WHOOSH!
Silver Tiger tore through the city's night streets, bounding from rooftop to rooftop and weaving its small body deftly through the crowds below.
The heart of the city teemed with countless martial artists. A spirit beast wandering alone might normally have tempted someone into trying for its inner core, but Silver Tiger was far too strong for any random riffraff to handle.
"...Didn't something just pass by?"
"Are you seeing things? You've had too much to drink, my friend!"
Every type of terrain imaginable seemed to have been recreated to test the limits of a martial artist's mobility.
Most martial artists couldn't track Silver Tiger's movements with their eyes. The few masters who caught a glimpse only widened their eyes in surprise. Not a single one dared covet its core, because they knew its owner was a famous figure.
"Isn't that the spirit beast that rode on the Azure Dragon Hero's shoulder earlier today?"
"That's right. Judging by that auspicious energy, it's no ordinary spirit beast."
"They say that masters who have achieved unity of mind, body, and spirit can converse with animals..."
"I must tell my students to be careful. Can't have them getting greedy and incurring a peerless master's wrath."
Although Silver Tiger had intended to smack any attacker in the head with a front paw, no one with ill intentions came near it, recognizing it as the Azure Dragon Hero's pet. This allowed it to search for its target at full speed.
SNIFF, SNIFF.
With its little pink nose to the ground, it strained to pick up Baek Suryong's scent amid the city's countless smells. No human could fool Silver Tiger's nose, not even a master who could conceal his presence perfectly.
Confirming the rough direction, it lifted its head. Wherever Baek Suryong was and whatever he was doing, he was still really far away.
"Nyaah!"
Silver Tiger was determined to deliver Sagon's entrusted item to Baek Suryong promptly.
"From now on, please take good care of our juniors."
Silver Tiger did not like Sagon very much, but a proud spirit beast could hardly accept a roasted sweet potato and then act like nothing had happened, right?
Nevertheless, even after spending several months among humans, Silver Tiger still couldn't understand them. One moment, they hated each other enough to commit murder, and the next, they formed bonds stronger than blood ties between parents and children.
Worst of all, they were never honest with one another. If they liked something, they could simply say so. If they didn't, they should say as much. In its humble opinion, humans who were incapable of doing so were more foolish than animals.
"Show them the movement arts you honed while chasing down delinquents!"
"Nyaah!"
Silver Tiger set off again, threading through the tangled, crowded streets. Sweet snacks tempted it aside a few times, but each time, it shook its head vigorously and pressed on toward its goal with considerable dignity.
"Stop," a voice suddenly commanded.
Silver Tiger halted mid-stride and snapped its head to the side. Its fur bristled in alarm as a man stepped into view.
"Any closer and you'll be detected. Best to stop here."
The face was familiar, and it gave off a bad feeling. Silver Tiger's instincts screamed at it to flee, but instead, it dropped low, baring its teeth and claws.
Though short and stubby, those little claws were not to be underestimated. They sank into the stone ground as though it were sand.
Despite this, the man seemed unperturbed. He merely looked on with interest. "Is this truly the fate of those who defy heaven? There's not a single ordinary thing near him," he chuckled, striding forward without an ounce of fear.
Silver Tiger took a step back, then lunged like a bolt of lightning, a white flash sparking briefly in the air. The strike came at point-blank range with a speed that even a peak master would struggle to evade. Most martial artists would have been hit before they could even flinch.
The man simply smiled and held out his hand.
"Nyaa! Nyaah!"
Silver Tiger thrashed wildly in the man's grip while he plucked the object from its mouth. It struggled to protect what Sagon had entrusted to it, but a strike to a pressure point forced its jaws open, leaving its body limp.
"This is..." The man examined the confiscated item from every angle like an appraiser, then let out a small gasp of admiration. "Incredible. To think something so small could hold such tangled grudges and favors."
"Nyan..." Silver Tiger whimpered and lashed out with a front paw, but it only cut weakly through the empty air.
After a moment of apparent deliberation, the man set it down on the ground. Tucking the object into his pocket, his muttered, "I'll be taking this. That kid doesn't seem like he can handle any more stimulation right now."
"Nyaaa..." Silver Tiger staggered upright and charged again regardless.
The man dodged a few times, as though playing with a puppy. Then, he turned and melted into the darkness.
"If this distorts something... then that too must be fated."
Leaving those cryptic words behind, he vanished as if scattering into the night air.
Baek Suryong scratched his head in confusion.
The second day of the Heavenly Martial Festival dawned.
Since the festival began, Baek Suryong had been swamped with work. Guiding and managing the students was a given. On top of that, he had strategy meetings with the students for every event, meetings with the Azure Dragon Academy instructors, and meetings with the orthodox sects in his capacity as one of the Ten Supremes.
He also had to secretly contact the Unorthodox Alliance, relaying opinions and negotiating terms with the Murim Alliance. Although he had left most of that to the Viridian Scholar, stepping away entirely was not an option.
Throughout it all, he made sure to monitor the Nine Sects One Gang's movements as well. Each of them had a hidden agenda, so lowering his guard was out of the question.
"Nope, I'm just going for a light jog."
"I'll take care of the Five Great Clans, so don't worry about them."
Fortunately, with Namgung Su handling the Five Great Clans, he had little to worry about on that front. Even so, he felt he could have used a second body. Rest was a luxury he could not afford.
"Hyung-nim. Aren't you overdoing it?"
Noh Goonsang narrowed his brow and said jokingly, "The home stretch? Are you planning to quit teaching once the Heavenly Martial Festival ends? The festival will be held next year and the year after that."
"You didn't sleep yesterday, either, did you? I don't think you got back to your room until dawn."
His peers could not watch any longer and urged him to rest, but Baek Suryong only shrugged, his eyes still on his paperwork.
"Stop overworking yourself even here and take a look around."
"I won't die from losing a little sleep. Besides, the Heavenly Martial Festival only lasts a few days."
"What if you collapse like last time?!"
"Huh? What's wrong with it?"
"...Why are you getting so angry?"
Sin Yeonho's sudden shout finally pulled Baek Suryong's gaze from the page. When he looked up, he saw that Sin Yeonho wasn't alone. Myeong Il'oh, Jaegal Soyeong, Kwak Duyong, Noh Goonsang, and Vice Principal Kwak Cheolwoo were all staring at him.
"Why is everyone..."