You Have Some Sense After All!

After receiving his tea, Cho Heun offered a few formal words of scolding before slowly continuing.

"Your master, Teacher Jeong, came by the academy today looking for you. However, it seems he couldn't find you since you weren't in class. He had matters to attend to and has already left Unmong City. It will likely be a few days before he returns. In his absence, he has ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠entrusted your training to me. From this moment on, you can consider me your acting master."

'Teacher Jeong left Unmong City? Don't tell me he went to find those three families he mentioned before? Is he really going to hunt down their elders and settle the score? That’s insane...'

Cho Heun continued, "Do not think of your master as a cold-blooded killer who simply enjoys slaughter. Everything he does, he does for you."

A look of doubt flickered across Bukjin’s face. Seeing this, Cho Heun explained further.

"Do you know why your master didn't draw his sword for sixteen years? It was because, until now, he had no one he felt the need to protect. He was a man who had even abandoned his own reputation. Because of that, many people had forgotten the terror once inspired by the name of the 'Sword Immortal' of White Cloud City. But now, he has drawn his sword again for your sake, and he has stepped onto the path of slaughter. He is reclaiming his old name through sword and blood. By carving that terror back into people's hearts, he ensures they won't dare lay ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a finger on you. He is protecting your safety."

Demonstrating power so that others wouldn't dare act recklessly—Bukjin began to understand a little.

"Does my master have many enemies?" Bukjin asked, his voice tinged with anxiety. 'He didn't just walk straight into the enemy's den, did he?'

"Many things in this world cannot be simply explained by the words 'friend' and 'enemy.' Besides, even if your master had no enemies, do you think your Im family is without them?" Cho Heun countered.

Bukjin had no answer. Back when the Jeon-cheon-hu Manor was still in its prime, there were countless people who harbored grudges against him. He couldn't even begin to estimate how many enemies he had personally, let alone how many his family had accumulated over the years.

Seeing Bukjin’s silence, Cho Heun took a sip of tea and continued. "All you need to know is that your master is doing a great deal for your sake. If you wish to repay him, then train hard and increase your strength. If there is anything you need, you may tell me at any time."

At those words, Bukjin’s eyes began to sparkle. This was exactly what he had been waiting for. Without a moment's hesitation, he spoke up.

"There are many things I need. For instance, I currently need martial arts to temper my body, as well as techniques to increase my mental strength and defensive power. And if you happen to have any other 3-star, 4-star, 5-star, or 6-star martial arts, that would be even better. I'll take anything you give me. Actually... I wouldn't mind 9-star or 10-star techniques either. The more martial arts, the better, right? Hehe."

He needed to temper his body, increase his stamina, and bolster his defense. Those three were his top priorities. However, Cho Heun’s response left Bukjin flabbergasted.

"You brat! Do you think I'm the Imperial Family or something? 9-star and 10-star techniques? And you're a swordsman—why on earth do you need body-tempering techniques?"

Bukjin scratched the back of his head and replied, "Hehe, I just have some special ideas in mind."

But Cho Heun refused him heartlessly. "Whatever those special ideas are, tell them to your master when he returns. I don't think I can satisfy those demands... Stop talking nonsense. The reason I came to find you today is to take you to the Temple of the Lord of Swords. I intend to have you awaken your Mystic Energy Attribute so you can truly ascend to the Master Realm."

'Huh?'

Hearing this, Bukjin felt a massive headache coming on. The temple was the one place he wanted to avoid at all costs. The temple was a place where the gods of heaven and earth resided. If the fact that he was a transmigrator was discovered, people would view him as an evil deity from the Void Realm. If that happened, even Cho Heun, who treated him like a son, would likely suppress him, tie him to a stake, and burn him alive.

"Um... Dean Cho. I think my foundation is still lacking. My cultivation of Mystic Energy is also quite insufficient, so I think it might be difficult to awaken an attribute just yet. Don't you think I need a bit more time?" Bukjin said cautiously.

Cho Heun merely offered a smile without saying a word. Then, he handed over a small, white, sword-shaped carving that looked as if it had been fashioned from stone.

"What is this?" Bukjin asked, reflexively taking the object.

Immediately, Bukjin felt his Mystic Energy spiral out of control, being sucked into the small sword-shaped carving.

BANG—!

The small sword-shaped carving exploded, and a cloud of black smoke rose. Bukjin’s handsome face was now covered in soot.

"Do you really think I'd believe your foundation is lacking? What I just gave you was a fragment of a Mystic Measuring Stone, designed to measure the energy of a 10th-level Warrior Rank. The fact that it exploded the moment you touched it is proof that your Mystic Energy has already surpassed the Warrior Rank. Tomorrow morning, when the academy gates open, I will personally take you to the temple."

Having said his piece, Cho Heun stood up and left before Bukjin could even utter a response. Left alone, Bukjin sat there staring into space with a dazed expression for a long time.

'That crafty old man! I've been played!'

After Cho Heun left, Bukjin’s heart grew restless. It seemed impossible to avoid going to the temple. The Temple of the Lord of Swords was like a sanctuary that all swordsmen held in the highest regard. If he showed extreme reluctance to go, it would surely arouse suspicion.

'What am I going to do?'

While Bukjin was deep in thought, Wang Chung entered.

"Young Master, someone is here to see you."

"Who is it?" Bukjin asked, looking up. "Tell them to come in."

The Bamboo Garden where Bukjin resided was usually quiet, so much so that a single fart would echo for ages. 'Why are there so many visitors today?'

A moment later, Jo Tak-eon, the president of the Cheonrihaeng Merchant Union, entered the guest room with an exceedingly polite smile.

"What brings you here?" Bukjin asked, puzzled.

Jo Tak-eon replied hurriedly, "I've come to make amends for the wrong I've done to you, Nephew Im! After my rude son committed such a discourtesy toward you, this old man hasn't been able to rest. I spent a long time agonizing over how to compensate you. Money wouldn't mean much to someone like you, would it? If I gave you money as a gift, you'd probably find it distasteful... wouldn't you?"

The corners of Bukjin’s mouth twitched. 'Money doesn't mean much? It seems people have a huge misunderstanding about me.'

Watching Bukjin’s expression carefully as he spoke, Jo Tak-eon saw Bukjin’s expressionless face and quickly offered an awkward smile.

"So, while I was thinking it over, that son of mine who offended you made a suggestion, and I've prepared a gift for you. He said you would surely be pleased with it."

'Huh? That damn Jo Mu-yang suggested a gift after I broke his limbs? And I'll like it? Don't tell me it's a voucher for a night with the city's top courtesan or something.'

For a split second, Bukjin imagined Jo Tak-eon clapping his hands and ten beauties walking into the room to greet ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠him. However, contrary to his expectations, Jo Tak-eon pulled out a small wooden box from his robes.

It was a square wooden box about the size of a palm. Jo Tak-eon held it respectfully with both hands and offered it to Bukjin. 'Oh? Not beauties? Is it some expensive jewelry? That’s fine too!'

Bukjin quickly took the box. Judging by its weight, he expected it to contain something made of metal. He felt his mood instantly brighten. As he slowly opened the box, however, his expression turned to one of confusion.

What was inside wasn't money. It was a pair of exquisitely crafted Sleeve-bows, designed to be worn on the forearms. They were made of a pale silver material, though it didn't seem to be actual silver. The surface was dull and matte, ensuring that not even a hint of light would reflect off them.

The bows Jo Tak-eon provided were smaller and more sophisticated than the one Bukjin had taken from Jo Mu-yang. They seemed to be made of a mysterious metal, and their shape resembled a small swallow dancing through the sky. There were no patterns engraved on the surface.

However, when he equipped one on his arm and injected his Mystic Energy, he could feel the energy flowing through it with incredible ease. It was a high-quality item with excellent Mystic Conductivity. Furthermore, as the energy flowed, a very detailed and precise Mystic Array manifested within the bow, clearly designed and crafted by a master artisan.

"My foolish son said that you, Nephew Im, would surely enjoy researching such bows. So, this old man sought out the head alchemist at the Beom-dae-sa Smithy to have this pair of Eagle-Swallow Twin Flying Bows specially made for you. I've also prepared twenty specially crafted silver arrows to go with them," Jo Tak-eon explained with a smile.

'A ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠pair?'

Bukjin opened the second layer of the wooden box. Beneath it lay another small bow, this one shaped like an eagle. Aside from its appearance, the material and craftsmanship were identical to the Swallow Bow he had just taken out. There was one more layer in the box, and when he opened it, he found ten silver arrows carved in the shape of swallow tails and ten more carved in the shape of eagle wings.

The twenty small arrows looked highly practical. There were no feathers or cloth attached to the tails, and the bodies of the arrows were made of the same non-reflective special silver. Their power, concealability, and durability seemed exceptional.

As he slowly examined the Eagle-Swallow Twin Flying Bows, joy filled Bukjin’s heart.

'This is a true treasure!'

Having already decided that he needed to secure a long-range attack method, Bukjin was immensely satisfied to have obtained such stylish and practical bows.

'Jo Mu-yang, that brat... I thought he was just an idiot, but it turns out he has some sense after all!'