Chapter 609: Biwoegun.

What must my pupils be like now?

They’ll probably be similar to the Palace Lord’s.

[…Huh?]

Seeing this, the Palace Lord’s eyes widened.

Looking at his face, I said,

“If you even lay a finger on them. Treason or whatever else, you’ll die by my hand first. Got it?”

[Haha.]

As I approached, emitting heat, the Palace Lord chuckled.

What was so funny? Seeing that only fueled my rage.

[Do you think you can do that?]

Even though my power has weakened due to the curse, my opponent is the Palace Lord.

He was the ruler of a region, and I could instinctively tell.

That the Palace Lord was stronger than me.

Overwhelmingly so.

Still.

“So what.”

What does it matter?

Hwaruk–

Energy wrapped around my hand.

The energy coalesced and spun, instantly forming a Blazing Orb above my palm.

“So, should I grovel before you?”

My temper’s too foul for that.

I’ve already restrained myself quite a bit.

Besides.

“I don’t treat those who mess with my people like people.”

No matter how strong the opponent is, if they touched what’s mine, I’ll track them down to the end and tear their throat out, whoever they may be.

Even if it’s some ‘god’ that might or might not exist.

The Blazing Orb, tinged with blue light, spun ceaselessly.

With each rotation, I could feel its intensity growing.

It’s the power of rotation I learned from my father back in the day.

The Blazing Orb spun, emitting heat all around while absorbing the cold.

[…]

The Palace Lord’s expression showed no sign of fading surprise.

Maintaining the Blazing Orb, I spread my aura around.

Since I didn’t know when the cold might strike, I didn’t hide my vigilance either.

I let my anger show, but kept my head cool.

When should I unleash it? How should I unleash it?

Just as I was thinking only of that.

[Haha.]

The Palace Lord, who had been watching this, suddenly let out a laugh.

“You’re laughing?”

Do you think this is a joke?

Frowning, I tried to take another step towards the Palace Lord.

[I apologize.]

The Palace Lord’s apology reached my ears.

[I made a grave mistake.]

“What did you say?”

[I did nothing to your companions. I promise on the Palace Lord’s honor.]

I replied immediately.

“What honor are you talking about, someone confined to the back room due to illness?”

As I said with a sneer.

[That’s true as well. If so, ‘Yucheon’. I swear upon my name that nothing happened to your companions.]

The Palace Lord casually admitted it and swore upon his name.

Hearing that, I slightly lowered my intensity.

Deep down, I was even a little surprised.

That he would admit it so easily.

Oh, of course, I didn’t retract the Blazing Orb.

With eyes still burning with heat, I continued to stare at the Palace Lord, who spoke, looking at me.

[You truly must be his son.]

He thinks I’m his father’s son?

Of all times, in this situation, to hear something like that-it definitely didn’t sound like praise.

It felt as if there had been a similar situation before.

“Tsk.”

I clicked my tongue.

Then, I flung the Blazing Orb I was holding behind me.

Instantly.

Hooook–!! Kwaaang—!!!

A tremendous sound erupted from the entrance I came through.

Glancing over, the iron door had crumpled, creating a small gap.

‘I did try to control it, though.’

It took a direct hit from the Blazing Orb, yet it only crumpled.

That iron door meant it was no ordinary object.

Honestly, I’d thrown it intending to break it, but for it to end up just crumpled like that made me feel a bit embarrassed.

Just then.

Kiiiyiiik–!!

The crumpled iron door opened, and a man entered.

It was the man called ‘Black Lion’ or something, the one who’d opened the door earlier.

The man entered through the door and looked this way.

“Palace Lord–!”

As soon as he saw the situation, the man immediately started radiating hostility.

Close proximity to the Palace Lord. Me, radiating heat at that distance.

A situation easily misunderstood… no, that’s not it.

‘It’s not a misunderstanding.’

Since I did threaten the Palace Lord, it wouldn’t be a misunderstanding.

“This guy…!”

The man twisted his face like a demon.

It looked like things were about to get a bit troublesome.

In such a situation.

[Great General.]

Was none other than the Palace Lord.

At the Palace Lord’s call, the Great General froze in place.

[Stop.]

“Palace Lord…?”

[It was my side that acted disrespectfully first.]

The Palace Lord admitted his own rudeness and spoke to the man.

[Return to your post quickly. It’s an order.]

Despite the Palace Lord’s words, the man couldn’t move, and for a moment, an immense pressure poured from the Palace Lord.

It was incomparably heavier than the pressure he’d exerted on me earlier.

Seeing that, I had to see the Palace Lord differently.

‘This fellow.’

Was he hiding more power?

It was a power I hadn’t grasped yet.

[Great General. Are you refusing my order?]

“No…. I will obey your command.”

At the Palace Lord’s warning, the man retracted his hostility.

However, his gaze towards me remained sharp.

I watched that calmly,

Ttobeok–

Then turned my back on the Palace Lord and walked away as I pleased.

“How dare you…!”

At this action, the man tried to say something again.

[Great General.]

The Palace Lord stopped the man once more.

Passing the man, as I approached the open door, I turned my head to look at the Palace Lord.

“Earlier, you asked me something, didn’t you?”

The question the Palace Lord had asked me just before.

Whether I was still friends with Woohyeok.

“Do I have to answer now?”

[Of course?]

“I’ll answer a little later.”

It was almost a declaration, but I couldn’t give an answer right away.

The reason being:

“I generally don’t like hearing only one side of the story.”

If Woohyeok truly committed treason under the identity of Biwegun, I first needed to know why.

‘That guy wouldn’t have done something like that without thinking.’

There must be some reason.

That thought came first.

As I said that with that intention, the Palace Lord asked me.

[So, you intend to find Biwegun and have a talk?]

“Yes.”

Find him and ask.

If it’s true, and if so, why he did it.

This was the clearest way.

Hearing my words, the Palace Lord smiled and asked further.

[And if you happen to find Biwegun’s actions convincing, what will you do? Will you join the rebellion too?]

Hearing the question, I had to frown deeply.

“Am I crazy? To get involved in such troublesome affairs.”

Finding it convincing is one thing.

Helping with it is another matter entirely.

“Whether they stir things up or whatever, do as you please. I’m not interested.”

I just want to know.

Why that guy had to make that choice.

And if he caused trouble for reasons I can’t accept,

‘I’ll have to beat him to his senses.’

Beat him up until he comes to his senses.

I could do that much.

In my past life, Woohyeok used to do the same when I went too far astray or something.

Having sorted out my thoughts, I moved my feet.

The cold chill was still felt behind me, but I felt no other presence, nor heard the Palace Lord calling me.

It meant he wouldn’t stop me from leaving.

I continued walking.

As I walked out, I thought.

What kind of mess this was, and where should I start looking?

Finding Woohyeok is the top priority in a situation like this, but…

More than that.

‘Before something like that.’

Treason or whatever, I had to first resolve the reason why I had to come to the Northern Sea.

I thought of the trinket hidden in my pocket.

I didn’t know where Namgung Bi-ah had gone now, or what situation she was in.

I had to find her first.

‘Where on earth is she doing what?’

I hope nothing really happened to her.

Only anxious and impatient thoughts arose.

They said there was no body where the trinket was found, so it’s possible she just dropped this and left.

‘With just a trinket like this… there’s no way to know anything….’

Utuk–

I stopped walking and stood still.

‘A trinket.’

The trinket Namgung Bi-ah dropped.

Recalling it, I suddenly realized.

“Why had I forgotten about this?”

A way to know Namgung Bi-ah’s location, since I didn’t know where she was.

Was precisely the one thing I had.

---

Uung–!

Uuung–!!

A faint vibration felt from my waist.

Feeling that subtle sensation, the woman opened her closed eyes.

“…”

Although she suddenly came to her senses, the woman did not act hastily.

Lifting her heavy eyelids, she first surveyed the scene before her.

All she could see was a dark space.

Where am I?

Her eyes hadn’t adjusted yet, so she couldn’t see clearly.

Cheolgyeok–!

“…!”

The woman reacted to the cold touch.

Something was tied to her hand.

Upon checking, it was an iron shackle.

Wondering what this was, she tried to move.

“Euk…!”

The woman let out a shallow groan.

She felt a sharp pain from her waist area.

Come to think of it, she had sustained a sword wound to her waist.

Judging by the bandage, someone seemed to have treated it.

Should she consider this fortunate?

She wasn’t sure.

While the woman was barely enduring the sharp pain,

Uung–! Uuung–!

At the vibration she felt, the woman frowned and turned her head.

Wrapped around her waist, a single rod embedded with jewels was vibrating continuously.

It was the Brainwave Rod.

Seeing this, a spark appeared in the woman’s eyes.

‘…Why is that…?’

Why was the Brainwave Rod suddenly vibrating?

Just as the woman was trying to figure it out,

“Looks like you’re awake.”

“…!”

A voice came from the front.

“How is your body?”

Woohyeok, with icy eyes.

No.

Biwegun of the Blue Wolf was looking down at Namgung Bi-ah.