Chapter 1179: Scorched World.

Sharply-cut eyes.

A small build. Even the imposing aura emanating from the red martial uniform.

All of it matches the ancestor I saw.

It’s clear. That was the ancestor’s appearance.

‘But.’

It’s not the ancestor. He gazes at the opponent, eyes burning with intensity. The same goes for what he just said.

‘He called him son.’

Judging by how he called Guseongyeol his son, I can vaguely figure out his identity.

That individual…

‘That means he’s the great-grandfather.’

The man who is Guseongyeol’s father and my great-grandfather.

Which means he was the previous family head. And the previous family head here means…

‘The current acting ruler of the Central Plains.’

Meaning he’s a clan member of the Gu family, currently serving as the acting ruler of the Central Plains.

‘Why him?’

Why would someone like that suddenly show up? Wow, this is really something.

‘They’re all gathering.’

It felt like I was about to face all the hot-tempered members of the Gu family.

“……Father.”

Guseongyeol says, looking at the previous family head. The great-grandfather laughed at his words.

Chilling. It’s the first time I’ve felt this way looking at him. Chilling. Along with a burning heat, there’s an inexplicable cold aura filling the air.

And.

‘Guseongyeol’s flame just now…’

I saw it disappear in an instant. That’s something I’ve experienced myself.

‘When I met Grandfather.’

Back when I suddenly ran into Grandfather in the Central Plains. It’s the same thing he did to me. He took away the flame I was using, as if reclaiming it. I remember how, at that moment, my flame stopped flaring up as if it were under a seal.

‘Looks like it’s the same this time.’

I suspected that what the great-grandfather did was likely the same thing.

“My son.”

The great-grandfather calls Guseongyeol again.

“It’s a mystery how you came to forget your duty.”

“……”

Guseongyeol glares at the great-grandfather, his face contorted. His gaze was incredibly sharp.

“To leave the charring as it is. I don’t understand.”

“……Why have you come all the way here?”

“Kkeulkkkeul.”

Hwareureureuk.

Flames flare up.

“When the duty assigned has been twisted. How could I possibly just stand by?”

The great-grandfather reaches his hand out towards Grandfather as he speaks.

At that moment.

My hand shot out and grasped his hand.

Kwak-!

“……”

The great-grandfather looks at me, feeling the grip.

“Ho-o.”

Hwaa-a-a-!

Flames rise. It’s hot. Instinctively, I moved my upper dantian.

Hwareureureuk-!

A pale blue flame rises from my body. Seeing that, the great-grandfather’s eyes narrowed.

“You brat…”

Are those surprised eyes? Or angry ones? His glare was fierce, making it impossible to tell his emotion.

However.

“How dare you ignite a flame?”

Perhaps he didn’t like my flame, because he moved. He waves his hand, just like he did to Guseongyeol. I tensed up. Because it would be problematic if my flame died out like this.

“……Hmm?”

Hwareureureuk.

My flame was still burning. Seeing this, the great-grandfather reacted with surprise.

“Heo?”

Was he flustered because the flame wasn’t reclaimed? His eyes wavered.

At the same time.

Kwak-!

He shakes off the arm I was holding and lunges at me.

Kudangtang-!!

The room was destroyed as we burst outside. With his hand gripping my collar and his intense gaze upon me, I grabbed his shoulder in return.

Hwareureureuk-!!

The flames create friction. They writhed, wanting to devour each other’s flames. The pale blue flames clash against the crimson ones.

“So that’s it.”

Perhaps it was because we were facing flames. The great-grandfather says to me with a hardened face.

“It’s you. The charring on this land… No. That’s not right.”

The great-grandfather’s eyes scan me up and down.

“……What is it?”

Hwaa-a-a-ak-!!

Flames engulf me.

Hwareureuk-!

I wrapped myself in the blue flames for protection. I shook off his grip on my collar and created distance.

“Hoo.”

Damn, that’s scary. The heat is no joke. The flame before me spins wildly. Cold sweat dripped from the sheer speed.

I get it.

‘That’s it.’

The master’s aura I felt from Guseongyeol. I know what its source is. It was right there. That flame. And from each ember contained within, I feel the master’s energy.

“You.”

The crimson glare shining from within meets my gaze.

“You swallowed the seed. You’ve already bloomed. Haven’t you?”

I swallowed dryly at the scorching voice. What could that intense emotion be?

“You’re born of the Gu family. But I’ve never seen your face. I wondered why you couldn’t bring forth the flame, but you’ve already broken free from your duty…”

It’s a repetition of incomprehensible words.

“You’ve become the duty yourself. Is it to gain a position? Who are you?”

“What are you talking about?”

Jji-iik.

I tore off my upper clothes. They were scorched by the flames and couldn’t be worn anymore.

“You need to speak so I can understand. Has the old man lost his mind already?”

“How did you become the charring, O clan member of the Gu family?”

“I didn’t exactly want to become this. They just keep calling me that.”

“Who are you?”

“Who am I?”

I laughed at the great-grandfather’s words. It’s ironic, but I burst out laughing. In this situation, I found myself laughing.

“If you’re curious, find out.”

“……”

The great-grandfather, who had been silent at my words, soon lifts the corners of his mouth.

“How insolent, you’re just like my bloodline.”

This disgusting bloodline made it easy for us to recognize each other.

Hwaa-a-a-ak-!!

The swirling flames intensify. I got goosebumps from the master’s aura. Ah, why did this guy show up again to do this?

‘Is this also because of me?’

Seeing him mention charring, duty, and whatnot.

‘It seems the problem is me messing with the seed.’

Acting Ruler. Those responsible for the rifts occurring in the Central Plains. If the role of the Gu family’s previous head was that.

‘That’s right.’

Since I was the one who took the hit for this world’s rifts. It’s not strange that he appeared.

‘Can I fight?’

Looking at his state, he doesn’t seem like he’ll come out peacefully. Is it okay to fight like this?

Hesitation arises.

‘……Can I fight in this state?’

It’s not a matter of winning or losing. My current condition. The diminished energy and the state of my upper dantian. It was uncertain whether I could fight in this condition, but…

“Whatever you do.”

“It will lead to the right conclusion for you.”

The words the ancestor spoke. The arrangements mother supposedly made. I recalled that.

‘Then, even this…’

Isn’t this also part of the path towards the conclusion I desire? If it’s predetermined, perhaps this too would be beneficial to me.

Just as I was about to face the great-grandfather, not avoiding the fight because of that.

“Stop it!”

Guseongyeol shouted.

“If you’re going to deliver punishment, deliver it to me. Why are you doing this?”

“Punishment?”

At those words, the great-grandfather looks at Guseongyeol. A smile was still etched on his face.

“What punishment are you talking about? My son, don’t misunderstand.”

Hwaa-a-a.

Distortion occurs around the great-grandfather’s body.

Oh my. I wonder how hot it must be for that to happen.

“If you see that as something you must protect now. Put aside such ridiculous thoughts. You know everything, don’t you?”

The great-grandfather looks at me again.

“That one is already a master. It’s in the process of becoming a master. Unlike other arrogant outsiders. It was thoroughly made to serve the duty… Who could it possibly be?”

“It’s our bloodline.”

“Yes, a clan member of the Gu family. It seems this world ultimately wants us to conclude the duty. Good. That’s also part of the sins. However.”

Hwareureureureuk-!!

The flames grow stronger. Embers flew forward.

“That is not the world’s will. Something else intervened. Naturally, it would have to be. Otherwise…”

“……!”

The great-grandfather appears before me. I saw his hand. I tried to raise blue flames to resist, but he was fast. My neck was caught immediately.

“You wouldn’t have bloomed in such a half-baked state.”

The captured crimson flames obscured my vision, and my vision distorted.

Tung-!

An immense pressure grazed me. When I opened my eyes again.

‘What?’

I was in a space I’d never seen before. It wasn’t the Gu family’s territory. I wondered if it was even the mountain range I was originally in.

Where is this? As I was wondering.

“Now.”

The great-grandfather said to me.

“Who is behind you, my precious descendant?”

I was dumbfounded hearing those words.

“Precious my ass.”

Since when did you ever consider me precious?

Kkwak-!

I grasp the wrist of the hand holding my neck. Earlier, he was too fast for me to resist.

Hu-u-u-u-u–!!!!

Energy gathers in my upper dantian. It was a feast of energy I hadn’t felt within the Gu family. This place isn’t the Gu family’s territory. Is that why?

“Good.”

The increased energy. Things maintained with purity. The world’s awe, originating from my upper dantian, washes over my body.

Hwareureureuk-!!!!

Flames resembling the sky wrapped around my body.

“It’s because I’m not used to it yet, but…”

I clench my fist.

Kugugung-!!

Something forms at the tip of my fist. Is it 심권 (Simkwon)? No, it wasn’t. After gathering it, I realize.

“Is this how you do it?”

This is the master’s aura. Things obtained from the seed. They gathered in the upper dantian and permeated the body. That.

Hu-u-uk-! Kung-! ……!!

I thrust it straight towards the great-grandfather. The fist containing the aura struck the great-grandfather’s chest.

The great-grandfather, hit by the attack, is sent flying.

Kwagagagagag—-!!!!

The great-grandfather moves away, shattering the ground. I thought as I watched him.

“Wow.”

The trembling tip of my fist tells me.

“I’ve gotten much stronger…?”

My level has drastically changed. And by a lot at that.