Chapter 1127: Scorched World.

Running away?

The words Namgung Hyung had just uttered echoed in my ears. Running away?

‘No way…….’

Had this guy lost his mind?

I could only stare at him blankly, unable to even respond.

The reason for my reaction wasn’t simply because Namgung Hyung said he was going to run away.

‘I knew this would happen eventually.’

Namgung Hyung was destined to become Goeseon later on. And I knew that to achieve that, he would have to escape the Namgung family, so that wasn’t new information.

‘But he wants to do it now?’

It was the fact that he wanted to attempt this right now that left me dumbfounded.

Out of the blue. And precisely when the Namgung family’s banquet was starting? This was…

‘Ah.’

My mind flashed. Could this guy possibly be…

‘Trying to do it deliberately during the banquet?’

It seemed like he was waiting for the right moment, thinking now was the time. Since everyone was celebrating, there would never be a time when security was lower than now.

So, he planned to use this opportunity to make his escape.

“……And you want me to help you with that?”

Help me with that escape?

“Right. What do you think? Sounds good, doesn’t it?”

“Good? Are you kidding me, you lunatic?”

He asked me to take his side once, and now he’s asking this? Is he serious?

“How could I possibly help with that?”

“Why? Just help a little.”

“……Don’t you know I’m just a guest?”

Not just any guest, but personnel from the Martial Arts Alliance sent as support. And he wants someone like me to help a clan member run away? There was no crazier request than this.

‘What if we get caught?’

It was obviously going to be a massive headache. I had no idea what would happen if I helped.

“Hmm…… Then maybe it’s too much to ask?”

“……Too much or not. Why don’t you realize that thinking this would even work is the mistake?”

“I thought you’d help. Ah, regardless, I was going to do it even if you didn’t help.”

“What does that mean?”

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t help. Just stay quiet then.”

Banggeut. Namgung Hyung said with a smile.

“Because I have to get out of this hell one way or another today.”

“…….”

Hell.

The word made my brow furrow.

“There’s no other day but today. If not today…… I don’t know what I’ll have to do.”

He said it with a smile, but the emotion in his voice was far from pleasant. The thick, intense feeling within it was more than enough to gnaw at my insides.

“Anyway. You can help with at least this much, right?”

“…….”

I didn’t answer. I just let out a sigh. Just stay quiet. That was the easiest thing in the world.

Reminding myself of that, I said to Namgung Hyung.

“……If I help. What do I need to help with?”

“Oh?”

Namgung Hyung’s eyes widened at my question.

---

It was during the ongoing banquet. Even though the night had deepened, the fervor hadn’t died down, and the entire Namgung estate was still buzzing.

Of course, security still needed to be maintained, so some martial artists were patrolling the surroundings as ordered. However, their numbers were significantly lower than usual.

By percentage, it was safe to say about thirty percent were missing.

At this time, Namgung Hyung and I were slowly moving around the building.

To be precise, we were using a secret passage.

The place we arrived at was none other than the interior of the vault.

“……Let’s see.”

Upon arriving at the vault, Namgung Hyung looked around various places. As he rolled his eyes, Namgung Hyung soon spotted something, strode forward, and picked something up.

‘So that’s what he came for.’

I confirmed the item Namgung Hyung was grabbing. It was Noea. Namgung Hyung had come to get Noea.

“……You’re taking that?”

As I watched Namgung Hyung fussing over Noea, I asked. He replied with a sullen expression.

“Honestly, I don’t want to take it, but I made a promise.”

“With whom?”

“Someone. A grumpy old man.”

“…….”

I didn’t need to ask further to know who it was.

‘Noecheonilgeom.’

Noecheonilgeom.

He must have come to pick up that person contained within Noea. Did he make a promise regarding the Namgung family’s sword back then too?

I wasn’t sure, but that was probably the reason. Actually, before Mageomhu took up the sword, its owner was Goeseon.

The only thing bothering me was.

‘……I thought he’d leave Noea behind since the past was altered?’

Goeseon had said he had no choice but to take Noea back then.

I wasn’t sure, but I remembered Noea helping him when he caused a major incident within the Namgung family.

‘But not now.’

If he’s running away now, there’s no need to take Noea. What’s the reason for taking it?

I couldn’t understand, but I didn’t ask.

After securing Noea, Namgung Hyung said to me.

“Let’s go.”

“…….”

I led him outside. We walked slowly, avoiding the patrolling soldiers. Even with fewer numbers, they weren’t few, but it wasn’t too difficult since I helped suppress my presence.

“So. What’s the plan to get out?”

After retrieving Noea, Namgung Hyung and I returned to my quarters, and I asked. Helping him escape was fine, but did he have a plan?

Then Namgung Hyung confidently replied.

“Ah. Of course, I do.”

After saying that, he lifted the cloth next to the path leading to the vault. Underneath it was…

“What is this?”

A small hole had been dug.

“This is the escape hole I’ve been digging for three years.”

“……You dug this for three years?”

It looked deep and long just by glancing at it. Did he really dig this for three years straight?

‘A clan member of a prestigious family…?’

He truly was an unbelievable lunatic.

However, there was one thing that bothered me.

“If you dug something like this, didn’t you not need my help?”

He planned to escape through the hole, so why did he need my help? When I asked about it.

“I dug it, but not all the way. That’s the thing.”

Namgung Hyung said to me with an awkward expression.

“When I get out, there’s an alley close to the entrance. I need a little help from there.”

A close alley?

“Even for that, you need my help?”

I thought if it was close, he could just run out and escape.

“Ah. It’s near the armory.”

“…….”

Ah.

I understood what he meant.

Being near the armory meant there would likely be more troops guarding it, and escaping amidst them would be tough, which is why he requested my help…

“……Why did you dig the hole there? Why not towards the main entrance?”

“Hey, do you think digging a hole from the ground is easy? You can’t see where you’re going, how do you maintain direction? This is pretty good!”

Namgung Hyung shouted, sounding wronged. It was a valid point. So…

‘So I have to go into this hole…?’

It meant I had to enter that hole together with Namgung Hyung.

“Alright, let’s go!”

Namgung Hyung excitedly went into the hole first.

“…….”

Watching him, I let out a sigh.

Ah, I shouldn’t have agreed to help.

Regret washed over me like a tidal wave.

---

The hole, which he claimed took three years to dig, was quite long, likely due to the time invested.

I didn’t even know what they used to dig it, as it wasn’t dug cleanly, and it took ages just to move, making crawling difficult.

“How much further?”

“Just a little more?”

“I feel like I heard that a long time ago.”

“It’s your imagination, just your imagination.”

I asked again and again, exhausted from crawling, but Namgung Hyung’s answer was always the same. Damn it…

He said it wouldn’t take long. I was the idiot for believing this guy.

‘……Ugh, the dust.’

How much further do I have to go in this dirty, suffocating space?

Honestly, if it were up to me, I’d just blast my way out.

A handful of flames could end this.

I endured it and crawled much further. After crawling and crawling like that for a while.

“Oh…… There it is.”

Namgung Hyung said with a voice mixed with laughter. Hearing him, I peeked my head out from behind him.

‘Light.’

I could see a place where moonlight shone ahead. That must be the exit.

Finally, we’re getting out.

I increased my crawling speed and headed straight for it.

“Just in case, I’ll go first and give a signal, then you come up.”

Namgung Hyung spoke first and went outside. I waited for the signal.

However.

‘……What the?’

Why was there no signal? I couldn’t hear anything.

Did something happen? Was he caught? Just as that question arose.

“Oh, come up.”

Namgung Hyung said in a flustered voice. What was that?

Hearing him, I immediately pulled myself out of the escape hole.

“Twie.”

I spat the dirt and dust from my mouth and brushed myself off. After dusting the dirt off my head and opening my eyes.

“…….”

“……Hahaha.”

Namgung Hyung was kneeling on the ground. Then he looked at me and gave an awkward laugh.

The atmosphere was strange. As soon as I felt it, I averted my gaze.

Huuuuuuu.

I felt heat emanating from one side. I turned my head and looked towards where the wind was blowing. There…

“……This is insane.”

A young man sat on a chair, which he must have brought from somewhere.

His large frame couldn’t be hidden by his red eyes. The way he glared at us while hunched over was quite intimidating.

The identity of such a person was…

‘Father…?’

My father.

Gu Cheolun, the Commander of the Azure Dragon Unit, the Divine Dragon.

Father was staring at me and Namgung Hyung with clear eyes.

‘What? Why?’

Why was Father here? Why was Father suddenly sitting here?

As I widened my eyes in confusion.

“……Ah, crap……”

Namgung Hyung murmured, sounding troubled.

“……Looks like Sister-in-law-nim betrayed us?”

“……What?”

Hyeonsoyeon’s name popped out of his mouth nonsensically.