TL: FoodieMonster007

    "Mmm..." Groaning, Namgung Su laboriously opened his eyes. His vision was blurry, his head throbbed so painfully that he felt as if it might burst, and nausea churned in his stomach, threatening to erupt. This was the aftereffect of the poison.

    Suddenly, the events right before he lost consciousness flashed before his eyes. The Erudite Sage ambushing him with a poisoned dagger. The bell and the ghouls at his command. Unleashing his lightning qi in a desperate attempt to stun the ghouls. Then, using the last of his strength to suppress the poison before collapsing.

    What happened after that? The new instructors...

    Enduring the pain, Namgung Su tried to force himself up.

    "You''re awake?" a familiar voice asked.

    Namgung Su blinked, and his blurred vision gradually became clearer, revealing the speaker''s face.

    "Baek Suryong..."

    Relief washed over him at the sight of his colleague''s trademark cocky grin. If Baek Suryong was here, then the immediate crisis was probably over.

    All strength seemed to drain from his body, and he let out a weak laugh, "You''re late. I''m giving you demerit points for that."

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    "Since you''re cracking jokes, you must be alright," Baek Suryong chuckled, extending a hand.

    Normally, Namgung Su would have refused the assistance, but this time, he grasped Baek Suryong''s hand and pulled himself to his feet.

    "Mr. Namgung, are you alright?"

    "We were so worried!"

    "Because of us, you..."

    Several instructors approached, their faces etched with concern. Some worked to pile up the ghoul corpses, while others kept watch over the perimeter.

    "Where''s the Erudite Sage?" Namgung Su asked in a slightly hoarse voice.

    Baek Suryong gestured toward the Erudite Sage, who was tied to a tree. His face and clothes were streaked with blood, and his lips remained tightly sealed in defiance.

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    "We caught him and tied him up. Unfortunately, it doesn''t look like any amount of threats or torture is going to make him talk, and we don''t exactly have time to slowly pry information out of him right now."

    "I see..." Namgung Su looked toward the Namgung Estate.

    KEUAAAAK!

    AAAAAAH!

    Flames were still licking the buildings, screams and cries filled the air, and the wind carried the metallic stench of blood.

    Gritting his teeth, Namgung Su turned back to Baek Suryong. "We need to escape from here right now. If we go to the Murim Alliance''s Anhui Branch and ask for help..." he began, trying his best to keep his voice steady.

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    "Stop. Why are you saying that when you know it too?" Baek Suryong interrupted.

    "...Know what?"

    Baek Suryong stared at Namgung Su, who had an unusually dazed look on his face. "That by the time the Murim Alliance sends reinforcements, the result will have already been decided."

    Namgung Su fell silent. Even if he could fool the other instructors, he knew that he couldn''t deceive Baek Suryong. After a pause, he muttered, "...Regardless, we have to get the new instructors out of here. I can''t let those who have nothing to do with the Namgung Clan die."

    The atmosphere turned solemn.

    As Baek Suryong had pointed out, Namgung Su was already aware of the futility of seeking external aid. Requesting help from the Murim Alliance was just a pretext to evacuate the instructors, to spare them the guilt and shame of fleeing.

    "Mr. Namgung Su..."

    "We''ll fight alongside you!"

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    "Only one person needs to go to the Murim Alliance."

    Unfortunately, most of the new instructors saw through Namgung Su''s intentions, and rather than accepting his fabricated plan, they voiced their determination to stay and fight.

    The attackers were, after all, none other than the Blood Cult. As martial artists of the orthodox sects, they were obligated to fight against evil.

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    "...Alright, I understand." Namgung Su nodded. As he put the flute into his pocket, however, he hesitated. "Why are you entrusting this to me when you can do it yourself?"

    Baek Suryong could have used the flute to save the Namgung Clan and become their benefactor, so why did he give him the Demonic Soul Summoning Flute instead? There had to be a reason.

    "There''s somewhere I need to go right now," Baek Suryong replied, gazing at the sky.

    RUMBLE!

    Dark storm clouds blanketed the Namgung Estate.

    This was no natural phenomenon. The dark clouds, originating from a peak near Mount Tianzhu''s summit, were steadily advancing towards the Namgung Clan.

    That exceptionally dark mountain peak in the distance... Something related to the Blood Cult is there.

    Baek Suryong felt certain that the phenomenon that caused the storm clouds was related to this calamity, but if he wanted to investigate, then he didn''t have time to run around the entire Namgung Estate blowing the flute.

    Well, there was actually one more reason.

    No matter how much gratitude they have for me, I can''t become the patriarch of the Namgung Clan, but if it''s Namgung Su...

    Of course, he didn''t say this second reason out loud.

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    Patting Namgung Su''s shoulder, Baek Suryong encouraged, "Let''s meet again when this is all over."

    "Good luck."

    The two men exchanged a brief nod. No further words were necessary.

    "You all too. Let''s all meet again alive." Baek Suryong grinned at the other instructors, then untied the Erudite Sage and slung him over his shoulder like a sack of rice. "You''re coming with me. I''ll be asking you various questions along the way, and honestly, it would be best for you to cooperate obediently."

    "Kukuku... You fool, do you really think you alone can change the situation?" the Erudite Sage cackled, seemingly driven to madness.

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    Ignoring the Erudite Sage laughing like a madman over his shoulder, Baek Suryong activated his movement arts and vanished into the darkness.

    Namgung Su watched Baek Suryong''s retreating form for a moment, then carefully grasped the Demonic Soul Summoning Flute. "...Thank you. I will definitely repay this debt."

    Turning back, he found the new instructors staring at him with fervent anticipation.

    "Ahem," he cleared his throat. He felt a twinge of embarrassment at contradicting himself after refusing their help, but the situation had changed.

    "I intend to return to the Namgung Estate, but my physical condition is... less than ideal. Of course, I won''t force anyone to come with me, only volunteers."

    As if they had been waiting for those very words, the instructors broke into bright smiles.

    "The Vermilion Phoenix Academy will escort Mr. Namgung Su!" Sama Yeong announced cheerfully.

    Not to be outdone, Tang Baekho thumped his chest. "Count the White Tiger Academy in as well!"

    They had witnessed Namgung Su put himself in danger for them, even though he was poisoned. Any orthodox martial artist would be deeply moved by such selflessness.

    "Thank you. The Azure Dragon Academy..." Namgung Su''s voice trailed off as he looked the Azure Dragon instructors.

    They were already prepared and raring to go.

    "Why are you even bothering to ask?"

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    "Hurry up and let''s go!"

    "We were going to follow you whether you wanted us to or not anyway."

    "Prepare yourselves, Blood Cult bastards! The Azure Dragon Academy is coming for you!"

    Just like that, the Azure Dragon Academy took the lead in the charge, with the Vermilion Phoenix Academy and the White Tiger Academy flanking Namgung Su.

    Namgung Su kept the Demonic Soul Summoning Flute close to his lips, ready to play it at a moment''s notice. Although his face remained pale, a faint smile played on his lips.

    "...Let''s go."

    Soon after, the sound of a flute echoed throughout the Namgung Estate, turning the tide of the chaotic battle.