TL: FoodieMonster007
"Bwahahahaha!"
The taller and thinner of the two Vermilion Phoenix Academy instructors, the one who had tried to grab Goatee, suddenly burst out laughing.
"Pfft... Forgive me," he said between stifled chuckles. "I couldn't help but laugh after hearing such a preposterous claim."
Glancing at Baek Suryong's companions, he offered a playful greeting. "I guess this makes you guys the new instructors at the Azure Dragon Academy. Pleased to meet you, I am Kang Sochi of the Vermilion Phoenix Academy."
"And I'm Yang Jagi," the other instructor chimed in, his tone and gaze dripping with disdain.
Since they had introduced themselves, Baek Suryong reciprocated, "Baek Suryong."
"Ah, so you're the Azure Dragon Hero? Is it true you beheaded the Bloody Ripper in the Valley of Evil?"
Baek Suryong nodded. "Yes, it is."
However, the two Vermilion Phoenix instructors were clearly skeptical.
I don't sense any significant aura from him. Isn't he first-rate at best?
Just as I suspected, it was all a lie.
After assessing Baek Suryong's strength, their disdain for him and the Azure Dragon Academy only deepened.
Unable to mask his scorn, Kang Sochi remarked sarcastically, "I heard your bold claim about winning this year's Heavenly Martial Festival. Let's be sure to compete fairly, okay?"
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Baek Suryong replied nonchalantly, "Sure."
"Anyway, why did you interfere in our business?" Kang Sochi asked, curious to know why Baek Suryong had thrown the chopstick.
Baek Suryong shrugged and glanced at Goatee, who was trembling in fear. "Didn't I just say it? I found it distasteful that you were about to maim him over some drunken rambling."
"T-Thank you..." Goatee mumbled, looking at Baek Suryong with gratitude.
Similarly, most of the onlookers appeared impressed by Baek Suryong's act of chivalry.
The two Vermilion Phoenix Academy instructors, however, scoffed.
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"So, you expect us to turn a blind eye when we clearly heard this man insulting the Vermilion Phoenix Academy?"
"I never said that. I just think it's enough to get a verbal apology out of him. Injuring him is taking it too far."
Goatee immediately bowed deeply. "I'm sorry! I'm truly sorry!"
Unfortunately, Kang Sochi and Yang Jagi remained unsatisfied.
"You insulted the Vermilion Phoenix Academy in front of us. You sang a song mocking us in public. If we let this go, we'll become the laughing stocks of the jianghu," Kang Sochi sneered.
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Technically, he wasn't wrong. Martial artists valued honor and pride above all else, so even if it was unintentional, no one would tolerate such a public insult, especially not those from the proud Vermilion Phoenix Academy.
Eyeing the sword at Goatee's waist, Kang Sochi grinned maliciously. "If you're a martial artist, take responsibility for your words. Either prove you were right through a duel, or cut out your tongue as an apology. Only then will we forgive you."
"Eek!" Goatee shuddered at the mention of cutting out his tongue. Still, a martial arts duel was out of the question for him, so he knelt on the ground and pleaded, "P-Please, I'm just a third-rate nobody. How can I possibly duel with you esteemed instructors from the Vermilion Phoenix Academy?"
"Then cut out your tongue," Kang Sochi said coldly.
Tears streamed down Goatee's face. "Please, have mercy..."
"You need to face the consequences of misusing your tongue."
Kang Sochi's cold attitude made many onlookers frown. While they could understand the Vermilion Phoenix Academy's stance, most felt that their approach was excessive. Of course, since they were orthodox martial artists, they probably didn't intend to actually cut out Goatee's tongue, just intimidate him into prostrating himself.
Baek Suryong stepped between them. "First, you wanted him to slit his own mouth, and now you want him to cut out his tongue? How are you any different from those evil unorthodox thugs?"
"Did you just call us unorthodox thugs?" Kang Sochi snarled.
Baek Suryong snorted. "He has already apologized to you on his knees. Only an unorthodox thug would continue to threaten him after that."
Only Goatee noticed the brief smile that crossed Baek Suryong's face. Huh? Why does he look so happy?
Kang Sochi placed a hand on his sword hilt. "Let's take this outside. Further conversation is pointless," he growled.
Baek Suryong shrugged nonchalantly. "If that's what you want."
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Followed by a crowd of onlookers, the two men stormed out of the inn, their martial arts uniforms billowing behind them.
The crowd buzzed with excitement. A petty squabble at the inn had spiraled into a full-blown clash of pride, giving them the rare chance to witness a duel between instructors from the Azure Dragon Academy and the Vermilion Phoenix Academy.
"The Vermilion Phoenix instructors went too far. They openly scorned the Azure Dragon Academy."
"The Azure Dragon Hero is a true hero. He stood up for that man who was being bullied."
"His kind personality makes him a rare gem among the hordes of arrogant martial artists. Most importantly, he's so handsome..."
"Who do you think will win? The Vermilion Phoenix Academy has a much better reputation, but the Azure Dragon Hero is famous in his own right."
"This is going to be a good match."
The crowd eagerly awaited the upcoming duel, but contrary to their expectations, it turned out to be overwhelmingly one-sided.
SMACK!
"Ugh!" As soon as the duel began, Kang Sochi's head snapped to the side. Baek Suryong hadn't even drawn his sword, he simply smacked Kang Sochi's face with the scabbard.
This was no sneak attack. Baek Suryong had approached Kang Sochi slowly and purposefully. Even to the untrained eyes of the crowd, it was obvious that Kang Sochi was completely powerless to defend himself.
Baek Suryong tilted his head, feigning surprise. "Hmm? Are you really this weak?"
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"How dare you!" Kang Sochi roared, his face burning with shame. He could blame the first hit on his lack of concentration, but not any more than that. Channeling his inner qi, he unleashed his sword technique with all his might.
SWISH! WHOOSH! SWOOSH!
Nevertheless, not a single strike even touched Baek Suryong's clothes. Rather, his movements appeared so clumsy and ineffective that even the onlookers were unimpressed.
"You disappoint me," Baek Suryong remarked, looking bored as he effortlessly parried and countered each and every attack.
On the other hand, with each blow from Baek Suryong, Kang Sochi stumbled as if he had never held a sword before. This caused the onlookers, most of whom were not martial artists, to murmur among themselves.
"The Vermilion Phoenix instructor is getting totally overwhelmed."
"Is he really that weak?"
"Well, he is a new instructor."
"Even so... isn't that Azure Dragon instructor also a rookie?"
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At the same time, the few seasoned martial artists in the crowd were shocked for a completely different reason.
The Vermilion Phoenix Academy instructor isn't actually weak at all.
He's being forced to look weak.
Just how great is the difference in their skill...?
Baek Suryong did not simply defeat his opponent. He toyed with him and deliberately made him look utterly incompetent.
"So about the Vermilion Phoenix Academy being unable to improve because of their arrogance..."
"I guess those rumors were true."
"Of course they were true! Just look at the Azure Dragon Hero's incredible martial arts!"
Right in front of everyone's eyes, the Vermilion Phoenix Academy and the Azure Dragon Academy's reputations were undergoing a dramatic reversal.
Meanwhile, Goatee, the man who had 'unwittingly' started it all, watched the duel with a calm, calculating gaze.
Translator's Note: If you've noticed, a new series has been added. Presenting Absolute Warrior, a novel by Jang Yeonghun, the author of Absolute Regression, Absolute Dominion, Absolute Demon God, and Rebirth of the Heavenly Demon.