The Return of the Great Evil Ghost (2)
Baek Sang-du sat on the small bench in front of the hut and asked.
"What is it?"
"Dae Jeong San Jang is in dire straits."
"Because of whom?"
"The Murim Alliance leader and Gangnam-il-mun are trying to eliminate me."
"You called me because you can't handle those fools?"
"I'm sorry."
"Deal with it yourself."
"If I could, I wouldn't have called you."
"You fool!"
Baek Sang-du savored the urgency and despair in U Myeong-hwan's voice over the phone. Someone in crisis desperately seeking his help—it wasn't a bad feeling.
"If you help me this time, Master, I'll actively assist with your affairs."
Baek Sang-du chuckled. It was a sneer laced with blatant distrust and mockery.
"I mean it."
"Do you remember what you said to me long ago?"
"……."
"You called me a monster. A monster obsessed with martial arts and immortality. Do you know why I didn't kill you then?"
"Why?"
"Because you were still my one and only disciple."
"I'm sorry. I was young and foolish back then."
"No, you had some sense then. Calling me now, in your old age, desperately trying to cling to life—that's the foolish part."
Silence fell. Of course, if pressed, U Myeong-hwan had nothing to say. The master he once knew was no longer the man he'd first met.
He had fallen into extreme evil practices, kidnapping and killing women. U Myeong-hwan had confronted him, ready to die, and their bond had snapped.
They'd met a few times since, exchanged words, but U Myeong-hwan had lived as if he didn't exist. The world believed him dead, after all.
"You're still my one and only disciple, so I suppose I should help. But now, I'll set conditions."
"Name them."
"If I help you, offer me one woman every day for the next year."
That meant kidnapping 365 women. The source didn't matter.
The moment he agreed, everything about him would change.
So far, he'd had An Bae-su kill Yang Do-hwa and others, innocents among them.
Unable to untangle the knotted threads, it had been his chosen path.
But agreeing now would turn him into a true demon. An evil ghost unworthy of even a shred of pity.
Everyone would curse him, spit on his grave. No—if he even got one.
Baek Sang-du relished his disciple's torment. The longer the hesitation, the better he felt.
How much time passed?
"I promise. But I'll keep it only after you fulfill all my requests."
"I'll head up soon."
"You're not asking what I want."
"You wouldn't have called if it was something I couldn't do."
Without waiting for U Myeong-hwan's reply, Baek Sang-du hung up.
He immediately went inside, packing his things.
A box of vials, some clothes, essentials—into the backpack. It took less than five minutes.
Ready to leave, Baek Sang-du stepped out of the hut.
He didn't believe in fate.
But sometimes, he wondered if it might exist.
Too many children passing through his shelter had gone missing lately. Even the police had come sniffing around.
His training wasn't complete; it was time to move anyway. Then U Myeong-hwan called.
Fate guiding him—wasn't this it?
Baek Sang-du pushed the boulder beside the hut again. The massive rock rolled like a marble.
He peered into the hole. He needed to take the vials—and the most important thing. Reaching into the pile of bones, he extended his hand.
A rustling sound echoed.
Something burst from the corpse mound. A sword.
An utterly unique blade. Handle and scabbard designed from bone.
So ornate and bizarre, it looked impractical, like a prop from a game.
But that was only unsheathed.
Baek Sang-du drew it, revealing a gleaming edge sharper than any famed sword, laced with eerie menace.
The grudge and resentment of the dead. Death's aura seeped out, blanketing the surroundings in shadow.
Baek Sang-du savored it, like forest air to city dwellers.
Fully immersed, he sheathed it. The darkness vanished as if never there.
A rare evil sword indeed.
Baek Sang-du slid it into his backpack and tossed it onto the car's passenger seat.
Behind the wheel, his face brimmed with anticipation.
The car sped from the mountain path toward the city.
"I feel like a world star."
Hwa-ran entered the broadcasting station with SGC's four bodyguards.
She didn't know how long they'd escort her, but Park Gwang-cheol's grand gesture demanded reciprocation—ads everywhere.
Nothing spread rumors like parading into a station.
Ask if she felt smug? Hwa-ran would say hell no!
"The problem is, people ignore the world star and stare at her escorts."
Gazes locked on Queen and Lee Yeon.
Even passing celebrities whispered to managers and stylists, asking who they were.
Their beauty was overwhelming. Between them, Queen drew more eyes.
"Right, Ben?"
"Ms. Hwa-ran, you're overflowing with charm too."
She'd bonded with Ben at the first dinner. Her straightforwardness meshed surprisingly with his gentlemanly grace.
Ben put others at ease while commanding respect with folded hands. The contrast was his allure.
"People shouldn't look that inhumanly perfect. It's cheating. They're 2D beauties meant for anime."
"Haha."
Ben just laughed, but Kwon Hyeok-su timidly added from the side.
"In my eyes, Ms. Hwa-ran is the most beautiful."
Hwa-ran turned with a bright smile.
"That's why idols live off fans' love."
"Tell those two 2D girls to pair with other 2D guys. This is the real world."
"Thanks, Team Leader Kwon!"
"You're welcome."
Lee Yeon bit back a gag. Joining in would shatter this cool bodyguard vibe drawing all the stares.
Walking the hall, Hwa-ran bumped into PD Eom from variety—ratings king lately. He pulled her aside.
"Who are they?"
"Why?"
"Why? Killer vibes. New rookies? Swords? Martial artists? Props?"
"Didn't know you were this aggressive, PD Eom. Last casting, you wouldn't even look at me."
"You were busy. Planning a pilot with martial artist celebs. Put those two up front. You MC."
"Sorry, not our company."
"Then?"
"SGC."
"What? Bodyguards?"
Eom's face screamed disbelief as Hwa-ran nodded.
"Cast them yourself. But careful—those swords are real."
Hwa-ran laughed and walked on. Eom called after.
"Park CEO's number still the same?"
Heading to record, Hwa-ran told the four.
"Free time till I'm done. That's an order."
Her thought, anyway. Protection continued.
Bodyguards followed company orders, not the principal's whims. She couldn't just say rest.
Ben and Kwon Hyeok-su teamed for the studio perimeter. Queen and Lee Yeon got a break—Ben's deliberate pairing.
"Coffee?"
Lee Yeon offered; Queen nodded.
Americano in hand, they hit the terrace. Stares followed, ignored.
"Nice weather."
"Yeah."
Awkward air lingered. Dinner chats were light; Queen wasn't talkative.
Lee Yeon ventured carefully.
"Sorry if rude, but seeing someone? No need to answer. Just... you're stunning."
Queen answered easily.
"There's someone I like."
"Lucky guy."
"Not sure who's lucky."
Lee Yeon smiled and nodded. She knew little of Queen yet.
Still, who tamed that beauty?
"And you?"
"Me... no one."
Jang Cheon's face flashed. Undeniable fondness, but romantic? Unsure. This feeling was certain.
"But someone I respect."
"Murim folk?"
"Yes."
"Expert?"
"The greatest I've seen. I became a martial artist because of him. He's changed me—a lot. Still working on it."
Queen smiled faintly at "working on it." She was too.
"Changing someone—that's huge."
"Totally."
Both felt it deeply.
"He's amazing. I'll introduce you sometime. Athena'd like him too."
"Sure."
Suddenly, Queen understood why she wanted this companionship.
To learn such a heart.
Queen knew: respect alone? If even a spark of like, introducing to another woman? Hard. Yet she offered freely.
Good people deserve sharing. Romance secondary. Mature.
Queen decided: soon, tell her straight about Jang Cheon.
"The Alliance leader agreed to help."
Sing startled at Jang Cheon's words. Old bench rendezvous.
"You surprise me in every way."
"I don't delay."
"How'd you sway the leader?"
"Secret."
Jang Cheon dodged. Spilling would raise flags.
"Secret? Suspicious."
Sing smirked oddly.
"Money's paid. Trust me."
"We got the cash—spill, right?"
As Jang Cheon rose,
"Poison."
Back at base, Sing summoned Actor.
"Jang Cheon poisoned the Alliance leader?"
"Doctor Woo's unique poison. Jang Cheon took it."
"Sure?"
"Yes. He killed the poison expert easily— he's one too. Can use it freely."
"Hm."
Sing dropped suspicions. Poison confirmed, hiring succeeded.
Dealing with Jang Cheon in a year? Future problem.
Handle this year's tasks first.
Still, verify.
"Way to check poisoning?"
"Yes."
"Report immediately."
"Yes."
Actor turned with a triumphant smile.
Double agent's chance had come.