Something is Amiss

The waiting area for those who had completed the exam was a desolate place for one particular student. Not a single soul dared to venture within a ten-foot radius of Bukjin. Genius beauties like Mi Yeo-yeon and Chang San-seol sat as far away from him as possible, their expressions suggesting they feared he might be carrying a highly contagious plague. It was as if merely brushing past him would contaminate them with some foul, unspeakable substance.

It was then that Im Jin, ignoring the judgmental stares of the crowd, approached him.

"That was impressive," she said simply.

Bukjin looked up, his expression dazed as if his soul had momentarily left his body. "I... I really had no choice..."

Even as the words left his mouth, he felt the absurdity of his own excuse. Who on earth brews an aphrodisiac because they 'had no ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠choice'? Bukjin could already see his future unfolding; after this exam, his reputation as the "Greatest Degenerate" of Unmong City would be set in stone, unchallenged by anyone for generations to come.

Im Jin continued calmly, "The amount of Solitary Love of a Single Morning you compounded was enough to put fifty Thunder Tigers into heat simultaneously. Injecting that much into a single beast all at once... it's no wonder it lost its mind, thrashed about, and then passed out cold. It was a remarkably ingenious idea. Even I hadn't considered that approach."

Hearing her explanation, the pieces finally clicked into place for Bukjin. So that was it! No wonder the Thunder Tiger was foaming at the mouth and fainted at the end!

He nodded instinctively, realizing the logic behind the chaos. Then, he paused, a sudden chill running down his spine as he processed her words. "Wait, you..."

Bukjin stared at Im Jin, his face freezing. "How do you know about Solitary Love of a Single Morning? Don't tell me you also..."

Im Jin gave him a cold, sidelong glance before retorting, "An aphrodisiac is still a type of medicine. Is there something wrong with that? What matters is whether it is used correctly. Its purpose changes depending on how it is applied. It's not as if it's some bizarre, forbidden object..."

Bukjin felt a sudden surge of kinship, as if he had finally met a true kindred spirit. Well said! Now that is the proper mindset of a student of herbology! I couldn't agree more!

Meanwhile, the examinations continued outside. And as fate would have it, the next candidate was Jo Pacheon.

"Hahaha! As expected of my successor! A true talent among talents!"

Inside the Manseung-ru, Im Tae-heo, the Principal of the 3rd Academy, burst into boisterous laughter. Elegant courtesans surrounded him, some massaging his shoulders while others poured his tea.

"Master, that young gentleman is truly handsome," one of the beauties chirped.

"Indeed, I've never seen a boy with such striking features," another flattered in a coquettish voice.

In Unmong City, everyone knew that Principal Im Tae-heo possessed immense wealth. He was famous for his appreciation of the arts, his love for wine and women, his gentle temperament, and his superb calligraphy. He was particularly renowned for his discerning eye for beauty; his standards were so high that he was often called a "Beauty Appraiser." Consequently, his epithet was the Dual Paragon of Lust and Art.

It was said that many unknown beauties became overnight celebrities in Unmong City after receiving a single favorable evaluation from him. Because of this, the courtesans affectionately referred to him as "Old Master Im." Whenever he visited a brothel, even the top-ranked courtesans would cancel their existing appointments just to serve him.

However, while Im Tae-heo loved beauty and wine, he merely enjoyed the charm and talent of the women. Beneath his playful exterior lay a surprisingly conservative streak. Despite his decades of revelry, the number of women who had actually shared his bed could be counted on one hand—and they were considered the "flowers among flowers." Furthermore, any courtesan who had served him for even a single night would never accept another guest again.

"Of course! That brat is almost as handsome as I was in my youth!" Im Tae-heo declared, pulling open the front of his robe to reveal his firm, well-defined muscles—a physique rarely seen on a man of his age.

He took a satisfied gulp of wine and added, "But you'd do well to remember! That boy is my grandson-in-law! Heh, he's going to be the head of our household one day! Anyone who tries to lay a finger on my granddaughter's man won't meet a pleasant end, so keep that in mind!"

"But Master, we have no eyes for any man but you," one courtesan teased.

"That's right! That young master is handsome, but he's still just a green boy. He's a long way off from having the mature charm of our Master!"

"Old ginger is always spicier!" the women chimed in, vying for his favor.

"Wahahaha! And where exactly am I spicy? Soso, come here. Why don't you tell me in detail just how spicy I am?"

Im Tae-heo lunged toward the courtesans like a hunting tiger. Yet, even amidst the play, a thought crossed his mind: I'll have to find a chance to ask Bukjin how he knows the recipe for such a potent aphrodisiac! He's completely ruined the atmosphere of our 3rd Academy! But from the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠looks of it, the effect is extraordinary... If the boy shares the recipe with me, I might just consider forgiving him!

"I choose the Thunder Tiger," Jo Pacheon announced, his voice booming with confidence.

Two assistant examiners moved to replace the metal tube with a fresh one. They worked with frantic care, as if terrified that even a lingering trace of Bukjin's drug might cause Jo Pacheon or the subsequent students to inhale it and suffer a similarly humiliating fate.

All eyes were fixed on Jo Pacheon. With his golden hair and striking features, he possessed a brilliant, powerful aura that few—save for Bukjin—could rival. His choice of the Thunder Tiger surprised no one; rumors of his life-and-death wager with Bukjin had already spread like wildfire. Everyone knew that if Jo Pacheon wanted to beat Bukjin, he had no choice but to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠challenge the most difficult beast.

However, the bizarre method Bukjin had just displayed—despite its eccentricity—had been undeniably effective. The question on everyone's mind was: Can Jo Pacheon actually pull this off?

"Ready... Begin!" Chief Examiner Mae Jiwon shouted.

A translucent barrier of light enveloped Jo Pacheon and the long table. After a mere five breaths of time, the formation vanished. Jo Pacheon had already finished compounding his medicine.

"So fast?"

"That's incredible speed!"

"He's even faster than Im Bukjin!"

The spectators gasped in shock. By then, Jo Pacheon was already channeling his Hyeongi to expel the medicinal powder from the metal tube. The drug transformed into a thick, black smoke. It coiled like a dark serpent, darting toward the iron cage of the Thunder Tiger with the speed of a lightning bolt.

It took only a single breath for the smoke to permeate the cage. It was too fast! The writhing black mist was sucked into the Thunder Tiger's nose and mouth as if it were a living creature. The ferocious beast, known for its violent temper, began to stagger after only three breaths. It swayed like a drunkard before collapsing onto the floor of the cage with a heavy thud.

Success! The entire process had taken only nine breaths!

Mae Jiwon's voice echoed through the hall. The crowd erupted in astonished cheers. Jo Pacheon's results were not just incredible; they were terrifying. Bukjin's previous performance had seemed impossible to match, yet Jo Pacheon had not only caught up but had utterly surpassed him with overwhelming dominance.

Countless gazes were fixed on the golden-haired boy. Jo Pacheon wore a triumphant smirk. He raised his arms high, laughing arrogantly like a king receiving the adoration of his subjects. The scene was broadcast to the masses through the crystal screens.

Is this the true power of a genius disciple from White Cloud City?

In a certain brothel, Wang Chung, who had been enjoying his life with a beauty on each arm, felt a sudden chill run down his spine. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead. He felt a wave of relief that he had already cashed out his winnings from the previous bets. If he had kept his money on the table, he would have suffered a catastrophic loss.

In the waiting area of Hall No. 4, a strange light flickered in Im Jin's eyes. "Something is amiss."

Bukjin, meanwhile, was fuming. That bastard Jo Pacheon scored lower ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠than me on the written herbology exam. How could he possibly compound a medicine in less time than me and achieve a superior effect? That dog must have used some kind of trick!

"Do you know how he did it?" Bukjin asked Im Jin.

Im Jin tilted her head, thinking for a moment before answering, "I think you're just very unlucky."

"What do you mean by that?"

Im Jin replied with certainty, "The medicine Jo Pacheon compounded is called Dream-Drunk Divine Trance. Theoretically, it can be made using the ten types of herbs provided in the kit. However, the success rate is less than twenty percent. For Jo Pacheon to succeed in just five breaths... it means his luck was extraordinary. Conversely, it means your luck is truly abysmal."

What?! Dammit! Bukjin cursed inwardly. Wasn't compounding medicine supposed to be entirely about skill? How can a handsome guy be lucky too? No, wait—I'm more handsome than him!

Just then, Jo Pacheon exited the exam area and strode into the waiting zone. Without a moment's hesitation, the golden-haired youth walked straight up to Bukjin. A mocking smile played on his lips.

"Did you learn what true herb compounding looks like?" Jo Pacheon sneered. "I hope you realize how pathetic you look in front of a real expert, you who only managed to pass through luck by using something as vulgar as an aphrodisiac."

Jo Pacheon felt an immense sense of satisfaction from defeating Bukjin in this round. He could only imagine how furious and humiliated Bukjin must be feeling. Although it was just one exam, this particular test covered both herb compounding and Mystic Energy intensity. In effect, he had perfectly surpassed Bukjin in two categories and claimed the top spot. His mood was at an all-time high.

Jo Pacheon stared intently at Bukjin, waiting to see the sparks of rage and shock flare up on his rival's face.