Star Instructor, Master Baek

TL: FoodieMonster007

About two hours later, Hyonwon Kang appeared in the distance, waving. "Big Bro! We're here!"

Baek Suryong feigned ignorance and pretended not to know the cringey roleplaying idiot.

Soon, two hundred bandits, their eyes were swollen shut and faces bruised, trickled in in front of Gu Il Keep.

Baek Suryong frowned at the students, who were looking very pleased at their handiwork and relaxed from having vented their resentment. "You guys… did you really have to go that far? You didn't kill any of them, did you?"

This whole operation depended on the willing cooperation of the bandits. He had no problem with the students beating the bandits a little to ensure their compliance, but bloodshed would only instill a temporary fear and hinder their dedication to the search.

Ya Suhyeok, who was acting as the Viridian Scholar's representative, would also be in a difficult position.

Thankfully, that hadn't happened. Everyone had been considerate of Ya Suhyeok's position.

"No way, do you take us for idiots?"

"We gave them the request letter, but they didn't believe us, so we 'persuaded' them."

"It was easy. They believed us right after we beat up their leaders."

"Those guys… They think we're masters from the Viridian Forest Alliance."

It seemed that the bandits were now convinced that the Azure Dragon Academy students who'd shown up out of the blue were really from the Viridian Forest Alliance, and that the request letter was real. Still… judging from the whispers of "Viridian Forest Demon Quintet" and "Five Viridian Forest Fiends" spreading among the bandits, the students definitely employed some rather forceful 'persuasion' methods.

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Baek Suryong couldn't help but sigh. "…And they call themselves prodigies of the orthodox sects."

Just who was the bastard who taught these kids… Oh wait, it was me.

Clearing his throat, Baek Suryong turned to Ya Suhyeok. "I think everyone's here, so explain the plan."

"Huh? Me?" Ya Suhyeok's eyes widened in shock. He had assumed that once he brought the bandits here, Baek Suryong would naturally take care of the rest. "I'm only good at fighting, words aren't really my thing…"

"No, you're the only one who can do this," Baek Suryong cut in sharply. "The rest of us are outsiders. While any of us can subdue them by force, only you, a fellow Viridian Forest bandit, can earn their trust and cooperation."

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"……" Ya Suhyeok fixed Baek Suryong with a pleading look.

Baek Suryong held firm. Although it's not related to martial arts, this is also a lesson—a lesson about taking responsibility for one's actions.

Giving Ya Suhyeok's broad back a reassuring nudge, he said, "Don't worry, if you need help, I'll step in."

"…Okay." Nodding, Ya Suhyeok jumped onto a large rock.

"Hoo…"

As all eyes turned to him, he took a moment to catch his breath and organize his thoughts. At the moment, most of the two hundred or so bandits in front of him wore disgruntled expressions, having come only because of the letter with the Viridian Scholar's name on it and because they were afraid of the violent students. ŕ

I'd rather fight the Horned Snake right now.

Ya Suhyeok's palms started to sweat. If he just used force, this could all be resolved quite easily. The moment he threatened their lives, most of them would do as he said.

However, he couldn't bring himself to do that. To do so would make him no different from those who scorned and looked down on the Viridian Forest Bandits.

They are all my brothers.

At that moment, Ya Suhyeok realized what he had to say.

BOOM!

Stomping his foot, he began, "I am Ya Suhyeok, son of the Viridian Scholar."

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Baek Suryong felt goosebumps on his arm. This kid… He's a natural.

The nervous boy of a few moments ago was gone. Now, it was as if a great tiger king was looking down upon the other beasts. This was different from his martial arts talent, it was an innate leadership ability.

Ya Suhyeok continued, "As you may have heard, a demonic beast called the Horned Snake has attacked Gu Il Keep and killed many of our brothers. Look around you."

The bandits looked around and took in the state of Gu Il Keep. Although the corpses had been buried and the building and fence somewhat repaired, the scars of the terrible battle, including blood stains that they had been unable to completely remove, remained.

"See for yourselves. The traces of their struggle against the beast. The places where they died."

"Gulp!"

In the silence, someone swallowed their saliva.

Ya Suhyeok closed his eyes for a moment. When he slowly opened them again, there was a determined look in his eyes.

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"If we don't catch this monster soon, it will attack another bandit keep. Who knows which one of you will be next? This is why I gathered you all here. To prepare before there are more casualties. I sincerely apologize for any… inconvenience caused during the process."

He's not particularly eloquent, his voice is raspy and his words halting, but he has a way of captivating people, Baek Suryong mused, when suddenly, he saw Maeng Ho'ak's face superimposed over Ya Suhyeok's.

The Bandit King Maeng Ho'ak was the strongest and most tyrannical leader in the history of the Viridian Forest Bandits. With a single word, he could command the bandits from all 72 Viridian Forest Keeps to charge into hell.

It was no wonder that, fearing that the growing power of the Viridian Forest, the Blood Cult had tried to sow discord among the Bandit King's followers.

"I know that the Horned Snake is dangerous, so I'm only asking you to help us find it. Once you discover its tracks, me and the other martial arts experts here will finish it off."

Of course, although Ya Suhyeok's leadership style was reminiscent of Maeng Ho'ak, comparing the two right now was absurd. If Maeng Ho'ak was the king of the mountains, then Ya Suhyeok was just a cub whose teeth hadn't even fully grown yet.

Though, even a little cub was still a tiger.

"Whether it's a favor or an oath of blood, a Viridian Forest Bandit must never forget a debt! This is what my stepfather, the Viridian Scholar, taught me. If we do not repay our debts in kind, the Viridian Forest Bandits will forever be looked down upon and ridiculed.

"My stepfather also taught me that no matter how much others scorn and disregard us, we, the brothers of the Viridian Forest, must always help each other."Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Ya Suhyeok's words pierced the bandits' hearts like daggers. Shame filled their eyes, and their grudging obedience instantly transformed into burning passion.

BOOM!

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Ya Suhyeok stomped his foot again. "I swear, I will find that bastard snake that murdered my brothers, tear it into pieces, and feast on its flesh! Even if no one helps me, I will honor my fallen brothers!"

""…!!""

The young Viridian Forest Bandit's passionate cries stirred something deep within the hearts of the crowd.

Unable to hold back any longer, a bandit yelled, "Damn it! Fine, I'll help you!"

Once the ball started rolling, the other bandits followed like a bursting dam.

"The Viridian Forest Bandits never forget a debt!"

"We repay kindness tenfold, and grudges a hundredfold! That's the way of the Viridian Forest!"

"Let's find that fucking snake!"

"Avenge our brothers! Protect our territory!"

"WOOOAH!"

The men of the Viridian Forest unsheathed their weapons and roared until their throats were raw, now wholly devoted to their young leader.

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"RAAAAAWR!" The Silver Tiger cub also jumped onto Ya Suhyeok's shoulder and roared together with the others.

The Azure Dragon Academy students were dumbfounded.

"That guy…"

"Is he really the Ya Suhyeok we know…?"

"…I think I've got goosebumps."

However, Baek Suryong was the most shocked of them all.

"Huh…"

He knew that Ya Suhyeok was not a skilled orator, so he had thought that just getting the boy to properly communicate the plan would be enough. Instead, here he was, dominating two hundred bandits with ease.

Those guys look ready to jump into a fire at his command.

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Remembering the Bandit King, Baek Suryong mumbled, "…Master Maeng, I think I've found your successor."

He wasn't just talking about a successor to the Bandit King's martial arts, as Geo Sangwoong had also learned the complete Eighteen Strikes of the Viridian Forest.

"I've found him. The successor who will fulfill your lifelong dream of legitimacy for the Viridian Forest."

Perhaps, at this very moment, I'm witnessing the birth of a new Bandit King?

Two hundred bandits spread out in a massive net around the spot where the Horned Snake and the Silver Tiger were last seen.

"Find it!"

"Track it down, even if you have to follow the trails of ants!"

There was no need to give specific orders. The bosses of each bandit group divided the area among themselves and began to comb the mountain.

Enraged, the bandits forgot about food and sleep, focusing only on their task. They were, after all, on the hunt for the enemy who had slain their brothers.

Fortunately, their relentless search soon yielded results. Just two days after the search began, they located the Horned Snake's hideout.

"We found it!"

"There's a hidden pond down there, and strange beasts are gathering around it."

"Strange beasts?"

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"I saw an ape with four arms, a bear with blue eyes, and a fox with several tails. I've never seen any creatures like those before. Where have they been hiding all this time…?"

"They must be spirit beasts," Baek Suryong replied.

The bandits had found many tracks over the last two days, but so far, none were related to the Horned Snake. However, this time was different. A pond that attracted spirit beasts? That was unnatural enough to be interesting.

"Where is this place? Lead the way," he commanded.

…This is it.

As soon as he arrived at the pond, he knew. He could feel a powerful demonic qi writhing within the misty pond, far more potent than he had anticipated. Moreover, dozens of black-eyed beasts stood guard around the pond, and their number was steadily increasing.

"Growl…"

I can see at least four that look like spirit beasts.

It was said that it was a miracle to encounter a single spirit beast in one's lifetime. To see four in one place… it probably wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that every spirit beast in the Tianzhu Mountain Range had gathered here.

"What are those…?"

"Where did they all come from?"

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The energy the beasts radiated was so intense that all the students wore grim expressions. They could sense that if any human dared to get too close to the pond, they would be attacked immediately.

Baek Suryong said to Ya Suhyeok, "Tell the Viridian Forest Bandits to spread out and surround the area, and warn them not to make any rash moves."

"Yes, Mr. Baek!"

Suddenly, the entire misty pond began to bubble and churn, and a jet of water erupted from its center, shooting skyward.

FWOOOSH!

Water droplets scattered in all directions as a gigantic creature rose from the pond and into the sky, blotting out the sun.

Shaken by the sight, the Viridian Forest Bandits stumbled backward. Some even collapsed, their legs giving way beneath them.

"What the fuck is that…?"

"Didn't they say it was a… snake?"

The creature floating in the sky had an otherworldly presence, and an ominous energy flowed from its pitch-black body. Its one horn alone was over two meters long. Could such a massive creature still be called a snake?

Baek Suryong called over the lieutenant of Gu Il Keep. "Is that the Horned Snake you saw?"

"I-It's similar, but it was much smaller than that. I think it's doubled in size…"

"…It must have molted. That's no mere Horned Snake anymore." Baek Suryong recalled reading about a similar creature in an old book. "That thing is now a One-Horned Demon Dragon…"

An imoogi, a lesser dragon that had failed to ascend to heaven, had transformed a demonic beast, and that demonic beast had then grown stronger by devouring humans and spirit beasts.

"ROOOOOOOOOAR!"

With the One-Horned Demon Dragon's roar, the beasts around the pond went berserk and lunged at the humans.

"Form a defensive line, quickly! If we can't stop it here, we're all dead!" Baek Suryong bellowed.

The battle began.

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Translator's Note: Happy New Year! First chapter of 2025!