A Thousand Nyang a Month
"Dean Ryu! I've been wronged! I—"
Gwan Bi-do began to shout loudly.
"Silence!"
Ryu Gye-hae roared.
"Is anyone there? Take these two ruffians away! Lock them in the Golden Isolation Chamber and tell their parents to come to the academy to retrieve them!"
Immediately, teachers stepped forward and led Gwan Bi-do and Song Woo away. Soon after, Bukjin pointed his finger at the dozen or so third-year students gathered to one side.
"You, you, and you! Step forward and apologize."
They were all students who had harassed Ak Hong-hyang along with Gwan Bi-do. Watching Gwan Bi-do and Song Woo being dragged away, the students were terrified that Bukjin might expel them too, not just Gwan Bi-do.
One by one, they stepped forward, bowed their heads, and began to apologize to Ak Hong-hyang.
"I'm sorry."
"Junior Sister Ak, I'm sorry..."
"I'm sorry, I was wrong."
The students apologized in turn. Ak Hong-hyang simply nodded, accepting their apologies without a word.
Among the students, there was one who had been standing at the back, muttering nasty remarks. The moment he stepped forward to apologize, Bukjin slapped him across the cheek and said,
"From now on, watch your mouth."
The student's nose swelled up purple, and he felt like dying from shame, but he couldn't say a word.
After all the students had apologized, Bukjin looked around and said,
"I know some of you here don't accept the current situation."
Bukjin smirked coldly.
"But it seems you've forgotten who I am."
The surrounding students and teachers, including Ryu Gye-hae, looked bewildered.
'Isn't he Im Bukjin?'
Then, Bukjin spoke again.
"I am Im Bukjin. The greatest scoundrel, good-for-nothing, and thug in Unmong City! That's me. It seems I've been living too quietly lately, and you've forgotten my reputation. You harassed my friend and then tried to negotiate with me? Did you think I was a reasonable person?"
Bukjin shouted loudly.
The teachers' faces darkened at Bukjin's words. The students, meanwhile, looked as if they had just woken from a dream. Yes, Bukjin was right. Bukjin had never been a reasonable person. He was not someone who understood common sense or logic.
Just because his skills had improved and his grades were good, there was no basis to assume Bukjin had suddenly become a good person.
"Remember this clearly. There is only one scoundrel in Unmong City! And that is me, Im Bukjin! There is only one thug in the 3rd Academy! That is also me, Im Bukjin! I can harass you, but you cannot harass me. So, it would be best for everyone to keep their wits about them in front of me from now on. If anyone dares to upset me! Hehehe..."
Bukjin's final cold chuckle sent shivers down the students' spines. They knew that the Great Demon King of the 3rd Academy had returned.
After everything was settled, Ryu Gye-hae and the other teachers turned and left. The gathered students also began to disperse one by one. This incident had once again reminded them of their fear of Bukjin.
Most of the students and teachers couldn't gauge the impact of what had just happened on the 3rd Academy.
"Senior Brother Han, things might get a bit troublesome from now on."
Bukjin shed his cold expression and smiled at Han Bul-bu as if nothing had happened.
"The things Senior Brother said just now must have deeply hurt Dean Ryu, don't you think? He's probably feeling quite cold towards you right now."
Han Bul-bu replied,
"I will go apologize to the teacher. And I'm sure the teacher will understand my choice. As far as I know, he is one of the true swordsmen. He wouldn't scold me for such a small matter."
Ak Hong-hyang bowed respectfully to Han Bul-bu.
"Thank you, Senior Brother Han."
Han Bul-bu gave a wry smile.
"The one you should really be thanking is Junior Brother Im, isn't it? I merely added a few words. On behalf of the third-year students, I apologize once more to Junior Sister Ak. I will make sure to keep our third-year students in line from now on."
He was the top student of the third year, and it was his responsibility to maintain the decorum of the third-year students.
"That's enough! Let's stop with the thanks and apologies!" Baek Geum-un said with a smile. "The four of us are people who have faced life and death together on Bukhwang Mountain. We've forged a friendship with our lives! If we truly consider each other friends, it's best not to get upset over such things, right?"
Hearing that, Han Bul-bu smiled and said,
"It's surprising to hear Junior Sister Baek say such things!"
Baek Geum-un puffed out her cheeks.
"What do you mean by that? Are you implying I wasn't like this before?!"
Bukjin said,
"Of course! It's a good thing you said life and death together and not sleeping in the same bed!"
Hearing his words, Ak Hong-hyang couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Baek Geum-un crossed her arms and said,
"What's so strange about that? We slept in the same tent on Bukhwang Mountain, so it's practically the same as sleeping in the same bed!"
The other three's eyes widened. They thought there was nothing she wouldn't say once her mouth was open.
"Oh, right! I have a gift for Junior Sister Ak!"
Baek Geum-un pulled a small pouch from her bosom and handed it to Ak Hong-hyang.
"Open it quickly. I'm sure you'll like it!"
Ak Hong-hyang took the pouch and opened it. Inside was a mask. To be precise, it was half a mask. It was a light silver mask, very delicately and thinly crafted. It was made of a very soft material that would gently adhere to the skin when worn. And on the mask, a subtle and intricate Mystic Energy formation was engraved.
"It's a product from Master Beom. It's one of the most popular 'Drunken Beauty' series masks right now. I specially chose it for Junior Sister Ak." Baek Geum-un said triumphantly. "How is it? Do you like it?"
Bukjin praised Baek Geum-un.
"You've matured a bit."
Han Bul-bu pondered for a moment, then decided not to take out the plain wooden mask he had chosen for Ak Hong-hyang.
"But... this is too expensive." Ak Hong-hyang shook her head and handed the mask back to Baek Geum-un. "I heard Master Beom's 'Drunken Beauty' series masks start at 5 gold nyang... I can't accept such an expensive item."
Baek Geum-un, growing anxious, said,
"We've all slept in the same bed! What's 5 gold nyang? Junior Sister, there's no need to refuse. 5 gold nyang is not a big sum to me at all."
At that moment, Bukjin, sensing an opportunity, asked,
"Right, Junior Sister Baek. Is your family rich?"
Baek Geum-un pondered for a moment, then replied with a very humble demeanor,
"Oh, no. We're not that rich. But I've always been able to buy whatever I wanted since I was little. Even now, my mother just gives me about 1,000 gold nyang as pocket money each month, you know? If it's not enough, I can ask for a little more, but..."
'1,000 gold nyang?! Pocket money?!!!'
Bukjin's heart began to pound rapidly.
'She gets 1,000 gold nyang a month as pocket money and says she's not rich? 1,000 nyang a month, for a year...'
Bukjin resented himself for not knowing this fact until now. He had an incredibly wealthy friend right beside him and had been completely unaware.
Suddenly, Bukjin regretted making excuses and refusing when Baek Geum-un asked him to go practice swordsmanship. Bukjin wanted to put on his most innocent and pure smile and say, 'Junior Sister Baek, so what stance do you want to learn?'
But he quickly dismissed the thought, realizing it was too transparent, and began to say something else.
"Junior Sister Baek, although your family isn't exactly rich..." Bukjin chose his words carefully. "But I don't look down on you at all, Junior Sister Baek. I'll state it clearly right here. From today, Junior Sister Baek is my best friend, Im Bukjin's. A friend who would face life and death together. Your affairs are my affairs, and your enemies are my enemies."
After speaking, Bukjin thought to himself,
'Of course, your money is my money too! Hahaha!'
Baek Geum-un felt a little uneasy after hearing Bukjin's words, but after a moment of thought, she said,
"It feels a bit strange, but I'll accept your sentiment, Senior Brother."
Han Bul-bu, standing nearby, couldn't help but raise a hand to cover his face. Sometimes, Han Bul-bu truly envied Bukjin and Baek Geum-un. Both were very honest and straightforward. They were the kind of people who would speak whatever was on their minds. Their actions perfectly reflected their thoughts.
On the other hand, while Han Bul-bu was praised for being mature and cautious, he often found his own personality exhausting. Han Bul-bu considered himself lucky to have friends like Bukjin and Baek Geum-un.
Ak Hong-hyang held the mask, caressing it with careful hands, seemingly quite pleased with it. But in the end, she declined to accept it. Ak Hong-hyang was very sensitive about financial matters. She was not the type to incur debts she couldn't repay.
Baek Geum-un smiled and said,
"It's fine! We'll just deduct the cost of the mask from Senior Brother Im's entertainment expenses! It's just a matter of him giving me five free sword lessons, and that's it, right? Hehe, if you're still uncomfortable, Junior Sister Ak, please join me in sword training too!"
"..."
Bukjin was speechless.
'Why is she deducting the mask's cost from my entertainment expenses?'
Hearing her words, Han Bul-bu's eyes also lit up.
"That's a great idea! The main round of the Academic & Martial Arts Competition is in three days! Although we don't know the test questions for the competition, it will definitely involve swords, right? If we all train together and form a connection, it will definitely help our scores a lot!"
Bukjin, who had been rolling his eyes to the side, thought to himself that following Han Bul-bu's suggestion wasn't a bad idea. If they trained swordsmanship together, it would be easier to find an excuse to borrow money from Baek Geum-un later.
Hearing Han Bul-bu's words, Bukjin slapped his thigh and praised him.
"Senior Brother Han! You speak wisely! That's an excellent idea! I agree!"
In the end, Ak Hong-hyang could no longer refuse and accepted the mask, saying,
"Senior Brother Im's entertainment fee was 1 gold nyang per session, right? I can't compare to Senior Brother Im's level, but... how about this! From now until I graduate, I'll be Junior Sister Baek's exclusive sword training partner! You can call me anytime you need!"
Bukjin broke out in a cold sweat, hearing the word 'entertainment' from a gentle student like Ak Hong-hyang.
"Alright!"
Baek Geum-un accepted Ak Hong-hyang's offer simply and clearly.