A Small Chest

Bang Sobaek’s face paled instantly. What Jo Muyang had fired was a Sleeve Arrow—a type of hidden weapon concealed within one's clothing, designed to be launched in the blink of an eye.

'A sleeve arrow with such speed and power... I can't block it. If that arrow had been aimed at the space between my brows, I would have been dead or mortally wounded.'

A cold shiver ran down Bang Sobaek’s spine.

"Do you still think you can escape this place?" Jo Muyang asked with a smirk.

Bang Sobaek gripped her rapier tighter, her expression sinking into a heavy, dark resolve. "We won't know until we try."

"Haha, I like women with spirit like yours," Jo Muyang said, his expression turning lecherous. "With your current skill, you might last three exchanges against me. Is your confidence perhaps due to that person behind you who’s been keeping his head down this whole time?"

Bang Sobaek’s complexion shifted drastically. If her previous expressions had been calculated to make Jo Muyang lower his guard, the shock she showed now was genuine.

"If my guess is correct, the person behind you is Heo Da of the Hwarang Mercenary Corps," Jo Muyang continued. "I’ve heard he’s your closest friend in Unmong City, the kind of person you’d trust with your life. There’s no way he wouldn’t accompany you on a trip like this. Well? Am I wrong, Heo Da?"

The scrawny boy who had been standing behind Bang Sobaek with his head bowed slowly looked up. He had bronze skin and clear eyes that sparkled like stars.

"You've miscalculated," the boy said, stepping forward to shield Bang Sobaek. "Fall back. I’ll cover you."

If they couldn't rescue Ak Hong-hyang now, their best bet was to retreat as quickly as possible. As long as they made it out safely, the enemy wouldn't kill their hostage so easily.

"Understood," Bang Sobaek replied, turning to prepare her escape.

"Hahaha! Leaving so soon?" Jo Muyang laughed loudly. "Do you really think I’d just let you walk away?"

He flicked his wrist again.

Whiz—! Whiz—! Whiz—!

Three more sleeve arrows shot out from his garment.

Clang—! Clang—!

Heo Da’s weapons were a single dagger and a small buckler. He managed to deflect two of the incoming arrows, but the third found a gap between his blade and shield, sinking deep into his shoulder blade.

Thwack—!

Fresh blood sprayed over Heo Da’s shoulder. He let out a pained groan but immediately charged forward with ferocious momentum, closing the distance. He knew that when fighting a master of hidden weapons, the most effective strategy was to pressure them at close range.

However, after barely three steps, Heo Da’s body crumpled. He collapsed to the ground, his muscles and bones paralyzed, unable to rise.

"There’s... poison..." Heo Da managed to wheeze out.

Despair flooded Heo Da’s face in the next moment. He watched as Bang Sobaek, who had been running away, was struck in the left shoulder by a sleeve arrow and fell. Two swordsmen immediately rushed forward ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and dragged her back.

"Haha, did you insects truly believe you could escape?" Jo Muyang approached Bang Sobaek with a beaming smile, clicking his tongue as he looked her over with predatory eyes. "Exquisite. You wouldn't lose even to the most beautiful courtesan of the Manseung-ru. And more importantly, you’re a piece of merchandise that hasn't been touched by a man yet. Hahaha."

Bang Sobaek glared at Jo Muyang with eyes full of venom. Her consciousness was sharp, but her body refused to obey her. It seemed the hidden weapons were coated in a specialized anesthetic.

Jo Muyang reached out and stroked Bang Sobaek’s chin. His hand slid down her neck to grab her collar, pulling her up as he smiled calmly.

"I heard you even participated in the preliminaries for the Academic & Martial Arts Competition. Haha, were you trying to change your station in life? What a pity. Your skills were so pathetic you couldn't even pass the qualifiers. Hahaha! And on top of that, you trusted the wrong person and failed to get the cultivation resources you were promised, didn't you? Not only that, but the Gale Brotherhood and the Hwarang Mercenary Corps have lost their standing in the city. Everything has gone wrong for you, quite coincidentally. But... have you ever wondered why the people who promised you those resources changed their minds at the last minute? Hahaha."

Bang Sobaek’s eyes widened at his words. Jo Muyang’s fingers slowly began to undo the fastenings of her clothes. Between the layers of fabric, skin as pale as white jade was revealed, and a faint, delicate fragrance wafted out.

Jo Muyang lightly caressed her skin and said, "That’s a great expression. It looks like you finally understand what I’m saying. That’s right. It was all my plan. You thought you were clever, but you were just a fool walking straight into ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the trap I set. Well? How does it feel?"

Bang Sobaek tried to struggle with all her might, but her body remained motionless. Jo Muyang’s hand, like a venomous snake, slithered inside her clothes toward her chest.

It was at that exact moment.

"Young Master, something has happened!" a warrior shouted as he rushed over.

The man knelt on ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠one knee before Jo Muyang to deliver his report.

The warrior quickly summarized the incident that had taken place in the alleyway.

"Neutralized Leader No in a single move? If that's the case... he must be around the 8th Grade Warrior Rank. Nothing to worry about. Did you really interrupt me just to report something so trivial?"

Jo Muyang reached out and delivered a stinging slap to the reporting warrior’s face.

"Who cares about Leader No or whatever his name is? I don't give a damn if trash like that lives or dies. Get out! Don't ever report such things to me again!"

The warrior’s cheek swelled up instantly, but he turned and left without a word. Those who knew Jo Muyang well were aware that he wasn't sane. He was prone to extreme mood swings and was a cold-blooded man who would kill his own people without a second thought.

Jo Muyang pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his hand, then grabbed Bang Sobaek’s clothes with both hands, preparing to rip them away.

Then.

An unfamiliar voice drifted down from behind him.

"What kind of shameful behavior is this in broad daylight? Look at this damn bastard! You're doing the very things I’ve wanted to do but haven't dared to! Are you trying to steal my title as the Top Scoundrel of Unmong City?"

Jo Muyang’s expression went blank. He turned his head toward the source of the voice.

Sitting atop a distant wall was a boy in a school uniform. It was impossible to tell how long he had been there. The boy was exceptionally handsome, and on the middle finger of his right hand, he wore a dark green storage ring.

He was holding a half-eaten watermelon and shouting down at them. Even at a glance, it was clear he hadn't come with good intentions.

"Who are you?" Jo Muyang asked, his signature sinister smile returning to his face.

"Me?" The handsome boy on the wall licked the juice from the watermelon rind. "I’m just a passerby who happened to see something interesting and stopped to watch. Would you believe me if I said that?"

"Young Master, that’s him!" the warrior who had just been slapped shouted urgently. "That’s the one who neutralized the leader of the Byeokran Gang!"

Jo Muyang furrowed his ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠brows.

"He's right."

Another person scrambled up onto the wall. This man had a dark blue bruise on his nose and both eyes were swollen shut. It was the leader of the Byeokran Gang. He looked like he had been beaten half to death, but despite his pathetic appearance, he spoke with strange dignity.

Judging by the wounds on his face, Bukjin had worked very hard to 'remodel' him. Jo Muyang looked bewildered. He clearly hadn't expected the person who took down the Byeokran Gang to have the audacity to show up here.

'That kid in the uniform. Is his background that impressive? Just how powerful is his family that he feels so comfortable making an enemy of the Cheonrihaeng Merchant Alliance?'

"Young Master Im?" Jo Muyang said, cupping his hands in a formal greeting. "How long have you been here?"

"Not long," Bukjin replied, still perched on the wall. "I’ve been watching since you started your ambush on Bang Sobaek, right up until you started that low-class act of fondling her small chest. Tsk, tsk, tsk. It was a scene I could hardly bear to watch. A true scoundrel uses his charm to steal a woman's heart. A brute like you who relies on force is a disgrace to our kind."

Bang Sobaek, lying paralyzed on the ground, felt like she was going to explode with rage as she listened to their conversation. She hadn't even been touched yet, but Bukjin was describing it as if it had already happened—and calling her chest 'small' on top of that! She wanted to kill him. She absolutely refused to accept that description.

She had already recognized the handsome boy on the wall. He was the man who had stirred up a storm during the Academic & Martial Arts Competition: Im Bukjin. This realization made her heart sink even further.

In her memory, Bukjin’s skills were quite strong for a second-year student, but there was a massive gap between him and Jo Muyang, who was a 1st Grade Master. To her, Bukjin showing up here was like a moth flying into a flame.

Jo Muyang didn't get angry at Bukjin’s arrogant attitude. Instead, he looked Bukjin up and down, seemingly trying to gauge his strength. Soon, a gentle expression appeared on his face, as if he were genuinely intimidated.

"I know all the young masters of the great families in this city... but I’m afraid I don't know which house you belong to, Noble Son."

Bukjin had been waiting for exactly this question to show off.