Sharp Senses
Bukjin turned his head and looked at Im Jin, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "What if... I mean, just hypothetically... what if I had used the leftover aphrodisiac on that blondie over there? Do you think he would've ended up like that Thunder Tiger I poisoned—foaming at the mouth and dying in the throes of a love that transcends species?"
Im Jin didn't skip a beat. "He’d likely be in a worse state than the tiger."
As if on cue, both of them turned their gaze toward Jo Pacheon. The genius from White Cloud City flinched, backing away from them as if they were some sort of repulsive insects. The mere memory of the aphrodisiac Bukjin had concocted and the horrifying display he had witnessed earlier made his heart race with sheer anxiety.
Seeing his reaction, Bukjin and Im Jin burst into laughter. Their laughter was laced with blatant mockery and contempt.
"You two..." Jo Pacheon growled, finally realizing they were playing with him. His face contorted with rage. "One is a pervert who only knows how to brew aphrodisiacs, and the other is a girl who doesn't live up to her title of genius... Hmph, birds of a feather really do flock together."
With a sharp turn, Jo Pacheon stormed off. The moment he turned his back, however, he realized he had made a tactical error. He shouldn't have bothered provoking a low-life like Bukjin the moment the exam ended. He knew all too well that Bukjin possessed a tongue like a venomous serpent; he could never win a war of words with him. It would be far better to utterly crush him in the upcoming stages of the Academic & Martial Arts Competition and drown him in humiliation.
As Jo Pacheon’s retreating figure grew smaller, the smile gradually faded from Bukjin’s face. Whether it was luck, raw talent, or some other hidden factor, this exam had served as a stark reminder: his opponent was a formidable adversary.
I can't afford to be careless, Bukjin thought. He resolved to pour every ounce of his strength into the remaining trials.
"By the way, what happened to you during the exam?" Bukjin asked, turning back to Im Jin. "Making mistakes in two consecutive trials... that's not like you at all. Did something happen?"
A warm smile, like a spring breeze melting a frozen lake, suddenly graced Im Jin’s usually cold features. "Oh? Are you actually showing concern for me, darling?"
"Uh..." Bukjin felt like he had just walked into a trap. A chilling thought suddenly struck him, sending a shiver down his spine. Based on what she said earlier, Im Jin definitely knows the secret recipe for the 'Poisonous Love of a Single Morning.' If she keeps following me around and gets frustrated because she can't win my heart... what if she decides to slip me an aphrodisiac to claim my purity?
Bukjin instinctively hugged his own chest, his skin crawling at the thought. This is bad. I need to start researching an antidote for that recipe immediately!
"What are you two up to?"
Suddenly, Ya Mi-ang approached them with natural grace. She took a seat to Bukjin’s right, her eyes sparkling. "You both seem to be having a very pleasant conversation."
Im Jin, who was sitting on Bukjin’s left, didn't say a word. She simply turned her head away, shifting her gaze elsewhere. In that moment, Bukjin noticed something peculiar. Im Jin was naturally haughty and aloof, someone who looked down on almost everyone. She rarely paid attention to others, and even a genius like Jo Pacheon couldn't catch her eye. Yet, in front of Ya Mi-ang, she couldn't hide her blatant hostility.
Her act of turning away was a clear sign. Anyone could see she was conscious of Ya Mi-ang and viewed her as an enemy. It was a reaction rarely seen from the girl known as the Little Fairy. Meanwhile, Ya Mi-ang continued her conversation with Bukjin with a beaming smile, acting as if she hadn't noticed Im Jin’s reaction at all. Because of the interruption, Bukjin never got the answer to the question he had been curious about.
Time continued to flow. More and more students completed their exams, but after Jo Pacheon, not a single student dared to challenge the Thunder Tiger and succeed. The vast majority opted for the Gale Hound.
Candidate: Im Hyeon
Target: Ice Wolf (Incapacitated)
Time: 48 Forms
Alchemy Grade: Rank A (High)
Mystic Intensity: Rank A
The voice of Chief Proctor Mae Ji-won rang out across the grounds once more. It was an excellent score, and the atmosphere in the arena heated up again. Im Hyeon was a disciple from a branch of the Im clan of the Provincial Government. Rumor had it that his father had been the personal page of the former Lord of Unmong City, Im Gun-hyeon. His father had grown up with Im Gun-hyeon since childhood, and their bond was so close that he had been officially inducted into the Im lineage.
Though he was from a branch family, his status within the Provincial Government was by no means low. His father was a heavyweight on par with figures like Yeo Nak-yeon. Im Hyeon himself had very clean-cut features, bronze skin, thick eyebrows, and a slender build. He gave off the sharp, agile impression of a leopard. He was so tight-lipped that some even suspected he was a mute.
As Im Hyeon left the arena and entered the waiting area, his gaze drifted toward Bukjin, Im Jin, and Ya Mi-ang. His brow furrowed slightly as his eyes locked onto Ya Mi-ang. He stood there for a long moment, frowning as if contemplating something of grave importance. Then, he began to walk toward them, one slow step at a time. He stopped in front of Ya Mi-ang and opened his mouth to speak.
It was then.
"Get lost," Im Jin said coldly.
Huh? There’s definitely... some kind of history between those two, isn't there? Bukjin wondered.
Ya Mi-ang acted as if she hadn't seen a thing, her voice remaining sweet and cheerful. "Tomorrow is the day of the Martial Arts Tournament. The remaining forty representatives will draw lots and engage in one-on-one duels on the stage. Eventually, only ten will remain, and they will form teams to participate in the Flag Snatching event. These two trials carry the most weight in the entire competition. So, if you want to beat Jo Pacheon, Brother Jin, you should think carefully about which teammates you want. In Flag Snatching, the strength of your team is everything."
Bukjin nodded. After that, several more students emerged from the arena with good results. Im Yeok was among them; he had also chosen the Ice Wolf and performed admirably. Han Bul-bu followed soon after. Although he had chosen the Gale Hound, his performance was exceptional, earning him a Rank B (Middle) score.
With that, the fourth day of the Academic & Martial Arts Competition came to an end. As the exams concluded, the updated rankings appeared on the massive stone tablet in the central plaza.
The teachers and students of the 3rd Academy erupted in cheers. Han Bul-bu had made it into the final forty. For the 3rd Academy, this was nothing short of a miracle. Before Bukjin’s meteoric rise, Han Bul-bu had been their greatest hope. In fact, their original goal had simply been to pass the written exam and make it to the second trial. Han Bul-bu’s current success was already a massive victory for them.
While Bukjin was the monstrous genius carrying the academy’s honor, the fact that Han Bul-bu had advanced to the final stage alongside him was incredible. This meant that the 3rd Academy would be granted more representative slots in next year's competition. Furthermore, they would receive increased funding from the Board of Education, allowing them to provide higher-quality training and continue their upward momentum. Every teacher and student of the 3rd Academy was swelling with pride.
Baek Geum-un and Ak Hong-hyang both ran forward to congratulate Bukjin and Han Bul-bu, their faces glowing with genuine joy.
"Will the Principal buy us dinner at Manseung-ru again tonight?" Baek Geum-un asked, her eyes wide with anticipation.
Ryu Gye-hae laughed. "Of course! Principal Im said to eat to our hearts' content on his tab!"
Bukjin and Baek Geum-un cheered. Cho Heun and Ban Oe-min were so excited they started dancing a little jig.
"Manseung-ru? Hmph... it's only so-so. If you all want, I could take you to—" Elder Hae began, stroking his beard as if preparing to brag about something grander. But before he could finish, Bukjin’s group had already bolted.
"Wait! Hey! Wait for me!" Elder Hae shouted, hurrying after the 3rd Academy group.
Watching the 3rd Academy students run off in high spirits, a dark smile crept onto Jo Pacheon’s face. "Yes, laugh while you still can." He turned and walked away. Meanwhile, Im Hyeon stood before the stone tablet, staring intently at Ya Mi-ang’s name, his thoughts unreadable.
One by one, the students departed from the National Imperial Junior Academy. The grounds, which had been bustling with the noise of the competition, slowly fell into a tranquil silence.
Im Jin sat quietly in the academy library, reading a book. As a student of the Imperial Academy, she enjoyed various privileges within the facilities. She spent a great deal of her time here; to her, the academy felt far more comfortable than the Provincial Government manor. As evening fell, the library lamps were lit. Sitting by the window under the soft glow of the lamp, Im Jin looked like a celestial maiden descended from the heavens—a beauty so ethereal it felt unreal.
At the same time, Ya Mi-ang was on her way back to the Central Temple. She hummed a tune, her steps light and cheerful. She seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood. Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks.
"Who's there?" Ya Mi-ang asked, turning around.
The winding mountain path was empty. The night breeze rustled the leaves of the trees, and the shadows of the branches danced gently under the moonlight.
"Was it just my imagination?" She shook her head and continued on her way.
About fifteen minutes later, a tall figure stepped cautiously out from the forest shadows.
"Sharp senses," the figure muttered, staring at the distant path where Ya Mi-ang had disappeared. Then, he slowly turned and vanished into the night.