Survival Above All Else
Inside the classroom, Wang Chung was trembling with such intensity that his entire body rattled. His eyes darted back and forth, fixed on Bukjin with a look of profound unease. In his mind, he was already calculating the worst-case scenario. He even considered the possibility of shoving his young master—the very source of all this calamity—out the door to appease the crowd’s bloodlust.
But then, to his surprise, Bukjin took the initiative and began walking toward the exit on his own. At the threshold, Bukjin paused and glanced back at the butler. Their eyes met for a fleeting second.
In that moment, both men simultaneously hurled the same insult at each other in their minds: "Dumbass."
"This idiotic brat is actually walking to his own death? Has he finally lost his mind?" Wang Chung thought, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"This useless old man... why hasn't he run away yet? If the situation turns and we get trapped in here, it's over. He won't even be able to escape; he'll just be beaten to death like a stray dog," Bukjin lamented internally.
As Bukjin stepped out of the classroom, he was met with a sea of people. A dense, dark crowd had gathered, every single one of them glaring at him with eyes that burned with incandescent rage. The cacophony that had been shaking the heavens moments ago died down into a heavy, suffocating silence the instant he appeared. But the quiet didn't last; it was merely the indrawn breath before a storm. Their fury intensified, their eyes turning bloodshot as they stared at him as if he were a mortal enemy who had slaughtered their entire kin. Some were even grinding their teeth, looking ready to pounce at any second.
Jeong Sam-seok, who stood between the mob and the door, looked like a giant piece of prey surrounded by a swarm of army ants. His face was pale, and he seemed utterly paralyzed by the sheer scale of the hostility. It was a powder keg waiting for a spark; Bukjin was seconds away from being torn limb from limb.
Suddenly, a peculiar voice rang out from the midst of the gathered students.
"Wait."
As if by magic, the enraged students froze. Even those who had already raised their fists, mid-swing toward Bukjin’s face, stopped dead in their tracks.
"Everyone, please listen to me first."
A girl emerged from the crowd, dressed in the blue swordsman uniform of the 3rd Junior Swordsman Academy. Her words carried a weight that felt like a divine decree from the heavens. The students instinctively parted to create a path for her. Even those who had completely lost their self-control moments ago stepped aside submissively.
Naturally, Bukjin’s gaze was drawn to her as well. The moment he saw her, a single thought echoed in his mind.
She is breathtaking.
The girl who had commanded the crowd was beautiful to an almost surreal degree. She wore the same plain blue uniform as everyone else, yet on her, it looked like the most elegant raiment in all of Unmong City. She was, quite literally, a walking princess. It felt as though a radiant light emanated from her very being. As she walked with the setting sun at her back, the onlookers felt a sudden urge to shield their eyes from the dazzling sight.
Her face was like a masterpiece painted by a master artist, her skin as flawless as white jade. Her hair was tied back neatly, and she possessed an aura of dignity and spirit rarely seen in a woman.
"Looking like that should be a crime!" Bukjin couldn't help but marvel inwardly.
But then, a sharp pang shot through his chest. It was a dull, aching pain that throbbed through his entire torso. The source of the agony was a flood of memories suddenly surging into his mind like a breaking dam.
The name of this impossibly beautiful girl was Mok Simwol. She was the perennial number one on the academy's list of most beautiful students and ranked second in terms of martial talent. Her popularity throughout the 3rd Academy was staggering. True to her nickname, the 'Princess of the People,' she was the dream girl of every young man in the city. Her beauty was famous not just within the school, but throughout all of Unmong City.
And she had one more title that linked her to him...
She was Bukjin’s ex-girlfriend.
The previous Bukjin—the one known as the 'Calamity of Unmong City'—had only ever truly cared for and protected one person. That person was Mok Simwol. For an entire year, he had committed countless blunders, earned the resentment of a multitude of people, and squandered an astronomical amount of wealth. All of it had been a desperate attempt to win her favor. To outsiders, his actions were the reckless whims of a spoiled, profligate noble heir. In reality, every single thing he had done was for the girl standing before him.
He had allowed his name to be dragged through the mud and never once offered an explanation. In just one year, he had exhausted the vast fortunes of the Jeon-cheon-hu family, converting them into rare cultivation resources and gifts for Mok Simwol. It was through his backing that an ordinary girl had been transformed into the worshipped 'Princess of the People.'
However, three days ago, the previous Bukjin had failed to procure a 'Nourishing Essence Elixir' worth five hundred gold coins that she had demanded. Citing his terrible reputation as the reason, Mok Simwol had promptly broken up with him. The shock of that betrayal had been too much for the original Bukjin to bear.
Because of this history, the moment the current Bukjin laid eyes on her, the old memories—which had yet to fully integrate with his new soul—began to churn. It was a memory filled with profound sadness and heartache, and it threatened to swallow him whole.
"Sigh... I never imagined we would meet again under such circumstances," Mok Simwol said with a soft sigh.
That faint sound sent ripples through the hearts of the male students standing nearby. It was the sigh of a goddess. The boys staring at her looked as if their souls were being sucked right out of their bodies.
"Your father, Im Geun-nam, was once the pride of Unmong City and a hero of the Empire. But through his poor judgment, he sacrificed innocent soldiers and fell from grace, becoming a criminal. From this day forward, you and Im Jin must carry the weight of that sin. You will likely spend the rest of your lives trying to atone for it..."
Mok Simwol looked at Bukjin with an expression of deep pity.
"However, do not worry. I am not the type of person to kick someone while they are down. You have helped me in the past, so today, I shall return the favor."
Having said that, Mok Simwol turned to the surrounding crowd and spoke in a gentle, melodic voice.
"Whoa! As expected of our goddess!"
"Goddess Simwol, how can your heart be so pure? To think you'd even help a piece of trash like him..."
"Everyone, let's call it a day!"
"I'll deal with anyone who doesn't show Goddess Simwol the respect she deserves!"
"Let's let him go for today! Tomorrow morning, we'll give that scoundrel the thrashing he deserves!"
Countless male students, looking as if they were under a trance, began to smile and retreat, clearing the area.
Watching this scene, Jeong Sam-seok was utterly speechless. He felt like banging his head against the wall in frustration. He was a teacher with fifteen years of experience and a prestigious reputation, yet no matter how hard he had tried to restrain the students, they hadn't listened to a single word he said. They had ignored him completely. He felt like crawling into a hole and hiding. With a dejected expression, he cast a quiet glance at Bukjin, let out a heavy sigh, shook his head, and walked away.
"Im Bukjin, there is no need to thank me. After today, we are even. I'll give you one piece of advice: just live as an ordinary person. Forget everything that happened between us and live quietly. You'll have to forget your old life as a noble, too. It will be better for you that way."
With those final words, Mok Simwol turned and walked away, her hair fluttering in the breeze. Bukjin watched his 'ex-girlfriend' depart and suddenly burst into laughter.
Impressive. The move Mok Simwol had just pulled was truly masterful. With just a few words, she had completely severed her ties with the previous Bukjin. On top of that, she had bolstered her reputation as someone who repays her debts. And by explicitly stating that the students could do as they pleased after today, she ensured she would never have to lift a finger for him again.
The previous Bukjin had given her his heart, his soul, and his family's fortune, sacrificing everything for her. And in return, all he got was a one-day reprieve from being beaten to death. She was the most fox-like woman he had ever encountered.
Bukjin felt a brief moment of cynicism before shaking the thought from his head.
"I'm not hurt by this. What use is a pretty girlfriend anyway? A girlfriend doesn't put food on the table. Fine, go if you want! What matters to me right now is figuring out how to get back to Earth."
A moment later, reality set back in.
"No, the most important thing right now is survival... This school is too dangerous! A horde of people will be coming for my head tomorrow. I need to escape first."
As Bukjin muttered to himself, Wang Chung suddenly appeared by his side like a ghost, his voice low and eerie.
"Young Master, think carefully. It is even more dangerous outside. If you don't believe me, see for yourself."
Bukjin turned his head toward the distant main gate of the academy. His eyes were immediately met by the glint of cold, sharpened steel.
The entrance to the 3rd Junior Swordsman Academy was still swarming with people. Countless sword blades reflected the light, emitting a chilling aura.
"Im Bukjin! You bastard who deserves a thousand deaths! Come out here right now!"
"I, Jang Jin-mi, will block this gate for ten years if I have to! I'll catch you and strip the flesh from your bones!"
"Im Bukjin! You remember me, Hyang Gon, don't you?! Come out and meet your end!"
"The man who ruined his own family, the scoundrel Im Bukjin! Show your face!"
A relentless barrage of enraged shouts and curses reached his ears. The menacing crowds weren't just at the main gate; they had tightly blockaded the back gate and the side entrances as well, hurling insults without pause.
Terrified by the sight, Bukjin and Wang Chung turned and sprinted toward the deepest, most secluded part of the academy grounds.