Chapter 208
Chapter 208
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 208
Chapter Title: Retrieving the Manager
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Ever since returning to Shinryeongseong, Unhyang's days had been akin to sharpening a blade every single day.
Recently, she had been diligently practicing the Heavenly Demon's martial arts, which she had never used even once before, while devoting herself to training and planning to kill her outwardly revered father.
Even after meeting Cheongryang, it was the same.
She immediately entered Shinryeongseong's secluded training chamber and emerged just a few hours later.
Dull, tremble—.
Her hand in her pocket shook faintly. She suppressed the visible tremor in her shoulders as best she could to avoid detection.
"You have only one hurdle left."
His voice echoed faintly in her ears.
"Do not defy the fate decreed by heaven. The divine art does not first obey those who reject it—."
Throb—!
Her head ached, forcing her to squeeze her eyes shut.
The more she used the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, the clearer his words became, now sounding as if he were speaking right beside her.
Was it the influence of the divine art? Or mere auditory hallucinations?
Either way, her chest felt just as constricted.
She had thought she had finally distanced herself from it, yet the shadow of the Heavenly Demon had closed in so swiftly.
'In times like this... as expected...'
Confirming no one was around, Unhyang pulled out her kit in the corner of the garden.
Regrettably, Soo-hyuk wasn't streaming. After a moment's hesitation, she searched for Lee Soo-hyuk.
The top result was a video uploaded by Hawk's Eye.
[I told you it'd be me?! The 2 reasons Soo-hyuk could grow so quickly 2you]
It wasn't a video of Lee Soo-hyuk himself, but curiosity piqued her. What evaluation would Hawk's Eye have after watching this showdown?
Besides.
'Did they collab, maybe?'
Soo-hyuk might appear in it.
With that thought, Unhyang clicked the video.
Dong, dong, dong, dong—majestic music played alongside footage of rain pouring down.
Starting from the qualifiers where Cha Min-woo clashed with Soo-hyuk, the scenes transitioned with lightning cascading like rain.
A high-quality intro video. It was clear how much budget and time Hawk's Eye had poured into this one.
And at the end of the intro.
Roooar—.
Unhyang saw Lee Soo-hyuk standing fearlessly before the Heavenly Demon.
"Insane... for real..."
Stunned and amazed, she clamped her mouth shut to stifle the scream trying to escape.
It wasn't a scream of fear toward the Heavenly Demon.
Strangely, it was a cheer for how cool Lee Soo-hyuk was.
It was odd.
This was clearly a video featuring the Heavenly Demon, so why did it feel so nonchalant now?
Watching it, Unhyang felt a sense of peace for the first time since arriving at Shinryeongseong.
At least this was a relief.
This hadn't changed.
Even back then, there had been that one ray of light, just like now. She had thought it gone, but he had returned.
Even if he was a different person. To Unhyang, those two were one and the same.
"You've waited long, bros? Meow-ha!"
The moment Hawk's Eye appeared next, Unhyang's expression crumpled.
The intro had ended.
"Couldn't make it a bit longer?"
She knew it wasn't easy, but the complaint slipped out anyway. Muttering softly, Unhyang fast-forwarded the video.
Hoping against hope that Soo-hyuk had collabed.
But then.
"Looking for me?"
The person she sought appeared not on the screen, but from elsewhere.
"Eek!"
Startled, Unhyang jumped and whipped around.
There stood Soo-hyuk, masked as always.
"Wh-what is this?"
"What else? Here to pick you up."
His casual response, as if it were no big deal, sent her eyes into turmoil.
She had to act indifferent, like she had with Cheongryang.
After calming her inner turmoil for a long while, Unhyang asked,
"Didn't you see my text? I quit. Got tired of it."
Was saying "tired of it" a mistake? She had meant to sound harsh, but regretted it instantly.
"I did. That's why I'm here to bring you back."
"Why?"
"Where else am I going to find a talented manager like you? You're even in that video."
Saying so, Soo-hyuk pointed at the video Unhyang was watching.
"Good thing, at least. Seems you haven't completely ruled out coming back."
"Th-this is just..."
She racked her brain for an excuse, but the timing was awful. This was caught red-handed.
There was only one way out in a pinch like this.
"How did you even get in here? Shinryeongseong doesn't let just anyone waltz in."
Changing the subject.
She was genuinely curious, too. Shinryeongseong truly wasn't the kind of place that admitted outsiders freely.
"Did you sneak in or something?"
"They just let me in."
"Just like that?"
No way.
As suspicion crept in, Unhyang's expression turned icy. Along with a dawning realization, the air around her shifted.
"You've been here?"
Thud, thud—.
A massive figure approached, shaking the ground.
Baek Yi-dan, leader of Shinryeongseong's elite White Wolf Squad, had come searching for Soo-hyuk.
"Well. You've already met an old comrade."
"We were just exchanging greetings. And you?"
"I am Baek Yi-dan, Vice Lord of Shinryeongseong. With the Lord absent, I am acting in his stead."
"Ah, so you're the man of the house."
His words said that, but Soo-hyuk's eyes toward Baek Yi-dan asked, Are you the one?
After a brief exchange with Baek Yi-dan, Soo-hyuk turned to Unhyang.
"I'll be right back."
Those words eased her heart somewhat.
"I quit, I told you."
But right now, she could only respond coldly.
Soo-hyuk walked side by side with Baek Yi-dan, who was accompanied by the White Wolf Squad warriors. Rather than overt pressure, he exuded an intimidating aura.
After walking some distance, Baek Yi-dan spoke first.
"Understand our caution here. My subordinates are overly vigilant."
"Makes sense for a VIP."
"Here for your manager?"
"Yes. She's precious to me. I want to take her back."
"I see. Thinks I've stolen her from him, does he?"
A glint flashed in Soo-hyuk's eyes.
'From him'? Soo-hyuk had initially thought of Uncheon-geuk when coming here, not Baek Yi-dan.
"Apologies, but that's impossible. As you know, she's a very important figure in Shinryeongseong."
He had expected as much. If they would release her willingly, they wouldn't have held her in the first place.
As he thought that, Baek Yi-dan said something unexpected.
"There is a way."
A way.
The very solution Soo-hyuk should have sought, voiced by Baek Yi-dan.
"By coming to me. Then you can stay with your cherished manager."
"Coming to you means?"
"Don't play dumb. What else? Take my salary, do my bidding, pledge true loyalty..."
Sneer—.
"Become my dog."
A smirk that hid no malice.
Soo-hyuk halted. He imagined what stories Unhyang must have told this bastard.
"Why should I?"
"Don't you love Unhyang?"
"...?"
"Any man would. I understand. Ha ha ha!"
It sounded mad at first, but he got it quickly. Such a misunderstanding wasn't unreasonable.
Unhyang's beauty was exceptional—perhaps top-tier even among the rankings.
Throwing himself into the viper's nest of Shinryeongseong for the woman he loved.
That was Baek Yi-dan's delusion.
"Regrettably, this is the only way for you to be with her. She can never leave this place."
"And why is that?"
"Don't pry too deep. You might get hurt."
Childish words, but they didn't ring hollow.
Soo-hyuk had already sensed danger from the secrets surrounding her.
"From the warning, it seems the Vice Lord knows."
"Something like that. Oh, right. And a warning—."
Tap, tap—Baek Yi-dan patted Soo-hyuk's shoulder, his face darkening instantly.
"Best not think of streaming in this fortress."
Clang, clang—.
The White Wolf Squad warriors drew their swords in unison.
Each a ranker-level expert, their combined pressure focused on Soo-hyuk.
It wasn't just them emitting killing intent. Baek Yi-dan eyed him as if ready to snap his neck at any moment.
"Hand it over quietly. No trouble then."
"The kit?"
"Yes."
Shinryeongseong's greatest fear of Soo-hyuk wasn't his lightning prowess.
It was his power to sway the masses—the broadcasting medium that rankers so scorned.
As long as he had it, Soo-hyuk could escape Shinryeongseong's crises anytime. Without it, he was merely a promising rookie with great skill.
"Think wisely. Resist and fail, and..."
Swish—.
Surprisingly compliant, Soo-hyuk pulled the kit from his pocket and offered it. Baek Yi-dan looked taken aback.
Losing the kit meant no streaming, stripping him of leverage.
"Smart one."
No.
Taking the kit, he mocked Soo-hyuk as a fool instead.
If it were him, he wouldn't have let such a situation arise.
"Heard you need this to stream."
Thud—.
Baek Yi-dan dropped the kit Soo-hyuk had handed over onto the ground.
And then.
"There."
Crunch—!
He stomped it, shattering it beyond repair.
"Can't do it now."
His sole countermeasure gone, Baek Yi-dan smirked victoriously.
Now, Lee Soo-hyuk was truly in his palm.
"Ponder which is best. I trust you'll choose wisely."
Baek Yi-dan bared killing intent with a smile. The White Wolf Squad did the same toward Soo-hyuk.
Not mere advice—it was blatant extortion.
Submit, or die.
Finished, Baek Yi-dan turned away, his squad following.
At that moment.
"Oh, and one more thing."
Pausing, Baek Yi-dan turned back with a warning.
"Meet Unhyang without my permission again, and prepare yourself."
A night with a pale moon hanging high.
Unhyang sat atop Shinryeongseong's tallest pavilion, gazing at the sky.
No one came here. Sneaking out of her room, this was the only place to evade eyes and savor freedom.
"What else? Here to pick you up."
Those words lingered in her mind all day.
He had called her a talented manager, too. Her lips kept twitching upward.
But worry gnawed at her.
Baek Yi-dan had taken Soo-hyuk away. To her knowledge, he was a man with a wolf's face and a serpent's tongue.
"Just try laying a hand on him."
The promise to stay in Shinryeongseong included not just Cheongryang, but Soo-hyuk as well.
Thus, Baek Yi-dan couldn't touch Soo-hyuk recklessly.
But that promise kept Unhyang from approaching him.
'Was I too prickly?'
It bothered her.
They couldn't stay together forever, but she hated being hated.
"Has he left already...?"
"No."
Muttering a thought aloud unwittingly, a reply came.
Startled, she shot to her feet—and there he was again.
"Took me a while to find you."
Lee Soo-hyuk.
Under the moonlight, he smiled with his mask half-off.