My Bloody Valentine - 87

Han’s heart raced violently, announcing his existence.

With each step, fear clung to him like gum stuck to the sole of his shoe. Cold sweat dampened the back of his neck. It was an instinctive reaction to fear.

In a situation where nothing could be assured, a single thought pierced through Han’s body.

Maybe it’s now my turn to protect him.

Taeshin was hope. He was the first outstretched hand of salvation and the driving force that kept life going. Just waiting for him was reason enough to live.

What meaning would life have if that Taeshin disappeared? Living day by day in a worthless state, without wanting or waiting for anything, like an empty shell.

He was weak and pathetic, with no good ideas on how to save him, let alone fight. He knew better than anyone how foolish it was. But he would no longer shy away from running away.

Han’s muddled mind gradually cleared. All that filled it was a strong desire to save Taeshin.

“Here. This is for such an important moment, and it’s the first time you’re using it, Director Jang?”

Oh Seong-jin said, placing a fountain pen on the documents.

The pen, adorned with diamonds and pure gold, had a sleek tip made of sturdy platinum that could be passed down through generations. It had been purchased for some future commemorative signature.

Looking down at the overly extravagant fountain pen, Taeshin sighed.

“Did you hear my words? I said I’ll sign after confirming that everything is fine.”

“Don’t worry; everything is fine.”

“Then it better be. If not, you’re dead.”

Taeshin’s eyes glimmered fiercely, signaling that he meant every word. They were far removed from the ignorant eyes he had back when he was simply sitting outside a bar, running errand after errand.

Knowing that everything was overwhelmingly in his favor, Oh Seong-jin swallowed hard. If Jang Taeshin decided to kill someone, that someone would surely die.

At that moment, the hallway became noisy. Just as he turned his head in fear of what was happening, the door swung open and Yang entered. A man with buck teeth was closely following behind him, and two subordinates stood outside the door in the hallway.

Taeshin quickly recognized Yang’s face from having seen him once before. He looked very different from when he had seemed like Oh Seong-jin’s subordinate. This indicated that the balance of power had shifted between Yang and Oh Seong-jin.

Yang spoke something to Oh Seong-jin in Chinese, his voice filled with displeasure. Even without an interpreter, the meaning was somewhat clear.

“Did you forget to contact me? That’s what you’re asking.”

A look of embarrassment spread across Oh Seong-jin’s face as he heard the interpreter.

“Oh, well, that is…”

Yang quietly scanned the documents on the table. He then picked one up, glanced at it, and passed it to the interpreter. The interpreter checked and whispered something to Yang. Disappointment clouded Oh Seong-jin’s expression.

Oh Seong-jin and Yang were dreaming different dreams.

In the underworld, they wanted Oh Seong-jin, an insider from Cheongsong Construction, to be their puppet. They aimed to carry out business that was strictly prohibited back home, using Cheongsong Construction’s resources.

The business in question was to create a cruise line connecting Incheon and Shanghai, along with developing a casino resort in Shanghai.

Through shipping routes, drugs, firearms, or personnel could be freely distributed, and the black money earned could be laundered in the casinos. It was the perfect business plan.

On the other hand, Oh Seong-jin’s thoughts were slightly different. He intended to continue maintaining ties with Cheongsong while trying to reap the benefits from both sides, with the underworld supporting him. Whenever a war broke out, someone stuck in the middle would end up profiting. He wanted to play that role.

Thus, the two were continually examining each other’s motives, pursuing their interests. It was a game of observation, trying to see who would make the first move or reveal their intentions.

Yang casually crossed his legs on the sofa while saying something in Chinese. He then slid a document toward Taeshin.

“They want you to sign. And we’ll keep the original documents.”

At that moment, Oh Seong-jin received a phone call. He unleashed his anxiety on the subordinate who called him.

“Hey, you bastard. It better not be anything important!”

Watching Oh Seong-jin’s expression while he was on the phone, Taeshin realized that something was going wrong.

“What? What’s… going on? Who’s escaping…?”

Oh Seong-jin’s gaze unconsciously turned to Taeshin and then quickly shifted away as if avoiding him. A joyful smile appeared at the corner of Taeshin’s mouth. He began to understand what was happening.

Yeah. You were skilled at hiding and running away. You had even dared to escape from me once.

Han was not restrained. As soon as that realization hit, Taeshin lunged forward.

He drove the fountain pen he had just offered to sign into Yang’s hand. The movement was incredibly fast. The sharp platinum tip pierced through Yang’s hand and embedded itself into the table, showcasing its sturdiness.

After driving the pen tip deep into Yang’s hand, Taeshin bent the pen barrel so it couldn’t be easily removed.

“AAAH!”

Startled by Yang’s scream, the man with buck teeth pulled out a machete and rushed in. Oh Seong-jin and Noh Il-young also began to draw their hidden weapons.

Hearing the scream, the men outside the door rushed into the room. Some were Oh Seong-jin’s men, while others were Yang’s followers. Six or seven knives were aimed at Taeshin, and a suffocating tension filled the room in an instant.

Usually, the knives held by organizational members are taped. It is intended to inflict pain, but they rarely intend to kill. However, the knives in the hands of these men today had no protective measures.

Taeshin realized that his assumption about Oh Seong-jin wanting to kill him was correct.

As he saw the knives gleaming and approaching him, something began to squirm beneath Taeshin’s skin. In that fleeting moment, he made a swift judgment.

Yang. He was the type of person who would do anything for what he wanted. Moreover, he knew about Han’s existence. Even if he was saved this time, he would threaten them again next time. As long as he was alive, they could never let their guard down. He had to die.

Oh Seong-jin. He kidnapped Han. It’s pitiful to see the last struggle of a toothless tiger, but naturally, he must die.

To me, everyone here is someone who must be killed, but to them, each other is not the enemy. They needed to confirm whether I wielding a knife made me an ally or an enemy and act accordingly.

Therefore, this is a fight that is absolutely advantageous to me.

When Tae-shin finished his calculations, the blade of the toothless tiger in front lunged forward. Tae-shin twisted his body to the side and kicked his wrist. Then, picking up the fallen sickle with a clattering sound, he slashed the toothless tiger’s chest and then struck down the hand of No Il-young, who was rushing towards him.

A massive amount of blood splattered into the air. With a thud, the wrist of No Il-young, who had been holding the knife, fell onto the table. No Il-young looked incredulously at his arm, which had suddenly lost its hand, and after a beat, he screamed.

“Ugh… Aaaaah!”

No Il-young, in shock, lost the will to fight and continued to stare down at his hand, shrieking incessantly. Seeing this, one of the men aiming their knives at him turned to run away. He might come back with more of his companions.

Tae-shin threw the knife he was holding. The knife spun through the air before striking the man’s back with a thud.

Meanwhile, Yang was still unable to free his hand lodged in the table and was frantically rummaging through his jacket pocket with his left hand. He was trying to pull out a gun.

However, as a right-handed person, it was difficult to reach for the gun he had stuffed into the left inner pocket and buttoned shut. The handle was positioned backwards, causing the long barrel to snag inside the pocket.

Oh Seong-jin and the members of our country’s organization despised the use of guns. They believed that fists and knives were the true weapons of men. Despite valuing face so much, Oh Seong-jin discarded the knife he was holding and rushed towards Yang to snatch his gun.

His eyes, filled with extreme fear, turned as red as if sprinkled with red pepper powder. He was gripped by the fear that without a gun, he wouldn’t be able to handle Tae-shin.

When Tae-shin shifted his gaze towards Yang, thinking he needed to take care of him first, one of Yang’s subordinates lunged at him. Tae-shin quickly twisted his body and kicked the wrist of the man who was thrusting his arm deep at him, causing the knife to drop.

However, the irrational man let out a beastly groan and tackled Tae-shin like a wrestler. With his waist grabbed, Tae-shin lost his balance and fell onto the table with a loud crash. As his back hit the ground, air was forcefully expelled from his lungs.

Tae-shin waved his hands to grab a bottle of alcohol at his fingertips and smashed it against the face of the man who was on top of him. Then he got up and grabbed the neck of the man who was collapsing under the table, slamming him against the wall with repeated thuds.

After leaving a red mark on the wall like a stamp, the man slumped down. His head resembled a deflated soccer ball.

Oh Seong-jin, staring blankly at the scene, charged at Yang again.

Tae-shin seized Oh Seong-jin’s hair as he rummaged through Yang’s clothes and punched him in the face. Oh Seong-jin fell backward, his hazy eyes stained with pain and fear.

Tae-shin kicked Oh Seong-jin’s side as if kicking a ball. He felt the sensation of ribs breaking under his foot.

Tae-shin took a moment to catch his breath and scanned the room. Yang, realizing he couldn’t pull out his gun with his left hand, was anxiously trying to grasp the fountain pen with his opposite hand. Aside from him, there were four people lying face down on the floor and four still standing.

The blade flashed and flesh tore. Blood, whose it was unknown, splattered into the air. Tae-shin’s vision was stained red, the intense crimson of blood heightening his rage.

One by one, as if the stuntmen in a movie had choreographed beforehand, they fell.

Confirming that no one was standing, Tae-shin found the sickle that Oh Seong-jin had been brandishing. He then approached Yang immediately.

Tae-shin drew the splendid knife, adorned with pure gold on the handle and spine, and made a long arc in the air. After plunging the knife into Yang’s chest, he twisted it deeply. Yang coughed up blood from his mouth and met his empty end.

“P-Please, save me…!”

No Il-young, who had been gripping his empty wrist, finally regained his senses and looked around the room. A scene of hell unfolded before his eyes.

No Il-young, trying to flee as far as possible from Tae-shin standing by the door, crawled slowly into the room. Tae-shin followed him with a languid pace, moving like a carnivorous beast chasing its prey.

If left alive, he would become a source of trouble someday.

Tae-shin grabbed a knife that had fallen carelessly on the floor and dragged it across. A thin crack appeared in the center of No Il-young’s neck. Soon after, blood gushed out like a waterfall from the opening. The sound of air escaping from his trachea could be heard.

As Tae-shin looked indifferently at the twitching hands and feet, he noticed that Oh Seong-jin, whom he thought was unconscious, was crawling towards Yang at a snail’s pace.