The shattered teacup spilled tea onto the floor with a soft trickle.
Crashâ!
The oppressive aura caused the table to tremble violently.
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Under the crushing weight on his shoulders, Bumdong let out a strained grunt.
This was no ordinary presenceâthis was the aura of a martial master. A formidable one at that.
While struggling under the pressure, Bumdong glanced at Moyong Hee-ah. She was staring at the unexpected intruder with wide, astonished eyes. That was all.
Despite the suffocating pressure, she seemed completely unaffected.
This could only mean one thingâthe person responsible for the aura was controlling it with meticulous precision, ensuring it harmed no one else.
âWhere did such a master come from?!â
Cold sweat dripped down Bumdongâs face as he steadied his inner energy. The overwhelming pressure was intense, but not entirely insurmountable.
Clenching his jaw, Bumdong summoned his strength and forced himself to stand.
Crackâ!
âGah!â
The pain was sharp, but Bumdong managed to overcome the pressure and rise to his feet. Or so it seemedâwas it just his imagination, or did the pressure lessen slightly the moment he stood?
As if it had been adjusted to make it easier for him.
âHooâ¦â
The moment Bumdong stood, the oppressive aura vanished like a ghost.
Wiping the sweat from his brow, he cast a piercing gaze at the young man before him. What he saw made him inwardly flinch.
âHeâsâ¦young.â
Much younger than heâd anticipated.
The personâs rugged appearance belied a youthful faceâbarely past his early twenties, at most. Even assuming he had a youthful complexion, he could only be in his early thirties.
âAnd youâre telling me that monstrous aura came from him?!â
It was hard to believe.
Who was this man? Who could emit such an overwhelming presence?
Suppressing his unease, Bumdong adjusted his stance and asked,
âDid you just say that to me?â
The words echoed in his mind. The young man had called him a barking dog.
The Daeju of the Flying Dragon Unit within the Martial Allianceâa position so revered that even heads of great martial clans treated him with respectâhad been referred to in such a manner by a mere youth.