Chapter 84

## Chapter 84. Naturally, Naturally

"......I understand."

To the suggestion of using Gongsonshu as bait to hunt assassins, Heuyoung, who was expected to strongly oppose, nodded her head in agreement.

Baek Su-ryong looked at her with a surprised expression.

"Really? I thought it would be quite hard to persuade you."

"But I'm sorry... Even I, who have been trained as an assassin, think this method is the most efficient right now."

On the contrary, Heuyoung looked at Baek Su-ryong with a curious expression.

The Baek Su-ryong she knew was someone who had been born and raised by righteous parents and had received education in the righteous martial world.

How could he understand the psychology of assassins so well?

'Besides, in the fight just now... he didn't hesitate at all when it came to killing people, regardless of his martial arts skills.'

Though many questions arose, now was not the time to ask them in detail.

As if reading her thoughts, Baek Su-ryong smiled and said,

"You have to know everything to teach a student."

"That doesn't seem like something to just brush off... But what's important now isn't that, so I won't ask more."

The two left the building.

Baek Su-ryong had already taken care of the assassins around before entering, so there was no sign of anyone nearby.

"I will go and contact the palace secretly right away."

"I'll gather some reliable people. It's impossible for us two to stop all the assassins. How much time do we have?"

The news of Tian Ying's failure probably hadn't reached other assassin organizations yet.

But it was only a matter of time.

"At most, one hour. The fact that Tian Ying's assassins were all killed will be known to other assassins within that time."

In other words, they had to come up with a plan to protect Gongsonshu and hunt assassins within one hour.

After gauging the remaining time, Baek Su-ryong nodded.

"Alright. Let's move quickly."

"Understood. I'll go to the palace and contact them, then head straight to the Blue Dragon Academy."

Heuyoung used her lightness skill and quickly disappeared.

Baek Su-ryong watched her retreating figure for a moment before turning around.

"First... I need to persuade the most reliable people at the Blue Dragon Academy."

However, the expression on Baek Su-ryong's face was not particularly good.

He already anticipated the reaction.

* * *

"Are you... telling me to believe that?"

Mae Geuk-yeom raised one eyebrow and looked at his only grandson. His white beard trembled.

This brat was sent on patrol and came back nearly an hour late, and now he's making excuses...

Flames of anger shot from Mae Geuk-yeom's eyes.

"What? The Chancellor? Assassins? The Blue Dragon Academy burning and people being captured one after another? Are you playing a joke on me!"

Except for not drawing his sword, he approached Baek Su-ryong with the intention of devouring him.

"You should apologize for being late. Where did you go drinking and come back babbling nonsense in broad daylight!"

"Grandfather. It's not nonsense. I know it's hard to believe, but it's all true!"

"If you really think I should taste the heat...!"

Mae Geuk-yeom, who was about to draw his sword, hesitated.

As he approached, he smelled the blood on Baek Su-ryong's body.

Then he noticed the faint traces on the sleeves and the marks on the sword scabbard and blade.

"Could it be...?"

A swordsman's keen eyes missed nothing.

Mae Geuk-yeom's expression turned serious.

"......How much of it is true?"

"It's all true. If anything, it's understated, not exaggerated."

Baek Su-ryong's expression was incredibly serious.

It wasn't the face of his annoying, sly grandson who often made people angry with his words and actions.

Mae Geuk-yeom finally realized the situation was not normal.

"Hmph. What on earth...?"

"We don't have time. The assassins will soon target the Chancellor. We need to prepare before that happens."

"......"

"Grandfather."

At Baek Su-ryong's soft call, Mae Geuk-yeom, who had been silent for a moment, finally spoke.

"Do you have a plan?"

"Yes. I've already gathered a few people."

Shortly after, Aek Yeon-ho, Myeong Il-oh, Zhuge Xiao-ying, and Heuyoung arrived where the two were.

"Brother?"

"Suddenly calling us for an urgent matter..."

"If it's not really important, I need to go back. I sneaked out without telling Mr. Namgung."

Amidst their complaints about the sudden call, Baek Su-ryong explained the situation, and everyone was shocked.

"Lie!"

"What the hell...?"

"Are you joking?"

Their reactions were understandable, but there was no time to persuade them calmly.

Clap!

Baek Su-ryong clapped his hands to draw everyone's attention and quickly said,

"While the entrance examination is ongoing, we need to protect the Chancellor from assassins. Furthermore, we will hunt the assassins who target the Chancellor."

Baek Su-ryong spoke with a serious face they had never seen before. His demeanor left no room for argument.

"I've gathered only the people I trust. We need your help to protect the Chancellor and the Blue Dragon Academy."

"......"

No one doubted Baek Su-ryong's words anymore.

Though he often annoyed people with his sly words and actions, his serious moments always had a reason.

Aek Yeon-ho, gripping his spear firmly, asked,

"What should we do?"

"First of all..."

Baek Su-ryong quickly explained his plan.

Based on his outline, Heuyoung and Mae Geuk-yeom occasionally chimed in to supplement the plan.

At that moment, Zhuge Xiao-ying timidly raised her hand and asked,

"But... shouldn't we inform the Head of the Academy about such an important matter?"

Baek Su-ryong shook his head.

"I've thought about it. It's better not to inform the Head of the Academy."

"Why not?"

"He can't move freely. If he does, the enemies will notice immediately."

That was the surface reason, but the real reason was different.

'Old Junshang is a variable I can't control.'

The Head of the Blue Dragon Academy, Old Junshang, was undoubtedly a great master and usually had a good relationship with Baek Su-ryong, but Baek Su-ryong couldn't fully trust him.

'Education and politics are completely different issues.'

Moreover, given his position, there was no guarantee that he wasn't connected to the power brokers in the palace.

Baek Su-ryong couldn't easily predict how Old Junshang would react when he learned of the situation.

'Even Mr. Namgung, who was standing next to him, is suspicious.'

Did the Namgung family really know nothing about this?

Even if they didn't, wouldn't they try to use this information politically once they found out, being the family closest to power among the Five Great Families?

It might be an overreaction, but it was better to be cautious.

"It's better to move quietly with a small, elite team right now."

"I agree."

With Heuyoung's agreement, Zhuge Xiao-ying didn't ask any more questions.

Mae Geuk-yeom sighed, looking around at the gathered people.

"So the six of us are all the forces we can mobilize."

"No. There's one more person."

At Baek Su-ryong's words, everyone's faces showed confusion.

One more person? But no one came to mind.

"Who are you talking about?"

"A bit of a useless guy usually... but I want to make him earn his keep this time."

* * *

"Ugh..."

"Senior Yuan-gang. Why do you look like a dog that needs to go to the bathroom?"

"Me? What's wrong with my face? Bathroom? Need to go? No, I don't need to go. I'm not going to the bathroom."

"......You seem to be in pain. Are you really okay?"

"Who's in pain! Worry about the old man!"

"Why me?"

"Senior. Are you really not feeling well?"

"Also, spitting out tea just now was suspicious. Senior, since it's just us, be honest. You've been looking around nervously... Is there someone here you like?"

Huan Yuan-gang sighed deeply at Gongsonshu's teasing question.

"......It's nothing. Just focus on the exam and don't worry about anything else."

Despite their obliviousness, Huan Yuan-gang grumbled as usual.

But inside, he was going crazy.

'Assassins all of a sudden! Are you crazy!'

They were having a meal and a cup of tea.

Huan Yuan-gang was trying to ease the tension of the two who were about to take the final sparring exam in the afternoon.

As a senior who had already entered the Blue Dragon Academy, he planned to give them various helpful advice.

Until he heard Baek Su-ryong's mental message.

[Yuan-gang. There are assassins targeting the old man.]

"Phew!"

The force of the tea spewed from his mouth was so strong that everyone in the teahouse looked at him.

[Act naturally. Don't tell the old man or Tian Yi about what I'm about to say. Only you should know.]

...And the story that followed was so absurd that it could have come from a wuxia novel he read for fun.

'Is he playing a joke on me?'

For a moment, he thought Baek Su-ryong might do something like that, but the voice was too serious to be a joke.

[We will hunt the assassins without revealing ourselves. So you can't get close to the old man. The assassins will be on guard. But you can stay close to the old man naturally. After all, you're just a seventeen-year-old student at the Blue Dragon Academy.]

Though the evaluation was somewhat unpleasant, that wasn't the main issue now.

[We will block most of them in advance, but if we fail, you need to protect the old man. I believe you can do it.]

The mental message ended there.

He expected more instructions, but nothing came for a long time.

"Ugh..."

This was why Huan Yuan-gang was fidgeting like a dog that needed to go to the bathroom.

"Hehe. Senior Yuan-gang seems restless. We've had a good meal and a cup of tea, so let's take a walk and then go to the exam."

"No, I'm not that restless..."

Gongsonshu was already walking away. Huan Yuan-gang stuck close to his side.

"Hmm? Why are you so close?"

"I'm cold."

"......Huh?"

Though he knew it was a ridiculous excuse, Huan Yuan-gang gave a strong look that said not to ask further.

'Naturally. Naturally.'

...He seemed to think he was being natural, but people who met his eyes quickly moved away.

The three left the teahouse and stepped onto the street.

Due to the aftermath of the Blue Dragon Academy entrance exam, the streets were crowded with people.

Seeing this, Huan Yuan-gang's expression immediately darkened.

"Maybe it's better to go where there are fewer people. We might get into trouble otherwise..."

"Where are there fewer people on a day like today?"

"Still, if we look hard enough..."

"Come on, let's enjoy today! The same day won't come again!"

Gongsonshu walked around the street with a carefree, innocent expression.

Weizhichun, who knew nothing, followed him, and Huan Yuan-gang, with a scowl, followed a step behind the two.

'Naturally. Naturally.'

...He seemed to think he was being natural, but people who met his eyes quickly moved away.