How Utterly Pathetic
Inside a pavilion within the government office of Unmong City.
"Hm?"
A look of surprise crossed Jin Ran-seo’s face as she watched the situation unfold from inside the building.
"My dear, what is it?" Im Gun-hyeon, the Lord of Unmong City, asked with a playful smile as he looked at her.
"I never imagined those words would come out of the mouth of the man called the greatest scoundrel in Unmong City," Jin Ran-seo replied, referring to the final shout Bukjin gave as he kicked Ha-hu Chung away.
She had been quietly observing the events in the flower garden from the pavilion alongside her husband. Earlier, she had been deeply incensed by Ha-hu Chung’s remarks. Even if his words were meant to rebuke Bukjin, he had insulted her precious daughter in the process, which left her in a foul mood. According to Ha-hu Chung’s logic, Im Jin was nothing more than a foolish girl who had been seduced by a man’s charms.
Jin Ran-seo had been planning to punish Ha-hu Chung later and was also determined to give Bukjin a piece of her mind. However, the strength of the world-class trash, Bukjin, was far higher than she had anticipated. Moreover, he had wisely refuted the insults directed at her daughter and thrown them back at his opponent. Seeing this, her opinion of him began to shift.
"Haha, didn't I tell you? Im Bukjin isn't the failure the rumors make him out to be," Im Gun-hyeon said with a laugh. "Besides, it seems even Father thinks highly of the boy."
"It doesn't matter how talented he is." Jin Ran-seo’s beautiful face turned cold. She looked at her husband and spoke firmly. "I hope you and Father drop these useless thoughts as soon as possible. Jin is my daughter. My love for her is greater than yours or Father's, never less. She must follow her engagement and marry Wei Myeongshin. That is the minimum line I am willing to tolerate."
Finally, one of the figures in the pavilion could no longer hold back and stepped forward.
"You bastard! You were hiding your strength during the selection trials!"
A boy dressed in purple robes walked out of the pavilion. Bukjin’s gaze was fixed on him, but internally, he was thinking of something else.
'I've caused this much of a scene, and yet Master Jeong still hasn't shown his face.'
The boy in purple laughed coldly, his sharp eyes glaring at Bukjin. "Your schemes are quite something. You're a dark-hearted one, aren't you? Haha, you truly are the kind of snake who could trick so many students to advance to the finals!"
"You're talking nonsense," Bukjin said, raising his sword to point at the boy in purple. He then addressed everyone in the pavilion, including him. "There's no need to pick a fight using all these ridiculous excuses. Don't you all just want to have a go at me? Stop barking and get out here. I'll take on ten of you at once."
The boys in the pavilion were furious at Bukjin’s words.
"You want to die!"
"That crazy bastard!"
"Ten people? Hmph! I can turn you into mincemeat all by myself!"
The boys stood up and shouted at Bukjin.
"Everyone, calm down. There's no need to dance to the tune of a madman." The boy in purple robes held out his hand to settle the crowd before speaking with confidence. "This scoundrel is only spouting such nonsense because he knows he's no match for me. He's intentionally provoking you all so that we'll attack together. That way, even if he loses, he'll have the excuse that he was fighting multiple opponents at once. He might even claim we were bullying him by relying on numbers."
The other boys nodded at his words.
"Now that you mention it, that makes sense."
"That scoundrel is a devious one. We mustn't be fooled."
"Senior Brother Ha-hu, don't hold back. Show him how terrifying you can be!"
Convinced by the boy in purple, the others returned to their seats.
"Haha! What a pity, Im Bukjin. Your little scheme has completely failed. Now, I shall teach you what true swordsmanship is. You have finally earned the right to know my name. Remember it well. My name is Ha-hu—"
The boy in purple smiled with supreme confidence. But then—
Ptooey!
Bukjin spat, cutting him off. "A guy who thinks he's so smart doesn't have the right to tell me his name! Just show me your sword!"
Bukjin immediately lunged at the boy in purple.
'Crazy bastard! Who said I was curious about your name!'
Bukjin hated pretentious people more than anything. He unleashed the Shoot the Moon Sword Technique, the same one he had used against Ha-hu Chung. A blue light shimmered from the Blue Bird Sword in his hand.
The essence of the Shoot the Moon Sword Technique lay in the character for 'Shoot'. Every time the sword thrust forward, it carried the power and speed of a fired arrow.
Swish-swish-swish!
The sound of the sword cutting through the air echoed in rapid succession. Bukjin executed the first form, Moonlit Bowstring , thrusting his sword forward seven times in a single breath.
The boy in purple was startled by the sudden cluster of cold light flashing before his eyes and was forced to swing his sword desperately to block.
Clang-clang-clang!
The sound of clashing steel rang out. But there were only three sounds. Out of the seven strikes Bukjin had sent, the boy had only managed to block three.
As the other four strikes connected, the boy felt a chilling sensation followed by a surge of agonizing pain in his arm. His grip failed, and his sword slipped from his hand.
Squelch!
The sound of steel piercing flesh followed. Blood sprayed from the boy's arm.
"Argh!"
The boy’s longsword clattered to the ground. A groan escaped his lips. Just like Ha-hu Chung before him, the tendons in his right arm had been severed. Fresh blood continued to seep through the fingers of his left hand as he clutched his wounded limb.
"You couldn't even handle a single exchange," Bukjin said, retracting his sword. "You're another one who doesn't have the right to tell me his name. Get lost."
In truth, Bukjin’s Mystic Energy intensity had already reached the Master Rank. However, since he hadn't awakened an elemental attribute yet, he wasn't quite a "true" Master. Nevertheless, his physical strength was terrifyingly high. When his hardened body and Mystic Energy combined, his actual combat power was equivalent to a 1st-grade Master Rank expert.
The boy in purple was at the 10th-grade Warrior Rank, similar to Ha-hu Chung. Against Bukjin, who was effectively at the Master level, he was nothing more than a punching bag.
The boy trembled at Bukjin’s words, lowering his head in silence, unable to offer a rebuttal. He had heard that Bukjin, the notorious trash of Unmong City, had cheated his way into the finals, and he had looked down on him as a mere clown. He never imagined the boy possessed such overwhelming strength.
The other boys watching from the pavilion were equally shocked. They were beginning to realize that Bukjin’s skill was far more frightening than they had ever imagined.
Defeating Ha-hu Chung in one blow was within the realm of possibility, as he had only recently reached the 10th-grade Warrior Rank. But Ha-hu Ang was different. Ha-hu Ang was a true powerhouse at the peak of the 10th-grade Warrior Rank. Yet, he too had been defeated by a single exchange.
'Could it be that this scoundrel has already reached the Master Rank?'
'That's impossible!'
Bukjin clearly showed none of the colored aura that appeared when one awakened a Mystic Energy attribute. Because of this, the boys believed it was impossible for him to be a Master. Unable to gauge his true strength, a chill began to settle in their hearts.
"Go on, keep acting arrogant like you were just doing!" Bukjin said, beckoning with his finger. "Anyone else want to fight? Step out and draw your steel."
"That arrogant bastard!"
"I can't take this anymore!"
"Take my sword!"
The boys were, quite literally, still boys. At an age where blood runs hot, they were easily provoked. Several of them charged out of the pavilion, drawing their swords and lunging at Bukjin.
"Hahaha! Excellent!"
Bukjin laughed loudly and activated the Cloud-Drifting Rain footwork. His movements became erratic—alternating between blurring speed and sudden lulls, like a feather drifting through the clouds. As he darted left and right, the boys found it impossible to track his form.
While maintaining his footwork, Bukjin swung the Blue Bird Sword, unleashing the forms of the Shoot the Moon Sword Technique.
Boom-boom-boom!
The sword let out thunderous booms as it tore through the air. With every movement of his blade, the boys who had charged at him were sent flying back with cries of pain. In the blink of an eye, five boys were forced back, clutching their arms after dropping their swords. Every single one of them was bleeding from the same spot.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk! Is this really the skill of the top young geniuses in Unmong City? It's so pathetic it's making me yawn!" Bukjin said, sheathing his sword and shaking his head.
'Is this really all the "geniuses" attending today's Sword-Testing Covenant have to offer? If so, the talent in Unmong City is truly disappointing!'
The boys defeated by Bukjin felt a mixture of shame and rage, but they couldn't find the words to argue. Having faced him directly, they had felt the true weight of his strength. Between the mysterious footwork that made him vanish before their eyes and the bizarre sword forms, they hadn't stood a chance. Even though five of them had surrounded and attacked him at once, they had all been repelled by a single man.
There was a massive chasm in skill between them and Bukjin.
"Is there anyone else who wants to step up?" Bukjin shouted.
There were still boys left in the pavilion who hadn't attacked yet. However, they only scowled, none of them daring to step forward.
Jo Pacheon quietly set his wine cup down on the table and spoke calmly. "For a notorious scoundrel to act so insolently at the noble Sword-Testing Covenant... Senior Brother In, it seems the students you brought today are somewhat lacking to be called geniuses."
At that, the boy in the yellow robe sitting next to Jo Pacheon—who had been radiating an aura equal to his throughout the event—smiled and spoke.
"The younger brothers I brought have always had a tendency to be a bit overconfident. I warned them that there is always a heaven above the heavens... It seems they only pretended to listen to my advice without taking it to heart. Or perhaps they thought their older brother was simply too timid for giving such warnings?"
Hearing the words of the boy in the yellow robe, the defeated students, including Ha-hu Chung and Ha-hu Ang, lowered their heads, their faces flushing with shame.