Star Instructor, Master Baek-Chapter 312: What Sort of Guidance Do You Seek?

TL: FoodieMonster007

Inside the room allocated to Baek Suryong by the Murim Alliance, two men erected a qi barrier to prevent their voices from leaking out, engaging in a hushed conversation.

"So… The Blood Cult attacked the Beggars' Gang Chief, and the culprit is connected to the Murim Alliance?" Namgung Su repeated, a grave expression darkening his face. He found it difficult to accept the astonishing information Baek Suryong had just shared.

Baek Suryong replied, "When the Chief briefly regained consciousness, he wrote the word 'Alliance' with his finger. I can't be absolutely sure, but I think it either means that the culprit is hiding within the Murim Alliance, or was a warning about a traitor colluding with the Blood Cult. I'm almost certain it's the latter, though."

"……"

"Now do you understand why I barged into the Murim Alliance and caused such a scene?"

"I understand…" Namgung Su sighed softly as he observed Baek Suryong, whose hands were bound behind his back and his internal energy sealed away. "…That you've acted recklessly and foolishly despite being aware of the dangers."

Baek Suryong narrowed his eyes, glaring back at Namgung Su. "It wasn't reckless or foolish. I have a strategy, a concrete plan."

"Have you identified the culprit, then?"

"Not yet." Baek Suryong shook his head, recalling the various people he had spoken with today. "At the very least, no one within the Murim Alliance openly practices Blood Cult martial arts."

Namgung Su snorted. "If it were that easy to infiltrate the Murim Alliance, they would have been annihilated by the Blood Cult a long time ago."

Baek Suryong shrugged. He hadn't truly expected to discover the culprit so easily either, especially since t he Murim Alliance was currently led by a chairman who despised the Blood Cult more intensely than anyone else.

Additionally, the traitor was undoubtedly a martial artist of considerable skill who held a high position within the Alliance.

"For now, the Heavenly Justice Commander and the Elimination Corps Commander are the prime suspects. They're the only ones capable of taking action while the Chairman is absent."

"…Why the Elimination Corps Commander?" Namgung Su asked, tilting his head.

Based on what he had seen earlier, Ryu Seol had been notably friendly toward Baek Suryong. Conversely, though Baek Suryong had provoked him, the Heavenly Justice Commander's hostility was too extreme to be written off as mere jealousy.

"Because she practices a demonic art," Baek Suryong replied.

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"…What?"

"It's like this…" Baek Suryong explained how the Elimination Corps Commander ended up learning demonic arts.

Although he had promised Ryu Seol to keep this secret from the Murim Alliance, this restriction didn't necessarily extend to Namgung Su. Besides, Namgung Su wasn't one to casually disclose secrets.

"Demonic arts… If word of this spreads, the Murim Alliance would be turned upside down."

"I spoke with her briefly before you arrived. She's definitely not someone we can afford to underestimate."

Ryu Seol was a woman who had joined the Murim Alliance at the insistence of the man who'd murdered her father. Beneath her calm exterior, she undoubtedly harbored a deep-seated grudge.

Moreover, the fact that she had risen to the rank of Commander without ever revealing her demonic art meant that her skills were already exceptional without relying on them. If she unleashed her true power, not even Baek Suryong was confident of defeating her.

Well, it's not like I can freely use the Heaven Defying Divine Art myself.

"Hmm… She didn't seem like the type to scheme behind anyone's back. Could her entire demeanor be an act?" Namgung Su wondered.

"The personality we witnessed might indeed be her true self, or perhaps not. She could even possess multiple personalities."

"……"

Practicing demonic arts didn't necessarily mean becoming a ghoul, but such arts always carried hidden side effects. The personality displayed by the Elimination Corps Commander might be authentic or merely a flawless facade. Alternatively, she could suffer from split personalities due to her demonic cultivation.

After all, even the Erudite Sage they'd met at the Namgung Clan had essentially transformed into another person by sealing away his memories and powers.

At least for now, Baek Suryong preferred to keep an open mind about such things.

"Aside from those two, are there any other suspicious individuals?"

"The other Commanders, their Vice Commanders, and even the Squad Captains are all suspects…"

Even though Baek Suryong said that, he had already narrowed down the potential suspects to three individuals: the Heavenly Justice Commander, Jin Gwang; the Elimination Corps Commander, Ryu Seol; and the Elimination Corps Vice Commander, Moyong Jun.

The remaining Commanders had been away from the Murim Alliance Headquarters for weeks, and their physical distance made their involvement in the attack on the Chief unrealistic.

"Since the rat utilized the Poison Demon's Mortal Venom, someone at least at the level of a Blood Cult Elder must be behind the attack, but the odds of an Elder acting alone without assistance are practically nonexistent. A traitor undoubtedly exists within the Murim Alliance."

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"What about Moyong Jun…? His true intentions seemed difficult to discern," Namgung Su offered, recalling Moyong Jun from earlier in the day.

Despite being a Vice Commander within the Five Divisions and thus undoubtedly strong, Moyong Jun hadn't left much of an impression on him. One could argue that he was overshadowed by his commander's striking personality and outstanding presence, but it also suggested that he was adept at concealing his true strength and intentions.

"In my opinion…" Baek Suryong shared everything he'd deduced thus far with Namgung Su. "…Thus, the traitor must have plotted something in collaboration with the Blood Cult while the Chairman was absent, and the Beggars' Gang Chief sniffed them out."

Namgung Su continued from Baek Suryong's reasoning, "The traitor noticed and then requested a Blood Cult Elder or executive to silence the Chief before their identity could be exposed."

"Yes, but something went wrong, allowing the Chief to escape alive. Even so, tight now, they're probably assuming he's as good as dead, given the Mortal Venom's lethality."

"But they can't be sure, and before they could confirm anything, you, the Azure Dragon Hero who had already disrupted the Blood Cult's schemes once before, appeared at the Murim Alliance…"

As the two men exchanged deductions back and forth, cold smiles crept onto their lips, making them resemble masterminds plotting a grand conspiracy.

"They must find me quite annoying right about now, huh?"

"I'm sure they'd eliminate you immediately if they could, by any means necessary."

"That's right. Now, what if they learned my hands were cuffed, and that I'd even swallowed Qi Dispersing Poison? And what if this condition lasted only three or four days?" Baek Suryong smirked.

Namgung Su mirrored his eerie, chilling smile. "They're definitely going to send an assassin after you within that timeframe."

"……" Baek Suryong flinched involuntarily at Namgung Su's words.

Could it be that this guy is actually the most dangerous one here?

Unbeknownst to him, there was no possibility of that. To Namgung Su, Baek Suryong was merely an irritating benefactor whose debt he'd have to repay for the rest of his life.

"Ahem. Anyway, we need to discover what they're plotting. Worst case, the tragedy at the Namgung Clan might repeat itself."

"…We absolutely can't allow that." Namgung Su nodded grimly, recalling the devastation that had befallen the Namgung Clan.

Having finished conveying everything necessary, Baek Suryong let out a tired sigh. "We've cast our bait for now, so let's rest for tonight. We'll roam around tomorrow and observe their reactions to me."

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"…Understood."

Namgung Su rose from his seat. Now that he understood the situation, he felt somewhat guilty about restraining Baek Suryong's hands behind his back.

He even went as far as using himself as bait to draw out a hidden enemy…

Right now, it was his responsibility to keep Baek Suryong safe. This was a perfect opportunity to begin repaying his overwhelming debt.

This time, I'll definitely protect him.

Namgung Su silently clenched his fists, reaffirming his determination.

"I'm staying right next door, so just shout if anything happens."

"If I call, you better run straight here. Remember, my hands are cuffed, and I can't use inner arts. I'm basically a helpless commoner."

"…I will."

Baek Suryong deliberately avoided informing Namgung Su that the Qi Dispersing Poison hadn't actually affected him at all.

Doesn't even the Art of War say that to deceive your enemy, you must first deceive your allies?

He certainly wasn't doing this simply to make Namgung Su suffer unnecessarily… Definitely not.

Entrusting his safety entirely to Namgung Su, Baek Suryong enjoyed his first restful sleep in a long time.

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The next day, Baek Suryong wandered the Murim Alliance grounds with Namgung Su, ostensibly inspecting the martial artists' training conditions.

"I heard he's cuffed because he smashed the main gate."

"The disciplinary hearing is in three days."

"They say he even swallowed Qi Dispersing Poison voluntarily."

"Hah! The lowest-ranked among the Ten Supremes certainly has guts far beyond ordinary."

"Isn't arrogance a common trait of every great martial artist?"

Seeing the Chief Instructor walk casually with his hands cuffed behind his back was a rare sight even for the martial artists of the Murim Alliance, so whispers followed him wherever he went, but Baek Suryong completely ignored them and strolled directly to the Heavenly Justice Corps' training ground.

""YAAAAAAH! HAAAAH!""

The martial artists of the Heavenly Justice Corps shouted in unison, their movements in perfect harmony. Their feet stomped firmly into the earth, and the force behind their weapons sliced fiercely through the air.

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"I'm impressed. They're all taking their training very seriously."

Baek Suryong genuinely admired how the warriors moved as one. Though admitting this left a slightly bitter taste in his mouth, their teamwork was undoubtedly superior to his Azure Dragon Academy students.

On the podium, the Heavenly Justice Commander himself oversaw the training. Their eyes briefly met, though as agreed yesterday, he completely ignored Baek Suryong, showing no concern about whether he watched the training or not.

"Notice anything suspicious yet?" Baek Suryong whispered.

"Nothing at all." Namgung Su shook his head. He had expanded his senses and carefully scanned their surroundings, but felt nothing out of the ordinary.

Just then, dozens of large wagons rolled through the main gate, heading toward the Heavenly Justice Corps' building. At the front was a wagon flying the World Trading Company's flag.

"The World Trading Company? Did the Heavenly Justice Commander invite them here?"

The World Trading Company was one of the Ten Great Companies, and the Heavenly Justice Commander, Jin Gwang, was the younger brother of its current leader.

Baek Suryong carefully scrutinized the wagons from the World Trading Company, the escorts guarding them, and even the laborers trailing behind.

"Do they teach martial arts to laborers nowadays?" he remarked with feigned curiosity.

"The World Trading Company's ordinary laborers are skilled enough to serve as escorts elsewhere," the Heavenly Justice Commander boasted proudly, suddenly appearing beside them unnoticed.

"What's this? Didn't you agree to ignore me?"

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"……" The Heavenly Justice Commander strode past the duo as if they didn't exist, then shouted at the workers, "…Bring the wagons carrying the weapons over here!"

Is he serious? Baek Suryong stared incredulously at the back of the Heavenly Justice Commander's head. "This guy is seriously shameless."

Although he wanted to inspect the wagons thoroughly, there were too many eyes watching for him to do that openly. He had also seen enough of the Corps' training for now.

He turned to Namgung Su. "That's enough for here. Let's go. We still need to check the Elimination Corps' training…"

"Chief Instructor! Would you mind giving me some pointers?" a voice suddenly called out.

Both martial arts instructors simultaneously turned toward a young martial artist, who appeared to be in his early thirties.

The young man clasped his hands in greeting toward Baek Suryong, saying, "I've long admired you, Azure Dragon Hero. It would be an honor if you could give me some pointers."

Martial artists nearby quietly chuckled, but the Heavenly Justice Commander did not intervene. Instead, he smirked faintly, anticipating seeing Baek Suryong in an awkward position.

Will the Chief Instructor, who is cuffed and whose qi has been dispersed by poison, lose his temper under these circumstances? Or will he politely decline the request? Everyone watched with eager curiosity.

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"Why not?" Baek Suryong grinned mischievously and approached the young man.

Namgung Su sighed deeply and followed him.

Standing before the young man, Baek Suryong asked calmly, "State your name and affiliation."

"…Jang Gon, Fifth Squad Captain of the Heavenly Justice Corps," Jang Gon replied with slight hesitation.

"Good. What sort of guidance do you seek?"

"Ah, that's… um…" Jang Gon faltered. He had only intended to embarrass the Chief Instructor and hadn't genuinely wanted martial arts guidance.

"If you're uncertain, we can start by sparring. I need to gauge your skills first, after all."

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"…Hah." Jang Gon stared at Baek Suryong, dumbstruck. The Azure Dragon Hero's hands were cuffed behind his back, and everyone knew his inner arts had been sealed by Qi Dispersing Poison. Even if he was an extraordinary martial artist, he obviously couldn't show even a fraction of his true strength in that state.

"You really believe you can defeat me in your condition? Are you serious?"

"Do you think that's unfair to you? Then how about this: if you manage to slice even the edge of my clothes, you win. Isn't that enough?"

"Stop joking…" Jang Gon's face soured. As the youngest captain of the Heavenly Justice Corps, he brimmed with ambition, pride, and youthful confidence. He had initially provoked the Azure Dragon Hero half at the urging of senior captains and half hoping to impress the Heavenly Justice Commander, but he hadn't intended to truly fight Baek Suryong.

Baek Suryong scowled. "Was your request for guidance just a joke, then? If so, that counts as disrespecting your superior," he said coldly.

"…No, it wasn't." Jang Gon quickly resolved himself. He would thoroughly humiliate the Azure Dragon Hero, dragging that arrogant face into the dirt.

Baek Suryong chuckled lightly, "You can begin whenever you're ready."

Without hesitation, Jang Gon quickly drew his sword and unleashed a swift slash toward Baek Suryong.

Baek Suryong leaned backward smoothly as if he was doing the limbo, effortlessly avoiding the blade. Even with his wrists cuffed behind his back, his movements remained agile and fluid.

"Haa!" Jang Gon swiftly altered his sword's trajectory mid-swing, delivering a diagonal slash.

However, his blade merely cut empty air once again as Baek Suryong twisted gracefully, still half-reclined, evading the attack. He then lightly kicked off the ground, executed a single elegant somersault in midair, and landed like a feather on the tip of Jang Gon's sword.

"W-What…?" Jang Gon stared up at Baek Suryong as if he'd seen a ghost.

Standing proudly, Baek Suryong gazed down calmly, his hands still bound behind him. "Prepare yourself. Your lesson starts now."

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Thus began the Murim Alliance Chief Instructor's first official class.