The Vile Adventurer Alliance
Ak Hong-hyang touched the left side of her face. After a brief, heavy silence, she finally spoke. "It’s okay. I’ve... I’ve already gotten used to it over the last few days."
"Don't worry," Bukjin swore, his voice like tempered steel. "I will fix your face, no matter what price I have to pay."
A small, fragile smile touched her lips at his words. "I believe you, Senior Brother Im. Oh, that’s right—how is your body? Are you alright?" she asked, quickly changing the subject.
Bukjin moved his limbs experimentally. "I’m a bit drained, but it’s nothing serious."
He focused, drawing upon the residual Mystic Energy within his core to manifest a Recovery technique. The crushing fatigue began to evaporate. The dull aches throbbing throughout his body subsided significantly. Soon, his Mystic Energy began to surge, accelerating his natural healing process.
Bukjin loosened the front of his robes to inspect the stab wound on his chest. It was wrapped tightly in white cloth, but it wasn't a standard bandage. Upon closer inspection, it looked like a woman’s camisole—an inner garment worn under a tunic—torn into strips for an emergency wrap.
He looked up instinctively, his gaze meeting Ak Hong-hyang’s. A deep crimson flush crept up her neck and over her cheeks. He realized then that she had torn her own undergarments to provide him with first aid.
As he unwound the cloth, he saw a pale pink scar on his chest. It was almost entirely healed. Moreover, the area was covered in a thick layer of Golden Sore Ointment. He knew immediately that she had used her own supply on him. That was why his wound had closed so perfectly.
But she hadn't used a single drop on her own face. She had sacrificed her own recovery, using every bit of the precious medicine on him without hesitation. If she had used that ointment on herself, the scar on her face might not have been nearly as severe as it was now.
Without a word, Bukjin cast Recovery several more times, pushing his body toward a full restoration. The healing progressed at a visible rate.
'Shin-shin.' Bukjin called out to the AI in his mind.
"Yes, Master."
'How much battery is left?'
"Approximately 5% remaining."
"Charge it."
"Charging complete."
"Use the power to run the Advanced Mystic Energy Condensation app. Focus entirely on recovering my Mystic Energy. You can shut down all other background apps."
"Understood, Master."
With the settings finalized, Bukjin exhaled a long breath. As the Advanced Mystic Energy Condensation app began its work, he felt his condition improving at an exponential rate. Once he felt stable enough, he turned to Ak Hong-hyang and cast Recovery on her repeatedly.
"Ah... I-I’m okay. I feel much better now..." Ak Hong-hyang bit her lip. Her face was flushed, and her breathing had grown shallow. As Bukjin layered the healing arts upon her, a wave of indescribable comfort washed over her entire being. Soon, her physical state and her Mystic Energy were restored to a peak she had never experienced before.
Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed from a distance.
"Strange. They aren't on the other side of the river either..."
"Let's search this area again."
"Wait! Over there! I found them! Hahaha! Everyone, over here! Surround them! Don't let them escape!"
The group tracking Bukjin and Ak Hong-hyang had returned empty-handed from the opposite bank, only to spot the two leaning against a large rock. They shouted in delight, feeling as though a fortune had just fallen into their laps. About a dozen men came charging toward them.
Leading the pack was a face they knew all too well. It was Ju Seong.
"Hahaha! You little rats! Did you really think you could run?" Ju Seong’s speed was impressive. Seeing that Bukjin had regained consciousness, he laughed mockingly. "Haha! You half-breed bastard! You're still alive? I was worried you'd die before I could repay the humiliation you gave me! Surround them! Don't let a single one get away!"
The other adventurers fanned out, encircling Bukjin and Ak Hong-hyang in a wide formation. When they were first discovered, Ak Hong-hyang had been startled, but she quickly regained her composure. She had seen the sharp, cold sneer spreading across Bukjin’s face.
'If Senior Brother Im has recovered his full strength, these people aren't a threat.'
The adventurers, including Ju Seong, were buzzing with the excitement of an easy victory. Among them, a balding man scanned Ak Hong-hyang with lecherous eyes. "What a shame! That pretty face is all ruined and grotesque now. But if I only look at the right side, it's not bad! Haha! Hey, little student! Your skin looks so supple. Just wait a moment, and I'll..."
Whish—!
Suddenly, a silver arrow shaped like a swallow's tail streaked through the air.
Thwack—! Thwack—!
"Aaargh! My knees...!" The bald man screamed as silver arrows pierced both of his kneecaps, sending him crashing to the ground.
Bukjin slowly stood up. "Junior Sister Ak, how should we kill this one?"
Ak Hong-hyang’s heart had been aching over her scar, and hearing the man mock her pain ignited a cold murderous intent in her eyes. She drew her sword and stepped toward the balding man. Other adventurers tried to block her path, but silver arrows fired by Bukjin sent them all sprawling to the dirt.
"N-No... please..." the bald man begged, consumed by terror. Ak Hong-hyang reached him and, without a moment's hesitation, plunged her blade directly into his heart.
Ju Seong and the others were stunned.
"Everyone, be careful! It looks like these two have recovered their strength—"
Thwack!
Before the adventurer could finish his sentence, a silver arrow flew into his open mouth and erupted out the back of his skull. He clutched his face, coughing up blood, unable to make a sound as he staggered with wide, shocked eyes before collapsing. The body of a trained martial artist did not die easily; he writhed on the ground, screaming in muffled agony.
"Damn it!" A panicked Ju Seong drew his sword, his face twisted with rage. "His wounds haven't fully healed yet! Don't be afraid! Kill them all!"
The adventurers let out guttural roars and charged at Bukjin with bared blades and murderous expressions.
'Shin-shin, download the Doran Sword.' Bukjin commanded internally.
Light flared in his hand as the Doran Sword materialized. "Die."
The sound of a bird’s wings flapping filled the air. Bukjin’s figure blurred with incredible speed as he lunged toward the nearest adventurer, swinging his blade. The man was sent flying nearly thirty feet, spraying a fountain of blood before he hit the ground in a heap.
Clang—!
Bukjin swung again. This time, two charging adventurers were violently repelled, as if a giant had swung a massive axe into a sapling. Bukjin was using basic swordsmanship, but against the Doran Sword, the adventurers couldn't hold out for even a single second.
"Aaargh!"
"Gah!"
Screams erupted one after another as adventurers were cut down. Watching the scene, Ju Seong’s soul nearly left his body. Bukjin wasn't just 'not healed'—he looked even stronger than before. Uncertain of Bukjin’s true state, Ju Seong had stayed back while ordering the others to charge. Seeing the tide turn so disastrously, he immediately spun around and began to flee. He had no intention of dying here with his comrades.
But Bukjin wasn't about to let him go. Executing the Cloud-Rain Flight footwork, Bukjin twisted in mid-air several times, soaring through the sky before landing directly in front of Ju Seong. Before Ju Seong could even open his mouth, Bukjin’s palm slammed into his chest with devastating force.
Ju Seong spun through the air from the impact and landed face-first at Ak Hong-hyang’s feet. Seeing this, the remaining adventurers trembled in terror and scattered in every direction, desperate to escape. But Bukjin wasn't finished.
Whish—! Whish—! Whish—!
Silver arrows fired in rapid succession from Bukjin’s arm.
"Aaargh!"
"My leg...!"
More screams followed as the fleeing men collapsed, arrows buried deep in their legs. Bukjin turned and walked back. He grabbed Ju Seong—who was dazed from the impact—by the collar with one hand and began to slap him across the face with brutal force. Broken teeth showered onto the ground.
"Talk. Who are you? Why did you attack us?"
Ju Seong felt as if his head was being struck by a warhammer. Stars danced before his eyes. Blood poured from his nose and mouth, and he was gripped by a terror so profound it felt as if his soul was being sucked out. "P-Please... spare me... Young Master, please..." he begged through a mouth of shattered teeth.
"Answer the question," Bukjin pressed, his voice sharp as a razor.
"It was... it was Alliance Leader Noe... Alliance Leader Noe ordered the attack..."
Ju Seong had been a fairly handsome and skilled adventurer, but under Bukjin’s relentless assault, he had lost all reason. He was sobbing, screaming, and had even wet himself in his desperation to live.
The group that had ambushed Bukjin’s party by the river was the Vile Adventurer Alliance, a group that used Bukhwang Mountain as their base. The alliance consisted of about two hundred adventurers, every single one of them human trash. They lived on the mountain and used the natural environment to murder travelers and plunder their belongings. Because they always made sure to eliminate all witnesses, the local authorities lacked the evidence to wipe them out. Furthermore, the alliance was quite powerful, boasting several experts who had reached the Master Realm, making them difficult to handle. For these reasons, the Unmong-wi had never been able to fully eradicate them.
"So, a man named Noe set a trap for us?" Bukjin asked.
"T-To be honest, I don't know the details. I only heard rumors. A client paid a massive amount of money to the Second Alliance Leader to take care of you during this opportunity. Also... the newly joined Sixth Alliance Leader supposedly holds a massive grudge against you. That’s why this plan was set in motion."
'Someone with a grudge against me?' Bukjin thought.
'Did I bully someone back when I was living as a piece of trash, and they ended up joining a gang in Bukhwang Mountain? Are they getting their revenge now?'
Bukjin couldn't quite put his finger on it.