life.

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If it was Blood Cult martial arts, he could draft counter techniques with ease right away. All he needed was ink and paper.

Yayul Hwang asked, "You can create counter techniques for Blood Cult martial arts? Even if that were true, how would you prove it?"

"I have already created several," Baek Suryong replied.

"…I don't even have the energy to be surprised anymore. Where did you learn Blood Cult martial arts? Did you also steal it from that Elder?"

That was a reasonable assumption, but Baek Suryong had a more convincing excuse.

"The Namgung Clan Ancestral Shrine. Have you heard about what was hidden beneath the well?"

"…The Namgung Patriarch told me about it."

Currently, only the highest-ranking figures in the murim knew of the dirty secret that the Blue Sky Sword King had kept hidden. Obviously, the Murim Alliance Chairman was one of them.

Baek Suryong nodded solemnly. "I found a few Blood Cult martial arts manuals left behind by those who died there. I studied them and developed counter techniques."

"…The Namgung Patriarch never mentioned that."

"Of course he didn't. I never told him."

"So you stole them?" Yayul Hwang asked cynically.

Baek Suryong laughed, "Stole from whom? The dead cultists? Or the Namgung Clan, who slaughtered them?"

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"……" Unable to think of a rebuttal, Yayul Hwang was speechless.

"If you accept my proposal, I will hand over the manuals and my counter techniques to the Murim Alliance."

Of course, that was a lie. Baek Suryong had memorized hundreds of martial arts, and it wasn't difficult to forge a stack of old and worn out secret manuals.

Through this, I will gradually spread knowledge of the Blood Cult's martial arts and their weaknesses.

Knowing the enemy's martial arts before a battle was the same as tying one of their hands behind their back.

"If you show me the Blood Cult martial arts that the Murim Alliance has obtained, I will create counter techniques for those as well. In the future, the blood that the Murim Alliance sheds will be reduced by half."

"…I cannot deny that." Yayul Hwang sighed deeply.

Confident that he had won the negotiation, Baek Suryong grinned. "I think the position of Chief Martial Arts Instructor would suffice."

The Murim Alliance's Chief Martial Arts Instructor was in charge of overseeing the training of the Alliance's warriors. It was a position equivalent to one of the five commanders within the alliance.

"Chief Instructor… There will be strong opposition."

"But you have enough influence to make it happen, don't you, Chairman?"

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Yayul Hwang hesitated. Even considering Baek Suryong's reputation as the Azure Dragon Hero, his martial prowess, and his position as an instructor at one of the Five Great Academies, it was a post that would undoubtedly cause controversy.

"The Alliance's warriors are rough men. They're completely different from the kids at the academy."

Baek Suryong chuckled, "Don't worry about that. I'm used to handling thugs."

"Hmm…" Yayul Hwang folded his arms, deep in thought.

Baek Suryong's offer was incredibly tempting. High-level intelligence extracted from a Blood Cult Elder, as well as counter-techniques to the Cult's martial arts. It wasn't an exaggeration to say that enlisting this young man's assistance could turn the tides of war.

Then why do I feel so uneasy?

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Suddenly, Yayul Hwang realized the reason behind his discomfort.

He uncrossed his arms and stood up. His intuition as a supreme master was warning him about something foreboding.

"Hey, can you prove that you are not a Blood Cult spy?" he demanded, his tiger-like eyes boring into Baek Suryong as if he was trying to see right through him.

Baek Suryong sighed inwardly.

Like the Blue Sky Sword King, he's suspicious of me.

The Blue Sky Sword King had also suspected him instinctively, but in the end, he hadn't been able to uncover anything. Now that his martial arts skills had advanced even further, he was confident that Yayul Hwang wouldn't notice anything odd.

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Baek Suryong rose to his feet and met Yayul Hwang's gaze directly. From the moment he learned that the Murim Alliance Chairman was coming, he had prepared a flawless story to persuade him. There were no gaps in his reasoning.

"If I were a Blood Cult spy, then what reason did I have for helping the Namgung Clan? If I had done nothing, the murim would have plunged into chaos, and by now the Blood Cult would have secured a massive advantage," he retorted.

"…That's true. If you were a spy, you would have had no reason to save the Namgung Clan." Yayul Hwang nodded in agreement, yet his expression remained strangely unreadable.

After a brief silence, he continued, "I trust my instincts above all else, and from what I can tell, you're not part of the Blood Cult."

"Of course I'm not," Baek Suryong said, but just when he thought he was in the clear, fire flared up once again in Yayul Hwang's eyes.

"But I cannot say that you have nothing to do with the Blood Cult either."

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"What…?"

A terrifying killing intent made Baek Suryong's body tense. Unlike before, this was not just a threat. He felt as if a huge tiger had bared its fangs right in front of him. Depending on his next answer, Yayul Hwang was fully prepared to attack.

"I will ask one last time. What is your connection to the Blood Cult?"

"I…" Glaring at Yayul Hwang, Baek Suryong was about to respond, when the door suddenly burst open.

"Chairman! Stop nitpicking," Noh Goonsang scolded, entering the reception room.

Behind him stood the Murim Alliance Chief Strategist, Jaegal Sojin.

"…Senior. It's been a long time." Yayul Hwang withdrew his aura and formally greeted Noh Goonsang in a sign of respect for a senior who had fought alongside him in the last war against the Blood Cult.

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Noh Goonsang frowned as he approached. "I heard everything on my way here. Are you seriously accusing Mr. Baek of being a Blood Cult spy?"

"Although he doesn't seem to be a spy, I think he's definitely hiding something…"

"I will stake my honor on Mr. Baek's innocence. He has no connection to the Blood Cult whatsoever," Noh Goonsang cut in, stepping in front of Baek Suryong.

Yayul Hwang shuffled awkwardly, then shot a glance at Chief Strategist Jaegal Sojin. This was why he had wanted her to buy more time. He didn't have much sway over Noh Goonsang.

"I mean, I also agree that the Azure Dragon Hero is not a Blood Cult spy, but…"

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"Wait. I'm not done talking yet," Baek Suryong interrupted.

Everyone's eyes turned to him.

"The third reason you'll want me, is that I have the ability to influence the other Five Great Academies." Baek Suryong pulled two Gratitude Tokens from his sleeve and held them up before Yayul Hwang. "This one is from the Sichuan Tang Clan, ad this one is from the Fire King."

"…!!"

As the White Tiger Academy was located in Sichuan, its connection to the Tang Clan was undeniable.

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On the other hand, the Fire King wasn't just the Principal of the Vermilion Phoenix Academy, he was even more senior than Noh Goonsang in the murim.

Having those two Gratitude Tokens meant Baek Suryong had the ability to influence two of the Five Great Academies.

How did he obtain both of those…?! Jaegal Sojin's eyes widened in shock. No one had ever reported to the Murim Alliance that Baek Suryong had received such tokens.

Of course, Gratitude Tokens were never meant to be publicly disclosed, and everyone who had witnessed Baek Suryong receiving them had remained silent.

Baek Suryong smirked as he made eye contact with Jaegal Sojin. "The Namgung Clan did not give me one, since a Gratitude Token can only be used once. Instead, they told me that I could ask them for help whenever I needed it."

Despite suffering great losses from the Blood Cult's invasion, the Namgung Clan was still the family that had produced the most Star Instructors.

In other words, if Baek Suryong wanted to, he could use his connections to thwart the Murim Alliance's plans whenever he felt like it.

"Chairman Yayul. Do you still think you are in a position of authority?" Baek Suryong said, his smile fading away to be replaced by a frosty expression. "Let me get this straight. The one who should be begging for an alliance isn't me, but you."

"……" Yayul Hwang's face turned red, then blue, but he couldn't lash out with Noh Goonsang around, especially since it was clear that he was the one who had overstepped first.

Right now, Baek Suryong had the justification not only to be angry but also to make further demands.

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"I've changed my mind. Instead of Chief Martial Arts Instructor, I want the vacant Vice Chairman position."

"That's ridiculous!"

"Impossible!"

Yayul Hwang and Chief Strategist Jaegal Sojin shouted in unison, but Baek Suryong didn't give them a shit.

"Then forget it."

Smirking, Baek Suryong spun around and stormed out of the reception room.

BANG!

Yayul Hwang and Jaegal Sojin stared blankly at the slammed door.

"Well, I guess that's that, then?" Noh Goonsang chuckled, shrugging.

Yayul Hwang was stunned speechless.

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