The closer they got to the Azure Dragon Academy, the more time Noh Goonsang spent asleep.
As everyone glanced worriedly at the carriage, the old Murim Alliance physician explained his condition. "He's finally able to relax, so he's sleeping more. He has been holding on with sheer willpower until now. At his age, the bones in both his arms were shattered so completely that not a single joint was intact, yet he didn't scream once while the broken bones were being set."
The physician shook his head, adding that an ordinary person would have fainted several times over. He then called the instructors over and made an earnest request. He told them that he would return to his post once they reached the Azure Dragon Academy, and he asked them to watch over Noh Goonsang carefully so that the old man would not overexert himself.
"He absolutely must not train in martial arts. He'll be lucky if he recovers enough to lead a normal daily life. If he pushes himself... he might lose the use of his arms forever."
Though they had anticipated it, the news that Noh Goonsang could no longer live as a martial artist still came as a significant shock.
A heavy silence fell over the instructors. The quick-witted students realized that the Principal's condition was worse than they had thought, and their faces darkened.
Three days after leaving the Murim Alliance Branch, Noh Goonsang woke up from a long, deep sleep feeling refreshed. He stuck his head out the carriage window. "...We'll be back soon."
The familiar cityscape, with the Azure Dragon Academy at its center, was coming into view.
"Hoho! Why the long faces, everyone? We've returned home, so you should be happy."
Many instructors and students observed their Principal with concern, but he just laughed heartily as if nothing was wrong.
"Let's hurry. There will be many stories to share and much to do."
A moment later, they saw a group rapidly approaching from afar, using movement arts.
It was their welcoming squad.
Two people in the welcoming squad ran far ahead of the others. One was a middle-aged man with gray hair and a worried look on his face, and the other was a stiff-faced elderly man wearing a dark jade robe.
Baek Suryong sighed in relief, confirming they were Mae Geuklyom and Baek Muheun.
"Halt! You cannot approach until your identities are confirmed!" a wary Murim Alliance member shouted.
"It's okay, they're from the Azure Dragon Academy," Baek Suryong reassured.
Leaving the wary martial artists of the Beggars' Gang and the Murim Alliance behind, he stepped forward. Countless words raced through his mind, but only a simple greeting escaped his lips.
"Grandpa, Dad! I'm back."
Despite having endured a harrowing ordeal, he feigned composure, acting as if nothing had happened.
"...Yes."
"You've been through a lot."
The two men nodded, forcing themselves to remain calm as they scanned Baek Suryong's gaunt face and examined the wounds hidden beneath his clothes. They wanted to pull him into an embrace, inspect his injuries, and ask if he was alright, but they restrained themselves. Word that many of the Azure Dragon Academy's instructors had been killed or injured had already reached them in letters, and it was inappropriate to fawn over the living right now.
"Let's talk in detail when we get home later." Mae Geuklyom squeezed his grandson's hand firmly before approaching Noh Goonsang. Each time his eyes swept over the injured instructors and students, he winced in anguish.
Baek Muheun stayed by his son's side. "Father-in-law hasn't slept a wink in days," he sighed softly. "He keeps saying that if he had gone on the trip, he could have been of some help..."
"It's not your fault, Dad."
"I know, but knowing that doesn't make it any easier on the heart."
Baek Muheun looked just as haggard as his injured son, clear evidence of how much he had worried. Lightly flicking Baek Suryong's forehead, he scolded, "You've become one of the Ten Supremes, yet you still make your daddy worry like this. I heard you were unconscious for over five days."
"Didn't you hear who my opponent was?" Baek Suryong grumbled, rubbing his forehead.
Baek Muheun created a sound-blocking barrier. "You brat. Do you have any idea how anxious I was, wondering if you'd come back with another hole in your body like last time?"
"...I'm sorry."
"Still, you've returned safely, so that's all that matters. You look better than I feared." Baek Muheun let out a long sigh of relief.
Seeing his father like this, Baek Suryong couldn't bring himself to mention the Blood Demon lurking within the Heaven Defying Divine Art.
"Don't worry too much about that." Baek Suryong smiled. It wasn't his usual confident smile, but it was still reassuring.
Well, I'll get the chance to tell him later.
He smiled reassuringly at Baek Muheun.
Baek Muheun returned the faint smile before turning to the others. His expression soon darkened.
"So many people... are injured."
He had served as the temporary dorm supervisor when Mae Geuklyom was injured and unable to move. During that time, he got to know quite a few students and instructors... and some of them were missing.
Recalling the faces of those he would never see again, he muttered bitterly, "Damn it. There are too many empty spots."
On the way back to the Azure Dragon Academy, the crowd welcoming the survivors grew larger and larger.
"You rascal! Do you know how worried I was when I heard you fought the Blood Cult!"
"Dad!"
Parents who confirmed that their children were alive embraced them, sharing in the joy of reunion.
Others came because they couldn't believe the obituaries they'd received. Only when they saw the coffins holding the barely recovered bodies of the instructors did the reality of death set in. Some family members broke down on the spot, weeping or even fainting.
"This can't be! How could you leave your mother behind and go first!"
"Hic... sob..."
"He wouldn't have died if you hadn't done something so meaningless like a school trip!"
Some, unable to control their overwhelming emotions, lashed out at those who had returned alive.
Noh Goonsang emerged from the carriage and bowed deeply. "...Everything is my fault."
As the Azure Dragon Academy Principal, he intended to take all the blame.
However, Namgung Su would not let that happen. "It is not your fault, Principal. If we're assigning blame, I take the greatest responsibility for planning the trip. It was I who chose a bad location."
The Star Instructor of the Azure Dragon Academy also bowed his head to the bereaved families.
Baek Suryong stepped forward with a grim expression. "The Blood Cult's target was me, who sabotaged their plans several times. The instructors were caught up in my fight. I'm so sorry."
Only after all three leaders bowed did the families' anger and sorrow subside. They knew, of course, that their true enemy was the Blood Cult. The reason they lashed out was because they had no other outlet for their pent-up frustration.
No one could blame them. All the surviving students and instructors could do was bow their heads and offer their condolences.
That evening, after sending the Five Young Azure Dragons to the White Dragon Manor with Baek Muheun, Baek Suryong sat facing Mae Geuklyom in his residence.
"Are you okay? You've had it hard all this time," Mae Geuklyom said worriedly.
Baek Suryong shook his head. "I'm fine now. What about you? I heard you've barely slept for the past ten days, Grandpa."
"That boy Muheun said something unnecessary. Don't worry about me. I'm so hale and hearty, it's frustrating."
"......"
"......"