Chapter 38: Mr. Lee

Jin's father stood up the moment the knocking echoed again, sharper this time. His sharp instincts kicked in as he glanced at the front door. Without a word, he walked over to Jin's mother and gently placed a hand on her shoulder, motioning for her to follow him toward the hallway.

"Stay in the bedroom." he whispered, his voice calm but firm.

She hesitated, her hands gripping the edges of her book tightly. "You should come too." she said, her worry evident. "Let's both hide until we know it's safe."

He shook his head, leaning down to place a soft kiss on her forehead. "I'm the man of this house." he said quietly. "It's my job to provide and protect. Trust me."

Her lips parted as though to argue, but the resolve in his eyes silenced her. Reluctantly, she retreated down the hallway, her footsteps soft as she disappeared behind the bedroom door.

Satisfied that she was safe, Mr. Lee straightened and walked toward the front door, his movements steady and deliberate. As he approached, he began rolling up his sleeves, revealing his forearms, thick with muscle, their definition a reminder of years of hard work and discipline.

He stopped just short of the door, standing still with his hands by his sides. The tension in the air grew thick as he waited, listening to the muffled sounds of breathing on the other side.

The next moment, the door exploded inward with a thunderous crash. The wooden frame splintered as the door swung violently, the force of the kick sending it flying open.

Three men walked in, their faces twisted with cruel grins. They were young, their cocky demeanor evident in their confident strides. Each one held a weapon, one with a crowbar, another with brass knuckles, and the third wielding a chain that he twirled lazily.

Mr. Lee remained unfazed. He rolled his shoulders and folded his glasses, setting them carefully on the nearby table. Cracking his neck, he looked at the trio with a faint smirk.

"These days." he said, his voice carrying a calm authority, "kids really don't respect their elders anymore."

The man with the brass knuckles scowled, stepping forward aggressively. "Shut your mouth, old man." he spat. "Your son should never have been born! We're here to fix that mistake."

The thug lunged forward, swinging a punch aimed straight for Mr. Lee's face. But Mr. Lee moved faster than the younger man could anticipate, catching the punch effortlessly. His grip tightened around the thug's fist, the bones creaking audibly as the man's face contorted in pain.

Without a word, Mr. Lee jerked him forward and drove his forehead into the thug's face. The brutal headbutt sent the man stumbling backward, clutching his nose as blood poured from it.

"I used to enjoy a good fight when I was younger." Mr. Lee said, shaking out his hand as though testing it. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

The other two men exchanged uncertain glances before rushing forward together, their confidence seemingly bolstered by numbers.

The one with the crowbar swung it in a wide arc, aiming for Mr. Lee's side. With a fluid motion, Mr. Lee stepped into the swing, closing the distance before the crowbar could reach full momentum. He grabbed the thug's wrist and twisted, forcing the weapon from his grip. With his free hand, he drove a punch into the man's gut, doubling him over.

The thug with the chain came next, swinging it in a wild frenzy. Mr. Lee ducked under the first swing and stepped back to avoid the second. He waited for the thug to overcommit, then closed the gap, delivering a powerful uppercut that sent the man sprawling onto the living room floor.

The first thug, still holding his bleeding nose, tried to charge again, but Mr. Lee sidestepped and swept the man's legs out from under him. The thug hit the ground hard, groaning as he tried to crawl away.

"You boys don't learn, do you?" Mr. Lee muttered, his voice carrying a hint of amusement.

The remaining two thugs struggled to get back up, but Mr. Lee gave them no time. He advanced on the one with the crowbar, grabbing him by the collar and lifting him off his feet before slamming him into the wall. The impact left a dent in the drywall, and the thug slumped to the ground, unconscious.

The chain-wielding thug, now panicked, tried to make a run for it, but Mr. Lee intercepted him with a sharp kick to the back of the knee. The thug collapsed, and before he could react, Mr. Lee grabbed the chain and yanked it free from his grasp.

The thug looked up, fear etched across his face as Mr. Lee stood over him, holding the chain in one hand.

"Now.." Mr. Lee said, his calm demeanor finally breaking into a sharp edge, "I think it's time we had a little chat."

Mr. Lee's hand moved to grab the thug on the ground, but a sudden movement caught his attention. He instinctively swung the chain toward the front door, where a powerful kick was aimed at him. The chain intercepted the incoming attack mid-air with a sharp crack, forcing the attacker to leap back to avoid being entangled.

Standing in the doorway was a tall, lean teenager with an unnervingly casual expression. His messy hair fell across his eyes, and a slight smirk played on his lips.

"Who are you supposed to be?" Mr. Lee asked, his grip on the chain tightening.

The boy tilted his head slightly, licking at an imaginary ice cream cone as if mocking the tension. "Oh Hyo-seop." he said, his voice light but carrying a dangerous undertone. "You probably don't know me, but me and my brothers… let's just say we got out of that place thanks to your son's mess."

He chuckled, the sound low and unsettling. "So, as a thank you, I figured I'd pay you and your wife a visit." His smirk widened into a grin, his tone turning venomous. "I'll break you both."

The thug on the floor tried to crawl away, but Mr. Lee ignored him, his eyes fixed on Hyo-seop. He raised the chain slightly, letting it glint in the dim light of the room. "So you're one of those kids." he muttered. "Let me make one thing clear."

Hyo-seop's grin faltered slightly as Mr. Lee's chain shot forward, snapping through the air with a sharp *whoosh.* The steel links stopped just shy of his neck, the cold metal brushing against his Adam's apple. He froze, his eyes widening as he instinctively retreated a step, his playful demeanor vanishing in an instant.

Mr. Lee stretched the chain between his hands, his movements slow and deliberate, the tension in the room rising with each passing second. His voice was low, laced with quiet fury. "The moment you said you'd lay a hand on my wife… you signed your own demise."

He wrapped the chain around his fists, pulling it taut. His gaze bore into Hyo-seop, unflinching and deadly. "And today." he continued, his tone unshaken, "I'm going to beat up a minor."

Hyo-seop's face twisted into a sneer as he clenched his fists, his body tensing. "You talk big for an old man." he spat, his earlier confidence creeping back into his voice.

But Mr. Lee didn't answer. He took a step forward, the chain gleaming in his grip, ready to teach the younger brother of the Mad Brothers a lesson he wouldn't forget.

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1261 words.

Damn, who knew Mr. Lee was an aura farmer? I'm surprised as yall are 😳.

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