Chapter 1087: Scorched World.

Slaap-!!

A rough sound echoed, and Namgung Jin’s head snapped up.

“Gnk-“

A grunt was heard, but it was short. It couldn’t continue.

A fist rained down in front of his raised head.

Kwahng-!!

It was almost like the sound of rock shattering.

The impact burst forth again, sending Namgung Jin’s body flying into the air, spinning.

As his body whirled around, blood from his nose drew circles in the air.

His body, flung high, seemed about to crash to the ground any second, but…

“Nngh……”

Even in that brief moment, Namgung Jin couldn’t touch the ground. A figure who had approached unnoticed had almost seized his neck with their hand, holding him fast.

“Ah, f*ing hell.”

A rough curse escaped. Everyone flinched at the deeply furrowed brow and the blazing blue eyes.

“I can’t even stomach doing this anymore?”

Tsk.

The way they spoke while clicking their tongue and their delinquent attitude were all too familiar.

“Seriously, the men in this family are all weird, one way or another?”

“Choke……ugh……”

“Why do they keep getting on people’s nerves?”

Namgung Jin trembled violently. He seemed to shudder from the residual pain coursing through his body.

Ppahk-!

“Gahk!”

Another fist drove into his solar plexus. Namgung Jin’s body recoiled, and he vomited blood.

“Do you know what I hate the most?”

He said to the guy, his voice laced with irritation.

“It’s weaklings who don’t know their place and act out.”

Thump!

“If you don’t know what you’re doing and can’t even do it, just shut up and live quietly. Don’t piss people off.”

These words were close to self-loathing. Because in his past life, he couldn’t do that and lived like a fool.

And so, while pouring his emotions into beating Namgung Jin into dust.

The members of the Azure Dragon Brigade sitting there, along with the recruits surrounding them, widened their eyes like saucers at the sight.

“Namgung Jin… is being treated like that?”

“What…?”

“This is unbelievable.”

The seniors of the Azure Dragon Brigade. They observed the situation with eyes full of shock. It was only natural.

Who was Sword Dragon Namgung Jin?

He was a likely candidate to become the next head of the Namgung Family, and until the appearance of the Divine Dragon, he was considered perhaps the strongest among the current Latecomers.

There were even discussions that if it weren’t for the Divine Dragon, Sword Dragon might have received the position of Azure Dragon Brigade Vice Commander.

Although there were some perceived issues with his personality, he was someone who received praise rarely given to Latecomers.

Yet, that Sword Dragon was being held helplessly and uselessly like that.

Perhaps because of this, the expressions of the recruits were also unusual.

“……The Sword Dragon of the world is being treated like this?”

“This is impossible. Even by someone like us…?”

It didn’t make sense that the Sword Dragon was being treated like this by a fellow recruit, someone who had just joined the league and barely been assigned.

Amidst those who were blankly staring, unable to believe it because of that.

“Like us. You’re talking nonsense.”

Someone interjected with a serious voice.

The recruits’ gazes focused. There…

“How can fellow recruit Baek be the same as you lot? Hmph, ridiculous.”

A man showing an inexplicably triumphant attitude. It was Do-yun, a fellow recruit.

“…Fellow recruit Do. What do you mean by that.”

“What do I mean?”

To his uncomprehending fellow recruit’s words, Do-yun immediately spoke up.

“Fellow recruit Baek is, from the start, a different being from us.”

“What?”

“It’s obvious. Don’t you know what Fellow recruit Baek has done since joining the main league?”

At those words, a spark lit up in his fellow recruits’ eyes. Indeed. They recalled what Baek Yangcheon had done since joining the league.

First.

In the first joining trial, a martial arts match against the Sword Troop examiner, he defeated the opponent examiner in a single blow.

While there were many cases where applicants won against examiners in matches, there were zero cases where they were defeated in a single blow.

Second.

In the second trial, the Monster Knowledge test, he obtained the sole perfect score. It meant he possessed not only power but also knowledge.

And third.

“One of the great Three Venerables. A person personally noticed by the Battle Venerable.”

The Three Venerables of the World.

The Battle Venerable, one of the heavens of the orthodox sects, personally sought to take Baek Yangcheon as a disciple, even attending the Azure Dragon Brigade banquet for him.

Thus, Baek Yangcheon, the young man, caused tremendous incidents just by joining.

The problem here is.

“Isn’t it strange that such an incredible man wasn’t known until now?”

“…Hut!?”

“Indeed…”

At Do-yun’s words, the others’ expressions turned serious. How could such an outstanding person have remained unknown and quiet until now?

It truly was a strange matter.

Look, he displayed such strong power even against the Sword Dragon right now.

How could…

“He didn’t even receive a Dragon title?”

It was baffling that he couldn’t be included among the Dragons and Phoenixes, the pinnacles of the current Latecomers.

As such doubts piled up, Do-yun spoke in a lower voice than before.

“This is how I see it.”

His fellow recruits listened intently. At that moment.

“Fellow recruit Baek… no, our friend Yangcheon, might be someone secretly raised by the Baek family.”

“Secretly…?”

Although they had casually become friends from fellow recruits, the others didn’t mind because of his current words.

“That’s right. A genius secretly raised by the Baek family, which was evaluated as somewhat weak while holding great ambitions, to reveal their presence again…!”

“Hut!”

The Baek family was never a place with high prominence in the first place.

“I see. Is that why his name wasn’t known despite possessing such skills?”

“…If that’s the case, it’s understandable.”

That strange power. The dense knowledge about monsters.

And his quiet fame.

If he’s a secret weapon raised secretly by the Baek family, everything makes sense.

“Therefore, perhaps… we might be witnessing new history.”

Do-yun nodded repeatedly as if encouraged by those reactions.

“Hoo…”

Everyone nodded as if convinced by those words.

Just as those reactions were slowly becoming the truth.

‘They’re really talking nonsense.’

But Baek Yangcheon.

No, Gu Yangcheon himself was distorting his expression while listening to everything.

---

I heard everything.

‘What? Secret weapon?’

It’s absurd. What secret weapon?

A ridiculous misunderstanding spreads absurdly. Their voices were loud too, as if they had no intention of hiding it.

My senses are already heightened, how could I not know when they speak so loudly?

‘Ha.’

I suppressed a sigh that wanted to escape. This wasn’t good.

‘What should I do?’

What should I do about this? Those dog-shit stories are a problem, but…

‘I’ve caused trouble.’

Namgung Jin, who was panting like a bloody mess in front of me. This was also a problem.

It doesn’t feel like I hit him that much, but he’s already half-out of it.

Since there’s a difference in cultivation levels, I tried to hold back as much as possible.

‘I didn’t realize.’

I didn’t realize.

Having reached transcendence, I haven’t fought against weaker opponents, so I failed to control my strength a bit.

‘…What should I do?’

It seems I’ve caused serious trouble.

Even if that weren’t the case, I did it partly out of irritation. No, but I couldn’t help it.

‘He keeps provoking me.’

I tried to endure it as much as possible. But this guy brought it upon himself.

‘He looks exactly like Namgung Cheon-jun.’

To be precise, Namgung Cheon-jun resembles this guy. But that wasn’t important. The problem was him scraping at me with that damn face.

‘So I beat him a bit too hard.’

I didn’t intend to hit him this much. It’s become slightly troublesome.

Still, I tried not to hit his eyes if possible. In the midst of it, I managed to control that.

‘Because this was the only place that resembled Namgung Bi-ah.’

I hit him while desperately holding back. And on top of that.

‘Originally, I would have just smashed his groin.’

Thinking of Namgung Cheon-jun, I considered completely ruining this guy’s groin to sever any bad karma, but…

‘That wouldn’t do.’

Because of that bastard Namgung Cheon-jun, I couldn’t prevent Namgung Bi-ah’s birth.

“Hoo.”

He let out a sigh. With a low breath, he released the strength in his grip.

Then, Namgung Jin collapsed onto the ground.

He was breathing shallowly, so it seemed he wasn’t dead.

Seeing that, I thought.

‘This guy must have mellowed out with age.’

I don’t know if it’s just in this world, or if he was like this in the Central Plains where I used to be.

At least compared to the Sky-Piercing Sword King I knew, this guy is no different from a complete thug.

‘Hmm.’

While looking at Namgung Jin like that, I felt gazes.

All eyes were fixed on me, but amidst them, I felt the most important gaze was included.

Honestly, I wanted to beat him more, but my anger had subsided somewhat.

However.

‘Since it’s come to this, I should use it a bit more.’

Even though the anger was gone, there was still something to exploit.

Slik.

I lifted my foot towards the fallen Namgung Jin. And furthermore.

Ssssuuuu—…….

I released a very faint, subtle killing intent.

A faint, small killing intent that most people wouldn’t notice.

Just as I was about to wrap it around my foot and stomp on Namgung Jin’s head.

Fwoosh.

The sound of embers bursting was heard near my ear, and heat was felt.

It was right next to me.

I turned my eyes.

Roar–!!

An immense crimson flame erupted in front of me.

It was fast and fierce. The crimson flame instantly enveloped my body.

Yet, it didn’t touch me. It was just close enough to burn my body if I moved even slightly.

The crimson flame filled with fighting spirit.

An alien coldness felt amidst the heat.

Feeling something similar yet different from the flames emanating from my body.

I looked at the owner of the flame.

“The match is already over.”

The red-eyed youth looked down at me with a heavy voice.

“Withdraw. Baek Yangcheon.”

My father was exuding energy towards me with a blank expression.

Seeing this, I smiled.

“Withdraw?”

I said to my father with a smile.

“Make me, then.”

“……”

His father’s brow furrowed at the audacious words.

…Honestly, I was intimidated by that sight, but I endured it desperately.