. Close Calls and Confrontations (II)

[H]an Si-hyun's attention shifted towards the intruder, a confident smirk forming at the corner of his lips.

"Well, well, if it isn't Yoo Jin-ho? The infamous Reaper, is that right?" He taunted venomously, "What brings you here, meddling in my affairs, huh?"

The appearance of Jin-ho's seemed to have made things a lot more complicated.

Jin-ho's gaze narrowed; his voice filled with steel. "You can't expect me to just stand by and let you mess with my people!"

As Han-sol struggled to regain his balance, Jin-ho swiftly positioned himself in front of his friend, sending a clear message that anyone trying to harm Han-sol would have to deal with him first.

With an aggravated frown, Jin-ho turned to Han-sol and asked, "Are you okay, buddy?"

"I've had better days," Han-sol admitted weakly, spitting out blood onto the ground.

The other two henchmen of Han Si-hyun hesitated, their confidence waning as they noticed the dark intensity in Jin-ho's gaze.

They were well aware of the reputation of a certain 'Reaper' in the underworld, but they hadn't expected their first meeting to be like this. On top of it all, challenging him seemed like a surefire way to invite trouble and danger.

At the intimidating sight of Jin-ho trying to shield his friend, they quickly retreated to where Han Si-hyun stood.

Han Si-hyun on the other hand, nonchalantly shrugged, a smug smirk adorning his face. "You've always been one to meddle, Jin-ho. But unfortunately, I can't just let this lad go!"

Jin-ho's fist clenched tightly, his face contorting into a fierce scowl as he retorted, "Last time I checked, it was you who had to resort to underhanded tactics to get to me!"

It was no secret that a deep-seated grudge existed between them, stemming from Han Si-hyun's involvement in the kidnapping and abuses of Sung Su-min.

He was the mastermind behind Jin-ho's shattered life and ruined relationships. Jin-ho had hoped to never lay eyes on him again, but life had a way of fucking him over — of piling problem upon problem onto his shoulders.

"Well, you know what they say? Everything's fair in love and war!" Han Si-hyun sneered, enjoying his own clever remark. "Although, in your case, it seems to lean more towards the war part!"

"I have no intention of making Han-sol a part of your pitiful idea of a war!"

Han Si-hyun clicked his tongue disapprovingly, spewing venom with his words. "Oh, come on, Jin-ho! You're not giving me enough credit! We were just giving him a warning!"

Then with a fierce glare aimed at Han-sol, he continued threateningly, "Isn't that right? Tell your friend what this is all about!"

"W-what are you talking about?" Jin-ho arched a confused eyebrow, glancing back and forth between Han-sol and Si-hyun.

Si-hyun's cunning smirk widened as he answered Jin-ho's question, "Oh? You didn't know? Your friend here was having a little too much fun with my woman! You know me, right, Jin-ho? Just being your typical ascended and teaching this guy a lesson! I'm sure you can relate!"

Si-hyun's eyes narrowed, revealing a darker undertone. "After all, us Ascended are fiercely protective of our women, you know?"

Jin-ho couldn't shake off the unsettling feeling that Han Si-hyun's words carried deeper implications. Turning to his friend, he inquired, "Is what he said true, Sol?"

Han-sol nodded, attempting to clarify, "Yes, it's… just as he said! But Jin-ho, I can explain!"

"Don't bother, you man-whore! We all know the truth!" Han Si-hyun retorted in disdain.

"Enough!" Jin-ho's voice turned cold and firm as he issued a warning, "I'm willing to bet that you had a hand in Hyun-seo's death! Do you really think the council will go easy on you if I report your actions?"

"Fucking shit!" Han Si-hyun's cunning smirk vanished, replaced by an irritated scowl at the threat. "We'll just have to make sure you don't speak, then!"

"Is that so? I'd like to see you try, Joker!" Jin-ho's tone dropped menacingly, and an eerie atmosphere seemed to envelop them.

He hadn't unleashed any special powers or displayed his bloodlust, but the aura of a prodigy was unmistakable and not to be taken lightly.

Ignoring the clawing sensation in his gut, Han Si-hyun scoffed, "I'll keep my hands to myself as long as your friend keeps his distance from my wife!"

"Agreed," Jin-ho responded coldly, nodding as he clenched his jaw, trying to suppress the rising thirst for blood. "Just stay far away from Han-sol and Wine Mystic, and we won't have any issues."

"Nari too!" Han-sol chimed in, still catching his breath after the beating he endured.

"Nari?" Jin-ho asked, puzzled by the new addition.

"Yeah, that jerk threatened me to sell Nari to an old man!" Han-sol explained.

Hearing this, whatever restraint Jin-ho had been holding back suddenly broke, and he threw a powerful punch to Si-hyun's face, causing him to double over in pain.

Si-hyun's two lackeys appeared ready to retaliate, but a single menacing glare from Jin-ho made them think twice.

"What the hell, Jin-ho?" Han Si-hyun managed a bloodied, slit-lipped smirk. "I don't take too kindly to getting punched in the face, you know!"

"That's what you get for involving a child!" Jin-ho stated matter-of-factly, lowering his fist to rest beside his legs. "We have a deal, then! Keep yourself far from Han-Sol, Nari, and Wine Mystic. That's as far as I'll delve into your business! If you don't want any incriminating information sent to the council, that is!"

"Tsk! Useless motherfucker!" Han Si-hyun kicked one of his lackeys in the gut, clearly frustrated with his own helplessness against a true prodigy. "Got it!" he sneered, a wicked smirk on his face. "As long as your friend keeps it in his pants, that is!"

"I'll have a talk with Han-sol!" Jin-ho replied firmly.

"Then we have a deal!" Han Si-hyun agreed, spitting to the side and barking an order at his men, "Let's go, fuckers!"

One of his men hurried to help the other lackey who had been kicked, and they all retreated toward the entrance.

Yoo Jin-ho maintained his poised demeanor until they were out of sight, then punched a nearby wall, leaving a small crater in the concrete.

The tension had settled for the moment, but the underlying animosity between them still lingered, leaving an uneasy atmosphere in its wake.

"What was all that about?" Yoo Jin-ho groaned, his voice showing a hint of irritation.

"I can explain," Han-sol replied, adjusting his position on the ground to find some comfort amidst his battered body. "When I got involved with her, I had no idea she was his wife!"

"That woman from the other day..." Jin-ho began, taking a deep breath to calm himself down. "From the love hotel, I mean! It was her, wasn't it?"

"Yeah," Han-sol admitted truthfully.

"Damn it, you're playing with fire!" Jin-ho exclaimed.

"I had no idea, man!" Han-sol protested in his defense. "I only learned about it at Hyun-Seo's funeral!"

"Mr. Kang?" Jin-ho arched an inquisitive eyebrow.

Han-sol nodded, "Yeah! He was the one who told me all about it!"

Jin-ho sighed, running a hand through his hair. He had sensed that something was off about that woman and had heard rumors at the funeral, but now it was clear why. The situation had become even more complicated than he had imagined.

"And?" Jin-ho pressed further, concern etched in his expression.

"And what?" Han-sol echoed, slightly defensive.

"Are you going to leave her?" Jin-ho asked, wanting to understand the situation fully.

There was a slight pause as Han-sol allowed Jin-ho to help him up, bracing himself against a nearby wall. He retrieved a pack of cigarettes with shaking hands, lighting one up.

After a few drags, Han-sol rubbed the area between his eyebrows with the back of his thumb and answered nervously, "Probably. I haven't figured everything out yet."

"You know what kind of person Han Si-hyun is! Why did you agree to that?"

"I needed the cash! I had no choice," Han-sol replied, his voice tinged with desperation.

"What do you mean? There are other ways you could have..." Jin-ho began, trying to offer alternatives.

"Nari's mom was neck-deep in some serious shit because of her lover back then! I needed the quick cash to help her settle the debt she had with drug-dealers! But it got worse later, and she died while trying to escape their grasp," Han-sol explained, his voice still shaking with emotion. "Once I got involved, I had no way to stop it! 'She' kept demanding more!"

The weight of the situation became clearer to, and Jin-ho could somehow relate to how Han-sol had felt trapped in a difficult position, driven by desperation to make tough choices.

"Well, be sure to put an end to it this time!" Jin-ho advised firmly.

"It's not as simple!" Han-sol protested.

"How so?"

"She's been blackmailing me with Nari's guardianship, and my job as a host only complicates things. It's just so messed up!" Han-sol's confessed begrudgingly.

As Jin-ho grasped the gravity of Han-sol's predicament, he couldn't bear to see his friend suffer any longer.

"It may not be the solution you were expecting, but I think I can help you out of this mess," Jin-ho offered, narrowing his eyes as a half-cocky smirk appeared on his lips.