HIDDEN【TAIZHI】

"Meaning is given by love, Jichang Kwak," Jinyoung Park looked deeply into his eyes, as if he was looking at another person. Someone who was concealed deep within his heart and someone whom he could no longer reach. It was as if he was looking at the model student he once was.
"And love, coupled with hope, becomes a utopia that can kill."

Notes:

A translation of 【泰至】隐意 by Loyester

(See the end of the work for notes.)

Work Text:

Drip, drip, drip, drip.

Is it the sound of rain?

It seems not; this sound is far more viscous than the drops of water.

Tick, tick, tick, tick.

Is it the chime of a clock?

Perhaps it is, but it merely shows the countdown of human life.

Jichang Kwak struggled to move his hand. He attempted to adjust the folded piece of paper in his pocket, so that the blood wouldn't obscure the writing, but his fingers only trembled.

Wearyingly, he released his grip while cursing inwardly, "Fuck Charles Choi! Why did he shot here at the left side of my abdomen?" He felt his breath gradually being taken away as the warm blood flowed from his wound. The passage of time had washed away the scars of territorial disputes, killed the fervor of his youthful passion, and erased the pride he once harbored. Now, only a shell remained which is about to lose its soul.

Jichang wanted to utter something, but he found himself voiceless.

"He never returned back to me in the end," he thought.

With one final sigh, the night in Chungcheong settled into tranquility.

A few years ago.

Jichang Kwak drove along a country lane. Compared to the smooth asphalt roads of the city, the muddy paths of Chungcheong were naturally bumpy. The car rumbled over potholes, its tires scraping against the gravel, accompanied by the clatter of various metal parts. Apart from that, silence reigned within the car. In the back seat sat Jichang's two younger brothers. Before their departure, he had treated them to lollipops. Jibeom Kwak, with a lollipop in his mouth, stared absentmindedly out of the window, while the youngest Jihan Kwak appeared blissfully unconcerned. He was swaying his legs one after other as though they were on a carefree road trip.

Jichang sighed heavily. After that man left, he had disbanded his group on the spot. His gang was riddled with wounds, his subordinates battered and bruised. And who was he to demand loyalty from those he no longer could protect? More so, even if he was no longer the leader of any gang or territory, as the eldest brother, he needed to rebuild his influence, transcend his limits, and protect his brothers in case that man suddenly appears again.

"Lunatic". Jichang couldn’t help but curse internally when he thought about that person. Not afraid of electric batons, casually using an axe, and expecting Jichang to serve him as a subordinate? Frustrated, he fumbled in his pocket for a cigarette but quickly withdrew his hand, realising that he was seated with his two younger brothers.

Amidst an unspoken silence, they finally arrived at their destination.

Jichang unfastened his seatbelt and glanced back at the back seat. "Stay in the car for a moment. I'll be right back," he instructed. Jibeom obediently nodded, while Jihan expressed concern, "Hyung, should I come with you?"

Jichang gave him a reassuring smile, "It’s okay, Jihan. Do you not trust your big brother?"

With saying that, he got out of the car and locked the door. Taking a deep breath, he looked at the Chungcheong Police Station before stepping forward.

Before he could walk in, a tall man pulled open the glass door and stepped out. "May I help you?" he asked, looking down at Jichang with a smile that failed to reach his eyes.

"I am looking for the King of Chungcheong," Jichang replied as he lit a cigarette, raising his gaze to meet the man's.

"And where did you come from?" The man's expression remained unchanged.

Jichang felt a twinge of pain in his heart but he stood tall and answered, "Seoul."

"I see," the man continued to smile, then opened the glass door, "Please, come in."

While entering, Jichang noticed several burly men seated in the corner. Their expressions were unreadable, yet it was obvious that they were all watching him closely. Jichang was unfazed, and he walked forward with indifference, smoking as he moved. From the corner of his eyes, he noticed the men in the corner quietly rising. The earlier man was still behind, seemingly taking too long to close the door.

With a decisive "click" of the lock, Jichang reached the center of the room. Behind him, those men had formed a half-circle. He flicked away the cigarette butt and crushed it under his shoe. He spoke with unnerving calmness, "Will it be one at a time or all at once?"

Before he could finish his sentence, a figure lunged toward him from behind. Jichang swiftly turned around and extended his hand, ready to fight.

"Stop!"

A furious shout rang out a moment before the fight could begin.

Jichang froze for a moment and then turned around. In front of the sheriff's office door, there stood a small figure.

"There’s no need for violence," the person said while approaching him. Jichang remained alert, cautiously observing his movements. The person made no unnecessary gestures and showed no signs of attacking. He merely walked up to Jichang with his hands behind his back, and removed his hat, revealing a gentle smile.

"Let’s discuss this inside," he gestured toward a small room behind him, still smiling,

"Chungcheong has no king."

Chungcheong Police Station.

A group of rough looking men surrounded a long bench, carefully examining the two angry children seated upon it. Even while being surrounded by many bulky men, the young kids showed no signs of fear. They were staring defiantly back at them—one with arms crossed over his chest and the other with hands planted firmly on his hips.

"Where's our brother?" Jibeom asked angrily, he was feeling uncomfortable under their gaze.

Jihan chimed in, "We want to see Hyung!"

The men exchanged glances, silently looking at each other, before pushing their leader forward. He wiped the sweat from his brow and attempted to explain with a forced smile, "Your brother is inside discussing matters with our elder." His grin resembled more a grimace of appeasement. "Why don’t you guys... play outside for a while?"

"No! We want to wait here for our brother!" the two children retorted in unison.

The attempt had failed. Dejected, the leader hung his head, then turned to his companions and said, "Could someone go to the beehive and fetch some honey candies?"

At that moment, Jichang sat upright in the sheriff's office, observing the person before him. He wasn’t particularly tall. He was slightly hunchbacked, with a long scar running across his left forehead, the wrinkles on his face growing increasingly pronounced, and a mop of black hair interspersed with strands of silver.

"I sincerely apologize. Please have a cup of tea first," the man said warmly, offering Jichang a cup with a gentle smile. "I am Noh Bakgu, but you may also call me 'Elder'."

Jichang took a sip of the tea. "Greetings, Elder. I am Jichang Kwak."

"I know you—the King of Seoul," Noh Bakgu remarked, taking a sip of his tea. Jichang’s hand trembled slightly as he held the cup, and just as he prepared to explain, the older man continued, "I heard about the events a few days ago. It was Gitae Kim, wasn’t it?"

Jichang set the tea down on the table, nodding before raising his gaze to the man before him. "How did you come to know?"

"And why there is no king in Chungcheong?"

Noh Bakgu fell silent for a moment before placing his tea on the table as well. "You are the king of your generation, so you must know the leader of the pre generation fist gang, Gapryong Kim, right?"

Jichang nodded. "I’ve heard of him—the leader of the Gapryong Kim's Fist Gang. Since he turned to politics, the wars in my generation started."

"You're right," Noh Bakgu responded, his expression turning grave. "However, there are still matters occurring behind the scenes."

"Matters occurring behind the scenes?" Jichang's eyes widened in surprise.

"While the organizations of the first generation are fiercely battling and fighting for territory, the foundations of the zero generation were quietly being dismantled," Noh Bakgu's demeanor turned sharp. "I, too, am among those who were casted aside."

"Casted aside...?" Jichang found it hard to believe.

"Indeed," Noh Bakgu replied. "I was once the driver of the leader, Gapryong Kim. Shortly after he started his political career, more and more members of the Fist Gang were assigned to oversee other organizations—which ultimately led to your plight." He glanced at Jichang, then continued, "What the leader did not realize was that, while he was wholly focused on his political pursuits, those of the zero generation around him were gradually being driven away."

"Who did this... and why?" Jichang questioned, feeling confused.

Noh Bakgu took another sip of tea, lowering his voice. "The one who drove us out of the Fist Gang was none other than the former second in command ‘Elite’. As for his intentions, we don't know it yet. But one thing is certain that a war looms on the horizon."

"A war?"

"No one knows what Elite is scheming. Truthfully, I am not entirely certain it is indeed him. However..." As if haunted by an unpleasant memory, Noh Bakgu cast his gaze downward, his breathing becoming heavy.

"Elder? Are you alright?" Jichang noticed that something was wrong with the person in front of him. He stood up and offered his tea to Noh Bakgu.

The warmth of the tea seeped through the paper cup, seemingly soothing his emotions. The Elder gradually calmed down. He firmly grasped the cup in his hands and raised his gaze to meet Jichang's. "We have been lying low in Chungcheong in order to quietly gather evidence on Elite's activities and reveal his true intentions. So the people outside the door were excited hearing that you came from Seoul and I apologize for that."

Jichang raised the corners of his mouth slightly, smiling as he replied, "No worries, Elder. It does not trouble me."

"However, despite my sincere apologies, there is a matter on which I seek your assistance," The Elder said, his gaze steady upon Jichang.

"Please, speak your mind," Jichang responded earnestly.

"Jichang Kwak," Noh Bakgu rose to his feet and extended a hand toward him, "come and be the king of Chungcheong."

Staring at the outstretched hand, worn and weathered by time, Jichang found himself momentarily frozen, as though he was held in place by an unseen force.

"You came with your brothers, searching for a place to establish yourselves anew? Let them reside in Chungcheong. You can also rebuild your power and influence here," Noh Bakgu continued. "Yet, I must warn you: Chungcheong is without a king. The figure we present as the King to the outside world is merely a relatively strong farmer among us. Truly becoming a king comes at a cost, which means that you will attract various unknown dangers in the future."

He sighed, a hint of guilt in his tone as he said, "So, I admit I have my own selfish desires. I wish to ask you to protect us, to protect Chungcheong. Of course, if you prefer not to, that is entirely your choice, but Chungcheong is a place conducive to your way of life. If you’re seeking a residence, the countryside might also be a lovely option—we welcome you."

"Elder," Jichang focused on the individual before him, "to be honest, I have grown tired of the territorial wars of my generation."

Noh Bakgu nodded in understanding, then he withdrew his hand. He turned to open the door but paused as he heard a sudden question from behind him, "Elder, what do you think is the meaning of life?"

Noh Bakgu looked back. Jichang was staring intently at the cup of tea in front of him. Gazing into the still surface of the water, he continued, "The past few years of my life have been consumed by ceaseless fighting and territorial disputes, yet here I stand, ultimately having achieved nothing."

"I am like a living corpse," he added calmly.

Noh Bakgu looked at him. He sighed deeply, and sat back down before him. "You know," he began, "I once felt as lost as you do now. Then I encountered someone who told me that the meaning of life is found in having a purpose. With a clear goal, you have something to pursue and protect."

Jichang lifted his gaze, locking eyes with Noh Bakgu's firm expression.

"My aim is to protect the leader Gapryong to the best of my ability. What about you? Do you have a goal?" The Elder inquired.

He noticed the confusion in Jichang's eyes disappearing. His eyes became clearer and he spoke, "I want to put an end to these conflicts, and allow my brothers to grow up safely and happily." Then, it was as if a pile of dry wood within him had ignited, a spark of determination lit up in his eyes, "Elder, I want to assist you. If Elite truly makes a move, it may be the key to break through these wars."

Noh Bakgu stood up. He was brimming with excitement, and expressed gratefully, "Thank you, Jichang, truly, thank you."

Jichang also rose, smiling as he replied, "No need to mention it, Elder."

They walked towards the door together. Just before opening it, Noh Bakgu said again, "Jichang, remember, once you pull this door open, you will become the new King of Chungcheong."

Jichang met his gaze and, without hesitation, grasped the doorknob, "I understand, Elder."

With absolute determination, he swung the door open, revealing an amusing scene. His two younger brothers were shoving honey candies into their mouths while glaring angrily at the helpess large men surrounding them.

Hearing the sound, Jibeom and Jihan spun around, and upon spotting Jichang, they rushed toward him, exclaiming, "Hyung!"

Jichang steadied himself to brace for the impact of the little ones barreling toward his knees. He turned back to Noh Bakgu, who was smiling kindly, and sheepishly remarked, "Elder, the countryside truly holds a sense of warmth and human connection."

Indeed, the countryside holds the warmth of human connection.

Only in a few days, Elder had arranged a residence for the three brothers, secured Jichang a position at the Chungcheong Police Station, and even handled the enrollment of his younger brothers in school. Perhaps influenced by a lifestyle free from territorial conflicts, the people in Chungcheong were naturally kind-hearted, and the slow pace of life allowed them to get along with each other harmoniously. Watching his brothers running in the rice fields, Jichang found himself at a loss for words to express his gratitude to the elderly Noh Bakgu.

"Jichang, once all of this has settled, Chungcheong will truly belong to you," Noh Bakgu remarked, turning to Jichang with a twinkle in his eyes.

"I no longer hold any ambition to rule over Chungcheong, Elder, but I wish to protect this place," Jichang replied with a slight nod, his gaze drifting toward Jibeom and Jihan, who were playfully tumbling about in the distance. "To protect what I cherish."

Noh Bakgu sighed and patted his shoulder, also glancing toward the children. "Yes, how wonderful it would be if life could remain this peaceful forever."

A tremor ran through Jichang's fingers as he recalled the words of a friend from the mountains:

'Calm and peace often precedes and follows significant events, which is why I sometimes fear the calm.'

It seemed that fate shared this sentiment.

For just a few days later, while on patrol, Jichang received a friend request.

@Kwak Jichang

Who are you?

He sent the message and soon, received a response.

"I’m someone who wants to kill you."

In an instant, Jichang nearly crushed his phone in his grip.

After thoughtfully adding a note to identify the sender, he rubbed his temples and replied.

@Kwak Jichang

......

How did you obtain my contact information?

@Kim Gitae

I have my own ways and people too.

@Kwak Jichang

Hard to imagine.

So, is there something you need?

@Kim Gitae

Really, won't you come under me?

In the next moment, Jichang deleted and blocked the number without any hesitation. He sat on a bench by the pathway, pulled out a cigarette and lightened it.

"Crazy."

After taking a couple of puffs from his cigarette, he thought this inwardly.

On the other side, a man sat upon a makeshift seat. His gaze was fixed intently on his phone. The faint illumination from the screen casted a grim light over his blood-streaked face. Soon, he typed another message and sent it. Watching the words "Kwak Jichang has rejected your message" appear, he hooked the corners of his lips. His white teeth was stark against the vivid red blood staining his face, making him look a wild beast. Rising, he kicked away the thing he was sitting on. His makeshift seat was a dead body. He carelessly slammed his phone to the ground, the sound of metal cracking echoing throughout the warehouse.

As he exited the building and climbed into the waiting car, an attendant respectfully handed him a new phone.

"This was prepared in advance at Mr. James Lee's request," Isu Jo said, bowing slightly.

Gitae raised an eyebrow. He looked a little displeased, yet he accepted the device.

"Let’s head to the next location," he said with an air of indifference.

Isu Jo nodded. He took his place at the driver’s seat, and started the engine. Soon, the car vanished from sight.

Though September had arrived, the sun above Chungcheong continued to scorch, and the narrow paths felt like steaming cauldrons, causing passersby to sweat profusely and become irritable. After the notification of a friend request buzzed from his pocket for the tenth time, Jichang could no longer endure it. He took out his phone and saw an unfamiliar number. Despite a strong sense of foreboding, he inhaled deeply and accepted the request.

@Kwak Jichang

Who are you?

"Is this how you always start?"

'Damn it.'

Jichang felt a throbbing at his temples. Compulsively, he labeled the contact, but before he could summon a reply, another message arrived from the other party.

@Kim Gitae

Why did you block me?

@Kwak Jichang

You tend to be a little haunting, Gitae Kim.

@Kim Gitae

Did your parents never teach you to use honorifics?

@Kwak Jichang

I refuse to be your subordinate. Give up on that and don't send anymore messages.

“If you crave someone's attention desperately, but neither force nor money can sway them of their feet, what options remain?”

On the other side, Gitae asked with a frown as he propped his head with one hand.

Isu Jo who was still driving, remained silent for a long moment before cautiously suggesting, "Pursue them?"

“……”

@Kim Gitae

What if I said I want to pursue you?

With a "click," Jichang swiftly blocked him again. He was now quite used to the action. He put his phone back into his pocket and lit another cigarette.

'What a lunatic.'

Jichang thought to himself.

Noticing the silence on the other end, Gitae sent a blank message. When he saw the familiar writing, "Kwak Jichang has rejected your message," he smirked and tossed his phone onto the carpet beneath his feet.

Isu Jo, maintaining a composed demeanor, glanced at the rearview mirror before retrieving another phone from the passenger seat and handing it back. Gitae decided to not ask any further questions. He accepted the device and sent another friend request.

@Kwak Jichang

…What exactly do you want to achieve?

@Kim Gitae

Come work under me, or I will pursue you.

@Kwak Jichang

Get lost.

I refuse to be your subordinate, and I certainly will not fall in love with you.

Just as Jichang was about to block him again, he suddenly remembered something and began typing on the screen.

@Kwak Jichang

How many phones have you prepared?

“How many phones did James Lee ask you to prepare?” Gitae asked with a hint of curiosity, addressing Isu Jo in the front seat.

“Mr. James Lee said the more, the better, so I have prepared twenty. If that is insufficient, I can have others bring over another box,” Isu replied respectfully.

“……”

@Kim Gitae

I will continue sending messages until you stop blocking me.

@Kwak Jichang

You are insane.

Jichang let out a genuine curse this time, but he refrained from blocking him again, realizing that this lunatic could very well go to the lengths of seizing dozens of phones merely to harass him.

On the other hand, Gitae, after reading the message, felt a broader smile stretch across his lips. Imagining the loathing and frustration on the other person's face lifted his spirits even further.

“Mr. Gitae Kim, we have arrived,” Isu Jo announced as he exited the vehicle. He then opened the car door for the passenger in the backseat.

Gitae tucked his phone into his pocket and replied briefly, “Let’s go.”

Isu Jo followed quietly, pondering to himself:

'It seems that my boss is behaving rather strangely.'

Jibeom Kwak and Jihan Kwak felt that their eldest brother had been acting strangely lately.

Firstly, the frequency of notifications on his phone seemed to escalate daily. In Jihan's words, it was similar to a firecracker ignited by fire or a hot pan stuffed with jumping popcorns. Whether they were on their way home or gathered around the dining table, the delightful "Kakao" notification chimed in from time to time. Their elder brother would always give them a look of apology. He would retrieve his phone to silence it before placing it on the table. Yet, when the silent vibration caused the table to vibrate with a low hum, he would force a smile and utter an apology. Only to quickly type on his phone with a fervor that, in Jibeom's description, could very well shatter the screen. In the end, the phone might tremble more violently or fall silent for a few moments, but it wouldn't be long before it buzzed again.

Secondly, their elder brother's smoking habits had also increased. Jibeom subtly hinted at Jichang to cut back on smoking during those moments. Jichang would crush his cigarette butt without another word, but he inevitably found himself lighting another whenever the phone chimed again.

In summary, one could describe the situation with a single phrase: exhausting.

Jihan who was unabashedly straightforward, had bluntly asked if Jichang was facing any troubles. The latter had, in that moment ago, responded with a blank expression stating that everything was fine, only to watch him typing on his phone with gritted teeth a moment later.

After several such encounters, both Jibeom and Jihan collectively decided to refrain from probing further, focusing instead on their own affairs while trying their best to share some of their brother's burdens.

After all, something must be seriously troubling for their typically composed elder brother to show such big mood swings.

@Kim Gitae

I heard your nickname is the Seoul's White Viper?

What a fitting name indeed.

Little Snake, why not forget about the role of my subordinate and become my pet instead?

@Kwak Jichang

Get lost.

@Kim Gitae

It can't be solely because of your eyes that they call you that. They say you're quite clingy when it comes to fighting?

I didn’t feel that when we fought.

Was it because I had you on the defensive and held you down from the very beginning?

@Kwak Jichang

...

@Kim Gitae

Next time we meet, I can consider letting you throw a hand while standing.

Of course, I plan to kill you right after, so make sure you survive until that encounter.

@Kwak Jichang

Rest assured, I have no intention of dying before you do.

@Kim Gitae

I heard you went to Chungcheong?

Honestly, you could have easily stayed in Seoul, Little Snake. I’m not interested in being the number one king.

I merely needed the title of King of Seoul.

I’ve mentioned it before, this is the beginning of a new era.

@Kwak Jichang

It’s unnecessary. Besides, I have new goals now.

@Kim Gitae

Ha, it's the goal again.

@Kwak Jichang

Someone once told me that having a goal gives meaning to life.

But I don't understand what significance your actions hold.

@Kim Gitae

Love itself is inherently meaningless, Little Snake.

@Kwak Jichang

Don't joke.

Jichang held his phone tightly, gazing silently at the screen. He had expected a reply—whether it be a denial, an explanation, or a provocation—but nothing came.

This conversation came to an abrupt, one-sided end with Gitae's silence.

A sense of unease washed over Jichang. The tie around his neck felt suffocating. He loosened it slightly, allowing the deep brown fabric to coil around his pale, elongated fingers. He felt as though something were coiling tightly around his heart.

At that moment, Noh Bakgu entered after pushing the door open. Jichang immediately adjusted his posture, sitting up straight to greet him. "Good evening, Elder."

Noh Bakgu closed the door behind him and took a seat across from Jichang. The dim yellow light casted a grave expression on his face. "Lightning Choi just contacted me—he’s also a subordinate of the Head Gapryong. You may have heard of him. He told me..." He paused, anguish etching deeper lines upon his forehead. "He told me that Elite had taken his legs."

"Taken... his legs?" At first, Jichang struggled to comprehend, but a moment later, a chill crept down his spine.

"Many shady things have already been going on in the shadows and now begun on tha front. We don’t know what their next move will be, but it certainly will not favor the gang. All we can do is continue gathering clues and evidence, hoping that one day we can offer help to the Head Gaoryong and captain Jinyoung." Noh Bakgu spoke in a single breath, before glancing up at Jichang. "And our current situation is very dangerous."

Jichang nodded. "If Elite truly intends on a betrayal, he will surely eliminate any potential obstacles first."

Noh Bakgu agreed. "Exactly. Moreover, Jichang, you came to Chungcheong because you were attacked by Gitae Kim—the Head’s ungrateful son. It’s quite possible that he has allied himself with Elite. I know that man’s character, with him in the mix, anything could happen."

Upon hearing that name, Jichang's expression softened for a moment, and with the abruptly halted conversation weighing heavily on him, he asked, "Elder, you mentioned you know him. What sort of person is he?"

Noh Bakgu was taken aback. He seemed surprised that the man before him would show interest in such an individual. "Gitae Kim, though the illegitimate son of Gapryong Kim, has inherited none of the admirable qualities. He is relentless and unyielding, a person devoid of warmth or romance. In other words, if he’s around, it’s not surprising if someone ends up dead."

"He truly kills without a moment's hesitation," Noh Bakgu said, his gaze fixed on Jichang, who undoubtedly sensed the subtext in his words.

"I’m astonished he spared you and allowed you to come to Chungcheong. Of course, this also implies he will find you out again in the future."

"Because he is a man who does not stop until he achieves his goal."

'Again, the goal.'

The earlier conversation echoed uncontrollably in Jichang's mind, intertwining with the elder’s words. He felt that overwhelming pressure return. It was now gripping his heart and lifting it high, as if waiting for someone to crush it or swallow it whole.

Despite the anxiety that clawed at him, the composed strategist swiftly made another connection, and that thought caused his pupils to widened: "The other first-generation kings!"

Noh Bakgu reacted instantly. "If Gitae Kim turns against you, in order to eliminate any obstacles, he will surely target the other first-generation kings! Your friends—"

Jichang hurriedly took out his phone, just as an incoming call chimed with his movement. “Hudson Ahn," the faint glow from the dim screen stung his eyes, making him uneasy. He felt like a man just surfacing from the depths of ocean, while the intense anxiety in his heart loomed like a lurking shark, ready to consume him whole.

Steadying his hand, he swiped to answer and brought the phone to his ear.

The next moment, the typically silent Hudson's voice came through, tinged with rare urgency.

"Hello? Is this Jichang Kwak? It’s Hudson Ahn from Ansan… I just went up the mountain to find my master, but I discovered… my master… he was collapsed next to a pile of firewood, and… and…"

His words were punctuated by heavy gasps, sounding heavily unstable. Jichang steadied his voice and replied, "Hudson, take a deep breath and tell me what happened to your master."

The voice on the other end continued to pant heavily. He remained silent for a while. Finally, summoning a newfound strength, Hudson exclaimed through gritted teeth, "One of his eyes has been gouged out!"

With a sharp clatter, Jichang's phone dropped to the ground. Noh Bakgu sensed that something was wrong and stood up, anxiously gazing at Jichang.

Jichang picked up the phone and shouted, "Hudson, quickly call an ambulance and take your master to the hospital."

"I know... I've already called for help and I'm carrying my master down the mountain..." Hudson's breathless voice came through the receiver.

"Do you know who did this?" Jichang inquired, a sense of unease gnawing at him.

"I'm sorry, I didn't see... I feel utterly useless, I’m so sorry!" Hudson replied, wishing he could gouge out his own eyes in his shame.

"Ah," Jichang sighed, then said, "It’s alright. We will find out what happened once your master wakes up. Just hurry down the mountain." Nevertheless, even as he spoke, a name flickered in his mind. He hadn't expected him to act so quickly.

"Understood!" Hudson affirmed before hanging up.

"It seems something has indeed gone wrong," Noh Bakgu remarked, moving closer to Jichang and gently patting his shoulder. The latter's body stiffened as his fingers instinctively grazed the scar on his palm, contemplating a response. Suddenly, his phone buzzed once more. A heaviness settled in his chest as he answered. Before he could even speak, a commotion on the other end burst forth: "Hello? Is this Jichang Kwak? We are from Siwon... The Stone Labor Service has come under attack; there is a—"

Before he could finish, the line went dead. Jichang attempted to redial, but the call would not connect. "Apologies, Elder, I need to step out for a moment." He rubbed his brow and grabbed a pack of cigarettes before exiting the door.

@Kwak Jichang

What have you done?

As soon as he stepped outside, a surge of anger led him to send a furious text to Gitae, but there was no reply. Time trickled away. Jichang kept staring at the still and silent screen that resembled a stagnant pool. He felt his patience wane. Just as he was about to send a second message, his phone suddenly illuminated.

@Kim Gitae

I don’t know what you’re talking about, little snake.

Jichang felt a mix of irritation and amusement.

@Kwak Jichang

The first-generation kings were attacked, and you say you had no part in it?

Why take their body parts from them?

No sooner had he sent that message than another call came through. Upon seeing the caller ID, his heart sank— Gongseob Ji. 'That bastard, pretending to be unaware,' he cursed Gitae internally as he answered, "Hello, Gongseob? What’s wrong?"

However, the words that followed made his heart race with alarm.

“James Lee…”

What?

"That little punk attacked me… I called for an ambulance, but… Jichang, my leg is likely ruined..."

The line went dead with a beep. Jichang kept the phone pressed to his ear. He was frozen for a momet, struggling to process what he had just heard.

'James Lee? The high schooler I saw at the shaman’s place last time? How could he…'

Before he could make sense of the situation, his phone vibrated again, pulling him back to reality. He glanced at the screen:

Alright, someone is here to demand an explanation.

"…Hello?"

"Little snake, don’t you have anything to say?" The familiar voice that reached Jichang was low and it made it clear that he was unhappy.

"I misjudged you," Jichang admitted, a warmth creeping to his cheeks as an unexpected wave of shame washed over him. He was typically calm and collected, how had he impulsively accused someone this time?

Gitae sighed, "Little snake, you must understand that I never take a part of someone’s body. After all, I don’t have a peculiar quirk of watching my prey suffer in anguish and struggle through the rest of their lives." His tone shifted, and he spoke with the most indifferent manner, "I only kill."

Jichang held his silence, letting out a soft huff through his nose to express his disagreement.

"And I must add," Gitae's voice turned cold suddenly, "I don't like being wrongfully accused."

"However, I am a rather an 'understanding' person," his tone lightened again, "Usually, I allow such baseless accusations to take shape in reality."

"You lunatic…" Jichang inhaled sharply, his brow furrowing tightly.

Gitae ignored the insult, continuing, "Therefore, I wouldn’t mind going after your friends, or perhaps… your brothers?"

"You!" Jichang instantly felt a chill run down his spine. No, he couldn't allow his brothers to become involved in this war. His tone softened, "…What would you want me to do?"

"Say something sweet," Gitae playfully said, as if he was toying with him, holding him delicately in the palm of his hand.

"…I’m sorry," Jichang replied meekly.

"Hahahaha!" Gitae laughed. His low chuckle sounded oddly melodic to Jichang’s ears. Realising it, in the next moment, Jichang scrambled to banish that disturbing thought from his mind.

Gitae's voice held a hint of amusement: "That’s not what I wish to hear, little snake," his tone darkened, it held more temptation that lured the prey to fall directly into his trap. "You know what I want to hear."

Through the receiver, Jichang only made the faint sound of breathing. Gitae could almost imagine the tremor of the other man's lips, his face flushed with colour. The surroundings were silent, seconds ticking away until finally—barely audible between them—he caught the whisper that only they could understand:

“…I like you…”

A smile curled on Gitae's lips, his prey was trapped. Bringing the phone closer, he leaned in, his voice a low murmur laced with temptation: "Jichang Kwak,"

"You are mine."

Then, Jichang heard the clatter of something shattering to the ground, followed by the line going dead.

"Haa…haa…" On the other end, Jichang panted heavily, his pale face was flushed with heat. When Gitae's dangerous words echoed in his ears, it felt as though he had been pounced by a ferocious beast. He felt violated. So, he threw the phone away. Yet that was not the point of the matter; what truly unnerved him was the undeniable stirring in his very core, all ignited by that singular phrase. His lower body became hopelessly swollen. Trembling, Jichang gazed down in disbelief as he sank to the ground.

"I'm losing my mind… this is utterly insane…" he murmured to himself.

The next day, Jichang drove to visit the other Kings. Taesoo Ma had lost one of his eyes, and Hudson Ahn had managed to arrange some money to buy him a prosthetic eye. However, the artificial eye could hardly conceal the fury and anger burning within him. "I will find him and take revenge!" Taesoo's seething voice echoed in Jichang's mind, yet all he could do for him was offer words of comfort, utterly helpless to change the situation. Seokdu Wang remained surprisingly calm. Perhaps due to his vegetarian lifestyle, but the heavy atmosphere in the hospital room was something Jichang never wished to endure again. Gongseop Ji's condition was slightly worse. When he heard that he would be unable to run or box with his prosthetic leg, he had seized a nearby glass and shattered it in a fit of rage. Jichang contemplated suggesting that he take up meditation to cultivate his inner peace—a form of solace in its own right. He also asked about the details surrounding James Lee's attack, but aside from vague references to fighting, they had little information on their "grand plan," only hearing the high schooler talking about some "new era."

In summary, after a day of frantic activity, he had gotten nearly no useful leads.

After returning home, Jichang removed his coat and sank slowly onto the edge of his bed, lighting a cigarette. 'A new era,' he silently thought, recalling the young man's words about the "beginning of a new era," feeling a tinge of amusement. Had he truly been swept up by a High schooler's grandiosity? Yet, in truth, the former "King of Seoul" from just months ago felt he had little room to judge.

Glancing out the window, he noted the night had fallen, pale moonlight casting its glow upon the earth. Looking up, he realised that tonight was a full moon. Suddenly, he remembered a quote from a friend who had been passionate about literature during his youth—"Lunacy means madness or insanity, derived from the Latin word for moon, 'luna.' Jichang, imagine the way a pack of wolves howls at the full moon. The full moon is the night filled with madmen and their madness."

Madness, indeed. Gitae had not yet reached out to him today.

Jichang was hesitant to admit that this realization left him feeling unexpectedly empty. After all, the man had previously bombarded him with messages, as if he were compelled to communicate with him for 48 hours straight. Yet today, silence enveloped him. He ran his fingers over the scar on his palm. His gaze remained absentmindedly fixed on the moonlight outside, and before he knew it, he had smoked three cigarettes. 'Tonight would likely bring no news… What am I thinking? Has the full moon driven me mad as well?' He scratched his head in irritation and placed the damned silent phone on the bedside table, preparing to wash up.

"Kakao——"

A sudden chime shattered the silence of the room as Jichang rose. He picked up his phone and swiped the screen.

@Kim Gitae
Open the door.

The message contained only two words.

@Kwak Jichang
?

For a brief moment, Jichang was taken aback. But he quickly began to type and blamed himself for being so oblivious to the sound of an approaching car.

@Kwak Jichang
Have you come all the way to Chungcheong?

@Kim Gitae
Open the door quickly, or I’ll break it down!

@Kwak Jichang
Are you truly insane? What could possibly make you come here at this hour?

Just as he hit send, a pair of violent and forceful thuds came from the doorway—an axe. 'This damned lunatic,' Jichang cursed inwardly as he grabbed his coat, slipping it on while typing "Stop it, I’m coming!" Before he could send the message, he heard the approach of familiar footsteps, rushing swiftly from the front door to behind him.

Jichang turned around, only to be met with a crushing embrace.

"Hey, you bastard, let me go!" He struggled to shake off the heavy figure clinging to him, but instead, the grip tightened. At the same tine, the distinctive scent of blood which he had grown all too accustomed to invaded his nostrils.

Jichang stopped his movements. "Are you injured?" he asked tentatively, but the man embracing him said nothing. His head was buried in Jichang's shoulder. With a sigh, Jichang tightened his embrace on Gitae and walked over to the bed, intending to toss him gently onto it. To his surprise, the other man seized his arm, pulling him down as well. Jichang braced himself against the edge of the bed to avoid falling on top him.

"Are you not going to explain? What happened?" Jichang sat up and asked the man beneath him. Gitae opened his eyes to find Jichang straddling his lap with his legs spread out. Gitae narrowed his eyes, gazing at him with a purposeful leer. Jichang quickly realized how intimate their position was and scrambled to sit up.

"Well, it seems you have nothing to say." Jichang turned away and cleared his throat. Gitae caught a fleeting blush that made Jichang’s face crimson. A smirked appeared at the corners of his lips as he too propped himself up. When Jichang glanced back at him, he was struck by the sight of blood covering Gitae—his black leather jacket nearly soaked through. Though uncertain whose blood it was, he noted a deep wound on his waist, blood streaming from his head, and crimson smudges at the corner of his mouth.

"This is the first time I’ve seen you in such a state," Jichang remarked quietly, his tone laced with barely noticeable tremors. Strangely, Gitae remained silent, simply gazing at him without uttering a word. Jichang began to wonder if the man had taken too many blows to the head.

"I'm only here to take a look at you, and I'll leave now." After a very long silent stare, the figure on the bed suddenly broke the silence.

"Ha?" Jichang could hardly comprehend the absurdity of the situation. "I have no idea where you came from, but you've mysteriously shown up covered in injuries, and now you want to leave just like that? Did your grand 'beginning of a new era' fail?"

"Hahaha" Gitae let out his characteristic low, husky laugh. He ignored Jichang's question and rose from the bed, shifting the topic. "So, Jichang Kwak, are you planning to settle old scores with me now? It seems like a golden opportunity."

Furrowing his brow, Jichang found himself utterly confused by Gitae's thought process and how it had wandered back to the previous fight. With a deep sigh, he pushed the man, who had just stood up, back onto the bed.

"We indeed have scores to settle, but not at this moment." He said with a blank face. He turned around and walked out of the bedroom. Gitae sat on the bed, listening to the sounds of Jichang rummaging through the cabinets from the outside. A look of confusion spread across his face. When he saw Jichang enter the room with a basin of water and some bandages, his bewilderment only deepened.

Jichang sat beside him. He took a towel from the water and began to clean the bloodstains on Gitae's head and body. Gitae remained silent, observing the other man's every gentle move. In his memory, this "Seoul's White Viper" had always appeared cold and unapproachable. So, Gitae had never anticipated this softer side. Jichang didn't speak again. He was carefully applying medication and wrapping the bandages around Gitae. Gitae had never encountered such a peaceful moment. The atmosphere in the room gradually became more and more quiet.

Soon, Jichang was finished with his task. Gitae's confusion increased. "I don’t understand you, Little Snake. Why are you doing this?"

"Just consider it my way of ensuring you don’t die, so that we can settle the score properly next time," Jichang replied with a slight smile, rising with the basin of water in his hand.

Gitae silently watched his retreating figure, his expression was dark. No one had ever tended to his wounds with such care before. Jichang was the first one. It wasn't that Jichang's technique was better than others, but rather that special sensation Gitae had felt earlier... It was something he had never experienced before. He didn't even knew what this feeling was.

All he knew was that he wanted to keep this feeling in his life.

"Are you sure you won't come with me?" Gitae asked, touching the smooth bandage around his waist.

"Who would want to deal with that kind of thing?" Jichang asked as he washed the blood from his hands in the basin, speaking while he scrubbed. "Just rest a bit before leaving. I won’t tell anyone we encountered each other tonight."

"I'm afraid not," Gitae murmured.

Jichang shook the water off his hands. "What—"

Before Jichang could finish his sentence, he felt himself getting yanked down onto the bed by an immense force. Gitae removed his glasses and carelessly tossed them aside. He seized Jichang's wrists, pinning him beneath his weight. Jichang's pupils constricted, his eyes widened with disbelief as he stared at the man above him.

"Jichang Kwak," Gitae said slowly.

"I’ve fallen in love with you."

In the next moment, Gitae leaned down and captured Jichang's lips in a fierce kiss. Jichang had no time to react as Gitae pried open his lips, his flexible tongue exploring the confines of Jichang's mouth, asserting its dominance.

Once the shock subsided, Jichang struggled vigorously, wanting to bring down his hand blade upon the man’s head. But he found his wrist forcibly captured, twisted behind him. "Mmm," he let out a muffled groan for the sharp pain. It only deepened their kiss. During the throes of his struggle, Gitae grazed Jichang's waist in a provoking way, causing a shiver to rippled throughout Jichang's body. Like Columbus discovering new lands, Gitae began to explore Jichang's waist. He noticed that every touch elicited a tremor from the man beneath him. A low, teasing laugh escaped his lips, intertwining with their lips and teeth.

Seizing the opportunity, while Gitae was distracted by his explorations of Jichang's waist, Jichang pulled his right hand free and striked at the man. Unfortunately, before he could even brush against his clothing, Gitae had already gripped his wrist. Their heated kiss came to an abrupt halt.

The room fell into a heavy silence. Only the sound of their heavy breaths could be heard. An unsettling feeling welled up inside Jichang. He tried to free his right hand, but it remained immovable. His brow furrowed in pain. The previous injury had yet to fully heal, and now that same wrist throbbed under the vice-like grip. 'Damn, how could this guy still use such strength?' he complained inside his mind. Gitae’s expression revealed no emotion, which only made the air around him more dangerous.

However, what left Jichang astounded, was the next moment when Gitae grasped his hand and positioned it towards his own neck—the very spot Jichang had aimed to strike when they first fought one another.

“Little Snake,” Gitae smirked.

“Here’s your chance. Kill me if you dare.”

Then, to Jichang's utter surprise, Gitae truly released his grip on his right hand. He remained still as he fixed his gaze intensely upon him.

'He’s toying with me. This psychopath is playing with me.' Jichang gritted his teeth in anger, "Do you really think I wouldn’t dare?!"

Gitae didn't response. He merely showed his earlier toothy grin. His eyes sparkled with amusement as he loomed above Jichang and watched him deeply.

Jichang’s breath became heavier. His right hand tensed, the bluish-purple veins standing out against his pale skin, resembling serpents coiling just beneath the surface. With every ounce of strength he could muster, he pushed his hand forward, inching closer to Gitae’s neck until his nails almost grazed his skin.

Then, to Gitae's surprise, he saw Jichang suddenly shut his eyes. His previously tensed hand instantly relaxed.

Jichang's chest heaved up and down. The back of his weak hand shielded his eyes, his face tilting to one side.

“…I can't kill people so casually,” he gasped.

He failed to see the pleased curl of Gitae’s lips.

“But I can.”

With that statement, Gitae forcefully swept aside Jichang's hand. Securing it by his side, he effectively imprisoned him beneath his weight.

"Little Snake, it seems like you still haven't grasped the situation yet," Gitae’s smile deepened in its delight. "What I mean is, if you had been unable to kill me just now…”

He leaned closer, whispering into Jichang's ear,

“I would have killed you right here, on this very bed.”

With that, he bit down on Jichang's ear while wedging his knee between the latter's legs, rubbing against him provocatively. Jichang's face flushed a deep crimson, his body squirming as he struggled.

"Don't move, Little Snake," Gitae murmured, trailing kisses down the nape of his neck, leaving a trail of crimson marks starkly visible against Jichang's pale skin. Then, as if he had discovered a hidden treasure, Gitae smirked and swiftly yanked off Jichang's tie and tied his hands within it with alarming ease.

"Sometimes, dressing too formally can be rather disadvantageous, don't you think?" he commented, meeting Jichang's eyed with a sly gaze and began to unfasten his suit jacket. "I’m quite eager to see what lies beneath this polished facade."

"Fuck off," Jichang spat through clenched teeth.

Gitae chuckled softly, and pressed his knee harder against Jichang's lower body, who couldn't suppress a muffled groan. A moment later, Jichang felt a rush of cool air against his chest—Gitae had already undone his shirt.

“Ah, is that one of the reasons you’re called the White Viper?” Gitae remarked, admiring the fairness of Jichang’s skin revealed beneath the clothes. His hand glided possessively over Jichang's waist, eliciting a tremor from him in response to the sensation.

"Little Snake, have I told you how much I love seeing pure white stained with the colour red?" Gitae lowered his body further and bit into Jichang's collarbone with his teeth.

"Damn it, are you a dog?" Jichang gasped in pain. A tingling sensation radiated from his collarbone, igniting a feverish heat within him.

"You can say whatever you like," Gitae continued to kiss downwards.

"Wait, not there—mm!" Jichang's protest was cut short as an unexpected sound escaped his lips. One he never imagined he could produce. Gitae captured his nipple between his lips. He teased it with his tongue, swirling around the sensitive tip, occasionally nipping gently with his teeth. He had never thought that a person's skin could taste so sweet and intoxicating to the point of desperation. Under Gitae, Jichang shook uncontrollably, his legs instinctively clamped around Gitae’s leg.

Gitae lifted his head to see Jichang tightly shutting his eyes. He bit down hard on his lower lip to stifle any sounds, enduring the pain with remarkable restraint.

“Stop holding back,” Gitae said, kissing him once more as he pulled off Jichang's pants. With an assertive thrust of his fingers, he probed the entrance below, testing it a couple of times before ruthlessly penetrating. The sudden intrusion combined with the pressure of their kiss sent Jichang’s mind into a spin, the rough touch of Gitae’s fingers against his inner walls increased a thousandfold. Gitae twisted and stroked his fingers inside him. One, two, three—The number increased with the warmth and slickness within him. ‘This is happening too quickly…’ Jichang thought, but his hands remained bound by that damned tie. The moans he let out were swallowed by Gitae as their saliva mingled, a lascivious sound resonating in the air. Before pulling away, Gitae bit Jichang’s lip as if he was punishing him. The metallic taste of blood instantly spread through the air which caused Gitae to become more excited.

Withdrawing his fingers, Gitae straightened up, savoring a lick of his fingers, then unzipped his own trousers. Jichang instinctively parted his lips, a buzzing filling his mind. Gitae grasped his erect member and stroked it in front of Jichang, its thick front part pressed out of his fist with a firm insistence.

Before Jichang could fully comprehend the situation, Gitae aligned himself along his entrance. The heat of his aroused member sent another shiver through Jichang. Leaning down, Gitae pecked Jichang's face, noticing the dilated pupilsfilledi with lust.

"Little Snake," he said, like the calm before the storm, he comfortingly tucked back the strands of hair sticking to Jichang's forehead, "I regret to inform you that I am not a gentle man."

In the next moment, Gitae plunged deep within. "Ah!—" Jichang screamed, his mouth agape. He couldn’t say anything in that moment as he kept gasping for breath. He felt like he was being torn apart. It was so painful that he couldn’t move.

"Whew... I never expected how tight you would still be after such preparation." Gitae inhaled sharply, beginning a slow rhythm of thrusting. His deep thrusts sent shivers as Jichang’s inner walls clenched around him, refusing to let him go.

“Damn you… it’s clearly you who is… mm…” Jichang had never felt his voice so difficult to control. He tried his best to endure the pain, his core tightening instinctively around Gitae.

Gitae's breathing grew heavier as he turned Jichang onto his stomach. He pressed against him once more and leaned in close to his ear. “Relax, Little Snake.”

The warm breath tickled Jichang's ear, making his sensitive body quiver slightly before he relaxed a little. Satisfied, Gitae exhaled a breath through his nose, gripping Jichang's waist and quickening his pace.

Jchang buried his head in the sheets, enduring Gitae’s relentless pounding. Gitae already had a remarkable strength. And now he drove Jichang backwards repeatedly, only to pull him back by the waist, nearly fracturing his waist in the process. Jichang pressed his face deeper into the sheets. He was desperately attempting to suppress the shameful sounds threatened to escape his lips. Yet, this bastard had no intention of granting him that mercy. "You can endure to this extent, huh?" Gitae grasped Jichang’s chin and forcefully shoved two fingers into his mouth, stirring them wildly.

"Mm!… You… mm… take it away!… mm…" Jichang’s words shattered into broken gasps.

“Hmm? What did you say?” Gitae retorted with mischievous delight, and continued to create his exclusive “masterpiece” upon the White Viper's body. His motions below grew slower. He seemed to transform into a patient tamer, alternately teasing and teaching the defiant creature beneath him.

“Ah… mm…” Jichang’s earlier broken gasps now became longer, mixed with moans that glided over Gitae's fingers. Gitae's gentle pacing became almost a torture. The emptiness inside tormented Jichang.

“Stop… hurry up… don’t mess around…” Jichang couldn’t help but complain, arching his back to meet Gitae.

“Ha,” Gitae chuckled, the sound low and dangerous. His teeth grazed Jichang's delicate back as he murmured, “As you wish.”

With a heavy pant, Gitae thrust deeply inside Jichang and picked up the pace.

“Mm!… Wait… slower… mm… slow down!” Jichang felt as though his very insides were being shattered. After a while, he began to plead. By this time, Gitae was deaf to any words. He was wholly engrossed in the man beneath him, savoring the sounds of Jichang's whimpers and moans. The two had completely fallen in a sea of lust and they were sinking deeper every moment.

“No… I can’t take it anymore… Gitae…”

This was the first time Jichang uttered his name, with a blend of submission and weakness.

The one being called paused for a moment. Then he suddenly grabbed the erected member of Jichang and rapidly stroked it while panting, “Jichang Kwak, you’re coming to hell with me.”

In the next second, Gitae forcefully stroked Jichang’s arousal while thrusting forward with vigor. “Ah!” Jichang moaned loudly, lifting his head as an overwhelming wave of pleasure surged over him. Thick, white fluids erupted from Gitae's hand, coating his palm, trickling through his fingers, and spilling onto Jichang’s abdomen. Jichang fell back onto the bed in a state of having zero strength, trembling violently as Gitae's hot semen flooded deep within him. It was so hot that it ignited a blinding sensation that blurred his vision.

“You’ve really spurted a lot. How long has it been since you took care of yourself?” Gitae chuckled, sucking the white fluid off his fingers with a teasing relish.

In the aftermath of the climax, clarity gradually began to climb.

What had he just done?

Had he made love with Gitae Kim? Made love?

Isn’t this something shared between lovers?

“I didn’t expect you to please me so much,” Gitae said as he lay down beside Jichang. He pulled him into his embrace and tenderly smoothed back his hair as if he were caring for an injured little beast.

The buzzing in Jichang’s ears had not disappeared yet, leaving him unable to understand what Gitae was saying beside him.

Had he fallen in love with Gitae? Was it possible for him to love his enemy, of all people? Gitae?

He? Love? Gitae?

Love?

Jichang felt his eyes growing red and moist. Tears spilled from the corners, shrouding his vision in a blurry haze.

No, this couldn’t be.

Sensing that something was wrong, Gitae untied the fabric binding Jichang’s hands. He turned him around to face himself while wiping away his tears, helping him regain focus from the disarray brought on by climax.

The moment Jichang's eyes opened, he was met with the familiar yet unfamiliar face of Gitae. His slit pupils widened for a fleeting moment before he began to mumble incoherently.

Gitae raised an eyebrow and leaned closer to catch the murmured words.

“No… I don’t love you… Gitae Kim…”

Jichang’s voice trembled with the resonance of unshed tears.

For a brief instant, Gitae froze. Then, he gently cradled the back of Jichang’s head, pulling him close as though attempting to meld him into his very being.

“What a pity,” Gitae murmured, running his lips along Jichang’s earlobe. The warmth of his actions contrasted with the chill in his tone, “because I think I might be very much in love with you.”

He pulled Jichang into a sitting position and spread his cheeks apart to penetrate him fully, releasing his grip. Due to the force of gravity, he nearly impaled Jichang completely.

“Haah!…” Jichang had yet to recover from the afterglow from the previous round and a new wave of desire surged through his body like a tide. It was deep—too deep—he felt as though Gitae were attempting to split him apart entirely. Jichang struggled to wriggle free, attempting to push himself up, but his arms, suddenly weakened, caused him to collapse back onto Gitae. “Mm!” Gitae’s member went even deeper, making Jichang gasp. He let out warm breaths before biting down on Gitae’s shoulder.

“Well done, little snake,” Gitae grinned, baring his teeth as he placed one hand on the bandage around his waist. “I haven’t healed from my old wounds, yet here you are, eager to leave new marks.”

“Shut up, you… mm!” Before he could finish his retort, Gitae began thrusting upwards, turning Jichang’s protests into moans.

“What did you say?” Gitae’s smile vanished, his expression turned into the face of a stoic prosecutor who never smiled. If only he ignored the lewd actions of his crotch. Jichang found himself powerless. He was on the brink of collapsing. He clung tightly to Gitae to relieve the painful pleasure.

At that moment, Gitae’s voice intruded once more, “Little snake, where did your composure go?”

“I know part of the reason you’re called the White Viper of Seoul is because you’re overly persistent in a fight, but I hadn’t expected your to be persistent in bed as well.”

“Weren’t you just saying that you didn’t love me? Now who is clinging to me so tightly and refusing to let go?”

Jichang sensed a rising fury in Gitae’s words. With each thrust, he pressed deeper. The lewd squelching sounds of their activity became more pronounced, leaving him flushed and his heart racing.

“The nape is the closest part to the brain, which makes it quite sensitive.” Gitae panted. Then he suddenly sank his teeth into Jichang’s neck. A jolt of tingling sensation coursed through Jichang’s spine like electricity. He gasped loudly. A blinding flash of white flashed before his eyes as he released.

“There is not as much as last time,” Gitae remarked. He scraped off the semen from Jichang’s skin and smeared it upon his slightly parted lips, enjoying the exquisite scene.

Jichang fell back on the bed, slipping away from Gitae. Just before his consciousness faded, he felt Gitae pressing his member against his entrance once more. Gitae lowered his head to kiss his lips.

“It’s not over yet, little snake. I told you I would kill you on this bed.”

The following day, Jichang woke up to find that it was nearly noon. Rolling his head to the side, he noticed that the person entwined with him the previous night was long gone, leaving the room uncharacteristically cold and empty.

He thought, 'what on earth have I done last night…'

He tried to quickly sit up, but he was met with a sharp pain in his waist, causing him to gasp. Damn it, did Gitae has to mistreat his body every time they met? He couldn’t help but curse in his mind. Rubbing his slightly dizzy head, he made his way to the bathroom for a shower, but after catching sight of himself in the mirror, he nearly shattered the sink with his hand.

“Gitae Kim! Are you a dog?!” Jichang gritted his teeth, his face flushed as he looked at himself in the mirror. Kiss marks and hickeys adorned his whole body. With a heavy sigh, he prepared to remove his ring before washing. However, when he reached for his index finger, he found it bare. Looking down, he realized his ring had somehow been shifted to his ring finger. He was stunned, it was obvious that it was one of that lunatic's little tricks. “...Immature idiot,” he muttered, staring at the ring before taking it off and placing it on the counter. He turned to turn on the faucet. He stood under the showerhead, longing for the water to wash it all away— the filth, the irrationality, and the reckless desire he had surrendered to during that night of passion.

But why was it that every time he closed his eyes, that person’s face loomed before him?

‘‘After associating with a madman for so long, am I becoming one myself…?’’ he murmured to himself, the only response was the sound of dripping water. He cupped his hands and let water flow through them. He saw his own strange reflection. And when he released the water countless reflections of himself seemed to slip away through his fingers.

"......", he turned off the water and walked out of the bathroom. He wiped his body and put on the same suit, but today he lifted his collar up a lot. As he made his bed, he caught a glimpse of some blood-stained bandages in the trash can next to him. It seemed that he was not the only one injured last night. He threw away the garbage and took the tools to repair the door lock that was smashed last night, "It's useless to put any locks on this madman..." He thought silently, hoping to fix it before the old man Noh Bakgu found out.

Oddly enough, he hadn’t encountered the elder today.

‘Could something have happened…’ he thought and quickened his pace. Soon, he successfully installed a new lock. After putting away his tools, he hurried off towards the Chungcheong Police Station.

The normally bustling police station felt eerily silent that day. The dead silence only increased his unease. He walked to the back, pushing open the door to the chief's office, only to be rooted to the spot.

There lay a disheveled figure in a white lab coat, apparently asleep at the desk, and across from him sat an elderly man—hair grey, face aged, and eyes red and swollen, still streaming with tears. This was, indeed, the reason for Jichang’s shock.

It was the elder, Noh Bakgu. He seemed to have aged a decade overnight.

“Jichang…”

He heard the elder’s trembling voice addressing him.

“The head of the Fist gang is dead…”

With a thunderous bang, Jichang's world shattered to pieces.

Jichang found it difficult to remember how he had gone through that day.

Of course, he preferred not to remember.

It was akin to a fire—an instant of searing pain, followed by a lasting imprint of burning flames, much like the scars in his hand. He remembered how the elder had gripped his arms tightly, almost crushing them. He remembered how they had to restrain the medical prodigy who had spiraled into madness just after awaking up. He recalled the bloodshot eyes that trembled uncontrollably, the tears that carved deep furrows into their faces, and most hauntingly, the twisted, crazed visage of a man rumored to be extraordinarily gentle. It was the same man whose lips moved with curses, uttering the name he had called out for the first time the previous night.

@Kwak Jichang

Did you kill Gapryong Kim?

This message was sent that afternoon, marked as read, but there was no response.

Jichang couldn’t recall how many cigarettes he had smoked that day. From afternoon until dusk, the swirling white smoke seemed to be weaving a dream. He wished that day had been a nightmare, just as the previous ones had been. Noh Bakgu sat beside him, observing Jinyoung Park, who had just received a sedative, and sighed, “Please forgive Captain Jinyoung. He loves the head of the gang far too much.”

“Loves?”Jichang turned his head, eyes widening.

Noh Bakgu nodded slowly, “Do not tell him. He hasn’t admitted it to anyone, but we can all see it. Who would look at a friend with such eyes? And who would react in such anguish after the death of the head?”

“So lost and forlorn… it's not like him at all,” Noh Bakgu's voice grew quieter, filled with increasing sorrow.

Jichang was at a loss for words. He merely patted the elder’s back gently before rising to fetch a few tissues for him.

“Jichang, after a while, you should speak with Captain Jinyoung about what happened. As someone from the pre generation, I will refrain from involving to prevent him from recalling anything by seeing me and losing control again,” Noh Bakgu said as he accepted the tissues, wiping his tears.

“Understood, elder,” Jichang replied respectfully.

According to Elder's request, Jichang spoke with Jinyoung Park alone. Fortunately, the captain had regained some of his rationality and recounted the events of the previous night. Perhaps the memories were too painful as Park Jinyoung didn't give much details, but it became clear to Jichang that Gitae Kim was one of the culprits.

The bloody truth filled Jichang with both shame and anguish.

"He had often described to me the grand blueprint of his future—the world he imagined—but now…" Park Jinyoung clenched his teeth tightly and swallowed the rest of his words. "All I can do now is take revenge for him."

Jichang nodded, "I will do my best to help you. My former goal was to help Elder to protect the leader, but now, I shall adopt this as my new objective."

"I need to leave immediately. Elite may come here looking for me," Jinyoung began to rise from his seat. "I made a deal with someone. I can wait for the right opportunity at his place. Thank you for your help. I am already grateful for your help. Just don't be a target…"

Jichang stood as well, "It’s no trouble, Jinyoung-ssi. I also need a goal to lead my life with meaning."

The moment those words left his lips, it felt as if a lightning bolt had struck the medical genius.

He turned abruptly, his mouth twitching, "…Who told you that?"

Jichang found himself startled by the expression, stammering, "Elder Noh Bakgu." He shifted into an alerted stance, wary of the emotional outburst from the man before him.

However, the man in the white lab coat did not react with shouts of fury. Instead, he surprisingly bursted out laughing, his laughed until he almost burst into tears. Jichang felt concerned. This version of Jinyoung Park seemed far more unhinged than the one who had previously raged. Just when Jichang thought of speaking up, Jinyoung Park said:

"Did he share such words with others?" Jinyoung chuckled, but his eyes reflected deep sorrow. It was impossible to say if he was laughing or crying.

"He never truly understood, never at all…" The genius’s mouth curved into a smile as tears streamed down uncontrollably from his eyes.

"Meaning is given by love, Jichang Kwak," Jinyoung Park looked deeply into his eyes, as if he was looking at another person. Someone who was concealed deep within his heart and someone whom he could no longer reach. It was as if he was looking at the model student he once was.

"And love, coupled with hope, becomes a utopia that can kill."

Jichang stood frozen. He was speechless and helpless.

"Surely you understand the feeling of loving someone, don't you?" Park Jinyoung tiredly lifted his heavy eyelids and gestured towards Jichang's right hand. "You married quite early, didn't you?"

Following his gaze, Jichang glanced down at his hand, only to discover that he had subconsciously placed his ring on his ring finger earlier that afternoon. Hurriedly, he removed the ring. "I haven’t, this is... a misunderstanding." He held the ring in his palm, the cold metal now radiating heat more than charcoals, searing his hand with discomfort.

"I see, but it ought to signify a promise," a flicker of loneliness passed through Jinyoung's eyes. "Do not make revenge the sole objective of your life, Jichang. You have a long journey ahead of you. At the very least, you still possess the capacity to love, while I… I regret I cannot set an example for you."

"Please convey my words to Elder Noh. I will take my leave now." With that, he left the chief's office.

After Jinyoung Park left, Jichang remained standing in his place for a long time.

His left hand still clutched the ring. He gripped it tightly as if he intended to embed it into his palm, to merge it with his flesh. He hide that fleeting moment of bittersweet pleasure and joy away into the deepest corners of his heart, allowing time and blood to wash away its remnants. He lifted his gaze and sighed deeply. 'At least, that guy won't show his face anytime soon.'

That was reassuring.

Now, he only needed to protect the citizens of Chungcheong, protect his brothers, and prepare for the upcoming "war." Perhaps he could still lead a normal life that he had once hoped to.

That was quite reassuring.

'I should be happy to distance myself from him. I should hate him… I must hate him, yet why…'

Jichang hesitated, unwilling to explore the depths of his thoughts further.

He tucked the ring into his pocket and decided not to wear it again, to avoid remembering anything unwanted. With that, he stepped outside to relay Jinyoung Park's plans to Elder Noh Bakgu.

Elder Noh showed no surprise at Jinyoung Park's departure. Instead, he bit his lower lip and replied, "Very well, I understand." He looked at Jichang and said, "Now we must focus on gathering evidence against Elite—that criminal must face justice."

Jichang nodded, "I will do my best to help you, Elder."

"Fate is a stone that flies from the front, while destiny is a stone that flies from behind."

This saying was quite popular in Generation Zero and remains equally applicable in Generation One.

If Jichang had to reflect upon his life, the evening he got an unexpected visit from a certain high school student would undoubtedly stand out as an unforgettable moment.

Having learned from a previous experience, Jichang had become particularly alert regarding the arrival of unfamiliar vehicles. Thus, spotting an unknown motorcycle approaching the village, he stepped outside his home to investigate.

He observed the red-haired boy in the school uniform drawing closer and closer. The King of Chungcheong couldn’t help but sigh at the accuracy of Jinyoung's warnings.

"James Lee, what brings you here?" Jichang asked while lighting a cigarette as he looked at the boy before him. Having made his way far from the brewery, he felt assured that neither his brothers nor any others would be in danger if a fight broke out. As for his own safety, that was a matter he had never truly considered.

"Don’t you already know why I’m here, King of Chungcheong?" In a casual gesture, James unwrapped a lollipop. "Hand over Jinyoung Park."

"I don't understand what you mean," Jichang replied, maintaining a calm demeanor. He showed no sign of weakness.

"Are you implying that you're going to fight?" James Lee popped the lollipop into his mouth. He got down from his motorcycle, and after staring for a moment, a sudden realization appeared on his face. He grinned widely, "Perhaps I should request you to become one of my subordinates?"

Jichang felt a pulse of irritation at his temples. 'Damn it,' he cursed inside his head. He didn't care about the relationship between this brat and that person. After watching the boy for a moment, Jichang decided to take the offensive. He tossed his cigarette to the ground, and at the moment the tip touched the ground, he charged at James, wanting to deliver a swift strike. To his surprise, James merely sidestepped slightly, avoiding the attack and hit him with a strike to his back.

Startled by the sudden attack, Jichang coughed. He quickly turned to launch a counterattack, only to realise he was blocked by James. He sent a flurry of punches that his opponent blocked effortlessly.

"You can’t defeat me," James Lee said around the lollipop. His words came out slightly muffled, but his tone conveyed arrogance. "So why not just tell me where Jinyoung Park is? That way, we can wrap this up quickly and save our strength."

"I refuse to betray them." Jichang's expression remained composed, showing no cracks as he charged once more. James let out a sigh. He dodged each of Jichang's attacks repeatedly. He wasn't even in the mood to fight back. 'How boring—everybody in Generation One is indeed rather dull, except for that one person. It iss a shame he is no longer around.' He savored the lollipop and thought, 'What exactly Gitae Kim saw in him...?'

"How long do you plan to keep dodging?" Jichang suddenly asked, delivering another blow.

"I'll said—" James removed the lollipop from his mouth, preparing to retreat. He suddenly realized that he had been cornered against a row of wine barrels. A sinking feeling struck his heart, and he quickly stepped aside to avoid the hand blade that whistled past his ear, but it didn't change its way. Jichang smirked slightly, twisted his wrist, and a lighter was in his palm. Without hesitation, he flicked it open and tossed it into the wooden barrel below. James' eyes widened as he fell to the ground and immediately rolled aside.

"Boom—" The sound of alcohol exploding roared through the air. A large flame erupted like an orange-red dragon, sweeping over the barrels and creating a brilliant gash in the dark of night, illuminating half the sky.

Jichang coughed from the smoke. He was breathing heavily as he watched the blazing fire. 'Is it over?' he pondered to himself.

But soon, a figure emerged from the flames, answering his unspoken question.

"This is getting interesting," the high school student's face was smudged with ash, and his lollipop had vanished. "So everything before was a trick? A distraction? You are truly a strategist indeed."

"Now it seems that you're not so cocky anymore," Jichang retorted, charging forward once more.

"Looks like I should take this seriously." This time, James did not dodge. Instead, he advanced forward, deflecting Jichang's attacks and countering with a series of blows. At last, they were truly fighting. The two exchanged strikes fiercely in the fiery glow, they both seemed to struggle, but it was obvious that Jichang had the disadvantage. His mind raced as he decided his next move, ultimately deciding to use his trick once more. After taking and blocking several punches, he discovered an opening and swiftly delivered a strike of his hand blade.

However, the high school student did not dodge. Instead, he took out a cell phone and tossed it before Jichang.

Jhichang knew he shouldn’t have paid attention to it. But he found himself diverting his hand blade, landing it on the ground instead. The soft crack of the earth was followed by the dull thud of the phone dropping.

"What does this mean?!" Jichang shouted angrily at James, glancing down at the screen of the phone. And that fleeting glance left the strategist nearly frozen in his place.

The screen was illuminated. It was activated. There was some dust across it, but it did not affect his ability to read its contents. The dialogue displayed was hauntingly familiar—one he knew all too well.

@Kwak Jichang

Did you kill Gapryong Kim?

The message at the top of the chat window was from the person on the other end, while the sender's side remained blank.

This was Gitae's phone.

Jichang's eyes widened. His lips moved slightly before he regained his voice, "…Where did you get this from?"

"Of course, I got it from its original owner. Why? A strategist can't even figure this out? James walked up to him and took the phone. He kicked Jichang's knee, causing him to fall to his knees. Seeing that he didn't fight back, James got up and leaned against his motorcycle. He opened the wrapper of a lollipop. "But the chat history on it has been completely deleted, totally wiped clean, and I can't see anything except the latest one."

'Wiped clean.' Jichang silently repeated the phrase in his mind. He was uncertain whether to consider it good news or bad. He couldn’t cry nor laugh.

James popped the lollipop into his mouth and stared at the fallen man for a while before speaking again, "You look just like Jinyoung Park when I saw him a few days ago—so utterly lost. He—" Before he could finish, he seemed struck by a bolt of lightning. He was stunned for a moment. The lollipop nearly fell from his mouth.

"Could it be...?" The high school student took out the candy from his mouth and let out a scoff. His laughter was tinged with both surprise and scorn.

"You’ve fallen for Gitae Kim?"

It was a question, but the answer sat heavily in Jichang’s heart.

"I wonder if this is fate or merely a cruel twist of destiny. Is the allure of the Kim family run so deep? Does their legendary bloodline cantain such traits?" James continued, but Jichang heard none of it. He gazed silently at the ground. His thoughts should have been mixed with emotions, but there was nothing. There were no tears, no trace of sorrow in his face.

"How fascinating, Jichang Kwak. No, King of Chungcheong... or should I call you King of Seoul instead?" James sat on his motorcycle. "Once you were the King of Seoul, but got defeated by that man. Now you were exiled to rule Chungcheong, and to top it off, you’ve fallen for your enemy?"

"You must have heard, right? To execute my plan, I will take a part of every king's body..."

With those words, he jumped off his motorcycle and approached Jichang. He leaned down and whispered, "But I won’t take anything from you."

Jichang snapped back to reality. He only the last words from James.

"Because it's pitiful."

After that, James picked up the phone. He made a call, and stated, "First generation no longer poses any threat," He simply left with that.

Like a tsunami rising onto the shore, wreaking havoc in its wake before hurriedly retreating, James left devastation behind. It happened swiftly and quietly. No one was aware of what had happened.

Jibeom and Jihan were also unaware of the events. They only knew that their elder brother appeared increasingly exhausted after that night. His craving for cigarettes grew more intense. Moreover, their typically distant brother seemed even more withdrawn, with his emotions shifting unpredictably. Chungcheong had become a knot in his heart. He felt compelled to protect it, to an almost obsessive degree. His statement "I won't trust Chungcheong to weaklings like you" led the two younger brothers to take the blame. They focused intently on increasing their own strength.

If they became the rightful successors to their elder brother, perhaps his burdens would lessen.

This was a thought that both younger brothers coincidentally believed.

Yet they were unaware that such an idea would one day break like bubble on the bright light of a day.

A letter was stroked by a hand with beautiful handwriting. The first stroke was adorned with heavy ink-drops. It was slightly blurred.

Dear Gitae Kim,

This is my first—and my last—letter to you.

To be honest, this hardly qualifies as a letter. When did I become so dramatic? Perhaps it all began after you left. A fragment of my persona has shifted. I no longer resemble the former me. To put it in my brother's words, I have grown colder and more unstable. But in my own words, I've become vicious. They don't dare to say it. But I do. I realise that I am resembling a certain scoundrel more and more. The one who found me four years ago and then ran off, leaving a mess for me to untangle.

By the way, I don’t mind mentioning that the scoundrel in question is you.

I am going off topic. What I meant to tell you is that tonight, I am about to do something very dangerous. Though I have confidence, an unsettling feeling lingers... In any case, if everything resolves tonight, the matters concerning "Generation Zero" and revenge might reach a close, regardless of my outcome.

If, by some miracle, I survive, where should I go from here?

I am not one to indulge in fantasy, but that doesn't mean I haven’t fantasized about happiness. In fact, I once believed it was close to me—until reality knocked away my illusions. Jinyoung Park was right. Love, coupled with hope becomes utopia that can kill. And they are eating me away bit by bit. I don't even know if you will return, yet I (A small line of words was crossed out neatly, but it can be seen that it said, ~~'I feel like if I don't say it now, there will be no chance to say it again.'~~) must admit that, despite not knowing how it all began, I still have you in my heart today. It sounds unfair, illogical even,but here I am... Tangled in a limbo between love and hate. Gitae Kim, I am going to blame all this on you. If you return, I will certainly punch you first.

But one cannot allow revenge to be the sole objective of one's life. I believe you too understand that mere objectives do not truly give life a meaning. I was once oblivious, but I now see clearly. Gitae Kim, you may believe that love itself is meaningless. However, it is quite the opposite—it makes one do countless meaningless acts. The meaning of many actions, even the meaning of life itself, is given by various forms of love. So, perhaps I am willing to share the rest of my life with y—(a long, hasty scratch marred the line. It seemed to be made by the writer in a moment of urgency)

There is a large amount of dried bloodstains on the letter. Miraculously it didn’t taint much of the words. The folds are neat, though the paper has some wrinkles. Perhaps some time has passed—a short period of time that felt too long—leaving the paper yellowed and the words somewhat blurred. The writer could no longer be saved.

END

Epilogue:

@Kim Gitae

I said I would go look for Jichang Kwak first.

Even through text alone, one could see the impatience from the other end.

@James Lee

I understand, but you need to meet someone first. He will be at the Airport waiting for you, all right?

This message clearly conveyed the responder's insistence.

@Kim Gitae

Fine, fine, I get it.

With a stoic face, Gitae turned off his phone and turned to his subordinate. He snatched the ticket for the Airport from him. "You all handle the situation in Mexico," he ordered in Spanish to his subordinates, "I need to return to Korea. I've left someone very important behind." The subordinate bowed respectfully, and Gitae nodded, walking toward the boarding gate.

On the flight, out of boredom, Gitae pulled out a magazine to read, but he found his mind wandering endlessly. 'How does little snake look now?' He thought restlessly and finally placed the magazine over his face, shutting his eyes. 'Jichang Kwak'... he silently recited in his mind.

After getting off the plane, he lazily dialed the number of James Lee.

"Hello? I've arrived at the Airport. Can you quickly get rid of the person you send for me? I—"

Before he could finish, the voice on the other end interrupted.

"The person you’re looking for, has blonde hair and wears glasses. He should be waiting for you at the gate right now." After a brief pause, James continued, "I know you wouldn’t listen to me, but can we please take care of business first? Don’t you have your own matters to attend to in Seoul?"

Gitae remained silent, though his expression became sour significantly. He had spotted a certain figure at the gate, who, undoubtedly, had seen him as well. Gitae hung up without a word. His phone should count itself lucky that it wasn’t crushed in his grip.

"You're here, Mr. Gitae Kim?" A hesitant voice called. It belonged to Taejin Cheon, who was standing behind Goo Kim. Isu Jo had mentioned to him that Gitae Kim usually had a gloomy expression, but he hadn't expected Gitae to have THIS much of a gloomy expression.

"Are you the one who answered the phone back then?" Gitae inquired, gazing at the bandaged guy in front of him. A hint of helplessness laced his words. "You’re Goo Kim, right?"

~~~

"Why are you so cheerful?" James was curious as he observed the grin blossoming on Gitae's face while he slid into the car.

"Everything was resolved perfectly. That kid doesn’t like Gapryong Kim either, so no fighting was needed. I can head to Chungcheong immediately. How could I not be in a good mood?" Gitae closed the car door with joy radiating from him. "And there’s someone still waiting to be killed by me."

"You’re going to kill Jichang Kwak?" James widened his eyes in disbelief.

"Mm-hmm. I am rather curious to see his reaction when he realizes I'm back." Gitae smiled broadly, his fingers absently rubbing his chin.

'I can’t help but be curious how your face will look when you realise the truth.' James thought silently. He initially intended to inform Gitae of Jichang’s death, yet this seemed... far more entertaining? He searched into his pocket, retrieving a phone to hand to Gitae. "Here is something you left behind years ago."

Gitae raised an eyebrow. He took the phone and turned it on. "You still kept this?"

"Yes, and I’m still curious why you deleted all your chat histories with Jichang Kwak." James leaned his head on his hand, smirking slightly. "Did it contain anything other than threats?"

“...”

Gitae remained silent, but James quickly grasped the situation and chose not to press further. 'This is even more interesting,' he thought to himself.

At that moment, Gitae had opened the chat with Jichang. Aside from a single message from four years ago—“Did you kill Gapryong Kim?”—there was nothing else. Gitae didn't feel angry about that. He kept typing a few words, only to delete them repeatedly. After a moment of hesitation, he ultimately decided to make a direct phone call. However, the unreachable number left him puzzled for the first time since his return.

"Hand me your phone," he said abruptly, extending his hand toward James.

“?” James showed a confused expression.

“I think I've been blocked again—he's definitely angry.” Gitae replied somewhat sadly.

After a moment of silence, James decided to tell him the truth. "Alright, I suppose I should tell you," he said, clasping his hands together and meeting the questioning gaze of Gitae. "Jichang Kwak is dead."

At those words, James saw Gitae’s previously rising smile freeze in horror.

“What did you say?” Gitae asked, his expression now frozen in a way that was somewhat terrifying.

"Since when the renowned King of Seoul got a bad hearing?" James taunted sharply. "I said Jichang Kwak, Seoul's White Viper, the former King of Seoul, now the King of Chungcheong, passed away a few weeks ago."

“Mr. Gitae Kim, Mr. James Lee, we have arrived in Chungcheong,” the driver dutifully announced from the front.

Gitae continued to stare at James, searching desperately for a hint of lie or joke in his face—but he found none. He flung open the back door and rushed out in a hurry. He didn't even close the door behind him. James chuckled. He stepped out of the car, and closed the door, gesturing for the driver to remain where he was.

@Kim Gitae

I'm back, little Snake.

Staring at the successfully sent message, Gitae felt a deeper sense of unease wash over him. He would have preferred to find that Jichang had simply blocked him.

@Kim Gitae

I said I arrived in Chungcheong.

Jichang Kwak, reply to me.

Respond, even if it’s just a single word. Curse at me if you must.

I warned you, didn’t I? If you died first, I would upturn all of Chungcheong to track you down.

Didn’t you also said that you wouldn’t die first?

Gitae refrained from cursing. He couldn’t even muster a single word. He tightened his grip on the phone, staring at the chat that would never again see a reply.

@Kim Gitae

And what about your brothers? Are you not concerned for them as well?

I’m going to find your brothers. Do you see that?

If I can’t kill you, shouldn't your brothers take your place? Would that be enough?

Do you see this, Jichang Kwak?!

A silent howl echoed within him.

As twilight descended, the fading sun slowly retreated behind the mountains of Chungcheong, leaving a trail of crimson light tracing the horizon. Gitae felt his own eyes turning a shade of red. He sprinted along the path etched in his memory, reaching that familiar house. He felt a dwelling feeling of both pleasure and pain. A surge of relief washed over him as he noticed the lights were on inside. He approached the door and, with a practiced motion, drew an axe from behind, effortlessly cleaving the door open.

He kicked the door in, and two figures leaped forward, accompanied by swift strikes from their hands. Gitae felt almost bored as he seized their wrists. Had Jichang truly taught them this? Did they not realize how far they fell short compared to him? He suppressed the urged to dislocate their elbows and angrily commanded, “Go, bring your elder brother. I need to see him.”

His words caused the two struggling boys to freeze instantly.

“Y-you… don’t know?” Jihan stammered, his lips quivering as his wide eyes locked onto Gitae.

“What?” A chill of unease slithered back into Gitae’s gut, causing him to release his grip on them.

Jihan bit his lip and lowered his head, unwilling to say another word. The slightly older Jibeom, quickly came back to his senses and spoke up: “Our elder brother passed away a few weeks ago. I assumed the news had spread all throughout Korea.” He met Gitae's towering frame with a fearless gaze, “Anyone who cared enough to keep track on him would know. Who are you, by the way? I don’t remember seeing you at the funeral.”

Gitae's fingers trembled slightly. 'Is Jichang truly dead? Impossible… What a cruel joke…' He strode past Jibeom and Jihan. He rushed into the inner room and shoued, “Come out, Jichang Kwak! You’re not one to joke around, are you? Or are you truly that afraid of death—”

Before he could finish, he fell silent. He had stepped into that familiar bedroom. It's decor was nearly identical to four years ago. The room was kept clean. The bed was neatly made, without a single speck of dust. Had Jichang’s life been this orderly, without his chaotic presence? Everything was kept in its original state, yet the room was strangely empty, save for a lone photo frame resting on top of a desk.

In the photo inside the frame, Jichang was in his police uniform, and smiling brightly. His youthful features were the same as those from four years ago, but the photo revealed something different about his eyes. Even though his eyes looked a little tired, they sparkled with a glimmer of hope.

'Could Jichang even show such an expression?' Gitae thought as he tenderly lifted the frame—he was unware of the uncharacteristic gentleness of his actions.

At that moment, Jihan had climbed to his feet. He stormedd into the room like a hurricane. He unleashed a barrage of insults at the towering figure before him: “Afraid of death? Who are you to utter such words?! Have you taken the time to know him at all? Do you even understand why our brother died?!—” Just in time, Jibeom came and caught hold of his younger brother, restraining him from lunging forward, though he could not prevent the final deafening shout, “Who on earth are you?!”

“... Gitae Kim, that’s my name, you little brat.” Gitae’s voice emerged hoarse, unrecognizable to himself. He did not turn around. He merely bowed his head, staring silently at the face within the frame.

“...What? You are Gitae Kim?” Jibeom looked up and asked in disbelief. Jihan halted, his mind buzzing. Then he clenched his fists and vigorously broke free from his brother’s grasp, rushing to the table to shove Gitae aside. Gitae stumbled back a couple of steps but steadied himself. The angry appearance of the boy before him was reminder of his late brother. He observed the boy tugging the handle of the wooden drawer, and with gritted teeth, yanked it open. He took out a piece of worn out paper and slamming it down into Gitae’s hand.

“Read this yourself.” Jihan spat out, and then sank onto the bed beside them. Tears glistened in his eyes, and he fought back to keep them at bay.

Gitae stared at the small, fragile sheet in his hand. He slowly unfolded it, as if peeling away the layers of a person’s final moments. He recognized his own name written in elegant writing. Each letter piered through his heart like a sword. A strange feeling of arrogance mixed with pain sent shivers down his spine. He absorbed each word on the paper greedily and desperately. Every inked stroke seemed to be mingled with blood. He devoured it all hungrily, unwilling to let a single fragment escape. By the end of reading the letter, a heaviness settled in his stomach. The metallic taste of blood threatened to spill over.

“Our elder brother lived a lonely life. Just as he believed he had finally found a place to call home, thanks to you, he was left alone to clean up your mess. He ultimately ended up sacrificing his own life in the process.” Jihan recognized that his tone was filled with bitterness, but it seemed entirely justified. “What do you want now that you've returned? To abandon him once more? Sorry, you won't get that chance. Our brother is already gone, and he will never return. Or do you want revenge on his behalf? Ha! The one who took his life died a few days ago; you don’t even have the chance to avenge him—oh, I almost forgot, you didn’t even know our brother is dead, yet you speak of him being ‘afraid of death’? If he truly feared death, he wouldn’t have walked into the Chungcheong police station years ago!”

Gitae felt as though he had swallowed a piece of rotten meat, and Jihan's words made him utterly speechless. He glanced into the boy's eyes, only to be scorched by the fiery, slitted pupils that bore a striking resemblance to Jichang. It forced him to avert his gaze.

“Ha...” Jihan did not miss Gitae's movements. His eyes reddened as he snickered coldly, “Afraid to meet my gaze because I bear such resemblance to our brother? I’ll tell you this. I was the one who closed his eyes, but the media discovered him before I did. The photograph of his haunting, unblinking eyes are still up on KBS. You should take a look. Perhaps those eyes will haunt you in you nightmares and rob you of sleep night after night!”

“Enough, Jihan,” Jibeom intervened, sensing his brother losing control. He pulled him back gently, and soothed his back to help him calm down. Then turned to Gitae, saying, “Gitae Kim, we are all adults here, and while I wish to avoid further discussion, I must say that you do not deserve our brother.”

Gitae stood frozen in place, for the first time feeling somewhat at a loss. What does a normal person do in such a situation? Cry? Yet not a single tear would fall. Apologize? It seemed he had never uttered the word sorry in his memories or simply flee? No, that was not very ‘Gitae’ like... Suddenly, a thought pierced his mind, causing his fingers to tremble as he uttered,

“Where’s the ring?”

“...What?” Jihan looked at the person before him, puzzled.

“There should be a ring—a ring that he used to wear. Where is it?” Gitae inquired, half as if questioning them and half as if speaking to himself.

After a moment of thought, Jibeom replied, “Our elder brother indeed used to wear a ring, though he stopped wearing it quite some time ago... about four years ago, I believe?”

Gitae fell silent for a moment before suddenly yanking open the drawer and dropping to one knee to begin his search. The items within were neatly organized. Whether this was done by the original owner or by his younger brothers later remained uncertain. Gitae was inclined to believe the former. Thus, before the two young men could stop him he had already grasped the ring tightly in his palm, holding it much like he had the hand of that man four years ago.

Jibeom desperately stopped Jihan from advancing. His voice was cold as he said, “I didn’t realize you had a hobby for collecting the belongings of the deceased, Gitae Kim.”

“Well, it just so happens I do have that hobby,” Gitae replied, standing up and putting the ring inside his pocket, tucking the framed photo into his side. He turned to face the two young men, hands buried in his pockets as he gazed down coolly at them. “To reclaim what belongs to me, I personally took the lives of my ‘brothers and sisters.’ This time is no different. I will take Jichang's belongings with me...”

He withdrew his hand from his pocket, gripping the frame tightly. Sensing the shift in the atmosphere, Jibeom quickly shielded his brother behind him and stepped forward to confront the man who towered over them. His expression turned wary. “What are you planning to do?”

Gitae stared at him for a moment before swiftly launching an attack, delivering a knife-like strike to the side of Jibeom's neck, making him unconscious before he even registered the movement. Witnessing this, Jihan reacted instinctively, but before he could lay a hand on Gitae, he was seized by the arm and similarly struck at the back of his neck.

“But if I truly harmed you two, he will never forgive me,” Gitae mumbled, looking at the boy before him as he succumbed to oblivion.

Gitae took out the ring, which was once polished to a shine, now dulled. Some places on the surface had lost colour and it was stained with a little dust. It looked like it had not been worn for a long time. However, the ring had not deteriorated or oxidized, suggesting that the owner still occasionally took out and maintained it. “Jichang Kwak, you liar.” At this thought, Gitae felt like his heart had been pierced. He carefully put the ring away. He took out the photograph from the frame, folded it neatly, and placed it, along with the creased letter, into his pocket.

“I should have just kidnapped you and taken you to Mexico back then.” He spoke aloud, yet no one was there to listen.

“Ah, you’re back?” James raised an eyebrow. He observed the silent figure as he entered the car. “I thought you might shed a tear or two. How cold-blooded you are!”

“Drive,” Gitae replied, without turning to face him. He focused on the view outside instead.

“How are you feeling?” James pressed further.

“...Disappointed,” Gitae responded, still not looking back at him.

Stubborn as ever. James fixed his gaze on Gitae’s back for a long moment before speaking to himself, “You must know that Charles Choi killed him, right? That night, Charles Choi actually offered him a position to be his bodyguard, but Jichang pulled out a gun and aimed it at his head.”

“That's just who he is…” James thought, leaning back against the car seat, turning to address the person beside him. “If he had simply followed you back then, none of this would have happened, would it?”

The man on his left remained silent. The quiet atmosphere plunged the car in a low pressure. James found the lack of conversation dull and decided to close his eyes, wanting to rest.

“He wouldn't have followed me.”

After an unknown amount of time, Gitae suddenly spoke up.

“Hm? Why not?” James asked with curiosity as he opened his eyes.

Gitae looked out through the car window at the shifting light patterns. They were approaching the outskirts of Seoul. The scenery ahead sparkled with brightness, while he, shrouded in shadow, observed others reveling and dancing in the colorful city. The presence of one more person was insignificant, and one less person wasn't cared for.

This was the loneliness of an alone man.

When Gitae spoke again, his deep voice was slightly muffled by the hand resting against his cheek:

“Because he is Jichang Kwak.”

---

If you happen to find yourself in Mexico in the future, on the night of "The Day of the Dead", after the festival of "The Day of Innocent Souls," and you see a figure alone in a courtyard adorned with marigolds, dancing to his own rhythm, lighting a pipe, and raising a toast while talking to himself, please—do not disturb him, do not utter a word.

He is spending his solitude with someone.

———

Seul parce que l’amour,
Lonely,

A changé de camp,
Because love has switched sides,

C’est des cris de peine,
These are cries of anguish,

Mais qui les entend,
But who hears them,

Seul parce qu’on n’a pas su,
Alone because we did not know,

Lire entre les lignes,
To discern the meaning between the lines,

Qu’on n’a pas voulu,
That we were unwilling to acknowledge,

Regarder les signes,
To see the signs,

Parce qu’on écoutait,
Because we were listening,

Sans jamais le croire,
Yet never believing,

Quand l’amour s’en va,
When love departs,

C’est toujours trop tard,
It is always too late.

——《Seul》DongJuan

Notes:

Neither English nor Mandarin is my mother language. Sorry if there are any mistakes. This story makes me cry every single time and I hope I did it enough justice.
I had to a lot of research for this one. I learned a lot of new words and things.
For anyone who is wondering –
In Mexico, Día de Muertos (The day of the Dead) occurs over the course of two days, starting at midnight on November 1, and ending November 2. Tradition refers to November 1 as "Day of the Innocents"or "Day of the Little Angels", honoring children and babies who were lost.
Meanwhile, November 2 is for remembering the adult deceased.
Marigolds are used to guide the spirits of the deceased.
Also Utopia means an imagined place or state of things in which everything is perfect.
Utopia that can kill refers to the idea that the pursuit of an ideal society, a utopia, can ironically lead to unintended negative consequences, even violence and oppression.
In search of peace and love people don't realise what they are doing ultimately leads to their downfall.
As for Jichang, he thought he could have a normal life. Maybe with Gitae if he ever returned.
He had love and hope in his heart. But it was slowly killing him. He protected Chungcheong, gathered evidence against Charles Choi, and tried to defeat him.
The utopia tortured him slowly all these years. In the end, it killed him.
It is a sad fic and if you liked it, don't forget to leave kudos! It is very much appreciated!

Actions

Kudos

Mai_Hiro, H1MAR1111, Priest51_of_Calism, YoongiMakingMeUnloyalToTae, Bobso, Thatorthis, RoobRed, Ash_Jones, yukoii, jaeseongyaoi, Manypeoplesimpforanimecharacters, MeteorGarden, LoyaUno, Solanar_02, Coquito1, dilfsmasher6969, Ouliopa, Michelle_Memes, LittleDuck_942, Kuravera, Nyaichiiniisans, oohshitshun, riceloverjin, rainhell, Urlocalfeinn, SPOD_5149, seal0309, readerjinks, Heraaw, Dealusion, I_Bled_For_ThisDistilledSin, Eliona007, Pudd1ng_cAt, Valuuuchu2000, moonlyw, Caroline_tls123, NaughtyGranpa69, starseeksuns, tLENImouse, mnjroszn, LoveAngel33, Mimichu_xo, wilkwink, KallenJRosewales, Yazmeen0620, JeLLooMeLLoo, ukiyon, Liu_Solei, Maestro_9, Axetonic, and 7 more users as well as 56 guests left kudos on this work!

Archive of Our Own

Actions

Work Header

HIDDEN【TAIZHI】

RandomBooksLover

Summary:

Notes:

Work Text:

Notes:

Actions

Kudos

Comments

Footer

About the Archive

Contact Us

Development