A Bold Declaration
"You're declaring a guaranteed victory?" Jo Pacheon sneered, glaring at Bukjin. "You haven't just lost your mind; you've gone completely insane."
"Haha! I thought I was the only one crazy enough for this world, but I never imagined I'd find someone even more deranged in a backwater place like Unmong City!" the red-haired boy, Hyeol-yeom, said with a cold, mocking laugh.
"Ugh..."
The chubby boy, who had been incessantly stuffing snacks into his mouth, suddenly gagged. He had been quietly skimming through a swordsmanship manual in the corner, but when Bukjin declared he would do a handstand and take a massive shit if he failed, he finally reached his limit.
The other young geniuses—Dong Bang-jeon, Song Gyeol-il, Song Cheong-bong, Myeong Nak-cheon, Ryu Yeon-wi, and Sa Un-yeong—were equally stunned by Bukjin's outrageous claim.
"Quantum Wave Speed Reading?" Elder Hae asked, his brow furrowing deeply. "What kind of secret technique is that?"
[Quantum Wave Speed Reading]
A secret technique that exponentially enhances one's wisdom and cognitive processing speed.
"It's a secret technique that enhances wisdom," Bukjin replied without a hint of hesitation. Since this was a world entirely devoid of modern science, he could spout whatever nonsense he wanted with a straight face.
"Fine," Elder Hae said flatly. "There is no need for a broadcast. Activating a Mystic Gate Array to transmit sound and images consumes too much Mystic Energy. Even for me, the strain would be immense. Besides, no one in their right mind would want to see you... ugh... performing such an act while upside down. Since you've made such a boast, this old man will wait to see you prove it. Once the incense has burned out, we will naturally see whether you truly respect me or not."
"Understood." Bukjin turned and walked back to his seat. As he walked, a sudden thought crossed his mind. I can't believe the concept of 'broadcasting' actually exists in this world.
Returning to his spot under the collective gaze of the room, Bukjin filled his cup to the brim. He drained it in a single gulp and then, with an incredibly exaggerated motion, collapsed face-first onto the table.
At first, the onlookers couldn't figure out what kind of bizarre stunt he was pulling now. But soon, the sound of rhythmic snoring began to fill the air.
Is this guy serious? Is he actually sleeping in this situation?
He talked all that big game just to take a nap?
That... that lunatic! What the hell does he think he's doing?
Cho Heun stared at Bukjin with a blank expression. Bukjin, you brat! Can't you go one minute without doing something insane?
Currently, Bukjin was the face of the 3rd Academy. To spout such arrogance and then immediately fall into a deep sleep... it would have been more dignified to bash his head against the table and die.
At that moment, a spark of realization flashed in Jeong Sam-seok's eyes. He's asleep! That rascal finally fell asleep!
It was the dream-state cultivation!
Is he really sleeping in a place like this? No, why am I even doubting him? Given the circumstances, it's only natural that he'd force himself to sleep! For that boy, sleeping is the ultimate form of training!
Watching Bukjin, the wrinkles on Elder Hae's forehead deepened. He despised Bukjin. His fury had reached its peak. He resolved that once this segment was over, no matter what happened, he would personally discipline this insolent and arrogant junior.
Baek Geum-un, startled by Bukjin falling asleep after a single cup of wine, rushed forward to wake him. However, she was immediately blocked by Dong Bang-jeon and several others who had moved with surprising speed.
"You must not interfere with another student's cultivation," Elder Hae said, his voice low and dangerous.
Baek Geum-un tried several more times to reach him, but after being repeatedly rebuffed, she eventually gave up with a sigh. Ugh! You absolute delinquent of a senior! This is as far as I can help you! Who told you to act so crazy and earn the examiner's hatred? Baek Geum-un lamented inwardly.
The City Lord's Manor.
A gentle breeze whispered through a detached villa. The small building was surrounded by a meticulously tended flower garden and a serene pond. The landscaping was beautiful and the atmosphere profoundly quiet. The two-story villa was constructed of red brick and topped with green tiles, exuding an air of elegant antiquity.
On the first floor, the ripples of a Mystic Gate Array flowed like gentle waves of light, visible even to the naked eye. Every window was reinforced with a small sealing charm.
"Auntie! Please let me out!"
Im Jin's voice echoed from inside the villa.
Jin Ran-ui, the younger sister of Jin Ran-seo (the City Lord's wife and a teacher at the National Imperial Junior Academy), was sitting on a chair made of green bamboo by the lakeside. She held a bamboo fishing rod about the thickness of a finger. She was focused on fishing with a face of absolute tranquility, as if she couldn't hear the shouting coming from the villa at all.
The surface of the pond where she cast her line was as smooth as a mirror. Inside, plump fish with white and red tails swam leisurely, their fins fluttering through the clear water.
"Auntie! Please, I'm begging you, let me out. I want to go see the event too. I'm a swordswoman myself! Just watching the Sword Testing Ceremony would be a huge help to my training! ...You're doing this because you're afraid I'll go running to Im Bukjin, aren't you? Hehe, I promise I won't even speak to him first! So please, just let me out! Auntie, I'm really suffering here!"
Standing behind the door, Im Jin tried everything—acting cute, making solemn oaths, and desperate pleading—to get herself released.
Today was the day of the Sword Testing Ceremony. Since early morning, Im Jin had been forcibly confined to the villa by her mother. As a result, she was unable to participate. For someone as proud and haughty as Im Jin, this situation was unbearable. But no matter what she said, Jin Ran-ui remained silent.
Finally, Im Jin shouted in a fit of pique.
"Auntie! I really can't take it anymore! ...If you don't let me out, I'm going to release the Jade Lock!"
"Don't talk nonsense!"
Only then did Jin Ran-ui react. She set down her fishing rod and turned toward the door.
"Jin-ah, you know the state of your body better than anyone. Tonight, famous sword masters from every corner of the province have gathered like clouds. Countless brilliant talents are in attendance. Your mother locked you in here for your own sake."
"For my sake? It's always the same excuse! Mother always says everything is for my sake!" Im Jin snapped, her voice thick with anger. "I know she worries about me, but I wish she would just trust her daughter for once. I'm not a child anymore!"
"No. To a parent, you will always look like a child," Jin Ran-ui said, shaking her head.
Just as she finished speaking, Jin Ran-ui suddenly sensed something. She spun around quickly, her eyes narrowing.
"Who's there? Show yourself!"
A figure vaulted lightly over the wall and appeared by the pond like a wisp of smoke. It was a young man who looked to be about eighteen years old. He wore the military uniform of the North Sea Empire. He was tall, with skin bronzed by the sun. His handsome face carried an air of upright dignity, and his long black hair made him look quite similar to the City Lord, Im Gun-hyeon.
"Haha, Auntie. How did you notice me?" the young man asked with a grin.
"Brother?" Im Jin's voice rang out, filled with joy and surprise. "Brother! How are you back? No, when did you get back?"
A soft expression finally touched Jin Ran-ui's face as she looked at him. "Im O? Weren't you stationed on the northern front? How did you return?"
The sturdy young man known as Im O was the second son of City Lord Im Gun-hyeon. He was a rising star among the younger generation of the Imperial Army, a genius soldier predicted to one day join the ranks of the Ten Great Generals.
"I've returned briefly to execute military business," Im O said, smiling. "I moved as stealthily as possible just now. How did you catch me?"
"I simply used a small trick from the martial world," Jin Ran-ui replied. "You rascal! If you're home, you should have greeted your parents first. Did you sneak in here just to see your sister?"
"Hehe, my second brother cherishes me the most, after all," Im Jin said, her voice bright with happiness. To her, Im O was a literal idol. He was the person she respected most and her ultimate goal.
"Jin-ah, what did you do wrong this time for Mother to lock you up like this?" Im O asked curiously.
"Um..." Im Jin, who had been bouncing with excitement a moment ago, paused to choose her words carefully. "It's probably... because of the boyfriend I recently started dating."
"Huh? That's not so strange... Wait, hold on. WHAT?!" Im O had been listening casually, but the word 'boyfriend' hit him like a lightning bolt. He rushed toward the door. "A-A boyfriend?!"
"Yes! A boyfriend!" Im Jin replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "I'm not a little girl anymore. I can't just live a lonely, isolated life like you, Brother! Surely you haven't reached that age without even holding a girl's hand, have you?"
"..." Im O stood there, stunned into silence.
"Who... who is this boyfriend?" he finally managed to ask, his voice strained but gentle.
"He's someone you know, too."
"Someone I know?" Im O's mind raced through countless names of young men around his sister's age. He immediately dismissed the geniuses of Unmong City; he knew his sister's standards were far too high for a small city like this to satisfy. He began considering the famous talents of the Pung-eo-haeng-do province. "Ba Dae-jwi? No... that guy is a pig who only cares about food. Lu Feng? Myeong Nak-cheon? Hmm... no."
Then, a sudden thought struck him. "Jin-ah. You have a fiancé you've been betrothed to since before you were born. Surely you haven't forgotten? You're committing an affair before you're even married? This is going to be a massive problem."
"A fiancé? I don't know anything about that," Im Jin replied dismissively.
In truth, Im O didn't seem particularly bothered by the idea of her dating someone else despite the family arrangement. He understood his sister well. Im Jin had never shown the slightest bit of affection for Wei Myeongshin, the top genius of the province and a disciple of White Cloud City. Despite being called the Five-Excellence Young Master for his character, family background, talent, cultivation, and looks, Im Jin had zero interest in him. For reasons unknown, she simply didn't care.