Chapter 862: Ilcheonkyo.

Tak tak-.

The sound of something burning echoed all around. Through my hazy vision, I stared at the source of the sound.

Embers were slowly falling from the sky.

Following them, something else fell to the ground.

Tung-.

A small sound echoed through the vast space.

Tak.

Tak.

The embers that fell on the floor seemed to have created a path. I followed the embers towards my destination.

As I reached my destination, something lay on the ground. Its chest pierced through.

Cracks were slowly spreading around the hole in its chest.

Jjeojeojeok-.

Not only that, but the space itself was also cracking.

“Sssu….”

Heat was contained in my exhaled breath. I touched my chest at the sensation.

Woo woo woo-ng.

The heat that had disappeared was slowly returning.

There was no joy in feeling this sensation after days. For some reason, I was just silent now.

My weary body felt somewhat floaty rather than tired.

For some reason, I couldn’t properly feel my heart beating.

It felt like I could fly away if I lost focus for even a moment.

The sensation of my body merging with the flames. It was the same feeling I had when I first ate the Heavenly Poison Pill I created.

Back then, I struggled to maintain it somehow.

Now, I didn’t care about it at all.

I was too busy staring at the one lying there.

[Sssu… sssu….]

Low breathing sounds. Eyes growing faint, as if the end was near.

From its chest to its crumbling body.

It was slowly dying, as if its end was truly imminent.

Or rather, should I call that dying?

Isn’t this thing just energy?

All sorts of thoughts flashed through my mind, but that wasn’t what I needed to think about now.

“Hey.”

At my call, it turned its gaze towards me.

Looking at it, I said.

“Why did you go easy on me?”

[…]

To my words, it offered no answer. Just eyes filled with resignation, as if accepting the present.

That made me even angrier.

“I’m asking. Why did you go easy on me?”

No matter how much higher my current cultivation was than my previous body’s, this thing wasn’t truly my past self.

“You. You could have done more, right?”

You could have finished it much earlier. Just like when you used Void Strike to drop the Flame Prison onto me.

If it truly intended to kill me, I should have been dead already.

But.

“Why did you do that?”

Instead, it kept giving me chances.

It kept provoking me.

Making me heat up somehow.

As if.

“You hoped I would realize something?”

As if you wanted me to realize something.

What was it you wanted me to realize?

I didn’t ponder it deeply.

I already knew the answer.

“That your flames were mine. The moment I realized and controlled it, I could make your flames my own.”

It was simple.

All it took was recognition.

And yet, you did all this just to tell me that?

Why?

Unable to comprehend, I asked again.

[…You are wrong.]

Only then did it reply.

[You would never have realized in the end.]

“…Why do you think that?”

[Because you had too much.]

“…”

The voice that came with the breathing was clearly exhausted.

[You wouldn’t have seen anything else, too burdened to think about it. Because that’s the kind of person you are.]

I couldn’t refute it.

Because it was true.

“…So, you went through all this just to tell me this?”

Was the reason you pushed me to the brink of death to make me realize this?

As soon as that thought crossed my mind.

[Don’t misunderstand.]

It said to me in a fierce voice.

[I wanted to kill you no matter what.]

A clear killing intent lingered in its voice.

[Your subtle hopes of a new chance, dreaming of hope. Your expectation that you might atone for things no one remembers. It’s utterly disgusting.]

“…”

[Furthermore.]

Kkeugeuk.

It scratched the ground with its fingertips. They were so strong, I could see its fingertips breaking.

[That desperate attempt to escape the karma bestowed upon you is also like that. I hate you.]

Hearing that, I quietly clenched my fists.

Because all the words were too chilling to answer.

[Do you know why I am like this before you?]

“…Well.”

[It’s because you couldn’t escape this form.]

The reason its form was that of my past self.

Was that I couldn’t escape that time.

I couldn’t deny that either.

Because it was the truth.

[You are still incompetent and lowly. You haven’t escaped anything. Do you think you’re struggling to escape on your own? You are not.]

Resentment lingered in its eyes.

[Do you know the karma you possess?]

I know. I wanted to answer that I knew.

But the words still wouldn’t come out.

[You don’t know. Because if you knew, you wouldn’t be like this.]

It was certain.

How could it be so sure?

It said it had seen more within my body than I had.

Was that why?

[The karma you possess is passed down through blood. That is the position of the Gu family head. And the Young Master is the same.]

My eyes narrowed.

[Do you know what you gain when you become the Young Master of the Gu family?]

I nodded.

The authority to open the gate beneath the Gu family.

And. The ability to leave the family’s domain freely.

At least, that’s what I thought was the limit.

[It’s erasing the wall the world imposed on martial artists.]

“…!”

At its words, my eyes widened.

“…What?”

[Do you really think you became strong instantly by relying on demonic cultivation? You are wrong.]

[That merely provided assistance. The important thing was the authority gained by becoming the Young Master.]

Years ago, Old Man No said.

That the current world didn’t want martial artists to become excessively strong, so they had put chains on them.

Because of that, he said the cultivation levels of martial artists were far lower than before the Blood Demon era.

‘…If I become the Young Master of the Gu family, that wall disappears?’

It was the first time I heard this.

As if it already knew my surprise.

It continued speaking.

[Of course. You ran away from your father before you could even hear him out.]

“…”

[No, this is strictly your father’s problem. That man must have cherished you.]

What did it mean?

When did my father ever cherish me for it to say such a thing?

My mind was a mess, and I couldn’t properly process it.

Why would becoming the Young Master grant such privileges?

What exactly is the Gu family…

Is there something more than what I knew?

As I kept rolling my eyes around.

[Stop talking nonsense.]

It shouted at me, as if enraged.

[Don’t think of this curse as a privilege or a benefit. It’s merely a grace period the world offered out of necessity.]

“What does that….”

[It’s a procedure prepared to form the vessel faster. So it will be easier.]

Forming a vessel.

I focused on those words.

To make the Gu family’s Young Master stronger faster?

“…Why?”

[Because the vessel to endure karma cannot be weak.]

Dugeun, dugeun.

My heart began to beat rapidly again.

[Thus, upon becoming the Young Master and reaching nine rings…. You are granted the qualification.]

“…That qualification, could it be…”

[The qualification to ascend to the Head.]

“…”

Upon becoming the Young Master and reaching the completion of the Gu Flame Wheel Cultivation Art.

Only then can one ascend to the Head.

It was a condition I didn’t know.

[It’s natural you wouldn’t know. You lacked the qualification, and furthermore. Your father wouldn’t have wanted you to know.]

Kkeuk kkeuk….

It let out a hollow laugh.

[Truly, you are an incredibly foolish fellow. His way of protecting his child was twisted beyond recognition, wasn’t it?]

Protecting his child.

That child must refer to me.

Did my father do something to protect me?

I couldn’t understand.

I had to wait for an explanation.

[You’ve never even considered it once, have you?]

Its face was full of mockery.

[You, who even reached the position of Young Master. Even though you left the family and ran away. Why didn’t your father come to catch you?]

“…”

[Because he lacked the ability to catch you?]

Nonsense.

There aren’t many beings on this earth who can defeat your father.

Do you think you are among them?

He couldn’t even catch the Heavenly Demon and ended up traveling together.

I was certain even during the fight with my father in my past life.

I couldn’t even touch my father’s collar.

So I thought.

Perhaps the reason my father didn’t come to catch me was simply that he had given up on me.

That’s what I had thought.

But.

[That man was merely at ease.]

Its story was different.

[He was merely observing, unwilling to lock you back within our walls.]

[Truly a foolish man, isn’t he?]

Pasasak.

Its hand finally crumbled.

[Running away from the karma of blood changed nothing. Ultimately, someone had to bear it. So, I ask you.]

It steadied its trembling voice and asked me.

[In your past life, when you reached the completion stage. You ultimately didn’t become the Head. Then.]

Pasuseuseu….

The speed at which it crumbled became incredibly fast.

[The karma you didn’t bear. Who do you think was bearing it?]

“…”

A dagger flew and pierced my chest.

It felt like a nail being driven in, followed by a blunt weapon striking.

Even though I didn’t want to, it came to mind.

My father, fading away from my punch.

My father’s appearance, growing frail and old as his internal energy scattered.

“Ah….”

Finally, I couldn’t breathe.

[The time had come. Even though the time had come, you did nothing. Thus, your father should have left his position as Head long ago for the karma, but he didn’t.]

[The world isn’t considerate enough to notice such emotions.]

[So, what do you think your father was going through?]

My hands trembled.

And.

[Whatever it was. It was the world’s wrath.]

Its final words pierced me.

[It wasn’t light enough for mere humans to bear.]

[He endured it. Solely for the sake of insignificant you. You, incompetent as you are, wouldn’t have known this, nor wanted to know. Because that’s the kind of person you are.]

“…”

My weakened legs felt like they would buckle any moment.

I forced myself to endure it.

There was still something I needed to ask.

“…What… is the karma of the Head?”

[Why, do you want to bear it now?]

“…”

[It’s too late to ask. If you want to hear it, ask your father. Though I doubt he’ll explain it properly.]

The tone, laced with mockery, was grating, but I paid it no mind.

[Therefore, I hate you.]

I could vaguely understand its resentment.

Because I hated myself right now with all my might.

My vision blurred.

What is this?

Is my vision even going to stop?

[So, I will ask again.]

Not knowing what it was, I wiped my eyes with my hand.

At that moment.

[Why are you alive?]

Jureureuk.

Something flowed down my cheeks.

It was tears.

“Aaaah….”

Realizing this, I couldn’t hold back and covered my face with my dry hands.

[Just why are you alive?]

No answer comes to mind.

I wanted to ask myself too.

Just why am I alive?

Atonement?

Was it solely for that, as it said?

If so, perhaps dying would have been better.

Then, was it simply because I liked the changed world?

Was it because I welcomed a world where no one knew my sins?

Or perhaps.

Simply because I liked seeing children.

Was that it?

I don’t know anything.

Nothing came to mind.

[Answer me.]

“…Just….”

Truly, nothing came to mind.

So, only one thing could finally be uttered.

“I wanted to live….”

[…]

Without adding any reasons, I just wanted to live.

Foolishly and stubbornly, that was the only answer.

Atonement, longing, fear.

Including everything, that was the reason.

I didn’t want to die like that.

So I wanted to live.

The words spoken with a tearful voice were so wretched, but.

[…Ha….]

Hearing my words, it finally let out a laugh as if satisfied.

[To think it would be so difficult to hear those words.]

“…What?”

[Now, get lost. I can’t stand the sight of you.]

I tried to ask what it meant, but.

Simultaneously with its words, my vision crumbled in an instant.

---

Tak.

Tadak.

A space where even voices could no longer be heard.

In a place filled only with the sound of burning embers.

A goblin, resembling someone, lay prostrate.

[Hooo….]

It exhaled a tired breath.

I am truly exhausted.

It’s the first time in hundreds of years I’ve been this exhausted.

[…What foolish brats.]

Did that useless stubbornness resemble me?

It’s quite irritating how they don’t listen to a word I say.

Why isn’t there even one honest fellow?

I disliked every single one of them.

And.

[…I am sorry.]

Because all those events were my fault, the goblin quietly apologized.

Tak. Tak.

The sound of burning embers grew stronger.

Perhaps soon, this space itself will collapse.

Then I will sleep for a long time again.

Thinking that, the goblin closed its eyes.

Jeobeok.

Suddenly, footsteps were heard from behind.

The goblin gently opened its eyes at the sound.

It wasn’t surprised.

Because it already knew who it was.

[It was a useless interference.]

At the goblin’s words, the figure that appeared let out a laugh.

[Even if you hadn’t done such a thing. That child would have realized it eventually. I warned you not to interfere with my business from the start, didn’t I?]

“I apologize for that part.”

[Ha!]

Hearing that, the goblin got up.

[I told you last time too. Speak respectfully.]

It glared at someone.

Having black hair and purple eyes.

And a woman holding a child who didn’t seem to have a good personality.

She said, looking at the goblin.

“I don’t speak respectfully to anyone. If anything… I sometimes spoke respectfully to one person.”

[Still such an unlucky woman. Doesn’t she know that child is my child?]

As if answering, the woman laughed again.

At that laugh, the goblin clicked its tongue briefly.

[You’re no different, being foolish. With such poor judgment in men.]

“It’s quite high. That’s why I don’t regret it.”

[Tsk….]

Foolish fellow.

The goblin swallowed those words.

There was nothing to be gained by arguing with that woman.

If I had to say something, rather than those words…

Pitiful.

That would be the right thing to say.

A pitiful one who threw everything away for a good-for-nothing.

That’s why the goblin couldn’t hate that child.

[If you were that worried, why didn’t you just appear?]

“No.”

The woman was still smiling, but I could tell her smile had subtly changed.

“That wouldn’t be good for him.”

[…Tsk.]

“I just came to see his face for a moment before you sleep. Even if it wasn’t the real him… I wanted to see that face.”

If one imagines whose face the goblin currently wears.

It’s impossible not to understand what she means.

The woman, seemingly satisfied, turned and walked away, holding the sleeping child.

The goblin watched her retreating back before lying down again.

The conversation ended there.

As its eyes slowly closed, sleep welcomed it as if it had been waiting.

And before falling into a long slumber once more.

The goblin thought of the woman and said.

[This is a small comfort I give for you.]

A small gift secretly given to the incompetent descendant for the woman.

I don’t know if he’ll notice it, but.

I hope he notices it before it’s too late.

The goblin wished for that and fell back into a long sleep.