This world had proven itself to be ruthless—a dog-eat-dog kind of place where survival came at the expense of others. Trust was a luxury no one could afford, and safety was a fleeting illusion. Gaining his soul pouch was already a significant achievement, but taking further risks? That was out of the question.
"Did we go too far?" Eun-Woo's voice broke the silence, laced with doubt.
"Maybe," I admitted, "but leaving him alive would've been a bigger mistake. The second we reached his sect, he'd sell us out without hesitation. It'd be like digging our own graves." Repeating my past mistakes was something I couldn't afford.
I'd encountered plenty like him before—smooth talkers who sweetened their words with compliments. They'd tell me how good I was, how I was destined to win, and how I had their unwavering support. But when everything crumbled, they were the first to turn their backs, acting as if they'd never known me.
