A Perfect Defeat
Sim Bi felt a surge of rage boiling within him. He desperately wanted to fire back with a scathing rebuttal, but his mind had gone completely blank. Trembling uncontrollably, his complexion turned a sickly shade of gray before he let out a harsh cough, spraying fresh blood onto the ground.
Seeing this, Bukjin smirked and spoke with a mocking drawl. "Don't even think about imitating me. Just because you're spitting up blood doesn't mean you're in my league."
Earlier, when Bukjin had endured Sim Bi’s Nine Heavens Star Cloud, the impact had forced his body to expel impurities—much like a Marrow Cleansing—allowing him to achieve a breakthrough and use that momentum to crush Sim Bi. However, the blood Sim Bi was currently hacking up was just... well, blood. To make matters worse, he was now being scolded by Bukjin for being a copycat.
"Urgh!"
Sim Bi felt a crushing weight on his chest and vomited blood once more. Unable to watch any longer, Lee Do and Do Man-seong rushed forward to support him. Bukjin watched them, his grin never wavering.
Trying to act tough in front of me? Go ahead, keep puking blood until you pass out!
In truth, Bukjin was also quite surprised by the level of power he had just displayed. The only reason he had been able to keep fighting was thanks to his Peerless Sword Body. Throughout the ten days of the selection trials, Bukjin had kept the [Peerless Sword Body] app running constantly.
Peerless Sword Body (Musang-geom-che)
Status: Continuous Cultivation...
He wasn't entirely sure what level his Peerless Sword Body had reached, but he knew for a fact that he had become incredibly strong. Furthermore, the increase in his mental power played a huge role. Bukjin finally understood the true meaning of Unity of Internal and External mentioned in the Understanding Mental Power: Beginner manual. This unity was the fundamental principle of becoming truly powerful.
Bukjin realized that, if necessary, he needed to build a foundation of basic martial knowledge of this world—things like the realms of cultivation, the specific powers and characteristics of each rank, and the precise methods of utilizing mental power.
This world was filled with danger, and crises lurked around every corner. There was no guarantee he wouldn't face another life-threatening situation before he could return to Earth. Therefore, to survive and make it back, he had to grow his abilities and maintain a stable life. This battle was proof of that; if he hadn't achieved that breakthrough, he would have been a dead man before he ever saw home again.
After a few moments, Sim Bi managed to compose himself enough to speak.
"I... I lost."
Sim Bi was gritting his teeth. Admitting defeat was the hardest thing he had ever done. As soon as the words left his mouth, a commotion broke out among the gathered students. Lee Do and Do Man-seong looked like they had seen a ghost. To them, Sim Bi was an idol on par with Im Jin, and yet he had just been defeated by Unmong City’s most notorious trash, Bukjin.
Having conceded, Sim Bi smoothed his expression and continued.
"Im Bukjin, even if you defeated me, the situation remains unchanged. Raw martial strength means nothing here. Because..."
Sim Bi forced a smile onto his face—a smile that possessed a strange, captivating charm.
"Our plan today wasn't to prove whose martial arts were superior, but to decide the outcome of the selection trials. You no longer hold any advantage over us. Lady Im’s right arm is severely injured, rendering her unable to hold a sword. And while you, Student Im, performed admirably, you have no strength left. As for Student Ak..."
Sim Bi smiled calmly as he looked at Ak Hong-hyang.
"The tendons in Student Ak’s right hand have been severed. It will take a long time for her to recover fully. None of you three have the strength left to fight. But we? We still have many people left. How do you plan to stop us?"
Bukjin froze. Dammit! He’s right!
The students, whose faces had been dark with shock after Sim Bi’s defeat, began to brighten. The shock of seeing their leader lose had paralyzed them, but Sim Bi’s loss didn't mean their plan had failed. The students following Oh So-bang and Lee Do were numerous, and the tide of battle was still firmly in their favor.
"Let me give you all a lesson today."
The bleeding from the wound on Sim Bi’s right hand had already stopped. Confidence flooded back into his face as he smiled. He looked at Bukjin and Im Jin with a sneer.
"A single tree cannot make a forest. One person’s strength cannot overturn the general trend of the world. Those who truly hold their destiny in their hands possess wisdom, allies, and influence beyond their own individual power."
It was a simple statement, but it was enough to reignite the students' spirits. Lee Do and Do Man-seong, who had been dejected, began to look at Sim Bi with renewed expectation and respect.
He’s right. Failure isn't what’s scary; it’s the inability to face your failure properly. Some people fall into self-loathing and give up on everything after a loss. But Sim Bi? He openly admitted his mistake and used it to make himself stand out even more. He just planted even deeper faith in his followers. That kind of charisma is terrifying...
Bukjin felt a headache coming on. In a way, he was incredibly unlucky to have run into an opponent like this. Do I really have to pull out my final hidden trump card?
As Bukjin weighed the pros and cons, feeling frustrated, Im Jin slowly stepped forward and stood by his side.
"Let me give you a lesson instead," she said quietly, her eyes fixed on Sim Bi.
"Absolute strength can shatter any plan. A large number of people isn't the reliable crutch you imagine it to be. No matter how many sheep there are in a flock, they can never defeat a single dragon."
Blood was still trickling from the sword wound on her right shoulder. It was a peculiar injury, one that was difficult to stop bleeding in a short amount of time. Because of this, she gripped her sword with her left hand.
Her white fingers, looking as if they were carved from fine jade, wrapped around the hilt. With her skin as clear as moonlight, she exuded an atmosphere of beauty so dizzying it could make a man's head spin.
"Actually, when I first started training with the sword, the hand I used wasn't my right..."
Im Jin’s left hand moved with a violent blur.
Whoosh!
Ten sword flowers bloomed in the air—beautiful, chilling blossoms of cold steel.
"It was my left."
A fierce light flickered in Im Jin’s eyes as she lunged. Generally, people use their right hand for swordsmanship. Unless they are naturally left-handed or dual-wielders, very few use their left. For a right-handed person to switch hands usually meant overturning their habits, which typically resulted in a decrease in combat effectiveness.
But Im Jin was the exception.
The ordinary Unmong Guard issued longsword in her left hand erupted with a power that far surpassed anything she had shown with her right. With every swing, a student was decisively taken down. No, it wasn't just one at a time. Im Jin’s sword swept through the crowd like a silent typhoon.
The students were sent flying before they could even register the flash of steel before their eyes. Im Jin was even holding back; if she hadn't been, they would have lost their lives without ever knowing how they died.
Lee Do and Do Man-seong roared and rushed forward to intercept her. The combined attack of the two geniuses known as the 'Twin Pillars' of the National Imperial Junior Academy was formidable. Furthermore, they were using a coordinated strike technique.
Yet, they were effortlessly broken by Im Jin’s left-handed sword. The longswords of both Do Man-seong and Lee Do snapped in half. Simultaneously, the impact tore the skin of their palms, causing blood to spray.
Sensing that the situation had turned dire, Sim Bi utilized his Ghostly Phantom Steps to move in an instant, plucking the Taea Treasure Sword from where it was stuck in the ground. He spun around and unleashed the Star Cloud Sword Technique.
His movements were like a tiger’s, his sword dance like a mad dragon’s. The trajectory of the Taea Treasure Sword embroidered the air like the starlight of the nine heavens cutting through the night sky.
"Let's end this."
Im Jin spoke calmly as she thrust her sword forward with immense force. In that instant, a streak of sword light flashed through the air.
Clang!
Im Jin’s blade struck the flat of the Taea Treasure Sword with incredible power.
Crack! Snap!
In the next heartbeat, the Taea Treasure Sword—a blade renowned as a masterpiece—began to crack from its center before shattering completely. The shards of the broken blade whistled through the air, grazing Sim Bi’s cheek.
Slice!
A long line of blood appeared on Sim Bi’s face. He froze in place, his eyes wide with shock. He felt death itself brush past him in that moment.
Defeat. A perfect, absolute defeat.
Even his legendary sword had been destroyed by a common guard’s blade. The strength Im Jin displayed while using her left-handed style was beyond imagination. Sim Bi could no longer maintain his composure; his mind had long since turned to mush.
He felt that if he fought a life-or-death battle against Im Jin while she used her right hand, he might at least have the confidence to retreat in a crisis. But against her left hand? He had the sinking feeling he would have died seven or eight times within a few breaths before he could even make a move.
Is the person called the greatest genius in Unmong City after Im Cheong-seon truly this terrifying?
Sim Bi didn't want to admit it. He had always been confident that his martial talent was that of a genius among geniuses. He had crafted this meticulous plan just to ensure perfection, believing that the gap between his skill and Im Jin’s wasn't that large—or at least, that it was a gap he could overcome.
But now...
"Ugh! *Cough!*"
Sim Bi, suffering a massive shock to his mind and body, vomited blood for the third time. After crushing the countless 'genius' students, Im Jin sheathed her sword and returned to Bukjin’s side.
A breeze blew past, fluttering Im Jin’s hair across her face. A powerful aura still radiated from her entire body, making her seem mysterious and untouchable to all who watched. The remaining students had lost their will to fight and didn't dare step forward.
Sim Bi stared blankly at his broken sword, coughing up blood in a stunned, hollow silence.