The Worst Scoundrel in Unmong City
The young master, So Jang, spoke with anger.
“Even if we set aside Bukjin’s tarnished reputation, if you and he team up, it will surely harm the reputation of our 2nd Academy. Bukjin is currently under the stigma of being involved with the Sama. This matter is still under investigation. Haha, your Mi family is nothing but servants to our So family. If my father hadn’t been generous enough to send you to school, do you think you’d be where you are now? Yet you dare to defy my father’s orders? Do you have any conscience?”
“How shameless!”
“To harbor such a wicked heart!”
“A disgraceful ingrate!”
The boys and girls surrounding Mi Yeo-yeon loudly chastised her. Other people in the Yeollae Inn also listened to the youths’ words and cast disapproving glances at Mi Yeo-yeon.
Anger flared on Mi Yeo-yeon’s face. She spoke loudly. “Our Mi family has already repaid all our debts to you! So Jang, don’t speak so carelessly! Servants? My father was merely employed as a guard for the So family!”
So Jang sneered. “Is there a difference between a guard and a servant?”
Mi Yeo-yeon retorted, “He only served as a guard; he didn’t sell his body like a slave…”
Hearing that, So Jang burst into laughter. “Sell your body? Hahaha! Are you thinking of selling yours? If you are, I’ll buy you at a good price today! Hahaha!”
Mi Yeo-yeon slammed the table, stood up, and said in a fierce voice, “You’d do well to watch your words!”
So Jang’s lips curled into a sneer. “What? Are you going to hit me now? Good! Yes! You were a skilled competitor in the Academic & Martial Arts Competition! But you’d do well not to forget what your father said in the past. Heh heh, go on, try to hit me!”
Mi Yeo-yeon was seething with anger, but she didn’t lay a hand on him. So Jang, watching her, felt relieved. Just as he was about to open his mouth again to threaten Mi Yeo-yeon, a hand suddenly appeared from nowhere, pressed down on his shoulder, and pulled him backward.
“What crazy bastard…” So Jang cursed.
But the next moment, a tremendous force pushed So Jang, sending him flying back five steps before he landed hard on his backside. So Jang nearly broke his tailbone, and tears welled up in his eyes from the intense pain.
So Jang looked up to see a handsome young man in a blue robe, advancing through the students with the momentum of a fierce tiger, standing before the round table.
“Fellow student Mi. What are these mad dogs doing?”
A glint of surprise appeared in Mi Yeo-yeon’s eyes. With a joyful expression, she said, “Fellow student Im… Ah, it’s nothing. This place doesn’t seem suitable for conversation, so shall we move somewhere else?”
“Move somewhere else?” So Jang got up and sneered. “Heh heh, Mi Yeo-yeon, what grand conversation can’t be held here? A conversation that can’t happen without changing locations… You shameless hussy!”
Bukjin’s face darkened. “Fellow student Mi. Is this fellow bothering you?”
Mi Yeo-yeon replied, “You don’t need to bother with him. They’re just narrow-minded people…”
Observing Mi Yeo-yeon’s demeanor, Bukjin realized she harbored ill feelings toward the surrounding students. It seemed she was refraining from acting against them, perhaps because they were classmates or for some other reason. But while Mi Yeo-yeon might hesitate, Bukjin had no reason to hold back.
Bukjin was already simmering with anger from the events of last night, and he saw this as a good opportunity to vent his frustration.
Bukjin turned and looked at So Jang. “This fellow student here looks somewhat familiar… Did you participate in the Academic & Martial Arts Competition?”
So Jang said with a cold expression, “I merely had a mishap this time and was unlucky enough not to participate in the Academic & Martial Arts Competition! I am…”
Smack!
Bukjin slapped So Jang’s cheek in one swift motion.
‘How dare this guy, who isn’t even qualified to participate in the Academic & Martial Arts Competition, act so insolently in front of me?’
Bukjin glared at So Jang. So Jang wore a dazed expression. He was the young master of the So family, one of Unmong City’s four great clans. He had grown up enjoying every luxury since childhood, receiving everyone’s affection. Even his parents had never once laid a hand on him. Yet, Bukjin had slapped him in front of so many people.
“You… You dare to hit me?” So Jang’s lips trembled.
“A beating is what a guy like you needs.”
Bukjin lunged at So Jang, knocked him to the ground, and straddled him. Then, he punched him hard in the face, leaving both his eyes black and blue.
‘That dog-like Jo Pacheon keeps trying to smear me with his crap, and I’m already in a foul mood. How dare this guy provoke me?’
Of course, Bukjin held back. He was merely taking out his frustration on the annoying So Jang and helping Mi Yeo-yeon vent her anger; he had no intention of killing him. If Bukjin had truly struck So Jang with full force, So Jang would have already been a bloody mess, a wandering ghost.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Bukjin landed a few more punches, and only then did the students of the 2nd Academy, finally snapping out of their daze, rush forward to stop Bukjin. Bukjin, however, ignored them and continued to pummel any 2nd Academy student who tried to intervene.
Bukjin’s skill was too strong, and he was like a wolf among a flock of sheep within the 2nd Academy students. Before they could react, Bukjin continued to strike them.
“You, you… Im Bukjin! How insolent!”
“Beating people in broad daylight! Do you have no respect for the law?!”
“Hitting even female students! You’re not even human!”
Cries of insult against Bukjin erupted from all directions. But Bukjin was not one to be affected by such words. Without the slightest hesitation, Bukjin sought out the student who had just cursed him and slapped their cheek.
Having completely silenced them, Bukjin finally let out a sigh.
“You all know I’m the most arrogant scoundrel in Unmong City, yet you thought I’d care about such laws?” Bukjin said, as if dumbfounded. “Not knowing the law, hitting women, acting inhumanly—that’s my specialty! Tsk tsk tsk…”
Hearing Bukjin’s words, the students of the 2nd Academy were all speechless, standing in a daze.
“Dare to pick a fight with me? Haha, what ignorant fools.”
Bukjin looked at the stunned students and nodded with satisfaction.
“It seems you finally understand who I am.”
Bukjin looked at So Jang and said, “Do you understand who I am now?”
So Jang’s face was swollen like a pig’s head. He even felt a slight concussion. So Jang urgently nodded, on the verge of tears.
“Do you still intend to challenge my reputation as Unmong City’s worst scoundrel?”
So Jang frantically shook his head.
“Then get lost.” Bukjin waved his hand.
The students of the 2nd Academy fled with their tails between their legs. Only then did Bukjin turn around and smile at Mi Yeo-yeon.
“My apologies. I acted impulsively for a moment. I hate nothing more than someone putting on airs in front of me. That fellow’s actions just now crossed a line. To dare challenge my reputation as Unmong City’s worst scoundrel…”
Mi Yeo-yeon wore an expression that showed she didn’t know how to respond.
‘Since when did the reputation of Unmong City’s worst scoundrel become something so excellent that everyone wants to challenge it?’
“Oh, right, fellow student Mi. Has your decision from last night remained unchanged?” Bukjin asked.
A blush rose on Mi Yeo-yeon’s small face. Hearing the word “last night” made her feel inexplicably shy. Mi Yeo-yeon nodded without answering. Seeing her, Bukjin smiled and extended his hand.
“In that case, fellow student Mi. Welcome to our team. Hmm… Justice League! Does that name sound good?”
Under the bright sunlight, a warm smile appeared on Bukjin’s face. Mi Yeo-yeon, as if enchanted, reached out with a flushed face and took Bukjin’s hand. Thus, the two shook hands, and the first member of the Justice League was born.
Under the gentle sunlight, Mi Yeo-yeon became the first member of Bukjin’s team.
In truth, Bukjin had intended to seek out Im Jin and offer her a spot on the team. It would certainly be beneficial if Im Jin joined at a crucial moment. However, through his conversation with Ya Mi-ang last night and Im Ji’s light tap on his shoulder, Bukjin realized that Im Jin truly couldn’t be his team member. Otherwise, Im Jin would have already sought him out to join.
‘It’s probably best not to bother Im Jin.’
Since he couldn’t have Im Jin as a team member, Mi Yeo-yeon was a member Bukjin absolutely had to secure. Mi Yeo-yeon faced some troublesome issues because of her decision to join Bukjin’s team, but her resolve remained unshaken.
“You won’t regret joining our Avengers League, will you?” Bukjin said, sweeping his black hair back and exuding a confident aura. “Let’s conquer everything together.”
After shaking hands with Bukjin, Mi Yeo-yeon spoke with a strange expression. “Justice League? Fellow student Im. Didn’t you just say Justice League?”
Bukjin smiled. “The team name isn’t that important. We just call it whatever comes to mind, so there’s no need to read too much into it. I even considered names like ‘Im Bukjin and the Kids’ or ‘Cosmic Elite Squad’ earlier, you know?”
Mi Yeo-yeon felt she couldn’t possibly follow Bukjin’s thought process. ‘Perhaps it’s because of his unique personality and thoughts, so different from others, that people misunderstand him as having a mental illness…’ Mi Yeo-yeon quietly thought to herself.
The more she got to know Bukjin, the more she realized he was an eccentric, unlike ordinary people. Yet, he possessed a strange, inexplicable charm that made it impossible to dislike him; she could only acknowledge him.
“What do we do now?” Mi Yeo-yeon asked, quickly adapting to her role as a team member.
“I have some good friends. They meet the qualifications for team members and have good skills. It’s worth trying to recruit them. It’s just…” Mi Yeo-yeon suddenly recalled the rumors about Bukjin that had spread through the city today, and she began to feel a little worried. The current situation was very unfavorable for Bukjin. Even she had hesitated.