Reincarnator’s Stream

Baek Leedan momentarily lost consciousness.

He did not know how much time had passed. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself amidst the rubble of a building.

“Vice-Lord!”

“Are you alright?”

Seeing his subordinates frantically checking his condition, he realized without them saying a word.

Un Hyang and Lee Suhyuk had already left the castle.

“Damn it.”

He grabbed his still-dizzy head and stood up.

No matter how close the distance was, he couldn’t believe he had lost consciousness.

‘That power….’

He felt covetous.

If only he could have drawn both Un Hyang and Lee Suhyuk to his side…

Perhaps his dreams might have actually come true.

“What happened to Cheon Ryang?”

This was his last glimmer of hope.

Cheon Ryang was the only means to tie Un Hyang back down. If he still had Cheon Ryang, controlling Un Hyang would not be impossible.

“I apologize.”

“Did we lose him too?”

“It seems so…”

*Smack!*

The head of the subordinate cautiously answering him flew off. Baek Leedan screamed, watching the bloodied head drop to the floor.

“You idiots!”

His mind, which had been foggy from the blow, suddenly became clear.

There really were no options left now.

“Argh!”

He screamed in rage, but it was futile.

There was no way to capture Un Hyang and Lee Suhyuk, who were already lost.

*Step.*

In the echoing sky filled with his roars, a distinct sound of footsteps pierced through.

The presence made the martial artists around Baek Lidan instantly stiffen.

Their demeanor was entirely different from when they dealt with Baek Lidan’s fury; it stemmed from a deeper fear and respect.

Baek Lidan could not miss what they felt.

His head turned.

“The state of my home is quite the mess after being away.”

Un Cheon-guk clicked his tongue, looking at the half-collapsed castle caused by the battle.

Baek Lidan’s eyes widened at the sight of him, returning a day earlier than expected.

A murderous impulse surged for a moment.

If things had gone according to plan, this would have been the moment to break his neck with his own hands.

“An explanation is needed.”

Un Cheon-guk looked at Baek Lidan, who was slumped on the floor.

Meeting his gaze, Baek Lidan stood up.

“It was because of the daughter you instructed me to bring.”

“Because of my daughter?”

“She brought in a strange man.”

“A strange man, huh…”

Just contemplating it for a moment made it obvious who it was.

“Lee Suhyuk, I assume.”

“Yes.”

“Was he that strong?”

“Your daughter was no slouch either.”

Though he wanted to scream “Of course, she’s the Heavenly Demon’s daughter.”

Baek Lidan still clung to hope.

‘There’s still a chance.’

He believed he could bring Un Hyang back. As long as she was alive, the opportunity would arise.

Un Cheon-guk nodded in apparent understanding.

“So, I see.”

But why, he wondered.

His instincts screamed.

Right now, that man wanted to kill him.

And sure enough.

*Screech.*

*Clang!*

Baek Lidan saw Un Cheon-guk through the gap in his hurriedly crossed arms defending himself.

And at that moment.

Baek Lidan’s contained fury erupted violently.

*Boom, boom-boom!*

A massive force imbued with inner power burst out indiscriminately. More than when fighting Lee Suhyuk or Un Hyang, he exerted every ounce of his strength.

Since his opponent intended to kill him first, there was no longer a reason to hold back.

Un Cheon-guk.

He was the goal of Baek Lidan’s life.

Their sword and fist clashed. *Boom*, the Heavens and Earth shook several times.

The already half-collapsed fortress completely crumbled down.

“Huff, huff—”

Baek Lidan, who had unleashed a series of attacks, exhaled heavily.

Thick smoke rose, making it impossible to see even an inch ahead, yet the two could see each other clearly.

Then Un Cheon-guk spoke.

“All done?”

“Is it over… yet?”

Baek Lidan, whose words trailed off, had trembling pupils.

For some reason, he could not muster strength in his hands.

“No.”

*Ziiing.*

“It’s finished.”

In an instant, dozens of bloody lines were drawn on Baek Lidan’s arms.

*Puhwaaak!*

A fountain of blood spurted out, and his arms shattered like broken porcelain, falling to pieces.

So swift and precise was the cut that even at that moment, Baek Lidan had not realized his arms had been severed.

*Kkuaaah!*

A scream echoed. The warriors of the White Wolf Division, who followed him, did not dare to step in at this moment.

Un Cheon-guk.

He was indeed the absolute powerhouse of the Divine Dragon Group.

“Why…!”

“Why are they abandoning you now, you ask?”

Un Cheon-guk gazed at him with even colder eyes than usual.

“I could pretend not to know, even if you were trying to kill me.”

Swish, he approached Baek Lidan and whispered softly.

“But you found out something you shouldn’t have.”

As much as he wanted to bite off Un Cheon-guk’s throat right then and there, his body did not move as if by magic.

*Puhbuk.*

“*Grrr.*”

A hand pushed through to his heart. The pain and sensation were slow and very clear.

Un Cheon-guk continued to whisper.

“Say you couldn’t protect your fortress as the commander. Let’s go with that.”

*Puhwaak!*

The hand that had been lodged was pulled out, and blood spurted.

Even at that moment, Baek Lidan glared at Un Cheon-guk, as if wanting to kill him with his gaze.

*Thud.*

With a big hole through his chest, Baek Lidan died.

*Tuk, tuk.* Un Cheon-guk shook off the blood from his hand.

His movement, as though something dirty had smeared on him, shocked the nearby warriors of the White Wolf Division.

“Find Un Hyang.”

He addressed the remaining warriors of the Divine Dragon Group.

“I must meet her.”

* * *

A leisurely breeze brushed his hair. The pleasant scent of the forest and a sense of warmth enveloped his senses.

Lee Suhyuk’s consciousness slowly emerged from the depths of sleep. Usually, by now, he would have fully awakened, but not today.

He felt at ease.

There wasn’t even the slightest sense of crisis.

It was the first time he felt such stability since his reincarnation.

Once more, the breeze brushed his hair.

No, he thought it was the breeze.

*Swish.*

It was not the wind but someone really brushing his hair.

*Pop.*

Startled, he opened his eyes and met Un Hyang’s gaze again.

“Awake?”

“Oh… yes.”

It was a familiar situation.

Lee Suhyuk had lost consciousness and awakened to find his head resting on Un Hyang’s lap.

‘Did I fall asleep?’

He had expended considerable energy fighting Baek Lidan and escaping the Divine Dragon Group. But he hadn’t expected to completely pass out.

This meant he subconsciously relied on Un Hyang.

Well.

‘She is trustworthy. In many ways.’

Though Lee Suhyuk was quite exhausted, Un Hyang looked remarkably energetic.

She was much stronger than he had thought.

In his feeling, it seemed she had even more hidden strength.

*Swish.*

As he gathered his senses, Lee Suhyuk touched his face. It felt strange, as his mask was gone.

“I took it off because it seemed uncomfortable. We know each other’s faces, so why wear it anyway?”

“It’s more comfortable than you think.”

Since it was something he wore as frequently as glasses, he did not particularly feel any discomfort. Suhyuk picked up the mask that Un Hyang had placed beside her for a moment.

“I kind of wanted to see your face, Suhyuk-nim.”

Embarrassed at Un Hyang’s words, Suhyuk pondered for a moment, unsure of how to respond.

Did she really remove the mask because she wanted to see his face? Suhyuk stared at the mask in his hand and chose his words carefully.

“You’ll see it often from now on.”

“Pardon?”

“If you stay with me.”

Often.

Un Hyang mulled over his words in her mouth.

Looking at her beaming face, Suhyuk threw a bucket of cold water over her mood.

“When will Un Cheon-guk return?”

Un Hyang flinched, her giggling expression turning stiff.

Seeing her face made Suhyuk worry that he had brought it up unnecessarily, but it was a matter that needed to be addressed.

The reason why this fight had been easier than anticipated was due to Un Cheon-guk’s absence. If he had remained with the Divine Dragon Group, the battle would have been several times more challenging.

‘We would have avoided fighting by any means.’

This was the very reason they had taken Jinwoon along.

He still judged that Un Cheon-guk wasn’t an opponent he could handle with his own strength.

Responding to Suhyuk’s question, Un Hyang answered with a sullen face.

“Probably, he’ll be back soon.”

“And by soon, you mean?”

“Maybe tomorrow, maybe the day after, or maybe even right now.”

Un Hyang continued, hesitating.

“If you stay with me, it will be dangerous.”

She lowered her head deeply, as though she had committed a crime.

“I’m sorry. Even though I knew this, I still followed you.”

“It’s the same for me.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s dangerous to be with me, too. It’s the same.”

Un Hyang looked up, wondering what he meant.

Along with revealing his face from behind the mask, Suhyuk unveiled another part of himself that he hadn’t shown to others.

“I can’t explain in detail. Just know this. And don’t tell anyone.”

He then put the mask back on his face.

“If dangerous people stick together, won’t it be a little safer?”

With the mask on, Suhyuk returned to his usual self.

Ironically, Un Hyang saw the true Lee Suhyuk behind the mask.

“That’s true.”

Her expression brightened once more.

Whether his words were meant to comfort or if they were genuine remained unknown.

Yet despite this, Un Hyang made another resolution.

If, by any chance, Suhyuk was fated with a similar destiny as her own.

“I won’t listen. At least until he tells me first.”

She vowed to fight alongside him against that fate.

* * *

Suhyuk took Un Hyang and went to find Jinwoon.

The gate was wide open. As they were about to enter, Un Hyang hesitated.

“A formation spell is in place.”

She slowly extended her hand forward.

As her fingertip passed through the gate, it became translucent.

Even though she had barely crossed the line, a chilling sensation spread throughout her body.

“It’s of considerable level….”

“They’ve prepared thoroughly.”

“Is Cheon Ryang really here?”

“He should be. That’s the plan.”

“Where exactly is this place?”

Although she didn’t know all of Murim, it was the first time she had seen a place like this.

It wasn’t the Jung clan, but she hadn’t expected an estate with such a level of formation spell.

“It’s the house of an uncle I know well.”

“Did he rescue Cheon Ryang?”

“You can pay off the debt later. That uncle is quite money-oriented, so you can settle it with money.”

Suhyuk’s words were not really a demand for debt repayment.

Rather, it was advice not to keep but to not carry too many burdens internally.

“I was wondering what to do next, but there is a back up plan.”

“We just need to buy time. That’s what we need the most.”

Un Hyang nodded.

Just as he said, it was now a battle against time.

Whether it was the Divine Dragon Group or in Murim, even if it was the Heavenly Demon as an opponent.

Un Hyang firmly believed that as long as Suhyuk could continue to grow, they could win.

As they waited for Jinwoon to greet them.

“By the way, Un Hyang.”

Having waited for the right moment, Suhyuk carefully spoke.

“Have you ever thought about streaming?”

“Pardon?”