Chapter 1199: Scorched World.

Woowoowoowoowoowoowoong.

The ring vibrates minutely.

Seeing the rapidly ringing ring, I opened my eyes sideways.

‘What is this.’

Why is this thing acting up all of a sudden? It was quiet until now, so why out of the blue, now?

Jiiiiiiing.

I looked at the endlessly ringing ring.

What am I supposed to do with this?

‘Maybe….’

Is it telling me to wear it? On my finger?

Thinking ‘no way,’ I tried putting the ring on my finger.

Not knowing which finger to put it on, I casually slipped it onto my index finger, and it fit perfectly. It slid on smoothly, without any resistance.

Ttuk-!

As soon as it was equipped on my finger, the vibrating ring stopped as if by magic.

And then.

Saaaaaaa–!!

The silver-colored ring instantly turned red. A bright red, crimson ring.

As I watched it, feeling a strange sensation, just then.

“Damn.”

A voice I didn’t want to hear reached me. As soon as it brushed against my ears, I felt displeasure churning inside. This was hostility. Not just towards an enemy, but the unique hostility felt towards one’s own kind.

This meant… this guy was a dragon.

The moment I heard its voice, I could figure out its identity.

“So it ended up like this.”

“…Blood Demon.”

---

Ttak.

“Come in.”

Do-cheol opened the door and entered the building. Gu Cheol-un followed him in. They had just finished touring the entire Do family compound, and this was the situation: entering the head family’s private room last.

‘…What a persistent bastard.’

Do-cheol swallowed a sigh inwardly as he looked at Gu Cheol-un. From the moment he made a mistake in their conversation, mentioning Baek Yangcheon, Gu Cheol-un’s eyes had changed.

The heat filling his now-chilly gaze was irritating.

This guy. He came into the Do compound as if he’d caught something, and started searching brazenly.

‘Sending my son away was the right call.’

First, I sent Do-yun away to the Gu family instead of keeping him close. Do-cheol was convinced that choice was correct.

‘What kind of person is this?’

Could someone come to another family’s house and search so brazenly? It was baffling.

Although he watched with disbelief, Gu Cheol-un searched everywhere without seeming to care.

“…Young Master Gu.”

“Yes.”

“As I said earlier, that was a slip of the tongue. My child kept talking about Young Master Baek so much.”

“I understand.”

It was a lie. He didn’t understand at all. Despite saying that, weren’t his eyes busy scanning the surroundings?

The head family’s room was the last place he searched. This couldn’t go any further.

“Young Master Gu.”

“Yes.”

“I acknowledge my slip of the tongue and am showing you consideration, but going further than this is disrespectful. You know that, don’t you?”

“I know.”

Gu Cheol-un, who had been looking around, turned his gaze to Do-cheol.

“That’s why I am grateful for your consideration.”

“…”

Is he crazy?

Do-cheol’s thoughts about Gu Cheol-un were changing rapidly in his mind.

What kind of shameless and brazen guy is this?

“Do you really think Young Master Baek is here? I don’t know what he said, but the person you’re looking for isn’t here.”

“That might be the case.”

But it might not be. Gu Cheol-un’s words hinted at that possibility.

“…Young Master Gu.”

He was starting to get angry. It felt like Do-cheol’s patience was reaching its limit.

“However, Family Head.”

Before he could say anything, Gu Cheol-un cut Do-cheol off and spoke.

Hearing that, Do-cheol frowned.

“…Speak.”

“In that situation, how could you permit the search?”

“What?”

What is he talking about?

“Didn’t you say you wanted to search?”

“That’s correct. I was being unreasonable. However, the reason you allowed my unreasonable demand is what puzzles me.”

Gu Cheol-un took his eyes off the surroundings and looked at Do-cheol.

Hearing that, Do-cheol’s face contorted.

“What do you mean? Are you saying I’m strange for allowing it now?”

“Yes.”

“Ha!”

Do-cheol burst out laughing. What kind of ridiculous talk was this?

“I was merely trying to take responsibility for my slip of the tongue. And yet, you’re saying I was wrong in that situation? What kind of laughable statement is that.”

Enraged, Do-cheol shot back at him.

“Even if they call you the Divine Dragon of the Central Plains. Such rudeness is unacceptable. To not recognize the other party’s consideration and act so recklessly…”

As he spoke, Do-cheol’s eyes widened. He reached out his hand.

Tak-!

He quickly grabbed Gu Cheol-un’s hand. It happened in an instant.

He had no choice.

“…What are you trying to do.”

“…”

It was because Gu Cheol-un suddenly reached for the bookshelf mid-conversation with Do-cheol. That was where the mechanism to open the entrance to the basement was located.

Do-cheol reacted to the hand that reached out so without hesitation.

‘How?’

How did he know? What had he noticed to act like this? Unable to figure it out, he asked.

“About the bookshelf.”

Gu Cheol-un said to Do-cheol with an expressionless face.

“All the other books are exceptionally neat, but that one book looks strangely worn.”

There was an item that seemed to have been touched more than the other books. It was the trace of someone touching it multiple times a day to enter and exit.

Did Gu Cheol-un figure that out?

“…”

“It seemed strange, so I was going to check it out…”

A greater heat than before seeped into Gu Cheol-un’s eyes.

“I don’t think that will be necessary.”

His wrist, which Do-cheol had grabbed. Gu Cheol-un’s arm gradually tensed.

“Because it seems I’ve found it.”

“…”

At those words, a killing intent flashed in Do-cheol’s eyes.

Kwagagagang–!!

Impact erupted in the room. Debris flew everywhere. Someone burst through the swirling dust. It was Gu Cheol-un.

He landed on the ground and shook himself off. Tuk-tuk.

The Gu family’s distinctive red martial attire fluttered. Following him, Do-cheol emerged through the smoke.

“…You’re unnecessarily sharp-witted.”

“…”

At Do-cheol’s voice laced with killing intent, Gu Cheol-un stretched his stiff neck. Ddududuk.

As the sound of bones cracking echoed, Gu Cheol-un spoke.

“Well…”

His deep voice spread subtly, matching the sound.

“I’m not really the sharp-witted type.”

Hwarureureuk–!!

Along with his voice, flames erupted around his body.

“It’s probably because you can’t lie.”

“You?”

Do-cheol’s brow furrowed at the change in address.

“Your words have become shorter.”

Hwaaaaaa.

The rising flames gradually gathered and coalesced in his hand.

Flame Orb (Yeomok).

The Gu family’s secret technique manifested on the floor.

“Originally.”

Do-cheol was momentarily distracted by the brilliant light. But he quickly regained his composure.

“I’m not the type to show courtesy to treacherous individuals.”

Pik-!

Gu Cheol-un’s figure vanished. His body, disappearing amidst sparks, reappeared instantly before Do-cheol.

Do-cheol didn’t move an inch in that situation. He wasn’t flustered either. He moved his hand with a calm demeanor.

Hwiriririk–!!

Gu Cheol-un, who had charged forward, spun around once. His forward-facing view turned towards empty air.

Do-cheol twisted the attack using centrifugal force.

However.

Hwarureuk–!!

“Hmm.”

The Flame Orb floated right in front of Do-cheol’s nose.

Pajik-!

It cracked. The Flame Orb exploded right there.

Kwagagagagagag—!!

Fierce flames surged across the ground. The dry floor was left scorched, and even the sparse weeds burned up.

A hand emerged from the gap.

An old, dry hand shot out amidst the flames and drew a line. Paak–!!

Air pressure caught the flames and sent them soaring into the air. The fiery remnants vanished without a trace.

“As the rumors say, you’re impressive.”

Do-cheol admitted it.

To counterattack in that brief moment. Or perhaps not?

‘Did he expect to be hit in the first place?’

Had he known the attack would be countered? In an instant, he dropped the Flame Orb. Precisely in front of his own nose.

He’s skilled at handling unexpected situations. Not to mention his reaction speed.

‘Cocky bastard.’

The hope of the Gu family, and the final key to ending their karma.

Truly a being born with all sorts of blessings.

Do-cheol didn’t like it.

An unknown killing intent formed in Do-cheol’s eyes. He knew it wasn’t right to cause trouble now, but…

‘It doesn’t matter anyway.’

Since things have already come to this, there’s no turning back.

‘The deed has begun.’

The situation must have already unfolded underground.

‘If that’s the case…’

I should add more bait.

I need to include the guy in front of me to speed things up.

Thinking thus, Do-cheol gathered strength in his body. He might be lacking power due to the bait, but it didn’t matter.

‘Someone like that brat…’

He judged it wouldn’t be too much.

Kung–!!

Do-cheol put all his might into it. He intended to finish this quickly. He looked towards where Gu Cheol-un had been sent flying.

“…Huh?”

He noticed something strange. Gu Cheol-un, who had flown away after the attack. Beyond the space obscured by the explosion’s aftermath, there was something.

Hwarureureuk–!!

“…This guy?”

It was flames. A flame in human form stood there. Carrying Gu Cheol-un’s presence.

A deception.

That guy used that to trick his eyes. Which means…

‘Where’s the real body?’

Where did his main body go? Was he planning a surprise attack? Just as Do-cheol frowned, trying to find Gu Cheol-un.

Kwaaang–!!!

“…!”

An explosion sounded from the left.

He turned his gaze.

“Damn it-!”

It was Gu Cheol-un.

That guy detonated an impact on the floor of the head family’s room. A hole broke through, revealing the space below.

“This bastard-!”

So that was his objective. All along.

‘He wasn’t planning to fight me.’

His goal was to distract me and head for that place below.

Do-cheol lunged straight at Gu Cheol-un, but…

Hook–!!

Gu Cheol-un, covered in flames all over his body, burrowed into the floor.