Namgung Su stood with three students behind him.
Two boys and one girl.
They all seemed to be around the same age as Wi Ji-cheon.
'Their basics look good.'
All three had stable breathing and good posture for their age.
It's the kind of feeling you get when you start learning martial arts as soon as you begin to walk.
"Master, who is Wi Ji-cheon?"
At that moment, the boy in the middle of the three asked Namgung Su.
The boy's demeanor and appearance were so similar to Namgung Su that it seemed like a miniature version of him.
'Could he be Namgung Su's son?'
The thought crossed my mind, as his way of speaking and actions were also quite similar.
The boy tilted his head and murmured.
"Wi Ji-cheon... I've never heard of that name. Among the students taking the entrance exam this year, I remember all the ones I should pay attention to..."
"I don't know either."
Namgung Su chuckled and patted the boy's shoulder.
"I don't want to know. Even a hedgehog thinks its own child is cute, so isn't it free to mistakenly believe that the student they teach is outstanding?"
"Ah."
Ah, what do you mean, ah? It seemed like they were trying to embarrass me with their perfect harmony.
Ma Geuk-ryeom, who seemed to have a similar thought, furrowed his brow slightly and changed the topic.
"Mr. Namgung, why don't you introduce the kids behind you? If they're going to be new students this year, it wouldn't hurt for me to know them in advance."
At that moment, the boy who resembled Namgung Su stepped forward and took a martial salute.
His disciplined movements made it clear he was from a prestigious family.
"Greetings from Namgung Seok of the Martial Arts Academy! It's a great honor to meet the legendary sword master, Senior Sword Tooth."
"... There's no need to be overly polite. Are you of the Namgung family bloodline?"
"Yes. My father..."
The boy named Namgung Seok began to introduce his father, grandfather, uncle, and great-uncle, explaining how he had heard of Sword Tooth's fame since he was young and how much he respected him as a fellow swordsman.
...
Anyway, these orthodox folks are a tiresome bunch.
Ma Geuk-ryeom, tired of the long-winded story, waved his hand dismissively.
"Enough. I won't remember it anyway."
"... Yes."
Namgung Seok, who bowed his head, now turned his gaze to me.
Unlike when he looked at Ma Geuk-ryeom, his eyes were cold and his lips twisted slightly.
'Look at this guy?'
As I stared at him, Namgung Seok's expression changed instantly.
With an apologetic face, he took a martial salute and spoke to me.
"I apologize for my lack of knowledge. I do not know your nickname or name. Please enlighten this foolish junior."
"..."
On the surface, his attitude was polite and respectful, but I sensed a subtle disdain and mockery within.
'A clever one.'
I chuckled and answered briefly.
"I am Baek Su-ryong."
"Baek Su-ryong..."
Namgung Seok muttered my name to himself, unable to hide his perplexed expression.
It was clear he had no idea who I was.
Naturally, since I wasn't a renowned master in the martial world, nor was I from a famous family or sect.
"Baek Su-ryong? Ah! The braggart!"
The boy on Namgung Seok's left chuckled and covered his mouth.
He was slightly taller and thinner than Namgung Seok, with the most fierce and unruly eyes among the three.
"Jomaksaeng! Watch your mouth. He might be the instructor teaching us from this year."
The girl on Namgung Seok's right scolded the tall boy called Jomaksaeng with a glare.
I thought there might be a normal student under Namgung Su, but...
"Well, he's a temporary instructor, so who knows what will happen in three months."
The girl snorted as she met my eyes and turned her head.
Yeah, I knew it.
They all had the same rude demeanor typical of Namgung Su's students.
"Hehe. Jinjin, aren't you being too harsh on the teacher? Look at how his face stiffened."
"Shut up. I told you not to call my name because it's creepy."
"Don't act all high and mighty. I'm not interested in someone like you either."
"You little..."
"Both of you, stop."
"..."
Jomaksaeng and Jinjin, who were bickering, shut their mouths at Namgung Seok's single word.
It was clear who the leader of the group was.
Namgung Seok bowed his head to me and spoke.
"I apologize on behalf of my friends. What are you doing! Apologize quickly!"
"Sorry."
"We're sorry..."
Following Namgung Seok, all three bowed their heads to me.
However, it was only their heads that bowed; their eyes remained arrogant, and their attitude was as unruly as ever.
It was obvious how they viewed me.
A temporary instructor who would be dismissed in three months.
An unknown figure who hadn't made a name for himself in the martial world.
Therefore, someone not worth respecting or paying attention to.
These arrogant kids were looking down on me like that.
'Who taught them so well?'
Namgung Su, who had been quietly watching his students' antics, stepped forward.
"Teacher Baek, they're just kids who don't know any better, so don't take it to heart. I'll give them a stern lecture when we return."
Sure.
During the entrance exam, we had a few run-ins, but since then, thanks to the mediation of the Blue Dragon Academy's head, No Gun-sang, we at least maintained a formal relationship.
Of course, it was just formal, and our relationship was far from good.
"Haha. Mr. Namgung's character education for his students is truly impressive."
I sarcastically praised Namgung Su with a bright smile, and Ma Geuk-ryeom sighed with a troubled expression beside me.
"Can't you both stop?"
Grandfather, I really want to stop, but it seems that guy has no intention of doing so.
Namgung Su glared at me with cold eyes and spoke.
"I heard you took Heon Won-gang out of the dormitory recently."
"He has talent. I plan to set aside some time to teach him."
"He certainly has talent."
I wondered why he suddenly asked about Heon Won-gang's well-being, and then I saw the sneer on Namgung Su's face.
"But he's inherently lazy. He's indolent and weak. For three years, he didn't think of making an effort and only blamed the world."
"So you told him to drop out? Threatened not to give him a diploma?"
At my questioning, Namgung Su nodded without hesitation.
"He has already tarnished the academy's honor several times. He showed no sign of remorse."
"Was it because he didn't do as he was told and you didn't like it?"
I knew the story between Heon Won-gang and Namgung Su.
- Grab it.
This is your last chance.
Attend my class from tomorrow.
It's the last opportunity to change your life.
Namgung Su had reached out to Heon Won-gang and said that, and Heon Won-gang had rejected that hand.
That incident must have hurt Namgung Su's pride.
Because Heon Won-gang had rejected his hand and taken mine instead.
"There were no personal feelings. I just thought it would be better for him to drop out rather than waste any more time. I still think the same."
"You're not angry because he didn't take the hand you offered?"
At my straightforward question, Namgung Su scoffed.
"Of course not. It's just a pity. The person he went to instead..."
Namgung Su stopped speaking and stared at me.
Naturally, I didn't avoid his gaze and smiled broadly.
"Didn't he find a better teacher? You may not know, but that kid has a good eye."
"A teacher that matches his level, I suppose. They say birds of a feather flock together."
"Oh, really? So, your students..."
In our unyielding argument, Ma Geuk-ryeom intervened with a loud voice.
"I can't watch this any longer. Can't you both stop?"
At his fierce tone, we both fell silent and glared at each other.
Namgung Su was the first to turn away.
But he didn't stop mocking until the end.
"Heon Won-gang is a failure. Winning the Heavenly Martial Arts Tournament with such a kid... Let's see how long that lasts. Let's go."
"Yes!"
Namgung Su turned away without hesitation, as if he had said everything he wanted to say.
But I wasn't done yet.
"Hey, Namgung Su."
When I suddenly called him informally, he turned back with an unpleasant look.
"How about a bet?"
"... A bet?"
Namgung Su sneered at me.
"Teacher Baek seems to like bets. Especially ones he can't handle."
"If you're scared, you don't have to."
"... I'll listen. What kind of bet do you want to make?"
"Baek Su-ryong!!!"
Ma Geuk-ryeom shouted with a terrifying expression beside me, but I ignored his voice for this moment.
'Heon Won-gang is a failure?'
He's the kind of guy who talks about my student like that.
If I back down here, it's like smearing dirt on my own face.
Only I have the right to scold and hit Heon Won-gang in this world.
"This year's entrance exam. Let's bet on whose students perform better."
"..."
Namgung Su was silent for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter.
"That's ridiculous..."
"Hahaha!"
"Ugh..."
Namgung Su, who barely stopped laughing, shook his head and asked me.
"Do you really think that's a valid bet?"
"If you're scared, you can just leave."
Namgung Su chuckled and asked with a relaxed expression.
"If we do, what will the stakes be?"
I had just thought of something.
"Mr. Namgung, if I win..."
I switched back to formal speech and smiled brightly.
Because I thought this would make him more annoyed and unable to refuse.
"How about I take over one of your classes this semester?"
At that moment, Namgung Su's expression turned icy cold.
For Namgung Su, who had a strong sense of pride as a top instructor, the suggestion of taking over one of his classes was a huge provocation and challenge.
"How dare you..."
Namgung Su glared at me for a long time, then gritted his teeth and spoke.
"If I win?"
"Well, I haven't thought about it because it's not going to happen... If you have something you want, feel free to say it."
"If I win..."
After thinking for a moment, Namgung Su smiled as if he had a good idea.
"How about Teacher Baek cleaning my room every morning and evening?"
"..."
That guy...
Namgung Su knew how to get under my skin just as much as I did.
If he had bet money or asked me to leave the Blue Dragon Academy if he won, I wouldn't have felt this dirty.
What? You want me to clean your room? If I endure this, I'm not a man.
"Fine. Is that settled then?"
"Don't go back on your word when you lose."
"Who are you to say that? The witness is..."
We both turned to look at Ma Geuk-ryeom at the same time.
"Let's have the student affairs director here be the witness."
"Let's have Mr. Ma Geuk-ryeom here be the witness."
When we spoke simultaneously, Ma Geuk-ryeom looked exasperated and sighed deeply, as if he had given up.
"Sigh. What are you grown men doing... Fine. Do as you please."
After the bet was settled, we turned and walked in opposite directions.
With the entrance exam for the Blue Dragon Academy a month away, I was determined to crush Namgung Su's pride.