The Fire King stroked his lush beard, a troubled look creasing his wrinkled face. "I don't have anything worth giving to you, and you already have my Gratitude Token... I know! Should I set you up with my granddaughter?"
"Grandfather!" Sama Yeong's eyes went wide, appalled by the cheeky suggestion.
Baek Suryong shook his head and shrugged nonchalantly. "No need for that. She's scheduled to transfer to the Azure Dragon Academy next year anyway."
Sama Yeong's jaw dropped. "What? When did I..."
"Don't you remember?" Baek Suryong interjected. "You agreed to transfer if the Azure Dragon Academy takes first place at this year's Heavenly Martial Festival."
"Haa..." Sama Yeong laughed hollowly, recalling their conversation when they parted at the Namgung Estate.
"How about the one with the lower score at the Heavenly Martial Festival switches jobs?"
Those were the exact terms of their agreement. Although Baek Suryong had matter-of-factly changed it to 'if the Azure Dragon Academy wins', she didn't feel the need to correct him.
"Kekeke! A man should aspire to at least that much." The Fire King ran his fingers through his beard again. "So, what do you want in return for winning the bet?"
As a former member of the Ten Supremes, he possessed wealth, fame, outstanding martial arts, and a formidable social network. However, the same could be said of Baek Suryong, the Azure Dragon Hero.
I'm rather curious.
He wondered what this young hero could possibly want from him. Baek Suryong possessed profound martial arts skills that had earned him the coveted status of one of the Ten Supremes at a young age. He was also the Murim Alliance Chief Instructor, a benefactor to the Namgung Clan, and an Honorary Beggar of the Beggars' Gang.
This was why he had joked about marrying off his granddaughter, assuming that no man could resist her beauty. He hadn't expected the audacious young man to refuse without so much as a hint of hesitation.
"If I win the bet, would you be willing to come to the Azure Dragon Academy and give a special lecture like you did today? Oh, but once feels insufficient, so how about thrice?"
The Fire King was stunned speechless. After a brief pause, he finally blurted out, "...The more I interact with you, the more I like you. If you'll agree to the same terms should you lose, I'll gladly accept."
Lightly warming up on the spot, she asked Baek Suryong, "Should I go all out?"
"I'm fine with that."
The Fire King smiled, realizing this man was indeed a teacher through and through. "Since the students will be participating in this bet, I suppose it's a fitting reward."
"Regardless of which year we're in?"
"The students?"
The students who had been resting nearby perked up their ears.
The Fire King eyed them and announced, "I propose a bet between the Vermilion Phoenix Academy and the Azure Dragon Academy. The two schools will compete in a few events and determine a winner."
Upon hearing the word 'compete, ' the students' eyes instantly lit up with fighting spirit. Soon, they started shooting death glares at the opposing team. A few students with strong competitive streaks even started warming up.
Seeing this, the Fire King chuckled. "Keke, it's just a fun activity to fill the extra time. How about we choose three events? The first school to win two will win the bet."
Due to Baek Suryong and the Fire King running wild, the morning training had concluded earlier than planned. This left a gap in the schedule until lunch, so the Fire King suggested a brief contest to keep everyone engaged. Of course, only time would reveal whether the game would truly end quickly.
"Sounds interesting, doesn't it, Mr. Baek?"
If the old man was telling the truth, then he was a monster who had survived the war between the Blood Cult and the Murim Alliance.
Baek Suryong nodded, intrigued. He had wanted to suggest a match with the Vermilion Phoenix Academy to properly compare skills anyway. "How will we choose the events?"
"I'll pick one event, and you'll pick the other. For the last one, how about we decide it with a coin toss?"
"I'm fine with that." Baek Suryong nodded and scanned the Azure Dragon students. Most seemed somewhat interested in the sudden bet, but he wasn't satisfied with their tepid enthusiasm.
They need to be determined to win at all costs. I need to motivate them... Oh! I can do that!
Smirking, he asked the Fire King, "May I add one more condition to the stakes?"
"Go on."
"For the rest of today, the students from the losing academy must call the students from the winning academy 'Senior,' regardless of their year. How about it?"
""What...?""
Not only the Fire King, but the nearby instructors also grew wide-eyed in astonishment.
Of course, the students' reaction was the most dramatic.
"If we lose, we have to call those guys 'Senior'?"
"I would hate that so much..."
Surprisingly, the atmosphere on both sides was the same. Many students grimaced at the thought of losing, but even more students' eyes glittered excitedly at the thought of winning.
"So, those jerks will call us 'Senior'?"
"What's the problem? We just have to win."
"Let's take this chance to show them what we're made of!"
"That's only true for now," Baek Suryong interjected. Seeing Dokgo Jun assume his starting stance, he declared confidently, "Someday, a day will come when the Nine Swords of Dokgo will be re-evaluated because of that kid."
Sparks literally flew from the students' eyes. Just as Baek Suryong had intended, the atmosphere began to grow heated.
"Hah! Who would have thought those kids would ever consider the Azure Dragon Academy a worthy opponent? It really feels like times have changed!" the Fire King laughed hollowly. Turning to Noh Goonsang, he asked, "What do you think? Even if the Azure Dragon Hero accepts, the bet's off if you say no."
Noh Goonsang, who had been listening with interest, smiled and nodded. "Why would I mind? But... are Hyung-nim and I included in that bet?"
"What? First him, and now you... Fine. If the Azure Dragon Academy wins, I'll gladly call you Hyung-nim!"
Things proceeded swiftly with Noh Goonsang's permission. The Vermilion Phoenix Academy selected the first event.
"We'll compete with a single technique, and the one with greater power prevails. Each side will send only one representative."
The Fire King seemed to treat this bet as mere amusement. Calling over an Ak Clan martial artist, he requested several thick iron plates. A moment later, two large iron plates, each over 3 cm thick, were brought over.
This type of competition was unexpected, but Baek Suryong readily agreed.
"Okay. Are there any restrictions on year, age, or martial arts?"
"None. We'll send out a third-year student, Sama Hyeon."
As Sama Hyeon stepped forward from the Vermilion Phoenix Academy, his fellow students cheered wildly.
"WOOOOOAH!"
"SAMA HYEOOOON!"
On the other hand, the Azure Dragon Academy's Paparazzi grew greatly agitated when the boy appeared alone. It was evident that Sama Hywon would grow into a handsome young man destined to steal many women's hearts.
Baek Suryong thought for a moment. Since he inherited the Fire King's martial arts, his techniques must be quite powerful.
Extreme yang energy martial arts were all well-known for their destructive power. The Fire King's divine art, a contender for the world's most powerful martial art, was certain to boast tremendous power.
He hesitated. There were more factors to consider than he had expected.
If the goal is simply raw power, it would be better to send either Geo Sangwoong or Ya Suhyeok than Wiji Cheon or Hyonwon Kang.
The Monochrome Bears, who had recently started learning the Savage Tiger Fist, were now able to deliver ridiculously powerful blows.
Suddenly, Dokgo Jun approached him. "Mr. Baek, please allow me to compete in this match," he requested seriously.
Baek Suryong regarded the boy closely. The Sword Dragon, Dokgo Jun, wasn't guaranteed to win, but he was undoubtedly the foremost prodigy representing the Azure Dragon Academy. Even before the Five Young Azure Dragons distinguished themselves, he had always protected the academy's reputation.
Dokgo Jun had certainly earned the right to take the lead.
Baek Suryong met the boy's gaze and nodded. "Student Council President. Go and win."
Ak Bi sensed that the old man before him was by no means his inferior.
"Understood!" Dokgo Jun replied in a low voice, then promptly strode toward the iron plate set up in the center of the training grounds.
Dokgo Jun approached Baek Suryong and bowed his head low, even as Tang Soso fussed over him and wrapped his hand in bandages.
"WOOOOOAH!"
"DOKGO JUUUUN!"
The Student Council President was met with more than just shouting and applause.
Tang Soso led the Martial Dance Club in a rousing chant, "The pride and treasure of the Azure Dragon Academy! Sword Dragon Dokgo Jun! Give it your all! Win!"
Behind her, the club members performed a group sword dance mimicking the Nine Swords of Dokgo.
Dokgo Jun's face flushed bright red. "V-Vice President! Are you trying to make me lose by embarrassing me?"
"Not at all. We're going to keep doing this until you win, President."
Watching Tang Soso clumsily pick up a sword, a weapon she never used, and mimic the Nine Swords of Dokgo, Dokgo Jun resolved to end the match as quickly as possible.