All Bark and No Bite
Baek Geum-un had originally been looking around the government office with a heart full of excitement. However, when she heard the insulting remarks directed at the 3rd Academy, she couldn't hold back and stepped forward.
"Did you say your name was Hahu Chung? I don't know what kind of grudge you have against Im Bukjin. But whatever it is, that's between the two of you. I will not tolerate you dragging the name of the 3rd Academy through the mud. Watch your tongue. Even if you are a genius from the National Imperial Academy, our 3rd Academy is a state-sanctioned institution recognized by the city. Do you think you can handle the consequences of slandering its name so recklessly?"
Baek Geum-un spoke clearly and firmly. She viewed the 3rd Academy as her home. Therefore, she could not stand anyone insulting it. It was a direct strike against her pride—her reverse scale.
Bukjin turned his head in surprise and looked at her. I thought she was the quiet, reserved type, but she’s a total spitfire, isn't she?
Hahu Chung, listening to Baek Geum-un’s logically sound rebuttal, found himself momentarily speechless. Even for someone of his status, the price of publicly insulting a state-run public academy as a mere student was a burden that was difficult to bear. Feeling humiliated, his rage only intensified.
"Ha! You little brat. Do you have no idea how Im Bukjin actually made it to the finals?" Hahu Chung spat out in fury.
"Im Bukjin used his looks and a silver tongue to seduce Lady Im Jin, the one they call the greatest genius of Unmong City! He deceived and manipulated her to unfairly obtain eighty badges!"
As Hahu Chung’s voice rang out, the surrounding crowd erupted into a commotion. Countless eyes turned toward Bukjin. The Sword Masters and high-ranking nobles, who had been quietly observing the situation, now wore peculiar expressions.
Bukjin’s appearance was certainly handsome enough to be called "monstrous." When a man’s looks are described as such, it means they have already transcended ordinary handsomeness. Furthermore, the modifiers often attached to Bukjin included titles like lecher, degenerate, and money-grubber. Everyone knew the stories of how Bukjin had used his looks and family wealth to bewitch innocent girls and act out shamelessly back when Im Tae-heo still held power.
Because of this, the moment Hahu Chung spoke those words, most of the people present began to believe them as fact.
At that moment, Baek Geum-un’s face turned ice-cold, and she furrowed her brow. "Where is your proof?"
She recalled Bukjin’s attitude earlier in the carriage—how he had ignored her despite her multiple attempts to greet him.
"Proof?" Hahu Chung burst into a loud laugh. "Does a matter like this even require proof? The fact that Im Bukjin shamelessly auctioned off Star Badges during the preliminaries is something every participant knows!"
"He auctioned off Star Badges?" Baek Geum-un looked utterly bewildered. It was as if a crack had formed in the world she thought she knew. Is that even something a human being would do?
Baek Geum-un turned her head to look at Bukjin. He opened his mouth, looking slightly awkward.
"That’s true. I did do that. But it wasn't against the rules."
"Haha! You finally admit it! Does eighty badges even make sense with your pathetic skills? You clearly bewitched Lady Im Jin and took advantage of her kindness to get them!" Hahu Chung shouted with a sneer.
Upon hearing this, Bukjin’s eyes widened as if he had just had a sudden realization.
"You’re right! Wow! I didn't even think of that. If I had used this handsome face of mine, things would have been so much easier... Ah, what a waste! Thanks for letting me know! I’ll be sure to use that method next time!"
As soon as Bukjin finished speaking, a heavy silence fell over the area. Baek Geum-un’s eyes were wide and her jaw was dropped, while the numerous nobles and elders looked completely speechless. Even Hahu Chung, who had started the argument, stood there dazed, stunned by the sheer absurdity of the response.
The man’s skin was thicker than the city walls. Hahu Chung realized that no matter how many insulting words he used to provoke Bukjin, it had no effect. Bukjin was simply too shameless; he didn't seem to possess a sense of humiliation at all.
"Im Bukjin, you are the disgrace of Unmong City! Trash like you doesn't belong here. I see that talking to you is a complete waste of breath...!"
Hahu Chung decided he was done talking. He drew his sword and shouted, "Fine! Draw your sword! A duel! If you don't have the guts to face me, then stop dragging our city's name through the dirt and go back home quietly!"
Bukjin stroked his chin. Hmm... should I cause a bit of a scene? He figured that if he made enough noise, Jeong Sam-seok might finally show up.
"Your name was Hahu Chung, right?" Bukjin said, gripping the hilt of his Blue Bird Sword.
"If you want a duel, let's have one. Ha! For a guy who’s all talk like you, one hand is more than enough even if ten of you came at me. Fine, I’ll give you the first move. If you can survive more than three forms against my sword, I’ll concede the match."
A greater uproar broke out among the crowd at Bukjin’s arrogant attitude. The genius students watching from the pavilion sneered.
"That arrogant bastard!"
"He doesn't know his place!"
"Small dogs always bark the loudest!"
"Brother Hahu! Teach him a lesson so he can't flap that trap of his ever again!"
They all seemed to be anticipating the sight of Bukjin being struck down.
"A brat who doesn't know the height of the heavens needs a proper lesson. I’ll show you what a true genius of Unmong City looks like. Blame your own stupidity!" Hahu Chung said with a grin. "I’ll carve a lesson into you that you’ll never forget!"
Whoosh!
Hahu Chung lunged. A dark crimson sword light bloomed like fireworks against the night sky. The power of a 10th Grade Warrior Rank combined with the 1-star technique, Flowing Fire Thrusting Sword, revealing a sinister and formidable force. Hahu Chung’s arrogance was rooted in his genuine skill. It was a sword style with the momentum to brook no obstacles.
Watching this, a small flicker of surprise appeared on Baek Geum-un’s face. She instinctively tried to step back. The gap between her current strength and a 10th Grade Warrior was vast, and she felt overwhelmed. But the moment she tried to move, an intense sense of crisis washed over her entire body, pinning her feet to the ground.
What terrifying power... I can't even move my feet. Can Senior Brother Bukjin really handle this?
The moment that thought flashed through her mind, Bukjin’s hand landed on the hilt of the Blue Bird Sword at his waist.
Slash—!
A single streak of azure sword light flashed through the air. In that instant, the dense, dark crimson light shattered into pieces, scattering in all directions like stardust across the sky.
"Ugh...!"
A short groan escaped Hahu Chung’s lips. He stumbled back, his face turning pale. Immediately, a spray of red blood erupted from his arm. His sword slipped from his grasp and clattered to the ground.
Cold sweat poured from Hahu Chung’s forehead from the surging pain. He was trembling, his expression one of utter disbelief. He shouted out in shock.
"Im Bukjin! You... you dared to sever my tendons! How can you be so cruel?!"
"You piece of trash," Bukjin said mockingly. "I barely even used any strength, and you’ve already dropped your sword. You really are garbage."
Hahu Chung was overcome with a mix of humiliation and resentment. However, he was so chilled by Bukjin’s overwhelming skill that he didn't dare say another word. Hahu Chung, one of the geniuses of the 3rd year at the National Imperial Junior Academy, had been defeated without even putting up a fight. And it had happened in a single exchange.
Bukjin’s skill was far greater than the rumors suggested. At that moment, Bukjin himself was feeling a thrill of excitement at his own power. The ten days he had spent steadily training techniques like the Four Moons Sword Technique, Flowers Before the Moon Sword, Cloud-Piercing Rain, and Fragrance-Stealing Jade-Breaking Step using his smartphone apps had truly paid off.
The techniques he had running in the apps had all reached the state of Peak Mastery. His Mystic Energy had already climbed to the level of a Martial Warrior. Furthermore, his Peerless Sword Body had made significant progress. His current cultivation allowed him to exert nearly a thousand catties of force through pure physical strength alone, without even drawing upon his Mystic Energy.
In contrast, Hahu Chung was merely at the 10th Grade Warrior Rank. He could only reach a thousand catties of force by pushing his Mystic Energy to its absolute limit. His pure physical strength was barely three hundred catties. Bukjin completely overwhelmed him not just in energy, but in raw physical power as well. Moreover, the move Bukjin had just executed was the Four Moons Sword Technique, one of the superior sword styles.
Bukjin felt a refreshing sense of accomplishment, similar to clearing a difficult stage in a game.
"You were just blathering about how my skills were lacking. Do you still have something to say?" Bukjin stepped forward, his words sharp and biting.
"Not only did you smear my reputation with baseless rumors, but you also insulted the 3rd Academy. Yet the skill you’ve shown is a far cry from that pathetic confidence of yours. You talked about being a youth representative of Unmong City, but now I see you’re just a clown putting on a show."
"You...!" Hahu Chung bit his lower lip. "I... I was just careless! You—"
Bukjin cut him off with a sneer. "All bark and no bite, even when you're about to die."
Suddenly, a sound like a bird spreading its wings and taking flight filled the air. Bukjin activated the Cloud-Piercing Rain footwork, closing the distance to Hahu Chung in an instant and slapping him across the face.
Slap—! Slap—! Slap—!
Stars exploded before Hahu Chung’s eyes. He felt as if his face had been struck by a mace.
Thud—!
Bukjin followed up with a kick, shouting, "Since your mouth is so filthy, I’ll have to personally disinfect it! I can tolerate you insulting me, but how dare you insult Lady Im Jin! What do you think the greatest genius of Unmong City is? Do you think someone like Lady Im Jin is so easily bewitched by a man that she can't make proper judgments? Only an idiot like you would come up with such nonsensical logic!"
Hahu Chung let out a scream of agony as he was sent flying, collapsing in front of the pavilion. The entire sequence had happened in the blink of an eye.
And Baek Geum-un, who had witnessed the whole thing, could only stand there with her mouth hanging open in a perfect circle.