Life is Easier If You're Handsome novel Chapter 117

The scene unfolds on a snow-covered set, where light flakes of snow fall gently over the thick layers from the previous day's storm.

"...Feels like we're heading into war." "My thoughts exactly."

The extras gathered, shivering under an unfamiliar tension.

Part of it was due to the cold, but the larger reason was the intimidating atmosphere Kim Donghu commanded.

"We’re using prop swords for sure, and we’re even wearing stab-proof vests underneath just in case..."

So why did the sword in Kim Donghu's hand look as sharp as a real blade?

Even veteran extras accustomed to period dramas found themselves overwhelmed by the oppressive presence he exuded.

"Isn't he cold at all?"

As they spoke, the extras shifted their gaze toward Kim Donghu.

No matter how warmly lined his underclothes might be or how thickly his white robe was tailored for winter, it seemed unimaginably cold.

"Being young has its perks, huh." "Do you even call that just 'young'?"

He showed no signs of discomfort.

If anything, his stoic demeanor only heightened the tension around him.

He truly looked like a general about to lead his army into battle, filling even those without a shred of anxiety with a sense of apprehension.

Gulp.

Amid the sound of someone swallowing nervously beside them—

"Alright, we're starting the shoot! Everyone, gather around!"

The long-awaited filming began.

Gulp.

Director Yoon Seongbin swallowed hard as he observed the prepared set.

'The story itself is quite simple.'

The scene revolved around Jo Seonghak and Yi Taeseong meeting rebels. A clash between those trying to reclaim and those trying to take.

What followed was betrayal and a bloody battle.

Clang!

As the camera rolled, extras fell one by one.

"He's alone anyway! If we want to finish this, we can!"

The rebels shouted to rally their spirits.

"He's completely worn out!"

They emphasized how exhausted Yi Taeseong must be.

"He's human too; he must be tired by now!"

But he was a monster.

He had already killed over a hundred men with his own hands, including three high-ranking officers.

When their base was attacked, it became clear—he was even more monstrous than Jo Seonghak, who ran beside him.

Pursuing him relentlessly through thickets and dense woods, the realization hit too late: Yi Taeseong had vanished.

'Did he escape?'

Though they believed they had cast an unbreakable net, the rebel forces were ultimately nothing more than untrained farmers, leaving gaps in their formation.

"We may need to split up and search more thoroughly—"

The rebel leader, Cheondo, turned to consult Jo Seonghak but found him gone.

He had been running alongside him moments ago—where had he disappeared to?

Cheondo's face showed confusion, but Jo Seonghak, having predicted Yi Taeseong’s movements from the start, stepped forward confidently.

"There you are."

Jo Seonghak successfully blocked Yi Taeseong’s path.

Though he could have joined the rebels in killing him, Yi Taeseong was, in a way, the disaster he had summoned. Jo Seonghak decided it was his responsibility to resolve the mess he'd created.

"I've come to end you myself."

A disaster of his own making, one he had to sever with his own hands. Drawing his sword, Jo Seonghak locked eyes with Yi Taeseong.

'It's absurd how unscathed he looks except for his breathing.'

He had slaughtered over a hundred men.

His blade was chipped beyond repair, his white robe drenched in blood. Yet apart from his heavy breathing, nothing about him seemed to falter.

If anything, it was as though his body had warmed up just right. Yi Taeseong’s sharp gaze gleamed as he flashed a faint smile.

"My lord, it's not too late. If you reconsider your intentions—"

I will spare your life.

His composure, built on the belief that no one was following him, revealed his confidence. Just how far could his instincts take him?

'He’s nothing short of a beast.'

Jo Seonghak tightened his grip, steeling himself.

At that moment—

"As the saying goes, ‘He who keeps bad company becomes corrupted.’ There’s not a word of it that’s untrue."

Yi Taeseong sighed deeply, drawing his sword. A sigh that conveyed the futility of words.

As his breath ended, his gaze sharpened, and in an instant, the distance between him and Jo Seonghak disappeared.

Eyes ablaze.

"A sword demon."

Jo Seonghak muttered in genuine awe as he moved to block Yi Taeseong’s strike—or so he thought.

Clang!

From the very first clash, it felt as though Yi Taeseong had orchestrated everything. Jo Seonghak, utterly overpowered, was pushed back with laughable ease.

'?!'

The shock was genuine for both Jo Seonghak and Jin Yuseong, the actor playing him.

'Why is he this strong?'

Though both wielded the same prop swords designed for their roles, Kim Donghu's felt as solid as real steel.

Much like a scene from Swordsman Baek Dongsoo, the altered path aimed for Yi Taeseong’s head.

Shing!

Clink!

Thunk!

Thus, The Traitor: Roots of Corruption came to its conclusion. Though Jo Seonghak, the infamous corrupt official, had died, Yi Taeseong lived on in his hideous infamy.