Cheolsu Tastes Plain
"Idiot...!"
Cheolsu, flung away like a fool, rolled across the dirt ground. Younghee swallowed a groan at the sight before her eyes.
Cheolsu had definitely gotten stronger. His skill was incomparable to before—visible even to her eyes.
But Yujin was even stronger than that. That was all there was to it.
But something's off about Kim Yujin today.
Should she call it a change in atmosphere? Yujin was usually the silent type. It created an air of fear or intimidation—like the impression of a man who dominated others.
But that figure now was far from it. Killing intent, murderous aura, violence, cold detachment. It was like staring at a single, utterly ruthless beast.
Is he finally taking Cheolsu seriously?
What on earth had happened in that one week? What kind of training could make someone this strong—and change their personality so drastically?
That's Heukcheon...
An organization that spared no means or methods for victory and power. Even their young heir was no exception, it seemed.
This purity bordering on violence went beyond fear—it was downright chilling.
Yujin glanced at Cheolsu for a moment before turning away. No words, no commentary on the win. He simply accepted the result emotionlessly and moved to leave.
"W-Wait...!"
Cheolsu stopped him. Younghee ground her teeth and shouted.
"You idiot! Still don't get your own level?! A loser like you isn't even a match for Yujin-nim! If you're gonna lose, just stay down in the dirt like the loser you are!"
Please. Please don't get up. Don't fight anymore and get hurt. She poured those feelings into her cry.
But Cheolsu forced his trembling body to rise. As if he absolutely couldn't back down.
"Kim Yujin, where did you learn that martial art?"
This mattered more than anything to Cheolsu. His heartfelt mentor in his dreams had barely taught him anything—practically nothing at all. But he'd clearly supported that dream. He couldn't let those memories be stolen. He wouldn't let this guy taint them.
"Answer me!"
Kim Yujin didn't respond. He just stood there, utterly emotionless. Something was off about him today. He was clearly looking right at him.
But somehow, he felt distant.
"What were you thinking, meeting that person?"
"......"
"No, why would that person teach a punk like you?!"
Instead, his body moved faster than ever before.
-Kwaang!!
He closed the distance in an instant and thrust out his fist. Cheolsu raised his sword to meet it.
-Thudoom!!
Not sword clashing with fist, but like a bomb exploding. The shockwave tore at the air. A deafening roar pierced their ears.
Every time Yujin swung his fist, the world shook.
You idiot...! Barely blocking is all you can do!
Cheolsu had already been pushed back several meters by Yujin's attacks. Yujin's power was overwhelming. For an injured Cheolsu, just enduring was chipping away at his stamina.
"Urgh!"
Even amid that merciless barrage, Cheolsu didn't flee. He held his sword forward in a defensive stance. With quick judgment, he dodged average strikes on the spot. Maintaining this posture, he could hold out somehow.
But if he lets even one through...
Younghee watched anxiously. Kim Yujin. Heukcheon's heir. She knew he was strong, but this was too much. It was like a massive wall swallowing Cheolsu whole—not man against man.
Cheolsu was holding up admirably. But put another way, that was it.
It soon became clear that even Cheon-gong Shin-gwon: Yukhap Jangpa was only possible because Yujin was going easy.
Yujin's fist struck Cheolsu like a wooden sword. A heavy surge of energy pierced through his chest and ravaged his body.
"Kuhuk!"
Blood sprayed from Cheolsu's mouth. A fist technique that wrecked the internals with one blow. Even Younghee, an outsider to martial arts, couldn't grasp what had happened.
Cheolsu collapsed forward. Or rather, as he began to fall—
-Kwajik!
Cheolsu swung his sword from that stance. Yujin hurriedly raised his arm to block. Cheolsu's eyes flashed. As if he'd been waiting for this, he reversed his grip and slashed again.
Cheon-gong Geom: Yeokjeon Segye
Cheon-gong Shin-gwon: Yongjapgi
But faster still, Yujin seized Cheolsu's wrist and flung him.
-Kwaang!!
"Guhak!"
He slammed Cheolsu into the ground like a sandbag. A crunch echoed from his wrist, but Cheolsu grabbed Yujin's hand in turn.
Cheon-gong Geom Gai (Revised): Cheolsu Original, 'Blue Lightning'
-Pajijijik!!!
The mana floating in the air wrapped around Yujin like lightning. A technique possible only for Cheolsu, with his genius-level mana sensitivity. Turning ambient mana itself into a weapon. It enveloped the enemy and delivered a shock. Though it still required physical contact.
Once grabbed, it unleashed full attack power. Even Yujin couldn't emerge unscathed from this.
"......"
Yet a merciless fist flew toward Cheolsu's face.
-Kwaang!!
'Guhak!!!'
Even as the mana assaulted him, Yujin swung. As if daring to see who died first. Flaunting the overwhelming difference in spirit.
'No way...'
Younghee couldn't believe the scene. What kind of human could move in that state?
The changed Yujin looked like a real monster.
Puk! Puk! Puk! Puk! Puk! Kwajik!
Dizzying violence rained down in succession. Gradually, wet squelching sounds mixed in from the fists.
Stop... Unable to watch anymore, Younghee turned her head away. Her clenched fists dug nails into her palms. Thin trails of blood dripped down.
Please give up, Cheolsu...
She bit her lip until it bled, barely suppressing her emotions. She wanted to stop him. Rush over and beg him to end it.
But if she did, Yujin would still think she had feelings for Cheolsu. Then the violence like today would repeat.
Kim Yujin, is this why you called me...?
To show Cheolsu getting beaten mercilessly? To test if I'd stay quiet watching? To make me submit completely?
Even so, this is too much...
Every fist that moved felt like it tore her heart. Something nauseating churned inside her. Yet she could do nothing.
She wanted to save Cheolsu somehow, but her powerless self was helpless. All she could do was hope his spirit broke. Pray he gave up on her.
-Thud.
Cheolsu refused to admit defeat to the end. In the end, his body gave out first.
Bloody and unconscious, Cheolsu's body went limp. Only then did Yujin release him. At least it had been more of a proper fight than before. Scratches marked Yujin's body here and there.
But that was it. The power gap was clear to anyone.
"Are you... satisfied now?"
Younghee said, trembling. Her eyes had lost their light, grown dim. Watching someone dearer than life get beaten to a bloody pulp. She didn't have the mental fortitude for that sober.
Having suppressed her emotions to the limit for this. Younghee's heart was broken somewhere.
"I... tried hard. I held back. Until the end, until Cheolsu... until he ended up like that... I let it happen. That's enough, right? I did good, didn't I?"
Madness soon filled her eyes. She'd given up everything to this point. Not screamed once while Cheolsu collapsed so pathetically. This had to mean something.
If it hurt this much, at least Cheolsu's safety had to be guaranteed. Otherwise, it didn't add up.
"I-It worked out, right? Everything... just like you wanted..."
Younghee tried to approach Yujin but collapsed to her knees. Her legs had given out. Dragging herself forward, she clutched his pant leg, still shaking, and opened her lips.
"Let's stop now... Cheolsu must get it by now... I'll be your woman... so ignore him and just look at me... please, I beg you... look only at me..."
Tears kept overflowing. Through her blurred vision, the wrecked, collapsed Cheolsu flickered.
"Hic... please... I beg you... ignore Cheolsu... look only at me..."
Was there ever such a desperate plea of devotion? She didn't even know what she was saying. Her body felt broken somewhere. All she could do was sob and beg Yujin for mercy.
"......"
Yujin watched silently before leaving. Younghee stared blankly until he was gone, then crawled to Cheolsu.
She glanced around briefly, then poured healing light over him. No matter what, she couldn't leave him like this.
Idiot... really... such an idiot... you're hurt so bad... idiot...
Mumbling words unclear whom they were for, Younghee shed tears drop by drop. She reached out and stroked his face.
How long had they been this distant? Why did Cheolsu keep looking at someone like her?
She just wept endlessly.
Hoping that when he woke, he'd be scared of Yujin and run away.
!. !....... ......