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“Darn it.”

I messed up. Big time.

*Zap zap zap.*

Frowning at the lightning energy in front of me, I realize I was too focused and misjudged the situation. Hiding my energy and suppressing my Qi Perception made me forget something crucial.

*’I should’ve been crushed by that lightning energy.’*

The pressure radiating from it, mixed with the crackling lightning, was overwhelming. This was the momentum of a martial artist who had reached transcendence, one of the Three Eminent Beings.

Even though Nangong Jeohwi, his own son, was here to somewhat control it, someone like me, a Late-Stage Talent, couldn’t possibly withstand it. Even my father, who had long surpassed the Late-Stage Talent level, had to unleash flames to endure it.

*’And here I was, just standing there like an idiot.’*

I stood there, completely unaffected, taking the full brunt of the momentum. I thought hiding my realm would be enough, but now I realize that was a mistake.

*”This is bizarre.”*

*Zap zap zap—!!!*

The lightning energy grew stronger.

*Rumble rumble—!!!*

The blue sky shook in response to the surging energy, and dark clouds began to form.

*Rumble rumble—!!*

The lightning I felt earlier seemed to be intensifying.

*”What exactly are you?”*

The Heavenly Lord’s blue eyes were tinged with lightning energy. This didn’t feel good.

*”Elder, please calm down first…”*

*Crackle crackle-!!*

*”Damn it.”*

I twisted my upper body as the lightning energy came crashing down.

*Crash-!*

The lightning struck the ground, and the Heavenly Lord’s hand reached out toward me.

A blue flash charged at my neck. I released a bit of energy to create a rebound.

*Whoosh-!!!*

My body spun rapidly, dodging the attack. As I sped up, I gritted my teeth.

*’Is this guy insane?’*

This old man is serious. He’s moving like he’s determined to kill me.

*’What do I do?’*

I didn’t have much time to think. The Heavenly Lord was already following my evasion.

*Whoosh–!!*

I could see energy gathering in his hand.

Oh, that looks dangerous. Should I dodge and counter? After a brief moment of hesitation, I made my decision.

*Thud.* I planted my feet firmly, bracing my body as if anchoring myself to the ground.

*’I’ll take the hit.’*

I decided to just take it head-on. From what I could see, it wasn’t aimed at my vitals. The target was my chest.

I released a burst of energy, condensing it into a strong barrier.

I intended to form a shield and take the attack as naturally as possible.

*Zing-!!*

The concentrated lightning energy shot toward me. As expected, it aimed for my chest. Just as the attack was about to hit…

*Thud-!*

*’Huh?’*

The Heavenly Lord’s hand stopped mid-air.

Someone’s hand—my father’s hand—had grabbed the Heavenly Lord’s wrist.

*Whoosh whoosh-!!*

Flames erupted. A fierce crimson blaze dominated the surroundings.

*”That’s enough.”*

A deep, heavy voice invaded my ears. My father was speaking to the Heavenly Lord.

The Heavenly Lord, his attack blocked, stared at my father with his blue eyes.

*”What did you say?”*

*”I don’t know why the Heavenly Lord is acting this way, but…”*

Despite facing a murderous gaze, my father showed no sign of trembling.

*”If you continue to disrespect my subordinate, I’ll have no choice but to respond in kind.”*

*”Ha!”*

The Heavenly Lord let out a hollow laugh upon hearing my father’s words.

*”Respond in kind? You think you can do something to this old man? Just because you’re called the Divine Dragon, you think you’re something special?”*

*”That’s not it.”*

*Whoosh whoosh-!!*

The flames grew even stronger.

*”A mere Late-Stage Talent like me could never dare to challenge the great Heavenly Lord. I’m simply…”*

*Crack.*

A sound came from the Heavenly Lord’s wrist, which my father was gripping. He had increased the pressure.

*”…here as the Deputy Lord of the Blue Dragon Clan, representing the Main Sect, to visit the Nangong Clan. So, what the Heavenly Lord is doing now is no different from disregarding the Main Sect.”*

He wasn’t speaking as a Late-Stage Talent but as a representative of the Main Sect. It was a warning not to act recklessly, but the Heavenly Lord’s reaction was, of course, far from pleased.

*”So?”*

*Rumble rumble.*

As the flames flared, the lightning energy in the air grew even more intense.

*”Even if you’re representing the Main Sect, what can you possibly do?”*

The opponent was one of the Three Eminent Beings.

In the Central Plains’ Righteous Faction, unless you were one of the Three Eminent Beings, no one could dare to act recklessly toward them. What difference would it make to bring up the Main Sect?

As the Heavenly Lord spat out those words…

*”…Sigh.”*

My father stared at the Heavenly Lord and let out a deep sigh. The sigh was so clear that the Heavenly Lord’s brow furrowed. Then, my father spoke.

*”Seems like you’re too old to understand.”*

*’Huh?’*

Wait, what?

Did I mishear? Did I just hear something wrong?

I narrowed my eyes and stared at my father.

It must’ve been a hallucination. That’s what I thought, but…

*”…What did you just say?”*

It seemed I didn’t mishear. The Heavenly Lord’s stiff expression confirmed it.

But.

*”Didn’t hear me?”*

My father looked at the Heavenly Lord and spoke again.

*”I said stop, old man.”*

*Rumble rumble—!!!*

As he spoke, an immense pressure erupted from my father’s body. Mixed with heat, it exploded, shaking the surrounding trees as if they were caught in a storm, and the air shifted in an instant.

“Wow.”

Hearing the words, I let out a gasp.

I never expected my father to say something like that.

“No wonder I have such a temper.”

Seeing that, I understood. Ah, my father had quite the temper too. Enough to stand up to the Three Eminent Beings.

“If it were me, I probably couldn’t have done it.”

No matter how much of a jerk I am, I wouldn’t have done something like that. But my father just went for it without hesitation.

“Wow, that’s messed up.”

I steadied my energy while assessing the situation. A fight could break out at any moment. I couldn’t just stand still.

As I was debating whether to release the energy I had been holding back.

“……Hahahahahaha—!!!”

The Heavenly Lord burst into laughter.

“Ahahaha—!!!”

As the laughter continued, tension filled the air, wondering what was going to happen next.

Swoosh.

“…….”

The Heavenly Lord relaxed the strength in his outstretched arm. Seeing that, my father also withdrew his hand from his wrist.

“You’re a cheeky one. You’re just like your father.”

“…….”

“However, your bold attitude is commendable. Under normal circumstances, I would have burned you to ash on this land. But seeing this, I’ll let your rudeness slide.”

At those words, I furrowed my brow, and so did my father.

‘What’s going on?’

I didn’t expect my grandfather to be mentioned here.

Especially since my father’s expression clearly showed signs of it.

“I apologize. I only wanted to test your spirit. The joke went a bit too far.”

The Heavenly Lord said with a sly smile. Even after seeing that, I couldn’t relax my expression.

‘You wanted to test my spirit?’

No way. That fight was real.

You tried to kill me with full force, and now you’re saying it was a joke?

That’s ridiculous.

But.

“So, what’s the reason you came to see me?”

The Heavenly Lord steered the conversation back to the main point. At this rate, there wasn’t much left to say.

The Heavenly Lord of the world had even apologized. Grabbing onto this any further would be pointless.

“No. Do it again.”

“Huh?”

I thought it would be meaningless, but surprisingly, my father spoke up again to the Heavenly Lord.

“What?”

“The apology. It shouldn’t be directed at me.”

My father pointed at me.

“You should apologize to my member.”

“…….”

Wow.

I didn’t expect him to push it that far. I looked at my father in amazement.

Even in this situation, he’s still going to press that point.

“…….”

At those words, the Heavenly Lord furrowed his brow for a moment. But then he looked at me and spoke.

“I apologize. My joke went too far.”

“……It’s fine. No problem.”

Thankfully, the apology came, and I accepted it immediately.

Only then did my father nod.

“Are you satisfied now?”

“Yes.”

“……Alright, so what’s the reason you came to see me?”

The Heavenly Lord asked Nangong Jeohwi, who was still lying down. Nangong Jeohwi quickly got up and spoke.

“Ah…… That is…….”

He explained the situation that had been weighing on him.

“A refugee order?”

After hearing the explanation, the Heavenly Lord tilted his head.

“……Not only has the Red Demon Beast appeared, but the Great Demonic Gate has opened too?”

From his reaction, it seemed he had no idea. That meant.

‘He’s been almost completely secluded in this space.’

He had been so secluded that he couldn’t even hear about the situation.

It was a perfect seclusion.

“Very well.”

“……I will follow your orders.”

As the Heavenly Lord responded, Nangong Jeohwi let out a sigh of relief.

Of course, it was something that needed to be approved. Given the state of the Demonic Gate, unnecessary risks had to be avoided.

“You don’t need to come to me about this matter anymore. Let the Clan Leader handle it.”

“Thank you. I will carry it out as you’ve said.”

With that approval, I thought we could move on to the next plan. But just as I was thinking that.

“Heavenly Lord, may I ask something?”

Suddenly, my father spoke up again to the Heavenly Lord.

“Could you perhaps offer some assistance in dealing with the Demonic Gate?”

“Hmm?”

At my father’s words, the Heavenly Lord tilted his head.

“Assistance?”

“Yes.”

“What do you mean?”

“If the Demonic Gate resists, who knows what might happen. Not just the Nangong Clan, but all of Anhui could be in danger. I’m asking if you could offer some help in this regard.”

The Heavenly Lord, who had almost retired and was secluded within the Clan Leader’s residence.

He usually didn’t show himself for ordinary matters, but this was a matter concerning the Nangong Clan itself, so he might be willing to help.

If the Heavenly Lord hadn’t known about the situation, that would be one thing, but now that he’s aware, he would naturally offer assistance.

Especially since it concerned Anhui, where he resided. After hearing my father’s words, the Heavenly Lord immediately smiled and replied.

“No.”

“……Excuse me?”

“……?”

A simple answer, and silence fell.

……No?

 

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