Chapter 1178: Scorched World.

Master.

Ruler of the world connected to the world.

A great being, the source and root of all life.

I hadn’t properly realized what that meant.

‘So this is what it’s like.’

I think I get it.

Nature helps me.

Nature reveres me.

The world embraces me.

The source of the energy was the world.

Pure and sacred energy. The amount of this energy was very small, but I could feel it replenishing itself as much as I used it.

I wondered how I could wield martial arts with such little energy.

‘…Is it okay because it’s given?’

As it decreased, the world filled it back up.

So it didn’t matter.

Sssseuuu.

I extinguished the flame I had conjured and looked up at the sky.

The sky, spread out in blue.

Looking there, I reached out my hand.

Hoooouuuuuu-

The sky reflected in my eyes somehow seemed small. It felt like I could grasp it if I wanted to.

So I tried to grasp it once.

Hoooouuuu-

The clouds moved.

But.

Jjireureut.

“…….”

A headache and instantly depleted energy. Feeling this, I staggered slightly.

“Oof……”

I tried because I thought I could. I guess I shouldn’t have.

Something actually moved, but trying it even for a moment caused my energy to vanish completely.

“I almost puked.”

My mind almost twisted itself out of shape for a moment. I did it without thinking, but it felt like something I shouldn’t have done recklessly.

Kkuuk.

I clenched my fist.

“Hoo.”

I let out a sigh. It felt like the world’s energy was converging into my body.

‘Is this being a Master?’

That’s how it felt. If I weren’t the Master, why would the world give me its energy? That was the only explanation I could think of.

Didn’t the Ancestor say so too?

That I bloomed through enlightenment with the seed. So.

Being the Master is one thing.

‘I’ve become a Calamity.’

That’s what I heard, clearly. However.

‘Even if I’ve become a Calamity…’

I don’t really feel much difference right now. It feels the same, right?

‘The differences are significant, though.’

The focal point of my energy shifted to the upper dantian. And although the vast amount of energy coalesced into one,

Aside from that, my mental state hasn’t changed.

‘Hmm……’

There were no issues with my abilities either.

‘Should I just see it as my energy becoming purer?’

It seems like there might be other things to consider besides that…….

‘Not yet.’

There’s nothing I can know right now. What’s important is ultimately one thing.

‘As that seed bloomed.’

I became the Master. Or a Calamity.

For now, that was the most crucial point.

‘So I’ll have to start searching from now on.’

If I’ve become that damned Calamity.

‘A way to resolve it……’

I also had to devise a way to escape it.

The Ancestor said.

‘Whatever you do, you will go in the direction you desire.’

The end of the arrangements my mother made was ultimately for my sake, she said. For now, I just have to believe that.

“…….”

I turned my back. Since they said time was short, I had to move a bit urgently.

---

I came down from the mountain and returned to the Gu family.

Tuk.

As my feet touched the Gu family’s ground, a strange sensation brushed over me.

‘Heavy.’

The lightness I felt when I went outside disappeared, and a somewhat heavy sensation dug into my body.

Sensing something strange, I immediately summoned my energy.

Sssseuuu-

‘Hmm……’

As soon as I used my energy, my upper dantian emptied. It was the same as before, but unlike then, when the energy immediately replenished,

‘It’s not replenishing here.’

Inside the Gu family’s domain, the energy didn’t replenish.

It seemed there was some difference.

I reduced the energy I was summoning.

I couldn’t just carelessly use the little energy I had.

‘What else is going on with this family?’

Grasping the strangeness, I turned my head. For now, since the Family Head-nim had said my grandfather was looking for me, I intended to head there, but.

“Excuse me.”

“……!”

Someone approached me. It was the Steward.

When did this guy show up this time?

“Are you alright, Young Master.”

“Young Master……?”

“Since the Family Head-nim has acknowledged you as kin, I thought I should start addressing you properly from now on.”

“…….”

It wasn’t an awkward title. The Steward had actually called me that before.

However, it was problematic because it felt unpleasant in the current situation.

“……Ah, yes. You can call me whatever you like. What brings you here?”

“The Family Head-nim ordered me to escort you.”

“I heard. I was planning to go right now anyway.”

“Ah, I see.”

The Steward smiled kindly.

Seeing that should have sent shivers down my spine.

‘I can feel it.’

I felt something from the Steward, whose identity I hadn’t known.

What is that?

‘It’s fire.’

Inside the Steward’s body. I felt a blazing heat emanating from there. Was it the Gu family’s flame? No, that’s not it. Flames aren’t necessarily all related to the Gu family, of course.

‘Something within the Gu family’s domain that isn’t the Gu family’s flame?’

And that it was the Steward? It couldn’t be anything but strange.

“I shall escort you.”

“……Yes.”

The Steward turned and moved, and I followed him.

Was it because of my changed body? Things I couldn’t see before were starting to become visible.

---

“I have brought the Young Master.”

Following the Steward, I arrived at the Gu family’s head’s chamber.

“Enter.”

As permission was granted, I immediately went inside.

As soon as I entered, I saw Gu Seongyeol with red eyes.

“You’ve bloomed.”

That’s what he said the moment he saw me.

“Did something happen with the seed?”

“…….”

Before I could even speak, Gu Seongyeol’s eyes showed he had already figured everything out. Also.

‘……Wow.’

Perhaps thanks to my transformation, my perspective on him had also changed significantly.

‘What is that?’

The sensation I felt from Gu Seongyeol’s body was different. Before, it felt like I was just looking at a martial artist, but now…….

‘His energy is swirling.’

I could feel the difference in Gu Seongyeol. Something noble emanating from him was spinning ceaselessly. That…

‘The Master’s energy……’

It was definitely the Master’s energy. I felt the energy unique to the Master emanating from Gu Seongyeol.

“What did you feel?”

Gu Seongyeol asked, sensing my gaze. At his words, I paused for a moment.

“What are you feeling?”

“Well…… It’s quite difficult to explain in words.”

It was faint but distinct.

I felt the Master’s energy swirling rapidly within his body.

However, since I honestly answered that I didn’t know how to explain it, Gu Seongyeol nodded briefly. His reaction suggested it wasn’t a particularly important matter.

“I received a report that something happened on the front lines yesterday. Was that you?”

“…….”

Ah, I see. He wasn’t paying attention because something more important was happening.

“Th- … Ah. Yes……”

I didn’t lie. Nor did I try to beat around the bush.

At my words, Gu Seongyeol’s eyes narrowed.

“They called you the Heavenly Demon (天魔).”

“…….”

My mouth closed. If I hadn’t been careful, my ears would have turned red.

“They say you wield demons and possess power like the Three Venerables. A sudden appearance by a supreme expert. That’s what they call you.”

“Ahem…… Hmm hmm……”

This is tough. I unconsciously looked for a hole to hide in. Oh, how embarrassing. It’s fine when I wear a mask, but it’s really difficult without one.

“What about the talk of demons? And…… what exactly are you trying to do? What is your objective?”

“……Objective……”

I scratched my cheek. Objective. I wanted to know that too.

“I’m looking for it.”

“What?”

“……I’m busy trying to figure out what I’m supposed to do after falling here.”

“…….”

Gu Seongyeol’s face contorted, as if he couldn’t understand my words. He looks terrifyingly scary.

Just looking at him makes me want to shrink away.

“Is this a joke?”

“It’s not a joke. If anyone’s frustrated, it’s me.”

“If it’s not a joke, then it’s even more problematic.”

Kkik.

Gu Seongyeol straightened his crouched body. He had a small build, characteristic of the Gu family’s bloodline.

“……If you’ve already caused the seed to bloom, the problem arose immediately after. If you don’t explain properly, I cannot let you go.”

Hwaaaah-

The atmosphere in the room grew heavy. The words ‘cannot let you go’ meant…

‘Is he going to kill me?’

It seemed like he intended to erase me. Moreover, the way he set the mood made that feeling stand out.

“Are you really going to do that? I don’t think you will.”

I didn’t back down or anything.

“What?”

At my words, Gu Seongyeol’s expression crumpled even further.

Although I flinched at his face, which had become scarier than before, my answer remained the same.

“If you didn’t want this to happen in the first place, you should have stopped me from going to the front lines.”

He must have known.

Gu Seongyeol surely would have known I would head to the front lines. Yet, he didn’t stop me.

Which means…

“You let me go knowing this would happen, so don’t you have some expectation for me now that this has occurred?”

Gu Seongyeol has a purpose for me, who changed after touching the seed.

That’s what I concluded.

“…….”

Gu Seongyeol fell silent upon hearing my words.

It seemed I had hit the mark.

“What is it you want?”

Let’s hear it. What did he want from me? In a place where I fulfill my duties as the acting Master, what did Gu Seongyeol, the Family Head-nim, expect from me?

I asked him about it.

“……That…”

Just as Gu Seongyeol was about to say something to me.

Tadak-

“……!”

“……!!”

I turned my head at the sudden spark. Hwareureuk-! Gu Seongyeol immediately enveloped his body in flames.

He tried to raise his stance and emanate fighting spirit, but.

“That won’t do.”

Hwaaak-!

The flames erupting from Gu Seongyeol’s body were instantly extinguished.

“Tch.”

As Gu Seongyeol gritted his teeth at the vanished flames, someone appeared beside him.

“My son.”

My eyes widened at the words of the person who appeared.

Son…?

Did they just call Gu Seongyeol ‘son’? As I swallowed nervously, the appearing figure turned his head and looked at me.

The moment I saw him, I flinched.

“……Huh?”

It was a familiar face.

That face…

‘The Ancestor?’

The being I encountered in my mental space just last night. It was the same face as the Gu family’s Ancestor.