Chapter 165: A Glorious Homecoming

    TL: FoodieMonster007

    "You said you''d be right back, so why are you so late? Did you get into a fight somewhere?" Mae Geuklyom frowned, scrutinizing Baek Suryong, who had finally returned after several hours.

    He''d been worried something might''ve happened since Baek Suryong was much later than expected, but thankfully, his grandson didn''t appear injured at all. Instead, the little rascal was grinning from ear to ear.

    "Sorry, I got held up at the outhouse," Baek Suryong replied slyly, his face as content as if he''d stumbled upon free money on the ground.

    "Hmph, that must have been one hell of a satisfying dump," Namgung Su sneered.

    Unfazed by Namgung Su''s sarcasm, Baek Suryong grinned mischievously and leaned closer to the prudish man. "How did you know that? Damn, I felt like I was passing a coiled dragon. As if I had just relieved myself of ten years of accumulated constipation. Well, I suppose you must be familiar with that feeling as well. Judging by the constant scowl on your face, you''re probably constipated all the time, aren''t you, Mr. Namgung?"

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    "Ridiculous. Disgusting. Stay away from me," Namgung Su grimaced and quickly backed away, clearly unwilling to take part in this baloney.

    Mae Geuklyom clicked his tongue. "You cheeky brat. Anyway, what are you grinning like that for?"

    "Some good things happened," Baek Suryong admitted.

    "You had a lucky encounter in the Valley of Evil, didn''t you?" Mae Geuklyom guessed.

    As expected, Mae Geuklyom was sharp. Noticing the change in his grandson''s aura, he figured Baek Suryong must have had a lucky encounter in the Valley of Evil.

    Baek Suryong nodded eagerly. "I did gain a lot in the Valley of Evil. I can''t really explain it all, but..."

    "No need to tell me everything," Mae Geuklyom cut in firmly. "Secrets related to one''s martial arts are never easy to share, even with family. Nevertheless, don''t get complacent. Only through relentless training can you reach higher levels."

    "I''ll keep that in mind." Baek Suryong replied respectfully.

    Grandpa''s right. Once I get back to the Azure Dragon Academy, I need to sort through everything I''ve gained.

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    He obtained a lot this time in the Valley of Evil. From the Blood Cult''s hidden underground cave, he secured the Blood Elixir and the Black Dragon Armor. On top of that, he also absorbed half of the Ice Essence left behind by the Nine Yin Witch.

    Moreover, I''ve formed an army to fight against the Blood Cult in the future.

    Blue Eyed Freak had agreed to his plan to rebuild the Valley of Evil. Though it was now in ruins, soon enough, outcasts with nowhere else to turn would gather there again. If Blue Eyed Freak could control and train them, they''d become a formidable force in the upcoming war against the Blood Cult.

    Once I''m back, I''ll immediately send supplies through the White Dragon Conglomerate.

    Baek Suryong grinned to himself again, lost in thought.

    Suddenly, Ak Yeonho approached him quietly and whispered, "Hyung-nim, the kids are behaving strangely."

    "What''s wrong?"

    Currently, the instructors were riding on horseback while the students, still nursing their injuries, traveled in carriages.

    Ak Yeonho, who had just peeped inside one of the carriages, furrowed his brows. "I told the students to rest since they''re injured, but they''re all sitting cross-legged, meditating. No matter how many times I tell them to stop, they keep going. The atmosphere inside is way too intense..."

    "Leave them be." Baek Suryong chuckled. "Those sheltered brats have finally seen firsthand how terrifying the murim is. They''ve realized how pathetic it feels to be weak."

    The students had danced on the edge of death multiple times in the Valley of Evil. If luck hadn''t been on their side, some or all of them might have died.

    They must have learned a lot from that.

    Baek Suryong glanced at the carriage. He was separated from the students because of the Bloody Ripper, so he didn''t know what kind of battles they had fought, but looking at their wounds, he could imagine how brutal they had been. Some injuries would take a long time to heal, while others would leave lifelong scars.

    "Thankfully, I heard that Hyonwon Kang''s leg will heal soon. The physicians were amazed at his monstrous recovery speed," Ak Yeonho remarked, watching Baek Suryong''s expression carefully. He was worried that if Hyonwon Kang ended up with a permanent limp, Baek Suryong might blame himself.

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    Noticing Ak Yeonho''s concern, Baek Suryong chuckled, "Of course he''s healing fast. Whose student do you think he is?"

    Unlike the initial chase, the journey back to Azure Dragon Academy was leisurely. Preventing the students'' injuries from getting worse was the priority, so the group couldn''t travel fast. As a result, the journey back would take several times longer than the journey to the Valley of Evil. However, there was someone among them who couldn''t wait that long.

    "Headmaster, I''ll head back first. I''ve got a mountain of classes to teach and piles of work to handle," Namgung Su said.

    Mae Geuklyom replied, "Very well. Thank you for your efforts. I''ll be sure to bring the students back safely."

    Namgung Su turned to Baek Suryong, his usually stoic face showing a rare hint of resignation. "You. Don''t cause any more trouble and come straight back to the academy."

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    "You don''t need to take that medicine anymore. In fact, taking it now would be dangerous," Baek Suryong said firmly. The yin energy in Yeo Min''s body was now on a completely different level. If she tried to suppress it with medicine now, the rebound would likely kill her. "From now on, you need to learn ice arts to control the yin energy in your body."

    "...My mother told me that if I learned ice arts, my lifespan would be shortened, like hers was. She warned me never to learn it," Yeo Min whispered, her fear evident in her eyes.

    "That''s only if you learned the wrong kind." Baek Suryong smiled gently, extending a finger toward the teacup in front of him.

    CRACKLE...

    A thin layer of ice formed over the tea, freezing it. Even though he was only at the beginner level, it was unmistakably the White Ice Divine Art, the greatest ice art in the world.

    "If you master the martial arts I show you, you''ll be fine. With your natural constitution and the Ice Essence, you''ll improve faster than anyone else," he added.

    "T-That..." Stunned speechless, Yeo Min''s eyes widened in shock.

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    Finally, when she came back to her senses, she stammered, "M-Mr. Baek, you don''t need to give me money anymore."

    "Of course not. Were you planning to keep accepting it shamelessly?" Baek Suryong teased.

    Yeo Min had been staying and eating at the White Dragon Manor while receiving a monthly salary from Baek Suryong in exchange for participating in the movement arts tournament at the Heavenly Martial Festival. Although she needed the money for her medicine, she couldn''t shake the feeling that she was different from the other students. In essence, her relationship with Baek Suryong was a financial transaction, nothing more.

    However, that dynamic had just changed.

    Embarrassed, Yeo Min pouted. "Tsk, you could keep giving me an allowance... Just think of it as pocket money for your cute student."

    "You cheeky brat." Baek Suryong reached out and lightly flicked her forehead.

    "Ow! How could you hit an injured patient?!" Yeo Min protested, but her expression was much brighter than before.

    What a strong-willed kid, Baek Suryong thought with a grin. Yeo Min lost her mother at a young age and was betrayed by the Nine Yin Witch, someone she''d opened her heart to. Even though she received the Ice Essence and a chance to learn the White Ice Divine Art, she must have been deeply hurt emotionally.

    I was worried she might succumb to her inner demons, but it seems my worried were unfounded. Despite her delicate appearance, doesn''t she have more grit than the boys?

    Baek Suryong chuckled to himself, "Looks like I have good luck with students in this life."

    "Pardon? What did you say?" Yeo Min asked, confused, but her teacher refused to repeat himself.

    That day, Baek Suryong found the successor to the White Ice Divine Art, and the final disciple for his four masters.

    Fifteen days later, the group arrived in Nanchang, where the Azure Dragon Academy was located.

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    Before entering the city, Mae Geuklyom cast a worried glance at Baek Suryong. "Get ready to face the consequences of your actions."

    Baek Suryong nodded calmly. Although he had gained much in the Valley of Evil, the fact that Wiji Cheon had been kidnapped by the White-Haired Demon was clearly his fault, and he had no intention of shirking his responsibility.

    Anything''s fine as long as I''m not fired, he thought.

    He was willing to accept things like a massive pay cut. The real problem was if he couldn''t continue to teach his classes. That would severely disrupt his plans to win the Heavenly Martial Festival.

    I''ll do whatever it takes to keep teaching Defense Against the Unorthodox Arts. Even if it''s shady...

    Steeling himself, Baek Suryong stepped through the gates...

    "Whoa!" A tremendous cheer rose from the crowd gathered at the city entrance, as though they had been waiting for them.

    "Are they enemies?"

    "What''s going on?"

    Startled, the group drew their weapons, ready to fight. However, they were instead met with an unexpected welcome.

    "The heroes of the Azure Dragon Academy have returned!"

    "The prodigies who defeated the villains of the Valley of Evil!"

    "It''s the Azure Dragon Hero and his students!"

    In the face of such an overwhelmingly warm reception, everyone''s jaws dropped in confusion.