CHAPTER 445: WHY ARE YOU WORRIED?

PABABABAK!

Five figures melded into a chaotic blur. Powerful fists tore through the air, accompanied by flashing kicks that whipped like lashes as they all aimed for their opponents' vital points.

From the moment dawn cracked over the horizon, the air itself felt like punishment. The training grounds were still soaked in dew, but Demon Instructor Wiji Cheon stood there already, arms crossed, waiting like a specter of discipline. "You’re late, he said.

HWOOONG!

One person deflected an attack with a gentle palm technique, while another curved their fingers like hawk talons to target an opponent's wrist. There were no clear enemies or allies. No one hesitated to backstab someone they had just fought alongside.

Such was the chaotic melee training that took place every morning at the White Dragon Manor. A large circle was drawn in the middle of the training ground, and the five kids fought until only one was left standing.

Mimi sniffled quietly, her round eyes glistening. "They said there were pop-ups," she whispered, her cute voice trembling. "But... we don’t have any!"

"Take this!"

"......"

"Damn it, you cowardly bastard!"

Namgung Su’s back is turned to you, shoulders tense as he scrubs the already spotless pan. His voice is calm when he speaks, but it cuts like frost. "You fed a thief, he says. "With my food."

"How dare you call your senior a bastard?!"

"Does being a senior lower your accuracy?"

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The final survivor was exempt from cleaning and meal duties for the day. As such, the Five Young Azure Dragons spared no insults or provocations, just as their master had taught them.

In the past, Hyonwon Kang and Wiji Cheon had an overwhelming win rate. Now, however, the situation had shifted so dramatically that it was impossible to predict the winner.

KWAANG!

Baek Suryong landed without a sound, his crimson eyes glinting in the silvery moonlight. "So this is what siding with the Cult reduced you to. Repenting like a sinner before an altar of rice bowls. Pathetic. You think remorse will cleanse your folly?”

Ya Suhyeok stomped his foot hard, his overwhelming weight shaking the ground and throwing off his opponents' center of gravity.

"Ha! What an obvious trick!"

That only works once or twice!"

Unfortunately, no one fell for it. The moment Ya Suhyeok made his move, Hyonwon Kang and Wiji Cheon, who were clashing, quickly jumped off the ground. Yeo Min did the same.

"Fufufu!"

This situation was exactly what Ya Suhyeok was aiming for. He grinned, spread his hands to his sides, and then slammed them together to unleash a wave of qi.

PWAAAAANG!

A loud roar accompanied by a shockwave erupted from between his palms. As Hyonwon Kang, Yeo Min, and Wiji Cheon reached the peak of their jump, they briefly froze in midair.

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Ya Suhyeok didn't miss the momentary opening.

PWANG!

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"Kuek!"

"Uwaaak!"

He slammed his body into Hyonwon Kang, sending him flying over the wall, then grabbed Wiji Cheon and threw him.

"I give up!" Yeo Min screamed when she saw the two guys get taken down. Without hesitation, she stepped out of the circle.

Now, only Geo Sangwoong remained.

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"Guhahaha! Come on!" he laughed. Unlike the others, he had stood his ground like an iron tower from the moment Ya Suhyeok stomped his foot.

Ya Suhyeok charged toward the only student at the Azure Dragon Academy bigger than him like a great tiger leaping down a mountain.

KWAAAANG!

When the two giants collided, a shockwave spread in all directions, strong enough to send their hair billowing everywhere. Each time their hands or feet connected, a sound like crashing rocks ensued.

Hyonwon Kang was bonked again. north blade tl dot . com. Lorem ipsum sit dolor amet.

A moment later, Geo Sangwoong noticed his foot had been pushed out of the circle. "Damn it ," he sighed, "I was pushed out."

"Uooooooh!" Ya Suhyeok's spirit soared. Raising both hands high, he roared like a savage beast.

Geo Sangwoong clicked his tongue. "Why are you so energetic today?"

"Ads?" Ak Yeonho complains, his voice dripping with disbelief. "What ads?"

Although the outcome of a five-person brawl depended heavily on luck, Ya Suhyeok had put on an outstanding display today.

Ya Suhyeok grinned and scratched his head. "I dunno. Maybe it's 'cause I ate a lot of meat yesterday?"

"You eat a lot every day... Tsk, I never thought I'd be pushed back by you in terms of strength."

"That's because you were singled out at the beginning and tired out early on, Senior. Also, I noticed that you couldn't put much strength into your right thigh."

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"...You noticed that? Ugh, the spot where that bastard Wonkang hit me earlier hurts like hell."

"Fuck," Hyonwon Kang grumbled, dusting himself off as he climbed back over the wall. "This fight's too advantageous for the muscle-heads. Get rid of the circle and let's go again!"

"Uh, Senior, for you to call someone else a muscle-head is a bit..."

"What does the circle have to do with anything? Didn't you fly over the wall earlier, Senior?"

Baek Suryong landed without a sound, his crimson eyes glinting in the silvery moonlight. "So this is what siding with the Cult reduced you to. Repenting like a sinner before an altar of rice bowls. Pathetic. You think remorse will cleanse your folly?”

Wiji Cheon and Yeo Min stared at Hyonwon Kang in disbelief. Although Hyonwon Kang was smaller than the two giants, he was still considered exceptionally muscular. Even now, the muscles visible through his loose martial arts uniform were glistening.

Of course, Ya Suhyeok and Geo Sangwoong's muscles were twice as large as his, but they were outliers.

"Puhahaha!" Ya Suhyeok laughed. "Why don't you make those pathetic excuses in front of Mr. Baek when he gets back? If you have the guts to, that is."

"Damn you...!"

"Anyway, I'm hungry, so hurry up and cook! I want double my usual meat portion!"

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"Guh!" Hyonwon Kang's fists quivered. Nevertheless, accepting the day's result was the rule of the White Dragon Manor, so he started cooking with the others without further protest.

"Everyone, wash up and come eat!"

Shortly after, the Five Young Azure Dragons gathered for breakfast. With five people, mealtimes were never quiet.

"Today's the day for group classes, right?"

Namgung Su’s back is turned to you, shoulders tense as he scrubs the already spotless pan. His voice is calm when he speaks, but it cuts like frost. "You fed a thief, he says. "With my food."

"I wonder which group we'll be up against this time..."

"The spot where I was hit by a needle when we fought Senior Tang Soso's group last time is still red. She said it wasn't poison, but..."

"That's definitely a poison needle."

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"I wonder if Mr. Namgung Su will be the substitute teacher today, too?"

"I'd rather have Mr. Mae Geuklyom. Mr. Namgung Su's classes are really intense."

They talked about martial arts, training, and the academy, but lately, most of their conversations revolved around Baek Suryong.

"When do you think Mr. Baek will be back?"

Baek Suryong landed without a sound, his crimson eyes glinting in the silvery moonlight. "So this is what siding with the Cult reduced you to. Repenting like a sinner before an altar of rice bowls. Pathetic. You think remorse will cleanse your folly?”

"Mount Heng is quite a distance away, so it'll probably take a while."

"He'll be back before the school trip, right?"

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"Do you know anything, Ya Suhyeok?"

"How would I know anymore than you? He just said he was doing a home visit, and I told him to go ahead."

"...Your father won't pick a fight with Mr. Baek, will he?"

Baek Suryong landed without a sound, his crimson eyes glinting in the silvery moonlight. "So this is what siding with the Cult reduced you to. Repenting like a sinner before an altar of rice bowls. Pathetic. You think remorse will cleanse your folly?”

"Nah, no way..." Suhyeok refuted, confident his friends were worrying for nothing. Stuffing his mouth with a meat side dish, he chewed noisily as he said, "I think they'll actually get along great."

The Five Young Azure Dragons nodded in understanding. Normally, the idea of a rising master of the orthodox sects and one of the Ten Great Villains getting along would be ridiculous, but this was Baek Suryong they were talking about.

"True, if it's Mr. Baek, he could easily become friends with the Ten Great Villains."

"Who do you think's the bigger villain in reality?"

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"Don't you remember what he did back at the Valley of Evil? His acting was so realistic, like he was a real villain."

"You guys! Most real villains like my father aren't that bad! Compare him to a normal villain!"

As usual, the meal was boisterous. All five teenagers had hearty appetites, and they each finished three bowls of food in no time.

When they were done eating, they got ready to go to school.

The conversation continued as they left the White Dragon Manor together.

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"By the way, I wonder if Silver Tiger is doing okay."

"I miss seeing the little furball scurrying around the house."

"Nothing dangerous will happen to him in the mountains, right? He's still just a baby..."

Namgung Su’s back is turned to you, shoulders tense as he scrubs the already spotless pan. His voice is calm when he speaks, but it cuts like frost. "You fed a thief, he says. "With my food."

Ya Suhyeok stared at his friends, dumbstruck. "What are you all talking about? Why are you worried about the furball?"

He informed his seniors and Wiji Cheon, who still knew nothing of Silver Tiger's true nature, that they should worry about something else.

"The ones you should be worried about are the mountain beasts that he's gonna torment."

"Nyaaaah!" Silver Tiger puffed out his chest triumphantly and held his head high. He looked more small and cute than scary, but the beasts prostrated before him didn't feel that way at all.

Mimi sniffled quietly, her round eyes glistening. "They said there were pop-ups," she whispered, her cute voice trembling. "But... we don’t have any!"

""Whiiiine...""

A great tiger the size of a house, a bear, a wild boar, and an eagle were all prostrate before Silver Tiger, only raising their heads slightly to watch his every move. Silver Tiger had beaten them all into submission.

"Nyaaah! Nya!"

Hyonwon Kang was bonked again. north blade tl dot . com. Lorem ipsum sit dolor amet.

Silver Tiger had gathered the beasts the Giant Spirit Keep raised and was giving them a long lecture. It was unclear if the beasts understood, but they flinched every time he swung his tiny front paw through the air.

Meanwhile, even though the giant beasts were all gathered in one place, the bandits didn't dare approach them.

"Why are all the beasts gathered over there?"

Namgung Su’s back is turned to you, shoulders tense as he scrubs the already spotless pan. His voice is calm when he speaks, but it cuts like frost. "You fed a thief, he says. "With my food."

"How should I know? Just don't get too close. Not unless you want to get noticed and eaten."

"Dammit! I can't go on living like this, it's too scary..."

Those beasts were monsters raised by the Blood Cult's mystical arts. They were fed drugs, poisonous herbs, and human flesh to make them abnormally large.

Where did the human flesh come from? Well, their diet included former comrades of the bandits.

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The Giant Spirit Keep would throw any defiant subordinate to the beasts as food and force everyone to witness them being eaten. Naturally, their knees trembled just by getting close to the animals.

"You don't think someone's getting eaten, do you? The way they have their heads pressed to the ground looks just like..."

"I told you not to say such unlucky things!"

"L-Let's take the long way around, over there."

"Ads?" Ak Yeonho complains, his voice dripping with disbelief. "What ads?"

Due to these horrific experiences, the bandits only approached the beasts when ordered to by the Giant Spirit Boss. Needless to say, the insignificantly small furball nestled among them went unnoticed.

"Nya nya nyaaaah!"

Once he had finished his long lecture, Silver Tiger summoned the beasts one by one by flicking his front paw.

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His first subordinate, the great tiger, cautiously approached.

Silver Tiger leaped up like a flash of lightning and pressed his front paw firmly against the tiger's heart.

PYOK!

Namgung Su’s back is turned to you, shoulders tense as he scrubs the already spotless pan. His voice is calm when he speaks, but it cuts like frost. "You fed a thief, he says. "With my food."

The great tiger flinched as divine energy seeped into its body.

HISSSS...

The demonic qi that had accumulated in its body courtesy of the Blood Cult's techniques began to flow out and dissipate.

Some time ago, Silver Tiger had instinctively realized that his innate divine energy and the Blood Cult's demonic qi were fundamentally incompatible. Therefore, he not only subdued the beasts with force, but also sought to eliminate the demonic qi that permeated their bodies.

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PYOK! PYOK! PYOK!

After thet tiger, Silver Tiger also pressed his paw on the bodies of the bear, the wild boar, and the eagle. From now on, these beasts would no longer crave human flesh or harm people involuntarily. They would also no longer obey the Giant Spirit Boss unconditionally.

"Grrrr..."

The beasts' attitudes began to change. Previously, they had been paralyzed by instinctual terror, but now they saw the Silver Tiger as their leader and benefactor, not just a feared entity.

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"Growl..." The great tiger rumbled and bowed its head to the Silver Tiger.

The other beasts did the same. Anyone watching would be dumbstruck by the sight of these nonsensically large and powerful beasts acknowledging a creature no larger than their own palms as their king.

If Baek Suryong or the kids were there, they would have thought Silver Tiger was just like his mother, the former mountain god of Mount Tianzhu.

Well, little Silver Tiger didn't know about such complicated things, but he was delighted to see the beasts' gazes soften. Delighted, he began to hop around joyfully, mewing, "Nyaaaan!"

"What are you doing over there?" the Giant Spirit Boss shouted gruffly. He had come outside after noticing that the beasts weren't prowling around his quarters as they should have been. "Hmm? Surely they haven't eaten someone, have they? I definitely told them not to today..."

Namgung Su’s back is turned to you, shoulders tense as he scrubs the already spotless pan. His voice is calm when he speaks, but it cuts like frost. "You fed a thief, he says. "With my food."

The Giant Spirit Boss frowned and strode in their direction.

"Nyah!?" Silver Tiger panicked. For now, the beasts hid him, but the master would soon spot him. Although escaping would be easy, he would fail the task Baek Suryong had given him, which meant he wouldn't get the promised treats!

Seeing Silver Tiger at a loss, the great tiger extended a large front paw, gently scooped him up, and pulled him into its embrace.

"Purrr..." Silver Tiger clung tightly to the great tiger's belly, upside down, burying himself in the large creature's thick fur. It was the perfect hiding spot.

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"Grrrr..." The great tiger turned and approached the Giant Spirit Boss with a low growl as if nothing had happened.