Chapter 341: Escape (1)

Ruuuuumble!

The vibrations were massive. Gigantic. However, that was about it.

Such massive vibrations suddenly stopped as if they had been his imagination all along. While cocking an eyebrow, Kang Jin-Ho slightly raised his head to look, then a look of understanding settled on his face.

'That was a signal.'

Kang Jin-Ho had been thinking that Jo Gyu-Min would definitely do something to help with the escape attempt. He believed in the chief secretary's capabilities and never doubted his commitment once, after all. However, Jo Gyu-Min must've been worried and nervous that Kang Jin-Ho had no idea about the incoming help. So, he wisely chose to send a signal first.

If Kang Jin-Ho failed to realize that rumbling was Jo Gyu-Min's signal, he would've thought the underground space was about to collapse on top of him. That would have naturally forced him to act accordingly.

Kang Jin-Ho quietly sucked in several deep breaths.

'This is rather outlandish, isn't it?'

A chuckle subconsciously leaked out of Kang Jin-Ho's lips. The inaugural upload of this chapter took place via N0v3l.B(j)n.

It was true that he 'wished' for the people outside to do something. If Kang Jin-Ho were trapped down here by himself, he wouldn't have a problem escaping. However, trying to do the same with Choi Yeon-Ha in tow would be incredibly tough even for him.

However, Kang Jin-Ho couldn't help but chuckle in dismay and dumbfoundedness after seeing through the meaning behind that vibration.

'He's planning to blow it up, isn't he?'

When one thought about it calmly, blowing the soil apart sounded the most logical solution of them all. The explosion, if strong enough, should be able to loosen the hardened soil from the bedrock. The impact force would obviously reach where Kang Jin-Ho was, but he'd be able to deal with it somehow.

In terms of gaming lingo, what Kang Jin-Ho currently enjoyed was a sky-high defense stat, but his offense stat was too low in comparison. Or, more correctly, his 'strength' stat. And that's what was stopping him from overcoming his obstacles at the moment. So, this would be like Kang Jin-Ho's allies coordinating with him using an AOE—area of effect—attack to carve out an escape path... That would be the situation Kang Jin-Ho now found himself in.

“It's a not bad idea, but...”

At the same time, Kang Jin-Ho couldn't really deny that this method was also hopelessly extreme.

Jo Gyu-Min wouldn't have utilized this kind of method under normal circumstances. Which meant either he was feeling the weight of the pressure or someone else had come up with this idea. It was fine either way, though.

Kang Jin-Ho patiently waited for the opportunity Jo Gyu-Min would soon provide. To him, nothing else mattered besides seizing that opportunity at this very moment.

Funnily enough, though, the 'signal' came first from below him.

“Mm...” Choi Yeon-Ha moaned weakly, her eyes open and scanning the surroundings. It seemed the vibrations had woken her up. Perhaps due to her lack of energy, only her eyes slowly shifted around, weakly trembling.

“No need for alarm, Miss Yeon-Ha,” said Kang Jin-Ho.

Choi Yeon-Ha's eyes looked up after his words registered in her brain. She frowned and narrowed her eyes a few times as if her eyes couldn't see clearly.

“Stay still for a while,” said Kang Jin-Ho.

“...Just... now.” Choi Yeon-Ha tried to say something, only for her lips to split and blood to seep out.

Kang Jin-Ho carefully pressed down on her lip and stemmed the bleeding. “Don't talk.”

Choi Yeon-Ha somehow managed to shake her head a little. “I... don't want to.”

Kang Jin-Ho found her response difficult to understand. However, he still figured out what Choi Yeon-Ha was trying to say.

“Don't worry, we won't die.”

Choi Yeon-Ha faintly smirked. However, that smirk seemed so fragile and sad. That expression suddenly made Kang Jin-Ho wonder if he had been too uncaring toward her, neglecting her. It seemed that he had some self-reflection to do.

Logically speaking, the best thing Kang Jin-Ho could do in this situation was to accumulate as much power as possible and escape from here before Choi Yeon-Ha died. However, what would her emotions and thoughts have been like during the last three days while trapped inside a tiny space without a speck of light? And with no one to talk to, too?

Not everyone was like Kang Jin-Ho and focus their whole being on finding solutions to their problems.

Kang Jin-Ho quickly realized he had neglected to assuage Choi Yeon-Ha's anxiety.

'She thinks we're going to die for certain.'

It seemed Choi Yeon-Ha took his words as his futile effort to soothe her fears. Even though Kang Jin-Ho was speaking only the truth, she probably couldn't believe anything he had been telling her.

So, when she said she didn't want to, Choi Yeon-Ha meant she was unwilling to die without saying a single thing. That she didn't want to accept her death quietly while keeping her eyes and mouth shut.

“I told you, we are not going to die.” Kang Jin-Ho tutted, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice.

What a funny thing this was. When Kang Jin-Ho was threatening someone and gifting them with bone-chilling terror, his mouth operated like a sleek, well-oiled machine. When it came to comforting and embracing someone, though, Kang Jin-Ho suddenly felt like an awkward foreigner who learned to speak Korean only recently.

What should he say, and how should he say it, to comfort someone else?

Choi Yeon-Ha's eyes were swimming. “Mis...ter... Jin-Ho?”

“Yes, I'm here.”

“Hand... Hold my hand.”

“Sorry?”

“I'm a little scared...”

Before she could finish, Kang Jin-Ho suddenly grabbed her hand tightly. He didn't stop there and even pulled her close, too. Choi Yeon-Ha flinched a little as if his action had taken her aback. However, she didn't push him away.

“I'm... sorry.”

“Don't say unnecessary things.”

“I have to... say... these things... Or I won't... feel at ease...”

Choi Yeon-Ha's voice progressively got fainter. She wasn't doing that deliberately, but her body simply lacked the energy for her to speak.

'This is getting dangerous.'

Kang Jin-Ho carefully pressed his palm on Choi Yeon-Ha's lower abdomen. Her figure trembled a little. He then began injecting his qi inside her.

Obviously, he knew that rather than helping her regain strength, accumulating even one extra bit of energy and preparing for the escape attempt was the wiser thing to do. However, if Choi Yeon-Ha remained in this state, there was a fairly good chance of her dying from shock during the attempt. He simply couldn't afford to take that chance.

“Ah...” Choi Yeon-Ha moaned weakly when something warm forced its way inside her. She had never sensed anything as bizarre as this before.

“What... did you do?” Choi Yeon-Ha whispered, her voice slightly louder than before.

Kang Jin-Ho carefully covered her mouth. “No time to explain everything, so please listen carefully.”

“...Sorry?”

“We'll be getting out of here shortly.”

Choi Yeon-Ha looked up at Kang Jin-Ho, her expression asking him, What are you even talking about? Even though the darkness would've blocked her vision, and she couldn't see his face.

“People outside are making preparations as we speak. And I will be causing an explosion on this side to secure us an exit.”

“Eh?” Choi Yeon-Ha's eyes powerfully shook.

They were going to escape? By... exploding something? She didn't have to be a genius to figure out how absurd and stupid that sounded. Wondering what Kang Jin-Ho was even saying here, Choi Yeon-Ha's trembling hands slowly went up and began touching his face.

The first thing she thought of was that being stuck in darkness for so long had left Kang Jin-Ho delirious.

“Mister Jin-Ho, please calm... down.”

“Miss Yeon-Ha, I assure you, I'm not crazy.” Kang Jin-Ho muttered in a calm, collected voice. “I know what I said sounds absurd, but we are getting out of here.”

“No, wait...”

“We don't have much time,” said Kang Jin-Ho, then his eyes suddenly began burning in a vivid crimson hue.

Choi Yeon-Ha saw that eerie light and felt her heart nearly leap out of her mouth. “M-Mister Jin-Ho...!”

Kang Jin-Ho's expression suddenly hardened. “We could die during our escape attempt.”

“...”

“However, if we do nothing and stay here, we will die for sure. You know this, don't you?”

Choi Yeon-Ha's head bobbed up and down ever so slightly. She already knew her stamina had reached its limit by now. Even though she didn't say anything about it or display it outwardly... Choi Yeon-Ha had been preparing herself for the inevitable end.

...Even though her guilt and fear got into a messy tangle and made it so much harder for her to control her emotions.

“It's okay.” Choi Yeon-Ha whispered while looking up at Kang Jin-Ho in determination. “It'll be better than this.”

Kang Jin-Ho faintly smiled. Indeed, Choi Yeon-Ha was a strong woman.

Most people would have a difficult time choosing a path that could potentially lead to dying sooner while trying to avoid a certain death. Because, they usually clung to the baseless hope of some miraculous last-minute rescue coming to save them.

Either Choi Yeon-Ha was a decisive person, or her trust in Kang Jin-Ho was that absolute. He couldn't tell which was which. However, he could see her eyes staring straight at him held not one speck of fear in them.

Still, it seemed that completely masking her fear wasn't possible. Kang Jin-Ho sensed her hand in his grip faintly trembling. Even though she was tired, scared, nay, terrified, Choi Yeon-Ha was desperately hiding it so as not to burden Kang Jin-Ho.

Kang Jin-Ho closed his eyes.

'We will get out of here!'

He needed to focus on getting Choi Yeon-Ha safely out of here and nothing else besides. What comes after that would have to wait.

Kang Jin-Ho's senses gradually sharpened even further as if he was a treasured sword being polished by a master craftsman.

He only had one chance. Missing that timing, even if only by a tiny fraction, could make the end result difficult to predict. Then again, even his absolute best efforts might not guarantee a safe escape from this underground space in the first place.

Kang Jin-Ho slowly and carefully regulated his breathing as he didn't want to leave any regrets behind.

Like a crystal-clear lake with a pristine mirror-like surface, Kang Jin-Ho's mind slowly settled down. As if every cell in his body was wide awake, his senses sharpened and heightened to an unbelievable degree.

His mind was so awake and sharp that Kang Jin-Ho subconsciously wondered if he had ever concentrated this hard before in all of his lives.

'I will save her life.'

That was the only thing on his mind. And then...

Before he had the chance to reaffirm his final resolution with Choi Yeon-Ha, it happened.

'Here it comes!'

There was no such thing like a sign. Kang Jin-Ho's perception wasn't preternaturally sharp enough to sense a dynamite's fuse burning down. So, he shouldn't have felt anything until the detonation occurred.

However, he could still tell. It was a premonition verging on certainty. Just like how a grandmaster that reached the pinnacle of martial arts could predict the incoming attack without even looking, Kang Jin-Ho's extremely-heightened senses vividly warned him about a massive explosion about to go off.

Buzz...

Kang Jin-Ho took his hand away from Choi Yeon-Ha, then spread his arms as wide as he could before unleashing his energy. His expression deeply crumpled, indicating the seriousness of their current situation.

'The impact will come rushing in at once.'

From what he saw before entering the tunnel, it'd be safe to assume that a small mountain was currently sitting on top of Kang Jin-Ho. Sure, it might be too small to call it a mountain, but it was still a lot of soil. Imagine how big an explosion had to be in order to make all that soil rumble and split apart.

The impact force of the explosion must be incredible, in other words. So, Kang Jin-Ho roused up all the internal energy he could. His nameless cultivation technique, combined with the Asura Qi, answered his will and traveled to the tips of his fingers before gushing out into the open.

The qi quickly wrapped around Choi Yeon-Ha's body like a living snake.

“Ah...?” Choi Yeon-Ha gasped in shock after sensing something invisible to her eyes began tightening around her. However, her surprise didn't last for long. Realizing that something was about to happen, Choi Yeon-Ha tightly wrapped her arms around Kang Jin-Ho's shoulders and neck.

That was enough for him. Kang Jin-Ho didn't say anything else. He focused his mind on one spot while trusting Choi Yeon-Ha to be smart enough to understand without his verbal prompts.

Because soon...!

KA-BOOOOOOM!

Suddenly, an impact force powerful enough to crush a human body rammed into him. His mind went blank for a moment there. If he hadn't prepared beforehand, Kang Jin-Ho might have blacked out from the incredible force. Blood spewed out from his mouth and nose like a fountain.

“Keuk!”

This was the price for not protecting his physical body with qi, but he had to do that in order to heighten his senses as much as possible. And then... The whole world started quaking and rumbling.

'Where?!'

Kang Jin-Ho's eyes quickly darted around like a snake's head to find the escape path. However, he couldn't see anything.

Despite the scale of the detonation, it wasn't enough to create a path in one go. Meaning, he shouldn't expect light rays to break through the dirt or a visible escape path to open up so he could utilize it.

In that case, there was only one place to go!

Kang Jin-Ho's eyes burning in the bone-chilling crimson light looked up, murderous intent figuratively dripping from there. He held Choi Yeon-Ha's body with one arm while raising his other toward the ceiling.

A roar akin to a terrifying beast exploded out of his throat, then his body suddenly shot up toward the debris and soil blocking his path above.