The Black Dao Never Changes (2)
The restaurant opened normally the next day, but its owner was anything but.
Crash!
Mirror shards rained down in a glittering cascade.
Tae Jin-gu's twisted face stared back from the remaining fragments. His nose was wrapped in bandages.
His nasal bone had collapsed, four teeth shattered, and he'd blacked out to boot. He'd come to after three hours, but it was beyond what a house call doctor could handle—he'd needed a full hospital trip for treatment. Humiliation didn't even begin to cover it.
Behind Tae Jin-gu stood a man with flowing hair, sword at his side—his right-hand man, known as Didi. Didi had played a big role in getting Tae Jin-gu to this position.
"You know what the lifeblood of the black dao is? Pride. Pride. Lose your pride, and you're done for."
His broken teeth made his speech leak air.
"There was nothing we could do about the ambush, sir. Even a sect leader couldn't dodge one."
He'd told his men it was an ambush. But he'd been the one ambushing.
That bastard was a master.
When Jang Cheon had grabbed his shoulder, his body had frozen solid. Unless the guy was far superior, no way could he have blocked the surprise attack so easily and subdued him like that.
But he hadn't imagined someone who could overpower him that effortlessly existed. Even Geomwol Sect's leader wouldn't make it look that simple.
Maybe I was poisoned?
That had to be it. No way he'd overlook a master of that caliber.
"What's that guy to Park Gwang-cheol?"
"A guest invited to the year-end party."
"What kind of guy?"
"Nothing stood out except he'd lived abroad for a long time."
Tae Jin-gu turned to Didi.
"I'm killing that fucker."
"Won't there be fallout?"
"You think I give a shit? Of course there will be."
But the fallout of word spreading through the black dao underbelly that he'd lost to some no-name would be far worse to contain. In the black dao, the moment you looked ridiculous, it was over. Your underlings crawled away, and your superiors cut you loose.
"Beat him down first, clean up later."
"Yes, sir! Iron Sword Sect's boys are on it—word should come soon."
The moment shit hit the fan, Tae Jin-gu had mobilized Iron Sword Sect.
Iron Sword Sect was a small black dao faction of about twenty, skilled, tight-lipped, and brutal to a fault. They handled outsourced hits on problem people. This time, he'd called in only their aces.
Didi's phone rang.
"Found him? Tail him now? He's no ordinary mark—handle with care."
Didi covered the phone and asked Tae Jin-gu.
"Bring him in breathing, or you want to finish him yourself?"
Tae Jin-gu recalled the final moment against Jang Cheon. Those cold eyes staring him down—no way that man would surrender quietly. Above all, he never wanted to see them again.
Tae Jin-gu shook his head, and Didi spoke into the phone.
"Wipe him out."
The next person Jang Cheon met was Park Dong-su, Park In-hwan's eldest son.
He truly suspected an internal enemy.
"Attacks from those you trust hurt the most."
On the way back from meeting Park Dong-su, Lee Yeon asked,
"How was President Park?"
"Nothing unusual. Doesn't seem like he's behind this. As the presumptive heir, he has no motive."
"That's a relief."
They'd scheduled a meeting with the second son, Park Jin-ho, after his business trip to the provinces.
As she drove, a thought struck Lee Yeon.
What kind of life let you discern truth from lies just by talking to someone?
And if you could tell when someone was lying to you, would that be a happy life?
Could Jang Cheon do the same with her?
Lost in such musings, Jang Cheon suddenly said,
"We've got a tail."
Lee Yeon startled and nearly turned, but Jang Cheon added,
"Keep driving normally. Third van back."
"Who?"
"Let's find out."
"Huh? How?"
"Pull out to the outskirts."
Lee Yeon glanced at Jang Cheon in the rearview. He was calm as ever. Seeing him eased her surging fear.
"Got it."
She gripped the wheel tight and turned.
Two cars halted in a remote, empty lot on the city's edge.
Men with weapons poured from the van. It felt like a movie, but this was raw reality unfolding before her eyes.
"Those guys Murim folk?"
"Yes."
Even without training, she sensed their killing intent. This wasn't some petty hassle.
"They want us dead?"
"Looks like it."
Lee Yeon quickly checked Jang Cheon's face. No tension there—good.
"If I'm gonna die here, tell me straight. I need to call Mom."
"Call her tonight."
Jang Cheon flashed a grin.
A smile like that with blades drawn? If Team Leader Kwon Hyeok-su were here, he'd definitely quip it made him look sexier.
"For real? Even a one percent chance...?"
"Zero percent."
"I believe you."
"Good. Do."
Lee Yeon finally exhaled in relief.
"Phew. Still calling her tonight, though."
Six men emerged from the van: four with swords, one with an axe, one with a long spear. She wondered how that spear fit—maybe it extended like a police baton.
She rummaged the trunk for a weapon: only an emergency triangle and a duster.
Damn.
She wanted to hurl the triangle and yell "Stay back!" But dusting the car wouldn't cut it. She steeled herself and stepped beside Jang Cheon.
"What do I do?"
"Six of them. Take two."
"Which two? Please not the spear guy."
"Kidding."
"You better be. Had me spooked for a sec."
Meanwhile, the armed men formed a semicircle around Jang Cheon.
They'd exited like street punks, but their auras screamed trained Murim warriors. Different from ordinary thugs entirely.
Seeing those gleaming blades, Lee Yeon's heart pounded like it would burst.
As a security officer, you'd think she'd have tales of glory, but real combat? Zero. Working bars might've meant brawls, but HT Group security rarely saw action.
"Not what you expected?"
"Understatement. Legs shaking just looking at the swords—could barely stand. Without you, I'd have fainted."
Nothing like movie props. Primal, visceral. Staring felt like it'd slice her skin. Dizzy, nauseous. Keep watching, and she'd reach out to touch one—like the urge to jump from a high ledge after staring too long.
"Swords carry the attribute of slaughter. With long training, some reach the realm of the living sword, but that's rare."
She figured living sword meant a blade that saved lives.
Shing.
Jang Cheon slowly drew his sword.
"Feels different when I point it at them."
As he drew, Lee Yeon's heart raced—thump-thump-thump, like a small drum.
The instant he fully unsheathed:
Thoom!
A great drum's boom, then her heartbeat settled.
She saw no one else.
Only Jang Cheon.
Terror? Or his drawn sword's overwhelming aura?
What followed was like watching a film reel.
The moment she sensed him move, he was nose-to-nose with the front man. Before the foe could draw, Jang Cheon's blade split his chest.
Swoosh.
A white flash slicing air.
First time hearing a sword cut wind up close—crisp, exhilarating. Addictive.
But not the only new sound.
Splurtch!
Flesh tearing. Lee Yeon flinched as the man spewed blood and crumpled.
Jang Cheon, flowing past, thrust at the next.
Swoosh. Hack.
This severing duller than the first. Flesh versus bone?
Now another fell. His speed induced teleportation illusion—like edited clips stitched together.
Frames jumping, new scenes and sounds; each time, a man collapsed, blood fountaining from gashes.
Sweeeep! Spraaaay!
Foes couldn't swing properly—dancing, flailing in water. Axe and spear men no exception.
The spearman charged—visible.
How Jang Cheon dodged? Invisible. Only his sword's white trail flashing in air.
The man toppled, spewing blood as long as the thrust spear.
Lee Yeon felt more awe than horror or fear.
How could a human move that fast? How?
Regaining her senses, all six lay dead.
She gazed at Jang Cheon amid them.
Blood dripped from his sword, proving the fight real.
Before it started, she'd never dreamed it'd end so quick. Dodging here, there; screaming for Jang Cheon's help; him injured, lunging at her. Crime flick climax.
Tough fight at best—no deaths. Six opponents.
But it blinked out. No toying, no showboating. Just full effort, all slain.
His eyes amid the corpses: ice cold.
Was this the same man?
He turned to her.
"You alright?"
The chill softened to his usual warmth.
"Yes."
Better than expected. Even against villains out to kill, six corpses and she's fine?
"Who sent them?"
"Guess they didn't like my food critique."
"That restaurant yesterday?"
"Has to be. No one targeting Chairman Park would send these clowns."
Lee Yeon gasped. She'd guessed the bathroom brawl, but murder over that?
"I call the cops?"
"No. We won't."
"Then? Leave the bodies?"
"No. That'd make national news. Even their bosses wouldn't want that."
"So?"
"Watch."
Soon, a large moving truck rumbled up.
Pawn Express