Living Dangerously with a 999-Year-Old Gumiho – Chapter 83

“I’m going to meet a miserable end?!”

“That loose mouth of yours just won’t shut up!!”

His voice blazed hotter with the flames, and the fury in his eyes was like burning embers.

In that moment, the Red-Headed Man completely lost control and lunged at the Old Man.

His hand darted like lightning, aiming for one of the Old Man’s eyes.

The flames erupting from his fingertips struck right at the Old Man’s eye.

The Old Man not even able to scream, shrank back in agony.

His burning hand gripped the Old Man’s neck.

The Old Man thrashed about, writhing in pain.

With both anger and mockery mixed in his voice, the Red-Headed Man said,

“Is the future something you see with your own eyes?!”

“That future you saw, is it still crystal clear even at this very moment?”

The Old Man’s body continued to convulse violently.

Pain was evident in one of his eyes being scorched by the flames, yet he replied calmly through the torment.

“You… will never… kill me here…”

The Old Man’s resolute voice made the Red-Headed Man hesitate for a moment.

The flames swirling from his hand began to gradually subside.

Even though his gaze was still filled with rage, the Old Man’s words resonated deep within his heart.

“Ugh.. So you really can see the future…”

He muttered, and without realizing it, he pulled his hand away from the Old Man’s neck.

“I need to hear what you have to say.”

The Old Man slowly took a deep breath and began to rise.

One of his eyes was severely damaged, but instead of pain, a certain calmness prevailed on his face.

The Old Man took his tattered clothing and slowly tore it away.

His movements were slow and deliberate.

After carefully folding the fabric, he covered his burned eye.

“Please, O Red-Headed Youth, realize that traces of the Nine-Tailed Fox exist within your destiny…”

“You must first seek a refuge to protect yourself from danger.”

“By doing so, you may escape her threats.”

“Finding and dealing with the fox is akin to safeguarding yourself.”

The Old Man concluded with a quiet smile.

“Remember, Monster…”

“Every action you take weaves your fate.”

“Be strong and carve your own path. If you do, you’ll escape the perils posed by the Nine-Tailed Fox and discover your true power.”

“But straying from destiny won’t be easy.”

The Old Man departed slowly with a gentle smile.

Carefully fixing his tattered clothing that covered his burned eye, the Old Man slowly stood up.

He picked up one of the old, scattered boxes lying around.

Though the box was worn and tattered, the Old Man treated it with care.

He then leaned on a worn wooden cane that had been by his side.

The Old Man nodded one last time to the Red-Headed Man and recalled his final advice.

“Remember, Monster. Each of your actions shapes your destiny.”

“Walk your own path and discover your true strength.”

Then he added,

“Now I must go deliver this message to the Nine-Tailed Fox.”

“She too deserves a chance like yours, for everyone must face their destiny fairly.”

As the Old Man’s footsteps began to take him out of the Alley, the Red-Headed Man suddenly made a firm decision.

Feeling a deep empathy for the Old Man’s words, yet gripped by an inexplicable anxiety, a fiery resolution ignited within him.

With determined strides, the Red-Headed Man caught up to the Old Man.

His hand shot out like lightning, gripping the Old Man’s arm. His grip was firm, and desperation shone in his eyes.

“Wait!!”

His voice was filled with a threatening tone.

“I don’t want you telling that guy anything – I want to keep it to myself.”

The Old Man paused for a moment at the Red-Headed Man’s urgent request.

A smile of understanding and compassion flickered over his face.

But that smile quickly morphed into a cunning grin.

“No, young man.”

“You can’t stop me.”

As he spoke, the Old Man struggled to heft an old water bucket with one hand.

In an instant, he splashed the water all over the Red-Headed Man.

The cold stream drenched his face and body, causing him to shiver in shock and agony.

“Argh..!”

As he shook off the water in pain and tried to look back at the Old Man, the Old Man had already vanished.

The surroundings fell silent, leaving only a puddle to mark where the Old Man had stood.

The man stood still for a moment, soaked with water.

His heart was a battleground of rage and confusion toward the Old Man.

The sudden shock and the Old Man’s disappearance spiraled him deeper into chaos.

His breath became ragged, and fury blazed within his chest.

“Damn it!!”

His voice trembled. Rage began to take over his body, and he couldn’t control his emotions.

Looking around, he searched for something.

His eyes landed on an old wooden box and scraps littering the Alley.

He kicked the debris around him, unleashing his anger.

A small box flew across the Alley and crashed against a wall, shattering upon impact.

Everything in his hands became a target for his wrath, and he hurled them indiscriminately.

Items around him were destroyed one after another by his seething rage.

His behavior clearly showcased his total loss of anger management.

Deep within him, the Old Man’s words faded from memory, consumed by pure fury.

An unsuspecting man passing through the Alley caught sight of the enraged Red-Headed Man.

The man was just going about his day, but in the Red-Headed Man’s eyes, everything was a trigger for his anger.

The man, carrying a handbag, was taken aback by the erupting fury of the Red-Headed Man.

The Red-Headed Man approached the man with the handbag, consumed by rage.

His steps were heavy, a heat of fury radiating from his body.

Flames began to spout from him, and the red glow in his eyes intensified.

The man carrying the handbag was bewildered by the sudden appearance of the Red-Headed Man and his wrath.

He attempted to back away, confused, but the Red-Headed Man was blocking his path.

“Who, who are you..?”

The man stammered, his voice trembling, as he realized just how weak he was in front of the Red-Headed Man.

At the peak of his rage, the Red-Headed Man didn’t respond, merely allowing the flames to rage stronger at his fingertips.

His fury was a torrent of emotions that couldn’t be put into words; he needed a target to unleash it upon.

With anger-fueled fists burning hot, he struck the man several times.

The man seemed to utter something, but his voice faded quickly.

“What- what’s going on? Did you just go and die pathetically already?”

“Hah… humans are such weaklings. Guess I need to grab a bite…”

After finishing his meal, the Red-Headed Monster kept moving through the Alley.

Hyun cautiously unlocked his cello case in a quiet corner of the plaza.

His touch was gentle and meticulous, his gaze earnest.

As the case opened, the shimmering cello emerged.

Hyun pulled the cello from its case, gazing at the beautiful instrument for a moment.

This plaza was where he often performed, and today he sought to touch hearts with his music.

He secured the instrument down and took a seat.

As his fingers lightly brushed the strings, the first notes resonated through the air.

At first, only a few passersby paid attention to the stringed music.

But as his delicate, emotional playing filled the plaza, more and more people gathered around him.

Yoonhwa and her friends stood wrapped in focus, captivated by Hyun’s performance.

Their faces radiated emotions of pride and admiration.

Nomi became completely absorbed in Hyun’s cello playing.

She unconsciously tried to move closer as she watched him play.

The young girl’s heart, enchanted by Hyun’s music, yearned to bridge the distance.

“Wow! This is so cool!”

Her voice brimmed with pure admiration.

As Nomi’s footsteps quickened toward Hyun, Yoonhwa gently held her arm.

“Nomi, let’s watch from here..~”

Yoonhwa said softly.

Her voice was filled with affection, seeming to understand the young monster’s pure enthusiasm.

Yoonhwa lightly embraced Nomi, helping her find stability in her place.

Seojin smiled at the two, watching them.

“Really~ Isn’t it just wonderful?”

She marveled, unable to contain her admiration for Hyun’s music.

Kangtae nodded in agreement.

“Yeah, can you believe we’re the only friends of this amazing performer?”

Music had the power to unite everyone’s hearts, and Hyun’s cello playing exemplified that power beautifully.

For a fleeting moment, all the surrounding noise and busy lives were forgotten as everyone shared in the sensation of music.

When the touching performance finally came to a quiet close, the people gathered in the plaza seemed to hold their breath in a spell of silence.

As that moment passed, applause erupted, almost as if they were bound by an unspoken promise.

Initially, the applause was timid and sparse, but it rapidly transformed into enthusiastic cheers.

Moved by Hyun’s performance, the audience clapped for him with gratitude.

Yoonhwa and her friends also applauded, expressing their gratitude and respect for Hyun’s remarkable performance.

While applause echoed, the people didn’t just settle for mere clapping as a show of thanks.

Some began pulling coins and bills from their pockets, dropping them into a small collection box near where Hyun had played.

“Thank you..!”

Witnessing this scene, Yoonhwa and her friends were wide-eyed in astonishment.

“Wow, Hyun, look! Do you see just how touched people are by your music?!”

Yoonhwa exclaimed, patting Hyun’s shoulder with pride and excitement.

Seojin gazed at Hyun in awe.

“Well done.. That was absolutely amazing..!!”

She said, her voice filled with admiration.

Kangtae cheered, clapping as well.

Nomi rushed over to Hyun’s side, grasping his hand.

“Wow, that was so impressive!”

“And the songs were just awesome!”

She said with pure amazement.

After the crowd dispersed, Hyun and his friends checked the collection box.

It was filled with money embodying their gratitude and respect.

Hyun had gathered around 60,000 won, and he was deeply moved by the fact.

As people began to trickle away after the performance, Hyun gazed at the money with thoughtful contemplation.

Suddenly, he turned to his friends with a determined look.

“Seojin! I’m going to perform a few more times to pay off what I owe!”

Seojin waved her hands in surprise.

“Oh— no, Hyun, it’s fine!”

“There’s really no need to pay it back!”

She insisted.

But Hyun shook his head.

“No, I will definitely repay you.”

“If you’re bored, you can head out first! I’ll play a bit longer here.”

He declared firmly.

Just then, Yoonhwa stepped forward and gently nudged Hyun’s shoulder.

“I’ll help too. Let’s do this together!”

Hyun looked at Yoonhwa’s suggestion in surprise.

“Really..?? Then we can add some magic to our performance!”