Snake Venom Ch 59

Chapter 59

“Then, keep watch over there.”

As if he had already anticipated Lee Yeonwoo’s refusal, Cheon Wooshin responded nonchalantly. He even kindly pointed out a spot for Lee Yeonwoo, who had no suitable place other than by Cheon Wooshin’s side. But the moment passed, and he changed. The warmth that had briefly flickered in his eyes faded into ash-gray, and the charming smile vanished without a trace.

In the meantime, Im Sehan, who had returned, threw a pair of handcuffs and a bundle of thin rope at him. Cheon Wooshin wrapped the rope around President Park’s neck. President Park’s struggle could not stop Cheon Wooshin’s actions. On the contrary, he simply flushed red from the lack of oxygen. When Cheon Wooshin twisted his wrist, the rope tightened. President Park gasped and clutched at the rope coiled around his neck.

Compared to this chilling, mechanical behavior, dragging him by the hair earlier could almost have been considered gentlemanly.

“Let’s have some fun together.”

With that, Cheon Wooshin and President Park disappeared behind the wall.

Though no longer visible, it had only just begun. President Park’s shrieks rang out. Beatings with no questions, no explanations, no reasons continued for several minutes.

Screams that only those at the peak of pain can produce—Lee Yeonwoo had heard them countless times and was no longer surprised. While idly staring at the ceiling to kill time, a question suddenly crossed his mind.

He said there was no need for revenge. He’s not someone who would do this without a reason. Then why is he just beating him? Does he have a personal grudge?

The smell of blood hung thick in the air. This part wasn’t so great. As Lee Yeonwoo rubbed the tip of his nose, something was suddenly extended in front of his eyes. It was a can of cola, handed over by Im Sehan.

He had been parched anyway. With a slight nod, Lee Yeonwoo took the can and opened it right there.

Psssh—at the sound of the carbonation releasing, President Park’s screams rang out again. Im Sehan rubbed his ear and said,

“When I see things like this, I really think he enjoys it.”

It was probably a joke to help Lee Yeonwoo relax, but it wasn’t a topic he particularly wanted to agree with. As Lee Yeonwoo silently rolled his eyes, Im Sehan, who didn’t press further, murmured to himself,

“I will never be on the opposite side of the team leader.”

Never. Im Sehan emphasized again, and as if even imagining such a scenario frightened him, he rubbed his arms that had broken out in goosebumps.

Lee Yeonwoo nodded without resistance. It wasn’t because Cheon Wooshin was cruel, but he also didn’t want to be his enemy. He even thought he’d like to stay on his side for as long as possible.

“If you’re bored, would you like to listen to some music?”

This time, Im Sehan handed him a pair of earphones. It seemed he was genuinely concerned about him. Although it was for the greater cause, what was going on in that room right now was terrifying and inhumane. The consideration and attitude Im Sehan showed toward someone who had survived a similar place, albeit under completely different circumstances, revealed his character.

He was a good person. Lee Yeonwoo didn’t want to reject the kindness of someone like that. “Thank you,” he said, accepting the earphones and putting them in.

“I’ll choose the music.”

“Okay.”

Lee Yeonwoo glanced sideways at Im Sehan. He tried not to show it, but perhaps because of that, it was even more noticeable. After apologizing to Cheon Wooshin for something he had overlooked, Im Sehan had been dispirited.

As Im Sehan was selecting music, President Park cried out something. It sounded like a location in the yard, but it was hard to understand. Half-listening, half-lost in thought, Lee Yeonwoo turned to Im Sehan.

“Would you like to have shabu-shabu together?”

Im Sehan, who had been busy tapping his phone, stopped and looked up. His eyes gleamed with curiosity behind clear lenses.

“You mean the one with extra beef?”

“Yes.”

“The one the team leader said he’d buy for us?”

“Uh…”

It was the same menu, but Lee Yeonwoo, who had meant to treat him, hesitated. Im Sehan adjusted his glasses. The corners of his mouth curved up playfully.

“No matter who’s buying, I’m always happy to join.”

Between the upbeat tunes of country music, President Park’s screams pierced through.

How many more songs in a similar genre had they listened to? President Park, covered in blood, limped out. His eyes had lost focus.

Even though Lee Yeonwoo, the one he had so obsessively clung to, was right nearby, his body, saturated with brutal violence, didn’t seem to recognize anything. He simply staggered down the stairs with vacant eyes. Lee Yeonwoo’s gaze fell on the hand gripping the railing. His fingernails were crushed in patches.

Since there was no reason for Cheon Wooshin to release him without purpose, Im Sehan, reading the situation, followed President Park. Lee Yeonwoo, whose place was by Cheon Wooshin’s side, peeked inside. If he were to go, it would be together with Cheon Wooshin.

‘Where did he go?’

As he stretched his neck to look, Cheon Wooshin emerged from behind the wall. He was wiping his wet hands with a handkerchief. It seemed he had washed up.

“Let’s go.”

With that, Cheon Wooshin glanced down at Lee Yeonwoo, who was looking up at him.

“How does my face look?”

At the sudden question, Lee Yeonwoo widened his eyes but quickly understood.

‘You had something here.’

Cheon Wooshin remembered the moment Lee Yeonwoo had pointed out the blood splattered on his face. Lee Yeonwoo gave a light laugh.

“You look handsome.”

As if such flattery was nothing at all, he responded shamelessly. Cheon Wooshin’s hand landed lightly on the top of his head. The scent of blood clung heavily to the cuff of his sleeve. It was a trace of someone who, even if only briefly, had abandoned humanity and the desire to be treated as one. Lee Yeonwoo quietly followed Cheon Wooshin’s retreating hand that had ruffled his hair.

Though some might fear or avoid Cheon Wooshin for his cruelty that could be softer than a spring breeze yet more brutal than a harsh winter wind, Lee Yeonwoo distinguished the scent unique to Cheon Wooshin beneath the stench of blood. As if that alone was the real Cheon Wooshin, he clung stubbornly to it.

When they descended to the first floor, President Park was staggering across the lawn. In the subzero dawn, icy winds blew in from all sides. Realizing the cold only now, President Park shivered and glanced back. The moment he spotted Cheon Wooshin standing at a distance, he bolted as if he’d seen a ghost.

‘To put it simply, it’s like a game of hide-and-seek.’

Sometimes generous, sometimes vicious, President Park used to toy with the weak that fell into his hands and push them toward ruin. That man was no longer there. Crawling and covered in wounds, wearing nothing but underwear, he looked so utterly wretched that no words could describe him. It was the downfall of the king of Sodom.

There was no water in the small pond at the far end of the yard. Around the rocks surrounding the pond, various sculptures filled the empty spaces. President Park lifted one of the sculptures nestled between the rocks. Then, with no tools, he began digging the ground beneath where the sculpture had stood using his bare hands.

Despite the tangled roots and frozen ground, President Park relentlessly clawed at the earth and eventually unearthed a small box. With trembling, blood-caked fingers, he respectfully offered it to Cheon Wooshin. He dared not look up at Cheon Wooshin, who stared down at him with indifference.

While Cheon Wooshin examined the box, summoned agents took President Park away. He still seemed out of his mind. Aside from obeying Cheon Wooshin’s command, he appeared incapable of registering even pain.

Inside the meticulously wrapped box were an external hard drive and a bundle of documents. Cheon Wooshin handed them to Im Sehan.

“Give this to Doyoung.”

“Yes.”

A cold snap had been forecasted. The wind, which had momentarily died down, blew fiercely once again. The figures standing on the lawn involuntarily hunched their shoulders from the force. Cheon Wooshin, on the contrary, turned his face into the wind. Dim light fell gently on his well-proportioned face. He quietly scanned the surroundings.

“That’s it for today.”

The moon had already tilted westward.

“Let’s meet again in ten hours.”

Finally, it was break time. Im Sehan stretched with a loud yawn, and Lee Yeonwoo turned his head and yawned as well.

Somewhere far in his subconscious, an alarm blared. Reacting to the sound, Lee Yeonwoo’s closed eyelids twitched. The raucous music that had echoed faintly like an echo gradually grew louder. Just then, Lee Yeonwoo sat up abruptly and rubbed his eyes.

Having woken up exactly where he’d collapsed onto the bed, there were now three cowlicks sprouting on his head. Still squinting, Lee Yeonwoo fumbled over the sheets. He found his phone, turned off the alarm, and forced open his barely lifting eyelids.

Though he had reacted instinctively to the alarm, he felt anxious that he might have overslept. Only after checking the time on the screen with his own eyes did he relax his shoulders. There was still an hour and a half left.

“Phew…”

Come to think of it, he didn’t remember lying down in bed. What happened? As he blinked hazily, the events from a few hours ago quickly flashed through Lee Yeonwoo’s mind.