As the masked martial artists crept forward through the night, the air shifted their presence felt by the old couple in the manor. Inside that quiet manor, the old man's eyes snapped open.
"…Did you hear that?" he muttered to his wife silently.
Sudden a faint rustle arise. The movement in the trees seems quite errier.
"It's time" , With that saying his swiftness of a retired warrior awakened, he rose from his bed, his posture no longer frail—his back straightened, his gaze sharpened."Go," he said to his wife without hesitation. "Take the boy and Yuna. I'll hold them off like before."
The old lady didn't say a word. She moved like a shadow in the night. First, she picked up Yuna who still sleeping soundly and then she carefully lifted Ji-Hoon. Her movements were so fluid, so precise, that neither child stirred.
Through the backdoor, she vanished into the forest. But the cold wind brushing against Ji-Hoon's cheek stirred him awake.
He frowned as the air he sensed, it smelled of blood and a heavy, metallic scent he knew too well.
"Something's wrong", He reached out a hand toward Granny to let her know he was awake, but she didn't respond. Her silence told him everything. She is focused… and afraid at the same time. Ji-Hoon felt her heartbeat something different than normal person.
Meanwhile, back at the manor all the martial artist had already captured the old man. The old man, now bloodied and wounded, stood firm even as masked blades surrounded him.
"Old Man Jiang," their young master came from the behind and put his blade on his neck. "This is your last chance. Hand over the daughter of the Blood Demon and join us. If you did then, The Sect Master might spare you."
The old man spat blood and chuckled bitterly."Huff… Huff… You think I don't know what you'd do to her?"
The young man's smile vanished, replaced with cold intent."Refuse all you like. We'll find her. And the manual."
With a single motion, he slit the old man's throat. Blood splattered across the ground as the old warrior collapsed.
"Find the woman and the children," the man ordered. "Bring them to me—alive or dead."
Far away, hidden beneath thick bushes, the old lady knelt, panting. Her age was finally catching up with her. She laid Yuna down gently and shook her shoulder.
"Yuna, wake up… wake up, child."
The little girl groaned, rubbing her eyes."Granny? C'mon… just a little more sleep..."
Before she could finish, Granny clamped her hand over Yuna's mouth.
"Shhh. Enemies are here. Listen to me - stay hidden. Don't move until I return."
She gave Ji-Hoon a series of quick signs. He understood them instantly: "Hide. Stay quiet. Wait for me."
Ji-Hoon's senses sharpened. Everything clicked together - their quiet life, the remote seclusion, the repeated drills. This wasn't the first time. They had been running. Hiding. Not just from danger - but from someone. And now… it might had caught up to them.
Yuna, strangely calm, nodded. "You can go. I'll take care of him," she said quietly. Her voice didn't belong to a child - it was mature, resolute.
The old woman gave one last look at the children before darting in the opposite direction. But her steps were slower now.
As time passes she distracted them to the far as she could. Thinking she had distracted then but It doesn't goes as her thinking because their number this time is far greater than before. All the night they search for them but still couldn't find them
Now the sun peeked just slightly over the horizon - And Yuna sat beside Ji-Hoon, gripping his hand, eyes wide with fear but mouth silent.
But fate wasn't done. A martial artist, scanning the forest, spotted them. "There! She's here!"
Yuna didn't hesitate. She grabbed Ji-Hoon's arm and tapped his shoulder furiously—Run!
Ji-Hoon's thoughts raced. "Did they find us? Are we caught?"
He tried to move, but his leg suddenly twisted awkwardly.He fell. His heart pounded in his chest, but his thoughts remained clear. "If I stay, I'll slow her down. I can't let her get caught because of me."
He quickly scribbled on the dirt beside him with trembling fingers - Run without me.
"No!" Yuna screamed but slowly , pulling his arm. "If you die, who will I play with?! Who'll cook dinner?! You're my brother!"
Her eyes brimmed with tears. Both grandparents… gone.She knew this. But she wouldn't want to leave him behind too.
Ji-Hoon's heart ached, but he insisted, gently loosening her grip. He wrote one last thing on the ground. She sniffled, then nodded."…Promise me."
He lifted his pinky and linked hers with his. Their way of sealing promises.
He smiled and waved his hand.
Yuna took one step back -Then turned and ran saying, "Goodbye, Yuna… live well."
Ji-Hoon stood up slowly. In truth—his leg wasn't tangled. He'd pretended. He made himself the burden so she'd escape. Now, alone, he carefully felt his surroundings.
The air grew sharper. A strong gust hit his face. The ground beneath his next step—gone.
'Cliffside'.
He backed away, moving toward a clearing. But luck had left him.
Then Heavy footsteps rushed toward him. He thinks He'd been spotted. And then, two small hands shoved him from behind.
'What?!'
As he fell, a million thoughts exploded in his mind.'Was that Yuna? Why?! I told her to run!'
Then he felt that he shouldn't have. A warm weight against his chest. A small head pressing against him. Her hair brushing his chin.
His heart stopped.'No…?'
His trembling hand brushed her head. Her face. It was her. The girl who always pranked him. Who always called him "brother." Who refused to let go. Now She had returned.
His body hit the river below - The world turned black. And the last thing he felt… Was the weight of a promise.