Chapter 197: Know Your Place. (5)

Flames resembling the clear sky enveloped my entire body.

Illuminating the surroundings where darkness had settled.

Kadeudeuk-

Behind me, the aftereffects of Iljangro’s sword strike that he’d drawn against me were still ongoing.

Seeing the devastated surroundings, my shoulders trembled slightly.

That was truly instant death even if it just grazed me.

Because of that, I ended up in this state.

‘I didn’t want to use it.’

Looking at the Azure Flames (靑炎) wrapped around my body made my insides burn.

It was the energy the Blood Demon had injected into me, and the unknown power Jang Seon-yeon used.

I called this ‘Blood Energy’.

Blood Energy extremely enhances the body and martial arts.

This power, which seemed similar yet different to demonic energy, made my flames turn blue, deepening their destructive power, and enhanced my body just as remarkably.

Just using it like this made the difference clear; it’s truly absurd power.

However, its drawbacks were just as clear.

Just by using it, the internal energy stored in my mid-danjeon was rapidly depleting.

My internal energy, which hadn’t been affected even when filling the surroundings with flames, depleted this much just from merely cloaking my body in flames.

‘The cost-effectiveness is terrible.’

Of course, thanks to this power, I could create this situation, but I wasn’t particularly pleased about it.

‘It was dangerous without using it.’

There were times in the past when I vowed never to use demonic energy, but from the moment I realized I couldn’t afford to be picky, I decided not to care, but…

Still, someone else’s energy feels incredibly unsettling.

Especially if it belongs to an unknown entity.

‘I resolved to hide it as much as possible.’

The flames’ color already changed noticeably, so it wasn’t something I could use carelessly anywhere.

Moreover.

Koong-!

“…Hoo.”

The moment I retracted the flames cloaking me, the recoil felt in my body.

I had to grit my teeth to avoid showing it, and I had to be careful not to let my expression crumble.

‘Crazy… It hurts like hell.’

Even during my journey back, I tried to learn about the energy.

I had used it a few times during training, but this was the first time using it in actual combat, so I hadn’t properly anticipated the repercussions of the recoil.

Still, even so.

This is excessive.

‘I thought I was somewhat accustomed to pain.’

Even if my body wasn’t, I thought my mind was at least tough, but this was beyond excessive.

‘As expected, I can’t use it often.’

If it were just the recoil, it might be fine, but at this level, it would surely put a strain on my body just as much.

Even now, I had to pretend to put my hands behind my back to hide the slight trembling in my arm.

Nevertheless, I could tell how outstanding the power of this ability was.

‘Even if it wasn’t the level of reaching the Flowering Realm (化境)…’

Even if it wasn’t enough to break through to the next realm, it was clear I had momentarily neared that level.

I knew this just by recalling how Jang Seon-yeon showed power nearing the threshold of the peak level from the first-class level.

‘…If I used it at a higher realm, would it be the same?’

The thought crossed my mind, but I quickly shook my head.

That wouldn’t be the case.

The supreme realm isn’t something one can reach through mere shortcuts like this.

“Khluk…! Puheup….”

Tududuk-

Blood trickled from the mouth of Iljangro, who was kneeling before me.

I hid the trembling back of my hand and looked at Iljangro.

His disheveled hair and collapsed body.

The sight of the old man looking at me with trembling pupils was utterly pathetic.

This was the fall of a master who was once a powerhouse of the Gu family and led the Gu Seon Sect.

It wasn’t a pleasant feeling to just watch it.

Even though he had drawn a sword against me.

“Heueo….”

Only a sighing sound escaped Iljangro’s mouth.

It was because all the teeth in his mouth had fallen out or were broken.

“As for what you’ve done, searching inside there should be enough.”

“Heueo… No….”

His pronunciation was slurred, so I couldn’t easily understand what he was trying to say, but I could feel Iljangro’s emotions.

“Are you going to struggle pathetically now that you’ve come this far? You shouldn’t.”

“Why… why are you…! Someone like you…!”

“Indeed, why did I end up like this? It’s unfortunate for you.”

I said that without much thought.

Even if I had remained a good-for-nothing as Iljangro expected, this old man’s end was already decided.

Iljangro’s impatience was simply what brought about the current situation.

Watching Iljangro spew his emotions, I spoke calmly.

“Gu Seon Sect Leader Gu Changjun.”

At my call, Iljangro’s eyes wavered greatly.

“For collaborating with external forces and causing harm to the main family, furthermore for attempting to assassinate a blood relative of the main family, I strip you of your elder position.”

“What right do the likes of you have to carry out such actions…!”

“Why can’t I? Do you think accepting the position of Young Master right now would change anything?”

Even if I couldn’t, nothing would change.

Iljangro would know that too.

If Father returned right now and saw this mess, would Iljangro’s treatment change significantly?

“I have contributed to the family over the years! How dare a good-for-nothing like you execute me!”

It’s true that Iljangro had done quite a lot.

Leading the Gu Seon Sect for the past few decades.

He lived as the sword of the Gu family and undoubtedly had influence in his efforts to bring peace to the mountains and rivers, but…

“That doesn’t mean you should cross the line you shouldn’t have crossed.”

“What do you know….”

“Do I need to know? I’m not curious about your heartfelt story.”

That he couldn’t reach certain positions because he was from a collateral branch.

Or that there were places he could never go no matter how hard he tried.

I don’t know what past stories are hidden, but…

“I don’t need to know that.”

Whatever life Iljangro lived, that was his life.

Whatever choices he made, those were problems the old man had to bear.

My body, trembling from the recoil, finally stopped, and I immediately reached out and grabbed Iljangro’s neck.

Iljangro twisted his body, trying to resist as if to summon his internal energy, but he soon coughed violently.

It seemed Iljangro’s body wasn’t responding properly either.

“…Let… go…! You bastard! No matter if you’re the family head’s child, you can’t do as you please with me. The family laws are clear…!”

“If you know the law so well, why did you do it then?”

I tightened my grip and channeled my energy.

Iljangro had to die here.

Even if I left him, the probability of Iljangro surviving after Father arrived was close to none, but…

‘He saw me ignite the flames.’

Since he saw me use Blood Energy to dodge Iljangro’s strike and counterattack, I couldn’t possibly let him live.

“At the very least, you won’t die as painfully as last time.”

In my past life, when I killed Iljangro, Father burned him alive slowly, but I didn’t want to expend energy just to do that.

Then, applying force to my tightly clenched fist to crush his neck-

“Young Master Il…!”

My body froze stiff at the voice coming from behind.

And Iljangro was no different.

“Ah… no.”

Iljangro uttered a pitiful voice while looking at the person who appeared behind me.

As if he didn’t want to be seen like this.

And I felt the same way.

‘How on earth did he find out and come here?’

As I looked behind me with surprised eyes, Gu Gyeol-yeop stood there, panting.

Before starting this, I had ordered Mu-yeon to keep Gu Gyeol-yeop distracted, but how could Gu Gyeol-yeop have come to the Gu Seon Sect?

‘That’s not what’s important right now.’

My grandfather, spitting blood in a terrible state, and me, holding him.

“Haa… Haa…!”

I could see Gu Gyeol-yeop’s eyes trembling as he witnessed this.

Perhaps due to panting, he couldn’t speak and was just catching his breath.

“Y-Young Master Il. Wh-what is this….”

He soon called out to me in a trembling voice at the unbelievable situation.

“Tsk.”

Seeing that, I clicked my tongue and turned my head.

This is truly a fucked up situation.

It was also a situation I wanted to avoid facing if possible.

[You brat.]

“Ha….”

At the voice of the Old Man calling me as if urging me to make a choice in this moment, I sighed deeply.

This is why I tried to keep his attention diverted if possible.

I tightened my grip on Iljangro’s neck.

Kwadeuk-!

A heavy sound was heard, and the life drained from Iljangro’s eyes.

Then, Iljangro’s body collapsed powerlessly onto the floor.

“G-Grandfather!”

Gu Gyeol-yeop rushed over and began examining Iljangro.

His voice trembled and choked up, which bothered me quite a bit.

“Gu Gyeol-yeop.”

However, hiding those feelings somewhere else, I called out to Gu Gyeop.

At my call, Gu Gyeol-yeop lifted his trembling head and met my eyes.

Gu Gyeol-yeop’s face was a whirlpool of endless tears and unreadable emotions.

If I tried to decipher those emotions, I could, but I had no choice but to look away now.

“Since the Gu Seon Sect Leader has been stripped of his position and can no longer act, you, as his successor, must take his place.”

“…Right now, right now… what on earth are you saying? What is going on here?”

“I will not accept any objections.”

“Young Master Il…!”

Gu Gyeol-yeop cried out to me, but I merely looked back at him impassively.

Meeting my gaze, Gu Gyeol-yeop contorted his expression and reached for his sword, but…

“If you draw that, I’ll have no choice but to kill you.”

Gu Gyeol-yeop froze stiff at my words.

It was unavoidable, as I was deliberately exuding killing intent.

This must be killing intent Gu Gyeol-yeop couldn’t possibly withstand.

“Why, why…!”

Even in this situation, I could see Gu Gyeol-yeop trying to move his body somehow.

It was clear he couldn’t properly comprehend the situation or his own emotions.

A boy not even of age would naturally struggle like this.

Watching Gu Gyeol-yeop struggle, I reached out with the edge of my hand towards his neck and struck him lightly, knocking him unconscious.

I approached and supported Gu Gyeol-yeop as he fell without even reacting.

[It seems you won’t kill the child.]

‘…’

[Have you grown fond of this boy in the meantime?]

I offered no response to the Old Man’s words.

Following that, I sensed numerous presences through the door.

It seemed the members of the main family were finally showing up after learning about the situation.

I roughly laid Gu Gyeol-yeop on the floor and turned my back.

[There is nothing more terrifying than flimsy mercy. You know well that this is the better path for both you and the child.]

‘…’

[It’s your choice, so I won’t say more, but you will surely regret it.]

At the Old Man’s words, I ran my hand through my hair.

I already have so many regrets, adding one more won’t make much of a difference.

For now, I decided to think that way.

More accurately, I had to think that way, at least inwardly.

---

In a corner of the Black Night Palace (黑夜宮) underground prison.

A woman who had lost consciousness slowly opened her eyes.

“Haa!”

As soon as she regained consciousness, the woman sat up and immediately scanned her surroundings.

The dim room and the iron bars before her eyes.

And an unusual sense of emptiness told her about her current situation.

‘…Where is this place?’

The woman, Gu Huibi, had to rack her throbbing head, trying hard to recall her last memory.

Why she was here.

And where ‘here’ was.

“…!”

Fortunately, she could recall it quickly, but Gu Huibi immediately had to grit her teeth.

The nonsensically powerful martial artist who had burst onto the battlefield, and the sight of Elder Lee (李長老) leading his body to protect her.

And then, the memory of her own helplessness.

“Fuck.”

Elder Lee, who was barely managing to fight while protecting her, ultimately had his body pierced by the enemy’s hand at the last moment.

And then herself, who lost consciousness immediately after.

It was such a memory of incompetence.

It was also the image she hated the most.

Amidst that guilt, Gu Huibi turned her head to examine her surroundings closely.

“Where is this place…?”

First, she needed to find out why she was facing this inexplicable situation.

However, looking around, she could only ascertain one thing.

“A prison…?”

That it was a prison surrounded by iron bars.

As Gu Huibi looked around with an expression of utter disbelief,

“You’re bothering me, so stay still.”

A voice came from not far away.

Gu Huibi, who hadn’t sensed any presence, immediately tried to create distance, but…

“Ugh…!”

Her bound hands and feet caused her to fall onto the floor.

“Ho ho, I knew you’d do that.”

Deoldeok.

An unpleasant sound, like metal scraping across the floor, gradually approached Gu Huibi.

As the sound drew nearer, Gu Huibi took a breath and assumed a combat stance, but for some reason, her internal energy wouldn’t move.

‘Acupoint sealing…?’

Her danjeon seemed fine, so it looked like her energy flow was blocked.

Finally, the sound reached right in front of her.

Gu Huibi, her eyes gradually adjusting to the darkness, could vaguely make out the figure approaching her.

“…!”

The culprit was an old man.

An old man with a thin, seemingly unnatural body.

Signs of torture were visible all over his body, and most notably, his eyes were covered with bandages.