Uk opened his eyes suddenly, his heart racing. He felt as if he were floating, but when he turned to see what was behind him, shock washed over him.
A woman dressed in dark attire stood behind him, staring with cold, gray eyes. The vicious look on her face made Uk shudder, his body freezing in place. His feet felt glued to the ground, though his eyes could still search the darkness around him.
And that's when he noticed something even more disturbing.
They weren't alone. A group of people dressed like the woman surrounded them, standing in a circle, all eyes fixed on him.
"So, you're awake…" the woman's deep voice broke the silence. "You're one stubborn fool, aren't you?"
"Should I give him another dose, agassi?" one of the group members asked.
"No need. He can't do anything while I'm binding him," the woman said, slowly walking toward Uk. "Let's finish the ritual," she added with a smirk, leaning closer to him. Uk felt her breath getting nearer and nearer, his fear growing stronger. He squeezed his eyes shut, forcing himself to break free from whatever was holding him.
And he did it. Uk managed to push the woman away so forcefully that she nearly stumbled. She shot him a snarky look, clearly enraged.
The group reacted quickly, drawing their swords. Uk gulped, realizing he was alone, surrounded by a cult that was now ready to kill him.
"Shibal! What should I do now?" he muttered under his breath, slowly reaching for his dagger.
I have no choice but to fight!
With that resolve, Uk drew his dagger, and the battle began. He dodged and defended himself as best he could. There weren't too many of them, maybe six? It was nothing compared to a battlefield.
But Uk had forgotten one crucial thing: they were shamans, and they used more than just swords.
As Uk fought, he suddenly felt his chest tighten. His breath grew shallow, and his strength began to fade. His vision blurred, and a sharp pain pulsed through his head. He couldn't go on.
Uk collapsed to his knees.
"I really didn't want to hurt you, Gisa Ahn. It wasn't my intention from the start. But you're too stubborn, too difficult to handle. So, I have no choice but to force you," the woman said, lifting Uk's head to meet her gaze.
"Bear with me. It's just one kiss…"
She tilted her head, her lips inching closer to his.
Suddenly, an arrow flew through the air, grazing the woman's cheek. She stumbled back in shock and pain as the group looked around for the attacker.
"Stay away from him, you witch!"
The sudden appearance of someone leaping out of the shadows caused chaos among the shamans. They fell back as the newcomer clashed swords with the woman. She barely managed to block the attack in time, or she would've been sliced open.
With the dramatic entrance, three people charged forward from the darkness, swords in hand. The battle resumed, but this time it was the shamans against them.
"Dan ssi, get Uk ssi out of here!" Asura shouted. Dan nodded and quickly began dragging Uk away. As he did, one shaman tried to stab him, but the attacker fell at Dan's feet, an arrow piercing his chest.
Dan looked up and saw Soo Young with her bow. He couldn't help but admire her.
"Stop staring and start running, pabo yarh!" Min Jun scolded Dan while fighting two shamans at once. Dan shrieked, quickly pulling Uk to safety behind some bushes.
"Uk ssi! Uk ssi!" Dan tried to wake Uk from the spell, but he remained unresponsive. Dan sighed, realizing he had no choice.
He had to use a rough method to wake him up.
Dan raised his hand, swung it through the air, and slapped the back of Uk's head. Uk yelped in pain and immediately snapped out of his daze.
"What was that for?!" Uk yelled.
"Save it for later! We have to help them!"
"Help who?!" Uk asked, still confused. Dan pointed to the group still fighting.
"Min–!"
"Shhh! Don't shout! They'll know he's here and try to kill him!" Dan hissed, pulling Uk back behind the tree.
"They'll kill him if we stay here!" Uk snapped, rushing out from their hiding spot. He picked up a sword from one of the fallen shamans and jumped back into the fray.
"Well… that's what I was trying to say… But never mind…" Dan muttered, rolling his eyes. He didn't have time to complain. What mattered now was helping the others.
***
"You're alone now. All your comrades are dead. So tell us, who sent you to kill the du beonjjae wangja?"
The tip of Min Jun's sword pressed against the woman's neck. They had managed to kill all the shamans, leaving only the woman, perhaps she is their leader.
Min Jun stared into her eyes, his sword steady. Dan watched his cousin, noticing a change in Min Jun's gaze.
He was ready to kill her.
"Do you think you can make me talk?" the woman asked, her tone casual.
"If you tell us, maybe we'll spare your life," Indra said. Asura, standing beside him, nodded slightly.
"My life doesn't belong to me anymore. One way or another, I'll die. Your way, or mine…"
With those words, the woman suddenly convulsed like a fish out of water. The group stood frozen in shock, unable to react. Soon, the woman's body went limp.
"What just happened?" Asura asked. They exchanged looks before Soo Young knelt beside the woman, checking her pulse.
"She's dead," Soo Young said flatly. Min Jun crouched down, facing the lifeless body, and slowly removed her mask.
As the face was revealed, Dan's expression turned to shock. Uk, standing beside him, looked equally stunned.
"You know her, Dan?" Min Jun asked, his gaze darkening as he turned to his cousin. Dan looked at Uk, who stared back, horrified.
"That's… That's my friend… Sun… Hwa…"
Min Jun closed his eyes, gritting his teeth, then stood and faced Dan.
"She's not your friend anymore, cousin…" Min Jun said calmly before walking away, anger simmering beneath his words. Soo Young followed him silently, while Asura and Indra looked at Uk, who was still in shock beside Dan.
"We need to take her for an autopsy," Indra said before starting to prepare the body.