“... Am I still alive?” Gongson Su opened his eyes with a pale complexion.
Upon opening his eyes, he saw Cheon-gyeom kneeling before him.
“Prime Minister. I apologize for being late.”
“It is not your fault, so why apologize? By the way, where is Teacher Baek?”
“... He will be here soon.”
Cheon-gyeom's reaction was somewhat strange, but Gongson Su did not pay it much mind.
Looking around, Gongson Su gasped in surprise.
The ground had been overturned, and dozens of trees had been cut down.
“What on earth happened while I was unconscious?”
“What I saw was...”
Cheon-gyeom spoke honestly about what he had witnessed.
Since the Prime Minister was someone the Emperor regarded as a mentor, he reported without a hint of falsehood.
Gongson Su's expression hardened at the mention of having fought with Baek Su-ryong.
“Is Teacher Baek badly injured?”
“As you can see, he is fine.”
The answer came from behind Cheon-gyeom’s shoulder.
The somewhat pale-faced Baek Su-ryong and Heuk-yeong were walking together.
“Thanks to a suspicious individual, I almost lost an arm.”
“It was only necessary for confirmation.”
“Was it for my identity? Or my martial arts?”
“...”
Cheon-gyeom did not respond.
Seeing this, Gongson Su laughed as if he found it absurd.
“Teacher Baek, you have guts. If you had known you were facing Cheon-gyeom, you should have prostrated yourself and begged.”
“If he was someone I could talk to, I would have done so. Where in the world is there such a law? Huh? Just because someone is strong in martial arts, they bully their benefactor...”
“Enough.”
At the cold pressure, Baek Su-ryong closed his mouth.
Although Gongson Su was beside him and had given him a bit of a reprimand, he had no intention of turning Cheon-gyeom into an enemy.
“Hahaha. For my sake, both of you should stop.”
“Yes.”
“Understood.”
The two men bowed their heads.
While Heuk-yeong approached to check Gongson Su's pulse, the two waited quietly for the escort troops to arrive.
“Hey, you two. Do you think I wouldn’t notice just because you’re silently staring at each other?”
“...”
“...”
The two men coughed awkwardly and turned their heads away.
Seeing their childishness, Gongson Su chuckled, while Heuk-yeong shook his head in disapproval.
A moment later, the escort troops arrived in a rush.
Five carriages and one hundred elite guards from the Golden Guards.
It was said that this was the minimized number to arrive quickly.
Baek Su-ryong admired the sight.
“... Elder. You are quite remarkable.”
“Hah. You only just realized that?”
“I had heard about it, but seeing you rolling in the dirt every day made it hard to feel it...”
Gongson Su burst into laughter at his honest words.
“I am quite a remarkable person. So if you ever need help, feel free to come to me anytime.”
“I will come without hesitation.”
The two exchanged smiles.
They had already said their farewells so many times that there was no need to do it again.
Instead, Gongson Su prepared a parting gift.
“Hey, Cheon-gyeom. Did you bring what I asked for?”
“... Yes.”
“Bring it here.”
While Cheon-gyeom fetched something from the carriage, Gongson Su stood with his hands behind his back and chatted with Baek Su-ryong.
“I have something to give you before I leave.”
“Eh? What are you giving me again...?”
He had already received the tutoring fee of ten thousand nyang and promised financial support for the Cheongryong Academy.
‘Moreover, I absorbed an enormous amount of vital energy and medicinal energy...’
Thanks to that, his mastery of the Reverse Heaven Divine Art had reached the neutral stage, so in terms of opportunities, he might have received more than he had given.
“So you don’t want it?”
“My favorite saying is ‘the more, the better’.”
“I knew you would say that.”
Gongson Su nodded as if it was not surprising, but the Golden Guards who had come to escort him looked at Baek Su-ryong's shameless face in disbelief.
Heuk-yeong covered her face out of embarrassment.
“Why is it my shame to bear...?”
Then, a moment later, Cheon-gyeom returned from the carriage and shouted in a loud voice.
“Teacher Baek Su-ryong of the Cheongryong Academy, heed the Emperor’s decree!”
“!!”
The Emperor’s decree! What a thunderous proclamation this was.
A chilling aura emanated from Cheon-gyeom’s entire body.
“Show respect!”
Coming to his senses, Baek Su-ryong quickly knelt on one knee and bowed his head.
“Baek Su-ryong acknowledges the Emperor’s decree.”
Cheon-gyeom nodded in satisfaction and began to read the contents of the decree.
“Born in the year of Gapjin, on the eighth day of the month, in the city of Hwaichang, Baek Su-ryong has made great contributions by protecting the Prime Minister Gongson Su from wicked rebels, thus averting a great threat to the nation. Therefore, a merit certificate is hereby granted...”
The merit certificate was a commendation given to officials who had made significant contributions to the country.
‘Can they really just give this out like this?’
Baek Su-ryong received the merit certificate with a dazed expression.
“... In addition, a monetary reward of one hundred nyang and thirty thousand pyeong of land shall also be granted.”
After the awarding of the merit certificate, Gongson Su smiled and said,
“I told His Majesty not to grant you an official position on purpose. Powerful figures might try to use you, so don’t feel upset.”
“... How could I feel upset?”
On the contrary, he was grateful for such careful consideration.
“This is not the end. Heuk-yeong, bring that.”
“... Yes.”
Heuk-yeong brought a very luxurious-looking black box.
“Open it.”
As he carefully opened the box, a black rod about the thickness of a finger and roughly thirty centimeters long lay on the golden silk inside.
“What is this...?”
“This is the teaching staff I used to use. Try holding it.”
When he picked it up, it felt heavier than he had expected.
Upon closer inspection, a dragon was wrapped around the entire staff.
“This is called the Black Dragon Staff. Perhaps because of the memory of being beaten with it, His Majesty still gets frightened just by seeing it.”
“Eh?” Did he really hit the Emperor with this?
The Golden Guards also seemed to be hearing this story for the first time, their mouths agape.
Gongson Su laughed and said, “It’s made of solid iron, so it won’t break easily. From now on, you should use it.”
“... Is it really okay for you to give me something like this?”
“It’s something I no longer need anyway. It’s only right for someone who needs it to use it.”
In Gongson Su's view, the rightful owner of the Black Dragon Staff was Baek Su-ryong.
“Try infusing your energy into it.”
As he infused his energy, a clanking sound came from within the Black Dragon Staff, and its length doubled.
“Normally, it’s about thirty centimeters long, but when you infuse your energy, it can extend up to ninety centimeters.”
“This is...”
It was truly sufficient to be used as a weapon.
No, it was far more useful than an ordinary good sword.
“I hope you use it well.”
Gongson Su looked warmly at the Black Dragon Staff, which bore his fingerprints, and at Baek Su-ryong, its new owner.
Baek Su-ryong could only respond with one answer.
“... I will use it well.”
“Just don’t use it only for beating kids.”
“Don’t ruin the moment when I’m trying to be moved.”
Gongson Su laughed playfully and turned to the Golden Guards.
“I’ve given you everything, so I really must be going. Prepare to depart.”
“Yes!”
In an instant, the preparations for departure were complete, and Gongson Su climbed into the carriage.
As Baek Su-ryong followed to see him off, he heard Cheon-gyeom’s voice in his ear.
[I will keep silent about the martial arts you have learned.
After all, I am not a martial artist, and the Prime Minister’s affection for you is greater than you can imagine.]
Baek Su-ryong maintained a calm expression, but inwardly he let out a sigh of relief.
‘Phew.’
If Cheon-gyeom had started to pry into the Reverse Heaven Divine Art, it would have been quite troublesome.
[However, it would be better if that martial art remains unseen by others.
Especially the stronger they are...
If they see that martial art, they will not let it pass by.]
[Thank you for the advice.]
It was something he was already well aware of.
That was why he had tried to hide his martial arts as much as possible in front of Namgung Je-hak.
While having a brief conversation with Cheon-gyeom, Gongson Su climbed into the carriage.
“Thank you. I hope to see you again someday.”
“Don’t forget to review what I taught you during your time in the palace.”
Gongson Su promised to do just that with a smile.
Heuk-yeong, who was sitting beside him, also offered her farewell.
“... I will take my leave.”
“Alright. Take care.”
“...”
There was an inexplicable sense of regret in Heuk-yeong's gaze, but she said nothing more and bowed her head.
Baek Su-ryong took a few steps back as the carriage set off.
“Let’s go!”
“...”
Baek Su-ryong quietly watched the diminishing figure of the carriage.
As the sun began to set, five carriages raced toward the horizon.
The disciple he had spent over a month with had just left him.
“Elder, I am the one who is more grateful.”
What had started as a simple way to earn ten thousand nyang had turned into a desire to see Gongson Su succeed.
Having learned about the old man’s childhood dream, he had watched closely how desperately he worked to achieve it, even if it was late.
‘Before I knew it, I was cheering him on.’
The feelings he had while training daily with Hyeonwon-gang and Wi Ji-cheon must have been similar.
It was a feeling he had never experienced during his time as a martial arts instructor in the Blood Sect.
If only he had realized this a little earlier...
He wouldn’t have made so many mistakes.
“It’s no use lamenting.”
Baek Su-ryong sighed deeply and shook his head to rid himself of his lingering regrets.
He was not the type to carry regrets for long.
Instead, he thought about his present and future.
He recalled the deaths of Chil-sal and Sal-mak, who had died without uncovering information about the Blood Sect, and Cheon-gyeom’s warning to hide the Reverse Heaven Divine Art.
‘The Ten Lords...’
Baek Su-ryong recalled his battle with Cheon-gyeom.
It had felt like a fight with an overwhelming gap in strength.
That Cheon-gyeom was considered the weakest among the Ten Lords.
It was largely symbolic because he was the strongest in the palace.
Of course, it was clear that Cheon-gyeom was an absolute master.
‘Namgung Je-hak is even stronger.’
Namgung Je-hak was a name that could not be omitted when discussing the strongest in the current martial world.
What if it had been Namgung Je-hak who had witnessed the Reverse Heaven Divine Art instead of Cheon-gyeom?
A chill ran down his arm.
This time, he had just been lucky.
There was no guarantee that such luck would come again.
‘To freely control the Reverse Heaven Divine Art, I need to master it to at least the seventh level.’
But reaching the seventh level was not something that could be achieved simply by having a lot of internal energy.
“Haah. I have to teach the kids, strengthen my martial arts, and keep an eye on the Blood Sect... I have a mountain of things to do.”
Sighing again, Baek Su-ryong turned and began walking in the direction of the Cheongryong Academy.
“The classes haven’t even started yet.”
The first semester and the first class at the Cheongryong Academy would begin in a few days.
From now on, Baek Su-ryong would meet many more students.
“I’m already tired, so tired...”
But despite his grumbling, Baek Su-ryong's expression was filled with anticipation.
His steps toward the Cheongryong Academy quickened.
A few days later.
After the entrance ceremony, not only the new students but also the returning students began to flock back to the academy.
Buzzing.
The students were busy checking the rooms posted on the bulletin boards throughout the academy.
The list of classes available for enrollment this year had already been posted.
<Advanced Sword Techniques - Namgung Su>
<Practical Techniques - Gwak Cheol-woo>
<Understanding Rising Lightness Techniques - Mae Geuk-ryeom>
...
<Ancient Martial Arts History - Je-gal So-young>
Depending on what class it was and who the instructor was, students' preferences varied greatly.
Classes that were not popular would be left with only flies buzzing in the lecture hall, while popular subjects would see fierce competition among students for enrollment.
And such evaluations would accumulate to determine the treatment and monthly salary of the instructors.
“By the way, who is Je-gal So-young?”
“I heard she is a new teacher this year.”
“Who would take a class like Ancient Martial Arts History...?”
“Is she pretty? Should I just attend the first class?”
Among the temporary instructors this year, Je-gal So-young was the only one who had been appointed as the head instructor.
No, upon closer inspection, there was one more person listed at the very bottom.
<Understanding Sapa Martial Arts and Preparing for Real Combat - Baek Su-ryong>