Chapter 195: Know Your Place. (3)

Know Your Place. (3)

‘How could he possibly do that?’

Gu Changjun, unable to shake the frown from his face, stared intently at Gu Yangcheon.

‘You mean I made a mistake?’

No matter how sudden the situation, mistaking Gu Yangcheon for the Clan Head.

It was impossible.

‘Even if… that brat managed to break through the wall…!’

It was blurry, but he saw it clearly.

Gu Yangcheon had broken through the wall and reached the pinnacle.

Reaching the pinnacle at an age younger than Gu Yeolyeop, his own grandson and hope, clearly meant heaven wasn’t on his side, but…

Separate from that.

This was impossible.

The flames Gu Yangcheon was emitting bore a chilling resemblance to the Clan Head’s flames.

The unique aura was bound to be similar, being the same martial art of the clan bloodline, but that wasn’t what he meant.

Those ominous flames, used only by the bloodline.

The way he controlled those flames-wild, unruly, resembling a famished beast-as if they were extensions of his own body.

It was certainly at a level where mistaking him for the Clan Head wouldn’t be strange.

It meant he was that skilled.

‘Even so….’

The flames should have been of a different quality.

No matter how much the Clan Head had lost the power of his prime over time.

To mistake them for the flames spat out by that mere brat.

Does that mean the child handles flames that well?

Or perhaps not.

‘…It really is my current condition….’

“You seem flustered. Seeing as you haven’t said a word.”

“…!”

“It was my own way of repaying the gift you gave me, First Elder. Did it not meet your expectations?”

Gu Yangcheon was smiling.

His wide smile looked rather terrifying, though.

More than that, the killing intent lingering in his voice was palpable, creating a sense of dissonance.

Gu Changjun forced his expression into composure and asked Gu Yangcheon.

“…A gift? I don’t know what I gave you, Yangcheon, that has you so angered.”

“Angered? First Elder-nim. You gave me a gift, so how could I possibly be angry?”

Tuduk.

The way he crunched down on the blackened floor looked incredibly insolent.

“Besides, isn’t it said that one shouldn’t harbor anger towards beasts, not people?”

Gu Changjun’s expression contorted at the nonchalantly spoken words.

It was because Gu Yangcheon was expressing his hostility far too clearly.

“Your mouth has gotten rougher since I last saw you. I heard you’d finally gotten your act together recently. Do you truly not know who I am?”

“How much time is ‘recently’? Enough for manners to come back? Besides.”

Ppaak-!

Gu Yangcheon kicked the face of Munwon, who was staggering to move, knocking him unconscious.

Munwon coughed up blood and lost consciousness.

“I learned that pretending to be good should be done selectively. Your family education must have been quite thorough in that regard.”

“…You punk…!”

Kuwuung!

Gu Changjun stomped his foot down on the floor as if expressing his rage.

His internal energy, naegi, rushed out with a ‘hook!’ into the surroundings.

The footwork of a martial artist who had reached the ‘Hwagyeong’ realm could spread across the entire Gusunmun sect in an instant, but…

Gu Changjun didn’t change his expression in response.

“I don’t know why you’re doing this, but no matter how much of a direct blood relative you are, you’re incredibly arrogant!”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

As if intending to suppress Gu Changjun, he began to exude his internal energy.

“You know I’m a direct blood relative, right?”

As Gu Changjun spoke, the way he casually cracked his neck with a ‘ttududuk’ sound resembled a back-alley thug more than a noble clan member.

“Why the hell are you acting up? I distinctly told you to leave me alone.”

The sliver of politeness barely contained in his words had vanished.

What mixed within the blazing atmosphere was undeniable killing intent, and…

What crushed Gu Changjun’s emanating internal energy, crunching underfoot, was the young boy’s internal energy.

The First Elder was undeniably a martial artist who had reached the Hwagyeong realm.

Although Gu Yangcheon possessed monstrous talent unbefitting his age…

He was, after all, a martial artist who had reached the pinnacle.

Even for a perfected pinnacle state assimilated with the body, the difference in realms was overwhelmingly significant, yet…

This was impossible.

However, Gu Changjun could only frown, pushing his surprise aside.

He vaguely knew the reason for this himself.

‘…Kkeudeuk.’

The chronic illness he had been suffering from made it difficult to operate his internal energy, and…

Since his internal energy wasn’t functioning properly, the aging that had slowed according to his realm began to dominate his body once more.

His weakened body couldn’t even muster half the strength of his prime, and…

Now, he felt overwhelmed even by martial artists of a lower level than himself.

However.

No one in the clan knew this.

He was hiding it for his own purposes.

Only he himself knew.

How much so, that even knowing the physician was staying at the main house, he deliberately remained silent and pretended not to know?

‘I was waiting for the right time.’

With the Clan Head forced out of the house, and the Second Elder’s eyes blinded…

And with the physician coincidentally at the main house, he had intended to secretly seek them out regarding this.

It was a physician he had been consistently acquiring information about from the intelligence department anyway.

Since they were conveniently staying under the Gu family’s protection, how could he not hope for it?

Therefore, Gu Changjun considered this the perfect timing.

If only the variable named Gu Yangcheon didn’t exist.

‘This is troublesome.’

The child he thought was merely a small pebble sticking out on his path…

It seemed he had realized far too late that it was actually Mount Tai hiding beneath the surface.

‘If I had known sooner, I would have removed it by any means necessary.’

Who could have known that this young brat would block his path so soon?

Gu Changjun straightened his posture, forcing himself to steady the sword he had drawn.

‘He doesn’t know about this anyway.’

There’s no way Gu Yangcheon knows about my chronic illness.

Which made it even more puzzling.

Why Gu Yangcheon had appeared so recklessly.

‘Even if he’s immature and hot-tempered….’

Having reached the pinnacle at such a young age.

Arrogance and conceit reaching the heavens might seem natural, but…

Gu Changjun somehow felt there must be a reason Gu Yangcheon had come so recklessly.

‘Could it be….’

Was I found out?

Did Gu Yangcheon find out about the matter I commissioned Taeju (太主)?

‘I didn’t think he was the type to handle things so clumsily.’

Gu Changjun didn’t know Taeju well, but recalling the work they had collaborated on so far…

He didn’t think he was someone who would fail so easily.

‘Even if he failed, it doesn’t matter.’

Even if Gu Yangcheon suspected he was involved in this matter, it didn’t matter.

After all, there was no evidence.

“What in the world possesses you to act so recklessly?!”

“Judging by your expression, you’ve figured it all out but are playing dumb. That’s just pathetic, you know.”

“You keep spouting incomprehensible words…! If you insist on acting this way, this old man will have no choice but to retaliate….”

“Or perhaps… you’re just impatient?”

“What?”

Gu Changjun questioned Gu Yangcheon’s words, but…

Gu Yangcheon, who would have answered, was no longer there.

A brief gust of wind swept past.

Following his instincts, Gu Changjun hastily drew his sword and slashed the air.

Hwaak-! A sharp sword strike sliced through the air, creating a flash of light.

In its place, the flames vanished, leaving behind a faint trace.

‘Gone…!’

He had fired his sword towards where he felt the killing intent, but amusingly, only a tiny ember remained there.

‘Then…. where…!’

Kung!

A small fist burrowed through the ‘ganggi’ surrounding his waist.

Even though the ganggi Gu Changjun had wrapped around his body was by no means weak.

The fist shattered the ganggi as if piercing through paper.

Paang!

“Keuhup!”

As their bodies collided, accompanied by the sound of internal energy bursting, Gu Changjun’s form swayed violently.

Fortunately, he didn’t lose his footing and fly into the air, but…

Geugeugeuk!

He was pushed far back, leaving marks on the floor.

“Khluk…!”

Gu Changjun, barely regaining his breath, spat out a mouthful of blood.

It was just one blow, and moreover, it should have caused less intense pain after piercing the ganggi, but…

The sharp pain originating from his waist momentarily disrupted the internal energy flowing through his body, forcing a recoil.

“Hoo…”

Gu Changjun wasn’t so much bothered by being attacked.

He let out a sigh mixed with astonishment at the level Gu Yangcheon displayed in the single exchange that just occurred.

The way he momentarily erased his presence for the surprise attack.

How he imbued the flames with his presence to mask his true location and distract the eyes.

And the fist that burrowed into his side.

Knowing how high-level an application of internal energy was required to execute this single attack…

Gu Changjun couldn’t help but be astonished that Gu Yangcheon displayed it so casually, even with such practiced movements.

‘…He’s a monster.’

It had only been a year since Gu Yangcheon began actively participating.

Even if Gu Yangcheon possessed innate talent that even the Clan Head couldn’t recognize…

This level was nonsensical.

Wuwung.

“…!”

Gu Changjun aimed his sword again at the presence.

This presence was not a mistake.

It was closer to Gu Yangcheon revealing his presence.

“Nothing much.”

A voice echoed through the darkness.

Where were the flames he used to subdue the Gusunmun disciples?

All that was visible were Gu Yangcheon’s red eyes glowing in the darkness.

“…You brat, even if you managed that one blow thanks to a fluke…!”

“Fluke? What are you talking about ‘flukes’ when you can barely react with that body?”

“…What?”

At Gu Yangcheon’s sneering words…

Gu Changjun felt his heart drop.

It was as if he knew something.

As if unaware of Gu Changjun’s reaction, Gu Yangcheon simply brushed his hands and grinned.

Then, delivering the finishing blow with his words…

“You’re broken, aren’t you? Especially around the heart.”

“…!”

Gu Changjun’s thin mustache trembled.