Chapter 285: Would You Like Some Career Counseling?

    TL: FoodieMonster007

    "Why isn''t he back yet?"

    "Nothing happened to him, right? The Chairman was terrifying..."

    Even as they carried on with their evening training at the White Dragon Manor, the students kept glancing anxiously at the front gate. Baek Suryong was unusually late.

    Hyonwon Kang muttered mischievously, "Maybe he mouthed off to Chairman and got beaten up?"

    "No way..."

    This is a free translation. You should not be seeing ads.

    "Didn''t you see him earlier? He was provoking him like crazy, saying stuff like, ''Who are you to interrupt my exam?''"

    "I was terrified. I really thought something bad was about to happen."@@@@

    Hyonwon Kang nodded. "Right? If it were me, I''d have dragged him somewhere quiet and beaten the crap out of him."

    The two freshmen, Wiji Cheon and Ya Suhyeok, exchanged doubtful looks. It was impossible to imagine Baek Suryong getting beaten up by anyone, but since it was the Murim Alliance Chairman... maybe?

    A small, unspoken hope began to sprout in the three boys'' hearts, and as if on cue, a shooting star streaked across the night sky, leaving a long trail behind it.

    The three boys quickly clasped their hands together and made their wishes.

    "Chairman, please show us that justice still exists in the murim!" Hyonwon Kang prayed desperately.

    This is a non-profit translation. Ads? What ads?

    "Just hit him as much as we usually get hit!" Ya Suhyeok bellowed.

    "Put him in as much pain as possible... without breaking any bones or rupturing any organs!" Wiji Cheon muttered.

    Even the usually kind Wiji Cheon had been corrupted after enduring the final exams.

    "You idiots," Yeo Min sighed, smacking each of them on the back.

    SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!

    The three boys shrieked and jumped in pain. Thanks to the White Ice Divine Palm, Yeo Min''s friendly slaps hurt.

    """Aaargh!"""

    "Do you think Chairman is like you? Stop dreaming and focus on your training!"

    A little further away from the group, Bang Baekhyun sat on the porch, smiling faintly as he watched his juniors train. "They''re a lively bunch," he remarked.

    Geo Sangwoong, who still looked impeccably neat, scoffed. "Just be honest. You think they''re weird."

    Bang Baekhyun smirked. Earlier, he was still complaining about being turned into a pretty boy, but I guess he''s warmed up to the idea?

    Barely containing his laughter, he asked, "You suddenly insisted on inviting me here. Was this what you wanted to show me?"

    "I wanted to give you a tour of this place... and have a private conversation."

    This is a non-profit translation. There are no ads.

    Bang Baekhyun nodded, as if he was expecting this. Turning around, he faced his friend directly. "I''m ready to listen."

    Geo Sangwoong let out an awkward chuckle. "Don''t take it too seriously, it''s kind of embarrassing. Anyway, two years ago, at the Heavenly Martial Festival..."

    Slowly, he began to confess why he had distanced himself from martial arts for two years, why he had wasted his time gambling and indulging in food, and why he had spiraled into a self-destructive lifestyle.

    "...I tried to overcome it on my own, but I was too scared. Every time I tried to practice martial arts, my body would freeze, and I''d break into a cold sweat. Mr. Baek told me it was a form of qi deviation."

    As Bang Baekhyun listened to Geo Sangwoong''s tale, his expression grew increasingly grim, until finally, he clenched his teeth. Even without seeing it firsthand, he could imagine how much his prideful friend had suffered in silence.

    "I''m sorry, I had no idea all that happened. I just thought you had lost motivation after returning from the Heavenly Martial Festival," he apologized.

    Geo Sangwoong scratched the back of his head. "I''m the one who should be sorry. Because of my damned pride, I just couldn''t bring myself to say anything, especially not to you."

    "......"

    The two of them had once been known as the Azure Dragon Duo, promising prodigies of their generation. Although they were best friends, at the same time, they were also fierce rivals who constantly competed for the top spot.

    For that reason, Geo Sangwoong didn''t want to show any weakness, at least not to Bang Baekhyun. On the other hand, because Bang Baekhyun was kept in the dark, he was deeply disappointed in his friend.

    northbladetldotcom welcomes you.

    That was how they had naturally drifted apart.

    Only now, after two years, were they finally clearing up the misunderstanding.

    Bang Baekhyun cautiously asked, "So... You''re okay practicing martial arts now?"

    "As you can see, other than regretting all that time I wasted, I''m fine."

    "I see..."

    This is a non-profit translation. Ads? What ads?

    "By the way, do you have any plans for the break? It''s our last vacation, after all," Geo Sangwoong asked, smoothly changing the topic to lighten the mood.

    The two of them were fourth-years. Though they still had one semester left, this was their final school vacation. It was time to seriously consider their futures.

    Bang Baekhyun gazed up at the night sky. "Our last vacation... it''s already that time, huh?"

    For a moment, Bang Baekhyun was shocked speechless, but soon, a strange feeling of exhilaration swept over him. Maybe it was because he had spent days fighting, chasing, and bonding with them, but even though they were practically strangers, he didn''t feel uncomfortable discussing his dream with them.

    ...Right, aren''t they the students of the teacher who outright declared that he would lead the Azure Dragon Academy to victory at the Heavenly Martial Festival?

    Realizing that, he couldn''t help but laugh, "Haha! The way you guys put it, even someone from the Azure Dragon Academy becoming the Murim Alliance Chairman really doesn''t seem like a big deal, huh? To be honest, I..."

    "Anyway, about that Chairman..." Hyonwon Kang interrupted, gesturing toward Ya Suhyeok with his chin. "When I first saw him, I thought he was Suhyeok''s dad."

    "Huh? I thought the same thing. They look so alike."

    Why aren′t you reading this at northbladetldotcom?

    "Maybe he really is his illegitimate son? Even their names are similar."

    "What the hell are you guys talking about? My surname is ''Ya,'' and the Chairman''s is ''Yayul''!" Ya Suhyeok shouted, flustered by the teasing.

    "But you always call me ''Senior Wonkang'' too, you damn punk."

    Yeo Min exaggeratedly widened her eyes in shock. "Oh? Senior, wasn''t your name Hyon Wonkang...?"

    "You little...!"

    If you′re seeing this, you are at the wrong place.

    As usual, the White Dragon Manor students bickered and joked around noisily.

    Bang Baekhyun fell silent again, blinking in confusion. What on earth? Before I knew it, they''ve already moved on to a different topic!?

    Noticing his friend''s bewilderment, Geo Sangwoong chuckled and slung an arm around Bang Baekhyun''s shoulder. "This is just how it is here. There''s no such thing as hierarchy."

    Bang Baekhyun shook his head. "...This place is really weird."

    CREAK...

    Just then, Baek Suryong pushed open the front gate and entered the White Dragon Manor. "Why are you guys so noisy... oh?"

    ""Mr. Baek!""

    The students immediately swarmed Baek Suryong like eager little puppies wagging their tails.

    "Why are you so late?"

    "The conversation dragged on, and even after it ended, I had to go comfort a certain sulking guy."

    "Sulking?"

    "Who else could it be but that Namgung fella?" Baek Suryong sighed in exasperation. Dealing with Mr. Grumpy had been more exhausting than facing the Murim Alliance Chairman.

    "Mr. Baek, did you get beaten up by the Chairman?"

    This is a non-profit translation. Ads? What ads?

    "What?"

    "We even made a wish on a shooting star earlier, so there''s no way you came back unscathed..."

    BONK!

    Hyonwon Kang, who had been circling around inspecting Baek Suryong for injuries, was knocked flat on his face with a smack to the back of his head.

    "Who the fuck got beaten up again?"

    "Is there truly no hero in the murim capable of punishing Baek Suryong...?" Hyonwon Kang groaned softly, only to yelp when Baek Suryong casually kicked him away.

    Suddenly, Baek Suryong spotted a face he hadn''t seen in the White Dragon Manor before.

    "You''re Bang Baekhyun, right? A fourth year?" he asked.

    Bang Baekhyun immediately stood up and bowed in greeting. "Yes. It''s an honor to meet you, Azure Dragon Hero."

    "Hmm..." Baek Suryong fell into deep thought. Bang Baekhyun was one of the people who had caught his attention during the last final exam.

    Read this at northbladetldotcom, or else.

    He''s quick-witted, smart, and sociable, and his skills aren''t bad.

    Before coming here, he had also conveniently asked Namgung Su about Bang Baekhyun.

    After all, he had to get something in return for spending so much time and effort pacifying the man and soothing his bruised ego, right?

    "Bang Baekhyun? His grades are excellent across the board, but his scores in infiltration, intelligence gathering, and espionage stand out. It seems like he actually enjoys it, too."

    He''s graduating this year, hmm? That''s perfect. He''s just the person I need.

    Baek Suryong grinned. Bang Baekhyun was the perfect choice for a spy within the Murim Alliance.

    "You''re planning to enter the Murim Alliance after graduation, right?"

    Bang Baekhyun replied awkwardly, "Uh... yes. That''s correct."

    Baek Suryong smiled warmly, though for some reason, that smile only made Bang Baekhyun even more nervous.

    "Would you like some career counseling?" Baek Suryong asked.

    Translator''s Shameless Self-Promotion: Speaking of spies, if you think you''ll enjoy a murim spy action story, try reading Absolute Warrior.

    p.s. Su and Suryong have made up after breaking up for a day.