1199 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Vrrrrrrrr. The ring vibrated subtly. As he watched the rapidly trembling ring, he squinted his eyes. 'What's going on here?' Why is this thing acting up all of a sudden? It's been silent all this time, so why now, out of the blue? Bzzzzzz. He continued to watch the endlessly ringing ring. What is it trying to tell me? ‘Could it be…….’ Is it asking me to wear it? On my finger? He entertained the thought and, half-doubting, slipped the ring onto his finger. Unsure of which finger it should go on, he tried his index finger, and it fit perfectly. It slid on effortlessly. Thunk-! The moment the ring fastened onto his finger, the vibrations ceased as if it had all been a lie. And then. Swoooosh--!!! The previously silver ring instantly turned a vivid red. A crimson ring bathed in a scarlet hue. While he found the sight odd and intriguing— “Oh no.” A voice he did not want to hear reached his ears. Immediately upon hearing it, a strong sense of discomfort arose from within. This was hostility. While some of it was directed towards an enemy, there was a unique kind of hostility among kin. This meant that the voice belonged to a dragon. The moment he heard the voice, he was able to identify who it belonged to. “So, it has come to this.” “……Blood Demon.” It was, without a doubt, the Blood Demon. * * * Click. “Come in.” Opening the door, Do Cheol entered the building. Gu Cheolun followed him inside. After taking a brief tour around the estate, they were finally entering the Head’s chamber. ‘......Persistent bastard.’ Do Cheol looked at Gu Cheolun, swallowing his words internally. From the moment he had made the slip about Baek Yangcheon during their conversation, Gu Cheolun’s gaze had changed. There was a seething heat between the now-chilly look in his eyes that was unsettling. This man claimed to have found something, and truly began a blatant search. ‘Sending the boy away was the right decision.’ Do Cheol was convinced that sending Do Yoon away to the Gu estate had been the correct choice. ‘What kind of person does this?’ Is there anyone else who would boldly search another family's house like this? It was astounding. Though looking incredulous, Gu Cheolun paid no heed and thoroughly searched everything. “……Gu So Gaju.” “Yes.” “As I said earlier, it was a slip of the tongue. My child wouldn’t stop talking about Baek Gongja.” “I understand.” That was a lie. He didn’t understand at all. Even as he said that, his eyes were busy scanning the surroundings. The head's chamber was the last place they checked. Any further and it would be unacceptable. “Gu So Gaju.” “Yes.” “I recognize I made a mistake and have given you some leniency, but further insistence would be impolite. Surely you know this.” “I am aware.” Turning his gaze from the surroundings, Gu Cheolun fixed his eyes on Do Cheol. “So I am grateful for your consideration.” “…….” Is he insane? Do Cheol's thoughts about Gu Cheolun were rapidly changing. How can someone be so brazen and assertive? “Do you truly think Baek Gongja would be here? I do not know what he might have said, but the person you seek is not here.” “That might be true.” But perhaps not. There was an underlying tone in Gu Cheolun's words. “……Gu So Gaju.” He was slowly getting angry. Do Cheol's patience was reaching its limit. “But let me ask you, Head.” Before Do Cheol could continue, Gu Cheolun interrupted him. Hearing this, Do Cheol frowned. “……Speak.” “In such a situation, why did you permit the search?” “What?” What does he mean by this? “You insisted on searching.” “Yes, I pushed for it. But I’m curious as to why you conceded.” Gu Cheolun withdrew his gaze and looked at Do Cheol. Hearing that, Do Cheol's face twisted. “What do you mean by this? Are you saying it's odd that I permitted it?” “That’s correct.” “Ha!” Do Cheol burst into laughter. What absurdity is this? “I simply intended to own up to my mistake. You suggest that my actions in this circumstance were wrong? What an absurd notion.” An infuriated Do Cheol retorted at him. “Even if you were known as a divine dragon in the Central Plains, such impudence cannot be permitted. To ignore another’s consideration and act recklessly……” As he spoke, Do Cheol’s eyes widened. He reached out immediately. Thud-! In a flash, he had grabbed Gu Cheolun’s wrist. There was no other choice. “……What are you trying to do?” “…….” Right in the middle of their conversation, Gu Cheolun had suddenly extended his hand towards the bookshelf. That particular spot held the mechanism to open the entrance to the basement. Do Cheol reacted instinctively to the hand that reached out without hesitation. ‘How?’ How did he know? What had he realized that led him to act this way? Unable to ascertain, he asked. “The bookshelf.” With an impassive expression, Gu Cheolun explained to Do Cheol. “While the others were unusually pristine, that particular book looked strangely worn.” There was something that appeared to have seen frequent handling compared to the other books. Marks of frequent use showed from how it had been touched multiple times a day to pass through. Was it possible that Gu Cheolun had figured this out? “…….” “I thought it was odd and decided to check it out…….” A greater intensity filled Gu Cheolun’s eyes. “But it seems there’s no need.” His gaze fell on his trapped wrist. Gu Cheolun’s arm tightened with strength. “It seems I’ve found it.” “…….” In response to his words, Do Cheol's eyes flared with hostility. Boom--!!! A shock erupted in the room. Debris flew in every direction. Piercing through the dust that billowed, someone leaped through. It was Gu Cheolun. He landed on the ground with a soft thud, shaking off his body. Brush, brush. The distinct crimson combat robe of the Gu family fluttered around him. Next, through the smoke, Do Cheol emerged. “……You are unnecessarily perceptive.” “…….” Gu Cheolun loosened his stiff neck in response to Do Cheol's venomous voice. Crack. His bones popped as Gu Cheolun spoke. “Well.” His deep voice resonated subtly throughout the surroundings. “I’m not usually that perceptive.” Fwhooosh--!! With a voice that whispered like a haunting wind, flames danced upon his form. “Perhaps you just can't help but tell the truth.” “You?” The sudden shift in address terms caused Do Cheol's brow to furrow. “You've become quite informal.” Whoosh. The flames that had been swirling around him began to condense, forming in the palm of his hand. A Fiery Gem (염옥). The secret technique of the Gu family manifested upon the ground. “Originally.” For a moment, the brilliant light nearly captivated his gaze, but Do Cheol swiftly regained his composure. “I don't bother with courtesies for deceitful ones.” Flick-! Gu Cheolun's figure vanished. In a burst of sparks, his form reappeared instantly before Do Cheol. Even in this sudden turn of events, Do Cheol didn’t flinch. There was no surprise; his hands moved with calm precision. Whirrr-!! Gu Cheolun twisted mid-air, the view before him flipping to the ceiling instead of his adversary. Do Cheol utilized centrifugal force, steering away the attack. However. Swoosh-!! “Hmph.” A Fiery Gem hovered just before Do Cheol’s nose. Crack-! A fracture appeared. The gem exploded without warning. BOOOOOM---!! A fierce blaze swept across the ground. The dry earth was left charred, and any existing weeds were incinerated. Amidst this chaos, a hand shot through. An old, withered hand carved a stroke in the air amidst the flames. Swoosh-!! The gust dissipated the inferno, hurling it skywards effortlessly. Not a trace of the once-erratic fire remained. “As the rumors say, you're quite formidable.” Do Cheol acknowledged. To counterattack in such a fleeting moment—remarkable, wasn’t it? Or perhaps— ‘Did he anticipate it all along?’ Did he foresee the nullification of his attack? Dropping the Fiery Gem in that split second, precisely at his own front. It implied adeptness in unforeseen circumstances. The swiftness of his reactions was undeniable. ‘Arrogant brat.’ He was the hope of the Gu family, the last key to ending their long-standing feud. Born with every blessing imaginable, it seemed fitting. It didn’t sit well with him. An ominous glint settled in Do Cheol’s eyes. Engaging now wouldn’t be wise, he knew. Yet. ‘In any case.’ With matters having escalated to this point, there was no retreat. ‘The proceedings have already begun.’ The events in the basement must have already unfolded. ‘If that’s the case.’ Why not add more prey into the mix? Why not hasten the process by including the boy before him? Empowered by his decision, Do Cheol braced himself. Despite the lack of resources, it didn’t matter. ‘A mere whelp like him.’ He judged it bearable. Boom-!! Do Cheol gathered his might, intending for a swift conclusion. His gaze lingered on the path Gu Cheolun had flown. “Huh?” He noticed something amiss. Where Gu Cheolun had been flung and the lingering traces of the explosion—there was something beyond them. Swoosh-!! “What… is this?” Flames had taken form—a human shape stood there, embodying Gu Cheolun's presence. An illusion. That wretch had used it to deceive his eyes. Then— ‘The true body?’ Where had his actual body gone? Was it a sneak attack? As Do Cheol’s expression soured and he tried to locate Gu Cheolun— BOOOOM--!!! “……!” A deafening blast erupted to his left. His sight shifted there. “Damn it—!” It was Gu Cheolun. The scoundrel had detonated the ground in the Head's chamber. As a hole gaped open, the space below was revealed. “This scoundrel—!” So that was his intention from the start. After all— ‘He never aimed to face me directly.’ The purpose had been to draw attention and make his move underground. Do Cheol lunged straight towards Gu Cheolun— Whoosh-!! Gu Cheolun, enveloped in flames, burrowed into the floor.