Chapter 79
Bang!
A loud explosion erupted from where Jeok I-geon had been standing, sending a thick cloud of dust billowing into the air.
Jeok I-geon soared high into the sky, then released a surge of energy, using it as a stepping point to abruptly change direction. In the blink of an eye, he landed right in front of Hyeok Ri-cheon.
‘Wow!’
How could someone move like that?
For a moment, I thought I was watching a superhero movie.
“Are you Hyeok Ri-cheon?”
“Guh—!”
Before he even finished asking, Jeok I-geon had already grabbed Hyeok Ri-cheon’s neck, twisting it roughly.
Why even ask if you weren’t going to wait for an answer?
I mean, you found him, but what if it wasn’t the right person?
‘Damn, I was planning to deal with that bastard myself, but now he’s taken.’
I couldn’t deny that I was a bit disappointed, but since it had come to this, I hoped Jeok I-geon would crush him completely.
Might as well let him do all the dirty work for me.
If I really thought about it, wasn’t Jeok I-geon better at beating people up than me?
It was strange to admit, but for once, I approved of his true nature.
Hah, what a crazy thought.
‘Wait, what am I even thinking?’
What part of him was worth liking?
Was I actually getting attached to a psychopath?
I shook my head to clear my thoughts, but my eyes remained fixed on Jeok I-geon.
“Hik! Hiiik!”
Hyeok Ri-cheon struggled desperately, his breath choked off by Jeok I-geon’s grip.
No matter how much he fought, it was impossible to break free.
Then, as if making up his mind, Hyeok Ri-cheon grabbed Jeok I-geon’s arm with both hands.
He arched his back, kicking both legs up and slamming his feet into Jeok I-geon’s chest with all his strength.
Thud!
A deep impact echoed through the air.
‘Oh, nice try—’
But as expected, it was pointless.
Even before the attack landed, Jeok I-geon had already caught both of Hyeok Ri-cheon’s ankles in his iron grip.
He had let go of his neck but now had an even stronger hold.
“What?! Wait—no! Aaargh!”
His head down, his legs up—
Hyeok Ri-cheon let out a sharp scream as his body was completely flipped upside down.
Then, like a toy being slammed onto the ground, Jeok I-geon smashed him straight into the earth.
Crash!
His face collided with the ground, his body trembling uncontrollably from the impact.
Without hesitation, Jeok I-geon grabbed his ankles again and yanked him up.
I didn’t need to look to know what was coming next.
First, he would probably rip his legs apart.
Then, he’d tear off his arms.
Maybe after that, he would finally start asking questions.
Jeok I-geon always had a reason for what he did.
The problem was that his reasons were always insanely twisted.
‘Ugh…!’
I had already imagined it.
Back in Sichuan, I had seen enough skulls getting crushed that I lost my appetite for days.
I had only just recovered.
I didn’t need to see more gore today.
Should I close my eyes?
Or hide behind Grandmother?
‘Speaking of which… is Grandmother okay?’
Just as I was debating what to do, Jeok I-geon suddenly locked eyes with me.
Wait.
Why was he looking at me while punishing a villain?
His expression was impossible to read, but his eyes carried an intensity I had seen only a few times before—
It was the look he had when he was truly furious.
I gulped.
For some reason, his gaze made me nervous.
Then, without a word, Jeok I-geon nodded.
‘Huh?’
He seemed to have changed his mind.
As if discarding trash, he dropped Hyeok Ri-cheon unceremoniously.
Wait.
What was he doing?
That wasn’t like him.
Just as I started to question it, Jeok I-geon kicked Hyeok Ri-cheon’s body with full force.
Of course.
There was no way he would just let him go.
Boom!
Hyeok Ri-cheon crashed into a stone wall, his body bouncing off and slamming into the ground.
Jeok I-geon immediately thrust out his fist.
Whoosh!
A wave of energy shot from his punch, aimed directly at Hyeok Ri-cheon.
That’s it.
He was about to shatter into pieces.
It was karma, but I felt a little bad for him.
Of all people, he had to piss off Jeok I-geon.
…Wait.
What was that?
Normally, energy attacks explode upon impact.
But something about Jeok I-geon’s attack felt different.
Instead of detonating, his energy was seeping into Hyeok Ri-cheon’s body.
Whoa.
How was he doing that?
Of course, I didn’t have time to linger on my curiosity.
“Aaaaaagh!”
Hyeok Ri-cheon’s body convulsed violently, and he let out an agonizing scream.
Though invisible to the eye, I could hear the sound of something bursting and snapping inside him.
Oh.
I finally realized what was happening.
Jeok I-geon was using his signature torture technique—
The Body-Shattering Fist.
In short, he was grinding Hyeok Ri-cheon’s insides into dust with his demonic energy.
“…W-Wow.”
Who even came up with that?
Blood didn’t have to splatter everywhere for something to be gruesome.
Just watching Hyeok Ri-cheon writhe in pain, dying slowly, was brutal enough.
‘Jeok I-geon… I must never cross him.’
I reaffirmed my resolve once again.
“Cough!”
In the end, Hyeok Ri-cheon spat out a mouthful of blood before taking his final breath.
He deserved to die, but watching someone perish right in front of me was still difficult to stomach.
“Are you alright?”
After finishing his work, Jeok I-geon strode toward me.
He didn’t care that everyone around him was staring in horrified disbelief.
“Yes, Young Master. I am fine.”
Just like Grandmother, Jeok I-geon scanned me from head to toe.
It was as if he was making sure I wasn’t injured—because if I was, he looked like he’d find someone else to kill.
Satisfied, he then turned to check on Grandmother, before glancing at Tak Joong-hak, and finally shifting his focus to the crowd.
His expression suggested he had prioritized getting rid of Hyeok Ri-cheon first before assessing the situation.
“Second Young Master, what brings you here?”
Yeo Gong stepped forward, acting calm despite his obvious recognition of Jeok I-geon.
Jeok I-geon had just killed one of his men without a second thought, yet Yeo Gong was still being polite.
Because he was the son of the Heavenly Demon, was that it?
So, even the Demonic Cult operated on bloodline, connections, and factionalism?
Wasn’t it supposed to be about the strongest surviving?
“Patriarch Yeo.”
Jeok I-geon addressed Yeo Gong in his usual low, cold tone.
That… wasn’t a good sign.
And sure enough—
“Do you wish to die?”
Despite how soft his voice was, a suffocating killing intent burst toward Yeo Gong.
“…!”
I was probably the only one who wasn’t shocked by Jeok I-geon’s words.
Even if he was the son of the Heavenly Demon, he had just threatened Yeo Gong, the head of one of the Six Great Demon Clans.
That wasn’t someone Jeok I-geon could treat carelessly.
“Second Young Master, you go too far.”
Yeo Gong’s brow twitched like a snake’s.
He was clearly struggling to contain his anger.
“You dare call this too far when you kidnapped the First Young Lady?”
“It wasn’t a kidnapping! We captured a spy of the Martial Alliance!”
Yeo Gong shouted, nearly spitting in his rage.
“…A spy?”
“Do you even know the true identity of the First Young Lady’s grandmother?”
Yeo Gong sneered, looking at Grandmother like she was his greatest enemy.
…And there he went again, calling her “that woman” instead of addressing her properly.
“She is Tang Yeong-ryeong, the leader of the Martial Alliance’s Assassination Squad! The younger sister of Tang Jong-ryeong, the current patriarch of the Tang Clan of Sichuan!”
“And?”
“What?”
“So what?”
Jeok I-geon’s uninterested tone made Yeo Gong and Wi Lin exchange frustrated glances.
“You’re still young, so you must not understand, Second Young Master. Seventeen years ago, Tang Yeong-ryeong infiltrated our cult with a grand scheme in mind!”
“She disguised herself as the grandmother of the First Young Lady, lived among us, and even approached the Heavenly Demon himself!”
“So, if I sum up what you’re saying… You’re claiming that my father was tricked by these two?”
“That’s right! The Heavenly Demon was completely deceived!”
“He was too generous to these wicked creatures, and that’s why he was betrayed!”
Jeok I-geon tilted his head slightly before replying.
“Wow. That’s a really long way of saying that my father is an idiot.”
“W-What?!”
“Second Young Master! How dare you insult the Heavenly Demon!”
Seeing Yeo Gong and Wi Lin’s flustered faces, Jeok I-geon let out a small smirk.
“You’re telling me that the leader of the Demonic Cult—who’s supposed to be the most powerful man in the world—was so naive that he got played by a single spy? How else am I supposed to phrase that?”
Suddenly, Jeok I-geon turned toward Tak Joong-hak.
“Tak Patriarch.”
“Yes, Second Young Master.”
“What do you think? Are you here because you agree with these fools?”
“No, I am here to protect the First Young Lady from them.”
“I see.”
“Tak Patriarch is aiding the spies! He’s on their side! Do not trust him!”
“Of course he’s on their side.”
“…What?”
“I mean, what kind of grandfather would ignore his own granddaughter?”
…What?
What was he talking about?
I turned to Grandmother and whispered.
“Grandmother, what is he saying? Do you understand?”
“……”
“So it’s not just me.”
Was incoherence the new trend?
Even Yeo Gong and Wi Lin looked like they didn’t understand.
At that moment, Tak Joong-hak turned to Jeok I-geon and asked,
“Did you already know?”
“Know what?”
“……”
“Oh. That Seol-ha is your long-lost granddaughter?”
“Excuse me?!”
I stood there, completely dumbfounded.
…What did he just say?
Tak Joong-hak’s warm gaze turned toward me.
‘Wait… could it be that portrait…?!’
I had been so focused on Grandmother that I had completely forgotten about it.
That old painting of a woman who looked exactly like me.
I had suspected that my birth might be linked to the Tak Family, but I never imagined it would be this dramatic.
So, Tak Joong-hak was… my grandfather?
I was still shocked, but at the same time—
…This wasn’t so bad.
I actually kind of liked it.
—
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