Chapter 1198: Scorched World.

The Young Master of the Gu family.

The Divine Dragon of the Central Plains and the highest Late-stage Master of the Murim Alliance.

The youngest commander of the elite Sword Brigade.

He was a martial artist famous in the world, adorned with all sorts of titles.

What more needs to be said if he reached the position of commander of the Azure Dragon Brigade at the mere age of a Late-stage Master?

He was a person whose future success as the greatest under heaven was considered a foregone conclusion by the world.

And.

‘…The Young Master of the Gu family.’

To Do Cheol, he was also the object of resentment, bearing the damned title of the Young Master of the Gu Family.

‘So cold, yet so hot.’

That was the impression.

Gone was the Gu family’s characteristic small physique; he possessed a massive body nearly eight feet tall.

He radiated a scorching heat that seemed to make the very air shimmer just by looking at him.

Conversely, his appearance and aura were incomparably cold.

Due to this contradictory energy, he gave off an even more alien feeling.

‘…It really is him.’

Do Cheol was certain.

‘That guy is the last of the Gu family.’

An incomparably brilliant talent.

He possessed the potential to break through the curse laid upon the world and rise endlessly.

He possessed the talent to perfectly ignite that contained potential.

His own son, Do Yun, wasn’t much different, but the gap was too immense.

Wasn’t that guy the hope of the Gu family, and the final dagger they aimed for?

Do Cheol was convinced of that.

“Ho ho.”

He chuckled, clasped his hands behind his back, and spoke to Gu Cheolun.

“You must be the Young Master of the Gu family. What brings you to this humble place?”

He hid his surprise. Why had Gu Cheolun come? He couldn’t guess.

Seeing Do Cheol like that, Gu Cheolun spoke, maintaining his characteristic expressionless face.

“Excuse me, Family Head Do. I came to visit because I received a request.”

“A request…?”

“Is my subordinate inside here?”

“…”

At the word ‘subordinate’, Do Cheol’s brow furrowed slightly. He hadn’t expected that word to come from Gu Cheolun’s mouth.

‘…Did he arrange things beforehand?’

Did he play a trick? If so, what did it mean?

“…Subordinate? What are you talking about all of a sudden.”

He decided to deny it first. However.

“I was told he would be here, so I should come pick him up.”

Gu Cheolun said firmly. It seemed to be as Do Cheol expected.

‘…That guy.’

He had already laid his groundwork. What was it? Did he know he would end up like this after coming to the Do family?

Was he the kind of guy with that much awareness?

‘Why would someone like that?’

Having such awareness, was there any reason for him to follow me down underground? I couldn’t understand.

At the same time.

‘Why did he call the Young Master of the Gu family of all people?’

Calling Gu Cheolun was also something he couldn’t understand.

‘Even if he didn’t want revenge.’

Baek Yangcheon is illegitimate. Moreover, he infiltrated the Murim Alliance hiding his identity, and furthermore, he was a person who seemed to harbor some objective regarding the Gu family.

What could be the reason for choosing Gu Cheolun for his own safety, rather than anyone else?

The moment Do Cheol’s brow furrowed at the strange situation.

“Family Head Do.”

“Ah, my apologies. I was lost in thought for a moment.”

Do Cheol snapped back to attention at Gu Cheolun’s call.

“Ah, come to think of it.”

Composing his voice, he spoke slowly.

“That’s right. He did visit our family home following our son earlier today… but I haven’t seen him since he returned to the Gu family.”

The Gu family must have known that Baek Yangcheon visited the Do family earlier. So, he started the conversation, but…

“After returning to the Gu family, he told me.”

He returned, said something, and disappeared. Hearing Gu Cheolun’s words, Do Cheol clicked his tongue inwardly.

“Is that so? I wouldn’t know after that. I haven’t seen Young Master Baek.”

‘I don’t know.’ Just as he was trying to brush it off.

“Family Head Do.”

“What is it-“

“I never said the subordinate I’m looking for is Baek Yangcheon.”

“…!”

Do Cheol was speechless at those words. Damn it.

‘I made a mistake.’

In Gu Cheolun’s eyes.

“May I come inside for a moment?”

A hot aura lingered.

---

“Hmm.”

I wonder if he’s arrived by now? Sitting inside, I thought. Wouldn’t Father have arrived around now? The timing was appropriate for now.

‘My senses are dulled, so I can’t perceive anything.’

I want to grasp what’s happening above. But this body… because it’s this body, I can’t feel anything.

‘Sigh.’

This is damn uncomfortable. I didn’t notice when I was here [with power], but now that my energy is gone, it feels truly burdensome. How can I be comfortable when I can’t even break these iron bars?

“…”

“I really hope he does well.”

I’ve made the request, but honestly, I doubt if he actually came. It was during that short break after returning to the Gu family and resting.

‘Commander.’

I found Father, who was at the Gu family home. Father looked at me without showing any emotion.

‘What’s going on.’

‘Ah, I have something I need to ask of you.’

Father, who had said he would figure out who I was, didn’t seem to be doing anything specific, unlike his words back then.

‘A favor?’

Father narrowed his eyes. What kind of favor could it be to make him wear that expression? It stung a little.

‘It’s nothing major.’

‘No.’

‘…Could you at least listen first?’

That’s too much. He could at least listen to my words.

‘It’s really nothing much.’

‘I won’t listen.’

Despite that, Father maintained his refusal to listen.

‘Ah, damn it.’

He really has no intention of changing his mind? With such a firm attitude, it seemed like he’d continue like this.

‘Sigh.’

I pondered. How could I possibly utilize that man? Was my father the type of person to listen? No. Absolutely not. Then, while I was agonizing over it.

‘Then, let’s do this.’

‘…?’

I said to Father.

‘If you grant my request, I’ll tell you one of my secrets.’

‘…A secret?’

Father showed interest.

‘Yes. A secret.’

‘How can I trust that? You could just dismiss something trivial as a secret.’

That’s a sharp point. So Father does think about things like that. It was surprising. Furthermore, it was a correct observation, so I played a trump card.

‘If you don’t seem surprised after hearing the secret, you can kill me.’

‘…’

‘I won’t resist and will stay still. How about that?’

This should count as a pretty strong move, right? How would Father react? While I was watching that with interest.

‘…What is the request?’

Father agreed. I smiled seeing that.

‘Ah, it’s really nothing much.’

I said, scratching my cheek.

‘Please come pick me up later.’

‘…?’

It was truly a trivial request.

“He accepted it, thankfully.”

Since Father agreed to just come pick me up when I asked. He must have arrived by now. So, from now on…

‘It’s Father’s domain now.’

How much of the situation he can grasp. Whether Father can truly notice anything strange.

Furthermore.

‘Whether he’ll notice and step in.’

That was the issue with everything. For now, it’s time to trust Father.

‘If I had my way, I would have wanted to ask Grandfather.’

Because there were still things to resolve with that person, it felt a bit much to even say this. Moreover, I even feel fortunate that I didn’t do so now.

‘It’s also because I don’t properly know the relationship between the Gu and Do families.’

If Do Cheol’s words are correct. It was questionable whether Gu Seongyeol might know about the Do family. Therefore, it seemed better to do this than to call Gu Seongyeol first.

Of course.

‘…This is assuming Father does well.’

Hmm. I don’t really trust that part either.

Swish.

I turned my head. Now it’s time to look at the egg again.

“Hey.”

I tried talking to it. It remains silent.

Thump. Thump.

I can feel a faint vibration. But that was all there was to it. What am I supposed to do?

“Do something. What are you?”

If Do Cheol imprisoned me with a reason, the cause must be that thing. Even though I’m trapped here, nothing is happening.

“Is it telling me to do something useful, or what?”

What should I do here? Am I supposed to just stare blankly at the egg?

“…”

“…Hmm.”

Sitting cross-legged, I rested my chin on my hand and stared at the egg.

“What are you?”

What on earth are you?

“…”

“…What’s your relationship with the Heavenly Demon?”

What makes you that the Heavenly Demon’s demonic energy can be felt from you? Moreover.

“Why does Do Cheol look exactly like the Palace Lord?”

Many things were questionable. They say it’s a curse cast by the Gu family…

‘No matter how I look at it.’

The characteristics I saw in that guy weren’t something the Gu family would likely put forth. That was…

‘If anything, it’s closer to the Blood Demon.’

The Curse of Yongin that the Blood Demon cast upon the Geumcheon Yeon family. It feels similar to that. As that thought crossed my mind, what naturally came to mind was.

‘The Blood Demon called the Heavenly Demon her daughter.’

The Heavenly Demon is related to the Blood Demon. And the egg before me is imbued with the Heavenly Demon’s energy. Furthermore, the curse placed on the Do family is similar to the one the Blood Demon cast. Just staying still makes us stick together.

‘Seeing this.’

A conclusion was naturally reached. Doubts about the Gu family? Of course, I have those.

‘It seems like that guy’s doing again.’

If I tie together the connected paths to reach a conclusion.

‘The Blood Demon.’

The current situation is likely the Blood Demon’s doing too. Such a prediction arises.

At that moment.

Whooong-!

“Huh?”

I felt something from my pocket. Rummaging, I found the source and took it out.

“Ah.”

Woo-woong-!!

The sensation was coming from the ring I had put in my pocket. It was the very ring the Blood Demon had given me through Cheon Jon.