Chapter 39: Sorry, Im Late!


    That punk still hasnte?


    Although the question was asked in passing, Ak Yeon-Ho broke out in cold sweat. The person who had asked the question was the headmaster of the Azure Dragon Academy, who was famous for intimidating even his fellow instructors, and this was the third time he was repeating himself.


    Haha, hell be here soon, Ak Yeon-Ho awkwardlyughed, even as Mae Geuk-Lyom red daggers at him.


    Mae Geuk-Lyom frowned, not liking Ak Yeon-Hos answer. Youve been saying the same thing for a while now. Admit it, you dont even know where he is, do you?


    T-That


    Ak Yeon-Ho felt wronged. <em>Why is he picking on me when its his own grandson whoste!</em> Sadly, as much as he wanted toin, he couldnt bring himself to do it in front of the terrifying Headmaster.


    Y arent you reading this at ?


    He just said that hell be away for a few days due to personal reasons he stammered.


    Did he run away because he lost his confidence?


    No, definitely not.


    Hmph, well see, Mae Geuk-Lyom snorted, then left to talk to the other prospective instructors.


    Ak Yeon-Ho sighed. <em>Things might get really dicey if he shows upte</em>


    The practical examination for new instructors at the Azure Dragon Academy had already begun. In front of Ak Yeon-Ho, the first batch of instructor applicants stood on the podium, giving a trial lecture to selected students.


    Uhm, ording to the principles of Taiji


    Every sect has a slightly different interpretation of the Yin Yang and the Five Elements, so there are differences in how to read and understand their martial arts manuals. In this case, its best to use


    The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, which disappeared centuries ago, is the predecessor of the Blood Cult. Back then, the first Blood Demon united those who opposed the Heavenly Demons decision to migrate


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    The instructors eagerly gave their lectures, sometimes even stepping down from the podium to demonstrate their martial arts.


    The students reactions, however, were generally either cold or taunting.


    YAAAAWN, Im getting sleepy.


    Wow, is the instructor only at that level?


    Wait, what you just said. Isnt that too biased and personal?


    At the sight of the unruly students, Ak Yeon-Ho gulped. <em>Seriously, are kids these days all like this? They arent much younger than me, are they? Im a little envious of them</em>


    Unlike Ak Yeon-Ho, who practiced martial arts as he was told, the students here at the Azure Dragon Academy didnt hesitate to ask questions or make rudements if they didnt understand or like something.


    On the left side of the lecture hall, the Azure Dragon Academy principal, vice principal, and existing instructors busily scribbled down notes as they evaluated the new instructor applicants.


    Hoo Myeong Il-Oh let go of the breath he was holding as he finished up his lecture and walked back toward Ak Yeon-Ho.


    Ak Yeon-Ho handed a water canteen to him and praised, Good job, Il-Oh hyung. How do you feel?


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    Dont make me remember it. The kids clung on to my every word as if they were going to bite my head off the instant I made a mistake, and the instructors were ring at me from the side Hey, I didnt mess up, right?


    Your lecture was the best so far. Im sure the students and instructors will appreciate it, Ak Yeon-Ho said. He was exaggerating it a bit, but Myeong Il-Ohs lecture was definitely one of the more outstanding ones.


    Myeong Il-Oh heaved a sigh of relief, then looked around and asked, By the way, is Baek-hyung here yet?


    No. I havent seen hide nor hair of him.


    I hope nothing bad happened to him. He really should have returned by now


    Before they knew it, Ak Yeon-Hos turn was nearing, and Baek Su-Ryong turn was right after his. The two young men nervously looked toward the entrance of the Azure Dragon Academy.


    WHOOSH


    If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.


    There was no sign of anyone, except for a dog grunting and defecating by the main entrance.


    He still isnt here, huh. Mae Geuk-Lyom, who had briefly gone to check on the students, approached the two. There was a hint of disappointment on his face, and a trace of anger in his voice.


    Like father, like son, it seems Mae Geuk-Lyom mumbled, releasing a chilly aura.


    The instructors who were waiting for their turn shivered.


    Mae Geuk-Lyom added icily, Since he still hasnt shown up, Ill have to assume that hes not keen on the job. Candidate Baek Su-Ryong is rejected.


    W-Wait a minute! Ak Yeon-Ho objected without thinking.


    As Mae Geuk-Lyoms sharp gaze swept over him, he gulped and inwardly cursed, <em>Fucking bastard, why the hell are you sote! Now I have to buy time for you</em>


    Headmaster, Su-Ryong hyung-nim will be here soon, please just wait a little longer.


    Ive heard you say that four times, so when will hee? After the exam is over?


    Ak Yeon-Ho sighed. Honestly, I dont know when helle. Hes not a person who would run away, so something unexpected probably happened.


    How can you be so sure? You havent known him for long.


    Thats Recalling Baek Su-Ryongs shameless face as he dered that he would build the White Dragon Academy in front of the Azure Dragon Academy and surpass it in ten years if the interviewers failed him, Ak Yeon-Ho hesitated.


    Im saying thisfor the future of the Azure Dragon Academy.


    Y arent you reading this at ?


    The future of the Azure Dragon Academy?


    Su-Ryong Hyung-nim said that if you failed him, hell build the White Dragon Academy across the street from the Azure Dragon Academy, and ten years from now, his students will beat the crap out of the Azure Dragon Academy students.


    Hell what?


    If you disqualify him, youll know that Im telling the truth tomorrow.


    BWAHAHA! Having overheard the conversation, several of the prospective instructors burst outughing at the absurdity of Baek Su-Ryongs deration.


    Even the tightly clenched, seemingly immovable lips of Headmaster Mae Geuk-Lyom twitched. He stifled augh and muttered, That audacity of his is just like my daughter.


    What?


    Nothing.


    Ak Yeon-Ho couldnt quite put a finger on Mae Geuk-Lyoms random mood swings, but it wasnt a bad sign.


    In a slightly gentler tone, Mae Geuk-Lyom said, Ive already given him a lot of leeway. If he still isnt here when his turnes, I wont have any choice but to reject  wees you.


    Myeong Il-Oh walked up next to Ak Yeon-Ho and cautiously asked, A-About that, Mr. Headmaster, would it be possible to make Candidate Baek Su-Ryong thest in line?


    Mae Geuk-Lyoms eyes lit up with delight even as he contradicted himself, Nonsense. Do you think take this interview for a joke?


    Thats not what I meant


    If you suggest something like that one more time, youll be


    Is there a problem? A certain someone who had been watching the exchange from afar suddenly interrupted.


    Everyone turned around, only to see the Three Absolutes Sword Namgoong Su and the zing de Kwak Cheol-Woo walking toward them.


    Conscious of the stares he was receiving, Namgoong Su ced his hands behind his back and smiled gently, saying, The students are tired, so we decided to take a short break.


    Y arent you reading this at ?


    Most of the new instructor applicants looked at the Azure Dragon Academys Star Instructor with either admiration or envy.


    However, Ak Yeon-Ho wasnt most people. He shot Namgoong Su a death re even as he wondered, <em>Why is this person here?</em>


    Namgoong Su pointedly ignored him and asked, Headmaster, are you facing any problems with these people? I was worried about themotion, so I came to see if you needed help.


    Its nothing to worry about, Mae Geuk-Lyom replied, waving his hand dismissively. Theres an applicant who hasnte yet, so we were just discussing whether to reject him right away or wait a bit longer


    Does that applicant happen to be Baek Su-Ryong?


    Yes.


    Read this at , or else.


    Namgoong Su smiled warmly, but an ominous chill immediately ran down Ak Yeon-Ho and Myeong Il-Ohs spines.


    Oh no, he must have had an emergency. Theres no way he ran away because he has stage fright or was afraid of embarrassing himself during his demonstration lecture


    Enraged at Namgoong Sus tant sarcasm, veins popped out from Ak Yeon-Ho, Myeong Il-Oh, and Mae Geuk-Lyoms foreheads at the same time.


    He didnt run away.


    Baek-hyung is not that kind of person.


    Iagree with them, Mae Geuk-Lyom added, ring icily at Namgoong Su.


    This is a free trantion. You should not be seeing ads.


    That made Namgoong Su a bit flustered, he wasnt about to let that stop him from saying his mind. Hmm Then, since Candidate Baek Su-Ryong seems to have gotten involved in an ident, why dont we push his turn to the very end?


    But if we do that, it wouldnt be fair Mae Geuk-Lyom objected.


    Namgoong Su cut him off, saying, That is, of course, assuming that the applicant who was originallyst in line agrees to it.


    The pale-faced applicant in question immediately threw his hands up in the air and eximed, I-Im good! Ill give way! Ill give way as many times as you want me to!


    With the affected party so eager, Mae Geuk-Lyom found it difficult to say anything more.


    Namgoong Su had bent the whole situation to his will in an instant.


    Then lets do it that way. Vice Principal, I apologize if this seems arrogant of me, butperhaps we, the Azure Dragon Academy, need to show a little leniency to our applicants?


    Ah, of course we should, and dont worry, Mr. Namgoong, the Principal wont care about something so trivial. Kwak Cheol-Woo nodded enthusiastically.


    <em>I may be the best instructor in the Azure Dragon Academybut why is Mr. Kwak, my senior, being so submissive?</em> Namgoong Su, who had gotten his superiors approval in a sh, wondered.


    He then turned around to face Ak Yeon-Ho and smiled, saying, This should be good news for Candidate Baek Su-Ryong, who didnt run away, but instead <em>met with an emergency</em>, right? Since weve given him this much consideration, he should be able to arrive here in time now.


    Ak Yeon-Ho didnt answer and only continued to re at Namgoong Su. <em>So this is what you were aiming for all along.</em>


    You ought to read this at .


    If Baek Su-Ryong failed to make it on time even after all the concessions, he would instantly be branded a coward. However, even if he did make it, he would have to give his demonstration lecture under the pressure of countless judging stares.


    Theter ones turn, the greater the stress.


    The reason for that was because as time passes, both the students and instructors fatigue build up from going through lecture after lecture. ordingly, their evaluation standards would also increase.


    <em>On the flip side, if the final lecturer does a great job, then it would leave a verysting impression</em>


    However, demonstrating such skill was difficult even for instructors who had been teaching for more than a decade.


    Namgoong Su smiled wryly. <em>Nah, theres no way a peasant who has only ever taught vige children could have such skills.</em>


    Even now, he hadnt forgotten what Baek Su-Ryong had said to him during the interview.<blockquote>


    How about I just beat you to a pulp right now?</blockquote>


    <em>I thought he at least had the guts to back up his words, but it seems that hes just a coward who ran away from the demonstration lecture. I absolutely wont forgive a guy like that.</em>


    <em>Everyone at the Azure Dragon Academy will know youre a coward. Ill make sure of it. It doesnt matter if you show upte. Ill humiliate you so badly that youll never set foot in this city again.</em>


    Namgoong Su smirked. Personally, Im very much looking forward to Candidate Baek Su-Ryongs demonstration lecture. I hope he arrives on time.


    With a lingering smile on his lips, Namgoong Su turned and returned to his seat.


    Read this at , or else.


    Behind him, Ak Yeon-Ho, Myeong Il-Oh, and Mae Geuk-Lyom stood side by side, ring daggers at him.


    With that kind of attitude, Su-Ryong Hyung-nim will definitelye and put this guy in his ce.


    Yeah, Im sure he would.


    Bastard grandson. If you dont get here on time, Ill kill you myself.


    Time flew by without caring for the trios feelings, but even as the final turn drew nearer and nearer, Baek Su-Ryong did not appear.


    Y arent you reading this at ?


    Hahaha! So, back when I was a student at the Vermilion Phoenix Academy Kwak Du-Yong loudly said, thumping his chest with his thick arms.


    Most of the students sitting in front of him looked bored, but some of them listened with interest.


    Off to the side, the instructors in the lecture hall chatted amongst themselves.


    Candidate Kwak Du-Yong teaches surprisingly well.


    As long as he doesnt talk about the Vermilion Phoenix Academy, he seems fine. Hes very knowledgeable about the various types of martial arts.


    Hes a braggart, but hes got a way with words. The girls dont like him, but the boys are surprisingly weing.


    At the unexpected outpouring of praise, the vice-principal Kwak Cheol-woo coughed and blushed.


    If you guys are saying all that because of me, please stop.


    Kwak Du-Yong was Kwak Cheol-Woos cousins son. In his younger days, he had actually been an elite student at the Vermilion Phoenix Academy, but a traumatic incident had caused him topletely abandon martial arts for a while.


    In an effort to get Kwak Du-Yong back on his feet, Kwak Cheol-Woo had epted his cousins rmendation, but he never expected that Kwak Du-Yong would pass the interview and deliver a decent demonstration lecture.


    Were not saying that because of you, Vice Principal, but because he really has the qualities of a good instructor. Dont be too strict on him just because youre blood rtives. Namgoong Su said, smiling gently.


    Embarrassed, Kwak Cheol-Woo coughed, Hes a good guy when hes not drunk Its just that hes drunk most of the time.


    Is there a reason he cant quit his alcohol addiction?


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    Kwak Cheol-Woo hesitated for a moment, then replied, He is the only survivor of the Central Heavenly Peak Massacre twenty years ago.


    Ah Everyones expressions darkened, and the mood immediately turned somber.


    Kwak Cheol-Woo waved his hand to lighten their heavy hearts, saying, Dont worry about it. Anyway, did all of you forget that were in the middle of evaluating the new instructor candidates right now?


    Haha, yes indeed.


    By the way, the quality of applicants is really high this year.


    Everyoneughed and went back to focusing on the lecture.


    When Kwak Du-Yongs turn ended, the next candidate stepped up to the podium.


    Namgoong Sus eyes lit up. <em>I heard that this person was from the Shandong Ak n.</em>


    My name is Ak Yeon-Ho, and I am from the Shandong Ak n.


    After a short introduction, Ak Yeon-Ho gave a short self-introduction, then proceeded to give a live demonstration of his spear arts.


    Y arent you reading this at ?


    WHIZZ! WHOOSH! SWOOSH!


    He swung his practice spear wildly, stabbing, shing, parrying, and asionally aiming for where an opponents vitals would be.


    The students and teachers let out a collective gasp.


    Namgoong Su narrowed his eyes. <em>As expected of a disciple of a famous n.</em>


    Ak Yeon-Ho finished his lecture without a hitch, and the next candidate went up to the podium. However, very few of the candidates after Ak Yeon-Ho stood out. Most were sub-par, and others mediocre.


    The students and instructors quickly got bored.


    In contrast, Namgoong Su was actually enjoying the wait. <em>Were almost at the end.</em>


    Baek Su-Ryong. The peasant who had dared to provoke him in the interview. Namgoong Su was very much looking forward to his demonstration lecture, but judging by the fact that he still hadnt shown up, it was getting more and more likely that he had run away.


    The final demonstration lecture will be on the basics of outer arts, and it will begin in a few minutes, so please be seated until then. Candidate Baek Su-Ryong, pleasee up to the podium!


    One by one, the students who had signed up to observe the outer arts demonstration ss took their seats.


    <em>Eh?</em> Namgoong Sus eyes widened slightly with surprise. Peng Sa-Hyuk, the president of the club union, Hyonwon Kang, the infamous troublemaker of the academy, and Tang So-So, the vice president of the student council, were all sitting in the audience with shining eyes.


    Why are those kids here?


    Theyre not the ones taking the basic ss.


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    Yeah.


    The other instructors seemed just as confused.


    Kwak Cheol-Woo spent a minute checking the candidates documents, then shouted, Candidate Baek Su-Ryong, are you here?


    There was no answer. Ak Yeon-Ho, Myeong Il-Oh, and Mae Geuk-Lyom looked nervously at the front door.


    MUMBLE MUMBLE.


    Bewildered, the students also began to murmur.


    The corners of Namgoong Sus mouth curled upwards. With a hint of regret, he said, Well, well. Looks like hes noting after all.


    Thats a shame, we even switched his turn for him.


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    Tsk tsk


    In the end, it was all just empty boasts.


    The instructors clicked their tongues, while the waiting students grumbled andined. Namgoong Su sneered at the sight.


    <em>So this is all he amounts to.</em>


    Kwak Cheol-Woo put down Baek Su-Ryongs application documents and said, As a school, weve already done as much as we can for Candidate Baek Su-Ryong. As such, I dere that his candidacy has been withdrawn!


    Suddenly, the Principal, who had been silently looking out the front door, interrupted, Vice Principal, please wait a moment.


    Principal?


    Something is flying here from over there.


    What? Flying?


    Kwak Cheol-Woo, Namgoong Su, and everyone elses eyes turned toward the sky.


    WHOOOOSH!


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    A small dot was soaring through the air toward the Azure Dragon Academy in a giant parab at a terrifying speed.


    W-What is that Namgoong Su stared at the scene with his mouth agape.


    The dot grewrger andrger, until it finally revealed itself to be human.


    A-A human cannonball?


    Its going tond here! Move aside!


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    Uwaaah!


    The new instructor applicants panicked and scattered in all directions.


    SWOOSH!


    The neer, who was falling headfirst, did a perfect somersault in midair, thennded lightly on his feet.


    TAP!


    Whoa


    A picture-perfect handsome young man swept his wind-disheveled hair out of his face.


    Everyone stared at him, speechless.


    Baek Su-Ryong looked around, smiled wryly and said, Sorry, Imte! Im Baek Su-Ryong.


    Thest of the new instructor applicants arrived with a more <em>impactful</em> grand entrance than anyone before him.


    <strong>Trantors Note:</strong> Sorry for the dys, Ive been busy with new home renovation stufftely