TL: FoodieMonster007

    Late that night, Wiji Cheon and Hyonwon Kang hid in the shadows, spying on Mae Geuklyom''s house.

    "...What should we do?"

    "Are you sure he''s inside?"

    "He always drinks tea at this hour. Unless something urgent comes up, he usually sticks to his routine."

    Since Wiji Cheon received basic etiquette lessons and swordsmanship advice from Mae Geuklyom every few days, he understood the Headmaster''s daily schedule better than anyone else.

    "Headmaster Mae is a swordmaster who never leaves any openings. Even if he''s fast asleep, he''ll swing his sword as soon as someone approaches him.

    "Really? That''s a problem..." Hyonwon Kang replied absentmindedly, glancing at the sword on Wiji Cheon''s waist. He had lied to Wiji Cheon to gain his trust and get close to him, so naturally, he wasn''t at all interested in Mae Geuklyom''s beard.

    He just wanted to steal Wiji Cheon''s sword.

    I only have one chance.

    Wiji Cheon always slept with that sword in his arms. He might seem off guard now, but the moment Hyonwon Kang tried to touch his sword, he would react faster than anyone else.

    Unfortunately, Hyonwon Kang wasn''t confident enough to take his junior''s sword by force, or he would have already attacked Wiji Cheon.

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    If I mess this up, I won''t get a second chance. Now, how can I catch this kid off guard?

    Hyonwon Kang thought of the classic trick of "killing with a borrowed sword", that is, attacking the target by borrowing someone else''s strength. In this case, that ''someone else'' would be Mae Geuklyom.

    "Let''s move in closer," he said, licking his lips nervously.

    Wiji Cheon nodded. "Alright."

    The duo slowly moved closer to Mae Geuklyom''s house...

    An ambush!

    Suddenly, both students felt a chill down their spines and spun around simultaneously, weapons drawn.

    CLANG! CLANG!

    Having deflected the hidden weapons that flew from behind, the two glared into the darkness. More than ten people in black masks had surrounded them.

    "As expected of the Azure Dragon Hero''s students."

    "Don''t approach recklessly. Spread out and surround them."

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    "We''re the Assassination Arts Club, a group that researches tracking, stealth, and surprise attacks."

    Hyonwon Kang immediately flared up. "Aren''t you guys part of the Club Union? Yet you''re attacking me, the Club Union President? You bastards! This is a revolt!"

    "Please take that up with Mr. Baek Suryong. Now, if you''ll hand over your scented pouch quietly, no one will get hurt. This is our last act of consideration for you, Union President."

    "Senior, what should we do?" Wiji Cheon asked, checking the number and location of their enemies.

    Hyonwon Kang clicked his tongue. "There aren''t many of them. Let''s finish them off quickly before more arrive."

    The Assassination Arts Club President scoffed. "We are elites who have been trained as assassins. You can''t defeat us in the dark..."

    "Shut up!"

    Hyonwon Kang and Wiji Cheon scattered in opposite directions.

    BAM! SLAM! CRAAAASH!

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    In the raging whirlwind of movement, the students from the Assassination Arts Club scattered and fell to the ground like fallen autumn leaves.

    Huh? Was I this strong?

    Why are they so weak?

    Hyonwon Kang and Wiji Cheon were surprised at their own strength. They had undergone arduous training under Baek Suryong, but they never had a chance to enjoy the results. After all, no matter how strong they became, they still couldn''t graze Baek Suryong''s clothes.

    Now that they faced other Azure Dragon Academy students, though, they felt the difference clearly.

    "M-Monsters... Fall back! We''ll retreat and wait for another chance...!"

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    "Who said we''d let you go that easily?"

    THWACK!

    The Assassination Arts Club President, who had been hiding in the darkness and giving orders, was the first to try to escape, but Hyonwon Kang''s stone throw hit him squarely on the back of the head, dropping him instantly.

    The rest were no better off. It didn''t take the Remedial Class duo even an hour to defeat them all.

    CRACK!

    Hyonwon Kang twisted the wrists of the fallen Assassination Arts Club members slightly, not enough to break them, but just enough to sprain them. Their wrists would swell up, rendering them unable to wield weapons properly until the end of the exam period.

    Wiji Cheon asked, "To prevent future trouble, it would be safer to break them completely, but that''s too harsh, right?"

    If they dare attack us again, I''ll break them then. I''ll make sure they can''t hold a weapon for months," Hyonwon Kang replied.

    "That''s too much. I thought of you as my real big brother..." Wiji Cheon mumbled, looking heartbroken.

    Hyonwon Kang felt a pang of guilt. "Hey, I didn''t have a choice. This was my secret mission. I''ll treat you to a nice meal after the exam to make up for this, okay?"

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    "...I won''t eat anything bought by a traitor. How do I know you won''t poison it?" Wiji Cheon cried, sounding crushed.

    Hyonwon Kang felt somewhat ashamed, but he had no intention of returning the sword. "Ahem! Anyway, your acupoints will be unsealed in about an hour. I''ll be going now," he said, running away using his movement arts.

    "......" Wiji Cheon stood there blankly, watching him go.

    "Are you alright?" Mae Geuklyom asked, but Wiji Cheon hardly heard him.

    "I will never trust anyone again..." Wiji Cheon muttered, a dark light flickering in his hollow eyes.

    I may have lost my sword, but the exam isn''t over yet!

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    "Hehehe!" Hyonwon Kang giggled in satisfaction, dizzy with success.

    Surely no one finished their mission faster than me, right?

    Since the secret missions were all impossibly difficult, he was probably the only one who had completed it on the first day.

    Cheon was too naive.

    He pictured Wiji Cheon, who, despite their relatively small age gap, still had a childlike innocence.

    Anyone could have tricked him.

    Recalling the sight of Wiji Cheon nearly in tears, Hyonwon Kang felt a twinge of guilt, but he pushed the thought aside.

    "Hmph, he only has himself to blame for being tricked."

    He picked up the pace toward Baek Suryong''s office, planning to turn in the Soul Sword right away and finish the test. It would be troublesome if Wiji Cheon came after him before he could complete his mission. Even though the boy had lost the Soul Sword, he wouldn''t become weaker even if he used another sword.

    Suddenly, a metallic stench wafted out from somewhere nearby.

    Blood?

    The smell of blood was too strong to ignore. Narrowing his eyes, Hyonwon Kang cautiously moved towards the source of the smell, only to find Yeo Min huddled in a dark alley.

    "What are you doing here?" he asked.

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    "Senior Wonkang?" Yeo Min looked up with a start, then waved her hand dismissively. "Don''t mind me and go on your way. I can handle this on my own."

    "...What''s with all this blood?"

    Hyonwon Kang looked around. There were bloodstains all around Yeo Min, and looking closely, he could see tears in her clothes.

    Yeo Min panted heavily, "...I was running away and got hit by a stray throwing knife. I''m just resting after treating my wounds, so just go."

    Hyonwon Kang slowly approached Yeo Min. Despite her words, her lips were pale, and blood was seeping through her clothes.

    "I told you not to come!" Yeo Min took out her folding fan and warily pointed it at Hyonwon Kang.

    Hyonwon Kang nodded in understanding. If he had been in Yeo Min''s position, he would have been just as jittery. "I just finished my mission and am on my way to Mr. Baek''s office. I''m not after you."

    "...Really?"

    "Really. Have you lived your whole life doubting everyone? Look here, I have Wiji Cheon''s sword. Getting his was my mission," Hyonwon Kang reassured.

    He wasn''t too worried that Yeo Min would attack him. She originally only practiced movement arts and had only recently started learning ice arts, so she was currently the weakest fighter among the White Dragon Manor students.

    "I guess it''s true..." Yeo Min muttered.

    "Let me take a look at your wound," Hyonwon Kang offered, remembering how he had left Wiji Cheon all alone with sealed acupoints. The slight feeling of remorse made him more sympathetic toward Yeo Min than usual. "Where were you stabbed?"

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    Hyonwon Kang leaned toward Yeo Min, but at that moment, Yeo Min''s eyes flashed like a snake eyeing its prey. Reaching into Hyonwon Kang''s pocket, she grabbed his scent pouch and immediately jumped back using her movement arts.

    "Hey!" Caught off guard, Hyonwon Kang tried to grab Yeo Min, but in his panic, he only managed to pull off a few strands of hair.

    He stomped his foot in frustration. Yeo Min had devoted herself to movement arts since arriving at White Dragon Manor. If she ran now, there was no way he could catch her.

    "Damn it! Was stealing my scented pouch your mission?" he yelled.

    "No. My mission has nothing to do with you, Senior," Yeo Min replied.

    "What? Then why did you do this to me?"

    Yeo Min smiled faintly, dangling Hyonwon Kang''s pouch between her fingers. "Help me with my mission."

    "Why should I?!"

    "Because if you don''t, I''ll tear this up."

    Hyonwon Kang flew into a rage. "Are you kidding me? Do you know how worried I was? I thought you were really hurt! Is this how you repay my kindness? Do you have a conscience?!"

    Yeo Min stuck out her tongue. "It''s your own fault for being tricked."

    Translator''s Note: Happy Spring Festival/Lunar New Year! May the fortune be with you. Live long and prosper!