Chapter 513 - Just One Grasp
"Father?"
The words popped out before I knew it.
After blurting them out, I was so startled I nearly covered my mouth.
Perhaps hearing my call, Father turned his head this way.
Our eyes met.
At that, Father's eyes widened.
Was it because he was surprised to see me appear so suddenly?
That thought flashed through my mind, but…
'Ah.'
I soon realized that wasn't it.
The reason Father reacted like that was probably…
'Because of how I look right now.'
The physical body that had returned to its original form after releasing the Body Transformation Technique.
Though traces of my appearance from before the transformation clearly remained, it was true that I had changed considerably.
Not long ago, I had even told him I had achieved the bone-transformation rebirth, yet here his son appeared out of nowhere in this state—so it was only natural that Father was surprised.
Moreover…
'What the hell is this place?'
I surveyed my surroundings slightly.
Just how deep had this place been made?
I had come down quickly through a hole, but even so, judging by the time it took to descend, I could tell it had been built quite deep.
Not to mention, the hazy poisonous energy mixed in the air and the bloody scent were also jarring.
The killing intent that blanketed the entire space, and the heat mixed within it.
Just sensing it made my body involuntarily bristle.
It was that fierce, that suffocating.
What is this? What the hell is going on?
I frowned, looking ahead.
Why was Cheonjon suddenly kneeling with blood flowing from him?
Why was the Tang Clan's First Elder unconscious?
'That old man was someone I was planning to take care of by tomorrow.'
It was a time when I had already traced his movements in advance.
Knowing that waiting any longer would be pointless, I had Nahi prepare a space where I could quietly capture and interrogate him tomorrow.
'This makes things complicated.'
What was I supposed to do now that things had turned out like this?
'Did Father do this?'
The First Elder? That he suddenly went outside and committed this act?
'Father…?'
I couldn't easily understand it.
I was certain that Father was not someone who acted without any plan or thought.
And yet, for such a Father to flare up like fire like this…
Could it be…
'…Because of me?'
Because I had nearly been poisoned to death in the Tang Clan.
So Father had appeared after several days and caused all this?
'…'
I didn't know.
If he were an ordinary father, he might step forward like this if his child suffered such an ordeal.
But I had thought my father was different from such people.
'Surely not.'
The circumstances suggested so, but the doubt of 'surely it can't be' arose.
Besides, how could Father have known that the First Elder was the one who orchestrated this?
Even at the latest, Father would have arrived in Sichuan only yesterday—did that mean he had grasped the entire situation in that time?
'It's absurd.'
Even if he had found out everything, acting with such conviction was another matter entirely.
Where in the world did such confidence come from?
[Where does it come from? A simple question. At least, for a martial artist.]
'…Noya?'
To the question that had arisen in my mind, Noya nonchalantly provided the answer.
[Martial power. Does a martial artist need anything more than that?]
If one learns of a matter, the central axis that allows one to take action to resolve it.
For a martial artist, that is ultimately power.
Power so overwhelming that one can handle everything.
'It may seem a bit crude, but it is indeed the simplest principle.'
At least in the Central Plains, it was also the most important principle.
Which meant…
'…He just smashed his way through. Is that it?'
I knew Father was strong.
Though I didn't know exactly how strong.
At the very least…
'Stronger than me.'
A figure stronger than my past self.
And perhaps not weaker than the Heavenly Demon.
That was what I had judged.
And yet…
'…If he reduced Cheonjon to that state.'
I looked at Cheonjon, kneeling on one knee before Father.
His white beard was stained with blood, and one shoulder looked abnormal.
It appeared to be ruined by a blow.
Given the circumstances, it seemed Father was the one who had done that to Cheonjon, but…
'Even if he launched a surprise attack… is that possible?'
In the past, when he raided the main palace of the Black Night Palace, Father had killed a Transformation Realm martial artist through a surprise attack.
I wondered if this was the same, but…
'Even so… Cheonjon is too intact.'
Sensing the amount of inner energy mixed in the air, I could guess that a battle had taken place.
Judging by the density, it seemed a fight had occurred just moments ago.
That made it even stranger.
'Not much time had passed since Father left.'
It was because I moved hurriedly, but strictly speaking, it hadn't even been long enough to finish a cup of tea.
'In that short span, he reduced Cheonjon to this state?'
Moreover, Father's appearance was no different from when he had stepped outside.
Without the slightest hint of fatigue, he was the very image of neatness.
If a battle had occurred earlier…
'He must have… trampled him, right?'
It would not be wrong to say that he had overwhelmingly trampled Cheonjon.
I speak of Cheonjon of Cheon Oe Cheon, who is called one of the Three Lords.
Gulp.
As my thoughts reached that point, I involuntarily swallowed dryly.
No matter how I looked at this…
'I absolutely shouldn't act cocky in front of Father, should I?'
I had suspected that Father lived hiding his strength, but I hadn't known it was to this extent.
…I found myself resolving never to act impudent before him again, ever.
'Anyway, leaving that aside.'
I turned my attention away from the worn-out Cheonjon and observed Father.
His left hand, which had been approaching Cheonjon slowly as he unfolded his hands from behind his back.
It was dyed red and flickering.
I could faintly see heat waves rising from it little by little, but surprisingly, I couldn't feel any heat.
I could tell at a glance.
Just how much inner energy was compressed within that palm.
Swallowing my astonishment inwardly as I saw that.
'That…'
I had seen it before.
Just once, on the day I fought Father in my previous life.
It was the power I had witnessed then.
'…The pinnacle of the Nine Flames Fire Wheel Technique.'
The final secret technique said to be possessed by the martial arts of the Gu clan.
The ultimate martial art that could only be used after reaching great mastery of the Nine Flames Fire Wheel Technique.
"Third."
"…!"
I trembled unconsciously at Father's voice.
"I clearly told you to wait, did I not?"
"Ah, well… I'm sorry…"
Father shifted his gaze from me and looked at Cheonjon again.
The feeling was ominous.
'Surely he's not going to kill him?'
Cheonjon?
Ah, that would be bad.
'What do I do?'
It would be troublesome for Cheonjon to die by Father's hand here.
It wasn't that I was trying to put on airs of righteousness at this point.
The reason was simple.
'I haven't gotten any information yet.'
Because I still didn't know anything.
The reason Cheonjon was in this strange space seemed related to the First Elder, and furthermore…
'Shin-ui is also involved.'
I remembered how Shin-ui had gone out of his way to tell me to be careful of Cheonjon.
Just as I was rolling my eyes every which way, trying to think of a way.
"How did you find this place?"
Father asked.
"Yes…?"
"It should have been impossible as long as the Fire Wheel Star was maintained."
Fire Wheel Star?
At Father's words, I thought of the small sun floating in the sky.
So that's what it was called, the Fire Wheel Star.
Which meant…
'So the reason I couldn't sense any presence was indeed that.'
What I had suspected was correct.
The power of the mind's intent that Noya had mentioned.
It was because of that I hadn't been able to sense any presence.
"How did you find this place?"
"…I burned the ring and created resonance."
A peculiar gleam flickered in Father's eyes upon hearing my answer.
"Resonance… So there was such a method."
'Huh?'
I flinched upon seeing Father's expression as he spoke.
'…Is he smiling?'
For some reason, the corner of Father's mouth seemed to rise slightly.
But only for a moment as I saw that expression.
"Well done."
"…!"
Father suddenly offered me praise.
Just as I was starting to feel good without realizing it…
*Kwak—!*
"Kuk…"
Father grabbed Cheonjon's face.
Ah!
"Father…! Wait…!"
*Fwoosh—!*
A tremendous blaze burst forth, emitting light.
Cheonjon's body was wrapped in flames.
Though they were flames, they were so red. So deep that one might doubt such crimson fire could even exist.
'I'm screwed.'
I bit my lip as I saw this.
Cheonjon had ended up burning to death.
If he was engulfed in flames of that magnitude, it was obvious not even bones could be recovered.
While I was flustered by the bewildering situation, Father turned his gaze back to me.
He met eyes with me, who had my mouth hanging wide open.
Looking into my eyes, Father said,
"Worry not, for I have not killed him."
"…Yes?"
At Father's words, I had to make a bizarre expression.
He was engulfed in those absurd flames even now, burning, yet he said he hadn't killed him…?
Did he mean, he'll die soon, but he's still alive for now?
As those rather brutal words left his mouth, I felt a thin layer of cold sweat forming unconsciously.
"He is covered in useless things, so I merely burned them away."
Father spoke as if providing a supplementary explanation.
Useless things?
I still didn't know what he meant.
"Originally, I would have burned him to death. But for the sake of your betrothed, I shall let it pass."
"…Ah."
Hearing Father's words, I belatedly remembered.
That Cheonjon was a person of the Namgung family.
I had been swept up in the situation and forgotten for a moment.
'Right… In that sense, I couldn't let him die either.'
I thought that, but…
Even if I had remembered, would I have just stood by?
My head, which had cooled unlike the situation, denied it without hesitation.
Because I knew I wouldn't have.
I had been a bastard from the start, but after the transformation, I felt I had become even less human.
Suppressing the nauseating sensation, I asked Father.
"…Father."
"Speak."
"What in the world happened to Cheonjon, and to that old man…?"
I pointed to the First Elder with my hand.
Unable to even flee while watching the burning Cheonjon, he was holding back groans.
"…"
Father's eyes turned to the First Elder.
Meeting those eyes, the First Elder began to tremble violently.
"I heard that man poisoned you."
At those words spat out so casually, I had to clench my fist.
Father's words meant that he had indeed come because I had been poisoned.
At the unfamiliar emotion that arose from that, I turned my head slightly.
"…How did you know it was him? Even though you hadn't arrived long ago."
This was something I hadn't even told the Poison King yet.
I had intended to tell him after I captured the First Elder and found out everything.
But how could Father be so certain it was the First Elder?
To that question, Father said,
"I didn't know."
"Yes?"
He gave an unexpected answer.
"…What do you mean…?"
He had just said that old man poisoned me—how could he now say he didn't know?
"That's quite different from what you said just now…?"
To this doubt of mine, Father explained a little deeper.
"What I could be certain of was that there was a culprit among the Tang Clan's elders. Therefore."
"…Therefore?"
"It was a simple matter of capturing all the elders to confirm."
"…"
Hearing Father's words, I felt my mind go blank.
Just what had I heard?
So basically…
'…He didn't know exactly who it was, so he just captured all the elders?'
It was a dizzying statement in more ways than one.
While I was composing my fading consciousness, Father continued, looking at the First Elder.
"It took half a day. The time spent pinning down the auras of the Tang Clan's elders."
Just half a day.
Only then did I understand where Father had suddenly gone.
The time spent memorizing the auras of the elders within this vast Tang Clan.
Did that mean it was time spent for that purpose?
"I merely came to find the most suspicious one among them, Third. Judging by your reaction, it seems I am right."
"…Yes."
Spitting out those words, Father walked this way.
"I have sent a voice transmission to the Poison King, so he will arrive before long."
When had he even sent that?
"Cheonjon's flames will die out before the Poison King arrives, so do not concern yourself with them."
In other words, it was a warning not to touch him.
Not that I had any intention of touching him, already terrified of the flames.
Father slowly walked over and finally arrived before me.
Father's chilling gaze swept over my body as if examining it.
Feeling that gaze, I had to break into a cold sweat.
I had just made the excuse that this was because I had achieved the bone-transformation rebirth, but…
What was I supposed to say about my current appearance?
Regret welled up naturally.
'Damn it, if it was going to be like this, I shouldn't have come.'
I should have obediently listened to Father and waited.
I had gone and done something unnecessary for no reason; now I was going to get scolded.
There was no excuse I could make for this.
Pupils beginning to turn blue-green.
Hair tinged with blue, traces of scales on my skin, and a larger frame.
Perhaps my frame could be passed off as the power of the bone-transformation rebirth, but my other features were impossible to explain.
As I was thinking all sorts of random thoughts about what excuse to fabricate…
"This…"
At Father's words, I squeezed my eyes shut.
No matter how I looked at it, there was no answer.
Just as I was preparing to be scolded…
"…I see."
I opened my eyes slightly at the changed voice.
Because the emotion conveyed was so clear.
It was an emotion I had never felt from Father until now.
Within Father's voice, which looked no different from usual, I could clearly sense it.
"You really…"
That emotion was unmistakably…
"…are your mother's flesh and blood."
It was longing.