Chapter 697: Divine Dragon Martial Arts Festival.

Boom-! Boom-! Boom-!

As the flames touched my skin, my heart pounded like crazy.

The Nine Flame Wheel Technique began spinning uncontrollably, my energy rampaging like a runaway beast.

My blood is hot.

Beyond my twisted breaths, I faced the flames.

“Truly, a perfect vessel.”

What is this flame that speaks to me?

I didn’t ponder it much.

To feel this much resonance means it’s the Nine Flame Wheel Technique.

More specifically, it was undoubtedly the power of a direct blood relative.

The hot flames before me are the power of the Nine Flame Wheel Technique.

The problem is that, for me, these are flames I’ve never seen before.

Which means…

‘A relative whom I don’t know.’

That’s what it means.

‘Then who could it be?’

This is also not worth pondering for long.

If it were in the past, perhaps.

But now, there was one person who could be suspected.

Creak.

I tried to move my body.

I was blocked.

An unknown suppressive force held my body captive.

I tried to open my lips, but it was the same story.

My lips, stiffly shut, wouldn’t open easily.

Vwoooom.

I put strength into my heart.

Fortunately, my energy could still move.

Keeeeeeeeeeng—!!! I spun it faster.

I released the bound energy and compressed it more strongly.

Fwoosh.

Gathering the burning flames into a single point.

Tuk-!

I unleashed it.

KWAOOOAAAHHH—!!!

Azure flames erupted from my body in all directions.

I spun like that for a while, creating a typhoon.

Vast energy filled the surroundings.

Grrrk-!

Using the flames as a starting point, I broke free from the suppressive force on my body.

“Hoo…”

Perhaps thanks to that, my mouth loosened up too.

Maybe it was because I suddenly used my energy; not just my meridians, but even my joints felt numb.

I had to use an immense amount of energy.

“Hoh.”

As I moved my body this way and that, I heard a tone of admiration.

“Impressive.”

“…”

Frowning deeply, I looked at the other party and asked.

“First, I have a question.”

As I spoke, I heightened my energy sense to the extreme throughout my body.

In that state, I asked.

“Are you my grandfather?”

“Hmm.”

Was it my imagination?

In response to my words, the flames felt as if they were laughing.

Although its form was made entirely of flames, making its expression impossible to see clearly.

For some reason, it felt that way.

“How curious. Your father wouldn’t have told you… How did you know?”

I clicked my tongue at the flame’s reaction.

Just as I thought.

It meant that flame was indeed my grandfather.

Hearing this, I let out a breath and said.

“How are you alive?”

“Hoho.”

To ask point-blank why someone wasn’t dead and was alive right to their face.

Even I thought it was a rather crude question.

But I had to ask.

“That’s a bewildering question.”

“I’m the one who’s more bewildered, though.”

How could I not be bewildered when a flame-shaped figure suddenly appeared, claiming to be my grandfather who was supposedly dead?

Furthermore.

‘He said I was inhuman (人外).’

He looked at me and asked how I became inhuman.

This meant he recognized that I was no longer human.

Perhaps because of that.

“What is it?”

My heightened vigilance made my tone somewhat sharp.

“Why did you seek me out?”

I asked, narrowing my eyes.

The flame replied to me.

“As a grandfather, isn’t it natural for me to seek out my grandson?”

He spoke rather matter-of-factly.

Hearing this, I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.

“If that’s the case, then it makes no sense that you never showed up until now.”

I had never seen him in my life. Not even in my past life.

So how am I supposed to react when he suddenly appears now, claiming to be my grandfather?

Especially.

“With such an aggressive encounter.”

“It was merely a sign of my joy.”

“If you show that sign twice more, someone might die.”

“Tsk tsk.”

Hearing his laughter, I rolled my eyes.

I scanned my surroundings.

Silence still permeated the area.

Looking at that, I glanced back at the flame.

‘Grandfather.’

The previous head of the Gu family.

I had never heard stories about him, nor did I know what he did with his life.

Perhaps that’s why.

Even looking at him, I felt nothing.

My impression of a grandfather was strongly tied to Elder Il; this suddenly appearing figure felt incredibly distant.

“My child.”

The flame asked.

“It’s been so many years since we last saw each other, but it’s good to see you’ve grown well.”

I frowned at the sudden compliment.

I wondered what he was talking about.

“The flames you’ve conjured, showing your efforts over the years, are truly beautiful.”

It was clearly a compliment, yet it felt strangely unsettling.

“Your vessel is sturdy, and your body is upright; there’s no need to worry about the next generation… However.”

The flame’s hand grasped my shoulder.

“Carrying such potential, how did you become inhuman? That is my question.”

“…”

Crackle.

The touch holding my shoulder was hot.

Feeling the swirling sensations within it, I looked at the flame.

It seemed pointless to beat around the bush.

“Life happened, and that’s how it turned out.”

I just struggled to survive, and that’s how it became.

That was the limit of what I could say.

“Hmm…”

Hearing my answer, the flame tilted its head.

And then it spoke.

“As expected. Should I have burned that woman? Impurities have mixed with the precious flames.”

Hearing that, I stiffened my body.

“Woman?”

I intuitively knew who he was talking about.

“I should have dealt with her the first time I saw her. It would have been better then.”

“…”

“What a shame. The vessel is so pristine, yet something ugly mixed in and dimmed its light slightly… Hmm?”

The flame, continuing its speech, tilted its head as it looked at me.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

What could be so wrong with my eyes?

I suspected it wasn’t looking particularly good.

How could it be good?

“When you speak so damn crudely. It’s hard to feel good about it, isn’t it?”

Even if you’re my grandfather, how can I feel good when you treat someone else’s mother like an impurity?

Crack.

Stretching slightly, I spoke to the flame.

“From the looks of it, you don’t seem like a normal person either.”

My way of addressing him changed.

Trying to treat him as a grandfather felt awkward and unsatisfactory.

Moreover, his body was surrounded by flames.

No matter how nicely I put it, he wasn’t human.

He merely mimicked the ‘form’ of a human.

To my words, the flame replied.

“The reason you can’t see me properly is purely because you lack the qualification.”

“Qualification…?”

Does he mean a level of cultivation?

Or does he literally mean ‘qualification’?

“Does it mean it’s because I haven’t yet inherited the position of Young Master?”

I asked directly, without beating around the bush.

Then the flame contained its laughter.

“That’s right.”

Because I haven’t inherited the position, I can’t see him properly.

So, if I inherit the position of Young Master, will I be able to see beyond the flames?

I don’t know.

Even though I had become Young Master in my past life, I had never seen my grandfather.

That’s why I’m even more curious.

“Why did you come?”

Why did this supposed grandfather appear now to find me?

“As I said earlier, a grandfather seeking his grandson…”

“Stop pretending to be affectionate unnecessarily. Just get to the point.”

“…”

I couldn’t stand it anymore and cut him off.

This is sickening.

“There’s not a shred of affection in your eyes or voice, so why keep acting like this? Do whatever you want. It’s making me uncomfortable as hell.”

“Hoh…”

I spat it out, filled with irritation.

Then.

“My…”

The flame’s atmosphere changed instantly.

“It seems this wasn’t the right approach.”

The remaining softness in its tone vanished.

It became stiff and cold.

The indifference I felt from the Dark King.

That kind of atmosphere emanated strongly.

“What a pity. I did put some thought into this method, you know.”

“You didn’t even seem to try to hide it. What nonsense are you talking about?”

Its gaze was different, and the voice it spoke with was different too.

Grandfather?

The word automatically brought Elder Il to mind.

For me, Elder Il was the only one who came to mind when thinking of a grandfather.

I didn’t know him well, but at the very least, it wasn’t the kind of gaze someone would have looking at their grandchild.

“What is it? What do you expect from me, appearing like this?”

It’s certainly not because he wanted to see me.

If not, then he must have a purpose.

Asking about it again.

“Because the time has come.”

The flame began to answer, looking at me.

“I know you are ready. The time has passed, and the extra time given to your father has also run out. However.”

Fwoosh.

I felt the surrounding heat intensify.

“My child. You have not yet received the key.”

“…”

The key.

At that word, I thought inwardly.

This seemed to refer to the Gu family’s seal, which the Young Master would receive.

“The time has come, so you must inherit the duty. That is what we must do.”

Just hearing it made my chest feel tight.

“Is that why you came to see me?”

Did this person, who was pretending to be dead, come all this way just to rush me?

Asking with suspicion.

“No. This was purely driven by curiosity.”

“Curiosity?”

“We, more than anyone, must hate and distance ourselves from the inhuman, yet you, who must inherit the next duty, have become an ugly existence.”

“…Ha.”

So, he came because I became a dragon?

Does becoming a dragon cause problems with inheriting the duty?

‘How did he know in the first place?’

Setting aside my transformation into a dragon, it meant he acted because he noticed I was no longer human.

‘Wait a moment….’

As I pondered this question, a sudden thought struck me, and I asked the flame.

“…Perhaps. The incident that happened to the Family Head. Is that related to you?”

Father said he couldn’t arrive in Hanam due to an incident.

Madam Mi said it involved something only the Young Master could know.

And now my grandfather appears before me?

Could this really be a coincidence? I didn’t think so.

So I asked the person claiming to be my grandfather.

“Yes.”

“…!”

The flame affirmed it.

My guess was correct.

“Why… What did you do to the Family Head?”

“I acted according to reason. Your father is guarding the ‘Gate’ in my stead.”

‘Gate?’

What gate could he be talking about?

“It’s something your father should have done long ago, and it’s also something you will have to do someday.”

“…Just guarding a single door?”

“It is a duty for that very purpose, how can you call it ‘just’?”

A duty to guard the gate.

Does the Gu family possess a value I don’t know about there?

Something Father knows but I don’t.

This meant it was a truth only knowable after becoming the Family Head, surpassing the Young Master position.

Thinking that, I asked.

“Since becoming inhuman is the problem, doesn’t that mean I can no longer do it?”

Seeing as he called me ugly and wrong, it implies becoming a dragon caused a problem.

Then, wouldn’t that mean the inheritance of the duty itself is also affected?

Thinking that, I spoke.

“Yes, it’s a problem. That’s why I came.”

The flame continued, its tone nonchalant.

“To burn away the impurities and restore you to normal. That’s why I came personally.”

“…Tsk.”

Hearing that, I raised my energy.

Burn away.

Does he mean to kill me?

Gguk.

I focused strength into my heart and glared at the flame.

Fwoosh—!!!

Azure flames covered my body.

Ready to react at any moment, I heightened my energy sense throughout my body and faced him.

“However.”

The flame continued, clasping its hands behind its back.

“Since I made a deal with your father, I will grant you some extra time for now.”

“What?”

Made a deal with my father?

“What does that-.”

Just as I was about to shout towards the flame, raising my voice.

Snap-!

Whoosh-!

“…!”

Simultaneously with the finger snap, the flames enveloping my body vanished.

I was startled, but only for a moment.

I tried to ignite the flames again, but…

Sizzle-! Fizz-!

Only small popping sounds were heard; the flames wouldn’t erupt.

The rings of the Nine Flame Wheel Technique were also eerily still.

‘Why is this happening all of a sudden?’

My energy was circulating, but the flames wouldn’t rise.

I couldn’t help but feel flustered.

Just then.

“So, for now, I shall take back the embers from you.”

My eyes widened at the flame’s words.

This meant my grandfather had just blocked me from using the Nine Flame Wheel Technique.

How, in the world?

As I stared at my grandfather, still processing his words.

He had raised his hand, and a blue flame hovered in his palm.

It felt like a familiar energy.

Could that possibly be my flame?

“That is why I sought you out today. If you wish to reclaim it.”

As I watched the brightly shining fireball, my grandfather spoke to me.

“Find me and come to ‘Shinkang’.”

At those words, I inhaled sharply.

‘Shinkang?’

More than the fact that my flame had disappeared, I was caught up by the words that followed.

Shinkang?

‘If it’s Shinkang….’

[Go to Shinkang.]

It was the place Nangong Myung mentioned while borrowing Woohyeok’s body in the Northern Sea, and also where the Demon Cult’s main base was in my past life.

And yet, my grandfather is also in Shinkang?

What kind of connection is this?

It was an unbelievable situation to attribute purely to coincidence.

“I can’t give you much time. Your father mentioned a year, so I’ll allow up to that.”

Hearing him say that, I immediately replied.

“Wait.”

My grandfather was about to end the conversation arbitrarily, so I put strength into my legs.

I couldn’t just let him take it away like this.

It’s weird enough that he appeared suddenly, but why is everyone proceeding arbitrarily and causing such a fuss?”

Boom-!

I tried putting strength into it, but the flames still wouldn’t ignite.

Frowning, I summoned a different energy.

There are things I can do even without the flames.

Twisting my waist, I clenched my fist.

‘Fang Breaking Heaven Martial Art (鬪牙破天武).’

Channeling the energy of the Demon Beast into my body, I swung.

KWAANG-!

My energy burst from my fist, sweeping the area in front.

Kwah-dududuk-!

“Hmm.”

My grandfather slightly moved his hand as if reacting to the fierce wind pressure.

Fwoosh—!!!

Flames erupted from the ground, erecting a barrier.

Kwooo—!

The wind pressure couldn’t breach the wall and subsided.

Seeing that, I swung my fist once more.

This time, it wasn’t the Fang Breaking Heaven Martial Art.

‘Heart Fist (心拳).’

I unleashed my energy with all my might.

Kwaak-!

The Heart Fist poured out, reaching the flame barrier.

Pwaaang-!!

The barrier, hit by the Heart Fist, exploded, revealing the space.

“Hmm.”

Seeing this, my grandfather reacted briefly.

By then, I had already reached him.

I immediately grabbed and snatched the fireball from my grandfather’s hand.

Kwak-!

As I crushed the flame in my grip, heat seeped into the core of my heart.

Fwoosh-!

Only then did the flames erupt once more.

“Hoo…”

As expected, that seemed to be my flame.

However, even though the flames returned, I couldn’t feel relieved.

I didn’t know what method he used, but it seemed my grandfather could take it freely.

As I judged this and heightened my tension.

“Haha.”

I heard my grandfather chuckle.

“Good.”

Chills-!

My whole body broke out in goosebumps at my grandfather’s voice.

My heightened alertness made me swallow dryly.

What is this damn feeling?

“As expected. You’re the one I like.”

My grandfather took a step forward, uttering incomprehensible words.

Just then.

Swishhh-!!

Kwaaaang—!!

Suddenly, something fell from the air between me and my grandfather.

Gwooooo—!!!

The dense black energy swirled around, displaying an aggressive stance.

Startled by that immense energy, it was only for a moment.

Soon, the energy faded, and a small back appeared before me.

She had delicate shoulders and long black hair tinged with purple light.

A figure with a small build stood blocking my grandfather.

Seeing her, I murmured lowly.

“You….”

At my voice, the woman turned her head and looked at me.

Our gazes met, her pupils purple.

Heavenly Demon (天魔).

It was her who stood blocking my grandfather.