Chapter 598: An Interesting Story

After the second day of the Heavenly Martial Festival, the Azure Dragon Academy moved up one spot in the overall standings to secure second place.

“We’re in second place now!”

Just one more rank and we’re in the lead!“

“Let’s go all the way to victory!”

The moment the banner on the building wall shifted position, the Azure Dragon Academy students cheered in unison.

Thanks to Sama Hyeon’s valiant efforts, the Vermilion Phoenix Academy maintained its lead for a second day.

Meanwhile, the Heavenly Martial Academy climbed two ranks to claim third.

Despite the rise, though, the atmosphere at the Heavenly Martial Academy was grim. Their students returned to the dormitories in silence, their faces caught between bewilderment and dissatisfaction.

“Looks like they’re starting to get impatient, huh?” Baek Suryong chuckled as he watched them go.

Objectively, the Heavenly Martial Academy’s performance was outstanding. Climbing from last place to third in a single day was proof enough of their potential.

However, for the boys and girls who had been called geniuses since childhood, and were raised on miracle herbs and intensive training in the Nine Sects One Gang, a result like today’s was nothing short of shocking.

“These are students unfamiliar with defeat,” Namgung Su said, calmly dissecting the prodigies’ psychology. “The first day was a competition involving no inner arts, and they could push the blame onto Cho Il’s penalty points. Today, however, they were soundly defeated.”

Baek Suryong grinned mischievously and elbowed him in the side. “Mr. Namgung Su, why don’t you just admit you’re happy about our results?”

“...It’s only the second day. Don’t get ahead of yourself.”

Namgung Su shot Baek Suryong a stern look, but naturally, it had no effect whatsoever.

Though it’s true that we owe our results to this sly bastard...

Letting out a small sigh, he continued, “The Heavenly Martial Academy must have realized how complacent they have become. The real competition begins now.”

“It would’ve been better if they’d come to their senses a bit sooner,” Baek Suryong agreed with a slight shrug. “It’s no fun if we win too easily, right?”

Namgung Su scoffed, though he did not deny it.

“By the way, the instructors decided to hold a small celebration tonight. Are you coming?”

“I have business with my family.”

“Really? That’s great. Honestly, things get awkward when you’re around.”

“......” Namgung Su glared daggers at his cheeky colleague.

Baek Suryong waved both hands and insisted it was a joke.

Namgung Su narrowed his eyes. Baek Suryong had always been a smooth talker, but lately he had grown even more brazen. Just like... a man forcing himself to seem brighter than he actually felt.

“You...”

He started to say something, but Baek Suryong quickly turned around and walked toward the students.

“See you tomorrow, then. I’m going to check on my kids.”

Namgung Su sighed again. “...Try not to cause any trouble.”

Baek Suryong waved a hand instead of answering.

Namgung Su watched him go, brow furrowed in disapproval.

That night, Yeo Min went to see Eun Hwiryong, the Empress of the North Sea Ice Palace.

“...Hello.”

“Have a seat.”

The two of them sat facing each other across a small table in a quiet room, feeling tense and awkward.

After studying her niece’s face for a while, Eun Hwiryong slowly began, “You... resemble her.”

Her tone was flat and indifferent.

At that moment, Yeo Min understood something. I see. So this is where my calm personality comes from.

Her cold temperament was not forged from working every menial job she could find since childhood. Rather, it was inherited.

The thought brought her a little peace of mind.

“Of course. I’m her daughter.”

A sense of respite flitted across Eun Hwiryong’s eyes at the ease with which Yeo Min answered. She had been secretly worried that her niece might find her too intimidating.

“Are you all right? You must be very tired.”

“My instructor helped me purify my qi. He brewed me a medicinal concoction with miracle herbs to replenish my energy.”

Baek Suryong was hardly the only one who had cared for her. After the competition, the entire Azure Dragon Academy fussed over her condition. Hyonwon Kang, in particular, caused such an uproar that, had Yeo Min not said she needed to see her aunt, she might have been pinned to a bed and nursed all day.

Eun Hwiryong examined her niece’s complexion and nodded. Yeo Min did look somewhat tired, but she showed no signs of internal injury or inner turmoil. “That’s a relief.”

“......”

“......”

The conversation fizzled out. Eun Hwiryong wasn’t the talkative type, and Yeo Min wasn’t sociable enough to chat with an aunt she had just met.

To ease the tension, Eun Hwiryong pushed forward the gift she had prepared beforehand.

“...What’s this?”

“Use it when you need it.”

Yeo Min’s eyes widened in shock. The gift was a hefty coin pouch.

Eun Hwiryong added, “The Azure Dragon Hero told me that you are very fond of money... It’s not much, so please accept it without feeling burdened.”

Truthfully, it was a considerable sum, considering the North Sea Ice Palace’s finances. However, Eun Hwiryong lied to preserve Yeo Min’s dignity in front of her newly discovered niece.

“What on earth did he tell you about me?” Yeo Min grumbled, bewildered. Nevertheless, she accepted the money and tucked it away safely. Beaming, she said, “Thank you, Auntie.”

Eun Hwiryong also smiled faintly and pleasantly. “The more I look at you, the more you resemble Hayeon. She used to smile exactly like that when I gave her a special ice treat.”

“My mom did?”

“Yes, for someone of North Sea blood, she was a very expressive child...”

The light in the room stayed on late into the night as the two of them shared memories of the woman they both knew.

“Congratulations on the Azure Dragon Academy’s victory!”

The instructors gathered for a casual drinking party. Wine cups clinked and bright smiles lit up everyone’s faces in the boisterous atmosphere. They had worn calm, stern expressions in front of the students all day, so now was the time to celebrate.

However, only the new instructors were present. Noh Goonsang had taken the senior instructors to a separate gathering so the juniors could party comfortably.

“I knew Min would win from the very beginning!”

Sin Yeonho was wasted after only a few cups. Myeong Il’oh and Kwak Duyong had to haul him off the table several times.

Baek Suryong, who was sipping his wine at a leisurely pace, looked around for their missing colleague. “Where’s Soyeong?”

“She said she has to prepare for tomorrow’s competition, so we should drink without her,” Myeong Il’oh replied, shaking his head.

The next day’s event was a contest of formations and advanced engineering. Since the Heavenly Martial Festival began, not once had the Black Tortoise Academy ever surrendered this particular crown.