Regret is a Bitter Pill

Bukjin was about to step out of the faculty office when Cho Heun added one last instruction.

"Oh, and once you've finished selecting your manuals, make sure to report to the Sword Grinding Hall." Cho Heun raised his voice so it would carry across the room. "The academy needs to conduct a comprehensive measurement of your combat power. It’s all part of the plan to cultivate your growth from here on out, so don't worry!"

"Yes, sir! Understood!" Bukjin replied, quickening his pace as he left the office.

"That kid..." A small smile played on Cho Heun's lips. However, as he turned back to his desk and looked at a specific letter lying there, the smile vanished, replaced by a shadow of concern. Embossed on the envelope was the Heavenly Sword mark—the unmistakable seal of the Imperial Family.

Classes were in full swing. Bukjin arrived at the door of Class 8 and scanned the room. It didn't take long to spot Ak Hong-hyang sitting in the center of the classroom. Catching her eye, Bukjin flashed a bright smile and gave a cheerful wave.

"Junior Ak!"

The atmosphere ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in Class 8 instantly turned chaotic. There wasn't a single second-year student who didn't know Bukjin by now. In the past, he had been famous for all the wrong reasons, but his notoriety had shifted significantly. His record-breaking performance in the selection trials—the best in the history of the 3rd Academy—was certainly part of it.

However, the biggest factor in his rehabilitation was, without a doubt, his stunning good looks. Currently, half the female students in the academy were head-over-heels for him. Even among the boys, there were those who had begun to view him as an idol.

As Bukjin stepped into the room, the girls' eyes began to sparkle like stars. Some clutched their chests, while others covered their mouths to stifle the screams threatening to escape. The boys looked on with equal intensity. Amidst the commotion, Ak Hong-hyang stood up calmly and walked toward him.

"Senior Im, were you looking for me?"

Facing her, Bukjin explained that they had been granted permission to choose new martial arts manuals. "Let's go pick some out together."

Ak Hong-hyang nodded. "I'd like that."

As the two of them headed toward the library, the students left behind erupted in whispers.

"Whoa, why are they together?"

"Is there something going on between Senior Im and Senior Ak?"

Being the center of every storm in the academy, Bukjin couldn't help but draw the gaze of everyone he passed. The library was located behind the third-year academic building. As a vital hub of the academy, it was protected by a Mystic Array at all times, with twenty teachers rotating on a strict guard schedule. However, with the special transit token Cho Heun had provided, entry was a breeze.

The librarian wasn't some legendary grandfather with a beard reaching his waist. Instead, they were met by a student-teacher named Shao Li. After inspecting Bukjin's token, she led them to the bookshelves within the restricted zone.

Shao Li smiled warmly. "The techniques suitable for you ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠two are in this section. Take your time and choose wisely. You're allowed three volumes each. One stick of incense should be enough time, right?"

"Thank you, teacher."

"Thank you very much."

After their polite greetings, the two began their search. Bukjin’s eyes widened as he scanned the shelves. If he used his smartphone to take just one photo of every manual here, he wouldn't just learn three—he could master the entire library. He felt like a rabbit that had just stumbled into a giant carrot patch.

However, as he began to look closer, his excitement cooled. Most of the manuals here were 1-Star techniques. While there were occasional 2-Star manuals, they paled in comparison to the Flowers Before the Moon Sword or the Fragrance-Stealing Jade Step that Im Tae-heo had given him. Creating apps for these would be a waste of battery.

After browsing for a while, he carefully selected and photographed about ten 2-Star manuals. Finally, deep in his search, he discovered a mental technique titled Evil Dragon's Roar.

He picked up the manual and skimmed the contents. He could tell immediately that its power was far from ordinary. The Evil Dragon's Roar converted mental energy into a shockwave, rattling the opponent's mind—a technique that combined both offense and defense. It was on a completely different level from the basic mental arts he had learned previously.

This is perfect for me. Though the name is a bit... eccentric.

Despite his slight hesitation over the name, Bukjin chose the Evil Dragon's Roar. By the time he finished, the stick of incense had burned down to ash. The two students concluded their selection.

"I've chosen these three," Ak Hong-hyang said, showing the books to Shao Li.

"Mhm, good choices," Shao Li nodded, recording the titles in the library ledger. "Since this is a special circumstance, I'll set the loan period to three months. Make sure to return them before the deadline."

"And this is mine." Bukjin placed a single manual—the Evil Dragon's Roar—before Shao Li. She looked at him with a puzzled expression.

"Huh? A mental art? And you're only taking one?"

"This one is enough," Bukjin replied simply.

Shao Li didn't press him further and recorded the loan. After a moment of thought, she added, "If you regret your choice while practicing, you can come back and swap it for something else."

Bukjin and Ak Hong-hyang thanked her and turned to leave. As their figures vanished into the distance, the cheerful mask on Shao Li's face slipped, replaced by a dazed, dreamy expression. She cupped her reddening cheeks with both hands and whispered to herself.

"He really is a genius... to set such a record in the trials. And he's so handsome! If I could just hug that beautiful face once, I'd die happy!"

The Sword Grinding Hall was the 3rd Academy's top-tier martial arts testing facility. It was typically reserved for measuring the combat power of teachers or for official promotion exams. It was a restricted area where students were strictly forbidden from entering.

When Bukjin and Ak Hong-hyang arrived at the entrance, they were met by a young female teacher in her twenties. Her features were plain, but she had exceptionally smooth skin and a curvaceous figure. She was currently single, and her gaze lingered on Bukjin for a long time as he approached.

As they drew near, her eyes sparkled, and she addressed them with an incredibly kind tone. "Student Im Bukjin. The three Grade Deans are waiting for you inside. Please, follow me."

It was as if Ak Hong-hyang didn't even exist in her eyes. However, Ak Hong-hyang seemed used to it by now and didn't pay it any mind. Recently, Bukjin’s looks had become legendary among every woman on campus. Whether it was this teacher or the librarian, they all reacted the same way the moment they saw him—eyes sparkling, treating him with the kind of warmth usually reserved for a beloved younger brother.

If the teachers were like this, the reaction of the female students was beyond description. Ak Hong-hyang was the student who spent the most time with Bukjin and was arguably the closest to him. She maintained their relationship with a sense of respect and admiration for his superior skills. But she was still a woman. Occasionally, she couldn't help but wonder: how was Mok Simwol, the 'Princess' who had discarded such an exceptional man, feeling right now?

She's probably drowning in regret, feeling like the sky has collapsed, right?

The interior of the Sword Grinding Hall was silent and solemn. As Bukjin and Ak Hong-hyang entered, countless gazes fell upon them. In addition to Cho Heun, the 3rd Grade Dean Pan Weimin and the 1st Grade Dean Liu Qihai were also waiting. These three were the 'Big Three' of the 3rd Academy, men who had dedicated their lives to education and were held in high esteem for their integrity.

Beside the three deans stood ten other individuals—the elite teachers of each grade. Every one of them was a distinguished martial artist with a reputation in Unmong City’s academic circles. Furthermore, two other students were already waiting in the hall.

One was the top genius of the 3rd year, Han Bul-bu. The other was the top genius of the 1st year, Baek Geum-un. Combined with Bukjin and Ak Hong-hyang from the 2nd year, these four were the 'Four Geniuses' of the 3rd Academy who had advanced to the main finals of the Unmong City Academic & Martial Arts Competition.

The four students lined up. Bukjin took the opportunity to observe Han Bul-bu and Baek Geum-un closely.

Han Bul-bu was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a boy with a sturdy build and a long face. He had thick eyebrows, narrow eyes, a thin mouth, and a high bridge to his nose. However, his brow was constantly furrowed, as if he were perpetually troubled by some deep concern.

Baek Geum-un was a girl dressed in a white swordsman's uniform. She had an oval face with flawless, pale skin. Perhaps because she was still young, her slightly chubby cheeks added to her charm, and her eyes gave the impression of a very straightforward personality. Her hair had a distinct reddish-wine tint, though Bukjin couldn't tell if it was natural or dyed. She was a rare ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠beauty, but she exuded an aura so cold it felt like a winter chill even from a distance. That icy demeanor, combined with her beauty, likely made her the heartthrob of many male students.

"Today, the three Grade Deans have personally organized groups for you. On this stage, professional instructors will accurately measure your overall capabilities. This is to ensure that you receive the most effective special training and achieve the greatest possible growth before the competition. We ask for your full cooperation."

An elderly teacher with white hair spoke with a face that was both gentle and strict.

"To our four representative students: this is a rare opportunity that every student in this academy envies. I hope you will demonstrate your true abilities here today. The measurement categories are..."

As the elderly teacher explained, the four students realized that this evaluation was far more detailed than the standard annual exams. Even the measurement of Hyeongi (Mystic Energy) was broken down into specifics.

It was, in essence, a comprehensive diagnostic test designed to dissect every facet of a student's talent and ability.