Chapter 621: The Perfect Answer, or the Truth?

“Will the Azure Dragon Academy reveal the origin of the martial arts that Hyonwon Kang and Wiji Cheon have learned...?”

The Supreme Buddha never got to finish explaining his reasons.

Of course, he could have concocted a flawless story.

Mae Geuklyom, the Acting Principal of the Azure Dragon Academy, jumped out of his seat. His snow-white eyebrows twitched furiously, conveying his strong-willed nature. “Enough! What is the meaning of this!?”

His standing and reputation paled in comparison to the monk who had been counted among the Ten Supremes for decades. However, he hadn’t been selected as the next Principal of the Azure Dragon Academy for those reasons. He was chosen simply for his unwavering dedication to his students and his willingness to protect them come hell or high water.

“Murim law dictates that one does not pry into another man’s martial arts, even between blood relatives. Yet here you are, interrogating our students in public? Supreme Buddha, you will apologize and explain exactly why you are threatening my students right this instant.”

The mid-ranking masters of the Nine Sects surrounding the stage either flushed with shame or hardened their faces at the rebuke. Mae Geuklyom’s argument was perfectly sound.

Thanks to him, Baek Suryong missed his chance to step forward. Not only had Mae Geuklyom had moved first and pinned him in place with a look, Noh Goonsang had also quietly shook his head as well.

Baek Suryong scratched his cheek awkwardly and decided to watch a little longer, letting the adults of the Azure Dragon Academy take the lead.

“Are you holding our students hostage?” Headmaster Baek Muheun demanded, his voice firm. Like his father-in-law, he shot Baek Suryong a look that said not to do anything reckless.

The Supreme Buddha panicked. “No, I never meant to...”

Baek Suryong scratched his cheek awkwardly and decided to watch a little longer, letting the adults of the Azure Dragon Academy take the lead.

The excitement generated by the announcement of the Dragons and Phoenixes quickly faded. Those who had stayed behind murmured among themselves as they stared at the Supreme Buddha and the Nine Sects masters who had stormed the duel stage out of nowhere.

The Supreme Buddha pressed his palms together, his expression grave, and bowed his head. “This humble monk is aware that my conduct is rude. I will accept any criticism or reprimand. Even so, there is something I must confirm here.”

Namgung Su shook his head in disdain. The ones who are seeing this have disappointed him.

““...!””

Martial artists who were unaware of the circumstances stood slack-jawed. Even the Azure Dragon Academy instructors, who had been glaring daggers at each other a moment ago, were stupefied. The most senior Shaolin Temple elder, a titan of the orthodox sects, was bowing his head in front of a huge crowd?!

The old monk ignored the uproar and continued in the same calm tone. “Decades ago, this humble monk fought in the war against the Blood Cult. Back then, I was young and full of vigor. Several of us here today, including the Sword Sage and several elders of the orthodox sects, served on that battlefield.”

Namgung Su shook his head in disdain. The ones who are seeing this have disappointed him.

The Sword Sage, who had climbed onto the duel stage at some point, nodded slightly. Several white-haired old masters of the orthodox sects also stepped forward, their expressions stiff.

All of them were looking at Wiji Cheon and Hyonwon Kang. Complicated emotions flickered across their wrinkled faces.

His gaze shifted to the Azure Dragon Hero Baek Suryong, who stared back at him expressionlessly.

Yeon Soha shuffled her feet nervously. “Master...?”

The Sword Sage nodded to reassure his youngest disciple before shifting his gaze to the two boys. “Please stay where you are for the moment. Once it is proven that you have done nothing wrong, no one will be harmed.”

“Wrong? What do you mean, wrong?”

“What did we even do...?”

The Sword Sage did not answer either of them. He desperately hoped that this was all a mistake, a misunderstanding. He wanted the striking similarity between the brutal martial arts he had seen decades ago and the boys’ techniques to be a mere coincidence. He wanted the young martial master—the man he believed to be his disciple’s benefactor and a hero of the orthodox sects—to harbor no dark secrets.

But if what these children have learned truly is the martial arts of the Apostles, and if the Azure Dragon Hero who taught them is connected to the Blood Cult...

The empty right sleeve of the Sword Sage’s robe fluttered in the wind as he eyed Baek Suryong. “If you deceived us,” he whispered, “I will make sure you pay the price...”

The new Principal of the Vermilion Phoenix Academy, Seok Yeorip, asked bluntly, “What exactly do you hope to confirm? Why bring up a war with the Blood Cult from decades ago out of nowhere?”

The Benevolent Sage found the duo maddening.

To him, the Supreme Buddha’s conduct looked like nothing more than the great orthodox sects throwing a tantrum over their students’ disappointing results.

The White Tiger Principal clicked his tongue and added a remark that no one present could mistake for anything but sarcasm. “For masters of the Nine Sects to storm a festival meant for prodigies and make such overt threats, I worry that lasting damage will be done to the honor of our orthodox faction.”

Jin Ryang, the Heavenly Martial Principal, stepped back to declare his neutrality. Meanwhile, Jongri Mok, the Acting Principal of the Black Tortoise Academy, was not present, having left town several days ago on personal business.

“What are they doing all of a sudden?

“Don’t tell me they’re throwing a fit because the Heavenly Martial Academy performed badly...”

The Benevolent Sage found the duo maddening.

“Surely the masters of the orthodox sects wouldn’t stoop that low?”

The Principals were hardly alone in thinking along these lines. Most of the onlookers had come to the same conclusion. Eyes lowered in disappointment, they quietly criticized the men who had poured cold water over the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament.

The Supreme Buddha endured every one of those stares. He had steeled himself for them before he ever stepped forward. He chose his words carefully, weighing the damage each one might do, before saying, “Amitabha. This may all be a misunderstanding on this humble monk’s part. That is precisely why it seems right to confirm it before a greater misunderstanding takes root. I am standing here because we have noticed that the martial arts of the two students I named are...”

“The Blood Cult’s demonic arts!” an old Taoist interjected.

“...Are you prepared to take responsibility for those words?” Mae Geuklyom asked in a low, heavy voice.

He was the Benevolent Sage and Grand Elder of the Diancang Sect. A diagonal sword scar ran across his obstinate-looking face, making his already severe expression look sharper.

He fixed his blazing eyes on Wiji Cheon. “Confess now! What is that sword technique you used?”

“Y-Yes...?” Wiji Cheon asked back, appearing flustered and confused.

The Benevolent Sage scoffed. “You dare not say it, do you? Because it’s the sword technique wielded by that Blood Cult sword demon!”

Baek Suryong said, "Shame on you!"

“I-I don’t understand what you’re saying...” Wiji Cheon stammered, shivering in terror.

He was usually shy, but this was abnormal even for him. His mind went completely blank the instant he heard the words ‘Blood Cult.’ Fear that the secret of his birth into one of the Blood Cult’s eight great families was about to be exposed made him shrink in on himself.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

A memory from long ago surfaced in the Sword Sage’s mind.

“That’s enough!”

Hyonwon Kang and Dokgo Jun planted themselves in front of their terrified junior, and Wiji Cheon’s small frame disappeared behind their backs.

“Please stay where you are for the moment.

The Benevolent Sage only sneered, glaring over their shoulders at the boy trembling behind them. “If you have nothing to hide, why are you so frightened?”

““...!””

A hushed shock spread from the duel stage through the spectator seats. The claim was so absurd that no one reacted at first, but soon, the audience started murmuring in disbelief.

“D-Did he just say the Blood Cult?”

Of course, he could have concocted a flawless story.