Chapter 274: Revealing (4)

Chapter 274: Revealing (4)

Kang Jin-Ho nodded. “Yes, please go ahead.”

Jo Gyu-Min didn't immediately say anything and just mouthed a fresh cigarette. He didn't bother lighting it up, though, as he stared outside the window at the far-off distance.

Even if he was about to start an epic nagging session, Kang Jin-Ho was still willing to listen. Just like how he would do the same with his family or friends.

Jo Gyu-Min was already a part of a small clique of people Kang Jin-Ho could meet up with without weighing the pros and cons of it. If Kang Jin-Ho were asked to categorize people precious to him, then Jo Gyu-Min would be included in the category similar to 'friend.’ So, Kang Jin-Ho was prepared to listen to as much unpleasant scolding from Jo Gyu-Min.

After all, he knew that all these scoldings came from how much Jo Gyu-Min cared and worried about him.

Jo Gyu-Min finally broke the silence. “I'm not sure how you’ll receive what I'm about to say, but...”

“Yes?”

“Are you having fun, Mister Jin-Ho?”

Kang Jin-Ho's expression stiffened a little at that unexpected question. “Having fun, you say...”

He knew he was supposed to reply with a no. This issue didn't belong in the realm of 'enjoyment' but within the boundary of 'punishing those daring to distort and disturb his life,’ after all. That was what he should be saying, but that reply turned out to be a lot harder to make than what Kang Jin-Ho had bargained for.

'...Does that mean I am having fun?'

The fact that he couldn't outright say, “No, that's not true,” weighed uncomfortably heavy on Kang Jin-Ho's heart.

'Fine, I admit it. I am enjoying this.'

If he was being honest, Kang Jin-Ho did feel liberated while dealing with those martial artists. The liberation one would feel after releasing everything they had been suppressing at once... Having fun would certainly qualify as another way of describing that feeling.

Kang Jin-Ho slowly nodded. “In a way, yes.”

“That's disappointing to hear...” Jo Gyu-Min muttered in a genuinely-disappointed tone, then lit his cigarette.

Kang Jin-Ho couldn't say anything to that. Understandable, since who would readily accept someone telling them that he enjoyed harming and killing other human beings?

This wasn't something Kang Jin-Ho could beautify by saying, “that's how the world of martial artists operates.” When viewed from the outside, Kang Jin-Ho was no different from a psychopathic serial killer who derived pleasure from murdering other people. No, wait. He was different from a psychopath, wasn't he? Unlike those killers who were apparently apathetic, Kang Jin-Ho was literally having fun during the process, wasn't he?

A pleasure-seeking murderer...

That would be another name the modern era could give to Kang Jin-Ho.

Of course, Kang Jin-Ho had no thoughts of making excuses about how he couldn't help it and that he was forced into this position. And he certainly didn't have any plans of stopping despite knowing he was in the wrong.

'I don't have any room to make excuses here, do I?'

A person who knew they were wrong but was unable to stop themselves... They could be labeled as a victim. However, someone who knew they were in the wrong but didn't want to stop? They were simply villains.

In that sense, Kang Jin-Ho was another villain. Jo Gyu-Min's disappointment dug deep into Kang Jin-Ho's conscience and painfully reminded him of that fact.

While Kang Jin-Ho pondered what to say next, Jo Gyu-Min started talking again. However, what he said was completely out of Kang Jin-Ho's expectations.

“Mister Jin-Ho, how can you be having fun without me?”

“I'm sorry?” Kang Jin-Ho immediately asked back. What on Earth was Jo Gyu-Min even talking about?

"This might be just my opinion, but I have considered myself your partner in crime, Mister Jin-Ho. Not someone who deals with some stuff in your life but someone you can openly discuss and share things, and even ask for advice in personal matters."

“I also see you in that light, Chief Jo.”

"Doesn't seem that way to me, though?" Jo Gyu-Min turned his head and stared straight at Kang Jin-Ho. "Mister Jin-Ho, you ask me for advice or my opinion on only the 'half' of the matters in your life, don't you?"

Kang Jin-Ho couldn't help but nod in agreement at Jo Gyu-Min's piercing, uncluttered eyes.

Jo Gyu-Min continued. “I'm well aware that your 'world' doesn't just consist of the one in the light, Mister Jin-Ho. Besides, I already have half a foot in that world anyway.”

“I'm a Jaegyeong man, Mister Jin-Ho. And the command I received from Jaegyeong was to support and assist you. How many years have I been doing that now? It's no longer about fulfilling that command, but I still commute to Jaegyeong because that's what you wish.”

Kang Jin-Ho contemplatively nodded in silence, so Jo Gyu-Min went for the final strike. “You should take responsibility for transforming a person's life in this manner, Mister Jin-Ho. And please don't tell me to cut my ties with you at this stage and go back to living an ordinary life. I don't think anyone can survive the boredom of that life, you know.”

Jo Gyu-Min chuckled at the end of everything he wanted to say, prompting Kang Jin-Ho to laugh as well. “Mister Gyu-Min, you might regret this later on.”

"I know that, and yet, I still want it, Mister Jin-Ho. And that's what makes me a human."

“That oddly sounds about right...” Kang Jin-Ho muttered before staring deeply at Jo Gyu-Min.

This man might have said many reasons and spoken of his vision for the future, but Kang Jin-Ho didn't need to hear those things. He already knew what Jo Gyu-Min truly wanted to say on this occasion anyway.

Jo Gyu-Min just 'liked' Kang Jin-Ho. He didn't want to part ways, so he wanted to jump onto the other side. The time they had spent together led to the formation of a deep friendship, and it had already grown more than a relationship bound with official business.

Kang Jin-Ho slowly nodded again. “Okay, understood.”

“You promise, Mister Jin-Ho?”

“I just don't need to hide anything from you from now on, yes?”

“Yes, well. For now, that'll do.” Jo Gyu-Min grinned triumphantly and started the car again.

'Am I doing the right thing, though?'

Jo Gyu-Min was fully aware of the risks. Perhaps this conversation could go on to greatly alter his life in the future.

Even at his current trajectory, Jo Gyu-Min was on a path to success in life. Despite his young age, he was already a chief secretary in a major corporation called Jaegyeong. Not only was he earning around three times higher wages than his peers of similar age working for the same company, but his career path was also built on a firm foundation.

It was to the extent that some people even started gossiping that Hwang Jeong-Hu had earmarked Jo Gyu-Min as his possible successor! Of course, Jo Gyu-Min rolled on the floor laughing his butt off after hearing that rumor. However, to outsiders with no insider knowledge of what had been going on, that was how shockingly impressive Jo Gyu-Min's career looked.

To put it simply, his life, his success, was already guaranteed even if he stayed on the course. But...

'But, so what?'

What was so amazing about being successful in life? Turning a blind eye to the truth and chasing only after success wasn't Jo Gyu-Min's style. Even if a knife were thrust into his throat tomorrow, he wanted to live a full, exciting life.

To Jo Gyu-Min, Kang Jin-Ho was vitality itself. This young man had injected vivid colors into Jo Gyu-Min's monochrome. As long as he could stick to Kang Jin-Ho, at the very least, he might get to live a life a hundred times more exciting than if he had turned a blind eye.

And that alone... was enough. What more could Jo Gyu-Min want when he could live an exciting life with the person he wanted to be with? Without being conscious of it, Jo Gyu-Min started humming while depressing the accelerator.

“Oh, by the way, Mister Jin-Ho? If I get fired by Jaegyeong later, you better hire me.”

Kang Jin-Ho cocked an eyebrow. “But I have no need for a secretary.”

“Then, at least hire me to sweep the front of your father's cafe or something.”

“Mm.?I'll think about that.” Kang Jin-Ho chuckled, then turned his gaze away from Jo Gyu-Min busy making silly jokes to stare at the stretching neon lights outside the car's window.

'What a strange feeling...'

Lately, Kang Jin-Ho had been getting a feeling that some things were not going according to plan. His urges were progressively getting more out of control, while doubts about holding himself back too much or not seeing the point of living a life this way continued to plague him.

But at this moment, at least, those doubts had vanished from his mind.

'Right, I wasn't wrong about them.'

Kang Jin-Ho had acquired people who liked him and would gladly walk the bumpy roads with him. So, compared to his life back in Zhongyuan when everyone had turned their backs on him during his final moments?

'Even if I die tomorrow, this life is undoubtedly a far more successful one.'

Kang Jin-Ho couldn't stop the corners of his lips from curling up. Just how long had it been? When was the last time a genuine smile from deep down his heart appeared on his face instead of a sneer or mocking smirk?

Kang Jin-Ho glanced at Jo Gyu-Min. “Well, do look after me well, Mister Gyu-Min.”

“No need to even ask.” Jo Gyu-Min grinned back.

Kang Jin-Ho leaned against his seat and closed his eyes. Even then, the corners of his lips were still curled up despite his best efforts to suppress them.