After Jin emerged from seclusion…
and after hearing of Li Fan's death,
only one name surfaced in his mind.
Jong Shin-Baek of the Poison Clan.
But—
before searching,
before anger,
before anything else—
Inside the director's office.
Jin spoke in a low voice:
"Excuse me, Director…
do you have Li Fan's home address?"
The director raised his gaze.
"Why?"
Jin fell silent for a moment.
"…His family
had no one but him."
The director understood.
No explanation was needed.
He opened the student investigation records,
turned the pages slowly,
then removed a single sheet—
Li Fan's file.
He handed it to Jin.
Since Jin's arrival at the sect,
many rules had been broken—
not only because of the talent that shocked everyone,
but because someone had been watching from afar,
pleased by what he saw.
Requesting private academy records
was one of those broken rules.
Later that day…
In one of the Demon Sect's residential districts,
Jin stood before a small house.
Simple.
Quiet.
It suggested neither strength—
nor protection.
He knocked.
The door opened.
A young girl looked up at him, eyes hesitant.
"…Hello."
Jin bowed slightly.
"Are you… Li Fan's sister?"
She hesitated, then nodded.
"Yes."
A short while later, Jin was inside.
He looked around.
The house was clean—
but poorly furnished,
its furniture old,
its walls silent.
The mother was a middle-aged woman.
Her features were gentle by nature,
but sorrow
had settled deep within her.
Two sisters—
one around fifteen,
the other barely eight.
And a little brother, no more than four,
playing quietly…
unable to understand
why his brother had not returned.
Jin said nothing.
He sat.
And remembered.
He remembered the time he spent with Li Fan.
It had been short—
yet it had changed much.
He remembered his shy smile.
His simple words.
"I don't want great power…"
"Just enough to support my family."
He remembered how often Li Fan spoke of his mother,
his siblings,
and the home he wished to protect.
Jin understood that feeling well.
He also remembered
how many of his own relationships had formed quickly—
The Hunters' Association.
His comrades.
The director.
The instructors.
All bonds built in a short time,
yet stronger than relationships
that took years to form.
Li Fan
was one of those bonds.
Jin lowered his head.
Tears fell.
He did not try to hide them.
He knew the meaning of losing family.
He knew what it meant
to have hope stolen
before it could grow.
He stood.
Opened his storage ring.
Took out dozens of gold ounces—
and far more silver.
He placed them before them and said,
his voice broken:
"I'm sorry…
I wasn't there
to protect your son."
He did not wait for a response.
He left.
Two days later…
Jin confirmed his suspicion.
Jong Shin-Baek
was the killer.
After Jin entered seclusion,
tensions escalated.
They could not reach him—
so they found a substitute.
Li Fan.
He endured the pressure.
Endured the provocation.
All because he had been Jin's companion
for less than two weeks.
During a combat training session,
Jong Shin-Baek seized the opportunity.
One strike—
perfectly timed.
No mistake.
No accident.
He killed him.
Not out of hatred.
Not out of fear.
But…
simply because he wanted to.
In that moment,
Jin set his goal.
And for the first time—
Jin prepared to commit
an act beyond imagination.
End of Chapter