While following Mae Geuklyom to the Principal's office, Cho Il thought back to Geo Sangwoong.
How did he dispel it?
He had personally attacked the heir of the Golden Dragon Trading Company using the Soul Reaping Demonic Art. Last year, he received a report that the aftereffects had left Geo Sangwoong crippled and unable to practice martial arts. The plan was to wait for Geo Sangwoong to waste away and collapse, and then blackmail the doting Golden Dragon Chairman into funding the Cult.
However, upon meeting Geo Sangwoong again, Cho Il found no trace of the Soul Reaping Demonic Art on the man.
He must have found some miracle doctor with all that money.
Unseen by others, Cho Il's expression hardened as he followed Mae Geuklyom. His eyes quietly scanned the academy's interior.
Opportunity always follows a crisis, though.
Come to think of it, that's when it all started.
A branch he had planted in Nanchang, the academy's city, had vanished overnight without a trace. His entire personally-built intelligence network was gone, derailing the plan to use Geo Sangwoong to seize the Golden Dragon Trading Company.
The Azure Dragon Hero's subsequent actions were too unconventional and too entangled with the Cult to be mere coincidence.
That was exactly when the Azure Dragon Hero began making a name for himself.
The Azure Dragon Hero's subsequent actions were too unconventional and too entangled with the Cult to be mere coincidence.
That bastard has been targeting the Cult for a long time.
"He wanted to come himself, but his schedule didn't allow it. Since I'm about to graduate and I had some free time, I volunteered."
Cho Il recalled the sight of Baek Suryong watching him from a distance. He had heard that the Azure Dragon Hero had suffered injuries so severe in the fight at the Ak Clan Branch Estate that he had been unconscious for days. As the rumors claimed, Baek Suryong's complexion was pale, and he appeared exhausted, as if he had not yet recovered.
One of the greatest masters in the world hasn't even shaken off his fatigue yet? His internal injuries must be far worse than the rumors let on. Coming here today was definitely worthwhile.
Using every connection he had at the Heavenly Martial Academy to be chosen as the messenger had been the right move. He recalled his private meeting with Jin Ryang, the Principal of the Heavenly Martial Academy.
Of course, he had not expected a warm welcome.
"You want me to send you as the messenger?"
"Aren't all the teachers busy? The juniors are also swamped preparing for the Heavenly Martial Festival. Since I'm about to graduate and have time to spare, wouldn't I be the best choice?"
Cho Il smiled, confident his reputation made him more than qualified for the role. Besides, sending him was also a far more formal approach than sending a letter through the Murim Alliance or the Beggars' Gang… though of course, that was strictly from the Heavenly Martial Academy's perspective.
"Hmm..." Jin Ryang furrowed his brow in thought, then nodded with an inscrutable smile. "That could be interesting. Very well. Deliver this letter to the Principal of the Azure Dragon Academy."
Cho Il hadn't read the letter, but he had a good idea of its contents. Observing the movements of the Azure Dragon Hero and the Azure Dragon Academy was what truly mattered to him.
The Azure Dragon Hero's condition is worse than I thought. This is very good news for the Cult.
The atmosphere within the Blood Cult was terrible. Three Elders died in a single battle, and even the Second Apostle was injured. The Cult tried to keep it quiet, but rumors of a traitor among the high-ranking members were already circulating.
Mae Geuklyom snorted.
Opportunity always follows a crisis, though.
Even in the worst of situations, Cho Il sought that opportunity, risking everything to come to the Azure Dragon Academy himself. Backed by the Heavenly Martial Academy and with a legitimate reason, no one could suspect him.
Of course, he had not expected a warm welcome. He also hadn't expected to be treated quite so poorly, though it wasn't entirely surprising.
After a battle like that with the Cult, there's no way they'd be calm. Being this jumpy makes sense.
His one regret was that Geo Sangwoong had not attacked him. If they had exchanged blows, he could have gauged his exact condition.
"Remember it well. That's the name of the man who will crush your face and become the world's greatest fist fighter. Gahahaha!"
Recalling those last words, Cho Il scowled.
Three Elders died in a single battle, and even the Second Apostle was injured.
Arrogant bastard. He must have found some miracle doctor with all that money. Next time, I'll carve an even deeper despair into him.
A brief silence fell, before Cho Il spoke again, intending to fish for information. "I heard many were injured. Especially the Azure Dragon Hero, who was apparently unconscious for several days. Shouldn't he be focusing on his recovery?"
He ran all sorts of simulations on what he would do to Geo Sangwoong next time in his head.
Suddenly, Mae Geuklyom asked without turning around. "Is the Heavenly Martial Principal well?"
"Yes. He is very concerned about what the Azure Dragon Academy and the Vermilion Phoenix Academy have gone through."
"So that's why he sent you? Aren't you a student the Principal cherishes?"
"Of course he should. If I had my way, he'd be lying down all day."
"He wanted to come himself, but his schedule didn't allow it. Since I'm about to graduate and I had some free time, I volunteered."
"Have you decided on your future path?"
"For now, I plan to join the Murim Alliance's Heavenly Martial Corps to gain experience."
"A good choice."
A brief silence fell, before Cho Il spoke again, intending to fish for information. "I heard many were injured. Especially the Azure Dragon Hero, who was apparently unconscious for several days. Shouldn't he be focusing on his recovery?"
Cho Il's excitement heightened. Just how severe are his injuries for this man to say that? What if the Azure Dragon Hero's condition was even worse than I assumed?
A deeper sigh than expected escaped Mae Geuklyom.
"Relay my words exactly as I have said them."
"Of course he should. If I had my way, he'd be lying down all day."
"Is it that bad?"
Since I'm about to graduate and I had some free time, I volunteered."
Cho Il's excitement heightened. Just how severe are his injuries for this man to say that? What if the Azure Dragon Hero's condition was even worse than I assumed? I might be able to kill him!