TL: FoodieMonster007

"So… who wants to be the group leader?"

A chilling silence permeated the air at the single remark from one of the group members.

Beneath the surface, however, a fierce battle of wits was taking place. Martial artists' senses are several to tens of times sharper than ordinary people's, and the furtive glances they exchanged were as subtle as an assassin's dagger.

Group Leader…

Will these guys listen to me?

They said there are bonus points for being the group leader.

A few students leaned back subtly, as if uninterested in becoming the group leader, a position that required leading a group of ten. The quick-witted students' eyes scanned the area as they weighed the pros and cons of becoming group leader. Meanwhile, there were those who simply wanted the title to satisfy their egos.

After coming to their own conclusions, the students began to break the silence, offering their opinions one by one.

"Then shall I do it?"

"Wouldn't it be better if you did it, Senior? You're the oldest, and you seem very skilled."

"Sorry, but I'm busy with job applications…"

"I'm too young to be the Group Leader, but if you'll let me be Vice Leader, I'll work hard!"

A fierce battle of wills unfolded across the Azure Dragon Academy's grand training ground as each student strove to get what they wanted.

From a short distance away, the instructors watched the students.

"Group classes… This brings back old memories." Jaegal Soyeong, who had graduated from the Heavenly Martial Academy just the previous year, shook her head as if remembering her student days.

Ak Yeonho asked curiously, "Is it like that at the Heavenly Martial Academy too?"

"It's the same everywhere. In our case, though, most of us were fighting to be the group leader. There were plenty of times when blood was shed just to elect one."

"…Should I say, as expected of the Heavenly Martial Academy

Nevertheless, a similar phenomenon was taking place at the Azure Dragon Academy. While some groups peacefully elected their leader, others were plagued by internal conflicts. Moreover, when a decision couldn't be reached through conversation, it usually boiled down to one simple solution.

CLANG!

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"Bring it on! Let's decide this the martial artists' way!"

"Be careful, my sword is sharp."

A fierce shout erupted from one corner of the training ground, and dust kicked up as a duel for the position of group leader broke out.

"Hyaaah!"

"Take this!"

The instructors watched from the sidelines, ensuring that the students wouldn't get injured badly. As Baek Suryong had told them not to get involved, they did not intervene or attempt to stop the fights.

Myeong Il'oh asked worriedly, "Hyung-nim, is it really okay to just leave them like this? A few groups are already showing signs of discord…"

"Ignore them." Baek Suryong folded his arms and smiled bitterly. "It's better for them to experience what it feels like for a group to fall apart now than on the battlefield later."

He hadn't decided on a group-based class for no reason. The goal of this class was to improve the students' individual strengths, cooperative techniques, and ability to work as a team.

Since they can't avoid getting embroiled in a war, I have to increase their survival rates at all costs.

At the Azure Dragon Academy, students could make mistakes and undergo trial and error without consequence. However, on a real battlefield, a single mistake could lead to death, whether due to a selfish commander, a disobedient subordinate, a careless comrade, or a lack of communication.

This class was designed to allow the students to practice for such scenarios in advance.

Baek Suryong's eyes hardened as he looked at the students. "Let them fight and clash as much as they want for now. If that prepares them for future conflicts, this exercise alone will be worthwhile."

"……" The instructors nodded wordlessly, their expressions heavy. They all knew that the Blood Cult's presence was growing by the day and that, someday, these children might end up on the battlefield.

A short while later, the dust swirling in the grand training ground settled. Finally, the group leaders of all ten groups were decided.

"It's pretty much as I expected," Baek Suryong muttered.

The Five Young Azure Dragons had mostly become the group leaders of their respective groups. Considering their fame as Baek Suryong's students and their exceptional martial arts skills, this outcome was natural.

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Only Yeo Min isn't a group leader.

That wasn't strange, though. In Group Eight, where Yeo Min was, there was someone better suited to be a group leader than anyone else.

"Considering the overall balance, it seems a few groups will need to be reorganized."

"If the gap in strength is too large, the other students might lose motivation."

"In my opinion, Groups Four and Ten are the most problematic…"

Baek Suryong shook his head. While there was merit to the other instructors' opinions, he decided to leave things as they were for now. After all, an unexpected synergistic effect could arise from an unlikely combination.

"Group Leaders, step forward," he shouted.

The group leaders gathered before Baek Suryong. Most of them were powerful individuals whom any student of the Azure Dragon Academy would recognize, but Baek Suryong knew that martial prowess and leadership capabilities were not synonymous.

They'll all soon feel that most keenly, hehe…

Smiling enigmatically, Baek Suryong explained the purpose of the class. "As the name suggests, this class consists of mock battles in preparation for war with the Blood Cult. Ideally, such a thing won't happen, but someday you may be forced to join the fight against those pests."

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The students' expressions darkened at the sudden seriousness in Baek Suryong's tone.

"From now on, you will work in groups of ten for this class. Depending on the class content, several groups may be merged, or members may be switched between groups. Those of you who took my class in the first semester know that my classes are tough." Baek Suryong grinned evilly. "You will need a little bit of resolve to get through this."

More than half of the group leaders shuddered as if having a seizure. From the perspective of those who had experienced Defense Against the Unorthodox Arts firsthand, 'a little bit' was quite the understatement.

The Five Young Azure Dragons looked at Baek Suryong resentfully, as if to say, How can you lie without batting an eyelid?

"…Ahem!" Baek Suryong cleared his throat and continued, "However, if you follow through to the end, you will surely learn much."

"Yes, we know. We either die or get stronger, right…?"

"By the time you start thinking you'd rather be dead, you'll find that you've gotten stronger."

"Mr. Baek! What if members run away because it's too hard, leaving vacancies?"

SMACK! THWACK! WHACK!

The Black Dragon Pointer came down on the heads of the grumbling Ya Suhyeok, the whispering Wiji Cheon, and the seriously questioning Geo Sangwoong.

Hyonwon Kang stood and watched them get hit, arms crossed, looking dignified for some reason.

What's up with him? Baek Suryong shot a suspicious glance at the punk, but soon turned back to the other group leaders. "Anyway, take good care of your teammates."

""Yes, Mr. Baek!""

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Baek Suryong nodded with satisfaction. "Since it's the first class today, we'll have two groups come out at a time for a mock battle. It's the first day, so you need to get a feel for each other. Are there any groups that want to go first?"

Two group leaders raised their hands without hesitation.

"Hmm. This should be interesting." Baek Suryong's eyes lit up with interest. The first mock battle was a test to check the students' skills and confirm future potential, and these two…

Well, they were Group Four Leader Hyonwon Kang and Group Five Leader Tang Soso.

After the matchups were decided, the two participating groups were given fifteen minutes to strategize.

"Leave it to me," Hyonwon Kang said confidently.

The strategy of his group was simple. Hyonwon Kang would defeat the leader and strongest member of the opposing group, Tang Soso, as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, the other group members would hold back the rest.

Though simple, with a strong fighter like Hyonwon Kang, it was a strategy worth trying.

"Don't overdo it. Just hang on tight. Once I take down Tang Soso, the rest will be easy. I can wipe them out right away."

"…Let's do that."

"Okay."

All of the group members agreed to their leader's plan. A few looked a little unenthusiastic, but Hyonwon Kang didn't pay them any mind.

It was only natural for people who didn't know each other to feel awkward when they were suddenly put in the same group. Besides, he already memorized half of their names and was thinking of going out for dinner together.

We'll get closer as we fight together.

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As a group leader, Hyonwon Kang felt a heavy sense of responsibility, yet he was also quite confident. Even at White Dragon Manor, he had always led his seniors and juniors when charging at Baek Suryong. The group size had just increased from five to ten people.

"Let's all show them the results of our special vacation training!"

"…I didn't do any special training, though?"

"Huh?"

Hyonwon Kang's eyes burned fiercely with passion to the point where the students in his group felt burdened.

Baek Suryong called out, "Groups Four and Five! Get ready."

Moments later, students from groups four and five stood facing each other in the middle of the grand training ground.

The mere sight of twenty people facing off created an atmosphere of heightened tension. The other students watched with critical eyes, eager to see how the first two groups would perform.

SHING!

Hyonwon Kang drew his blade and pointed it at Tang Soso. "No hard feelings, okay? I'm going to end this as quickly as possible."

Tang Soso smiled and let her wide sleeves hang down, but no one let their guard down upon seeing this. She was a member of the Sichuan Tang Clan. There was no telling what kind of poison or hidden weapons might come out of those sleeves.

"Oh, but I do have hard feelings," she said. "Not just for you, Senior Wonkang, but for all five of you known as the Five Young Azure Dragons."

"Against us?"

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Tang Soso nodded and looked at each of the Five Young Azure Dragons with envy. She had a reason she absolutely had to win.

"You probably don't know how blessed you are, " she sighed softly, dark energy swirling in her eyes. "To sleep in the same house as Mr. Baek Suryong, to eat with him, to learn martial arts from him, and to enjoy that every day…. I really can't forgive you all."

"…What?" Sensing berserk qi, Hyonwon Kang unconsciously stepped back.

ROAAAAAR!

A burst of intense inner qi shot up from under Tang Soso's feet, causing her martial arts uniform to flutter wildly.

Everyone looked at her in horror. There was a mad obsession in her eyes.

Tang Soso shrieked, "I will defeat all of the Five Young Azure Dragons in this class and destroy them! And then! I, the Azure Dragon Poisoner Tang Soso will take their place!"

"Uh, wait… No one said I had to fight a crazy person…" Hyonwon Kang's eyes went wide in shock, and he turned to look at Baek Suryong as if pleading for help.

Baek Suryong quickly looked away, avoiding eye contact. "…The Blood Cult has plenty of crazy people too."

A strange chill ran down Hyonwon Kang's spine, but he didn't have a choice. He took his starting stance and glared at Tang Soso. "Ugh… I'll finish you within twenty exchanges."

Tang Soso smirked faintly. "Senior Wonkang, you overestimate yourself."

"…What are you talking about? Speak so I can understand."

Tang Soso toyed with a dagger that had suddenly appeared in her hands, an eerie smile playing on her lips. "Know your place. You might defeat me in single combat, but this is a team battle. You'll never beat me, even if you die and come back to life."

"What?" Hyonwon Kang's eyebrows twitched. He never imagined he would hear those words from Tang Soso of all people. "You'll regret being so cocky!"

"Oh, my! How scary."

Sparks flew between the two leaders. No more words were necessary. The two, having finished gathering their qi, lunged at each other simultaneously.

"Kill!"

"Wipe them out!"

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Starting with Hyonwon Kang and Tang Soso, twenty students clashed.

Baek Suryong pressed his hands to his temples. "Uh, hey? I didn't say to start fighting yet…"