Chapter 108: Kidnapped

"What the hell happened here?" YuWon mumbled, dropping the beast he was carrying. Anna and Gina rushed behind him.

The ground was stained red with blood. Countless people lay injured with Yeji healing them, but a dozen of them were already gone, never to return. Yeji was kneeling beside a wounded soldier, trying to close the person's wounds.

There wasn't a single soul that didn't have some injury. People were on the ground groaning in pain, but a hint of relief crossed their faces when they saw YuWon.

Without wasting a second, YuWon rushed over to Yuna. She was leaning against a tree, clutching her shoulder. She winced in pain, clutching her blood-soaked shirt. Hojin was by her side, cleaning her wound.

"What the hell happened here?" YuWon asked, looking around. "And where's Lysandra?"

"They took her..." Hojin whispered.

"Who!?" YuWon yelled, grabbing Hojin by his shoulder.

"Ogres."

"Ogres?" YuWon raised his eyebrow. "How can they cause so much chaos?"

YuWon had thought just like the goblins, the ogres were a thing of the past. Only now did he realize how wrong he was.

From what Yuna and the others told him, they weren't ordinary ogres. They had horns and appeared more human-like. The ogres deceived Lysandra's vines and by the time they noticed them; they had been surrounded.

Those who could, fought back. But it wasn't enough. Thankfully, Lysandra was quick to retaliate, and it seemed the ogres would retreat.

"But then..." Hojin nervously looked at Yuna.

"But then what!?" YuWon yelled again.

"They got your mother," Yuna mumbled as Yeji came to heal her, not even glancing in YuWon's direction. "Earlier, Lysandra didn't care who they held hostage and kept attacking. But she stopped when they got Min-Ji ajumma."

YuWon clenched his fists and took deep breaths, trying to calm himself. Unfortunately, he couldn't. The anger surged through him like wildfire.

His word felt like a knife stabbing her heart. But even then, Min-Ji knew it was the truth. She had caused this. Seok had killed her husband because of her.

Seok even wanted to kill YuWon and ruined his life... all because of her. And now, because of her, Lysandra was gone too.

She wanted to beg for forgiveness, to tell her son how sorry she was, but nothing she said could change what had happened.

Smack!

"That's enough!" Yeji yelled at YuWon, slapping him.

It was the first time she had hit him. But this time, it didn't sting much. Maybe because YuWon had gotten stronger or his mind was numb. The pain didn't register, but the look in her eyes did.

Tears streamed down Yeji's face and as quickly pulled him in a hug. Yeji's arms tightened around YuWon as if she were holding him together. At that moment, everyone realized why Yeji had slapped him.

She didn't do it for Min-Ji's sake, but his. Yeji stepped in to stop him from doing something even more regrettable. YuWon was angry, but no son would want his mother's blood on his hands.

If Yeji hadn't stopped him, then the guilt Min-Ji felt after hearing YuWon's words might have driven her to end her own life.

Yeji knew it because she had just lost her father and even though she didn't want him back, there was a certain pain she felt as his daughter. And she didn't want YuWon to feel the same.

"You need to find Lysandra, YuWon," she whispered. "Her safety comes before anything else."

YuWon's breathing slowed as he heard her words. He looked down at Yeji and nodded. Only then did she let go of him. Neither Min-Ji nor YuWon looked at each other as he rushed to the north.

Gina wanted to follow him as well. But before she could take a step, Yeji grabbed her arm, stopping her.

"He can handle himself," she said. "But we have uninvited guests to deal with."

"What—?" Gina asked, but stopped when she heard a low growl.

As she turned, the pack of wolves they had fought earlier emerged. Their leader was the first to step out of the dark, bearing the scar given to him by YuWon.