Chapter 607: The True Winner

The tide of battle turned in the blink of an eye. Only moments earlier, the Heavenly Martial Academy had seemed poised to win. Their students had hounded the fleeing Azure Dragon Academy students like predators, almost certain of victory.

All of a sudden, however, the fleeing students turned around and counterattacked. At the same time, the Black Tortoise Academy, which had been standing by, joined the battle. Within seconds, the tables had turned completely against the Heavenly Martial Academy.

“W-What the!”

He had overlooked something. Yoo Yiran had been the first to reach Mok Hyungwoo’s side. In other words, she had been the first to defeat her opponent.

“Don’t tell me... From the very beginning...!”

“It’s a trap! Don’t scatter, gather together!”

The Heavenly Martial Academy students realized how thoroughly they had been deceived far too late. They desperately searched for their comrades, but found only enemies all around them.

Such was the price of celebrating a premature victory. In their haste to attack the Azure Dragon Academy, they had abandoned their formation and fanned out across the field. Now, they were each surrounded by two or three times their number and trapped in a fight they could not win.

“Wow! To think they used a comprehensive strategy combining baiting, ambushing, flanking, and encirclement. Isn’t it impressive?” an old man exclaimed.

The First Apostle, who was sitting next to the old man, turned toward him. He had deliberately chosen a seat far from the other apostles so that he could watch the tournament in peace. Small talk of any sort was thoroughly unwelcome.

“Do you know me?” he asked, staring intently at the old man.

This was a quiet warning to leave him alone. Most martial artists either fell silent in fear or slipped out of their seats entirely after meeting his emotionless gaze.

However, this old man smiled affably, wrinkles creasing his whole face. “There’s a saying that all men are brothers. Fate must have brought us together at this grand festival. By the way, young man... Are you perhaps a martial master?”

“......”

The First Apostle gave in to an old habit and studied the old man.

His martial arts were unremarkable. His clothes appeared simple, but were made of high-quality silk. He stood ramrod straight, and his voice was powerful and articulate. Above all, the profound wisdom in his eyes made it obvious that he was anything but ordinary.

The old man turned back to the battlefield. “That is an extremely difficult tactic to pull off in a real war. A seasoned general who can read the flow of a battle and soldiers with excellent operational capability are required.”

A glance was enough for the old man to take in the entire situation. He watched the Azure Dragon Academy students corner the Heavenly Martial Academy with obvious pride, yet he never once lost his composure.

“There were risks, of course, but they pulled it off splendidly. Soldiers with ten years of fighting experience would have struggled with that. Tsk tsk, those shitty generals living off taxpayers’ money should be watching this...”

Finally, the First Apostle realized that a few words wouldn’t drive this old man away. Paralyzing him with a strike to a pressure point would cause problems later, and he wasn’t about to give up his seat. Besides, he found himself somewhat in agreement, so he nodded and played along. “The Heavenly Martial Academy was blinded by victory. They must have wanted revenge for the humiliation they suffered last night.”

The old man grinned. “Are you saying those children accounted for that and turned their enemy’s own psychology against them?”

The First Apostle thought for a moment before answering. “At least... That’s what I would’ve done.”

But if it wasn’t genius instinct that guided them, then they must have learned the tactic from someone.

He refrained from finishing his thought and glanced at the Azure Dragon Academy instructors. Baek Suryong stood among them, watching his students intently.

“Come to think of it, they may have learned it from the Azure Dragon Hero.” The old man chuckled, as though he knew the legendary martial artist personally. “That fellow isn’t just great at martial arts. He’s great at using his wits.”

The First Apostle spared him a glance before returning his attention to the field. Unable to withstand the coordinated assault, the Heavenly Martial Academy students dropped out one by one.

Objectively, they were the stronger team. Once their formation was broken and their people spread out, though, none of that mattered, especially against the combined forces of the Azure Dragon and Black Tortoise Academies.

The Azure Dragon Academy students, in particular, moved in perfect coordination, like soldiers who had trained together countless times. They also seemed very accustomed to fighting opponents stronger than themselves.

“I heard something terrible happened on their school trip... Seeing how proficient they’ve become at war doesn’t make me happy,” the old man muttered bitterly.

“......” The First Apostle said nothing in response to that.

The two of them watched the match in silence for a while.

“It will be over soon,” the First Apostle said coldly.

The old man grinned mischievously. “As I thought! You’re an alumnus of the Azure Dragon Academy, aren’t you?”

The First Apostle’s expression hardened and the temperature plunged abruptly. A deep anger smoldered beneath his low voice as he growled, “...Nonsense. Why would you make such a ridiculous assumption?”

Nearby spectators shivered as if a cold breeze had cut through the stands.

The old man blinked in surprise, caught off guard by the sharpness of the First Apostle’s reaction. “That’s odd. Why were you watching the kids so intently if you’re not an alumnus of the Azure Dragon Academy?”

“......”

“My, what a murderous glare. If you’re from the Heavenly Martial Academy, then I apologize,” the old man said, though nothing about him looked sorry or frightened. Furrowing his brow, he added, “Still, there’s no need to overreact. I almost thought you held a grudge against the Azure Dragon Academy...”

“Father,” a woman called out.

The old man turned around, his face lighting up as he spotted his daughter. “Yeong! Did you finish all your tasks?”

“Yes, but why are you sitting here alone? I told you to bring at least a few bodyguards with you.”

The old man shook his head at the nagging. “That’s more trouble than it’s worth, and far too conspicuous. I barely had time to come watch as it is ! Besides, can you think of anywhere safer than here?”

The father and daughter, who were separated by a considerable age gap, chatted quietly for a moment.

Suddenly, the old man’s gaze drifted back to Mok Hyungwoo. With a contented smile, he asked, “Yeong, what’s the name of the student serving as the Azure Dragon Academy’s Commander?”

“Mok Hyungwoo. He’s a fourth-year, so he’ll graduate soon.”

“Hoho, if he hasn’t found a job yet, I’m thinking of recruiting him into the military. I’ll have to meet with him later.”

“I’ll arrange it.”