Chapter: 265
Crunch…!
The hand that was gripping him was hot.
The heat in the hand felt as if it might burn his throat at any moment; it was not only hot but also heavy.
In terms of physical condition, Namgung Cheonjun was far superior to Guyangcheon.
Even if he wasn’t as good as before, he was still half a head taller than Guyangcheon.
Nonetheless.
Ugh… .
Namgung Cheonjun was held around the neck and couldn’t do a thing.
It felt as if he were bound from all sides, unable to move even a little.
What is this…?
Then, the source of this pressure.
When he realized that it was solely Guyangcheon’s murderous intent, Namgung Cheonjun had to stifle his surprise.
Was a mere young martial artist capable of such thick killing intent?
The red eyes, glistening softly in the darkness, were staring at Namgung Cheonjun.
Why did this guy suddenly attack him?
“That beastly little brat is glaring at me with bared teeth.”
What came out of Guyangcheon’s mouth was a mystery.
“Anyone can tell he’s hungry, his eyes lit up with the desire to devour me, just waiting for the right moment.”
As he spoke, the corners of his mouth slowly twisted upward.
It was too malicious to be called a smile.
It was a bitter expression that defied explanation.
The expression suited him so well that it turned Namgung Cheonjun’s stomach with fear.
“You little punk, you don’t even know your place and keep on annoying me.”
Ugh.
The grip around his neck tightened.
He attempted to gather his energy but ironically, his spirit refused to listen to Namgung Cheonjun’s words as if it were intimidated.
…This… this is….
How could this be?
He was someone who had been chosen by a great being.
Ugh… .
After months of focusing energy into his body.
Breaking walls and reaching the peak.
That day, his father had looked at him and commended him.
His great-grandfather even conveyed his struggles through a letter.
It was a rare compliment from his great-grandfather, who often looked at him with regret during their encounters.
This power was right.
At that moment, Namgung Cheonjun had been certain that this was the power that would grant him everything he desired.
Yet.
Why still…?!
He couldn’t even escape this guy’s grasp?
“Look at those eyes! Are you not afraid?”
…!
In an instant, Namgung Cheonjun’s vision twisted.
Guyangcheon swung the arm he was holding and flung it to the ground.
Namgung Cheonjun rolled on the floor without even managing to execute a proper fall technique and groaned as he hurriedly tried to get up.
Before him, Guyangcheon’s feet drew nearer.
Bam!
“Ugh!”
His chin shot up, and his head snapped back.
He had been hit without even managing to defend himself properly.
He didn’t even have enough time to raise his energy and cloak his body.
That time when he encountered Guyangcheon during the martial arts competition.
The feelings of helplessness and despair he had felt back then surged back up to his throat.
Spitting blood, Namgung Cheonjun thought.
‘I… I… am not going to fall to this kid.’
He was the next head of the Dae Namgung family.
He was one of the Five Dragons.
He was meant to lead the Namgung family in the future.
He shouldn’t be overshadowed by someone so insignificant, talent-wise and ability-wise.
Why… .
“Think about it a hundred times.”
A voice whispered in Namgung Cheonjun’s ear.
With blood flowing from his nose, he could barely raise his head.
“Why would I kill you?”
…ugh.
The voice, which had a somewhat melodic quality.
Now sounded infinitely lower, filled with intense murderous intent that Namgung Cheonjun could barely bear.
Just like back then.
He had been pinned down by his own neck, helpless.
That day when he was kindled like a fire!
How can someone hold such dark intentions?
Through killing people?
But Namgung Cheonjun wasn’t innocent; his hands weren’t clean.
Whether through others’ hands or his own, he had taken countless lives.
How could one accumulate such killing intent?
That level could only be attained by ending countless lives.
How could Guyangcheon, who hadn’t even reached adulthood, achieve that?
He had been steadily investigating the brat.
Namgung Cheonjun knew that there had been no circumstances in which Guyangcheon could have killed anyone to gain such strength.
“Once I thought that way, I realized something.”
Crack.
Guyangcheon’s foot crushed Namgung Cheonjun’s ankle.
…Ugh!
“Hundreds of reasons for why I should kill you keep coming to mind.”
At that moment, he felt a slight gap.
The pressure slightly lessened, and the killing intent diminished.
His body was able to move again, and his energy flowed fluidly once more.
Namgung Cheonjun didn’t hesitate.
Strike!
He wrapped his body in energy and summoned his mental energy.
Though he didn’t have a sword, he had become adept at using sword energy as he peaked.
Even without different levels, he could access a similar energy with his hands.
As he swung his arm to attack, he heard, “Look at this. There’s already another reason added.”
Namgung Cheonjun’s vision changed once more with the voice.
Crack—
The sound of shattering. It was the sound of the energy that Namgung Cheonjun had struggled to absorb breaking apart.
The energy surrounding him broke into fragments, scattering all around.
Even though he hadn’t enveloped himself fully, it was definitely not supposed to break like this.
‘How…?’
How could that guy break it apart so easily?
Rather than breaking, it seemed more like it was torn apart.
Guyangcheon tore through Namgung Cheonjun’s energy with his hand and kicked at his dantian, disrupting his flow of energy.
“Ugh!”
Due to the immense pain surging from his abdomen, he couldn’t even scream.
It didn’t break him; rather, the energy collected in his body dispersed in an instant.
The thunder he had been accumulating vanished like fog at a wave of Guyangcheon’s hand.
It was hopeless.
Namgung Cheonjun was plunged into deep despair.
The strength he had received from the Divine, the energy that had grown stronger past barriers—
Was it mere flailing in vain for that scoundrel?
His sight that hung in the air plummeted swiftly toward the ground.
Namgung Cheonjun couldn’t even comprehend why he was suspended in the air.
He couldn’t remember what movements he had made or how the connection ended.
It meant that he didn’t register even for a moment that he had been viciously attacked, rolling around in the air.
Boom!
Namgung Cheonjun’s heavy body was hurled to the ground.
This time, unlike before, he couldn’t even rise.
Because Guyangcheon had already come up close and stomped on his chest.
The crushing force felt as if it would shatter his bones, forcing another scream from his throat.
Ever since earlier.
Namgung Cheonjun had simply been screaming.
“From the moment I first saw you, it was annoying! That worthless brat baring his teeth!”
Red eyes disdainfully gazed down upon Namgung Cheonjun.
Just like during the martial arts competition.
Namgung Cheonjun had once been so terrified of those red eyes that he couldn’t sleep.
“Do you know there are hundreds of reasons to kill you, yet I kept you alive quietly?”
What could those reasons be?
Surely, there’d be countless.
Just because his last name was Namgung—
Surely, he couldn’t dare kill the next head of the Dae Namgung family.
That was how it had to be, since killing him would create a hassle to clean up the mess.
It was tough even for him to assassinate a noble family member without leaving a trace.
“Isn’t that enough?”
“I am a member of the Namgung family…”
“Thank your sister.”
“What…?”
“If it weren’t for her, I would have long torn your limbs apart and burned you alive.”
In that moment, Namgung Cheonjun couldn’t grasp Gu Yangcheon’s words.
Sister? His own sister?
Ignoring the pain, Namgung Cheonjun struggled to open his mouth.
“That… what?”
“There were hundreds of reasons to kill you, but I chose not to simply because she is your sister.”
Gu Yangcheon locked eyes with Namgung Cheonjun as he spoke.
It was just because he was Namgung Bi-ah’s younger brother.
For that sole reason.
Even when a baby beast gnashes its teeth, theoretically trying to rip out its own throat.
Even if staring with intent and malice, full of murderous desires.
Yet for Guyangcheon, there was only that reason.
Feeling the blood flowing from the corner of his mouth, Namgung Cheonjun questioned Gu Yangcheon again.
“…What the hell are you talking about now?”
“I’m kindly telling you that I made an effort to save you, you piece of shit.”
Crack.
“Ugh…!”
In that moment, Namgung Cheonjun felt a rib snap.
The murderous aura radiating from Guyangcheon intensified.
It was dangerous.
This was no jest.
“What… what are you trying to do now…?!”
“Why, are you finally scared?”
“I am the blood of the Namgung family. This is Namgung territory… suddenly….”
“Do you know? Burn it down to the bones, and there won’t be a single trace left behind.”
His casual demeanor as he spoke, as though he were saying something he had done many times before, was ominously sincere.
“…Why?”
Namgung Cheonjun questioned.
“Why are you suddenly trying to kill me?”
There was doubt.
Guyangcheon’s sudden assault had come too fast.
The corners of Guyangcheon’s mouth turned upwards at Namgung Cheonjun’s question.
“Why? You’re out to kill me, but I can’t kill you? What a funny thought you’ve got.”
“…If there’s evidence that I aimed to kill you… Ahhh…!”
Just as Namgung Cheonjun was about to say something, he let out a massive scream.
In an instant, Guyangcheon twisted Namgung Cheonjun’s arm in an incomprehensible direction.
The strong build of the peak martial artist seemed to snap like a twig.
“I won’t be engaging in needless discussions. At this point, the evidence isn’t crucial.”
“Hah… hah!”
He wanted to resist.
He wanted to unleash energy and incinerate Guyangcheon’s head immediately.
Yet, Namgung Cheonjun found himself unable to do so.
“Look, your eyes are still filled with that murderous intention to kill me. Is proof really necessary?”
“You… do you even know where this is…?”
Namgung Cheonjun managed to squeeze out words.
Guyangcheon unceremoniously seized Namgung Cheonjun’s throat.
“Curious? Why am I doing this to you now?”
Crunch… .
“You.”
It felt as if his neck would shatter beneath the grip.
He sensed a precarious balance—held firmly but not breaking.
That was an absurd feat of control.
“What were you trying to do to your sister just now?”
…!
Guyangcheon’s question made Namgung Cheonjun swallow hard.
His expression exposed as if he’d been caught in a lie.
He hadn’t planned to do anything specific.
He merely entertained thoughts of wanting something someday.
Rather than hand his sister over to this scoundrel—
He simply wanted to have.
Someone as insignificant as him didn’t deserve to be around his beautiful older sister.
Only he was suitable for her.
Did that brat feel such emotions too?
“I know greed all too well.”
As Guyangcheon spoke, another of Namgung Cheonjun’s fingers snapped.
“So, there’s no way I couldn’t know what a little brat like you was thinking.”
“No! Ugh…!”
“I’m quite skilled at hurting people in this regard; ideally, I didn’t want to do this again now. But why do you keep jabbing at me like that!”
While speaking, he pulled off Namgung Cheonjun’s fingernails.
The method was too blunt and violent.
It was a method of torture that disregarded the opponent’s agony and purely employed force.
Or was it even torture?
From the very start, it was clear Guyangcheon wasn’t interested in an answer; it was simply not torture.
He took the tips of the severed nails and ignited them.
“Aaaah!”
“I told you, there are countless reasons to kill you, yet only one reason to spare you.”
Had it not been for Namgung Bi-ah—
Namgung Cheonjun would have disposed of him without a soul knowing.
Though the reason he withheld was partly because of the Namgung surname—
In truth, it was a decaying noble house, now hollow within.
Every reason stemming from that name would only last for a fleeting moment.
“If you keep poking at that singular reason, what should I do?”
“You… wretch… .”
“Your eyes are still lit with life, yet I’m dead. By now, you should be drooling and begging for mercy.”
The sight of him mocking and laughing slightly was as though he relished the situation.
He lifted his hand, still ablaze from scorching Namgung Cheonjun’s fingers, allowing the flames to rise higher.
The fireworks lighting the night were splendid.
But at the great essence within them, Namgung Cheonjun trembled in fear.
“Why is that? I thought about it. I thought I did well, but that despicable pride just won’t die.”
Guyangcheon pondered.
Initially, he broke his arm.
The second time, he peed his pants.
He had shattered Namgung Cheonjun’s pride and annihilated his self-esteem.
This guy still shouldn’t be presenting his teeth to him.
Thinking that he was beyond error, the master of pain.
Yet, he was the same.
He desired feelings that shouldn’t even touch his sister.
I think he attempted to act.
How audacious.
It meant he had tried to take the second moon I had in mind.
He attempted to cross the final boundary.
This is where my respect ends.
“So I’ve thought about it.”
Crack.
…!”
Namgung Cheonjun’s eyes widened.
“I wonder if this damned thing is why you keep crawling.”
“What… what….”
He felt flustered.
It was inevitable.
The energy dispensed by the great being.
The noble power that seeped like ink and had begun to merge.
For what reason? It was peeling off his body and getting sucked elsewhere.
“What the hell is this?! Why is this happening?!”
At that moment, Namgung Cheonjun gained a realization.
Just after the duel with Guyangcheon concluded.
When his divine energy had disappeared from his dantian.
Namgung Cheonjun previously thought it had just dissipated because he had used energy not properly stabilized.
“No way… was it even then you…!”
“I might not be too picky with side dishes, but I’m somewhat selective about my energy. This one is unappetizing, yet I’ll consume it anyway.”
“Let go…! Do you realize what power this is, you little brat?!”
“What kind of power? This pathetic scrap of a corpse?”
“How can I feel someone else’s energy?!”
Struggling desperately,
As the energy was drained, his body became rigid in strong contrast to the emotions he felt.
Even his fingers, trembling from the flames, froze and ceased to shake.
“Please… please… this is everything to me.”
Namgung Cheonjun abandoned his pride and pleaded with Guyangcheon.
It was completely futile.
All the qi that had lingered in his body was now receding.
The slightest trace of the energy still bonded in his dantian slipped away through Guyangcheon’s hands without leaving a mark.
“Ah… no.”
Despair crept in.
The force that he had believed would elevate him to the skies vanished in an instant.
And it disappeared, no less, at the hands of the very one he despised.
He had lost his honor.
The one he had loved most, his sister, was taken away.
Even the strength that had served as his only hope was seized by him.
“Ah… ahh…”
Namgung Cheonjun gazed emptily toward the star-filled sky.
The night was dim.
Where had that moon gone, which had shone so brightly? Now it wouldn’t illuminate Namgung Cheonjun, as if it had hidden away.
As Namgung Cheonjun stood there, Gu Yangcheon said, “You’re quite the amusing guy. Did you really think losing this would make your eyes go dead?”
A hollow chuckle resounded.
Gu Yangcheon still held on firmly to Namgung Cheonjun.
The original qi within Namgung Cheonjun’s dantian remained unchanged.
He had merely consumed the life force he was meant to draw from the Blood Demon.
It was comical how Namgung Cheonjun’s dejection mirrored a collapsing world.
Amidst that, Namgung Cheonjun whispered, “Kill… me.”
“What?”
“Enough… I’m asking you to kill me.”
“Hah.”
It was a phrase that spilled as if he had lost everything.
Gu Yangcheon grinned.
If you were going to abandon hope so easily, why grind your teeth in vain?
He was a filthy little brat right until the end.
“Brother-in-law, I don’t kill people so easily.”
“… If you keep playing with me, you might as well bite your tongue and die!”
Bam.
Gu Yangcheon sealed Namgung Cheonjun’s mouth with his hand, preventing him from closing it.
This was serious; if he bit his tongue, there would be trouble.
“Ugh! Ugh! Ugh…!”
“Why the hell are you trying to act tough, you filthy scoundrel? You really make me sick. If you’re going to live, then live nastily until the end.”
In the dim light of night, his face cast a shadow.
His red eyes remained ominously bright.
And yet, they held no emotion.
“You said that this land is at the heart of the Namgung family.”
“Ugh… .”
“Even if I was enraged, it’s not quite the time to kill someone here.”
At the beaming smile, Namgung Cheonjun felt a rush of fear.
Something was different.
There was a distinct mark separating the Guyangcheon who had tormented him earlier.
Where had it changed?
Though unclear as to what the sentiment was, it was definitely true.
“I thought you were aware of something, so I was going to torture you. But it seems that’s unnecessary.”
“Hear me out!”
“I was just looking to test something. Perfect, since you’re claiming to die, let me give it a try, okay?”
The red flames that continued to burn were growing larger.
Gradually, they began to envelop themselves in other colors.
“Urgent… Ugh!”
“Are you okay? I anticipated you would respond that way.”
The red eyes of Guyangcheon, gazing down at Namgung Cheonjun, were changing colors.
If Namgung Cheonjun wasn’t mistaken,
It must have clearly turned purple.
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