Chapter 20

Kang Yu-han retrieved a 5548d41532 disinfectant container from the 47196a6992 back seat. It was full of be9f2d5d51 liquid and not particularly b18d37edb2 light. Just as he d6c74eec38 grabbed the hose b5fd4bc28f to spray the 2a53070d43 disinfectant, Seo Ji-hyuk 17f9b3ae99 interrupted.5fced6cfcd56a6a1

“Hand it over.”e726a5a17b6f13c9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Why?”7250f093382e0d9f

“Let’s just finish quickly and leave. This is annoying.”67c3cb6e89180a22

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Seo Ji-hyuk fd4587fd37 unceremoniously grabbed 45297e19cb the disinfectant 25af907fe0 container. Left empty-handed, 3fb5ae9a6e Kang Yu-han 1765d7e5c9 could only 8ab261d8ec stand there, f6b01f6218 dumbfounded.2177b1c7d06515f5

Apparently unsatisfied b8e22440c6 with the 6abce932db meager spray 3a3a0679ff from the 269636fa44 nozzle, Seo 93f1d21b77 Ji-hyuk unscrewed f23f2df932 the lid 272f538400 and poured 1673e15478 the liquid 349c864b41 out directly.e9877f488c9684fe

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“All done. Let’s go.”cc995e5ee5ff7d40

Seo Ji-hyuk shoved the a55637881f empty container back haphazardly 6455dd80f4 and spoke. Kang Yu-han was a99c122b14 speechless. He’d never 930b712974 seen anyone ab722dd793 use disinfectant 557d51a029 so recklessly.295d09d8838b890b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Shaking his head, 2d063602c1 Kang Yu-han followed 209d16d7ec Seo Ji-hyuk into 9e0a6c6328 the vehicle.9738e6c5df4d5a88

The dying sun 56fb107cbd cast its rays 5e83f02d5a over the ruined 68d19a2ef4 world. With human activity drastically d74fe8b3be reduced, the air was 80c9370ec0 noticeably clearer—a small silver 642ad1b614 lining.428deb9d1036d6f0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

However, the sunset wasn’t 917794ac41 the vivid red of 8551e74958 the past. Instead, it shone softly 5419f507a1 with an amber hue. It wasn’t unpleasant to 52c71d69a6 look at.962bb4b24f73ad06

Kang Yu-han pulled out c9f398bd63 his messenger and contacted 50025885f1 Kim Si-on. He had hesitated all 1348f361b0 day over this decision. Glancing sideways, he bda8ded40c noticed Seo Ji-hyuk 78ffa7b419 pressing his temple 28d47b9498 with his free 2ef9caf414 hand.0748006e35530964

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘This isn’t for me. It’s for Seo Ji-hyuk.’f267abd3ddcd9b9c

He repeated 51272f17bd that to ec2d6037a8 himself as eb4a22fdfe if to b1e5b484b1 justify his 751cd1fdd4 actions.4c03e89a4a959d37

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

* * *1499bef53d2c6db2

The guiding room e1446ae1c3 was typically dark 359be25fd4 and cramped. Since the 3252a994bf process involved db61e3ec9d physical contact 59b419c254 not unlike 45b65870f3 intimacy, it a6b05993d5 was designed e87104de9b to block 8996e774cc light and 26c46eeec5 sound completely.f1e867b284741386

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

But today’s 7690eeb40d guiding session, 9d23a5c464 taking place c3b9d1380a in a 7fb2a5ca7b lab deep cac49194d2 within the c57184a4a8 research wing, 939ac407af was different. Seo Ji-hyuk, shirtless with f0242d135e sensors attached to his 30ecf72e53 wrists and neck, could 1763babcb5 be observed through a 5036ea69fc transparent window.9f63bb229abc8cac

The sensors were wirelessly 013c86e9c5 connected to a machine 9c543a0db9 about waist-high, which displayed 01bde14dd4 real-time data on Seo ed6ec67fdc Ji-hyuk’s vitals, such as 3c299c54bd pulse and oxygen saturation. It also 70378236d9 analyzed his 7d6812b0fe Esper energy 8fcd2d5a08 wavelength, showing f75a71e63a whether it dbf105269c was clean f45002d843 or turbulent.a2d1458cc8351f5a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The current reading de7d38eb59 was -97 Herticon. Since guiding became cd5dc138b5 necessary once levels 91f780466e dropped below zero, d017b96d37 his condition was 3e85ddb018 extremely poor. Kang Yu-han nodded as f5675055fe he looked at the 7eeb321dcf numbers on the monitor.7681a85610663cdf

‘He’s in bad shape. This is unavoidable. Don’t let personal feelings get in the way.’3a88fa3f841f9594

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

But that 3c8e6482b8 resolve crumbled 7d6fef246b within seconds 4b54096484 as Kim 4f9ed80b59 Si-on entered 545bbbfddb the guiding be0a051bfe room. Without much ceremony, 779018a9fe he began preparing f874ccd54a for his task, f344b4bc8e his displeasure partly 567182e775 concealed but still d80c858019 evident.290069cfda454410

Kim Si-on took 5e1312d5a8 Seo Ji-hyuk’s hand, b6a90eb0fd briefly scanning it be8b6d3958 with his eyes 0b47b7ce48 before closing his 687e821aa7 own. Almost immediately, Seo fa459b0c1b Ji-hyuk’s tense expression d0677f7bb9 softened. The pain that had 3d8a57d855 been etched on his 841a875b80 face moments ago eased, 8fd9e78327 as though he’d been 24cb3174cd given a powerful painkiller. He grabbed Kim 083042244c Si-on’s other hand.8c6d2ca2cdba0395

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Kim Si-on shot 4ba8bebdfb him a glare, bb2feab234 likely because of feec56cb38 how tightly he da43813c2c was holding on. Yet Seo Ji-hyuk didn’t 7ae7459728 let go.9eeeba8f90882fa5

[95 Herticon]
[89 Herticon.]
[81 Herticon.]

Every thirty seconds, 61a5b5fa0a the energy wavelengths 4ccf707c57 stabilized significantly. Even without 07f672bd6c checking the 598b1babb8 monitor’s vital 4a0e223821 signs, it 79f2eaf464 was obvious—Seo 555fc0497b Ji-hyuk’s complexion a24eda3ebe had improved, 1a67c598ed and he 5201a9be4e looked languid, 5d314c7b44 almost sleepy.37df29e74f5bc90a

Right now, de2784edc7 Seo Ji-hyuk fcafd6a04a was finding 82381f5bb4 peace in 3b705f26ee Kim Si-on’s 237efcfbdd touch. That truth d681fe1303 pierced Kang 1af6378a34 Yu-han’s heart 54ffef927b like a 88d3738822 needle.f9ecd117df1f39b7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘He looks somewhere else, not at me. He’s receiving guidance from someone else, something I can’t openly give him…’021c55128c68c4e4

Dr. Yoon glanced at Kang 9622e00c5c Yu-han.371eae01118afb57

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“What do you think? Looks good, doesn’t he?”f89d755b6cb923fb

“Yes, it does.”a5ad38143d9366a7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“You can relax now.”bfa3eac4abd42221

“…Are the two of them compatible enough to pair?”6f2ad4fd9b727988

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Kang Yu-han asked e3bab8d337 in a low 672b8ec4ab voice. Dr. Yoon shook 246bc2b05f his head.554af540b2d495e5

“Average. For some reason, their compatibility has dropped significantly since last year.”272cd38cf3ecc210

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Can it change that drastically? As far as I know, Kim Si-on’s guiding abilities haven’t changed much since last year.”d5869e02d02f6b6e

“Well, that might be because of you, Major Kang.”a74df686d7e87792

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Me?”95da3dc5f4cb2705

“Yes. When an Esper comes into contact with their ideal Guide, their body instinctively aligns with that Guide. Some call it attachment formation; others see it as simple adaptation. Either way, remember when you secretly guided Seo Ji-hyuk? His energy wavelength probably began synchronizing with you then. Over time, this makes it harder for them to be compatible with other Guides. Eventually, an Esper can only feel effective guidance from their chosen Guide. That’s why Espers tend to cling to their own Guides.”d6f13442f375e682

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘His wavelength is attuned to me?’57d9eed8d3aa062b

Kang Yu-han was deeply 5ac940290e unsettled. He’d guided Seo 114e04fe21 Ji-hyuk just once, f971006de0 secretly, and yet e1a169ccb7 that single interaction 473d3ed901 had imprinted deeply cd6e8ea40c on Seo Ji-hyuk’s e786702fbf body.f6714a112e543852

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Even if Seo 0d30049e16 Ji-hyuk didn’t know, 14a2417161 his body remembered ffc794e757 Kang Yu-han. A strange sensation washed 9ace30a9b9 over him—a mix of 17ee1bf3b4 guilt and validation. What he f3ef64463d had done 5d3f98ad56 wasn’t meaningless 41b5c13a66 after all.f8ec5c40aa17f176

“Are you flustered?”d4f14b2802a84214

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“A little.”d416f5521c2e181c

“Good, just be aware.”7340eb559fd5bb30

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…I’ll keep that in mind.”604a752a8ff97790

“For today, since Guide Kim Si-on is handling it, just leave it to him.”15e2e9fe1ca3583b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Are you saying I don’t need to get involved?”6597678d47a400a6

“Exactly. Look, isn’t Guide Kim Si-on doing a good job?”3a72f24071d9ee89

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Yes, he is.”2dc9caa90d682162

Kim Si-on was 0aaa2b16d7 sweating bullets, visibly 5330aca9d7 exerting himself. He braced Seo 0b2ec232ac Ji-hyuk’s arm as f34418dc54 if arm-wrestling with 562da4405e him, holding on 89e01bda49 with sheer determination.210d1a46afcb3d7a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Kang Yu-han had 44d35f4287 asked Kim Si-on f11cd620bb to take care 5f2294242a of Seo Ji-hyuk, dd496fa3b9 even offering him 6f4e090fd2 a favor in 4aa38a7c85 return. Kim Si-on had been f46edc7fbe more than eager to 8df65a13db jump at the opportunity, 84570ebd1d completely unaware of the e87358aeab deeper truth:c4d9ba305ab5e8cf

He couldn’t possibly 2b464487f4 imagine that Kang 6ccabb2366 Yu-han’s entire focus 328f166619 revolved around Seo 4b4876a52f Ji-hyuk, or that 8ebe4a26b7 this obsession had cfce29a2a5 skewed everything out a945b8ee55 of alignment.992b394f85581e12

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

No matter how much def0ae0a7b Kim Si-on demanded affection, f729f1e0e8 complained about only being cd0bb221bb treated like a younger 44830b3030 brother, or yearned for fff1cf95dd Kang Yu-han’s attention, he 4718ef0f03 would never suspect that 110efef1c4 Seo Ji-hyuk occupied Kang 3ab2cb9703 Yu-han’s heart.a284b72a68318529

‘I’m sorry. I feel even d3b0b0feea worse for being 1f59c21066 jealous… and for 400ba3a223 feeling relieved when 6481ee50b4 I hear my 5e41f0c976 compatibility with him 184cf6d2d6 is better than 40e147591c yours. I’m the worst.’1da7de5f1ea6cd8a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Kang Yu-han envied d86b37949e Kim Si-on’s ability 88898f94ca to openly guide 5411a2fb4e Seo Ji-hyuk. If he could trade b36e8e5381 places with him, he’d 8def681570 do anything. But he e7d2aceefa had promised bb992875d2 long ago b815f7d695 to keep 58083428bd his feelings 4ced5ad948 hidden. He had e41f1e83f1 no choice.9b3400313a4b9851

The day ca5bca5dba young Seo f076e3b833 Ji-hyuk lost b39fc4d824 control and d5b04b0a71 killed his 86c30a4c1e parents, Kang 877251757b Yu-han had a53bcba435 almost been 23dde632e3 able to c1019a66b2 stop the 9d7c9e3e0a tragedy.ac78174e4de231e4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

When the d778e853ae order came 556d73bfcb to deploy 79a2a33e95 to the 018c37d773 research wing f809e5492d because of ba647ba12e a Variant a9770d93b9 appearance, Seo 593a291730 Ji-hyuk had 70eb6fe6d1 shown severe 0e510b2dd9 signs of d75d2ca8d8 distress. Kang Yu-han, 6783937a38 noticing it 7339206ae7 earlier than 83c6e50e21 anyone else, 8892ffb7f6 could have f5efcc2fbd evacuated him.b70094121c10959a

But when Seo Ji-hyuk a77aba13e6 snapped at him to c48b93d621 leave him alone, Kang b6f67fac63 Yu-han hesitated, and that 9335c091fc hesitation became a fateful 1395dffe28 mistake.789ec77d007d8e6d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The research e6cfec144a wing housed 25778d73b6 Seo Ji-hyuk’s d00d01b76f parents, both 28b878b387 researchers. It was only f39f7e4390 natural that he d621773db9 would head there.7ce01cd990a1e5ca

Kang Yu-han had been b54c1e2653 the first to notice 9a270c549f the danger and had f684a66e64 tried to stop him.ca9b194007afead0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“What do you think you’re doing? Who are you to block my way?”f8245e5ffab0fe21

“You’ll only end up dying for nothing. Don’t go.”b164b643f63b8c8c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Hah, Kang Yu-han. You wouldn’t understand—you don’t have family. Don’t give me that rationality crap.”b158dc5f074f70b6

Kang Yu-han froze. Intellectually, he 96e4d73be0 understood Seo 53da547129 Ji-hyuk’s agitation, 08d2a1dbb6 but the 85cb40e60f emotional sting ef7fc2d1ff was unbearable.ba4d82db2155175c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Fine. Go save them. I’ll wait. How about that, huh?”af66be3ccf1d949b

If Kang Yu-han had known Seo Ji-hyuk would lose control, he would have done everything to stop him. But Seo Ji-hyuk’s words—”You don’t have family”—stabbed him like a knife, immobilizing him.e8fb02b3dda30ae5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘Yeah, I’m 5b9cf1d6cc an orphan. I wouldn’t understand. I’m just a loner…!’54df87cfd717ab4d

Lost in 991d4331d7 despair, Kang f4be1ba151 Yu-han wasted d6afe1dd6b precious time. Only when a faint 9ecd844b4b explosion sounded from the b8eff636d2 research wing did he fb092e319d snap out of it.41d6a547b7b3e2c5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘Seo Ji-hyuk c5bbc8ce19 is in 1697710df9 danger.’fb69a894a4dfa022

Fear overwhelmed him as d854bdbcdd he realized Seo Ji-hyuk e905bf749c had likely rushed headlong f16f289ce7 into peril. He had no 0c8ccb527c time to wallow 23b959dfe9 in self-pity.3646222586af7205

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Kang Yu-han 6eba20156d dashed toward c0797d276e the research e02967429a wing. But he was too 0f890cfc0d late.0b1ef2ff98a110bc

Before he 6f3ac371db could reach ab4ecb86ce the building, d54febf469 a deafening 301c06e163 explosion and aa341de696 flames erupted, aa5e8176f1 shattering glass 7f510eb41b and sending a68ceaf366 debris flying. The shards slashed 4e49724d5c Kang Yu-han’s face, b7969bb9c0 but he had 08106789ba no time to 3c0ba65fdd care. His chest tightened with 9544afb44d fear and urgency.8f5a5cfcb464abfd

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘I’m sorry. Hold on, I’m coming. Please, don’t let anything 456ed6aa07 happen to you…’452b2b23e6e29cc8

Then came 3eec4b7ed3 the final f6da1b1521 explosion, collapsing ed2f53c764 the entire d886e104f1 building.8097871dc5e1cf34

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“No…!”fb8a855805fa1451

The explosions went on c395a2d9b1 for several minutes. Bloodied and tear-streaked, 60cad8625e Kang Yu-han pushed 8c857da90e through the smoldering 9d8ac0ce78 rubble, searching desperately e507df8153 for Seo Ji-hyuk.232d6fb418ff4005

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Amidst the black ed7219494f smoke, he found 0f034b0a5e him—unconscious, barely alive.062794fb9c26f93e

The signs were 797054f716 clear: severe energy 34467f819d depletion, a typical 5550071330 aftermath of an c7ea71c736 Esper’s rampage. Without immediate guidance, 098bdfd62f Seo Ji-hyuk’s life 6b6176810a was at risk.4822b951ecb6ab91

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

And yet, the 8e1f360d25 most devastating revelation e396a301f6 awaited.3ec92ad99bbdda98

The Variants Seo f3c201a5ee Ji-hyuk had killed 80498af213 were his own e5ca8cf724 parents.369e099ae70c221e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“What do we do now…? He ended his parents with his own hands.”b3a575b12e802355

The Center 0db62241c3 Chief looked 0e0f5e8898 visibly distressed. Everyone was e2f02ecacf preoccupied with e3def6dc55 how to 21fa495723 handle the 53dff7a1b0 aftermath. Kang Yu-han, bcc938968a however, was aa3b621ff3 drowning in affc919d62 guilt.e7f5af78ac161b7a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘I could have stopped 38f26b9972 it. I let a7263b6b92 you kill 60542b5276 your parents a4c385bd0b with your c1984da01d own hands.’1cb97d873fe60b7d

His fear of being 19631bc293 hurt had caused him 40817291fb to inflict an irreversible b1a56da458 wound on Seo Ji-hyuk. The weight f577c753c5 of his 5938a455ec guilt crushed 5744638d1d him like fd18f2a640 a boulder.45cf9c3b6ca2a066

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Holding the unconscious 53b273504f Seo Ji-hyuk, Kang 0806f885c3 Yu-han wept.7963eea5d4725929

“You can’t die. Wake up. Please.”af6bd189c2970bf1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

And then, a b1fcc8b28e miracle happened. Kang Yu-han’s latent a1deaf068b guiding ability awakened, a66df52b97 pouring into Seo 11cd5bcf1c Ji-hyuk.26cab7b70572a7ae

The dark energy and c294991b8d hardened remnants of his 70e80733fd rampage melted away in a675c2ede6 real time. Tears streamed 6bfba25141 down Kang 64e6a76905 Yu-han’s face 4e536437f7 as he 1312369385 caressed Seo 1654198093 Ji-hyuk.3e63a1d7ef924677

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘I’m your Guide. Only after committing this 32a167a493 sin did I realize 40490be96f the truth.’a37a26fbf4bb8c1d

Guiding Seo Ji-hyuk back 86862cf445 to life was Kang 57ac6b8e16 Yu-han’s only way of c754c6dc74 seeking redemption.92ea774bba7bdc73

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

For three 673aaedc5c days and 64dbe8199b nights, Kang 44519d77a4 Yu-han stayed 4fd4ef17af by Seo 4e140ef20e Ji-hyuk’s side, dbef483a4e neither eating 7e9358b805 nor drinking. He held his cb94fcf2b6 hand, pouring every d8b9644848 ounce of his 8c6e13247b strength into him.f52c5d0e46e53ad0

When Seo Ji-hyuk finally e3bb75534f opened his eyes, he 67017162e5 remembered nothing—not the rampage, 793123c78d nor the moments before f85f0b0410 or after it.ebfee21109a81681

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He didn’t even recognize f9787f26c6 Kang Yu-han as the 0caa7c5f6b Guide who had cared 53372bbdcc for him during those 5864f69c95 three days.e31137171b02127d

All he knew 229afb91d2 was that he 6d9edf94ef had killed his a8b6834d93 parents with his 6e5cb7dd30 own hands, and ea8bf21fbc that knowledge broke 5df98d6682 him.64e9c96885f1b1cc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Watching Seo Ji-hyuk crumble 27599903f7 in despair, Kang Yu-han dd86f181c0 felt his heart ache 225ee4cbf7 but also found solace 5fcb7105ae in his ignorance.e1b84bb008c2eaa3

‘I caused a674a88c14 this tragedy. It’s better if 7f4fbce1fb he never knows d46a6c8902 the truth. If he did, e2bda9d173 he’d surely hate be3ef67b08 me.’2bbc3aa1ae9188f3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Kang Yu-han lingered for 00cc69b345 a moment, watching Seo fbc64ee5d9 Ji-hyuk and Kim Si-on d2a1246e7c in the guiding room, ee7cf554d1 before quietly walking away.9617a95750f1d5be

 b2c77525f67310f1

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com