Chapter 169

Chapter 169: Returning Ten Years (1)

At the same time Choi Yu-seong was gritting his teeth and running like a dog toward the place where Baek Ha-seong was.

An immense, bloody battle was unfolding here, oblivious to Choi Yu-seong’s frantic heart.

CLANG! CLASH-CLASH-CLASH!

It was a suffocating battle where only offensive and defensive exchanges occurred without a single word.

Of course, not everyone was in such a state.

The fight between Ryu Jin-seong and Yu-hyeon was no different from a staged play, and the side with the Puppeteer and Hong Sera was maintaining a balance as they sought pleasure in the combat itself rather than trying to kill their opponent. These areas could be considered relatively fine.

In short, the suffocating battle mentioned just now applied only to the fight between Shin Yu-hwan and Baek Ha-seong.

“Haa, haa……”

“Whew……”

Shin Yu-hwan and Baek Ha-seong had always shown a relaxed demeanor.

However, that was only because they rarely faced opponents suited to them, not because they were made of iron.

Ultimately, they were also humans who grew exhausted when they met an opponent of similar caliber.

As the price for their exertion, the two stepped back for a moment to catch their ragged breath.

Naturally, both of them were already in a terrible state.

DRIP— DROP—

Drops of blood flowed from their bodies and soaked the ground.

It was difficult to say exactly who this blood belonged to.

After all, both men were drenched from head to toe in blood.

They had not landed a decisive hit to determine victory or defeat, but it was the result of continuously inflicting small wounds.

When a moment to catch their breath was finally created, Baek Ha-seong spoke first, contrary to how he had acted until now.

“You have become stronger than before.”

Considering he had only spat out cynical remarks with an expressionless face until now, it was a truly unexpected statement.

At those words, Shin Yu-hwan replied while still keeping his eyes closed.

“I am different from someone who lived like trash for ten years.”

“Trash, is it? Yes, in a way, you might be right.”

“Are you finally admitting it?”

Baek Ha-seong had agreed, but he did not answer in accordance with Shin Yu-hwan’s intent.

The reason he agreed was merely out of self-deprecation for not even noticing that Han Seora was alive.

However, Baek Ha-seong continued his words without caring that there was a misunderstanding.

“Yes. And that is why it is truly a sad thing.”

If he had truly come here for the sake of revenge, he would have willingly offered his own neck.

The Shin Yu-hwan standing before him was also a man who had pledged revenge for ten years, and he certainly would not have prepared any less than himself.

Therefore, if this man intended to seek revenge not only against the Baek family but against him as well, it was a neck he could have yielded.

However.

“Because I have realized the proper path.”

That was not the case now.

The reason he was here was not for revenge for the dead Han Seora, but to rescue the living Han Seora.

If revenge had been the only objective, he would have granted the wish of the man walking the same path, but under the goal of rescuing Han Seora, that could not happen, could it?

That was why it was such a sad thing.

For the sake of the value most important to him, he had to...

“Kill a junior from my past.”

“What?”

If Shin Yu-hwan had remained as he was in the past, it would have been fine.

He could have simply dealt with him appropriately and laid him down.

But now, he had become strong enough to be nearly his equal, and the option of taking it easy no longer existed.

If he truly intended to block his path, he had no choice but to truly eliminate him.

Even if it meant tearing apart a bond from the past.

‘There is the option of sharing the fact that Han Seora is alive, but…….’

It was definitely not a good choice.

To begin with, it was a story even he felt was a lie when he first heard it.

Would that man really believe the words coming out of his mouth?

‘And even if he does believe me, unstable elements still exist.’

What if the people of the Baek family found out and it hindered Choi Yu-seong, who had gone to rescue her?

That was something that must absolutely never happen.

The most important thing in this entire affair was her rescue, enough that he had devoted ten years of his life to her.

Thus, Baek Ha-seong offered a final bit of mercy toward Shin Yu-hwan while hiding the truth about Han Seora.

“I did not know the day would come when I would have to harbor killing intent toward you. Are you still unwilling to step back even now?”

“…Stop talking bullshit. Did you think I would get scared just because you started spouting that kind of nonsense at this point?”

Of course, Shin Yu-hwan, who did not know Baek Ha-seong's true purpose, naturally rejected it as nonsense.

In that case, there was only one answer.

“I guess I really have to kill you.”

To remove the obstacle before him that had kicked away his mercy.

Baek Ha-seong began to prove immediately that the words he had just spoken were not a lie.

WHOOOOOSH—!

The wind that always blew whenever he used his talent surged.

However, it was clearly different from before.

He poured an immense amount of mana into this one move as if to end everything, and he also infused it with killing intent.

To the point where even Ryu Jin-seong and Hong Sera, who were far away, reacted immediately to Baek Ha-seong’s momentum.

“Ha-seong, you!”

“You, what are you trying to do!!”

Their reactions were perfectly natural.

The momentum Baek Ha-seong was emitting now contained the will to decide between life and death.

The two tried to stop Baek Ha-seong in a hurry, but unfortunately, their reactions were a step too slow.

Baek Ha-seong was no longer paying attention to his surroundings, to the point that his once clear purple eyes had turned cloudy.

“Now, let us truly put an end to this.”

Saying so, Baek Ha-seong prepared a storm that seemed capable of grinding anything it touched, as if to prove why the name of his talent was ‘Master of the Storm.’

It would have been better to step back from that momentum if possible... but unfortunately, Shin Yu-hwan also had no intention of backing down.

“Fine. Let us see this through to the end.”

Shin Yu-hwan’s voice, filled with conviction, responded to Baek Ha-seong's words as he prepared his own final strike.

If one were to compare the two using myths, it was the sight of a Blue Dragon leading the storm against a White Tiger capable of tearing the earth apart with a single claw.

Having finished all preparations, the moment finally came for them to launch their strikes at each other.

THUD—!!

A single crimson sword was plunged exactly between the two of them.

And then, a voice was heard.

“Both of you, stop!”

A boy holding a woman in his arms in front and carrying a man on his back.

It was the appearance of Choi Yu-seong.

***

‘Haa… I hope I am not late?’

I had reached the scene of the battle after running like a dog without stopping for a single second.

the anxiety I had expected had become a reality and was playing out right before my eyes.

For now, I had thrown my sword to stop them in a hurry, but the atmosphere remained the same.

‘Damn it, what kind of killing intent is this strong?’

It was a thick killing intent that felt as if my flesh were being sliced away, even though it was not directed at me.

I thought for a moment that I might not be on time, but rather that I was already too late.

However.

‘I still have to stop them.’

What happened between those two and what conversation was exchanged is not important right now.

Since they were both important and precious people, bringing an end to this battle was the top priority.

Therefore, I firmly opened my mouth even amidst the suffocating killing intent.

“Mr. Baek Ha-seong, that is not what is important right now, is it?”

First, toward Baek Ha-seong.

Knowing his personality, it was certain that he would never have spoken a word about this matter.

Therefore, it was faster to first persuade Baek Ha-seong, who knew the real purpose of this operation.

And just as I thought, Baek Ha-seong responded to my words immediately.

“By any chance, is the person you are holding……”

“That is correct.”

The rest of the sentence was not needed.

As if nothing were more important than this, Baek Ha-seong abandoned his duel with Shin Yu-hwan and even used his talent to rush toward me.

Shin Yu-hwan tried to interfere along the way, but he was stopped by Ryu Jin-seong's intervention.

Baek Ha-seong, who arrived before me and silently stared at Han Seora in my arms, eventually opened his mouth slowly.

“…It really is you. It might be strange to say such things in this situation, but surely this is not a dream?”

“Not a chance. This is reality.”

“Yes. I suppose it is. If it were a dream, it would not be this sad.”

At that moment, I could see it.

Tears falling from the purple eyes of Baek Ha-seong, who was always silent and indifferent.

‘So he knows how to shed such tears.’

His expression remained as indifferent as ever, but I could feel it through his tears alone.

The emotion he was harboring now was something that could not be described by any words.

Therefore, in my heart, I wanted to just leave him alone, but given the situation, I spoke toward the weeping Baek Ha-seong.

“However, we cannot be relieved just yet.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Han Seora's condition is critical right now. The fellow on my back took some measures for now, but it is too early to be at ease.”

“Is that so……”

Baek Ha-seong nodded obediently at my words.

Deep inside, he must be feeling a profound rage.

However, he was acting calmly because he knew that the person he had to protect right now was more important than revenge.

“So for now, please take Han Seora and leave this place. I will take care of the rest. We can meet again after this is over to talk about the treatment.”

“Is it because it will become more complicated if I stay?”

“That is part of it, but we also have to prioritize her safety since we do not know what might happen.”

“…Understood. But is the person on your back your ally?”

“Ah, yes. That is right.”

“Are you and your ally all right?”

Perhaps it was because Kim Su-hyeok was temporarily unconscious and his blood was on my body.

I nodded and replied to Baek Ha-seong, who was expressing his concern.

“We are fine. This guy has just lost consciousness for a moment.”

“That is a relief. If anything were to happen to my benefactor, I would never be at peace.”

It was a statement typical of Baek Ha-seong, who was clear about favors and grudges.

I expressed my gratitude and delivered my final words.

“Anyway, my friend and I are fine, so please go quickly. Ah, and I would appreciate it if you could also deliver a message to those two over there.”

“I will do that. Then we shall see each other again later.”

“I suppose so.”

“I will be waiting.”

With those words, Baek Ha-seong disappeared with the wind while holding Han Seora.

With this, the problem regarding Baek Ha-seong should be fine for a while.

Furthermore, since Yu-hyeon and the Puppeteer were also capable of getting themselves out of a chaotic situation without a problem, there was no need to worry further.

‘Then all that's left is…….’

It would be the side of Shin Yu-hwan, who was currently muttering to himself with a bewildered expression.

It seemed that the move I had prepared had worked properly.

‘It was a move I would normally never use, so it had to work.’

The action I took to settle this situation was simple.

It was to reveal the real reason why Baek Ha-seong and I had moved.

Of course, I did not reveal it to just anyone.

The person I revealed my identity to was Cha Yu-na—someone who could judge rationally and make a reasonable choice even in such a situation.

‘That is also why Shin Yu-hwan is muttering to himself alone right now.’

He was surely receiving various messages through Cha Yu-na's Sound Transmission.

That was the only reason why he was standing by and watching Baek Ha-seong leave, even though they had just been fighting a bloody battle.

‘It was an identity I would normally never reveal, but this was the only way.’

It was a way to stop the battle between Shin Yu-hwan and Baek Ha-seong; a way to drive a dagger into the Baek family by informing them that Han Seora was alive, rather than just providing some evidence.

And it was also a way to secure certain support for my lacking human resources through Cha Yu-na.

Because it was a move that could solve everything at once, I could not hesitate.

In fact, the louder noises coming from elsewhere even after Baek Ha-seong had retreated was proof that the effect was clearly showing, so what more needed to be said?

I was at the point where I felt I should express my gratitude to Cha Yu-na for believing my words instantly.

However…….

‘Despite that, there is still a remaining problem.’

And that problem approached me immediately without giving me a moment of time.

“That is quite a good mask. It seems to be a fairly high-rank artifact.”

Perhaps Cha Yu-na's Sound Transmission had ended, as Shin Yu-hwan was suddenly standing before me.

His appearance was a mess, but his momentum was as strong as ever as he looked straight at me and continued speaking.

“I thought you were a special fellow, but I never imagined it would be to this extent. It was my oversight.”

“…….”

“It seems we have many things to talk about. Do we not, boy?”

It seemed that things in general had worked out well, but my own affairs were as tangled as ever.

And... without a doubt, untying that tangled knot was not going to be an easy task at all.