Star Instructor, Master Baek-Chapter 473: I'm Fine

"...Are you awake?"
It was a familiar voice, steeped in emotion.
Baek Suryong could guess the speaker's expression even without opening his eyes. Countless similar scenes filled his childhood memories.
The speaker sighed. "Keeping your eyes closed because you don't want to get scolded is a habit you've had since you were ten, you know."
"......" Baek Suryong stealthily opened his eyes. As expected, Baek Muheun's face loomed over him, shadowed with worry and anger.
He smacked his lips a few times, wondering what excuse to make, but eventually smiled awkwardly and said, "Sorry, Dad."
He had no idea what happened after he collapsed, but judging by the look on his father's face, cracking a joke like usual wasn't a good idea.
"You rascal." Baek Muheun patted his son's head.
Recently, while his son was away, he often dropped by the White Dragon Manor to oversee the Five Young Azure Dragons' morning training. This morning, he was approaching happily as well when he saw that Baek Suryong had returned home and was wandering around the manor.
Suryong's home!
Unfortunately, his joy was short-lived. When Baek Suryong stumbled without hearing his call, his heart skipped a beat. Without hesitation, he employed his movement arts at full speed, narrowly catching his son before the punk hit the ground.
Needless to say, the Five Young Azure Dragons were awoken by the sudden commotion. And the first thing they saw when they opened their eyes? An unconscious Baek Suryong lying in Baek Muheun's arms.
Naturally, chaos ensued.
"Do you know how noisy the neighborhood was at dawn because of you?"
"...Is he alive!?"
Hyonwon Kang had dashed out of the manor at the crack of dawn, vowing to bring a physician. Yeo Min pursued him at once, fearing he might wreak havoc before the clinics even opened for business.
Meanwhile, Geo Sangwoong and Ya Suhyeok combed the entire manor in search of medicine, while Wiji Cheon drew his sword and stood guard warily, radiating such intense killing intent that not even a mouse would have dared to approach for fear of being hacked to pieces.
"You should've seen how flustered the kids were. If anything, you're blessed with good students."
"Haha..."
Baek Muheun snorted. Thanks to the ruckus the others caused, though, he was actually able to regain his composure and examine his son properly. Confirming that Baek Suryong had merely collapsed from exhaustion, he brought his son to his room, changed his clothes, and tucked him into bed.
After that, there was a bit of a stir when he had to send back the physician Hyonwon Kang had practically kidnapped, but except for that brief interruption, he stayed by his son's side until he woke up.
"I'm shocked at how soundly you slept amidst that chaos. Even if lightning struck next to you, you wouldn't have stirred."
Baek Muheun patted his son's head again. Even though it had only been a few days, his child had lost a significant amount of weight.
Baek Suryong grumbled, "Why is everyone making a fuss over nothing... Ahem!"
At the sight of Baek Muheun's icy gaze scanning him from head to toe, he hurriedly coughed and swallowed his words.
"You call this... nothing?" Baek Muheun mumbled incredulously.
Baek Suryong glanced down at himself. Numerous cuts and scrapes were visible through the wide collar of his pajamas, which was loosely tied to let him sleep comfortably.
Among them, the wound on his right chest was particularly vivid. That one was definitely going to leave a permanent scar.
...Fuck, I should change the subject.
"What about the kids?" he asked.
"...They insisted on sticking by your side, but I kicked them out and sent them to school. I told them to keep your return a secret for now."
"That's a good call. It'd be bad if they missed any more classes this year. A day or two might be fine, but..."
"Don't change the subject."
Baek Muheun glared at his son sternly. The Five Young Azure Dragons didn't see it, but he saw the wound in his son's back that was the same size and in the same place as the one on his chest. That was evidence of being literally skewered by a sword, a ghastly injury that could have pierced through his child's heart if it were even slightly offset.
No parent's heart could remain unbroken upon seeing such a wound on their child's body.
"...Just where and what have you been doing?" he choked, barely suppressing his distress. No matter how much he loved his son, he wasn't going to forgive Baek Suryong if he dodged the question again this time.
"I fought the Blood Cult," Baek Suryong answered honestly.
His father already knew that he had memories of his past life, so he was one of the few people to whom he could honestly confide in regarding the Blood Cult.
"At first, I went to find the Viridian Scholar with the intention of forming an unorthodox alliance to keep the Blood Cult in check..."
Lying on the bed with a pale face, Baek Suryong recounted his journey.
He first met the Viridian Scholar in the Jingang Mountains and saw the traces of Master Maeng's martial arts in him. Consequently , he passed on the Eighteen Strikes of the Viridian Forest and the Savage Tiger Fist so that he could inherit Master Maeng's dream. As a result, they unexpectedly formed a bond as senior and junior brothers.
After that, he arrived at the unorthodox sects' meeting place afterwards and got to know their leaders. He even formed a special bond with a good-natured person called the Black Snake Alliance Chairman...
Baek Suryong belatedly remembered Crimson Moon and glanced nervously around the room. Unlike the Divine Azure Dragon Sword which had breathed a sigh of relief from the moment he woke up, Crimson Moon was rather shy.
"What are you looking for?"
"I received a dao from the Black Snake Alliance Chairman..."
"I've stored it well, so don't worry. Wonkang was really surprised to see it."
"Really? I knew he would be." Baek Suryong chuckled, but his expression gradually turned bitter.
Baek Muheun did not miss that small change in his son. "And? What else happened?"
"...A Blood Cult Apostle appeared at the meeting place."
"Apostle?"
"It's a position that assists the Blood Demon from the closest distance..."
Baek Suryong hesitated. He did not know how to explain the relationship between the apostles of the Blood Cult and himself. Not only was he not confident in explaining it accurately, but he was also worried that he might make Baek Muheun worry unnecessarily.
"Were they people you knew in your previous life?"
"...Yes."
"....." Baek Muheun waited patiently for his son to calm down.
Baek Suryong stared at the ceiling with empty eyes for a long while. Finally, he began, "...Dad. Actually, back then..."
"Yes?"
"I abused numerous children to satisfy my own selfish desires. I carved terrible, indelible scars into their bodies and minds... I'm sure they resent me. No, they must hate me enough to want to kill me, so why..."
Baek Suryong recalled Number Four's farewell glance. He wanted to know what the complex emotion was behind that gaze. He had spent the entire ride home mulling it over, but he couldn't find an answer.
"...Why did he just leave?"
"Hmm..."
Despite the lack of context, Baek Muheun folded his arms and fell into deep thought. However, the answer he gave after careful deliberation was absurdly simple.
"How would I know? You should just ask him directly the next time you meet."
"...He might try to kill me though?" Baek Suryong's eye twitched in disbelief, as if saying,
'What kind of shitty father give such an answer?'
However, Baek Muheun was firm. "Then you just have to bring me along when you meet him. Parents are responsible for their children's mistakes, so I should be by your side when you apologize."
"What the fuck are you talking about...?" Baek Suryong laughed hollowly at his father's absurd logic.
How could a mistake committed by my past self be Baek Muheun's fault? Then again... he's been like this since I was little. He would crack jokes when I had a fever to make me feel at ease. Even though he looked as though the world was coming to an end, he always pretended to be calm so I wouldn't be scared.
As memories of the past surfaced, it suddenly hit him that his personality resembled his father's.
He laughed weakly, "You passed down something bad..."
"Look at this rascal? I passed down a handsome face that you're too incompetent to put to use, and you say what now?"
"Why are you suddenly bringing up my face?"
"Because ever since you got a little stronger, all you do is fight every day. How can I accept that a 27-year-old virgin who can't even find a date despite his looks is my son?"
"...Is that something to sigh over?"
The father and son exchanged lighthearted banter for a while. It was their way of expressing their feelings indirectly.
Finally, Baek Muheun pulled the blanket up to his son's neck. "Anyway, I'm just glad you've returned home in one piece. You must have had a hard time, so rest well for the next few days."
However, Baek Suryong pushed the blanket away and sat back up. "I don't have the luxury of resting for even one day."
Baek Muheun frowned, but his son, who inherited his mother's obstinacy, insisted stubbornly, "The Blood Cult will figure out who I really am soon. If we're unlucky, they might send all their elite forces here."
Baek Suryong assumed the worst. If the Fourth Apostle revealed his true identity upon returning to the Blood Cult, the other apostles would not remain idle. Whether to seek revenge against their former instructor or to retrieve the four masters' ultimate martial arts, they would undoubtedly take action.
I hate to disappoint the kids, but the Heavenly Martial Festival isn't all that important right now.
He had no intention of running away from his old trainees' justifiable anger, but he couldn't let it affect the White Dragon Manor and the Azure Dragon Academy.
"We need to come up with a plan quickly. I need to meet the Principal right now..."
"I'll bring him here. You stay here and rest."
Baek Muheun placed a hand on Baek Suryong's shoulder and pushed him back down. He knew the situation was dire, but he didn't want his injured son rushing around.
"I'm fine. Walking is no big deal. Besides, I feel more comfortable discussing things at the academy."
However, Baek Suryong was stubborn. He had returned with all his might to stay one step ahead of the Blood Cult. Although half of the apostles were also grievously wounded, he didn't know how much time that would buy them.
"I said I'll go!"
"I said I'm really fine!"
Father and son bickered back and forth.
Suddenly, Baek Muheun shut his mouth and stared at the door in horror. At the same time, Baek Suryong sensed a presence approaching at a terrifying speed and face palmed.
There could only be one way this person found out about his return... and it was if his students betrayed him.
"I told those brats to keep it a secret, damn it..."
BAM!
Mae Geuklyom flung open the door and strode into the room.
Baek Suryong tensed, expecting a scathing lecture. Since he had come back with severe injuries and hadn't sent word right away, he couldn't defend himself even if the old man flew into a rage.
To his surprise, though, Mae Geuklyom merely approached the bed and held his hand tightly, his eyes trembling with anxiety. "Suryong! Are you okay? Where are you hurt? I heard you fainted as soon as you arrived home."
"That's..."
Mae Geuklyom reached out to caress his grandson's gaunt cheek, then abruptly pulled him into a hug. "How much did you suffer out there to lose so much weight in such a short time?"
"...Grandpa?"
Baek Suryong and Baek Muheun were both taken aback by Mae Geuklyom's unexpected bizarreness.
What happened to the stubborn old man...!?
they both thought.
Considering the Mae Geuklyom of the past, a martial artist who kept public and private matters separate as Headmaster for decades, these words were unimaginable. Not only had he run out of the Azure Dragon Academy without permission during work hours, he was also revealing his true feelings without restraint.
Baek Suryong was taken aback. Clearly, his unusual behavior was a sign that his grandson's safety mattered enough to make him forget his usual decorum.
"Did you have a hard time out there?" Mae Geuklyom asked worriedly, affectionately patting his beloved grandson's back.
Baek Suryong fidgeted awkwardly. Unfamiliar emotions were stirring inside him, and he didn't know what expression to make during times like these.
"I'm fine, my injuries aren't as serious as they look. Those guys just made a fuss and worried you needlessly..."
"You rascal!" Baek Muheun sat on the edge of the bed and patted his son's head. "If it's hard, just say so. You can be honest with family."
The strength drained from Baek Suryong's body in an instant. He felt like he had been punched while defenseless.
He hesitated for a moment, but eventually closed his eyes and muttered, "Yes, I had a hard time. Really..."
He acted like a spoiled child with his family for the first time. The feeling was awkward and unfamiliar, but not unpleasant.
"I see. Everything will be fine now."
"...Kid."
Mae Geuklyom gently patted his grandson's back, while Baek Muheun smiled quietly and stroked his son's hair.
"Hmm...?"
Baek Suryong's eyes snapped open abruptly. He could sense the Five Young Azure Dragons outside the room. It seemed those troublemakers just couldn't stay quietly at the academy and had come back after all.
"Don't just stand there distracting me, come in, all of you."
As soon as he finished speaking, the students tumbled into the room like falling dominoes.
""Mr. Baek!""
Baek Suryong burst out laughing at the sight.