Star Instructor, Master Baek-Chapter 296: Safe Travels

TL: FoodieMonster007

"I think I've covered the basics well enough. We'll stop here."

"T-Thank you…" Seo Ri'ae stammered, pressed both hands against her quivering knees. If she hadn't, she might have crumpled to the ground on the spot.

"As you know, once a martial artist reaches the level of an absolute master, they develop their own martial arts philosophy. Even if two individuals study the same martial art, each adapts and refines it to suit their own style. The best way to verify that is through actual combat."

Seo Ri'ae sighed. In the end, Baek Suryong hadn't simply taught her the latter half of the White Ice Divine Art, he first sparred with her to check her mastery of the first half.

Even though he held back significantly out of consideration for her, who had only recently recovered from qi deviation, he had put just enough pressure on her that she didn't have an easy time.

It was clear that he was a man who treated all his students equally, whether teaching or sparring. He showed no leniency just because she was older, or because she was a student's parent.

CRACK! KA-RACK!

The training ground repeatedly froze over and thawed.

"Student Seo Ri'ae. Is this all you've achieved after more than forty years of practicing ice arts? Or are you looking down on me? No, perhaps your comprehension is just that poor?"

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"…No, sir! I'll try again!"

"Top soft!"

"NO, SIR! I'LL TRY AGAIN!!!"

After pushing Seo Ri'ae to near fainting, Baek Suryong finally demonstrated the latter half of the White Ice Divine Art.

For a brief moment, she was thrilled to be learning the world's strongest ice arts.

So this is the latter half of the White Ice Divine Art…!

Unfortunately, that joy didn't last long. Whenever she made even the slightest error, Baek Suryong mercilessly scolded her.

"Student Seo Ri'ae. Did you not properly memorize the formula? Why do you keep making the same mistakes even after I corrected you? Are you rebelling against me?"

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"No, sir! I'll correct it!"

"If you make another mistake, I'll consider it outright defiance."

"I-I'm sorry, sir! I'll fix it immediately!"

"If you don't do anything wrong in the first place, there won't be anything to fix. Also from now on, always reply with a 'yes sir'."

"YES SIR!"

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…It was a day straight out of a nightmare. Without her experience evading the Ice Palace's pursuers for three days and nights, Seo Ri'ae might have given up halfway.

Still, I endured!

Overcome with a deep sense of achievement, Seo Ri'ae unconsciously clenched her fists.

She even wished that her son could train under Baek Suryong. After enduring this degree of hardship, no trial would ever faze him again in the future.

Unfortunately, that brat had already run off to the Murim Alliance all by himself.

"It's too bad…" she murmured.

"Was my lesson too easy? Should we go a little longer?" Baek Suryong asked, misunderstanding her intentions.

"N-No! Absolutely not! I'm more than satisfied! This was perfect! I mean it, sir! I really, really respect you!"

"…Alright."

The last part, at least, was sincere. Baek Suryong lesson was grueling, but Seo Ri'ae couldn't deny his teaching ability.

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He's the best martial arts instructor I've ever seen.

While trying to groom her son into the Murim Alliance Chairman, she had sought out countless private instructors and even personally observed numerous classes. Some of those instructors were even retired Star Instructors from the Five Great Academies, but none of them were anywhere as good as Baek Suryong.

"…It was tough, but I truly learned a lot. Now I understand why your students improve so rapidly under your teaching," she added.

"No, you're the one who put your heart and soul into learning," Baek Suryong replied.

He was truly surprised by Seo Ri'ae's determination. Given that he had only one day to teach her, he had pushed her to the limit, but she had kept up without falling behind.

Her fundamentals are solid, which makes her a quick learner. She's smart, and she's more talented than I expected…

There were cases where a person's talents only bloomed later in life, and Seo Ri'ae was likely one of them.

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She had completely mastered the part of the White Ice Divine Art that she was allowed to learn, and had even developed it in her own way. If she properly digested what she had been taught today, there was a good chance that she could become a supreme master in the future.

This will be a great stimulus for Yeo Min, too.

Until now, Yeo Min had never met another high-level practitioner of the ice arts besides Baek Suryong and the Nine Yin Witch. Now, with Seo Ri'ae guiding her, her growth would undoubtedly accelerate.

"I'll be counting on you to look after Yeo Min while I'm gone."

Seo Ri'ae clenched her fists resolutely. "Don't worry. I'll teach her exactly the same way you taught me!"

Baek Suryong grinned evilly. He could already foresee Yeo Min's pain and suffering in the coming days.

Well, a tough teacher is a hundred times better than a soft one, right?

However, even Baek Suryong, with all his foresight, could never have foreseen that this day would mark the beginning of a new chapter in Seo Ri'ae's life, or more specifically, the Winter Matron's transformation into the Star Instructor of Ice.

Early morning, Baek Suryong waited on the outskirts of the city for his travel companions, prepared for a long trip.

"Hyung-nim!"

Ak Yeonho, Myeong Il'oh, Jaegal Soyeong, and Kwak Duyong, his fellow new instructors who had trained together at the Namgung Clan's instructor training course, waved at him from a distance.

Ak Yeonho quickened his pace as he approached. "Why didn't you come to the drinking party last night? It was our last get-together before summer vacation."

"Something came up."

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"We waited until late, expecting you to come."

"You mean you just kept drinking and used that as an excuse?" Baek Suryong narrowed his eyes. Judging by the strong smell of alcohol emanating from them, that was definitely the case.

"Ahem!" Ak Yeonho awkwardly cleared his throat.

Smirking, Baek Suryong asked, "You said you were going back to your clan during this break, right?"

Ak Yeonho nodded seriously. "Yes, I'm planning to ask the patriarch for spearmanship guidance."

Although it was all too often forgotten, Ak Yeonho was actually a member of the famed Shandong Ak Clan. His great-uncle was Spear King Ak Bi, one of the Ten Supremes and the world's greatest spear master.

Recalling his first meeting with Ak Yeonho, Baek Suryong asked, "Didn't your father tell you not to come back until you found a girlfriend?

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"Haha, it's not easy to find a good match. Besides, I'm just visiting for the holidays. He wouldn't really kick me out, would he?" Ak Yeonho laughed awkwardly, his words sounding more like an excuse than a real answer.

Baek Suryong, however, refrained from commenting on it.

I never believed that whole 'finding a girlfriend' story anyway.

Even someone as straightforward as Ak Yeonho must have his own circumstances, and he had no intention of prying into them.

"To be honest, I've been feeling a sense of urgency lately," Ak Yeonho said suddenly.

"Urgency?"

Ak Yeonho nodded seriously. "I may not be able to keep up with you, but I refuse to be overtaken by my juniors."

Baek Suryong blinked in surprise. Despite his talent, Ak Yeonho had always lacked dedication. That had been his greatest flaw, but right now, he exuded a solid resolve.

He grinned. "I'll be expecting good results."

"Just wait and see!"

Myeong Il'oh threw an arm over Ak Yeonho's shoulder. "I'm going with him too."

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The Myeong and Ak Clans were from the same region and had longstanding ties, so he planned to ask the Spear King for guidance as well.

"Though I doubt he'll agree…" Myeong Il'oh muttered under his breath.

"You can tell him that it's a request from me. Who knows, it might be effective?"

"Really? Can I?"

"This is what friends are for."

"Thanks, Hyung-nim! Really, thank you!"

Myeong Il'oh bent forward, about to bow in gratitude, but Baek Suryong helped him back up.

He then turned to Jaegal Soyeong, asking, "Where's Namgung Su? Didn't come with you?"

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"He stopped by his house to pick up Mimi."

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Ultimately, Baek Suryong had decided to start the first leg of his journey together with Namgung Su and Jaegal Soyeong. Their destination was Hubei, and he planned to pass through Hubei before heading to Shaanxi, so their routes overlapped.

I'll have a lot to discuss with Namgung Su anyway, so this is good. Well, it's mostly about work, though.

Student issues, lecture plans for the next semester, full-scale preparations for the Heavenly Martial Festival… and if possible, he wanted to discuss Namgung Su's martial arts as well.

That prideful prick is definitely struggling with it alone.

Kwak Duyong cleared his throat. "Ahem. I, for one, have decided to stay at the academy and receive bladesmanship instruction from the Vice Principal. In preparation for the Heavenly Martial Festival, I have willingly given up my vacation… Hey! Are you guys even listening?!"

"Grandpa!" Ignoring Kwak Duyong entirely, Baek Suryong walked toward Mae Geuklyom, who had just come to see him off.

"Good, you haven't left yet," Mae Geuklyom said, handing over several bundles of stuff. "I packed some food for you. Remember to eat well when you're traveling."

"So much…?" Baek Suryong laughed awkwardly, feeling both grateful and guilty. "Thank you, I'll enjoy it."

The night before, he had only said a quick goodbye to Mae Geuklyom, as he had been busy teaching Seo Ri'ae until late. Still, his grandfather had somehow managed to prepare everything in such a short time.

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Unfortunately, this was only the beginning of his grandfather's excessive affection mode.

"Here are some extra underwear and socks. Change them often since it's summer."

"Huh? Ah… Thank you."

"I also packed some wound healing medicine and other basic necessities. Take them."

"I already have some, though?"

"I got the best ones from the physician. Use these instead."

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"Understood."

"And this is a tonic. Traveling long distances will deplete your energy, so take it twice a day after meals."

"G-Grandpa…"

No matter how much Baek Suryong received, there was always more.

Just how much stuff did he prepare? He just keeps handing things over…

Baek Suryong didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "I-I don't think I can carry all this…" he protested.

"Shush, you'll find a use for it all eventually. Besides, you're riding a horse, aren't you?"

"……"

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In the end, Baek Suryong loaded everything Mae Geuklyom had prepared onto his horse. To his horror, the bags were so heavy that even the expensive steed staggered for a moment under the weight.

"Suryong."

"Yes?"

Mae Geuklyom placed both hands on his grandson's shoulders and spoke earnestly. "Unfortunately, your face takes after your father's, which means you are destined to attract trouble wherever you go. Be especially careful with your words and actions around women, got it?"

"……" Baek Suryong was speechless for a moment. Is that supposed to be a compliment or an insult?

Finally, he muttered, "Grandpa, I'm already twenty-eight. I can take care of myself, so please don't worry too much."

Counting his past life, he wasn't that much younger than Mae Geuklyom, but in his grandfather's eyes, his only grandson probably still looked like a child standing too close to the water's edge.

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Furthermore, the trauma of the Namgung Clan incident hadn't faded. When Mae Geuklyom heard the news of the Blood Cult's raid, he almost had a heart attack.

Sighing, he warned again, "Your rise to fame was too sudden and unexpected, so many reckless fools will definitely seek you out to challenge you. Always be on your guard."

"Yes. I'll keep that in mind."

"And…" Mae Geuklyom seemed to have more to say, but when he saw Namgung Su arriving on horseback with Namgung Mi seated in front of him, he simply sighed and patted Baek Suryong on the shoulder. "Never mind. I'll stop nagging now."

From horseback, Namgung Su bowed slightly to Mae Geuklyom in greeting and looked around at the other instructors. "Is everyone here?" he asked.

"Yes."

"Then let's go."

The instructors mounted their horses, intending to ride together until they reached the first crossroads outside the city.

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As he mounted his horse, Baek Suryong turned to Mae Geuklyom. "Grandpa, I'm off now."

"…Go on, then."

"Giddyup!"

Mae Geuklyom watched as Baek Suryong and the others rode off into the horizon.

"Sigh, maybe this old man is just being foolish…"

He had thrown in so many warnings, unable to hold back his concerns, but in truth, he had unwavering faith that his grandson could handle himself in any situation. After all, wasn't this the boy who had already become one of the Ten Supremes at such a young age?

Regardless, whatever he was heading off to do, he would no doubt end up shaking the murim once again.

The wrinkles at the corners of the old man's eyes softened.

"Safe travels, Grandson. I'll be here, waiting to hear your good news."

With that, Mae Geuklyom finally turned back toward the Azure Dragon Academy. The school campus would be quiet for a while, but he was used to that.

Translator's Note: Huh, I actually tore myself away from gaming long enough to finish this chapter…