"...You're saying you cut down one of the Ten Great Villains?"
"I'm telling you! You've heard of the Infernal Eccentric Trio, right? The one who uses a sword is the older brother, and Tang Soso lured him over. Then Senior Mok Hyungwoo and I..."
Hyonwon Kang recounted the battle passionately and in vivid detail, even using the fruit knife in his hand to demonstrate techniques. "In that moment, all my senses sharpened, and time seemed to slow down. The Asura inside me was roaring to cut down the enemy...!"
"Oh, give me a break." Baek Suryong listened with complete disbelief as his student rambled on about every detail of the battle.
Hyonwon Kang jumped up and down, feeling wronged. "Hey, I'm not bluffing!"
"Who said you were? I get it. Just peel another apple."
"Is the Asura inside you about to roar again?"
"Agh, seriously!" Hyonwon Kang fumed, wondering whether to kill his injured teacher or let him live. In the end, he used the ultimate Asura Blood Heaven Blade technique, which he had acquired on the battlefield, to perfectly peel a get-well apple.
Baek Suryong picked up a slice and ate it. "Hmm... You peeled it well."
Hyonwon Kang glared viciously, then let out a small sigh. "...Still, it's a relief to see you looking better than I expected. Do you know how worried everyone was when you didn't wake up for five days?"
Baek Suryong smiled bitterly. "You think I expected to wake up and find out that six days had passed?"
Hyonwon Kang found the smile oddly unsettling, but he didn't show it. He rose from his seat. They had only talked for a short while, but it was enough to see that his teacher was okay.
"Anyway, get your strength back and get up soon. I'll show you my newest addition to the 'Beat Up Baek Suryong' series, featuring the ultimate technique I just learned."
Baek Suryong chuckled at his student's clumsy attempt at consolation. "You should take care of yourself first, punk. Acting all tough while covered in bandages won't get you very far."
Hyonwon Kang grinned back. "I'll come again."
"Alright."
Baek Suryong watched the door Hyonwon Kang had left through, muttering to himself. "That kid. He's really grown up a lot."
He knew that Hyonwon Kang had deliberately boasted and exaggerated his exploits even more than usual to avoid bringing up the tragedy of what had happened.
He wasn't the only student to do so either. Other students came to visit, one or two at a time. Since they were all recovering from injuries and couldn't move easily, their conversations were short.
"Mr. Baek, Senior Brother is..."
Geo Sangwoong and Ya Suhyeok discussed their encounter with Sagon with heavy hearts.
Yeo Min cautiously asked about the Second Apostle.
Wiji Cheon visited with Wiji Yeol, tearfully thanking him over and over again.
Dokgo Jun and Tang Soso arrived together. Dokgo Jun expressed his gratitude on behalf of the Student Council, while Tang Soso sniffled at the sight of the haggard Baek Suryong.
Mok Hyungwoo brewed the restorative medicine from the Beggars' Gang and sweetened before giving it to Baek Suryong.
"Hyung-nim, do you know there's a line of people outside waiting to see you?"
The Murim Alliance investigation team doesn't even dare jump the queue right now."
"Orabeoni, how are you feeling?"
The instructors were no different. His peers, as well as Vice Principal Kwak Cheolwoo, came to wish him a speedy recovery.
"Hoho! It seems you've earned a great deal of respect," Noh Goonsang said when he visited late in the evening.
Having received visitors all day, Baek Suryong nodded wearily. "It's been hectic. Thanks to them, I was able to find out what happened over the past six days."
"You'll have to spend a few more days resting. Many people were seriously injured, so we plan to treat them here for a while longer before moving them."
Baek Suryong was the last to wake up, but many martial artists who participated in the battle suffered severe external and internal injuries. Therefore, Noh Goonsang decided to return to the Azure Dragon Academy only after they had recovered somewhat.
"I've already sent a messenger pigeon to the Sword Addict and your father. If not, they would've rushed over immediately after hearing the rumors. Here's their reply. Read it when you have time."
Baek Suryong read the letter that Noh Goonsang handed him. The lengthy letter was filled with Mae Geuklyom's and Baek Muheun's worries and concerns, and it seemed to go on forever. Although they wanted to come see him right away, they decided, at Noh Goonsang's request, to stay and protect the Azure Dragon Academy in case of an emergency.
"I should send a reply tomorrow."
Baek Suryong felt a pang of guilt as he thought of Mae Geuklyom and Baek Muheun, who were likely suffering sleepless nights. Family had grown to occupy a large place in his heart.
"Hoho. I've been thoughtlessly holding up a patient. I'll be on my way now, so get some rest."
Thinking Noh Goonsang would be curious about it, Baek Suryong brought up the Fire King. "Aren't you curious? About the final moments of the Vermilion Phoenix Academy's Principal..."
"Tell me later," Noh Goonsang interrupted, shaking his head. "The Vermilion Phoenix Academy instructors should hear it before I do, don't you think?"
"...I understand."
After Noh Goonsang left, the room was filled with a quiet stillness.
Baek Suryong stroked the Divine Azure Dragon Sword beside his bed. "To think, it's only been six days. I thought at least a few months had passed..."
There was no answer. He wasn't the only one exhausted from the life-or-death struggle with the Blood Demon. The Divine Azure Dragon Sword had fallen into a deep sleep. Before he left the mental world, she had told Baek Suryong that she would not be able to wake up for quite some time.
VWOOM!
Crimson Moon hummed, as if to say that the sword would be fine and wake up as if nothing had happened, chattering annoyingly again.
"You might be pretty bored for a while, too," Baek Suryong chuckled, stroking Crimson Moon. He placed the two divine weapons together and walked over to open the window.
WHOOOOSH!
A cool autumn wind gusted in, ruffling his moonlit hair. After staring out the window for a while, he sensed a familiar presence behind him. Without turning around, he said, "...You're late."
"I'm not as idle as some people," said the late-night visitor, sounding unusually sharp.
Baek Suryong slowly turned around. Namgung Su was staring at him intently, his cool, golden eyes shining in the darkness. He wrinkled his nose at the familiar smell and sighed. "You reek of paper and ink. Did you come here straight from work?"
"I didn't come here to play word games." Namgung Su strode forward and glared at him directly. "I didn't ask anything back then because I trusted you. I believed that whatever I felt was for the good of the Azure Dragon Academy and its students. I also didn't ask because I judged that you had perfect control over yourself."
"I've been sending out the obituaries."
Baek Suryong's expression became as serious as Namgung Su's. "...For the instructors who died?"
Namgung Su nodded.
Baek Suryong briefly thought of Jin Euihyeop, a new Azure Dragon Academy instructor who had been sacrificed to Skykiller. This time, far too many instructors had died or been injured. Unlike the new instructors, who were posted to relatively safer positions, the Azure Dragon Academy's senior instructors had fallen on the battlefield while fighting to protect their students.
"Baek Suryong."
"Y-Yeah?" Baek Suryong stuttered. Namgung Su's voice sounded the same as usual, but Baek Suryong could sense a hint of anger in his colleague's tone.