Chapter 92
Chapter 92
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: Black Rock's Challenge
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Ryu O-chang sending someone was a fact I had already anticipated.
No need to be particularly surprised.
“…….”
Lee Dae-hyuk, arms crossed, stared at Shen Wu.
He was wearing a mask, but the familiar build and vibe were unmistakable.
Lee Dae-hyuk immediately pictured one man.
‘Shen Wu?’
The assassin carrying out Ryu O-chang’s orders. The top operative of the Black Rock Society.
‘Impressive, as expected.’
The bodyguards were waiting across the street from the gym.
If he’d been spotted, they would have blocked Shen Wu’s path.
He had slipped past the bodyguards’ watchful eyes and entered the gym.
‘Assassination? Or a test?’
Lee Dae-hyuk pondered Ryu O-chang’s intentions in sending Shen Wu.
Surprisingly, Ryu O-chang didn’t kill people lightly.
Especially not civilians(?) like himself—scions of chaebol families.
If assassination had been the goal, he wouldn’t have dispatched a key figure like Shen Wu.
That left only one conclusion.
‘A test?’
The common thread between Ryu O-chang and Yoo Jae-man.
They tested people first, then took the useful ones under their wing.
This was a test to gauge his boldness.
He had to respond aggressively.
“CEO Kim Hyun-seung. No, Chairman Ryu sent you?”
“!!”
Shen Wu’s eyes widened at Lee Dae-hyuk’s question.
‘This guy… knows about Chairman Ryu and Kim Hyun-seung’s connection.’
Only a handful knew Ryu O-chang was backing Kim Hyun-seung.
Shen Wu couldn’t help but falter.
But he quickly regained his composure.
‘Questions end here.’
He was Ryu O-chang’s blade.
A blade didn’t think.
It simply obeyed its master’s command.
‘Eliminate if incompetent. If useful… follow the Chairman’s orders.’
From their brief exchange, Shen Wu had already sized Lee Dae-hyuk up.
The insight to see through the situation.
The nerve to stand firm before a killer.
Shen Wu pegged him as exceptionally skilled.
But he needed to determine if that skill stemmed from sheltered, unrealistic prodigy training.
Or genuine, battle-honed instinct.
Shen Wu had one test in mind.
“I’ll show you what happens when you run your mouth.”
Shen Wu’s eyes flashed as he launched forward.
Tadadot-!!!
Lee Dae-hyuk raised his guard, arms up, wary of Shen Wu closing the gap in an instant.
Moments later, Shen Wu’s fists and kicks hammered his body like machine-gun fire.
Pak-! Ppak-! Bbak-! Ppeokkeok!!
“Keuk!!”
Groans escaped Lee Dae-hyuk as he barely blocked with his shoulders, arms, and legs.
Ppeok-! Ppabapak-!
The sheer weight behind the blows reverberated through his bones.
No direct hits yet, but pure defense wouldn’t hold—he’d collapse soon.
‘This body’s still too fragile.’
His speed had improved, sure.
But his durability couldn’t withstand the onslaught.
‘Keuk! A test, and you send a monster like this?’
Resentment toward Ryu O-chang bubbled up unbidden.
Still, he could block a few for sure.
Tadak-!!
Lee Dae-hyuk parried two strikes with a cross block and created distance.
‘Can’t win head-on.’
A little dirty, maybe, but this was real combat.
Time to use his head.
Luckily, psychometry triggered when he deflected Shen Wu’s fist.
It let him read Shen Wu’s fighting style.
And his loyalty to Ryu O-chang.
To beat Shen Wu, he’d exploit both.
Tadadak-!
“Whoa- whoa-”
Lee Dae-hyuk retreated swiftly, hands raised.
“…What’s this?”
“Let’s take it easy. Whew- What’d you embed in those fists? My whole body’s throbbing.”
Lee Dae-hyuk rubbed his wrists and shoulders, grimacing.
“By the way, your Korean’s flawless. Ryu O-chang as good as you?”
“…Don’t speak his name lightly.”
Shen Wu’s voice sharpened.
Unshakable in all things, Shen Wu made an exception for Ryu O-chang.
The man had raised him from a sniveling ten-year-old orphan.
Shen Wu’s absolute loyalty.
To Lee Dae-hyuk, a vulnerability to exploit.
“Be a good dog.”
“……?!”
Deep furrows creased Shen Wu’s brow at the sudden taunt.
A sly grin that pierced his thoughts.
Subtle jabs to rattle his focus.
In those few words, Lee Dae-hyuk seized the advantage.
‘…He thinks so, anyway.’
Ryu O-chang’s interest was mere curiosity.
He’d even left disposal in Shen Wu’s hands.
In this gym, Shen Wu held Lee Dae-hyuk’s fate.
“…Amusing.”
Shen Wu’s tone evened out.
The Black Rock Society called him ‘Black Rock.’
An unyielding stone.
He banished agitation, refocused.
“It’s a test. Bring you if you’re worth it.”
“Yeah?”
Sneering, Lee Dae-hyuk edged toward the entrance.
Shen Wu smirked at the sight.
‘All that smooth talk, now running?’
Just bluff after all?
‘Makes it easier.’
If worthless as suspected, end it quick.
“Round two.”
First clash: probe.
Second: for real.
Swish-! Swish-!!!
Fists sliced toward his face in a barrage.
‘Not a whip—a razor.’
Lee Dae-hyuk snapped his head back, dodging.
“……!!”
Shock flickered in Shen Wu’s eyes.
‘His movement’s changed?’
First punch: feint to expose an opening, threat shot.
Second jab: feint too.
The real blow—a half-step retreat, then a crushing hook.
Yet Lee Dae-hyuk evaded every feint effortlessly.
And as the hook swung—
Whoosh-!
‘What?’
Lee Dae-hyuk swung his right arm too.
No threat. A casual swing, easy to dodge.
‘One hit won’t drop me.’
Shen Wu pushed his fist fully, no retreat.
Shik-!
Mistake.
Pakagak-!!
A 3kg dumbbell whistled through the air, smashing his brow.
“Keuuk!”
Blood and a scream erupted from Shen Wu.
‘Damn it! Not running!’
Played for a fool by Lee Dae-hyuk—rage exploded.
“Threw it light. Don’t whine.”
“Y-you! Bastard!!”
Curses spewed as Shen Wu clutched his face.
The black rock cracked.
A shaken mind meant defeat.
Pummeling relentlessly, Lee Dae-hyuk kept taunting.
“Rules in a real fight? You know better.”
“Y-you! Bastard!”
Ppeok! Ppeok! Ppaak!
Fists sank into flanks, solar plexus.
“Keuheok!!”
Stagger-!!!
Lee Dae-hyuk seized Shen Wu’s hair with his left hand.
“Nap time.”
Rapid-fire punches zeroed in on the jaw.
Ppeokkeok-! Ppeokkeok-! Ppeokgeogeogeok!
Moments later.
Lee Dae-hyuk’s barrage halted.
“…….”
“Really, man.”
Thud-!!! Thump-!!
Shen Wu crumpled like a marionette with severed strings.
“Blame Chairman Ryu O-chang for ordering this, not me.”
Hoo-!
The rare strong foe, the tension of live combat—Lee Dae-hyuk staggered too, drained.
Tap-!
Hand on the wall, he squeezed his eyes shut, then open.
Now, meet Ryu O-chang.
‘Can’t look worn or weak.’
Breath steady, he pulled out his phone.
- Yes, President.
“Min-gyu, vacation’s over. Get to the gym.”
***
Samseong-dong, Ryu O-chang’s mansion garden.
“Heh, heh heh heh….”
Ryu O-chang chuckled in disbelief.
In this line of work, he’d seen his share of surprises.
But this was something else.
Before him: Shen Wu, face ballooned and handcuffed…
“First time meeting, Chairman Ryu. Lee Dae-hyuk.”
And Lee Dae-hyuk, unscathed.
Psychometry on Shen Wu had gotten him here effortlessly.
“…….”
Ryu O-chang eyed Shen Wu wordlessly.
Eyes demanding an explanation.
“…Sorry.”
“…….”
A glance at Shen Wu, then to Lee Dae-hyuk.
“How’d you get here?”
Knew of him, and invaded his home.
Tight-lipped Shen Wu wouldn’t have spilled.
Lee Dae-hyuk had done it solo.
Lee Dae-hyuk scratched his chin.
“By car.”
“…….”
Ryu O-chang’s brow furrowed.
Lee Dae-hyuk had no better answer.
Truth was truth.
‘Can’t say psychometry revealed the address.’
“Just wanted a chat. Mind pulling back the guards?”
“Poor manners for someone here to talk, no?”
Bodyguards ringing the garden glared in agreement.
Feeling the stares, Lee Dae-hyuk.
“Handcuffs first.”
“You dog…”
Shen Wu started cursing the hand on his wrists, then clamped shut.
Wouldn’t dare before Ryu O-chang.
Click-!!!
“There. Free now.”
Handcuffs off, Lee Dae-hyuk clapped Shen Wu’s back.
Instantly.
“You bastard!!”
“Grab him!!!”
“Beat him down!!”
Guards charged.
A deep bass boomed simultaneously.
“Stop!”
Freeze!
Ryu O-chang raised his right hand.
Guards halted as one in his grave tone.
“Manners for a guest.”
No more words.
His profound gaze bored into Lee Dae-hyuk.
No anger, no warmth—just depth, questioning.
What manner of man are you?
Lee Dae-hyuk would answer from here on.
One issue first.
“Eyes and ears everywhere.”
“…….”
“…….”
“Fine. Study it is. Better for talking.”
Shen Wu’s eyes bulged, voice rising.
“Chairman! Dangerous!”
“Dangerous? Does he look dumb enough to attack me in my own house?”
Shen Wu had no retort.
Lee Dae-hyuk did.
“Not dumb enough for suicide that convoluted.”
Lee Dae-hyuk sought alliance, hence the house call.
Handcuffing Shen Wu? Presence stunt.
Ryu O-chang saw through it.
“Right. Young talent like you lives long.”
***
Ryu O-chang’s study and office.
Table between them, full cups of green tea steamed before Ryu O-chang and Lee Dae-hyuk.
Smoke curled lazily.
“…….”
“…….”
Through it, old dragon met young tiger’s gaze.
The old dragon spoke.
“Chairman Lee Myung-guk raised a tiger.”
Sharp judgment. Made Shen Wu that mess—decent fighter too.
‘Info network to track my house instantly… No ordinary punk.’
But flaws irked.
“Bit of a conduct issue. Even to impress me, this stunt’s too much.”
Ryu O-chang’s eyes chilled.
Legs would buckle for most.
The young tiger smiled easy, lifted his tea.
“Troubling the mighty Chairman Ryu O-chang… Compliment accepted.”
Clink-!!
Sip down, cup set, Lee Dae-hyuk beamed.