episode_0032

‘Like a fool…!’

Cheolsu, who had fallen down, rolled on the dirt ground.

Seeing the sight before her, Yeonghee struggled to stifle a groan.

Cheolsu had clearly become stronger.

His abilities now were incomparable to before, evident in his own eyes.

However, Yujin had become even stronger than that.

That was all there was to it.

‘But something seems off about Kim Yujin today.’

Should we say the atmosphere has changed?

The usual Yujin tends to be reserved.

It creates an atmosphere close to fear or intimidation.

Literally giving off the impression of someone who dominates others.

But the current demeanor is far from that.

Flesh, vitality, violence, coldness.

It’s as if watching a cold-blooded beast.

‘Is he seriously considering facing Cheolsu?’

What could have happened in just a week?

What kind of training led to such strength,

and what kind of transformation occurred in one’s character?

‘That’s Heukcheon….’

An organization that doesn’t hesitate to use any means necessary for victory and power.

Even young successors of the organization are not exempt from this.

The violence bordering on purity is beyond terrifying.

“……”

Yujin, who had been looking at Cheolsu for a moment, turned his back.

There were no words, no reflections on victory.

Just as if accepting the outcome emotionlessly,

he attempted to leave.

“Wait, Yeo…!”

Yujin was stopped by Cheolsu.

Yeonghee shouted, tearing up.

“You fool! Don’t you still understand your place?! Someone like you can’t even be a match for Yujin-nim! If you’re a loser, act like one and stay on the ground!”

Please.

Please don’t get up.

Don’t try to fight and get hurt more than this.

She shouted with those emotions.

But Cheolsu, with a struggling body, managed to stand up as if he couldn’t retreat.

“Kim Yujin, where did you learn that martial art?”

This was more important to Cheolsu than anything else.

Even if his mentor of the heart had never taught him.

No, it would be fine to say they didn’t.

But supporting that dream is certain.

Those memories cannot be taken away.

He couldn’t let that guy defile them.

“Answer me!”

“……..”

Kim Yujin remained silent.

Just standing there emotionlessly.

Something was off about him today.

He was looking at himself with certainty.

But there was a sense of distance somewhere.

“Why did you meet that person?”

“……”

“No, why did that person teach you?”

Instead, he moved his body faster than ever.

-Kwahng!!

In an instant, closing the distance, he threw a punch.

Cheolsu raised his sword to meet it.

-Thud!!

Not a clash of sword and fist, but a blast like an explosion.

The shockwave tore through the air.

A thunderous noise pierced the ears.

Every time Yujin swung his fist, the world shook.

‘That fool…! Just barely blocking is all he can do!’

Cheolsu, who had already retreated several meters from Yujin’s attacks, was overwhelmed.

Yujin’s power was overwhelming.

Just enduring as an injured Cheolsu drained his stamina.

“Krrk!”

Even amidst such merciless attacks, Cheolsu did not flee.

He held his sword up in a defensive stance.

He could evade most attacks with quick judgment.

By maintaining this posture, he could somehow endure.

‘But if he allows even one hit…’

Yeonghee watched that scene nervously.

Kim Yujin. Heir of Heukcheon.

She knew it, but he was too strong.

It felt like a massive wall swallowing Cheolsu, not a person against a person.

Cheolsu was holding his ground admirably.

Or rather, that was all he was doing.

-Cheongong Divine Fist, Six-Union Palm Strike.

Even this fact soon became apparent—Yujin was allowing it.

Yujin’s fist struck Cheolsu with his neck guard.

A heavy force pierced through Cheolsu’s chest, running through his body.

“Cough!”

Blood spurted from Cheolsu’s mouth.

A fist technique that crushes the insides in one blow.

As a bystander, Yeonghee couldn’t comprehend what was happening.

Cheolsu collapsed right in front of her.

No, in the moment before he fell.

-Clang!

Cheolsu swung his sword in that same position.

Yujin hurriedly raised her arm to block the attack.

Cheolsu’s eyes gleamed.

As if anticipating this moment, Cheolsu reversed his grip on the sword and swung.

-Heavenly Void Sword, Reversal World

-Heavenly Void Fist, Dragon Capture

However, faster than that, Yujin grabbed Cheolsu’s wrist and twisted it.

-Crash!!

“Cough!”

She threw Cheolsu to the ground as if delivering a fatal blow.

Though a faint sound emanated from their wrists, Cheolsu reversed the hold, gripping Yujin’s hand.

-Heavenly Void Sword Revision, Cheolsu Original, ‘Blue Thunder’

-Crackle!!!

The magic hovering in the air struck Yujin like lightning.

A technique only achievable by Cheolsu with exceptional magical sensitivity.

It transforms the ambient magic into his weapon, enveloping the enemy in shock.

Although physical contact is necessary for now.

Once seized, it exerts absolute attacking power.

In this state, Yujin would have no chance, no matter how skilled she is.

“……”

A merciless punch flew towards Cheolsu’s face.

-Crash!!

‘Cough!!!’

While under the assault of magic, Yujin swung her fist.

As if determining who would perish first.

Displaying overwhelming superiority.

‘It can’t be true…’

Yeonghee couldn’t believe what she was witnessing.

How could any human move in such a state?

The transformed Yujin looked like a real monster.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Clang!

A dizzying violence unfolded in succession.

The squelching sound from the fists grew louder.

‘Please stop….’

Yeonghee turned her head away helplessly.

The clenched fist’s nails dug into the palm.

A thin trickle of blood ran down.

‘Please give up, Cheolsu….’

She bit her lip as if to suppress her emotions.

She wanted to intervene.

To run and beg him to stop.

But if she did, Yujin would still think she had feelings for Cheolsu.

And then, the cycle of violence would repeat.

“Kim Yujin, is this why you called me…?”

Is she showing me Cheolsu being ruthlessly beaten?

Is she testing if I will remain passive?

Does she want to completely dominate me?

‘Even so, this is too much…’

Every time the fist moved, it felt like Yeonghee’s heart was tearing apart.

A nauseating sensation welled up inside her.

Yet, there was nothing she could do.

She wanted to save Cheolsu somehow,

But her powerless self couldn’t do anything.

She could only hope for Cheolsu’s spirit to break.

Please, just give up on yourself.

-Thump.

Cheolsu refused to admit defeat until the end.

In the end, it was Cheolsu’s body that fell first.

Covered in blood, Cheolsu’s unconscious body slumped.

Seeing this, Yujin finally let go of Cheolsu.

At least it was more of a real fight than before.

Given the scratches all over Yujin’s body.

But that was all.

The disparity in strength was evident to anyone.

“Now… are you satisfied?”

Yeonghee trembled as she spoke.

Her eyes devoid of light, clouded.

Allowing someone more precious than life to be covered in blood.

Yeonghee lacked the mental fortitude to witness it soberly.

For this, she killed her emotions to the extreme.

Something inside Yeonghee was broken.

“I, endured, diligently. Until the end, with Cheolsu… until it came to this… I let it happen. Is it over now? Did I do well?”

Suddenly, madness tainted her eyes.

She had given up everything to this extent.

Not once did she scream as Cheolsu fell so miserably.

This needs to have meaning.

It hurts so much.

If Cheolsoo’s safety isn’t guaranteed, it wouldn’t be worth it.

“It’s, it’s enough now. Everything… has gone… as you wished……”

Younghee, who was approaching Yujin, suddenly hesitated and sat down heavily.

Her legs had given out without her realizing.

Dragging her body in that state, she approached Yujin.

Still trembling, holding onto his arm, she opened her lips.

“Please stop now… If Cheolsoo understood by this point…. I’ll be your man… So please ignore Cheolsoo and just look at me… Okay? Please, I beg you… Just look at me……”

Tears kept overflowing.

Through blurred vision, the collapsed mess that was Cheolsoo flickered.

“Please… I’m begging you… Ignore Cheolsoo and… just look at me……”

Could there be words of courtship so desperate?

She couldn’t even understand what she was saying.

It felt like some function of her body had broken down.

Just shedding tears, she could only plead for mercy from Yujin.

“…….”

Yujin silently watched her for a moment before leaving.

Younghee, dazed, crawled towards Cheolsoo as Yujin completely disappeared.

After briefly scanning the surroundings, she immediately poured out a healing light.

Even with everything that happened, she couldn’t leave this behind.

“Fool… Really… You fool…. You’ve been hurt too much…. Fool……”

Muttering words that no one knows who they are meant for,

Younghee cried tears incessantly.

Reaching out, she caressed his face.

Since when did they drift so far apart?

Why does Cheolsoo keep looking at someone like her?

She just sheds tears endlessly.

Hoping that the awakened Cheolsoo would be scared of Yujin and run away.