Living Dangerously with a 999-Year-Old Gumiho – Chapter 35

She once again spat out orders towards Hyun. As soon as she spoke, Hyun reacted immediately.

“Hyun…!!”

Hyun raised his sword high, aiming it at Yoonhwa’s neck.

Yoonhwa tightly shut her eyes.

Just as the blade was about to touch Yoonhwa’s skin, something unexpected happened.

Hyun’s hand trembled and halted.

This was not due to any physical restraint from Yoonhwa. She merely kept her eyes closed, waiting for the worst moment.

However, the blade did not cut through her skin, and the anticipated pain never came.

Hyun’s gaze began to change gradually.

Within his actions—originally dictated by the woman—a will akin to seeking a way out of a deep fog began to manifest.

The trembling hand that had stopped the sword was not controlled by an external force but rather a powerful resistance stemming from Hyun’s own inner self.

It was an expression of his instinctual emotions, that he truly cared for Yoonhwa and did not want to harm her, regardless of any manipulation.

After struggling to stop the sword, Hyun managed to utter one word in a quavering voice.

“Yoon…hwa…”

His voice was weak and barely audible, yet it contained all the inner conflict and anguish he had experienced.

Yoonhwa felt her heart drop at the sound of his voice. Staring at Hyun, she suppressed an emotion rising from deep within and barely managed to speak.

“H-Hyun…!”

Her voice shook, filled with love and concern for him.

The woman, taken aback by Hyun’s action, spoke with a sneer.

“W-What’s going on?!”

“Kill her!!”

Yoonhwa focused on Hyun.

She wrapped her hands around his, soothing him.

“It’s okay, Hyun… You did nothing wrong. I’m not hurt…”

Hyun slowly started to respond to Yoonhwa’s words.

His gaze began to regain focus, and tears flowed down his cheeks.

“Yoonhwa… I’m sorry. I… I…”

His words trailed off, but his eyes conveyed sincere apologies and gratitude.

Yoonhwa cupped Hyun’s face in both her hands and hugged him tightly.

“It’s okay…”

The woman’s eyes went wide as she watched Hyun pause his sword and apologize to Yoonhwa in disbelief.

Confusion and distrust danced across her face.

It seemed she could not comprehend the intense emotional exchange between a monster and a human.

“Wh-What the hell… is going on?!”

The woman shouted.

Her voice wavered, and she looked back and forth between Hyun and Yoonhwa in disbelief.

She shouted at Hyun again.

“Kneel!!”

Her tone was desperate and commanding.

But Hyun no longer complied with her orders.

Even hearing the woman’s voice, he simply stared at Yoonhwa.

Gradually, awareness returned to his eyes as he tightly held Yoonhwa’s hand.

Hyun’s tears flowed even more.

The woman’s anger escalated as she witnessed her plan unraveling.

“This can’t be… both of you…!”

Her voice rose higher, but Hyun and Yoonhwa remained focused on comforting each other.

“This is… impossible…!!”

The woman began to doubt her abilities.

She couldn’t believe she couldn’t control Hyun.

“How the hell… are you both able to do this?!”

The woman’s eyes were filled with rage and frustration as she flitted her gaze between Hyun and Yoonhwa.

She found it hard to accept that the bond and love between the two could shatter her perfect plan.

Ultimately, the woman stepped back, wrestling with her frustration and anger.

“This… this can’t be…! It can’t end like this…”

Her voice was threatening but couldn’t entirely mask her instability.

She glared at Hyun and Yoonhwa as she slowly retreated.

In a flash, Yoonhwa dashed toward the woman.

“Where do you think you’re going?!”

Yoonhwa approached the woman and lightly struck her abdomen. However, the impact surprisingly caused the woman great pain.

Even though Yoonhwa held back her punch, the woman felt as if her breath had been knocked out of her.

The woman bent over from Yoonhwa’s cautious attack, letting out a pained groan.

“Ugh…!”

Regardless of Yoonhwa’s careful strike, she felt an intense pain piercing through her abdomen.

The woman collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.

“Ugh..! Haah…”

“Haaah…”

Yoonhwa was shocked by how much the woman reacted to her attack but did not hesitate in her actions.

“I’m going to kill you right here.”

Upon hearing Yoonhwa’s words, the woman realized she was serious.

Her heart sank at the threatening statement.

The resolve and anger reflected in Yoonhwa’s gaze genuinely terrified her.

Overwhelmed by Yoonhwa’s fierce will and look, the woman found herself momentarily lost for words.

Struggling in pain, she managed to rise, trembling hands clutching her abdomen.

“W-Wait a minute…!”

Her voice lacked power, and the commanding demeanor she had was nowhere to be seen.

Hyun observed the woman’s changed attitude from Yoonhwa’s side, contemplating what he could do.

Though his gaze remained confused and tired, his determination to protect Yoonhwa was unmistakable.

The woman racked her brain.

Breathing heavily, she finally spoke.

“This is… too painful…—let’s talk this out…”

Yoonhwa responded to the woman’s suggestion with a cold smile.

“You never intended to resolve anything through conversation.”

She kicked at the woman’s leg.

The woman screamed and fell back to the ground with a howl.

“Aah..!!”

The woman writhed in pain and looked at Yoonhwa, her eyes alternating between anger and fear.

Tears began to roll down her cheeks due to her inability to contain her emotions.

The woman stared at Yoonhwa, her breaths quickening with suffering and fear.

As the anger and terror coursed through her, a desperate plea escaped her lips.

“Please… I made a mistake…”

“I feel like I’m going to dehydrate… just give me the tea, please…”

Her voice trembled as tears streamed down her face, her expression twisted in agony and despair.

Yoonhwa hesitated at the woman’s pleading voice. Her gaze seemed to weigh the situation carefully.

Hyun stood silently next to Yoonhwa, patiently waiting for her decision.

The woman pleaded continuously for the tea, her desperation apparent.

“Please… I need the tea… I’m so thirsty…”

With a sigh, Yoonhwa approached the woman. She picked up the cup of tea placed on the bench.

Holding it out to the woman, she looked her in the eye.

“Drink quickly.”

The woman accepted the teacup, trembling hands bringing it to her lips for a sip.

She lifted the spoon from the cup and called out to Hyun.

“Hyun… right..?”

“I’m… sorry… can you come here…?”

Hyun cautiously approached at her call.

His steps were heavy, and his eyes still showed confusion.

Yoonhwa did not let go of his arm as she watched him move closer to the woman.

As Hyun drew near, the woman’s tears mixed with laughter as if she couldn’t contain her amusement.

“Aah..!”

“This is the greatest pain I’ve ever known…”

The woman held Hyun’s hand.

Yoonhwa, alarmed, exclaimed,

“What on earth are you doing?!”

The woman’s hand slowly descended above the teacup.

When her trembling fingertips brushed against the spoon, a strange sound filled the air.

The first tap was light and subtle.

The sound traveled through the cold night air, momentarily quieting everything around.

The second tap was firmer than the first, vibrating the surrounding air with a slight echo.

Like ripples spreading across a pond, the sound’s vibrations expanded.

The third and strongest tap resounded.

This sound carried a bizarre tone as if chanting an ancient incantation.

The clash between the spoon and teacup overwhelmed everything for a moment, shaking Hyun’s consciousness.

It was as if a mystical wave crossed time and space, gently caressing his mind and seizing him once more.

Hyun collapsed to the ground, losing consciousness.

Yoonhwa gasped in disbelief.

“Hyun?!”

Seeing Hyun’s body fall, the woman clutched her belly and erupted into insane laughter.

Her laughter transcended joy and satisfaction, almost a hint of madness.

“Hahahaha! Look at that…!!”

She mocked, pointing at Hyun.

“Now do you see how weak you both are?”

Yoonhwa rushed to Hyun’s side, trying to support him. Her face twisted with rage and concern.

“Hyun, are you okay?!”

She examined Hyun’s face while waiting for his reaction.

But Hyun remained unresponsive.

His eyes were shut, and his body hung limply. Yoonhwa felt despair at his condition and glared at the woman.

“How could this happen without that weird object?!”

Despite Yoonhwa’s desperate outcry, the woman kept laughing maniacally.

“Do what you’re good at, kill me now!”

“But… if you do that, this man will never wake up~.”

Her voice seemed mixed with mocking and provocation, intentionally goading Yoonhwa’s rage.

The woman was using Hyun’s state as leverage against Yoonhwa.

Yoonhwa momentarily faltered at the woman’s words.

Anger mixed with confusion and fear danced in her eyes.

The woman continued to gloat while gazing at Hyun.

“Did it really hurt that much..?”

“I really thought I was going to die.”

Yoonhwa gazed at Hyun, deep in thoughtful conflict. She desperately wanted to kill the woman but couldn’t risk Hyun’s safety.

Her hands trembled, and it was clear she struggled to make a decision.

The woman enjoyed seeing Yoonhwa’s conflicted expression and kept sneering.

“Still can’t decide? Let me simplify it for you.”

She pointed to the fallen sword on the ground.

“There, there’s a sword. Go grab it and kill me yourself.”

“Then your friend will be safe.”

The woman held back her laughter, looking at Yoonhwa as if to say it again.

“If you kill me yourself, I’ll spare that man.”

Yoonhwa’s fingertips glided toward the sword lying on the ground.

As her fingertips brushed against the cold metal, her heart sank.

She cautiously lifted the blade, its weight pressing down on her wrist.

When the tip trembled in front of her throat and stopped, Yoonhwa’s breath hitched.

Her heart surged like a storm.

‘Is this how it all ends?’

‘Because of me… everything has become dangerous… he’s hurt…’

Her mind filled with desperate prayers for Hyun to wake up safely.

But then, Yoonhwa heard her friends’ voices.

“Yoonhwa, please don’t do it!!”

Their voices mixed with tears and tremors.

“You can’t do this, Yoonhwa!”

Their cries dug deep into Yoonhwa’s heart.

She heard the sound of her friends running toward her.

Their footsteps sounded like a flicker of hope amid the despair.

“If you die, Hyun will be truly heartbroken..!!”

Their voices gradually dispelled the darkness in Yoonhwa’s heart, encouraging her to find courage.

Yoonhwa halted the hand that aimed the sword at herself.

Her friends’ love and friendship resonated deeply within her heart.

She dropped the sword and ran to embrace her friends.

Tears of relief flowed from her eyes.

“I’m sorry… for making you all… truly… sorry…”

Her friends hugged Yoonhwa tightly.

Their embrace felt like the warmest comfort in the world.

The woman grew increasingly frustrated by this sudden turn of events.

Her eyes burned with fury as she glared at Yoonhwa and her friends.

“What the hell are you doing?!”

Her voice was rough and sharp.

“I can’t let this happen. I’m just going to kill her instead.”

As the woman tapped the teacup lightly, a clear sound rang out, and Hyun began to move.

“Don’t!!”

Yoonhwa rushed to grab Hyun, who was trying to pick up the sword.

Hyun could not resist Yoonhwa’s strength.

Seojin, wide-eyed at the urgency of the situation, shouted at the woman.

“This is too much! Stop…!”

His voice was filled with passionate anger.

Seojin tried to approach Hyun, but hesitated as he saw Hyun start to move.

Kangtae quickly assessed the situation and dashed toward the woman.

His actions were resolute, and he tried to grab the woman’s hand to knock the teacup away.

“Stop! You’ve already inflicted enough wounds!!”

Kangtae’s voice was filled with desperation.

Yoonhwa hugged Hyun tightly, trying to restrain him.

“Hyun, awaken now.. please… listen to me…!”

Yoonhwa’s voice was desperate and heartfelt.

She gazed into Hyun’s eyes, fervently wishing for his consciousness to return.

The woman grew irritated by Kangtae’s interruption and shoved him away.

“Get out of the way! Your interference has ruined everything!”

Her voice dripped with cynicism and rage.

The woman picked up the teacup once more, commanding Hyun.

“Die!! Kill yourself..!!”

In that moment,

The strong bond and love between Yoonhwa and her friends shattered the woman’s plan.

Hyun’s awareness gradually began to return, and he locked eyes with Yoonhwa.

Seeing that Hyun seemed to come to his senses, Yoonhwa loosened her grip on him.

Suddenly, Hyun picked up the sword with a strange expression.

Yoonhwa shouted in surprise at this sudden action.

“Don’t..!!!”