Star Instructor, Master Baek-Chapter 309: To Catch a Rat (5)

TL: FoodieMonster007

At first glance, breaking through the main gate of the Murim Alliance seemed like a reckless and foolish act, but Baek Suryong had two clear goals in mind.

I'm not the Murim Alliance Chairman, so I can't just barge in and force my way through with strength alone. The Murim Alliance isn't that easy of an organization to deal with. However, I can throw them into confusion.

If he announced his identity at the main gate and followed the proper procedures, the entire Murim Alliance would know of the Azure Dragon Hero's arrival within moments. This would give the culprit ample time to prepare for their meeting.

On the other hand, what if he stormed in unannounced?

People tend to make mistakes in unexpected situations.

The first of his two objectives was to catch the rat hiding within the Murim Alliance off guard, to make them slip up.

"Stop! Identify yourself!"

"That face… No way?"

The guards at the Murim Alliance's main gate widened their eyes at the man striding confidently toward them.

Baek Suryong clasped his hands together in a friendly salute. "Greetings, my proud brothers of the Murim Alliance. I see you're working hard as usual!"

Just this morning, the Murim Alliance had distributed an identification note with the Azure Dragon Hero's portrait, and the gatekeepers had studied it more carefully than anyone else.

"Azure Dragon Hero!"

The young man walking toward them with a confident smile was undoubtedly the newly appointed Murim Alliance Chief Instructor, the Azure Dragon Hero.

Flustered, a guard stammered, "P-Please wait a moment! We need to report your arrival…"

Baek Suryong smiled warmly. "It's alright. Would you mind stepping aside for a moment so I can pass?"

"Huh? Ah, yes…"

Despite their puzzlement, the guards quietly obliged, obeying the order of a superior.

CRAAASH!

The next moment, Baek Suryong struck the main gate of the Murim Alliance. Out of consideration, he did not cut it down with his sword, but only broke the hinges and tore the gate off completely so that it could be repaired more easily later.

Of course, no one in the Murim Alliance would consider that "consideration" at all.

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"Who goes there!"

"Stop right there!"

"Who the hell is that madman?"

As Baek Suryong marched in, he scanned the martial artists surrounding him. It took them less than a quarter of a second to gather nearly a hundred men and encircle him.

Their response time is quite fast.

The martial artists' auras were all sharp, proving that they had trained hard on a daily basis.

The ones on the left are the Heavenly Justice Corps, and the ones standing in a disorderly mess on the right must be the Elimination Corps.

The difference between the two groups was immediately apparent. The Heavenly Justice Corps stood in a neat array, as if they had regularly trained in battle formations. The Elimination Corps, on the other hand, showed no uniformity in clothing or weapons, and lined up haphazardly.

However, that did not mean that they were weaker than the Heavenly Justice Corps. Individually, the Elimination Corps actually seemed stronger. Their killing intent was so thick that it was hard to believe that they were part of the Murim Alliance at all.

They'd fit right in with the Valley of Evil or the Rehabilitation Sect.

Baek Suryong introduced himself, "I am the newly appointed Chief Instructor, Baek Suryong. I apologize if I startled you. You've done a good job preparing for an enemy invasion. Although there are a few problems, we can fix them one by one."

"……" No one said anything, as this could either be seen as a show of dominance by the new chief instructor or the eccentricity of an ill-tempered supreme expert. Nonetheless, their faces screamed, What kind of insane bastard is this?

Baek Suryong studied their expressions, searching for anything out of the ordinary. At the same time, he observed the stances of the martial artists around him. When caught off guard, people would instinctively assume the stance they were most familiar with. For example, someone who had trained in Blood Cult martial arts before infiltrating the Murim Alliance.

Hmm… someone excessively frightened, or someone grinding their teeth in rage…

A moment later, Baek Suryong reached a conclusion.

No one here has trained in the Blood Cult's martial arts.

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He wasn't expecting much anyway. Most of the martial artists gathered here were ordinary warriors, but the culprit who poisoned the Chief had used the Poison Demon's Mortal Venom. If the culprit or an accomplice was within the Murim Alliance, they wouldn't be hiding among these men. They would have to be someone with the authority to speak privately with the leader of a major murim faction.

The real ones are coming now.

Baek Suryong had his eyes set on a much bigger catch, and to his satisfaction, two overwhelming presences were rapidly approaching.

"What the hell is going on?!" a thunderous shout shook the air as a middle-aged man with a sturdy build and a slender woman dressed all in black descended from the sky and landed right in front of Baek Suryong.

The Heavenly Justice Commander and the Elimination Corps Commander.

"Commander!" The martial artists of the Heavenly Justice Corps stepped back and offered a brief salute in perfect unison.

On the other hand, the members of the Elimination Corps grinned and casually greeted their leader.

"Hey, Commander!"

"Some crazy bastard just stormed in!"

It was a perfect illustration of how different the two groups were.

The Heavenly Justice Commander stepped forward, his tiger-like eyes gleaming fiercely as a terrifying surge of qi erupted from his body. He roared, "How dare you tresspass into the Murim Alliance! Do you realize that this is a crime punishable by immediate execution?"

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CRACK…

The ground cracked beneath the Heavenly Justice Commander's feet in a display of overwhelming inner arts, even as he stood still.

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Most of the surrounding martial artists paled, but Baek Suryong remained unperturbed.

"Excuse me, but who are you?" he asked nonchalantly, pretending not to recognize the Heavenly Justice Commander.

As expected, the Heavenly Justice Commander's expression twisted in rage. "I am Heavenly Justice Commander, Jin Gwang. Azure Dragon Hero, I am placing you under arrest for trespassing into the Murim Alliance. If you dare resist…"

"Trespassing?" Baek Suryong cut him short, looking genuinely puzzled. "How is the Chief Instructor of the Murim Alliance entering the Murim Alliance considered trespassing?"

The Heavenly Justice Commander was rendered speechless for a moment. "…So it's true that you enjoy playing word games. You threatened the Murim Alliance guards and smashed the main gate. Are you saying that's not trespassing?"

"The guards here stepped aside on their own."

"Nonsense!"

"If you don't believe me, ask them yourself." Baek Suryong turned his head and shouted at the gate guards. "Hey, have I harmed or threatened you in any way?"

"N-No, sir! You just asked us to step aside…"

Despite their nervous expressions, the guards answered truthfully. There was no sign of coercion or threat.

Baek Suryong straightened his posture and said confidently, "You heard them. I never threatened the guards.

"Still, the fact remains that you destroyed the main gate."

"Well, I'll admit that." Baek Suryong nodded so boldly that it was almost refreshing.

"……" The Heavenly Justice Commander's blood boiled at this infuriating attitude.

Baek Suryong continued, "I did break the Murim Alliance's main gate, but I had my reasons. If you'll allow me to explain…"

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"Arrest him immediately!"

"You're a stubborn one, eh?" Baek Suryong sighed as the martial artists of the Heavenly Justice Corps closed in on him.

Meanwhile, the Elimination Corps martial artists watched the spectacle with amused smirks.

Suddenly, the smile on Baek Suryong's lips vanished as if it had never been there. "I'm warning you. If you take another step, I will charge you with insubordination," he said in a low voice.

"…!!" The martial artists approaching Baek Suryong trembled and stopped in their tracks, frozen by his chilling killing intent.

Only the Heavenly Justice Commander scoffed and stepped closer. "Insubordination?"

The tension between the two men rose sharply. Now they were close enough to reach out and touch each other.

The Heavenly Justice Commander stared at Baek Suryong with pure contempt. "Azure Dragon Hero, you have no right to call yourself superior to anyone in the Murim Alliance. It would be wise to surrender before you embarrass yourself any further."

"Hmm, maybe it's because I spoke to you politely, but I think you're a little confused." Baek Suryong grinned at the Heavenly Justice Commander who seemed to want to tear him apart. "The Chief Instructor has the same rank as a Commander. What right do you have to arrest me?"

"How dare you…!" The Heavenly Justice Commander's face contorted in rage, and he gritted his teeth as he glared at Baek Suryong. This man had only gained the position of Chief Instructor through the Chairman's generosity, yet he had the audacity to claim that he was equal to them?

"You've been talking nonsense long enough. How much longer do you think I'm going to put up with your crap?" he roared, his martial arts uniform flapping wildly as more cracks spread beneath his feet.

Once again, it was an overwhelming display of power, but Baek Suryong remained unfazed.

Why is he getting this angry?

It was true that he had deliberately provoked and taunted the Heavenly Justice Commander to test his reaction, but he was overly hostile. It wasn't just simple dislike, it was closer to hatred, as if the Commander wanted nothing more than to throw him into a prison cell right then and there.

Could it be him?

The Heavenly Justice Commander, Jin Gwang. A secular disciple of Shaolin and a son of the World Trading Company, one of the Ten Great Companies. A man so ambitious that he openly declared his intention to become the next Murim Alliance Chairman.

At least, that was what was written about him in the Beggar Gang's personnel roster.

Jin Gwang warned icily, "A word of advice, Junior. If you become arrogant just because you became famous at a young age, you won't live long. Learn some humility while you still can."

"Humility, huh…"

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It was a taunt, not advice, and of course, Baek Suryong understood that perfectly. While he wasn't really offended by this kind of provocation, it did give him an idea.

What if the Heavenly Justice Commander had trained in the martial arts of the Blood Cult, even just a little? There was no better way to find out than to fight him directly.

If he really is the rat, I'll expose him and kill him. If he's not, well… then he's not.

CRACK, CRACK…

Baek Suryong tilted his head from side to side, cracking his neck as he smiled and placed his hand on the hilt of the Azure Dragon Sword. "Sounds like the Heavenly Justice Commander wants to personally teach me about humility. Are you sure about this? I'm actually a better teacher than you, but… if that's what you want, I'd be happy to oblige."

"Everyone, fall back!"

As the tension in the air skyrocketed, the surrounding martial artists hurriedly stepped back to make room for a duel.

CLANG! BOOM!

The two supreme experts unleashed their inner arts to the fullest, and whirlwinds erupted from beneath their feet, spiraling into the sky. Colorless shockwaves spread in all directions, distorting the air. Although the fight had yet to begin, the invisible qi waves released by the two supreme experts were already tearing into each other.

"Krgh…"

"Huff…"

The martial artists with weaker internal arts turned pale. Some even stumbled backwards, while others began to bleed from their noses.

Baek Suryong and Jin Gwang silently measured each other's strength.

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This won't be easy.

He's reached this level at such a young age?

Baek Suryong tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword, while the Heavenly Justice Commander clenched his fists. Neither of them took a starting stance. Any unnecessary movement would only give the opponent a clue as to their next action.

""……""

The tension was so thick that it felt like an explosion could happen at any moment.

"Ahaahaha! You two are total pigheads! I was watching to see how far this would go, but are you seriously planning to fight the Heavenly Justice Commander?" the Elimination Corps Commander remarked cheerfully as she suddenly appeared between them, clutching her stomach and laughing so hard that her single eye welled up with tears.

A moment later, however, she sighed in disappointment, "Haa… I'd really love to see you two fight. I mean, really, but…"

The Elimination Corps Commander, Ryu Seol, turned her gaze to the destroyed Murim Alliance gate. A large crowd had gathered outside, peering in to spy on the commotion. If this escalated and word got out, the Murim Alliance's reputation would plummet.

"If I don't stop this, that damned old man, the Chairman, will crack my skull open."

Ryu Seol was truly disappointed that she wouldn't be able to watch the fight, but she also didn't want to be the one to get her skull cracked when the Chairman returned, so she fulfilled her duty as Acting Chairman.

"Heavenly Justice Commander," she said firmly. "Stand down. I'll hear the Chief Instructor myself and decide on his punishment."

The Heavenly Justice Commander bristled. "What is there to hear? That arrogant brat must be arrested and imprisoned immediately!"

"I said, I'll take care of it. If you keep insisting, I'll consider this an overstep of your authority."

"What? Overstepping?" The Heavenly Justice Commander was on the verge of exploding in anger, but when he saw killing intent flicker in Ryu Seol's single eye, he immediately fell silent.

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Ryu Seol grinned. "Who is the Acting Chairman now? If ignoring my authority in an official capacity isn't overstepping, then what is?"

"That's…" The Heavenly Justice Commander was at a loss for words. The Elimination Corps Commander was acting as a proxy for the absent Murim Alliance Chairman, which meant that disobeying her orders was equivalent to challenging the Chairman's authority itself.

"If the old man finds out about this, he'll crack your skull first. Are you ready for that?" Ryu Seol added.

"……" The Heavenly Justice Commander clenched his fists. He wasn't afraid of the Elimination Corps Commander or the Azure Dragon Hero standing in front of him, but he was afraid of Yayul Hwang. After all, neither the prestige of Shaolin nor the wealth of the World Trading Company could protect him from the Fist King's fist.

Damn it…

In the end, the Heavenly Justice Commander had no choice but to grit his teeth and step back.

"…Make sure he is punished properly," he growled through clenched teeth.

"Of course. You know I take my role as Acting Chairman very seriously."

"But I'm the one doing all the work…" Moyong Jun, who had been standing in the back, grumbled.

"Shut up. Do you want to be accused of overstepping as well?" Ryu Seol snapped.

Moyong Jun immediately closed his mouth. He had acted as usual with his commander without realizing it.

Arrogant wench! The Heavenly Justice Commander shot Ryu Seol a glare before turning on his heel and walking away.

Ryu Seol watched him for a moment before turning to Baek Suryong. The killing intent that had filled her gaze just moments ago now sparkled with curiosity, like a child who had just found an exciting new toy.

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"As you just heard, I'm the Acting Chairman. That means, unlike the Heavenly Justice Commander, I can punish you however I want, handsome little Chief Instructor," she giggled, then tapped the two daos at her waist. "Will you come quietly? Or do you want to fight me too?"

"……" Baek Suryong sheathed his sword.

I should stop here. Judging by her tone, I can't tell if she really wants to punish me or is just looking for an excuse to fight.

Fighting the Heavenly Justice Commander had at least some justification, but fighting the Vice Chairman, the Elimination Corps Commander? That would be pure madness.

"I'll go quietly," he said.

"… Eh? That's no fun at all."

"Sheathing my sword in front of the Acting Chairman is just common sense. I'm not that reckless."

"You don't really seem like a reasonable person… but okay. Let's go to the chairman's office." Ryu Seol turned and started walking.

Baek Suryong followed her and watched her closely. He finally realized the source of the strange sensation he had felt from her.

Now that I look closely, I'm certain. The Elimination Corps Commander has learned demonic arts.

This was information that wasn't included in the the Beggar's Gang's Murim Alliance's personnel list.

The Heavenly Justice Commander and the Elimination Corps Commander. Right now, both of them were highly suspicious.

Translator's Note: That's all for this week! See you on Friday!

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