"Do not take part in this battle."
Before the battle began, the Fire King summoned Sama Hyeon and Dokgo Jun and issued them a stern warning. Although the two Student Council Presidents protested and asked to be allowed to fight, the Fire King stood his ground.
"The canyon entrance is narrow, and we've built high ramparts. Here, we can hold off a large army even with a small force."
"But the Principal told us not to recklessly join the fight..."
Noh Goonsang agreed wholeheartedly. "I concur. Our instructors and the Ak Clan martial artists are well-coordinated and more than enough to face this threat. The two of you should focus on maintaining order among the students."
When the encirclement did not break, his swordsmanship grew more ferocious.
While things might have been different in an all-out war requiring large numbers, in a confined space, involving the students would likely lead to more chaos. Recognizing the merit of their argument, the two Student Council Presidents reluctantly conceded.
The instructors patted their slumped shoulders and offered playful words of comfort.
"We know you want to fight with us, but there's no need for you to step in."
"The canyon entrance is narrow, and we've built high ramparts. Here, we can hold off a large army even with a small force."
"Sorry, but you brats will have to postpone your chance at becoming new heroes of murim until another day."
The pressure on the First Eccentric intensified in an instant.
The instructors forced smiles to reassure the students, despite their own fear of the impending battle with the Blood Cult.
"Do not take part in this battle."
Now, the students' faces drained of color as they watched those same instructors keel over, bleeding.
"Are we really just going to stand here and watch?"
"But the Principal told us not to recklessly join the fight..."
"Hey, Student Council President! We were waiting for you to give the order!"
"Let's go help the instructors!"
"Don't act rashly! If we jump in without a plan, we'll just worsen the situation!"
Every student gripped their weapon tightly, their eyes fixed on the battlefield. Even those who advocated for intervention couldn't bring themselves to engage the enemy.
Before the battle began, the Fire King summoned Sama Hyeon and Dokgo Jun and issued them a stern warning. Although the two Student Council Presidents protested and asked to be allowed to fight, the Fire King stood his ground.
They were all paralyzed by fear. The Blood Cult, a name once heard only in horror stories, had appeared before them like a specter. Even a trained martial artist would freeze at the sight of the Blood Zombies and crazy pain-immune fanatics climb over the ramparts and spill blood, never mind inexperienced children. Regardless of their martial prowess, few had ever stood on a bloody battlefield.
At the voice thundering across the field as if to shake off their fear, the Azure Dragon Academy students marched forward eagerly.
Dokgo Jun grit his teeth. No, that's just an excuse.
On the battlefield, no one would be spared simply because they were a student. The mere label could neither deflect a blade nor earn mercy from an enemy. Having faced the Blood Cult before, the Azure Dragon Academy students understood this better than anyone.
He made a decision. Drawing his sword, he infused his voice with inner qi and roared, "Defense Against the Blood Cult students! Assemble around your group leaders!"
At the voice thundering across the field as if to shake off their fear, the Azure Dragon Academy students marched forward eagerly.
"Hey, Student Council President! We were waiting for you to give the order!"
"If you'd been any later, I was seriously going to beat you up."
The other always challenged those stronger than himself.
"Let's go! It's time to show them the results of our training!"
Students gathered around the mock battle group leaders, the Five Young Azure Dragons among them, and instantly formed ranks.
There was no need for long speeches or extensive strategizing. They had been working together all semester. On days without classes, they gathered to practice their joint attack formations and devise new tactics. When they won, they celebrated, vowing to win again. When they lost, they trained through the night, vowing never to lose again.
By now, all the students in the class could understand each other with just a look. Together, the Azure Dragon Academy students formed a tight formation around their group leaders, radiating a formidable combined aura.
"We will..." Dokgo Jun turned his head and met Hyonwon Kang's eyes. As if sharing the same thought, they both nodded. He turned back to Sama Hyeon. "We're going to take down the Infernal Eccentric Trio."
"...We will fight too!" Sama Hyeon declared.
Nevertheless, even retreating was no easy task.
He didn't want to stay on the sidelines any longer. He had never once disobeyed his grandfather's orders, but he couldn't stand by and watch as his grandfather, sister, and teachers fought and bled.
"First years, form the Three Extremes Formation! Second years, the Six Directions Formation! Third and fourth years, assume the core axis of the Nine Palaces Formation and coordinate with your juniors!"
Spurred on by the Azure Dragon Academy, the Vermilion Phoenix Academy students hurried into the same formation they had used during their special classes with Baek Suryong.
Dokgo Jun and Sama Hyeon locked eyes and nodded. Roles were quickly divided.
"Please have the Vermilion Phoenix Academy assist the instructors and defend the area around the entrance and the ramparts."
"Understood. What will the Azure Dragon Academy do?"
"We will..." Dokgo Jun turned his head and met Hyonwon Kang's eyes. As if sharing the same thought, they both nodded. He turned back to Sama Hyeon. "We're going to take down the Infernal Eccentric Trio."
Retreat!" Dokgo Jun shouted with a sudden sense of foreboding.
"...What?" Sama Hyeon's eyes widened. The Infernal Eccentric Trio were members of the Ten Great Villains.
The Azure Dragon Academy's going to target the enemies wreaking the most havoc on the battlefield!?
WHOOSH!
The infamous Infernal Eccentric Trio, ranked among the Ten Great Villains, were known for their cruelty and depravity. Despite their martial prowess, they avoided other masters entirely and routinely ambushed weaker martial artists.
The First Eccentric, the eldest of the Infernal Eccentric Trio, casually dodged the hidden weapons flying at him from behind. A vile smirk creeping across his lips, he slowly turned around. "Kahaha! Are you people so desperate that you're relying on snot-nosed brats now?"
A young girl who didn't even look of age was glaring at him. Evidently, the orthodox hypocrites had called in students as reinforcements.
Still, the sight of the child's trembling hands was almost laughable. She was clearly squinting her eyes to hide her fear.
"You villain! I will judge you in the name of the Sichuan Tang Clan!" she screamed.
"So you're a daughter of the Tang Clan? No wonder your gaze is so feisty." Chuckling, the First Eccentric licked his blade. Just picturing feeding his beloved weapon a meal of fresh blood made his eyes go bloodshot.
The girl stepped back nervously, as if terrified. "Fufufu... You said you were going to kill me, so where are you trying to go?"
The infamous Infernal Eccentric Trio, ranked among the Ten Great Villains, were known for their cruelty and depravity. Despite their martial prowess, they avoided other masters entirely and routinely ambushed weaker martial artists.
Their approach was no different this time. They left the formidable Ak Clan Young Lady and the academy instructors to the Blood Cultists and scattered to hunt down the weak.
Best of all, the girl in front of him was exactly his type.
The girl's face turned ashen. "D-Don't come any closer!"
"Kuhuhu! Now this is more like it." The First Eccentric smirked.
A quiver ran down the First Eccentric's spine. His sadism was stoked.
CLANG CLANG CLANG!
Hastening his movements, he swatted away the hidden weapons and pounced on the girl. In his mind, he was already envisioning cutting off her pretty fingers, enjoying her screams, then slicing open her belly.
"Kuhuhuhu..."
When they lost, they trained through the night, vowing never to lose again.
Even in his excitement, however, a top master's senses did not fail him. Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks and scanned his surroundings. Enemies, numbering around thirty, had appeared from nowhere and were surrounding him from all sides.
"...A trap?" he snorted derisively. These enemies were nothing more than mere fledglings. He was confident he could tear through such a flimsy encirclement whenever he pleased.
"Ptui!" Hyonwon Kang spat on the ground and sauntered forward, his Black Dao slung over his shoulder. "Just as one'd expect from a demonic master, you've got one ugly mug."
The First Eccentric chuckled at the childish thuggery. "Get out of my way now and I'll let you live, little punk. I'm only interested in the cute girl behind you."
"You're insane..."
Before Hyonwon Kang could finish his line, a blade darted at his neck.
Burning with fervent desire, he swung his dao.
CLANG!
Hyonwon Kang casually swung the Black Dao as if he had expected the surprise attack, deflecting the strike and smoothly retreating.
It's difficult, but not impossible to block.
"Oho? Not bad," the First Eccentric praised.
Hyonwon Kang ignored him. Catching Tang Soso's and Mok Hyungwoo's eyes, he signaled them.
The instructors patted their slumped shoulders and offered playful words of comfort.