Star Instructor, Master Baek

TL: FoodieMonster007

"That goddamn idiot…" Yayul Hwang growled as he glared at the Heavenly Martial Commander, who was now on the defensive.

One hit… ONLY ONE HIT…!

He had repeatedly warned Cho Cheonsang to be careful, but the fool had let his guard down and humiliatingly lost his sword in the very first exchange.

If this were a real battle, he'd be dead already.

Yayul Hwang knew better than anyone how skilled the Heavenly Martial Commander was, but that only made him even more disappointed. If the Heavenly Martial Commander had taken this duel seriously and fought at full strength from the start, even he himself wouldn't have been able to end the fight in a single blow.

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This is all because of a lack of real combat experience.

Although the Heavenly Martial Corps was publicly known as the Murim Alliance Chairman's elite guard, it was actually nothing more than an honor guard composed of spoiled young masters who only ever showed off their martial arts at Murim Alliance banquets.

While the combat units of the five Alliance divisions were engaging in actual battles, spilling blood and sweat, these men strutted around as if they belonged to the gentry. The few missions they undertook were far beneath their actual skill level.

"This is beyond pathetic…"

Yayul Hwang had expected their lack of experience to show, but the reality was far worse than he imagined. His anger flared.

If the Captain is this bad, the rest of them can't be much better.

Yayul Hwang's sharp, tiger-like eyes swept over the Heavenly Martial Corps, and the martial artists who met his gaze quickly lowered their heads.

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"Tsk tsk." Clicking his tongue, Yayul Hwang turned his attention back to the duel platform.

Compared to Cho Cheonsang, he's something else…

Yayul Hwang regarded Baek Suryong with a touch of admiration. The swordsmanship that had disarmed the Heavenly Martial Commander in a single move was remarkable, but what impressed him even more was the battle of wits that had led up to it.

From provoking his opponent to disrupt his composure, to baiting an attack with an aggressive charge, to analyzing and dismantling his opponent's overly flashy technique, and finally to delivering a decisive attack and disarming his opponent—whether it was psychological warfare, combat strategy, or bold execution, every step of the process was flawless.

"One of them spent his time sharpening his sword, admiring himself, while the other spent his time thoroughly analyzing his opponent. The outcome of this duel is already decided."

Meanwhile, on the duel platform, Baek Suryong was toying with Cho Cheonsang like a cat bullying a mouse.

"Is this really all the Heavenly Martial Commander is capable of?" Baek Suryong taunted.

"Ugh…!"

"Your footwork is sloppy when you evade. Did Mount Hua not teach you to walk properly?"

"Do not insult me or my sect!"

"Insult?" Baek Suryong scoffed, swinging the Azure Dragon Sword like a club. "I am the Chief Martial Arts Instructor of the Murim Alliance, and my job is to teach martial arts to Alliance members like you. Pointing out your flaws is part of my responsibility, yet you call it an insult?"

Cho Cheonsang clenched his teeth, barely able to block the onslaught with his palms. "I just let my guard down for a moment…!" he groaned.

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"Let your guard down?"

SMACK!

Baek Suryong struck the Heavenly Martial Commander's ribs with the flat of his blade like a bolt of lightning. If he had used the edge, Cho Cheonsang's intestines would have spilled out.

Not that using the flat side made it any less painful.

"Khahk!" Cho Cheonsang staggered violently, overwhelmed by the searing pain. Desperate, he unleashed the Plum Blossom Grappling Technique to keep Baek Suryong at bay, but Baek Suryong only clicked his tongue in disappointment.

"How dare you use being caught off guard as an excuse? You should be ashamed of yourself for letting your guard down in the first place!"

"Urghhh!" Cho Cheonsang snarled, feeling like he was going insane. If only he hadn't lowered his guard, if only he had fought properly, this wouldn't have been such a one-sided match.

The sheer frustration made him say something he normally never would.

"Who goes all out from the very start in a friendly duel…? That's just cowardly…"

"Cowardly?" Baek Suryong's lips slowly curled into a smirk, but his eyes weren't smiling at all. "Every time you open your mouth, all you do is make excuses. You're beyond saving."

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Rolling up his sleeves, Baek Suryong shot forward like a flash of light.

"Stop underestimating me!" Cho Cheonsang bellowed.

Desperately evading Baek Suryong's relentless attacks, he unleashed Mount Hua's finest techniques, the Plum Blossom Grappling Technique and the Falling Flower Shadow Chasing Palm, in succession.

Anything works, as long as I can create an opening…!

BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!

Baek Suryong clicked his tongue. Now that he had regained his composure, Cho Cheonsang's martial arts were undoubtedly impressive. His enhanced qi flared around him, making his martial arts uniform billow wildly. Every time he struck, terrifying shockwaves exploded outward.

"You're not bad, I'll give you that," he acknowledged.

SWISH!

In the end, however, the Heavenly Martial Commander was a pure swordsman, and without his sword, he couldn't unleash even half of his true strength. Baek Suryong's sword easily slipped through Cho Cheonsang's defenses and struck him in the solar plexus.

"Ghh!" Cho Cheonsang's face went pale, and his breath caught in his throat. Although he had managed to block the brunt of the blow with his qi armor, he still felt like he had been hit with a sledgehammer.

Still, Baek Suryong didn't let up. Stepping in even closer, he drove his fist into Cho Cheonsang's ribs.

THUD!

Cho Cheonsang staggered violently. A punch infused with inner qi could shatter stone. He wouldn't be surprised if the impact broke his ribs.

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SMACK!

Baek Suryong struck him on the other side, just to keep things fair.

THUD!

His legs buckled, but before he could collapse, Baek Suryong drive another straight punch into his gut.

"Keuaahh!"

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Blood sprayed from Cho Cheonsang's mouth as his body flew through the air and tumbled across the platform.

"That looks painful…"

"Mr. Baek was holding back with us, after all…"

"Can a person even survive getting beaten like that?"

The students of the White Dragon Manor shivered as they watched the fight unfold. They had no sympathy for the Heavenly Martial Commander, but they couldn't help but flinch instinctively after each powerful blow.

This was an entirely different level of trashing from the ones they usually received. As the Heavenly Martial Commander was a high-level martial artist and therefore durable, Baek Suryong didn't hold back at all. He was utterly ruthless.

"It's… not over yet…"

Despite swaying unsteadily, Cho Cheonsang forced himself back onto his feet and assumed his stance once more, his eyes burning with determination.

"Oh? You're tougher than I thought," Baek Suryong remarked, slightly impressed. He hadn't attacked with the intent to kill, but he had meant to knock the guy down for a while.

Even so, Cho Cheonsang got up again and again. By twisting his body at the right moment, he had minimized the impacts, and his qi armor then helped him absorb the brunt of the damage.

He's definitely skilled. He just doesn't know how to fully utilize his techniques and raw power.

Baek Suryong briefly paused to catch his breath.

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""WOOOOAHHH!!""

The spectators, who had been holding their breaths, finally let loose. Their cheers and roars were so loud that the entire Azure Dragon Academy campus shook as if an earthquake had struck.

"The Azure Dragon Hero is completely overwhelming the Proud Sword of Mount Hua!"

"Overwhelming? This is utter domination!"

"Even an adult fighting a child wouldn't be this one-sided…"

"He really is proving himself to be on par with the Ten Supremes."

"But it's a bit of a shame. The Proud Sword of Mount Hua lost his sword because he let his guard down…"

"How is that the Azure Dragon Hero's fault? The Proud Sword of Mount Hua is just paying the price for not taking his opponent seriously."

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The entire audience stared at the stage in shock. No one had expected the duel to be so imbalanced.

Only Baek Suryong felt nothing special. His attention was solely focused on the Heavenly Martial Commander, who was glaring at him with vitriol in his eyes.

"I despise people like you the most. You rely on your talent and become complacent, and you think you're special just because you occupy a high position in your oh so prestigious family or sect. Before me, everyone is equal. Carve that into your memory," he said icily.

His last remark wasn't directed at only Cho Cheonsang, but also at the Heavenly Martial Corps.

Feeling a sense of foreboding for their future, they shuddered.

Cho Cheonsang wiped the blood on his lips with the back of his hand and scowled. "What do you even know about me to say such things…"

"I don't know anything, and I'm not interested in finding out."

"Khh…!!" Cho Cheonsang grit his teeth so hard that blood seeped from his gums.

If only I had my sword!

He knew it was a pathetic excuse. The moment he had lost his sword in the first exchange, the outcome of the duel had been decided.

But I haven't even shown anything yet.

Even if he lost, he couldn't lose like this. The sword of Mount Hua was not this weak.

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Cho Cheonsang's gaze flickered to the sword lying behind Baek Suryong.

If I can just reclaim my sword…

Baek Suryong snickered. Cho Cheonsang's thoughts were written all over his face. There was no way he couldn't read it.

"So, you think you can win if you have your sword?" he mocked.

"……"

"Okay then, let's see it."

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"What…?"

Baek Suryong tossed the Plum Blossom Sword back to its owner. Caught off guard, Cho Cheonsang instinctively grabbed it.

"…What are you thinking?" he asked, dumbfounded.

Baek Suryong smiled meaningfully. "You wouldn't be able to accept your loss like this, would you?"

The students of the White Dragon Manor turned their heads away, unable to watch any longer.

"Holy shit, how badly is he planning to beat him…?"

"He's going to utterly destroy him."

Unfortunately, the naive Heavenly Martial Commander seemed genuinely moved by Baek Suryong's gesture.

Even his tone softened slightly as he nodded and said, "…I won't refuse your offer."

Yayul Hwang's eyes lit up, and his furrowed brows relaxed a little. At last, the Heavenly Martial Commander could fight at full strength. A swordsman with a sword was a far more formidable opponent.

"I thought it was over, but things are getting interesting again…"

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Of course, even then, Yayul Hwang didn't believe for a second that Baek Suryong would lose.

At the very least though, this should force him to reveal more of what he's hiding.

Yayul Hwang's eyes sharpened as he observed Baek Suryong.

The moment Cho Cheonsang grasped his sword again, his entire presence changed. Shifting into a low stance, the essence of the Mount Hua Sect's martial arts flowed through him, and a mystical purple aura enveloped his entire body.

Baek Suryong's eyes flickered. The Violet Dawn Divine Art, huh? Just having his sword makes him seem like a completely different person.

He could no longer take Cho Cheonsang lightly. This was no longer the clumsy martial artist he had one-sidedly beaten up. Now, a master swordsman stood before him, perfectly prepared to challenge him.

"…I'm ready," Cho Cheonsang said.

There was no more arrogance or complacency in the Heavenly Martial Commander's voice. He was sincerely expressing his gratitude for being given another chance when he should have already lost.

Baek Suryong also focused his inner qi, saying, "Hah, now you're getting serious. You're much more dangerous like this."

With Yayul Hwang watching, he couldn't use the Heaven Defying Divine Art, but that wasn't the only ultimate martial art he possessed.

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RUMBLE!

A powerful surge of energy burst from beneath his feet, whipping up a whirlwind. His azure martial arts uniform flapped wildly, and his hair scattered in the wind.

Baek Suryong grinned. "I'll let you have the first move."

"I won't hold back."

WHOOSH!

Cho Cheonsang dashed forward like a raging storm. Having already suffered once, he swung his sword at full strength from the very start, and Baek Suryong met his strike with the Azure Dragon Sword.

CLAAANG!!

A deafening roar unlike anything before echoed across the campus, forcing the weaker students to cover their ears.

"Khk…!"

"What kind of shockwave is this?!"

Despite the agony, there was no time to complain. Everyone forced their eyes open, determined not to miss a second of the battle between these two titans.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!!

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Unfortunately, all most spectators could see were sparks and blurry afterimages of the colliding swords. Only a handful of people in the audience could actually follow the battle, and they were left speechless by what they saw.

"My god…"

"They're both monsters…"

As the two top-tier masters clashed, the duel platform turned into a wasteland. Sword qi slashed across the ground, leaving deep scars, and every footstep left indentations in the floor.

It was a swordfight without a single wasted move.

Two blurred figures flickered across the platform, their martial arts uniforms torn, droplets of blood splattering onto the ground, until suddenly, as if by mutual agreement, both men halted at the same time.

Their gazes, sharper than a sword, scrutinized each other. A single mistake could lead to defeat, or even serious injury.

"…If I want to win easily, I guess I can't restrict myself to using only my sword," Baek Suryong chuckled faintly.

"What do you mean…"

HUMMM!

In an instant, the White Ice Bangle on Baek Suryong's left wrist trembled violently, releasing a fierce, freezing gust howling across the duel platform.

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Yayul Hwang narrowed his eyes. "So he knows ice arts, and an extraordinary one at that. Is this what he was hiding?"

Even from a distance, the chill so intense that the audience found it difficult to move.

Indeed, Cho Cheonsang's movements visibly slowed.

"Khk…!" He grit his teeth and drew upon the Violet Dawn Divine Art to endure the cold, but he was already struggling to keep up with Baek Suryong's swordsmanship alone. The additional ice arts was more than what he could handle.

What was briefly an even battle quickly became one-sided again.

Baek Suryong seized the smallest of openings and closed the distance.

CLAAANG!!

Once again, the Heavenly Martial Commander had his sword knocked right out of his hands.

This time, however, he had no excuses to make. It was an undeniable defeat.

"……" Staring blankly at his trembling, empty hands, Cho Cheonsang let out a hollow laugh before looking up at Baek Suryong. "I lost."

"You lost?" Baek Suryong raised an eyebrow.

Realizing his mistake, Cho Cheonsang quickly straightened himself and clasped his hands together respectfully. "It's my loss, Chief Instructor."

"UOOOHHHH!!"

The entire audience erupted into deafening cheers and applause.

The Murim Alliance's Heavenly Martial Commander was completely and utterly defeated! From start to finish, it had been the Azure Dragon Hero, Baek Suryong's overwhelming victory.

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