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The forest loomed around them like an impenetrable fortress, the towering trees blotting out the sun, casting everything into an eerie twilight. As Jeonggukk and Jiwon ventured deeper, the dense greenery seemed to swallow the sounds of their footsteps. The quiet, unnatural and oppressive, stretched on, broken only by the occasional rustling of leaves in the wind. The farther they went, the more the wilderness became a character in their narrative—unforgiving and alien.

The air was thick with tension, a palpable thing that clung to their skin like the humidity before a storm. Both of them walked in silence, their breaths steady but underlined with a subtle strain. Every step forward seemed to drag them deeper into the unknown, farther from the relative safety of the world they had left behind. The enemies they had evaded now seemed a distant threat compared to the hostile environment of the wild that surrounded them. The undergrowth rustled ominously, as if concealing eyes that watched their every move.

Jeonggukk led the way, his expression as cold and unreadable as ever. His sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, cataloging each sound, every shadow, each change in the environment. But even he could not suppress the growing sense of danger lurking in this untamed wilderness. The Jeon Mafia had seen their king him through countless life-or-death situations, but this was different. This was nature's domain, where human power and influence meant nothing.

Behind him, Jiwon trudged along, equally vigilant, though with less composure. She felt it in her bones—the primal terror of being in a place where human civilization had no place. Her hand gripped her gun, though she knew it would be of little use against the forces of nature that surrounded them. She glanced up at the sky, or what little of it she could see through the canopy, and sighed softly.

"I think it looks like we've lost our way, Mr. Jeon..." she said quietly, her voice a mix of frustration and thinly veiled anxiety. She hated admitting uncertainty in front of him, hated the vulnerability it showed. Yet the situation left little room for her pride.

Jeonggukk stopped in his tracks but didn't turn to face her. His broad back remained rigid, a silent wall that gave away nothing of his thoughts. After a moment, his cold voice broke the quiet.

"Is your phone's signal working, Ms. Park? I'm certain it won't, but it's worth checking."

Jiwon pulled out her phone, not expecting much but still holding on to a sliver of hope. She stared at the blank screen, as predicted—no signal. She sighed heavily and pocketed the device, feeling a tightening in her chest that came from a combination of frustration and the weight of their isolation.

"No, it isn't," she replied flatly.

Jeonggukk didn't react, his cold eyes scanning the forest again. "Then we keep moving until we find our way out."

His tone was as emotionless as ever, more an order than a suggestion. Jiwon bit back a retort. They were in this together now, whether she liked it or not. Bickering with him wasn't going to help their situation.

Without another word, they pressed forward. The oppressive atmosphere thickened as the sky above darkened with gathering clouds. The faint, almost imperceptible hum of the wind through the trees grew into a low rumble as the first drops of rain splattered on the leaves around them. Within moments, the sky unleashed a torrential downpour.

The rain was relentless, drumming against the canopy and cascading in heavy streams. The two of them dashed beneath the largest tree they could find, hoping its sprawling branches would offer some protection from the deluge. But the rain was too intense, too heavy. Within minutes, they were both soaked through, the cold water clinging to their skin, turning the forest floor into a slick, muddy mess.

Jiwon shivered involuntarily, trying to pull her coat tighter around her, but the fabric was already soaked, offering little warmth or comfort. She glanced at Jeonggukk, who stood beside her, his expression unreadable even now. His blazer, also drenched, was still buttoned up, but the water streamed down his sharp features, making him look even more dangerous, more otherworldly than usual.

"There's no point in standing here," Jeonggukk said after a moment, his voice cutting through the sound of the rain like a blade. "We'll freeze to death before we find our way out if we don't keep moving."

Jiwon nodded, though she wasn't sure he could see her agreement. Her discomfort wasn't just from the cold, but from the fact that, despite everything, she found herself relying on Jeonggukk for direction. It unsettled her, how much control he seemed to exude, even in the most uncontrollable situations.

Without waiting for her response, Jeonggukk shrugged out of his drenched blazer and handed it to her, he didn't knew why he did that but unknowingly it just happened. The gesture, though pragmatic, created an odd tension between them. Jiwon hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to react. It was rare to see any kind of gesture from Jeon Jeonggukk that could even be remotely considered...kind. She reluctantly took the blazer, wrapping it around her shoulders, the cold fabric clinging to her skin as she felt the undeniable tension building between them.

As they continued through the forest, the rain only grew heavier. Their movements slowed, the terrain slick with mud and water. Each step was a struggle against the elements, their breath coming in short, labored puffs as they fought through the thick undergrowth. The once eerie silence had given way to the roar of the storm, a relentless backdrop to their ordeal.

Hours passed with no sign of an end in sight. The weight of exhaustion bore down on them, though neither would admit it aloud. Their silence stretched on, thick with tension, their mutual disdain for one another now replaced by a strange, uneasy camaraderie.

As the sun dipped below the horizon and night settled over the forest, the temperature plummeted. They hadn't found any food or water, and Jiwon's stomach churned with hunger. Her limbs felt leaden with fatigue, and her feet ached from the hours of walking. She glanced at Jeonggukk, who seemed as composed as ever, though she could see the strain in his eyes.

"We need to find shelter," she muttered through gritted teeth. "This rain isn't letting up, and we're going to freeze out here if we don't stop."

Jeonggukk didn't respond immediately, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of refuge. After a moment, he gestured to a cluster of rocks in the distance, partially obscured by the undergrowth.

"There," he said, his voice clipped. "It's not much, but it'll do for the night."

The rocks provided some small protection from the rain, though it did little to alleviate the biting cold that had settled in their bones. They huddled beneath the overhang, their clothes still soaked through, their bodies shivering uncontrollably. They Removed their wet blazers and kept them at the nearby stone to get dry.

It was then that the first howl pierced the night.

Jiwon's head snapped up, her heart pounding in her chest. The sound was primal, feral, and far too close for comfort.

"Wolves," Jeonggukk muttered, his voice devoid of any fear, though there was a cold calculation in his eyes as he stood. "They've caught our scent."

Jiwon scrambled to her feet, her hand instinctively reaching for her gun. "How many?"

Jeonggukk's gaze swept the darkened forest, his body tense and ready. "Five, maybe more."

The sound of paws hitting the wet earth grew louder, closer. The wolves were closing in fast, their growls echoing through the trees. Jeonggukk's face was a mask of cold resolve, his movements precise as he drew his weapon.

"They're testing us," he said quietly, his eyes narrowing. "Waiting for the right moment to strike."

Jiwon felt her pulse quicken as the first wolf came into view, its dark eyes gleaming in the dim light. It was enormous, its fur slick with rain, its teeth bared in a snarl. She raised her gun, aiming at the creature, but Jeonggukk's voice stopped her.

"Wait."

She shot him a glare. "Are you insane? It's going to attack!"

"They're smarter than you think," Jeonggukk replied calmly, his gaze never leaving the wolf. "If you shoot now, they'll all come at us. We need to fight them strategically."

Jiwon clenched her jaw but lowered her weapon slightly. She hated how composed he was in the face of danger, how cold and calculating his mind was even now. But there was no denying he knew what he was doing.

The wolves circled closer, their growls growing louder, more menacing. Jiwon's grip tightened on her gun, her body tensing as she prepared for the inevitable attack.

Then, without warning, the wolves lunged.

Jeonggukk moved like lightning, his gun firing off rapid shots, each one precise, each one finding its mark. The wolves yelped in pain as they were hit, but they didn't stop. They were relentless, driven by hunger, by the primal need to kill.

Jiwon fired as well, her heart pounding in her chest as she aimed for the wolves' vulnerable spots. But they were fast, too fast. One of the wolves lunged at her, its jaws snapping inches from her face. She stumbled back, firing wildly, but it wasn't enough.

Jeonggukk was there in an instant, his movements swift and lethal. He grabbed the wolf by the scruff of its neck, his other hand driving a knife deep into its side. The wolf let out a pained yelp before collapsing to the ground, its body twitching.

Breathing heavily, Jiwon glanced at Jeonggukk, her heart racing. His face was calm, his eyes cold as ever, but there was something different about him now. Something raw, something dangerous. He was a man who had faced death countless times and come out the victor.

The remaining wolves, sensing the strength of their opponents, retreated into the shadows, their growls fading into the night.

Jiwon collapsed onto the ground, her body trembling with exhaustion. Her hands were covered in blood, her clothes torn, her body aching from the fight. She glanced down and realized with horror that her formal navy blue pants had been ripped during the struggle, the fabric torn open, exposing her lower body.

Her face flushed with embarrassment as she tried to cover herself, but there was nothing she could do. Her black lace panties were clearly visible, and the thought of Jeonggukk seeing her like this made her want to sink into the earth and disappear. She just wanted to die right now at the moment than to face this situation infront of Jeon Jeonggukk.

Jeonggukk stood nearby, his gaze inscrutable as he watched her struggle. He said nothing for a moment, his eyes unreadable as they flicked over her exposed skin.

The tension between them was thick, almost suffocating. The silence stretched on, awkward and unbearable. Finally, Jeonggukk broke the silence. But without a word, he unbuttoned his black shirt and handed it to her. His bare upper body gleamed in the dim light, his fine muscles taut and defined, his skin marred with faint scars, each one a testament to the battles he had fought and survived. The chiseled abs decorating his torso and those hottest tattoos making him look even more attractive with his long wet hairs sticking to his forehead.

Jiwon hesitated, her breath catching in her throat as she looked up at him. There was something oddly intimate about the gesture, something that made her heart race in a way she didn't understand.

"I don't need your pity," she muttered, though her voice lacked its usual venom. Though scanning the Mafia's bare upper body.

"This isn't pity," Jeonggukk replied, his voice cold and detached as ever. "It's practicality. You're exposed, and we can't afford any distractions."

She took the shirt, tying it around her waist to cover herself. The fabric was warm from his body, and she felt a strange comfort in the fact that it was his. She hated how vulnerable she felt, how exposed she had been in front of him, but there was an odd sense of relief as well. Despite everything, she trusted him. Trusted that he wouldn't take advantage of her situation.

As she adjusted the shirt around her waist, she glanced at Jeonggukk's bare chest. He was dangerous, cold, and calculating. But in that moment, she saw something else. Something human, something raw.

They sat in silence for a while, the weight of the night pressing down on them. The rain had stopped, but the forest still felt oppressive, the darkness suffocating. Yet, in the midst of it all, something had shifted between them. The cold animosity that had defined their relationship had melted away, replaced by a strange, uneasy closeness.

Jiwon couldn't help but wonder if the wilderness had stripped them down to their core, revealing something neither of them had anticipated.

Jeonggukk remained silent, his gaze fixed on the darkness beyond. He was still the same ruthless mafia king, still dangerous and unpredictable. But for the first time, Jiwon felt like she understood him. Or at least, a part of him. But she was thankful for everything Jeonggukk the demon king did for her until now.

And in that understanding, she found something she hadn't expected—an ally.

The night stretched on, but for the first time, Jiwon didn't feel completely alone.