After dinner with his mother and younger sibling, Lee Seong-jun thought the day would end peacefully. His family, unaware of the earlier conversation with Jo Se-hyeok, acted naturally, and the atmosphere remained warm and cheerful.
However, on their way home, Seong-jun noticed something unusual. The sensation of being watched lingered in the air—not the gaze of reporters, but the sharp energy of a warrior. It felt as strong as Jo Se-hyeok, perhaps even stronger.
Not wanting to alarm his family, Seong-jun excused himself with a lie about going to the convenience store and let them go ahead. The moment they disappeared around the corner, he leapt into the night, soaring across rooftops in pursuit of the presence.
But the mysterious figure kept his distance. Despite Seong-jun accelerating with Pungryeobo, the man maintained the gap, drawing him toward an empty school playground. The location was no accident—it was chosen to avoid witnesses.
Standing there was a towering man nearly two meters tall. He studied Seong-jun, muttering about his movements, then suddenly rushed forward. His steps carried the essence of martial arts, revealing he was no ordinary returnee but a warrior who had trained in ancient techniques.
The two clashed fiercely. Fists and palms collided, shockwaves shaking the ground. The stranger displayed techniques such as Yi Hyeong Hwan-wi—a body-shifting martial art—and Meng Libeon Heaven, Hwansachangpa, unleashing vicious energy waves.
But Seong-jun countered with his blood arts, trapping the man's energy in a circular formation and redirecting it back. The duel grew more intense, each exchange sharpening their curiosity about the other's limits.
Then, just as Seong-jun prepared to unleash a decisive blow, the man vanished from his senses. Unlike before, this movement erased his presence completely, as though he had dissolved into smoke.
A hearty laugh broke the tension. The giant revealed his name—Baek Mu-jin of the Returnees' Union. From the way he fought and carried himself, it was clear he was no ordinary member but a high-ranking figure.
Instead of hostility, Baek Mu-jin expressed excitement. He praised Seong-jun's skills and boldly declared that he would give him one year. During that time, no one from the Returnees' Union would interfere with him or his family. Afterward, they would fight again, properly.
With that, Baek Mu-jin disappeared into the night, leaving Seong-jun in silence.
Seong-jun's expression remained calm, but his thoughts were sharp. Baek Mu-jin was a true monster—unpredictable, dangerous, and overflowing with madness. While he seemed sincere about the truce, Seong-jun couldn't afford to take chances.
'He's too dangerous to leave unchecked. I'll need the association to investigate him thoroughly.'
With his decision made, Seong-jun pulled out his smartphone and prepared to take the next step.