A car sped down the road.
Inside, Manager Kim turned to Xin Qu Tao. "We need to find the second successor quickly and protect him. Our information is limited. If you know anything—"
Xin Qu Tao cut him off. "I'm sorry, but Zu Pengguan's second son, Cho Gwigwan—his information is top secret. We know almost nothing about him either."
Baki questioned, "Aren't you Tian Wai Tian guys supposed to guard Zu Pengguan and his successors? How can you not know anything about him?"
Xin Qu Tao shook his head and replied, "He's never been interested in succeeding Master Zu, so Master Zu hid him from the world. But if I had to say anything, it's that he's very similar to Master Zu—especially his personality."
Tom Lee reassured them, "Don't worry. There's no way Section Chief Shin will fail—"
Xin Qu Tao, who was driving at high speed, suddenly slammed the brakes, throwing everyone forward. In front of the car stood a tall man in a long coat.
Seeing him, Xin Qu Tao tensed. He turned to Manager Kim. "Successor, I don't know if you've heard, but Master Zu always told us that South Korea was a place inhabited by monsters. There are people like that in China too."
Baki asked with a grin, "So that guy is one of them?"
Xin Qu Tao nodded. "That's Hong Wichun. They say he can predict the future. He's one of the few talents Master Zu coveted."
Everyone exited the car. Manager Kim, Hansu Seong, and Jinchoel Park immediately attacked Hong Wichun.
None of them could land a blow. Hong Wichun dodged each attack as if he could see the future. Tom Lee laughed. "He can see it in his eyes... the next moves."
Xin Qu Tao said urgently, "We can't waste time here. We need to reach the second successor before the others do."
Tom Lee was about to speak, but Baki was faster. "Old man, take the others with you. I'd like to see what kind of eyes this guy has."
Tom Lee laughed. "Brat, be careful. That guy isn't ordinary."
Hong Wichun, busy dodging Hansu Seong's kicks, suddenly bumped into someone. Behind him stood Baki with a mad grin. He immediately leaped backward.
"What? I didn't sense him at all!"
Baki looked at the others. "I'll take care of him on behalf of White Tiger Job Center. You guys go find the second successor."
Hong Wichun stared at Baki with a thoughtful expression. "He's different. There's no way a human can completely erase their presence."
But Baki didn't give him time to contemplate. He rushed forward with a flurry of punches. Hong Wichun dodged them with ease. Then suddenly, Baki vanished from his sight. A kick connected with Hong Wichun's ribs, sending him flying.
Hong Wichun understood. "If I want to defeat this beast, even one-second predictions aren't enough. I need to see beyond that—every anomaly, every change."
He rushed at Baki and threw a rear hook. Baki dodged and counterattacked. For a while they exchanged blows, none connecting.
Hong Wichun understood. "This guy is similar to me." He laughed. "You can see it, can't you?"
But Baki didn't understand the question. Ever since his fight with that blonde guy named Guile, he'd gained the ability to release endorphins actively at will. In that relaxed state, his body reacted to attacks instinctively. But if he maintained that state too long, his body grew weak.
Time passed, but the fight showed no signs of ending. Though Baki easily dodged each attack, Hong Wichun did the same. Rarely did either land a hit. The battle reached a stalemate.
Baki tried every technique he knew—judo, kudo, taekwondo, boxing—but Hong Wichun dodged everything.
Suddenly, Hong Wichun's punch connected with Baki's face. He'd started catching on to Baki's muscle reactions. The thing was, Hong Wichun's ability differed fundamentally from Baki's. Hong Wichun could read people's muscle twitches and act accordingly, while Baki acted on instinct. Baki didn't know what he was doing, but Hong Wichun did. As the fight continued, Hong Wichun began reading and reacting to Baki's muscle twitches.
Hong Wichun's fist smashed into Baki's face again. Blood sprayed from his nose. Before Baki could pull back, a fast kick struck his stomach.
"I can see everything now," Hong Wichun said. Hi33s eyes tracked every subtle movement in Baki's muscles.
Baki tried to punch back, but Hong Wichun moved first. He kicked high, aiming for Baki's head. Baki ducked automatically. But Hong Wichun already knew he would duck. He brought his leg down like an axe, slamming it into Baki's shoulder.
Baki dropped to one knee. Pain shot through his arm, but it was quickly suppressed by the endorphins coursing through his body.
Hong Wichun didn't stop. He threw two fast punches straight at Baki's face. Baki moved his head left, then right, dodging them both. The third punch—a curved strike from the side—hit him in the ear. Everything went fuzzy for a second.
Hong Wichun stepped in close. He twisted his body and drove his fist straight into Baki's ribs—the same spot as before. Baki felt something crack. He tried to move back, but Hong Wichun saw it coming.
A spinning kick hit Baki square in the chest. The impact knocked him backward, his feet dragging across the ground.
"Shit..." Baki coughed up blood. His body was reacting on its own, but Hong Wichun was always one step ahead.
Hong Wichun walked forward slowly. He faked a high punch. Baki's shoulder moved to block. Hong Wichun's real attack came low—a hard kick to Baki's front leg. Baki's knee buckled.
Hong Wichun closed in. His elbow cracked against Baki's arm. Then came the punches—one, two, three, four. Straight punches, curved punches, an uppercut. All of them landed. Baki's guard was useless.