Chapter 27
Chapter 27
Chapter 27
Hunting (2)
Kim Mu-jin.
The only son of the chairman of Hanjeong Group, which ranks within the top 10 conglomerates.
In his mid-thirties, he was a businessman who received attention from the media due to his handsome appearance and solid family background.
Currently, he operates a company that is an affiliate of Hanjeong Group and was recognized for his business acumen.
"Rumors say he has an extensive history with women. There's even talk that he's a pervert."
"Wake him up first."
I pulled over a sofa and sat in front of the fallen guy.
A moment later, the guy opened his eyes at So Iryeon's touch.
Looking around in a dazed state, the guy, contrary to expectations, calmly caught his breath.
"At least this bastard has some sense."
He must have realized the difference in power the moment he was hit by So Iryeon.
"Where are you from?"
I asked him.
"Someone young like you addressing an elder..."
I snapped my fingers.
Snap!
"We both know we've been reincarnated, so don't play games."
The guy's pupils shook.
"Where are you from?"
"Hanjeong Group..."
I snapped my fingers.
Snap!
A crisp sound rang out from Kim Mu-jin's forehead.
The guy's face reddened, and he lowered his head.
As I moved to snap my fingers again, the guy hurriedly waved his hands.
"I'll talk, I'll tell you. So please don't kill me."
Kim Mu-jin hesitated once more, then spoke in a voice that was trailing off.
"Shaolin..."
"What?"
I thought I had misheard, so I asked again.
"I'm from Shaolin Temple!"
"So Iryeon, check it out."
So Iryeon lifted him up.
"You want us to fight?"
"If you can land even one hit on So Iryeon, I'll let you go."
"Will you really spare me?"
"Yes."
Kim Mu-jin stood up from his spot and watched So Iryeon cautiously.
"What are you doing? Come at me."
When So Iryeon provoked him, the hesitant Kim Mu-jin launched a preemptive attack.
It was a fist technique that clenched powerfully and extended honestly but quickly.
It was an ordinary movement, so I couldn't confirm it at first, but when So Iryeon deliberately focused on defense and began deflecting the fist technique, its true form emerged.
'Oho.'
Shaolin's characteristic straightforward and powerful attacks continued.
From a certain point, So Iryeon raised her external energy and went on the defensive.
'Eighteen Arhat Fists and Baekbo Divine Fist.'
After displaying the Eighteen Arhat Fists, Shaolin's basic fist technique, and So Iryeon perfectly blocked it, he switched to Baekbo Divine Fist. Naturally, his internal energy was infused, and explosive sounds began to be generated.
So Iryeon retreated backward from the powerful Baekbo Divine Fist. So Iryeon seemed annoyed that defense alone wasn't enough and glanced at me sideways.
'So he's not an easy opponent.'
The attacks that were clumsy at first became smoother and sharper as time passed.
His skills were far superior to expectations.
"Finish it."
As if she had been waiting, So Iryeon thrust out her fist, and the two fists met.
Bang!
I thought Kim Mu-jin's bones would break, but surprisingly, he endured by retreating.
At this, So Iryeon genuinely drew out her external energy and threw a punch. However, Kim Mu-jin wrapped his hands around So Iryeon's fist and smoothly deflected it.
That movement surprised me.
The corner of So Iryeon's mouth rose, as if she felt the same. She found it interesting.
"Stop."
"Ah, why!"
So Iryeon shouted, filled with dissatisfaction. She was momentarily irritated that I told her to stop just when it was getting fun.
"Are you going to gather everyone here?"
The surroundings had become a mess due to the collision of energy waves. All the decorations on the display cases had fallen, and papers were flying about in disorder.
"That's enough. Now sit down."
Kim Mu-jin hesitated.
'So it won't go that easily, huh?'
I snapped my fingers.
While Kim Mu-jin twisted his body to dodge, I used Dragon Spring to instantly seize his rear.
I placed my hand on the back of his neck and pressed down.
Kim Mu-jin tried to resist, but when he felt his bones were in danger, he quickly lowered his body.
"Let's take it easy."
Even if he was stronger than expected, the difference between him and me was stark.
Kim Mu-jin glanced at me sideways. I could see an expression of disbelief.
"Have you met me in a past life?"
"I don't know."
"Even after fighting So Iryeon, you don't know?"
"I don't know. I never left Shaolin Temple."
When I frowned, Kim Mu-jin continued with an expression full of dissatisfaction.
"I entered Shaolin Temple at the age of four and spent 146 years only researching martial arts before dying from Qi Deviation."
It was a life for which even the word pitiful was insufficient.
There were quite a few such lives in the martial world, so I didn't particularly doubt it.
"A Shaolin Temple graduate with an extensive history with women. Your past life must have been terribly boring."
"Isn't that natural? It's not like I wanted to enter Shaolin Temple. Using vigorous blood energy for martial arts training is fine for a day or two, but I did that for 150 years."
"So you went around assaulting women?"
"Assault! I never did such a thing!"
Even with the person involved right next to him, he confidently retorted. He appeared genuinely angry.
I naturally looked at So Iryeon.
"You said it was assault."
"I said he pounced on me, not that it was assault. He just tried to forcefully embrace me, so I hit him."
This time I looked at Kim Mu-jin.
"That's what she says?"
"It was romance, romance! Manly pulling someone into your arms! As men, can't you understand that? And I swear on my life I had no intention of forcing anything beyond that. I may not look it, but I'm a romantic man!"
It didn't sound like a lie.
As I appeared to be thinking, Kim Mu-jin continued.
"That's right! I like women! I meet this woman and that woman to resolve the resentment of my past life! But as a man, I've never deceived a woman or forced anything!"
"This is giving me a headache."
"What? What do you..."
"Honestly, it would be cleaner to just kill you."
Kim Mu-jin's expression changed. The wronged expression disappeared and became urgent.
"You can't kill me now!"
"Now?"
"When I was reincarnated, I vowed to enjoy life until I'm fifty! I still have 15 years left!"
His reason was clear and confident. I stared at his face and asked.
"Have you met other reincarnators?"
"No."
"Does anyone know you're a reincarnator?"
"No."
It didn't seem like a lie.
I briefly examined his appearance.
Although he was said to be in his mid-thirties, he had a youthful face and looked like he was in his late twenties. His height was about 175 cm, and his face had a mischievous feel to it.
"Go."
"What?"
"I said go."
The guy stood up hesitantly with an expression of disbelief.
"Cult Leader, you're just letting him go?"
"There's no particular reason to kill him."
"But he sexually harassed me."
"Then vent your anger as much as you want."
I looked at Kim Mu-jin again and said,
"You made a mistake, and the person involved vents their anger as much as they want. Any complaints?"
"No."
Kim Mu-jin stood confidently and asked So Iryeon.
"Do you dislike me that much?"
That question made my head throb.
Without me needing to explain, So Iryeon simply answered.
"I was a man in my past life. So I like women."
"Ah..."
Kim Mu-jin seemed shocked.
"You can be reincarnated like that too..."
"How would you feel if a man who liked you hugged you?"
"I wouldn't like it."
"Then I can vent my anger now, right?"
"I acknowledge it. What will you do?"
So Iryeon finally smiled brightly and said.
"Let's fight. Properly, in a quiet place."
Eventually, the two went to a place where there were no people.
The fight was quite fierce. However, there was a stark difference between the two.
So Iryeon enjoyed it, and Kim Mu-jin was desperate. If Kim Mu-jin hadn't responded that way, he probably would have died.
Eventually, the fight ended with So Iryeon's leg technique entering Kim Mu-jin's solar plexus.
Kim Mu-jin fainted just like that and woke up much later.
"Have you vented your anger now?"
"Yes!"
So Iryeon had resolved it, and I went to Kim Mu-jin, who was barely standing from exhaustion.
"Go. We'll meet again soon."
"What? We'll meet again..."
"Why, you don't want to?"
"No!"
"Answer when I call. If you don't answer, I'll come find you directly. Then you'll have to fight me."
"I'll definitely answer!"
Kim Mu-jin quickly got up.
Watching him turn around immediately, one question arose.
"Wait."
Kim Mu-jin, who was turning around, stopped.
His behavior was excessively cautious. As if he firmly believed I would kill him.
'Come to think of it, he's been saying not to kill him from the start.'
At first, I thought it was a natural reaction, but after seeing his skills, something felt strange.
First of all, he was accepting without much shock that So Iryeon's and my martial arts were strong. He didn't show much aversion to other reincarnators either.
"Why did you think we would kill you?"
"Don't hunters go around killing reincarnators? I know at least that much."
Unexpected words came out.
"Why did you think we were hunters?"
"Are you saying you're not?"
Kim Mu-jin had a surprised expression.
"I need to hear an explanation."
"Aren't you just letting me go?"
"If you're honest, I'll let you go."
Kim Mu-jin thought for a moment but soon began his story.
"Ten years ago, a place called Arte contacted me, and I met with them along with my father. They said there were reincarnators and that they were training hunters to deal with them. They said they would even create a power connection network that would greatly help the company."
"And?"
"My father declined. He thought the talk about reincarnators was a joke."
Anyone who didn't know would certainly think that.
And it seemed Kim Mu-jin had hidden the fact that he was a reincarnator even from his family.
"You said Arte?"
"Yes."
"After declining, there must have been a reaction from them."
"Recently, pressure has started coming into the company. There was a tax audit, and most of our business rights went to competing companies, so internally we're judging it as a crisis."
"So you realized the connection network was real."
"My father is suffering quite a bit because of it."
Contrary to his words, his expression wasn't that serious.
"Are you not interested in the company?"
"How could that be? I need it to live splendidly until I'm fifty. The company I'm running is already preparing for separation, so I've secured a foundation to rise again."
He seemed to have some talent for running a business as well.
"Alright. Now go."
"I can go?"
"Yes. We'll meet again soon."
Kim Mu-jin turned around and was about to leave when he asked me with an expression full of questions.
"But if you're not hunters, what are you two?"
"If you hear it, you'll have to die. Do you want to hear?"
"No! Never mind!"
Kim Mu-jin quickly left.
"Was it okay to just let him go?"
"We'll meet again soon."
"He seems to have trained quite a bit. My hands are tingling."
So Iryeon raised her arm. There was a slight bruise where they had clashed.
It meant he possessed internal energy profound enough to penetrate So Iryeon's powerful external energy and leave an injury.
"Kim Mu-jin. An interesting guy."
"I can call him out a few more times to fight, right?"
"Do as you please."
I also organized the situation and left the place.
'Arte.'
Following Ferral Company, I learned another name.
Wang Sa-baek from China, whom Wi Jeok-cheon mentioned.
And the group called Arte that came looking for Kim Mu-jin.
The outline of the hunters was gradually becoming clear.
"Cult Leader, I didn't cause trouble, right?"
So Iryeon asked cautiously.
"You did well. But be careful from now on. You could have just subdued him."
"He's a reincarnator. It was a surprise attack, so it was too fast."
So Iryeon kept grumbling until I gave her a look, and only then did she close her mouth.
After returning to Yangpyeong, I searched for the name Arte.
Surprisingly, it wasn't difficult to find.
Social Corporation Arte.
It was registered as a non-profit volunteer organization.
It actually supported necessities to orphanages and nursing homes and also conducted overseas child support projects.
'Korea is the headquarters.'
In Japan, it was Feral Company.
In Korea, it was Arte.
'They're connected in a dispersed manner like this.'
It was a structure that wasn't easy to sweep away in one go.
'Still, Arte seems to be quite significant.'
It was an organization that directly proposed to a top-10 conglomerate chairman. It wouldn't be a shabby lower branch.
'Let's just wait a few days for now.'
I didn't move rashly either. There was a good reason for that.
Until then, I cleared my mind and focused on training.
A week later, late evening.
Two men entered the country house.
"Welcome."
"Sorry for being late."
Jimun Seo-saeng and Cheong Ak-sal.
They had finally come to Korea.