Chapter 1187: Scorched World.

My vision is blurry. A black, and then blacker world comes into view.

From that place, I opened my clouded eyes.

The world is a pile of ashes. Murky smoke fills the surroundings, and the scent of burnt remains is thick in my nostrils.

Standing blankly in that world, I stare tiredly at the scene.

What remained? Here… what was trying to remain?

‘Ah.’

I swallow a groan with my voice that won’t come out. What is it now?

‘I’m not even surprised anymore.’

Having gone through so much, this barely registered.

‘What is it now.’

What is it this time? With a question in my mind, I pushed myself up.

Nothing could be seen. It wasn’t a world of pure white, but its opposite. The acrid smell of burning made me want to cover my nose instinctively.

‘Hmm…….’

I look around. Since there was nothing to see, I wondered what to do, just around that time.

‘Ah.’

Far away. I don’t see it, I feel it.

The moment I widened my eyes at the unknown presence.

Whooosh-!!

A beam of light connected from my heart. It stretched endlessly towards something far away.

A string.

Or a path.

Whatever it was, the meaning was the same. Come to that place. That’s what it meant.

Realizing this, I slowly started walking. There must be something if I go there.

Thinking so, I took a step forward.

Swoosh-!!

‘Oh.’

My vision changed. I wondered how far I had to go, but before I knew it, it was right in front of me.

‘What is this?’

Coming here, it was even stranger.

The connected string was crimson. The subtly glowing color continued, wrapping around something.

Something built up gradually with thread. Seeing its shape, I frowned.

That thing.

‘A prison?’

It was like a prison, and surprisingly, something was inside.

“Grrrrrrr-!!”

Bang-!!

As if it had spotted me, the crouching creature rose and charged at me, but.

Screeeech-!!

“Kyaaaaaa-!!”

As soon as it touched the prison, heat erupted, pushing the creature away.

‘What is this guy?’

It’s a being I’ve never seen before. Is it a monster? Looking at it, it seemed like a monster.

Its size was on the level of a blue monster. Much smaller than a red one. It was covered in white fur.

Its face resembled a wolf’s, and its eyes glowed the same crimson color as the prison.

The problem is.

‘……Its aura.’

The presence I felt looking at the creature.

This was definitely the level of a Master.

The Godhood Taecheon mentioned.

That felt immense from that creature.

‘What is this guy?’

What is it?

“Keeeee-!!!”

Whoooooosh!!!

‘……!’

An immense hostility pours down on me. Hostility mixed with killing intent was a level I had never felt in my life.

Just its aura made my bones ache.

What on earth could be emitting such a presence?

“Kuru……rrrrrr!!!”

Sharp claws and fangs.

Standing on two legs.

‘Six tails.’

It’s a monster possessing six giant tails. What on earth is this thing?

What is it, to be here possessing Godhood like this?

As I stood there, unable to comprehend, watching the creature.

“Take it out.”

‘……Huh?’

The creature spoke, looking at me.

“Take it out. Don’t run from your karma.”

‘What did you say?’

Karma?

At those words, I frowned.

Whooosh-!!

‘Tsk!?’

The creature’s tail suddenly whipped out from an opening and wrapped around me.

Its tight grip twisted my body.

Crack-!

The strength of its crushing grip was so immense that it wasn’t easy to break free.

What is this crazy bastard?

‘You won’t let go!?’

Why is it suddenly acting like a dog?

I struggled desperately, but couldn’t break free. The creature’s clear gaze met mine.

“Don’t run.”

“This is fate.”

“Don’t run.”

Caught like this, my body was dragged along. Struggling was futile.

‘Damn it-.’

Just as I thought I’d be captured by this guy and dragged helplessly if this continued.

“Don’t run-!”

Swoooosh-!!

A flash erupted.

Brilliant blue light poured down, slicing off the tail holding me.

“Kuaaaaaaaa–!!!”

The creature screamed. Freed, I collapsed onto the floor.

‘What the…….’

Lying on the ash-filled floor, I looked up. There stood the owner of the flash that had severed the tail.

“Huh?”

I spat out, then grabbed my throat in surprise. The voice that wouldn’t come out began to flow.

There was no time to be surprised by the change.

“……You?”

The being before me captured all my attention.

A figure cloaked in mental energy all over their body, with their back to me.

Somehow, their appearance seemed different.

At that sight, the figure slowly turned around.

Our eyes met.

Blue jewels were there.

Zing-!

Along with an unknown pain. My closed eyes snapped open.

---

“……Haa.”

I opened my eyes, letting out a gasp.

I pushed myself up. My entire body was drenched in cold sweat.

“What the…….”

What dream was that? I flexed my tingling fingertips. The memory blurred in an instant.

I wiped my forehead with the back of my hand. It was quite a nightmare.

‘What is this……?’

It’s a series of inexplicable, complex emotions.

Is it discomfort? Blaming my upset stomach, I rubbed my belly with my hand.

As I was soothing my stomach like that.

Swish-!

“……!”

Feeling a touch, I grabbed the other person’s wrist.

“Ouch.”

A sharp groan was heard. Looking at the person, it was Guseon.

“……What?”

I asked, looking at her. She glanced at her wrist with a gesture. It seemed to mean ‘let go quickly’. Only then did I release my hand.

“You looked somewhat distracted. I thought you might have a fever.”

She said, patting her wrist as if it hurt.

“Are you okay?”

“I just had a weird dream… Are you okay over there?”

It’s me who should be asking if you’re okay.

“Me? I’m fine. Oof… Just a bit stiff?”

“……”

Just stiff. Fortunately, it seemed there were no major injuries. Her aura didn’t seem badly hurt either. It looked like she’d recover with a few days of rest.

“But how did we get here…?”

Hearing Guseon ask curiously, I questioned.

“You don’t remember?”

“Hmm… I definitely parted ways with my brother in the town… and then…”

Zing-!

“Oof.”

Guseon clutched her forehead, seemingly feeling a headache. It seemed Taecheon might have intervened then.

“Ah, my head… What was that?”

“Stop if it hurts. It probably won’t come back to you anyway.”

“What do you know?”

I lightly ignored her curt remark.

‘There’s no way it would come back.’

It was the Master’s intervention. No matter how I looked at it, there was nothing to recall.

The problem is.

‘What happened?’

The fact that I also had no memory was the same.

‘……Clearly.’

I attempted Masterization, and after the flames engulfed my body-.

‘I have no memory after that.’

I didn’t remember what happened either. Seeing that I was alive like this, did I defeat Taecheon?

‘Hmm.’

The location seemed to be inside the district. Fortunately, it looked like I rescued Guseon and returned.

‘Did I do this all by myself?’

Since I have no memory, it’s difficult to judge anything.

As I was racking my brain like that.

Zzzzt.

“……”

Something flashed in my memory. A blue flash. And electricity.

Mental energy.

That comes to mind.

Bolt upright.

As soon as it came to mind, I pushed myself up.

“Huh? What’s wrong. Using your body like that already is a big prob-.”

Ignoring what Guseon was saying, I took a step. I immediately opened the door and went out.

As soon as I opened the door and stepped out, a servant standing outside was startled.

“Oh my…!”

Leaving the surprised person behind, I went straight out. Just as I was about to unfold my Light Body Technique and leap up.

Throb-!

“……Tsk!?”

My head. A sharp pain struck my upper and middle dantian. With the painful throbbing, I immediately fell to my knees.

“Oof……”

What the? I thought my head was really going to break. Puzzled, I checked my insides.

“Haa.”

I let out a gasp of shock. My energy was blocked. The tiny bit of energy I had left had vanished, and my vessel was completely empty.

So that’s why.

‘The reason I couldn’t sense Guseon’s contact.’

With so little energy in my body, my senses naturally had to be dulled.

What is this?

Why did all the energy I had suddenly disappear?

‘……No way.’

Is it the effect of Masterization? Did doing it just once make my vessel like this?

Will my energy return? I can’t stay like this? Given the situation, this was quite problematic.

However, regardless of the precarious situation, my legs moved again.

As if I had a destination.

“Hey, just a moment-!”

The servant tried to stop me, but I didn’t listen this time either.

I ran straight towards somewhere.

Unable to use Light Body Technique, I was incredibly slow, but still, my high cultivation level meant running wasn’t impossible.

The place I arrived at after running urgently. It was one of the areas where guests’ quarters were gathered. I had been here before, so I knew the layout.

There were no guards at the quarters. I went straight in to find someone. Just then, I saw her standing near the pond.

“Oh my?”

The woman who spotted me looked surprised.

“Young Master Baek. What brings you here?”

The woman who looked at me with a slight nod. It was Hyeon Soyoung.

“……”

I stared at her. When our eyes met, her face was full of questions. Her gaze suggested she didn’t know why I’d come.

“Hey.”

“Hey?”

At the sudden informal speech, Hyeon Soyoung’s delicate brow furrowed.

“Come out.”

“Why the informal speech… No, come out where? What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

Hyeon Soyoung reacted as if asking what I was talking about, but my mouth wasn’t directed at her.

To be precise, I was looking at her, but I was speaking to someone else inside her, not Hyeon Soyoung.

“You’re in there. Come out.”

“What are you still talking about?”

“Haa.”

Irritation mixes in. Is it due to frustration or impatience? I don’t know.

It’s a complex mix of emotions. Containing those feelings, I called out to her.

Not Hyeon Soyoung.

“Namgung Bi-ah.”

I meant the person inside her.

At that moment.

“……”

Hyeon Soyoung’s expression vanished. Within the instantly disappeared expression.

Swoosh-!

Her eyeballs glowed blue.

“Ah.”

The same voice.

The same appearance.

But different.

In response to my call, she spoke.

“Hello.”

“……”

It was the greeting I had longed to hear.