Chapter 10: Run Byung, Run!

Jin-Hyuk stood face to face with Dohyun and Geun, the tension was evident but despite technically being handicapped, Jin-Hyuk maintained that cold expression. Giving his rotted arm a disgusted look, he would rip it off immediately before sticking his only hand in his pocket.

"Let's begin." He would say, and energy would emit from his skin till it eventually shrouded him completely like a transparent armor, it took the form of a three-headed demon. This was simply the manifestation of his killing intent.

"H-Hey, what is that?" Geun would ask Dohyun, clearly unsettled as Dohyun watched in terror while Jin-Hyuk walked towards them.

With each step, the floor would rumble like a titan was walking the earth and this clearly showed this man was on a different level but they had no choice but to fight him, at least till A-Yeong retreats far enough. The pride of the 7 Anarchy depended on this. Geun would move to intercept the approaching foe and it didn't take long for him to appear right in front of the enemy, his speed was nothing to laugh at.

Geun's hand would attempt to clutch the face of Jin-Hyuk but unlike before, the element of surprise did not exist anymore. He could feel the breath of Jin-Hyuk on his open palm, he was so close! If he could, he could rot the brain and end this all in one move.

"I win!" Geun would think to himself with a grin.

But suddenly, his whole body would freeze up with Jin-Hyuk's face showing visible disgust before muttering.

"Let's see if you can regenerate a head now, shall we?" He said in a sadistic sounding tone.

Finally, he would remove his hand from his pocket and attempted a horizontal swipe with that very limb, homing in towards the neck of Geun.

"Not so fast." Geun would struggle to say, spitting directly into the eyes of Jin-Hyuk, which temporarily blinded him.

"Ah! You runt…..!" He would curse but this brief lapse of concentration undid the paralysis effect on Geun but Geun thought it smart to move a few paces back while the enemy was inhibited.

He was filled with rage but unlike A-Yeong, he was not one to throw a fit despite his age.

He calmly assessed the situation, the chances of victory were slim. He wanted nothing more than to bash his face in but the difference in strength was simply too much. He only needed what seemed like one meaningless exchange to determine this. Jin-Hyuk was overwhelming despite not even taking this fight seriously. Now, he understood how Master Jin could have fallen to him.

"Hey! Dohyun! let us get out of here!" He screamed as Dohyun followed his lead without protest, vanishing from the area in a heartbeat, they had bought enough time for A-Yeong to retreat.

"We need to report this to the Guild Master!" Geun would think to himself as both retreated.

"How sneaky." Jin-Hyuk would comment as he had finally regained his sight and composure

He was impressed Geun did not throw a tantrum and was no stranger to underhanded tactics.

"So, he saw through it. That one is quite interesting." It now became clear he intentionally let down his guard to bait Geun but he seemed to have seen right through this.

"I know, I know. But now is not the time." He comforted her, gently stroking her back as she bawled her eyes out like a child. Byung clenched his fist in anger.

"I will make her pay!" He thought to himself. Jinwoo would stand upright, and hold the hand of Gyeong as they moved to regroup with the rest of their friends. Tracking them down like a compass thanks to Gyeong's Archetype.

"They are moving but by their routes, they are headed back to the guild. But A-Yeong is moving in a different direction." She said and Byung would finally speak.

"What is the shortest route?" Byung would ask, walking side by side with them and the girl pointed down a darkened alley that connected to the next street, in which all parties immediately journeyed into. Just then, they were confronted by Chaewon.

The section of her body Jinwoo first noticed was her chest, now he knew just why Byung was speaking the way he did, the bust was far from exaggeration but upon spotting the tattoo, he instantly took a defensive stance.

"Run, Gyeong! Right now!" He shouted, as she instantly moved behind him but Byung followed suit as well.

"Not you! We are fighting here together!" Jinwoo told Byung with an irritated expression as a huge trash bin was by the wall.

"H-Hey, but we both know I cannot fight." Byung would reply, still hiding behind him.

"I forgot, but I cannot let this bastard get away, even if it costs me my life. I AM TAKING HER DOWN HERE AND NOW!" Jinwoo would roar with a resolve capable of making a monk take up arms and fight his cause. Byung however, would let out a sigh, with a worried expression following but what escaped his barely parted lips did not fit this mood whatsoever.

"Man, it is cool if you are suicidal and all but…..." He paused, as his eyes darted around, looking for a valid excuse not to engage and he found it, it was right there all along.

"…I do not hit women." Byung would say in a timid unconvincing tone and Jinwoo would raise a brow in response to this but he understood his motive with Gyeong would ask a simple question.

"Is he mentally insufficient?" She asked Jinwoo. This would make them all laugh nervously as they were well aware of the situation they were in.

Chaewon watched all this transpire without making a move, but once she noticed they were done. She would finally speak.

"Are you done sharing your last words? I only need him, the rest may leave. I do not want to kill a child if I do not need to. I am just here to retrieve it." Chaewon's voice had noticeably become emotionless, she seemed like a different person than the one Byung spoke to in the hospital. She was more hostile.

"If you can't fight alongside me, at least take Gyeong and get out of here. I will hold her off for as long as I can." The goofy Jinwoo was taking up the role of a hero but Byung knew he would most likely be a burden should he join in, he would take Gyeong and run.

Chaewon would attempt to move in the direction of Byung, but Jinwoo noticed this and he blocked her path. Looking back, he flashed a broad smile with a thumb up. Gyeong tried to protest but no words came out as both retreated.

"I must commend your bravery. You are just my type, maybe in another life." Chaewon would say in a serious tone before pointing at him with her left index finger and mimicking a gun that seemed nothing more than a taunt but once this metaphoric gun was fired, Jinwoo's head arched backward as a concussive force collided against his temple. This knocks him unconscious but with sheer will alone, remained standing.

"Why does he remain standing...?" She thought to herself. For some reason, she seemed to be even more cautious now. This sight was very unsettling, to say the least. This shows just how strong one's will power has to be to accomplish this. Chaewon was impressed and based solely on this reason, she abandoned her pursuit for Byung temporarily for Jinwoo had now caught her eye.

She walked towards him with each step louder than the previous one, it was pretty obvious she wanted to have a closer look but once she was within 5m to Jinwoo. The 'unconscious body' would fizzle out of existence. Chaewon's tongue would protrude out her mouth and swirl around her soft lips but from her peripheral vision, would she spot something that was gaining in on her and fast! She managed to block it, it is revealed to be a punch aimed in the region where her heart resides.

However, despite blocking, the force would send Chaewon crashing into a wall with such power that her body mass left a body impression on said wall. Jinwoo's real body now coming into view.

"I can do this!" He thought to himself. However, he knew the same trick would not work twice.

"Hey! We need to go back! Jinwoo is in trouble!" Gyeong would cry but Byung knew going back now would defeat the purpose of Jinwoo's sacrifice but this girl was a kid and thus, he needed to choose his words carefully.

"It is okay, kid. Do not speak like you do not know Jinwoo. He is much tougher than he looks." Byung would say in an uplifting tone despite not knowing Jinwoo well himself. They slowed down upon mixing in with the crowd to blend right in.

Even if Chaewon was to catch up to them, spotting them would be nigh impossible.

Entering a poorly constructed restaurant named 'Jiga' not too far off, both would sit furthest from the entry to take a breather. Byung was hungry and the kid could use the rest.

"Hey, kid, just who was Jin? Was he your guild master?" Byung asked, full of curiosity but Gyeong would shake her head horizontally to refute this claim.

"H-he was the oldest member. W-We called him master as a way to show him the respect due to his age." She would say in a timid voice, she was shy but Byung did not care about that, he needed answers.

A moment ago, she was shouting for them to go back after-all but now that they were face to face, it was a different case. Hands at her lap, she squeezed her long blue dress with Byung letting out a loud sigh after noticing this. He would think to himself how awkward this must be and he failed to consider her age when bringing her here.

"I hope you do know this is not a f*cking date, right?" He said in an acerbic tone and this did more than enough to break the barrier between him and the kid as Gyeong would laugh.