The Madman
"Brother, calm down," Ya Mi-ang said, rushing over to Bukjin. Bukjin struggled to suppress his rage and slowly released his grip.
"Go wash your ass and wait. Those who died because of you are waiting for you on the road to the underworld. And when that time comes, they will devour your soul to collect the debt you owe them from life."
Bukjin glared at Jo Pacheon, speaking each word distinctly. Jo Pacheon offered a scornful smile. Bukjin turned away, looking up at Gucheon as if he wasn't worth his time.
"I never imagined the 6th Academy, as an established educational institution, would be so utterly devoid of discernment. It seems the 6th Academy accepts anyone, without distinguishing between shit and bean paste. To even accept the transfer of such a despicable traitor to Unmong City. It appears that for the sake of good grades, the academy's reputation means nothing."
Gucheon burst into laughter at Bukjin's words.
"Im Bukjin. Do you, a mere insignificant student, truly believe you can comprehend the decisions and actions made by academies? Who do you think you are? Aren't you also the son of that infamous scoundrel, that trash, that imperial criminal?"
Bukjin took a deep breath, regained his composure, and replied, "Just you wait. You'll soon find out who I am and what kind of person I am."
A look of contempt appeared on Gucheon's fleshy face.
"Don't think others don't know your dark intentions. Haha, it would be best for you to know your place. Even without Student Jo, it's impossible for you to claim the top spot in the Academic & Martial Arts Competition. Do you really think that just because you got a good score in the preliminary round once, you're a cut above the rest? Frankly, a trashy scoundrel like you is the furthest thing from a genius."
Bukjin responded, "Just watch and see if your words hold true. I'll show you just how foolish a mistake the 6th Academy has made."
With that, Bukjin turned and left. He felt that if the conversation continued any longer, he wouldn't be able to hold back from attacking.
Watching Bukjin walk away, Jo Pacheon and Gucheon burst into loud, sky-shattering laughter.
As he walked, Bukjin clenched his fists. The faces of the female swordswomen from the Flaming Rose mercenary group, who had died so horribly on Bukhwang Mountain, flashed through his mind. They were women who had constantly strived and struggled to survive in this harsh world, relying solely on their own strength. They were people who genuinely worked for their lives and happiness, and who showed courtesy not only to their friends but even to strangers. They were people worthy of love and respect. But because of Jo Pacheon's competitive spirit, jealousy, and selfish heart, they had been humiliated and lost their lives by an unnamed river on Bukhwang Mountain. And in that process, Cho Heun had lost both his arms, and Ak Hong-hyang's face had been disfigured.
'Jo Pacheon! You must die!'
Bukjin tried to steady his breathing. For the first time since coming to this world, he felt an intense killing intent, a desire to kill someone.
Just then, a small, warm hand gently took Bukjin's. Im Jin looked at Bukjin with sparkling, warm eyes. Ya Mi-ang also sensed Bukjin's anger. However, she was from the temple and had known Bukjin for a shorter time. Therefore, she couldn't act as boldly as Im Jin.
"Brother. Don't worry. Bad people always pay for their sins."
Bukjin slowly nodded, squeezed Im Jin's hand that held his, then released it and walked away.
The surroundings were already filled with countless students who had finished their exams. The 72 students participating in the Academic & Martial Arts Competition were, without a doubt, the best geniuses Unmong City had to offer. Regardless of their actual scores, their speed in completing and submitting the exam papers was unparalleled. Even though less than a third of the exam time had passed, about two-thirds of the students had already finished and left the examination hall.
Most of these geniuses took pride in their abilities. An unapproachable sense of pride and confidence shone on their young faces. Students who had finished the exam were busy observing the expressions of their competitors.
"Are you Im Bukjin?" a boy with a pale face and long eyebrows walked over and said. "I am Gyeon Ga-in, a third-year student from the 2nd Academy. Let me say this here and now. I..."
"Get lost!" Bukjin roared, his voice filled with fury. Unconsciously, Bukjin unleashed a powerful burst of mental energy. The boy named Gyeon Ga-in, who received the full force of Bukjin's mental power, stumbled backward, feeling as if he had encountered a ferocious beast.
Gyeon Ga-in said with a pale face, "You...!"
Bukjin swept his gaze around with sharp, blade-like eyes and spoke in a cold voice, "I'm in a very bad mood right now, so don't pick a fight."
From a distance, Jo Pacheon's face broke into an even brighter smile as he watched Bukjin.
Time passed, and the end of the first written exam approached. Han Bul-bu and Baek Geum-un had already submitted their papers and found Bukjin, excitedly discussing the exam questions. Ak Hong-hyang, however, had not yet emerged from the examination hall.
After the time it took for one stick of incense to burn, the bell finally rang, signaling the end of the exam. Ak Hong-hyang was the very last to walk out of the examination hall. The student who had submitted their paper just before her had done so a full hour earlier. For this reason, many students' eyes were fixed on Ak Hong-hyang as she emerged last.
Many male students who looked at Ak Hong-hyang found their hearts stirred by her elegant and dignified aura, which was only enhanced by the mysterious mask covering half of her face. On the other hand, some sneered at her.
"I wonder who came out last? It was her, huh?"
"Haha, she's a woman obsessed with her appearance. To wear Grandmaster Beom's Drunken Beauty mask even to an exam like this. Does she think this is a beauty pageant or something?"
"Maybe she wanted to be noticed, so she came out last!"
Many students around them were gossiping about Ak Hong-hyang. Ak Hong-hyang heard their words, but maintained a calm demeanor. Without any change in expression, she approached Bukjin and greeted him with a smile.
"How was the exam?" Han Bul-bu asked warmly.
Ak Hong-hyang replied, "I did everything I could. There were a few questions I just couldn't figure out, no matter how much I thought about them, so I just wrote down answers based on my own deductions. It took some time, but I'm glad I managed to finish the exam safely."
"Good job, Junior Sister Ak," Han Bul-bu said with a bright smile. "It was the same for me. There were some questions I really didn't know how to solve, so I just submitted my paper. I wish I had your patience and perseverance, Junior Sister Ak."
Ak Hong-hyang offered a gentle smile at his words.
Just then, another scoffing sound came from nearby. Someone sneered, "So she really couldn't solve the problems, that's why she came out last! To make so many people wait, I don't know how such a stupid girl even made it to the main competition! Haha, she should be ashamed, but instead, she's being praised for her perseverance!"
Hearing those words, Ak Hong-hyang suppressed her emotions and looked at a distant mountain in the opposite direction. Han Bul-bu's eyebrows twitched, and his eyes flashed with anger. Baek Geum-un glared at the student who spoke and shouted, "Who are you, you bitch? State your name!"
The student who spoke was a girl with smooth skin and a slender figure. However, her thin eyebrows and lips gave her a mean impression. She sneered, "What? What business is it of yours if I say it myself? I am Jeong Su-chae, a third-year student from the 6th Academy! What are you going to do with my name?!"
Baek Geum-un clicked her tongue and said to the arrogant girl in front of her, "I'm not going to do anything with your name, but as for the person in front of you..." Baek Geum-un pointed at Bukjin. "You know who this person is, right? Unmong City's worst scoundrel, a cruel and heartless villain! Countless girls have fallen into his hands! And rumor has it he even has a strange mental illness, certified by the Emperor himself, that once he has an episode, no one can stop him. In other words, it's no exaggeration to say he could take your chastity four or five times in a single second! Hehehe..."
Jeong Su-chae's expression gradually changed as she listened to her words. She glanced at Bukjin. She saw that Bukjin was glaring at her with hateful eyes.
"I, I...!" Jeong Su-chae shrieked and turned to flee. She wasn't afraid of people, but she was afraid of a madman. Moreover, her opponent was a notorious scoundrel famous for his lechery. If she were to get involved with Bukjin even once, her reputation would be severely tarnished, and it would be no exaggeration to say her prospects for marriage in Unmong City would be ruined.
"Hahahaha!" Baek Geum-un clutched her stomach and burst into loud laughter. "She had some sense, that bitch!"
When Baek Geum-un turned her head, she was met with Bukjin's expression, one that could kill a person with just a glance.
"I was just getting angry on behalf of Junior Sister Ak... Fighting evil with evil is the most effective way... Ah, no, I'm not saying Senior Brother is evil... It's just..."
Bukjin felt like clamping Baek Geum-un's mouth shut. Just as Bukjin felt the urge to hit the back of Baek Geum-un's head, a student's shout came from not far away.
"The results are out!"
"The scores for the first exam are out!"
A commotion erupted, and a silver light appeared on the large stone pillar in the center of the National Imperial Junior Academy plaza. The light soon transformed into silver letters, which were the names of all the students who participated in the Academic & Martial Arts Competition. Students busily moved closer to the monument.
The name that appeared at the very top, in first place, was... Bukjin!
His score was a perfect 100. However, Bukjin was not the only one to receive a perfect score. Im Jin, Ya Mi-ang, Im Ui, and So So-yeon also all scored 100. But because Bukjin submitted his paper the fastest, his name was at the very top, listed in order of submission.