Chapter 1195: Scorched World.

As soon as Doyun arrived, I left Gugga. Since I had already obtained permission from Gu Seongyeol-nim, leaving wasn’t difficult.

I heard Jin Yeonryeong was looking for me, but I found it bothersome, so I decided not to go.

‘Where could Paczon-nim have gone?’

I don’t know where this old man, who said he was leaving, went. He said he’d go see some people, but how many people was he going to see?

‘……Someone Paczon-nim would look for.’

Is there someone like that in Sanseo? I don’t know much about that fellow either, so nothing came to mind.

‘Sseup.’

I swallowed a groan, moving my hand slightly.

‘When is my energy coming back?’

The words about a ‘main body’ or whatever keep bothering me. What is a main body?

‘……I think I’ve heard of it.’

Dragons have a main body. They said the form that grows larger during battle is the dragon’s main body.

‘They said that because it can’t be found, the ‘master transformation’ isn’t proceeding properly.’

What is this main body thing? I’m me, so what is this main body?

‘Aoo.’

In any case, this body is full of questions. Does that mean I’m fake because I don’t have a main body? It’s absurd.

“What’s wrong?”

“Ah, I just had some annoying thoughts.”

At Doyun’s words, I waved my hand.

Then.

“Hey. Baek Chinu.”

“Yeah?”

“About Sword Phoenix seonbae-nim.”

“Mm.”

I replied with an indifferent expression. Was he trying to ask about the sparring match earlier?

“It’s nothing much-“

“Are you close?”

“……He just asked to spar. What?”

I glared at the guy, opening my eyes wide like a flounder. What did he say?

“……Are you close?”

“Mhm.”

“……?”

It seemed like a question that didn’t quite fit the current situation. Is that what you’re going to ask in this situation?

“……Why are you asking that?”

“Ah, just…… well…….”

The guy chuckled awkwardly and trailed off. What’s with this reaction? This guy… no way.

“You, do you like Sword Phoenix?”

“Ah, no.”

“Wow, you crazy bastard, you really mean it?”

“I told you, no!”

He was trying hard to deny it, but his expression looked suspicious. Look at this guy?

‘This guy and that guy.’

This isn’t some ‘love motel’ or anything. Love is everywhere. Was this era always like this?

Then again.

‘It was an era without war.’

Although the demonic sects were more rampant than in later times, it was an era before the orthodox-demonic war, so it was a bit more peaceful.

‘Ah, speaking of which.’

When was the era of the orthodox-demonic war?

It was called a war, but it was just a short-lived rebellion.

I don’t know how much later than now that event would occur.

Anyway…

“You talked like you were carrying a great burden. But it seems you wanted to play lovey-dovey amidst it all?”

“……I told you, no?”

“Then why ask if we’re close?”

“I was just curious.”

“That’s hilarious. So what if we are close? Yeah, we’re close. We’re inseparable.”

As I said that with a smirk, Doyun’s expression changed.

“See? Your face soured immediately.”

“No…… I told you, no.”

“Sigh…… That’s why guys who are ‘attached’…….”

“What do you mean ‘attached’……!”

It was an embarrassing expression, and Doyun’s face turned red. What’s the problem?

“Aren’t you ‘attached’?”

“……I am… but…….”

“Right, because you’re ‘attached’ that’s why you acted like that towards Sword Phoenix.”

“Let’s stop talking about this.”

“I didn’t start it.”

Who asked first? I was just playing along.

Should I stop teasing now?

“We’re not close. That guy seems to hate me immensely.”

“Oh, really?”

“Why did your expression brighten up instantly? If that’s how you feel, you shouldn’t have tried to hide it……”

“…….”

“This is ridiculous, really. Just tell me honestly. You just didn’t want to bother lying, right?”

Is this right? We seem to be going to see something very important right now. Doyun’s reaction feels way too naive.

I wonder if this is really the same guy who was burning with vengeance.

I shook my head.

Thanks to that, time passed quickly, and by the time I realized it, we had arrived at Dogga.

---

Arriving at Dogga, I examined the dilapidated door.

‘……What is this.’

It looks just like an abandoned house. It looked even more so at night. Why does it look so scary……?

It definitely didn’t look like a place where people lived.

“Let’s go in. Father is waiting.”

“……Uh, yeah. We have to go in, right?”

“Why?”

“It’s nothing.”

I subtly sympathized with Namgung Jin’s reaction as I stepped into Dogga.

There was no particular sign of people inside either.

My own senses are damaged, but even considering that, it’s quiet.

Doyun, perhaps accustomed to such things, kept walking towards the central building.

I followed him in.

“You’ve arrived.”

Inside, Do Cheol was waiting for us.

“Welcome.”

“Excuse me.”

“You must have had a hard time coming here at night. Would you like some tea?”

“No. I tend to have trouble digesting things late at night.”

“I see……”

“I came as you instructed.”

I accepted Do Cheol’s offer to show me something and arrived. What indeed is the connection between Dogga and Gugga? I came to see just that.

“It seems you wish to get straight to the point.”

“I suppose that would be best. I don’t really want to spend the whole night here.”

“……Hmm. Very well. If Young Master Baek wishes it so. However, before that. Can you endure it?”

“Pardon?”

“What I am about to show you are things that people from the Central Plains cannot believe. I am asking if you can endure it even after seeing them.”

“Ah…… Yes. Well…….”

I think I can manage. Whatever it may be.

‘……I’ve already seen too much?’

My common sense was far removed from that of the Central Plains people. What more could I see now that would surprise me?

“……Understood.”

At my reaction, Do Cheol turned his back. Then he spoke to his son.

“You stay here.”

“……Father?”

At Do Cheol’s words, Doyun’s eyes widened. He looked flustered at being told to stay, but.

“Since the feed has been given, further approach is unnecessary.”

“……But.”

“Go on.”

“……Understood.”

Feed?

I frowned upon hearing the conversation. Feed? Are they dealing with some kind of beast? The conversation is a bit strange……?

As I wondered, Do Cheol moved. He then approached a bookshelf nearby and pulled out a book.

At that moment.

Kkiriririric-!!

“Oh.”

The sound of mechanisms moving could be heard around.

Charyureureuk-!

Harsh sounds echoed one after another.

Deureuk.

The floor opened, revealing stairs.

‘A mechanism.’

To think such a mechanism existed in this dilapidated old house. How on earth did they install it? To do something like this would cost a fortune, and there wouldn’t have been anyone to entrust it to.

“Go down.”

“Ah, yes.”

I went down the stairs with Do Cheol.

As I was descending the stairs. Doyun was watching me. I could feel his gaze intensely. I could also feel emotions.

The emotion Doyun was showing as he looked at me. Was definitely ‘hesitation’.

---

The stairs weren’t that long. Like those stairs in old spells that go down endlessly. It wasn’t like that; it seemed like simple stairs.

After descending only a short way, the floor came into view.

As soon as we arrived, Do Cheol took out a lamp that was nearby.

Hwareuk.

Light entered the lamp without being lit.

Is it Samadhi divine fire?

This indicated that Do Cheol’s cultivation level was considerable. I wanted to gauge just how strong he was. But I couldn’t right now, which was a bit frustrating.

“You’ve done something like this on the floor. It’s quite fascinating.”

“It has been in Dogga since a very long time ago.”

“A long time ago?”

“Yes.”

“……Hmm.”

A long time ago… when did that start?

I walked slowly, looking at Do Cheol’s lamp. Just like the stairs, the path wasn’t very deep either.

I saw an iron gate. I widened my eyes upon seeing it. Because the condition of the gate was quite unusual.

‘Why is it so complicated?’

There wasn’t just one or two locks or mechanisms attached. What must one do to install all of that? No, was it even made to be opened? At that rate, opening it would take ages.

There were so many that it felt bothersome just looking at it.

Kkirik.

Do Cheol effortlessly disarmed all the mechanisms. It was a familiar sight.

Do Cheol entered through the opened gate. I carefully followed him inside.

The interior was a rectangular space, not very large. Wondering if there was something in this space, I looked around.

‘That’s…….’

I see something. Far in the distance, there were bars made of iron.

And.

‘What is that inside?’

There was something inside those bars. It didn’t seem like a living creature. It looked like a giant jewel? No. It wasn’t a jewel, but…

‘It’s an egg.’

It had a more familiar appearance. The egg I saw on the wire last time. Something much larger than that was inside the prison.

But.

‘……Huh.’

I stopped. The closer I got to the egg, the stranger something felt.

“……Doga-nim. What is that?”

Even as I asked, my gaze was fixed on the egg.

“I understand your surprise.”

“…….”

Doga-nim spoke as if understanding my feelings, but I wasn’t surprised by the egg itself.

The energy.

The energy I felt emanating from that egg. That was the problem. An energy that could be felt starkly, even without my senses manifesting.

Dugeun.

Dugeun.

My heart is pounding. But, whether it was my heart pounding.

‘Or the vibration felt from that egg, I couldn’t tell.’

The pounding sound, like resonance, kept invading my ears.

“That is precisely it.”

Do Cheol began his explanation, but I couldn’t actually hear it properly.

‘Why.’

Why in the world could it be?

“That is precisely…….”

‘……From that egg.’

“The curse Gugga bestowed upon us.”

I feel the energy of Cheonma, don’t I?