Chapter 7 What is a Top Instructor?

Information about the Blood Sect.

Goo Joo-yeol, the Flying Guest, told us a story that could be considered a secret within the Martial Alliance.

So, I began to suspect him.

"Is he just someone with a loose tongue?" It would be easier to think that way.

However, it seemed unnatural for someone of his position, the leader of the Martial Alliance's investigation team, to leak information so easily.

"What if he leaked it on purpose?" In the martial world, where all sorts of schemes and tricks are rampant, one must suspect every word, every small gesture, and every action of the opponent to survive long.

I observed Goo Joo-yeol more closely and realized one thing.

"He's wary of us."

He kept his hands neatly on his knees, ready to strike at any moment, and his gaze, though seemingly casual, scanned the room.

"And his feet."

He kept his feet loose, ready to use his signature skill, Lightness Skill (or Retreat Technique).

"Why is he suspicious of us?" Thinking about it, there were plenty of reasons.

A martial arts instructor from the countryside, with no reputation, had subdued a master of the Evil Sect.

Moreover, he had figured out that they were teaching Evil Sect martial arts to their disciples without even seeing it firsthand.

"Above all..."

No matter how much my father tried to hide it, if the opponent was a first-rate master, they would inevitably notice that my father was a martial artist of considerable skill.

"He's convinced that my father is hiding something. And he's right."

So, it was highly likely that Goo Joo-yeol brought up the Blood Sect to test our reactions.

Perhaps...

"Does he suspect that we might be connected to the Blood Sect?" It might be a stretch, but it was clear that Goo Joo-yeol was suspicious of us.

Tap.

Goo Joo-yeol put down his teacup and smiled softly.

That smile seemed quite meaningful to me.

"This is good tea."

"I'm glad it suits your taste."

The subtle tension in the ordinary conversation.

Both were smiling softly, but Goo Joo-yeol's eyes were much colder than when we first exchanged greetings.

"Your voice, Grandmaster Baek. The more I listen, the more familiar it feels."

"Haha. It must be because it's such a common voice."

"Is that so..."

Though his words were soft, the questions were no different from an interrogation.

My father avoided his gaze and dodged the answers.

Goo Joo-yeol still didn't lose his smile.

"Are we really not acquainted?" "Haha. We might have crossed paths briefly in life."

I saw a drop of cold sweat form on my father's forehead.

At the same time, I recalled the complex expression and sigh my father had shown earlier.

"His expression wasn't good ever since he heard someone from the Martial Alliance was coming."

My father was clearly hiding something.

Since I didn't know what it was, I had to rely on my imagination.

What kind of past would make a first-rate master hide his reputation and live in seclusion in the countryside? "A martial world criminal?" ...

That was too much.

It was practically impossible for a first-rate master to become a martial world criminal.

At most, he might be a wanted minor criminal by the Martial Alliance.

Anyway, it was still troublesome.

"Grandmaster Baek. Excuse me, but may I ask about your sect?" "It's a small place you probably wouldn't know."

"Haha." "..."

The tension in the room gradually increased.

Gulp.

A slight sweat formed on my palms.

In the worst-case scenario, we might have to fight Goo Joo-yeol.

"I haven't fully recovered from the fatigue of fighting Goat Beard yet..."

I calculated the possible moves and scenarios if a fight broke out.

He wasn't the only opponent.

"We'd also have to deal with the Martial Alliance investigation team outside."

The Martial Alliance's Jiangxi branch investigation team.

Before they could storm in, we'd have to subdue Goo Joo-yeol as quickly as possible.

Then, rush out and subdue the investigation team.

I lowered my head to hide any killing intent that might show in my eyes.

"If my father is really a wanted criminal by the Martial Alliance and it's discovered here... we can't leave a single one alive."

I always lived assuming the worst-case scenario.

I was planning ways to destroy evidence, escape routes, and future plans in my head.

"I'm sure I've seen you somewhere... Hmm... No way?" In an instant, Goo Joo-yeol's eyes widened.

As if he had remembered something, he slapped his thigh with his palm.

"That's it!" I tensed up, ready to move at any moment, lifting my butt slightly off the floor.

But the worst-case scenario I had anticipated didn't happen.

Instead, the situation took an unexpected turn.

"No wonder you looked familiar!" Goo Joo-yeol laughed brightly, as if all his doubts had been cleared.

As if his earlier wariness had been a lie, the tension in his muscles eased.

In contrast, my father's expression grew darker.

Finally, my father sighed as if resigned.

"What on earth is going on?" Soon, Goo Joo-yeol solved my confusion.

As if he had met an old friend from his hometown, he laughed brightly and exclaimed, "Who would have thought it was the Jade-Faced Prince!" ...

Jade-Faced Prince? At the unfamiliar, somewhat childish nickname, I turned to look at my father, who answered with a red face.

"It's been a long time, brother."

The two middle-aged men sat facing each other at the drinking table, passing the wine cup back and forth.

"Hahaha! My friend, it's been so long!" "... It's been nearly thirty years. I never imagined you'd come as part of the Martial Alliance's investigation team."

"Why did you pretend not to know me earlier?" "After leaving the academy like that and not contacting you all this time... it felt shameless to act familiar first..."

"Shameless? Were we ever like that? You're making me sad!" "Yes. I'm sorry."

My father awkwardly smiled and scratched the back of his head.

Sitting a little distance away from them, I looked at my father with a bewildered expression.

Too much information had come at once, and I was overwhelmed.

"At least we don't have to fight..."

My father turned to me and said, "Introduce yourself again. This is someone who entered the Azure Dragon Academy with me, and we were as close as brothers."

"So you're this guy's son. Haha! No wonder you're so handsome, just like the Jade-Faced Prince!" "... Brother. I'm almost fifty. That old nickname is a bit..."

"Hahaha! Back in our days at the Azure Dragon Academy, if you didn't know the Jade-Faced Prince, you were a spy!" "..."

Goo Joo-yeol teased my embarrassed father, laughing heartily. ...

Anyway, it was a relief.

Feeling more at ease, I bowed to him again.

"I'm Baek Soo-ryong."

"Yes, yes. Come here and sit comfortably. Let me pour you a drink!" Listening to their conversation, I learned that the two had entered the Azure Dragon Academy together over twenty years ago.

The Azure Dragon Academy is one of the five major martial academies directly operated by the Martial Alliance.

The Heavenly Martial Academy in Hubei.

The Black Tortoise Academy in Shaanxi.

The White Tiger Academy in Sichuan.

The Vermilion Bird Academy in Hunan.

The Azure Dragon Academy in Jiangxi.

The five major academies are places that anyone aspiring to be a rising star in the orthodox martial world dreams of entering.

Of course, even among these five academies, there are rankings.

"Back in my day, there was only the Heavenly Martial Academy. It seems more have been added since then."

A smile lingered on Goo Joo-yeol's lips as he reminisced about old memories.

"Do you know how many young ladies' hearts your father set on fire at the Azure Dragon Academy? He's still handsome now, but back then, he was so good-looking that he earned the nickname Jade-Faced Prince!" "Ahem! Brother..."

I had never seen my father so embarrassed before.

Well, it's a bit embarrassing to have such a nickname at nearly fifty.

I suddenly thought of something and asked my father, "Is that why you said you didn't have a nickname? Because you were embarrassed?" "Ahem. It's a nickname my academy friends gave me as a joke. It's not a proper nickname, so I said I didn't have one."

Excuses.

His face was as red as a persimmon, but his words weren't convincing.

"Really..."

As the tension eased, a hollow laugh escaped me.

When I chuckled, my father quickly downed his wine cup, his face still red.

The night grew deeper.

Although the investigation team Goo Joo-yeol had brought had taken the Evil Sect members to the Martial Alliance, he stayed behind, claiming he still had more to investigate.

Several bottles of wine were emptied, and the two martial artists' postures naturally relaxed.

Then, Goo Joo-yeol hesitated slightly and asked, "By the way..."

He stared at the wine cup, not my father's. "... How is Yak-byeong?" Yak-byeong.

That's my mother's name.

My father smiled bitterly and answered, "She passed away a long time ago." "... So it came to that. Well, her health was always weak."

"Yes."

An awkward silence followed.

As if trying to change the mood, Goo Joo-yeol laughed loudly and said, "Haha! I really misunderstood earlier! I knew your face was familiar, but I couldn't remember who you were, so I thought you might be one of the wanted criminals on the posters."

In fact, Goo Joo-yeol admitted he had even considered subduing us. ...

If that had happened, I would have used the Death Grass on him.

It's a good thing it didn't come to that.

"I almost got into big trouble."

"Hahaha! I almost got to taste the sharpness of your sword techniques again!" The conversation, which started with reminiscing about old memories, gradually branched out into various topics.

The lives of martial artists weren't much different from ordinary people.

Above all, making a living was the most important thing.

"Does the martial school make enough money? It doesn't seem like you're doing too well."

"We get by with the two of us."

Honestly, it was tight.

In this countryside, we couldn't charge much for lessons, and after buying snacks for the kids, there wasn't much left.

The youth-adult class my father taught was the only one that brought in some money.

"Do you really have to teach martial arts here? With your skills, you could easily teach at the Azure Dragon Academy."

At the mention of the "Azure Dragon Academy," my father's expression stiffened for a moment before relaxing.

"This place is fine."

"My friend, things are different now than when we were young. Even if you have peerless martial arts, you'll starve without money."

How true, Uncle! "Besides, these days, academy instructors' salaries are no joke. Haven't you heard that top instructors at the five major academies rake in the money?" "I'm not skilled enough for that."

My father's humility made Goo Joo-yeol smack his chest in frustration.

"Has the Jade-Faced Prince's skills dulled? And with your looks, female students would still line up for you, wouldn't they?" "Brother, really..."

My father could only laugh awkwardly at the half-joking, half-serious remark.

But I couldn't just sit and listen anymore.

"Excuse me, but..."

I had just heard something I couldn't let pass.

Come to think of it, I had heard something similar before...

"What is a top instructor?"