Star Instructor, Master Baek-Chapter 394: Which Number Shall We Do?

The Second Shroud was a high-ranking assassin of Deathshroud who took orders from no one except Skykiller and the First Shroud. However, considering the position of the First Shroud was in fact an honorary one held by the Blood Cult's Ninth Elder, there was no assassin in Deathshroud stronger than him, save for Skykiller himself.
As he leaped over the wall of the White Dragon Manor, though, he had an ominous feeling.
I don't like this.
Although the Azure Dragon Hero Baek Suryong knew that Deathshroud was targeting him, they had no idea whether the information had leaked from within the Blood Cult or from Deathshroud.
At this point, it would have been natural to retreat and devise countermeasures, but Skykiller had pushed ahead with the mission despite knowing that they were walking into a death trap.
Then again, to that man, all of this is just a game.
In Deathshroud, Skykiller's authority was absolute. After all, he was the symbol that secured Deathshroud's status as the Central Plains' premier assassins' guild. It was no exaggeration to say that Skykiller was Deathshroud.
Therefore, even when the Second Shroud saw the sorcery activate and detect an intruder at the White Dragon Manor, he didn't think to retreat.
If I retreat, Skykiller will kill me.
Given Skykiller's pathological hatred of things going awry, he would never grant him a clean death. He was a man who could make even the most seasoned assassin beg for death.
Fortunately, the Second Shroud's assigned mission was not that difficult. In fact, he had practically volunteered for it.
"As expected, you were waiting?"
The Second Shroud landed silently and confirmed his targets: Hyonwon Kang and Yeo Min. Of the Azure Dragon Hero's students, the Five Young Azure Dragons, these two were the prodigies who had learned blade techniques and ice arts, respectively.
"That's right! We were waiting for you, you bastard! Thanks for coming!"
"You have no idea how welcome you are."
The Second Shroud tilted his head in confusion.
Why do these two seem genuinely happy to see me? Why the fuck are they even... blushing!?
However, his curiosity lasted only a moment. He did not forget what he had to do.
SHING!
He drew the dao from his waist and let it hang down naturally.
Assassins were often considered frightening because one never knew when or where they would launch a "cowardly" ambush. Conversely, once exposed, assassins weren't thought of as much of a threat. Most of them were unremarkable martial artists, so one only needed to be wary of their hidden weapons and poison. Such was the common sense and prejudice of most martial artists.
However, such common sense did not apply to the assassins of Deathshroud, and the Second Shroud was an elite even among them.
"My mission is to kill you as cruelly as possible."
Not only was the Second Shroud an assassin whose outstanding skills were recognized, he was also an accomplished martial artist. Moreover, he had mastered the Demonic Soul Blade Art, one of the top five blade techniques within the Blood Cult.
Hyonwon Kang's expression hardened as a dark blade qi slowly rose from the Second Shroud's weapon. His opponent was clearly a master of a powerful blade technique.
"I heard that the Hyonwon Clan's Sky Sundering Blade is the best blade technique in the jianghu," the Second Shroud remarked, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Unlike most assassins, he rarely wore a mask. After all, the best assassins weren't emotionless, they just controlled their emotions perfectly. Rather than a complete lack of emotion, displaying an emotion at the appropriate moment was superior. For example, right now, he released his 'fighting spirit'.
"I hope I can witness that blade technique today."
WHOOSH!
A powerful gust of wind marked the start of the Second Shroud's offensive. He charged forward like an arrow, leaving a trail of dark blade qi in his wake.
CLANG!
The impact of their clashing blades sent Hyonwon Kang flying backward.
"Senior Wonkang!" Yeo Min cried out. A torrent of pure white, frigid energy erupted from her hands and enveloped the Second Shroud in an intense blizzard that froze him in place.
However, the Second Shroud's dao instantly shattered the icy blast and pressed on toward Yeo Min's neck. Cutting through the scattering ice particles, the assassin's eyes flashed with killing intent.
SLASH!
A few strands of severed hair fluttered through the air. Yeo Min leaped back, having avoided the blade by the narrowest of margins. She immediately touched her neck, reflexively checking to ensure her head was still attached to the rest of her body.
"Crazy..."
The movement arts she had trained intensively at the beginning of last semester had just saved her life. Had she dodged even a fraction of a second slower, her neck would have been slit.
"Not bad." The Second Shroud allowed himself a slight smile and took a moment to catch his breath. He had planned to kill one of the students in the first exchange, but surprisingly, both remained unscathed.
It wasn't ideal, but honestly, he didn't mind it much.
There's still plenty of time.
By now, assassins would have already begun attacking the Azure Dragon Hero's students and colleagues elsewhere. Even if the Azure Dragon Hero killed them all and came here, he still had at least half an hour of leeway. He was confident that he could complete his mission and return within that time frame.
The demonic qi shrouding his dao began to swell. Previously, he had tempered its intensity in favor of speed and precision, but now he saw no reason to hold back.
Meanwhile, Hyonwon Kang and Yeo Min quickly discussed their strategy.
"I'll block him from the front, so you look for an opening and..."
"Stop with the nonsense and take the right. I'll take the left. Got it?"
"...Okay," Hyonwon Kang conceded with a nod.
At the same time they finished their brief conversation, the Second Shroud charged, swinging his blade again.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The exchange rapidly escalated into a small, raging storm. Cracks spiderwebbed across the ground of the training yard, which became engraved with the gruesome, demonic marks of the Second Shroud's blade work.
These were the marks left by the Demonic Soul Blade Art, a technique renowned within the Blood Cult for its destructive power. Moreover, the dao he wielded was no ordinary weapon, it was built to fully contain that power. Each swing carried enough force to shatter a mediocre weapon and its wielder.
"Haaap!"
Hyonwon Kang stood his ground. His Black Dao was also a treasured blade forged by the Blood Cult's finest blacksmith, Wiji Yeol, from the horn of the One-Horned Demon Dragon. Thanks to its unmatched sharpness and hardness, he could withstand the Second Shroud's attacks, albeit with great difficulty.
"...Astonishing," the Second Shroud commended, narrowing his eyes.
While it was true that Hyonwon Kang benefited from his legendary blade, his ability to block and deflect was purely the result of impeccable skill. Even the boy's occasional lightning-fast counterattacks were enough to make his blood run cold.
SWISH!
A single drop of blood budded on his chest where the Black Dao had grazed. The wound was shallow, but it instilled in him a profound sense of alarm.
I must kill him.
Among the Five Young Azure Dragons, Hyonwon Kang was born with the most outstanding combat sense. Furthermore, his senses were sharpened by special daily training from Baek Suryong and were comparable to those of the highest-ranking Deathshroud assassins.
I must kill him here and now!
As a fellow bladesman, he recognized the danger that Hyonwon Kang posed. Even if he took some damage, he resolved to kill the boy right here and now, and nip the threat in the bud before it could grow into something worse.
Unfortunately, Hyonwon Kang wasn't his only enemy.
CRACKLE!
Every time he tried to launch an attack, the freezing ice qi of Yeo Min's White Ice Divine Art interfered. Not only was the cold mist that clouded his vision tricky to deal with, she also launched two hidden weapons in the shape of translucent discs from within it.
CLANG! CLANG!
He deflected the hidden weapons several times. Each time, the weapons returned to their owner, seemingly undamaged by his demonic qi.
Only after deflecting them several times did he realize that they were not discs, but a pair of bracelets.
"The White Ice Bangles?"
The Second Shroud's eyes shot wide open upon figuring out the identity of the hidden weapons. As a high-ranking Deathshroud assassin who had learned the Blood Cult's martial arts, he was familiar with the White Ice Bangles. No other pair of bracelets could emit that much cold energy.
Why is an item the Cult is searching for here...?
"It's rude to look away in the middle of a battle!" Hyonwon Kang roared.
Seizing the moment of distraction, he closed the distance, swinging his dao wide. An instant later, an illusion of the world dying red materialized as he unleashed the Asura Blood Heaven Blade.
"Take this too!" Yeo Min screamed, focusing all her ice qi on hurling the White Ice Bangles. Although she lacked Baek Suryong's masterful control, the divine artifact from the North Sea seemed to possess its own will, flying toward the retreating Second Shroud along a precise trajectory.
"Dammit..." The Second Shroud gritted his teeth and unleashed the full power of his own Demonic Soul Blade Art to meet the converging attacks.
Just like that, the energies of the Asura Blood Heaven Blade, the White Ice Divine Art, and the Demonic Soul Blade Art collided in an instantaneous, cataclysmic explosion of qi.
KRAKOOM!
The resulting impact obliterated half the training ground. A thick cloud of dust rose, refusing to settle for a long time.
"Huff... huff..."
"Hoo... Did we get him?"
Hyonwon Kang and Yeo Min stood at the site of the explosion, gasping for breath.
They were far from unscathed. Their clothes were torn and tattered, and their bodies covered in scratches. A long cut ran down Hyonwon Kang's cheek, and blood dripped from it.
Yeo Min inspected the wound with a pale face. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, it's nothing."
"What do you mean, it's nothing? If this isn't treated properly, you could be scarred for life."
"...You don't like scarred men?"
"Is that something you should be saying in this situation?"
Sighing, Yeo Min blew away the surrounding dust with her White Ice Divine Palm. In the place where the collision had occurred, the Second Shroud stood, staggering and looking clearly dismayed.
"Haha..." The Second Shroud let out what seemed like both a lament and a chuckle at the same time. "...I'm speechless. To think you'd deviate from my expectations this much."
They were only two members of the Five Young Azure Dragons. He had been sure he could handle them without difficulty.
If it were one on one, I could have killed them long ago.
The pair, however, expertly complemented each other's openings, moving as if they had trained in joint combat techniques for several years.
If they're this strong now...
The Blood Cult was only concerned with the Azure Dragon Hero, but perhaps these children were the more dangerous ones. After all, there was only one Baek Suryong, but five of these prodigies!
As their name suggested, the Five Young Azure Dragons were young dragons on the verge of adulthood. If he didn't kill them now, they would all undoubtedly become formidable masters in the near future.
I have no choice but to push myself.
The Second Shroud made his decision. He chewed and swallowed a pill he had hidden in his molars.
CRUNCH, CRUNCH!
Immediately, the blood vessels in his eyes burst, dyeing his irises crimson, and the muscles in his body began to swell. His body overflowed with vitality, and his inner qi nearly doubled.
This was the Demonic Spirit Pill, an elixir made from the Blood Cult's secret recipe. It was a precious pill even within the Cult.
Of course, there was no such thing as power without price.
"Kekeke..."
Hyonwon Kang and Yeo Min swallowed dryly at the sight of the Second Shroud transforming into a ghoul.
"This is crazy..."
"Should we just run away for now?"
They seriously considered making a strategic retreat.
SWISH!
Suddenly, a wave of sword qi flew at the Second Shroud, slicing off half of his earlobe. He had barely managed to rotate his body at the last moment and dodge the surprise attack aimed at his neck.
"Oho!" The Second Shroud glanced in the direction from which the attack had come. No matter how focused he was on the two in front of him, it was preposterous to think that he hadn't noticed an ambusher so close.
"Now you're a talent I'd like to take to Deathshroud."
Hyonwon Kang and Yeo Min also looked in the same direction. There, under the moonlight, a girl stood gracefully on the wall with a sword in one hand, her elegant silhouette evoking gasps of admiration.
"Heh! A sword fairy has descended."
The sword fairy frowned, then leapt down between Yeo Min and Hyonwon Kang, 'her' flowing clothes fluttering in the wind.
"Are you okay, Seniors?"
Yeo Min and Hyonwon Kang recognized their new ally at once. Still, they couldn't fathom why he was still wearing the clothes he had worn for the sword dance.
"Jicheon!"
"What happened?"
Wiji Cheon averted his gaze and pointed his Soul Sword at the Second Shroud. Clearly, he didn't want to discuss his choice of clothing right now. "It's a long story. Let's finish off this assassin first."
With Wiji Cheon's arrival, the tide of the battle turned in an instant.
"Now, the balance seems a bit more even."
Hyonwon Kang, Yeo Min, and Wiji Cheon moved into formation and harmonized their qi. This joint attack formation only reached its full potential when at least three of them were present.
ROOOOOAR!
"W-What is this...?"
The Second Shroud grimaced at the immense pressure bearing down on him. The collective might of the students' auras now exceeded their individual strengths.
To think that I would feel this much pressure even after consuming the Demonic Spirit Pill. Don't tell me, did those kids practice a joint attack formation in preparation for facing a supreme master?
Unknown to him, he had hit the nail on the head.
"Which number shall we do?" Yeo Min asked.
Hyonwon Kang wiped the blood flowing down his cheek with the back of his hand and grinned maliciously. "Number eighteen, of course!"
It was time to show off the results of their training.