Chapter 1216: Scorched World

“This is…”

A red orb, tinged with red.

It was an item I had seen before and even used. The timing would have been around the time I was in the Northern Sea, during the battle with Mang.

Back then, definitely.

‘It’s something Madam Mi gave me to use.’

She said to use it when in danger, perhaps? Or maybe to keep it safe? It was an item handed over with that kind of tone. The effect was…

‘…Father appeared.’

There were two orbs, and if one was broken, the person holding the other orb would appear at the location where it broke.

And so.

‘Father appeared.’

Father appeared right where I was. Seeing this, then…

‘There’s a high probability that if I break this…’

…Guseongyeol will appear, I think. Even though I don’t fully know the orb’s effect. If Madam Jin gave this to me, then that possibility is correct.

“…But why give this to me?”

Madam Jin seemed to think I wouldn’t know what this was. It’s quite baffling, considering I already know.

‘Not Gu-seon or Father, but giving this to me.’

It’s questionable why she gave this to me instead of her own children. Should I accept it? After a moment of thought, I tucked it into my pocket.

‘…It might be useful someday.’

It’s not useless. Although I don’t know what I could do even if Guseongyeol appeared.

“Thank you. Please tell them later that I will use it well.”

“Tell them yourself.”

“…Ah, yes.”

Father seems sharper than usual somehow. More like heavy and imposing than sharp, but something’s different today.

‘Is he perhaps sulking?’

I wonder if he’s upset because of the conversation we had yesterday. It’s because, although I said I’d tell him proper secrets, I glossed over some things.

“Ahem… Commander-nim. Are you perhaps upset or anything…”

“No.”

“Ah, yes.”

It really seemed like he was angry. I put a little distance between us. Then Gu-seon stuck close to my side.

“What the hell did you do?”

“…What?”

“What did you do to make that blockhead get angry?”

“…You think he looks angry too, right?”

The moment I asked as if seeking confirmation.

Kkwak.

“Gk!?”

Gu-seon suddenly grabbed my side. My face contorted from the sharp pain.

“What are you doing?”

What kind of dog-like behavior is this all of a sudden? When I glared at Gu-seon, she gave me a sharp look.

“What do you mean ‘you’ to your sister? ‘You’.”

“…Is that what’s important right now?”

“It is important. Behave properly. Got it?”

“…Tsk.”

This person isn’t normal either. Seriously, why are all the Gu clan members abnormal?

Except for me.

“…What about the Family Head?”

Shoving Gu-seon slightly away, I asked Father. Isn’t Guseongyeol coming out? Hearing that, Father walked over and said.

“The Family Head has a schedule, so they said they couldn’t see you off.”

“Ah, really?”

It didn’t really matter much.

“Then we won’t be leaving right away, so I’m going somewhere for a bit.”

“Where are you going?”

“I’m not going far. I already got permission from the Family Head.”

“…”

At the mention of having received permission, Father nodded.

Honestly, I hadn’t gotten permission. I just said it first.

‘I’ll deal with the consequences later.’

I figured I’d get chewed out for it, though. That was a problem for my future self to handle.

---

Kkirik.

I opened the door and stepped inside. It was still a dark space.

Hwareuk.

Holding up a lantern, I moved forward. Since Naegi wasn’t moving, I couldn’t see through the darkness.

After moving forward for a moment.

I reached my intended destination.

“Been well?”

“…”

In response to my words, someone lifted their head.

It was Do-yun.

He looked at me with somewhat haggard eyes.

“…Baek Yangcheon.”

“You look like hell.”

“…What business do you have here?”

Seeing him in a state so different from his usual smiling demeanor, I scratched my cheek.

“Just came to see how my friend was doing.”

“…Friend? Ha.”

He grinned wickedly. It was clearly a sneer.

“Looks like you came to mock me. Do you find me laughable too?”

“I just told you my friendly intentions, yet you speak so harshly.”

After going out of my way to visit, why say something so awkward?

“We’ve never once thought of each other as friends, have we?”

“That’s true. But we called each other friends, didn’t we?”

I don’t usually make friends with people who scheme behind others’ backs, and this guy isn’t much different. However, my visit wasn’t truly meant for mockery. Where do I have time to mock others when I’m busy trying to survive?

“What is your purpose?”

“It’s nothing else, really. I just had a talk with your father.”

“…”

When Do-cheol’s name came up, Do-yun’s brow furrowed.

“Father…”

“Ah, he’s fine.”

His limbs are intact. Both are under restrictions, and being far apart, I likely can’t see them.

“You. Did you know that upon becoming the Family Head, you inherit the physical body?”

“…”

“So you knew.”

“…How could you know that…”

“Hmm.”

As expected.

‘This guy knew too.’

If that’s the case.

‘Is this guy the Black Night Palace Lord?’

Do Ga-ui Yun.

Could this guy be the same person as the Black Night Palace Lord I saw? I couldn’t be sure of that yet. That’s because.

‘To be sure…’

Doubts about the Black Night Palace Lord still remained. It wasn’t quite just Do-yun…

‘His reactions and the feeling…’

It wasn’t entirely like Do-yun. That means.

‘Perhaps.’

Maybe not just the body, but memories are transferred too? That thought crossed my mind for a moment. Whether it’s transferred completely. Or if it’s passed down differently, in another way. I was curious about that.

“Inheriting the body. Does that mean inheriting memories too?”

“…Are you asking me that now?”

Do-yun reacted as if it were absurd. Why is that?

“Then who else should I ask?”

“I heard you already met with your father. Did your father not tell you?”

“Ah, I didn’t exactly ask your father about this.”

“What?”

“I was planning to ask you.”

“…How…”

Because it’s easier to gauge reactions and relatively simpler to use. I swallowed those words.

“Still, since we called ourselves friends, I thought I’d check in on how things are going.”

“…”

I tried saying something I didn’t mean. Do-yun didn’t seem to believe me much either. It doesn’t matter. This wasn’t the important part.

“Whatever I might know, I won’t tell you.”

“Right. I figured you’d say that.”

“…”

“So, I’ll make an offer.”

“…An offer?”

“Yeah.”

Firmly. I gripped the bars in front of me. I spoke directly to him.

“I’ll get you out of here.”

“…!”

Do-yun’s eyes widened like saucers.

“What…?”

“If you answer properly, I’ll get you out of here.”

“What do you mean-“

“I might even be able to get your father out too. How about it?”

“…”

I could clearly see his eyes trembling. Seeing that, I continued speaking.

“Your father, because of what he did, might have restrictions placed on him or his dantian broken. But he’ll survive. His identity would have to be changed completely, too. But still. He can live, can’t he?”

“…You…”

“You seem to care deeply for your father. How about it? Isn’t that a pretty decent offer?”

“…”

The moment Do-yun heard that Do-cheol was captured, he came to surrender. Whether or not he’s the Black Night Palace Lord, his current disposition shows deep filial piety; he’s not entirely a bad guy.

‘Even looking back at that time.’

When he said his goals were Gu Clan and the Divine Dragon, although his desire for revenge was evident, I recall its depth wasn’t that profound. Seeing this, Do-yun’s answer now…

“…How can I believe that?”

I believed it wouldn’t be outright denial, at least.

“Whether you believe it or not is your choice. If you don’t like it, then forget it. I won’t say any more.”

Whether you rot here. Or listen to my words and place your hope in them. That is Do-yun’s choice. There was nothing more to give or gain in terms of trust.

As a little time passed.

“…What did you say you wanted again?”

Do-yun asked me. Hearing that, I smiled slightly.

“The curse linked to your family lineage, where the body is transferred. Tell me everything you know, including that. Then.”

Looking into Do-yun’s eyes, I said.

“I’ll save you and your father.”

It was truly a simple offer, wasn’t it?

---

Kkiik.

I opened the carriage door and got right in. Looking inside, I saw Gu-seon and So-i.

The moment I appeared, So-i frowned. Gu-seon looked at me, tilted his head, and asked.

“Huh? You really came back fast?”

“I told you I’d be back soon. Where’s Commander-nim?”

“Dunno.”

“…Dunno?”

“Yeah. I’m not really interested?”

“…”

Ah, right. They were siblings. That makes sense then. Meanwhile, I felt a stinging gaze. When I looked, it was So-i. Of course, it would be.

“He’ll come on his own.”

“I suppose that’s likely.”

“Ah, when do we leave? I’m bored to death.”

“…We’ll probably leave soon.”

It was about time, chronologically speaking.

‘Did Paejon and Shin-ui ride separately?’

I figured they were in another carriage.

‘Hmm.’

Ignoring So-i’s gaze, I leaned back in my chair. Namgung Jin and Hyeon So-yeong must have ridden in another carriage too. Because she probably guided them to do so. Thanks to that, the number of people is relatively small and it’s quiet.

Feeling that, I recalled my conversation with Do-yun.

‘…The transfer of conviction.’

I thought it was just the transfer of the physical body. But Do-yun’s words said it wasn’t just that.

Conviction.

Their goals. He said those were transferred too. Moreover.

‘It’s not transferring the body.’

If Do-yun becomes the Family Head. His body undergoes a transformation, changing into Do-cheol’s appearance and physique. And Do-cheol, having passed on the karma, returns to his original form. They call that the curse and the karma.

‘…It’s a feast of things I’ve seen somewhere.’

It smells familiar. This is…

‘Similar to the Yeon family’s curse.’

Geumcheon Yeon family. The curse of the half-human, half-dragon inflicted by the Blood Demon. It was like that curse, passed down through blood. Other curses inflicted by the Blood Demon were also like this.

‘It can’t be a coincidence.’

I know for certain it isn’t.

‘It’s not memories, but convictions that are transferred, but it seems like something seeps in like memories during the process.’

Is that why they can act as if they know things they shouldn’t? If it’s convictions being transferred here, specifically…

‘Resentment towards Gu Clan. Or perhaps.’

Sacred Tree.

The egg that contained Cheonma. Maybe the desire to protect and nurture it seeps in? That was my guess.

‘The biggest problem here is…’

If they can transfer such convictions.

‘Why didn’t they block the desire to escape?’

Just like Do-cheol, the desire to escape the curse wasn’t blocked. It’s questionable why they didn’t pay attention to this part, even though they could transfer such convictions.

‘…Even if that’s not it.’

What was the Blood Demon trying to achieve?

‘Cheonma is the Blood Demon’s energy.’

The entity known as Cheonma was responsible for the energy from the body that was split when the Blood Demon was sealed. If that’s the case.

‘…What about Wi Seol-ah, who had the same appearance…’

Was it the physical body?

“…”

I narrowed my eyes. If Wi Seol-ah was the Blood Demon’s body. Like Cheonma, wouldn’t she also be somewhere in this world already?

‘…Sseup.’

I took a breath. People I didn’t know are becoming information, digging into my mind one by one. At times like this, suspicion arises.

‘Mother.’

You…

‘…Did you send me to show me things like this?’

To make me aware of things I didn’t know. Wasn’t this world prepared for that?

‘Then, what else remains?’

Is there anything more I need to know beyond this? The moment that thought flashed through my mind.

Hwareuk-!

“…”

Sparks flew before my eyes. Startled and flustered for a moment.

-Just listen.

A voice could be heard.

It was Guseongyeol’s voice.