The night was quiet, but not in a way that brought peace. It was the kind of silence that felt unnatural, like something lurking just beneath the surface, waiting.
The Han family home rested under that stillness, unaware of the danger that had already arrived. A faint breeze drifted across the rooftops before fading into nothingness, and then, without warning, shadows descended.
Four figures landed on the roof with precise control, their movements so light they barely made a sound. Their forms blended into the darkness, masked and unidentifiable, carrying no trace of who they were or where they came from. They did not speak, did not hesitate, and did not waste time. They were here for one purpose.
Inside the house, everything remained still. Min-Jun slept carelessly, Seo-Yeon rested peacefully, and even Han Dae-Sung remained unaware. Only one person noticed.
Jin Tae-Hyuk's eyes opened.
The moment those presences entered his range, he understood. They were not ordinary intruders. Their breathing, their positioning, even without seeing them, he could already tell they were trained. His body remained still as he listened, mapping their movements in his mind. Four above him… and one further back.
He didn't move immediately.
Then the attack came.
A blade cut through the darkness without warning, aimed directly for his throat. It was fast, clean, and precise. But Tae-Hyuk had already moved. His hand rose just enough, his fingers catching the blade mid-swing with a sharp metallic sound. The weapon trembled violently from the force, but it stopped completely, unable to advance any further.
For a split second, the assassin froze.
Tae-Hyuk looked at him, his expression calm and unreadable. "You picked the wrong place."
The room exploded into motion.
Another attacker surged forward, his palm already carrying weight behind it. The air compressed as the strike descended, and when it landed, the impact tore through the wall behind Tae-Hyuk, wood splintering outward as dust filled the air. But Tae-Hyuk was already gone. His body shifted at the last possible moment, slipping past the attack with minimal movement, as though the strike had never been aimed at him in the first place.
The attackers didn't stop. They adjusted instantly.
Two blades came from opposite directions, one low, one high, designed to trap him in place and end it in a single exchange. Tae-Hyuk stepped forward instead of retreating. The flow of Qi around him shifted, bending under his control, and for the briefest moment, their coordination faltered. It was small, almost insignificant—but enough.
His palm struck.
The impact was compact, controlled, and devastating. The assassin was lifted off his feet and thrown backward into a cabinet, the wood shattering on impact. Before the sound could settle, another attacker stepped in with a staff, the weapon spinning rapidly as it built momentum. The air itself seemed to vibrate under the pressure of the technique, each rotation flowing seamlessly into the next.
Tae-Hyuk reached out and caught it.
The staff stopped instantly, the rhythm collapsing the moment its movement was interrupted. His grip tightened, and the weapon snapped cleanly in two. The follow-up came immediately, a single kick that sent the attacker crashing through the doorway, the wood breaking apart around him.
Upstairs, the noise finally broke through.
Min-Jun shot up from his bed. "What the fuck was that!?"
Seo-Yeon followed, her heart racing as the sounds of destruction echoed from below. But before either of them could react further, the fight had already shifted.
Back in the main room, the remaining attackers regrouped. Their formation tightened, their movements more cautious now. They had realized it.
This wasn't a target.
This was a threat.
Tae-Hyuk watched them, his gaze sharpening. Their coordination, their techniques… these weren't independent killers. They were trained, likely from the same source. Before he could analyze further, the remaining assassins reacted instantly. Retreat.
They broke formation without hesitation, leaping through the shattered window and disappearing into the night.
Tae-Hyuk moved after them.
The wind rushed past as he stepped onto the rooftops, the city stretching endlessly beneath him. The assassins moved quickly, their formation tight even in retreat, but the distance between them closed in an instant. Tae-Hyuk appeared directly in their path, cutting them off completely.
They stopped.
And then—
Another presence descended.
He landed between them with calm precision, a staff resting lightly in his hand. His posture was relaxed, but the pressure he carried was undeniable. The air itself seemed heavier around him.
"You must be Jin Tae-Hyuk." he said
Tae-Hyuk didn't answer. He was already observing. The man's Qi was unlike the others—stronger, more refined.
The staff moved.
The strike came down with overwhelming force, shattering the rooftop beneath them as Tae-Hyuk met it head-on. The collision sent a shockwave outward, the structure cracking under the pressure of their exchange. The man didn't stop. His attacks flowed into one another seamlessly, each strike carrying weight and precision, building into a continuous barrage meant to overwhelm.
Tae-Hyuk responded with equal control. His movements were efficient, each motion serving a purpose, each strike meeting its counterpart without wasted energy. Their clash intensified, the rooftop beneath them collapsing entirely as debris scattered into the air.
The man's Qi flared.
His attacks multiplied, overlapping into a storm that pressed down from all directions. Tae-Hyuk stepped forward instead of retreating, his own Qi rising to meet it. The space around them distorted slightly as his control deepened, each incoming strike meeting a precise counter.
Then, in a single motion, Tae-Hyuk closed the distance.
His hand shot forward.
The mask tore away.
Time slowed for just a moment.
A shaved head. Prayer Beads.
A monk.
"…A monk." The realization settled instantly. "…Since when did monks become assassins?"
There was no answer.
But the silence was enough.
Sirens cut through the night, lights flooding the rooftops as shouts rang out. The monk had already vanished, the other assassins gone without a trace. Tae-Hyuk stood alone amidst the shattered tiles and splintered wood, the echoes of the fight still ringing in his ears. Dust swirled around him, and he could feel the residue of the monk's Qi lingering—with only one thought in mind."When did monks become assassins?"
The officers arrived in force, weapons raised. "GET ON THE GROUND!" Their voices were sharp, commanding, and filled the empty space between the buildings. Tae-Hyuk's gaze swept over them calmly. There was no need to resist, he lowered his hands.
His feet touched the broken rooftop with quiet finality. The fight had ended, but the tension remained. Tae-Hyuk's mind was already analyzing the next move. This was only the beginning.