Star Instructor, Master Baek

TL: FoodieMonster007

"Why isn't he back yet?"

"Nothing happened to him, right? The Chairman was terrifying…"

Even as they carried on with their evening training at the White Dragon Manor, the students kept glancing anxiously at the front gate. Baek Suryong was unusually late.

Hyonwon Kang muttered mischievously, "Maybe he mouthed off to Chairman and got beaten up?"

"No way…"

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"Didn't you see him earlier? He was provoking him like crazy, saying stuff like, 'Who are you to interrupt my exam?'"

"I was terrified. I really thought something bad was about to happen."

Hyonwon Kang nodded. "Right? If it were me, I'd have dragged him somewhere quiet and beaten the crap out of him."

The two freshmen, Wiji Cheon and Ya Suhyeok, exchanged doubtful looks. It was impossible to imagine Baek Suryong getting beaten up by anyone, but since it was the Murim Alliance Chairman… maybe?

A small, unspoken hope began to sprout in the three boys' hearts, and as if on cue, a shooting star streaked across the night sky, leaving a long trail behind it.

The three boys quickly clasped their hands together and made their wishes.

"Chairman, please show us that justice still exists in the murim!" Hyonwon Kang prayed desperately.

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"Just hit him as much as we usually get hit!" Ya Suhyeok bellowed.

"Put him in as much pain as possible… without breaking any bones or rupturing any organs!" Wiji Cheon muttered.

Even the usually kind Wiji Cheon had been corrupted after enduring the final exams.

"You idiots," Yeo Min sighed, smacking each of them on the back.

SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!

The three boys shrieked and jumped in pain. Thanks to the White Ice Divine Palm, Yeo Min's friendly slaps hurt.

"""Aaargh!"""

"Do you think Chairman is like you? Stop dreaming and focus on your training!"

A little further away from the group, Bang Baekhyun sat on the porch, smiling faintly as he watched his juniors train. "They're a lively bunch," he remarked.

Geo Sangwoong, who still looked impeccably neat, scoffed. "Just be honest. You think they're weird."

Bang Baekhyun smirked. Earlier, he was still complaining about being turned into a pretty boy, but I guess he's warmed up to the idea?

Barely containing his laughter, he asked, "You suddenly insisted on inviting me here. Was this what you wanted to show me?"

"I wanted to give you a tour of this place… and have a private conversation."

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Bang Baekhyun nodded, as if he was expecting this. Turning around, he faced his friend directly. "I'm ready to listen."

Geo Sangwoong let out an awkward chuckle. "Don't take it too seriously, it's kind of embarrassing. Anyway, two years ago, at the Heavenly Martial Festival…"

Slowly, he began to confess why he had distanced himself from martial arts for two years, why he had wasted his time gambling and indulging in food, and why he had spiraled into a self-destructive lifestyle.

"…I tried to overcome it on my own, but I was too scared. Every time I tried to practice martial arts, my body would freeze, and I'd break into a cold sweat. Mr. Baek told me it was a form of qi deviation."

As Bang Baekhyun listened to Geo Sangwoong's tale, his expression grew increasingly grim, until finally, he clenched his teeth. Even without seeing it firsthand, he could imagine how much his prideful friend had suffered in silence.

"I'm sorry, I had no idea all that happened. I just thought you had lost motivation after returning from the Heavenly Martial Festival," he apologized.

Geo Sangwoong scratched the back of his head. "I'm the one who should be sorry. Because of my damned pride, I just couldn't bring myself to say anything, especially not to you."

"……"

The two of them had once been known as the Azure Dragon Duo, promising prodigies of their generation. Although they were best friends, at the same time, they were also fierce rivals who constantly competed for the top spot.

For that reason, Geo Sangwoong didn't want to show any weakness, at least not to Bang Baekhyun. On the other hand, because Bang Baekhyun was kept in the dark, he was deeply disappointed in his friend.

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That was how they had naturally drifted apart.

Only now, after two years, were they finally clearing up the misunderstanding.

Bang Baekhyun cautiously asked, "So… You're okay practicing martial arts now?"

"As you can see, other than regretting all that time I wasted, I'm fine."

"I see…"

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"By the way, do you have any plans for the break? It's our last vacation, after all," Geo Sangwoong asked, smoothly changing the topic to lighten the mood.

The two of them were fourth-years. Though they still had one semester left, this was their final school vacation. It was time to seriously consider their futures.

Bang Baekhyun gazed up at the night sky. "Our last vacation… it's already that time, huh?"

"Yeah, time sure flies. It's hard to believe we're about to graduate."

Their eyes drifted toward the juniors training in the courtyard, envying the underclassmen who still had lots of time left at the academy. In that moment, they were consumed by the regret of not having pushed themselves harder.

That feeling weighed especially heavily on Geo Sangwoong.

"I'm going to train like hell. This is my last chance to compete in the Heavenly Martial Festival," he whispered.

Startled, Bang Baekhyun blurted out, "You're entering the Heavenly Martial Festival? Wait! Don't tell me…"

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"Yeah. I'm going to settle the score there." Geo Sangwoong's eyes blazed with resolve. "Fist Tyrant Cho Il. I'm going to crush that bastard with my own fists."

Bang Baekhyun unconsciously glanced at his friend's hands. Not only did they look bigger and tougher than he remembered, they were also riddled with many new scars and calluses.

With hands like those, I can hardly believe Sangwoong spent two years wasting away, but…

Fist Tyrant Cho Il was one of the strongest prodigies at the Heavenly Martial Academy. Every year he had participated, he had placed among the top in the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament, the highlight of the Heavenly Martial Festival.

If Geo Sangwoong hadn't been a match for Cho Il two years ago, by now, the gap between them would have only widened. Realistically, it was impossible for him to win.

Despite his doubts, however, Bang Baekhyun grinned. "Fine, I won't stop you. Not like I could, right?"

"You know me well," Geo Sangwoong chuckled. "What about you? What are you doing over the break?"

Bang Baekhyun smiled gently. "I need to prepare for the Murim Alliance entrance exam. I already have enough credits to graduate, so I won't need to come to the academy much next semester."

"Hmm…" Geo Sangwoong frowned. Whenever Bang Baekhyun smiled gently like that, it meant that he was hiding something. "Is that really what you want? Or is it what your mother wants?"

Bang Baekhyun's mother was Winter Matron Seo Ri'ae, the chairwoman of the Azure Dragon Academy Parent-Teacher Association (PTA). She had meticulously managed her son's life from an early age, grooming him to become the next Murim Alliance Chairman, and Bang Baekhyun had always done his best to live up to her expectations.

"Geo Sangwoong," Bang Baekhyun warned in a low voice. "Don't say it like that. My mother dedicated her life for me."

"But your life doesn't belong to her."

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"What do you even know…"

Geo Sangwoong scoffed. "I know enough. The Bang Baekhyun I know isn't someone with grand ambitions. You act all smart, but in the end, you're just a good momma's boy who can't say no to his mother's requests."

"You damn…" Bang Baekhyun snapped, but his temper cooled halfway through and he let out a sigh instead. He didn't want to argue with a friend he hadn't talked to in two years. "Sangwoong, things have changed in the past two years. Back then, when I was struggling to meet my mother's expectations, I remember frequently complaining to you about how strict she was."

"……"

"But I don't think that way anymore." Bang Baekhyun's eyes shone with conviction. "I'm sure of my goal now. I want to stand at the peak of the Murim Alliance, and I've decided to dedicate my life to it."

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"You…" Geo Sangwoong stared at his friend for a long time before sighing. Even with the keen business acumen he had inherited from his father, he couldn't tell if his old friend's words were sincere or merely an act.

Scratching his head roughly, he grumbled, "I can't tell if you're being serious or not. You always were good at acting."

"I mean it."

"You really should have been a spy."

"You used to say that all the time. That I'd become a spy after graduation, while you'd turn into a bandit."

Recalling old memories, the two young men chuckled together.

"What's so funny?" Hyonwon Kang asked, approaching the pair.

He wasn't alone. After finishing their training, the White Dragon Manor students crowded around the pair, sitting in a circle on the porch.

Looking at them, Bang Baekhyun grinned and said half-jokingly, "I said I'd become the Murim Alliance Chairman, but this guy doesn't believe me."

"The Murim Alliance Chairman? Oh, that sounds pretty cool."

"I think it suits you."

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"Honestly, the Chairman we saw earlier didn't seem very orthodox either."

"Yeah, he's more like one of us."

The White Dragon Manor students all nodded seriously.

Bang Baekhyun's jaw dropped in shock. Normally, people would either scoff or laugh at such a ridiculous claim, and he had expected that this time as well, but the reaction he received was the exact opposite.

"…Don't you think I'm crazy?" he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

"No? Why?"

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"I mean, it feels weird saying this myself, but most people would find it weird if someone from the Azure Dragon Academy said that they wanted to become the Murim Alliance Chairman."

The White Dragon Manor students tilted their heads in confusion.

"What's weird about it?"

"Why can't you become Chairman just because you're from the Azure Dragon Academy?"

"Is becoming Chairman harder than winning the Heavenly Martial Festival?"

For a moment, Bang Baekhyun was shocked speechless, but soon, a strange feeling of exhilaration swept over him. Maybe it was because he had spent days fighting, chasing, and bonding with them, but even though they were practically strangers, he didn't feel uncomfortable discussing his dream with them.

…Right, aren't they the students of the teacher who outright declared that he would lead the Azure Dragon Academy to victory at the Heavenly Martial Festival?

Realizing that, he couldn't help but laugh, "Haha! The way you guys put it, even someone from the Azure Dragon Academy becoming the Murim Alliance Chairman really doesn't seem like a big deal, huh? To be honest, I…"

"Anyway, about that Chairman…" Hyonwon Kang interrupted, gesturing toward Ya Suhyeok with his chin. "When I first saw him, I thought he was Suhyeok's dad."

"Huh? I thought the same thing. They look so alike."

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"Maybe he really is his illegitimate son? Even their names are similar."

"What the hell are you guys talking about? My surname is 'Ya,' and the Chairman's is 'Yayul'!" Ya Suhyeok shouted, flustered by the teasing.

"But you always call me 'Senior Wonkang' too, you damn punk."

Yeo Min exaggeratedly widened her eyes in shock. "Oh? Senior, wasn't your name Hyon Wonkang…?"

"You little…!"

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As usual, the White Dragon Manor students bickered and joked around noisily.

Bang Baekhyun fell silent again, blinking in confusion. What on earth? Before I knew it, they've already moved on to a different topic!?

Noticing his friend's bewilderment, Geo Sangwoong chuckled and slung an arm around Bang Baekhyun's shoulder. "This is just how it is here. There's no such thing as hierarchy."

Bang Baekhyun shook his head. "…This place is really weird."

CREAK…

Just then, Baek Suryong pushed open the front gate and entered the White Dragon Manor. "Why are you guys so noisy… oh?"

""Mr. Baek!""

The students immediately swarmed Baek Suryong like eager little puppies wagging their tails.

"Why are you so late?"

"The conversation dragged on, and even after it ended, I had to go comfort a certain sulking guy."

"Sulking?"

"Who else could it be but that Namgung fella?" Baek Suryong sighed in exasperation. Dealing with Mr. Grumpy had been more exhausting than facing the Murim Alliance Chairman.

"Mr. Baek, did you get beaten up by the Chairman?"

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"What?"

"We even made a wish on a shooting star earlier, so there's no way you came back unscathed…"

BONK!

Hyonwon Kang, who had been circling around inspecting Baek Suryong for injuries, was knocked flat on his face with a smack to the back of his head.

"Who the fuck got beaten up again?"

"Is there truly no hero in the murim capable of punishing Baek Suryong…?" Hyonwon Kang groaned softly, only to yelp when Baek Suryong casually kicked him away.

Suddenly, Baek Suryong spotted a face he hadn't seen in the White Dragon Manor before.

"You're Bang Baekhyun, right? A fourth year?" he asked.

Bang Baekhyun immediately stood up and bowed in greeting. "Yes. It's an honor to meet you, Azure Dragon Hero."

"Hmm…" Baek Suryong fell into deep thought. Bang Baekhyun was one of the people who had caught his attention during the last final exam.

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He's quick-witted, smart, and sociable, and his skills aren't bad.

Before coming here, he had also conveniently asked Namgung Su about Bang Baekhyun.

After all, he had to get something in return for spending so much time and effort pacifying the man and soothing his bruised ego, right?

"Bang Baekhyun? His grades are excellent across the board, but his scores in infiltration, intelligence gathering, and espionage stand out. It seems like he actually enjoys it, too."

He's graduating this year, hmm? That's perfect. He's just the person I need.

Baek Suryong grinned. Bang Baekhyun was the perfect choice for a spy within the Murim Alliance.

"You're planning to enter the Murim Alliance after graduation, right?"

Bang Baekhyun replied awkwardly, "Uh… yes. That's correct."

Baek Suryong smiled warmly, though for some reason, that smile only made Bang Baekhyun even more nervous.

"Would you like some career counseling?" Baek Suryong asked.

---

Translator's Shameless Self-Promotion: Speaking of spies, if you think you'll enjoy a murim spy action story, try reading Absolute Warrior.

p.s. Su and Suryong have made up after breaking up for a day.

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