A subtle tension hung in the air between the two academies after the clash involving Wiji Cheon, Ju Yulsang, and Yeon Soha. In particular, the Vermilion Phoenix Academy students were now wary of the Azure Dragon Academy students, whom they had previously dismissed as inferior.
"Those guys..."
"Aren't they too different from the rumors?"
"They've completely changed compared to when I saw them before."
The two academies traveled using light movement arts, maintaining a moderate pace. However, the Vermilion Phoenix Academy students kept glancing sideways and whispering among themselves, their expressions a complex mixture of surprise, displeasure, curiosity, and wariness.
Even the upperclassmen who had seen the Azure Dragon Academy students at the previous Heavenly Martial Festival were surprised; no, they were even more perplexed.
"What are you all looking at? Is this a spectacle? Do you all wanna die?" Hyonwon Kang barked, inciting the entire Vermilion Phoenix Academy.
Yeo Min inevitably slapped him in the back. "Shut up, you idiot! Stop starting fights for no reason and get your ass over here!"
"Oww! Do you know your palm strikes are getting stronger?"
"I got it... Why are you only picking on me..."
Seething, Yeo Min dragged away a teary-eyed Hyonwon Kang.
Dokgo Jun sighed and approached the Vermilion Phoenix Academy's Student Council President, Sama Hyeon. He had apologized almost every fifteen minutes since running into them. "I'm sorry. I'll warn my schoolmates to watch their words and actions."
"We're the ones who should apologize. I'll also warn our students not to stare so openly."
The student council presidents attempted to defuse the situation, but the awkward conclusion to the fight between Wiji Cheon and Yeon Soha left a lingering tension.
On narrow trails, one group inevitably took the lead, forcing the other to eat their dust.
The instructors, meanwhile, did nothing to stop them. Even when they visited a city for a rest, they issued a few warnings to the students but did not impose many strict rules on their behavior.
"Don't stray too far, and make sure to travel in pairs at least. We'll meet back here in an hour. Got it, everyone?"
"Yes!"
"The same goes for you guys. Anyone who tries to start a fight with the Vermilion Phoenix Academy kids will end up with a bald spot on their head, tradition or not. Especially you, Hyonwon Kang! Did you hear me clearly?"
""Yes!""
Although they had studied martial arts since childhood, most of the students were still teenagers. Excited to be on the trip, everyone split up into groups and scattered.
Ju Yulsang hung his head, too ashamed to face Sama Hyeon after being humbled by Wiji Cheon. "...Senior, I'm sorry."
"Eat. It'll give you some energy." Sama Hyeon patted his junior's shoulder and offered him a steaming meatbun from a nearby stall.
As Ju Yulsang took a bite, tears of frustration welled in his eyes. "I tarnished the honor of the Vermilion Phoenix Academy with my pathetic performance... Sob..."
"Here, drink some water; you're going to choke." Sama Hyeon handed his junior a water flask and sighed softly. Ju Yulsang blamed his own incompetence, but his opponent had been so strong that not even he could be sure of victory.
If it'd been me... could I have won?
As the grandson of the Fire King and younger brother of Sama Yeong, he had learned one of the world's most exceptional extreme-yang martial arts. He possessed extraordinary talent and diligence, and ranked among the top three prodigies of the Vermilion Phoenix Academy, on par with the Heavenly Martial Academy's best. Still, he couldn't help but feel disheartened whenever he recalled Wiji Cheon's amazing swordsmanship.
I could have blocked that blow, but definitely not as easily as Senior Yeon Soha.
If Yeon Soha, the Vermilion Phoenix Academy's secret weapon, hadn't intervened, Ju Yulsang would have been severely injured, or the instructors would have been forced to step in.
"Yulsang, about that Wiji Cheon you faced earlier..." he began, when he sensed an approaching presence and stiffened.
Of all the times...
The Five Young Azure Dragons were walking toward them, led by Hyonwon Kang. Their every stride was purposeful, making them seem extremely hostile.
Don't tell me, are they're holding a grudge over what happened earlier?
Sama Hyeon was worried that the Azure Dragon Academy delinquents had come to finish punishing Ju Yulsang. There were no instructors around, and neither Dokgo Jun nor Senior Yeon Soha was around to mediate. Only Ju Yulsang, still reeling from his defeat, stood beside him.
"S-Senior?"
"...Don't worry," Sama Hyeon reassured him. Even if his junior was inept, he was still their Student Council President. He couldn't just stand by and watch Ju Yulsang get hurt. With grim determination, he shielded him with his body and ignited a small flame at his fingertips. "I know you're angry about what happened earlier," he warned, "but any further retaliation..."
Hyonwon Kang strode right past them as if they were invisible, shouting, "Grandma! I want all the meatbuns you have!"
"...?" Sama Hyeon froze in place, directing only his eyes toward Hyonwon Kang.
Surprised, the old woman running the meatbun stall blinked in astonishment. "All of them?"
"Yeah! It's not like I'm buying that many, right? There are seven of us, so we'll need at least this much." Hyonwon Kang pouted slightly, even though there were easily a hundred meatbuns at the stall.
While the old woman was packed the buns, Geo Sangwoong and Ya Suhyeok came over.
"Let's set aside some meatbuns for Senior Brother."
"Will twenty be enough?"
"I think that's enough for an appetizer. We can buy more from another stall. Grandma, how much is all of this?"
"Heh... These look really delicious."
The three muscleheads drooled happily, not noticing Sama Hyeon at all.
A moment later, Yeo Min arrived. Sighing, she apologized to Sama Hyeon. "We didn't come here to pick a fight, so you can relax. Those idiots just charge ahead blindly at the sight of food."
"Ah..." Sama Hyeon's eyes widened, utterly mesmerized. He had never seen such snow-white hair up close before. Moments later, he realized he was being rude and clasped his hands in greeting. "...N-Not at all. I was the one who misunderstood."
"Are you always this formal? We're all fellow students here."
"I-It's a habit... I-I'm sorry..."
"Why are you apologizing to me?" Yeo Min chuckled in disbelief, causing Sama Hyeon to hang his head and blush.
Meanwhile, Wiji Cheon offered Ju Yulsang a tanghulu. "Are your injuries better now?"
"......"
"I'm sorry, I got a little too heated earlier. This is delicious. I'll give you one."
"......"
"That's strange. I didn't hit your mouth... Don't tell me, did losing to me shock you so badly that you can't speak anymore?"
Although it wasn't a proper reconciliation, Ju Yulsang accepted the tanghulu.
After buying all the meatbuns, Hyonwon Kang finally noticed Sama Hyeon. "Huh? Aren't you Dokgo Jun's friend?"
"We're not close enough to be friends, but..."
"You're not? But I saw you two talking so much. I thought you were close."
That was because of you guys! Sama Hyeon barely swallowed the words that rose to his throat. These five seemed docile for now, but there was no telling when the Azure Dragon Academy's worst delinquents might turn hostile. Beside, his older sister often told him that he worried too much about trivial matters.
"Well then, we'll be on our way..." Sama Hyeon said, trying to leave discreetly with Ju Yulsang.
"Hey! Wait a second," Hyonwon Kang shouted and held out two steaming meatbuns to the tense pair. "Here, have one each. I know you guys couldn't get any because we bought them all."
"...?" Sama Hyeon accepted the buns in a daze.
"Wonkang," Geo Sangwoong scolded seriously. "I'm the one who paid, so why are you taking the credit?"
"Ah, seriously. I spent all my allowance recently, so I don't have a single copper."
"Hehe... Because you bought that special gift, right?"
"S-Shut up!" Hyonwon Kang hurriedly placed his hands over Geo Sangwoong's mouth, then turned back to Sama Hyeon. "Anyway, let's have fun on school trip! As long as you don't cause any trouble, we'll behave ourselves too."
"...Same to you."
Hyonwon Kang grinned, patted Sama Hyeon's forearm, and left. Geo Sangwoong and Ya Suhyeok, their arms overflowing with meatbuns, somehow managed to wave goodbye. Yeo Min gave a light nod, and Wiji Cheon left after frightening Ju Yulsang by suggesting another duel.
Sama Hyeon blankly watched the Five Young Azure Dragons retreat. "They're a strange bunch..."
"I agree..."
Even though less than fifteen minutes had passed, Sama Hyeon and Ju Yulsang trudged back to the meeting point, looking exhausted. The Five Young Azure Dragons had drained all their energy.