By Zephyria 
It was a considerable number, to say the least.
It was an overwhelming force, almost laughable to call it a surprise attack. They were confident of the Jeun Faction’s victory even before it began. They would soon have the Gyeongjeong base, which had once dominated South Korea, at their feet. And that too, as easily as yawning.
Although they had to give up the Jeun building, it was a case of sacrificing a plum tree to save a peach tree. A strategy of giving up flesh to take bone.
In the underworld, power was justice. The leader’s capabilities were also such that if he succeeded, he would become a tyrant, and if he failed, he would be purged as a traitor.
The soaring dragon tears through the sky and ascends.
Not everyone in Jeun willingly agreed to Kwon Rae-i’s method of simply wielding Jeun as a weapon, but it was clear that everyone gathered here was captivated by him.
Drip, drip.
Raindrops began to fall from the sky.
Soon, it turned into a heavy downpour, pouring down fiercely.
Kwon Rae-i wiped away the blood flowing down his neck and walked towards the Jeun members waiting for him. The eyes of the members watching him were filled with desire. A burning, fervent desire, a thrill felt as a witness to history, with the upheaval of an era before their eyes.
Everyone gathered here was silently roaring.
Kwon Rae-i carefully looked over their faces. Slowly, one by one, he looked around.
President Hwang, who had recognized Kwon Rae-i as the rightful successor, saying he was just like his father.
Jeon Ho-chang, who had tasted humiliation and bitterness several times but couldn’t help but be impressed by Kwon Rae-i.
Kim Woo-shik, who had endured the humiliation of having his right arm broken but had steadfastly chosen to stay in his place.
All of them were waiting for Kwon Rae-i.
For him to reveal his hidden existence and run wild as he pleased.
Kwon Rae-i’s gaze finally reached Woo Tae-hwon and lingered there. Woo Tae-hwon was also watching him with the same heart.
Gyeongjeong.
Their beginning and end.
The place where the story of the young, eccentric young master and the unfortunate, resilient low-ranking member was written.
They were both strangers, deprived children, and victims of countless misfortunes. But the two were warmth, affection, and longing to each other. They were each other’s everything.
The place before their eyes was the high ground they had to overcome, the final summit.
Kwon Rae-i, who had finally come to covet the supreme position, beyond his long-standing resentment, opened his mouth.
“Breach.”
As soon as the order was given, the Jeun members rushed out like unleashed dogs. Fiercely and savagely, they roared and charged over the gates of Gyeongjeong, not sparing their lives to achieve their respective ambitions.
The corners of the tightly closed gate distorted and gradually crumbled, and eventually, the gate could not withstand it and swung open. The courtyard was instantly filled with the commotion of those running inside. An alarm went off, detecting the intruders, and lights were turned on brightly everywhere, but that alone could not stop the enraged Jeun members.
“Wh, what bastards… Keuhuk!”
“Come out! You bastards, all come out!”
“Fuck off, where do you think you’re going!”
Because Kwon Tae-oh had taken away a significant number of Gyeongjeong members, the number of people remaining in the main house was extremely small. Moreover, they were unable to properly resist the completely unexpected attack and had no choice but to fall.
Giants falling before their eyes.
None of them were a match.
This was because not only was there a numerical advantage, but also Kwon Rae-i’s skills, who was leading the charge at the forefront, were formidable.
Knowing the structure of the Gyeongjeong building like the back of his hand, he easily subdued his opponents as if he knew where and who would appear. It was almost like a fight between an adult and a child, with everyone who attacked being defeated within three moves.
Tae-hwon was walking behind him, inwardly quite impressed. He had felt that he was strong in martial arts from before, but he seemed particularly specialized in one-versus-many battles. Perhaps it was because he had a lot of experience defeating multiple people alone.
For now, Woo Tae-hwon also had a well-honed, sharp knife in his hand, but there was hardly any opportunity to wield it.
“Haa, ha…”
Tae-hwon breathed roughly.
He was taking busy steps to chase after Kwon Rae-i, who was moving forward without hesitation, when he suddenly flinched.
He was tired even though he was just walking. It wasn’t physical exhaustion but mental anguish.
Thunderous rain swept across the surface of the pond, and the sound of the fiercely splashing water was heard. The black surface of the pond, illuminated by the moonlight, felt somehow familiar.
The waves rising and surging.
The torrents of water that had swept over Woo Tae-hwon came to mind.
‘Ah. It rained that day too.’
His head ached as if it would explode. The reflection of the trees and the outline of the Korean-style tiled roof in the pond, and even the heavy rain seen behind them. Everything was mercilessly pulling up the afterimages of memories buried deep in Woo Tae-hwon’s mind.
A sudden buzzing sound was heard in his ears, soon followed by a piercing tinnitus. His vision seemed to fade. The memories he had buried beyond oblivion were trying to suddenly resurface again.
He seemed to see several hands rising from the water.
And thirty-year-old Woo Tae-hwon, that damned thug too.
“Ugh!”
He mustn’t remember. Not yet. He mustn’t recall it.
‘Just a little. Just a little more, give me…’
Tae-hwon gritted his teeth and resisted. He frowned deeply and fought against the headache that shook his head.
‘Not yet…’
Chairman Kwon’s voice, the loud gunshots, and the sharp screams.
Soon, an icy cold fear washed over him. All his senses seemed to escape from Woo Tae-hwon’s brain and burst through his skull.
Tae-hwon covered his forehead with one hand and stopped walking. His knees buckled momentarily, but he quickly regained his balance. His breathing became rapid.
Kwon Rae-i, noticing that Tae-hwon wasn’t following, turned around.
He was covered in blood, and the two swords in his hands were also dirty with blood and flesh.
“Tae-hwon?”
“…It’s nothing.”
Tae-hwon shook his head vigorously. The cold sweat on his forehead fell to the ground. He didn’t collapse. Nor did he back down. As long as he was walking, looking at Kwon Rae-i’s back, he couldn’t.
Because this fight wasn’t over yet.
Tae-hwon’s black hair fluttered slightly in the rain. His jet-black eyes shone coldly and firmly. He slowly regulated his breathing, swallowed his pain, and began to walk forward again. The staggering he had shown a moment ago was as if it had been a figment of the imagination.
“I have a headache. Maybe it’s because I’ve returned to a familiar place.”
Kwon Rae-i turned around to look at Woo Tae-hwon, when a man came running from the front. A Gyeongjeong member was lunging at Kwon Rae-i.
Tae-hwon suppressed the inner turmoil and alienation, and naturally extended his arm holding the knife forward. Just as he had done before, when he had cut Kwon Hyeon-oh, his body moved easily and familiarly.
Thwack!
The dagger in Tae-hwon’s right hand accurately pierced the attacker’s chest. Avoiding the ribs, he accurately tore and penetrated the vital point, finishing him off. Tae-hwon pulled out the blade without changing his expression.
“Let’s go anyway. To the end.”
Even if the memories remaining in his head were shaking.
Even if the knife he was wielding was that immoral bastard’s skill.
Woo Tae-hwon chose to move forward without stopping. Trusting Kwon Rae-i’s back, who was walking ahead of him.
“…Is that so?”
Kwon Rae-i glanced down at the enemy who was collapsing while spitting blood. There was no way Kwon Rae-i wouldn’t recognize Woo Tae-hwon’s swordsmanship, his skill that had been named the Gyeongjeong swordsman.
After all, he had been walking, looking at Woo Tae-hwon’s back, who was walking ahead of him.
“A headache… you said.”
Kwon Rae-i let out a long, heavy sigh.
“Hoo…”
He looked at the ground and lowered his head once, then raised one corner of his mouth and smirked, slowly rolling his clear, glass-like eyes. Then he said.
“Yes, let’s go then. To see what we will reach at the end.”
He must have noticed Woo Tae-hwon’s condition as well. He couldn’t help but see the difference with just one swing of the sword. Nevertheless, Kwon Rae-i and Woo Tae-hwon. They didn’t turn back. They continued to move forward to reach the end of this darkness, the summit overlooking the vast cave and the sky called Gyeongjeong.
Under the cool moonlight. The shadows of the two people walking along the corridor stretched out. Behind them, blood flowed like a river, and the dying screams of those who fell echoed endlessly.