The second confrontation between the Azure Dragon Academy and the Vermilion Phoenix Academy concluded.
"The White Ice Divine Art... How nostalgic," the Fire King muttered, staring blankly at Yeo Min's white hair. Strangely, his gaze seemed lost in the distant past.
"Have you faced the White Ice Divine Art before?" Baek Suryong asked, puzzled. The White Ice Divine Art was the North Sea Ice Palace's ultimate technique, hardly something one could easily encounter in the Central Plains.
"A long time ago, I fought an extraordinary master called the Ice Moon Goddess."
The instructors clicked their tongues, impressed by the girl's ability to turn the situation around so quickly.
"...!" Baek Suryong's eyes widened, but fortunately, the Fire King wasn't looking at him.
The old man stroked his magnificent beard, recalling an old memory. "That was the first and last time in my life that I was completely humiliated by a woman."
Noh Goonsang teased, "Hohoho! Hyung-nim, you had times like that too?"
The other instructors pretended not to listen, but their ears perked up in interest.
The Fire King chuckled. "You bastard. Do you think I was always one of the Ten Supremes? The Ice Moon Goddess's martial arts were about half a level above mine back then. Anyway, impressed by each other's exceptional martial arts, we dueled every day for several days."
Everyone was intrigued by the rare story from a former Ten Supreme.
Only Baek Suryong tilted his head thoughtfully, feeling like he had heard a similar story before.
What is it?
He was suddenly reminded of a conversation he had at Artist Pung Wol's house.
"Do you have any idea how many flies buzzed around Eun Yerin? There were more than a few annoying guys who thought they were hot stuff just because they knew some martial arts..."
"But she beat them all to a pulp and sent them packing with their tails between their legs."
He remembered the old stories about Master Eun that Artist Pung Wol and Geomno had shared while drinking. Artist Pung Wol's excited, drunken voice was still vivid in his mind.
"There was once a guy who had learned a powerful extreme yang martial art. His name was Sama something, and he claimed he fell for Eun Yerin at first sight. After that, he pestered her for a match..."
"Ohh, him! He got thrashed so badly he went home in tears."
"Still, he was a pretty tenacious guy. Even after getting his ass handed to him, he showed up the next day, and the day after that. He kept challenging her for about ten days, can you believe it?"
So the protagonist of that drunken tale is this old man right in front of me.
Baek Suryong couldn't help giggling, "Hehehe..."
"Why are you suddenly laughing?"
"Ah, it's nothing."
Unaware that Baek Suryong knew the truth, the Fire King smiled bitterly and significantly exaggerated his past abilities. "A pity, it was merely a fleeting connection. We promised to meet again someday and finish our match, but we were both too busy and never got the chance."
He gazed warmly at Sama Yeong and Sama Hyeon, muttering to himself that it was probably for the best that they had never met again. If he had formed a more intimate relationship with Eun Yerin, he might never have had these precious grandchildren.
Baek Suryong stared at the old man in disbelief. What a shameless old geezer. Though, regardless of the truth, it's nice to know someone remembers my masters.
To change the mood, he took a coin from his wallet. "Since we've each won once, only the final confrontation remains."
The Fire King nodded. "It seems we'll have to toss a coin after all."
"Okay. I take it the Azure Dragon Academy agrees, too?"
With one victory each, the final event would decide the winner.
"To be fair, let's ask a martial artist from the Ak Clan to toss the coin."
A nearby martial artist from the Ak Clan was called over. He tossed a coin high into the air.
WHOOSH!
Everyone's eyes followed the coin as it soared and then fell.
If it landed on heads, the Azure Dragon Academy would decide the next event. If it landed on tails, the Vermilion Phoenix Academy would choose. Naturally, the winning side would select an advantageous event for themselves, so it was safe to say that the coin toss would have a significant impact on the outcome of the bet.
WHOOSH!
Suddenly, a gentle breeze wrapped around the coin, causing it to land softly on its edge.
"W-What?"
"Did someone interfere...?"
"Hmph! That does sound interesting," Hyonwon Kang shouted, drawing his Black Dao.
Everyone stared at the culprit who had summoned the breeze. A girl with short hair, freckles, and large, twinkling eyes was walking toward them.
"Yeon Soha! Where have you been hiding all this time?" Sama Yeong yelled, storming toward the girl.
Yeon Soha shuffled backward an equal distance and smiled sheepishly. "I overslept a little because I'm hungover from last night..."
Sama Yeong rubbed her temples in frustration. "What kind of shitty excuse is that? Get over here right now!"
"Wait! Can't you listen to what I have to say first?"
Baek Suryong clicked his tongue lightly, recognizing the Wudang Sect's ultimate technique, the Misty Cloud Steps.
As expected, she's no ordinary delinquent. I can even glimpse the profoundness that belongs only to Taoist martial arts in the way she retreats backwards. By making such a simple movement, she's created enough distance to escape from Sama Yeong's clutches.
Since Yeon Soha was not part of the Azure Dragon Academy, though, she was Sama Yeong's problem, not his. He glanced at the fuming woman, who looked as if she was about to hurl a fireball at the girl.
"Hohoho! She must have a reason for speaking up, so why don't we hear her out?" Noh Goonsang chimed in.
Sama Yeong glared at Yeon Soha as if she wanted to eat her alive, but she couldn't exactly go against the Principal of the Azure Dragon Academy. "...Fine," she said, sighing.
Yeon Soha eyed the instructors. "We're the ones competing, so I don't think it's right for the teachers to decide everything. How about letting us students decide the final event?"
The instructors exchanged glances, unable to think of a response, while several students nodded in agreement. Although Yeon Soha's large eyes gleamed with mischief, she had a point.
"Letting the students decide for themselves, you say..."
"That's not wrong."
Baek Suryong asked, "Student Yeon Soha. Do you have a good idea?"
Yeon Soha grinned and nodded. "How about we make the final match a group competition where everyone gets to participate?"
The Fire King narrowed his eyes doubtfully, having experienced something like this before. "...A group competition? Surely you're not suggesting a free-for-all brawl?"