Chapter 1144: Scorched World.

Ruined.

The first thought that popped into my head was that.

‘Ah, seriously, I’m screwed?’

This is trouble. I never thought that cursed artifact would pop out here.

‘I didn’t even know it was here.’

Even though Gu Clan’s Bigo was on the smaller side compared to other noble families, it wasn’t as if the cursed artifacts inside were scarce. I didn’t remember them all, one by one. Still, the reason I know about that thing is…

‘Because it’s a truly bizarre item.’

An item that could confirm whether the caster and the target were blood relatives or not. The fact that it was possible was quite fascinating. The funny thing was, it was also an artifact that families desiring to borrow such items would rent out at a considerable price. It seemed like it was often needed when a family was quite the mess, like shattered bean powder.

Given such anecdotes, it was something I vaguely remembered.

‘No way, this…’

That I would end up using it.

I frowned, looking at the blood flowing within the bead. The Blood Ring Bead. That’s its usage condition.

The caster infuses energy into the bead. And adds a specific amount of blood from the person the other party wishes to confirm. During that process, the bead emits light.

‘…Right, like this.’

The bead, shimmering golden. There was only one reason it was shining like this.

‘It means we’re blood relatives.’

It was proof that the owner of the energy and the owner of the blood shared the same lineage.

“My, it’s shining quite actively, isn’t it?”

“……”

I frowned at Guryong’s words, spoken with a wide grin. Simultaneously, I had to release the hand gripping the bead and let out a sigh.

“Damn it… You weak old geezer.”

“What was that?”

Guryong reacted to my words.

“Ho ho. Look at this punk?”

Just as Guryong seemed about to get slightly displeased by my irritated outburst.

“Judging by that temper, he certainly seems to be of Gu Clan’s bloodline. Hahahahaha—!”

Even amidst this, he laughs like it’s great. He truly was a bizarre old man.

Moreover.

“Judging by your reaction, you already knew, didn’t you?”

“……”

My reluctant expression allowed Guryong to notice other things as well.

‘…Damn it all.’

I’m really going crazy.

Why is this popping out here?

What’s more…

‘Paejon had this?’

Seeing as you said you received it from Paejon, the owner must have been Paejon.

‘Would that guy even have a use for this?’

It’s a bit hard to understand why he’d take it… but that wasn’t the important thing right now.

“……Haa.”

How could he possibly know? It was utterly absurd that Guryong came to confirm this.

‘Is it just because I resemble him?’

I don’t know. I couldn’t understand what suspicion prompted him to barge in and try to confirm this, let alone…

‘…Why did Father…’

Father giving his blood when Guryong asked for it was also strange.

While I was racking my brain over it.

“The bead shining this brightly means the blood is quite strongly linked……”

The intensity of the Blood Ring Bead’s light. It determines how strongly each other’s bloodlines resemble each other. But shining this brightly signifies a significant connection.

Naturally.

‘I’m his son, after all.’

Direct lineage.

The sole son. If Father’s blood was mixed in, it was bound to come out like this.

Guryong, knowing the situation, couldn’t help but frown deeply.

“You……”

“……”

Gulp.

The moment I swallowed nervously and looked at Guryong.

“…Are you the head of the family’s son from a different mother?”

“……”

I almost let go of the strength I was holding onto without realizing it. I barely managed to steady myself and regain my composure.

‘…Yeah, that reaction makes sense.’

Naturally, it’s impossible to be seen as Father’s son in my current state. Therefore, from Guryong’s perspective, the head of the family… It would be correct to see me as my grandfather’s bastard child.

What’s more…

‘He did say I resembled him.’

I had often heard that I strongly resembled my grandfather. It was understandable from Guryong’s perspective. So when I remained silent, Guryong’s expression visibly hardened, taking it as an affirmation.

“…Really. No matter how unhinged that man is, he’s not the type to carelessly swing his lower body around?”

“……”

The assessment of my grandfather is quite… delicate. The phrase ‘unhinged man’ particularly grated on my ears.

Grab-!

Guryong suddenly grabs my shoulder. The strength was surprisingly immense.

“Who was your mother? Baekga? How could a child of Gu Clan be from Baekga…”

“…It hurts. Let go.”

“Ah, my apologies.”

Guryong quickly loosened his grip upon hearing my words. I sensed a subtle shift in his attitude.

“It’s uncomfortable enough for you to act this way without permission. I don’t see any reason why I should tell you.”

I said, my displeasure evident.

“Ahem……”

Guryong, knowing he hadn’t acted properly, pursed his lips awkwardly.

“…I understand your position, but… this was something we needed to confirm.”

“Why was confirmation necessary?”

I try to recall. My childhood. I superimposed that time when Mother disappeared and I was broken from lack of Father’s love onto the situation. My voice naturally lowered.

“It has no meaning anyway. There’s no need to know. I’m not a Gu, I’m a Baek.”

“……”

“Does one’s original place matter to someone who’s been abandoned? I don’t think so.”

It came out somewhat naturally. Things that wouldn’t work when I tried to act came out differently when I layered genuine emotions onto them. At those words, Guryong’s expression changed instantly. A look of pity dawned on his face.

“I don’t know why you confirmed it, but please don’t dwell on it. I don’t plan to either.”

“No…”

“If your business here is finished, I’ll be leaving.”

Just as I was about to walk away, leaving Guryong with trembling eyes.

“Wait…!”

Guryong reaches out his hand. It seemed like he was trying to grab me. Sensing that, I braced myself. I intended to quickly put distance between us and escape.

“That’s far enough.”

Grab-!

Someone appeared and clamped down on Guryong’s wrist. It was Paejon.

“Why are you acting like this? It’s unbecoming to be so reckless in your old age?”

He appeared, fluttering his robe, and stood between Guryong and me. Guryong’s expression hardened immensely upon seeing him.

“Biju.”

“Guryong. I wondered what you were rushing to take, but you were being reckless.”

“Don’t interfere. This is a family matter.”

“Oh my. A family matter, you say.”

Paejon laughed at Guryong’s words.

“My disciple is involved in this matter, after all. As a teacher, how could I possibly just stand by and watch?”

As Paejon presented his justification and his gaze sharpened, Guryong curled his lips at his words.

“He hasn’t even been your disciple for that long. Isn’t it a bit much to interfere like this?”

“If you put it that way, it’s no different for us, is it? How long has it been since you knew he was your own flesh and blood, yet you act like family? Especially when the other party clearly doesn’t want it.”

“Act like family?”

Fwoosh-

Heat suddenly emanated from Guryong’s body. Oh… I had sensed it from the start, but Guryong in his prime truly radiated a different aura.

“You’d best speak properly.”

“How could I possibly be more straightforward? I repeat, this is crossing the line.”

Paejon wasn’t swayed by the heat. Furthermore, he didn’t emit any energy himself.

“Don’t cross the line unnecessarily, Guryong. You haven’t lived all these years for nothing, have you? You surely know this?”

“……”

Guryong bit his lip at the calm remark.

“…Biju.”

“Yes.”

“You, did you perhaps know?”

Huh?

At Guryong’s words, I scrunched up my face this time. What is he talking about?

“I asked if you knew this child was of Gu Clan’s clan.”

I had to nod at Guryong’s question. Ah, maybe this guy… ‘Because Paejon is so nonchalant, is this guy thinking Paejon did this knowingly?’ It’s possible to see it that way, but… From my perspective, it just seemed like Paejon’s personality was naturally like that.

However.

“Yes.”

Huh…?

Paejon nodded, putting on a complete poker face.

“What?”

“I didn’t do it on purpose, but it’s roughly that feeling.”

What ‘roughly that feeling’, you unhinged lunatic. It’s absurd that he’s lying without changing his expression.

“So don’t get worked up in a hurry. I was planning to talk about this matter anyway.”

“…What do you mean?”

“This guy.”

Thump-!

Paejon pats the top of my head with his large hand. It was a rough and clumsy touch.

“I was planning to head to Shanxi anyway. Your precious Divine Dragon. It seems it was a matter agreed upon with him.”

“…What?”

At Paejon’s words, Guryong’s eyes turned towards me.

“Is he telling the truth?”

“……”

Damn it. I glared at Paejon with resentful eyes. Why did you say that?

“…Yes. I have some business.”

“Hoo.”

It’s true I’m heading to Shanxi. At those words, one fact dawned on Guryong’s face. He seemed to interpret heading to Shanxi as heading to Gu Clan. Since that was true, I didn’t say anything specific. I just didn’t want Guryong to know this. Paejon caused trouble with that. Why on earth did he do this? I looked at Paejon, wondering.

“So I’m going too.”

“What?”

“Yes?”

My eyes widened at Paejon’s words. Going?

“…Where?”

“Where is Gu Clan.”

“Why?”

“Why? Didn’t I tell you? I have mountains of things I told you.”

“……”

It seemed like it was about the ‘Six Meals’. Surely not.

“…Are you coming along just to tell me that?”

“Isn’t that right?”

“No, what the…!”

“Even if not… I happened to have business with the Gu Clan head anyway. It worked out well.”

“……”

As if my words didn’t matter, Paejon nodded.

“So, Guryong. You can come back later. We also now…”

Grip-!

This time, it wasn’t Guryong but Paejon who firmly gripped my shoulder.

“It seems fellow disciples have more to talk about. Don’t you think so?”

“……”

At Paejon’s words, I rolled my tongue in my mouth.

…It was like one mountain after another.