The Price of the Sword
"Master!!!"
Noh Pung, who had been standing with a dazed expression, finally snapped back to reality and let out a grief-stricken wail. He scrambled forward, collapsing over Yuk Jeong-do’s lifeless body, sobbing uncontrollably. A moment later, he snapped his head up, his eyes burning with a venomous hatred.
"You murderer! Why don't you just kill me too?! If you let me live today, I swear I will have my revenge!"
"Fine. I shall wait for you," Jeong Sam-seok replied impassively.
He did not strike Noh Pung down. Instead, he turned his gaze toward Myeong Won-san and the other elderly swordsman—the two who had dared to block him from saving Bukjin. Their faces were masks of pure horror.
"I drew my sword today to take your heads as an offering for this Sword Trial Agreement."
As soon as the words left his lips, Jeong Sam-seok’s figure blurred. He descended upon them with the lethal grace of a hawk diving for its prey. In the blink of an eye, before anyone could even register the flash of steel, he was already standing before them. A single arc of sword light flickered.
"No!" Myeong Nak-cheon screamed, rushing forward, but it was far too late to change the outcome.
Myeong Won-san and the other elder froze mid-breath. Their expressions hardened into a permanent mask of shock as their bodies slowly toppled to the ground. Two high-level masters had been snuffed out just like that.
"G-Grandfather... Grandfather!"
"Master!"
Myeong Nak-cheon stared in disbelief before breaking into a frantic wail. Bukjin was equally stunned.
'Master Jeong... isn't this a bit too much? You're just straight-up executing people now?'
Jeong Sam-seok had taken three lives in the span of a few heartbeats. Although Bukjin had prepared himself for his master to take a hard line, seeing it actually happen sent a violent tremor through his soul. It wasn't that he hadn't seen death since transmigrating to this world. He had watched Yi Do and Do Man-seong die at the hands of Sim Bi when the latter fell into Demonic Possession. But Sim Bi had been a cold-blooded, evil demon at that point; his violence was expected.
This, however, felt different. Jeong Sam-seok’s strikes were chillingly calculated. For the first time since arriving in this world, Bukjin truly felt the weight of the Murim: when a warrior draws his sword, someone dies. There is no middle ground.
As the three bodies lay cooling, the rest of the guests held their breath, terrified that the sparks of this slaughter might fly toward them. The other elderly swordsmen looked on with trembling eyes as a long-forgotten title began to echo in their minds: the White Cloud Sword Immortal.
One strike to cleave the Nine Heavens, one strike to attain the Transcendent Realm and touch the divine.
Only now did they remember why, among the Five Great Swordsmen of White Cloud City, the Sword Immortal had been the most feared. That title hadn't been earned through meditation; it was built upon a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood. Among the five, he had been the most ruthless. On the battlefield alone, he had cut down tens of thousands of the Sea Race.
For sixteen years, this man had lived quietly in the small coastal city of Unmong. People had grown complacent, forgetting the terror he once commanded when he ruled the world with his blade. But now, the book of memories that had been gathering dust for over a decade was being forced open once more. A flood of primal fear washed over the elders. Looking at Jeong Sam-seok now, they found their legs shaking uncontrollably.
"Send them back," Jeong Sam-seok commanded, sheathing his longsword as a thick, suffocating killing intent radiated from him. "Deliver a message to the Noh clan, the Myeong clan, and the Yeong clan. In five days, I shall visit their estates personally."
The remaining elders could do nothing but nod. None of them dared to cross the Sword Immortal in this state.
"You traitor! We can no longer live under the same sky!" Myeong Nak-cheon hissed, glaring at Jeong Sam-seok with eyes full of vengeance. She was planting the seeds of revenge deep within her heart.
Jeong Sam-seok didn't even give her a second glance. He turned to Im Gun-hyeon and his wife, bowing slightly. "I apologize for the blood spilled in the City Lord's gardens tonight due to these unfortunate events."
"It is of no concern," Im Gun-hyeon replied.
Then, Jeong Sam-seok’s gaze shifted to Bukjin. Under that intense stare, Bukjin felt a pang of guilt.
'M-Master... I wasn't criticizing you earlier! I take back that whole "Holy Mother" comment! I really shouldn't have been lecturing you like that...'
Bukjin didn't think Jeong Sam-seok would actually cut down his own student, but he was still genuinely afraid. He still possessed the sensibilities of a modern person from Earth; it was instinctively difficult to maintain composure in front of a man who had just committed a triple homicide. If he hadn't already experienced so much in this world, his knees would have been knocking together.
"You were the one who woke me up," Jeong Sam-seok said, a small smile finally touching his lips. "You are a good child. You are far more remarkable than I ever imagined."
'Phew.' Bukjin let out a massive sigh of relief in his mind.
"Don't worry, Master Jeong. I'm going to study really hard from now on!"
Bukjin had intended to respond with a humble "It was nothing," but for some reason, the promise to study hard was what popped out of his mouth first.
Jeong Sam-seok chuckled. "You took first place in the Sword Trial Agreement for the young swordsmen today. All the prizes are yours. Do you have anything to say regarding that?"
"Huh? Oh, no, not really," Bukjin replied immediately. He hesitated for a moment before stammering, "Actually... um... I don't really want to go to White Cloud City. I want to stay at the 3rd Academy. I'd like to give the right to become a disciple of White Cloud City to someone else."
Standing nearby, Cho Heun nearly burst into tears of emotion. 'What a deep-thinking, loyal student!' Seeing Bukjin choose the 3rd Academy over the immense prestige of White Cloud City made Cho Heun feel that every bit of kindness he'd shown the boy had been worth it.
Jeong Sam-seok looked at Bukjin curiously. "Oh? Why did you make that choice?"
Bukjin adopted the most humble tone he had ever used since arriving in this world. "Because I've already grown so accustomed to life in Unmong City..."
He trailed off, suddenly worried that his words might sound like he just wanted to slack off. He quickly added, "I love the 3rd Academy! It's the place that raised me and taught me everything. I want to bring glory to the 3rd Academy... and..." He paused, thinking fast. "Most importantly, I don't want to leave your side, Master! Please forget the old me! I will follow you and train diligently from now on!"
Bukjin’s survival instinct was firing on all cylinders. In truth, he had several other reasons for wanting to stay. For one, he was terrified that Baek Hae-geum and Jo Pacheon—who were now his sworn enemies—would make his life a living hell if he went to their city. Furthermore, Unmong City was a much better base of operations for someone trying to find a way back to Earth.
Besides, he didn't need to go to White Cloud City to get stronger. As long as he had his smartphone, he could level up just by running apps. He had absolutely zero intention of leaving.
Jeong Sam-seok shook his head. "You must accept the right to be recognized as a disciple of White Cloud City."
Bukjin’s heart sank. 'Wait, is he being sarcastic? Master! Calm down!'
"Since you have chosen me as your master," Jeong Sam-seok continued, "I have a duty to pass on true swordsmanship to you. All the techniques and the Way of the Sword that I possess were inherited from White Cloud City. Therefore, for me to teach you, there is a prerequisite that you must be a disciple of White Cloud City. By obtaining this right, you satisfy that condition. I am not telling you to actually go there to learn."
'Aha! So that's how it is!' Joy flooded Bukjin’s heart.
"I shall follow your will in all things, Master!" Bukjin answered hastily.
Jeong Sam-seok nodded. "Since I have decided to pass on the ultimate arts of White Cloud City to you, the other prizes will be meaningless for you. Why don't you leave them to me so I can gift them to others?"
"Of course! That's fine by me," Bukjin replied, waving his hand dismissively.
Recipient: Baek Geum-un
Jeong Sam-seok gifted the 3-star cultivation method and sword technique to Baek Geum-un. He didn't mention the White Cloud Sword or the White Cloud Token, but it seemed he intended to distribute those to others as well.
"Today's events are concluded. You may all return home."
With that, Jeong Sam-seok led Bukjin and the others out of the City Lord's manor. As they were walking away, Bukjin suddenly remembered something. He turned back and clasped his hands in a formal salute toward Im Gun-hyeon and his wife.
"I haven't yet had the chance to express my gratitude to Lady Im Jin for saving my life..."
Jin Ran-seo waved a hand dismissively, her expression cool. "It is fine. Jin-er is simply impulsive... you needn't concern yourself with it."
Bukjin could tell that Jin Ran-seo still held a very low opinion of him. He didn't let it show on his face, but he felt a bitter sense of self-deprecation as he replied.
"I am well aware of my own standing. I am nothing more than a scoundrel with a notorious reputation in this city. Compared to Lady Im Jin, I am a worthless person who wouldn't catch anyone's eye. I assure you, I have never harbored any improper thoughts toward her. So, please, City Lord, Madam, rest easy. I will do my utmost to be discreet and keep my distance from Lady Im Jin in the future."
He paused, his voice turning serious. "However, I cannot simply ignore the fact that she saved my life. I only ask that the City Lord convey my thanks to her on my behalf. Finally, if the Im family should ever have need of me, humble as I am, Im Bukjin will never refuse your call."
Bukjin bowed deeply. For once, he meant every word.