Blood On His Hands

The dagger lay at Kaito's feet, its steel glinting under the blood-red morning sun.

The bound man trembled, his breath ragged, his face drenched in sweat.

Kaito could hear the murmurs from the surrounding disciples.

"He'll do it."

"No choice."

"If he hesitates, he's dead."

Wu-Jin watched him with amusement, his arms crossed like a man waiting for his favorite show to start.

And Shen Mu?

That bastard was smirking.

Like he already knew exactly how this would end.

---

A Decision With No Right Answer

Kaito's mind raced.

Think. Think. Think.

The Inner Sect was ruthless. They wouldn't accept someone who couldn't kill.

But they also wouldn't accept someone who killed too easily.

If he hesitated, he'd be seen as weak.

If he did it without blinking, they'd see him as a threat.

And in this place?

Both were a death sentence.

The prisoner let out a strangled sob. "P-please… I don't— I don't want to die."

Kaito ignored him.

His eyes locked onto Wu-Jin's.

The bastard was enjoying this. Testing him.

And Shen Mu? That smirk of his hadn't faded.

He knows, doesn't he?

Shen Mu had figured it out already.

There was no "right" choice here.

Only survival.

Kaito clenched his jaw.

Fine.

He picked up the dagger.

---

Not Mercy. Not Cruelty. Just Control.

The crowd went silent.

Even Wu-Jin's smirk flickered, just for a second.

Kaito exhaled and turned the dagger in his grip.

Then—

He stabbed.

Not the heart.

Not the throat.

The thigh.

The prisoner screamed, his body convulsing as blood gushed from the deep wound.

The other disciples stared.

Wu-Jin's smirk returned, wider than before.

And Shen Mu?

For the first time, his expression changed.

Surprise.

Kaito stepped back, the bloodied dagger still in his grip.

The prisoner wasn't dead.

But he was bleeding out fast.

Dying. Slowly.

Kaito met Wu-Jin's gaze.

"Consider it done," he said, his voice flat.

A pause.

Then—

Laughter.

Wu-Jin's deep chuckle echoed through the courtyard.

"Well, well. You're an interesting one, Jin Tae-Hyun."

Kaito said nothing.

Wu-Jin turned to a nearby disciple. "Clean up the mess."

The bound man was dragged away, still whimpering.

Kaito never looked back.

---

Shen Mu's Warning

The crowd dispersed.

Kaito was walking back to his quarters when he heard footsteps behind him.

Shen Mu.

Kaito didn't stop. "What do you want?"

Shen Mu chuckled. "You didn't kill him."

Kaito glanced at him. "So?"

Shen Mu grinned. "That was either really smart or really stupid."

Kaito sighed. "I'm not playing your games."

Shen Mu shrugged. "You already are."

He stepped closer, voice lowering.

"That stunt you pulled? It got Wu-Jin interested. And that's not a good thing."

Kaito's eyes narrowed. "Why?"

Shen Mu's smirk faded.

"Because he only takes interest in toys he wants to break."

Kaito's fingers twitched.

Shen Mu leaned in. "And trust me, Jin Tae-Hyun… he's very, very good at breaking things."

Kaito exhaled, watching Shen Mu's expression carefully.

He wasn't lying.

But that didn't mean he could trust him either.

Shen Mu grinned again, stepping back.

"Well, you've entertained me enough for today."

He turned to leave—then paused.

"Oh, and one more thing," he added, his voice almost casual.

"You might want to sleep with one eye open tonight."

Then, he walked away.

Leaving Kaito alone with his thoughts.

And the creeping sense of dread.

---

Nightfall. The First Attack.

That night, Kaito didn't sleep.

He sat cross-legged in his quarters, his back against the cold stone wall.

Shen Mu's words echoed in his mind.

"Sleep with one eye open."

Yeah. No shit.

He heard it before he saw it.

A faint rustle. A shadow moving in the dim torchlight.

Then—

A blade flashed toward his throat.

Kaito moved.

Fast.

He twisted, barely dodging as the dagger sliced through the air where his neck had been.

His attacker—a masked disciple.

Kaito didn't hesitate.

He lunged.

A brutal fist to the ribs—crack.

The masked man stumbled.

Kaito grabbed his wrist—twisted.

The dagger fell from his grip.

Kaito caught it mid-air—

And slammed it into the assassin's shoulder.

A muffled scream.

Kaito pinned him against the wall.

"Who sent you?"

No answer.

Kaito twisted the blade. "Who. Sent. You?"

The assassin spat blood.

Then—

A sickening crack.

His own neck snapped before Kaito could react.

His body slumped forward, lifeless.

Kaito let go, watching as the corpse slid to the floor.

Dead. Just like that.

He exhaled, stepping back.

This wasn't a random attack.

It was a message.

From Wu-Jin.

He was being tested again.

And if this was just the beginning?

Then things were about to get much, much worse.