Chapter 634: A Scene Like This

The Five Young Azure Dragons rushed over to meet Wiji Cheon as he staggered down from the duel stage.

“Jicheon!”

“Cheon!”

“You idiot!”

“Are you okay?”

They all called out to him in their own way, but they each checked his injuries first. Fortunately, none of his wounds looked serious. Breathing a sigh of relief, the Five Young Azure Dragons started thumping him affectionately, offering their own unique brand of congratulations.

“Gahaha! I knew our youngest would pull it off!”

A moment later, Wiji Cheon found his face firmly wedged under Geo Sangwoong’s armpit.

He flapped his arms feebly. “I-I can’t breathe...”

He looked around with innocent, pleading eyes, begging for help. But instead of rescuing him, everyone simply burst out laughing. The gap between the meek boy and the swordsman who had left Shaolin’s Divine Dragon covered in blood was far too wide.

Soon, other students came over to celebrate Wiji Cheon’s victory.

“...That was a moving victory.”

“That was amazing! Even I got goosebumps watching!”

Dokgo Jun, Tang Soso, Yoo Yiran, Mok Hyungwoo, Namgung Seok, Yoo Geon, and Yoo Gon arrived first. Next, the students Wiji Cheon had done group projects with arrived, followed by students he barely knew. Soon, a large crowd had swarmed in to join the party.

Such was the significance of this victory. The duel itself had been magnificent, but what the outcome symbolized was even greater.

“To think we beat the Heavenly Martial Academy in the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament and made it to the finals...”

For the past ten years, no one had dared to imagine a moment like this. No amount of congratulations felt like enough.

“Aren’t you going to congratulate him too?” Baek Muheun asked.

Baek Suryong shrugged. Standing back, he grinned as he watched his shy student get completely surrounded by well-wishers. “I don’t want to be a teacher who can’t read the room.”

He had no desire to barge in and steal the spotlight from Wiji Cheon. For now, it was enough to step back and let Wiji Cheon enjoy his moment in the spotlight.

Suddenly, Wiji Cheon glanced around as though searching for someone. His eyes met Baek Suryong’s. Blinking his large eyes, the boy stared at his teacher and role model with puppy dog eyes.

Baek Suryong nodded and smiled encouragingly.

You fought well.

Master and student did not need words to understand each other.

Beaming from ear to ear, Wiji Cheon turned back to the students around him and resumed chattering away.

Baek Muheun dabbed the corners of his eyes with his sleeve. “Sniff! For some reason, I feel like I’m about to cry.”

“Why are you crying, Father?” Baek Suryong stared at his father in disbelief, his face saying: The kids aren’t even crying, why are you being so dramatic?

“Just wait until you get old, you brat. You get all choked up over the smallest things.”

“Are you sure it isn’t andropause?”

“...Want to find out what it’s like to be pestered by a father going through andropause?”

“In the seven days we’ve been here, you’ve smiled more than I can remember you smiling in my entire life.

The father and son bickered over nothing, yet they both sported happy smiles.

The same was true for every Azure Dragon Academy instructor. None of them could hide their joy.

One instructor in particular startled everyone around him with a gentle smile that no one ever expected to see.

“M-Mr. Namgung? D-Did you just s-smile?”

Namgung Su shook his head in disdain. The ones who are seeing this have disappointed him.

“...Is there a problem?”

Such was the effect Wiji Cheon’s victory had on the Azure Dragon Academy.

The audience, too, basked in the afterglow of the epic duel. Cheers for the Sword Wonder Wiji Cheon, endless commentary on the match, and speculation about the Azure Dragon Academy winning the championship drifted over from every direction.

“Winning the Heavenly Martial Festival... Our dream is really right in front of us.”

A flood of emotions washed over Namgung Su, and a strange look crossed his usually impassive face. His gaze traveled slowly over the Azure Dragon Academy’s students and instructors, then over the vast crowd that had gathered for the festival. At last, it came to rest on Baek Suryong.

Moments earlier, he had celebrated Wiji Cheon’s victory as if it were his own. Now, he was looking at his junior with more than just concern.

Noticing the intense stare, Baek Suryong walked over and asked playfully, “Mr. Namgung Su, why are you wearing such an unbecoming expression and making everyone uncomfortable?”

“...Baek Suryong. Did you foresee this as well?”

“Foresee what?”

“A scene like this. The students at the Heavenly Martial Festival enjoying themselves so much, celebrating each other’s victories as if they were their own, and coming together as one.”

“That’s it?” Baek Suryong snorted and surveyed the crowd. “Not at all. At the beginning, I cared about nothing except winning the Heavenly Martial Festival. I never imagined anything like this happening. What about you?”

“I’m the same. All I thought about was breaking our ten-year losing streak and achieving better results at the Heavenly Martial Festival. For the past few years, that was my singular goal.”

Ultimately, students celebrating every single match with such joy had never been part of either man’s plan.

““......””

For a long time, neither martial arts instructor said anything.

Over the past year, the Azure Dragon Academy instructors had learned a great deal while teaching. Its two most outstanding instructors were no exception.

For example, they learned that scenes like this mattered more than winning the Heavenly Martial Festival. Every moment spent preparing for the festival and every step of the journey had reinforced this understanding.

Namgung Su began abruptly, “Once the Heavenly Martial Festival ends and the next semester begins...”

“Hm?”

“...I will acknowledge you as a Star Instructor.”

Baek Suryong stared blankly at his colleague. A compliment from the Azure Dragon Academy’s Star Instructor was the highest praise. He broke into a grin. “Why not just acknowledge me now?”

“It’s far too early for a performance appraisal.”

Baek Suryong burst out laughing. Namgung Su was as strangely fussy as ever.

Once again, the tournament was stalled while the damaged flagstones on the duel stage were replaced.

The Heavenly Martial Principal, who was clearly still high from the duel between Wiji Cheon and Ilgak, called out excitedly, “Third-year students Hyonwon Kang of the Azure Dragon Academy and Peng Sahyuk of the Heavenly Martial Academy, prepare for the next duel!”

Hyonwon Kang finished warming up and picked up his Black Dao, slinging it across his back.

“Wonkang. Don’t come down from that stage until you’ve beaten Peng Sahyuk,” Geo Sangwoong said.

“As long as you keep your temper in check, you won’t lose,” Ya Suhyeok nagged.

“...Please, just don’t do anything embarrassing,” Yeo Min muttered.