“Ticket holders, please proceed to the waiting seats behind your designated arena!”
“Parents and acquaintances, make your way to the spectators’ seats!”
“Opponents will be randomly selected through a draw! Even I don’t know who it will be! So stop asking about that!”
“Quiet, please! Quiet, please! Can we have so quiet here?!”
Vice Principal Kwak Cheolwoo, the overseer of the afternoon’s exams at Azure Dragon Academy, found himself constantly shouting to manage the massive crowd pouring into the grounds. His day was proving to be hectic.
When it was finally break ti, Kwak Cheolwoo sank into a chair, exhausted. “Where the heck is the Headmaster when you need him?!” he grumbled, thumping the armrest with his hand.
The job of managing the crowd was the Headmaster’s. Yet, earlier that day, the Headmaster had briefly appeared, made a quick comnt, and left.
“Vice Principal, I have so matters to attend to, so I’ll leave the crowd control to you for a while.”
“…Yes?”
How dare the Headmaster speak so informally to ? And he even dumped his work on as if I was his subordinate! Would this happen in any of the other Five Great Academies?
Such disrespect was unique to the Azure Dragon Academy. Unfortunately, despite his high rank, Kwak Cheolwoo didn’t match up to Mae Geuklyom in seniority, martial arts, or achievents. Thus, he found himself unable to retort and was stuck working non-stop until now.
“Just you wait. One day, I’ll ensure that nasty old man is ousted from the academy…” Kwak Cheolwoo muttered through gritted teeth.
“Are you talking about , by any chance?”
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“Ah!” Startled, Kwak Cheolwoo jumped at the sound of Noh Goonsang’s voice coming from behind him. “Principal! You nearly gave a heart attack!”
“You look like you could use so help, so I thought I’d co by.”
“Help would be appre… Oh, Senior Blue Sky Sword King is here too.”
“It’s been a while. Need a hand from this old man?”
Old man, my ass… Kwak Cheolwoo thought, staring at Namgoong Jaehak’s youthful face. Still, even though he could ask Noh Goonsang for help, he didn’t dare impose his will on Namgoong Jaehak, a mber of the revered Ten Kings.
“Is there sothing on my face?” Namgoong Jaehak asked.
Feeling a twinge of envy, Kwak Cheolwoo quickly bowed his head. “No, I’ve got it covered here. You two enjoy the event.”
“Hoho, we’ll leave you to it then.”
“Keep up the hard work.”
The two returned to the VIP seats, surveying the ten duel arenas prepared for the exam. The stands were already filled to the brim, the air electric with the candidates’ nervous energy and the robust cheers from their supporters.
“Do these events make you feel like you’re reliving your youth, like the old days when you were a spry young martial artist?” Noh Goonsang asked.
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“I can’t say they do,” Namgoong Jaehak replied plainly.
Noh Goonsang looked admiringly at his friend. “That’s probably because you still have that youthful vigor. Sigh, losing your sentintality to rejuvenation is a real sha. The daily reliving of old mories is a pleasure for only us old-tirs.”
“So you’re against rejuvenation?”
“Would you mind sharing your secret?”
“Ohoho.”
“Hohoho.”
“By the way, it seems busier than usual. Is it always this crowded?” Namgoong Jaehak observed, scanning the bustling Azure Dragon Academy.
“No, it’s unusually busy this year.”
The Azure Dragon Academy had been performing poorly at the Heavenly Martial Festival for the past decade, leading to dwindling spectator numbers at the entrance exams. However, this year had brought a significant uptick in attendance.
“I suppose the main reason is you,” Noh Goonsang suggested.
Indeed, many had co to see Namgoong Jaehak, one of the Ten Kings, known as the Blue Sky Sword King.
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“And the second reason?”
“We’re candidates to win the Heavenly Martial Festival this year,” Noh Goonsang quipped, his mind on a recent bold claim.
“At this year’s Heavenly Martial Festival, I will lead the Azure Dragon Academy to victory.”
Baek Suryong’s audacious declaration had resonated throughout the city and the murim. Although it was t with skepticism, it undeniably had a positive impact. Perhaps influenced by his proclamation, this year’s batch of applicants at Azure Dragon Academy seed exceptionally gifted.
“Just you watch. The Azure Dragon Academy will turn the tides at this year’s Heavenly Martial Festival,” Noh Goonsang remarked, looking back at Namgoong Jaehak.
In the past, Namgoong Jaehak would have scoffed at such optimism, but not this ti. “It might just happen,” he chuckled.
“Oho?”
Just then, Gongson Su and his entourage made their entrance. Seeing Namgoong Jaehak’s gaze lingering on the thee of them, Noh Goonsang raised an eyebrow.
“I heard a single instructor taught those three,” Namgoong Jaehak remaked.
“Really? That man’s na has reached even your ears?”
“Not yet, so enlighten .”
“His na is Baek Suryong, and he’s one of our new instructors. Ah, there he is.” Noh Goonsang pointed out Baek Suryong, who was patrolling the stands with other temporary instructors like Ak Yeonho.
Namgoong Jaehak studied him intently. “Hmm. Doesn’t look all that impressive. Handso, though… Maybe…”
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“Don’t. Just don’t.”
“…What?”
With a stern look, Noh Goonsang lowered his voice and warned, “Don’t even think about testing him. He’s our academy’s teacher.”
“Ahem. What are you talking about? I haven’t said anything,” Namgoong Jaehak feigned innocence, though he had indeed considered approaching Baek Suryong.
“Just a request, please don’t.”
“Alright, if you insist…” Namgoong Jaehak relented.
Noh Goonsang’s face relaxed. “Wise decision. You wouldn’t want to embarrass yourself.”
“Was that a joke?”
“Hohohoho!”
With Noh Goonsang’s mix of jest and earnestness, Namgoong Jaehak found it hard to gauge his sincerity.
But that makes it all the more intriguing.
Namgoong Jaehak’s attention remained fixed on Baek Suryong for a good long while.
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