Shouldn't the ones apologizing be the Vermilion Phoenix Academy? They disrespected us first.*
"What did that kid just say?"
Even Baek Suryong, who was observing quietly with his arms folded, nodded approvingly.
"Did a freshman from the Azure Dragon Academy just provoke us?"
"This is so absurd, seriously..."
"Hahaha! He's kind of cute, in his own way. Freshmen are still at that age where they don't know reality and act childishly."
The Vermilion Phoenix Academy students who witnessed Wiji Cheon's provocation were split. Some glared at him sharply, while others just shook their heads with smiles, dismissing him entirely.
He was just a small, frail-looking freshman from the Azure Dragon Academy.
While a few students and the Vermilion Phoenix Academy instructors noticed Wiji Cheon's unusual skill, most, including Ju Yulsang, saw his provocation as nothing more than reckless bravado.
An open space formed around the two students. Ju Yulsang, his face red with wounded pride, spat, "If you insist on doing this the hard way, then so be it! You brought this upon yourself, so don't blame me if you get hurt..."
"A pup that doesn't know to fear a tiger. Can you take responsibility for what you just said?"
"Of course."
"This isn't the hard way, though?"
Ju Yulsang try to suppress his anger and sheathe his sword. "...I'll forgive you if you apologize now. I don't want to get into a scuffle with a mere freshman either."
Wiji Cheon tilted his head. Me, apologize? Why should I? Shouldn't the ones apologizing be the Vermilion Phoenix Academy? They disrespected us first.
He blinked a few times and asked innocently, "Are you perhaps... scared of me?"
"You little bastard!" Ju Yulsang drew his sword again like a lightning bolt and pointed it at Wiji Cheon.
Wiji Cheon didn't even flinch at the sword pointed at his face. He had judged that the blade wouldn't reach him.
"Ju Yulsang's just toying with the kid, right?
Unfortunately, Ju Yulsang thought he'd simply frozen in fear. He was so focused on Wiji Cheon that he failed to notice that most of the Azure Dragon Academy students were desperately holding back their laughter.
"Hahaha! He's kind of cute, in his own way. Freshmen are still at that age where they don't know reality and act childishly."
"Fufu, poor fool. He's jumping into the frying pan of his own accord," Hyonwon Kang giggled. His anger had already subsided, so he watched with his arms crossed, his eyes sparkling at the thought of a fight.
Yeo Min smacked him on the back and sighed, "Are you happy? Cheon is really angry. Do you know how mad he has to be to intentionally lose at rock-paper-scissors?"
"Really?" Hyonwon Kang looked back.
Geo Sangwoong and Ya Suhyeok also nodded. When the four of them, excluding Hyonwon Kang, whose demerits were on the line, played a rock-paper-scissors game to decide who would step up, Wiji Cheon had intentionally played his hand late to win. It was a clear foul, but everyone had let him go without complaint because the usually gentle boy's eyes were blazing with fire.
Since the Principal had told him to do his best, he planned to throw his opponent off balance with a single move and force him to drop his sword.
"Why's he so worked up..." Dokgo Jun mumbled worriedly.
Geo Sangwoong smiled bitterly. "We're pretty used to being ignored by other academies... but Cheon is a freshman. This is the first time he's been so openly ridiculed."
Ya Suhyeok, standing next to him, scrunched up his face and nodded. As a fellow freshman, he understood Wiji Cheon's feelings best. "That kid, Jicheon, really loves the Azure Dragon Academy. What more can you expect from a guy whose career goal is to be an instructor here after graduation?"
The seniors grinned and offered a brief moment of condolence for the nameless Vermilion Phoenix Academy student who would soon be crawling to the Ak Clan Branch Estate.
Noh Goonsang watched this and lightly patted Wiji Cheon's shoulder. No advice was needed for the future star of the Azure Dragon Academy. "Go show them what you're made of."
An open space formed around the two students. Ju Yulsang, his face red with wounded pride, spat, "If you insist on doing this the hard way, then so be it! You brought this upon yourself, so don't blame me if you get hurt..."
"This isn't the hard way, though?"
"Stop! Ju Yulsang! I won't tolerate any more disturbances!" The boy with the upright impression who'd tried to stop Ju Yulsang earlier stepped between them. He offered a polite clasped hands greeting toward Wiji Cheon and the Azure Dragon Academy students. "I am Sama Hyeon, the Student Council President of the Vermilion Phoenix Academy. On behalf of my junior, I apologize for hurting the feelings of the Azure Dragon Academy students with his thoughtless words and actions."
Ju Yulsang gritted his teeth, unable to tell if Wiji Cheon was genuinely innocent or just teasing him. "In any case, as your senior in the jianghu, I'll grant you three free strikes."
"If you'd do that, I'd be grateful." Wiji Cheon shrugged, smiled brightly, and drew his Soul Sword.
SHIING!
The clear sound and clean motion made Ju Yulsang's shoulders tremble slightly. He momentarily regretted his decision to go easy on Wiji Cheon.
"Stop! Ju Yulsang! I won't tolerate any more disturbances!" The boy with the upright impression who'd tried to stop Ju Yulsang earlier stepped between them. He offered a polite clasped hands greeting toward Wiji Cheon and the Azure Dragon Academy students. "I am Sama Hyeon, the Student Council President of the Vermilion Phoenix Academy. On behalf of my junior, I apologize for hurting the feelings of the Azure Dragon Academy students with his thoughtless words and actions."
It was an apology as proper and polite as his appearance.
Baek Suryong glanced at Tang Soso, who was about to do the same. "Don't bother. There's not much to analyze."
Since the Vermilion Phoenix Academy had apologized first, Dokgo Jun stepped forward. The two knew each other but spoke formally, as it was an official setting. "I'm Dokgo Jun, the Student Council President of the Azure Dragon Academy. Our junior was also overly agitated. We'll be spending the next few days together, and I hope we can avoid reddening our faces like today."
"I'll give him a stern warning."
"In that case, at this point..."
The two mature Student Council Presidents were about to settle things amicably, but...
"Why are you stopping them? It was just getting interesting!" the Fire King complained loudly.
Sama Hyeon looked at his grandfather, flustered. "Gr-Principal?"
Noh Goonsang also spoke with a grin, "Hohoho! There's nothing better than a spar for young martial artists to get to know each other."
"Even you, Principal...!" Dokgo Jun looked at Noh Goonsang, equally flustered.
Baek Suryong shrugged nonchalantly. "You can only analyze someone if they're a worthy opponent."
The two old men, their thoughts aligned, reignited the dying embers of the fight.
The Fire King said to Ju Yulsang, "However, don't say things like you'll grant him three free strikes. It's difficult not to have regrets even when you both do your best, so show him your skills with all your might. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Principal!"
Noh Goonsang watched this and lightly patted Wiji Cheon's shoulder. No advice was needed for the future star of the Azure Dragon Academy. "Go show them what you're made of."
Noh Goonsang also spoke with a grin, "Hohoho! There's nothing better than a spar for young martial artists to get to know each other."
Wiji Cheon nodded brightly. "Okay, Principal!"
And so, with the approval of the two Principals, the first official duel between the Azure Dragon Academy and the Vermilion Phoenix Academy kicked off.