TL: FoodieMonster007
After several days of nonstop riding, Baek Suryong and his group left Jiangxi and entered Hubei. To avoid unnecessary trouble and minimize travel ti, they camped in the mountains instead of stopping in villages, making it a grueling journey.
"…Why am I the only one cooking all the ti?" Namgung Su complained as he tasted the soup he had made over the campfire.
"S-Sorry…" Jaegal Soyeong apologized guiltily.
"…You're not the one at fault." Namgung Su's sharp gaze fell on Baek Suryong, who was playing with Namgung Mi. "Baek Suryong, don't you have anything to say about this situation?"
"You want to cook? Sure, I don't mind. If you can stomach it, that is…" Baek Suryong replied shalessly.
The ladle in Namgung Su's hand trembled, and he could only sigh.
I'd rather starve than eat Baek Suryong's cooking.
That was his conclusion after tasting the mysterious broth Baek Suryong had made on the first night.
Baek Suryong was an abysmally bad cook. More accurately, his complete disregard for taste was the real problem. To him, food only needed to be edible and digestible.
For Namgung Su, who couldn't be satisfied unless a al was properly prepared, entrusting the cooking to Baek Suryong was out of the question.
Baek Suryong shrugged. "Don't say I didn't offer my services. You're the one who snatched the ladle away from ."
"……" Namgung Su ground his teeth. Baek Suryong wasn't wrong, but how could he just stand by while soone threw an uncut, unseasoned slab of at into a pot?
Thankfully, he didn't actually mind cooking. It was even sothing of a hobby. Still…
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"The least you could do is show so courtesy. Don't just laze around while soone else is cooking."
Jaegal Soyeong was just as bad at cooking, though at least she helped out in whatever way she could. If one was being fed, wasn't it only natural to show so gratitude? Instead of playing house with a child, for instance.
However, Baek Suryong's response was nothing short of audacious.
"That's why I'm helping your sister with martial arts. Mimi has talent. In ten years, she'll be stronger than you."
"Hehe, that's too much praise…"
"Don't spoil my sister… hmm?" Catching a whiff of sothing sweet, Namgung Su narrowed his eyes. "Hey, don't tell … Did you give Mimi sweets again?"
"No."
"Of course he didn't?"
They both denied it at the sa ti, which only made them more suspicious.
Namgung Su stared closely at Mimi. "Mimi, there's so sugar on your lips."
"Ah!" Namgung Mi hurriedly wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, though, of course, there was never any sugar there in the first place.
She pouted, realizing she had been caught in a trap. "I… I've been tricked…"
"Why would you react to that?" Baek Suryong exclaid, looking equally troubled.
They were such a perfect duo that soone might mistake them for real siblings.
"Baek Suryong…" Namgung Su set down his ladle and stood up, a chilling killing intent flickering in his eyes. "I distinctly warned you not to give Mimi snacks." 𝐫А𐌽O͍𝐛Ɛṣ
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"Why are you making such a fuss over a little candy? You're so neurotic that it's a disease. At this rate, you'll never get married."
"…!!" Namgung Su's temples twitched. Anyone else would have lost their temper already, but as the Third Young Master of the Namgung Clan, he had an image to uphold.
"…Mimi is at an age where proper nutrition is critical. Every al needs to be balanced. You should know that I'm cooking not for you, but for her," he snarled through gritted teeth.
"When I was her age, I could chew through rocks."
"I'd love to see you try that now."
"Oh? You wanna go?"
"Stop fighting! Mimi is watching!"
As Baek Suryong and Namgung Su locked eyes in a heated stare-down, Jaegal Soyeong anxiously tried to diate between them.
Namgung Mi, anwhile, simply watched in fascination. Does Oppa really hate Mr. Baek Suryong?
At first, she thought so, but the Oppa she knew never paid attention to people he disliked. Whether soone pestered him, gossiped behind his back, or tried to provoke him, he simply didn't care.
This was the first ti she had ever seen her brother get so visibly worked up that his veins bulged in frustration.
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"If not for our family's debt to you…"
"Since you're bringing it up, shouldn't you be treating your family's benefactor with more respect?"
"Urgh…!"
For days now, Baek Suryong had been finding endless amusent in teasing Namgung Su. Even during als, he wouldn't let up.
"Hey, Gungsu. The soup's too salty."
"Haa…" Namgung Su reflexively let out a deep sigh.
Jaegal Soyeong and Namgung Mi exchanged a glance and stifled their laughter.
This is fun.
The two young n bickered constantly, but they didn't actually seem to dislike each other.
It was exhausting traveling like this, and the nights were full of bugs, but Namgung Mi wished this journey would last a little longer.
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The next day, Namgung Su looked up at the overcast sky that seed ready to unleash a storm at any mont. "It's going to pour," he grumbled.
DRIP, DRIP…
True enough, raindrops started falling, dampening their clothes.
"Let's find shelter," Baek Suryong said.
The group quickly began searching around, and fortunately, they managed to find a decent cave before the real downpour started.
"We're lucky. Looks like hunters use this place often."
Baek Suryong carefully observed the inside of the cave. In a corner, there were a few dusty cooking utensils, and the floor was covered with animal-hide mats. He also spotted faint bloodstains on the walls, but nothing significant enough to be concerned about.
"Is sothing bothering you, Baek Suryong?" Namgung Su asked, noticing his unusual vigilance.
"…It's nothing. Let's just rest."
SHWA SHWA SHWA…
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The sounds of the forest were swallowed by the torrential sumr rain, and everything outside the cave blurred into a watery haze.
"Wow, it's really coming down."
"This won't let up anyti soon."
Fortunately, the cave was spacious enough for the four of them and their horses. Namgung Mi and Jaegal Soyeong moved to the inner part of the cave, while the two n sat near the entrance, watching the rain.
"We're stuck here until the rain eases up."
"Yeah. Even if we wanted to keep going, the horses won't last in this storm."
"While we wait…"
"Shall we talk business?"
Baek Suryong and Namgung Su were both n with no patience for idle ti. They were, after all, the infamous workaholic duo of the Azure Dragon Academy.
"Tell about the Heavenly Martial Festival last year. How did each event go?"
"Let's start with the Dragon and Phoenix Tournant."
What began as a discussion about the Heavenly Martial Festival branched into various topics, including next sester's classes, student evaluations, strategies for this year's festival, even their differing teaching philosophies.
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Occasionally, their views clashed, leading to heated debates.
"Dokgo Jun's defense is weak. He needs to fix that to balance his growth."
"I think it's better to refine his strengths. The Nine Swords of Dokgo is not a dominant offensive style for nothing."
"In the long run, sure. However, if he enters the Dragon and Phoenix Tournant this year, he might lose to an unexpected attack."
"That's why he needs to adjust his strategy depending on the opponent. In my opinion…"
RUMBLE! FLASH!
A lightning strike crashed nearby, turning the world white for an instant.
"Oppa…" Namgung Mi called out anxiously, waking up and shuffling toward the two n.
Their conversation paused montarily as Namgung Su pulled his youngest sister close and studied her expression.
"Did you wake up because you were uncomfortable?"
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Namgung Mi smiled brightly and shook her head. "No! I'm a child of a murim family, after all."
"……" Namgung Su stared at her silently, having instantly noticed that her face was paler than usual.
Namgung Mi avoided his gaze and fidgeted with her fingers. "I just… couldn't sleep."
"Are you afraid you might have a nightmare?"
Namgung Mi flinched. The night the Namgung Clan was attacked by the Blood Cult, the rain had poured just like this. She had tried not to show it, but every ti she closed her eyes, the scenes from that day replayed in her mind.
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She whispered gloomily, "I'm sorry. I don't want to be a burden to you, Oppa…"
"What nonsense. You are not a burden."
"Sniff…" Namgung Mi sniffled and buried herself into her brother's embrace.
Namgung Su gently stroked his little sister's back. She always tries to act mature, so it's easy to forget that she's only ten years old.
Baek Suryong teased, "Wow! I can't believe the notorious Namgung Su is this kind of guy. If the students found out, their jaws will drop in shock."
"…Shut up."
"Don't tease him! My Oppa has always been kind!"
Feeling much better, Namgung Mi imdiately sided with her brother. When it ca to family, even an alliance ford over sweets was aningless.
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"But…" Namgung Mi glanced back and forth between Namgung Su and Baek Suryong, two exceptionally handso n even to the eyes of a ten-year-old. "Are you two friends?"
""NO.""
Without hesitation, the two n answered in unison.
"Friends? No way. We're just colleagues," Baek Suryong stated matter-of-factly.
As if that response didn't sit well with him, Namgung Su's brow twitched. "How insolent. I'm your senior."
"Yes, yes. Senior."
"…I shouldn't have said anything."
While the two bickered, Namgung Mi's giggles slowly faded as she dozed off in Namgung Su's arms, her breath soon turning soft and even.
"Yaaawn… Aren't you two going to sleep?" Jaegal Soyeong asked drowsily, having been awoken by Namgung Mi's crying.
"I'm fine. One night without sleep won't kill ."
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"I'll keep watch a little longer. Take care of Mimi."
"Alright. I'll go ahead and sleep, then. Wake if you need soone for night duty."
Jaegal Soyeong carefully carried the sleeping Namgung Mi into the deeper part of the cave, while Baek Suryong deployed a qi barrier to muffle the sound of the rain outside just enough to make the raindrops hitting the ground blend into a soothing background noise.
A brief silence fell between them. Though they had been traveling together for days, this was the first ti it was just the two of them.
Baek Suryong broke the silence first, asking, "Why are you going to Hubei? The main Namgung Estate is in Anhui."
"Took you long enough to ask," Namgung Su replied curtly. "I'm going there because of my martial arts."
"…The Heavenly Lightning Sword Technique? What about it?"
Namgung Su's martial art was the Heavenly Lightning Sword Technique, one of the family specialties passed down through the Namgung Clan. Most importantly, it was so difficult and painful to master that very few even attempted it, yet Namgung Su had reached an exceptionally high level in it.
"…Simply put, I'm going for training. Recently, I found a lead to advance to the next stage."
"Oho." Baek Suryong's eyes glead with interest. He had been wondering how to bring up this topic, but since Namgung Su had done it himself, it made things much easier. "Anything you're stuck on? Anything you're curious about? Just be honest. I'd be happy to teach you."
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Namgung Su imdiately retorted, "I don't need it. Who do you think you are, acting so…"
Baek Suryong scoffed. "The whole world knows I'm stronger than you now. Since when is asking a superior for guidance an insult to your pride? Who's the arrogant one here?"
"……" Namgung Su was furious, but Baek Suryong was right.
Deep down, he had already admitted that Baek Suryong's martial arts were far superior to his own, and that he had an almost incomprehensible talent for analyzing martial techniques.
After a long hesitation, he finally said, "Do you happen to…"
"Shush," Baek Suryong interrupted. As much as he wanted to continue the conversation, he didn't have a choice.
Staring into the storm outside, his face turned ice-cold.
"What is it?" Namgung Su asked, confused.
Baek Suryong's eyes flickered with a faint red glow. "There's sothing out there."
Namgung Su's eyes widened, and true enough, monts later, he sensed it too.
Killing intent.
Amid the torrential downpour, several figures approached the cave, radiating unmistakable hostility.
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