Crunch.
âUghâ¦.â
Muk Yeon groaned as the pressure around his neck intensified.
His feet no longer touched the ground.
Suspended in midair, strangled by an iron grip, he felt the searing pain and suffocation creeping inâbut far worse was the overwhelming sense of helplessness.
He could do nothing.
All he could muster was a trembling breath and the faintest of whimpers.
âHnnnghâ¦kuhâ¦.â
The room felt frigid earlierâautumnâs chill lingering in the air despite the faint glow of the lantern.
But now?
Now it burned.
Sweat pooled on Muk Yeonâs forehead.
The once-cold air had vanished, replaced by suffocating heat.
And it was only getting hotter.
Muk Yeon forced his gaze downward.
The source of the heat and the iron grip choking himâGu Cheolwoon.
His glowing red eyes blazed like fire, piercing through the shadows.
Even without clearly seeing his face, Muk Yeon recognized those eyes.
Eyes like smoldering embers, threatening to ignite at any moment.
âMuk Yeon.â
The deep voice pierced his ears.
âIâll ask you again.â
Calmâtoo calm.
But Muk Yeon could feel the rage simmering beneath the surface, tightly restrained but ready to erupt.
Gu Cheolwoonâs fury was unlike anything he had ever seen from the man before.
âWhere is my son?â
âKhghâ¦.â