As True as a Dream Chapter 164

Though they had quickly distanced themselves from the elementary school to shake off Hae-Joo and Man Insa, Yi-Ho heard the frightened voice of a man muttering about the place being “turned into ruins.”

The thought of Hae-Joo made Yi-Ho’s nerves, usually steady even in dire situations, grow tense.

Even if he wanted to confirm her safety, bound like this, there was nothing he could do.

Every sense was sharp as a blade’s edge, yet his body refused to respond.

‘Was it because of the shattered fox bead?’

 

Yi-Ho focused his mind, tracing the scattered remnants of the bead within him.

Then, light footsteps echoed from beyond the corridor.

Soon, a small shadow stood innocently outside the iron bars in the darkness.

It was Man Insa.

“Wow, you’re awake! You’re not dead! See? I told you he wouldn’t die!”

Delighted, he hopped around before wrenching open the locked iron door and stepping inside.

Yi-Ho narrowed his eyes.

The last time he’d seen Man Insa before losing consciousness, the man’s bones had been protruding, his body covered in wounds.

But now, though scars remained on his legs, he looked far healthier than before.

As if sensing Yi-Ho’s thoughts, Man Insa grinned even wider, his smile eerily childlike.

“I’ve been such a fool. Trapped in that painting for so long, I had no idea what someone like you could do for me.”

Yi-Ho watched coldly as Man Insa paced restlessly around the cell.

“Do you know why I didn’t kill you?”

Suddenly, Man Insa stopped and stepped forward.

With a flick of his wrist, a small pocket knife appeared in his hand. He dragged the blade carelessly across Yi-Ho’s stomach.

As blood welled up, Man Insa scooped it with his fingers and licked it.

“Tastes worse than human blood, but the effect is incredible.”

Yi-Ho clenched his jaw.

So, while he was unconscious, Man Insa had used his blood to heal himself.

“Can’t just kill such a nourishing meal so easily. Kekeke!”

Yi-Ho stared down at him with heavy eyes, then suddenly flinched.

A fragment of the shattered fox bead, now almost dust, seemed drawn like a magnet to the wound Man Insa had made—before melting away.

The wound began to close.

A faint glimmer flashed deep in Yi-Ho’s eyes.

As the bleeding stopped, Man Insa clicked his tongue in disappointment.

“[An Kyeong-in!]”

A deep voice boomed from beyond the bars.

Man Insa turned and smirked.

“Damn, you’re really desperate to save your daughter, huh?”

Heavy footsteps followed, and soon Governor Saito, whom Yi-Ho recognized, appeared with a flashlight.

After a brief glance at Yi-Ho, Saito turned to Man Insa.

“[No time for chatter. Mao is waiting.]”

“Tch, I told you—you should’ve let me eat those lumber company workers instead of gunning them all down.”

Saito’s eyebrow twitched at the reproach, but he kept his composure and looked at Yi-Ho.

“[Do we really need to keep this one alive?]”

“Unless you find a replacement, yes. I just discovered how good his blood is for my body.”

“[Replacement?]”

“Other monsters.”

As Man Insa answered, Saito stepped inside the cell.

His eyes burned with hatred as he glared at Yi-Ho.

“[Did you plant that artifact—the so-called ‘Hae-seo-seol’—in Mao?]”

“And if I did?”

It happened in a blink.

 

The moment Yi-Ho spoke, the forearm-length sword at Saito’s waist plunged deep into his stomach.

Blood gushed from Yi-Ho’s mouth as he choked back the surge rising in his throat.

“[Is it also your doing… that Mao ended up like this?]”

“…What do you think?”

As Yi-Ho answered, Saito yanked the sword free—only to stab him again.

Another line of blood trickled from Yi-Ho’s lips before the sword pressed against his neck.

“Hey! That’s my tonic! I still need nine more lives to complete the Ten Thousand Bloodstone!”

Man Insa whined, scowling as Saito seemed ready to behead Yi-Ho.

Saito’s murderous gaze lingered before he finally lowered the blade.

“[Once you find a replacement… I’ll cut his head off myself.]”

“Fine by me, as long as there’s a replacement.”

“[Can mere iron… really restrain him?]”

Saito asked, stepping back. Man Insa, still licking blood from his fingers, smirked.

“Yeah. His energy’s weaker than before. No way he’s breaking out now. Pathetic, really—it’s a miracle he’s even alive.”

Saito glanced at the thick shackles binding Yi-Ho’s limbs before turning away.

“[Complete the Bloodstone by tonight.]”

“Huh? There aren’t many villages left!”

“[Take from the nearby slums. Those filthy Koreans are everywhere—just cross two streets.]”

“Really? After all that talk about ‘justification’? Didn’t your men bring a telegram from Japan? War’s coming—we need cannon fodder. ‘Don’t stir unrest with unnecessary killings.’ Did I hear wrong?”

“[Make up an excuse. Just hunt. When you return, we save Mao.]”

As they left, a soldier replaced the lock on the cell.

“Great. I’ll be back in 30 minutes.”

“[I’ll prepare Mao.]”

Saito’s voice carried anticipation—this was the moment he’d been waiting for.

Meanwhile, Yi-Ho lowered his gaze.

It wasn’t an illusion.

The fragments of the fox bead, large and small, had rushed to his wounds, melting and healing them.

Of course, his complexion grew paler, but the important thing was that the shattered bead still functioned.

Saito’s threats didn’t matter.

All that mattered was escaping this cell and finding Hae-Joo.

Yi-Ho closed his eyes, ignoring the searing pain, and focused on tracing the scattered remnants of the bead.

He had to reconnect them, reclaim even a sliver of the fox’s power to break free.

He’d never done it before—never even considered it—but there was no other choice.

Time passed.

Suddenly, Yi-Ho raised his head.

His black pupils flickered with gold before darkening again.

Outside, chaos erupted.

 

 

* * *

 

 

Five minutes earlier.

The independence army led by Kim was a tightly compartmentalized cell structure.

Even those who shared the same ideology often didn’t know if others belonged to the same group.

Only those who had worked together or whose appearances were known could recognize each other.

As Min-byeong explained, this system protected comrades if captured by the Japanese.

But now, with Kim gone, Yeong-ji, Min-byeong, and Hae-Joo were adrift—like weeds on the ocean.

“Damn it. Today’s the day I die,” Min-byeong muttered, wiping cold sweat at the alley’s entrance overlooking the governor’s residence.
“We’ll live. Fight to survive,” Hae-Joo said.

“Comrade Yeon, you’ve been shot. If I wanted to live, I’d have sprinted to Gyeongseong Station and fled to Vladivostok, Manchuria, or Shanghai by now.”

Yeong-ji frowned. “Comrade Lee, if you’re just going to complain, leave.”

“I’m just saying. How could I abandon two flowers like you? A real man doesn’t do that. Lee Min-byeong isn’t that kind of man.”

“Then focus. Even if a blade’s at my throat—even if I die—I’ll cut off Saito Jiro’s head. That beast has killed too many of our people… including my brother.”

Hae-Joo ignored their bickering, staring at the darkened horizon.

“Comrade Yeon, are you sure your contact can bomb the Governor-General’s Office? It’s almost time.”

“Yes. It will succeed.”

Hae-Joo nodded firmly.