I Knew You Were Cheating
On the deck of the Ryuchae Jewel Merchant Guild’s battleship, Jo Pacheon exuded a murderous aura as he closed the distance to Bukjin. But in that split second, Bukjin suddenly sprang to his feet. He balled his hand into a fist and hammered it directly into Jo Pacheon’s face.
Jo Pacheon spun three hundred and sixty degrees in the air like a human windmill before being slammed violently onto the deck.
BOOM—!
The massive sound of the impact echoed like a thunderclap, rattling the hearts of everyone present. Those who heard it felt a chill run down their spines. Every spectator had been eagerly anticipating a head-on clash between Bukjin and Jo Pacheon, imagining a thousand different ways the battle might unfold. However, the scene currently playing out before them was not in any of those fantasies.
The two had only just met on the deck. Yet, with a single punch, Jo Pacheon had been laid low. It took only one strike. To the onlookers, the reality of the situation felt like a lie.
Baek Hae-geum’s expression froze in shock. He let out a dry cough, his hand gripping the armrest of his chair so hard his knuckles turned white. Dam Gogeum narrowed his eyes, a cold, cynical sneer playing on his lips.
In the spectator stands, a cacophony of cheers and confused shouting erupted. The genius students in the academy section sat with their mouths agape, utterly stunned. The representatives from prestigious academies, who had been busy preparing flowery speeches to scout these talents, found their minds going blank, every rehearsed word vanishing into thin air.
"My god!" Cho Heun, Ban Oe-min, and Ryu Gye-hae shouted in unison.
The Sea Elder’s eyes went wide, the two blue gills behind his ears fluttering rapidly. The old elder of the So family, who had been calmly stroking his beard, nearly ripped the entire thing out in his shock. Behind him, So Un-ryong’s face was a mask of pure disbelief.
Even So Jang, the notorious playboy of the So family, clutched his hands to his chest, his entire body trembling. He was already making mental notes to find Bukjin after the Academic & Martial Arts Competition ended, bringing the most beautiful girls, the finest food, and the best wine in Unmong City to beg for forgiveness. We’re both scoundrels, surely he’ll show some mercy to one of his own kind, he thought desperately.
Standing tall atop the mast, Bukjin looked down at his opponent. He flashed a wide, predatory grin, revealing his white teeth.
"Do you see the gap between us now? Without the backing of White Cloud City, and without a master like Baek Hae-geum—who was so desperate for talent he took in a piece of trash like you—you are absolutely nothing, Jo Pacheon."
THUD—!
Bukjin leaped from the mast and landed lightly on the deck. He began walking slowly toward Jo Pacheon, who was struggling to rise, his face a mask of blood.
"A piece of garbage like you actually dared to covet the title of Unmong City’s greatest genius?" Bukjin let out a mocking laugh. "Looking at you now, you’re nothing but a dog in fancy clothes from White Cloud City, barking because you don’t know any better. At least three of the students I fought today had enough skill to overwhelm you. You’re lower than an insect. Are you still trapped in the delusion that you’re the best under heaven?"
"IM! BUK! JIN!"
Jo Pacheon let out a roar like a wounded lion. Covered in blood, he glared at Bukjin with eyes full of savage hatred.
"I will take your life!"
Jo Pacheon detonated a Seed of Mystic Energy within his dantian. His cultivation surged, doubling his power in an instant. He charged at Bukjin like a madman.
"That’s it? That’s all you get for blowing up a seed?"
Blue, water-attribute Mystic Energy erupted from Bukjin’s body, followed immediately by a swirling mist of crimson blood. He fully unleashed his power, activating his most aggressive techniques.
◈ Fish-Dragon Transformation (Eoryong-byeon)
◈ Blood-Reversing Berserk Technique (Yeok-hyeol-haeng-gi-gwang-jeon-sul)
How Lonely It Is to Be Invincible!
Bukjin’s vitality surged with terrifying momentum. Clad in the red mist of his own blood, he looked like an ancient beast emerging from the depths of hell. He balled his fist and threw a massive haymaker at the incoming Jo Pacheon.
KWAANG—!
The moment the punch connected, Jo Pacheon was sent flying once again. The power behind Bukjin’s fist was comparable to the force of a volcanic eruption. Against such overwhelming strength, Jo Pacheon looked like a fly trying to headbutt a sledgehammer.
"Guh...!"
A massive spray of blood erupted from Jo Pacheon’s mouth. After spinning several times in the air, he slammed back onto the deck. He skidded nearly fifty feet, leaving a long, gruesome smear of blood behind him.
"Pathetic! Weak! You stupid little insect!"
Bukjin flicked the blood from his knuckles as he spoke. He began walking slowly toward the downed boy, following the trail of gore like a literal God of Death.
The audience was paralyzed by the sheer shock of the spectacle.
How is this happening?
We expected a clash of titans, a battle between a dragon and a tiger!
Why is one side completely trampling the other?
Whether they supported Bukjin or Jo Pacheon, the spectators felt as if their ability to think had been short-circuited. Dam Gogeum finally lost his composure, a flicker of genuine alarm crossing his face before his expression sharpened into a mask of cold fury.
Baek Hae-geum leaped to his feet, shouting as if he had lost his mind.
"This... this is impossible! Im Bukjin, you... you are using some kind of foul trickery!"
Im Gun-hyeon’s face also showed surprise, but he quickly turned to Baek Hae-geum with a mocking sneer.
"What did you just say? Is the Great Master questioning my integrity? Surely you don’t think I would plan this Academic & Martial Arts Competition so poorly that someone could cheat so easily?"
Baek Hae-geum’s face darkened. Im Gun-hyeon continued his mockery.
"If your disciple wins, it’s natural... but if another student wins, it’s a trick and a fraud? Haha, Great Master Baek. That hardly sounds like one of the Three Great Swordsmen of White Cloud City. You should keep such nonsense in your head instead of shouting it so boldly in front of Lord Dam. Do you even realize the implications of your words?"
Dam Gogeum remained silent, his face a cold mask. Baek Hae-geum slowly sank back into his seat, but his mind was a raging storm.
It’s only been a few months since the Duel of the Swords! How can that brat Jeong Noe took as a disciple become this strong so quickly? That night, he only won because of a stroke of luck!
Baek Hae-geum couldn’t wrap his head around it. He had bent the rules of the competition, used every resource at his disposal, and even secretly boosted Jo Pacheon’s strength right under everyone’s noses. And yet, Bukjin was completely overwhelming him!
He must be cheating. But Jeong Noe hasn’t returned yet, using that excuse about hidden treasures in the mountains. Then who helped that scoundrel get this strong?
As he pondered, Baek Hae-geum’s gaze eventually landed on Im Gun-hyeon.
Could the Im family be helping him from the shadows?
In Unmong City, the only person capable of deceiving everyone and providing such incredible resources for cheating was the City Lord himself. Only Im Gun-hyeon could have used such extraordinary means to empower Bukjin without anyone noticing.
It has to be Im Gun-hyeon! He’s been acting like he’s keeping a close eye on the boy!
The more he thought about it, the more Baek Hae-geum became convinced he was right.
If that’s the case... Haha, City Lord Im! You’ve dug your own grave!
A cold smile spread across Baek Hae-geum’s face. He looked up at the crystal screen. Seeing his disciple struggling in a pool of his own blood, a chilling thought occurred to him.
Keeping a useless failure like that will only bring me shame. In that case, show your true value right here and now!
Baek Hae-geum slowly formed a hand seal with the hand hidden inside his sleeve. A strange, undetectable force shot through the air, flying toward the distant sea.
At that moment, the sun was halfway below the horizon. The dark red sunset looked like fresh blood spreading across the surface of the ocean.
"Im Bukjin! I will kill you! I will kill you no matter what!"
Jo Pacheon stood up once more. His mangled, bloody face looked like that of a demon. Bukjin had used nothing but his fists to shatter the boy’s pride, his body, and even his sanity. Now, the only thing left in Jo Pacheon’s mind was the desperate need to erase this nightmare named Bukjin, no matter the cost.
Jo Pacheon detonated all three of the Seeds of Mystic Energy hidden deep within his dantian. His Mystic Energy burned, his blood burned, and even the very essence of his life began to incinerate. He was betting everything.
Bukjin, too, was essentially playing all his cards. He showed his full power without reservation.
Fish-Dragon Transformation. Blood-Reversing Berserk Technique. BGM: How Lonely It Is to Be Invincible!
Bukjin had no intention of dragging this fight out. He felt that scraping out a narrow victory over time would be meaningless. He wanted to vent every ounce of rage stored in his heart. He wanted a perfect, overwhelming victory. The faces of the female swordsmen who had been slaughtered in the ambush at Bukhwang Mountain still flickered before his eyes.
He had no hesitation in revealing his hand. He simply wanted to beat Jo Pacheon into the ground with everything he had.
However, when Jo Pacheon, consumed by madness, detonated all his seeds and broke through to the 4th Grade Master Realm, even Bukjin couldn’t help but be surprised.
I knew it! You were cheating after all!
Seeing Jo Pacheon exert a level of power he shouldn’t have been capable of, Bukjin’s expression turned into one of "I told you so." Realizing that Jo Pacheon had used some foul method to boost his strength yet again, Bukjin’s anger flared even hotter.
I’m a transmigrator just trying to adapt to this world, so it’s only natural for me to use my smartphone to train! But you? You were born and raised here, and yet you never stop using these dishonest methods! You shameless bastard!