Blood Demon of the Past Life – Chapter 181

Chapter 181: The Secret of the Past Life Revealed （4）

Several years ago.

Lee Han-seong met Kim Mu-hyeok.

As Lee Han-seong rose from his seat after rejecting the offer to join the Guardians, Kim Mu-hyeok set down his teacup with a cold expression.

Thud.

“It seems you’ve greatly misunderstood. This wasn’t a proposal. Even if it was presented as one for the sake of a mutually beneficial relationship, you mustn’t forget that this is an order from the Presidential Office. If you refuse and leave like this, there will inevitably be unpleasant consequences. Are you truly alright with that?”

“I’m Lee Han-seong. What will change even if you force me?”

Without hesitation, he turned and walked away.

He believed in himself.

White Knight Lee Han-seong.

At least within this Republic of Korea, he believed that no one could coerce him, even if it was the Korean government.

It was the same case as Kang San.

The process of meeting Kim Mu-hyeok, the threats made to Lee Han-seong, and the consequences of his refusal.

In a situation following the same pattern, Lee Han-seong faced an unexpected situation a few days later.

“Long time no see.”

A dark alley.

Someone blocked his path.

It was Kim Mu-hyeok.

He, who usually wore a neat suit, now carried a massive sword on his back, incongruous with his attire. Behind him were hooded figures. He couldn’t see their faces clearly, but he sensed an ominous aura emanating from them.

Lee Han-seong drew his sword.

He knew instinctively.

That they intended to harm him.

A battle ensued.

Back then, Lee Han-seong believed he was the best, and even though he may not have been as mature as he is now, he displayed a prowess befitting his reputation as the White Knight. He pushed Kim Mu-hyeok back. He was surprised by Kim Mu-hyeok’s unexpected strength, but he judged that it wasn’t enough to defeat him. The problem was the hooded figures. From the moment they intervened, Lee Han-seong was forced to his knees after a fierce battle.

Later.

Those who knew the truth said:

The reason Lee Han-seong yielded was due to the fierce public criticism he faced.

The real truth was different.

That day.

Swish.

Kim Mu-hyeok held a sword to his neck and said with a cold expression:

“Choose. Join the Guardians, or die as a hero.”

To survive, Lee Han-seong had no choice but to join the Guardians.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Lee Han-seong’s face contorted.

Pain shot from his severed arm, but he endured it, staring at Kang San who was looking down at him.

“…The interesting part starts from then. You asked how I ended up in such a dirty relationship with President Jang Beom-seok, but aside from meeting him once and receiving a single promise to join the Guardians, I didn’t have a deep relationship with him. From beginning to end, it was Chief Secretary Kim Mu-hyeok who controlled me, and it seemed even the President wasn’t aware of it. Want to hear something even more interesting?”

He laughed.

Sensing his end, he accepted the situation.

“Kim Mu-hyeok made a special offer to motivate me. He said that someday, Korea, along with the rest of the world, would inevitably walk the path of destruction. The flow of the world had already gone out of control, and not only Korea but the entire world would see only a ‘select few’ survive. If only we faithfully carried out their orders. I was the hero who wanted to protect Korea even in the face of destruction. It was a promise to make me a hero, the protector of this nation, until the very end.”

He believed it.

He had to believe it.

Not because it was the Korean government.

As far as Lee Han-seong knew, the forces Kim Mu-hyeok brought with him were beings beyond the comprehension of common sense in Korea.

There was definitely something more behind it.

Thinking about it, it was strange.

President Jang Beom-seok appeared like a hero in troubled times and seized control of the Korean government, but the question that always followed was how he could amass such financial power and influence so quickly. Moreover, the great achievement of three consecutive terms was impossible without a special foundation. And above all, how Chief Secretary Kim Mu-hyeok, who was only in his 20s, could act as a kingmaker and support Jang Beom-seok was a point that didn’t make sense.

All of it.

The single word “backing” solved everything.

So he accepted it.

When asked to kneel before Jang Beom-seok, Lee Han-seong willingly obeyed the order.

“That’s all I know.”

A part of the truth.

Kang San’s expression cracked at the shocking revelation.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

The puzzle pieces were scattered in a complex manner.

Lee Han-seong’s statement.

There was a massive trend that could be inferred.

President Jang Beom-seok’s rise to power was no coincidence.

Kim Mu-hyeok, who had ‘backing’ from the beginning, must have approached him, and Jang Beom-seok, without knowing what it was, might have readily accepted it and held power for three long terms. Of course, that didn’t mean they could be classified as a different faction. The Korean government had already formed a massive force with Kim Mu-hyeok, and Lee Han-seong, an outstanding talent, was pressured by the government’s power and chose to join the Guardians.

Jang Beom-seok.

Kim Mu-hyeok.

They were the same faction, but there was something beyond them.

The problem wasn’t just that.

He had heard a very similar story before, even though Lee Han-seong’s story might not be the truth.

‘What Kim Mu-hyeok said is similar to what the Sun God Church pursues.’

When he met Priest Oh Man-seok.

He also mentioned a similar story.

The ‘system’ that the Sun God Church worships is currently testing humanity, and if there are humans who continue to believe in and follow the system through physical and mental trials, they will be transported to a pre-arranged heaven at the moment of the Rapture. The context itself was similar to Kim Mu-hyeok’s statement. Kim Mu-hyeok also predicted that Korea, along with the rest of the world, would inevitably face destruction in the future, and only a select few could survive.

It was the same.

It was the same story.

People who prove their faith after the Rapture.

The chosen few after the destruction.

Then, should he think that the roots of the Sun God Church have influenced Korea?

‘That doesn’t make sense either. When the Sun God Church first tried to enter Korea, the Korean government was very wary. They were concerned that the force that had already taken over a significant part of the US might contaminate Korea. But the reason they managed to infiltrate despite that was because the people who believed in the Sun God Church were that persistent.’

Government opposition.

It couldn’t have been a show.

There was no reason to go through such a troublesome process when no one was close to the truth.

The factions were different.

But what they were saying was similar.

Perhaps, he thought, there might be a point of contact.

‘The Sun God Church, Revolution, and the force behind Kim Mu-hyeok.’

The Sun God Church predicted destruction.

So they talked about the Rapture and prepared for the world after.

Revolution denied the system.

Because everything was wrong from the beginning, they acted like people with nothing to lose rather than desperately trying to cope.

And the force behind Kim Mu-hyeok.

They also predicted destruction, just like the Sun God Church.

Because only a few could survive, they were creating some kind of massive trend.

All three.

They viewed the future negatively.

They were forces that could not be considered small, and they were groups that knew far more information than individuals.

It was their conviction.

Moreover, according to Luca Bellino, the Sun Priest who leads the Sun God Church and the head of Revolution, like Kang San, were people who remembered their past lives. They were chosen people who clearly recognized who they were in their past lives, not like Lee Han-seong who accepted the abilities of his past life but didn’t remember it.

They were convinced of the world’s destruction.

Why?

Was there something he didn’t know?

‘I can’t even begin to guess what it is with my current knowledge.’

There was only one way.

The Korean government.

Now that he was at odds with them, he had to push them to the brink and uncover the truth.

If he could at least approach whatever was suspected to be behind Kim Mu-hyeok, he would learn the truth he had been unaware of until now.

Lee Han-seong said:

“…Why don’t you take me in instead? I don’t like the Korean government either. If it becomes known that I cooperated with you, I’ll be abandoned anyway, so take me in and use me effectively. You know better than anyone that the ‘Guardian Guild’ doesn’t have enough power for this fight anymore, right?”

His face.

His voice.

His past life overlapped.

The way he looked when he was rambling about Peng Mujeong’s secret seemed rather joyful.

It was Moyeongcheon’s true nature.

Beyond his desire to be seen as a symbol of the righteous faction, there was a dirty inner self not much different from Peng Mujeong. The expression he wore when he looked at Seo Munho’s distorted face, thinking it was revenge. The cruelty of biting his tongue, not even allowing the enemy’s revenge. Moyeongcheon, as a person, was no different from Peng Mujeong, only their pursuits were different.

Grit.

He clenched his teeth.

Why?

The more he experienced his past life.

The more he uncovered the secrets of his present life.

Seo Munho’s massacre didn’t seem like an evil act.

Kang San looked down at Lee Han-seong with cold eyes.

“I’m sorry, but I never intended to keep my promise to you.”

✦✦✦✦✦✦

The next day.

Korea was in an uproar.

It started with Reporter Kim Min-yeong.

She turned on a live broadcast, seemingly defying the government, and spoke in a clear voice to countless viewers.

“This is shocking news. Last night, an incident occurred where White Knight Lee Han-seong attacked Sergeant Kim Chun-sik, famous for his special forces background. Fortunately, thanks to the swift arrival of Kitakyushu’s hero, Kang San, they succeeded in subduing Lee Han-seong, but the sudden actions of Lee Han-seong, whom Korea remembers as a hero, completely contradicted his past reputation.”

Last night.

Kang San visited Reporter Kim Min-yeong.

He warned her of the danger while preparing for this report, and Kim Min-yeong, along with the media company, decided to accept it after much deliberation.

They were already targeted by the government.

It was now a war of annihilation where one side had to be destroyed.

“According to Kang San’s testimony, Lee Han-seong visited him a few days ago and, claiming it was an order from the ‘Korean government,’ forced him to join the Guardians. Considering it was a direct warning that unpleasant things would happen if he refused the offer, speculation is arising that the government had a hand in Lee Han-seong’s sudden actions. This reporter hereby requests a clear explanation from the Korean government, and further, from President Jang Beom-seok, regarding this matter.”

Chaos ensued.

Who was Lee Han-seong?

He was the hero who represented Korea before Kang San.

People couldn’t help but react strongly to an incident that tarnished Lee Han-seong’s reputation.

━Is this true?

━Crazy.

━Just by looking at the names mentioned in this incident, they’re all Korean heroes. Lee Han-seong, who’s been called the White Knight for saving countless lives since the past, Sergeant Kim Chun-sik, the hope of the Korean military, and Kang San, who’s now praised as a new hero, starting from Kitakyushu and now Pohang. These aren’t people who would be involved in such a dirty incident, are they?

At first, they denied it.

But it was Reporter Kim Min-yeong, not anyone else.

It was now a well-known fact that she received information directly from Kang San.

━If this is true, does it mean the Korean government ordered Lee Han-seong to attack Kang San because he refused to join the Guardians? Fuck, how could something like this happen? President Jang Beom-seok has always had a shady side, but this means even White Knight Lee Han-seong is a government dog.

━It was definitely strange when Lee Han-seong joined the Guardians. Just before that, he was gathering people, saying he would form his own force, but then, for some reason, he suddenly surrendered like a naive dog.

━Isn’t this all too shocking?

━This incident definitely needs an explanation. This isn’t something we can just let slide.

The world was in an uproar.

In the end, it was clear who had to resolve all this controversy.

The Presidential Office.

People’s attention was focused on President Jang Beom-seok’s actions.