Chapter 1156: Scorched World.

Jeonseon.

It was a location situated relatively close to Shanxi. It was also a region where Demonic Realm Gates were unusually frequently generated. Because of this, the Murim Alliance had designated it as a hazardous area on its own.

The Alliance established a Jeonseon branch and, furthermore, borrowed strength from the orthodox sects or families belonging to the Alliance to take turns defending Jeonseon.

Among them, families or sects located in Shanxi invested a lot of manpower into Jeonseon due to their proximity.

Naturally, Gu Family was included among these.

The problem was.

‘Gu Family’s deployment to Jeonseon wasn’t just a matter of the Alliance’s agreement.’

The Gu Family’s secret located there.

The reason Gu Family was continuously deployed to Jeonseon without fail, generation after generation, was precisely because of the eggs placed beneath the formation.

Eggs. Or perhaps…

‘Seeds.’

He recalled how that bastard Kkureung called them seeds.

That guy had referred to the eggs as seeds.

Managing and watching over them at Jeonseon must be one of Gu Family’s duties…

‘An anomalous phenomenon?’

He figured out the reason for his deployment to Jeonseon, which was stated as a secret mission.

‘There’s an anomalous phenomenon at Jeonseon?’

The instruction was to go and check because an anomalous phenomenon had occurred there.

Hearing that made me frown.

‘What is it?’

What could it possibly mean? He recalled the situation as if pondering. Jeonseon around this time…

And he recalled the records of Jeonseon.

‘There wasn’t anything significant that I know of.’

At least, as far as I know, it’s known that there were no major incidents…

‘Ah.’

It came to mind.

‘No way, could it be that?’

There was one thing that was worth mentioning.

‘If it’s Jeonseon around this time… it’s that.’

Not when the Alliance managed the entirety of Jeonseon, lowering the risk level.

‘The era when the Demonic Factions moved together.’

It was a time when the suppression of the Demonic Factions wasn’t completely over, and they remained at Jeonseon, causing quite a few incidents.

If I had to pick one specific thing among them.

‘The appearance of the Four Demon Kings and Five Emperors (사마오제).’

The Four Demon Kings and Five Emperors (사마오제).

They were the masters of the Demonic Factions, known to be positioned similarly to the kings of the orthodox sects.

During my time, their activities weren’t that frequent, so they were gradually being forgotten, but…

‘But now…’

These individuals would likely hold a considerably fearsome position in terms of both reputation and renown.

And among them, concerning events at Jeonseon.

‘The appearance of the Spear Emperor (창제).’

The Spear Emperor, one of the Four Demon Kings and Five Emperors. His rampage at Jeonseon could be cited as an anecdote.

Was that around this time? I’m not sure.

It was a famous event, but that’s because I hadn’t paid enough attention to remember the timing.

‘Hmm….’

I wonder what connection this might have to the anomalous phenomenon, but…

‘I should recall it just in case.’

I decided to keep it in mind, just in case.

Rustle.

He put the letter he was holding into his pocket.

Regarding this, I really think Father must have seen it.

‘It’s not just any place, it’s about Jeonseon.’

Father couldn’t possibly not know that Gu Family has a close relationship with it. So, it’s natural he’d find it strange.

‘…I don’t know.’

Given Father’s personality, there was a chance he really hadn’t seen the letter, so it was difficult to be certain.

Moreover.

‘Why this to me?’

The fact that they assigned the mission to me, a person of interest, and not someone else. That part didn’t make sense.

‘What’s the intention?’

What scheme is it? Just as I was curious about the intentions of the Azure Dragon Leader or the Sword Master.

Creeeak.

I first got up from the chair I was sitting on.

“They did tell me to wait, but…”

Since I couldn’t just stay here, I decided to go outside for now.

More precisely.

‘To where Jin Yeon-ryeong is.’

I decided to go see my paternal grandmother.

---

Finding it wasn’t difficult. Because there was only one place called the Gu Family’s infirmary.

A space and building not very large, proportional to the size of the family.

A place where the embers had died out elsewhere, but a lamp was lit, seemingly the only one.

I found the area where the physicians were and slowly walked over.

But.

‘…Hmm.’

I see a gatekeeper. Thinking about it, I couldn’t just enter easily.

‘I’m not a blood relative.’

It’s true our bloodlines are connected, but in the current formality, I’m not in the position of a blood relative. Therefore, I couldn’t legally break through that.

I had forgotten this for a moment.

‘…Should I go back?’

I could sneak in if I wanted to, but…

If I did…

‘Grandfather is inside too.’

That old man could easily notice. Ah, of course, even if he noticed, I don’t think anything would happen.

‘It’s awkward.’

It was awkward right now. Especially this subtle sense of alienation kept holding me back.

‘…What makes him so strong?’

Grandfather was strong. Even from a brief exchange, I could ascertain he was a powerful individual. I’m not sure to what extent, but…

‘He might have reached Transcendence.’

The information he told me.

He said that to reach the Great Accomplishment in the Gu-yeom Hwarun Gong, one must at least become the Young Master. Judging by this statement…

‘He, the Family Head, might also have reached the Great Accomplishment.’

It means there’s a high probability he reached Transcendence upon achieving the Great Accomplishment in the Gu-yeom Hwarun Gong.

‘Just like Father, though.’

The Gu Family Head was always stronger than publicly known. The reason is probably… to serve as the acting Master.

‘Hmm.’

Should I go back? I steeled myself.

Besides, Gu Seong-yeol had told me to wait.

‘Because I don’t need to worry about Grandmother.’

Although it sounds a bit cold. There was no reason for me to care about Grandmother now.

Just as I was about to turn back with that thought.

“Are you leaving?”

“…!”

Hearing the words, my body froze.

‘When?’

Suddenly, the Steward was standing before me. I hadn’t perceived his appearance.

Moreover.

‘Even now.’

Even now, I couldn’t clearly sense his presence.

I narrowed my eyes and looked at him. Among the strange things I’d discovered since coming here, the Steward was one of them.

His appearance was exactly the same as I remembered. Even though it was decades ago, his appearance was identical to how I remembered him, neither young nor old. That bothered me.

No matter how I look at it.

‘He’s not human.’

He is not human. The Steward wasn’t a martial artist, nor did I feel any energy from him.

‘…Hmm.’

As I stared at him without a word, the Steward simply chuckled and spoke to me.

“It’s quite cold today. Please, come inside.”

“…Well.”

It’s a bit awkward to go inside right now. I tried to say that, but…

“You are fully qualified. Please, come in.”

“… “

The Steward’s words chilled my heart.

‘He knows.’

He seemed aware that I was a blood relative of this place. That’s why he mentioned qualifications.

“You. Who are you?”

“I am Gu Family’s Steward.”

“Do you know who I am…?”

“I do not know.”

“Then why-.”

“I do not know, but I can sense it. Young Master. Please, come in.”

“… “

My eyes narrowed at the word “Young Master.” It was a statement that clearly identified my position.

“…Just who are you? What is your identity?”

What makes you able to discern my identity, just like the Family Head? As I asked that.

“I apologize.”

The Steward bowed his head. At the same time, the smile he wore deepened. Seeing this, I felt goosebumps rise.

“To know this, your qualifications, Young Master, are not yet met.”

“… “

“I will relay the message to the gatekeepers. Please enter comfortably.”

The Steward finished speaking and went back into the infirmary.

“… “

Watching his gaunt back, I held back a sigh.

‘This family’s situation, really.’

This is absurd. How many more secrets must this household dig up before anything becomes visible?

‘I was born wrong. No matter how I look at it.’

How much easier would it have been if I were just born into an ordinary family? It felt like I was caught in a truly bizarre life.

“Ha.”

I let out a hollow laugh and lifted my toes.

Yeah, let’s go take a look.

With that thought, I entered the infirmary.

As the Steward had said beforehand.

The gatekeepers did not stop me.

---

I came inside. Passing through the empty courtyard, I approached the room where the light was on. I could already sense many presences inside that room.

As I reached for the handle to open it.

“…Are you kidding me?”

Freeze.

Jin Yeon-ryeong’s voice could be heard. It seems she has woken up.

“Wife… that’s not it.”

Gu Seong-yeol’s voice was also heard simultaneously.

‘Hmm.’

Judging by the atmosphere, it seems this side is also in trouble.

‘What should I do about this.’

Should I call it a misunderstanding? It really is a misunderstanding, just like the words suggest.

‘Because I’m not Grandfather’s son.’

If you trace it, I’m Father’s son, not Grandfather’s son. That was also the reason the Blood Wheel Bead activated.

‘Ah, seriously, First Elder…’

If Gu-ryun hadn’t caused trouble, this mess wouldn’t have happened. That old man is perceptive, but he always had a screw loose somewhere.

‘…Sip.’

I don’t want things to escalate further like this, so I have to sort it out somehow.

Just as I thought that and reached to open the door.

Hwa-reuk!

I sensed a presence and turned my head.

Kwaaaaa-!!

Heat brushed against the tip of my nose.

What the?

Dodging, I rolled my eyes and looked to the side. There.

“Dodge?”

A woman with flying black hair and a frown appeared. As I evaded the attack, she looked at me with a puzzled expression and asked.

“Who the hell are you?”

“…And you?”

Attacking out of the blue. That’s dangerous.

‘I almost killed them without realizing it.’

The opponent’s level seems to be slightly above the peak. If I had reacted to the surprise attack and counterattacked, I would have killed them.

As I asked, slightly twisting my body.

Hwa-reureu-reuk!

The woman continuously conjured flames around her body. Yes, flames.

Seeing that, I nodded.

‘It’s the Gu-yeom Hwarun Gong.’

The technique the woman was using was the Gu-yeom Hwarun Gong. This means… she was a clan member of Gu Family.

…Who is she?

Just like with Jin Yeon-ryeong, she was someone I didn’t know.

As I looked at her with eyes full of questions.

“Me?”

She pointed at herself with the hand that had amplified the flames and said.

“This house’s daughter.”

What?

The moment I widened my eyes in surprise.

Kwaaaaa-!!

Flames erupted from her hand.