Chapter 26: Bucheon Brothers Clan (3)

When they called it a “wall,” all it really meant was a barricade made of cars and buses.

They’d even drained the fuel, probably planning to use the vehicles to move if needed.

The moment Fireball exploded, it triggered an even bigger blast, instantly turning the south square of Bucheon Station into a sea of fire.

“Wow……!”

Jeonghu let out a gasp of awe, but quickly shouldered his gun and stared ahead.

“That explosion was a lot fiercer than I expected. We don’t even know who’s coming out.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

“Did I overdo it?”

“No, it’s fine. Who could’ve guessed it would blow up that big?”

Even as he spoke, Yohan hurriedly got to his feet.

“Watch from the back. Dad will go in first and check it out.”

Creak.

Opening the window, Yohan jumped straight out of the shopping complex and crossed the crosswalk, hiding behind a building closer to the station as he peered beyond the flames.

From the entrances on the first and third floors, thugs poured out in droves, looking on high alert.

‘One, two, three… ten of them?’

With an explosion this big, most people inside the building should’ve come out to check, but only about ten were immediately visible.

‘So this must be the main force from Nam Taegu’s side.’

That didn’t mean he could let his guard down.

With Nam Taegu there, the few left behind here could be the key forces, aside from Nam Taegu himself.

After confirming that a few people were moving toward the square while the rest stood ready in the back with various weapons, Yohan glanced behind him.

He looked at his kids, waiting at the building’s window, staff and guns aimed at the station, then grabbed his radio.

“It’s Dad. Use the underground passage beside you to cross over here.”

-Static, chk, copy.

Seeing Jeonghu and Seoyoung start to move, Yohan also darted into the entrance to the underground passage nearby.

The Bucheon Station underground passage connected the north and south sides of the station, but it was also lined on both sides with clothing stores in the underground shopping mall.

The underground mall, now deserted and eerie since no one used it anymore, was where Yohan waited until Jeonghu and Seoyoung came down from the other side.

“It really does seem like there aren’t many people.”

“So are we just going to charge in like this?”

“We stirred up trouble above ground, so they’ll probably be lax about the underground, don’t you think?”

“Hmm… let’s check it out, then?”

“Dad will go ahead first. Cover me from behind, and when I give the signal, follow me.”

“Okay.”

Yohan sprinted quickly through the underground passage, then came to a sudden stop.

Normally, around the middle of the passage, there was one entrance into Bucheon Station and another into the Emart.

“But they blocked everything off?”

Yohan clicked his tongue as he saw that not only both entrances, but the center of the passage had been completely sealed with fire shutters.

“I didn’t think of this.”

They were just fire shutters, so even without using Asura Blood God Palm, he could break through easily with just some internal energy.

Still, who knew what tricks the Bucheon Brothers Clan might have set up here.

It wasn’t just Nam Taegu to watch out for—there was someone else, too.

Aside from being able to check people’s stats, he didn’t seem to have any special abilities, but it was precisely this man—Zhang Zifang of the Bucheon Brothers Clan, Jeong Cheolwoo—who had enabled them to seize Bucheon Station. He wasn’t a sloppy man.

“Guess the doctor knows more about running things than a guy like me who only managed a supermarket.”

‘Still don’t get why a doctor would hang out with thugs, though.’

Muttering to himself, Yohan realized he was wasting time and needed to get moving.

‘Should I just go up?’

“No, wait.”

Even if he went up, wouldn’t it be a frontal assault anyway?

In that case, it was better to break through here, where the defenses would be slacker since it was blocked off.

Yohan boldly lifted the fire shutter.

Clang.

With the sound of chains snapping, the shutter rattled up.

“Huh.”

No sooner had he opened the shutter than he was greeted by a pile of all sorts of junk.

Not content with just closing the shutter, they’d stacked random objects high to block the entrance.

Without hesitation, Yohan smashed the obstacles apart with Asura Blood God Palm, then called Jeonghu and Seoyoung on the radio as he looked around.

If you went up toward the Emart side, there were also underground clothing stores, but now they’d all been cleared out, and people were gathered in the open space.

Thinking they might be enemies, Yohan instinctively readied Asura Blood God Palm, but paused when he saw their condition.

People with their hands tied, sprawled on the ground or sitting limply, faces devoid of hope or dreams.

“Dad, who are these people?”

Jeonghu, arriving late, asked.

“I’m not sure… But they definitely look like captives.”

“Maybe the people in charge of watching them went out to search, so they tied these up to keep them from escaping?”

“I think Seoyoung is right.”

“Should we untie them?”

“We don’t have time. We have to go up and deal with the Bucheon Brothers Clan first. I bet they already radioed in.”

He felt sorry for these people, but the Bucheon Brothers Clan came first.

Yohan quickly started running upstairs.

“What the…?”

“Enemy! Radio it in!”

“Yes, boss!”

Just as they were heading for the escalator connected to Emart, three Bucheon Brothers Clan members, having heard the explosion, rushed down and hurriedly drew their weapons when they spotted Yohan’s family.

Who knew what kind of games they’d played, but all they used were basic skills with cliché items.

Clatter.

Seeing this, Jeonghu swiftly pulled three chains from the Chainmail of Annihilation and shot them at the enemies.

“Ugh!”

“Gah!”

Two of the thugs, unable to block the chains in time, grabbed their wounds and collapsed, while the one in front—whether by luck or skill—managed to knock aside the chain and staggered back, ready to flee.

Not missing the moment, Yohan hurled the Heavenly Demon Spear.

Swoosh! Thud!

Imbued with energy, the Heavenly Demon Spear pierced straight through the back of the fleeing enemy, killing him instantly.

“We’re going up!”

They started up the escalator.

“Enemy!”

“Attack!”

“Yes, boss!”

As soon as they entered the first floor, enemies rushing down the escalator spotted Yohan’s family and attacked again.

Without slowing down, Yohan charged forward using Projection Step (Stone).

Boom!

Like a sonic boom, an explosive sound rang out as Yohan barreled straight onto the escalator going to the second floor.

The force was so overwhelming that the approaching enemies couldn’t block him and were instantly blown aside.

While Jeonghu finished off the enemies rolling on the floor with his chains, Yohan was already heading up the escalator to the third floor.

The third floor housed Emart’s food section as well as the ground entrance to Bucheon Station.

“Hm…”

The third floor, once filled with fresh vegetables and seafood on display, was now almost empty, half the shelves and refrigerators cleared out, leaving an open space.

There, the Bucheon Brothers Clan members were gathered.

“Who are you?”

One man in the middle looked at Yohan and asked.

“…Would you recognize me if I said I’m the one you were looking for?”

Yohan said, eyeing the man.

Unlike the obvious thugs, there was one person whose looks and demeanor made him seem completely out of place among them.

Yohan didn’t believe in reading faces, but everything about this guy screamed, ‘I’m just a scholar.’

“Are you Jeong Cheolwoo?”

“…..”

The man didn’t answer Yohan’s question.

“No answer, so I guess you are.”

Yohan cracked his neck and loosened up, gripping the Heavenly Demon Spear tightly.

Just then, a few thugs rushed into Emart in a panic.

“So the ones left at the station are pretty much all here, huh?”

“…What are you doing? Get him!”

Instead of answering, Jeong Cheolwoo ordered an attack on Yohan.

“Yes, boss!”

The thugs shouted in unison and charged at Yohan.

“Dad, duck!”

At that instant, a voice rang out from behind. Yohan ducked just in time as a wave of heat swept over his head.

Boom!

With a rush of hot air and a loud bang, Yohan looked up slightly to see the thugs ahead collapsing from an explosion.

As the leading thug fell, those following behind froze, thrown into confusion. Yohan didn’t miss the opening and charged at the enemies.

His hands, glowing red, unleashed Asura Blood God Palm in all directions, while Jeonghu, joining the fray, attacked the enemies with Black Dragon Talisman and his chains.

Behind them, Seoyoung, without her staff, blocked enemy attacks with quick Fireballs, and Yohan’s family unleashed an invincible display.

Meanwhile, Jeong Cheolwoo, watching from behind, began to assess the enemies with his ability.

‘The youngest looking one, maybe twenty at most? No, the girl who looks like a high school mage…’

“3,500.”

Only a middling B-rank.

Next, the young man in unique armor wielding an axe.

“6,300.”

A-rank, but barely.

Still, with a good combination of items and athleticism, he was holding his own even against stronger foes.

‘The real problem is that middle-aged man.’

He didn’t know the exact age, but that didn’t matter.

This man radiated overwhelming power.

Just the fact that he’d killed an A-rank subordinate in a single blow said it all.

Jeong Cheolwoo gulped nervously and checked his stats.

“…My god.”

The moment he saw Yohan’s stats, Jeong Cheolwoo’s eyes bulged. His hands trembled as he stumbled backward.

Meanwhile, Yohan’s family had already subdued all the Bucheon Brothers Clan thugs.

Thud!

As if to signal the end, Yohan slammed the Heavenly Demon Spear into the ground, then leapt, landing in front of Jeong Cheolwoo in an instant.

“You… You said you can’t fight, right?”

Startled, Jeong Cheolwoo took a step back, hurriedly adjusting his glasses with shaking hands as he stammered.

“I-I’m not a thug!”

“Sure, you’re not a thug, but you’re number two in the Bucheon Brothers Clan. Nam Taegu’s right hand.”

Yohan aimed the Heavenly Demon Spear at Jeong Cheolwoo.

“P-Please spare me…!”

Sweating coldly, Jeong Cheolwoo pleaded, and Yohan asked with a cold face,

“Why?”

“I-I’m the one who built up the Bucheon Brothers Clan like this! I’m a useful person… ugh!”

At that moment, Yohan’s Heavenly Demon Spear pierced Jeong Cheolwoo’s throat.

“No matter how smart you are, I don’t associate with people whose hearts are filthy.”

With that, Yohan turned away.

Clutching his throat, Jeong Cheolwoo collapsed, staring at Yohan’s back.

Why did he help Nam Taegu grow the Bucheon Brothers Clan?

Because he’d never seen anyone as strong as Nam Taegu in Bucheon.

‘But… that man… that man’s stats…’

“S… S-rank, ab… ove…!”

Jeong Cheolwoo could say no more as he slipped to the floor.

It was a pitiful end for someone who had aspired to be the Zhang Zifang of a great power.