Year-End Party (5)
Park In-hwan, the chairman, entered with his two sons, Park Dong-su and Park Jin-ho, following close behind. Hong Tae-sik and the other security personnel had formed a tight perimeter around them.
Park Gwang-cheol walked over and greeted them.
“Father.”
At the word father, Park Dong-su and Park Jin-ho scowled from behind. Even though he'd been told to call him Chairman in formal settings, he acted like a sulky teenager.
“Have you been well?”
Park In-hwan's feelings toward Park Gwang-cheol were complicated. He was a troublemaker who only caused scandals, but he'd once been the baby of the family, so precious that the chairman wouldn't have minded if he poked him in the eye. Of course, that indulgence had ruined the boy too.
“You look great, Dad. If you've got something good going on, share some with your son.”
Park Jin-ho grimaced and snapped from behind.
“You punk, is that how you talk to the chairman?”
“What? I'm just saying we should share the good stuff.”
“You punk, if there's something good, you should give it to the chairman.”
“Flatter him all you want—it won't change a thing. You and I both know we're screwed anyway.”
Park Jin-ho frowned in annoyance. As irritating as it was, the kid wasn't wrong. Their eldest brother, Park Dong-su, was exceptionally talented in business and had their father's full trust, making his succession a foregone conclusion.
Park Dong-su spoke in a stern tone.
“Don't cause any trouble. Just behave and leave quietly.”
Park In-hwan headed toward the podium, with Park Dong-su and Park Jin-ho trailing behind.
Park Gwang-cheol walked over to Lee Yeon.
“Alright, I've stamped my face here, so I'm heading out. Let's grab a meal soon.”
He said it loud enough for everyone around to hear, then actually left the party hall.
Given the rampant rumors about Park Gwang-cheol in business circles, no one found the situation odd.
As if it were nothing out of the ordinary, Chairman Park In-hwan ascended the podium and began his speech. The invited VIPs hung on every word, hoping to catch even a single extra glance from him.
The speech was nearing its end.
“Aaahhh!”
A woman's scream erupted from one side. The speech halted abruptly, and all eyes turned to her. She pointed in shock at the window beside her.
A man clung to the outside of the window like a spider. His long, disheveled hair hung down, and his eyes gleamed like a beast's in the night.
A pure white light emanated from his palm, and cracks spiderwebbed out from it across the glass.
Tzzzzzzzzz.
With a deafening roar, the glass shattered.
Boom!
The special bulletproof glass had shattered all too easily.
Whoooosh.
A fierce wind rushed in as the glass broke.
“Aaahhh!”
People screamed and fled. In an instant, the hall descended into chaos.
The intruder strode forward confidently.
No one had imagined he'd break through the window, leaving Hong Tae-sik and the security team in disarray. With all the panicked guests being VIPs, they had to prioritize their safety too.
Hong Tae-sik's mind was fixed on evacuating Park In-hwan first.
“Stop him! Get the chairman out!”
As he and a few staff tried to lead Park In-hwan out, the man was suddenly standing in their path.
“Park In-hwan!”
At the call of his name, Park In-hwan and the security staff froze in unison. It wasn't by choice—an invisible force bound their bodies. Invisible spiderwebs had spread around Park In-hwan.
VIPs pushed and shoved, retreating like an ebbing tide amid the pandemonium, but the man ignored them. His sole target was Park In-hwan.
Hong Tae-sik reached for his gun. The first-team escorts personally guarding Park In-hwan carried firearms for emergencies.
But no one could draw. The invisible force pinned even their fingers. Hong Tae-sik strained desperately, but it was futile.
Protect the chairman! Protect him!
Hong Tae-sik screamed internally, but no sound escaped.
“Don't bother. Once caught in Spider Binding, no human will can break free.”
The man advanced slowly toward Park In-hwan. A thread like a spider's silk was wound around his left hand; with his right, he began to unwind it slowly.
He intended to strangle Park In-hwan with it.
“You've strayed where you shouldn't. Remember, the price of greed is death.”
Park In-hwan sensed his end and closed his eyes.
As the man wound the thread around his right hand, pulled it taut, and moved to loop it around Park In-hwan's neck—
Shing! Slash!
A whoosh of wind, followed by the sound of something being severed.
Something dangled from the thread.
Incredibly, it was the man's severed arm. He belatedly realized his left arm held his own right one. Blood spurted from the stump.
Jang Cheon had appeared beside him and sliced off the arm in one stroke.
“Arrrghhh!”
The man screamed belatedly.
Not sensing Jang Cheon's approach was shocking enough, but more so—
“You... how are you moving under Spider Binding?”
The man was more stunned by Jang Cheon's mobility than the pain of his severed arm.
Instead of answering, Jang Cheon pressed an acupoint on the severed arm to staunch the bleeding. Realizing capture was imminent, a trained resolve flashed in the man's eyes.
“As if.”
In the next instant, the man's eyes turned blood-red.
Shhhhhh.
As an ominous sound built—
Whirl!
Jang Cheon seized his collar without hesitation and hurled him toward the broken window.
Simultaneously, he lunged forward and kicked the man mercilessly.
Thud!
The man flew out through the shattered window.
Jang Cheon extended his hand, and a nearby large round table flew to him.
With astonishing telekinetic prowess, he raised the table as a shield just as—
Boom!
The flying man exploded midair.
Jang Cheon slid back with the table.
The blast shook the entire hall with tremendous force, but the table, infused with Jang Cheon's internal energy, held firm. No casualties from the explosion.
Everyone could move now, but no one did.
They stared, dumbfounded, at Jang Cheon and the empty broken window.
A stifling, foul heat spread from there—the stench of death, mingled with blood. They all sensed it: without Jang Cheon, they'd be dead.
Hong Tae-sik finally took charge.
“Chairman, let's go.”
“No. Staying with him feels safer.”
Hong Tae-sik agreed. He ordered his men to lock the doors, barring entry.
Only Park In-hwan, Hong Tae-sik, and a few security staff had witnessed the intruder's death.
Park In-hwan approached Jang Cheon.
“Thank you. You saved my life—no, everyone's here.”
Hong Tae-sik expressed his gratitude with a flushed face.
“Thank you. Truly.”
Without Jang Cheon, Park In-hwan would have been killed right under their noses. Hong Tae-sik wanted to kowtow. The security team bowed deeply in thanks.
Jang Cheon spoke calmly.
“I'm sorry I didn't step in sooner. I waited, thinking the assassin had a message.”
“A message?”
“Yes. Targeting you publicly meant there'd be words. Hearing them might reveal who and why.”
Hong Tae-sik exclaimed.
“Right! What did he say? What was it?”
Too panicked to remember clearly.
Jang Cheon recited the man's words verbatim.
“You've strayed where you shouldn't. Remember, the price of greed is death.”
Not a syllable off. He asked Park In-hwan,
“Any guesses?”
Park In-hwan shook his head.
“Businessmen hear 'greed' plenty. But 'strayed where you shouldn't'? No idea.”
Hong Tae-sik asked about the end.
“That final self-destruct—was it a martial art?”
“Yes, a self-destruction technique common among evil sects. His arts were profoundly wicked and vicious.”
“Is this over?”
“I don't know.”
Someone entered then.
“Chairman, are you alright?”
Eldest son Park Dong-su and Lee Yeon entered. She'd saved him.
In the chaos of the intrusion, Park Dong-su had fallen amid the crowd. Lee Yeon pulled him out, saving him from being trampled.
“Where's the second?”
Park Jin-ho entered with security.
“I'm fine too. I'm sorry, Father. I couldn't protect you amid the crowd.”
“It's fine. This wasn't for you. Everyone's safe—that's what matters. Thank heaven.”
Seeing his sons safe, Park In-hwan took control.
“Keep what happened here secret. Absolutely.”
Who'd defy that order?
“Dong-su, block the press now. If stories break, keep it to bare facts.”
Too many witnesses to bury it entirely—prevent wild speculation.
“Jin-ho, look after the VIPs. Ensure no rumors leak. Block all interviews.”
“Yes, Father.”
The sons left with security.
With matters settled, Park In-hwan approached Jang Cheon by the broken window.
“I'll never forget your grace.”
“No need—you've paid enough.”
“Nonsense. You're my benefactor.”
“The mastermind isn't ordinary. Be cautious.”
“They'll try again?”
“Hard to say. But today's intruder was elite—top-tier assassin material.”
Park In-hwan recalled the paralysis. Terrifying.
“Key point: they left a message. Might not be a one-off. Stay vigilant.”
Jang Cheon bowed politely and left the hall.
Cold wind blew through the broken window, but Park In-hwan stood there long after.
“Here you are.”
Jang Cheon turned to see Lee Yeon approaching.
“I had a feeling you'd be here.”
It was the rooftop where they'd talked earlier.
She was amazed yet impressed. The enemy had come exactly as Jang Cheon predicted.
“What happened to the intruder?”
She'd missed the action while evacuating Park Dong-su.
“Dead.”
“You kill him?”
“No. He killed himself.”
“Suicide?”
“Yes.”
Lee Yeon looked baffled. What had happened?
She sighed.
“Well, it's over, right?”
Jang Cheon didn't answer. His silence told her: no.
She didn't press. Chaos had numbed her thoughts, but now fear crept in.
The intruder had scaled the building, leaped from this rooftop to the diagonal window below.
She couldn't forget the man plastered to the glass. Nightmares ahead.
“No one hurt—thank goodness. You worked hard, Jang Cheon.”
“You too, Lee Yeon.”
“Thank you.”
She didn't know details, but sensed he'd been pivotal.
Jang Cheon said,
“See? You can adapt.”
“Huh?”
He nodded ahead. Unknowingly, she'd been leaning on the railing beside him—acrophobia forgotten.
“Ah!”
She startled back.
Jang Cheon smiled, gazing forward.
Beyond his sword-sheathed silhouette overlooking the city, a bright full moon hung in the sky.