Star Instructor, Master Baek

Chapter 263: I Think I'm Dreaming

TL: FoodieMonster007

The crowd's excitement after witnessing the rise of a new star was impossible to contain. A nameless boy had defeated a famous swordsman before a massive audience. By the end of the day, the entire city would be abuzz with the news.

Many people were already excitedly discussing the duel, causing the area around the inn to resemble a noisy marketplace.

"I can't believe it. A mere student just defeated the Soul-Seeking Swordsman."

"The Sword Wonder… He's definitely on his way to becoming the world's strongest swordmaster!"

"Don't get ahead of yourselves. How many prodigies have come and gone?"

"Hey! How dare you compare those failures to Sword Wonder?! Everyone here witnessed him crush the Soul-Seeking Swordsman!"

"Are you saying he's already on par with the Top 100?"

"Hmm… That might be pushing it…"

Although Soul-Seeking Swordsman wasn't in the top 100, he was considered to be around that level. He was an incredibly skilled swordsman who was famous for hunting down demonic martial artists, and rumor had it that he had killed over thirty of them.

"I guess the rumors about the Soul-Seeking Swordsman's strength were exaggerated…"

"He was definitely humiliated today. He swore to defeat the Azure Dragon Hero, but ended up losing to his student."

"He won't be able to show his face around Jiangxi anymore."

"Pufufu, serves him right for being so arrogant."

The crowd praised the victor while mocking the loser. They were especially critical, having witnessed how the Soul-Seeking Swordsman had refused to accept his defeat and continued fighting like a savage demon. Had Wiji Cheon not shown mercy, Cho Yeonil would have died.

This is a non-profit translation. Ads? What ads?

"Sword Wonder! Look over here!"

"Young hero, would you let me buy you a drink?"

"Please teach me, Sword Wonder!"

"Do you have a girlfriend? My daughter is very pretty…"

"My goodness! Don't ruin the young man's life!"

northbladetldotcom welcomes you.

Some in the crowd tried to get a closer look at Wiji Cheon, while others cracked jokes.

"S-Sorry! I need to get back to the White Dragon Manor…" Wiji Cheon whispered shyly, back to being a timid boy. His pale face was completely different from the vicious look he had while wielding his sword, and it was obvious that he wanted to disappear as soon as possible.

However, the audience simply laughed, and more people gathered around him.

Meanwhile, the Soul-Seeking Swordsman quietly left. No one paid him any attention.

"You have a very skilled student," Wang Son said to Baek Suryong, who was still watching his student from afar.

Baek Suryong grinned. "He's the most skilled one among my students."

"Wasn't he the youngest?" Wang Son asked.

"It's normal to believe older kids are stronger since they've practiced martial arts longer. Aren't there always exceptions, though?"

Wang Son couldn't help but agree. Wiji Cheon's talent was overwhelming.

Wiji Cheon. The Azure Dragon Hero's most skilled student. Considering his swordsmanship, he must have received direct instruction from the Azure Dragon Hero.

Wiji Cheon was a prodigy among prodigies. Personally, Wang Son felt that even the prodigies at the Heavenly Martial Academy couldn't compare to him.

Baek Suryong chuckled softly, "Still, he's not that far ahead of the others. My other students are also very talented. I hope they use this opportunity to catch up…"

"Haha… is that so?" Wang Son laughed awkwardly.

Y aren′t you reading this at northbladetldotcom?

His other students are also as talented as Wiji Cheon? Even considering that teachers tend to be biased toward their students, it seems like a bit of an exaggeration. However, if he's serious… then won't they actually win the Heavenly Martial Festival?

Wang Son carefully observed Baek Suryong's expression.

Wait. He's actually serious?

He thought about what Baek Suryong had just said.

"…Did you just say 'use this opportunity'?"

A beggar had to be quick-witted to get food, and as a Branch Manager, Wang Son was the smartest of them all. Furthermore, the Beggars' Gang was the world's top intelligence organization. Wang Son had reviewed Baek Suryong's deeds, speech, personality…

[…You were planning to have the students duel in your stead? To give them experience?] Wang Son asked using telepathy. If anyone heard them, it would ruin the Azure Dragon Hero's reputation.

Baek Suryong nodded. [Indeed. There's no better way for them to gain experience.]

Masters from all over the murim were coming to him. It was the perfect way for his students to gain experience. The money was just a bonus.

If you′re seeing this, you are at the wrong place.

[Oh! Well, I did suspect you were plotting something when you handed out those numbered tickets…]

[Regardless, I can't let the kids fight all of them. I only do it when someone around the kids' level shows up. I can't be too obvious.]

Baek Suryong personally fought most of the weaker martial artists. Even he felt that it was too despicable to have his students break their weapons and send them to the Wiji Smithy.

[Uhh…] Wang Son realized that the Azure Dragon Hero was using the martial artists who came to visit him.

I knew he wasn't just skilled in martial arts, but…

If you′re seeing this, you are at the wrong place.

Wang Son was already aware that the White Dragon Inn's prices had doubled. He also knew that the owner of the Wiji Smithy was Wiji Cheon's grandfather.

He didn't blame Baek Suryong. Those martial artists went to the inn on their own, and getting ripped off was nothing compared to wasting the Azure Dragon Hero's time.

Still, he hadn't expected that Baek Suryong would use the martial artists to train his students.

[…Why are you telling me this?] Wang Son asked.

What he's saying could ruin his reputation, yet he's confessing all this to someone from the Beggars' Gang? That's suspicious… Wait. Is he planning to kill me afterwards…?

Wang Son flinched, and his face paled.

This is a non-profit translation. You should not be seeing ads.

Baek Suryong smiled faintly. [I'm being honest with you because you've probably already figured it all out. Besides, shouldn't we be able to trust each other?]

Wang Son sighed in relief. It seemed he didn't have to worry about being killed.

[I understand. You want to make a deal with the Beggars' Gang?]

[I'll be blunt. I want to work with you.]

[…Can you elaborate?]

[I want you to tell me the names of the martial artists who visit me.]

Now that the Azure Dragon Hero was nominated for the Ten Supremes, even more martial artists would come come knocking. Some would have other motives, and some might even come from the unorthodox sects or the Blood Cult.

Baek Suryong wanted to know who these people were in order to deal with them more efficiently.

[This is something only the Beggars' Gang can do, right?] he asked.

Although he also had connections to the Rogues' Guild, the two organizations were fundamentally different. When it came to information about martial artists, the Beggars' Gang was faster and more accurate. They'd definitely be able to tell him who was coming for him.

"Hmm…" Wang Son thought for a moment. He understood what Baek Suryong wanted, but he couldn't answer easily.

Baek Suryong didn't want information about a single person. He wanted to be consistently updated. It was no different from asking him to constantly monitor the area around the White Dragon Manor.

Read this at northbladetldotcom, or else.

[What does the Beggars' Gang gain from this?]

Partnerships worked best when both sides benefited, and at the moment, Baek Suryong was the only one receiving information.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Of course, Baek Suryong had an answer prepared. [The martial artists who will one day be called the world's strongest won't forget the Beggars' Gang's kindness.]

Wang Son gaped at the outrageous answer. [Are you saying you'll be the world's strongest?]

[No, not me. Them.]

[…What?]

Baek Suryong gestured to the side, where his other students were escorting Wiji Cheon back to the White Dragon Manor.

"Out of the way!"

"Stop picking on our youngest!"

This is a non-profit translation. Ads? What ads?

"Cheon, you should at least tell us before you duel someone!"

"Hah… We came to see why you weren't back…"

The students glared at the crowd with the ferocity that had intimidated even the Viridian Forest Bandits, and the crowd quickly dispersed.

"Thank you, seniors. Thank you, Suhyeok…"

Wiji Cheon hid behind Hyonwon Kang, the viciousness he had shown during the duel nowhere to be seen.

Baek Suryong smiled as he watched them leave. Right now, they were still children, but they wouldn't stay that way forever. He felt a little strange thinking about it.

If you′re seeing this, you are at the wrong place.

"The world's strongest sword, the world's strongest blade, the world's strongest fist, and the world's strongest ice user. The future world's strongest are all there."

"…I'm not sure how I should respond to that," Wang Son muttered. He didn't believe everything Baek Suryong said. It was only natural for a teacher to see greatness in his own students.

Even so, just factoring in Baek Suryong and Wiji Cheon made it a tempting deal. Moreover, assuming that Baek Suryong was only exaggerating a bit, his other students would likely also become formidable martial artists.

The Gang Leader told me to keep an eye on the Azure Dragon Hero. He said that the future murim might revolve around this man.

Wang Son didn't hesitate for long. "I understand. I'll help you as much as I can," he said.

"You've made a wise choice."

Wang Son glanced at Baek Suryong's students. "The Soul-Seeking Swordsman is only the beginning. Stronger martial artists will come. When that happens, your students won't be able to… hmm?"

He turned around. The Azure Dragon Hero had vanished.

"My goodness… I feel like I'm dreaming."

northbladetldotcom welcomes you.

Wang Son shook his head. Today was turning out to be a very surreal day.

A few days later, Baek Suryong received the first letter from Wang Son.

Here's a list of the martial artists who will arrive at the White Dragon Manor within the next ten days.

The letter contained not only the names of the visiting martial artists, but also information about their martial arts and personalities.

Also, it seems that the Chairman of the Murim Alliance will be visiting you soon.

Baek Suryong's eyes widened.

---

Translator's Note: That's it for this week. See you on Friday!