Star Instructor, Master Baek

Chapter 196: Echoes From a Previous Life (4)

TL: FoodieMonster007

As expected, he's terrifyingly strong.

Baek Suryong's legs trembled, his knees almost buckling under the immense weight of the Blood Dragon Captain's aura. He had chosen his former superior as his final opponent in the dream, not because of any grudge, but because he was one of the few people who had treated him well in his previous life.

Although the Blood Dragon Captain was a supreme demonic master, as a person, he was so upright that it was hard to believe he was a blood cultist. If he had been raised in the orthodox sects instead, he would surely have become a chivalrous hero.

Even within the Blood Cult, despite possessing martial arts and authority comparable to that of an elder, he never once abused his power. Like a loyal dog, he was a steadfast man who devoted his entire life to serving the Blood Demon.

And so, in the end, he died a dog's death…

Baek Suryong looked at the Blood Dragon Captain, who was glaring at him with eyes full of killing intent.

I could have chosen the Demonic Strategist as my final opponent… but instead of seeking cruel and intoxicating revenge, I would rather cross swords with a martial artist I actually respected.

"If you kneel down and cut out your own tongue as an offering, I might consider sparing your miserable life!" the Blood Dragon Captain bellowed, his face a mix of confusion and rage.

Ignoring him, Baek Suryong asked calmly, "Captain, do you remember when the Cult Leader talked about my destiny?"

The Blood Dragon Captain's steady gaze wavered. "H-How did you…?"

"According to the Cult Leader's divination, I'm destined to either play a significant role in the Blood Cult's plan for world domination or bring about its downfall, right?"

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"…You must be delusional," the Blood Dragon Captain replied, though his face betrayed a flicker of uncertainty.

Baek Suryong smirked. "Well, I've decided to destroy the Blood Cult."

The Blood Dragon Captain's aura surged explosively, and he stepped forward. "Insolent wretch! Fine, you asked for this. I'll break your limbs first, then drag you before the Lord."

Feeling like he was about to be crushed by the overwhelming pressure, Baek Suryong released his own aura to alleviate the strain.

I know that this is just a dream I'll wake up from soon, and that his reactions are nothing more than fictional products of my memories and imagination… but for once, I want to be honest with him.

Baek Suryong smiled warmly. "Captain, thank you for saving my life," he said.

The approaching Blood Dragon Captain furrowed his brows. "…What nonsense are you suddenly spouting?"

"Ah, you haven't saved me yet. I'm just thanking you in advance," Baek Suryong chuckled.

When his qi center had shattered from overload, leaving him unable to practice martial arts, every member of the Blood Dragons had treated him like discarded garbage, predicting his imminent demise. Even in front of him, they all whispered that he would die soon, either by an enemy's hand or by his own.

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"What a useless bastard. Can't even take care of his own body."

"He'll be kicked out of the Blood Dragons soon."

"Kicked out? I reckon he'll probably die within three days."

"Cho Hyeok has been waiting for this chance forever. He won't let him go."

It was then that the Blood Dragon Captain had come to see Baek Suryong.

"…I'll help you find a new job."

"Why are you helping a man who's about to die?"

"This isn't your fault. You were just unlucky."

"……"

"Stop thinking about unnecessary things and concentrate on your recovery. That's an order."

With that, the Blood Dragon Captain left.

However, that wasn't all. For days after that, he forbade anyone from entering Baek Suryong's quarters. Even Cho Hyeok, who had been eagerly waiting for the chance to strike, hadn't dared approach under his strict watch.

When Baek Suryong had mostly recovered, he quietly left the Blood Dragons, again with the help of the Blood Dragon Captain.

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"Thank you, Captain. I'll definitely repay this favor someday."

"If you want to repay me, then from now on, learn to keep your head down and live quietly. To survive for a long time in this hell, you need tact and cunning."

"But Captain, you don't do that at all."

"If you want to live like me, then become as strong as I am."

"Ehh…"

"Now go."

"…Yes. Take care of yourself."

That was the last conversation he had with the Captain in his past life, although for the man standing before him now, it hadn't happened yet.

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Baek Suryong let out a hollow laugh, "I know that you secretly called out those seniors who bullied me and scolded them… though it didn't help much."

Even though he knew that pouring his heart out to a past acquaintance in a dream was no different than talking to a wall, the brief moments of reunion with this man brought him considerable solace.

Now that he really thought about it, his memories of the Blood Cult weren't all bad.

"I always wanted to thank you when we met again, though I never got the chance in the end. Anyway…"

WHOOSH!

With a loud roar, power surged from under Baek Suryong's feet, radiating outward like an unstoppable wave.

The Blood Dragon Captain's eyes widened. Baek Suryong was much stronger than he had expected.

"Captain, I've always admired and respected you. For the longest time, I dreamed of becoming a powerful martial artist like you. I worked hard with the goal of becoming the next Blood Dragon Captain when you retired," Baek Suryong confessed.

"Hmph. Do you really think flattery will buy you mercy?" the Blood Dragon Captain replied curtly.

Baek Suryong smiled sadly. "You know… When I heard the news of your death, I felt lost and devastated."

"My death? You must have truly lost your mind."

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"You foolishly loyal man. In a few years, you'll die at the hands of the Blood Demon you worship so much."

Baek Suryong sighed. A few years after he was expelled from the Blood Dragons, the Blood Dragon Captain was executed on the clearly fabricated charge of attempting to assassinate the Blood Demon. The real reason? None was needed. In the Blood Cult, powerful figures and masters were often killed or went missing without warning or cause.

"Shut up! I've had enough of your nonsense!"

Unable to tolerate any more insults to his lord, the Blood Dragon Captain sprang into action. With a single mighty leap, he shot forward like a cannonball, shattering the ground beneath him and sending tremors outward like an earthquake. Then, faster than the eye could see, he drew his blade and brought it down on Baek Suryong, aiming to cleave him in two.

CLANG!

"Ugh!" Baek Suryong groaned through clenched teeth. The power within the attack was so immense that the ground beneath him sank under the force, and pain flared through his hands as if they might fracture.

He immediately sprang back to put some distance between them. At a relatively young age, the Blood Dragon Captain was already an extraordinary master whose martial prowess rivaled the elders. There was no doubt that he was at a disadvantage.

Back in his previous life, Baek Suryong would never even think of challenging the man, but now…

"I can see it," he murmured.

The Blood Dragon Captain's blade moved with blinding speed, but he could still follow the path of the blade as it cut through the air.

Baek Suryong grinned. Rising up in defiance of the Blood Dragon Captain's overwhelming aura, he swung his sword with unwavering determination.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Thunderous explosions rang out with every clash, sending shockwaves that stirred up clouds of dust around them.

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A flood of euphoria washed over Baek Suryong. Hahaha! Damn, he's strong as hell!

For countless days, perhaps even months, he had challenged all sorts of Blood Cult warriors, engaging them in fierce duels to the death, but the Blood Dragon Captain was hands-down the strongest of them all.

Suddenly, the Blood Dragon Captain's battle cry rang out, his voice filled with as much excitement as Baek Suryong, "Not bad! I won't hold back any more! Haaaah!"

CRACKLE!

As he activated the Blood Thunder Divine Art, the Blood Dragons' signature martial art, the Blood Dragon Captain's aura morphed into crackling red electric sparks. Then, shrouded in red lightning, he darted forward, searing the air like a demon rising from the depths of hell.

Summoning the power of the Heaven Defying Divine Art within him, Baek Suryong responded in kind.

ROOOOOOAR!

The most destructive martial art known to man surged through his body, cloaking him in crimson energy as he prepared to meet the Blood Dragon Captain's onslaught.

The Blood Dragon Captain erupted in wild laughter, "Kahahaha! So this is why you dared to pick a fight with me? You learned the Heaven Defying Divine Art and now you’re eager to flaunt it!"

If this were reality, he would have been shocked at seeing the Heaven Defying Divine Art. However, this was Baek Suryong's dream, and Baek Suryong demanded that the Blood Dragon Captain fight with all his might.

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"Captain, show me the best you've got. Only then will defeating you be satisfying."

"You think you can take me down? You're a hundred years too early for that, you brat!"

With a hearty laugh, the Blood Dragon Captain swung his blade, his steps shattering the ground with every stride. The air around him heated up, bursting into flames as he advanced.

WHOOSH!

Finally, a red enhanced blade qi extended from the tip of the Blood Dragon Captain's blade, stretching nearly ten feet into the air.

"Are you serious? What the fuck is that? You damned monster!" Baek Suryong laughed hysterically as he summoned his own enhanced sword qi. It was only half as long as the Blood Dragon Captain's, but its blood-red color was deeper and more intense.

BOOOOM! CRASH! BANG!

Again and again, the two men collided with explosive force, sending shockwaves through the earth and reshaping the landscape anew with every impact.

Baek Suryong gritted his teeth. Shit. I feel like my body is going to shatter.

Had he dared to challenge the Blood Dragon Captain soon after entering the dream, he would have suffered a swift and crushing defeat. It was only the hard-won experience he had accumulated through countless life-and-death battles with formidable masters in the dream that prevented him from being easily overpowered.

Of course, there were many close calls. As time passed, more and more wounds appeared on his body. However, a faint smile still appeared on Baek Suryong's face.

I can do this. I can beat him.

At that thought, the dream scenery unexpectedly transformed. The training ground where they were fighting expanded, becoming the grand stage of a colossal arena. One by one, spectators appeared, filling the seats, and soon, faint murmurs spread among them.

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"As expected, the Blood Dragon Captain's bladesmanship is unmatched."

"Who's his opponent? I've never seen him before."

"That's the Venomous Sword of the Blood Dragons! They say he'll betray the cult someday!"

"Master, that's him. He's the one who decapitated me!"

"His masters are locked in the underground prison! Let's burn it down!"

The voices merged into a jumbled hum, and a swirl of familiar faces drifted in and out of focus, among them rivals and masters he had yet to face. This dream of his previous life had spun wildly out of control, slipping out of his grasp and moving with a mind of its own.

Baek Suryong sighed. I guess it's really ending now.

CRACK, CRACKLE…

Everything around him warped and fractured, like the hazy, erratic hallucinations of a drunkard. Only the duel stage and the Blood Dragon Captain remained intact, with the Captain still swinging his blade unwaveringly despite the chaos.

…No, that wasn't the only sight that stayed distinct.

From the highest seat in the spectator stands, the Blood Demon reclined on a grand throne, gazing down at the dueling stage with a languid smile that radiated the calm authority of an absolute ruler.

"Come back again sometime. You haven't seen everything you wanted yet, have you?" he chuckled.

Glaring at him, Baek Suryong declared, "Go ahead and laugh while you can. The next time I come here, I'll kill you."

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"I look forward to it."

CREEEEAK…

With a mysterious smile, the Blood Demon faded away. Now, the only person left was the Blood Dragon Captain.

Angry, the Blood Dragon Captain increased the intensity of his attacks, shouting, "How dare you get distracted in front of me?!"

"From now on, I'll focus solely on you, so please bear with me," Baek Suryong replied calmly, despite feeling a pang of regret that his time with the Blood Dragon Captain was running out.

Win or lose, I don't want this fight to end without a proper conclusion!

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Immersed in his martial arts, he drifted into a state of selflessness, each swing of his sword carrying the weight of all the experience and insight he had gained in the dream.

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Just a little more… Just a little more!

Baek Suryong felt as if his sheer will alone pushed the fight onward, and just before the dream slipped away, both he and his opponent simultaneously unleashed their ultimate techniques.

SPURT!

The Blood Dragon Captain slumped to his knees, staring at his chest in disbelief. A large hole had been pierced through it. Struggling to lift his head, he looked at Baek Suryong and met his former subordinate's bitter gaze.

A faint smile formed on his lips.

"I… lost. If it was you… I would have gladly chosen you as my successor," he murmured.

Watching the fallen Blood Dragon Captain close his eyes, Baek Suryong awoke from his long, feverish dream.