As the 1st Generation King seemed about to get into a brawl, James suddenly looked at Baki and said, "I'd like to ask for a proper teaching next time."
Baki snapped back at him, "Tch! Our fight isn't finished yet, you bastard!"
---
Seokdu Wang and Jaegyeon Na took their fighting stances.
"How long are you going to drag this on?" Gongseob said as he licked his lips.
A deep voice came, "Did you guys forget that we decided not to fight in Cheonliang?" It was Taesoo Ma.
Jichang Kwak interrupted, "Stop there, guys. Will you really break one of the rules we made together as Kings?"
Hearing his words, the tense atmosphere cooled down and everyone backed off.
---
James got up from the pavement.
"I thought, just maybe, I would get to witness the fight between the Kings."
"I'll be going now," he said as he walked off.
Baki didn't stop him. Instead, he closed in on Shinmyung. "So, it's only you now, Shinmyung. What are you going to do?"
Shinmyung stepped back. "PROTECT ME!!! JAMES LEE!!!" he shouted. "YOU'VE RECEIVED CHARLES CHOI'S ORDERS! MOVE!"
James looked back. "Why should I?"
Shinmyung's eyes widened. "You what?"
James smirked. "I came here to kill you as well."
Shinmyung staggered backwards. "W-what are you talking about? You fought with Baki Hanma and Seongji Yuk too!"
James shook his head. "The reason I fought them was to check their skills."
Then he walked towards Shinmyung and said, "Mr. Choi knows that you're searching for his weakness. And only by killing you can he stop you. Our original plan wasn't to protect you, but rather to kill you."
James stopped in front of Shinmyung's face and gave an evil smile. "And in this situation, Baki Hanma will kill you himself. I don't even have to get blood on my hands. How nice."
Then he put his hand on Shinmyung's shoulder and said, "You've worked hard, Shinmyung Cheon. May the CHILD GOD look after you."
Saying this, James turned back and started to leave as he unwrapped a lollipop. But in front of him stood Gongseob, glaring at him. He passed Gongseob only to find Taesoo Ma blocking his path. He crossed past Taesoo Ma only to find Seokdu standing in front of him.
Jichang Kwak lit a cigarette and said, "James Lee, you're not leaving either. What are you guys planning? You'll have to take responsibility for messing with the first generation."
The 1st Generation Kings surrounded James Lee.
"What a good chance for me to test the skills of these regional Kings," James thought.
Then he looked back at Baki and Seongji standing together. "The damage I received from Seongji Yuk and Baki Hanma isn't negligible. If I fight these Kings in the state I'm in right now, it might affect my plans."
Suddenly, Seokdu dashed towards James. James jumped backwards to dodge, only to find Taesoo launching a punch towards his face.
"Are you running away now?"
James smiled at Taesoo Ma's question and said, "Don't get the wrong idea. I'm not afraid of you Kings one bit." Saying this, he performed a cross kick.
But Taesoo dodged the kick and connected his punch. James immediately crossed his arms to absorb the damage. The punch sent James sliding backwards. He used that momentum to skid back and run.
Suddenly his instincts flared and he jumped from where he was. Jichang slammed the place where James had been standing a moment before and created a crater.
Jichang asked as he slashed upwards toward James's neck, "Then why are you running?"
"Did you receive a lot of damage in your fights?" Jichang asked as he slashed at James's face again.
But James jumped backwards. Jichang quickly shouted, "Jaegyeon Na! Grab him!" But Jaegyeon Na, who was tying his shoelaces, missed James Lee as James rushed by him.
Jaegyeon Na immediately got up and vanished, reappearing behind James's back. James jumped upwards onto the courtyard's wall.
James squatted down and looked at the Kings. "It was fun. All of you are strong enough to be called Kings. I would have liked to play around a bit longer, but how unfortunate."
Jichang looked at him. "James Lee, just what is your side planning?"
James smirked. "Don't be so hasty. You'll know everything soon. When the time comes, I'll find every single one of you personally."
Baki suddenly shouted, "So you're going to run away, pretty boy?! After all this time, I found a good opponent and you're going to run away?"
James looked at Baki. "Don't be so let down. Go and get Shinmyung Cheon."
Everyone's attention fixed on Shinmyung, who was trying to escape in silence.
Seeing everyone's attention shift, James jumped away.
"Damn... Damnit...! James Lee!" Shinmyung shouted with tears in his eyes. "Is this how it all ends?" he thought.
Suddenly, a bunch of villagers came forward to his rescue.
"Are you okay, Sir Shinmyung Cheon?! We came here because of the ruckus! We will protect you!"
A grin appeared on Shinmyung's face as he ran away from there. The Kings tried to follow him, but the villagers surrounded them.
Gongseob muttered, "Dumb fucks, you think we'd leave if you did that?"
Taesoo Ma said, "Just subdue them, Gongseob."
"Subdue my ass. I beat men and women equally."
Seongji looked at the Kings and smiled. "Thanks, guys!"
Suddenly Seongji kneeled down and started to vomit. Jaegyeon grabbed him. "Fuck! Are you okay?!"
Baki also rushed to Seongji. "Guys, Seongji suffers from PTSD! We have to move him to a less crowded place."
Baki and the other Kings quickly rushed out with Seongji Yuk. Jichang looked at Shinmyung's back one last time before following them.
---
Shinmyung released a breath of relief as he bent down and clasped his knees. "They shouldn't be able to follow me when I'm this far away..."
Seeing that no one had followed him, he laughed and raised his hands upward. "That's what I thought. There's no way I, Shinmyung Cheon, would go down so easily!"
He exclaimed, "I am alive! I just have to start over!"
Just then, a brutal punch landed on his face and sent him flying. "No, you won't, you fucking bitch!" Vin Jin said as he walked toward Shinmyung.
"Vin Jin! You fucker, do you want to die so badly? Do you want to get kicked out of the village?" Shinmyung said with an annoyed expression.
Vin Jin closed in on Shinmyung and punched him in the jaw. "Kick me out, you fucking bitch!"
Then he grabbed Shinmyung's neck with both hands and headbutted him to the ground. He sat on him and started punching Shinmyung's face.
"You piece of SHIT! You thought you'd live forever, huh?! Why did you kill her? I'M ASKING WHY DID YOU KILL MY MOM?!" Saying this, Vin Jin smashed Shinmyung's face.
"Calm down, Vin. This isn't right... At this rate... if I get hit anymore, I'll die," Shinmyung groaned through his broken teeth.
Vin Jin pressed his neck. "THEN JUST DIE!"
Shinmyung squirmed for a while before starting to lose consciousness. Seeing this, Vin Jin released him and roared, "FUCK!!!"
"I should kill him... Fuckers like him deserve to die..." But Vin Jin ultimately couldn't do it. He started to leave. "Fuck. I'm sorry, Mom." He sobbed.
Suddenly he found a piece of cloth on the ground. "Mom's headband? Did I drop this?"
At that moment, Shinmyung came from behind carrying a stone overhead, ready to smash Vin Jin's head.
Vin Jin pulled the piece of cloth. Unfortunately, Shinmyung had stepped on it, so when Vin Jin pulled it, he lost his balance and fell down from the cliff. Vin turned to look at what happened, but a large hand covered his eyes. "Let's go, Vin Jin."
THWACK–CRUNCH
Vin Jin exclaimed, "Baki-hyung! What happened? Is Teacher safe?"
Baki sighed and said, "Nothing. Let's go now." Baki looked one last time over the cliff. The large stone had smashed Shinmyung's head, killing him.
Baki pulled Vin Jin and left the place.
A dark blond figure witnessed all this. It was Shinmyung's son, Taejin. A crude smile appeared on his face as his tears fell.
---
Mount Cheonliang
The whole Cheonliang fam gathered around Seongji Yuk.
Seongji stirred and opened his eyes. Everyone asked, "Teacher, are you awake...?"
Seeing Seongji sit up, they exclaimed, "We were worried, Teacher!"
Seongji suddenly asked as he clutched his head, "Who are you guys? I don't remember anything..."
Jewoo quickly asked fearfully, "Teacher, did you lose your memory...?!"
Seongji smiled. "I'm joking."
Jewoo suddenly said, "Teacher, we've heard the story."
Seongji looked confused. "What?"
Jewoo replied evasively, "It's nothing..."