There was great chaos, but as the masters of the Qinglong Academy stepped in, the situation was quickly brought under control.
"The assassins have poison in their mouths! Subdue them and check their blood vessels!" Nangong Xu led the instructors to personally subdue the assassins.
Each time his sword flashed, the limbs of the assassins were severed.
Despite this, not a single drop of blood splattered on his white robe.
"Nangong-sensei!"
"Deputy Commander."
"W-what is going on here?"
Deputy Commander Kwak Cheol-woo rushed over, his face pale.
Seeing his pitiful appearance made Nangong Xu sigh inwardly, but he did not show it and calmed the Deputy Commander.
"They are trained assassins. Their purpose is... still unknown."
He had his suspicions, but Nangong Xu did not intend to share them with Kwak Cheol-woo.
"First, we must subdue the assassins."
"Y-yes! Those scoundrels!"
After a while, the chaos was somewhat settled.
The number of assassins was not very large to begin with, and with Nangong Jiexue subduing the three great lords of Heilin, their morale had also diminished.
Nangong Xu let out a sigh of relief. 'It’s a blessing that it ended like this.' Miraculously, there were almost no casualties.
Since the assassins' goal was to create chaos, they aimed to injure rather than kill, hoping to induce screams.
In fact, there were more serious injuries from people tripping and falling while trying to escape than from being stabbed.
"The injured must be taken to the healer immediately."
"I-I will do that right away."
While the Deputy Commander hurried off to give orders, Nangong Xu turned his head to look for someone. 'Baek Su-ryong.' His gaze on Baek Su-ryong shone with unusual intensity.
About half a moment ago, Nangong Xu had heard Baek Su-ryong's shout.
"Protect the elder!"
As soon as the blood and screams erupted in the audience, that shout burst forth. 'Did he know this would happen?' If Baek Su-ryong had known about this in advance and had kept silent, it would be something he could never forgive, regardless of personal feelings.
And he was not the only one who heard Baek Su-ryong's shout.
"What happened?"
"Baek-sensei, please explain."
The stern-faced Lord Noh Gun-sang and the fierce-looking Nangong Jiexue approached Baek Su-ryong.
Alongside them was Gong Son-su.
"......"
The four seemed to be having a conversation, but whether they had created a barrier to block sound, even with focused hearing, the content of their discussion was inaudible.
After a moment, they could barely hear Lord Noh Gun-sang's last words with a sigh.
"Let’s move to another place to talk."
Turning away, Lord Noh Gun-sang declared in a heavy tone, infused with internal energy, "The entrance exam will be temporarily suspended."
A moment later, Lord Noh Gun-sang called for Nangong Xu through a sound transmission.
[Nangong-sensei, come to the command room.]
As he headed to the command room, Nangong Xu glared at Baek Su-ryong's back.
He couldn't help but let out a sigh.
"Ever since that person came, there has been no peace in the academy."
The atmosphere in the room was heavy.
Fortunately, there were almost no deaths, but dozens were severely injured and taken to the healer.
Among the injured was Heon Won-gang, who had a large gash on his chest.
"He is a sturdy child, so he will recover quickly."
"That’s right..."
Gong Son-su nodded with a haggard expression at Heuk Yeong's consolation.
Thanks to the many people who protected him, he was not seriously hurt, but that did not ease his mind. 'What on earth is this old man thinking...?'
Many people had gathered in the command room.
Lord Noh Gun-sang, Nangong Jiexue, Kwak Cheol-woo, and Nangong Xu.
The instructors of Qinglong Academy and members of the Ten Lords sat in the main seats.
Gong Son-su, Heuk Yeong, and Wi Ji-cheon sat in a row opposite, except for Heon Won-gang, who was absent.
Ak Yeon-ho, Myung Il-oh, and Jeong Gal-so-young.
The temporary instructors of Qinglong Academy sat hunched over in a corner, as if they had committed a crime.
And at the center, where everyone was looking, Baek Su-ryong sat upright.
The atmosphere resembled that of a hearing.
"...... It was my misjudgment."
Baek Su-ryong slowly opened his mouth.
He explained the identity of Gong Son-su and the assassination attempt against him.
He also honestly admitted that he had sought help from the temporary instructors to prevent it. 'People won’t be fooled by half-hearted lies.' Lord Noh Gun-sang and Nangong Jiexue were glaring at Baek Su-ryong with piercing eyes.
However, he did not tell everything honestly.
For example, the reason he did not inform Lord Noh Gun-sang of all the facts in advance.
"...... You didn’t trust me."
'He knows without me saying.' Baek Su-ryong bitterly smiled and nodded.
"I’m sorry. I could not ascertain how far the enemy's connections reached. To maintain security, I had to inform only a minimal number of people."
"So you didn’t inform the Commander himself?"
Nangong Jiexue's voice, which had interjected into the conversation, was sharp.
His gaze seemed to pierce through Baek Su-ryong's body like a sword. '......
If I send a sound transmission, I would be discovered immediately.' If he tried to play tricks in front of such a supreme master, he could not predict what would happen to him in this place.
Therefore, he could not even secretly exchange words with Gong Son-su.
Baek Su-ryong had no choice but to acknowledge that he was in a difficult situation.
"From now on, speak only the truth without a single lie. Why did you not inform the Commander about the existence of the assassins?"
Nangong Jiexue had saved Gong Son-su before Baek Su-ryong could respond.
After that, he had stayed by Gong Son-su's side and learned that Gong Son-su was completely unaware of the existence of the assassins.
"I cannot understand."
What reason could there be not to inform the person being protected about the existence of the assassins? If he were to hear an answer that he could not accept from Baek Su-ryong, he was prepared to use force to extract it.
Baek Su-ryong opened his mouth.
"...... I planned to use the elder as bait to lure the assassins."
"Huh?"
"Are you insane?"
"Are you out of your mind?"
One after another, Lord Noh Gun-sang, Nangong Jiexue, and Nangong Xu spoke.
Cold sweat dripped from the foreheads of these seasoned masters.
To use a person who had even served as the Commander of the nation as bait.
If Gong Son-su had died, who would take responsibility for that?
"Hahaha..."
In contrast, Gong Son-su seemed calm, as if he had heard the situation from Heuk Yeong.
Baek Su-ryong continued speaking calmly.
"That was the best choice in that situation. I could not tell who was an ally and who was an enemy, nor could I ascertain the number of enemies. Choosing to flee or hide would have only favored the enemy. It was better to blend in among the crowd..."
"Are you out of your mind!"
Kwak Cheol-woo jumped up from his seat and pointed at Baek Su-ryong.
"Do you not know about the inviolability of the command? You are determined to ruin the academy!"
"Deputy Commander, calm down and sit."
Lord Noh Gun-sang told him to sit, but the impatient Kwak Cheol-woo did not listen.
"Do you think this is calm? If it involves the imperial palace, it should be reported to the authorities, not dragged out here to cause trouble..."
"...... Do I need to tell you to shut up before you understand?"
The moment Kwak Cheol-woo crossed the line with his remarks, Lord Noh Gun-sang revealed a subtle killing intent.
"Sit down. There are guests present."
"I-I misspoke."
Kwak Cheol-woo's face turned pale as he hurriedly closed his mouth.
In the increasingly cold atmosphere, Nangong Jiexue spoke heavily.
"Baek-sensei. If you did not trust Lord Noh, I would not have trusted you either."
"...... Yes."
"I have always thought that the title of 'Sword King of the Blue Sky' was undeserved, but I never imagined I would be lumped together with mere assassins."
Nangong Jiexue did not show any particular momentum, but the martial artists in the room already felt a suffocating pressure.
In the silence, Baek Su-ryong spoke.
"I did not lump you together. I simply did not forget the saying, 'Even when crossing a stone bridge, one should test it first.'"
"Do you see me as just a stone bridge?"
Nangong Jiexue glared at the young man before him with fierce eyes.
Without even raising his internal energy, even seasoned masters would often turn their heads away from his gaze.
But Baek Su-ryong was different. 'He does not avoid my gaze.' Whether he was born bold or simply had a thick skin, it was still unclear.
What was certain was that he was not feeling good about it.
"This is not something that can be easily overlooked. Many unrelated civilians were injured. The entrance exam has been ruined."
"That is correct."
"Who do you think is most responsible?"
"......"
Though the actions were those of the assassins, Baek Su-ryong felt a sense of responsibility for this incident.
If he had anticipated that the enemies would act in such a way... he would have sought a better solution.
"If you had asked for help from me or Lord Noh earlier, the damage could have been avoided. Do you acknowledge that?"
"I acknowledge it."
Baek Su-ryong nodded without adding any excuses.
People unrelated to this matter were hurt.
If Nangong Jiexue had not stepped in at a critical moment, Gong Son-su might have been harmed as well. 'If it were a blood feud, I would have no words even if I were to be held responsible and executed.' Baek Su-ryong had no intention of evading his responsibility.
He spoke with a serious expression.
"If a problem arises, I will take responsibility."
"Responsibility? How do you mean?"
"Listen here, Jiexue. Don’t push too hard..."
"Gun-sang, you stay quiet. Your kindness is why this temporary instructor is doing such things behind your back."
"......"
Nangong Jiexue pressed Baek Su-ryong as if it were a test.
"Now, how do you plan to take responsibility?"
"If you wish, I will resign from my instructor position..."
But the intense reaction that Nangong Jiexue had expected came from another direction.
A direction he had never anticipated.
"I’ve heard enough, this is too much!"
The owner of the voice was Gong Son-su.
The key figure in this incident and the one who was almost a victim stood up, glaring at Nangong Jiexue with wide eyes.
"D-Duke?"
The startled Nangong Jiexue looked at him, and Gong Son-su raised his voice.
"I was going to remain silent out of remorse for the damage done to Qinglong Academy. However, seeing how things are unfolding, I must say a few words. Is this gathering a hearing to interrogate Baek-sensei?"
"......"
"If you have something to question, question me. The assassins came to kill me, and Baek-sensei was only trying to protect me."
"We are trying to understand the full circumstances of the incident..."
"We have already heard all the necessary information. So why are you persecuting Baek-sensei?"
Nangong Jiexue was momentarily speechless, then finally managed to respond.
"He omitted reporting to the Commander. Because of that, civilians suffered..."
Gong Son-su scoffed and continued.
"There is nothing wrong with Baek-sensei's words. I have many enemies in the imperial palace. Among them, there are surely a few who are connected to martial artists. The Nangong family? Do you think there is no one among those who wish to kill me that can exert pressure on the Nangong family?"
"......"
Though it could be heard as an insult to the Nangong family, Nangong Jiexue could not refute it.
Because it was all true.
"I am not so ungrateful as to ignore the person who saved my life. If Qinglong Academy dismisses Baek-sensei, I will take him to the imperial palace and make him a general."
"Y-yes?"
The one who spoke such absurd words was Baek Su-ryong.
It was good to have support, but suddenly becoming a general? There was no way Nangong Jiexue would believe such nonsense... 'He does believe it?' The expression on Nangong Jiexue's face, tinged with youthful bewilderment, proved that Gong Son-su's words were no mere empty talk.
"I will also say a few words."
While Gong Son-su paused for a moment, Heuk Yeong interjected into the conversation.
She spoke with a serious expression.
"When Baek-sensei first shared his plan, I also agreed. If the teacher must take responsibility and face punishment, I too will cut off an arm as an apology."
"What...?"
Why would she suddenly cut off her arm? Baek Su-ryong could only look at Heuk Yeong with a bewildered expression.
"C-Can I say just one thing?"
Suddenly, Wi Ji-cheon quietly raised his hand.
Baek Su-ryong was terrified of what might come out of his mouth.
"If Baek-sensei leaves Qinglong Academy... I will also give up on the entrance exam."
"......"
"I do not wish to attend Qinglong Academy without the teacher."
After finishing his words, Wi Ji-cheon bowed his head deeply.
Lord Noh Gun-sang, Nangong Xu, and Kwak Cheol-woo reacted simultaneously. 'Are we really going to lose such talent?!' Lord Noh Gun-sang turned his head sharply and glared at Nangong Jiexue as if he would kill him.
[Apologize to Baek-sensei immediately!]
[W-What are you talking about? Why should I apologize...?]
[Apologize, you fool! Right now!]
With that thunderous sound transmission, Nangong Jiexue found himself apologizing without even realizing it.
"I-I’m sorry. I think I pushed too hard just now."
"...... It’s alright."
Having finally extracted an apology from Nangong Jiexue, Gong Son-su clapped his hands and sat down.
"People can make mistakes. Now, let’s discuss future measures."