CMBD CH 12

CMBD CH

Chapter 12. The Villain

The newly admitted students were divided into three classes based on their exam scores:

Heaven-A Class—top scorers
Earth-A Class
Earth-B Class—the lowest class

Go Daesoon placed second, so he naturally entered Heaven-A Class.

So Yuk-rang ranked second from the bottom, so he entered Earth-B Class.

Students like Go Sosoon, who entered through personal connections, were also placed in Earth-B Class. Daesoon had assumed Sosoon saved someone very important. But seeing Sosoon still placed in the lowest class, it seemed Cheonhyang Academy didn’t care much for favoritism.

“That’s Earth-B Class over there. Go that way.”

Daesoon pointed Go Isoon in the right direction, then turned toward Heaven-A Class.

Go Isoon had always dreamed of attending the academy with Daesoon ever since he was a child. Now that this dream had come true, he was thrilled.

But when he remembered he had been assigned to the same class as So Yuk-rang, his heart sank.

He didn’t understand the difference between Heaven-A, Earth-A, or Earth-B classes. He only knew Yuk-rang ranked second to last, so his class couldn’t possibly be a good one.

Go Isoon decided that once he found the nobleman Sosoon had saved, he’d beg to be moved into Daesoon’s class.

And he didn’t even think this idea was wrong.

I soon entered the classroom and scanned the students proudly, chin up. But before he stepped inside, the class teacher spoke.

“Who are you?”

I soon answered,

“My name is Go Isoon. I’m a new student.”

The teacher didn’t even look at him.

“Who allowed you to sit in on this class? There is no such student enrolled here. Leave.”

I soon froze in confusion.

All the students stared at him. His face flushed crimson.

“I… I…”

“Has Go Sosoon arrived?”

The teacher abruptly cut him off.

The room grew silent.

“Is Go Sosoon here?”

When the teacher repeated the question, the students began whispering.

Go Sosoon, Go Isoon… The names were obviously related. Yet the teacher didn’t ask about their relationship—he only wanted Sosoon.

The whispers grew stronger, and the students’ curiosity increased.
Soon I felt their eyes burning into him.

Unable to raise his head, he turned desperately toward the Heaven-A building, searching for Daesoon. Only Daesoon could help him now.

But Daesoon’s class had already started.
I soon had nowhere to go. He wished he could dig a hole and crawl inside.

***

After Class

Go Daesoon was summoned by his class teacher.

“Teacher Jin.”

Daesoon bowed politely.

Jin paused, then asked,

“Do you know your younger brother has been admitted?”

Daesoon nodded.

“Yes, sir. One of the academy’s administrators personally delivered his admission document. Did something happen?”

Teacher Jin frowned.

“The one who passed the exam is Go Sosoon. The one who showed up is Go Isoon. Did you know about this?”

Daesoon immediately sensed trouble and lowered his eyes.

“I was unaware. Those two are my second uncle’s sons. I left early, so I don’t know what happened afterward.”

“I see. Go to class, then.”

“Teacher, my brother…”

Daesoon looked worried.

Teacher Jin waved his hand.

“It’s nothing serious. It concerns your uncle, not you. Focus on your studies. The headmaster has a good impression of you after the exam.”

On his way back, Daesoon glanced down the corridor.

Isoon was timid—he likely hadn’t said anything inappropriate.

***

At the Market

Go Gyo went straight to her usual vendor spot. People who knew she sold produce had saved the space for her.

Today she brought fresh mushrooms and dried black fungus.

“Are these safe to eat? I heard this kind is poisonous.”

A woman selling sweet potatoes held up the black fungus suspiciously.

“The ones I sell are edible.”

The sun-dried fungus she brought lacked tannins and porphyrin, so it wouldn’t cause poisoning.

The woman trusted her.

“Then can I trade them for sweet potatoes?”

Gyo nodded.

Soon half her basket of mushrooms had been traded for vegetables. The rest were sold to passersby.

She lifted the heavy basket full of radishes, sweet potatoes, gourds, and pumpkins effortlessly with one arm.

People stared with their mouths open as she walked away.

Instead of returning to the village, Gyo turned into a dusty back alley.

***

Seol Eung-hyang’s Trouble

Seol Eung-hyang was also at the market.
Her mother-in-law’s leg ailment had worsened again, but she couldn’t afford a real doctor and bought herbs from a street quack.

As she headed home, she noticed a familiar figure.

She stared.
Yes, it was really Go Gyo.

“Why is she here? Where is she going?”

The back alley was notorious—gambling dens, brothels, illegal workshops… Eung-hyang knew too well what kind of place this was.

She couldn’t understand why Gyo would come here.
Was she tricked? Kidnapped?

Eung-hyang frowned deeply and hurried after her.

But after passing the alley entrance, she suddenly lost sight of Gyo.

Ahead was a gambling house.
To the left, a brothel.
To the right—who knew? A man with a bruised nose staggered out, spat blood, and collapsed.

Eung-hyang panicked and tried to retreat—but several thuggish men blocked her path.

“Well, look what we have here… a pretty lady.”

“Why don’t you come play with us?”

Two men reached for her with pig-like hands.
The two behind them didn’t touch her but watched with disgusting smirks.

The four closed in around her, sealing off every escape.

Eung-hyang tried to scream, but one man clamped a hand over her mouth.

Their movements were practiced—as if this wasn’t their first attack.
One held her mouth, two lifted her struggling body, and all their hands began roaming.

Eung-hyang couldn’t scream or move.
Tears streamed down her face.

Then a cold voice spoke behind them.

“Hey. Move.”

The men, excited by the idea of fresh prey, turned.

A thin young girl with red blotches on her face stood there.

Ugly and scrawny—she didn’t interest them at all.

The man holding Eung-hyang’s mouth shouted,

“Beat it!”

“I told you to move.”

Her voice was quiet, but her tone made something chill coil inside their chests.

The man snorted and released Eung-hyang, stepping toward Gyo and swinging a fist.

Eung-hyang squeezed her eyes shut.

CRACK!

“ARGH!”

A scream—and the sound of a bone breaking.

Before the others could react, Gyo grabbed the second man by the collar and slammed him into the wall, knocking him out.

The last two rushed her but couldn’t even touch her clothing.
She kicked both in vital spots, sending them rolling on the ground.

Just then, the first man she’d knocked down staggered up, grabbed a brick, and hurled it at the back of her head.

“Kyaa!”
Eung-hyang shrieked.

Gyo turned and kicked him in the chest, sending him flying.

Eung-hyang stared, stunned beyond belief.

After she defeated all four, Gyo didn’t spare Eung-hyang a glance.
She simply picked up her basket and walked away, as if she’d merely cleared obstacles blocking her path.

Eung-hyang trembled for a long time before regaining her senses.

“W-wait! Hold on!”

Gyo kept walking.

Eung-hyang wanted to follow—but her clothes were shredded.
If she stepped out like this, everyone would see her exposed.

Tears welled up again.

Gyo stopped, scratched her head irritably, dug through her basket, and tossed her padded jacket at her.

Eung-hyang blinked.

“A-aren’t you cold?”

“If you’re not going to wear it, give it back.”

Gyo held out her hand.

“I’ll wear it! I’ll wear it!”

Eung-hyang hurriedly put it on.
It was too small around the chest.