Chapter 22

Chapter 22: "When the Guard Dogs Bow and the Nice Guy Might Be a Murder Machine"

(From the Highly Conflicted Mind of Song Jae Gu)

"Welcome and thank you for coming," Shi Woon said, standing in front of the apartment gate like the polite host of a tea party instead of a teenage martial artist surrounded by secrets and attack dogs.

I liked the guy already.

He had that aura—polite, humble, but with that spark in his eyes that said, I've seen things. I've done things. I probably have a secret dojo hidden behind the laundry room.

I shook his hand, which was warm and strong, and he suddenly hugged me. No warning. Just full-on bro hug.

"Uh… thanks," I muttered.

"I just want to make friends," I added as I awkwardly patted his back like he was either going to cry or break my ribs. "This helps us both, right?"

"Right. Let's go. I hope you don't mind if some friends are already there," he said, motioning toward the apartment. His voice was casual, but the way his eyes flicked toward the shadows told me his instincts were on high alert. Ninja alert, you might say.

I gave him a reassuring nod.

And then came the dogs.

They were massive. Not your average house pets—more like the kind of dogs that wrestled bears for fun and ate raw meat with a side of justice. The moment they saw me, they stood up... and sat down politely.

They didn't bark. Not even a whimper. Just respectful silence.

Which was super flattering. And also extremely suspicious.

"I was going to apologize for the dogs," Shi Woon said with a nervous chuckle. "But I guess they like you."

He was smiling on the outside, but his mind? Oh yeah, I could tell it was going DEFCON 1 inside that polite little brain of his.

Shi Woon wasn't just another high school kid. He had a sharp eye—one honed by pain, discipline, and probably being trained by some cryptic old master with a mysterious scar and at least one missing finger. The dogs not barking? That wasn't a win. That was a warning.

'He knows,' I thought. 'Or at least suspects.'

Can't blame him. If you knew how much killer intent I'd accidentally let out lately, you'd suspect I was a demon overlord too.

"Animals have good instincts," I said, cool as an ice bath. "They already accepted me as their superior."

Shi Woon blinked. "What?"

I shrugged. "I've fought wild animals before. My stance shows them that if they try anything, it won't end well."

Shi Woon stared. "Do you… hate animals?"

"What? No! I like animals."

"…This is such an unusual conversation."

Tell me about it. Welcome to my life.

We walked into the apartment, which was clean and cozy. There was a girl sitting inside—calm, alert, observant. Her name was Sae Hee, and Shi Woon introduced her as his closest friend and training partner.

Training partner. That made my internal ninja radar ping again.

"You're training for fights?" I asked, glancing at Shi Woon's recovering injuries. "Are you being bullied? I can handle it. Quietly. Efficiently."

He shook his head quickly. "No, no. The bullies are done. These"—he gestured to his bruises—"are war trophies. We're gaining experience. No more injustice in our area. If I have power, I have to use it for good."

I paused.

Whoa.

Those words hit different. They weren't just noble. They were me. That kind of courage, of wanting to make a difference instead of just surviving? That was Naruto-level stuff. That was my kind of person.

"I get it," I said softly. "And I'll help you."

He looked surprised, maybe touched. But I wasn't done.

"Just remember," I added with a smirk, "you'll never be able to beat me in a fight. So this might feel like a one-sided beating. Try not to get too discouraged."

Shi Woon didn't even flinch.

"We aren't weak-minded people," he said. "Fight without concern."

"Good." I grinned. "Then don't blame me when you're eating floorboards."

 ---------------

Turns out, sparring in the apartment gym wasn't just a bad idea—it was also extremely educational.

For them, at least.

After stretching, I changed into a simple set of clothes and stepped onto the mat with the grace of someone who knew exactly how much damage he could do and had politely decided not to. I went easy. Like, training-wheels easy. Still, the results?

One-sided massacre.

I mean… wow.

Shi Woon had heart, I'll give him that. And stamina. Kid could take a hit like a punching bag and still come back smiling. But his techniques? Let's just say I've seen more refined forms in toddlers pretending to be Power Rangers. The guy flailed with energy and good intentions, but his martial arts skill? Somewhere between "YouTube street fight" and "random elbow accident."

Still, that Ki reservoir. That was special.

The boy's body had already started to build up energy unconsciously—without direction or training. That wasn't normal. That was Murim-tier destiny vibes.

If someone actually trained this kid, guided him properly… he could be terrifying.

But right now? I was mostly just dodging wild swings, making mental notes, and occasionally tapping someone's shoulder with enough force to send them flying onto the mats.

Even Sae Hee joined in for one round, despite clearly being the non-combat type.

She raised her fists nervously, standing across from me.

"I just want to learn enough to protect myself," she said quietly, her voice calm like the hush before sunrise. "I want to be a doctor. Fighting is… it's not my goal. But I won't run away from it, either."

I blinked. That was probably the most doctor-y thing I'd ever heard in a gym.

"You sure?" I asked. "I won't hit hard, but this isn't exactly med school prep."

She smiled softly and nodded. "Life doesn't always wait for qualifications. If I'm ever in a situation where I have to help someone, I want to be ready."

Respect. Immense respect.

She lasted longer than I expected, mostly because she kept her distance and used her brain, not brawn. When she finally tapped out, she sat on the bench, breathing a little heavily but eyes steady.

"You're really strong, Jae Gu," she said, watching me as Shi Woon clutched his ribs in the corner. "But you don't enjoy it, do you?"

The question surprised me. I turned toward her, eyebrows raised.

"I mean," she clarified, "you're not smiling when you win. And you never gloat."

"…Fighting is survival," I said after a pause. "Not entertainment. Not for me."

She nodded slowly. "I think we're similar in that way. We don't want to hurt people—but we'll do what we must if it means helping others."

Wow. For a girl training in a dusty apartment gym next to a punching bag made of duct tape, she had the heart of a saint and the mind of a tactician.

Shi Woon, meanwhile, had collapsed dramatically onto the floor, muttering something about seeing three of me.

"You okay?" I asked.

"I'm fine," he wheezed. "Just… adjusting my worldview. Give me a second."

By 10:30 P.M., I decided it was time to go. My hoodie was zipped, bag slung over one shoulder, and I was halfway out the door when I felt a sudden change in the atmosphere.

The elevator dinged.

The door slid open, and out stepped a woman—elegant, confident, and giving off serious "I-run-this-house" energy. Her heels clicked softly against the polished floor as she walked in, black handbag in hand, her hair tied neatly back.

Shi Woon's mother.

She paused when she saw me, her gaze assessing in the way only mothers or trained assassins could pull off.

"Oh, you must be the guest," she said with a faint smile. "Leaving so soon?"

"Yes, ma'am," I replied politely. "Thank you for letting me stay this long."

"You're welcome here anytime," she said. "But if you break anything in my home, I will know."

Her voice was velvet. Velvet covering a steel blade.

I nodded like a good boy.

As the door closed behind me, I couldn't help but smile.

This wasn't just a random meeting anymore.

This was the start of something real.

Friendship, maybe. Purpose, definitely.

And judging by the weird mix of power, pain, and unspoken memories hiding in Shi Woon's eyes?

I had a feeling I'd be seeing a lot more of these people.