Chapter 698: Divine Dragon Martial Arts Festival.

This is closer to word-of-mouth (oral tradition) and legends (folklore) than history.

It’s that kind of story.

In the very distant past.

Around the time a Dokkaebi committed a sin while longing for its homeland.

Because of the sin he committed, the framework of the world was crushed, and dimensions became distorted.

From within, beings who broke the laws began to pour out.

Rules collapse with a momentary action.

The collapsed rules began to break down the laws established by the world.

Countless lives died because of it.

Calling it punishment would be meaningless.

It would be more accurate to simply call it an accident.

Yes, it was an accident.

An accident committed due to ignorance.

However.

The situation that would unfold because of that accident was merely more severe.

-Kyaaaaaa!!

-S-save me!!

Screams ran rampant.

The world was stained with blood.

-It’s a monster!

Beings of unknown origin appeared and devoured humans.

The world is stained with death.

Seeing this, the Dokkaebi shed tears of fire.

After all, he had crushed the world with his own hands.

The world, too, became enraged.

Not because the innocent were dying.

The gods were angered because the laws they had set were broken.

The established rules were violated, and the world began to crumble.

The world, seeing this, spoke.

A broken world is not needed.

Therefore, we begin anew.

Such was the final judgment passed by the world.

Thus, the Dokkaebi thought.

That in this state, he could neither return to his own world nor simply watch the world fall apart.

So, what should be done?

The Dokkaebi thought again.

First, he decided he must close the gate from which beings were pouring out.

He needed to close the gate and then plead for leniency from the world.

For he was the one who committed the sin.

Therefore, he would seek leniency.

With that thought, the Dokkaebi finally closed the gate.

Closing the gate wasn’t difficult.

Enduring what came after closing it was another matter, but literally just closing it wasn’t that hard.

Having closed the gate, the Dokkaebi sought out the world.

He would resolve what he had done somehow, so he pleaded for leniency.

At that moment he wished for it so earnestly.

The world, surprisingly, granted the Dokkaebi’s wish.

It offered him a chance rather than erasing the world immediately.

As it spoke to the Dokkaebi, it burdened him with a certain sin.

If the Dokkaebi accepted this, the world would give both the Dokkaebi and the world a chance.

That was the condition.

The Dokkaebi had no choice from the start, so he accepted without hesitation.

Fortunately, the world did not speak falsehoods.

It gave him the chance, just as it had promised.

The problem was,

the punishment, called the condition the world imposed on the Dokkaebi, was far more brutal than expected.

Even if the Dokkaebi regretted it later,

this sin could never be stopped by himself.

******************

Tadak-! Seureureuk-!

The spectacle of energy unfolding before me.

The flow, dark like scorched black, fluttered in the air.

A darkness even deeper than the night-fallen forest.

I gazed at a small back within that strangely alien sight.

Wearing the familiar martial attire of the Gu family, black, long hair fluttered.

The eyes looking at me were as beautiful as someone else’s.

The violet pupils within them evoked a contradictory thought: they were hateful, yet beautiful.

Cheonma (Sky Demon).

I frowned, looking at the back of the woman called a calamity in my past life.

It was a small, delicate back.

Though it seemed so large in the past.

Now, it looked incredibly small.

“Who are you?”

As I asked in a disheveled voice, the Cheonma, who had glanced at me, turned her head back.

And then she stared straight ahead.

Standing before us was a fellow who claimed to be my grandfather.

“Hmm.”

Though covered in flames, making proper recognition difficult, he bore a human form and called himself my grandfather.

Even if not, I could tell just from the resonance of the Gu-Yeom-Hwa-Ryun-Gong.

That flame itself was the flame of the Gu-Yeom-Hwa-Ryun-Gong, and moreover,

recalling how he tried to take the Gu-Yeom-Hwa-Ryun-Gong itself from me, it made sense that he was my grandfather.

‘Though how he could take it is a question.’

In conclusion, I could tell it was a very dangerous situation.

Just then.

-Jjireureuk.

The sound of insects reached my ears.

The sounds that had stopped began to be heard again.

The wind brushed against my cheek.

The senses that had disappeared were gradually returning.

What had happened?

Did Grandfather ease his grip?

Or did something get twisted when the Cheonma appeared?

As doubts sprouted,

“Right.”

Grandfather spoke, looking at the appeared Cheonma.

“Ah, you were here. I had forgotten for a moment.”

The nodding of his head reminded me of someone.

Annoyingly, it resembled my own actions.

Or rather, did I resemble him?

“An aura of the inhuman (non-human). It’s been a while. Have you been well?”

“…”

At Grandfather’s words, the Cheonma extended her left hand.

Then.

Swiiish–!!!

The black energy floating in the air began to gather in the Cheonma’s hand.

As soon as I felt this, I sensed a tingling sensation.

It was an immense energy.

The compressed and condensed energy gradually changed shape at the Cheonma’s fingertips, resembling a sword.

It was a power I knew well.

It was something the Cheonma often used in her past life.

She never mentioned the name of the power back then.

The orthodox sects had given it the ridiculous name Cheonma-Shin-Geom (Sky Demon Divine Sword).

Then again, it deserved to be called a divine sword; swinging that sword once could change the landscape.

Saaah-.

The sword, now complete.

The Cheonma pointed the tip of the sword at Grandfather.

And spoke.

“Disappear.”

“…”

“This is not a place for you to come.”

“Haha.”

Grandfather chuckled at the Cheonma’s words.

“Well now…”

At that moment.

Woowoong-!

“Kkuhk…!”

My heart began to pound like crazy.

It was because the Gu-Yeom-Hwa-Ryun-Gong, which I had retrieved from Grandfather, was having a seizure.

It’s hot.

The heat spreads throughout my entire body along the meridians.

Chiiiik-!

Because of this, heat began to emanate from my body, which was quite painful.

“To think that a mere remnant like you dares to order me, an outsider, to leave.”

Grandfather seemed strangely provoked, his voice tinged with anger.

Is the flame reacting and having a seizure because of that?

“Anyone in this land can tell me to leave. But certainly not you two.”

Tap.

As I took a step, the surrounding air momentarily fluctuated greatly.

Whoook-!

At the same time, the temperature rose.

My skin felt hot, as if the forest had caught fire.

“Detestable thing.”

Kwooooo–!!

My breath felt choked by the surging energy.

I struggled to control the energy that was rampaging wildly.

Yet, it wouldn’t listen.

‘This fucking sucks.’

I gritted my teeth.

Meanwhile, Grandfather was slowly approaching the Cheonma.

In response, the Cheonma slowly moved her sword.

Are they about to fight?

‘Fuck this.’

I could only curse at the absurd situation.

This guy claiming to be Grandfather just shows up and acts like this, and the Gu-Yeom-Hwa-Ryun-Gong is suddenly acting up like a bitch.

The Cheonma, whom I had hated so much, drew her sword to block that Grandfather.

Is she trying to protect me?

The Cheonma?

‘Who the hell does she think she is.’

Seriously, what bullshit.

It’s literally bullshit.

Could the situation possibly be any more fucked up?

Kkuuk.

I clenched my fist.

And slammed it hard into my chest.

Kwoooong–!!!

Paahk-!

“Mm.”

“…!”

The Cheonma turned around at the rough sound of air being split.

I had hit myself so hard that the resulting air pressure burst outwards from my body.

“Kuhuk.”

Tuduk.

Blood trickled down.

I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand.

“Whoa, fuck…. That hurts like hell.”

Maybe because I was in a hurry, I couldn’t control it.

I stroked my chest with my hand.

Shit. My ribs are broken.

Even sighing felt painful, which was just great.

Should’ve hit myself softer.

The only fortunate thing was that after hitting myself like that, the Gu-Yeom-Hwa-Ryun-Gong stopped seizing.

That’s better than broken ribs.

Thanks to that, I can move a bit now.

The two of them looked here, seemingly surprised.

Ignoring them, I walked forward.

As I walked, I grabbed the Cheonma’s shoulder and pulled her back.

“…!”

The pulled Cheonma widened her eyes, but I didn’t look at her.

“Back off. Don’t interfere.”

This is a family event, after all.

It wasn’t a situation for an outsider to meddle in.

As I moved forward, catching my breath, Grandfather reacted with surprise.

“How did you break free?”

The seizure of internal energy.

He looked at me, who had escaped it, as if finding it strange.

“Perhaps because you’ve become inhuman, you could withstand my flame even for a moment-“

“Why is this your flame?”

Ptooey.

I spat on the ground.

It was all bright red blood.

“This is my flame.”

It’s the flame I raised through a lifetime of hardship, coaxing and soothing it.

“Who are you looking at? How much trouble did I go through to use this?”

“Hoho.”

Hiding my creaking body, I asked Grandfather.

“To think that you, calling yourself my grandfather, would try to snatch something from your grandson instead of giving him anything. Did you eat your age through your ass?”

I had already thrown manners out the window.

If the other party didn’t show me respect, I didn’t need to either.

He could take back the flame.

The unfamiliar sensation that came with it was bothersome, but I didn’t want to bow my head.

“Go ahead and take it if you can.”

“Child. You seem to be mistaken, but if I wish, I can take the seed anytime…”

“Then I’ll just fucking die right here.”

“…!”

“What did you say?”

“I said I’ll die if you take it.”

“…”

As expected.

Speaking with my life as collateral changed Grandfather’s attitude.

It was just as I predicted.

‘He must need me, right?’

Grandfather needed me.

Whether it was my body, my existence, or the young master candidate, I didn’t know.

The point was, he couldn’t afford for me to die.

“…Ha….”

Hearing this, Grandfather let out a hollow laugh.

Seeing that, I acted immediately.

“You think I can’t do it?”

I tilted my head and said, grabbing my own throat with my hand.

“Try taking it if you’re going to.”

“…”

If the flame is taken.

Grandfather and Father met, and although I don’t know what they discussed, a one-year grace period was mentioned.

It means he would take it away, preventing me from using the Gu-Yeom-Hwa-Ryun-Gong during that time.

If that happens,

‘Everything gets messed up.’

All my plans would be ruined.

It was a plan calculated even based on the level I had built.

If the Gu-Yeom-Hwa-Ryun-Gong were sealed here, it would mean the end.

‘That can’t happen.’

If it comes to that, I’d rather die here.

Speaking with that intent, Grandfather paused and looked at me.

We exchanged glances without a word.

It was hard to even call it a gaze.

It was just flames.

A brief silence followed.

“…Haha.”

Grandfather burst into laughter.

“Hahahahaha-!”

Woong-!!

Every time he laughed, the air around us trembled.

It wasn’t pressure from energy.

It felt subtly different.

“How amusing. That person raised their child interestingly.”

Could ‘that person’ refer to my father?

Then, does ‘raised interestingly’ mean criticism? It sounded like criticism to me.

“I never imagined you’d try to negotiate with me using your own life.”

“Negotiation? Such polite words. More accurately, I’m being threatened and just flailing.

It’s laughable, clicking my tongue like this.

“In this aspect, you strongly resemble your father.”

Grandfather reacted as if he had experienced something similar.

Then, looking at me, he said,

“Very well. Seeing your resolve, I shall not take the flame.”

He declared he wouldn’t take the Gu-Yeom-Hwa-Ryun-Gong. That was a relief.

However, I didn’t let out a sigh of relief.

“However.”

Grandfather’s words weren’t finished.

“Even so, the period is one year.”

“…Within that time, what? Come to Shingang?”

“Yes. More precisely, you must come after ascending to your position.”

“Why should I?”

“Because that is our duty.”

Hearing this, I scrunched up my face.

Duty my ass.

“What is there that requires me to go all the way there?”

“A Gate (Mun).”

“A Gate?”

“We guard the Gate. That is what we must do.”

Grandfather’s words, the Gate.

What could that mean? I didn’t think too deeply about it.

Because I didn’t have the luxury to think that deeply.

“It’s one year.”

Grandfather mentioned the timeframe again, as if reminding me.

“Before that time passes, ascend to the place where you belong.”

Become the young master and find Shingang.

That was what Grandfather wanted.

So I asked.

“And if I don’t?”

What happens if I don’t do it?

When I asked about it,

“If you want to, then do so.”

Grandfather told me in an indifferent tone.

“If you can, that is.”

“…Hmph.”

It was more insulting than telling me not to.

There was no escaping, no matter what I did.

Grandfather’s words clearly conveyed that sentiment.

As I was grinding my teeth and clenching my fists,

“Also, I hope you take good care of ‘that thing’ too.”

Grandfather’s eyes turned towards the Cheonma behind me, not me.

“Because it’s a precious key to us.”

“A key?”

“Yes, a key that locks the Gate so it can never be opened again.”

I frowned.

A key? The Cheonma?

“You said you entrusted this one to Gu Huibi. What exactly was your intention?”

Grandfather brought the Cheonma and entrusted her to Gu Huibi.

Where did he find her, and why? I couldn’t help but ask.

Grandfather mentioning the Cheonma as a key just now… did that mean the Gu family’s duty and the Cheonma were connected?

To my question, Grandfather nodded his head, just like my habit.

“It’s out of necessity. Precious things should be kept in plain sight.”

Out of necessity.

What bothered me more was the latter part.

Kept in plain sight.

That’s why he entrusted her to Gu Huibi. That statement irked me.

“As I wished, I’ve seen your face today, so I shall take my leave.”

Grandfather, cutting off his words, scanned somewhere.

It was empty air.

“It seems I have a guest arriving just in time.”

While fixing his gaze there, Grandfather continued to speak to me.

“Child. Remember this well. As long as the flame exists, I will continue to watch you.”

So,

“Let’s meet again.”

Saying that, Grandfather

Hwa-reuk-!

Turned into flames and vanished in an instant.

“…”

Beneath the lush grass of the forest, only the spot where he stood was scorched black.

As soon as he disappeared, I felt the air rapidly cooling and bit my lip.

“This really fucking sucks.”

It was absurd enough that he just showed up, but he vanished after saying that.

‘What? A dignified lunatic?’

I shuddered, recalling the Grandfather that Paejon spoke of.

‘Dignified my ass. He’s just a fucking lunatic.’

Where was the dignity? If that was dignity, the world itself was insane.

And now this ‘duty’… it felt like something I had been postponing indefinitely was suddenly brought forward.

‘One year?’

I recalled the timeframe Grandfather gave me.

‘Should I just run away?’

I had reached a level where I didn’t necessarily need to stay with the Gu family.

Ending the blood feud was a higher priority than inheriting the duty, so whether I became the young master or not, I could just leave.

[If you want to, then do so.]

Grandfather’s words echoed, spinning around in my head.

The certainty that I couldn’t escape eventually. That thought made my stomach churn.

“Hoo….”

I sighed, rubbing my dry face with one hand.

Jikkeun-!

I clicked my tongue at the throbbing pain in my chest.

It was my broken ribs acting up again.

‘At this rate, it’ll hurt for three days.’

Considering my increased regeneration speed, probably three days.

It should heal around that time.

I could just leave it, but just in case, let’s find Shin-ui.

Thinking so, I turned around.

Turning, I met violet eyes.

Right. I had momentarily forgotten I was with the Cheonma earlier.

“…”

The Cheonma was holding her shoulder with one hand, looking at me with an unreadable expression.

Why was she holding that shoulder?

‘Was it where I grabbed her earlier?’

The spot I pulled her back from.

Maybe she was holding it because I grabbed her too hard then?

‘I didn’t grab her that hard, though.’

As I watched, wondering if she was exaggerating,

“Are you leaving?”

The Cheonma spoke to me.

“Are you going?”

“Yeah. I’m getting out of here.”

I originally came to see Gu Huibi and the Cheonma, but in this state, I didn’t want to stay any longer.

Let’s go back.

I needed to go back to my quarters, think things over, and get some rest.

So, just as I tried to walk away, ignoring the Cheonma,

Kkwak.

The Cheonma grabbed my arm, stopping me.

“What?”

I glared at the Cheonma with an annoyed expression.

“Food.”

The Cheonma brought up a completely random topic.

“…What?”

“Eat before you go.”

“What kind of dog-shit nonsense is this?”

Why would I eat with you?

I’d probably get indigestion.

After going through all this, how could I possibly eat?

My appetite was gone, and just as I tried to shake her off and leave,

“My sister is waiting.”

At the Cheonma’s words, I couldn’t help but freeze.

“Why my sister?”

“Because she said she was coming to pick you up when she came out.”

She mentioned me when she came out?

“…Hmph.”

“Sister. She made something delicious. Let’s go.”

Mentioning Gu Huibi, the Cheonma pulled me along.

I wanted to leave immediately at the Cheonma’s actions, but hearing about Gu Huibi, I couldn’t help but relax my stance.

‘This might be for the best.’

Since it’s come to this, let’s finish everything while we’re here.

Thinking so, I closed my eyes.

******************

On the mid-slope formed by high rocks.

An old man sat perched there.

He wore only pants, his upper body bare.

Despite an appearance suggesting old age, his body was covered in muscles and scars.

Abundant white hair and a wrinkled face.

A battle-hardened physique that didn’t match.

Furthermore.

The long horns protruding from his forehead suggested he was no ordinary human.

“…”

After a long while, the old man opened his closed eyes.

Fiery red pupils were visible.

The old man, eyes open, rolled his gaze and suddenly broke into a smile.

“Kkuh-kuh.”

He seemed to be trying to suppress his laughter, but it wasn’t easy.

His reaction was clear, as if he had witnessed something amusing.

How long had it been?

It had been a very long time in the old man’s years.

As the old man chuckled for a while,

Tap.

Someone appeared behind the old man.

“It seems something amusing is happening.”

The newcomer asked, looking at the old man’s back.

The old man erased the smile he had been wearing and directed his gaze at the person who had appeared.

The previous smile was gone, leaving only chilling eyes on the old man.

“It was a time of deep emotion.”

I already knew the other party had appeared.

That’s why I had to quickly retrieve the flame.

“A dog of the world unnecessarily interferes with this.”

The young man, hearing this, spoke while looking at the old man.

“My apologies. However, I am also in a rather urgent situation.”

Despite the old man’s anger, the young man smiled nonchalantly.

“It’s nice to meet you, Gatekeeper. I’ve really wanted to see you.”

At that smile, the old man spoke.

“I was just on my way back from meeting your remnant.”

Even at the old man’s words, the young man.

Hyeolma (Blood Demon) did not erase his smile.

He was simply enjoying himself.

“I forgot about such trivial things long ago.”

What is energy, and what is the body?

To the current Hyeolma, none of that mattered.

“Rather than that, there’s something I want to ask.”

Hyeolma, or rather, Dokgo-jun, asked the old man with bloodshot eyes.

“Gatekeeper.”

He too erased the smile he had been wearing.

“Where is the Gate of the Divine Realm (Shingye)?”

At that moment.

Hwa-reu-reuk—!!

As the question followed, the old man’s horns ignited red.

Dokgo-jun’s pupils split vertically, emitting light.

Kwaaaaaak-!!

An explosion erupted on the spot.