Chapter 382: Well Done.

Crackle-….

The surroundings were filled with the sound of something crumbling. The smell of burning was thick.

The world was scorched black.

Whoosh-! Flames soared.

Flames of opposing colors repeatedly clashed as if fighting over territory.

How potent and intense the aura contained within both flames was.

Every time a collision occurred, vibrations spread in all directions.

Boom-! Boom boom-!

The air grew hotter with the surging energy.

It was already at a level where ordinary people would die just by coming near, let alone breathing.

The sky, strangely, was a mix of red and black,

yet they were separated as if they were oil and water.

Kuaaaah-!

The massive flame seemed to be screaming.

The flame gradually began to change into the shape of a dragon,

and poured down onto the land.

Crack-!

The moment the flame collided with the ground, the floor crumbled and began to grind,

and the fragments that flew out were half-melted.

It’s hot.

Everywhere was burning red.

The fiercely distorted flame swallowed all the black flames scattered around before returning to the caster.

Swoosh-! Even after the spread flames returned entirely to their master, the scorched and melted world remained the same.

-…Hoo….

I looked at my opponent with tired eyes.

They should have been the same flame originally. But the black flame, having taken on a dark hue due to corruption, must have become much hotter and rougher than the flame I possessed in the past.

It was devoured so easily by the blazing red flame before my eyes.

I tried hard to maintain a neutral expression as I looked at my opponent.

He still looked fierce, a man with a blunt expression.

His appearance was similar to mine, yet not quite.

To be precise… it would be more accurate to say that I resemble him.

Although not much time had passed, it certainly had.

His face didn’t seem to have aged at all.

The man’s blood-red eyes turned towards me.

-It’s been a while.

-….

At the man’s words, I flinched involuntarily.

That was the first thing my father, whom I hadn’t seen in years, said to me.

-…Yes.

-I was sure she would return again. You’re a far more cruel person than I thought. To send you to me.

The one Father was talking about was the Heavenly Demon.

The Heavenly Demon was in a state of concentration for recovery after the battle the other day.

It must be because the aftermath of the battle was unusual.

Recalling that, I observed Father.

The wounds the Heavenly Demon currently bore were inflicted by Father.

Meaning, he had wounded the Heavenly Demon’s body, something no one else had managed.

Rather, Father even looked unharmed.

That might be the case outwardly, but.

I knew Father wasn’t alright on the inside.

-I know you are struggling greatly.

-….

At my words, Father’s eyebrow twitched.

It was already palpable just by looking.

That Father’s body was being consumed by demonic energy. Not just any demonic energy, but the Heavenly Demon’s.

Even so, walking around like this was one thing, but breathing itself must be difficult.

The fact that he was enduring like this must be solely due to willpower.

That even in that state, my flames couldn’t encroach meant,

that Father’s power was that immense.

-Third.

At his call, my expression slightly contorted.

-…Shouldn’t you stop using that title now?

-You don’t like it?

-Do I still look like your child?

To my question, Father wore a strange expression.

-Weren’t you?

At his question of what was wrong, my eyes squeezed shut.

-Do you know that I… killed the Crimson Light Sword?

Crimson Light Sword was the alias of the deceased Gu Huibi. Hearing this, the corner of Father’s eye trembled slightly.

-Furthermore, I have come now to kill you.

-…

-Even in this situation, am I still your child?

Despite my words, Father maintained his expressionless facade.

He must have known well that I was involved in Gu Huibi’s death.

Yet.

He wasn’t even getting angry?

-In the first place… I don’t know if you ever considered me your child.

If he had considered me his child,

he might have gotten angry seeing me like this.

He might have roared, asking why I did such a thing.

He might have tried to turn me back, telling me to return.

But Father didn’t do that.

Even when I had fallen into becoming a demon…

And even now, facing him… Father did nothing.

Really, I wish he had at least gotten angry.

Perhaps it was because I was burning flames.

My insides felt like they were burning hot.

-That day. Why did you save me?

I asked Father.

Around the time my name began to spread through the Central Plains after I had fallen into becoming a demon…

Father had come looking for me.

At that moment.

I sensed my own death.

I hadn’t thought Father would save me, who had become a demon.

I thought I’d burn to death right there. That’s what I thought.

Father took in my appearance, then simply turned his back and disappeared.

-Why on earth did he do that? After pondering for a long time, I realized.

He might have seen it as a good thing.

-…

-Since the one you kept around for the Young Master position conveniently disappeared, you saw that as a good thing, didn’t you?

Words spoken as if in resignation. Father just listened quietly.

-So even now… you aren’t getting angry at me even once, right?

-Did you want me to get angry?

-Well. I don’t know about that, but wouldn’t it have been better if you had?

There was a time when I wished the world would look upon me with indifference.

That’s what I thought back then, but.

Perhaps, conversely, I might have wished for more attention than anyone else.

Though it’s probably too late now.

-I see.

Father nodded at my words.

Even that action was frustrating.

With a look of emptiness, I asked him.

-What was I to you…?

What was I to Father?

Was I just a useless brat who only caused trouble?

Or was I the child of a concubine he didn’t even want to glance at?

Was I truly just a disgrace to the Gu family?

Perhaps because the aura vanished all at once, my mind felt dizzy.

Moreover, regarding my question, Father offered no answer at all.

Does that mean it wasn’t even worth answering?

Then again. Father was always that kind of person.

Seeing his figure, I let out a small laugh, and at the same time,

Whoosh.

I wrapped my body in black flames once more.

-There’s no need for further conversation, is there?

-…

Watching me, Father also donned his flames.

Immediately after, the heat erupting from Father’s body soared towards the sky.

At the same time, my body began to be strongly pressed down.

It was the effect of Red Heaven (赤天) being activated.

As if not wanting to lose, I too activated Black Heaven (黑天), starting to draw upon my body’s strength little by little.

Demonic energy swirled around my fingertips.

I condensed it to form Flame Orbs.

Not just one.

Not only on my palms, but I created countless Flame Orbs above me,

and fired them straight at Father.

It was power enough to devastate the surroundings, but just before reaching Father, the Flame Orbs vanished as if they had never existed.

-…

Even though so much energy disappeared in an instant. There was no pressure wave or even the slightest sound.

Seeing that, I scowled. Grinding my teeth, I leaped.

As I moved my body, I examined Father’s hand.

There was the reason.

-That is…

Gu family’s secret technique, which can only be used when Nine Flames Wheel Technique reaches its extreme.

It was the power that wounded the Heavenly Demon’s body,

and the power called the very essence of all Gu family flames.

As long as that power existed,

I wouldn’t be able to defeat Father.

No, even without it, I probably couldn’t have defeated Father in the first place.

I knew that all too well.

Despite that, I sought out the Gu family alone.

To finish off Father, whom the Heavenly Demon couldn’t kill?

That might be the justification as a demon,

but it was different for me.

I.

It wasn’t to kill Father,

but to die by Father’s hand that I came here.

Fwoosh-!

I continuously poured out flames.

As I imbued the pent-up emotions, the flames looked comically darker.

Is it an illusion?

It’s probably an illusion.

The massive flames stretched out relentlessly,

but they didn’t reach Father at all.

I bit down so hard my molars cracked.

Kwaaa-!

The flames erupting from Father’s feet blocked me, but I forced my way through.

It was hot.

Even though my body was trained in fire arts, Father’s flames were exceptionally hot.

My collar burned away.

The flames pierced through my protective aura and burned my skin too.

I felt like I would lose consciousness from the pain, but I still didn’t stop.

Seeing me charge recklessly, a spark flickered in Father’s eyes.

I gathered flames at my fingertips.

I condensed all the aura I could muster into my fist.

This was different from the Flame Orbs.

It wasn’t a refined martial art, just something condensed with emotion.

I will die here.

I couldn’t go on any longer.

Even if one grew numb to slaughter, the mind wasn’t infinite,

and even a life for someone else wasn’t enough justification to endure.

My goal had grown old and started to fade long ago.

What am I living for?

I think I had an answer at first,

but now I can barely remember.

I was so tired, so weary, I just wanted to stop.

Would this death atone for something to someone?

-No.

A sense of self-loathing sprouted from that childish wish.

This wasn’t atonement; it was just a way to soothe my own selfishness.

However, even if that’s the case, it doesn’t matter anymore.

Thinking that, I took a step forward.

The red flames grew stronger the closer I got to Father.

He seemed genuinely intent on burning me.

I had wanted that, but at the same time, a bitter feeling rose within me.

I didn’t want this kind of relationship.

To die by the hands of the father I so feared and resented.

Even my end is pathetic.

As that thought crossed my mind, I couldn’t help but laugh.

It felt like a fitting end for someone like me.

Snap.

Fwoosh-!

Flames shaped like a dragon and a tiger wrapped around me. Was it to bind my legs?

I immediately strained and broke free.

Sparks flew, obscuring my vision.

I cleared that away too.

Then, Father appeared right before my eyes.

Wrapped in the red flames that I should have been engulfed in originally.

With red eyes and red hair, he looked at me.

What kind of expression was that?

I couldn’t tell.

Father’s hand moved.

It was the hand activated with the Gu family’s secret technique.

The moment that touched my body would be the end.

Sensing this, I reached out my hand.

When I die, what expression will Father wear?

Will he wear the same expressionless face as now?

That seemed likely.

I couldn’t really imagine him showing any other expression.

Just as I thought that, Father’s hand drew closer.

It was a large, rough hand.

It was definitely fast, but for some reason, it felt slow.

Was he trying to recall a montage of his life?

I hoped he wouldn’t.

The memories he might recall would only be sordid and filthy,

or simply miserable ones.

Right now, I just wanted to close my eyes.

Soon, before my hand could reach him, Father’s hand touched me.

Just when I thought this was the end,

Whoosh-.

-…!

Suddenly, the flames surrounding Father’s body dissipated.

The disappearance of the flames meant he had released his power,

and the protective aura enveloping his body had also vanished.

There was no time to assess the situation.

Just as I was hastily trying to release the power in my fist,

Father grabbed my hand, which I was trying to retract.

Boom-!

My fist connected with Father’s chest, and the impact spread.

Whoosh-!

The air pressure exploded outwards.

I had to struggle to comprehend the unfolding situation.

-What… What is this…?

I creakily lifted my head.

Then, upon checking Father’s face,

-…!

Blood was flowing from the corner of Father’s mouth.

Just before the attack hit, I had tried to hastily release my power,

but it was because I couldn’t fully retract my energy,

and that power struck his defenseless body directly.

In a situation where instant death would be insufficient,

Father, meanwhile, didn’t falter even slightly, standing perfectly fine on both feet.

-Wh-What are you doing…!

Perhaps because I couldn’t properly comprehend it.

Words wouldn’t come out.

Just then.

I felt something placed upon the crown of my head.

It was Father’s hand.