Chapter 613: Why Must We Protest?

“First-year student Namgung Seok of the Azure Dragon Academy and second-year student Jong Yeon of the Heavenly Martial Academy, please come up to the duel stage!”

The first day of the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament was in full swing. Cheers, shouts, and sighs of disappointment echoed through the stands each time a student ascended or descended the duel stage.

“As expected of the Heavenly Martial Academy’s prodigies! How many wins is that already?”

“Don’t get so worked up. The real Dragons and Phoenixes haven’t even stepped up yet.”

“You’ll also want to keep a close eye on Hyonwon Kang, Wiji Cheon, and Dokgo Jun from the Azure Dragon Academy.”

“Don’t leave out Sama Hyeon and Yeon Soha of the Vermilion Phoenix Academy.”

“None of that matters! I’ve bet my entire fortune on Shaolin’s Divine Dragon!”

The crowd chattered on, their voices thick with excitement. The turnout was the largest in the past five days, and heated arguments were already breaking out over who would be named a Dragon or Phoenix and who would be crowned champion.

Prodigy after prodigy was mentioned in the debate. The renowned junior martial artists of the Five Great Academies, who had been absent from the past four days of competition, finally came forward as the tournament progressed.

“Fourth-year student Yeon Soha of the Vermilion Phoenix Academy, and fourth-year student So Ilji of the White Tiger Academy, please take the stage!”

Conquering the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament meant being recognized as the world’s greatest prodigy. Every student of the Five Great Academies dreamed of earning this title at least once, which was why skipping every other event to enter the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament in perfect condition was such a common strategy.

Yeon Soha of the Vermilion Phoenix Academy was one such case.

“...I-I’ve lost.”

“Thank you for conceding.”

The match was over in the span of a breath.

Yeon Soha sheathed her sword with a gentle smile, bowed toward the Wudang Sect and the Vermilion Phoenix Academy, and descended from the stage. For someone who had won with five techniques, she looked remarkably unbothered.

“Just as you’d expect from the secret weapon the Vermilion Phoenix Academy has been saving,” Baek Suryong murmured in quiet admiration.

The Vermilion Phoenix Academy had kept Yeon Soha, a disciple of the Sword Sage, hidden all this time in preparation for the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament. She had always been a brilliant talent, and fighting the Ak Clan had honed her skills even further.

The thought brought a strange relief, and the tension drained out of him. A faint smile even touched his lips.

“Yeon Soha is not the only notable student. The Dragon and Phoenix Tournament is a proving ground for the world’s most brilliant talents. Anyone who lets their guard down can lose,” Namgung Su remarked coolly.

Victors walked down the stage proudly, bathed in cheers, while losers swallowed their bitter tears and bowed their heads.

“That’s right. Not everyone gets to be a winner.” Baek Suryong watched as Mok Hyungwoo stepped down from the stage, his head hung low.

He had been more active than anyone in the Mock War. In the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament, however, he was defeated in his very first duel. One could argue that he had burned too much stamina the day before, but no consolation could make Mok Hyungwoo feel better. A loss was a loss.

“You can train yourself to death and still lose to someone stronger. The idea that effort is always fairly rewarded is nothing but a fantasy. Still...”

Mok Hyungwoo scratched the back of his head and walked toward the juniors supporting him. He exchanged a few words with them, and they responded with jokes and encouragement. Before long, he sat down, smiling as usual.

Baek Suryong chuckled at the sight. “He just needs to shake off his self-doubt. Thanks to his stellar performance yesterday, he’ll have plenty of opportunities to shine in the future.”

“......” Namgung Su studied his colleague with a peculiar gaze. The Baek Suryong of today and the Baek Suryong who had declared barely a year ago that he would lead the Azure Dragon Academy to victory were the same man, yet they somehow felt like two different people. “Aren’t you disappointed? If all your students had entered the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament, they would have won most of the opening matches.”

His gaze drifted to Geo Sangwoong, Ya Suhyeok, and Yeo Min, who were watching the tournament. Despite performing brilliantly in every previous competition, none of them were competing in the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament. Everyone found that peculiar.

Baek Suryong shrugged nonchalantly. “They said they’ve already achieved good enough results, so they’ll sit this one out and just enjoy the show from the sidelines.”

“...What?”

Namgung Su’s expression grew stranger still. This, too, was a new development. The Baek Suryong of the past would never have tolerated such a colossal waste of resources or allowed his students to forfeit their chance at the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament.

Is he really trying to give more students a chance, or is he up to something nefarious again? I need to find out.

“Do you mean that, as long as more students get to experience the Heavenly Martial Festival, you are content to lose the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament?”

Baek Suryong whipped around and stared him straight in the eyes. “What nonsense are you spouting?”

“......” Namgung Su studied Baek Suryong’s eyes carefully.

Baek Suryong continued, “Obviously, we have to win the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament. I think you’ve misunderstood something. What I meant to say was...”

Smirking confidently, he nodded toward Hyonwon Kang and Wiji Cheon, the first two of the Five Young Azure Dragons to become his students. Both boys were born with innate martial arts talent and combat instincts, and a year of his special training had propelled them to new heights at an astonishing pace.

Namgung Su studied the pair. Hyonwon Kang, having finished his duel, was busy glaring at Peng Sahyuk in a one-sided staring contest. Meanwhile, Wiji Cheon was taking deep breaths as he waited for his turn.

“...That those two kids are enough to win the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament.”

“......” Relief flashed in Namgung Su’s eyes at the prideful display, but he concealed his emotions and retorted bluntly, “Whether it’s a year ago or now, you’re still absurdly overconfident.”

“Do you think my confidence is baseless?”

Namgung Su ignored the question and turned back to the duel stage, where the prodigies of the Five Great Academies clashed fiercely to show what they had learned in the past year.

Few matches ended in a one-sided win. Most lasted for dozens of exchanges, some for hundreds even. No matter how skilled they were in martial arts, the effort behind each bead of sweat was clear to any peerless master.

“...If Dragons and Phoenixes were chosen by who worked the hardest, your two students would have a high chance of receiving that honor.”

“Is this the Namgung Su style of cheering or something?”

“Nonsense.”

Namgung Su dismissed the playful question and refocused on the tournament. Suddenly, he narrowed his eyes, noticing something out of place. “Hey, Baek Suryong. Was that what I think it was...?”

A Heavenly Martial Academy student and disciple of one of the Nine Sects was overpowering his opponent with raw inner qi. The crowd gasped in awe, but Namgung Su’s gaze only grew colder.

Baek Suryong nodded and whispered, “That brat isn’t the only one. Don’t most of the Heavenly Martial Academy students seem a bit strange?”

“Their qi is unstable, and they can’t control it properly. Such a thing shouldn’t happen to prodigies of their caliber. It’s as though...” Namgung Su trailed off. He couldn’t bring himself to finish voicing his suspicion.

Baek Suryong coldly finished Namgung Su’s sentence for him. “...As though they swallowed elixirs far beyond what their bodies could handle.”

As it happened, the next match was between Heavenly Martial and Azure Dragon students.