Chapter 99

## Chapter 99. Is this how it's done?

At the Qinglong Academy student cafeteria.

"Envious..."

"To be given a class to teach from the first semester as a temporary lecturer..."

Yan Huo and Ming Eo stopped their chopsticks and looked at the two people sitting opposite them with envious eyes.

"Envious? If you're envious, you should have done better."

Baek Su-ryong chuckled smugly. Zhuge Xiaoying, sitting beside him, smiled awkwardly, looking embarrassed.

<Ancient Martial History - Zhuge Xiaoying>

<Understanding and Practical Application of Evil Sect Martial Arts - Baek Su-ryong>

That morning, the four of them had checked the class registration lists posted around the academy.

Yan Huo, unable to hide his frustration, stirred his soup with his spoon and grumbled.

"Of course, Miss Zhuge got top marks in the entrance exam, but I was second. Why didn't they give me a class, but only to my brother..."

"Are you asking because you don't know?"

"I do know, but..."

Yan Huo sighed and nodded.

Everyone knew that Baek Su-ryong and Namgung Su had made a bet on the students' entrance exam scores. Surprisingly, Baek Su-ryong had won the bet.

Ming Eo muttered, recalling what had happened yesterday.

"Surprisingly, Namgung Su admitted his defeat quite readily."

Yesterday, all the lecturers of Qinglong Academy gathered in the conference room to assign classes for the first semester of the year.

-...I have something to say.

There, Namgung Su admitted the content of the bet with Baek Su-ryong and his defeat, and offered to give one of his classes to Baek Su-ryong.

Of course, there were people who opposed this.

-Hmm. That's difficult. If you change classes arbitrarily, what will the academy's position be? Mr. Baek, you should reconsider...

-I agree. It's a promise to the students...

-I'm worried if a temporary lecturer can handle Mr. Namgung Su's class...

Guo Tie Wu, the vice head, subtly tried to invalidate the bet, and the lecturers in Namgung Su's faction joined in.

However, Baek Su-ryong was not without supporters in the academy.

-...I think a man-to-man promise should be kept.

Mae Geuk-yeom, who had been quiet, spoke briefly and firmly.

-Haha. It sounds interesting. If they're okay with it, what's the problem?

Old Jun Sang, whose complexion had improved due to the recent financial abundance, nodded with a pleased smile.

Old Jun Sang asked Baek Su-ryong with a face that said he was delighted.

-Our little treasure, or Mr. Baek. So, which of Mr. Namgung's classes will you take?

Back to reality.

Yan Huo, looking puzzled, tilted his head and asked.

"But, Brother. Why did you choose that class? Understanding and Practical Application of Evil Sect Martial Arts?"

-This semester, I will take charge of <Understanding and Practical Application of Evil Sect Martial Arts>.

When Baek Su-ryong said this at yesterday's meeting, everyone had a similar expression to Yan Huo.

Namgung Su even clicked his tongue in disappointment.

-You're going to waste such a good opportunity like this?

Ignoring his muttering, Baek Su-ryong firmly stated that he would take <Understanding and Practical Application of Evil Sect Martial Arts>.

As a one-man lecturer at Qinglong Academy, Namgung Su handled many classes.

He was known as the academy's top workaholic.

While he had many popular classes during prime time, he also had less popular ones.

<Understanding and Practical Application of Evil Sect Martial Arts> was one of the less popular classes.

Although it was taught by Namgung Su, not many students were interested in the subject itself.

It was more of an elective, often taken by students who needed to fill their credit requirements.

Perhaps it was only because Namgung Su was the lecturer that the class filled up.

"If he had chosen swordsmanship, lightness techniques, or external martial arts, it would have been better..."

The classes Ming Eo had just mentioned were all popular.

All of Namgung Su's classes were during prime time.

If he had taken one of those, there would have been no problem in improving his performance for the semester.

But Baek Su-ryong only smiled meaningfully at his siblings' concerns.

"I have my reasons for choosing it."

If he had chosen sword techniques, saber techniques, lightness techniques, or external martial arts, he would have had to focus on teaching just one of them.

Most popular classes were like that.

Baek Su-ryong didn't like that.

Then, <Understanding and Practical Application of Evil Sect Martial Arts> caught his eye.

'Understanding evil sect martial arts. It has a high degree of autonomy, allowing me to teach whatever I want. Plus, it's a common elective for all grades.'

The fact that it was a common elective for all grades was very important.

It meant he could bring in Hyeon Won-gang, Wei Ji-chuan, and other students he wanted to teach, regardless of their grade.

'Plus, it's a class that often goes on field trips.'

One of the advantages was that it was easy to go outside for fieldwork, which was essential for Baek Su-ryong's future plans.

"Of course, Brother will do well."

"He always did crazy things, but the results were always good..."

At the two men's resigned sighs, Baek Su-ryong looked bewildered.

"Is that a compliment or an insult?"

The two men, avoiding Baek Su-ryong's gaze, changed the subject.

"Miss Zhuge is really amazing."

"To get a class in the first semester, you truly deserve to be the top-ranked entrant."

"...You guys, your tone is completely different from how you talk to me, isn't it?"

At the two men's praise, Zhuge Xiaoying blushed and smiled, tucking her hair behind her ear. She was the epitome of a well-mannered young lady, as long as she didn't drink.

"Almost no one specializes in Ancient Martial History. The previous lecturer is retiring this year, so I was lucky."

"Ugh..."

"Top students are always so humble!"

"..."

In reality, Ancient Martial History was not only rarely taken but also the top subject students avoided.

For young men and women in their prime, sitting still to listen to a history class was almost a form of torture.

"I'll try my best! There must be students at Qinglong Academy who, like me, love history!"

At Zhuge Xiaoying's enthusiastic declaration, the two men clapped and flattered her.

"Miss Zhuge, you can definitely do it."

"Let us know if you need any help!"

"Tsk. Your intentions are so obvious."

Baek Su-ryong clicked his tongue at the two men.

In fact, both he and Zhuge Xiaoying had been assigned classes that students didn't particularly like.

But even so, Yan Huo and Ming Eo couldn't help but envy them.

"Only about two months left, right?"

"Yes..."

"Phew..."

The temporary lecturer period was three months.

After three months, some would be hired as permanent lecturers based on their performance, while others would have to pack their bags and go home.

In this situation, whether or not they were assigned a class would significantly impact their performance.

"So... Do you two need any assistant lecturers?"

Ming Eo asked, his eyes shining.

Most classes at Qinglong Academy have one assistant lecturer.

Due to the nature of martial arts classes, there are often demonstrations of sparring and coordination, which are easier to do with a skilled lecturer rather than a student.

And the assistant lecturer role is usually filled by temporary lecturers.

Yan Huo was the first to move.

"Brother Su-ryong, you know I hate evil sects so much that I want to kill every one of them, right? Miss Zhuge, I've been interested in history since I was young. If you pick me, I'll study hard and definitely be of help. Hehe. Here, have some of this."

Yan Huo shared his meat side dish with the two of them and winked.

Ming Eo, a year older, clicked his tongue in disappointment.

"Tsk. Is your resolve only that much?"

Ming Eo reached into his pocket and pulled out two thick envelopes, which he quickly pushed into the two people's pockets.

Then, he lowered his body like a sycophant and whispered.

"...Please accept it. It's a small token of my appreciation."

Yan Huo, who had witnessed the bribery, gasped.

"Ah, Ming! Bribery is cheating! This brother is overstepping the line!"

"If you're going to be so strict, isn't the meat side dish also a bribe?"

"No, is giving cash in an envelope the same as that?"

"If you felt wronged, you should have prepared in advance. I just showed my resolve."

"Wow..."

"Um, I'm sorry, but I don't really need an assistant lecturer..."

"Phew. Quiet down, all of you!"

As the four of them chatted noisily in the cafeteria, a new voice cut through their conversation.

"Hey, lecturers."

If it had just been the voice, they might not have paid much attention, but the deep internal strength in it made all four of them turn their heads simultaneously.

"Considering there are other people around, your enthusiasm seems a bit excessive."

A middle-aged man with a neatly groomed