Chapter 284

“It seems you’ve done enough.”

It was an unexpected event.

The voice behind me chilled my mind as if I’d been drenched in ice.

‘When did he get here?’

I hadn’t sensed any presence. Even though I was in the middle of a battle, it was something that shouldn’t have been possible.

If someone had managed to evade my senses, which were at the peak of their capabilities, there was only one answer.

‘A supreme master.’

Slowly, I turned around. Among the rubble of the collapsed wall from the battle, a man stood, gazing calmly in my direction.

“Nice to meet you.”

He appeared to be in his early forties, a middle-aged man with sharp, prominent features as if painted with a brush, and a solid build that his clothes couldn’t hide.

And…

‘He’s strong.’

The moment I felt the energy coiled within him, my heart sank. At the same time, the accumulated experience and honed instincts within me whispered.

This middle-aged man in front of me was a supreme master, someone I couldn’t hope to defeat in my current state.

“You’ve got a good sense for a young man. You’re more than I expected.”

The middle-aged man, who had been scanning me with an intrigued look, tilted his head slightly.

“Or maybe… you recognize my face?”

“…Both.”

The shock of the middle-aged man’s appearance was overwhelming.

I tried to appear as composed as possible, but I couldn’t hide my trembling voice and wavering gaze.

“Well, it’s not like my face hasn’t been seen a few times.”

The middle-aged man nodded nonchalantly and stepped forward.

Crossing the chaotic office, he extended his hand for a handshake.

“Nice to meet you. My name is Lee Jung-ryong.”

A brief and simple introduction.

But the name Lee Jung-ryong was anything but brief or simple in its meaning and impact. He was a man who could use his name and face as a form of identification anywhere in the world.

‘The second-in-command of the Ares Guild. And one of South Korea’s two S-rank hunters.’

That was who Lee Jung-ryong was.

He was the man who wielded full power in the Ares Guild, effectively managing the guild’s affairs in place of its S-rank guild leader.

Ares Guild was one of the top five guilds in the world. Their influence extended into politics, economics, and the hunter community at large.

There was even a saying in Korea that the country had two Blue Houses because of the power Ares Guild wielded.

So why had such a significant figure appeared here, now, of all places?

‘Damn it, it’s obvious.’

Suddenly, the conversation I’d had with Park Tae-seop flashed through my mind.

‘Who is it? That guy just kept referring to him as “that person.”‘

‘I can’t say. Even if I told you, you’d only end up resenting me later.’

‘What, are we talking about some kind of Asmodeus or something?’

‘If you make him your enemy, you might prefer facing a demon lord. At least the whole world would fight alongside you.’

The answer was clear in my mind.

If the “person” Park Ji-hoon referred to was Lee Jung-ryong, and if the Ares Guild was behind this, then everything fit together perfectly.

‘This is… really turning into a shitshow.’

The appearance of this unexpected figure made my blood run cold.

While I stood frozen, Lee Jung-ryong smiled gently and spoke.

“I’ve heard your name before. You look even better in person than on TV.”

“…Thank you.”

“But you don’t seem too happy to see me.”

“How could that be? You’re a globally recognized S-rank hunter.”

“It’s just a reputation. I’m nothing compared to the Guild Leader. But enough of that…”

With his characteristic smile, Lee Jung-ryong clenched and unclenched his empty hand in mid-air.

“When are you going to shake my hand? It’s starting to get a bit awkward.”

Listening to his soft words, which seemed like a joke, I thought to myself: This man had a hundred snakes slithering inside him.

And I absolutely despised snakes.

“I’m sorry, but my hands are occupied at the moment.”

“Is there any reason for that? You could easily solve that by letting go of what you’re holding.”

“I can’t afford to miss out on what needs to be done just to shake hands.”

I tightened my grip on the weapons I held in each hand.

*Ssshhk.*

With a faint sound, a thin line of blood appeared on the necks of both Park Tae-seop and Park Ji-hoon.

The two of them, who had closed their eyes and kept their mouths shut ever since Lee Jung-ryong’s arrival, seemed to have made some sort of resolve.

“You seem to have a close relationship with these two. Why not greet them?”

“Close relationship? With me?”

Lee Jung-ryong let out a hearty laugh.

“I’ve known Guild Leader Park since the Great Cataclysm, so we’re at least acquaintances, right?”

Myeongdong Guild Leader Park Tae-seop, who was biting his lip, responded.

“It’s been a while, Vice Guild Leader Lee Jung-ryong.”

“Yes, it has been. But what is this situation?”

“Some unfortunate business… I’m sorry you had to see me like this.”

“Whatever the misunderstanding, it can be resolved through conversation. By the way, who is this young man?”

“He’s a member of my guild. He’s been with us since he graduated from the training center.”

Park Ji-hoon spoke in a trembling voice.

“It’s an honor to meet you. I’m Park Ji-hoon, Team 1 of the Myeongdong Guild.”

I wasn’t shocked by the fact that Lee Jung-ryong, who appeared ten years younger than Park Tae-seop, was speaking down to them.

I was stunned by their shamelessness.

Everyone here knew that Lee Jung-ryong was the one who had given the first orders to Park Ji-hoon.

But the conversation I had just witnessed between the three of them had one clear meaning.

They were ready to cut off the tail.

The old lizard, having already prepared to sever its tail, smiled warmly at me.

“Did you see? This young man doesn’t know me at all. As for Guild Leader Park, we only exchange pleasantries occasionally.”

I let out a dry laugh and asked, “Is that pleasantry, by any chance, secretly sending Black Hunters to cut off someone’s arms?”

“Black Hunters? Come on now, you’re imagining things. But regarding the Guild Leader…”

He shook his head and continued.

“I think I might be able to help with that.”

“…Help?”

“Yes, help. After all, a problem needs to be resolved, doesn’t it?”

My earlier thoughts were only half correct. The lizard wasn’t ready to cut off its tail just yet. It wanted to clean up the mess.

My gaze met Lee Jung-ryong’s in mid-air. A bead of cold sweat that had formed on my neck trickled down.

This was both a suggestion and a warning. It was his way of telling me to release them.

But…

“This is a personal matter, so that might be a bit difficult.”

Whether this stops here or continues further, I’ll be the one to decide.

I had already made up my mind.

“Oh? Haha.”

Lee Jung-ryong laughed aloud, looking at me as if he found me amusing.

“You’ve got some guts, young man. You’re quite spirited.”

“I hear that often.”

“And how about the word ‘arrogant’?”

“I hear that even more.”

“Young people with spirit often find themselves misunderstood.”

“I agree.”

“Good. I’m glad you understand, but…”

Lee Jung-ryong’s eyes gleamed with an inscrutable light.

“Don’t you think it’s time you changed?”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re well-known now, and you’re nearing thirty. It might be a good time to avoid such misunderstandings.”

“I appreciate the advice, but I’m not planning on that just yet.”

“Why not?”

“Because the people who say that to me tend to be old idiots who don’t know when to quit.”

“Just because a few neighborhood dogs block your way, you don’t have to run, do you?”

“It’s not good to be bitten by a vicious dog.”

“No matter how vicious the dog, it’s still just a dog. If I may be so bold, I think I’m at least a wolf.”

“A wolf, huh… Then what would you do if a tiger blocked your path instead of a dog?”

Lee Jung-ryong’s lips curved into a gentle smile.

He was the tiger.

The beast that stood in my way, with the teeth and claws to kill a wolf.

“I’d run. A wolf can’t win against a tiger.”

“Exactly.”

“But, well, with a few added twists, maybe I could take it on.”

“Twists?”

“Yes. For example…”

I looked at Lee Jung-ryong and continued slowly.

“What if that tiger was the one who seriously injured my friend? That kind of twist.”

He looked at me with a strange expression.

“It seems the wolf’s friend was badly hurt.”

“Both legs were severed, so you can imagine. He has young children, too.”

“That’s quite a detailed twist.”

“I was thinking of a realistic scenario, so don’t worry. It’s just a setup.”

“Fair enough.”

Lee Jung-ryong shrugged.

“But a wolf taking on a tiger for a friend… That’s quite loyal.”

“If you’ve ever seen a documentary on wolves, you’d know. Their loyalty is no joke.”

“But it’s reckless.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because a wolf that takes on a tiger will end up dead.”

I smirked and retorted.

“Maybe. But who knows? A young, strong wolf might just take down an old tiger.”

“…A tiger losing to a wolf? Doesn’t sound like a very good documentary.”

“I found it entertaining. The scene where all the animals in the forest gathered to feast on the tiger’s carcass after the wolf won was especially memorable.”

For the first time, the smile disappeared from Lee Jung-ryong’s face.

It was the natural reaction of someone who had understood the meaning hidden in my words.

Seeing his expression harden, it felt like a weight had lifted from my chest.

“You’re more bothersome than I thought.”

After a brief silence, he spoke.

Lee Jung-ryong slowly withdrew the hand he had been holding out.

“What do you want?”

I answered without hesitation.

“An apology, compensation, and one person’s life.”

“Life?”

“Yes. I want one person’s life.”

A tremor traveled through the dagger pressed against Park Ji-hoon’s neck. The guy who hadn’t even let out a groan since Lee Jung-ryong appeared was now trembling with the fear of death.

“That’s not possible. I can’t allow that.”

“I’m not asking for permission. I’m making a demand.”

“Learn to distinguish between courage and foolishness. I’m a patient man, but I’m also known to be quite temperamental.”

“I’m not one for restraint. I have to at least return what I’ve received.”

“Your demands are excessive. The compensation you’ve already received should be more than enough.”

“Who only takes back the principal? I expect interest and compound interest.”

“And if I refuse?”

“Remember the documentary I mentioned?”

“You don’t think wolf teeth can pierce tiger hide?”

The look in Lee Jung-ryong’s eyes grew heavy.

In the eerily calm silence, he slowly opened his mouth.

“You don’t seem to understand how dangerous a tiger is.”

*Whoosh!*

Before he even finished speaking, a palm wreathed in a red aura flew toward my chest.

The distance between us was only five paces. My decision was made in an instant.

‘Baekyeom, deactivate.’

As I stowed *Baekyeom* in my inventory, my freed hand reached out.

Disperse, compress, unleash. The fire dragon that had been waiting for this moment turned into blue flames and enveloped my hand.

I unleashed the full power of *Hwayeom Shinjong* (Fire Flame Palm), and the two forces collided.

*Boom!*

With a deafening roar, the entire building shook as if an earthquake had struck.

I felt the brunt of the impact.

Staggering back three steps as if dancing, I coughed up blood that surged from deep within my chest.

*Cough!*

Through the falling dust, I saw Lee Jung-ryong standing firm in his spot.

“You are…”

His gaze was filled with shock.

But the surprise was mutual.

In that moment, I had felt something I had never sensed in the modern world.

‘This is different. He’s no ordinary hunter.’

With just one clash, I could tell.

Lee Jung-ryong’s strike was akin to the palm technique of a supreme master. He not only knew how to utilize his energy properly, but he could do even more.

‘This is what it means to be an S-rank hunter.’

The power I sensed in that instant rivaled that of the Grand Devil or the Yin-Yang Twin Demons I had faced at Shaolin.

‘What kind of monster… I never thought I’d experience something like this in the modern world.’

Lee Jung-ryong’s eyes were wide as he looked at me, standing there with Park Ji-hoon in one hand and a dagger in the other, swallowing the blood in my mouth.

“A young guy like you… How did you learn that technique…?”

“That technique?”

I figured that was how they referred to internal energy techniques.

I was about to answer when I bared my bloodstained teeth in a grin.

“I’m taking what I demanded.”

At the same time, I drove the dagger into Park Ji-hoon’s chest.

*Schwick!*

Blood spurted as his mouth opened in a scream.

“Aaaargh! Master!”

Now I understood why this bastard had been able to learn that technique. They were master and disciple.

“Stop!”

Even as he shouted, Lee Jung-ryong hesitated to take a step forward.

Every time he moved, I pressed the dagger closer to Park Ji-hoon’s neck.

“Oh, come on. If you want to save your cute disciple, you’d better stay put.”

I didn’t hesitate as I thrust the dagger in again and again. I slashed his chest repeatedly, avoiding his heart, then sliced through the muscles in his thigh.

*Schwick!*

Cutting through his ankle tendons, I straightened up from my crouch and slashed across his shoulder.

*Schwick, splat!*

“Aaaargh!”

The agonized scream tore through the air.

I imagine Uncle Jeok-jung must have gone through the same. The unbearable pain must have caused him to pass out several times, only to wake up screaming.

But that wasn’t all. The wife who saw her husband return with both arms severed must have felt as though her heart had been slashed to pieces.

“Save your screams. There’s still one more to go.”

“…”

Park Ji-hoon’s body, now missing both arms, convulsed violently.

He had screamed so much that his hoarse throat could now only produce garbled sounds.

I grabbed a fistful of his hair. His once neatly waxed hair was now drenched in blood.

“S-save…”

My blood boiled hotter than ever, but the words that slipped from my lips were as cold as ice.

“Ji-hoon.”

“P-please. I’m sorry…”

“I didn’t get a chance to say this when I was in a rush to move last time.”

Looking into his bloodshot eyes, I delivered a long-overdue congratulatory message.

“Congratulations on graduating, you fucking bastard.”

With that, I hurled him away with force.

*Thud!*

As the dull sound echoed, Lee Jung-ryong, who had caught the fallen Park Ji-hoon in his arms, looked at me with eyes blazing with fury.

“You!”

“I left him alive. As for his life as a hunter… I can’t make any promises.”

“Do you have a death wish?”

“So, are you going to keep going? If you bring this whole building down, and half of South Korea’s population finds out about this, I wouldn’t mind that either.”

Lee Jung-ryong’s face twisted in rage.