He Wasn't Wrong After All!

The morning sun shone brilliantly into the classroom of Class 2-9, announcing the start of a new day. Standing before the lectern, Jeong Sam-seok began the morning’s lesson.

"Yesterday, I instructed you all on the Close-body Triple Link. I wonder how much you have truly grasped regarding those fundamentals? Today, we shall move a step beyond the Basic Mystic Energy Condensation and begin our lecture on Intermediate Mystic Energy Refinement."

Jeong Sam-seok continued speaking in a measured tone. "This lesson is prepared specifically for those who have reached the rank of Level 2 Warrior or higher. It is intended for students who have hit a wall in their cultivation. Mastering this will help you overcome those obstacles in the shortest time possible, ensuring you are in peak condition for the mid-year competition."

On the surface, Jeong Sam-seok appeared as dignified and composed as ever. Internally, however, he was reeling from a massive shock. Just moments ago, while heading to the classroom, he had witnessed Bukjin from a distance as the boy shattered a Frozen Wheel. The streak of sword light Bukjin had unleashed was the unmistakable mark of someone who had reached the level of Pure Blue Fire—the absolute peak of the Close-body Triple Link.

In the world of martial arts, every beginner must pass through five distinct stages of comprehension for any given technique.

The first was Glimpse Through the Gate (Chogyu-mun-gyeong), representing a surface-level understanding, like peering into a room through a small crack in the door. The second was Entering the Inner Hall (Deungdang-ipsil), where one’s proficiency deepened, as if they had stepped onto the porch and entered the house. The third was Effortless Execution (Sinsu-nyeom-rae), a stage where the technique became as natural as picking up an object with one's hand. The fourth was Pure Blue Fire (Nohwa-suncheong), named for the moment a furnace reaches its highest temperature and the flames turn from red to a brilliant blue. The fifth and final stage was Summit Perfection (Jeonbong-wonman), signifying a state where one stands atop the mountain peak, taking in the entire landscape with a single glance—the absolute zenith of skill and understanding.

Jeong Sam-seok had only introduced the Close-body Triple Link to Class 9 yesterday. That meant Bukjin had learned the three basic forms for the very first time less than twenty-four hours ago. To reach the stage of Pure Blue Fire in a single night was, by all accounts, impossible. It defied the natural laws of cultivation. Even the most gifted geniuses in the second-year bracket couldn't achieve such a feat.

And yet, that good-for-nothing Bukjin did it?

The only logical explanation was that he had learned it before. The Close-body Triple Link wasn't some secret, forbidden art; many third-year students had practiced it. If Bukjin had learned it previously and had been secretly training in private for a long time, it might make sense. But that wasn't the point. Many students practiced the technique, but most only learned it mechanically, skimming the surface. Once they felt they had the gist of it, they moved on. No student had ever achieved such devastating results or high marks using those three basic forms.

In his fifteen years as a teacher, Jeong Sam-seok had always emphasized that the greatest truths were hidden within the most basic foundations. He had taught the Close-body Triple Link to countless students, yet not one had ever unleashed its true potential—not even those hailed as geniuses. But today, he had seen the true light of that sword art emanating from Bukjin, the boy everyone called a hopeless delinquent.

Is it possible... that this brat is actually a sword prodigy?

Jeong Sam-seok harbored ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠this doubt deep in his heart, but he kept his face a mask of professional indifference as he proceeded with the lesson. He began to observe Bukjin closely, but to his disappointment, the boy didn't seem much different from yesterday. The only change was that instead of staring down at his lap, Bukjin was holding both hands up in front of his face, staring intensely at the empty space between them. His gaze wasn't even directed toward the lectern.

Based on Bukjin’s expression and posture, Jeong Sam-seok reached a familiar conclusion.

That rascal still isn't paying attention. He just changed his pose. Is there a 'mastery rank' for daydreaming too? No, as they say, you can't carve anything out of rotten wood.

Jeong Sam-seok’s eyes narrowed in irritation. Each class lasted for one shijin (two hours). He spent the first shikgyeong (thirty minutes) explaining the principles, formulas, stages, precautions, and the necessary mindset for Intermediate Mystic Energy Refinement with the utmost sincerity. He intended to spend the remaining hour and a half on individual realizations, questions, and discussions.

As the explanation concluded and the classroom fell silent, Bukjin finally lowered his arms, which were cramping from holding up his smartphone for so long. Throughout the lecture, Bukjin had been working hard, filming Jeong Sam-seok’s entire lesson on his invisible phone. Now that the recording was finished, it was time to verify the miracle.

Bukjin was dying to know if his theory from last night was correct. He took a deep breath, turned on the screen—which now showed only 9% battery—and cautiously opened the App Store. A surge of pure euphoria washed over him.

"Hahahaha!"

Bukjin burst into a loud, sudden laugh. "I knew it! I wasn't wrong!"

The bizarre outburst startled the surrounding students. They whispered among themselves, casting worried glances his way.

"What's with him?"

"Is he having another fit?"

To the other students, this "seizure" seemed even more intense than his usual antics.

"Silence!" Jeong Sam-seok barked, his voice laced with disapproval.

Dozens of strange looks were fixed on Bukjin. Every student in Class 9 had witnessed the incident in front of the classroom before school started. Bukjin’s actions had sent shockwaves through the student body. They were all wondering what on earth had happened to the "Trash of the Im Family" to make him so strong overnight. The mysterious swordsmanship he had displayed was terrifyingly effective—it was the kind of skill that only the top five elites of the class, like Yoon Yeok, Jeong Go, Seol Ak, or Im Seol-geum, could hope to match. In an instant, Bukjin had catapulted himself into the top tier of the class.

This was a turning point in how he was perceived. The teenage girls in the class found themselves stealing glances at him, their eyes sparkling with newfound curiosity. There was an undeniable, magnetic charm to a "bad boy" who suddenly revealed hidden, overwhelming power. The narrative of a fallen noble who had hit rock bottom only to rise again through his own strength was a classic trope that inadvertently triggered their protective instincts and sympathy.

Of course, this phenomenon required one absolute condition: good looks. Fortunately for Bukjin, his appearance was top-tier. When he had first transferred to the 3rd Academy, before the labels of "hopeless," "delinquent," and "thug" had stuck to him, his face alone had fluttered the hearts of many. He had been the center of attention for the most popular girls in school. Back then, the campus gossips had crowned him the most handsome student in the academy's history, claiming he was the best-looking male student to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠walk those halls in fifty years. His subsequent eccentricities and bad behavior had ruined that reputation, but now, the tide was turning. Some girls were even imagining a novel-like story of a profligate young master turning over a new leaf to become a peerless hero.

Bukjin, however, couldn't have cared less about what they were thinking. His eyes were glued to the second app that had appeared in the App Store. The icon featured a boy in martial robes sitting in a lotus position. Below the icon, the name was clearly written: [Intermediate Mystic Energy Refinement].

His hypothesis was perfect.

I was right! By recording the teacher's lecture with the smartphone, some mysterious power converts the content into a training app! Hahaha! I really am a genius!

Bukjin’s lips twitched as he fought to suppress his laughter. Without a moment's hesitation, he began downloading the app.

If I use this, I can push my Mystic Energy to the level of a Level 3 Warrior. Combined with the three forms I mastered yesterday, passing the mid-year competition and staying in school will be a breeze!

Just then, a notification window popped up on the screen.

Huh? It only takes 100MB to download the refinement technique? That’s less than the Close-body Triple Link. What does that mean?

It seemed the smartphone system recognized the Close-body Triple Link as a more advanced technique than the Intermediate Mystic Energy Refinement. This gave Bukjin another realization. Last night, his data count was 254MB, and today it was 200MB. In other words, the "Data" on the smartphone was a direct reflection of the host's Hyeongi (Mystic Energy).

Yesterday, Bukjin had exhausted all the Mystic Energy in his body to download the sword technique. Since he didn't know any other refinement techniques to replenish it, he’d had to wait for it to recover naturally over time. Recovering 200MB in a single night wasn't a bad rate at all.

Bukjin stared at the notification and quickly tapped 'Yes.' Immediately, a familiar sensation took hold. The Mystic Energy within his body began to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠drain rapidly into the smartphone. It felt as though his very life force was being siphoned away. Soon, a green progress bar appeared on the screen, indicating the download status.

About fifteen minutes later...