Episode 198) Know your place. (5)
Know your place. (5)
Flames resembling the clear sky enveloped my whole body.
Brightly illuminating the surroundings where darkness had settled.
Creak-
.
.....
Behind me, the aftermath of the single sword stroke the First Elder had drawn still persisted.
Seeing the devastated surroundings, my shoulders trembled slightly.
That was truly instant death just from a graze.
Because of that, I ended up showing this state.
'I didn't want to use it.'
Looking at the Azure Flames (靑炎) coiled around my body left a bitter taste in my mouth.
The energy the Blood Demon injected into me, and the unknown power Jang Seon-yeon used.
I called this Blood Qi.
Blood Qi extremely strengthens the physical body and martial arts.
This power, which seemed similar yet different from demonic qi,
made my flames blue, deepening their destructiveness, and made my physical body no less outstanding.
Just using it like this makes the difference clear; it truly is an absurd power.
However, the drawback was just as clear.
Just by using it, the internal qi filling my middle dantian was rapidly draining away.
My internal qi, which was fine even when filling the surroundings with flames,
was leaking out to this extent just from wrapping my body in flames.
'The cost-efficiency is too poor.'
Of course, thanks to this power, I was able to create this situation, but...
It wasn't very welcome.
'It was dangerous if I didn't use it.'
In the past, there was a time I vowed never to use demonic qi, but...
From the moment I realized it wasn't a situation where I could afford to be picky, I decided not to care, but...
Still, another person's energy is inevitably unpleasant.
If it belonged to an unknown existence, even more so.
'I vowed to hide it as much as possible.'
Especially since the color of the flames changed noticeably.
It wasn't something I could use carelessly anywhere.
Let alone...
Thump-!
«
* ”
...Ugh-
The physical recoil felt the moment I retracted the swirling flames.
I had to clench my teeth to not show it.
I had to be careful lest my expression crumble.
'Crazy... It hurts like hell.'
Even during the journey back, to understand the energy...
I tried using it a few times during training, but...
Since it was my first time using it in actual combat, I couldn't properly anticipate the aftermath of the recoil.
Still, come on.
This is way too excessive.
'I thought I was somewhat used to pain.'
Even if my body wasn't, I thought my mind was solid.
This was excessive.
'As expected, I can't use it often.'
It might be okay if it ended at just recoil, but...
At this level, my body would surely take that much strain.
Even now, I had to try hard to put my hands behind my back to hide my arms trembling slightly.
Nevertheless, I could tell how outstanding the destructive power of this power was.
'Even if it isn't at the level of reaching Hua Jing...'
Even if it wasn't to the point of breaking through the realm...
It was clear that, if only for a moment, it approached that level.
I could tell just by recalling how Jang Seon-yeon displayed the power of the early Peak Realm from the First-Class level.
'...Then, if used from a higher realm, would it be the same?'
The thought crossed my mind, but I soon had to shake my head.
That wouldn't be the case.
A supreme realm cannot be climbed through such a mere trick.
"Cough...! Blegh..."
”
Drip, drip-
Blood flowed continuously from the mouth of the First Elder kneeling in front of me.
I hid my trembling hand and looked at the First Elder.
Disheveled hair and a collapsed physical body.
The sight of the old man looking at me with trembling pupils was too wretched.
The downfall of a master who was once the fighting force of the Gu family and led the Guseonmun.
Quietly watching that wasn't a very pleasant feeling.
Even if he had pointed his sword at me.
"Heoeo..."
Only the sound of wind escaping came from the First Elder's mouth.
Because all the teeth in the front had fallen out and broken.
"Regarding what you've done, searching through that room will be enough."
"Heo... No..."
With his pronunciation becoming somewhat slurred, I couldn't easily understand what he was trying to say, but...
I could feel the First Elder's feelings.
"You've come this far, do you still want to struggle pathetically? Please don't."
"Why... Why you...! You bastard...!"
"Right, why did I end up like this. It's unfortunate for you."
This was just something I spat out.
Even if I lived as a scoundrel as the First Elder expected.
This old man's end was set in stone.
It was just that the First Elder's impatience brought about this situation.
I looked at the First Elder spewing out his emotions and spat out my words plainly.
"Guseonmunju Gu Chang-jun."
At my calling, the First Elder's eyes shook greatly.
"For colluding with external forces and inflicting damage on the main family, and furthermore, for attempting to kill the blood kin of the main family, I strip you of your elder position."
"What qualification does someone like you have to carry out such a thing...!"
"Why can't I? Do you think something will change if I receive the position of Young Master right now?"
Even if I couldn't, nothing would change.
The First Elder would know this too.
If my father returns right now and sees this state, would the First Elder's treatment be significantly different?
"I have done things for the family until now...! How can a mere scoundrel like you punish me!"
Certainly, the things the First Elder has done are not few.
Leading the Guseonmun for the past several decades.
He lived as the sword of the Gu family, and his efforts to make Shanxi peaceful clearly had an impact, but...
"That doesn't mean you can cross a line you shouldn't cross."
"What do you know..."
"Why do I need to know? I'm not curious about your deeply moving circumstances."
Saying it's a position someone from a collateral line couldn't climb to.
As if it was a place he couldn't go no matter how hard he tried.
I don't know what past story is hidden there, but...
"I don't need to know that."
Whatever life the First Elder lived, that is his life.
Whatever choice he made, that too is a problem the old man must bear.
As my trembling body from the recoil finally stopped, I immediately reached out and grabbed the First Elder's neck.
The First Elder twisted his body as if trying to resist, pulling up his internal qi, but...
He soon coughed and hacked.
It seemed the First Elder's body wasn't responding properly either.
"...Let... go...! You bastard...! No matter that you are the Patriarch's child, you can't do as you please with me. The laws of the family clearly exist...!"
"Why on earth did someone who knows the law so well do that?"
Following the tightly gripped hand, I pulled up my energy.
The First Elder had to die here.
If I left him as is, the probability of the First Elder surviving after my father arrived was close to none, but...
'He saw me ignite my flames.'
Since he saw me use Blood Qi to avoid the First Elder's strike and counterattack...
I couldn't leave him alive like this.
"At the very least, you won't die painfully like that time."
In my past life when killing the First Elder, my father slowly burned him alive, but...
I didn't want to use my energy to go that far.
Then, just as I was about to put strength into my tightly gripped hand to crush his neck...
"First Young Master"
”
At the voice coming from behind, my body stiffened.
And this was the same for the First Elder.
"N... No."
The First Elder spat out a miserable voice looking at the person who appeared behind me.
As if he didn't want to show this sight.
And this was the same for me.
'How on earth did they know to come here?'
When I looked back with startled eyes, Gu Jeol-yeop was standing there, panting heavily.
Before starting this, I had ordered Muyeon to keep Gu Jeol-yeop's attention occupied.
How could Gu Jeol-yeop have come to the Guseonmun?
'That's not what's important right now.'
His own grandfather vomiting blood in a battered state, and...
The one holding him was none other than me.
"Haa... Haa...!"
I could see Gu Jeol-yeop's pupils trembling violently as he watched this.
Perhaps because he was panting heavily, he was catching his breath without even being able to speak.
"F-First Young Master. W-What is this..."
Unable to believe the situation, he eventually called out to me with a trembling voice.
"Tsk."
Seeing that, I clicked my tongue and turned my head away.
What a truly fucked up situation.
It was also a situation I wanted to avoid facing if possible.
[Kid.]
Ah...
At Noya's voice calling me as if urging me to make a choice in this gap, I let out a deep sigh.
This is why I tried to remove his gaze as much as possible.
I put strength into the hand holding the First Elder's neck and grabbed it tight.
Crack-!
A heavy sound was heard, and the light disappeared from the First Elder's eyes.
Then, the First Elder's body collapsed powerlessly to the floor.
a
"G-Grandfather!"
Gu Jeol-yeop hurriedly ran over and began checking on the First Elder.
His trembling and tearful voice bothered me quite a bit.
"Gu Jeol-yeop."
However, hiding such feelings to one side, I called Gu Jeol-yeop.
At my call, Gu Jeol-yeop raised his shivering head and met my eyes.
Endlessly flowing tears and incomprehensible emotions were swirling on Gu Jeol-yeop's face.
If I tried to figure out the emotions, I could have, but...
I could only turn a blind eye now.
"As the Guseonmunju has been stripped of his position and can no longer be active, you, the successor, must take the seat."
"...Right now, right now... What exactly are you saying? What on earth is going on?"
"I will not accept objections."
"First Young Master...!"
Gu Jeol-yeop let out a shout at me, but I only looked at him calmly.
Gu Jeol-yeop, meeting my gaze, contorted his expression and tried to draw his sword, but...
"If you draw that, I'll have no choice but to kill you."
Gu Jeol-yeop's body stiffened at my words.
Since I was deliberately emitting full killing intent, it couldn't be helped.
This would be a killing intent that Gu Jeol-yeop couldn't dare withstand.
"Why, why...!"
Even in this situation, Gu Jeol-yeop was trying to somehow move his body.
It was vividly clear that he himself didn't properly understand the situation and his emotions.
The struggle of a boy who hadn't even reached adulthood couldn't be anything else.
I quietly watched Gu Jeol-yeop like that, then reached out my hand blade to his neck and struck! him to knock him out.
I approached and supported Gu Jeol-yeop, who collapsed without even reacting.
[It seems you won't kill the child.]
'...'
[Have you come to care for this boy in the meantime?]
I gave no answer to Noya's words.
Following that, countless human presences were felt through the door.
It seemed the main family's personnel had learned of the situation and were appearing, even if late.
I roughly laid Gu Jeol-yeop on the floor and turned my back.
[There is nothing as terrifying as arrogant mercy. You should know well that this is a better method for both you and that child.]
'...'
[Since it is your choice, I will say no more, but you will definitely regret it.]
At Noya's words, I swept my hair back.
I already had so many regrets that adding one more wouldn't make a big difference.
For now, I decided to think of it that way.
To be exact.
I had to think like that even on the inside.
In one corner of the underground prison of the Heukyagung.
A woman who had lost consciousness slowly opened her eyes.
"Haa!"
The woman, who raised her body as soon as she came to her senses, immediately surveyed her surroundings.
A dark room and iron bars placed before her eyes.
Along with an oddly empty silence, it revealed the current situation.
'...Where is this?'
The woman, Gu Hui-bi, had to struggle to roll her tingling head and recall her last memory.
Why she was here.
And she had to remember where this was.
"...!"
Fortunately, she could recall it quickly, but...
Gu Hui-bi soon had to grit her teeth.
The martial artist of an absurd level who intervened on the battlefield.
The sight of the Second Elder leading his body to protect her.
And because she remembered her own powerlessness.
...Fuck.
The Second Elder, who was so desperate to protect her and fight, ended up getting his body pierced by the enemy's hand at the last moment.
And herself, who immediately lost consciousness.
It was a terribly incompetent memory.
This was also the side of herself she hated the most.
Amidst such guilt, Gu Hui-bi had to turn her head and carefully examine her surroundings.
"Where is this...?"
First, she had to figure out the reason she was facing this incomprehensible situation.
However, looking around, there was only one thing she could figure out.
"A prison...?"
The fact that it was a prison surrounded by iron bars.
Just as Gu Hui-bi turned around with an expression of utter incomprehension...
"You're being annoying, so stay still."
A voice came from not far away.
Gu Hui-bi, who hadn't felt any presence, immediately tried to put distance between them, but...
"Ugh...!"
Because her hands and feet were bound, she fell flat on the floor.
"Haha, I knew you'd do that."
Rattle.
The unpleasant sound, like iron sweeping across the floor, gradually approached Gu Hui-bi.
As the sound approached, Gu Hui-bi steadied her breathing and took a combat stance, but...
For some reason, her internal qi didn't move.
'Acupoint seal...?'
Seeing that her dantian was fine, it seemed her energy was blocked from moving.
Soon, the sound came right up to her nose.
Gu Hui-bi, whose eyes gradually grew accustomed to the darkness, could vaguely see the figure who had approached her.
a
The person was an old man.
An old man with a skinny, abnormal-looking body.
Traces of torture were visible here and there on his body.
Above all, his eye area was wrapped in bandages.