Star Instructor, Master Baek

Chapter 188: Hide and Seek (1)

TL: FoodieMonster007

"Where is that scoundrel right now?" Mae Geuklyom asked, his voice soft but cold as ice. His knuckles, heavily calloused and rock hard from decades of rigorous training, cracked ominously as he rhythmically tapped the hilt of his sword.

Looking at those hands, Baek Suryong gulped nervously. More than a dozen villains fell to those very hands in the Valley of Evil…

"Baek. Mu. Heun…" Mae Geuklyom uttered each syllable viciously, his killing intent overflowing as if he was calling out the name of his mortal enemy.

"G-Grandpa…" Baek Suryong stammered, his hair standing on end. Mae Geuklyom was a swordmaster who could cut down whoever he wanted, whenever he wanted. The thought that the old man's sword, which had slain countless enemies, might be used in a family dispute sent shivers down his spine.

"Stay out of this, Suryong," Mae Geuklyom snapped. "You, the fierce-looking one. I'll ask you again. Where is that scumbag Baek Muheun right now?"

"Why are you looking for him?" Hyonwon Su asked, narrowing his eyes warily. He had only shared a few drinks with Baek Muheun, but the man had given him the courage to stand up to the Seonwoo Patriarch. If possible, he didn't want his new acquaintance to mysteriously come to harm.

However, Mae Geuklyom ignored Hyonwon Su and slowly stroked his sword, smiling villainously as if promising it blood. "That accursed miscreant came here. The worst scum under the heavens. Not even cutting that thieving cur into small pieces and feeding him to the dogs would be enough…"

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"Harsh? Me? Do you even know what that stinking wastrel did?"

Panicking, Baek Suryong urgently contacted Hyonwon Su through telepathy, hoping to defuse the situation.

[He's the father-in-law!]

[…What? You're married?]

[No, I mean he's my father's father-in-law. In other words, my maternal grandfather. He's not on good terms with his son-in-law because my dad eloped with my mom.]

Baek Suryong tried to explain quickly, but his words came out jumbled. Fortunately, Hyonwon Su grasped the situation immediately. Bad relationships between fathers-in-law and sons-in-law were common, after all.

Quickly adjusting his demeanor, Hyonwon Su replied politely, "Oh, um… I parted ways with Baek Suryong's father after we watched the duel together yesterday and haven't seen him since. It was my first time meeting him, so I didn't ask where he was staying or how to contact him."

For a moment, Mae Geuklyom stared intently at Hyonwon Su as if to determine the authenticity of his words, but in the end, he sighed and nodded. "I see. My apologies. Whenever I think of that blasted hoodlum, I lose control of my emotions. I am still lacking in self-discipline, it seems."

"No, it's not your fault. Recalling Baek Muheun's face, I completely understand how you feel, Elder," Hyonwon Su replied, nodding empathetically.

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"I appreciate the sentiment, but you shouldn't claim to understand others so easily…"

"I also have a daughter."

"Oh?" Mae Geuklyom's eyes lit up.

A silent understanding passed between the two fathers with daughters, and with a brief nod, an unspoken bond formed between them.

"I could never give my daughter to a pretty boy like that," Hyonwon Su began, his tone dripping with disdain. "Can you imagine the worry and heartache she'd suffer, wondering if he's faithful every day of her life?"

"You seem to know a thing or two. One day, my daughter brought home a debaucherous delinquent whose alias was the Handsome Prince and said she wanted to marry him."

"Good heavens! If it were me, I would have killed him on the spot."

"I tried, but my daughter stopped me, and then… she ran off with him. That's how my grudge with that scoundrel began."

"Oh dear…"

"Master Hyonwon, you must always stay vigilant. There are always wolves lurking around the murim, eyeing our precious daughters. We must keep our eyes sharp, guard them closely, and protect them from all potential threats."

Baek Suryong shook his head as he watched the two old men join forces as if all men, especially handsome ones, were their mortal enemies. Are all fathers with daughters like this? he wondered.

Suddenly, Mae Geuklyom smoothly changed the topic. "By the way… How old is your daughter, Master Hyonwon? My grandson is of marriageable age and I'm worried because he still doesn't have a suitable partner."

"Well… I'm sorry, but she's only twelve."

"Well, my grandson's martial arts skills are exceptional, so he'll still be young and healthy in six years. Besides, as an Azure Dragon Academy instructor, he has a steady income. Oh, and he's not one to chase grand ambitions in the murim, so you can rest assured that he's not in much danger of losing his life far from home."

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"…Grandpa!? Why are you steering the conversation in that direction?" Baek Suryong exclaimed, caught off guard by the abrupt turn of events.

With a fierce glint in his eye, Mae Geuklyom snapped, "Be quiet, punk. Since you seem to have no interest in women despite your looks, I have to step in if I want to see my great-grandchildren in this lifetime. Master Hyonwon, please consider my proposal seriously."

"Hmm…" Hyonwon Su carefully studied Baek Suryong with a somewhat troubled expression. "I know Mr. Baek is an excellent prospective husband, but I'm worried because he has the kind of pretty face that makes many women cry…"

"Don't worry, my grandson takes after his mother and is a total dork when it comes to dating. Occasionally, flies may hover around him, but I'll make sure he keeps his lower half in check."

Hyonwon Su's eyes sparkled greedily. "Oho! In that case…"

Baek Suryong shuddered. At this rate, if he didn't do anything, he was going to end up engaged to a twelve-year-old girl. Desperately trying to change the subject, he blurted out, "Enough of this, please! Anyway, Master Hyonwon, you said you ran into my father yesterday?"

"Yes, he sat next to me during Wonkang's match…" Hyonwon Su recounted his brief encounter with Baek Muheun. They hadn't talked much, so there wasn't much to tell. "He seemed extremely proud of you, Mr. Baek. From the affection in his eyes, I can tell that he loves you deeply."

"Hmph!" Mae Geuklyom snorted, clearly still displeased.

Noticing the old man's expression, Hyonwon Su quickly added, "Alright then, I'll leave you two to your family discussion. I'm heading back to the party."

"See you later, sir," Baek Suryong said.

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Hugging the Earth Shattering Blade manual like it was the world's greatest treasure, Hyonwon Su hastily scampered back to the manor, leaving Baek Suryong and Mae Geuklyom alone outside.

"Hoo…" Mae Geuklyom sighed deeply.

Baek Suryong waited patiently for his grandfather to speak.

After a while, Mae Geuklyom gazed up at the night sky, his expression troubled. "If you have any conscience, you wouldn't meet me while I'm sober," he muttered to himself.

Baek Suryong remained silent. It was clear that Mae Geuklyom was speaking to Baek Muheun, the scoundrel who had eloped with his daughter thirty years ago.

Even though Mae Geuklyom was the one who had first suggested that they cut ties, he had never imagined that Mae Yakbing would actually leave like that. In the end, his frail, sickly daughter wandered around the murim with Baek Muheun and eventually died in a foreign land. He didn't even attend her funeral.

No, it's not that I didn't want to attend her funeral, I just… couldn't…

In the old man's eyes, a mix of deep regret, anger, sadness, and pain swirled together.

"Still, I must meet you. Whether I kill you in one strike, or…"

After muttering to himself for a while, Mae Geuklyom turned to his grandson. "Suryong."

"Yes, Grandpa?" Baek Suryong replied obediently.

"Is it okay if I stay here for a few days?"

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"Pardon?" Baek Suryong blinked in confusion. When he saw Mae Geuklyom's face, however, he understood that his grandfather had already made up his mind and wasn't about to accept no for an answer.

"That damn bastard must have come to visit you. He's probably planning to meet you in secret and then leave," Mae Geuklyom reasoned.

Baek Suryong agreed with his grandfather. After all, back when he left the Baek Academy, Baek Muheun had warned him about Mae Geuklyom.

"Therefore, to have a chance to meet him, I'll need to stick close to you for a while."

"Huh? A-About that…"

"Do you object?"

Baek Suryong shook his head. It wasn't that he didn't like the idea. He was just worried that his grandfather, with his strict, regimented lifestyle, might find his own late and unpredictable working hours unpleasant.

"Don't worry, I won't interfere with your work."

"Understood. There are plenty of spare rooms in the White Dragon Manor, so please choose one you like."

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"Before we go back, could you take a walk with me?"

For a while, grandfather and grandson strolled around the manor grounds, chatting about various things.

"By the way," Mae Geuklyom began, "do you really have no thoughts of marriage?"

"Even if I had such thoughts, I would never prey on a twelve-year-old, Grandpa. That's a crime."

"Hmph, don't try to fool me. With how much you work, you won't be able to get married or even get a girlfriend for at least five years."

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"……"

"You rascal, are you not even going to deny it? Sigh, how is it possible that such a fine young lad was born from that blasted playboy's seed…"

"Is that a supposed to be compliment or an insult?"

Mae Geuklyom chuckled, "Hoho, I wonder. Anyway, all your best qualities come from your mother."

Baek Suryong fell silent. Although Mae Geuklyom had laughed out loud, for some reason he felt that the old man's laughter sounded hollow.

He must have a lot on his mind.

Baek Muheun and Mae Geuklyom. What would happen if they actually met? Not even Baek Suryong could foresee that.

A few days later, during Defense Against the Unorthodox Arts class.

SMACK!

"Argh!" Hyonwon Kang yelped, clutching his head as he rolled on the floor.

Baek Suryong loomed over him, tapping the Black Dragon Pointer against his palm and clicking his tongue disapprovingly. "Getting a little cocky, aren't you, Mr. Sky Sundering Blade? Just because you got yourself a fancy title, all of a sudden you think you're the world's greatest bladesman?"

"No, that's not it…"

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"That's not it, my ass. Your bladesmanship is so full of swagger, I ought to…"

Seeing Baek Suryong raise his arm, Hyonwon Kang shrank back like a turtle withdrawing into its shell.

Turning to look at the other students, Baek Suryong frowned. "The same goes for the rest of you. I know many of you were busy with the Club Union election and all, but what's the point of training if your minds are elsewhere?"

"Well…"

"I was doing my best though…"

Even though the Club Union election was over and the students had returned to their daily routines, their excitement hadn't fully subsided. Considering they needed to relentlessly work toward winning the Heavenly Martial Festival though, this attitude wasn't acceptable.

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"This won't do," Baek Suryong concluded, rolling up his sleeves and cracking his neck. "I'll have to re-discipline you kids."

"W-Wait a minute…"

"Sir! I assure you, words will suffice!"

"To hell with this! Run for it!"

"Damn it! The door's locked!"

The students trembled with fear. A few smart alecks tried to escape, but the classroom door was already locked from the outside.

Grinning sinisterly, Baek Suryong slowly advanced toward them. "Fufufu… Today, I'm going to teach you a lesson… about how cruel the unorthodox sects can be!"

"That last part is just an excuse, isn't it?!"

Like a swift beast, Baek Suryong lunged forward and began 'disciplining' the lax students.

BAM! POW! WHAM! THUD! SLAM!

"Ugh! You devil!"

"Someone help us!"

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The sounds of thrashing and the students' screams blended together in perfect harmony.

About an hour later, Baek Suryong dusted off his hands, looking refreshed. "This is the end of today's lesson. Come back with more spirit next time."

"Ugh…"

"Just kill me already…"

"Someone report him to the Murim Alliance… This is child abuse…"

Leaving the students sprawled on the floor, Baek Suryong left the classroom and went straight to his next assignment. His official duties included teaching Defense Against the Unorthodox Arts and, as a member of the Discipline Committee, monitoring student misbehavior and delinquency. In addition, he also had various paperwork and unofficial tasks to complete.

However, lately, it was hard for him to focus solely on work.

"Where on earth is that man, and what is he doing?" he complained to himself.

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Several days had passed since Hyonwon Kang was elected Club Union President, but there was still no sign of Baek Muheun. At this point, Baek Suryong had begun to wonder if his father had already returned home.

"Well, I guess getting through Mae Geuklyom's ironclad surveillance is damn near impossible…"

For the past few days, Mae Geuklyom had been going to and from work with him and kept him in sight at the White Dragon Manor, except when he went to the restroom. He was pretty much never alone during his free time.

"Haa… I feel like I'm waiting for an assassin."

Baek Suryong shook his head. If Baek Muheun had something to say, he could have sent a letter. There was no need to bother coming in person…

"Wait."

Baek Suryong suddenly remembered that Baek Muheun had indeed sent him a letter. When he had gone to the Murim Alliance branch to submit his report on the Valley of Evil, Go Juyeol had handed him the letter, mentioning that it was from his father. At that time, he had thrown it into a drawer without a second thought, telling himself that he'd get around to reading it sometime.

"I should read it when I get home… hmm?"

Suddenly, Baek Suryong glanced around, frowning. He could smell the distinct fragrance of alcohol coming from the boys' dormitory a hundred yards away, tickling his nose.

SNIFF SNIFF.

Hiding his presence and moving to find the culprit, he muttered, "Just who dares drink alcohol in this sacred academy…? Aha! Found you!"

In a flash, Baek Suryong scaled the dormitory wall, his movement arts propelling him to the roof with ease. Landing lightly, his gaze fell on a masculine figure with a long ponytail, dressed in a loose martial arts uniform. Half sprawled across the tiles, that person leisurely sipped from a bottle, completely relaxed.

"Freeze," he scolded. "I commend your courage for drinking on the dormitory rooftop in broad daylight."

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"……"

"Attempting to run will only add to your demerit points, so don't bother trying and wasting everyone's time. Put the bottle down and get your ass over here on the count of three. One."

"…Ahaha."

"Hmm?" The moment he heard that laugh, Baek Suryong realized something was off.

This astonishingly familiar voice and aura…

"Ahh, fuck." Realizing who the rule-breaker was, he sighed. "The best place to hide is in plain sight, huh? Have you been holed up in the academy all this time?"

"With that devil guarding your house, this is the only place I can safely meet you."

The man, who Baek Suryong initially thought was a student, put down the wine bottle and turned around.

Smiling cheerfully, Baek Muheun greeted, "Long time no see, son!"

Translator's Note: For obvious reasons, all mention of marrying off Kang's younger sister was censored from the manhwa, even though such things were commonplace in that era. Suryong and Kang were this close to becoming brothers-in-law, heh…