Number Four signed, "I want to try teaching them martial arts."
Number Four signed, "I want to try teaching them martial arts."
To his surprise, Baek Suryong shook his head firmly.
He stared blankly at his old instructor, so puzzled that he forgot about this notebook and naturally communicated with sign language.
As everyone scolded Ya Suhyeok and glanced worriedly at Baek Suryong, only Geo Sangwoong quietly looked in the direction Number Four had gone.
"Why?"
He had reached a realm that surpassed even the Bandit King in his prime. After all, the Bandit King's peerless external arts were completed only in theory while he was confined in prison. He, the Blood Cult's Fourth Apostle, was the one who truly realized the full potential of the martial art.
"......" Emotion slowly disappeared from Number Four's eyes.
Of course, his old instructor might be better at teaching the basics or integrating other martial arts. In the past, the man had perfectly understood and taught martial arts even without inner qi.
However, for a martial artist who specialized in only the Eighteen Strikes of the Viridian Forest and was now facing an insurmountable wall, wasn't he a far more suitable teacher?
In the past, the man had perfectly understood and taught martial arts even without inner qi.
"Don't you know? They're stagnant."
Number Four signed, "I want to try teaching them martial arts."
Number Four's glanced at Geo Sangwoong and Ya Suhyeok, who staggered as they lifted themselves to their feet. Despite having endured a blow that would have knocked out the average martial artist, they had already recovered.
"Urgh..."
"Damn strong..."
In Number Four's opinion, Geo Sangwoong and Ya Suhyeok had already trained their bodies quite well. They had a blessed bone structure and excellent motor skills.
Because of that, he couldn't understand why his old instructor hadn't taught them the Savage Tiger Fist yet. If he had, they would have definitely shown results by now.
He could just go back, inform Number One about the Azure Dragon Hero's true identity, and leave everything to him.
"If I teach them, they can break free from their stagnation."
"That might be true," Baek Suryong readily admitted as much. He knew the state of his students better than anyone, and he was fully aware that Geo Sangwoong and Ya Suhyeok's martial arts had recently begun to stagnate. However, this did not change his stance. "Even so, I can't allow it."
"Why?"
"Because..." Baek Suryong struggled to meet Number Four's eyes, which contained only pure curiosity. Still, he felt obligated to answer his old student honestly. "...Because I know you'll teach them the same way I used to."
Baek Suryong regarded his old student with pity.
His voice trembled slightly, as if spitting out each word was a struggle.
"...Mr. Baek?"
"What's wrong?"
The Five Young Azure Dragons, who were lying on the ground gasping for breath, raised their heads and stared at Baek Suryong in surprise. Their teacher's voice sounded different, much less confident than usual. Even his face was uncharacteristically stiff as he spoke to the man they had played with just moments ago.
"Is that a problem?" Number Four tilted his head, not understanding.
To understand his changed old instructor, he wanted to try teaching the two young martial artists with bone structure and martial talent comparable to his own. He was certain that he could make those two much more useful than they were now.
He was certain that he could make those two much more useful than they were now.
Because of that... he never expected his old instructor to oppose his request.
He won't let me do it because he thinks I would teach them exactly as he taught me?
Strangely, he felt a little angry.
Baek Suryong nodded. "Yes, that's why I can't let you do it yet."
"But is there any other way to teach?"
"......" Baek Suryong fell silent.
Number Four's eyebrows twitched in frustration. "Do you not want me to understand you?"
"That way I taught you back then..." Baek Suryong bit his lip and hesitated. Although he didn't know now would be the time, there was something he definitely wanted to say to his old students if he ever met them again. Finally, he choked out, "...That was wrong."
"......" Number Four said nothing.
Should I return to the Cult?
Baek Suryong grit his teeth. He could no longer stand by while a student raised the wrong way hurt a child, believing it was the right thing to do.
So I can't allow him to teach the kids.
Every time he did that, he heard a pleased laugh from the kitchen.
Taking a step closer to Number Four, he continued plainly, "At the time, I believed that was the best method, but I was wrong. There was definitely a better way. I wanted you to know that."
"......" Emotion slowly disappeared from Number Four's eyes.
Baek Suryong regarded his old student with pity. "Listen to my story a little longer. It'll be a long one, so let's move to another place..."
He muttered under his breath, "Don't tell me.
BOOM!
Baek Suryong fell silent at the stomp that shook the earth. The Five Young Azure Dragons jumped up simultaneously, while Silver Tiger arched his back and bared his claws.
VWOOOM! VWOOOM!
The Divine Azure Dragon Sword and Crimson Moon vibrated, warning their master of danger.
As Number Four's presence rapidly faded, he stood speechless for a long time.
However, Number Four did not attack Baek Suryong. His stomp was just a sharp warning not to come any closer.
"I don't want to hear it."
Leaving those words behind, Number Four spun around and executed his movement arts. He leaped over the wall and disappeared in a flash.
"I've never seen anyone who likes dumplings1 this much in my life, you know?
Baek Suryong sighed, "You kids aren't the ones in the wrong..."
I wanted to say that all the fault lies with me, so give me a chance to correct my past mistakes.
As Number Four's presence rapidly faded, he stood speechless for a long time.
Number Four's eyebrows twitched in frustration. "Do you not want me to understand you?"
Finally, Ya Suhyeok scratched the back of his head and muttered, "I don't know what happened, but he should've eaten dinner before going..."
"Why are you talking about food at a time like this?"
"That way I taught you back then..." Baek Suryong bit his lip and hesitated. Although he didn't know now would be the time, there was something he definitely wanted to say to his old students if he ever met them again. Finally, he choked out, "...That was wrong."
"Just who was that person anyway?"
As everyone scolded Ya Suhyeok and glanced worriedly at Baek Suryong, only Geo Sangwoong quietly looked in the direction Number Four had gone.
He muttered under his breath, "Don't tell me..."
"Young man, you aren't leaving early today?"
"......" Number Four nodded slightly, staring blankly at the food the inn owner brought on a small tray.