Chapter 130
'What are they doing?'
The sight of hunters following Lee Su-hyeok was not a situation that could be considered normal.
Moreover, the auras emanating from the hunters were at quite a considerable level.
'Multiple A-rank hunters, with even an S+ rank mixed in.'
They were even showing signs of anxiety and impatience, with excessively uneasy expressions.
Although he couldn't know the reason as he wasn't directly involved, he could be certain that the hunters' state and situation were unusual.
'I should check it out.'
Park Seon-woo, having made his decision, approached the hesitant men with light footsteps and asked a question.
"You look quite anxious. Is there anything I can help you with?"
It was a subtle movement that even a B-rank hunter could easily detect.
However, perhaps because they were focused elsewhere, none of the hunters noticed Park Seon-woo's movement.
"Wh-what?!"
For a moment, they showed expressions of surprise with wide eyes, but being hunters above a certain level, their confusion didn't last long.
They quickly regained their composure and took defensive stances.
"I'm really sorry. You looked very anxious, so I asked if you needed any help, but I didn't expect you to be this surprised. I'll apologize formally once again."
Understanding their surprise to some extent, he immediately bowed his head and apologized, but the men's reactions were still extremely sharp.
"Director Nam, what does it matter to you what expression we're making? We're busy as hell, so stop buzzing around and get lost."
The man standing at the forefront, Hwang Tae-su, waved his hand trying to chase Park Seon-woo away.
However, Park Seon-woo stood his ground, narrowing his eyes and observing Hwang Tae-su and his team members.
Instead, he squared his shoulders and boldly blocked their path.
"I'm sorry, but that won't be possible."
It was obvious, but not just because of being insulted.
'I couldn't be sure from afar, but...'
Now that he could confirm it up close, he was certain that the men before him were clearly targeting Lee Su-hyeok.
"I'm Lee Su-hyeok's personal bodyguard."
"What?"
Hwang Tae-su's eyes narrowed at Park Seon-woo's bold declaration.
'...This is the worst.'
No matter how he thought about it, bringing Lee Seong-jun seemed impossible, so he had planned to use his family members as a second-best option.
Of course, knowing that the Returner Alliance's earlier plan had failed, he had moved with the intention of just observing the situation for now.
But of all things, they were caught by a hunter claiming to be Lee Su-hyeok's personal bodyguard.
It could literally be called the worst situation.
However, even if the sky falls, there's a way out.
'Judging by the aura I'm feeling... he's at most an S-rank.'
It meant that the hunter before him wasn't the unidentified strong person who had taken down the Returner Alliance executives earlier.
Moreover, he wasn't even a famous hunter whose name was widely known.
'...If I succeed in a surprise attack, I can subdue him instantly.'
Hwang Tae-su, casting a murderous glance, quickly moved his feet.
Whoosh-!
It was a swift movement that even caused a strong wind.
Although he seemed to be quite skilled, being an S-rank hunter, there was no way he could react to such a surprise attack.
That's what he certainly thought.
But what was this situation?
Swish-
Park Seon-woo's soft body twist caused the trajectory of the outstretched fist to distort, cutting through empty air.
"What?!"
Hwang Tae-su's eyes widened in disbelief at the situation he couldn't believe even though he was seeing it with his own eyes.
'He reacted?'
Moreover, he didn't show even a hint of panic.
It meant he still had plenty of leeway.
Faced with a situation completely different from what he expected, Hwang Tae-su hurriedly shouted.
"What are you doing?! Crush him quickly!"
It was at that moment when his team members, coming to their senses at Hwang Tae-su's shout, quickly launched attacks towards Park Seon-woo.
Crackle-!
A small current seemed to rise from the body of Park Seon-woo, who was right in front of them, and in an instant, he dispersed from their view.
"Wh-where?!"
It was when Hwang Tae-su, with an expression of astonishment, was quickly scanning the surroundings.
"You initiated the attack first... so from now on, it's self-defense."
Park Seon-woo's low voice was heard from above, in mid-air.
It was at that moment that blue sparks arose from Park Seon-woo's body.
Crack-!
Along with the dazzling blue lightning that seemed like it would blind their eyes at any moment, a sound of something tearing lengthwise was heard.
Right after that.
The materialized lightning energy wrapped around Park Seon-woo's body, emitting a blue flash like lightning, and plunged down to the ground.
Bang-!
With a short thunderous sound, Hwang Tae-su's blackened body fell to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut.
Having achieved an overwhelming victory that could only be described as dominating, Park Seon-woo turned his head and asked a question.
"Are you going to continue fighting?"
It was a question that didn't even need to be considered.
Hwang Tae-su was an S+ rank hunter, the leader and strongest member of the team.
Such a Hwang Tae-su had fallen with a single strike without even being able to properly resist.
There was no way the ordinary team members, who were only A-rank at best, could handle this.
"We-we're sorry!"
"We were just following orders!"
They immediately raised both hands, declaring surrender.
The fight was over.
However, there was still something to be done.
"Following orders? Who ordered you to do this?"
In his gaze, the men's eyes turned pale and they tightly sealed their lips, but it was a meaningless struggle.
"If you don't speak, I'll have no choice but to use force."
Crackle-
Seeing the blue sparks rising from Park Seon-woo's body, deep worry filled the men's eyes.
"Well, that..."
Park Seon-woo before them was also a fearsome being.
However, Tae Sang-cheon, the leader of the Korean Returner Alliance, was fear itself.
'If by any chance Tae Sang-cheon finds out that we sold his name...'
Even if he had no hands left to do odd jobs, there was no way he would simply let it slide.
'...We could die.'
They might even face immolation (焚死), said to be the most painful death a human can experience.
'No, no way.'
Was it thanks to the survival instinct that every living being must have?
His mind quickly rotated and suddenly a plan flashed in his head.
"We just received a request! We don't know who the client is either!"
As it was a hastily concocted lie, its flaws would have been quickly exposed if questions had continued. But fortunately, there was no further interrogation.
"Then you must know the place where you were supposed to meet after completing the request, right?"
"Of course we know."
"Please guide me there."
The man barely suppressed the laughter escaping from inside.
'He took the bait!'
He could bring this troublemaker before Tae Sang-cheon without selling his name.
Although he would express considerable anger, at least they wouldn't face death engulfed in flames.
"Yes, I'll guide you right away."
As he finished speaking and turned his back, a sardonic smile bloomed on the man's lips.
* * *
On the outskirts of Seoul, at an abandoned construction site.
Tae Sang-cheon's brow suddenly furrowed as he sat on a pile of materials, lost in thought.
The reason for his reaction was simple.
'I thought they could at least convey my intentions even if they couldn't bring Lee Seong-jun directly...'
They were bringing in a man he had never seen before, who seemed to have no connection to Lee Seong-jun. It meant they had blatantly failed their mission.
"Are you the one who ordered the kidnapping of Lee Su-hyeok?"
"Kidnapping? Order?"
It was at the moment when Tae Sang-cheon's furrowed gaze turned towards the Returner Alliance members behind Park Seon-woo.
The Returner Alliance members hurriedly ran over, kneeling and bowing their heads.
"We-we're sorry! We tried to bring Lee Seong-jun, but suddenly this unexpected interferer appeared and took down Team Leader Hwang Tae-su, so we had no choice but to come up with another plan!"
"...I guess there's no helping these worms."
As Tae Sang-cheon shook his head and waved his hand, it was at that moment.
Suddenly, flames erupted around Park Seon-woo's body, and an explosion occurred.
Boom-!
"Oh? I thought you were just a common worm, but you're unexpected."
It was when the corners of Tae Sang-cheon's mouth curved into a smile, visible through the scattering flames.
Crackle-!
Park Seon-woo, wrapped in blue sparks, appeared in mid-air, his eyes cold and lowered.
Judging by his aura alone, it wouldn't have been strange if he launched an attack immediately, but Park Seon-woo couldn't easily take a step.
'I expected the client to be greedy and ignorant for daring to touch Master's family...'
An entirely unexpected figure had intervened.
'The leader of the Korean Returner Alliance, Tae Sang-cheon...'
Although he had never seen him directly, he could immediately identify him as he had occasionally seen him through media like TV.
'A returner said to have skills on par with Hunter Yoon Min-su...'
He had heard bits and pieces of stories, but given his high reputation, he was well aware of Tae Sang-cheon's strength.
But the strength of Tae Sang-cheon that he faced directly was beyond the rumors.
'I'm clearly looking at Tae Sang-cheon with my own eyes, but I can't feel any aura at all.'
It meant he was a master who had reached the realm of Half-Concealment, the Hyeongyeong realm.
It meant he had fallen into a trap set by the man who had volunteered to guide him earlier.
'...This is dangerous.'
Tae Sang-cheon was a being that he, Park Seon-woo, couldn't handle with his own strength.
'I need to inform Master as soon as possible.'
Tae Sang-cheon nodded slowly as he watched Park Seon-woo carefully creating distance with narrowed eyes.
"You must not be able to feel my energy as I'm in the Half-Concealment realm, yet you immediately recognized the gap... you have quite good intuition... You're quite lacking right now, but if polished, you could be quite useful."
Tae Sang-cheon, who had been muttering to himself, licked his lips with his tongue.
"How about joining under me? With your level of skill, I'll make sure you gain a considerable amount of wealth and honor."
"I decline."
"Why?"
"Because I already have a master I serve."
"Filial piety and loyalty, things a martial artist should value highly. But are they more valuable than your life?"
"..."
Park Seon-woo swallowed dry saliva as sharp killing intent rose from Tae Sang-cheon's entire body.
"I hope you make a wise decision."
As Tae Sang-cheon finished speaking, his aura pressed down on Park Seon-woo's entire body, gradually tightening his breath.
'If I refuse...'
There was no need to think deeply, death flickered in his eyes.
Gulp.
Park Seon-woo's entire body trembled like an aspen tree as he swallowed dry saliva.
Rationally, he clearly should accept the offer.
No, he had no choice but to accept it.
But the image of his master, Lee Seong-jun, that appeared in his mind prevented him from nodding his head.
'He's the one who accepted me as I am...'
Although he had gained considerable power by learning the Thunder Cloud Fragrance Divine Technique, in the past, Park Seon-woo was just an A+ rank hunter at best, with nothing particularly special about him.
Nevertheless, his master, Lee Seong-jun, had taken him in as a disciple. He couldn't repay such heavenly grace with enmity, even if he couldn't properly return the favor.
Park Seon-woo, biting his lower lip hard, slowly moved his lips.
"My sky is, and always will be, only one person - Lee Seong-jun."