Why Did You Block My Path?
Among the sword techniques Bukjin possessed, those capable of delivering instantaneous, devastating power were the Jesujeon Sword Technique, the Sawol Sword Technique, and the Flowers Before the Moon Sword, which he had inherited from Im Tae-heo. Of these three, Bukjin decided to set aside the Sawol Sword Technique, as it possessed the least raw power. However, even the remaining two were only 2-star techniques, meaning their destructive potential had a clear ceiling. He needed to find a sword style that was far more powerful and explosive.
In terms of movement techniques, he had the Cloud-Rain Step and the Fragrance-Stealing Jade-Breaking Step. The Cloud-Rain Step was advantageous for repositioning himself in an instant, making it ideal for diving into a fray or making a quick escape. The Fragrance-Stealing Jade-Breaking Step, on the other hand, was a subtle and mysterious technique perfectly suited for head-on confrontations like close-quarters brawls. Yet, against a true powerhouse like Baek Hae-geum, his current repertoire was insufficient to guarantee a clean escape. He felt he needed one more specialized art—something akin to a survival spell—that could save his life in a desperate moment. With such a trump card, he could potentially survive an encounter even with a Great Master, allowing him to push his limits far beyond his current state.
For mental cultivation, he was currently practicing the Evil Dragon's Roar, which still had significant room for growth. 'The technique to treat wounds and recover is the Peerless Sword Body... but as for a technique to absolute block attacks... Hmm, it seems I don't have one yet.'
Bukjin mentally cataloged his strengths and vulnerabilities. Doing so allowed him to map out a much clearer plan for his future development. 'If I can master techniques in all five of these areas to their absolute peak, wouldn't I become invincible in this world? The warriors here who follow the traditional, mundane path of cultivation probably haven't even imagined a method like this.'
Of course, he was still a long way from reaching those five goals. Bukjin came to a firm conclusion. 'Let's focus on stamina and defense first.' Drawing from his years of gaming experience, he knew that as long as he had high HP, high defense, and high speed, he could turn even the most difficult encounter into a winning battle of attrition.
The following day was exceptionally clear. The season was growing warmer, and people's clothing was becoming noticeably thinner. The social atmosphere of this world was surprisingly open; in particular, short summer skirts were trending among women to match the rising temperatures. Compared to Earth, the fashion was remarkably liberal. Walking down the street, it wasn't uncommon to see women showing a fair amount of skin.
Bukjin spent the entire day skipping classes and roaming the streets. He still hadn't finished collecting all the money from the badges he had auctioned off during the preliminaries. The main event of the Academic & Martial Arts Competition was set to begin tomorrow. Bukjin, Baek Geum-un, Ak Hong-hyang, and Han Bul-bu would be representing the 3rd Junior Academy. Consequently, Bukjin intended to wrap up all his lingering business today. Being out and about also allowed him to appreciate the sight of women in short skirts, which put him in a rather pleasant mood.
Previously, when Bukjin had gone out with his promissory notes to collect his debts, he had run into various minor issues. Some people had claimed they couldn't pay immediately. But perhaps because his status had changed so drastically, the debtors now welcomed him as if he were a long-lost relative the moment he appeared. Before he could even open his mouth, they would hurriedly hand over the principal along with a generous amount of interest. Rumors of his exploits during the Sword Trial had already begun to spread like wildfire.
By the afternoon, he had finally collected all the money. Without even realizing it, he found himself standing in front of the Yeollae Inn. A sudden surge of hunger hit him.
"Welcome, traveler! Please, come inside. Will you be dining with us, or are you looking for a room?" a plump waiter greeted him with a wide, friendly smile.
"Bring me your finest wine and your best dishes," Bukjin replied.
"Here is your wine, sir," the plump waiter said, bringing over a tray with a bottle.
"Tell me, waiter, why don't I see the boy named Ak Hong-seol today?" Bukjin asked casually.
The waiter's expression stiffened instantly, and he shook his head. "I... I wouldn't know." With that, he placed the wine on the table and turned away, scurrying off to another part of the room.
'Huh?' Bukjin was taken aback. 'What was that? His face said it all.' The atmosphere suggested that something had happened to Ak Hong-seol. Bukjin raised his hand to call the waiter back and pressed a ten-tael coin into his palm.
"Tell me what happened to Ak Hong-seol, and this is yours."
Conflict flickered across the waiter's face. Eventually, he shook his head again. "I truly don't know. Even if you ask, I have nothing to tell you."
No matter how many times Bukjin pressed him after that, the waiter refused to say a word. Eventually, he even began to avoid Bukjin's table entirely. This behavior only piqued Bukjin's curiosity further. 'Something definitely happened to him. Could it be related to a gang conflict? ...What a shame.'
From what Bukjin had seen, Ak Hong-seol was a kind-hearted boy with a clear sense of gratitude and resentment. He was the type of person who possessed the courage to risk his life for a friend. Bukjin held that quality in high regard. On the day they first met, the resolve the boy had shown in that alley—facing a situation where he might have died—was something even Bukjin wasn't sure he could have emulated. It was a mystery to him why such a good-natured boy was involved with a gang.
As these thoughts swirled, Bukjin's mood soured. He lost his appetite. He had the waiter pack up the leftovers, ordered an extra bottle of wine to go, and stepped out of the Yeollae Inn.
The moment he left the building, a strange sensation washed over him. 'Someone is following me.' It was a unique feeling he had never experienced before—an intuition born from training his mental power to a certain level. Pretending he hadn't noticed a thing, Bukjin turned into a narrow, secluded alleyway.
As he walked, he realized he had unconsciously led his pursuers to the very same alley where he had rescued someone before. The alley was about a hundred yards long, flanked by high walls on both sides. It was the kind of terrain where escape was impossible if both the entrance and exit were blocked. As Bukjin reached the middle, about a dozen figures emerged from both ends. They were all dressed in identical black attire, wielding sharp weapons. They closed in on him with light, practiced steps, surrounding him from both sides.
Bukjin stopped in his tracks. "Who are you?" he asked, feigning panic.
There was no answer.
"Go! Bring him to me," a low voice commanded.
Five swordsmen in black rushed at Bukjin from both sides. 'Level 5 Martial Warriors,' Bukjin assessed instantly. 'Shinsin, get me the Silver Sword.'
He gave the command in his mind. A faint light shimmered, and the silver blade stored within the app appeared in his hand.
Item retrieved from [Storage]: Silver Sword (Jeongi-geom)
A sound like the fluttering of a bird's wings echoed through the alley. Bukjin's figure blurred and vanished from his spot, reappearing momentarily in mid-air. Whoosh! Moving with incredible speed, he broke through the encirclement, kicking off the air four times to maintain his momentum. He descended directly in front of the man blocking the alley's entrance and thrust his sword forward. The blade cut through the air, flashing with a cold, metallic light.
Clang-clang-clang-clang! The sound of colliding metal rang out in rapid succession, sending sparks flying. Several swords were snapped in half and sent flying. Simultaneously, six men were swept off their feet like falling leaves in an autumn gale. Bukjin's sword was already leveled at the throat of the man who appeared to be the leader.
Bukjin had targeted him the moment he heard the command. By using his movement technique to reposition himself instantly, he had neutralized the leader before the others could even react.
"Talk. Who are you people?" Bukjin asked threateningly. He had a nagging suspicion that this ambush was somehow connected to Ak Hong-seol.
"W-wait! Please, hold on! Just... just calm down for a moment..." The men, finally coming to their senses, trembled in fear and begged for mercy. They clearly hadn't expected Bukjin to possess such overwhelming strength. The tide of battle had turned before they could even process what was happening.
Seeing their leader subdued in an instant, some of the men had already turned tail and fled. Only a few remained, clutching their swords and hovering near Bukjin. Bukjin tightened his grip on the man he held captive, surrounded by the remaining thugs.
"I said, talk. Why did you block my path?" Bukjin demanded, pressing the blade closer. The edge bit into the man's neck, and a thin trickle of blood began to flow.
"Wait, wait! We... we got the wrong person! We thought you were one of those Jilpung Brotherhood bastards! We're sorry! It was a misunderstanding! We'll leave quietly, so please..." the leader stammered, his body shaking with terror. He showed no intention of resisting.
"Are you with the Cheonrihaeng Merchant Group?" Bukjin asked.
"N-no! We're from the Byeokran Gang!" the man answered hurriedly.
'Byeokran Gang?' Bukjin was puzzled. He had never heard of them.
"Now, then. You know where Ak Hong-seol is, don't you?" Bukjin let out a cold sneer. "Don't even think about lying. If you don't tell me the truth, my sword will take your life."
"Yes! I—I know! You mean the waiter from the Yeollae Inn, right?" the man blurted out. "The Cheonrihaeng Merchant Group took him. Not just him, but everyone connected to him was dragged off. Young master, I strongly advise you not to get involved in Ak Hong-seol's business. It'll only bring you a world of trouble."
"Why did the Cheonrihaeng people take him?" Bukjin pressed.
"Someone put a bounty on Bang So-baek of the Jilpung Brotherhood. Ak Hong-seol is close with him. It seems the Cheonrihaeng Merchant Group plans to use the boy as bait to lure Bang So-baek into a trap..."
It was exactly as Bukjin had suspected. Ak Hong-seol had indeed been caught in the crossfire of a gang war. Bukjin narrowed his eyes. "Then why did you lot try to stop me?"