A Slight Misunderstanding!

"It seems there has been a slight misunderstanding!"

Baek Hae-geum, seated in the seat of honor prepared within the Great Hall, accepted the tea brought by the manor's maidservants. After taking a sip and savoring the aroma, he slightly furrowed his brow, unable to hide his displeasure.

"Lady Jin, my visit to Unmong City with Cheon-ah was not only to fulfill a three-year covenant with an old friend but also to pay my respects to Old Master Im. However, I wonder if the Old Master will have the time to see me."

Jin Ran-seo replied with a polite smile. "The Head of the House has rarely been inside the manor lately. I shall send someone to inquire... Ah, and the old friend you mentioned, Great Master—is he indeed the regular teacher from the 3rd Academy?"

"He is," Baek Hae-geum replied curtly.

It was no secret that something had transpired between the two men. Every noble in Unmong City was well aware of the incident that had occurred during the 'Night of the Sword Trial' three years ago.

"I assume it would be best for this year's Night of the Sword Trial to be hosted by the City Manor as well?" Jin Ran-seo asked, testing the waters.

Baek Hae-geum nodded. "That would be ideal. Since things have turned out this way, I believe it best to follow the same rules as last time. I would appreciate it if you could assist me in sending out thirty-six invitations, Lady Jin. Let us set the time for the night of the full moon, ten days from now."

"Are you saying you intend to conduct it publicly again?" Jin Ran-seo’s brow twitched, a movement so subtle it was almost imperceptible to others.

Baek Hae-geum replied in a calm, steady voice, "White Cloud City never does anything halfway."

The sun began to set, painting the sky in hues of deep crimson.

In front of the gates of the Provincial 3rd Junior Swordsman Academy.

Over a hundred teachers appeared simultaneously before the school gates. They lined up on both sides of the entrance, dressed in uniform faculty robes, chatting and smiling amongst themselves as if anticipating something grand.

Their gazes were fixed on the distance, as if waiting for the arrival of some great dignitary.

As one of the seven major academies in Unmong City, the 3rd Academy had lost much of its former prestige to its rivals. However, as an educational institution under the North Sea Empire—a nation that placed immense value on education—it still wielded significant influence within the city as a martial arts academy. Seeing so many teachers gathered in one place created an aura of power that was impossible to ignore.

"What's going on? Why are the teachers forming a formation like that? Something big is happening."

"Look at how many of them are out there! Who are all those masters waiting for?"

"Could it be that one of the power players from the Board of Education is coming for an inspection?"

The citizens passing by the gates were deeply shocked. They gathered in small groups, whispering and observing the scene with eyes full of curiosity.

Even those who had been loitering in front of the gates for days, nursing grudges and waiting for a chance to take revenge on Im Bukjin, sensed the gravity of the situation and began to act with caution.

"Everyone, stay alert! Back up a bit! We don't know who's visiting, but we mustn't be disrespectful!"

"Remember! ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Our target is Im ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Bukjin, not the 3rd Academy. Do not interfere with the teachers!"

"You there in the blue robe at the front! Step back further! Do not commit any discourtesy! The man directly in front of you is Teacher Cho Heun, the 2nd Grade Dean. He's a terrifying man known as the Poison Yama!"

The representatives of various gangs and mercenary captains, who had organized the mob seeking vengeance against Bukjin, moved busily through the crowd, barking orders to maintain order. In an atmosphere this serious, any reckless behavior could lead to disastrous consequences. Interfering with an academy event in front of so many gathered masters was a death wish.

But who on earth are all these martial teachers waiting for?

As time passed, the crowd's curiosity only intensified. Then...

"They're here! They'll be arriving any second! They've already passed the city gates!"

The sound of a horse's neigh echoed from somewhere. A young teacher on horseback galloped toward them, shouting at the top of his lungs. An uncontrollable smile spread across Cho Heun's face. He turned to the other teachers and raised his voice.

"Everyone, get ready...!"

A moment later.

The academy carriage, pulled by a magical beast, finally appeared in the distance, racing toward the 3rd Academy. Countless eyes fixed upon the vehicle.

"Who is it?"

"Who could be so important that they're in that carriage?"

"It looks like the 3rd Academy sent their own carriage to pick them up personally."

"Wait! The one driving the carriage is a teacher too...!"

Expectant murmurs erupted from the crowd. Having waited for nearly an hour, their curiosity had reached its peak. The carriage came to a halt in front of the gates.

Immediately, the teachers lined up at the gate began to applaud, their clapping sounding like a rhythmic thunder. Cho Heun stepped forward with a beaming smile and shouted.

"Hahaha! The pride of our academy! Our hero has finally returned!"

The carriage door swung open. The first person to step out was Oh Sobang. His face was covered in blue and purple bruises, swollen as if he had been thoroughly thrashed only moments ago. He scrambled out of the carriage as if escaping a ghost, his expression one of pure terror.

The crowd stared, bewildered by the bizarre sight.

What kind of situation is this?

Following him was Mok Simwol, a girl whose beauty was so renowned she was called the 'Princess of the Masses.' Though she looked strangely haggard and appeared as if she might burst into tears at any moment, many people's eyes sparkled at the sight of her stunning features.

However, the next moment, the crowd gasped in horror. As soon as Oh Sobang and Mok Simwol stepped down, Cho Heun stepped forward and grabbed them both, dragging them out of sight as if he were clearing away trash. Then, another figure stepped out of the carriage.

It was Ak Hong-hyang, the young girl who exuded a refined and gentle aura. As she descended, Cho Heun’s expression shifted instantly. He approached her with a bright smile and patted her shoulder lightly.

"Hong-hyang, you did well! Our academy will never forget the effort you put in to bring glory to our name."

Could it be that all these teachers were waiting for that girl? the citizens wondered, their confusion growing. What on earth did she accomplish?

But then, another figure stepped out of the carriage. It was a boy.

The moment he appeared, every single teacher in the line began to applaud with all their might. If the previous applause had been like the sound of a small stream, this was a torrential flood, powerful enough ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to bring down a mountain. On top of that, the teachers were cheering at the top of their lungs.

"Hahaha! You rascal! I knew you wouldn't disappoint me!"

Cho Heun rushed forward and pulled the boy into a crushing hug. He looked like a father reuniting with a long-lost son.

"Is 'not disappointing you' all I did?" the boy asked with a sly, mischievous grin.

Cho Heun laughed even louder. "Hahaha! Are you scolding me, you brat? Fine! I have to admit it! It's not just 'not disappointing'—it's a celebration! A grand celebration! From this day forward, if anyone in this academy or in all of Unmong City dares to bully Im Bukjin, I, Cho Heun, will personally lead all one hundred and thirty second-grade teachers to give them a taste of hell! Hahaha!"

Cho Heun's voice, infused with Mystic Energy, became a powerful sound wave that echoed in the ears of everyone gathered.

"That's right! The 3rd Academy protects Im Bukjin!"

"If anyone dares to lay a finger on Im Bukjin, the entire second-grade faculty will deliver divine punishment!"

"I'll break the legs of anyone who messes with him!"

The teachers shouted in unison, backing Cho Heun. The surrounding citizens stood there, mouths agape in shock.

Wait... Im Bukjin?!

The people gathered at the gate looked closer at the boy who had stepped out of the carriage.

That boy with the cunning, rat-like smile... that's the legendary scoundrel, Im Bukjin!

In the next heartbeat, countless nightmares began to flash through the minds of the startled citizens. They remembered the terror of his past antics and the damages they had suffered because of him. The faces that had been full of curiosity moments ago were now frozen in horror.

Meanwhile, Bukjin was already bowing to the teachers and waving his hand at the crowd.

"Hello, everyone! I am—"

To think so many people gathered to welcome me! They're all such wonderful people!

Bukjin's heart swelled with a sense of accomplishment. He even began to think that life in this world wasn't just boring and tedious after all. But then...

"Aaaaah! Save me! Im Bukjin is here!"

"Gah! It's Im Bukjin! Run for your lives!"

"Quick, close the windows!"

"Women under sixty, hide yourselves immediately!"

"Mommy!"

Screams erupted from the crowd. It was as if a wolf had suddenly appeared in a flock of rabbits. People ducked their heads and vanished in every direction as if they had seen a vengeful spirit. In the blink of an eye, the street in front of the academy gates was deserted.

The smile on Bukjin's face vanished just as quickly.

"Haha... it seems people have a slight misunderstanding about me!"

Bukjin turned to Cho Heun and gave an awkward smile. With that, he disappeared behind the academy gates, followed by the cheers of the teachers.

The people who had gathered outside the gates for weeks to seek revenge were left staring at each other in a daze. They couldn't comprehend what had just happened. They had come here because the House of the War God had fallen. Bukjin was supposed to be a penniless, powerless nobody—a gutter rat with no influence left. They had all waited to take their pound of flesh, and even the teachers of the 3rd Academy had supposedly wanted him gone as soon as possible.

But now, the situation had taken a bizarre turn.

What on earth happened?

Why are the teachers of the 3rd Academy protecting that piece of trash?

At that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠moment, a brilliant pillar of silver light shot into the sky from the central square of Unmong City. It was so bright that everyone within a radius of dozens of miles could see it. Then, a voice, sounding like a deity speaking from the heavens, flowed clearly from the silver pillar and spread throughout the entire city.

The people who heard the voice were struck with profound shock.

Im Bukjin... that scoundrel actually placed in the top three of the selection trial?!