Star Instructor, Master Baek-Chapter 458: The Training Ground at Dawn

"Hoo..."
A puff of white steam escaped a boy's lips with every exhale, and the cold dawn air chilled the sweat on his skin. Autumn had fully arrived.
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!"
He had changed just as much as the seasons.
THUD!
Hyonwon Kang stomped his foot lightly, sending a pile of fallen leaves swirling into the air. His eyes tracked every single leaf, and sweat scattered from his face as the Black Dao cut through them.
SWOOSH!
A single swing sliced eight leaves into sixteen perfect halves.
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.
Hyonwon Kang frowned, despite his artistic bladesmanship. "...That didn't feel quite right."
He slowly repeated the movement, moving almost painfully slow this time. He shifted his feet, extended his arm, and focused completely on the sensation at his blade's tip.
"......"
A light seemed to flow from his eyes as he held his breath, concentrating intensely.
Suddenly, his blade's tip accelerated.
SWIIISH!
The Black Dao cut fiercely through the dawn air before stopping abruptly.
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.
Hyonwon Kang furrowed his brow again. "No, this still isn't it."
He shook his head, displeased, and resumed his training.
Hyonwon Kang swung his dao alone in the tranquil early dawn training ground. He maintained peak concentration, moving with light steps and keeping his blade free of qi so he would not wake his seniors and juniors.
The weather was chilly, but the build-up of heat from exercise had long since made him throw off his shirt. His well-defined muscles twitched ceaselessly as white mist rose from his entire body.
"Ads?" Ak Yeonho complains, his voice dripping with disbelief. "What ads?"
"...Just a little more."
He did not realize how many times he had repeated the words 'a little more,' 'just a little,' 'one more time'...
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!"
He knew he was overdoing it, but he did not stop. Training like this would leave him with less than two hours for sleep, but he felt even those two hours were too precious to waste.
If only I had come to my senses sooner.
People used to call him the delinquent of the Hyonwon Clan. Today, while no one called him that anymore, he still carried the regrets from those days deep in his heart.
If only I had started training hard sooner.
He could never get back the time he wasted resenting his fallen clan's martial arts and giving up on everything. He had to make up for it now. He could not reclaim the time he spent being lazy and weak. He had to work twice, no, three times harder than everyone else.
"I will inherit the title of the Sky Sundering Blade!"1
At that time, he hadn't realized how heavy the responsibility of representing an entire clan would be.
"Ads?" Ak Yeonho complains, his voice dripping with disbelief. "What ads?"
"Hahahaha! Please, no more excessive praise, this is too much of an honor for us!"2
He recalled his father's joyful face when he went home for the summer break. The Hyonwon Clan had suffered a long decline after the Crazy Demon Massacre, but was finally on the road to recovery. Although Baek Suryong's help was invaluable, Hyonwon Su's efforts to protect the clan during its darkest days were also paramount.
From a young age, he had watched his father borrow money from various clans, including the Hebei Peng Clan.
"Kang, please forgive your worthless father. I couldn't provide someone as talented as you with a proper opportunity to soar..."
"...Go to sleep, Father."
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?”
"I'm sorry, so sorry..."
Recalling his father's drunken face as he repeatedly apologized, Hyonwon Kang wanted to kill his past self.
From now on, I have to protect my family.
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!"
This was a vow he repeated to himself whenever he felt tired or struggled. He was determined to ensure that no one would ever again look down on the Hyonwon Clan.
"See you at the Heavenly Martial Festival. I'll definitely win next time."3
Suddenly, Peng Sahyuk's detestable face popped into his mind. His grip on the dao tightened.
WHOOSH!
Wind surged from beneath his feet, stirring up the fallen leaves and sending them spiraling into the air again. The Black Dao cut a swath through the erratically moving leaves along a singular trajectory.
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."
SWIIISH!
Twelve leaves shattered into dust. A few fragments stuck to Hyonwon Kang's sweat-drenched shoulders and chest, but he did not stop swinging his dao.
The concept of time held a different meaning for a genius compared to an ordinary mortal. They understood in one try what took an ordinary person ten attempts. They succeeded in one attempt what usually took a hundred failures to achieve. Sometimes, they even skipped the process entirely, reaching a higher realm after a single moment of enlightenment.
The result of absurd talent, intense contemplation, and bone-grinding effort often surpassed even their teachers' expectations.
Hyonwon Kang unknowingly fell into a state of selflessness as he swung his dao. His eyes, absorbed in the moment, appeared distant.
All of a sudden, however, he froze mid-motion.
"Don't move on your own," he growled, warning the Black Dao.
The Asura Blood Heaven Blade was the perfect martial art for Hyonwon Kang. Recently, though, he had started feeling that his blade sometimes moved on its own.
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.
This usually occurred during intense sparring sessions when his competitive spirit flared. His technique would sometimes become imbued with killing intent, contrary to his intentions.
I already endangered the people around me several times.
This was his biggest worry, and it made it difficult to display his true skills. Even when he was fighting well, his technique would turn vicious if he let his guard down for a moment. Worse yet, it had occurred so frequently lately that he hadn't sparred with his fellow Five Young Azure Dragons for a few days.
There was only one person in the White Dragon Manor against whom he could swing his blade freely without such worries, but he wasn't here right now.
Hyonwon Kang glanced toward the direction of Mount Heng, grumbling under his breath, "Just you wait. When you get back, I'll show you Beat Up Baek Suryong Number Two Thousand Eighty Eight."
He prepared to swing his dao again.
"YAAAAAAWN... You'll hurt yourself at this rate, you know?" Wiji Cheon muttered as he walked onto the training ground, yawning.
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?”
Hyonwon Kang scratched his cheek awkwardly. "Sorry, did I wake you?"
Wiji Cheon rubbed his sleepy eyes and shook his head. "It's almost time to get up anyway. Can I watch?"
"Sure."
"Ads?" Ak Yeonho complains, his voice dripping with disbelief. "What ads?"
Wiji Cheon sat on the wooden floor and watched Hyonwon Kang train. At first, he nodded, marveling at his senior's skill with the blade, but soon, he tilted his head in confusion. The smooth flow of the dao techniques had become choppy and disjointed halfway through Hyonwon Kang's demonstration.
"...You shouldn't do it like that," he mumbled softly.
"What?" Hyonwon Kang's eyebrow twitched at Wiji Cheon's unsolicited advice. Annoyed, he spun around. Objectively, he knew Wiji Cheon was still a cut above him, but he wasn't one to tolerate disrespect from a junior.
However, Wiji Cheon, usually quick to apologize, remained firm. Now fully awake, he shook his head. "Senior, you just need to accept it."
"Ads?" Ak Yeonho complains, his voice dripping with disbelief. "What ads?"
"...Accept it? Accept what?"
"The Killing Sword. No, for you, Senior, I should call it the Killing Blade."
"What are you talking about...?"
"It's better to see it for yourself than to hear about it."
Wiji Cheon rose to his feet, stepped onto the training ground, and drew his sword.
VWOOONG!
The Soul Sword let out an ominous hum. Simultaneously, the corners of Wiji Cheon's eyes tilted up and his lips twisted.
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.
A chill ran down Hyonwon Kang's spine, and the fine hairs on his body stood on end. Without realizing it, he pointed his dao at Wiji Cheon. "You, that's qi deviation..."
"Kikiki!" Wiji Cheon giggled ominously and charged straight at Hyonwon Kang, thrusting at his heart.
CLANG!
Sparks flew as the Black Dao and the Soul Sword clashed. In an instant, the two boys switched positions.
Hyonwon Kang quickly whirled around to prepare for the next onslaught. "You bastard! Snap out of it!"
"Kikiki!"
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.
Judging by the look in his eyes, Wiji Cheon was no different from a bloodthirsty sword demon. Hyonwon Kang had seen this happen several times before, and each time, blood was shed.
Didn't Baek Suryong completely cure his qi deviation!? Why did it suddenly relapse?
He steeled his resolve and gripped the dao's hilt with both hands. "Fuck! Of all times, why did this have to happen when Mr. Baek isn't here..."
Before he could finish speaking, though, the killing intent vanished from Wiji Cheon's eyes.
Hyonwon Kang blinked in shock. "...What?"
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?”
"As you can see, I can control it now," Wiji Cheon chuckled, his eyes once again drooping like a puppy's.
In the past, he had suffered from qi deviation while learning the flawed Unlimited Sword, which had awakened the Killing Sword. Back then, he had unknowingly stained his hands with the blood of many martial artists, but now was different. He had finally gained control over the Killing Sword, and could now draw it out at will.
"You can do it too, Senior... no, you have to."
Of course, it was not as easy as he made it sound. He went through much trial and error, but in the end, he conquered the Killing Sword, and his swordsmanship reached a new level.
"Ads?" Ak Yeonho complains, his voice dripping with disbelief. "What ads?"
"From what I can see, your blade techniques are far more sensitive to killing intent than mine. If you could just control it perfectly..."
You might become stronger than me.
He did not say those words out loud.
Am I worried that Senior Wonkang would become complacent? Perhaps. Or maybe my own pride won't allow me to say it.
He smiled meaningfully.
Hyonwon Kang asked seriously, "...How do I do it?"
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?”
"First, you have to accept it. Entrust your body to your killing intent and swing your blade to your heart's content."
Wiji Cheon had delved deep into the Killing Sword because of his qi deviation. Even Baek Suryong would find it hard to give this advice, which was based on experience.
"...You want me to just let this loose?" Hyonwon Kang glanced down at his Black Dao anxiously.
The killing intent of the Asura Blood Heaven Blade was still too much for him to handle. He was afraid of hurting those around him, afraid of being consumed by it.
"No one can do it perfectly from the start. That's why we need to train, right?" Wiji Cheon raised his sword and pointed it at Hyonwon Kang again, signaling that he would help with the training.
However, Hyonwon Kang shook his head. "It's too dangerous for us to do it alone. We can discuss this with Mr. Baek when he gets back."
"Pfft! Senior..." Wiji Cheon smirked. "Are you worried about me right now? I think you're better off worrying about yourself."
Seeing that crooked grin, Hyonwon Kang was reminded of a certain someone who was currently away from the White Dragon Manor. "...Look at this little bastard," he growled, his face twitching with irritation.
Wiji Cheon thrust his sword toward the enraged Hyonwon Kang. The sparring match began before they knew it.
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!"
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Sparks flew as the Black Dao and the Soul Sword repeatedly clashed. Their trajectories overlapped, cutting through the crisp dawn air and scattering fallen leaves chaotically across the ground.
"Kikiki!"
Having drawn out the Killing Sword, Wiji Cheon continuously taunted Hyonwon Kang, provoking him into unleashing the Asura Blood Heaven Blade. At first cautious, Hyonwon Kang gradually revealed his killing intent.
"Senior Wonkang! Is this all you can do? At this rate, you won't even be able to touch a single hair on my..."
"Ads?" Ak Yeonho complains, his voice dripping with disbelief. "What ads?"
"Be careful."
SNIP!
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!"
A few strands of hair fell to the ground right before Wiji Cheon's eyes. Shocked, he quickly stepped back and swung his sword forcefully.
CLAAANG!
A wide gap opened between the two warriors.
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?”
Hyonwon Kang stopped attacking. He repeatedly clenched and unclenched his palm on the Black Dao, savoring the sensation from a moment ago.
"...Is this how it's supposed to feel?" Grinning, he looked up at Wiji Cheon. A similar excitement blazed in his junior's eyes. "How about a round of morning sparring, just like this?"
"...Okay." Wiji Cheon smiled and nodded. Gone was the creepy laugh, replaced by the innocent smile of a boy delighted to meet a worthy opponent.
The two boys clashed again.
"Yaaaaawn~"
"Why are those two so energetic this early in the morning?"
Ya Suhyeok and Geo Sangwoong emerged from their rooms, yawning so widely that their mouths almost split open. Soon, Yeo Min emerged from her room behind the two hulking figures, tying up her messy hair.
The three of them sat on the wooden floor, watching Hyonwon Kang and Wiji Cheon spar.
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?”
"Wonkang's really overflowing with energy today, isn't he?"
"He was moping around for the last few days, lost in thought..."
"Thanks to that, it was nice not having to do morning or cleaning duty."
"Tsk. Senior Wonkang is surprisingly good at cooking, too."
While Geo Sangwoong and Ya Suhyeok chatted idly and watched the sparring match, Yeo Min noticed Hyonwon Kang's altered movements and smiled strangely.
"You know, Cheon once said that if he were ever defeated by someone his own age, that person would probably be Senior Wonkang."
"...What? Did he really say that?"
"That arrogant brat!"
She had spoken without much thought, but the two prideful figures shot up from their seats.
"You bastards! Don't you dare get stronger without us!"
"Time for a brawl!"
Fighting spirit blazed in the two giants' eyes as they sprinted toward the training ground.
Yeo Min sighed and followed them. "Honestly, I really can't say anything around you guys without causing some kind of commotion..."
From Chapter 186 ↩
From Chapter 327 ↩
From Chapter 329 ↩