Chapter 602: Psycho

“Where are you taking us at this hour?”

“Stop complaining and just follow me. I told you I was taking you somewhere awesome, didn’t I?”

“Don’t tell me you’re planning on drinking! We should use every spare moment to train...!”

“If you don’t like it, you can just go back to the dorms.”

Dokgo Jun glared at Hyonwon Kang’s back as he walked away, then let out a soft sigh and followed him anyway. Hyonwon Kang’s delinquent tendencies had died down considerably, but the Student Council still flagged him as someone who might spiral out of control at any moment.

If he gets into a fight on the streets, he could be disqualified from the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament. I absolutely cannot allow that to happen!

Today was the first day they had permission to go out and play. Most Azure Dragon Academy students had emptied out of the dorms to meet family and friends or to wander the festival in groups.

Dokgo Jun had already seen his family and returned to practice the Nine Swords of Dokgo, only for Hyonwon Kang to appear out of nowhere and drag him back outside.

At times like this, the Student Council President has to be the one keeping everyone grounded.

Dokgo Jun turned toward Wiji Cheon. “You too, Wiji Cheon. Stop fiddling with your sword hilt and behave.”

They had just achieved their long-held dream of taking overall first place, even if the Festival wasn’t over. Such an exciting atmosphere was a perfect breeding ground for trouble, so someone had to watch Hyonwon Kang to ensure he wouldn’t cause an incident.

Besides, who else on the Student Council can stop that guy?

Dokgo Jun was definitely not doing this because he wanted to have fun himself. Definitely not.

“It’s great being out with you, Senior!” Wiji Cheon chattered away, his face the very picture of innocence.

Dokgo Jun eyed him warily. Oh, right. Hyonwon Kang’s not the only problem child here.

Wiji Cheon, who was just as chaotic, if not more so, had come along, too.

“Wiji Cheon, you’re also one of the Student Council’s special surveillance targets.”

“Huh? Why me?”

“Why, you ask...” Dokgo Jun rolled his eyes. Yoo Yiran was probably the only person at the Azure Dragon Academy who still fell for that innocent face and those wide, questioning eyes.

Wiji Cheon beamed and looked around, oblivious to every one of Dokgo Jun’s worries.

Nanchang, home of the Azure Dragon Academy, was a large city in its own right, but Hubei, host of the Heavenly Martial Festival, was the beating heart of the murim. To someone who had known nothing but mountains before enrolling, it might as well have been another world entirely.

Suddenly, Hyonwon Kang glanced back from a few steps ahead. “Hey, Dokgo. Take good care of Jicheon. He’s a country bumpkin and gets lost easily in crowded places. It’d be a real problem if he ran into some nasty thugs.”

“...Shouldn’t we be worried about the thugs instead?”

“My point exactly. You don’t want to get dragged to a trial as a witness to some bloody massacre, do you?”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Nodding, Dokgo Jun held Wiji Cheon’s little hand, looking for all the world like an older brother minding his unpredictable youngest sibling.

Wait... Don’t tell me, did he string me along to use me as a babysitter?

Suspicion flashed through Dokgo Jun’s mind, and he shot a fierce glare at the back of Hyonwon Kang’s head.

“Hey, aren’t those students from the Azure Dragon Academy?”

“You’re right! One of them looks like the Student Council President.”

“Up close, all three of them seem so handsome!”

“One of them looks a little scary, though...”

The crowd began to murmur as recognition spread. The Azure Dragon trio wore plain clothes rather than their school uniforms, but sharp-eyed onlookers had picked them out anyway.

Fortunately, the Murim Alliance warriors patrolling the city kept any real commotion from breaking out, though plenty of people still tried to approach them.

“Keep it up! Students of the Azure Dragon Academy!”

“Cause an upset all the way to the end! We’re cheering for you!”

“We’re looking forward to tomorrow’s tournament too!”

Dokgo Jun listened to the flood of encouragement in a daze, biting his lip without realizing it. “...Thank you. Thank you!”

He was a third-year student and had participated in two previous Heavenly Martial Festivals. Yet, this was the first time he had been able to enjoy the bustle of the city.

For students of the Azure Dragon Academy, the Heavenly Martial Festival had never been a time for enjoyment. They walked with their heads bowed, like criminals, hearing mostly pity or ridicule.

“Next year will be different, right? Jun?”

“...Yes.”

A wave of emotion rose in his chest as he thought of his Student Council seniors, the ones who had patted his shoulder and promised that things would be better next time.

This year is truly different, Seniors. I hope you’re all watching us from somewhere. This year, every student at the Azure Dragon Academy can walk with their heads held high, proud to be a part of our school.

His heart softened, and he turned to the other two.

“You two. Did you meet with your families?”

Both boys nodded.

“Don’t even ask,” Hyonwon Kang grumbled, as though the memory alone was exhausting. “Everyone made such a fuss it was pure chaos. My father was more moved than I was, and he even shed a few tears! I don’t know what he heard from who, but he kept asking me what was going on with Yeo Min...”

His face reddened slightly as he trailed off.

Wiji Cheon grinned brightly. “I had a simple dinner with Grandpa before coming out! But I couldn’t stay long since he still hasn’t fully recovered.”

Hyonwon Kang immediately slung an arm around his little friend’s shoulder. “You don’t have separate plans with Yoo Yiran?” he asked suggestively.

“We duel every day at dawn, though?”

“...You don’t do anything else?”

“What else are we supposed to do?”

Hyonwon Kang sighed and shook his head. “Never mind... The more I say, the more I just sound like a bad guy.”

Dokgo Jun shot him a pathetic look. “What about Senior Geo Sangwoong and Ya Suhyeok?”

“Both of them are still in rough shape. They’re stuck resting in bed.”

“Also, Senior Yeo Min decided to spend time with her aunt from the North Sea Ice Palace.”

“Tsk, and here I went and made reservations at an expensive place for a certain someone...”

The three of them chatted as they walked. Soon, they arrived at their destination, a high-class, expensive-looking restaurant located in a five-story building in the city center.