A Bright Kid, a Shameful Loss
Bukjin drew his sword.
Whish—!
The blue radiance of the Blue Bird Sword flashed within the alleyway. Streaks of sword-qi, resembling azure lightning, surged outward. The speed was so immense that the naked eye could barely keep up.
Four Moons Sword Style.
Become a dragon swimming through the clouds, turning the body as cold as snow. Use the sword as a bowstring to fire beams of moonlight.
Slash—!
Blood sprayed into the darkness of the alley.
"Gah!"
"My—my hand...!"
Screams erupted, followed by the clattering of several weapons hitting the pavement. The tip of the Blue Bird Sword had accurately pierced the wrists of his enemies. Losing the strength to hold their weapons, they scrambled backward in a frantic retreat.
Bukjin’s movements were exceptionally fluid. In an instant, he bypassed the thugs and pointed his blade at the bald man. The tip of the Blue Bird Sword glowed like moonlight, aimed directly between the man's brows.
A savage light flickered in the bald man’s eyes.
"Mountain Soldier Heavy Strike!"
A massive amount of energy began to pour from his heavy sword, a weapon weighing nearly a hundred pounds. Since the bald man believed Bukjin was the leader of the Gale Brotherhood, he had been bracing for an attack. He had been quietly accumulating his strength, and now, he let it explode.
A gale of sword-wind, swirling like a small vortex, surged toward Bukjin. The bald man didn't even seem interested in blocking or dodging Bukjin’s blade. If he had to give up his own head, he was determined to take his opponent's head with him—a classic double-suicide tactic.
This was the combat style of the minor gangs. It was cruel, violent, and barbaric. It was fundamentally different from the refined techniques taught at the academies.
Realizing he had miscalculated the man's desperation, Bukjin withdrew his thrust and moved to parry the heavy strike.
"Hahahaha! Die!"
The bald man let out a maniacal laugh. His heavy sword already weighed a hundred pounds. When combined with his physical strength, the momentum of his technique, and his Hyeongi, the force of the blow reached nearly seven hundred pounds.
This was his favorite move—crushing the opponent with overwhelming weight. He had pulverized countless enemies with this single strike.
The heavy blade descended toward Bukjin, looking as if it would cleave his body in two.
In the next moment...
Clang—!
The sharp ring of clashing steel echoed through the alley. Bright sparks flew in every direction as the two blades ground against each other in the darkness.
The bald man’s expression twisted. He could feel an incredible repulsive force vibrating through his heavy sword. The strength emanating from the boy before him was far beyond his imagination.
Furthermore, Bukjin’s Blue Bird Sword hadn't even met the heavy blade head-on. At the moment of impact, Bukjin had shifted into a peculiar stance, tilting his blade at a forty-five-degree angle. The moment the swords rubbed together, seventy percent of the bald man’s power was instantly diverted and dissipated.
Bukjin then used the redirected pressure of the heavy sword to launch a counterattack. As their figures crossed, the Blue Bird Sword swiveled with lightning speed and struck the bald man.
A flash of sword-light followed by a chilling aura.
"Urgh...!"
The bald man staggered and collapsed to the ground. A deep wound, so severe that the bone was visible, had been carved into his thigh. He had completely lost the ability to fight.
But Bukjin didn't stop there. He continued to weave through the alley, executing the Cloud-Rain Step and the Four Moons Sword Style with relentless precision.
One by one, the bald man’s subordinates fell, their wrists slashed. The alley was filled with the sounds of agonizing screams and weapons hitting the floor.
Before long, the bald man and all his men were incapacitated.
Sheathe—!
Having finished the job, Bukjin slid the Blue Bird Sword back into its scabbard.
Ah, that was seriously clean.
Bukjin couldn't help but admire himself. Standing alone in the moonlit alley after heroically taking down his enemies, he felt he looked every bit like a Sword Immortal.
It hadn't been long since Bukjin started training with the Four Moons Sword Style and Cloud-Rain Step apps. However, because he had kept the apps running continuously, he had already reached a respectable level of mastery.
Techniques: Four Moons Sword Style & Cloud-Rain Step
Current Rank: Initial Entry Realm
The power of Star-grade martial arts was even more impressive than he had anticipated. As he physically manifested these techniques, Bukjin fell into a state of self-intoxication, feeling like a true wandering hero.
He slowly turned around, preparing to receive the grateful thanks of Bang So-baek and her companions. He had even rehearsed his humble response—a nonchalant expression paired with the words, "It was a minor matter, don't give it a second thought."
However, when Bukjin looked back, the three figures had already vanished from the alley.
Huh? They ran? They dared to run away while I was working my ass off fighting in their place?
A wave of profound disappointment washed over him.
Those ungrateful bastards!
His mood soured. He looked down at the bald man and barked, "Which gang do you lot belong to?"
The bald man gritted his teeth against the pain. "We are from the Thousand Li Merchant Guild. We have a grudge against the Gale Brotherhood, so we came out to hunt them today... Look, friend, it’s clear you aren't one of them. It seems there’s been a slight misunderstanding, so why don't we just call it even and go our separate ways?"
Seeing that Bang So-baek’s group hadn't stayed to help Bukjin and had instead fled, the bald man realized he had made a mistake. He had mistaken a random passerby for the leader of the Gale Brotherhood.
However, Bukjin’s skill was terrifyingly high for a mere passerby. The bald man was now genuinely afraid that he had provoked the wrong person.
Thousand Li Merchant Guild?
That was the name of the top merchant guild in Unmong City. They held a seventy-percent monopoly on all tea leaves in the city and had amassed incredible wealth through the trade of Blue Light Stones and cotton.
"Get lost," Bukjin said curtly.
The bald man and his subordinates offered a quick bow and scrambled out of the alley without another word.
"Those guys must be low-level grunts even within the Thousand Li Merchant Guild. I only beat that bald guy because his skill hadn't even reached the Master Rank. With that level of ability, he probably holds no real status in the guild. Hmm... the fact that they sent someone that weak to capture Bang So-baek means they thought he was enough to handle her. It seems the power gap between the two gangs is quite large."
Walking out of the alley, Bukjin muttered to himself as he reflected on the situation. Suddenly, his face went pale.
"Dammit!"
He realized he had made a massive blunder. In a situation like that, he could have easily extorted money and valuables from them before they fled. He had just let a golden opportunity to make a fortune slip through his fingers.
That was a mistake! A total rookie mistake! I’ve gotten too soft lately just because I made some decent money selling those badges! In the past, I never would have let them go for free...
Bukjin scolded himself for his laziness. Just as he was about to leave the vicinity of the alley, a figure suddenly popped out from the side and knelt before him, bowing his head to the ground.
"Great One! This humble servant, Ak Hong-seol, offers his sincerest thanks for saving my life!"
It was the young waiter. His name was Ak Hong-seol.
"Oh? You didn't run away?" Bukjin asked, surprised. He reached down and pulled the boy to his feet.
"Ah! You're... the guest from the inn this evening...?" Ak Hong-seol finally recognized Bukjin’s face.
Flustered, the boy stammered, "I am so sorry! I was so frantic trying to save Sister So-baek that I didn't recognize you, Great One. Saving her was my top priority, so I left without a proper greeting. It wasn't out of ungratefulness, I swear! I intended to return immediately after getting her to safety..."
"And what were you planning to do once you returned?" Bukjin asked.
Ak Hong-seol blushed, his expression honest and unpretentious. "I was going to help you, of course. If you hadn't been able to handle them, I was prepared to throw away my life to help you escape."
Looking at the boy's face, Bukjin could tell he wasn't lying. Besides, if it were a lie, there would have been no reason for him to come back at all.
"You said your name is Ak Hong-seol? Then is Ak Hong-hyang your..." Bukjin began, recalling what the boy had bragged about at the inn.
"He doesn't know who Ak Hong-hyang is."
A cold female voice drifted from the shadows of the alley. "Their names are similar, but they have no relation whatsoever."
A petite woman stepped out from a corner of the alley. She had short black hair that reached just below her ears, and a faint scent of blood wafted from her. As the light from a distant streetlamp hit her face, it revealed features that were neat, elegant, yet icy cold.
"Sister So-baek? Why are you here?" Ak Hong-seol cried out in shock, rushing over to support her.
Until moments ago, Bang So-baek had been completely immobilized by the anesthetic.
"I'm fine, move!" Bang So-baek snapped, pushing the boy away with a stern glare. She was furious that Ak Hong-seol had returned to the alley despite the danger. If the situation hadn't been resolved, his safety would have been forfeit. Because of that, she had risked damaging her own Hyeongi to forcibly suppress the anesthetic and follow him here.
"Yes, ma'am..." Ak Hong-seol hung his head like a child who had been scolded by a parent. Even so, he didn't forget to add, "Sister So-baek... that older brother is a good person..."
"Quiet!" Bang So-baek glared at him again. Terrified, Ak Hong-seol didn't dare utter another word.
"About what happened..." Bang So-baek said, her voice cold as she looked Bukjin up and down. "Even if it wasn't your intention to help us, I am grateful regardless. At the very least, you bought us time to escape..."
Her tone was incredibly rude. However, Bukjin wasn't angry at all—mostly because what she said was the truth. He had intended to be a mere bystander and had no desire to get involved. If the bald man hadn't mistaken him for the leader of the Gale Brotherhood and picked a fight, Bukjin wouldn't have lifted a finger.
"I, Bang So-baek, am someone who knows how to repay a debt. I will make sure to return the favor later," she said, offering a formal fist-and-palm salute while maintaining her icy expression. "Since I owe you, would you mind telling me your name?"
Bukjin and Bang So-baek had already met during the Academic & Martial Arts Competition qualifiers, but since Bukjin had been in disguise then, she didn't recognize him now.
Bukjin looked at Ak Hong-seol, who was standing to the side with a long face, and simply shook his head. Then, he turned and walked away.
Don't get deeply involved with the people of this world. That was the number one principle Bukjin lived by. In particular, he had zero desire to associate with the aggressive and savage members of the underworld gangs. He was merely curious how a bright and kind-hearted boy like Ak Hong-seol had ended up running with such a crowd.
He's a bright kid, what a shame he's mixed up with those people.