Chapter 608: Today, I Learned Something From You

Despite being a large-scale battle with all five great academies taking part, the Mock War ended far sooner than any other event.

Everything moved at a blazing speed. The Heavenly Martial Academy overpowered the White Tiger and Vermilion Phoenix Academies early on, but then the Azure Dragon and Black Tortoise Academies lured them into a trap and claimed victory with a joint attack. The whole event was over in fifteen minutes.

“Is that it for today?”

“Haa... The excitement still hasn’t worn off...”

“How are we supposed to wait until tomorrow?”

Amid the fervent cheers, the Azure Dragon Academy’s New Four Heavenly Kings put on quite a show, though rumor had it that they tried to finish their matches as quickly as possible out of sheer embarrassment.

The spectators, who had been thoroughly enthralled, were crushed to see the Mock War end so quickly. Fortunately, welcome news arrived almost immediately.

“Once the arena has been cleared, we will proceed with several exhibition matches. These are purely for your entertainment, so please sit back, relax, and enjoy.”

The announcement revealed that students who had sat out the Mock War would now compete alongside their instructors from the Five Great Academies. Anticipation rippled through the stands once more, and the crowd buzzed with speculation about the participating instructors’ identities.

Meanwhile, the students who had competed in the Mock War headed back to their academy camps to rest.

“Everyone worked hard!”

“You did well, Senior!”

“If you’re hurt or unwell in any way, speak up now.”

The Azure Dragon Academy participants returned to a rousing ovation. All of them were exhausted and covered in scrapes and bruises, but their spirits could not have been higher.

The instructors beamed with pride too, praising the students for a job well done as they tended to their injuries.

“You were the best, Senior Hyungwoo!”

“Thanks to your strategy, Senior, we got to land a solid blow on them.”

“Those Heavenly Martial Academy bastards! Seeing them chase us like their lives depended on it, thinking we were running away, was beyond infuriating.”

Mok Hyungwoo, the Commander of the Mock War, received more congratulations than anyone. Still, he scratched his head awkwardly. “It’s not like I did much...”

Everyone took it as humility, but Mok Hyungwoo was genuinely dissatisfied. Sitting down, he stared blankly at the spear split in two across his lap.

Baek Suryong came over and sat beside him. “You look disappointed with the result.”

“To be honest, I’m not sure this was the best result we could have managed.”

Baek Suryong did not ask why. He simply gave the boy a look that said, ‘Go on.’

Mok Hyungwoo hesitated for a moment before continuing, “We might have been able to win without the Black Tortoise Academy’s help. It wouldn’t have been easy, of course, but had we pulled it off, we would have won the Mock War outright.”

The Heavenly Martial Academy’s strength was beyond dispute. Most of them had trained for years in the martial arts of prestigious orthodox sects. Additionally, thanks to superior inner arts techniques and elixirs, they were exceptionally strong for their age. Outside of the Five Young Azure Dragons and a few others, few Azure Dragon Academy students could beat them in a direct confrontation.

For this reason, Mok Hyungwoo had forged an alliance with the Black Tortoise Academy and handed them the final victory once the Heavenly Martial Academy had fallen.

“Before the battle started, I thought that was the best option available... but after fighting, I realized I’d underestimated my juniors.”

“Underestimated them?” Namgung Su, who had come over to listen, furrowed his brow.

Mok Hyungwoo scratched his chin, embarrassed. “After fighting the Heavenly Martial Academy directly, I realized our chances were decent even in a head-on clash. Ah, I’m not saying they were weak...”

“You mean your own team was stronger than you thought.”

Mok Hyungwoo nodded. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Although the Azure Dragon Academy students’ average skill level was lower, they had devoted enormous time to teamwork. On top of that, the horrific battle during their school trip had given them experience that no classroom could ever provide. Group combat was always going to be their strongest suit.

The Heavenly Martial Academy students, in contrast, relied on their team formation for support while fighting individually. No one could predict the outcome with certainty, but Mok Hyungwoo felt that the Azure Dragon Academy would have stood a real chance even in a direct clash.

“That’s why I’m regretful. I could have let those kids shine so much brighter...”

Mok Hyungwoo scanned his juniors, his eyes filled with apology.

Baek Suryong reached for the bisected spear. “Let me see that.”

He examined it. The cut surface was clean and sharp. Mok Hyungwoo had bought time by fending off a top prodigy’s attacks time and again, shouldering the greatest risk despite being the Commander.

“Did you ally with the Black Tortoise Academy solely to beat the Heavenly Martial Academy?”

Mok Hyungwoo thought it over, then shook his head slowly. “No, I believed it offered us the best chance to score well with the fewest injuries. Before we started, the Heavenly Martial Academy kids had these really crazed looks in their eyes...”

“Right, they did look abnormal.” Baek Suryong nodded and glanced toward the Heavenly Martial Academy’s camp.

Whether the brawl from the previous night had fired them up or someone had lit the fuse, the Heavenly Martial Academy students had radiated a ferocious fighting spirit before the Mock War had even begun.

The proof was in the casualties. The White Tiger and Vermilion Phoenix Academies, who collided with the Heavenly Martial Academy early on, had taken a serious beating. Thankfully, there were no deaths or life-threatening injuries, just plenty of broken bones and deep cuts.

Meanwhile, none of the Azure Dragon and Black Tortoise Academy students were seriously injured. The price of victory was astonishingly low.

“If you had faced the Heavenly Martial Academy head-on, whether we ultimately won or lost, many Azure Dragon students would have been seriously injured.” Baek Suryong smiled and handed the broken spear back. “It was you who led your comrades down the safest path. Look around you. Does anyone here look like they resent you for your decision?”

“......” As instructed, Mok Hyungwoo lifted his head and surveyed the students. Everyone who had fought in the Mock War was smiling and celebrating their victory against the Heavenly Martial Academy. They even traded stories about their heroic exploits at maximum volume.

None of that would have been possible if someone had been seriously injured.